FVDED in the Park is returning to Holland Park in Surrey July 2nd and 3rd, with an all-star electronic lineup including headliners Jack Ü (Skrillex and Diplo), Zedd, and many more. I spoke to Blueprint Events founder Alvaro Prol about how he programmed this festival alongside Live Nation’s Erik Hoffman.
How FVDED Came to Surrey
Blueprint has been a staple of the Vancouver entertainment scene for the last 19 years, with Alvaro and his team graduating from promoting clubs and club nights, to arenas and festivals in a number of cities ever since. Blueprint also manages a number of venues in Vancouver.
“We’ve always wanted to do a festival outdoors, and there are a lot of beautiful places for festivals in the city but it’s a really expensive undertaking.” He says that they didn’t want to jump into hosting campsites and the like, making accessibility their goal. Holland Park jumped out as an ideal venue after it underwent a massive facilities upgrade ahead of the 2010 Olympics. It’s also so close to SkyTrain, right in between Surrey City Centre and King George Stations.
“We wanted to make it accessible to everybody, having that urban feel but also be beautiful.” They didn’t want to replicate the long lines and wait times you might find at other major festivals around North America. Here, you can hop off the SkyTrain and walk on over to the entrance. No camping, no hotel stays, just show up and have a great time — and do it all again the next day.
“There’s something really unique about the space. It went really well last year and this year it’s going to be on a whole other level, we’re already really close to selling out.”
What’s New This Year
For the second annual FVDED, Alvaro says they made tweaks everywhere they could, from the production side to the food carts. “Being club owners [at Blueprint] we operate food and beverage so much that the wanted to be very hands on for FVDED.” He says they’ve made improvements to the site, food and beverage, the stages, customer service, and have added more artists for 2016.
This year you’ll find locker rentals so you can be hands-free and secure your belongings in order to stay on site and make the best of your full day experience. A new stage has also been added. FVDED Lab will be situated next to the main stage, featuring new and emerging local artists.
Alvaro’s Tip for Making the Most of Your Summer Festival Experience
Alvaro’s been in this business a very long time, as a fan and as a promoter, so I asked him for some of his top tips for making the most out of a summer festival experience.
On top of making sure you start your day with a balanced breakfast, he urges everyone to stay hydrated and wear comfortable clothes — you don’t want to miss your favourite artist on another stage because your shoes hurt your feet! When it comes to the music, he recommends doing some research ahead of time by going through the lineup.
“You might discover some stuff you love [at the festival] but hadn’t heard of, there are some really hidden gem artists in the lineup this year.”
Tickets Are Going Fast!
The event is almost sold out and at capacity, which is amazing for a festival that just came on the scene one year ago. General Admission Two-Day Festival Passes, Single Day Passes, and 19+ VIP Area Passes are available via the website. General Admission passes will be valid to admit all ages.
Follow the festival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram along with the tag #FVDED2016 for more information.Follow along on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest updates.
Carnaval de Sol is the biggest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest. Spanning two days, it will be filled with live music, art, dance, sports, and poetry in celebration of Latin American Culture, bringing together more than 350 artists from different Latin American countries.
Carnaval del Sol
Where: Concord Pacific Place (88 Pacific Blvd. Vancouver)
When: July 9th and 10th, 2016 from 9:00am to 10:00pm
Cost: FREE!
Along with a main entertainment stage, Carnaval del Sol recreates the atmosphere of a vibrant city plaza in Latin America with distinct areas filled with food, fun, and entertainment: Food Plaza, Sports Plaza, Kids Plaza, Arts Plaza, Beer Plaza, the YVR Travel Plaza, and the Mercedes Benz Van Family Plaza.
The arts showcased during this event include live musical bands (300 artist), Native Canadian and Latin American visual art, traditional folk dances from different countries, arts and crafts displays, dancing and culinary lessons (1 international chef, 10 local chefs) and a Latin American inspired fashion show.
Latin American Week in Vancouver
Carnaval del Sol is the finale to the 10 day long Latin American Week Festival, highlights of which include:
Canada Day Parade — Latincouver will join the Canada Day parade with its South American ‘Chiva’ bus, adorned with flowers and flags from different Latin American countries. There will be a DJ and dancers on the ‘Chiva’ bus, encouraging people to dance with them to the sounds of the Latin tunes.
Fiesta Blanca White Theme Party — July 1st at 9:00pm at Privé Night Club with DJ Sanchez.
Argentinian Film Night — July 5th featuring two film screenings at The Cinematheque.
International Trova Festival — Poetry and music at Tom Lee Music Hall on July 7th.
Aboriginal Art Exhibition: Latin America & Canada — July 4th to July 8th at the Waterfall Building in Vancouver.
The shared objective of Carnaval del Sol and Latin American Week is to act as a much-needed bridge between Vancouver’s rapidly growing Latin American communities and other communities. Arts and culture are universal languages that unite people and allow cities to grow and thrive.
For more information, follow Carnaval del Sol on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Miss604 is a proud Media Sponsor of Carnaval del Sol
Get re-acquainted with your city or explore it for the first time with these walking tours that are being offered by various groups, businesses and organizations. The best way to experience a city is on foot and these guided walks, with a variety of themes, will get you out and about, entertain, and educate — some will also be delicious.
6 Vancouver Walking Tours to do This Summer
Stanley Park History Tour
“Old Money: West of Denman Historical Walking Tour” / Website
- Tours run: Sunday, June 26, 2016 (and various other scheduled times throughout the year)
- Duration: 1:00pm to 2:30pm
- Price: $10 cash
- Meeting Place: Beside the little Buchan Hotel at 1906 Haro St. (at Gilford Street)
Vancouver Heritage Foundation Tours
“Art Deco architecture, to the PNE Fairgrounds, False Creek Flats, and Mountain View Cemetery” / Website
- Tours run: Various dates throughout the summer
- Duration: All walks begin at 10:00am
- Price: $15
- Meeting Place: Various meeting places with either Maurice Guibord or John Atkin as hosts
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours
“Prohibition City and Lost Souls of Gastown” / Website
- Tours run: Times vary. Click here to check availability.
- Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes, 1km distance
- Price: $25 adult, $22 senior/student
- Meeting Place: Cathedral Square, Dunsmuir & Richards streets
Ghostly Tours
“Ghost stories come from local lore, first hand accounts and local paranormal investigations” / Website
- Tours run: Gastown (Wednesday & Saturday nights at 7:30pm), Granville (Tuesday & Friday nights at 7:30pm)
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Price: $20
- Meeting Place: Gastown (Angel of Victory statue at Waterfront Station), Granville (Christchurch Cathedral at Burrard & Georgia)
World’s Best Food Truck Tour
“4 courses, 5 tastings, 9 stories, 2 hours of tantalizing fun” / Website (read my experience here)
- Tours run: Monday to Friday during summer. Reduced schedule rest of the year
- Duration: 2 hours, 1.6 km or 1 mile (total time walking is approx. 25 mins)
- Price: $49.99 (Monday to Thursday), $53.99 (Friday) + taxes/fees
- Meeting Place: 855 Burrard St (& Smithe St), beside Japadog food cart
Stanley Park Ecology Society Forager Tours
“In partnership with Forager Foundation, SPES is offering foraging tours through Stanley Park now to September. While there will be no collecting on these tours, there will much to learn about the ethnobotany of our region” / Website
- Tours run: Thursdays to Sundays, until September
- Duration: 2 hours, 10:00am to 12:00pm
- Price: $39
- Meeting Place: Stanley Park Bus Loop, Rose Garden Lane
Of course there are always sightseeing tours too. Whatever you choose, take some photos along the way and share them with the #Photos604 tag on Instagram to let me know how your tour adventures went this summer.
A taco is the best summer snack. It’s a hand-held pocket of bright, tongue-tingling flavours served up with fresh, local ingredients that you can take on the go — as long as you have enough napkins handy to soak up whatever juicy, saucy goodness your taco purveyor has served up.
John and I area always on the lookout for a good taco selection and until recently, the best the folded and lime-drizzled creations have been few and far between. Lucky for us, Vancouver Foodster just released the results of their recent Vancouver Taco Challenge, a judged competition with a people’s choice element.
The Best Tacos in Vancouver
The Vancouver Foodster Taco Challenge included restaurants in Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from May 12th to June 5th, 2016 and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge.
1st Place: Little Mexico Cantina
Taco Canauhtli
Price: $10*
Description: Duck Confit (Carnitas) mashed comate, toasted seasoned pecans, on a handmade guajillo chile tortilla “a la Potosina” from the region of San Luis Potosi presented with a Pitaya brunoise dusted with jamaica (Habisus) flower petals, served with a black bean mousse and avocado mousse topped with a piloncillo chipotle sauce and a sprig of organic thyme.
Created by: Chef Roberto Lopez Lara
Offered: Available for Dinner only
Little Mexico Cantina (3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond)
2nd Place: (tie): Las Tortas
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco
Price: $13*
Description: As the Sharwarma: is the Taco al pastor’s culinary ancestor, I decided to make a fusion mix of traditional Lebanese and Mexican flavours. Red Snapper marinated in a mix of zattar, sumac spices & pomegranate molasses, panfried & served on top of fresh spinach, red & green cabbage, chipotle infused tajine, and crowned with fattoush pico de gallo & fresh avocado.
Created by: Chef Moises Toyber
Offered: All the time (11:30am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday)
Las Tortas (3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver)
2nd Place: (tie): Los Cuervos Taqueria
Tamarind Glazed Pork Belly
Price: $4.25*
Description: Tamarind glazed pork belly with lightly pickled cabbage and chicharrón.
Created by: Chef Gilles_L´Heureux
Offered: All the time.
Los Cuervos Taqueria (603 Kingsway, Vancouver)
3rd Place: (tie): Molli Café
Beef Tongue with almond sauce
Price: $3 (for 1 taco)*
Description: It is a simple taco but complex in flavors, since we used traditional Mexican techniques to elaborate the sauce. The tender and lean beef tongue blends really nice with the nutty and lightly spice of the sauce. We found that it was a good way to mix tradition with an odd part ingredient.
Created by: Chefs Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores
Offered: Monday to Saturday from noon to 7pm
Molli Café (1225 Burrard Street, Vancouver)
3rd Place: (tie): The Pressure Box
Pacific North West Tacos
Price: $12*
Description: aka salmon and bannock tacos with salt curred/cold smoked Ocean wise Keta Salmon, whipped citrus cream cheese, pea shoots, pickled onions.
Created by: Chef Scott Lesko
Offered: Tuesday to Thursday lunch; Friday/Saturday nights.
The Pressure Box Food Truck: Tuesday to Friday lunch at Georgia and Burrard and Saturday nights at 33 acres brewery. 5th and Quebec Wednesday lunch, 33 acres Wednesday lunch.
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Taco dishes were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
1st Place People’s Choice:
Taco Canauhtl: Little Mexico Cantina
2nd Place People’s Choice:
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco: Las Tortas
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Taco de Borrego en Mole Ahumado: El Santo
More Best Tacos in Vancouver
Want more recommendations? BC Living has a list of their top taco picks and that includes: Tacofino Commissary (their food truck is a lunchtime staple in downtown Vancouver), El Camino’s, Bandidas Taqueria, and La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop.
Finally, YELP has their own list of Vancouver’s Best Tacos (as curated by you) and the top 5 places are: Bandidas Taqueria, and La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop, Sal y Limón, Los Cuervos Taqueria Y Cantina, and The Mexican Antojitos Y Cantina.
* Prices are those quoted by Vancouver Foodster at time of publishing. Restaurant prices on location are always to be taken as the real price should they defer from those published here.
Begin the first weekend of summer with the 3rd Annual Sea to Sky Gondola Summer Solstice Celebration on Saturday, June 18th. From sunset yoga in the mountains to listening to live music on the scenic deck, there’s a little something for everyone including a full solstice experience with a natural vibe.
Sea to Sky Gondola Summer Solstice Celebration
Where: Sea to Sky Gondola (Summit)
When: Saturday, June 18, 2016 12:00pm to 11:30pm
Tickets: Purchase a regular day pass, or upgrade to a summer pass
There’s a music line-up that is sure to impress, featuring Cam Salay, The Walkens, Badgerchild and Ruckus Deluxe. For the evening, enjoy socializing with friends while listening to DJ’s as they spin to the magical skies of the setting sun. Other daytime activities include summer solstice arts and crafts such as wildflower crowns, crafting with Visuals, free guided hikes, axe throwing with THROWN and a painting demonstration on our Spirit deck. In the evening, Sea to Sky Gondola will host its first guided headlamp hike on the Wonderland Loop Trail.
Photo credit: Paul Bride
Win Tickets
I have a prize pack available for one lucky Miss604 reader and a guest to enjoy the Summer Solstice Celebration in this gorgeous location. The prize includes two day passes for Saturday, June 18th and a $50 food & beverage credit to the restaurant.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, June 13, 2016. Follow the Sea to Sky Gondola on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this beautiful attraction and special events.
Update The winner is Ria!
