Vancouver Magazine September/October 2023

Formation Studio’s Saschie MacLeanMagbanua

Evan Rivers from Boom Pro Wrestling

Hannah Watkins for Murals Without Walls

Becki Chan of PechaKucha

supporting strong communities

Pooni Group and Celeste Ziegler are proud to support the above charities, non-profits and schools. We encourage readers to learn more about these organizations who work tirelessly to provide care and support to the Vancouver community and beyond.

Our scholarship program aims to help students achieve their educational goals. We have partnered with these schools to create awards that support their academic pursuits.

We want to thank all of the staff and faculty members who have guided us and helped us build the foundations of these programs.

BEST PART OF THE JOURNEY IN ISTANBUL STOPOVER

HOT TAKE

Shoes, makeup, accessories and more for living your best autumnal life—plus a new suitcase store to hit up.

ON THE RISE

For statement earrings that your lobes will love: Scandinazn’s reclaimed leather ware is light and bright.

CITY INFORMER

Have you noticed that some of our street lights are blue? We have. And we know why.

TRAVEL

A pink-powered California itinerary, exactly as Palm Springs Barbie would do it.

Features

THE NAKED MAYOR

THE WINE LIST

Our new wine column uncorks three made-in-B.C. bottles to pour this season.

NIGHTCAP

From Nightshade, with love: a vegan cocktail that’s foamy—sans the egg whites.

It’s been a year since Ken Sim took the reins. What exactly has he changed, besides his pants?

WELCOME TO SO

FUN CITY

In a recreational rut? Here’s your jam-packed guide to Vancouver’s greatest people, places and events.

SANDOS IN THE CITY

From banh mi to bannock, we cover nine of the heartiest handhelds in town. Lunch is sorted.

ceo and group publisher Ryan Benn 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 Tanushi Bhatnagar 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; Gary Pooni, president, Pooni Group; Jen Riley, VP brand and communications, Bosa Properties; Joseph Thompson, co-founder and COO, Kits Eyewear; Khelsilem, council chairperson, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw; Greg Zayadi, president, Rennie Group

sales representation

vp of sales Anna Lee

senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira Hershcovitch, Charie G. Ilon, Amy LaJambe, Sheri Stubel sales specialist Roberto Diaz email sales@canadawide.com

production / administration

director of operations Devin Steinberg

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

director of circulation Tracy McRitchie

circulation Kelly Kalirai

executive assistant Hannah Dewar

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

finance

group vp , finance Conroy Ing, CPA, CMA vp of finance Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA

accounting Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski

address Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7 tel 604-299-7311 fax 604-299-9188 web vanmag.com

Making Our Own Fun

On a stunning day this past spring, I ran into one of the Arts Club’s musical directors while walking with my family along the False Creek seawall (more on why this is my favourite spot to be on page 42). As we excitedly chatted about the theatre company’s latest projects—at the time, they were about to kick off Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and plans were well underway for this year’s annual holiday production, Elf: The Musical we had a mutual moment of realization: there is simply so much to see and do in this city.

So I mentioned the theme we were already working on for this current issue of Vancouver—and, for whatever reason, I blurted out a lyric from that 1990s Pet Shop Boy’s hit, “Being Boring.” The key to never feeling bored, they sang— don’t be boring.

That lyric still resonates, especially when it comes to living in Vancouver. While we’re often called a no-fun or unfriendly city where there’s nothing to do and it’s impossible to meet people, you really don’t have to look far to find plenty of ways to stay social and keep yourself entertained. And we’re here to prove it.

To that end, we’ve dubbed this edition our So Fun City issue, which in essence has become a love letter to our hometown. It’s packed (and I mean packed!) with dozens of the inspirational changemakers and dynamic events that are contributing to a sense of connection and celebration within our communities. We recognize these influential people and fun-filled gatherings starting on page 37, and along the way we’ll reveal how to fill your calendar in the days, weeks and months to come.

That said, we’re not ignoring the many serious and complex issues this city is facing, so exactly one year after he rode his “a better city” platform to the mayor’s seat, we catch up with Ken Sim to see which promises he’s kept and which ones he’s still working on. Award-winning journalist Matt O’Grady followed the mayor for months to put together this deep dive into Sim’s political career, his early family life and so much more.

I hope you’ll find something in this issue that helps you fall in love with Vancouver all over again. And if you still think this city is no fun, why not do something to change it? Get involved. Join or start a club. Support the arts. Go to a game. Run for local office (or, at the very least, vote!). Refuse to be boring. Ultimately, it’s on all of us to make this city what we want it to be.

Coming Up Next Issue

Holiday Gift Guide

Our annual gift guide edition is back and we’re rounding up the perfect presents for everyone on your list. Our editors promise to make your holiday shopping experience quick and painless by recommending the best online stores and our fave brick-andmortar destinations in town (plus a cocktail or three along the way).

Winter Getaways

Looking to escape during the holiday season? From an ice walk in Jasper to a foodie tour on the Sunshine Coast, we’re sharing some of our favourite travel itineraries and revealing the best places to eat, stay and play while you’re away.

On the Web

The Best Things I Ate All Week

Our insatiable food editor highlights the most delicious dishes in the city. Whether you’re craving buttermilk fried chicken, crab cakes, yellow curry zucchini or Lebanese ice cream, this column will have you drooling.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE BC & YUKON IS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AND IS CALLING ON ITS COMMUNITY TO UNITE UNDER ONE BADGE!

How do you drive donations when money is tight, and in a country with over 86,000 charities to choose from? You take inspiration from sports, where brands fight to sponsor you and the community rallies together in support.

So for our 40th Anniversary this year, we are calling on our supporters, volunteers and community to unite as one team, just like a Football Club: WE BECOME RMH UNITED!

Since 1983, our House has been giving sick children the healing power of being together with family but still, we’re forced to turn away over 500+ families each year.

BC&

For us to help these families, it takes each one of you! Support RMH BC & Yukon (aka RMH United) and ensure no family has to stand alone.

VISIT SUPPORTOURDREAM.CA TO DONATE OR BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!

Culture

Something for everyone? Okay, you got it. Turn the page for the latest autumn fashion, itinerary for a pretty-in-pink Barbiecore vacay and an interview with the local artisan turning used leather into playful jewellery. Oh, and if you’re wondering why some streetlights in Vancouver are blue, we answer that question, too.

Making

Scents

cOne of the world’s oldest—and greenest—beauty companies, Guerlain launches its unisex Tobacco and Honey perfume in notes of tobacco leaf, leather, smoke, chocolate and wood. From $470/100 ml, exclusively at holtrenfrew.com

Harvest Time

Plant

by Amanda Ross

NOW

Monos

2131 W 4th Ave. Vancouver-based luxury luggage upstart Monos’s first brick-and-mortar store showcases minimalist, functional luggage that won’t break the bank—and comes with a lifetime warranty. monos.com

in Bluesign-certified biodegradable and moisture-wicking modal with seven pockets and adjustable reflective strips. $202, alderapparel.com 4. Step into fall with Canada Goose’s new Glacier Trail kicks in Sundial Orange featuring waterproof and temperature-regulating properties. $495, canadagoose.ca 5. Fall for the iconic Bubble 2 sofa by Sacha Lakic for Roche Bobois, now reimagined in three new ’70s teddy-style fabrics: olive, ochre and terracotta. From $13,740, roche-bobois.com

1. Crafted in 100-percent recycled fabric made from post-consumer water bottles, Herschel’s New Classics collection includes the Classic tote in Floral Revival. $48, herschel.ca 2. Keep summer’s glow on with Chanel’s Fall-Winter 2023 Douceur d’Équinoxe 797 embossed Beige et Corail blush. $90, chanel.com 3. Canada-based Alder Apparel’s size-inclusive and sustainable Open Air pants arrive crafted

6. Vancouver-based Duer’s brushed terry collared pullover is both cozy sweatshirt and elegant sweater all in one. $109, duer.ca

the seeds now and you’ll be reaping what you sowed all season long in fall shades of red, orange and yellow.

best in design

Get Inspired. See new products. Experience immersive installations. Shop the show.

Vancouver Convention Centre

Sponsors

IDSVancouver.ca

Opening Night Party Sept 21

Trade Day & Conference Sept 22

Trade & Public Days Sept 23-24

OBAKKI

Culture On the Rise

Light as a Leather

The jewellery designer behind Scandinazn makes a bold statement and a small footprint.

by Alyssa Hirose

They say beauty is pain, and anyone who has worn a pair of heavy, jaw-dropping statement earrings would likely agree. Daring accessories that push the boundaries of style often do

the same when it comes to comfort: big jewellery is a big burden on the ol’ earlobes. But the earrings that Vancouver-based Jamie Carlson is making have style that punches far above their weight class.

The answer, for Carlson, is leather. It’s a versatile, long-lasting and feather-light material that makes it the perfect medium for her playful, eccentric designs. Carlson uses leather that has been upcycled from community donations and thrift stores, meaning that your soon-to-be-favourite pair

OUR

According to Carlson, some say the wakame seaweed hoops ($48) remind them of Matisse, others of Spongebob: regardlesss of what camp you’re in, they’re delightfully distinct.

of neon purple, asymmetrical squiggle earrings may have lived a past life as a leather jacket or a handbag. “I like the idea of repurposing something that’s going to be discarded,” says Carlson.

Her studio, Scandinazn, is wordplay that references her mixed heritage—Swedish and Japanese—and that background comes through in her design sensibility: clean, curvilinear silhouettes mix with bright colours and whimsical patterns (think acid-green wakame, confetti-freckled

teardrops and psychedelic strawberries). She uses a flexible, waterproof and leather-specific acrylic paint to splash brilliant hues atop the secondhand material, letting the original texture shine through. Fans of Carlson’s work love both her eclectic sense of style and her dedication to sustainability—it’s a commitment she doesn’t take lightly.

“This combines my love of painting and jewellery-making into one fashion art project,” says the designer.

FAVE Lobe Love Vancouverite Jamie Carlson (pictured above) crafts all Scandinazn jewellery by hand. Her statement earrings are lightweight and full of whimsy.

Redefining Modern.

Culture City Informer

Why Are Some Vancouver Street Lights Blue?

...and why is the City in such a hurry to change them back?

by Stacey McLachlan

have taken inspiration from the colour blue could go on and on and on. Imagine what even greater heights they could have reached in their creativity if

they’d had the chance to experience Vancouver’s beautiful, defective street lights.

That’s right: the blue light emanating from 100-plus of the 55,000-odd street lights that illuminate our city’s sidewalks and roads are the result of a failed coating on the LED bulbs that were installed between 2017 and 2019. It was a relief to learn that this issue is just a manufacturing problem, and not the work of a rogue Arts Club theatre tech, haunting the city streets after dark trying to create a “mood.”

The busted bulbs are slated to be replaced under warranty by the manufacturer, but, honestly,

I think that’s a shame. These blue lights aren’t hurting anyone! In fact, they may be helping Blue light can lower anxiety, according to chromotherapy experts; they also create an ideal environment for moping cinematically after a fight with your partner about whether or not he is a psychopath for eating kiwis with the skin still on, according to personal research.

Sure, it’s not going to cost taxpayers a penny to get the lights fixed, but why do they need to be “fixed” in the first place? I say we stop striving for some other city’s unrealistic ideals of what the quote-unquote right colour of light should be! It may be a scientific fact that drivers have better visibility in white light but it’s also a scientific fact that everyone looks great in blue (sources: Avatar 1 and 2, Blue Man Group). And I, for one, believe the time is ripe for Vancouver to take on a new nickname, and while none of my previous pitches (Seattle Junior, Crowtopia, Expensiveville West) have taken off, I think “Blue Light City” has a real ring to it. I can practically hear Tom Cochrane recording a stirring CanCon anthem about it now! And if he’s busy (he seems like the sort of guy who would have a full schedule of stuff like boat repair or mud-wrestling the members of Bachman–Turner Overdrive), it would be easy enough to adapt existing hit songs to show our civic pride. For instance: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” can become “I Guess That’s Why They Call It Blue City” with just a few tweaks; “Blue [Light City] Christmas” could be a modern holiday classic.

So stand with me, awash in indigo, and ask the City of Vancouver to leave these beautiful bulbs be. We might be feeling blue, yeah—but I think we can agree we’re feelin’ all right.

Got a question for City Informer?

stacey.mclachlan@vanmag.com

Joni Mitchell. Picasso. Eiffel 65. The creator of the smash-hit interactive educational children’s television series Blue’s Clues. The list of iconic artists who

illustration by Byron Eggenschwiler

How often do we take the time to recognize and celebrate the great people in our community?

For many people, being recognized is a peak life experience where they feel valued and seen by their peers.

At Eclipse Awards we create beautifully handcrafted awards and trophies that you can feel proud to present. We are 25 years into a journey of creating personalized gifts that will be cherished for a lifetime. From brilliant crystal awards to earth-friendly organic awards, all of our pieces are infused with a West Coast energy that brings smiles to people's faces.

So consider recognizing and appreciating the special people in your world and find out why the world's most successful organizations choose Eclipse Awards!

COWABUNGA, BARBIE

Suffering from the post-Barbie blues?

You’re not alone. After months of counting down to cinema’s most important event, you immersed yourself in Greta Gerwig’s hot-pink universe for two-plus hours, and now there’s nothing left to look forward to in this world.

Unless, somehow, through the power of air travel, you could live the life of Barbie. Sure, according to Mattel lore, Barbie is technically from Wisconsin, but we all know that she’s a California girl at heart.

So if you truly wish to follow in her tip-toe footsteps—to live the kitschy, mid-century-inspired, unapologetically all-pink-all-the-time life of the Doll Who Has It

All—you simply must start California dreaming. Here, on the golden coast, the Barbiecore trip of a lifetime awaits… and it’s the perfect way to kill some time before the movie shows up on streaming.

SPLASH INTO A PALM SPRINGS POOL PARTY

We’re all well acquainted with Malibu Barbie, but it’s actually a crime that there isn’t a Palm Springs Barbie, too, because this desert paradise is absolutely packed with prettyas-a-dollhouse spots to eat, stay and play. Case in point, the Saguaro Palm Springs, a refurbished Holiday Inn that might as well be called Barbie’s Dream Hotel. The white building with candy-coloured doors forms a horseshoe around a bumpin’, palm-tree-lined pool, complete with vibe-y DJs and a poolside bar that serves up A-plus margs to keep you cool in the desert heat. If leaving this Palm Springs-perfect spot isn’t

appealing, the lobby resto, El Jefe, serves up some excellent modern Mexican—if there’s not a Shrimp Tacos Barbie yet, there absolutely should be, because, really, they’re the perfect accessory for a modern woman. thesaguaro.com

GO DREAM-HOUSE HUNTING

Of course, there are plenty of good reasons to explore P.S. beyond its friendly hotel hub. A driving tour of the incredible mid-century modern homes in the area (the audio and map are available through Modern Palm Springs) is an ideal way to hide out from the midday sun while shopping for your own

dream house. moderntourspalm springs.com

ASK YOURSELF: WWBE (WHERE WOULD BARBIE

EAT)?

Stop for ice cream at the sprinkle-forward scoopery Shoppe to pre-game for dinner at the Martyn Lawrence Bullarddesigned Pink Cabana. The eclectic room is a joyful mix of colour and texture—rattan chairs, bubble-like oyster-shell pendant lights, tufted pink velvet booths, checkerboard floors—and serves up Mediterranean-meets-Moroccan-meets-modern-Cali bites (think harissa chicken with saffon potatoes and turmeric

California Love (Clockwise from top left) Pink Cabana is a riot of perfectly kitschy texture, with great share plates and killer cocktails; soak in the colour and the sun at Saguaro Palm Springs; if Barbie could eat, we assume she’d also love the Mexicanmodern dishes at El Jefe; desert heat calls for ice cream at Shoppe.

Culture Travel

onions) and refreshing, creative cocktails (the Cabana Colada tastes like a vacation, mixing gin, coconut, soda and lime to great effect). icecreamandshop .com; sandshotelandspa.com/ dining-bar

CAFFEINATE AT THE CUTEST LITTLE COFFEE BAR IN P.S.

In the morning, collect your cortado from the pink takeout window at Cafe La Jefa, then snag a seat on the breezy patio—whether on a rainbow rocking chair, at the custom Airstream bar or beneath the flower-draped pergola. It’s located in the Flannery Exchange, a hub for local artisans and small businesses, so build in some time to do a little shopping—and if you’re really on a roll, head over to the Shops at Thirteen Forty Five, a unique collection of 14 luxurious shops in an iconic (and, yes, pretty-in-pink) E. Stewart Williams building. cafelajefa .com; theshopsat1345.com

PARK YOURSELF AT THE PARKER

Lunch at Norma’s is a must, even if it’s just to peep the still-quirky-after-all-these-years

Jonathan Adler-designed Parker Hotel that the diner resides in. This is your chance to embrace a more 1970s side of your inner Barbie—think vintage flower power and conversation pits. At Norma’s, the menu serves up

breakfast all day long, with playful, decadent dishes like fruitfilled Waz-Za waffles or the Nice Salad, which comes served in a cheeky, hollowed-out iceberg lettuce head. parkerpalmsprings .com/food-and-drink

DARE TO DO DATE NIGHT IN PALM DESERT

Obviously you’re going to spend

your afternoon at the pool or begging your way into the gift shop/vintage Barbie museum at the nearby all-pink-everything Trixie Motel (owned and operated by drag queen Trixie Mattel, of course), but when dinnertime rolls around, hop in the car (ideally a pink convertible, but you do you) and head to Porta Via Palm Desert. Awash in teak with olive green velvet booths and lit by the soft glow of Herman Miller hanging lights, it’s obviously the sort of place where Barbie would treat Ken to a nice night out before she headed to her shift as a space veterinarian or whatever: share

(PORTA VIA PALM DESERT) MICHAEL CLIFFORD

a zippy chopped beet salad (oooh, that champagne shallot vinaigrette!) and tender scallops on a bed of garlicky sautéed spinach and nutty rice, drizzled with herb oil. (The Barbie-verse doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on Barbie’s fave foods but our girl clearly loves the finer things in life—so yeah, elevated West Coast seafood it is.) Should you need a little something sweet to cap off he night, pop by Lulu for a tower of late-night cotton candy—as indulgent as it is Instagrammable. trixiemotel.com; portaviarestau rants.com; lulupalmsprings.com

CHARGE YOUR CAMERA FOR A DAY OF POWER POSING

The next morning, hit the road for Santa Monica (make a pit stop at Cabazon Dinosaurs for a quick photo op with the oversized fibreglass apatosaurus

in the parking lot, of course). Here, you could explore either the IRL upscale beach town or the over-the-top plastic dream world of Miss B herself at the World of Barbie exhibit: dodge the kids and superfans to get your chance to step inside the dream closet, dream camper van, dream space shuttle, dream TV talk show set, and all the other imagination stations Barbie has inspired. (Nearby Tu Madre offers hearty plantbased burrito bowls to help you shake off lfe in plastic.) cabazondinosaurs.com; theworldofbarbie.com; tumadre.com

PLAY PRETEND AT THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL

Pulling up to the iconic redcarpet entrance of the Beverly Hills Hotel is pure Hollywood fantasy—and what does Babs love more than letting the imagination run wild? You’re checking in to a 100-plus-yearold institution that was a long-time fave of Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and a laundry list of other stars, but the design touches here—a green-and-white striped entryway ceiling, the too-cute pink-and-white beach umbrellas lining the pool—are what make the institution still worth visiting… and a Barbiecore destination.

Spend your stay poolside (save for a side trip for a photo op at the all-pink Paul Smith wall on Melrose Avenue, or a pink coffee at the secret back-alley café tucked beside

the neighbourhood’s futuristic Glossier) to embrace the Self-Tanning Barbie within. dorchestercollection.com; paulsmith.com; alfred.la

TOAST YOUR TRAVEL INSPIRATION AT A UNICORN-CENTRIC THAI RESTAURANT

Dinner simply must be at Farmhouse Kitchen, a playful, crazy-flavourful Thai bistro that features a unicorn at the front door, kitschy faux florals draped from the ceiling and grilled prawns swelled atop blue rice with toasted coconut and makrut lime. We’re not sure what Barbie’s boozing habits are, but we feel confident that she would happily sip the gummy-beargarnished Sugar Daddy cocktail, made with pretty purple Thai butterfly pea gin and vermouth. Raise a glass to the queen… and then get thee to another screening of the movie because Los Angeles can get hot-hot-hot and the only thing better than an escapist blockbuster is the sweet kiss of air conditioning. farm housethai.com/los-angeles

Picture Perfect Clockwise from top left: Porta Via Palm Desert; Beverly Hills Hotel; World of Barbie; Farmhouse Kitchen; Tu Madre; Shops at Thirteen Forty Five; Trixie Motel; Norma’s.

Ken Sim swept to power a year ago promising to reduce waste, make our streets safer and bring Vancouver’s “swagger” back. But can his open-book style win over the critics?

BY MATT O’GRADY PORTRAITS BY ADAM BLASBERG

He’s in a hurry to accomplish big things— no matter who’s watching and what they say (or write). And he eagerly embraces the idea of bringing Vancouver’s “swagger” back—outlined in his inaugural State of the City address, and underlined when he shotgunned a beer at July’s Khatsahlano Street Party.

Suddenly, the office door swings open and Sim’s chief of staff, Trevor Ford, pokes his head in (for the third time in the past 10 minutes). “We have to go. Now.”

“Okay, okay,” says Sim, turning back to address me. “Do you mind if I change while we’re talking?” And so the door closes again—and, without further ado, the Mayor of Vancouver drops trou and goes in search of a pair of shorts, continuing with a story about how some of his west-side friends are vocally against the massive Jericho Lands development promising to reshape their 4th and Alma neighbourhood.

“And I’m like, ‘Let me be very clear: I 100-percent support it, this is why—and we’ll have to agree to disagree,’” he says, trading his baby-blue polo for a fitted charcoal grey T-shirt. Meanwhile, as Sim does his wardrobe change, I’m doing everything I can to keep my eyes on my keyboard—and hoping the mayor finds his missing shorts.

It’s fair to assume that previous mayors weren’t in the habit of getting naked in front of journalists. At least, I can’t quite picture Kennedy Stewart doing so, or Larry or Gordon Campbell either.

But it also fits a pattern that’s developing with Ken Sim as a leader entirely comfortable in his own skin. He’s in a hurry to accomplish big things—no matter who’s watching and what they might say (or write). And he eagerly embraces the idea of bringing Vancouver’s “swagger” back—outlined in his inaugural State of the City address, and underlined when he shotgunned a beer at July’s Khatsahlano Street Party.

In four short years, Sim hopes to change the trajectory on some big hairy issues, including housing attainability, community safety and economic prosperity. And he’s promising to do it all with a focus on data and evidence, not politics.

For some of Sim’s biggest supporters, the fast pace and brash tone of his first year in office is a breath of fresh air. “We have to be so thankful to get somebody that’s run a profitable business, and understands organizational structures,” says Chip Wilson, the polarizing founder of Lululemon and an early Sim backer. “To have somebody like Ken—who has all that and knows how to motivate people—is a dream come true.”

He’s also been a target for criticism— from those who never supported Sim and his A Better City (ABC) agenda in the first place, but also from some erstwhile allies, including former city councillors

I’m sitting on a couch in the mayor’s thirdfloor offices, and Ken Sim is walking over to his turntable to put on another record.

“How about the Police? I love this album.” With the opening strains of “Every Breath You Take” crackling to life, Sim is explaining his approach to conflict resolution, and how he takes inspiration from the classic management tome Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In.

“The way they approach things is, instead of having an adversarial relationship in every decision we look at, imagine you’re two judges on the same side of the table, trying to opine on a very difficult case and get to the best answer,” he says. “We’re just looking for the best answer.”

Local History (Clockwise from top left) the Sim family; Sim’s parents, Theresa and Francis Sim; Ken Sim on his mother Theresa’s lap alongside his siblings during a trip to Victoria.

Kerry Jang and Peter Ladner, who perceive a rightward shift since last fall’s campaign.

Still, Sim seems adept at stickhandling opposing viewpoints and defusing tension, according to those who’ve watched him in action. “I’ve seen people come into council—members of the public who are very upset, heated and critical of Sim and ABC,” says Dan Fumano, city columnist with the Vancouver Sun. “He always keeps his cool.”

On the campaign trail, Sim often touted the story of his parents and what they sacrificed in moving from Hong Kong in 1967, with $3,200 to their name. Sim—born on October 18, 1970—is the youngest of Francis and Theresa Sim’s five children; the first three were born in Hong Kong, where Francis was a banker, while Ken and an older sister were born in Vancouver.

When the Sims arrived, Francis had trouble finding work, selling bowling ball bags and soft-shelled roller bags near the PNE; while he spoke five languages, English was bottom on that list. Theresa, who spoke good English, quickly got a job as a secretary—and for many years supported the family while Francis bounced from job to job and the family moved from rental house to rental house.

Sim memorializes many of those homes with replica street signs in his City Hall office: one from Alamein on the west side, another from East 54th, one from West 62nd and another from Ash Street. One particular sign, for the Sim home on 1772 McSpadden Street, offers an early political omen for Sim (though perhaps not ideological): “During the last election, I was doing an interview and someone said, ‘That’s the same house [former NDP Premier] Dave Barrett once lived in!’”

Times were tough financially, and there was also growing tension within the household—especially between Francis and his youngest son. Sim recalls one fateful night: in 1986, in his grade 12 year at Winston Churchill High School.

“I remember waking up at about two o’clock in the morning to my mom

screaming, and I came upstairs and I looked at her,” says Sim. “She was really confused. And she said, ‘He hit me! He hit me!’ And then I went up to my dad and said, ‘Don’t you ever fucking hit my mom.’ And I grabbed my mom and brought her downstairs. And she slept in my room.”

The next day, shaken, Sim went to school. And when he came home, his mother again looked out of sorts; to his eyes, it appeared as if she had broken her neck. “And so I jumped to conclusions,” says Sim. “I confronted my dad—and we got into a pretty significant pushing match. But I had the sense to leave the house this time. I called the cops and had my dad arrested.” Sim was only 16.

Sim later discovered that his mother had, in fact, had a case of encephalitis—which led to her confusion and accusations of abuse. “My dad never hit my mom. I still feel badly for what I put my dad through,” says Sim.

But his father never forgave him, and until the day of his death in 1999, the two didn’t speak. (Theresa Sim, after decades of health issues, died in 2016.)

While he never repaired the relationship with his father, it’s clear he found inspiration in Francis Sim’s hardscrabble story—and a desire to succeed where his father had failed. In 1989, he enrolled in UBC’s Bachelor of Commerce program to pursue a career as an investment banker.

But when Sim graduated, it was in the midst of a deep recession and he couldn’t find a finance job; he took additional CPA training and signed on instead as an accountant with KPMG. It was there that he met his future wife—Teena Gupta, a client at the City of Richmond. They began dating in 1994, and were married four years later.

The couple moved to London in the late 1990s, after Sim took a job with CIBC World Markets, but by 2000 they were ready to move back home to start a family —and Sim was ready to leave the corporate life. He’d recently read Boom, Bust and Echo, which had a five-page section on home health care. Shortly thereafter, during a difficult pregnancy with the couple’s first child, Teena came home with an order for emergency bed rest. “We tried to hire some caregivers and had really bad experiences,” recalls Sim. Those experiences led to an aha moment, and then a business plan, for a private in-home caregiver service.

Nurse Next Door Professional Homecare Services was launched in the fall of 2001, with Sim taking a two-thirds ownership stake and then-business partner John DeHart taking the other

Family Matters Sim with his wife and sons enjoying a family BBQ. (Left to right) Kaden, Teena, Mitchell, Cody, Tyler and the mayor.

The powerhouse of energy and life-long vibrancy

What are mitochondria, and how do we spark them?

They are like very tiny powerplants that produce energy in every living cell in our bodies. On average, every cell has 1,500 mitochondria. Can you imagine that for their extremely small size, it’s been said that they produce, gram for gram, 10,000–50,000 times more energy than the sun?

To say that mitochondria are important to human health is grossly understating their role in our

survival. We literally would not be alive without them. They convert our food into energy, so that every other function of our body can occur as it needs to. As we age, our ability to create healthy mitochondria to support our energy demands diminishes. And because about 90% of our cellular energy is produced by mitochondria, this decline can cause significant health issues.

third. Today, there are more than 300 Nurse Next Door franchisees—in Canada, the U.S., Australia and Europe—and Sim expects system-wide revenues to approach $150 million in 2023. Four years ago, Sim bought DeHart out—though Sim hasn’t had an active operational role in the company for over a decade; he has been dabbling in other ventures, including the Rosemary Rocksalt bagel franchise, which he co-founded with Teena, along with Parise Siegel and Tim Hopkins, in 2013.

It was in the early days of Nurse Next Door that the seeds for Sim’s political future would also be sown. At the time, the company had an office on West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale, where Sim and his small team were neighbours with Provident Security, led by Mike Jagger. The two men became fast friends—and Jagger soon encouraged Sim to join the Vancouver chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, where Jagger was a member. It’s also where Sim met a future political ally: Rebecca Bligh, then in her early 20s and working at Provident.

“As part of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, there were a lot of opportunities afforded to members,” recalls Bligh, one of five ABC city councillors. “Through Mike

and Ken, I got to experience all these leadership development programs. We really connected on that piece.” Bligh thinks that this journey of self-improvement—“the overarching commitment to growth and seeing yourself as part of the solution”—is what led both her and Sim, independently, to pursue political office in 2018.

“You’re really seeing yourself as ‘cause in the matter,’” says Bligh, borrowing a phrase from Werner Erhard, the intellectual father of the controversial Landmark Forum (a personal development program, in which both Bligh and Sim took courses, that academics have described as “large group awareness training”). “It’s not someone else’s job to fix the problems. You see yourself as part of the group that can seek solutions and be part of positive change.”

On an unseasonably warm Saturday in May, I make my way over to the Jericho Rugby Field to watch the Vancouver Rogues play the visiting Seattle Quake. The boisterous crowd is a few (barely concealed) beers into it, lustily cheering the home squad in a winning effort.

I spot the mayor on the sidelines— leaning on his black e-bike and decked out in a white T-shirt, teal shorts and aviator glasses. He’s talking to a player twice his size—and as soon I’m identified as a member of the press, the player playfully puts Sim in a headlock. “Where’s my money for the fields, Ken?”

The player, Brennan Bastyovanszky, is president of the Rogues—Vancouver’s gay-and-inclusive rugby team—and a newbie Vancouver Park Board commissioner. As Bastyovanszky tells it, he’d never previously considered public service: “I wasn’t interested in politics. I just had an issue with the Park Board, because I was trying to build this community—trying to make this sport safer—and the previous board was against field sports. I’d had enough.”

His cousin, who had worked with Sim, suggested that Bastyovanszky give him a call to express his concerns. “I was calling Ken to tell him what my problem was—and he’s like, ‘Well, you’d be better at fixing it if you got elected. Will you run with me?’”

Sim’s inaugural run at politics wasn’t quite so successful. In March of 2018, he had received a call from a high school acquaintance, Greg Baker, who was then president of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA). “I hadn’t spoken to Greg in maybe 30 years,” says Sim. “So I knew he was calling about one thing.” While initially reluctant, Sim decided to run—if only because he was worried about the future of the city for his four teenaged boys (today, ages 14, 17, 20 and 21): “They didn’t—at least the older ones didn’t—see a future for themselves in Vancouver.”

After a heated nomination battle, Sim became the NPA candidate for mayor—but ultimately lost the October 2018 election to Kennedy Stewart by 957 votes. Almost immediately, he and other disaffected NPAers set about to build a

Neighbourly Mayor (Above, left to right) Ken Sim, co-founder; Cathy Thorpe, president and CEO; and John DeHart, co-founder of Nurse Next Door; (right) Ken Sim and Brennan Bastyovanszky, president of the Vancouver Rogues rugby team and Vancouver Park Board commissioner.

political movement from the ground up: the ABC party, which officially launched in 2021. Three sitting councillors—Bligh, Lisa Dominato and Sarah Kirby-Yung, who had each run and won under the NPA banner in 2018—joined in summer 2022. A year later, in a rematch against Stewart, Sim and ABC won a sweeping victory at council, park and school boards.

David Grewal—a long-time family friend of Teena Gupta—was among those who ran with Sim in the 2018 campaign, finishing just shy of the 10th spot on council. Today, he serves as Sim’s senior advisor—the mayor’s eyes, ears and voice when Sim is unavailable.

For Grewal, the biggest concern is the countdown clock on Sim’s mandate. “We don’t have the luxury of time,” he says. “It’s hard to turn that ship around with so little time. I think we’ve already tackled about a third of our 94-point platform, but there’s a lot more we want to do.”

For a reminder of Sim’s key priorities, you need only look at the whiteboard in the mayor’s office. At the top, there’s a row labelled “Daily Focus (Top 4)”—which are, in order, 3-3-3-1 (ABC’s housing program); Chinatown; Business Advocacy; and Mental Health/Safety.

On some files, like Chinatown, there have been clear advances: council unanimously approved the Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan in January, which devotes more resources to cleaning and sanitation services, graffiti removal, beautification and other community supports. The plan also includes a new flat rate of $2 per hour for parking meters throughout Chinatown (to encourage more people to visit and shop in the area) and a new satellite City Hall office, to improve representation. And on mental health and public safety, the ABC council moved quickly in November to take action on its promise to fund 100 new police officers and 100 new mental health professionals—though the actual hiring will take time.

Perhaps nothing, however, has seen more concerted effort than ABC’s housing plan. Adopted as city policy in June,

“3-3-3-1” promises new standards for a variety of permits or approvals: three days to approve home renovations; three weeks to approve single-family homes and townhouses; three months to approve multi-family and mid-rise projects; and one year to approve a high-rise or largescale project. While it’s still early days, the City claims that half of permit conditions from Engineering Services and Development, Building and Licensing (DBL) have been eliminated or simplified—leading to a 30-percent reduction in review times— while reviews for low-density projects went from 12 weeks to 18 days. The City is also pushing to eliminate restrictive single-family zoning rules—effectively

side see things differently. Sarah Blyth, who is executive director of the Overdose Prevention Society (OPS) and has an apartment on Hastings, gets noticeably agitated when I bring up Wilson’s name: “Chip Wilson has no business talking about poverty and harm reduction—unless he has some help to offer.”

A former Vision Vancouver Park Board commissioner who supported Kennedy Stewart in the last election, Blyth says she often sees Sim walking the streets of the Downtown Eastside (where OPS provides front-line support in the harm reduction movement), and says she’s “always open to work with any mayor—anyone who is going to make a difference.” But she strongly disagrees with the move to clear tents: “I think spreading people around, these sweeps to ‘nowhere land,’ does not work.”

The decision also caused heartburn for Sim’s former chief of staff, Kareem Allam, who resigned in February. Just before assuming office, Allam and several ABC councillors had met with Exchange Inner City—a nonprofit dedicated to an “equitable local economy in the Downtown Eastside.” The incoming administration was asked whether they were going to send cops to decamp Hastings, and Allam responded that they wouldn’t until housing was in place.

rezoning the half of Vancouver previously off-limits to greater density.

But other, unscripted actions—like the mayor’s decision to clear encampments on East Hastings in early April, citing safety and fire risks—have produced decidedly mixed reviews.

Chip Wilson (who, through his family real estate arm Low Tide Properties, owns several buildings along East Hastings) argues that the move to “clean up the east side” has been one of Sim’s boldest moves so far: “I think the issue is that there’s too many people who are making salaries running charities dependent on the east side staying exactly how it was” he says.

Those working on the Downtown East-

In May, Allam made a public apology to the group. “I went out and I made a commitment that turned out to be not true,” he tells me. “I felt a tremendous amount of personal obligation to stand behind those words; I think people believed me, I think people trusted me— and I feel that when you do break your word, you’ve got to own them.”

Even Bob Rennie—the founder of the Rennie group of companies, an advisor to Vancouver’s development community as well as a long-time power player at 12th and Cambie—has some words of caution for the mayor.

Rennie, in the last election, supported Kennedy Stewart (his name was famously included on a list of Stewart donors that mysteriously found its way onto a West Broadway sidewalk

“I actually don’t care how I’m remembered. What’s going to happen is people are going to forget who Ken Sim is. And if we just leave this place in a way better spot, I’m happy.”

mid-campaign). He’s since come on board the Sim train—holding a fundraising breakfast for the mayor in late May, with 26 people in attendance tasked with contributing $12,500 each (the legal maximum).

Still, he questions the focus on “cleaning up” neighbourhoods without solving the endemic issues first. “You can’t save Chinatown without saving Hastings,” Rennie tells me. “You can’t do it at the expense of mental health and fentanyl and tents. You just can’t. Everything has to be looked at holistically. Chinatown wants to thrive, but it’s not allowed to until Hastings Street is solved. Let’s bring the swagger back once we have looked after our streets.”

At 8 a.m. on a Tuesday in May, Sim, along with several councillors and city staff, joins a gathering of VPD brass to celebrate the 137th anniversary of the Vancouver Police—bringing cake to mark the occasion. As Ken Sim marks a year in office, it’s unclear whether there will be any cake: the health-conscientious mayor, beer-chugging aside, sees a trainer three days a week and fasts every Monday. Also, Sim seems wholly uninterested in questions of legacy or personal milestones.

“I actually don’t care how I’m remembered,” he says as we make the short walk from VPD headquarters to City Hall. “What’s going to happen is people are going to forget who Ken Sim is. And if we just leave this place in a way better spot, I’m happy.”

When Sim runs for reelection in 2026, as he promises to do, he’ll have a great backdrop for his campaign— the city having just hosted several games for the FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring in $1 billion and 900,000 visitors over five years.

The renewed swagger of Sim’s city will be on full display for the world to see. So too—if left unresolved—will some of Vancouver’s most glaring and intractable social problems.

Design by Falken Reynolds/photo by Ema Peter

TRY SOME FRIES, WIN A PRIZE! VISIT PARTICIPATING WEST 4TH RESTAURANTS DURING OCTOBER, ORDER THEIR FRENCH FRIES, AND THEN HEAD TO SHOPWEST4TH.COM TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE.

so FUN CITY WELCOME to

For anyone still calling Vancouver “No Fun City,” consider the following pages our enthusiastic rebuttal. From dance parties to rowdy wrestling shows, here’s how Vancouverites let the good times roll in 2023.

by KERRI DONALDSON, ALYSSA HIROSE, STACEY MCLACHLAN, ANICKA QUIN AND JANINE VERREAULT

photography by EVAAN KHERAJ

Party People

Clockwise from top left: Continental Breakfast from The Birdhouse; Formation Studio’s Saschie MacLeanMagbanua; Evan Rivers from Boom Pro Wrestling; Hannah Watkins for Murals Without Walls; and Becki Chan of PechaKucha.

We can admit it:

When we set out to write a story about how to have a good time in Vancouver, we faced a big challenge. But not because this is a “No Fun City”—the real struggle was that there’s actually too much going on here.

While some may accuse Vancouver (and Vancouverites) of being as dreary as the weather, when you scratch the surface, you quickly find creativity, warmth, community, engagement and delight waiting on every corner of our fair city. So if you think there’s no fun to be had here, we’re absolutely thrilled to correct you with our introduction to the incredible people making this a world-class cultural hub, along with a jam-packed to-do list of events happening all year round.

THE MOVERS

The duo behind Mount Pleasant’s Formation Studio is working to bring Vancouverites together on and off he dance floor.

The living room is where connection happens: Saschie MacLeanMagbanua and Roman Magbanua agree on that. But the “living room” in question isn’t some cozy residential abode—it’s the airy, plant-filled common area inside Formation, the pair’s dance-fitness studio. Formation launched in 2019, though its two founders have been fostering community through movement for almost a decade (and you don’t have to have a background in dance—or even fitness—to be a part of the team). “Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been dancing for 15 years, we really focus on fun,” says Roman. Dance fitness might be Formation’s main move, but this East Van studio is about

more than breaking a sweat. Instructors introduce themselves to every participant, connection cards and table games prompt conversation in the common areas and partnerships with nearby businesses (Taco Tuesdays with Tacofino Ocho, sunset classes on Pavilion Cowork’s rooftop) bring the neighbourhood together. Their clientele ranges from university students to retirees, and folks often come in groups with friends, family or co-workers. That said, signing up solo is just as rewarding: “Even if you come in and you don’t want to socialize, you still walk away with a sense of community because you have that psychological experience of moving as one,” says Saschie. —A.H.

For more info on classes and workshops, visit: theformationstudio.com

What’s the most fun you’ve had in Vancouver?

“The Commodore is easily the most storied venue in Western Canada. I snuck in several times underage, and I saw so many of my musical heroes there. The first time I played a Commodore gig, my mom and dad dressed up in formal wear and danced across the horsehair-sprung dancefloor. They grew up here. It was a big moment for them and they were going to enjoy it.” —Craig Northey, founding member of Odds

with Saschie + Roman

What’s your favourite conversation-starter?

R: “What lights you up these days?”

Your fave place to hang with friends?

S: Walking in the forest. Your social superpower?

R: Asking the question that needs to be asked.

S: Making people feel comfortable in vulnerability.

New friend turn-off s?

R: Does not reciprocate questions.

Describe your community in three words.

S + R: Welcoming, fun, strong.

What song is getting you moving lately?

S: “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige.

R: “They Don’t Love It” by Jack Harlow.

Favourite postworkout snack?

R: Fried chicken.

S: An Almost Chocolate smoothie from Juice Truck.

Best part of your job?

R: Solving problems.

S: Being able to connect with so many people and seeing how proud of themselves they become as they grow.

What’s your fave class being offered right now at Formation?

S + R: Our Power class just got a revamp and it is killer. It’s inspired by the classic step classes that were popular in the ’80s but we’ve updated it to be a full-body workout and to use hiphop music.

(CRAIG NORTHEY) WAYNE HOECHERL

INSIDER SCOOP

We’ve Got the Beat Roman Magbanua and Saschie MacLean-Magbanua bring movers and shakers together in their welcoming Formation Studio.

Here for a Good Time It takes a village to throw parties this fun. From The Birdhouse by Eastside Studios

(clockwise from left): Ryn Broz, owner/operator; Maiden China, bartender; Continental Breakfast, manager, creative lead and designer; and Paige Frewer, owner/operator.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Vancouver is well-known for its vibrant queer community. But while most people will immediately think of the city’s West End scene and our long-established Pride Parade (which celebrated its 45th anniversary this year), there’s a pair of local event promoters who want to make sure that everyone in our diverse 2SLGBTQIA+ community has a place to go.

Meet Ryn Broz and Paige Frewer, the owner/operators of The Birdhouse by Eastside Studios. The two connected through Frewer’s drag show, Man Up, when they performed together starting back in 2013. They later partnered to create the Eastside Studios Warehouse space in Strathcona (a move that had them recognized on our 2023 Power 50 list), where they expanded to host a variety of other queer-centred events. In April of this year, the duo moved their operation away

from Strathcona: the Warehouse lease was up, the building was in disrepair and, with the new St. Paul’s Hospital development set to change the area, it was time to migrate.

They had their sights set on a building in Mount Pleasant (44 West 4th Avenue, to be exact)—a place Broz calls “damn near perfect, in terms of the layout, location, (non)proximity to residential neighbours and various other factors.” But there was one problem—one that ended up playing a significant role in naming the new venue.

“When we first got keys, the main warehouse was completely overrun by pigeons and the floor was covered in their poop,” explains Broz. “So it’s part of our origin story that, after it was a dry cleaners, the building was home to many pigeon families. We are proud to say we removed every pigeon here without harm. We’re animal lovers and decided to lean into the menagerie vibe for our name and branding.”

So what kind of fun will you find at The Birdhouse? It’s more

a question of what you won’t find. From draglesque and drag brunches to karaoke and dance parties, most events focus on drag and gender performance; deejays and live music round out the lineup. “Queers have all kinds of fun, silly and creative ideas for events,” says Broz. “We try to offer a variety of programming, so as to not pigeonhole ourselves into one genre.”

At its core, though, The Birdhouse offers up more than just good times—it’s fulfilling a need in the city by providing support and a sense of belonging to those who can often feel left in the margins. “Queer folks who also identify as women and femmes, BIPOC, trans and disabled unfortunately experience oppression not just in the world at large, but from within the queer community as well,” says Frewer. “We take an intersectional approach to our creation of safer spaces, because being ‘queer friendly’ often simply isn’t enough. We are so thrilled to be able to give people a place to feel seen, valued and loved as their authentic selves. For queer folks, party spaces aren’t just party spaces—their function and meaning goes much deeper.” —J.V.

Describe your community in three words.

Kind, enthusiastic, creative.

What’s your favourite conversation-starter in your event space?

The lighting and murals.

Your social superpower? Anxiety.

New friend turn-off s? Not willing to tease me.

Your favourite drag movie? Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Best part of your job? Seeing folks having so much fun.

Fave event at The Birdhouse right now? Hot New Lesbian Party. It reminds me of the very fun past events.

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The Birdhouse hosts events all week long; find the latest schedule on Instagram @eastsideartsspace

WhAT DO YOU DO for fun in Vancouver?

Best memory at The Birdhouse?

Relocating a giant mural from our past space through the parking lot.

INSIDER SCOOP

“I love to dine out, go to movies and walk down to the Shipyards at Lonsdale Quay to enjoy live music. Really, it’s the simple things—hanging out with my extended family at Ambleside Park, celebrating life.”

—Carl Valentine, Whitecaps FC ambassador and BC Sports Hall of Famer

The Birdhouse by Eastside Studios is home to parties with a purpose.

with Ryn Broz

the to-do list

More than 40 recurring events guaranteed to warm up this allegedly cold city.

TAKE THE PLUNGE

Proponents of cold plunging praise its ability to rejuvenate and reinvigorate both body and mind—but take an icy dip with the folks at Cold Plunge Crew and you’ll find yourself immersed in a surprisingly warm community, too.

@coldplungecrew

recommend? May we

HIT THE TRAILS

For BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ adventurers, Colour the Trails forges a friendly path into the great outdoors. Join the crew on ski trips, mountain hikes, trail runs or whatever other great-outdoors expeditions are on the horizon—past activities include intro to rowing sessions and intro to camping workshops. colourthetrails.com

LET THE STRINGS

DANCE IT OUT Selfbilled as Vancouver’s best dance party for early risers, Home by Midnight eschews the usual “let’s go dancing!” hiccups that scare offthe 30+ set—the threat of “doors open at 10,” for one—in favour of a dance floor full of comfortable footwear and a strict 8 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. time frame. homebymidnight.ca

FILL YOUR CUP

Creative Mornings feeds more than just your mind with its low-barrier, always-inspiring breakfast lecture series: there’s free coffee and snacks, too. Speakers at the monthly event range from mural artists to dance-company creative directors, but the community here provides just as much creative inspo. creativemornings.com

LIGHT IT UP

SING

As much as the players love Bach, it’s probably a nice treat for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to do their pop-culture programming— so do ’em a favour and snag a ticket for their live scoring of a Back to the Future screening or their salute to the Harry Potter franchise. vancouver symphony.ca

Whatever your religious persuasion, Fever’s candlelit concerts at Christ Church Cathedral are an otherworldly experience—even when (or especially when?) the musical program is a tribute to Coldplay, Queen or video games—experienced in the city’s most unique (or at least most-stained-glass heavy) venue. feverup.com

DRAG YOURSELF TO BRUNCH Here’s a great problem to struggle with: deciding which drag brunch to feature on this list. Any given weekend will offer a chance to enjoy your eggs bennie with a side of world-class drag talent—whether it’s a Beyoncé x Lady Gaga-themed day party or a death-drop battle royale at Colony. Various venues

SING IT LOUD The Hard Rock Miners’ Singalong is the perfect event for both the karaoke enthusiast and the karaoke averse. Wherever they perform (these days, usually the Princeton Pub), the sprawling dad-rock bar band provides lyric books for the whole crowd to encourage a rousing but totally-no-pressure pub-wide singalong. @hrmsingalong

We like to call it “the walk.” From our doorstep in Yaletown to the Hornby Street Aquabus dock, across to Granville Island, then back around Science World to Coopers’ Park, the False Creek seawall is my family’s ultimate happy place. We don’t go far before we make our first stop at George Wainborn Park, where we all hop on a swing and enjoy the view of the houseboats across the inlet. Once we’ve water-taxied over to Granville Island, we pick up doughnuts from Lee’s before heading to Charleson Park so our daughter can burn off some extra energy on the pirate playground. We refuel with Uno Gelato in Stamps Landing (passionfruit on a waff le cone, please) or a little brisket from the Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse food truck by the Plaza of Nations. And we never, ever take for granted what we get to see while we’re putting in our 10,000-plus steps: wildlife (bunnies, beavers and birds—oh my!), cityscapes, spectacular sunsets, mountain views, public art and plenty of people-watching (and that counts the tourists who walk in the bike lanes). From our POV, it’s the best way to have fun in the city—and it’s absolutely free. —J.V.

BRUNCH)

continued on p. 48 ➣ (DRAG

How do you have fun in Vancouver?

The stand-up comedy here is underappreciated. Comedians crush it here—we have such amazing talent. Also, I love waterslides.

Best way to make friends? Show up with snacks.

PAINTING THE CITY

city’s newest murals; as you’re grooving with your neighbours to the music that fills the streets before catching a high-octane all-ages drag show. It’s Vancouver the whole time—wherever you go, here you are.

Can-Do Attitude

We have the audacious VMF team to thank for reminding us just what our city can be—and what it can look like, with more than 400 murals created to date. Sinclair founded the fest with Drew Young, David Vertesi, Gabe Hall and Andrea Curtis back in 2016, using a background in event management and activism to, to put it politely, get stuff done. “Getting permission for things that are hard to get permission for is our raison d’être,” says Sinclair. But ultimately the secret to VMF’s vibrant summer events (and now the Winter Arts Festival, its equally vibrant celebration of art, lights and entertainment) is that they’re not in it alone. “We reach out to community leaders—drag communities, sports communities— and we invite people in to be part of a chorus of voices and ideas.”

Vancouver Mural Festival is creating a more colourful city—on multiple levels.

Vancouver Mural Fest is often the recipient of one particular backhanded compliment. “‘This doesn’t feel like Vancouver’ is one of the most common things I hear,” laughs Adrian Sinclair,

co-founder and director of engagement for the festival.

But, obviously, it is Vancouver: as you’re shimmying through the crowds at the VMF-hosted Mount Pleasant Street Party to grab a beer from a local craft brewery; as you’re on a gleeful scavenger hunt through the back alleys looking for the

And while the collaborators on VMF events may be repping specific identity groups, Sinclair is clear that these cultural events are for anyone and everyone. “Our vision is to create meaningful experiences that connect art and people, and we do that by inviting literally everyone to be a part of it, and making things as accessible as they can be,” says Sinclair. “Arts and culture needs to be available to as many of us as possible. It’s not all flowers and pictures. It’s a bedrock for a better society... and, once we’ve got that, it’s more fun.” —S.M.

Vancouver Mural Fest runs every August; VMF Winter Arts returns February 2024 vanmuralfest.ca

with Adrian Sinclair

They’re painting the town red (clockwise from left): artists Samantha Slinn, Preston Bu ff alo and Hannah Watkins; and Adrian Sinclair, VMF co-founder.

Top-Rope Crew

A few of the players at the centre of the “Boomiverse” (clockwise from left): wrestlers Evan Rivers, Brandy Malibu and Izzy McQueen; and Max Mitchell, founder of Boom Pro Wrestling.

The grand slam

Think of Boom Pro Wrestling as a Saturday morning cartoon come to life.

with Max Mitchell

Imagine a show built around a battle of the beefcakes (and we mean that in the most gender-neutral way possible). Now add in a piledriver of passion, a slam of high-octane drama and some serious crowd interaction and you’ve got East Van’s own Boom Pro Wrestling.

Max Mitchell, the mastermind behind the city’s newest wrestling venture (and, full disclosure, husband to our editor-at-large, Stacey McLachlan), knows that while the high-flying stunts are impressive, it’s really the commitment to the bit that makes the promotion truly soar. “All sports competitions, in the end, are completely meaningless,” says Mitchell. “Same as baseball, same as hockey, if you commit to caring, you’re gonna have a ton of fun. So you might as well, right?”

And boy do Boom fans care. In just one year, the league has sold out 10 shows straight at the Commercial Drive Legion, with people queuing around the block

for a taste of the drama. Through strategic competitions, emotional engagement and a vibrant social media presence (monthly videos explain the outlandish, telenovela-esque storylines— many involving time travel or evil landlords), Mitchell has drawn fans into his magical wrestling dream. But the greatest moves here happen outside of the ring, thanks to Boom’s colourful tapestry of interactive fan groups—a key part of what Mitchell calls the “Boomiverse.” Enthusiasts faithfully gather at the Legion on the last Saturday of every month to watch their favourite wrestlers (like bad-boy lifeguard Brady Malibu or former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln) hurl their bodies around the room—and to laugh, sip cheap beer, cheer on the underdogs and heckle the villains, all while sporting the merch of their chosen beefy hero. Many even drag along their grandparents and kids to soak up the excitement. It’s a real melee of energy and comradery... and a place to belong, whether you’re wearing spandex

What’s your favourite conversation starter? Usually it’s pulling out a picture of a unique bird on my phone. Most people haven’t seen high-level birds, so it sparks their curiosity.

What’s your favourite place to hang out with friends?

Probably at home, to be honest. For a secondary location, I’d say Good Co. Tuesday nights (with cheap beers) are especially fun.

Your social superpower? Getting people excited about things they wouldn’t normally care about.

or not. Combine that with body slams and hilarious storylines (the rich Boom lore includes Susan, Mitchell’s actual mother), and we bet you too will find it impossible not to care. —K.D.

For information, showtimes and tickets, visit boomprowrestling.com

New friend turn-off s?

Rude to service staff

Who is your favourite wrestler?

Jushin Thunder Liger from Japan.

What would be your go-to wrestling entrance song?

“I Would Die 4 U” by Prince.

Coolest thing you’ve seen at a Boom show so far?

In our very first show, [wrestler] Jacky Lee gave a bracelet to a kid in the audience—it’s a tradition for him. I found out later that the kid went home and printed pictures of Jacky from the internet, and taped the pictures to his action figures so he could have his own Jacky Lee action figure at home. Thinking about that now, it’s really emotional for me. It was such a special moment, considering it was our first show and we had such an impact on that young fan. It was a validation of what we do.

WhERE DO YOU GO FOR FUN IN AND AROUND Vancouver?

“I love getting out on the water and doing mini-trips to Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast. I love that we are so close to Whistler and Seattle. We are so lucky to have access to a million hikes with our two dogs.”—Karen Khunkhun, actor and co-host of The JeffO’Neil Show on CFOX

➣ insider SCOOP

The To-Do List

continued from p. 42

MIX IT UP Consider

Mixed Gems a celebration of Vancouver’s indie art scene in its many forms: a variety show for the East Van set, with music, comedy, visual art and even karaoke rounding out the party each month(ish). redgate.tv

LAUGH OUT LOUD

After shuttering its original location two years ago, cult-fave comedy club Little Mountain Gallery is back in Gastown. Catch big-shot comics (Juno winners like Andrea Jin) alongside Canada’s next big comedy stars; experimental sketch and improv shows from the city’s best fill the rest of the calendar. littlemountaingallery.ca

DANCE IN THE STREETS With the variety of dance groups that do their thing in Robson Square, you’d expect more dance battles to break out, but the movers and shakers of Vancouver’s salsa, ballroom and street-dance communities all co-exist—and welcome newcomers (and spectators). hustleatrs.com; sundayafternoonsalsa.com

PUSH IT TO THE LIMITS

Okay, it’s not a monthly event, but the annual PuSh Festival contains enough artist inspiration to keep the culture vultures sated year over year. Each January, the live performance fest offers three weeks of theatre and dance from all over the world, each piece groundbreaking in its own way. pushfestival.ca

...OR BOOGIE UNDERGROUND

It’s easy to find Paradise... if you’re a member of the Paradise Cultural Society or a ticketholder who has received the address to this secret Chinatown club. Founded by underground-danceloving DJs, it’s a nightclub for those who hate nightclubs, and a home for music-loving party animals. paradiseyvr.com

FIND A FRONT-ROW SEAT Guilt and Company remains the city’s go-to local music venue: the intimate cabaret is one of the rare spots to catch local talent any day of the week. The lineup is delightfully eclectic—psychedelic reggae one day, modern country the next—but it’s always the perfect soundtrack for enjoying a cocktail. guiltandcompany.com

GET HOT AND COLD

recommend? may we

Vancouver Comic Arts Festival

HEAR US ROAR

Under new owner Amar Doman, the BC Lions are putting an emphasis on fun—theme nights, stadium activations and low prices on food and drink are all on o ff er. bclions.com

ROCK AND ROLL Rolla Skate

Club rocks out regularly at the PNE’s Rollerland, so get laced up and roll out to one of their Glam-O-Rama roller discos or soul-themed skates. Unsteady on your feet? Classes for adults and youth will get you wheel-y confident. rollaskateclub.com

GET ROWDY Restricted

Entertainment has been producing counterculture events since the late ’90s—so you can bet the team knows how to throw a good party. Sin City fetish parties bring out a more leather-clad crowd; Unbelievable at the Waldorf is a dance party that the more inhibited among us can enjoy. @get_restricted

Centre yourself for the week at Tality Kombucha’s hidden back-alley secret spa . Here in North Van, all-you-can-drink kombucha accompanies a hot sauna and cold-plunge circuit. You’ll leave blissfully relaxed and with a new awareness of just how much fizzy, fermented tea your body can consume. talityspa.com continued

As a busy-brained person (a clinical term I’ve unprofessionally coined, thanks) there’s no feeling I love more than to be overwhelmed with delight. Creatively spoiled. Indulgently entertained. Spectacularly occupied. It’s not a feeling I get often, but at the annual Vancouver Comic Arts Festival I can count on it. Armed with only some creaky folding tables and whatever wares they can haul in, hundreds of artists gather to set up complex, joyously colourful and often silly structures inside the Roundhouse Community Centre. Where else can you find a Pulitzer-prizenominated cartoonist selling $5 zines, or a vampire-vibed, impressively pierced illustrator hawking bunny stickers?

Entry is free, the art is diverse and vibrant and all around you can hear festival attendees gasping, laughing and awwing at the comic books, art prints, posters and cards. I can say for certain that it’s one of the most extraordinary and accessible arts events the city has to off er. I’m counting down the days until the next one (May 18 and 19, 2024). —A.H. vancaf.org

VANCOUVER COMIC ART FESTIVAL POSTER BY KATHLEEN GROS

THE GRAPE ESCAPE FOR WINE ENTHUSIASTS

Let Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti transport you on a captivating wine voyage this Thanksgiving

With the holiday season just around the corner, it’s time to immerse yourself in winemaking excellence and be captivated by the allure of Asti, nestled in the northwestern region of Italy. This picturesque haven sees the convergence of a unique climate, soil composition and time-honored winemaking techniques that has forged wines of exceptional character and unparalleled quality. Bathed in abundant sunlight and refreshed by gentle breezes, the vineyards exert their influential touch upon the grapes, resulting in wines that truly embody their origin.

Each bottle is a testament to a labor of love, a legacy passed down through generations where tradition and craftsmanship unite in perfect harmony—an extraordinary heritage, protected and celebrated by the Consorzio Asti DOCG, a voluntary association that unites every member, from grape growers and vintners' co-ops to winemakers, Spumante makers, and bottlers.

Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey through a land steeped in heritage and uncover the irresistible allure that has wine connoisseurs raving this Thanksgiving . . . it’s time to enjoy the Asti vibe

BY NATALIE BRUCKNER

Asti Spumante DOCG

‘Asti’, as it is fondly known among friends, is the pinnacle of Italian winemaking—a perfect fusion of vineyard craftsmanship, agribusiness finesse, and industrial prowess. Its straw-yellow colour whispers of grace, while lively bubbles waltz upon your tongue. Aromas of acacia, wisteria, orange, and bergamot harmonize, crafting a symphony of scents. The unique essence of Moscato Bianco, influenced by vineyard placement, soil composition, and microclimates, adds a touch of delightful variation.

PERFECT PAIRING: Asti Spumante's vibrant acidity and floral undertones make it an ideal complement to roasted turkey or honeyglazed ham, enhancing the savory notes and creating a delightful culinary experience.

Moscato d'Asti DOCG

Indulge in the allure of Italy's famed Moscato, a jewel in Piedmontese winemaking. Its enchanting bouquet, with hints of acacia, wisteria, and citrus, intertwines with the delicate sweetness and gentle alcohol content, creating a truly unique experience. A symphony of flavors, including notes of spice, elderberry, yarrow and bergamot

flowers, dances on the palate. Moscato d'Asti narrates a story of sophistication and grace, encapsulating the very essence of its origins within each precious sip.

PERFECT PAIRING: Moscato d'Asti’s gentle sweetness and captivating aromas make it a superb accompaniment to traditional Thanksgiving treats such as pumpkin pie or apple crisp.

Drink the Asti Vibe and let its magic transport you to a world where tradition and craftsmanship unite, where wine becomes a testament to the enduring beauty of the human spirit. Cheers to the timeless allure of Asti!

next slide

PechaKucha unites

Vancouver’s creative community, 400 seconds at a time.

Put a few creative types on stage to talk about what inspires them, and you might find it challenging to rein them back in. But 54 events and 615 presentations later, the folks behind PechaKucha have the concept of a rapid-paced, tight little dose of creative inspiration down to an art. “We always joked that architects tend to ramble,” says PechaKucha organizer Becki Chan, who studied architecture and now runs her own namesake jewellery line. But the evening’s format—each presenter shows 20 images for 20 seconds each, speaking to what’s on screen before it automatically transitions to the next—makes for an energizing night for everyone. “It’s a way for the presenters to share their experiences in a fun, fast-paced and visually focused presentation style,” says Chan. “I think it’s why it’s exciting for both the speaker and the audience.”

Classic creatives like interior designers and architects are the mainstays of a typical PechaKucha program, but speakers have run the gamut: it might be a chef discussing the creativity of cutting a carrot, a book designer explaining how the final cover makes it through to approval (and all the frustrations you need

to roll with along with the way) or an iconic Vancouverite—like John Fluevog (he of the shoe empire), who joined one event to discuss his passion for cars.

They’re buzzy nights—a mid-stream “beer break” is there for the audience to discuss what they’ve learned so far, and the

Vancouver Playhouse—PechaKucha’s regular host venue—keeps the bar open for an hour at the end of the night to make room for more lively chatter. Chan intentionally didn’t pivot to online during the pandemic, feeling it would have lost the magic that one of these nights entails.

“When presenters finish, there’s cheering, clapping and hugs, and I think that’s what really makes the event,” she says. —A.Q.

For information, showtimes and tickets, visit pechakucha vancouver.com

Sharing Is Caring PechaKucha producer Becki Chan (left) and host Caroline Boquist (right) invite theatres full of people to meet the city’s coolest creatives.

Q&A

with Becki Chan

What’s your favourite conversation starter?

Food. New restaurants around town.

Your favourite place to hang with friends?

Now that I have a two-year-old girl, VanDusen Botanical Garden. Each time we go, there are new flowers blooming. It is always changing.

Your social superpower? Creative energy.

Ask me anything about:

After 15 years of organizing PechaKucha, I am like a living White Pages of Vancouver’s creative community. I am also a foodie. People always ask me for Asian restaurants and happy-hour recommendations.

New friend turn-off s? Too intense, too needy, too loud.

Describe your community in three words.

Supportive, kind and content.

What album is your all-time favourite?

CrazySexyCool by TLC.

What are you reading?

Anything on colour theory in child development.

Favourite spot in the city for design inspiration?

The Vancouver Art Gallery. I’ve been a member since 2006 and I live very close by. I go there whenever I feel like I need a break.

Favourite PechaKucha session?

Volume 54—our 15-year anniversary. It was so nice to see the presenters again and hear what they’ve been up to all these years. It reminded me that what I am doing is meaningful.

FUN ON A BUDGET

Eight ways to have a good time on a dime.

MUSIC ON MAIN

Much of this classical and contemporary live music program’s concerts are free (the upcoming Modulus Festival in November has a free family concert on November 5, for example). musicon main.ca

SPANISH BANKS DOG PARK

We’ll see your beach and raise you a beach filled with gallivanting dogs of all shapes and sizes: it’s off-leash paradise for canines and any dog-lover in need of some extra serotonin.

THE BLOEDEL CONSERVATORY

Adult admission to this tropical bird and plant paradise is less than $8—it’s a deal you’ll be parroting back to all your friends. vandusengarden.org

THE POLYGON GALLERY

This by-donation seaside art gallery in Lonsdale Quay offers poignant, accessible exhibitions and the best gift shop in the Lower Mainland (trust us). thepolygon.ca

THE CULTCH

For affordably priced local theatre, check out the East Van Cultural Centre: pay-what-youcan tickets start at $10. thecultch.com

THE HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL

On from October 25 to November 5, this DTES festival celebrates music, poetry, films, dance, gallery exhibits and more—and many of the events are free to attend. heartofthecity festival.com

SECRET SAUNAS

Did you know that 11 City of Vancouver community fitness centres have saunas? (And it’s not just

the ones with swimming pools.) If you’re not picky about where you get your sweat on, this $7 hot box is as affordable as it gets. vancouver.ca

THE DRIVING RANGE

Golf games add up— but the practice range is wallet-friendly, baby. McCleery and Fraserview golf courses offer 60+ balls for $8, and the University Golf Club has the same for $8.50. Just fore fun.

Where can you find a good laugh in the city?

INSIDER SCOOP

“We’re really lucky to have such a lively and skilled local comedy scene right here in Vancouver. Throughout the Just for Laughs festival, we make it a point to shine a spotlight on the dedicated local comedy producers who consistently provide the community with great shows all year long. It’s been a thrill to witness the contributions of local producers like Suzy Rawsome (Comedy After Dark), Matty Vu (MSG Comedy, Blood Feud), Jackie Ho ff art (New Moon Comedy), Ryan Steele and Amy Goodmurphy (The Ryan and Amy Show) and Colin Sharp and Ryan Williams (Full Pint), all of whom have significantly enriched the comedy landscape in Vancouver.” —Heather Wallace, festival director, Just for Laughs Vancouver

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COURTESY OF THE POLYGON GALLERY

the to-do list

continued from p. 48

TAKE YOURSELF OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Though the minor-league Vancouver Canadians also play at night, a Nooner at the Nat (Nat Bailey Stadium) is an enduring Vancouver tradition. Whenever you go, be warned that the sushi races, three-foot hot dogs and base-dancing might steal more of your attention than the actual game. milb.com

GO TO THE GALLERY

The events calendar at Commercial Drive’s Slice of Life gallery is enough to fill up your schedule for a month on its own: speed dating, a mini-mart, life drawing classes and more await. (Plus the usual art gallery fare, like opening night reception and talks from up-and-coming visual artists.)

slicevancouver.ca

GEAR UP If you’ve got a bike and identify as part of a marginalized community, you’re ready to be welcomed as part of the Chill Rides biker gang. The WTQ (women trans queer) social cycling club sets a 10- to 15-kilometre route (think Winona Park to Iona Beach) that culminates in a casual hang: expect to make some new buds. @chillridesyvr

CELEBRATE QUEER

ASIAN TALENT RiceCake may have started offas a one-off event with a few DJs and a gogo dancer, but producers Van Dang, Bella Sie and Hostion Ho now operate one of the hardest-workingqueer platforms in the city, spotlighting Asian artists through celeb-studded drag events and parking lot pool parties. ricecake.events

PEDAL TO THE... COFFEE DATE Caffineloving cyclists can check the Co ff ee Outside YVR Instagram feed each week to find the rotating meet-up spot for this all-are-welcome morning co ff ee club. This one’s for the early risers—the open invite to gather at spots like Sunset Beach is always for Friday at 7 a.m. @co ff eeoutsideyvr

DISCOVER DANCE

If your knowledge of ballet begins and ends with The Nutcracker, book yourself a seat at Ballet BC ’s next show and prepare to have your mind blown. This is a pure contemporary exploration of the genre—visceral, powerful, innovative shows that are truly on pointe. balletbc.com

SALUTE THE SILVER SCREEN Cinema nerds unite at the 153-seat Pacific Cinematheque, where screenings celebrate international film all year long and true cinephiles can lose themselves in the extensive Film Reference Library. The Film Club family matinee series is ideal for budding movie lovers (and rainy afternoons). thecinematheque.ca

The Arbutus Greenway may only be nine kilometres tip to tail, but I find that you can easily stretch a bike ride into a whole-day aff air if you plan it right. For me, that means starting at Beaucoup Bakery for a disastrously messy croissant and Americano, then using the caff eine and carbs to power myself south up and over the poppy-and-buttercup-lined path. It’s the sort of ride—a mix of get-the-heartrate-up slopes and thrilling downhill stretches—that has me regularly turning to either my bike mate beside me or the baby on the seat behind me to shout “Isn’t this the best?!” over the whiz of tires and clicking of gears. I repeat myself on the riverside patio of the Milltown Bar and Grill—my own personal finish line— but my sentiment is mu ff led once again, this time because my mouth is full of crispy yam fries and cold beer. Just another outdoorsy health nut, enjoying that active Vancouver lifestyle. See you on the trail. —S.M.

The Greenway

the to-do list

continued from p. 54

RIDDLE ME THIS

While you can find pub trivia in any ’hood, any night, it’s worth seeking out those hosted by IQ 2000 . There’s a fine art to crafting Qs that are both challenging and accessible, and the prolific trivia host knows just how to hit that balance— find him at places like Colony and The American and test your mettle. iq2000trivia.com

BELT IT OUT Broadway

Across Canada delivers your favourite musicals right to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It may not exactly replicate the experience of New York’s worldfamous theatre district, but “Seasons of Love” will get stuck in your head just as intensely. van couver.broadway.com

RELIVE

THE NOT-

SO-GLORY DAYS

Cringe in community at the long-running Sarah Bynoe-produced Teen Angst night, where comedians and brave over-sharers take the stage to read hilarious excerpts from their adolescent diaries or misguided attempts at poetry. sarabynoe.com

WRESTLE SOME MUD

Take a break from hunching over a computer to hunch over a throwing wheel instead. Claycurious Vancouverites can get their hands dirty at any number of pottery studios around town (ClayTek in Olympic Village, for one). It’s the ideal activity for tinkerers and creatives alike. Most studios offer classes for a range of skill levels. Various locations

HAVE TEA WITH A CALICO If you’re feeling like a savage beast in need of soothing, the city’s wealth of animal cafés may just be the remedy. Hop over to the Bunny Cafe, or scratch your pet-playtime itch at the kitty-centric Catfe bunnycafe.ca; catfe.ca

GO GREEN There are a million ways to commune with nature here, but for those who appreciate a more manicured introduction to plant life, Gardens B.C. o ff ers a well-curated list of suggestions for a day (or two) among the foliage—like VanDusen, UBC Botanical Garden and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. gardensbc.com

SET SAIL FOR FUN

Hop on the SeaBus and set sail for whatever is going on at the Lonsdale Quay Shipyards .

The public plaza hosts fun year-round—free outdoor concerts, movies in the summer, night markets in the fall, public firepits in the winter—all backed with a twinkling view of downtown Van. cnv.org

MAKE YOUR MARK AT THE MARKET

Even if you’re not in the market for produce, Vancouver Farmers Markets o ff er plenty to snack on: whether you’re in Riley Park, False Creek, Kitsilano or Trout Lake, discover live music, artisanal wares and some top-notch people-watching May through October. eatlocal.org

CELEBRATE SUNDAY

FUNDAY The Sunday Service is Vancouver’s longest running weekly improv show for a reason—there’s no better way to counteract the Sunday Scaries than by cry-laughing at the on-stage antics from your cozy balcony seat in the Fox Cabaret. thesundayservice.ca

and pedestrians thriving among food trucks, vendors, live stage shows and general we-shutthe-street-downglee. Various neighbourhoods

The Salvation Army’s 22nd Annual

PRESENTED BY

the to-do list

continued from p. 56

FILL YOUR BELLY

Ostensibly, the Richmond Night Market is a shopping experience (the amount of quirky phone cases you’ll find here is downright staggering) but the real draw is the Instagram-bait snacks. Come hungry: crème brûlée crêpes, mile-high cup noodles and butter beer await, April through October. richmondnightmarket.com

GO TREASURE

continued from p. 56

MUSIC WASTE

MAKE MAGIC Crafting is traditionally a solo hobby, but MakerLabs ‘ Bring Your Own Crafts nights and Maker Meetup nights are about creating a more social vibe, whether you’re a leatherworker, crochet queen or robotics nerd. Get inspo from supplies as well as other creators’ show-and-tell moments. makerlabs.com

HAVE AN ART ATTACK

The first Friday of each month means free admission to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Share all your brooding thoughts about Emily Carr over a drink at the cash bar in the lounge afterward. vanartgallery.bc.ca

EAT POPCORN FOR DINNER

The Rio’s movie o ff erings are among the best in the city—catch cult fave screenings and indie darlings on the big screen of this retro theatre—but plenty of live thrills happen here, too. From burlesque to the charming Talent Time variety show, it’s the red-velvet heart of Commercial Drive. riotheatre.ca

GIVE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE THE RUNAROUND

Lace up your sneaks to join Social Run Club for some serious training (Form Focus runs on Tuesdays) or dig through your costume box to get in gear for one of the group’s regular themed events (the Naked Costume run turns some major heads). socialrunclub.com

RAISE A GLASS TO OUR CITY

The Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge keeps its bar staffplenty busy with regular collaborations featuring far-flung cocktail wizards—pop by for a taste of Mexico City’s Hanky Panky or Singapore’s Manhattan bar. fairmont.com

HUNTING

The Vancouver Flea Market is a warehouse packed with vintage curios and big-ticket antiques alike. You could spend your whole weekend exploring this treasure trove and still not truly see it all—good thing it’s a weekly a ff air, then. vancouverflea market.com

The indie music fest hosts the best local up-andcoming musicians in the city’s scrappiest venues for one glorious (and loud) weekend. musicwaste.ca

BREWERY AND THE BEAST

This gathering of the city’s premier restaurants and beer-makers demands that you embrace your inner glutton (pack the Pepto). breweryandthe beast.com

PETAPALOOZA

FLOAT ON Splash around with a new group of pals at Jericho Sailing Centre’s Social Paddle nights Women- and BIPOC-focused paddling groups run weekly through the summer, too. If you thought the beach itself was a great place to soak in views of the city, the perspective from the water will knock you on your oar. jsca.bc.ca

No matter whether you have a furry friend or just love to lurk, the corgi races and dog pool party make for a perfect Yaletown day. petapalooza west.com

FALL

FRIGHT NIGHTS AT PLAYLAND

Should the people who dare say there’s nothing to do in this city perhaps be legally prohibited from enjoying the Coaster? Seems fair. pne.com/ playland

EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL

The four-day event offers a peek into the creative spaces of 500+ Vancouver artists. culturecrawl.ca

CHINESE CANADIAN MUSEUM

A new, must-visit attraction in Chinatown

BY JESSICA KIRBY

Whether you call Vancouver home, a travel stop, or a vacation destination, be sure to add the new Chinese Canadian Museum to your list of unique and fun things to do in the downtown area.

Newly opened on July 1, the Chinese Canadian Museum—the first of its kind in Canada—brings an elevated experience to Vancouver’s Chinatown. Located on 51 East Pender Street at the historic Wing Sang Building—the neighbourhood’s oldest brick building—the family-friendly, intergenerational attraction is worth taking the time to explore.

“We are delighted to provide a transformative experience through our museum’s exhibitions and programming,” says Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum. “As a new cultural destination in Vancouver, we hope that the stories and journeys of Chinese Canadians resonate with visitors from all backgrounds, while also ensuring that we engage with and amplify voices from our own community.”

Inside the four-storey building, heritage features and contemporary upgrades unite

to provide a bright and spacious gallery that bring visitors back in time to learn about varying aspects of early life for many Chinese Canadians.

As visitors enter the museum inside the introductory gallery, they are greeted by the exhibition “Odysseys and Migration”, which recounts some of the unique journeys of Chinese Canadians from the 18th century to the present day.

The exhibition features an interactive world map for visitors to log their personal journeys, unique artifacts of the Chinese diaspora through migration, and a commissioned mural “The Journeys Here” by Marlene Yuen.

On the second floor, “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act” fills the feature exhibition space, showcasing a community-sourced exhibition that marks a century since the Chinese Exclusion Act. As well, hundreds of certificates of identity (C.I. documents)—the most ever publicly displayed in an exhibition—and individual

stories are highlighted throughout the gallery.

“Through the C.I.s, which were used to track Chinese Canadians across Canada during the Exclusion period, the Paper Trail probes the nature of paperwork and documentation over this contested terrain of history,” Lee says.

The museum also pays tribute to the building’s original residents—the Yip Family—with Period Rooms on the third floor. Visitors can immerse themselves in the original School Room, which is one of Vancouver’s oldest, and a recreated living room that provides a real-life experience of what life in the building was like for the Yips in the 1930s.

Tickets and annual passes are available online and onsite. Visitors are encouraged to book their tickets and complimentary guided tours at chinesecanadianmuseum.ca Group rates are available. Inquire at booking@chinesecanadianmuseum.ca

Together, we transform health care

No matter how complex or rare your condition may be, our hospitals and health care centres are your best chance for recovery if you are seriously Ill or injured.

Your donation will help fund the future of health care in our hospitals, providing medical teams with the equipment, technology and research they need to save lives.

Give today and help support Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Vancouver Community Health Services.

vghfoundation.ca/give

Right here, right bao

Which sandwich is which? We bite into the best betweenbread eats in Vancouver.

Netflix and grill

sandos in THE city >>>

Hello, good bison

The katsu’s out of the bag

This sub goes deep

ALYSSA HIROSE photography by CLINTON HUSSEY

1. Breaking Banh

Let’s start things offwith a kickass deal. Truth is, it can be tricky to find a solid lunch under $15 anywhere in this city, but a DD Mau banh mi comes through: at $12, the two-hands-required saté beef banh mi is actually one of the priciest on the menu. That’s because it’s piled with top sirloin that’s been sautéed in lemongrass chili oil. That beef combined with all the standard banh mi fixings (pickled veggies, jalapeño, cucumber, housemade mayo, cilantro) creates a delightfully fresh, hunger-crushing sando. Design-wise, you get a bit of everything with every bite (and with this many ingredients, that’s no small feat). Mind the liberally sliced jalapeño—it really brings the heat. 145 E Pender St., ddmau.ca

2. Perfect Pear

During our photoshoot, Finch’s Teahouse owner Sheryl Matthew told us that nearly all of her sandwich artists are also artist artists. It’s an inarguable point, because every baguette masterpiece that comes out of this café is proof. The pear sandwich ($14.75) is stu ff ed with elegantly folded prosciutto, thoughtfully fanned pear slices, a handful of crushed roasted walnuts and—the controversial kicker—blue brie. Blue-cheese haters, prepare to be converted: the creamy, indulgent brie balances this sammy out beautifully. Balsamic vinegar, extravirgin olive oil and fresh cracked pepper are the final touches. It’s a work of art that plays with taste, texture and colour—even blue. 353 W Pender St., finchteahouse.com

3. HEY YA

Yes, buried underneath Say Hey ’s insanely generous tower of toppings, there is bread somewhere. Don’t worry: just make sure you ask for a fork, so you can go to town on all the delicious bits that’ll inevitably topple out when you’re chowing down. The Doofer super hero hoagie ($16) is a spicy monster of a sub: think roast turkey, bacon, red onion, aged white cheddar, crispy fried onions, chili mayo and shredded iceberg lettuce—plus delicate curls of microplaned parmesan. (“Doofer” doesn’t sound bougie, but this sandwich does it all.) It’s stu ff ed... much like you’ll be when you dare to challenge it. Even if you’re defeated, it’s still a win-win. 156 E Pender St., sayheycafe. square.site

SANDOS IN THE CITY

4. Truck Yeah

There’s competition for the hot dog vendors posted up where Granville meets Georgia—the Tokyo Katsu-Sand food truck is serving up street food on another level. Their gyu-katsu sandwich ($16.40) is rare in every sense: the katsu-style sandwich isn’t common in Vancouver, and this particular beef cutlet is breaded and deep-fried just enough to preserve its vibrant red centre. Besides that expertly cooked cutlet, there’s not much else in this sando (sweet gyu-katsu sauce and wasabi mayo are the only other components between the toasted white bread), but there’s beauty in simplicity: it’s a meaty, minimalist treat. Granville St. and W Georgia St., tokyokatsusand.ca

5. Playing Chicken

Sure, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—but DownLow Chicken Shack maestro Doug Stephens still revamped his ultra-popular menu for the restaurant’s fifth birthday this summer. New to the roster is this beast: the Chips n Dip ($16.90), DL’s answer to all the rebels who like to put potato chips inside their sandwiches. (If you’ve never done it, this is your sign to try.) The crave-worthy ranch-andonion-dusted fried chicken feels innovative yet nostalgic, while shredduce and tomato lighten up each bite. Like with all of DownLow’s sandos, the pillowy potato bun can barely contain the portion of chicken that’s served— here, there’s no cheeping out (get it?). 905 Commercial Dr., dlchicken shack.ca

6. Master of Bun

The team behind one of Kitsilano’s newest counter-service restaurants seems to be scientifically engineering the world’s most adorable sandwich. That’s thanks to ultra-soft, handmade steamed buns stamped with the charming logo of a bao-on-the-go (likely running to avoid death by teeth—but let’s not get dark about this). And it’s not just cute: the wagyu bao ($20) at Petite Bao is thoughtfully crafted, too. Sweet confit tomato and decadent caramelized onions level up this sando, and shiso and scallions bring an Asian twist. And, of course, there’s the delicious wagyu patty, bacon and cheese—okay, you could call this one a burger, but it’s too good to leave out of this sandwich extravaganza. 2825 W Broadway, petitebao.ca

“To me, this sandwich is a marriage of familiar flavours: onion dip and ranch chips in a singular bite hits so nicely! Both were such a huge part of my formative years: late nights of Mario Kart, Cool Ranch Doritos and Knorr

French onion chip dip.” —Doug Stephens, DownLow Chicken Shack

SANDOS IN THE CITY

7. Awesome Sauce

This isn’t the first time we’re celebrating this Coal Harbour gem: Syrian-Lebanese eatery Yasma took home the gold in the inaugural Best Middle Eastern category of Vanmag ’s Restaurant Awards earlier this year. If you’re wondering what to get for lunch at this award-winning restaurant, this is it. The tawouk sandwich ($22) comes with a side of fries (which, truthfully, deserve their own award) and is stu ff ed with bite-sized pieces of grilled chicken, pickled turnips, Lebanese coleslaw and a slice of tomato. Yasma has nailed the ingredient proportions here: sweet, sour and savoury meet in perfect harmony. The housemade garlic spread is the icing on the cake—or, er, the sauce on the sandwich.

(Dear Yasma: may we suggest bottling it so we can put it on everything?)

550 Denman St., yasma.ca

8. Big Fry

Don’t overthink it. Mr. Bannock ’s bison burger ($19) is simple, but not basic: this Indigenous food truck is serving no-fuss tradition on delicious fry bread. The sandwich pulls more than its weight thanks to hearty ingredients—the aforementioned bannock, an expertly cooked Two Rivers bison patty (preparing bison isn’t for amateurs, but chef Paul Natrall proves his skill by delivering a seriously juicy bite), plus American cheese, tomato and sriracha mayo. And did we forget to mention the thick slice of grilled red onion? (Psst... there’s also a version with blueberry aioli, depending on the season—hit up the food truck to see what’s cooking.) Various locations, instagram.com/mrbannockfood

9. Meatball Mania

A list of must-try sandwiches without a meatball sub? No grazie. Of course, Commercial Drive is where you’re headed for such a meal, and La Grotta Del Formaggio —the Italian deli that’s made its home in the neighbourhood since Fortunato Bruzzese opened it in 1977—is the spot. Their meatball sub (from $10.99) is crafted with housemade meatballs (featuring free-range Two Rivers beef), grandmother-approved tomato sauce, melty mozzarella and a solid sprinkle of parmesan cheese. The Portuguese bun it’s tucked into is sturdy, but let’s face it: you’re going to make (and be) a hot mess. Isn’t that part of the fun? 1791 Commercial Dr., lagrottadelformaggio.com

“Bannock is a staple at a lot of Indigenous celebrations and powwows, and bison is a traditional Indigenous ingredient—it’s also high in protein and leaner than beef. The fluffiness and crispiness of the bread and the bold flavour of the bison are a perfect pairing.”—Paul Natrall, Mr. Bannock

A Return to Bountiful

Harvest is traditionally a time of celebration, but this year’s crop in the Okanagan is a decidedly bittersweet affair. While it will be rewarding to bring the grapes in, the numbers will be historically low thanks to the unprecedented vine damage that occurred last winter. Wine lovers are quick to feel empathy when they hear about their fave producers getting hit by fires or flood, but the freeze that happened last December was a catastrophe on a far higher level. Here’s the bottom line: the harvest is forecast to be 54 percent less than normal, with 45 percent of the vines suffering long-term damage and 29 percent requiring complete replanting.

Which all offers a perfect chance for us to rally around these wineries and snap up the bottles they are releasing. And while we think of harvest as a generic term, the reality is that in a highly variable climatic zone like the Okanagan, where we grow such a vast array of grape varietals, there will be some producers who pick grapes as early as mid-August and others who might start as late as October—and that’s not even considering the hardy souls who brave the freezing temperatures to make ice wine. But even with those broad guidelines, there is much variation within each window of picking time. Do you want your chardonnay to be light and crisp or round and warm? Will your cabernet franc be juicy or powerful? Here are three options that celebrate three distinctive stages of harvest.

Welcome to The Wine List, Vanmag ’s newest column about— you guessed it— the greatest bottles of grapes in the city. Every issue, our discerning yet down-toearth wine editor Neal McLennan will share three excellent picks. Think weird and wonderful local finds, international superstars, hidden gems, killer deals and more: this is the list.

Tantalus Blanc de Noir, $31

It’s odd to think of red grapes, even the delicate pinot noir, as early ripeners, but for his sparkling wine, winemaker David Paterson wants low alcohol and elevated acidity (this wine is fantastically vibrant) so these grapes are often the first picked on the East Kelowna Tantalus estate. tantalus.ca

Liquidity Viognier, $30 Viognier is traditionally one of the latest white grapes to be harvested, as winemakers want to exploit the signature perfumed nose and soft, rich mouthfeel, but Liquidity’s Amy Paynter picks hers early to craft a viognier that has more acidity than most (plus elegant, light, elevated florals). liquiditywines.com

Phantom Creek Estates Cabernet Franc, $42 Cabernet franc is always near the last to be harvested: picked too early, it displays green and overly herbaceous qualities—but leave it too long and it can become hot and flabby. Phantom Creek’s Mark Beringer chooses the perfect middle ground, keeping some freshness and wild herb characteristics as a partner to the ripe dark cherry and black currant notes. phantom creekestates.com

Poplar Grove Syrah

Estate Grown. Locally Farmed. Family Owned.

Nightcap

The Midnight Sour

As summer cools into fall, Nightshade’s blackberry bourbon sour is your perfect transitional toast. The sun-kissed blackberries and zesty lemon evoke sunny days, while the smoky bourbon and clove syrup welcome the cozy embrace of autumn. Plus, there’s an innovative (read: vegan) chickpea twist— Nightshade did, after all, earn bronze in the Best Vegetarian category of our 2022 Restaurant Awards (and, more recently, Bib Gourmand status from the Michelin Guide). This sweet bourbon cocktail is an elegant mix that tastes like the season itself. So don’t be sour that summer is fleeting: drink to it!

BLACKBERRY BOURBON SOUR

SERVES 1

4 blackberries (muddled)

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz clove syrup*

1 oz aquafaba (water from cooked or canned chickpeas)

2 oz bourbon

GARNISH (OPTIONAL)

Lemon ribbon

Blackberries

Tonka bean shavings

METHOD

1. Muddle berries in a shaker.

2. Add liquid ingredients and 4 to 5 cubes of ice.

3. Shake vigorously until you feel the cocktail is chilled.

4. Strain into a glass and garnish.

*See Vanmag.com for recipe

WTF (What the Faba?)

Raising a glass to your favourite vegan?

Meet your cocktail’s secret weapon: aquafaba, or as we like to call it, garbanzo gold! This slimy chickpea juice may seem destined for the drain— but don’t throw this baby out with the bean bath water. It’s a secret froth-master. Just whisk, shake or froth—1 tbsp for a yolk, 2 tbsp for an egg white and 3 tbsp for the whole egg shebang.

PRO TIP: Freeze in 1 tbsp portions for easy, chill, vegan-approved cocktails down the road.

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