Vancouver Magazine July/August 2025

Shiva Reddy, food columnist at CBC, snacks on a prosciutto baguette from L’Épicerie

Alex Chen, executive chef at Boulevard, grabs the lox from Siegel’s

Martin Vargas, chef and partner at Alimentaria Mexicana, chomps a Lee’s sprinkle doughnut

It was a night—well, afternoon—to remember, as the culinary stars came out to play at the 36th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards on May 5, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The afternoon kicked off with a lively reception in one of the historic hotel’s beautiful ballrooms, bringing Vancouver’s incredible community of chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders, somms, front-of-house-stars and voracious eaters together to mix and mingle. The jovial atmosphere continued during the awards show, hosted by Global’s Sophie Lui and Vanmag editor-in-chief Stacey McLachlan. As always, it was a celebration of the best of the city, with gold awards presented to winners in 50 different categories including Best Italian, Best Casual and Best Chinese—plus honours for our Readers’ Choice and Editors’ Choice selections.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

DESTINATION PARTNER

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSOR

VENUE PARTNER

Contents

Culture

PERSONAL SPACE

At home with artists Meg and Steve Hübert in their custom kitchen—complete with handpainted tile.

SHOP HOP

Behind Out and About’s little red door lurks plenty of treasures.

SO FUN CITY

Balancing Act climbing club proves that bouldering is for everyone.

ON THE RISE

Fortiv’s flexible designs and sustainable materials make something beautiful.

THE HAUL

What’s delighting the duo behind wine pop-up VinVan.

AT ISSUE

How did registering for kids’ activities get so competitive for Vancouver parents?

KNOW-IT-ALL

How to get selected for the Celebration of Light.

On the cover: Shiva Reddy, Alex Chen and Martin Vargas sample the wares of Granville Island Market.

This photo: Artists Steve and Meg Hübert in their Champlain Heights home.

Contents

Features

31 MARKET RESEARCH

A bounty awaits at the Granville Island Public Market—and there’s no better way to explore it than with the help of the city’s biggest foodies. This is our ultimate guide to eating the island, with editors’ picks, chef-recommended bites and directions to the best canelés in town.

50

RIDDLE

OF TH E SPHYNX

Hairless cats are having a moment. What on earth is inspiring so many Vancouverites to bring such a strange, startling breed of pet into their lives?

Just Eat It

Photographer Evaan Kheraj documented a decadent day out at Granville Island Market. See everything we ate, starting on page 31.

Taste

61 62 58 55

REVIEWS

Sumibiyaki Arashi showcases the beauty of the humble skewer.

BEST THING I ATE

Your new favourite summer treat: this mango sago.

WINE LIST

Summer is made for sipping on B.C. cider.

THE VANMAG GUIDE

How to make the most of the 2025 Pride Parade.

ceo and group publisher Ryan Benn

vp , publishing and operations Nina Wagner

editorial

vice president , content Anicka Quin

editors - in - chief Stacey McLachlan ( Vancouver ), Darcy Matheson (BC Business), Anicka Quin (Western Living)

senior editor Mihika Agarwal (BCBusiness)

managing editor Dani Wright (on leave)

assistant editor Kerri Donaldson (Vancouver, Western Living)

wine and spirits editor Neal McLennan

contributing editors Frances Bula, Melissa Edwards, Alyssa Hirose, Matt O’Grady

editorial interns Vivian Chong, Anjini Snape, Xiao Qing Wan, Elif Zaimler email mail@vanmag.com

digital

vice president , digital Darcy Matheson

digital marketing manager Rebekah Ho

brand partnerships/digital copywriter Sandrine Jacquot

design

creative director Jenny Reed

art directors Stesha Ho ( Vancouver ), Edwin Pabellon ( BCBusiness )

advisory council

Angus An, Maenam; Patrick Barron, Telus; TC Carling, Covenant House; Victoria Emslie, Nicola Wealth; Peter Jackman, Terminal City Club; Carol Lee, Vancouver Chinatown Foundation; Carol Liao, UBC Peter Allard School of Law; Matt McClenaghan, Edgar Developments; Jennifer Murtagh, Maturn; Gary Pooni, Pooni Group; Audrey Plaskacz, Bosa Properties; Greg Zayadi, Rennie Group

sales representation

vice president , sales Anna Lee

senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira Hershcovitch, Sheri Stubel

program lead and sales coordinator Victoria Nwaeze mail sales@canadawide.com

u . s . sales specialist Hayes Media Sales tel 602-432-4868 email lesley@hayesmediasales.com

production / administration

group vp , education and administration Jane Griffiths group director of operations Devin Steinberg director of circulation Tracy McRitchie

manager , hr and administration Fiona Cochrane

executive assistant and producer, events Hannah Dewar

production manager Kim McLane

production associate Natasha Jayawardena production support technician Ina Bowerbank customer service Kelly Kalirai

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 email sales@canadawide.com

Thursday, September 11 th , 2025 at Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware, 8351 Ontario Street, Vancouver 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm JOIN US AT WESTERN CANADA’S DESIGN EVENT OF THE YEAR, AS WE CELEBRATE THE WINNERS OF OUR 2025 WESTERN LIVING DESIGNERS OF THE YEAR Visit westernliving.ca/events for details

SNACK TIME

Last summer, my toddler daughter and I found ourselves huddled around a rare free table inside the Granville Island Public Market, recovering from the shock of what had just happened to us outside on the dock. A seagull had, with impeccable comic timing, ripped an entire pinksprinkle doughnut from Lee’s out of my hand just as I was in the middle of lecturing Coco about keeping an eye out for aggressive birds. I was crying with laughter; she was just crying (birds are scary!). When the tears dried, we were both in need of a new snack. And as I attempted to browse the market’s wares while simultaneously chasing a two-and-a-half-year-old through the Saturday crowds, I realized that maybe the rude gull had done us a favour: an opportunity to try something new was upon us. Obviously, Lee’s is an icon of Granville Island (and of Vancouver, at this point—Lee for mayor!), but perhaps Coco and I had fallen into a bit of a rut. Our Saturdays on the island had become routine. We’d bike down before her dance class at Arts Umbrella to grab a coffee and a hot chocolate at J.J. Bean; afterward, we’d hit the playground, then test the patience of the kind people working in the Gandharva Loka World Music store—my girl loves a maraca—and then split a doughnut (she eats all the icing off the top, I get the soggy leftovers; motherhood is nothing if not glamorous). This is, inarguably, a perfect day. But looking around the market, I realized there were many other delicious ways to wrap up our mornings, just waiting to be discovered.

So, a few months later, I dragged the entire editorial department down to the market for a little field trip to help me with that discovery process. Sure, I could’ve gone on the hunt for new faves one weekend at a time, but life is short and my co-workers are hungry: why not just cram in all of that research over the course of one gluttonous day?

We chipped away at articles in between bites, crumbs flaking onto our laptops (don’t tell the IT department), platters of cheese and exotic sausages and sticky canelés balanced precariously next to steaming bowls of soup and noodles. A tough job, but somebody had to do it. The results of our intensive sleuthing can be found starting on page 31, alongside recommendations from some equally voracious foodie friends. Whichever one of our highly endorsed treats you try next, be careful if you’re eating it outside—who knows if the seagulls have read this issue, too.

STACEY McLACHLAN

editor - in - chief

smclachlan @ canadawide com | @ stacey mclachlan

Coming Up Next Issue

The Homes Issue

For our third annual Homes issue, we’re once again peeking inside the personal spaces of Vancouver’s most interesting people, collecting their design tips, fave shops and organization hacks along the way.

Fall Arts Spectacular

As the days start to shorten and cool, we turn our attention from the beach to the heat of the city’s arts and culture scene—where there’s plenty of theatre, comedy, music and more fun awaiting us.

behind the scenes

Feeding Frenzy

To research all of the best bites at Granville Island, the editorial team set up shop above Blue Parrot Cafe back in February and set about collecting samples from as many vendors as possible to taste test throughout the day.

CULTURE

Home Made

There’s a handcrafted touch to almost everything in the Champlain Heights home of artists Meg and Steve Hübert and their two teenagers.

by

Stacey McLachlan photographs by Tanya Goehring

“Maybe it would be easiest if you just showed me what you didn’t make?” I suggest to prolific ceramicist Meg Hübert. I’m standing in the Champlain Heights kitchen she and husband Steve Hübert renovated three years ago, and at every turn we encounter another quirky handmade piece: chunky, whimsical mugs; a checkerpatterned egg holder; a playfully wobbly ceramic lampshade.

But upon further inspection and discussion, treasures with other origin stories reveal themselves. We’re sipping coffee, for instance, from mugs made by other B.C. ceramics artists (Julie Mackinnon, Kristie Forwick and Daisy Brown). On the wall hangs a retro plastic milk bag, sent to the couple by Steve’s parents. A few inches beside that, a painting from friend Hue Nguyen is displayed above a table Steve crafted, combining the top of their old dining room table with a DIY reeded base.

The couple describes the space as a mix of “Memphis design, Palm Springs, a bit of Deco and just lots and lots of colour.” This creative aesthetic is appropriate, given that Meg and Steve are both working artists and instructors. (Their two kids, Fred, 16, and Bernice, 12, are both creative types too—they even contributed a few of the ceramic critters that sit on shelves Steve installed in an awkward corner.) Anything they haven’t made themselves has been acquired through barters with friends or through scavenging Facebook Marketplace. Even the Ikea cabinets have been customized,

DIY Drama The couple did the kitchen renovation themselves, including pouring the concrete countertop. “It was a super stressful experience because we started mixing the concrete and had two drills burn out, so Steve had to run to Home Depot to get a new one as the concrete we’d already half-poured was drying,” Meg recalls.

Make a Splash They bought blank tiles at the pottery supply store and just started painting.

“We ended up with 180,” says Meg. The designs are a mix of “weird faces” and checker patterns, vignettes and experimental glaze treatments. “Our kids did a few too,” she says, pointing to one that says “NO” and another that looks suspiciously like some Nintendo copyright infringement. A black-and-white border of smaller tiles from Startile on Hastings contains the chaos.

Hood Life Steve cut up a regular hood vent and bent plywood around it to create a unique shape. “It’s my favourite detail of the room,” he says. Original Memphis Group mugs sit on a shelf above it.

Signing Bonus The dining room table has become a guest book: visitors leave a little doodle on its surface. On the wall hangs more art from friends like Ben Reeves, Sean Christensen, Patrick Cruz and Johan Björck.

Work It Steve learned the basics of woodworking in art school: life skills that came in handy for the renovation. “They want you to figure out how to get and make the things you want without having to spend money,” he says. He built the bench for their kitchen table out of leftover cedar siding from a friend’s house, and put together a kitchen island from their old dining tabletop, an Ikea cabinet and semi-round dowels.

given a coat of Benjamin Moore Springvalley green. (“We tried probably 35 different shades,” says Steve. “And then we realized we’d accidentally picked the same colour as our toaster.”)

Home Gallery Meg designed most of the mugs on display, as well as the fruit bowl, the cat dishes, the soap dish and much more. “I have a bad habit, when I’m shopping for things for the house, of always thinking, ‘I could probably make that myself,’” laughs Meg.

Go On, Get Happy Meg found the first happy face trivet at a thrift store, and asked her aunt to crochet her two more for Christmas. They hang on the wall alongside ceramic faces she designed for an art show, and a clock that she also made herself.

To be totally honest: it’s hard for me to pay attention, no matter how charming and interesting the Hüberts are, because the 180 custom tiles the family has installed as a backsplash and border in the room are so compelling. Is that a banana? Whose face is that? “We knew we wanted to do a tiled backsplash, and we mapped it out with cardboard, and then we bought a bunch of tiles and just... got to work,” says Meg. “We started and just saw what happened.” The result is the perfect personal finishing touch for a perfectly personal space—built piece by piece.

Through the Red Door

Gastown’s Out and About takes you abroad. by

Stacey McLachlan

Fight your way through the Steam Clock crowds, and you might find yourself spit out in front of Out and About: step through its red doors for blissful escape from the throngs of Gastown tourists.

Opened in 2018, the boutique has since quietly built a cult following from those in the know on Japanese and European design. “We carry a lot of brands from these places that you don’t see a lot of here in Vancouver,” explains Cecilia

Liu, who co-owns the shop along with her mother, Shelia Peng, and mom’s longtime friend, Angela Guan. Liu had some retail experience in her past, but Peng and Guan come from the corporate world, approaching retail from a fresh perspective. “It’s kind of a new venture for us,” she laughs.

But over seven years, the trio has homed in on something special—and what hasn’t wavered since the beginning is their impeccable taste. “We’ve got clothing for all seasons, but when it comes to the objects, we’re trying to find things you can use every day that are functional, practical and

unique,” says Liu. You’ll find perfectly tailored short work jackets from Danton alongside slouchy denim barrel trousers from 7115 by Szeki, but also delightful Japanese stationery, alligator-skin wallets and the prettiest sake glass sets.

What you’ll also spot when you walk in is a little bit of history—the building is more than a century old, and the exposed bricks inside are original. A determined shopper will discover the staircase to the basement, where even more treasures (Japanese knit socks, chic poplin dresses) await. “A lot of people have been to the store a few times before they realize we have two floors,” shrugs Liu. “I don’t know how they miss it!” 321 W Cordova St. | outnaboutboutique.com

Shelf Life

The cozy Gastown store is packed with treasures just waiting to be discovered, from a curated collection of candles to the perfect summer bucket hat.

Best Bets

Product picks from Out and About’s co-owner Cecilia Liu and our editors.

EDITORS’ PICK

Saskia Diez Rebl/Diez Sling Ring ($268)

There’s something candy-like about the two baubles that mark either end of this sterling silver ring made in Munich.

LIU’S PICK

Aequamente Dress 25135 ($598)

The drapey, waist-less floral dress is pure cotton and made in Italy. “It’s blue and white and summery feeling,” says Liu.

LIU’S PICK

7115 Szeki Unisex Elastic Trousers in Oatmeal ($310) Comfy enough for couch time, structured enough to rock at the office: an elastic-waist dream come true.

LIU’S PICK

Épice Paris Udaipur Tote ($115)

The cutest way to upgrade your tote collection is with this chic, lightweight statement bag.

EDITORS’ PICK

Lapuan Kankurit Metsikko Wool Blanket ($245) Finnish illustrator Matti Pikkujämsä sketched the owl featured on this pure wool blanket.

LIU’S PICK

Otani Momoko Blue Lotus Mug ($125)

“She’s a Japanese ceramic artist, and handmakes and handpaints her teacups. I really like the composition,” explains Liu. Each mug is one-of-akind.

EDITORS’ PICK

Even though it’s made in Italy, this shirt nails the key to dressing like a Japanese fashionista: forget that sizing exists.

Hannoh Wessel Saloma Shirt ($479)

This Club Rocks

Balancing Acts is shaking up Vancouver’s climbing scene, creating more walls and fewer barriers. by Kerri Donaldson

Complaining can only get you so far. It’s a realization plenty of people never have—but, thankfully for the rock-climbing community, Balancing Acts founder Benjamin Fenton hit that aha moment. “At some point, you get to an age where you realize: if you’re not contributing to the city, you’re part of the problem,” says Fenton, a photographer and designer by trade. “My friends and I would say, ‘Man, this city doesn’t really have culture. Nothing social is really happening.’ And then I realized, well, am I doing anything about it?”

Balancing Acts is a community project focusing on rock climbing, born out of frustration with both Vancouver’s fragmented social scene and climbing’s lack of diversity. “I’d go to the skate park at Britannia Courts and meet these amazing people—gender-diverse, creative thinkers, folks from all walks of life,” says Fenton. “Then I’d go to the climbing gym and it was mostly people with nine-to-five jobs. It just didn’t feel the same.” So Fenton started gathering friends for casual trips and coached them through approachable spots on Cypress Mountain. These small outings soon grew from five people into 30

Such Great Heights Balancing Acts hosts outdoor field trips during warmer months, and indoor climbing year ‘round.

THE DEETS

(on rare occasions, even growing to groups of 150), proving he’d tapped into something special. “It almost started as a selfish thing— just wanting my friends at the gym. But it turned into something bigger,” Fenton says. The Balancing Acts philosophy is simple—come as you are: “We provide all the gear because climbing should never feel out of reach. It’s about creating family, community and belong -

Follow @balancing_acts on Instagram or visit balancing-acts.ca to stay up to date

ing—especially for those who typically don’t see themselves represented in traditional climbing spaces.” (Specifically, according to the Balancing Acts website, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous, Black and POC individuals.)

With backing from local brands like Arc’teryx and Nonny Beer, Fenton built a climbing wall inside Alterior, a bustling creative space in East Van. Here, bimonthly “board meetings” are a chance for climbers of all levels to do some indoor climbing; you’ll also find the group hosting themed nights like Filipino heritage appreciation, queer nights and celebrations of Black History Month. These events are essential winter hangouts, keeping the climbing community tightly knit year-round, while summers bring casual outdoor “field trips,” complete with crash pads, coordinated carpools and Fenton’s relaxed coaching style.

The proof’s on the wall: Balancing Acts is crushing barriers—and building community. One international student from China found her crew here and even designed a brochure as a thank-you. And then there’s Darius, a onceshy Surreyite who scaled new heights with a life-changing climbing trip to Joshua Tree when he was 19, thanks to the club’s bursary program. He’s now so committed he’s organizing climbs himself, texting plans to Fenton mid-interview.

Next obstacle to tackle? More walls—literally. Fenton is now pushing the City of Vancouver to install public climbing boulders in city parks. “Imagine kids growing up climbing in Mount Pleasant or Strathcona, climbing real rocks,” says Fenton. “We could foster the next generation of climbing legends right here, in our own backyard.”

The Summer Play List

Nothing wrong with hitting the beach every day—but there’s culture happening this summer, too. by Kerri Donaldson

MUCH ADO ABOUT SUNSCREEN: BARD ON THE BEACH

WHEN June 10 to September 20

WHERE Vanier Park COST From $35

Sun, sand and soliloquies—it’s an ’80s-inspired take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona featuring live music and, yes, a real dog in the cast. (Note to my agent: next time, clarify I’m not auditioning against a golden retriever.)

HIPS DON’T LIE: SUNDAY AFTERNOON SALSA

WHEN Every Sunday in July WHERE Robson Square COST Free (donations welcome) Begin with a free salsa lesson, then dance away your Sunday. Even if you’ve got two left feet, you’re in for a spicy good time.

GREEK OUT: GREEK SUMMERFEST

WHEN July 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 WHERE 4541 Boundary Rd.

COST Free admission

Souvlaki, bouzouki beats and dance circles that make you shout “Opa!” Whether you’re here to feast or dance, it’s a taste of Greece in East Van.

HERE COMES YOUR BAND: THE PIXIES

WHEN June 26 and 27

WHERE Orpheum Theatre COST From $105

Alt-rock icons The Pixies play two nights of throwbacks, deep cuts and undead bangers. Bonus: Kurt Vile and the Violators serve up emo nostalgia as the opener.

3

ELLE FRESCO: LEGALLY BLONDE : THE MUSICAL

WHEN June 29 to August 16

WHERE Malkin Bowl COST From $35

Blonde hair, open air! Theatre Under the Stars brings the cult-classic film-turned-musical back—this time proving that blondes can have more fun, earn law degrees and be outdoorsy. Elle Woods, live from the woods.

ROAD RAGER: KHATSAHLANO STREET PARTY

WHEN July 5

WHERE West 4th Avenue COST Free

Vancouver’s ultimate block party—indie beats, artisan treats, food truck feasts and the sweet freedom of a car-free street to get your dance on.

SEA LEGS: VFAC SUMMERFAST 10K

WHEN July 5

WHERE Ceperley Park playground (Stanley Park)

COST From $63.27

Lace up for the flattest, fastest 10K in town—no hills, just thrills (and the occasional goose).

STAR POWER: STANLEY PARK SUMMER CINEMA SERIES

WHEN Tuesdays from July 9 to August 27

WHERE Second Beach COST Free

Movies under the stars—pack a picnic while you wait for the sundown showtime and be prepared for raccoon-approved popcorn theft.

LOUD AND PROUD:

SYMPHONY IN THE PARK

WHEN July 12

WHERE Deer Lake Park (Burnaby) COST Free

Picnic under the stars with Beethoven and film scores— culture meets casual park hangout.

CHAOTIC JOY: NEEMA NAZ: MY ESTUPID LIFE TOUR

WHEN July 11 and 12

WHERE Vancouver Playhouse COST From $38

Iranian-Canadian TikTok star Neema Naz brings his wildly relatable chaos to the stage— because laughing at his estupid life is way cheaper than therapy for your own.

HOP TO IT: VANCOUVER CRAFT BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHEN July 12

WHERE PNE Grounds COST From $30

It’s beer. It’s music. It’s summer. What more do you need— directions?

FUEGO IN THE PARK: CARNAVAL DEL SOL

WHEN July 11 to 13

WHERE Jonathan Rogers Park COST Free entry (cash for food) Fútbol, tacos and samba dancing in flip flops—Carnaval del Sol is the beachy Brazilian banger you want with the Jonathan Rogers Park you have.

SISSY THAT RUN: VANCOUVER PRIDE RUN AND WALK

WHEN July 13

WHERE Various routes COST Free Run, walk or sashay a scenic 5K or 10K along the seawall—all for a good cause and great vibes.

WALTZ DISNEY: DISNEY’S ENCANTO IN CONCERT

WHEN July 18 and 19

WHERE Orpheum Theatre COST From $32

Watch the magic unfold live as the VSO brings Encanto to life. Yes, they will talk about Bruno (in full orchestral glory).

SOUND OF SIMON: PAUL SIMON IN CONCERT: A QUIET CELEBRATION

WHEN July 25, 26 and 28

WHERE Orpheum Theatre COST From $270

A legendary night with the icon himself—intimate, orchestral and quietly unforgettable. Bring tissues.

BACH IT UP: BAROQUE IN MOTION ON GRANVILLE ISLAND

WHEN July 26

WHERE Granville Island COST Free

Baroque? Don’t stress—it’s free! Expect harpsichord, violin and flute, paired with authentic 17thand 18th-century dance moves. (Tell your kids it’s old-timey TikTok. No promises they’ll look up from their phones.)

CRY GUYS: FATHER JOHN MISTY

WHEN July 31

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre COST From $67

Indie folk troubadour Father John Misty is coming all the way to Vancouver to give the bearded and mustachioed among us an excuse to feel—because men will do anything but go to therapy.

SKY HIGH PRIDE: HI PRIDE PATIO AND ROOFTOP PARTY PRIDE VANCOUVER 2025

WHEN August 3

WHERE HI Vancouver Downtown COST From $49

Take your Pride to new heights with a DJ’d rooftop bash—because turning the city skyline into your dance floor is a point of pride.

FOLK YA: VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHEN July 18 to 20

WHERE Jericho Beach Park COST From $225 for a weekend pass

Canada’s only beachside folk fest is back. Three sun-soaked days of folk, roots, world music—and probably some Spikeball.

THE BLOW UP: HONDA CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

WHEN July 26, July 30 and Aug 2

WHERE English Bay Beach COST Free

The annual fireworks fiesta lights up the night sky, this time with provincial competitors instead of international pyro experts. Pro tip: arrive early to snag a prime spot.

I LOVE LUCY: LUCY DACUS WITH JULIA JACKLIN

WHEN August 12

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre COST From $82

Boygenius alum Lucy Dacus

(a.k.a. the voice behind your current emotional spiral) is touring her new solo album Forever Is a Feeling—a perfect time to testdrive that waterproof mascara.

BIG DRAW: VANCOUVER COMIC JAM

WHEN July 26

WHERE The Pleasant COST Free (just buy your drinks) It’s a collaborative doodle fest where stick figures and quirky comics steal the show.

THE CRAFT: INDIGENOUS WEAVING WORKSHOP

WHEN Mid-August

WHERE Museum of Anthropology

COST $10 plus museum admission (free for Indigenous folks)

The two-hour hands-on session with an Indigenous artist covers the basics of cedar bark and wool weaving. Create a bracelet or woven rose while soaking in cultural stories in MOA’s Great Hall.

SAUCE BOSS: VANCOUVER HOT SAUCE FEST: HOT IN THE CITY

WHEN July 26

WHERE 250 W 3rd Ave. COST Free

Calling all heat seekers—it’s Vancouver’s first rooftop hot sauce fest with spicy snacks, fiery contests, cold drinks and a DJ’d after-party so you can dance the night (or acid reflux) away.

NO BAD DAYS: THE PLEASANT DAY FESTIVAL

WHEN August 9

WHERE Mount Pleasant COST Free

Mount Pleasant’s newest, chillest all-day block party serving art, live music and excuses to snack. It’s literally called Pleasant Day: you’ve gotta be in for a good time.

VEG OUT: RATHA YATRA FESTIVAL OF INDIA

WHEN August 23 to 24

WHERE Creekside Park COST Free

Two days of joyful vibes, soul food and live music and a colourful parade along the seawall, plus a free three-course meal on Sunday. Yes, really.

THE PLAYLIST

Meredith Hambrock is a Vancouver-based author and TV writer known for her debut novel Other People’s Secrets and latest release She’s a Lamb!

THE SOUNDTRACK

Hellmode

I keep rotating between Jeff Rosenstock’s Hellmode when I want to listen to something punk and rude and cool and Katie Gavin’s beautiful new folk album What a Relief, which has some of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard.

THE PODCAST What Happened Next: A Podcast About Newish Books

Nathan Whitlock is a winning conversationalist who asks all the right questions and has found a way to cleverly catch writers when they aren’t on the PR grind. Episodes with Ainslie Hogarth and Anuja Varghese are some recent faves.

THE TV SHOW

The Studio I’m loving the first few episodes of Seth Rogen’s new show The Studio, an ode to the insanity of show business, the film The Player and the risk involved with making art that resonates.

THE PAGE-TURNER

Margo’s Got Money

Troubles

I read Rufi Thorpe’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles late last year and I now need to read her backlist. She brings a tender vulnerability to heroes in tough circumstances. Halle Butler is another favourite. We’re around the same age and she has an incredibly caustic sense of humour and writes voice-driven literary novels that I buy immediately, every time they come out.

Volunteer With Us

Become a volunteer with The Salvation ArmyIt's a great way to give back to your community.

-Serving meals - Packing hampers - Kettle campaign roles - �omm�nity �o�ncils

For more information contact BCinfo@salvationarmy.ca Or apply online at salvationarmy.ca/volunteer

Sew On

East Vancouver-based Fortiv builds creative community through DIY clothing.

by Alyssa Hirose

In the world of sustainable fashion, finding or making eco-friendly materials is great—but when it comes to an industry where overproduction and waste is rampant, sometimes the most sustainable move is keeping these valuable resources in circulation. Whether that means upcycling clothing or using fabrics that would otherwise sit in a warehouse, “it’s often about finding ways to resist overproduction and instead being resourceful and intentional with the materials we use,” says East Vancouver designer Michelle Larsen.

Larsen’s brand, Fortiv, does just that, offering custom clothing made from factory offcuts and reclaimed fabrics from warehouses and textile recycling initiatives. She sews each piece herself, and because her material sources are limited to reclaimed fabrics, the final products are unique. “Most of the things that I create are one or two of a kind,” she notes. The designer first launched her business in 2018, and it became her full-time gig in 2020. Her whimsical wares are full of movement, often incorporating multiple textures and colours for a look that’s both statement-making and easygoing. And, recently, she’s started offering her sewingsavvy customers an opportunity to connect even more deeply to the process, selling digital sewing patterns along with her ready-made and made-to-order tops, skirts, pants and dresses. “Ever since I began making clothes, it’s been as much about the art of designing

EDITORS’ PICK

The corset-inspired Tulip top ($240) with drawstring sides and a petal-like hem is a piece that’s both playful and edgy.

and pattern making as it’s been about the craft of making,” says Larsen. “Being able to take people into the process of making one of my designs and inspire people to sew really aligns with my values as both a designer and maker.”

Thinking back to when she was first learning to sew—carefully crafting pillowcases as a 12-yearold—she keeps the instructions fun, detailed and motivational. “Patterns are a way for me to share my love for the process of sewing with other makers,” she shares. Fortiv patterns embrace the creative, adjustable techniques that Larsen herself loves to sew (for example, drawstrings) and allow room for multiple options (her Tulip dress can be finished two different ways). Needle little help? Larsen offers regular in-person sewing workshops, too.

PHOTOS

Tighten Up Fortiv founder and designer Michelle Larsen (left) sews each piece from her collection by hand, like the Tulip dress ($305, centre) and Eli dress ($375, top) which both feature drawstrings to create a perfect fit.

Strong Minds, Kind Hearts, Bold Future.

Discover why Stratford Hall is beyond the traditional.

Stratford Hall offers the K-12 International Baccalaureate Continuum Programme.

The Haul

When we asked Jo Owen and Steph Walker to share a few of their favourite things, it was no surprise that they had plenty of opinions. After all, the duo behind Vin Van know what they like: their endlessly popular wine pop-ups are built around a selection of wines that’s deeply curated (albeit accessible and casual-cool). Shop their picks here, then go thank them for directing you to your new fave white tee as they’re serving up their preferred pet-nats out of “Vivian,” their vintage trailer, in Kits this summer. Details about Vin Van’s Be Fresh sidewalk popups and disco dance parties at @vinvan.ca

1. Spiegelau Definition Universal Wine Glasses

We both own a set of these glasses! They’re on the same playing field as Zalto glasses, but half the price: so thin and elegant. We get compliments 100 percent of the time when friends drink out of them. $220, atkin sonsofvancouver.com

2. Blossom and Vine Florals Blossom and Vine creates top-tier seasonal bouquets; they’re one of the absolute best things to see when you walk in the door. They do weddings (they did Steph’s!), and any kind of arrangement you’re looking for, they’ve got it. We both have fresh flowers in our homes year-round, and often from B&V. Prices vary, blossomandvine floralco.com

3. Uniqlo White Crew Neck T-Shirt

We’re always on the

search for the perfect white tee, and Uniqlo always delivers. The crew neck is an essential. We recommend sizing up for a more relaxed fit. $15, uniqlo.com

4. Homecoming Oak Moss Sage Candle

Homecoming candles make the best scents (and the company is based here in Vancouver!). This is one that we reach for, either for ourselves or as a gift: 12/10,

would recommend. We both have, at minimum, two scents from them in our homes at all times. They make amazing room mists as well. $32, homecomingcandles.com

5. Le Creuset Wine Cooler Sleeve

This is a constant in both of our homes. It keeps the wine super chilled; it’s especially great for those beach bottles on a summer day. $45, lecreuset.ca

6. Global G-Series 8-inch Chef’s Knife

A sharp, high-quality knife is a complete game changer. This Global chef’s knife is absolutely a staple in the kitchen for both of us. $145, gourmet warehouse.ca

7. A Very Drinkable Rouge Wine

Our collab with Lightning Rock Winery! We called it

A Very Drinkable Rouge and we only made 23 cases—it’s available only

at our pop-ups. It’s a raspberry bomb, dry and the perfect chilled red for the season to come. $10 by the glass, vinvan.ca

8. Silk and Snow Flax Bedsheets

We’re on a continuous mission to make our beds the comfiest around. The Canadian company sells these lovely flax-linen sheets that are a dream to sleep in. $270, silkandsnow.com

www.causewecare.org

The Waitlist Generation

Thanks to a scarcity of family resources, Vancouver parents of all income levels are fighting for “everything.” Is there a solution in sight?

by Brittany Hopkins

“We need more of everything,” groans a fellow parent as we wait for the bus after dropping off our kindergarteners. “Daycare, swimming lessons, everything.”

We’ve just met. But we’re already comparing years’ worth of parenting frustrations like battle scars. Our struggles with finding childcare. Exasperation with instantly sold-out registration systems. Waitlists, waitlists, waitlists. Before we can get into the accelerating cost of summer camp, our bus arrives, we squeeze onboard and we go our separate ways.

One hour later, I collapse into a firm armchair in the bustling Mount Pleasant Community Centre lobby, next to Amy Duizer, a Kitsilano-based mother of three—ages eight, six and four. For one supervised hour each week, our toddlers get to test out a new sport in the gymnasium. I’m grateful for this opportunity. Unable to find full-time $10-a-day childcare in my neighbourhood, I typically use this hour to cram in school work or paid work that’s been piling up. Plus, I had scored

Kid Competition

Vancouver parents who manage to get their kids into coveted daycares or classes feel lucky—but thoughtful policy changes and funding could be implemented to create more resources for all.

the last available spot for my budding sports fanatic. But my luck comes with a side of guilt, knowing that a waitlist has sidelined a handful of other equally eager toddlers. For Duizer, it’s also bittersweet. She buses her son across town, she tells me, because her local community centre has cut many of the programs her children have loved.

But that’s really just icing on the cake.

“There’s not enough schools. There’s not enough green space. There’s not enough childcare,” Duizer says of her neighbourhood, right

off the Broadway Plan. “And it adds up for an extremely stressful situation in our neighbourhood. It’s constant conversation.”

Feeling starved for support is nothing new for Duizer and her partner. As entrepreneurs, they didn’t have access to parental leave benefits or accessible infant care options. When kindergarten registration came in 2021, they joined more than 300 incoming families on waitlists—an annual phenomenon largely driven by young families unable to afford single-family homes on the west side who are now

congregating in and around the downtown core, East Vancouver and South Vancouver, where zoning rules have concentrated denser, more attainable housing. Now, Duizer and her partner are wrestling with how, or whether, to balance $600 to $800 per week for summer childcare alongside mounting household costs and growing their businesses.

A slew of independent schools and private businesses fill many gaps—childcare, swimming lessons, birthday party venues and beyond—but I know firsthand that those costs add up (especially when

market-rate fees get forfeited when kids fall ill). Guilt accumulates too, knowing that many families cannot access the same opportunities. Despite feeling constant pressure to give their children every experience that could help set them up for a successful future, Duizer says she and her partner have made conscious spending shifts: swapping childcare camps for colouring at home; skipping “big athletic clubs” for community-based rec programs; teaming with other families for one collective kids’ birthday party, to name a few.

And yet, Paul Kershaw, policy professor at the UBC School of Population and Public Health and founder of the Generation Squeeze Knowledge Mobilization Lab, tells me over Zoom that the affordability struggles and social service shortages that millennial parents face are the result of societal failures, not individual choices. “And we need to address that societal failing together,” he says.

For more than a decade, Generation Squeeze has been pushing provincial and federal governments to acknowledge—and remedy—a range of policy choices that have secured healthy retirements for aging adults while squeezing younger generations out of “money, time and services.”

Today, he has a new way to describe the issue. “I think at the heart of the problem for families with young kids is structural ageism against younger people in this country,” he says. “Structural ageism that exists in our government budget, structural ageism that exists in our housing system, structural ageism that exists in our approach to the planet’s health.”

There will always be an age gap in government spending, Kershaw notes, due to the need for income support during retirement and increased medical costs that come with aging. “But as we’ve been adapting to a range of problems, we have reserved

our dollars for adapting for the aging population at a rate that’s three or four times faster than what we’re doing for younger people,” he says.

“People who’ve come before, my age and older, we’ve extracted so much of the good stuff, whether it’s the atmosphere’s ability to absorb carbon or a whole bunch of housing wealth from the housing system,” Kershaw adds. “So we leave little affordability for those who follow, as the tax dollars go for medical care and retirement security for an aging population. There’s little left over to invest in childcare or education. And we struggle to build parks and green spaces for people who no longer can afford homes with yards. I think it’s essential now that, if we want to restore affordability for younger people going

forward, we have to recognize the political bargain in this country.”

Over the years, Generation Squeeze’s research and advocacy have borne fruit. The lab’s research on childcare led to a call for capping costs at $10 a day, which childcare advocacy organizations grew into a national movement and policy win. In 2024, both the federal and B.C. budgets acknowledged the need to reinvest in younger generations with targeted programs, like increasing interest-free student loans, accelerating affordable housing construction, expanding $10-a-day childcare and increasing B.C.’s monthly family benefit payments. And, while campaigning for re-election at the end of the year, Premier David Eby promised $500 million over two years to create before- and after-school

“We’re asking people who are financially secure to say, ‘I’d be willing to receive less if that money is repurposed to help poor seniors and/or my kids and grandchildren’... Polling shows three quarters of Canadians agree with this idea. People feel good when they actually give something to help others.”

programs onsite at every school in the province, which childcare advocates argue is key to advancing gender equity in the workforce and boosting economic productivity while safeguarding children’s rights.

But it will take years of concerted effort to raise the standard of living for younger generations, Kershaw says. As such, Generation Squeeze has no shortage of policy solutions. Some of these proposals include advocating for improvements to parental leave, lightening the tax burden for younger people by lowering income taxes while increasing wealth and property taxes, and reforming zoning rules and tax policy to prioritize housing affordability over using homes as investment vehicles.

Reducing payments to already affluent retirees with incomes over $100,000 per year, according to the lab’s federal budget analysis, could generate $36 billion over five years, which could be used to eliminate senior poverty altogether while reducing the deficit and significantly increasing investments in affordable housing, childcare and postsecondary education.

“We’re asking people who are financially secure to say, ‘I’d be willing to receive less if that money is repurposed to help poor seniors and/or my kids and grandchildren,’” Kershaw explains, emphasizing the importance of “inviting” the financially secure to become active participants in creating the solution. “Polling shows three quarters of Canadians agree with this idea. People feel good when

they actually give something to help others.”

Increased public investment isn’t the answer to every problem parents face, but it’s crucial to completing the rollout of $10-a-day childcare provincially, says Sharon Gregson, spokesperson for the Coalition for Child Care Advocates of B.C. Gregson began advocating for a subsidized childcare system in the late ’80s. Over the decades that followed, she played an integral role in developing and popularizing an action plan that politicians ultimately leveraged to implement the provincial childcare strategy that later rolled out across the country.

Now, eight years into the province’s universal childcare rollout, just 26 percent of B.C. children have access to licenced childcare, and only 10 percent of those spaces are officially $10-a-day.

“The childcare funding from the province was flatlined last year, flatlined this year, and it’s flatlined for the next two years to come” after the B.C. NDP unveiled its 2025 budget, says Gregson. “The

only increase we’re seeing is a little bit of a bump through federal funding—nowhere near enough to actually make systemic changes that are necessary to move families off waiting lists, to implement the wage grid [establishing competitive pay rates] for early childhood educators, to move more programs to $10-a-day.”

Nor do these latest budget projections include Eby’s promise for $500 million to build more childcare spaces and expand before- and after-school care programs in all schools. Gregson calls the omissions “disappointing,” as child care advocates have long pushed for rapidly expanding the $10-a-day program by including high-quality schoolbased care that’s available to students ages five to twelve before and after school, as well as all day throughout seasonal school breaks.

“The need for advocacy and continued momentum, to put pressure on the provincial government, is so evident now more than ever,” Gregson says. “We constantly need new parents to bring their energy and their momentum, that this is

an issue that they care about and will vote about, to make sure politicians are listening.”

Back at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre, Duizer and I spend our final childfree minutes daydreaming about a wistful idea: a future where summer camp is built right into our children’s existing elementary schools. No more scrambling to find, or struggling to afford, week-long camps before they all sell out.

“It’d be lovely for the children to have community,” Duizer says, noting the added labour of trying to book activities the kids will enjoy while also coordinating camp schedules with classmates to provide social continuity over the summer months. “And you’d feel great as a parent.”

If only, I sigh, as class comes to an end and we rush off to collect our ecstatic toddlers. But, as we feed our little ones snacks, I can’t help but remember the decades of work that Kershaw, Gregson and many other tireless advocates have invested in pushing for systemic change, the policy wins their efforts have secured for young people and families across the country and the advice they gave me over Zoom: Sign the petitions. Call and email elected officials and tell them what you need. Then don’t miss a chance to vote.

Lamenting our struggles with similarly squeezed parents certainly feels cathartic, but directing our voices at those in power is the key to large-scale change—change that all our children and future generations could, one day, thank us for.

We’ve been chatting with our BC community, and here’s what we learned

DINING HABITS: DID YOU KNOW THAT 72% OF VANCOUVERITES DINE OUT 1-2 TIMES A WEEK ?

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:

We love the great outdoors! WALKING is Vancouver's favorite outdoor activity ( 87% ), followed by HIKING ( 53% ) and PICNICKING ( 39% ).

WHAT MATTERS TO US:

Vancouverites are passionate about the cost of living , healthcare , and affordable housing . Are these topics important to you too?

How Are Countries Selected for the Celebration of Light?

While this year’s event features provincial reps, it’s typically a national honour.

If you are an aspiring pyrotechnics team in a land far away dreaming of applying to compete in the Celebration of Light (Honda Celebration of Light, among friends), I’ve got terrible news for you: Vancouver’s biggest fireworks showdown is invite only. So stop paying for that expensive fireworks

-competition admissions advisor. There are no essays to craft. No test to cram for. You just have to be... you. And hope that’s enough.

I know, I know: the exclusivity only makes you want it more. The Celebration is already a rare opportunity—only three countries and zero magazine editors get a chance to show their explosive talents each year. (Or, in some cases, no countries at all: in 2025, the chance to dazzle is being offered to other Canadian provinces exclusively.) So if you really want to represent one of those few featured nations, you’ll need to make it your life’s work to impress the Honda Celebration of Light Board of Shadowy Figures, because you never know when they might be watching and judging. It’s time to decide: Should you really be wasting your time coaching your daughters’ little league games? Or should you be committed to your dreams, working night after night to really nail the perfect transition between a brocade crown bouquet and a silver comet peacock? (Because we have established that you are an aspiring pyrotechnics team, I don’t need to explain to you that these are Class-B fireworks you can only get if you are a licenced professional and not a magazine editor. Duh!)

countrymen—or countrywomen!—will come to the sandy shores of English Bay for one glorious, explosive-filled week. Here, you’ll choreograph the show of a lifetime with the help of 10 pyro experts from Vancouver’s own Archangel Fireworks. And while you’re busy doing that, I’ll be angling to get myself invited to the Archangel New Year’s party because you know those dudes are going to ring in midnight right.

Though fireworks are an ancient technology—one passed down proudly from Chinese emperors to Surrey’s most creative stepdads on Halloween—there have been some dramatic advancements over the centuries. Celebration of Light competitors program their shows using GPS to perfectly sync titanium salutes and crackle-tail-to-silver-crackling-willows to up to 25 minutes of music. A panel of honourable local judges with extensive experience in Looking Up will then judge the performance on criteria such as balance, artistry, novelty, sparkle -osity and boom-boom factor.

by Stacey McLachlan

illustration by Ane Arzelus

Got a question for Know-It-All?

stacey.mclachlan@ vanmag.com

The selection committee considers many factors: How long has it been since a country competed? Does that country have a great pyro team? Who is winning international competitions? (Some things they are rudely not considering: Who has the coolest flag? Who will let me set off a firework?) If you do get tapped to join this prestigious affair, you and three of your

The Celebration of Light is the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world. And as you and the rest of the team reading this over your shoulder well know, winning the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world comes with some serious bragging rights. Think of how good it’s going to look when you update your LinkedIn with “winner of the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world!” Maybe your daughters will finally talk to you again! You really left them hanging last season at softball.

WHAT TO EAT, DRINK AND HAVE SNATCHED FROM YOUR HAND BY A SEAGULL AT THE INCOMPARABLE GRANVILLE ISLAND PUBLIC MARKET. BY THE EDITORS

PHOTOS BY Evaan Kheraj

Given the number of out-of-towners who flock to Granville Island each summer, it would be easy to assume the community is a tourist trap—and it’s certainly tempting to avoid the crowds during peak cruise ship season. But spend even a few minutes here, and you’re quickly reminded that this is maybe the most special place in the city: a paradise of independent businesses and incredible food, and a neighbourhood that actually makes space for artists instead of turning their studios into condos. The star of the show, of course, is the Public Market, which has been a foodie institution since it opened its doors in July 1979 in the former B.C. Equipment Co. factory (before the word “foodie” was ever uttered). Butchers, bakers and candy-stick makers all share the floor, their display cases bursting with cheese, fresh pasta, spicy olives and doughnuts that inspire lines out the door. The smorgasbord can admittedly be intimidating—but that’s where we come in. In the pages that follow, our editors and hungriest chef friends share the best of the best of the market: the must-try eats that make this magical part of the city all the more delicious. It’s island time.

ginger mint orange juice from fraser valley juice and salad

The stalls are overflowing with produce at Granville Island Market, but when you want to get as many fruits and vegetables into your body as quickly as possible, Fraser Valley Juice and Salad fires up the blender for you. The madeto-order ginger mint orange juice packs an invigorating wallop (helpful if you’re feeling sluggish from either an oncoming cold or from eating too many sausage and cheese samples elsewhere in the market). From $8.25

For fighting that cold

For a snack on a stick

chicken souvlaki from sprig

You’ve had a busy day touching everything on the shelves at South China Seas. You need a hit of protein, and Sprig delivers. While food-court Greek can often be hit or miss, the execution at this stall is top-notch.

Skewers of chicken are freshly grilled and tender with just the right touch of char, and the accompanying pilaf, lemony potatoes, pita, grilled veggies and tzatziki is all generous and well-seasoned. Vegetarians will be impressed by the falafel here, too: moist and fluffy at once. $23

READER

RECOMMENDED

“The custard cream beignets from La Bise bakery ” — @yej0ppar

For your best-bet breakfast lox and cream cheese sandwich from siegel’s

We’re not going to judge you if you want to enjoy the Montreal-style bagels at Siegel’s with just a good ol’ schmear of feta-spinach cream cheese, but wild sockeye salmon lox is the move, sandwiched between two perfectly dense and chewy halves of an everything bagel, still warm from the wood-fired stove. $13.95

For

a burst of brine

honey mustard pickles from hobbs pickles

The pickleheads at Hobbs claim that some fans can polish off a whole container of their New York-style pickles in one sitting, but you have our permission to pace yourself. Snag a half-litre of the sliced honey mustard cukes. Yes, you can snack on them straight from the jar, but the crunchy, tangy-sweet coins are a great sidekick to many of the market’s other wares—slap ’em on a charcuterie platter or a sandwich. $13

EDITORS’ PICKS

For a flavour b omb

spicy sicilian olives from zara’s deli

Olives aren’t to everyone’s taste. That’s fine. Go hang out at the Nut Merchant while we’re being dazzled by the overflowing bowls of beautifully briny green, brown and black gems in the Zara’s Deli display case. The best of the lot are the spicy Sicilian olives—hot, meaty, tangy and pretty to boot, speckled with pepper flakes. $4.39/100 g

For starting a sausage party

elk juniper smoked salami from oyama

John and Christine van der Lieck have been the sausage king and queen of Granville Island since setting up shop here in 2001, and they make more than 400 different products over the year—so you’re forgiven if you find yourself experiencing analysis paralysis once you take a number at their deli counter. The elk juniper salami is earthy and infinitely snackable, but if you’re looking for something with a little more heat, the rioja chorizo is spicy, garlicky and smoky. Elk salami, $7.19/100 g; rioja chorizo, $5.19/100 g

prosciutto sandwich from l’épicerie

The rotisserie is the star of the show at chef David Izquierdo’s French takeout counter, but though the tender pork hock and roast chicken legs are extremely delicious (ditto the wild mushroom soup), they’re not exactly “walkin’ around” fare. For a handheld taste of Paris, only an expertly made baguette sandwich will do, and this one’s stuffed with ribbons of prosciutto. While you’re there, stock up on gourmet heat-and-eat frozen goods like duck leg in orange sauce or French cassoulet. $17.80

For medalgold-Thai

pad thai prawns from sen pad thai

Chef Angus An—Vanmag ’s 2025 Chef of the Year— may be best known for Maenam, his upscale Thai spot on West 4th, but the man isn’t afraid to get casual. His Sen Pad Thai serves up Thailand’s most well-known dishes and absolutely knocks each familiar favourite out of the park. If you thought you couldn’t be wowed by pad Thai, you haven’t ordered it here, where each noodle and plump prawn is perfectly cooked and coated in Sen’s signature tamarind sauce. (Chef An is also a co-owner of Popina Canteen, a seafood shack—that happens to have excellent cream puffs, too—with a killer patio, located just outside the market.) $22

Find us in most grocery stores and visit us in Britannia Beach.

For over 85 years, Kawartha Dairy has been proudly family owned and operated in a small lakeside town in Ontario. We pride ourselves on making our ice cream the traditional way with fresh milk and fresh cream from 100% Canadian farms just like our founders, Jack and Ila Crowe did. We look forward to making great family memories with you.

For bite-sized seafood

perogies and a spicy bratwurst from kaisereck

Serving suggestion: add a tall boy of Kölsch to your order of mini potato-and-onion perogies and hot, plump pork bratwurst (with German sauerkraut, natch) and take everything out to eat on the back patio as you watch the Aquabuses roll in and out of the dock. A warm salted pretzel with beer cheese dip wouldn’t be a bad addition if you’re still hungry. $18

candied salmon from seafood city

Consider the crew behind the family-run fish counter to be your seafood concierges and put your dinner-party decisions in their capable hands. But if you need something to snack on as they help you choose between halibut and amberjack, get a bag of the irresistible candied salmon bites: salty-sweet nuggets that are a true taste of the Pacific Northwest.

$7.60/100 g

hot chai from granville island tea co.

We know that there’s milk powder and sugar in Granville Island Tea Co.’s authentic masala chai mix—but the other spices in the fragrant hot tea are a trade secret. Oh well: at least that gives you something to ponder as you sip and watch the staff zip around shelves stacked with bulk tea tins on their rolling ladder to fulfill customer orders.

$4.15 per cup

riopelle de l’isle quebec cheese from benton

brothers

These cheese nerds stock 200 different kinds of cheese at any given time, and are thrilled to chat with you about any of them (or even give samples if you ask nicely). The soft, triple-cream Riopelle de l’Isle is a brie-lover’s dream come true, with a beautifully bloomy rind and mild hints of mushroom and butter. Snag a baguette from Terra Breads and some prosciutto from Oyama and you’ve got yourself a picnic. $7.50/100 g

For a hit of home baking

a scrumpet from muffin granny

Though crepes are a popular offering from this long-time bakery (a tenant here since opening day in ’79!), order one of Granny’s “scrumpets.”

The palm-sized treats are an original creation that occupies the conceptual space between a scone and an English muffin. Both the sweet and savoury options are tender and biscuity and best enjoyed slathered with butter—cheese is a classic but apricot and almond pairs beautifully with a morning coffee, too. $3.75

For a vegforward lunch

golden

temple soup from chau veggie express

Chau brands its menu as “cozy Vietnamese,” and one slurp of the lightly curried coconut-turmeric broth that makes this Golden Temple soup and you’ll see (er, taste) why. It’s a hearty hug of a dish, and comes packed with organic tofu, chunks of yam, mushrooms and tons of rice noodles that deliver more of the elixir-like stock with every spoonful. $18

The Sweet Stuff

Continued from page 36

CHURRO DOUGHNUTS FROM LEE’S

Nothing wrong with a pink sprinkle doughnut, but this cinnamondusted old-fashioned is the sophisticate’s choice. $3.75

JAPANESE CREAM PUFFS FROM STUART’S

Like biting into a (very messy) cloud—one filled with light-as-air pastry cream. $7.30

FROM LAURELLE’S

They’ve got that made-by-grandma charm: “love” is in the ingredient list for sure. Rich, decadent and happily gluten-free. $5

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER ALMOND SQUARE

CHEF’S KISS

With every variety of “monger” you can imagine here, it’s no wonder Vancouver chefs are drawn in by Granville Island’s charms. Chef Martin Vargas (Alimentaria Mexicana), chef Alex Chen (Boulevard, Wild Blue) and host and food columnist Shiva Reddy ( Not Your Butter Chicken; CBC Radio) hit the market with our team to introduce us to their favourite suppliers, do a little shopping and make a few doughnuts along the way.

Chen found fish and friendship at Seafood City. “Brian at Seafood City—he and I have been talking since I was an apprentice. He saw me grow up. We talk about food, we talk about our families.” Reddy found her favourite fish there, too. "They’ll take the time to walk you through everything. Starting with ‘what are you making’ and then they make recommendations, like, ‘oh, you need mackerel.’”

READER RECOMMENDED

“Montreal smoked meat on an everything bagel from Siegel’s ” —@thecorkshew

Oyama made Vargas’s dreams come true.

“Patés, sausages, bacon, everything is so good. One of the staples at the restaurant is green chorizo with crispy potatoes. We wanted to do it ourselves but casing sausages takes so much time, so we just came here with a recipe and now they make it for us and it’s amazing. We’ve been using it since day one.”

At La Bise, Reddy found herself bonding over baked goods. “I love the origin story behind the canelé. Wine makers would use egg whites to filter their wines, and would donate the egg yolks to the orphanage, where nuns would then make canelés. I got obsessed with canelés, and then learned about La Bise through the grape vine. Nicole Scriabin, the founder, worked for the Food Network internationally until she had to come back to Vancouver to care for her mom who had dementia. Canelés became an escape for her. She is definitely one of the best!”

READER RECOMMENDED

“ Kaiserek is the only place with schnitzel in like, the whole city. They fired me and I still love them.” —@adampates

Vargas has a doughnut hack when he visits Lee’s . “They don’t have a peanut butter and jelly doughnut but you can get a peanut butter doughnut and ask for it with strawberry jam and crushed peanuts on top.”

Vargas makes purple French toast with a special loaf from Terra Breads “They have a walnut sourdough loaf. I cut it in half and it was purple. I thought I accidentally bought a blueberry loaf or something, but they told me, no, it’s an enzyme process with the yeast that turns the dough purple. It’s absolutely delicious and makes the best French toast.”

Chen knows how to throw together a picnic. “I love all the Alpine cheeses they have at Benton . For a picnic I’d grab those, some pickles from Hobbs , a little marmalade, some spiced nuts, whatever focaccia they have at Terra . And seasonal fruit, of course.”

Vargas always finds what he needs at Armando’s . “Mexican food is about beef tongue and salsa verde, bone marrow with a piece of skirt steak. Armando’s always has the offcuts I want. They’re so nice and so polite, and if they don’t have something they’ll go and source it for you.”

LIKE A CHEF

For a moment of zen, Reddy heads to the cheese counter. " Benton Bros. is a great place to slow down in the market. They will take the time to make sure

READER RECOMMENDED

“French onion pot pie from À La Mode! Charred onion stock, stretchy mozza, puff pastry, it’s the best”—@thereeldealxo

For a moment of zen, Reddy heads to Benton Brothers “The cheese counter is a great place to slow down in the market. They will take the time to make sure that you get to try the cheeses you’re curious about. One of my favourite things to grab from Benton is actually their butter! I love that they have such a range, from cow to goat’s milk, butter coming from France and a range across Canada. One of my faves is St. Bridgid’s from Ontario.”

Chen sources global essentials at South China Seas . “I grab taco shells and dry chilies when I want to make tacos. The Mexican ingredients remind me of the cooks I worked so closely with at the Beverly Hills Hotel in L.A.”

WHERE THE PROS GO FOR LUNCH

“As we were opening the restaurant, every lunch we’d go, okay, let’s go to Kaisereck . They have the patio, they sell German beer, it’s amazing.”

—Chef Martin Vargas

“If I’m starving, I go to Oyama first. I grab a snacking sausage and some prosciutto to fend off the hanger. Then I do a 180 and grab a little salmon lox bagel from Siegel’s, extra toasted with lots of pickles!”

—Sommelier Shiva Reddy

“I’ve been coming here since I was 13, and when I came with my mom and dad, we would all get fish and chips. Now, I head for Sen Pad Thai .”

—Chef Alex Chen

TREASURE ISLAND

You can’t just shop for snacks all day (sorry). In between bites, here’s where our editors like to shop and play.

BANQUET WORKSHOP

1249 Cartwright St.

I’m embarrassed to admit I wasn’t aware of Banquet Workshop’s lovely studio space until a friend showed me one of their excellent “Chips & Dip” tote bags. Stock up on gorgeous handscreened cards in a riot of colours, lovely table linens patterned with frogs and butterflies and, of course, those excellent tote bags, including an iconic seagull-emblazoned Granville Island souvenir.

ARTISAN SAKE MAKER

1339 Railspur Alley

—Anicka Quin, VP of content

VANCOUVER STUDIO GLASS

1440 Old Bridge St.

From quirky sculptures to functional vessels, this glass studio features the work of local Canadian artists. You can pop into the little gallery to shop and browse, and if catching a glimpse of the glass-blowing studio piques your interest, they also offer beginner classes. I took the Object class, which was super fun and not scary at all, and made a little catch-all bowl for my jewellery. Pro tip: Book the class in the cooler months because it’s hot in there! —Rebekah Ho, digital manager

It’s very on-brand for me, as a Japanese-Canadian, to have a special place in my heart for Artisan Sake Maker. Founder Masa Shiroki has been using traditional Japanese methods and 100-percent Canadian ingredients to make this sweet, strong drink for nearly 20 years. It’s a unique celebration of mixed heritage (and tastings start at only $8, which any culture can get behind).—Alyssa Hirose, contributing editor

THE CRYSTAL ARK

3–1496 Cartwright St.

I’d never really stepped inside the little shack kitty-corner to the Kids Market until recently; it always felt too small and crowded and too likely for me to break things. But crystal person or not (I’m not), it’s a gem! There are beautiful stones that claim impossible healing powers and even a little section in the open air where you can frolic shoeless in the rocks (mildly painful but weirdly delightful). Don’t miss the chance to look at pretty stones and find that one special cosmic rock to cure what ails you (way cheaper than therapy... and cuter!).

—Kerri Donaldson, assistant editor

CIRCLE WELLNESS SPA

1297 Johnston St.

If you don’t know about Circle Wellness by now—well, you obviously haven’t been reading this magazine, because we’ve mentioned it in at least two other issues over the last 24 months. Shame on you. Reflect on your mistake inside your private circuit spa suite, built inside a shipping container and outfitted with a sensory-deprivation salt sauna. —Stacey McLachlan, editor-in-chief

9–1666 Johnston St.

A well-organized stationery store is my kind of retail therapy. Perusing PaperYa’s printed, patterned and embossed treasures is as soothing as it is inspiring, and buying a cute notebook and a pen you love might just motivate you to finally start the bullet journal you’ve been dreaming of since 2013.—Stesha Ho, art director

MORE SPOTS TO KILL TIME BETWEEN MEALS

Nooroongji

Books

A multicultural indie bookstore with beautiful tomes sourced from around the world. nooroongji.ca

Granville Island Water Park The giant (and free!) yellow waterslide is open through the summer for a quick thrill ride on a hot day. falsecreekcc.ca

Opus Art

Supplies Inspired to paint a still life after seeing those towers of berries at the Four Seasons stall? Find all the gear you need here. opusartsupplies.com

Allison

Wonderland

Kaboodles The go-to for birthday party gifts and a curated selection of kid-approved playthings, from Lego castles to cat-shaped watercolour crayons to crystal-growing kits. kaboodlestoystore.com 1 2 3 4 5

The longtime Vancouver designer opened the doors to her “slow fashion” boutique last fall; browse patterned jumpsuits and summery dresses made here. allisonwonderland.ca

PATIO PARTY

ALIMENTARIA MEXICANA

1596 Johnston St.

The sunny streetside patio here is festive, peppered with straw umbrellas and painted in lively colours. The margaritas keep those festive vibe going. alimentariamexicana.com

DOCKSIDE

1253 Johnston St.

At the back of the Granville Island Hotel, you’ll find lounge chairs, fire pits and a happy hour that runs from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. We’ll toast to that. docksidevancouver.com

Granville Island is only 37 acres, but the number of top-tier patios here is higher than in most ’hoods. Here’s where to soak up the sun (and a drink or two) on your next visit.

POPINA CANTEEN

1691 Johnston St.

A shipping container houses a kitchen that whips up perfectly crispy cod burgers; enjoy yours with a chilled sparkling wine from Joie on the covered waterfront patio under the string lights. popinacanteen.com

SANDBAR

102–1535 Johnston St.

The patio at Sandbar is covered and the floor is heated, so even if it’s a drizzly day, you’ve still got access to a gorgeous view and the ocean breeze. vancouverdine.com/sandbar

TAP AND BARREL BRIDGES

1696 Duranleau St.

Tap and Barrel took over the space once occupied by the iconic Bridges restaurant a few years back, but retained key menu items... and, more importantly, the giant, excellent patio. tapandbarrel.com

COMING SOON

As if Granville Island didn’t have enough treats and treasures to explore, a new wave of businesses is about to enter the arena. A former parking garage has recently been converted into a restaurant and patio complex called Chain and Forge, which should be filled with new tenants by next summer. One early confirmed lessee? Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng, owner of Richmond’s award-winning Thai restaurant Baan Lao.

UGLY-CUTE.

VANCOUVER’S SPHYNX CAT OWNERS EMBRACE THE

RIDDLE OF THE SPHYNX

BY SARA HAROWITZ // PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALANA PATERSON

Margaux Cohen was not a cat person. Didn’t care for them. Didn’t want to be around them.

Then she met a sphynx.

“He was the nicest cat I had ever met,” she recalls. “I fell in love with him after 10 minutes.” Six months later, she got one of her own.

Cohen, who was living in France at the time but is now based in Vancouver, is one of a growing number of locals who are choosing life with sphynx cats (more colloquially known as bald cats, naked cats or hairless cats, because they have little to no fur—though their skin is still soft like peach fuzz). In terms of pet ownership, sphynx aren’t exactly easy: they are known to be needier

than other breeds, for one thing, are often described as being more dog-like than cat-like and require pretty much constant attention. They also need more maintenance, requiring baths multiple times per month to deal with the oil that builds up on their skin (and that can stain your white sheets—who knew?). They have the lowest life expectancy among domestic cats, and are typically more expensive than other breeds. Then there’s the simple but unignorable fact that these animals aren’t cute—at least

not in a traditional sense—which has historically caused many raised eyebrows among non-believers.

Their look is certainly unique: big, marble-like eyes that stare into your soul; tall, pointy ears that resemble a bat’s; thin, spindly legs that look like they could be snapped in half like a toothpick; and naked, wrinkly skin that makes the entire animal seem like it’s been turned inside out. Weird? Very much so. But sphynx cat owners see an unorthodox beauty here.

“I love the way that they look really cute in their ugliness—they look like aliens,” says Cohen. “They’re so cuddly. Even in the evening when I am watching TV, they’re all over me. I hold them like babies and they just purr and purr.”

And while they were once relegated to the pet margins, destined for the dark basements of the freaks and geeks, sphynx cats have built esteem in recent years—which Cohen largely attributes to their proliferation on social media.

“There are definitely more people with sphynx cats now than when I first got one in 2014,” Cohen says, noting that, back then, she only knew one person with a sphynx, and now she has at least six close friends who have one. “They have become way more popular.”

Valerie Jardine is the hobby breeder behind Sphynxcraft Cats in Abbotsford

(“Mysterious beauty awaits!” Sphynxcraft’s website promises. “Our Cats will put a spell on you!”) She agrees that social media is helping to give the breed its glory moment.

“There are lots of accounts or people that become obsessed with sphynx,” she says. One is Toronto’s @sphynxcifer, an “adventure cat” named Lucifer with over 31,000 followers. Then there’s Portland-based TikTok influencer Lindsey Kuzmin, who posts about “life with my hairless cats” and has 719,000 people follow along. There’s even a Los Angeles brand of clothing—sorry, “designer apparel for your hairless cat”—called Sphynx Swag, with more than 61,000 fans on Instagram. Vancouver’s own Blim apparel brand sells a “Hairless Cat” hoodie, though, tellingly, it’s currently sold out.

If you’re still not convinced that sphynx cats have entered the zeitgeist, look no further than Australian actress Nicole Kidman,

who told People magazine in March that she was “really going gaga” over hairless cats, causing The Cut to opine that “the actress who has perfected the art of playing someone a little haunted and a little freaky can’t get enough of felines who look like haunted little freaks themselves.”

This boom is not just being felt by consumers. Aside from breeding

sphynx, Jardine also shows them at The International Cat Association (TICA) shows, and has noticed a warming from the judges over the last five or so years.

“That part of it is definitely changing,” she says. “Now you’re always seeing judges finalling sphynx cats, whereas before they thought they were just too strange.”

Sphynx convert Cohen currently has two male cats: a sphynx named Nootka

and a Devon rex (which looks similar to a sphynx, but has short, visible hair) named Harvey. Her first-ever sphynx, Jodie, is still kicking too, and lives with Cohen’s ex-boyfriend, Thibaud Carouhy. “They are little Velcro cats,” Carouhy says. “I really fell in love with these little guys. They are very smart and very fun to be around.”

And while newbies would be forgiven for thinking that these cats come from far away, the sphynx breed was actually created right here in Canada. Its origins can be traced back to 1960s Toronto, where one hairless kitten was born among a litter of furry siblings. A University of Toronto science student named Riyadh Bawa identified the kitten’s hairlessness as being caused by a recessive gene, and ended up buying the cat and its mother and mating the two of them. He then mated the male

kittens from that litter with female American shorthair cats, and so began the lore of the sphynx.

Pet breeding is a polarizing subject. Many people subscribe to an “adopt don’t shop” mentality in 2025, believing that no one should shell out thousands of dollars to a breeder when shelters are filled with animals in need of homes. It’s an understandable argument, especially

mothers too soon (this should happen no earlier than 11 weeks) and don’t provide any kind of post-purchase support. There is also growing concern in the ethical breeding community surrounding people who breed sphynx for different mutations (such as elf-like ears), which Jardine says leads to unnecessary health problems and even shorter life spans. TICA posts member breeders on its website, all of

given that there are plenty of careless and even abusive pet breeders out there. But Jardine argues that buying from a breeder shouldn’t be seen as an ethical failing—so long as you do your research. “People have a choice of what [pet] they want to get,” she says. (Her sphynx kittens sell for $2,500 each—though, she admits, the costs of running an ethical cattery are so high that she’s not making a profit.) “If you’re choosing a specific breed, support ethical breeders.”

She points to a few red flags, including breeders who don’t do frequent medical testing on their cats, don’t provide kittens with any of their required vaccinations, are willing to remove kittens from their

whom have to sign a code of ethics. Here, breeders are categorized by type; there are currently 16 sphynx breeders listed in Canada, a quarter of those located in B.C. (including Jardine). By comparison, the leopard-like Savannah breed only has three breeders in the entire country (all of them in Quebec); the squishy-faced Himalayan, meanwhile, has zero Canadian representation.

An Acquired Taste

The hairless sphynx cat may not be for everyone, but the unique, Canadian-made breed has enjoyed a growing popularity in recent years, mostly thanks to increased representation on social media.

When Emma Jaffrey was looking for a sphynx, she came across Jardine and was impressed. “I did a lot of research about breeders to make sure I was getting one from a legitimate breeder and not a sketchy backyard breeder,” she says.

“She still emails about the cats sometimes, even after six years.” Jaffrey currently has two sphynx cats from Jardine: a boy named Hank and a girl named Consuela (who, bless her little heart, is blind in one eye).

“I always thought they were really cool-looking and weird-looking,” says Jaffrey. “And kind of ugly in the best way.”

A JOEY state of mind

Happy Hour every day, starting at $5

TASTE

This summer, we’re savouring sizzling skewers, spooning up the fruitiest treat in town, making resos at the city’s hottest new rooms and sipping cider in the sun. Read on for all the food news you need to make the most of summer in the city.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Turn the page to find out just how chef Peter Ho is perfecting the art of yakitori at the elegant, elevated Sumibiyaki Arashi in Mount Pleasant.

Light My Fire

Chef Peter Ho’s new charcoalgrilling omakase restaurant, Sumibiyaki Arashi, is as thoughtful as it is flame-kissed. by Dani Wright

Certain trends seem to cast a spell upon the culinary world, and Vancouver continues to be bewitched by omakase. The city has been abuzz with thoughtfully curated dinner experiences that feel like they’re made just for you, from Masayoshi’s calm and focused parade of ingredientdriven plates to Tojo’s legendary dishes to Okeya Kyujiro’s theatrical-yet-authentic Edomae sushi. The chef laying down plate after plate in front of you while you ooh and ah over the sheer brilliance of the pairings and plating and delicate bites—it creates a feeling of personalization, a magical extra touch that makes the visit feel so special.

But omakase is not really about what you want at all. It’s in the name (“chef’s choice”), after all. And at Sumibiyaki Arashi, the newly opened omakase eatery in Mount Pleasant, chef Peter Ho doesn’t just have control over the menu: he commands fire.

Sizzle and Smoke

The grill is set at centre stage (top left), ready for a culinary performance; chef Peter Ho (centre) grills up dishes like chicken thigh (right) and crispy, flavourful salmon skin (far right) with aplomb.

The restaurant itself has a small footprint, with only 14 seats. No matter where you dine, you’re close to the action. And here is the action you can expect: Chef Ho wields a fan while flipping yakitori on a churning charcoal grill throughout the night, turning away from the flame to lacquer

plump chicken hearts or to explain that the nikiri soy sauce and ponzu sauce are made in house. While the arresting nature of flame and the decadence of using the whole bird can feel like spectacle, at its heart Sumibiyaki Arashi is an exercise in making expertise look far easier than it truly is.

Sixteen courses arrive one after another. Glistening, fire-kissed fish

swimming in ponzu; pickled vegetables, crunchy and somewhat sweet; a skewer of chicken thigh brushed with the house tare, its skin taut and singed from its time over the flame; a broth (called chicken paitan soup) that’s creamy on the palate and reminiscent of tonkotsu: all are a demonstration of elegant simplicity. There’s a harmony to the order of the

dishes, where the crisp skin of a just-right morsel of chicken leads into silky soup. Australian wagyu breaks up the revelatory poultry experience, served in a (delicate, demure even) glass bowl.

Hearts are not everyone’s cup of tea (neither are the later-served quail eggs, or even later chicken knee) but here they’re treated with authority—served upon a

THE DEETS

skewer like most of the dishes—with no handholding, no babying... this charcoalgrilled gem is just as relevant to the dining experience as the fried and grilled tofu that’s to follow. But it’s decadent, too. Not in a fussy way, but, like caviar upon a house-made potato chip, it’s rich and

domineering but also snackable and delicate. It’s special and approachable and everything I’ve ever wanted an organ to taste like all at once. The tare used to season the hearts and their fellow skewers is from Chef Ho’s master chef, Yoshiteru Ikegawa (chef and owner of Tokyo’s Torishiki)—it’s 30 years old and topped off daily. The tare is time-honed and legendary in its own right. It has the power to make something that’s possibly out of your element into a moreish bite.

That’s the secret here, in the little house of smoke that Chef Ho has built: you never feel out of place, but boy do you feel like you’ve been invited into a special world of flavour and flame. Where skewers weave through bouncy tsukune that shimmer unapologetically with chicken fat, where yuzu-kosho-topped drumettes are masterfully butterflied, where chawanmushi arrives jiggling and rich with red crab, and where seasoning is a blend of moshio (seaweed salt) from Hiroshima and fine sea salt from Ehime. You’re at once out of your depth and kneedeep in culinary adventure.

And when you think you’re done, a bowl of chicken soboro rice is served, a golden yolk glistening in the centre. A light broth is brought to mix it with, and suddenly it feels like everything was approachable after all. It was never too lofty, and Chef Ho and his team have guided you the whole way through.

Though there’s an innate craving to experience Sumibiyaki Arashi as a spectacle, to pull out my phone and TikTokify the whole meal, the true charm is in being in the moment, understanding that Chef Ho has carefully harnessed flame for very few over the night—and oh, how truly luxurious that feels.

363 E Broadway Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday

BEST THING I ATE

by Dani Wright

Sunshine Season

I am decidedly not a dessert person. But as the weather starts to shift, my cravings do as well, and suddenly I’m free-falling into the arms of summer-ripe fruit (the hallmark sweet treat for anyone who prefers things on the less-sugary side). I am also, decidedly, a beach bum at heart. I have spent many a blisteringly hot day desperately searching for something that can fulfill all of my most vital criteria: fruit-filled, cold as heck and beach ready.

Sweet 7 has answered my call with its signature mango pomelo sago. It comes in a cup with a sealed lid (making it ultra transportable! Throw it in your reusable tote and march down to the shore!) and is ready to be drunk with a large straw (like the ones used for bubble tea), though I have been known to break tradition and spoon it up instead. That’s because the layers upon layers of flavour are practically irresistible. Mango slush mingles with bittersweet pomelo, while the sago itself (like super tiny tapioca pearls) is enveloped in creamy, almost savoury coconut. The bottom is the best part, though: the ripest mango this side of Manila. All in, this icy, dreamy dessert has converted me. Maybe I do like sweets now. 1696 Robson St., sweet7.ca

Main Street’s newest restaurant, Nui , combines traditional Korean dishes, modern techniques and West Coast seasonality to highlight the cuisine’s bold and memorable flavours. Think comforting gukbap (pork and rice soup) and gomtang (beef soup) that chef Jae Hwang tops with gochujang for a twist on classic flavours. nuivancouver.com

Opened March 2025 | 4811 Main St.

Authentically Bold

The team behind (now closed, but much loved) Aleph Eatery brings El Compa Cocina Mexicana and its fresh-yet-authentic Mexican eats to Hastings-Sunrise. The street food-style menu features standouts like cheese-pull worthy barbacoa quesadillas and Jamaica tacos with hibiscus. elcompayvr.com

Opened March 2025 | 1889 Powell St.

Elegantly Crafted

East Van’s Niwa is the latest answer to the omakase craze that’s taken the city by storm. The thoughtfully curated selection of dishes rotates daily based on availability and seasonality, but that doesn’t hold back chef Darren Gee’s creativity. From purple cabbage and brown rice salad (with punchy anchovy, bonito and egg) to braised wagyu beef belly with spaghetti squash and black vinegar, each dish is memorable and unique. restaurantniwa.com

Opened February 2025 | 1875 Powell St.

Mango pomelo sago, $7.50

The Health Channel

Get reliable information to help improve your life. Accurate information can change people’s lives for the better, and illumi.health is the place to find it. The content is engaging, easy to understand, and relevant to Canadians of all ages and backgrounds. Best of all, there’s no cost to join, and no personal information is collected. Let’s all work together so that we can have a long, happy, and healthy life.

STAY INSPIRED

Love Design?

Sign up for a complimentary subscription to WL, and each issue you’ll receive...

• Inspiring new home designs, from the west’s best designers

• Smart tips on everything from renovation ideas to the best bathroom fixtures

• Insights into design trends for the coming year

• And so much more!

Ready to subscribe? Scan the QR code, or head to westernliving.ca/subscribe for more details

1

THE WINE LIST

by Neal McLennan

Cider

Along with Merridale, Sea Cider represents the OG Island branch of the cider renaissance that in many ways set the example for the rest of the province. And this bottle shows their inner Anglophile: bone dry, tannic, earthy. A worthy challenge to a plate of charcuterie or grilled sausages.

juicing it

Local imbibing does not solely revolve around B.C. wine, craft beer and artisanal spirits. We’re blessed with a homegrown fourth pillar that for years was either relegated to the bulk category (a two-litre of Growers please!) or super nerdy niche (anything that came in a bottle). But the past few years have seen a cadre of hobbyists take the next step and become full blown cidermakers producing fruit-based tipples that are both amazing and perfect for summer al fresco dining. Here are four that come in proper 750ml bottles, so you don’t have to slam a four-pack of cans on the table.

This Sunshine Coast-based trio represents the second wave of dreamers making serious juice. This mash-up features apples from the Similkameen and pinot noir grapes and gamay grape skins from the Fraser Valley. The result is dynamite— vibrant pink and seriously jumpy in the glass. Grilled salmon would be a nice counterpoint here. (Note: no relation here to the much more industrial, Eastern Canada-based No Boats on Sunday!)

Riley’s Long Lost Apples, $21

On an idyllic corner of Bowen Island, Christine Hardie and Rob Purdy tend a straight-outof-central-casting heritage orchard that has few equals in Canada for its historical importance. They use these apples (with an assist from Similkameen Macintoshes) to make this literally one-of-akind blend that’s not too tart, putting history in a bottle.

I find that most glassware I’d use for wine works well with hand-crafted ciders, but this glass, while technically for beer, also works like a charm. It’s from Crate and Barrel, is affordable and helps concentrate the nose, but has a heft that keeps it real on the fancy front. And please, no pint glasses! crateandbarrel.ca

Sea

Wild English, $19.50

Sunday Cider Twice Is Nice, $22

BELGIAN TASTER GLASS, $2.95

how to do the pride parade right

Nine ways to ensure an iconic experience at the city’s signature summer event. by Alyssa Hirose

Mark your calendar (preferably using a sparkly pen) for Sunday, August 3: that’s when the annual Vancouver Pride Parade rocks and rolls through the city. We asked event vets Alexa Fraser (15-year attendee, four-year parade participant and now parade host) and Bucky Yaqub (content creator, street interviewer and “self-proclaimed queer icon”) for insider advice on how to prep, pack and party proud.

Shop bright and shop local. “You name it, you’ll probably see it: sequin pants, mesh everything, body paint, leather, mismatched socks,” says Yaqub, adding that it’s a refreshing change of pace from Vancouverites’ usual “50 shades of beige and grey.” Fraser suggests browsing Model Express, JQ Clothing and Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium for pride looks.

Pack smart. Our pride experts stress hydration and protection from the elements: think lots of water and plenty of sunscreen. Fraser always packs their portable phone charger and naloxone kit; Yaqub’s sunready staples include “an extravagant hat.”

Don’t forget the basics. Glitter and glam are essential, but keep functionality in mind. “I can’t stress comfortable shoes enough—leave the heels to us drags and gogos,” says Fraser. Yaqub shares a deodorant PSA: “We want to smell your Ariana Grande perfume, not your body odour, in a crowd of over 100,000 people.”

Build education into your celebration. Respecting the roots and ongoing activism and protests that make up Pride is fundamental. Along with attending queer dance parties and drag shows, Fraser “also makes a point of visiting the Sex Workers Memorial on Pendrell and Jervis, and brushing up on West End history.”

Get a prime spot. “Street closures can throw a major wrench into driving or transit plans, so make sure to plan your route ahead,” says Fraser. They add that the host stations

are “the place to be” (there are three along the parade route) and that it’s always busier to the west than at the east end of the march.

Plan beyond the parade. Pride weekend is packed with events. Fraser’s highlights include Man Up at the Commodore on August 1, Rhythm of the Night on August 2 and the Birdhouse Block Party daytime events on August 2 and 3.

Check social media for more hot spots. Yaqub says Instagram is one of the best ways to find out about other non-parade festivities. “Look for cute posters reshared on people’s stories and stalk your favourite drag performers’ socials to see where you can tip them,” he recommends.

8

Be present. Fraser reminds attendees to take breaks: “You’ll have an incredible time going to a few memorable events, rather than running yourself ragged the whole weekend.” Yaqub reminds everyone to embrace the joy: “Vancouver Pride is a serotonin boost whether you’re on stage or in the bleachers, and whether you’re a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or not.”

Schedule in recovery time. Even if you don’t go full party animal, the post-Pride regimen is a must. On Monday, Fraser always winds down with a barbecue at the beach with friends and chosen family, where you might also find Yaqub “swimming and slaying” (if he’s not “rotting and recovering in bed”).

Pride Fuel Pit Stops

West End institution Tom Sushi (1175 Davie St., tomsushi.com) has long been a lunch go-to for Pride attendees. A bit farther east, there’s the gorgeous patio and affordable happy hour at Parker Rooftop (1379 Howe St., parkerrooftop .com). In Yaletown, Dovetail (1079 Mainland St., dovetailrestaurant .ca) is a great pick for cocktails and mocktails alike, and downtown’s Café Medina (780 Richards St., medinacafe.com) is a destination for Pride weekend brunch specials.