There’s something very special about going to the theatre in Vancouver and something even more spectacular happens when that theatre experience takes place seaside, at sunset, on a gloriously warm summer night. Bard on the Beach returns this summer for its 27th season, with the white tents at Vanier Park hosting the award-winning Shakespeare Festival from June 3rd until September 24th.
Photo courtesy of Bard on the Beach.
Bard on the Beach Summer 2016
Play run dates and Special Events for 2016 are:
Romeo and Juliet
June 3 – September 23 (BMO Mainstage)
Opening Night Friday, June 10, 2016
The Merry Wives of Windsor
June 17 – September 24 (BMO Mainstage)
Opening Night Friday, June 24, 2016
Othello
June 24 – September 17 (Howard Family Stage)
Opening Night Thursday, July 7, 2016
Pericles
July 2 – September 18 (Howard Family Stage)
Opening Night Sunday, July 10, 2016
Bard-B-Q & Fireworks
Saturday, July 23, Wednesday July 27 & Saturday, July 30 at 5:00pm
Tickets from $95
Includes play, dinner, on-site entertainment including a world-champion pipe band, and exclusive fireworks viewing.
Chor Leoni
Mane Stage
Mondays, June 20 & 27 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Wine Wednesdays
July 13, August 10 & September 7 at 6:00pm.
$21 (must purchase play ticket for same evening)
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at Bard
Mondays, July 11 & 18 at 7:30pm
Opera & Arias: The Magic Flute
A costumed concert staging
Mondays, August 29 & September 5 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Exploring Shakespeare Talks
Delve deeper into each play’s story and background with Simon Fraser University’s Paul Budra. Saturdays, June 11 and 25, July 16 and August 13 at 11:00am.
Salon Series
July 18, August 29 and September 5 at 7:00pm
New this season, behind-the-scenes panel discussions.
Talkback Tuesdays
July 5 – August 30, 2016
Free post-show discussions following Tuesday performances in both theatres.
Family Nights
July 6, August 3 and August 31 at 6pm
Lively pre-show activities, family package pricing available.
Ticket prices for 2016 include all applicable fees and taxes and begin at $20 for every regular performance. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection; all seats are reserved and many performances sell out in advance. Book tickets through the Bard Box Office at (604) 739-0559, (toll free) 1-877-739-0559 or order online through the Bard website.
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Established in 1990, Bard is an annual summer festival with a mission to perform, explore and celebrate the genius of William Shakespeare, surrounded by the natural beauty of Vancouver, British Columbia. Play performances run Tuesday through Sunday with matinees on selected weekends and weekdays; numerous special events on Monday evenings. All evening performances start at 7:30pm. Follow Bard on the Beach on Facebook and Twitter.
Heritage Vancouver has released this year’s Top 10 Watch List, their 16th annual list that accompanied a bus tour this past weekend. This year they are seeing particular threats to neighbourhoods’ character, culture and history. They range from a loss of individual architecturally significant homes to single-family neighbourhoods, to the potential loss of entire communities along with those community nodes that hold them together.
Chinatown, False Creek, “The Drive” and areas of the Downtown East Side are all present on this year’s list. Each represents a unique piece of Vancouver’s history and remains the heart of distinct cultural communities, yet all are also facing the same threat: development pressure.
Schools continue to be threatened as several have just been demolished in the last few months — Sir Sandford Fleming has just been announced. Churches as well continue to grapple with declining congregations and revenues, and increasing land values. As the churches are sold for redevelopment, Vancouver loses crucial community gathering space.
Heritage Vancouver Top 10 Watch List for 2016
1. Bayview Community School (1913-14) – Heritage Schools
2. Crown Life Plaza (1978) – Recent Landmarks
3. Chinatown
4. Salvation Army Temple (1950) – Community Gathering Places
5. St. Stephen’s United Church (1964)
6. Red Light District of Alexander Street
7. Commercial Drive – Our Main Streets
8. Townley & Matheson homes – Demolition Derby
9. Vancouver College (1924, 1927, 1957)
10. False Creek South – The ideal planning community
Heritage Vancouver reports that it’s not all grim news. In 2015, the City of Vancouver introduced the Heritage Conservation Area policy tool, with the first HCA established in First Shaughnessy. We look forward to the selective use of this tool to manage threatened neighbourhoods well into the future.
2016 will see the continuation and implementation of the Heritage Action Plan, including Heritage Register and Building Code updates as well as recommendations to address the neighbourhood character crisis. There are many ways to participate in this ongoing process and Heritage Vancouver looks forward to seeing community members at their community engagement tours, lectures and events in support of Vancouver’s heritage. Follow Heritage Vancouver on Facebook for the latest news.
Sometimes I think about everything I need to juggle in life and I feel overwhelmed. However, I have to pause and consider that on top of all of that, I can’t even fathom also being responsible for four other little lives, like my sister. That’s when the image of a hero mom wearing a cape like Superman comes into my mind. Moms do so much and as a small token of our appreciation, we have (at least) one day a year to make it all about them.
This year, Sport Chek has put together a gift guide for active moms with sought-after items under $25, under $50, and under $100 to fit your budget and to bring a smile to mom’s face.
Mother’s Day Gifts from Sport Chek
My top pick under $25*: Why are socks typically thought of as a Father’s Day gift? For my last birthday I really did ask my mom for socks! I think she’d appreciate some sporty ones for herself too.
Whether it’s after a long day at work, out-and-about, or after a work out, help mom recover and relax with these massage items:
My top pick under $50*: For the yoga mom, running mom, and all around active mom, pick out some Urder Armour crop pants. For after hours, beach time, patio & wine time, casual wear and dresses are also a great pick for mom.
My top pick under $100*: Casual boat shoes (also great for patios, farmers markets, and hanging out with family in the backyard) are slip-on essential for summer. Of course we can always anticipate a few showers or foggy mornings now and then, so a shell jacket is the ultimate West Coast must-have.
Win a $200 Gift Card
Now that you have some inspiration, you can enter to win a $200 Sport Chek gift card! Here’s how:
- 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 on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 12:00pm. Follow Sport Chek on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
* Prices reflect those as-published online May 5, 2016 and may be subject to change.
Update The winner is Coral!
The Belmont Bar is celebrating National Caesar Day on May 14th by hosting a craft “Beezer” competition. A beezer is a Caesar made with, you guessed it, beer instead of hard liquor. Participating in the Battle of the Beezer are Driftwood Brewing; Persephone Brewing; Phillips Brewing Co.; and Russell Brewing.
Where: The Belmont Bar, 1006 Granville, Vancouver
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 3:00pm
Tickets: $10 at the door and include 4 Caesars
Judges for the beezer competition will be CAMRA Vancouver Board Members; Legacy Liquor Store’s expert, Chris Bonnallie; Craft Beer Pioneer Lundy Dale; Vancouver Brewery Tour’s Monica Frost.
Win Tickets to Battle of the Beezer at The Belmont
If you would like to attend, I have a 4-pack of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, May 9, 2016. Follow The Belmont on Facebook and Twitter for more information about special events.
Update The winner is JH!