Vancouver Magazine December/January 2024

HOME ADVANTAGE A Look Inside Trevor Linden’s Oceanfront Property p. 20

POPPING BOTTLES CHEERS THE NEW YEAR WITH BC’S BEST BUBBLES P. 60

$ 7. 9 9

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3/JA N UA R Y 2 0 24

A toast to the Preservatory’s breads and spreads.

24 THINGS

Collective Goods makes fishes come true.

Maxine’s fresh and earthy cocktail can’t be beet.

to eat and DRINK IN 2024

Tart imitates life at the pie hole.

Are you down to dine?

PM40065475

p. 29

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Beta 5 serves tender loving caramel.

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FA

Bosa

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ANNUAL IMPACT

$3,032,551

48,231

Value of food distributed to vulnerable families in our community

Food hampers distributed

23,000

3,000

Volunteer hours

People fed weekly

FAMILIES ARE WAITING. YOU CAN HELP TURN HUNGER INTO HOPE THIS SEASON.

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Contents DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 VOLUME 57 // NUMBER 1

Culture

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HOT TAKE

Embrace sparkle season with oh-so-glittery clothing, jewellery and accessories.

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THE DISRUPTOR

Communities love corner stores—so why don’t we have more of them

THE TICKET

A show that embraces the butt of the joke, plus more awesome local events.

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ON THE RISE

The latest local handmade denim apparel brand we’re obsessed with.

COME ON IN

The design team behind Trevor Linden’s home thought outside the box.

(COVER) CLINTON HUSSE Y, ST YLED BY L AWREN MONETA; (RISE UP) TANYA GOEHRING; (LINDEN) JANIS NICOL AY

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Contents

VANMAG.COM ceo and group publisher Ryan Benn

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 VOLUME 57 // NUMBER 1

group vp , publishing and operations Nina Wagner

editorial editorial director Anicka Quin

editors - in - chief Janine Verreault (Vancouver),

Nathan Caddell (BCBusiness)

managing editor Alyssa Hirose

assistant editors Kerri Donaldson, Rushmila Rahman editor - at - large Stacey McLachlan

wine and spirits editor Neal McLennan

contributing editors Frances Bula, Melissa Edwards,

Amanda Ross, Julie Van Rosendaal editorial intern Megan Zolorycki email mail@vanmag.com design senior art director Jenny Reed

art directors Stesha Ho, Edwin Pabellon

advisory council

Angus An, chef/owner, Maenam restaurant; Victoria Emslie, senior manager corporate relations, Nicola Wealth; Khelsilem, council chairperson, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw; Gary Pooni, president, Pooni Group; Jen Riley, VP brand and communications, Bosa Properties; Joseph Thompson, co-founder and COO, Kits Eyewear; Greg Zayadi, president, Rennie Group sales representation vp of sales Anna Lee

senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira

Hershcovitch, Amy LaJambe, Sheri Stubel email sales@canadawide.com production / administration director of operations Devin Steinberg

TREAT YOURSELF Pastries, coffee and ice cream made our list of 24 Things to Eat and Drink in 2024.

Read more on page 29.

vp of hr / admin Joy Ginete-Cockle

group vp , education and administration Jane Griffiths

production manager/digital ad coordinator Kim McLane production support technician Ina Bowerbank

Tracy McRitchie Kelly Kalirai

director of circulation circulation

executive assistant Hannah Dewar

publisher emeritus Peter Legge, OBC, LL.D (HON)

finance group vp , finance Conroy Ing, CPA, CMA

Features

Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski

vp of finance accounting

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024 51

24 60 62 6

CITY INFORMER

We go full tattletale on all of Vancouver’s sister cities.

THE WINE LIST

Bookmark this column for your next liquor run: we’re poppin’ bottles of bubbly.

NIGHTCAP

A pistachio-powered cocktail that’s zero-proof (or not).

We ate, we drank, we wrote it all down: Vanmag editors, chefs and restaurateurs share the food and bevvies you have to try in 2024. Think terrific tacos, incredible noodles and kickass hot sauces... this is a to-do list you’ll love getting done.

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REAL WEDDINGS

“Clean girl” makeup, over-the-top stationery and indoor-outdoor venues will rule the 2024 wedding world­—find more modern marriage trends here.

address Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C.

V5C 6S7

tel 604-299-7311

fax 604-299-9188

web vanmag.com email sales@canadawide.com

VANCOUVER MAGAZINE is published seven times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7. Phone 604-299-7311; fax 604-299-9188. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

Not responsible for unsolicited editorial material. Privacy Policy: On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points.

You can review our complete Privacy Policy at Vanmag.com. Indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia Ltd. and also in the Canadian Periodical Index. International standard serial no. ISSN 0380-9552. Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40068973. Printed in Canada

by Mitchell Press, 8328 Riverbend Ct, Burnaby, B.C. V3N 5C9. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

BC

(24 THINGS TO EAT & DRINK IN 2024) CLINTON HUSSE Y, ST YLED BY L AWREN MONETA; (STATIONERY) NATALIE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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(24 THINGS TO EAT & DRINK IN 2024) CLINTON HUSSE Y, ST YLED BY L AWREN MONETA; (STATIONERY) NATALIE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY

A home renovation shouldn’t actually take your breath away.

Asbestos exposure is the number one killer of workers in B.C. Everyone has a role to play in the safe removal and disposal of asbestos.

As of January 1, 2024, any contractor doing asbestos abatement work in your home must be licensed to do that work, and workers must be trained and certified.

Learn more at thinkasbestos.com

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Ed Note Coming Up Next Issue

Just Around the Corner

JANINE VERREAULT editor - in - chief jverreault @ canadawide . com

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Power 50 Don’t miss our yearly ranking of the people who shape this city. Our list will feature the influential individuals who moved the dial in 2023 and, for the first time ever, we’ll be introducing a hall of fame for an esteemed group of local legends.

City Informer Did you know that Vancouver’s official bird is the hummingbird? (Don’t worry: we thought it was the crow, too.) Our intrepid reporter investigates how this tiny creature became such a big deal.

On the Web 5 Things to Do in Vancouver This Week Looking to fill your calendar with fun stuff? Each week our assistant editor rounds up five fab things to do in the city, from comedy shows and art exhibits to music performances and more.

FOLLOW US ON @ janinej 9

PORTRAIT: TANYA GOEHRING, ST YLING BY MKKST YLING, HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALISHA HOPPS, SHOT AT NIGHTINGALE RESTAURANT

I was lucky enough to call two neighbourhoods home when I was a kid. Although I lived in North Burnaby, I spent at least three days a week at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Strathcona. It’s a community that’s near and dear to my heart: a place where I was the third generation to learn about my heritage through the performing arts and at an endless number of perogyfilled social events.

My mom was a dance teacher at what we lovingly call “the hall,” so I was forced to hang around for hours after my class—and when I eventually became an instructor myself, I had multiple breaks between sessions. For the most part, I spent those hours exploring the streets of Strathcona while on the hunt for snacks, which was also an opportunity to interact with my adopted community at all the neighbourhood’s corner stores.

Often, a whole gang of us decked out in dance gear would cross the alley from 805 East Pender to Henry’s Grocery at 842 East Hastings. (I can still see that iconic sign flanked by 7 Up logos and the description “Confectionery and Cooked Meats.”) While candy was our focus back then, what I remember most fondly now is the comforting smell of Chinese herbs, and a warm welcome from Henry himself as the bell over the door chimed when we entered each week.

Later, in our teens, we’d head the other direction to the market at 810 Union Street. There, we would grab a coffee and pick up house-made pizza and some Portuguese custard tarts to fuel us up for a long day of dancing. We’d chat with the regulars sitting out front at the tables and soak in the communal vibes of this neighbourhood hub. Sadly, Union Market closed in October of 2023.

While I now take my daughter to the local cafés-slash-corner-stores after her own Ukrainian dance rehearsals to carry on the tradition (Wilder Snail and Finch’s Tea House are current faves), there are fewer and fewer of these gathering spots still surviving. In this issue, we take a look at what the City of Vancouver is doing to help revive these cornerstones of our communities, and how we can help secure their vital role in fostering connection in our urban residential neighbourhoods.

We’d love to hear stories about your own favourite corner stores! Send us an email at mail@ vanmag.com, or DM us on Facebook (Vancouver Magazine) or Instagram (vanmag_com). And as this is our last edition of 2023 and first issue of 2024, I also want wish you all a very happy New Year.

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PORTRAIT: TANYA GOEHRING, ST YLING BY MKKST YLING, HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALISHA HOPPS, SHOT AT NIGHTINGALE RESTAURANT

FOR THE BEST SLEEP – EVER! • Triple-action, tri-layer tablets for immediate and gradual release • With 5-HTP and calming L-theanine • Contains sleep botanicals: valerian, passionflower, and hops • Promotes falling asleep quickly and improves sleep quality

SLEEP BETTER with Pick up a bottle today at your local London webbernaturals.

Drugs store! webbernaturals.com

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Culture

I

t’s time to sparkle as we kick off a new year: turn the page for the hottest in glittery fashion, and awesome events from folks who shine on stage. Plus, we uncover some family secrets (what’s up with Vancouver’s sister cities?), take a look inside Trevor Linden’s stunning seaside home and explore the modern plight of neighbourhood corner stores.

Silver Splendour This season, join the glitterati in Nué’s black sequinned Jade trousers ($1,210) and crystal-embellished Serenity corset handcrafted in Ukraine ($1,845). holtrenfrew.com

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Culture

Hot Take

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Grand Glam The days are getting darker, sure. But winter fashion brings the light with glitter and grace— here are our top picks. by

Amanda Ross

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NOW OPEN _ 6

The Only Vintage

1283 Davie St.

Originally an Etsy shop, The Only opened its mix of vintage and second-hand goods on Commercial Drive and, now this winter, on Davie Street. From plus sizes to 1960s suede Levi’s jackets, there’s a curated gem for everyone. theonlyvintage.com

1. Launching December 7, Vancouver-based Lover’s Tempo sets hearts free with the Flutter Heart holiday collection in cubic zirconia and gold/rhodium-plated brass. All under $60, loverstempo.com 2. Playing with scale and dimensionality, the open links of the new sterling silver Tiffany Forge collection symbolize the twists and turns of life. From $670, tiffany.ca 3. The Kendall small metallic leather shoulder bag is perfectly compact for glitzy evenings out. $298, michaelkors.ca 4. Step up your holiday parties in Christian Louboutin’s glam Condora Queen Plume stiletto in pink with studded heel. $2,475, holtrenfrew.com 5. With opal powder and argan oil, Clé de Peau’s Luminizing Face Enhancer diffuses and reflects light when swept across the face. $128, sephora.com 6. Make a list and check it twice because OPI’s Terribly Nice holiday nail polish collection offers 13 limited-edition metallic shades from rose gold to sparkly lavender glitter. $17, chatters.ca

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thoughtful is a trusted guide

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The Disruptor

Down on the Corner It’s no secret that Vancouverites want more corner stores... but will we ever get them?

by Stacey McLachlan

Sometimes, the answer to a question seems so obvious that it doesn’t even seem to merit a response. “How do you feel about corner stores?” is one—and yet, it’s a question the City of Vancouver keeps asking.

A public engagement survey went out this fall about Van14

couver’s corner stores, meant to explore how to support and possibly expand “small stores in residential neighbourhoods,” but with the queries came a sense of civic déjà vu: the city council put forward a proposal in 2020 to investigate the importance of these sort of spaces.

One visit to Wilder Snail, or Wayne Grocery, or Luigi and Sons to grab groceries, greet neighbours or while away the hours with a coffee, and it seems glaringly clear that these small businesses benefit their neighbourhoods in all sorts of ways.

So it is no surprise that both of the City’s corner-store research projects revealed an overwhelm-

ing support for both existing and future shops of this nature.

Each new council thinks they’re going to be the ones to crack the code of zoning, but really, is a questionnaire necessary? The magic of the neighbourhood corner store has been in front of us all along. The last question that remains is one that only the planning department can answer: what are you going to do about it?

Today, just 88 corner stores dot the Vancouver map, often in decades-old spaces. Typically located in residential areas, corner stores are designed to offer a mix of food, groceries, specialty items or services.

But in their purest form, these shops aren’t just an easy place to grab a jug of milk or a coffee; they’re also community hubs.

And in a country that experts say is suffering from a loneliness epidemic (a 2021 Stats Canada survey revealed that 40 percent of Canadians feel lonely some or all of the time), we need more of these communal spaces... not more surveys or proposals.

Rise Up Marketplace opened two years ago in the shell of East Vancouver’s iconic Vernon Grocer, reverently respecting the space’s convenience-store roots (there’s still five-cent candy here) while also filling in the gaps for its industrial-res-

PHOTOS BY TANYA GOEHRING

Culture

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PHOTOS BY TANYA GOEHRING

Meeting Place Corner stores like Rise Up aren’t just for grabbing pantry essentials or a quick bite: they’re vibrant neighbourhood hubs that foster community and connection.

idential neighbours. Owner Roger Collins also co-owns Calabash Bistro, and took on the corner-store project as a change of pace after a near-death car accident had him re-evaluating his work-life balance.

Now, he spends his days serving up hot sandwiches, Jamaican patties, fresh bread and espresso to regulars, and stocking the shelves with all the last-minute pantry essentials. Schoolkids pop by after class to grab chocolate bars; artists come by for lattes on their way to Parker Street Studios; work-from-home folks stroll down the block for a break and homemade soup for lunch. “People come through the door, and I know how they take their coffee, that they’re going to want jerk chicken for lunch,” says Collins. “Sometimes we’ll get to talking and realize two hours has gone by and they go, ‘Wait a second, I came for food.’”

Rise Up stocks locally made products, edible and otherwise: Kula Foods barbecue sauce sits on the shelves alongside pottery from a local ceramicist. Even the littlest neighbours have become regulars here. “I have a ton of new friends under the age of 12,” laughs Collins. “I feel blessed that the families who live here

feel so comfortable sending their kids to the store alone. They’ll come in their pajamas and play Pac-Man and hang out. It’s not your typical corporate chain.”

Over in Mount Pleasant, there’s Federal Store, which opened seven years ago, after a year and a half of struggling through permit application after permit application. The building

Sometimes we’ll get to talking and realize two hours has gone by and they go, ‘Wait a second, I came for food.’” (on the corner of 10th and Quebec) has been a bakery or corner store since the 1920s, so owners Colette Griffiths and Chris Allen had the rare opportunity to bring theiir unique business model onto an otherwise residential block. “We were met with resistance at first, talking about what we wanted to do,”

says Griffiths, explaining that the now community café was originally intended to be purely retail. She became a regular at the permit office, experiencing frustration on the daily: one City employee told her they couldn’t approve her grocery store until her design included an aisle, “because grocery stores have aisles.”

That, of course, was seven years ago. The (much smoother) opening of places like Rise Up now offers corner-store fans hope. This may be due to the fact the City streamlined corner-store zoning requirements in January 2021; hopefully, the results of this latest inquiry will strike down any more permitting slog holding other small entrepreneurs back. But we’ve got a ways to go to catch up to the corner-store heyday of the 1920s, when more than 200 of these shops were in operation.

For the aspiring corner-store operator, fate may ultimately lie in the hands of developers to create more of these types of spaces as they build mixed-use projects in residential areas.

After all, the City can do all the surveys it wants, and remove all the zoning restrictions it can... but if no one is actually building retail/café spaces off main commercial strips, then what good does any of that do?

Griffiths lived in Melbourne, Australia for a time—a place where this type of off-the-maindrag community café or shop is “a dime a dozen.”

“It offers a sense of discovery, and welcomes people to really engage with these neighbourhoods,” says Griffiths. “People there take it for granted, but you can really see what an effect it has on a neighbourhood.”

Though she herself lives just blocks away, it took opening Federal for her to really start meeting her neighbours. “It’s amazing how many people have just lived down the street from me for years, but we never got a chance to connect.”

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Culture

The Ticket

READY PLAYER ONE Vancouver conceptual artists Milton Lim and Patrick Blenkarn (pictured inset) have created a truly unique theatre experience that lets the audience take control.

Game On! Marx, Mario and audience control are at play in a video-gamebased interactive theatre experience that’s on another level.

by Franz Kafka, Karl Marx and Sonic the Hedgehog.

At this year’s Festival (January So who’s playing? “Some18 to February 4), video games times, we’ve seen audience and theatre converge in asses. members jump up and grab the masses, an immersive experience controller and have no idea how in which the audience holds to use it,” says Patrick Blenkarn, the reins—or, in this case, the the other creative mind behind controller. Co-creator Milton the production. The main Lim explains its essence like character is the audience and this: “It’s quite flexible... if you’ve every performance is a unique played Super Mario Bros., the experience that often includes first level teaches you how you chanting, cheering and playful might want to play it.” Instead of negotiation between audience Mushroom Kingdom (the main members—even filling strangers setting of Super Mario Bros.), in on what they missed when the participant navigates a they return from the washroom. post-industrial society as an un“We often describe asses.masses employed ass (the donkey kind). as this mix of a live movie maraSassy and political, the narrative thon and this sort of communalis best described as Animal Farm couch-co-op-meets-binge-watch,” meets Aesop’s Fables, but retold Blenkarn says.

by Kerri Donaldson

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an intermission and was like, ‘I only just realized how many ass jokes are in this. This is ridiculous,’” says Blenkarn. Their cheeky reply was, of course, “Thank you.”

For the full lineup of events at this year’s PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, visit pushfestival.ca.

ASSES.MASSES WHEN J anuary 20 and 27 and February 3 at 1 p.m.

WHERE Waterfront Theatre COST From $16.75

FRANCISCO CASTRO PIZZO

Sharing a passion for the relationship between form and theme, Blenkarn and Lim, after meeting at Simon Fraser University, teamed up to reimagine how audiences take in theatre. “Video games have been a huge part of culture for almost our entire lives,” Lim shares. Drawing from classics like Final Fantasy and Donkey Kong (the non-donkey kind), they’ve crafted a performance that resonates across generations—an intersection of play, politics and some sneaky wisecracking humour. “Actually, someone did come up to us at

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Culture

Events

New Cheer Calendar Here’s your mid-winterpost-holiday-Januaryblues rescue plan.

TASTE OF THE CITY: DINE OUT VANCOUVER WHEN January 17 to February 4 WHERE Various restaurants COST From $15 Treat our city’s rich and diverse culinary scene like a Costco sample table and taste as much as you can! For a few glorious weeks, restos around the city will be cooking up a special (read: cheaper) menu that includes a variety of dishes.

There’s no better time to finally check out that one restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, taste that steak tartare you haven’t been sure about, and figure out how long you can go without doing your own dishes. dineoutvancouver.com

FRANCISCO CASTRO PIZZO

TAKE UP SPACE Immersive Space Experience (top); Dine Out Vancouver (middle); Hot Chocolate Festival (bottom)

FRY FEST: LA POUTINE WEEK WHEN February 1 to 14 WHERE Various locations COST From $10 Taking place at participating restaurants across Canada, La Poutine Week is the largest poutine festival in the world (no surprise there—it is, after all, our unofficial national dish) and your one chance a year to enjoy various takes on the late-night Canadian snack staple (and vote for your favourite). This event pits local food spots (and the Vancouver Aquarium?) against each other to answer one question: who has the best fries-cheese-curds-and-gravy game in town. The winner? Us. lapoutineweek.com

THE NO-WHEAT MEET: GLUTEN FREE EXPO WHEN January 13 and 14 WHERE PNE Forum Building COST From $15 Can’t handle wheat? Then get those gluten-free buns down to the PNE for the Gluten Free Expo. Taste new foods, sample the latest products, try a workshop, talk with leading experts (including doctors and chefs)— and, mostly, feel connected to a community (while you ask them where to get the best non-gluten pizzas). glutenfreeexpo.ca COSMIC JOYRIDE: AN IMMERSIVE SPACE EXPERIENCE WHEN November 15 to January 17 WHERE Rocky Mountaineer COST From $35 It’s a NASA-inspired virtual jaunt into the cosmos! Board a digital International Space Station for a 360-degree peek into astronaut life. Moonwalk in virtual reality, tinker with space stuff and float into an eerie void with only orchestrated light and sound for company. theinfiniteexperience.world/ vancouver ROOTED HERE: WOVEN FROM THE LAND WHEN December 16 to May 12 WHERE Vancouver Art Gallery COST From $29 Explore the rich tapestries of Indigenous culture in this celebration of the craftsmanship of local Salish weavers.

Featuring artists such as Debra Sparrow, Willard “Buddy” Joseph, Siyam’ Janice George and Angela George, this exhibit binds culture and artistry in every thread. gallerieswest.ca/ events/rooted-here-woven-fromthe-land

CUP OF CHEER: HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL WHEN January 14 to February 14 WHERE Various locations COST Prices vary Try more than 140 cocoainspired offerings at 95 locations for the annual Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival. This month-long festival is dedicated to everyone’s fave cup of warm dessert, and it’s the perfect way to beat those chilly winter blues. hotchocolatefest.com FETCH SOME FUN: MEAN GIRLS WHEN January 23 to 28 WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre COST From $48 It’s the iconic Tina Fey-scribed movie but now in 3D (live!) and

with 95 percent more singing. (To be fair, the movie only has one singing scene: a legendary rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock.”) Come watch a musical that’s not like other musicals—it’s a cool musical. vancouvercivictheatres.com

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Culture

On the Rise

KidneyG

BUILT TO LAST With her background in interior design, Jennifer Ng (top right) designed her clothing line Givers and Takers to have an architectural vibe.

Daring Denim

Local handmade apparel brand Givers and Takers is suiting up to impress.

by Alyssa Hirose

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OUR FAVE _ The cropped shrug ($200) challenges everything you know about a “basic” shirt: it may be minimal, but it’s a statement piece.

Jennifer Ng says she doesn’t have any formal training in fashion—besides a few sewing courses, most of her schooling was in interior design. But she’s always had a love for clothing, and she quickly shifted her focus from interiors to apparel when she moved from the Philippines to Vancouver in 2019.

“I used to be a really avid shopper when I was younger,” Ng admits, “but now I’m a lot more conscious about my con-

sumption.” She began to value quality over quantity in her own closet, and translated those ethics into her slow-fashion brand Givers and Takers.

Ng’s handmade denim clothing embraces minimalism while striving for a specific structure and form—the striking shapes, clean lines and restrained colour palette give her garments an architectural vibe (so yes, that interior design background is still coming through). Her

work is inspired, in part, by suits: “When you suit up, all of a sudden you look so impressive—I’m bringing that quality into my clothing in a more modern way,” she explains.

The Mount Pleasant-based designer loves 100-percent cotton denim for its tactility and sturdy construction, and each of her shirts, kimonos, dresses and playsuits embraces the unique fabric. She’s a mindful material girl.

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SHOWROOM: 8585 123 St. Surrey, BC V3W 6E2 HOURS: M-F 8am – 4:30pm 604.590.5999 | sales@pacificartstone.com | pacificartstone.com @pacificartstone

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Culture

Come On In

THE BIG REVEAL A peek inside the Evoke– designed family home of hockey legend Trevor Linden.

by Stacey McLachlan

photos by Janis Nicolay

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a A SENSE OF PLACE Trevor Linden and his wife Cristina (inset) wanted to celebrate the seaside location of the house. “We wanted something West Coast, and contemporary, and with lots of glazing,” says Trevor. “Something that was special.” One of the things on their wish list? No drywall. Instead, you’ll find windows, board-formed concrete and wood.

I didn’t become a design writer just because I love beautiful spaces. I became a design writer because I love beautiful spaces and I’m incurably nosy.

So when this Evoke International Design project came across our desks, it was truly a dream assignment: a chance to finally see inside a house that for years had been leaving me dying to knock on its door. The fact that it happened to be the home of celebrated Vancouver entrepreneur and former NHL star Trevor Linden and his wife Cristina? I must’ve died and gone to lifestyle-journalist heaven.

As much as the Lindens are homegrown celebs, to me, their house is a star, too. I jog by it (or chase my toddler past it) two or three times a week, and it always makes me turn my head. The

(LINDENS) FRED LEE

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Come On In

c SOAK IT IN The primary ensuite overlooks the ocean— this Blu Bathworks tub offers the best viewing spot (above).

a intriguing, boxy volumes; the captivating, vertical pivot gate. Evoke principal David Nicolay created something truly special with this waterfront property, transforming a late ’60s ramshackle house into a cleverly designed modernist beauty. The Lindens had actually bought the property back in 2003: “It was a five-year plan that turned into 15,” says Trevor. But that 15-year project is one that, in the end, was well worth the wait.

“A lot of the time, when you have these grandiose ideas, you can be let down. But in this case, it was really the opposite,” says Trevor.

“It’s a home that’s better than I ever thought it could’ve been.”

It’s not the first time Nicolay and the Lindens have worked together: Evoke renovated the family’s Whistler home some years ago, and updated their Kelowna house as well. “Trevor always jokes that he has a knack for buying incredible locations and shoddy properties,” Nicolay

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says. This decades-old home on Vancouver’s west side was no different. “It was falling to pieces and seemed like one of those places that was built without a lot of floor plans,” Nicolay recalls. “There was a covered swimming pool on the ground level, and a lot of steps just to get to the front door.”

While some architects might have come in, wrecking balls a-blazing, to tear it all down and start from scratch, Nicolay saw a few advantages to renovating the existing space. Call it loophole architecture, if you will. “I knew there were lots of little areas that the City would have to count as floor area”—like that strange covered swimming pool—“and that the building as it stood featured big decks that went completely past the current building line. If you built a new house, they’d all have to be shifted back,” he says. Nicolay’s clever proposal wound up finding an extra 700 square feet that could be added

CLEAN SLATE The same basalt tile that runs through the home spills out into the patio and driveway, connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces.

b LET THE SUNSHINE IN The existing layout upstairs put some constraints on what was possible for the Evoke team, but in the end the quirky upper roof garden is part of what makes the upper floor so special. “We couldn’t change it, but that detail became such a blessing,” says Trevor.

“The big sliding doors open up and pocket into one wall... it’s such a cool space.”

The Lindens soak up the sun in Paola Lenti Shito lounge chairs; the side table is Paola Lenti, too.

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a STAY A WHILE The living room is anchored by a cozy Living Divani NeoWall sofa. The MDF Italia Tense Material dining table is surrounded

by Moroso Mathilda chairs. The kitchen counter stools (below left) are from Fredericia.

d ON DECK Cristina is a passionate cook (Trevor is the sous-chef and cleanup crew), and the family is always entertaining.

One June night, they threw the patio doors open wide and hosted 20-plus neighbours.

to the redesign. City permission granted, Nicolay and the team (including Trevor’s brother Jamie Linden, principal of Linden Construction) got to work gutting the interior and opening up the floor plan to create a serene, light-filled, 3,000-square-foot dream home.

The team at Evoke kept the interior palette simple, sticking almost exclusively to three materials: basalt floors, Douglas fir panelling on the walls and ceiling, and a luxe Italian marble that features prominently in the bathrooms.

The main floor is open and welcoming, the ideal space for

buzzy dinner parties. (Cristina is an avid cook—the Boffi kitchen accommodates her passion beautifully.) Oversized windows drink in the ocean views. Upstairs, you’ll find the bedrooms (and those same soothing materials), along with access to a screened roof garden: doors smoothly pocket away to create a seamless, sixand-a-half-metre-wide opening that brings in all-day light and fresh air into the house.

For Trevor, one of the most exciting things about the home lies below the surface. “All the mechanical is integrated,” he notes. “The vents, the lights,

the smoke detectors... I really love how clean the ceiling is; it’s so calming.”

Though this is a home that consistently stops me in my tracks, Nicolay calls the exterior “introverted.” And it’s true that part of what is so compelling about the facade is the quiet luxury at play. It’s not showy; never demanding. A custom extruded aluminum cladding with minimal glazing creates a quiet, sophisticated street-front presence. But the gently luxurious design features a few surprising high-tech engineering solutions.

The front gate swings up into the air; the entire wall of the

garage is designed to slide up out of the way. (It’s a mechanical feat that Nicolay credits to brother Linden. “Jamie never says no,” he laughs. “We needed a way to accommodate Trevor’s truck, and he MacGyvered some incredible solutions.”)

This is the Lindens’ third summer living here—a mere 20 years after getting the keys.

They’re always out on the driveway, chatting with passersby or hosting friends for taco night on the patio. “The more I’m here, the more I love being here,” says Trevor. And the more this nosy neighbour walks by, the more I love it, too.

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City Informer

Why Does Vancouver Have So Many Sister Cities? ... and what is our civic policy around sharing clothes?

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by

Stacey McLachlan illustration by

Byron Eggenschwiler

I learned recently that the city of Vancouver has not one, not two, but five sister cities. While I don’t have a sister, I am a sister (to my brother), which means I am well within my rights to say five is too many. It’s an enthusiasm for civic sorority that borders on hoarding.

If all of these sister cities were as hot and full of drama as the Kardashians, then maybe there would be a good reason to

collect so many. But the truth is, they’re all just pleasant, non-confrontational towns that give each other exchange students and commemorative statues. None of these cities would dream of spicing up Thanksgiving dinner by revealing that their bestie city kissed another sister city’s ex-boyfriend city. Boooooring! May as well have five brother cities!

But much like you don’t have any say about who your human siblings are (as I learned back in 1990 when I asked my mother to give birth to Winnie the Pooh’s Piglet instead of a little boy), Vancouverites simply have to accept the family we’ve been given. Odesa, Ukraine, was the original sister, coming into the Vancouver family back in 1944.

Yokohama, Japan, was next in 1965, before the middle child (Edinburgh, Scotland) was added in ’78. Guangzhou, China, joined in the mid-’80s, followed

by Los Angeles (U! S! A!) in 1986 —the Irish Twins in the family.

Each was added for a specific reason, in the context of their time. The sisterhood with Odesa, for instance, was born when Vancouver agreed to provide humanitarian aid during the Second World War, while L.A. was presumably onboarded because the Lakers were really sizzlin’ at the time.

Having a sister city is ultimately like having a sistersister, but instead of pretending you didn’t spill mustard on the sweater she told you not to borrow or fighting over whose turn it is to use the computer, sister cities swap civic information and embark on feel-good joint ventures. For cities to become official sisters,

AN in

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City Informer

the respective civic officials have to sign a memorandum of understanding—the municipal version of a blood pact. It’s not clear what happens if one of the sisters breaks the MOU, but I imagine the other city would be well within its right, legally speaking, to Go Tell Mom. (In this context: the United Nations?)

These sister city relationships were initially driven by local community groups that have all now shuttered (except for the ride-or-die Vancouver-Guangzhou Friendship Society), so in recent decades the City of Vancouver itself has had to take the lead in nurturing its relationships with its little siblings: coordinating official correspondence, responding to requests for information or assistance and organizing protocol meetings and special events where required. For any eldest sister reading this, these are tasks that likely feel hauntingly familiar. And perhaps city council is also fed up with carrying the emotional load of the family, because it recently set a dramatic boundary (someone’s been to therapy!), recommending that sister cities be reclassified as “friendship cities.”

This new Friendship City program is intended to facilitate city-to-city partnerships that are time limited, with measurable objectives. These programs are also intended to be run by nonprofits in both cities. All in all, the vibe may be less “BFF matching heart necklace” and more “we should definitely get coffee sometime,” but the tangible outcomes will hopefully make these relationships more beneficial than the bland, ceremonial sisterhood ever was. And with the success of this program, we can dream of the next great geomunicipal initiative, one that could finally deliver us the inane drama we crave in these troubled times: Frenemy Cities.

Got a question for City Informer? stacey.mclachlan@vanmag.com

2023-11-20 12:17 PM

Experience The Nordic Spa at Pacific Rim. The self-guided outdoor thermal spa offers a grounding journey of relaxation through extreme temperatures with a cedar plank sauna, cold plunge, hot tub and heated relaxation areas. fairmontpacificrim.com | @fairmontpacific

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Give cheer, get cheer.

Shop gift cards at cactusclubcafe.com

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024 Here’s a New Year’s resolution we can all get behind: chowing down on amazing local food at every opportunity we can get. From delicately seared salmon to kimchi double cheeseburgers, outside-the-box charcuterie to the best bottled, jarred and frozen goods, this is your guide to eating the city in 2024.

May the odds be ever in your flavour.

IMAGE CREDIT

by THE EDITORS

photography by CLINTON HUSSEY food styling by LAWREN MONETA

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024

Hot Mess Right Beer Right Now The bad news: by the time you read this, Mount Pleasant staple Brassneck may have moved on to a different variety of changeling (essentially a dark sour beer aged in wine or whisky barrels). That would be a shame, as the Muscat Changeling ($6.75 for 12 oz) is a truly wonderful blend of fruit, vanilla and oak that the team has been saving in barrels for about a year. The good news? Any of the rotating changelings are absolute must-drinks. brassneck.ca

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The challenge of eating Ophelia’s taco de carnitas ($5.50 each at happy hour) is part of the fun—the corn tortilla is loaded up with pork confit, plus fresh cilantro and chili de árbol salsa.

A squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of pickled onions later and you’re off to the races (just know your plate will likely be a casualty in the delicious chaos). opheliakitchen.ca

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Above Board Tawnshi is changing the board game (get it?) with their modern Indigenous charcuterie boxes (from $55). Trade out your standard cheese and crackers for soft bannock, salty smoked salmon and sweet cedar jelly, plus more adventurous eats to share— ever had a pickled milkweed pod? tawnshi.com

Toast Masters Anyone who thinks avo toast is overrated hasn’t tried a superior slice from the Preservatory Provisions and Toast Bar (toasts range from $5 to $14). Choose your own (bread) adventure from fresh loaves including house sourdough, brioche and sprouted rye, then pick from set menu combos like ricotta with raspberry merlot and peppercorn preserves (shown here), salmon lox with salted lemon and nori preserves or prosciutto and burrata with figs and walnut wine preserves (top left). preservatorytoastbar.com

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024 MAXINE’S Late Harvest cocktail

CRACK ON Crack sandwich

Pickles with a Kick

HARRY’S HOBBS FUN FACT: When Harry Styles visited Vancouver in November, he was spotted eating pickles at Hobbs... it’s a sign of the brines.

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You could norm it up and serve your caesars with a celery stalk or an asparagus spear— or you could wow your brunch guests with New York-style Hobbs horseradish pickles ($10). Don’t forget a splash of brine in the drink itself, too.

Not into the heat? Hobbs’s Granville Island tasting bar is also an excellent place to learn whether you’re a full-sour, half-sour or kosher-dill kind of person. hobbspickles.com

The Shake Up Street Hawker has only been around since the spring of 2023, but the counter-service burger joint has already made its mark on Main Street: the indulgent menu puts a Southeast Asian spin on the grill. The kimchi burger ($15.45) is a beast constructed from a pair of Two Rivers beef patties, American cheese, bacon and everyone’s favourite fermented Korean veggies. streethawker.ca

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j.c.’s PICK We Got the Beet It’s an Old Fashioned with a pretty and purple twist. Maxine’s Late Harvest cocktail ($18) starts with high-proof Wild Turkey 101—so it’ll quickly warm you up on a chilly winter night—and then made bright, lively and just a little earthy thanks to housemade beet shrub. With a dash or two of Fee’s celery and black walnut bitters, plus a twist of orange peel, this is the drink you want to both start and end the night with. maxinescafebar.com

Just Yolking A runny fried egg, melty havarti, candied jalapeño and sweet tomato relish— other than choosing between maple sausage or a generous cut of bacon, the only decision you’ll need to make when it comes to Crack On’s Crack sandwich ($15) is what surface to take that post-sammy nap on. crackonvan.ca

Use Your Noodle “The tajarin with aged butter and quantum beef seasoning ($30) from Elephant is brilliant. It may seem like a simple plate of noodles with butter, but the complexity is hidden in the technique. The pasta dough is very rich with egg yolk, and the chef spends extra time drying the sheets until they almost look like leather. Then, they skillfully cut them into thin noodles, blanch them and finish the cooking in this umami bomb of aged butter sauce with a beef seasoning that has the same quality as a good fish sauce.

Absolutely delicious.”—J-C Poirier, chef/ owner of St. Lawrence

ELEPHANT Tajarin with aged butter and quantum beef seasoning

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024

When Lemon Met Salmon With its lighter and brighter West Coast spin on the dish that made Julia Child fall for French cuisine, Collective Goods’ salmon meunière ($20) is prepared so that every ingredient sings.

Organic king salmon is just barely seared and topped with fried caperberries, lemon caper vinaigrette and candied black pepper lemon—a combo that has you wanting to bite into each perfectly prepared ingredient on its own, and then together, and then on its own... you get the picture. collectivegoods.ca

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Not All Ramen We love instant ramen in all forms, but none quite nail the texture, taste and quality of a fresh bowl—except, that is, for Franklin Food Lab’s frozen spicy tonkotsu miso ramen ($15). There’s barely any prep involved (you don’t even have to add water), and the resulting soup is as good as it gets: thick, chewy noodles, big slices of pork chashu and bright corn and green onions. franklinfoodlab.ecwid.com

Family Recipe There’s comfort food, then there’s recipes from grandma—or, in this case, Anh and Chi founders Vincent and Amélie Nguyen’s grandma. Giant chunks of crab soufflé and hefty slices of tomato make up the bulk of the bún riêu cua ($28, also known as Grandma’s crab tomato noodle soup), but it’s also packed with fried tofu and vermicelli noodles... after all, Grandma wouldn’t let you go hungry. anhandchi.com

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024

Radical Refresher The best cocktails are all things to all people: sweet but not too sweet; boozy, but not so high-proof it knocks you off your barstool. Please Beverage Co.’s Mango Sticky Rice bottled cocktail ($5)—a heavenly, carbonated vodka-based concoction of mango, coconut, lime and pandan—adds one more impossible expectation to the list: it should taste like your dream vacation. enjoyplease.ca

Greatest in Garlic We challenge you to find a dish that wouldn’t be improved with a drizzle of Nuba’s famous Toum garlic sauce ($15). Dip it, spread it, squeeze it, and you’ve just given your meal a wallop of Lebanese flavour. Gorgeously garlicky but bright and lemony, too, this sauce left one usually eloquent editor struggling to articulate their feelings: “It’s just... so, so good.” nuba.ca

Wouldn’t It Be Spice Is it hot in here, or is it just Sriracha Revolver’s cilantro and lime sriracha (from $9)? It’s the green sauce to end all green sauces: refreshing, herb-y and, yes, pretty damn spicy. We use it to dress up eggs, chicken and soups—but the dish is dealer’s choice; it’s all good. sriracharevolver.com

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Holy Duck

IMAGE CREDIT

You’ll find a trifecta of duck in the arroz con pato ($65) from Vanmag’s 2023 Best New Restaurant award winner Suyo: there’s the slender slices of tender duck breast alongside confit duck leg, plus a duck egg with a picture-perfect jammy yolk. (That counts, right?) A bed of vibrant green cilantro-beer rice makes the perfect nest. suyo.ca

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MIKI’S PICK

24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024

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Ready Set Go “The Morning Set ($16.95) at Yama Café—baked salmon or mackerel, pickles, veggie sides, onsen tamago rice and miso—is classic and comforting.

I probably go twice a week for it! This dish is super reasonably priced and really filling. The restaurant is family owned, and you can often spot their two young sons running around. Yama-san has been a chef at many Japanese spots around the city and his classical training/technique is so underrated.”—Miki Ellis, co-owner of Elephant, Dachi and Hanai

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ALLISON KUHL

All Torn Up Chef Michael Robbins’s menu at AnnaLena changes every month or so (that’s part of the innovation that earned him Chef of the Year at our 2023 Restaurant Awards), but one item persists: the torn bread (available as part of the tasting menu, $112). The hefty, buttery, perfectly toasted bread usually sits in a savoury, comforting broth— this restaurant may serve elevated fare, but double-dipping is still encouraged. annalena.ca

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24 THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK IN 2024

Get Your Goat Forget about the latest scandalous celebrity couple. Let’s talk about the hottest pair of all: fruit and cheese.

Just Another’s guava and goat cheese turnover—the pastelillo de guyaba ($5.50)—is packed with a savoury-sweet combo and wrapped in a beautiful buttery crust. The ideal triangular treat. instagram.com/ wearejustanother

A Pop of the Past Childhood called in with an upgrade: no toaster strudel compares to the Pie Hole’s sour cherry pop tart ($5.50). This pastry’s flaky goodness, jam-packed berry freshness and pop-art pink icing practically screams nostalgia. Breakfast?

Dessert? Mid-life crisis snack? All of the above. thepiehole.com

Power Puff Beta 5 opens at 10 a.m., something everyone seems to know—a line weaves down the parking lot long before opening. If that’s not enough to convince you that their cream puffs are next level, then the salted caramel cream puff ($9) should seal the deal. It’s stunning inside (hello, salted caramel Chantilly cream) and out (it’s topped with caramel mousse, salted caramel sauce and a touch of flaky sea salt). beta5chocolates.com

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Melty Madness If you’ve never had Lebanese ice cream, this is your sign to try it— and if your palate has been graced by the creamy, elastic-y, wildly fresh treat, this is your sign to do it all over again. The folks at Le Parfait don’t limit how many flavours of ice cream (from $6) you get, so we recommend packing your cone with pistachio, rosewater and ashta scoops. leparfait.ca

PAUL’S PICK Bean There

STEVE’S PICK Bowl Over “The cereal milk cream doughnut ($5.50) from Mello is one of the best ones that I’ve tasted. It’s nice and fluffy, and there’s a bit of chewy texture to the dough, almost like mochi. The custard is not overly sweet and it’s very refreshing. The cornflakes add a crunchy, crispy texture on top of it all.”—Steve Kuan, chef/owner of Torafuku

“I think Timbertrain Coffee Roasters is a hidden gem with really great practices. The level to which they roast and prepare is fantastic; they really care and it shows in their final product. I love a good cappuccino ($4.75) on a quiet weekday afternoon for a quick escape. Hats off to Timbertrain.”

—Paul Grunberg, owner of Banda Volpi Hospitality

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WINNER OF 21

Vancouver Magazine Awards Best of Nearby Fields, Pastures and Pristine Waters

C el ebra t in g 43 Year s whistler | 4222 VILLAGE SQ | araxi.com

WINNER OF 19

Vancouver Magazine Awards Ita l i a n Cucin a

VANCOUVER | 1154 ROBSON ST | CINCIN.NET

Celebr atin g 34 Year s

Celebrating our Ocean’s Harvest

WINNER OF 34 Vancouver Magazine Awards Celebrating 27 Years VANCOUVER | 1095 HAMILTON ST | bluewatercafe.net

S p an ish- in sp ir ed T a p as & C r a f t Co ck t a i l s whistler | 4222 VILLAGE SQ | BAROSO.CA

Celebrating 9 Years

VANCOUVER | 111 9 HAMILTON ST | luigiandsons.com

Celebrating 2 Years

Cu c i n a I t a l i a n a new york | 100 east 19th street | carlottonewyork.com

Celebrating 1 Year

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

WINNER OF 6

Vancouver Magazine Awards Wood-fired Grill

Including best steakhouse 2023 & sommelier of the year 2023

VANCOUVER | 1109 HAMILTON ST | ELISASTEAK.COM

Ce l e b r at i n g 6 Ye ar s

L O C A L LY & G L O B A L LY S O U R C E D

SEAFOOD, SUSHI & RAW BAR Ce l e b r at i n g 5 Ye ars NEW YORK | 233 park ave s | oceansnewyork.com

WINNER OF 2

Vancouver Magazine AwardS Chocolaterie, Patisserie, Café 1059 ALBERNI ST | 265 e 10th avenue | 1343 bellevue ave | THIERRYCHOCOLATES.COm

Celebrating 13 Years

A Modern Interpretation of Italian Classics

WHISTLER’S ICONIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT Celebrating 43 Years whistler | 4242 VILLAGE STR | ILCAMINETTO.CA

Memorable West Coast cuisine from local and global shores

Celebrating 1 Year victoria | 1525 douglas st | marilenacafe.com

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

CRAVING A REAL TASTE OF SPAIN? Find it at ¿CÓMO? TAPERIA in Vancouver Restaurants from Spain Certification Program recognizes and supports restaurant initiatives around the globe focused on authentic cuisine and produce produce from Spain that guarantee the quality standards of these establishments. The idea behind this initiative is to provide the consumer with quality standards and criteria to find the real experience when looking for authentic Spanish cuisine and produce. These restaurants are excellent examples to other businesses that wish to offer Spain on a plate around the world.

comotaperia.com foodswinesfromspain.com Eligible for co-financing with European Union Funds

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

@sushihil_restaurant 3330 Main StMain Vancouver BC V5V | 236.482.9060 | | @sushihil_restaurant 3330 St Vancouver BC 3M7 V5V 3M7 | 236.482.9060

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

FLAVOR OF TASTY

WEEKLY COCKTAIL FEATURES INSPIRED BY THE SILK ROAD

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

an uncompromising standard of excellence

MICHELIN

RECOMMENDED

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VANCOUVER MAGAZINE AWARDS

CANADIAN CULINARY CHAMPION CHEF ROGER MA

CANADA’S BEST PASTRY CHEF CHEF KENTA TAKAHASHI

IRON CHEF CHAMPION CHEF ALEX CHEN

845 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC | 604-642-2900 | Reservations

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

R E S TA U R A N T - B A R

DUY NGUYEN PHOTOGRAPHY (@duy_photography)

The origin of Mnimes is inspired by memories of friends and family sitting around the table, enjoying delectable plates of food, filled with laughter and smiles.

To us, this is what great food is all about: sharing our cherished memories of exceptional Greek cuisine and experiencing it with your loved ones.

When you visit Mnimes, you can expect authentic Greek cuisine with a creative twist, presented with an upscale flair. Embark on an unforgettable culinary journey through the enchanting flavors of Greece. From mouthwatering lamb chops to the irresistible moussaka, our menu is a tribute to traditional Greek cuisine.

6459 VICTORIA DRIVE VANCOUVER BC V5P 3X5

Owners, Jennifer Hoy and Manos Grammatikogiannis opened Mnimes with the goal of creating an authentic Greek experience unique to Vancouver’s food scene.

778 980-8880 MNIMESRESTAURANTBAR.CA

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JOIN US AS WE TOAST AND CELEBRATE THIS YEAR’S WINNERS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 ST, 2024 HOSTED BY

TERMINAL CITY CLUB 837 W HASTINGS ST SPONSORED BY

VISIT VANMAG.COM/EVENTS FOR DETAILS p42-49_RestGuide.DecJan2024.indd VM/BCB_Power 50_Fullpage.indd 1 49

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Be part of the legacy with your dream wedding at the iconic Castle in the City. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has hosted the city’s most memorable events since 1939.

Offering an unparalleled blend of opulent spaces, extraordinary cuisine, expert service, and luxurious accommodations for weddings or elopements of all sizes, learn more at fairmont-hotel-vancouver.com

Image by Amrit Photography

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From the editors of

magazine

The Hottest Wedding Trends for 2024 Industry insiders reveal what couples are loving right now.

by MEGAN ZOLORYCKI

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BREAKING WITH CONVENTION Bridal pantsuits, trenches and mini dresses are becoming more and more popular with the modern bride.

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(SOHA) THE COLLECTIVE YOU; (WRIT TEN WORD CALLIGRAPHY) NATALIE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY; (PHOTOBOOTH) SIGNATURE BOOTHS

After nearly four years of onagain-off-again pandemic weddings, the 2024 season is celebrating elevated themes, personalized touches and a whole lot of making up for lost time.

“Couples aren’t taking anything for granted anymore: showers, rehearsal dinners and brunches are becoming much grander,” says Soha Lavin (pictured), principal and founder of CountDown Events. We caught up with Lavin and a few more top wedding vendors in the city to get their pro insights into what’s new in nuptials as we kick off 2024.

c EL ABORATE ENVELOPES Want your guests to RSVP asap? Karla Lim, owner of Written Word Calligraphy and author of Creative Calligraphy Made Easy, says she’s seeing an increasing number of requests for envelope liners that provide that wow factor. Think: watercolour or a beautiful pattern. Make it even more impressive with a dried flower wax seal. writtenwordcalligraphy.com

PHOTOGRAPHIC b MEMORIES We know that guests love to snap pics of themselves while they’re dressed to impress—making photobooths a fun and interactive wedding-day offering.

But why not take it to the next level? “Elevate the photobooth experience by framing your guests’ photos while they’re eating dinner,” says Lavin. “This way they’ll have a meaningful keepsake to bring home with them.” countdownevents.com

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(SOHA) THE COLLECTIVE YOU; (WRIT TEN WORD CALLIGRAPHY) NATALIE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY; (PHOTOBOOTH) SIGNATURE BOOTHS

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COFFEE BREAK “Modern couples are seeking unique yet romantic alternatives for flowers, steering clear of traditional blush and pink themes,” says Heather Siu, co-founder and sales director for Vancouver’s Myrtle et Olive luxury florals. “Using tinting techniques, traditional blooms like lisianthus, tulips, sweet peas and peonies can be dyed to create bouquets in gorgeous caffe latte shades.” myrtleetolive.com 54

HOMEGROWN b “Brides and grooms are shying away from imported florals and favouring those that are seasonably appropriate,” says Genevieve Blondin, owner of East Van’s Garden Party Flowers.

Throughout summer, gardenias, dahlias and hydrangeas are available, but even in winter, blooms like carnations, roses and pansies are grown locally. gardenpartyflowers.ca

GARDEN PART Y Bring the outdoors in this season! According to Lavin, we can expect to see “colourful garden themes that bring in natural elements such as treelike structures.” And for couples who want it all on their big day, venues like the JW Marriott Parq—where there’s access to both indoor and outdoor spaces (for example, a ballroom with an adjoining patio)—are in high demand. parqvancouver.com/ hotels/jw-marriott

(MYRTLE ET OLIVE) K ATIE GRANT; (JW MARRIOT T PARQ) NADIA HUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

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The perfect place for your next event The City of Burnaby features some extraordinary venues with catering packages that are perfect for meetings, corporate events, workshops, conferences, staff parties and weddings.

(MYRTLE ET OLIVE) K ATIE GRANT; (JW MARRIOT T PARQ) NADIA HUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

With many locations to choose from and a range of packages to fit your budget, let us make your event one to remember.

Riverway Clubhouse

FoodBurnaby.ca | mintara_burnaby

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BOOK A TOUR OF OUR VENUES TODAY! Email us at food@burnaby.ca

Mintara atop Burnaby Mountain

foodburnaby riverwayclubhouse

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microdermabrasion and micro-current to get a radiant complexion for their big day.” theoryandessence.com

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FRESH FACED b Throw away your matte lipsticks and glitter eyeshadow pots because this year’s makeup looks are all about giving soft and dreamy. Vancouver hair and makeup artist Alisha Hopps says a flushed, dewy complexion with a soft shimmer on the eyes and a glossy lip is hot for 2024.

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HAIR GOALS We all know the “clean girl” aesthetic has been on trend for a while, but now it’s influencing wedding hairstyles, too. “Hailey Bieber’s and Sofia Richie’s wedding looks are going viral; buns are sleek and clean,” says Hopps. alishahopps.com

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PREP TIME “Flawless skin will always be on trend,” says Naz Shahbazi, co-founder and director of Theory and Essence medi-spa in North Vancouver. “More brides are wanting facials that incorporate technology such as LED light treatment,

EVERL ASTING LOVE Accessories are an important final touch, and more brides are looking to invest in jewellery they can wear beyond the big day. Tempête’s stunning Trois Pearl Flower ($260, pictured left) earrings make both a fashion and eco-friendly statement.

“The 14-karat-filled chain and wire ensure exceptional quality and durability, enabling brides to enjoy these pieces long after their wedding,” says Avedyan. tempetebrand.com

COURTESY OF BLUSH PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF ALISHA HOPPS

MORE IS MORE Make sure to schedule an outfit change in your itinerary because reception dresses are making a comeback. Rituals of Love bridal stylist and marketing manager Biljana Susic says short reception and convertible dresses will be trending in 2024. Inga Avedyan, owner of Tempête bridal fashions, echoes that sentiment: “Second looks are gaining popularity, as are bridal pantsuits, mini dresses and bridal trenches for the cooler seasons.” rituals oflovebridal.com

c DON’T STRIKE A POSE The goal for wedding photography right now?

Documenting those spontaneous, unscripted memories.

“With this more candid and documentary-style trend, we’ve seen more intentionally blurry and black-and-white photos in an attempt to capture the feeling of a moment,” says Kristy Ryan from Blush Photography. blushwedding photography.org

WEDDING NIGHT ROMANCE Christine Morton of Vancouver-based Christine Lingerie notes that many of this year’s bridal gown trends have made their way into the boudoir as well. “For the minimalist bride, we’re seeing a lot of sleek, clean, classic silhouettes but with a ’90s twist,” she says.

“The maximalist bride is pairing traditional silhouettes with beautiful prints, elegant laces and dramatic separates.” christinelingerie.com

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MASAY

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There’s always something to celebrate! and we love celebrating!

COURTESY OF BLUSH PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF ALISHA HOPPS

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VanMag’s editors bring you the hottest local events, restaurant reviews, getaway guides and more.

VanMag’s editors bring you the hottest local events, restaurant reviews, getaway guides and more.

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also notes that many couples are “steering away from plated dinners, and instead hosting dinner stations, allowing for mingling, grazing and more time to interact with guests.” peakeofcatering.com MIDNIGHT MUNCHIES It’s important to ensure that guests are well fed after dancing the night away (and maybe enjoying a few too many cocktails). “Late-night snacks are in high demand,” says Chan. “Couples are wanting to finish the night with some fun stuff: tacos, sliders, mac and cheese and even s’mores stations.”

c DINING DETAILS “Customized menus are popular,” says Peake Catering’s executive chef Michael Chan.

“Often, couples have favourites they’ve discovered from their travels and want to have them available for their reception. A couple from the U.K. recently asked for a bangers and mash station, while another asked for Hong Kong curry fish balls.” He

a

OCEAN PEARL What says West Coast wedding better than a fresh oyster bar? Fanny Bay Oysters is now offering a Cajun seafood boil and paella on their catering menu to give your wedding that authentic coastal vibe. fannybay oysters.com ALCOHOL-FREE FUN Say goodbye to post-reception hangovers now that low-proof and zero-proof

spirits are widely available.

Lavin says that non-alcoholic stations are continuing to trend into 2024 with booze-free wine and champagne as well as menus that include fun seasonal mocktails.

PICTURE-PERFECT DRINKS If you’re looking for a truly bespoke drink option, the Westin Bayshore has a fun offering. “With our new Ripples machine, we can create custom images on fabulous foamy beverages,” says Ayisha Rogalski, the hotel’s director of events.

“For example, we can feature a picture of the couple, a pet or a special quote.” marriott.com/ en-us/hotels/yvrwi-the-westin -bayshore-vancouver

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UPON REQUEST “A lot of our beloved wedding couples are creating their own Spotify and Apple Music playlists, which are a dream for us!” says DJ Leanne, owner and operator of GirlOnWax Entertainment. “This gives us a very broad insight into what music the couples love and helps us understand their musical tastes in a way that’s never been done before.” girlonwax.com

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“Planning a wedding can sometimes be overwhelming,” says Soha Lavin of CountDown Events, who also hosts the annual Crème de la Crème Grand Wedding Showcase. “Reputable wedding shows offer an opportunity for couples to meet wedding industry experts under one roof. It really helps springboard the planning process.” Here are a few local favourites to check out.

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LUXE WEDDING SOIRÉE January 27 Fairmont Pacific Rim Luxe Wedding Soirée (previously the Luxe Bridal Brunch) is making the move from a.m. to p.m. for a glam evening event this year. Up to 200 guests can enjoy cocktails and canapés, a fashion show and more in the Fairmont Pac Rim’s elegant Star Sapphire Ballroom. fleurdelisevents.ca

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME February 18 JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Marking its 17th year, this opulent bridal event includes a fashion show, trendsetting designs and a showcase of products and services. “You can meet vendors and see your dream dress in one day!” promises Lavin. cremedelacreme.ca

THE ORIGINAL BRIDAL SWAP March 10 Congregation Beth Israel Presented by DreamGroup Weddings and Events, this eco- and budget-friendly show allows couples to browse preloved wedding decor. Local craft artisans and exhibitors will also be onsite to provide inspiration for the big day. bridalswap.com

IMAGE CREDIT

GET INSPIRED

Ca

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Transcen

sponsored report

BEFORE

AFTER

YOUR DREAM SMILE, JUST IN TIME FOR WEDDING SEASON In the heart of downtown Vancouver, a premium clinic has become the epicentre for transformative smile makeovers, especially for future brides and global visitors seeking perfection for their special occasions.

IMAGE CREDIT

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ranscend Dentistry, led by the renowned prosthodontist Dr. Faraj Edher, specializes in cosmetic smile makeovers and full mouth reconstructions, merging unparalleled artistry with personalized care.

What sets Transcend Dentistry apart is its commitment to crafting unique smiles that harmonize with each individual’s personality and facial aesthetics. Dr. Edher and his team believe in elevating confidence from within by crafting the smile of their dreams for their special day and every day from then onwards.

This philosophy resonates deeply with bridesto-be, who dream of the perfect smile for their big day.

The clinic stands out for its multispecialty approach. It’s not just a haven for exceptional dental care, it is also a centre for comprehensive oral health. Alongside Dr. Edher, the clinic consists of a team of specialists, including periodontists skilled in aesthetic gum lifts and gum grafting, and an orthodontist for those requiring teeth straightening as part of their smile makeover.

Transcend Dentistry’s smile makeovers are

renowned for their individualized approach, starting with an in-depth consultation. Here, augmented reality and artificial intelligence play a crucial role, enabling facial scanning and virtual smile designs that preview the potential future smile for patients to see in real time before starting treatment. This fusion of technology and expertise ensures that patient desires are perfectly understood and met.

The creation of each restoration at Transcend Dentistry represents a harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology and craftsmanship. Employing computer-aided design along with 3D printing techniques, their team ensures each veneer is crafted with precision and care. This technological approach is seamlessly integrated with the skilled touch of world-class ceramists, who add the final, intricate touches to each piece. This synergy of technology and artistry ensures veneers that are not only technically perfect, but also aesthetically beautiful, creating exceptional outcomes for every client.

This commitment to technology and quality is why Transcend Dentistry has

BEFORE

AFTER

become a destination for clients from around the world. They seek not just a dental service, but an experience of uncompromising quality, care and excellence.

For those preparing for a wedding or any significant life event, Transcend Dentistry offers a personalized, one-on-one consultation, promising a journey towards a smile that transcends expectations. *All featured before and after photographs showcase real patients treated by Dr. Faraj Edher. Please note that the results shown are specific to each patient and may vary. Individual outcomes are influenced by personal circumstances and cannot be guaranteed.

To discover more about this unique experience and join an exclusive clientele, visit transcenddentistry.ca @transcend.dentistry

Canada Wide Media in partnership with Transcend Dentistry

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the

by

Neal McLennan

Best in the Fizz For more than a decade now, the B.C. wine industry has been engaged in an ongoing exercise of hand-wringing over what our “signature grape” should be.

New Zealand has sauvignon blanc, Argentina has malbec and we have... exceptional syrah, uber-serious riesling, elegant pinot and the list goes on.

The reality is that the intersection of diverse soils and wildly different climatic regions in B.C. means we can be really good at a lot of different wines. But if you asked me about our future, I’d say that in a world where the appetite for even middling prosecco seems rampant and where people have very quickly agreed that paying $80-plus for a bottle of English sparkling wine is entirely reasonable (it is, BTW), I look at what we can deliver and say yes, please. We’re headed into the holidays now, so here’s your chance to test my premise that we have the potential to be one of the world’s great-value sparkling producers. Let’s pop some corks and find out.

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Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut, $32 I love the legendary Steller’s Jay, but for me, this is the wine that started the revolution: traditional method (like they do in Champagne), traditional grapes (chardonnay and pinot noir) and B.C. terroir coupled with the insane quality control of the Mavety family. The result is a revelation year after year: think fine bubbles and a toasty, complete mouthfeel that will go with almost any dish you serve. It’s a $32 bottle of wine that I get excited about every time. bluemountainwinery.com

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Lightning Rock Canyonview Blanc de Noirs 2021, $40 Let’s categorize this as second-wave bubble greatness: it’s been around less than a decade, but it’s putting a lower-intervention spin on the classics. The departure of founding winemaker Jordan Kubek (she moved to Pamplemousse Jus, where she makes excellent natty wine) could have been a problem, but the wine here is still vibrant and electric. This bottle of 100-percent pinot explodes in the glass with restrained energy. lightningrockwinery.com

3

Fitz Blanc de Blancs 2018, $45 The Fitzpatrick family’s sale of CedarCreek to Anthony von Mandl was one of those rare win-win deals. CedarCreek has moved to a new plateau of quality and the Fitzpatricks have used their money to develop one of the great sparkling-wine houses of Canada. You could close your eyes, randomly choose a bottle and be happy— they make five different types—but let’s go with this 100-percent chardonnay option and revel in its ethereal, linear elegance. Cheers to that. fitzwine.com

(MCLENNAN) CHANTAL BENNET T ILLUSTRATION

Wine List

GLASS TACKS Flutes are for flautists. Can we all agree to kibosh the shape, which is happy to sacrifice aroma and usability in the name of preserving bubbles? Those bubbles are only one element of sparkling wine’s appeal (Pepsi has bubbles): I’d much rather you use a normal white wine glass, but if you like that special sense of occasion, then Riedel’s entry-level Ouverture line will do the trick for less than $25 a stem. riedel.com

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(MCLENNAN) CHANTAL BENNET T ILLUSTRATION

Saturday Night! Feb 24, 2024

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Im B A G e

Culture

Nightcap TIPSY TIP _ Sweet Deal

If you’re going with store-bought pistachio syrup (no shame in that game), bartender Winnie Sun recommends the Monin brand, which you can find at the Gourmet Warehouse (gourmetwarehouse.ca).

THE CHASM-E-PISTA MOCKTAIL SERVES 1

2 oz Free Spirits Bourbon (for a boozy option, substitute 1½ oz Bulleit 10-Year-Old Bourbon and ½ oz cognac) 1½ oz Earl Grey tea ¾ oz pistachio syrup (see recipe, below, or tip above) ½ oz fresh strained lemon juice OPTIONAL: 1 egg white METHOD

1. Boil water. Steep one Earl Grey tea bag (or roughly 2 grams of loose leaf) until dark (4 to 5 minutes).

Let cool.

2. Add Earl Grey brew, bourbon and the rest of the ingredients to a shaker with ice to mix (or stir directly in the glass and add ice).

3. Top with whisked egg whites if you like foam.

PISTACHIO SYRUP

¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup filtered water ¾ cup pistachios, finely chopped 1 oz vanilla extract METHOD

New Year, New Sips 2024 is finally here! And what better way to embrace the season of fresh starts than with a mocktail that supports your Dry January goals. Zarak by Afghan Kitchen’s Chasm-e-Pista is like nothing you’ve tried before: it combines the citrusy zest of bergamot (courtesy of the infused Earl Grey) and the delicate earthy sweetness of pistachios. The result? A creamy cocktail that demands to be savoured, just like the moment. Here’s to new beginnings and a night of drinking you’ll remember!

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1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

2. Let simmer on low for 10 minutes.

3. In a blender or food processor, blend until smooth.

4. Run the liquid mix through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove particles.

5. Cool before refrigerating. Kept in the fridge, the syrup should be good for up to a week.

For more recipes, visit vanmag.com

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Im B A G ag eyo ift in nd at io n China Before Communism

A Performance That Truly Matters This is What You’ve Been Waiting for See the magnificence of China before communism. It’s a journey that will fill you with hope and inspiration—one you’ve longed for. Discover 5,000 years of wisdom, beauty, and wonder, live on stage.

“A life-affirming and life-changing experience.” —Stage Whispers ALL-NEW PROGRAM FROM NEW YORK • WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

Mar 20-25 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | 1-877-663-7469, 604-757-0355 Round-trip shuttle service is available for matinee shows from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, and White Rock.

ShenYun.com/Van

Presented by Falun Dafa Association of Vancouver

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