Ultimate Guide-Summer 2026 by Vancouver Is Awesome

Vancouver-based heptathlete, Olympian and influencer, Georgia Ellenwood, joins us at John’s Jukes to shoot our cover and dish on what it takes to represent Canada at the highest level.

ANDY WHITE PHOTO

GUIDE TO THE WORLD CUP

With the world arriving on our doorstep, we figured you deserve more than a schedule and a map. After all, the best parts of this city aren’t always the ones you’ll find on Tripadvisor. So we pulled together something a little more insider, a little more local: our very unofficial guide to the World Cup.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find our version of Vancouver — which dive bars you’ll want to end up at after a Canada game, and the cheap eats we swear by between matches. We’ll point you toward the spots where you might bump into a Hollywood A-lister (or at least someone who thinks they are), and introduce you to the people who’ve worn the maple leaf on the biggest stages.

We’ve also got conversations with our own soccer legends, who share where they go, what they love and how this city shaped them, long before the spotlight showed up. Because for all the global attention, this is still a community game here — and it always has been.

And yes, there’s pinball. A lot of it. Somehow, somewhere along the way, Vancouver became one of the best pinball cities on the planet, and we’d be doing you a disservice not to show it off.

Think of this as your shortcut to the good stuff. The places locals actually go. The stories we tell. The version of Vancouver you don’t get unless someone lets you in on it.

So welcome. Wander a bit. Stay out later than planned. And when in doubt, follow the noise.

Inside

FIFA VENUES

Sites across Vancouver 10

LENARDUZZI THE LEGEND

From East Van to the World Cup 16

THOMAS MÜLLER

Thoughts on the upcoming event 22

BEST OF THE WORST

One-star reviews of iconic places 26

VANCOUVER DIVE BARS

5 Spots for an unpretentious pint 32

UNDERRATED THINGS TO DO

Less obvious, not less awesome 44

HAPPENINGS

Vancouver’s cultural calendar 47

LISTEN CLOSELY

Favourite intimate music venues 52

CHEAP EATS

“Keep your wallet happy” guide 57

GEORGIA ELLENWOOD

Competing for Canada 66

TOUR HOLLYWOOD NORTH

Where your favourites are filmed 70

EDITOR

Nick Laba

EDITORIAL

Elana Shepert Brendan Kergin

DESIGN

Birgit Brunner

GENERAL

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Growing up in a tight Italian community in East Vancouver, soccer was always part of life. I was a big Whitecaps fan and still remember them winning the NASL Championship in 1979 against the New York Cosmos. My uncles, Ben and Danny, would take me to games, which only fueled my love for the team. I lived a block away from Empire Stadium — by then it was falling apart — but that didn’t stop us. My friends and I would sneak in and pretend to be our heroes, mine being Bobby Lenarduzzi, another East Van Italian kid.

I was at Franklin Elementary School, in Grade 7, when Italy won the World Cup — rushing home at lunch to catch the games. My mom — being awesome — would spoil me, making whatever I asked for, often fried pizza dough waiting for me when I got there. Back then, Canada wasn’t really part of the global soccer conversation. That’s changed.

Today, we’re welcoming the world, and Canada is stepping onto the stage with a competitive team and a growing passion for the game. Whether you’re visiting or have called this city home your whole life, this is a moment to come together and enjoy the energy, culture, and excitement that only soccer can bring.

Daniel La Porta

President

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Thissummer, SharkClub VancouvertransformsintoCanada House by Coca-Cola—yourultimatedestination foran unforgettablefan experience. Feeltheenergy as ever ymatch comestolifeonmassivewall-to -wallscreens, surrounded by aroaringcrowd, ice- colddrinks,and apulse-pounding, stadium-likeatmosphere.

LocatedjuststepsawayfromBCPlace, it ’s the perfectplace to gather,cheer,and celebrateevery goalwith fellowfanswho bringthe passion of the gameto ever ymoment.Whether you’re hereforthebigmatchesorjusttheelectricvibe, there’s no betterplacetosoakitallin.

Thisisn’t justwatchingsoccer—it ’s being part of something bigger.SharkClub Vancouveriswhereallfankind comesalive thissummer. ❚

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A guide to FIFA

World Cup-related sites across Vancouver

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, more and more places in and around Vancouver are preparing celebrations, activities, watch parties and events around the world’s most-watched sports tournament.

From the epicentre for local events, BC Place — which will host seven games (eat it, Toronto) — to the ofﬁcially sanctioned FIFA Fan Festival in East Vancouver, to watch parties scattered across the Vancouver area, there will be plenty of chances for fans to join in their own way.

To that end, we’ve put together a map for locals and visitors, as a guide to the places in Vancouver participating in the World Cup festivities. ❱❱

WORDS: BRENDAN KERGIN // IMAGES: SUBMITTED

Our map doesn’t show every pub putting a game up on the TV, or store having a soccer-themed sale, but we’ll endeavour to put all ofﬁcial event locations up, along with broadly public events like watch parties, museum exhibits or any related public art.

Take out your smartphone, and scan that big QR code to view the full map online.

It’s a living document, so check back for updates as kick-off approaches, and through the tourney. (The map is marked with venues, training sites and major event locations. You can “star” our map to view it in Google Maps.)

Where will the teams be?

Vancouver will be hosting seven games in total. All will be at the city’s (and province’s) largest stadium, BC Place. Located in downtown Vancouver, it’ll be accessible by vehicle or transit. ❱❱

Transit is recommended for game days, and road detours will be in place before, during and after each game.

For those in Vancouver before the World Cup, there is a FIFA World Cuprelated spot out front. A countdown clock has been set up there.

There are two Venue Speciﬁc Training Sites (VSTS) in Vancouver: the Killarney Park VSTS (in southeast Vancouver) and the National Soccer Development Centre VSTS (at UBC).

These will be the sites the teams in Vancouver will train at, with Killarney acting as the primary site.

Watch parties

There are going to be many public watch parties scattered throughout the city.

The biggest will be the ofﬁcial FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park in East Vancouver. Central to that will be the recently built Freedom Mobile Arch. The new amphitheatre will host watch parties for games (which will be free, or you can pay for reserved seating) and a concert series.

There will be a few other major sites for public watch parties. Notably, Canada Soccer has named The Shipyards District in North Vancouver as Canada House. Along with game viewings, there will be a festival atmosphere with activities, entertainment and retail pop-ups. Getting there is easy from downtown: just hop on the People’s Yacht a.k.a the SeaBus at Waterfront Station.

Granville Island will also be getting in on the fun, with music, activities and occasional cultural events (around Canada Day, for example). “This free,

community-friendly outdoor sports viewing area will have seating and screens for match broadcasts, for audiences of up to 1,000,” says Lisa Ono, Granville Island spokesperson.

Several municipalities around Vancouver are also hosting events of some sort. Surrey has announced three Soccer Fan Zones with watch parties and other festival-style programming.

Coquitlam, Delta, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam and Richmond are all hosting watch party events for select games.

“THIS FREE, COMMUNITYFRIENDLY OUTDOOR SPORTS VIEWING AREA WILL HAVE SEATING AND SCREENS FOR MATCH BROADCASTS, FOR AUDIENCES OF UP TO 1,000.”

Other activities

Outside of the actual soccer games, other spots are joining in on the World Cup action. Science World will be hosting an ofﬁcial FIFA exhibit from May 15 until Sept. 7, featuring sports technology.

And the City of Vancouver is turning Granville Street into a pedestrian zone from West Georgia down to Davie Street. “The Granville Street Pedestrian Zone will welcome residents and visitors to a people-ﬁrst street that supports local businesses and creates a dynamic, familyfriendly destination space that showcases Vancouver and enhances the tournament experience,” reads a city press release.

That zone means larger patios, food vendors and live music will be set up along the street in the buzzing downtown core.

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LENARDUZZI THE LEGEND

FROM EAST VANCOUVER TO THE WORLD CUP

Before Vancouver soccer greats like Alphonso Davies, Christine Sinclair and Craig Forrest, there was Bob Lenarduzzi.

The Canadian soccer hall of famer lives and breathes this city as much as anyone, and this year he’ll get the rare chance to watch the World Cup in his hometown.

“I grew up literally a half a block away from the Paciﬁc Coliseum and then of course Empire Stadium, a little further away — maybe a ﬁve-minute walk,” he tells Vancouver Is Awesome.

His love of soccer grew at a stadium that doesn’t exist anymore. Callister Park was the home of Vancouver’s amateur soccer scene, and two minutes from where he and his three brothers grew up.

“It wasn’t professional, but it wasn’t far off, and some of the players were getting paid,” he recalls.

As a kid he chased errant balls when they sailed over the fence onto Renfrew Street and watched the Vancouver Royals with his dad.

It sparked a lifelong love of soccer.

1986: Canadian soccer history is made

By 1986, Lenarduzzi was a Canadian soccer hero.

He was integral in the Whitecaps Soccer Bowl win in 1979, played 11 seasons for the club, and donned the Canadian jersey dozens of times (many with his brother Sam Lenarduzzi).

But in 1985, soccer in Canada was precarious.

“If we had not qualiﬁed, the association probably would have gone bankrupt,” Lenarduzzi says.

It was the ﬁrst time the Canadian men (many of whom had nowhere to play professionally) made it to the World Cup. They wouldn’t make it back until 2022.

Their ﬁrst opponent was one of the top-ranked teams: France.

“Michel Platini was interviewed after the game, and the French media were having a go at him for making it way too difﬁcult to get past Canada,” Lenarduzzi says.

A French icon, Platini won the Ballon d’Or three times in the mid-’80s, among other awards. ❱❱

WORDS: BRENDAN KERGIN // IMAGES: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

Bob Lenarduzzi played for the 1986 Canadian men’s national team that made the World Cup in Mexico. It was the first time Canada played in the tournament, and they wouldn’t return until 2022.

Bob Lenarduzzi played for the Whitecaps during the late 1970s, and was a central piece of the team that won the 1979 North American Soccer League’s Soccer Bowl.

“Platini said, ‘Yeah, we know we didn’t have a rhythm, but you have to credit Canada, because they made it difﬁcult for us to play.’”

Team Canada didn’t win any games, but the tournament did show that our country could ﬁeld a team worthy of the biggest stage.

2026: Canadian soccer 40 years later

Now, the soccer world will focus on his hometown. It’s something Lenarduzzi would have never imagined as a child or player.

He’s spent decades building the soccer community here, as a player, coach and executive with the Whitecaps. And now, as an observer, he expects the butterﬂies will return when Team Canada takes the ﬁeld.

“These games — I can’t imagine how I’m going to be feeling watching Canada walk out onto the pitch, the green grass at BC Place, and ideally having a sea of red supporting them,” he says. “I’ve never had the opportunity to feel that before.”

While the Whitecaps and MLS have tried to recreate the vibe of European clubs, he says locals should prepare for a more intense experience.

“It’ll be that on steroids, I think, at the World Cup,” he says. “That’ll be great for fans that aren’t familiar with how impactful that can be, to actually be a part of that in the stadium.”

Visiting fans should explore the region

He hopes fans will bring a desire to explore, suggesting visitors try seaplane tours, ferry trips to nearby islands or walks through forest trails.

“They should deﬁnitely hop on the boat that takes them from the Gastown area to Lonsdale Quay, which is exactly where the games will be shown,” he says of the SeaBus, which will provide ﬂoating transportation from downtown to Canada House in North Vancouver.

“I live on the North Shore, and I’ve seen [Lonsdale] Quay evolve from what it was and how it’s been developed into one of the best destinations for any visitors to Vancouver,” he says.

A fan of Vancouver’s natural setting, he also suggests Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver, a walk along the seawall in Stanley Park, and (for those seeking a day trip) a drive up to Whistler.

“We have so many spots that are not that difﬁcult to get to,” he says. ❚

Bob Lenarduzzi takes on the Washington Diplomats in the North American Soccer League, 1980. He holds the record for most games played in the league, with 288 in 11 seasons.

“THESE GAMES — I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW I’M GOING TO BE FEELING WATCHING CANADA WALK OUT ONTO THE PITCH, THE GREEN GRASS AT BC PLACE, AND IDEALLY HAVING A SEA OF RED SUPPORTING THEM. I’VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL THAT BEFORE.”

BOB LENARDUZZI

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THOMAS MÜLLER

He’s one of a select few who have already tasted victory at the world’s biggest sporting tournament.

In 2014, Thomas Müller took home the FIFA World Cup trophy for his home country, Germany, and became the 19th player in history to play Major League Soccer with a World Cup title under their belt.

Müller has scored an impressive 10 goals in World Cup play, sitting as one of only 15 or so athletes to have doubledigit goals in the tourney.

More recently, the German superstar has become the face of football in Vancouver, as captain of the Whitecaps. And his impact on the team can’t be overstated, taking the ‘Caps all the way to the MLS ﬁnals last December, for the ﬁrst time in club history.

And while the World Cup isn’t on Müller’s radar from a playing perspective this year, the ex-Bayern Munich player’s charismatic personality will shine through as an analyst and colour commentator for German broadcaster MagentaTV.

He might also try to catch a game or two himself.

Müller shares his thoughts with Vancouver Is Awesome on the upcoming tournament. ❱❱

WORDS: NICK LABA // IMAGES: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

WHAT DOES OUR BIGGEST SOCCER STAR THINK ABOUT THE WORLD CUP COMING TO VANCOUVER?

What do you think the World Cup’s impact will be on Vancouver’s soccer culture at large?

Müller: To be honest, I have no clue. One question is: are the people in town focused a little bit more on the game or are the people that are coming to the stadium more from [outside the soccer world]?

It will be great for the city for sure because Vancouver already has so many different cultures … but I think even more people from the outside will come to Vancouver and will enjoy and experience this beautiful city.

For the people that are living here, to look at the game of football … maybe they can catch up a little bit of the spark.

I would wish for [that].

But in the end, it’s also about identity with the city’s club, with the Whitecaps. Because normally, in my experience, it’s the week in, week out, the daily business that counts because after the World Cup, the World Cup is gone.

When we get more and more people a little bit into the game, then they can see, OK, you have the spectrum of all these emotions you can experience with following us, the Whitecaps.

I think last year was a very good example, and I’m not talking about results. I’m talking about how we played the game.

We had some great games against Philadelphia for sure. It was easy to see

for everyone that we had a great match … we came back in the second half, we were ﬁghting until the end.

We had this last-minute winner, so there were a lot of spicy situations and I hope for [that] also this year.

And yourself, will you try to get out to any of the World Cup matches here?

Müller: I’m in town because during the World Cup I’m doing some broadcasting for a German broadcaster, so I don’t know yet.

But for sure when there’s a game, I want to try to get some tickets. But it’s not easy, even for me [laughs]. ❚

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Best of the worst:

ONE-STAR REVIEWS OF ICONIC VANCOUVER PLACES

While there are countless things that make our city one of the most beautiful on earth, not everyone can love everything.

Across the board, people generally agree on the appeal of certain Vancouver landmarks. Sure, Stanley Park isn’t going to get rave reviews from everyone, but most people can ﬁnd some reason to be positive about it (the seawall, Third Beach, Vancouver Aquarium, Malkin Bowl etc.).

But there are some who just really didn’t enjoy their experience visiting Vancouver’s most iconic places, and we went and found those ﬂaming hot takes.

From folks who think one of the city’s most-famous architectural wonders is “ugly” and full of lawyers, to a complaint that Stanley Park has “too many trees” and the wildlife there is “annoying,” here are some of the Best bad reviews from Tripadvisor and Google. ❚

❰❰

Stanley Park

“Too many trees. Try to like this park every time I go but the trees and wildlife (raccoons squirrels peacocks and ants) are annoying and get in my way. One star for sure.”

Lions Gate Bridge ❱❱

“Obsolete relic. Needs replacing asap.”

English Bay Park

“Beach was filthy, green plants all over!! Not a best place to swim!”

Granville Island ❱❱

“Dull dull dull. Not worth the trouble. Filled with second rate artisans and overpriced food stuffs. A second rate destination in a second rate city.”

❰❰

Kitsilano Beach Park

“It wasnt even warm out. Horrible beach experience.“

The Marine Building

“Ugly! Other than for business reasons, why would anyone go there - not far from the water ... and all the banks. Lots of lawyers.”

❰❰ Gastown Steam Clock

“Stupid. Why is this a thing? Get cooler things.”

Olympic Cauldron

“Get over it, Olympics are over in Vancouver get rid of this eyesore.”

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Bartender Jillian Nesbitt Burns pours a glass at The Moose.

VANCOUVER DIVE BARS

5 SPOTS FOR AN UNPRETENTIOUS PINT

This city has plenty of places to go for a fancy cocktail, pinkies out, with glitz and glamour and shimmering chandeliers. But there’s something to be said for the opposite: a place stripped down, where the glitz is gone and glamour fears to tread.

These are the dive bars. The lighting is low, the decor is dated and the drink of choice is probably one-syllable long. It’s the type of place that regulars take shelter in to avoid the winds of change and Top 40 playlists.

So what’s the secret to running a

great Vancouver dive bar? Just ask Ashi Minhas, who’s been operating The Moose downtown for 25 years. “You gotta be consistent, and it’s always about the people — 100 per cent,” he says.

“You gotta have the same staff and just treat people good.”

You change anything at The Moose, and people get upset, Minhas explains. The only decoration that appears different over the years is the collection of bras hanging above the bar. “Gillian (bartender) takes them down once every year and then cleans them, donates them to the women’s shelter when they get overloaded,” he says.

WORDS: NICK LABA & BRENDAN KERGIN // IMAGES: NICK LABA

Here are ﬁve of Vancouver’s best dive bars to check out.

The Moose

724 Nelson St.

Its owner calls it the city’s true rock and roll bar, and it’s not hard to see why. The tables, walls and ceilings are covered in concert keepsakes including records, tickets, banners and his own photos with famous rock acts who’ve visited The Moose over the years. Minhas’s favourite band is Iron Maiden (look no further than the bar’s logo) and that’s clear wherever you look.

Expect reasonably priced beers, cocktails and pub grub. Go here before and after concerts downtown to keep rocking all night long.

Two Parrots

1202 Granville St.

For more than a century, there’s been a restaurant on the corner of Granville and Davie, and for nearly 30 years it’s been the Two Parrots Bar & Grill. From the outside, you’ll be drawn in by the glow of twin giant neon birds. On the inside, it’s a straightforward pub, but keeps the tropical theme up with murals ﬁlled with illustrated animals.

The menu is cheap and the wings are particularly popular, even with Hollywood folks (British actor and Shōgun star Tommy Bastow gave the spicy wings a shout-out during the SAG awards).

Many in the service industry consider it the neighbourhood pub for downtown, and it’s the kind of place you could go by yourself and wind up making a friend or two.

Princeton Pub & Grill

1901 Powell St.

Tucked away outside the city’s core, the Princeton Pub & Grill is an old school East Vancouver neighbourhood pub. Beer has been served at this spot for quite a while. The Princeton Hotel was built in 1912 and by the 1920s a beer parlour was in operation downstairs, so this place has some drinking heritage.

In fact, in the 1950s the pub was one of a handful called out as “‘disgusting’ beer parlors where customers get ‘paralyzed’ with drink,” according to an old Vancouver Sun article. For some dive bar connoisseurs, you can’t buy better advertising.

Go here if you want to sing your favourite rock ballad to a nonjudgmental crowd.

Funky Winker Beans

37 West Hastings St.

Since the early ’80s, Funky Winker Beans has drawn people to the Hastings and Main area. With eclectic decor, and patrons to match, Funky’s is a selfdescribed dive bar, but it’s not posing, it just knows itself. It’s the kind of place that’s open at 3 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

This crust punk paradise is also a karaoke destination, and is also a venue for live metal shows.

Fun fact, some of the original interior decorations were designed by Joe Tinucci, who was also involved in the restoration of the Orpheum.

The Ivanhoe Pub

1038 Main St.

Like the Princeton, the Ivanhoe evolved out of the earliest beer parlors in Vancouver, which were attached to hotels. While it doesn’t quite look like it’s stuck in 1907, it’s deﬁnitely a piece of old Vancouver that’s kept working-class generations quenched, and looks it.

Consider a visit if you’re pre-gaming for a concert at The Cobalt across the street, or you want to lose all the cash in your wallet to a local pool shark.

It’s the kind of place a local punk band would write about. The Dreadnoughts did that 20 years ago and the words still hold true. ❚

The band is jumping

And the music ﬁlls the air

We’re tripping right down the stairs

We’re going to Main Street now

Pints of lager overﬂow Way-hey, Ivanhoe!

It is the only place to go Way-hey, Ivanhoe!

I know, the city’s down on her dreams

But we’ll go out with a shanty and a scream IVANHOE.

The Moose owner & Iron Maiden fanatic, Ashi Minhas.

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THE PINBALL WHISPERER

HELPING TO SPRING THE GAME BACK TO LIFE

Thuck-a-thuck… tck. rlllll. clkthk … tk-a-tk, tik. clack, clack [music intensiﬁes]. .

Mechanical noises, ﬂashing lights and chiptune drones pour out of a 1979 pinball machine played by John Robertson, owner of John’s Jukes near Boundary and Marine.

His shop — a madhouse of mechanized miscellany populated with dozens devices for playing pinball, shooting electronic fauna and forecasting fortunes — is at the heart of a resurgence of analog arcade games springing back into venues across Metro Vancouver.

What was once a mainstream pastime in the 1970s became a dusty relic in a derelict mall destined for the wrecking ball. But a few custodians, like pinball whisperer

Robertson, continued to take good care of the machines as they weathered the tides of trend.

Until one day, the sensory-ridden thrill of pinball seduced a new generation of players. Now, you’ll ﬁnd polished-up pinball machines back in bars, tournaments held in collectors’ homes and some of the world’s top pinball wizards right here in the Lower Mainland.

“We’ve got more than a couple of world-class players here,” Robertson says. “I would say Vancouver is quite well-represented worldwide for pinball skills.”

He’s referring to the likes of Robert Gagel, who won the world championships of pinball in 2016, and Emily Reilhan, who won the women’s world championships earlier this year.

WORDS: NICK LABA // IMAGES: BRENDAN KERGIN & ANDY WHITE

“RIGHT NOW, PINBALL’S REALLY HOT AND JUKEBOXES ARE A LITTLE QUIETER. BUT JUKEBOXES ARE COMING UP AGAIN — VIDEO [ARCADE] GAMES ARE DYING.”

JOHN ROBERTSON

Pinball fever is spreading

But pinball isn’t just for the pros. Filthy casuals are feeling the paddle fever too. The demand has gotten so high that proliﬁc pinball collector Angelo Muro recently went so far as to open an entire dedicated arcade at 1739 Venables St.

VanCity Pinball & Arcade opened its doors in March, to a dimly lit world full of more than 60 pinball machines, many referencing popular TV series and feature ﬁlms like Indiana Jones, The Addams Family and The Lord of the Rings

“This has been a dream of mine for at least 10 years now,” Muro said as he opened his new arcade.

But his business extends beyond those four walls, renting his 150-plus collection of machines for corporate events, birthday parties and tournaments. A similar model is employed by businesses like East Van Amusements, which has also put machines in Brewhall, The Cambie and Good Co. on Granville Street.

But that side of the industry — what Robertson calls “operating” — is not his speed.

Coin industry is forever changing

“I tried that back in the late ’80s, early ’90s and got tired of people phoning me at 3 a.m. in the morning to say the pinball was broken,” he says.

Robertson got his ﬁrst job ﬁxing pinball machines in 1970 at a Richmond business called Dale Distribution. ❱❱

“They hired me because I knew more about electronics than the guy who was interviewing me,” he recalls.

But soon, he started his own business, and around 1980 opened in a 3,000-square-foot space at 2342 Main St. He was 29 years old at the time. In 2017, he relocated to an even larger space, where John’s Jukes currently resides off Marine Way in Burnaby.

Instead of renting, Robertson buys old machines and refurbishes them for sale, as well as ﬁxing broken machines privately owned by his clients.

“My basic business model is to cover as many bases as I can in the coin industry because when one area is popular, other

areas aren’t, and it shifts,” he says. “Right now, pinball’s really hot and jukeboxes are a little quieter. But jukeboxes are coming up again — video [arcade] games are dying.”

Magic of fixing pinball hasn’t worn off after 60 years

Even after all these years, the magic of working on machines hasn’t worn off. For Robertson, his job barely feels like work.

“I’ve talked to friends like Red Robinson and others over the years because I knew them through the music side of my business. And it was the same thing they said: ‘We’ll do this for now and we’ll get a real job later,’” he says.

But after 60 some-odd years, it’s started to stick. “This is my real job,” he declares with a grin.

And Robertson still ﬁnds joy playing pinball, of course.

“You’ve got sound, you’ve got feel, and you’ve got sight,” he says, describing the game’s appeal. “You’ve got your ﬁngers for controlling the ﬂippers, and then you can shake the game a little bit with your hands.

“You’re watching the ball dancing around the playﬁeld and trying to ﬁgure out where it’s gonna go next, and then you’re hearing the sounds of the game chugging along,” he continues.

“The older, electromechanical machines have a lovely rhythmic, clickety-clackity-clickety-clacky type of sound to them. And the solid-state games, they have different tones and sounds or speech, things like that, that accentuate the game,” he says “And when it works together, it makes it more fun.”

As his ﬁnal Meteor ball squeezes through the gap between his paddles, a six-digit tally appears above the playing ﬁeld: just about half the total of the machine’s high score.

Time to pull the pin back and play again. ❚

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UNDERRATED THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER

LESS OBVIOUS, NOT LESS AWESOME

There’s no shortage of incredible things to do in Vancouver.

The list of obvious tourist options is lengthy, and well documented, although some of these are still worth your time (even if you live here). Some of these beloved clichés

include Vancouver Aquarium, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Granville Island Public Market, to name a few.

But what about the things that aren’t advertised in every tourism guide to the city? Here are some underrated options.

WORDS: ELANA SHEPERT // IMAGES: SUMBITTED

Ride on the People’s Yacht

Sail from Waterfront Station downtown to North Vancouver over the Burrard Inlet on the most unique mode of public transportation our city has to offer: the SeaBus.

Playfully referred to as the People’s Yacht, the 12-minute ride takes you on a cruise through Vancouver’s busy harbour. Sit back and take in the sights. You’ll get courtside seats on the 400-seat catamaran vessel to witness spellbinding views of the North Shore, or downtown (depending on which way you’re travelling).

Once you arrive in Lonsdale Quay, make a stop at the Market for various dining, drinking and shopping options.

The nearby Polygon Gallery showcases exhibitions from local and international photographers.

Rope-climb up a giant tree

It’s time to suit up in a safety harness, and leave that fear of heights on the forest ﬂoor — because what awaits you at the treetop is truly spectacular.

A recent addition to Vancouver’s list of awesome things to do is guided tree climbing with Cultivara Tree Tours out of the UBC Botanical Garden, which is heading into its second season.

Climbers range from age ﬁve to 92, with a range of different options for different levels, including shorter 20-minute introductory climbs, two-tothree hour canopy expeditions (daytime and sunset) and accessible batteryassisted climbs.

Guests have hailed the experience as “one of the coolest things they’ve done” and say it changed the way they look at trees and forests.

Make merry at the Vancouver Police Museum’s morgue

The Vancouver Police Museum isn’t one of the ﬁrst things most tourists visit when they come to the city, and that’s a shame.

If you’re looking for a side quest featuring lighter fare, like ﬂowers, animals or pretty paintings, this is not the activity for you. But if you’re curious to know more about the city’s lesser-known history, including some eyebrow-raising artifacts and galleries, this is the spot.

One intriguing permanent exhibit is the autopsy and morgue site, where more than 20,000 bodies were processed, and coroners worked for decades to solve mysterious deaths.

Check out a historic theatre

Going to the movies will never go out of style (we hope) but the eye-watering prices at new, luxury theatres may have you opting for the at-home option.

But at a few of Vancouver’s most historic theatres, you won’t pay as much to get in or for your snacks and drinks. A local favourite is of course the Rio Theatre off Commercial Drive, offering everything from drag shows to eccentric comedy acts, cult-classic ﬂicks and recent Oscar winners.

Other popular, smaller theatres include the Hollywood Theatre on West Broadway, which hosts live music as well as ﬁlms, the Cinematique, showcasing the best of international cinema and Canada’s historic movies, and the Park Theatre, which recently wowed guests with a Stranger Things ﬁnale party featuring a special guest appearance.

Small comedy shows, big laughs

We love Trevor Noah, Adam Sandler and Chelsea Handler (well, I do anyway). But you don’t have to wait for a big act to roll through town to get some belly laughs in.

Vancouver is home to several smaller comedy venues and clubs featuring a range of talent, with everything from improv to stand-up to alternative acts. You can even sometimes catch a comedy show along with a guided meditation.

Some popular spots to check out include Comedy After Dark and Little Mountain Gallery in Gastown, The Improv Theatre on Granville Island, Blind Tiger Comedy on Main Street, and Jokes Please!, held Fridays at The Cambrian Hall and Saturdays at the Russian Cultural Centre. ❚

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Vancouver’s cultural calendar is packed year-round with festivals, markets, and celebrations that showcase the city’s creativity, diversity, and love of community. From world-class ﬁlm and performing arts festivals to outdoor adventures, foodie feasts, and holiday magic, there’s something happening in every season. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, dive into the events that make Vancouver one of the world’s most vibrant destinations.

JUN

ITALIAN DAY

One of East Vancouver’s most beloved events, Italian Day draws over 300,000 to Commercial Drive in a car-free celebration of all things Little Italy and good community spirit.

ITALIANDAY.CA

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

The annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival brings together top artists from around the world to various venues across the Lower Mainland in more than 150 performances, including some free outdoor concerts.

COASTALJAZZ.CA

RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET

With over 500 international dishes, as well as games and vendors to shop until you drop, many people visit the Richmond Night Market numerous times throughout the summer.

RICHMONDNIGHTMARKET.COM

GREEK DAY

Commercial Drive has Italian Day, and Broadway has Greek Day. The annual festival features authentic Greek cuisine, live entertainment and a bustling marketplace.

GREEKDAY.COM

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

JUL

CARNAVAL DEL SOL

A large Latin American festival featuring cultural demonstrations, live music, food stalls, vendors, dancing and much more. CARNAVALDELSOL.CA

VANCOUVER PRIDE FESTIVAL

The festival takes place in the city’s West End and celebrates the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Vancouver and around the world, and features a loud and proud parade.

VANCOUVERPRIDE.CA

VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Vancouver Folk Festival takes place over three days at ʔəyalməxʷ / Iyálmexw Jericho Beach, featuring a lineup of over 35 artists, including big-name artists including Hazlett, Billy Bragg, Valerie June, and Ruby Waters.

THEFESTIVAL.BC.CA

SUMMER MOVIE NIGHTS

Enjoy free movies under the stars in the heart of downtown Vancouver at the šxʷƛənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza), with beloved ﬁlms including Bring It On, The Wild Robot, Inception, Wicked and The Wizard of Oz DTVAN.CA/SUMMERMOVIENIGHTS

PNE FAIR

The Paciﬁc National Exhibition runs for roughly two weeks at the end of August into September, featuring a lineup of summer concerts from Canadian and international artists, over 50 food vendors, shopping, a farm zone and beloved live shows like this the SuperDogs!

PNE.CA/FAIR2026

GRANVILLE BLOCK PARTY

Public Disco is hosting another twoday public block party this summer, featuring licensed bars, live bands and DJs, food vendors and family-friendly programming under the Granville Bridge. PUBLICDISCO.CA/EVENTS/ GRANVILLEISLAND2026

DRAGON BOAT SUMMER REGATTA

The dragon boat festival has downsized this year, taking place on one day in August instead of June, as a Summer Regatta. It will feature a lineup of live performances all day on the TD Main Stage.

DRAGONBOATBC.CA/COMPETITION/ SUMMERREGATTA

GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival features an exciting lineup of big-name acts, including the funniest “angry man,” Bill Burr, Adam Ray cosplaying as Dr. Phil, Jeff Acuri with special guests, and many others in beautiful Stanley Park. GREATOUTDOORSCOMEDYFESTIVAL.COM/ VANCOUVER-BRITISHCOLUMBIA

SEP

VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL

Vancouver Fringe Festival hosts more than 700 performances on Granville Island, ranging from stand-up comedy to musicals, circus acts to spoken word artists, and everything in between.

VANCOUVERFRINGE.COM

CAR FEE DAYS

Attend separate Car Free Days on Commercial Drive and Main Street in September, with live performances, DJs, food stalls and various vendors in celebration of sustainability.

CARFREEVANCOUVER.ORG

TAIWANFEST

Taiwanfest shares the untold stories of Taiwan in a global context, and attendees will ﬁnd performances, ﬁlms, exhibitions, culinary demonstrations and much more.

VANCOUVERTAIWANFEST.CA

VANCITY CARD SHOW

Vancity Card Show takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre and features over 600 tables of rare and popular collectables for trading, buying or browsing.

VANCITYSHOW.COM

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LISTEN CLOSELY

OUR FAVOURITE INTIMATE MUSIC VENUES

Downtown’s bustling entertainment district along Granville Street is home to a handful of music venues, where you can catch everything from popular local bands to internationally acclaimed acts.

If you’re looking to catch a Top 40

superstar, at the level of Bruno Mars or Ariana Grande, you’ll likely be buying tickets to a stadium venue, like BC Place or Rogers Arena.

But where do you go if you’re looking for a more intimate vibe, or just to catch an act that appeals to the underground?

WORDS: ELANA SHEPERT // IMAGES: BRENDAN KERGIN & VANCOUVER ARCHIVES

Commodore Ballroom

868 Granville St.

It’s far from a hidden gem, situated smack dab in the middle of the Granville Street corridor. But the Commodore Ballroom is no less awesome, despite being the most obvious pick on this list.

I’ve been going to shows at the venue for two decades, catching everything from friends-turned-DJs to rock bands to alternative, hard-to-pin-down-theirgenre groups.

It’s a smaller venue, holding up to 1,000 guests, allowing for what feels like a sweet spot of energetic collusion. Arguably the best-sounding venue in town.

Fortune Sound Club

147 E Pender St.

Fortune Sound Club in Chinatown hosts a variety of live acts and dance parties. But it may also be your go-to spot for an afterparty.

It’s held some impressive second shows for big acts that played earlier gigs at Rogers Arena, including Snoop Dogg, who famously hotboxed the space in February 2019, rocking a Vancouver Canucks jersey.

Many dance-centric acts pass through this venue, taking advantage of Fortune’s bumping sound system.

Fox Cabaret

2321 Main St.

The Fox Cabaret is a venue that hosts a variety of musical acts and other special events.

Find yourself deliriously happy dancing to oldschool-ish (I’m talking ’80s/’90s/’00s) tunes at the venue’s dance parties, or curling over in giggles at a comedy night.

If you’re looking for a good time but feel like the old Millennial in the room, this might be the pick for you. ❱❱

Green Auto

1822 Pandora St.

Maintained “by musicians, for musicians,” this music venue serves as a vital artery for bands launching into the scene to gain traction in the community.

Green Auto doesn’t have its own website, instead relying on word-ofmouth and its Facebook page to get the word out about upcoming events.

Biltmore Cabaret

2755 Prince Edward St.

The Biltmore has been a great place to discover new live bands and entertainment for over 50 years in Vancouver.

After reopening in 2007 as the Biltmore Cabaret (formerly known as the Biltmore), it focuses on promoting emerging local acts and hosting highenergy dance parties.

Astoria

769 E Hastings St.

Located in East Vancouver, the Astoria hosts a variety of acts, including live bands and DJs from a wide spectrum of styles. It also hosts weekly dance parties with inventive themes, drawing an alternative crowd.

The venue offers a grittier space, showcasing underground artists to an audience known to adorn battle vests.

Rickshaw Theatre

254 E Eastings St.

The Rickshaw Theatre opened as a music venue in 2007 and serves as one of the city’s top destinations for metal, punk and hardcore shows.

The historic site was built in 1971 and was formerly called The Shaw Theatre, playing scores of Kung Fu movies in one of the most advanced cinemas of its time. ❚

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Eating out in Vancouver right now is an investment.

But while white-tablecloth spots grab the headlines, the soul of the city’s food scene lives at the counters where value is not a buzzword, it is the standard. If you

know which doors to open, you can still get a solid meal without checking your bank balance on the way out the door.

Here’s where to ﬁnd the best dollarfor-calorie ratio in Vancouver right now.

WORDS: CASSANDRA ANDERTON // IMAGES: SUBMITTED

SAY HEY CAFE & DELI

Theseare notbasicsandwiches.They arestacked, thoughtfulandconsistently worth theprice,with a following that keepsgrowing fora reason.

THE ORDER Meatballhoagie($19)or mortadellabreakfastroll($12)

FINDIT 156E PenderSt.

NEW TOWNBAKERY & RESTAURANT

Ifoneplacedefines Vancouver value over thelast fourdecades,itisNew Town.While the neighbourhood changes, thisplacedoes not. Youwill see families, regulars andfirst-timers all linedup for thesame thing.Theline out thedoorin2026 tells you everything you need to know

THE ORDER Appletartanda steamed BBQ porkbunto go,ordinein fordim sum($2to$12)

FINDIT 148E PenderSt.

FOCACCIAZA

Vancouver’sonly focacceriaon wheels.Locatedinside theVinegar Factory, thisspot featureshandlaminatedoliveoilbreadserved straightuporbuiltinto sandwiches, alongsidesoupandbiscotti.

THE ORDER Mortadella focaccia sandwich($7)

FINDIT 1007E Cordova St.

WHEN Tuesdayto Friday, 11 a.m. to5 p.m. oruntilsoldout

HOUSE OF DOSAS

If it is Monday, you go here. The dosa special is a Vancouver rite of passage. Even outside of that, the portion-toprice ratio holds.

THE ORDER: Pakoras ($12), eggplant or palak lamb dosa ($16 to $19)

FIND IT: 1391 Kingsway

BON’S OFF BROADWAY

A local legend. Loud, a little rough and exactly what it should be. The allday breakfast still lands as one of the cheapest full plates in the city.

THE ORDER: Breakfast special (two eggs, hash browns, ham and toast, $3)

FIND IT: 2451 Nanaimo St.

KAM WAI LEGACY

Kam Wai is the heartbeat of Chinatown. The Pender Street shop is still the go-to for frozen take-home, but the Legacy spot on Hastings gives you a sit-down option without losing that old-school pricing.

THE ORDER: Curry ﬁsh balls and the Big Bun ($5 to $8)

FIND IT: 2285 Hastings St. (Legacy) and 249 E Pender St. (original)

NORTHERN CAFE

This is the one you tell people about quietly (though it’s hardly a secret anymore). Tucked above a lumberyard on East Kent, it is a bit of a trek and worth it. Old-school diner energy with Chinese comfort dishes, most under $20.

THE ORDER: Eggs benny ($18) or pork gyoza ($10)

FIND IT: 1640 E Kent Ave. S

DUFFIN’S DONUTS

Duffin’s runs 24 hours and never really slows down. Doughnuts, tortas, fried chicken, all in one place. It is chaotic, affordable and always there when you need it.

THE ORDER: Viet mixed ham sub ($8), fried chicken (various) and a honey-dipped doughnut ($2)

FIND IT: 1391 E 41st Ave.

FUJIYA JAPANESE FOODS

Skip the downtown lunch rush and head to Clark Drive. Part grocery store, part grab-and-go counter and always busy. Sushi trays and bento boxes move fast and the quality stays consistent.

THE ORDER: Shrimp California roll ($9), any tray for a crowd, or bento ($18)

FIND IT: 912 Clark Dr.

HAWKERS DELIGHT DELI

This is a no-frills masterclass. It is cramped, hectic and one of the best value meals in the city. Portions are massive and the room is always full. No credit cards.

THE ORDER: Hainanese chicken rice ($15), fried kuey teow ($17) or laksa ($15)

FIND IT: 4127 Main St.

HAPPY HOURS (various)

If you’re trying to keep a meal under $15 in Vancouver, look for happy hour food menus between 3 and 5 p.m. That’s where a lot of the real value still lives.

Experiencethemagic of Neverland TeaSalon, Vancouver’spremier destination forunforgettable celebrations!Beloved by localsand globaltravelers, we specializeinenchanting,full-servicethemed high teas.Whether you’re toastingagrandadventure, celebratingahappilyever-after, oraddingatouch of wonderto yourtravels, ourKitsilano salon bringsfantasytolife Followthesecond startotherightandjoinus. ❚

Address: 3066W Broadway, Vancouver Phone: 6044283066 Website: neverlandtea.com

Theair at Thierr yChocolatesisrich withthescent of cocoa, warm pastry andfreshly poured espresso.Behind theglass, rows of trufﬂes,bonbonsand macaronsarearranged liketinyworksof art,each craftedwith carefullysourced ingredientsand apatienthand.Localsstop in foranafternoon coffee,coupleslinger

overshared dessertsandvisitorsleave withribbon-wrapped boxesboundfor friends.Andif you’re in Vancouver,there’s likelyonenearby—with cafesinMount Pleasant,AlberniandAmbleside.More than adessertstore, Thierr yisaplaceto linger,savourandenjoy creationsshaped by skilledchocolatiersand pastry chefs. ❚

Address: 1059AlberniSt. 265East10thAve 1343 BellevueAve

Website: thierrychocolates.com

IntheheartofYaletown,ElisaSteak reimaginesthe classic steakhousewith awood-ﬁredGrillworksInﬁernoanda menu featuringBlueDotribeye,signature Smoked Bison Tartare, andexpertlycrafted BeefWellington.In2026,Elisaearned global recognition,ranking#1inCanada, #5inNorthAmerica,and#32 worldwide onthe World’s 101BestSteak Restaurants

classic steakhouse reimagined

list,and wasnamed#7BestFineDining in Canada by Tripadvisor. ExecutiveChef Andrew Richardsonbringsprecisionand warmth,while2025Michelin Vancouver Sommelier of the Year Franco Michienzi elevates each pairing.With attentive service, awelcoming atmosphere, and dessertslikeBaked Alaska,Elisadelivers unforgettabledining experiences. ❚

Address: 1109HamiltonSt,Vancouver

Phone: 6043625443

Website: elisasteak.com

AtLuigi &Sons, Executive ChefAndrew Richardson extendsthecraft of Elisa Steakhouse beyondthedining room, offering acuratedselection of premium cutsandhouse-madeprovisions forthe homecook. Sourcedfromexceptional producersbothlocallyandglobally,the collectionrangesfromBlueDot Reserve

beeffrom PrinceEdwardIslandtoA5 WagyufromKagoshima Prefecture— each chosenforquality, integrity, andﬂavour. Morethan abutchershop, Luigi &Sonsis adestination forelevatedtakeawayand thoughtfullyprepared provisions,bringing arestaurant-level experience into your homewith easeandprecision. ❚

Address: 1102MainlandSt, Vancouver Website: luigiandsons.ca

IntheheartofKitsilano, Provisionsisa neighbourhood cafewheregood food and good companycometogether.Gather withfriendsandfamily overasmash burgermadewith Luigi &Sons’signature grind of beef,freshly bakedcrufﬁns, and comfortingseasonalfeaturesmade toenjoyinthemoment.Withits warm,

welcoming atmosphere and focuson simple, honestcooking,Provisionsisa placetoslowdownand connect—whether overlunch, coffee,orsomething sweetto share. Celebratetheseasonsurroundedby community andﬂavour,whereevery visit feelslike catchingupwithanoldfriend. ❚

Address: 1864 West4thAve,Vancouver Website: provisionscafe.com

IntheheartofdowntownVancouver, CinCinwrapsyouin candlelight,warm wood tones,andthe intoxicatingaroma of awood-firedoven. Knownforhandmade pastas rolledfresh each day, perfectly charred meats, andseafood kissed by theflames,every dish reflectsItaly ’s rich culinar ytraditions.Theopenkitchen draws youin, astage wherechefsturn seasonal, localingredientsintoplatesto

savourslowly.CinCin continuestosetthe standardforItaliandininginthecity.Pair itallwith aglassfromCinCin’s awardwinningwinelist—recipient of the2026 DiRōNA AwardofExcellenceandtheGold Awardfor Wine ProgramExcellencebythe VancouverInternational Wine Festival.For romance, celebration,orindulgence,it’sa Vancouverclassic. ❚

Address: 1154RobsonStreet,Vancouver

Phone: 604688 7338

Website: cincin.net

Tuckedintheheartofhistoric Yaletown, Blue Water Cafe istheplaceforseafood loversin Vancouver.ExecutiveChef Frank Pabstcreates West Coast–inspireddishes usingfresh,localingredients,withﬂavours inﬂuencedbycuisinesaroundtheglobe. In2026,Blue Water Cafe wasnamedNo. 2FineDiningin Canadain Tripadvisor’s “BestoftheBest” awards.Theenergy intheopen- conceptkitchen,buzzing

JapaneseRaw Barand cozyheatedpatio is contagious,making ever yvisit feellike acelebration.Committedtosustainability, the restaurantservesOceanWise- certiﬁed seafood,soeachdishisas responsibleasit ismemorable.Whether you’re indulging in acasualdinner,sipping acraft cocktail orhosting aprivateevent,Blue Water Cafe offers ataste of thefresh coastinalively, welcomingspace. ❚

Address: 1095HamiltonSt.Vancouver

Phone: 6046888078

Website: bluewatercafe.ca

Olympian influencer Georgia Ellenwood

ON WHAT IT’S LIKE TO COMPETE FOR COUNTRY

The glow from a 1975 Super Soccer pinball machine catches the bright facial expressions of Georgia Ellenwood, a heptathlete, Olympian and influencer based in Metro Vancouver.

As she takes a break from her usual schedule of training, creating content for social media and yelling at her computer screen playing Fall Guys on Twitch, Ellenwood joins us for our magazine cover shoot at John’s Jukes off Marine Way in Burnaby.

With the World Cup inching closer to kick off, and Team Canada looking to make its mark on the global tournament, Ellenwood reflects back on her own experiences suiting up in red and white to fight for her country on the world stage.

“It’s the biggest honour that you can have,” she says. “You feel like your country is behind you, so it becomes a much bigger scale than just competing for yourself.”

It’s not just about shaving seconds off a lap time, or recording a new personal best high jump.

“You also want to represent your country in your personality and in your humility, and show the whole world that Canada has a lot to offer,” Ellenwood says.

To most people, that sort of weight sounds panic-inducing. But to a top-tier athlete like her, it’s fuel to fire.

“It’s very fun when that’s on your shoulders. It’s a good pressure to have,” she says.

But there are challenges of course. At her first Olympic experience during the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, 10,000 hours on the track couldn’t prepare her for what was to come.

“There’s so much that happens behind the scenes,” Ellenwood says. “For example, there’s a TV schedule.”

That means athletes are starting their day at 9 a.m. and finishing at 9 p.m., often for a single event that involves just

an hour of actual competition.

“You’re going all day, you’re trying to stay energetic, you’re having these long wait times. There might be commercial breaks, things like that, and so it’s a different experience,” she says. “It’s almost like reality TV combined with a competition in a way.”

Those sorts of pressures are combined with the unknowns of an unfamiliar environment.

“You’re traveling internationally, and it’s in a place that you’re not very familiar with,” Ellenwood says. “You have to be adaptable and a lot of us aren’t.”

Where will you find Ellenwood during the World Cup?

Growing up playing competitive soccer, she’s brimming with anticipation for the World Cup.

“I’m actually going to Canada versus Switzerland. I’m going with one of the brands that I’m associated with, which will be so exciting,” she says. “I thought I was just gonna watch it on TV, but I feel lucky enough to get invited to one of the games and I’m already planning everything — how can I best represent Canada and cheer for them.”

Before (or after) the game, you might find her getting hyped at a bar near the stadium.

“The Pint is great for watching sports. That’s usually where I would go before a Canucks game if I need to kill some time,” she says.

And if her inner gamer comes out, you might spot her at another nearby establishment in Gastown.

“Greta Bar is a downtown arcade spot,” she says. “If you’re into gaming and you want [to grab] a couple of drinks and watch soccer, that’s a great place to go.” ❚

To keep pace with Ellenwood, find her on Instagram (@george_ahhh) or on Twitch (twitch.tv/0nePunchw0man).

“YOU ALSO WANT TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY IN YOUR PERSONALITY AND IN YOUR HUMILITY, AND SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD THAT CANADA HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

GEORGIA ELLENWOOD

Celebratetheseasonwith MomentsSummerofSangria. Enterfor achancetowin adiningexperienceat WaterSt. Cafe,including areservedtable, asetofbranded glasswareanda $200gift card.

Nopurchasenecessary.Opentolegal residentsofBritishColumbia whohavereachedtheageofmajority atthetimeofentry.Contest endsJuly31st.Winnertobeselectedatrandom.Theprize hasno cash valueandmaynotbe redeemedforcashatany time.

FromtheteambehindMichelin-recognizedKarma IndianBistro,benneisanew20-seatconceptbringingbold SouthIndianflavourstoKitsilano.Centeredaroundcrisp, fermenteddosas,smallplates,and awarmneighbourhood vibe -it’safreshtakeoneverydaydining.

Belgard Kitchenisthekind of placeyouvisitonceandsuddenly ever yfamilydinner, cocktailhourandweekendbrunchgetsbooked there. Withmoodyindustrial charm, localB.C.wineontapandgloballyinspired plates,itnailsthefoodandsetsthemoodfor even better convos Oh,andit ’s tucked inside arestored1920s warehouse. Yeah...it’sa vibe ❚

Address: 55DunlevyAve,Vancouver,B.C. Phone: 6046991989 Website: belgardkitchen.com

cubanhotspot

tepintoHavana Vancouverand be transportedtothevibrantheart of Cuba.InspiredbyOldHavana’s rich culture, thislivelyhotspotbuzzes with warmthandenergy. Whetherindulginginfresh,locally-sourced Latin-inspired dishesorsippingtropical cocktails, Havana’s yearround patiooffersthe perfectsettingformakingmemorablemoments, romanticdatenights,weekendbrunchesandhappy hourswithfriends. ❚

Address: 1212CommercialDr,Vancouver Phone: 6042539119 Website: havanavancouver.com

DiscoverTheFlamingo Room,Vancouver’shottestMiami-inspired spoton CommercialDrive. Burstingwithenergy,livemusic, DJ nightsandthemedparties,it’sthe perfectspotto celebrate. Cozied up besideHavana Vancouver, paythem avisitandenjoyfundrinks,latenightsnacks allwith alively atmosphere. Come experience thefunand makememorablemoments at TheFlamingoRoom. ❚

Address: 1214CommercialDr, Vancouver Phone: 6042539119 Website: flamingoroomvan.com

europeaninspiredbistro

Violetétakesitsnamefromthevioletflower,longa symbol of simplicity,love, andwarmth. Rooted inEuropeantraditionyetopen to influence from beyond,ourmenudrawsinspirationfromthekitchens of ItalyandSpain,where food is celebrated foritsquality, simplicity,and connectiontoingredients.Atitsheart, Violetéisa reminderthatthe best mealsare thosesharedwithothers. ❚

Address: 1380CommercialDr,Vancouver Phone: 6042385000 Menu: violetekitchen.com

TOUR HOLLYWOOD NORTH

SEE WHERE YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW OR MOVIE WAS FILMED

Forget the Hollywood Hills.

Downtown Vancouver is home to iconic ﬁlm sets that are within walking distance from one another.

A stroll around Robson Square might take you back to an episode of The X-Files, or a walk through Library Square could transport you to the sci-ﬁ lab that cloned Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in The 6th Day. Hollywood North, as some call it, is the stomping grounds for countless big-budget productions, including Oscar-winning feature ﬁlms to hit television series to commercials and everything in between. And local guides are ready to take you to the sites of your favourite sets.

WORDS: ELANA SHEPERT // IMAGES: SUBMITTED

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a peaceful retreat in the city that’s visited on the tour, and has been used by many film productions such as JOY RIDE, ANIMAL CONTROL and LUCIFER

most-used

filming locations in the city, THE NIGHT AGENT, SCOOBY DOO 2 and FRINGE

“IT

IS ON FOOT, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BREAKS AT DIFFERENT [STOPS] WHERE WE VISIT FILMING LOCATIONS FROM HIT MOVIES AND TV SHOWS LIKE DEADPOOL, THE LAST OF US, SUPERNATURAL, THE FLASH AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.”

TRAPP

AUSTIN

In the evening, guests can attend a Haunting of Vancouver Film Tour or a Supernatural TV Show locations Tour. Gastown has been featured in hit movies like FRIDAY THE 13TH: JASON TAKES

MANHATTAN. Guests visit where it was filmed in person.

Storyboard Experiences is a Vancouver-based company offering immersive ﬁlm & TV location tours, showcasing pop culture, storytelling and the city’s ﬁlming history.

Founder Austin Trapp founded the company in 2022, doing all the tours himself before bringing on a crew of passionate ﬁlm industry professionals.

“I’m a local actor here in Vancouver, and I’ve travelled a lot myself,” he says. “So I’ve always had a passion for meeting new people across the world and different cultures. And it’s really fun to show off Vancouver in a really unique way.”

Tourists, or locals looking to dive into the region’s long-running ﬁlm culture, can choose between four guided trips around town. The Hollywood North Tour is the most popular option and includes three hours of exploring iconic landmarks and neighbourhoods.

“It is on foot, but there are lots of breaks at different [stops] where we visit ﬁlming locations from hit movies and TV shows like Deadpool, The Last of Us, Supernatural, The Flash and many, many others,” Trapp says.

Vancouver through the camera lens

At each location, the tour guide will show a still or other cinema artifact so locals can see the area through the “lens of a movie.”

“And then we kind of launch into talking points about the nitty-gritities of the ﬁlm industry that people maybe are curious about or don’t have a full understanding of,” he says.

The company also offers a speciﬁc tour for the show Supernatural and one dedicated to superhero shows, such as The Flash. Horror fans will also enjoy the The Haunting of Vancouver tour, showcasing the former sets of top spooky ﬂicks and eerie stories of building themselves.

The tour guides are all current or former ﬁlm industry workers, from actors to grips, makeup artists and directors, Trapp says.

“We require our people to have worked on productions or be pursuing a career in it because who better to tell the stories and share the passion of the ﬁlm industry than those who are living it every day,” he says. ❚

CW’S SUPERGIRL was filmed outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Guests visit Vancouver landmark Victory Square and learn about productions shot there, like SUPERNATURAL, SUPERMAN & LOIS and THE LAST OF US

AVancouvericonsince 1999,Gotham Steakhouse &Barinvitesindulgence. Themenuis classicsteakhouse,withonly thefinest ingredientsmakingthecut. Canada Prime steaks,certifiedJapanese wagyubeef,andthefreshestfishand seafood roundoutthe extensive menu. Theopulentloungebeckonswithlive music,intimateseating,andan expansive

barfeaturingtopshelfcraft cocktailsand labelsfrom adeepinternationalcellar. Whenthesunshines,theurbangarden patiois ahidden gemintheheartofthecity Perfect forallfresco lingeringoveralively lunchorintimatedinner.Unmatched in quality andunparalleledinstyle,Gotham is Vancouver’sﬁnedining oasis. ❚

Address: 615SeymourSt. (Seymour &Dunsmuir),Vancouver

Phone: 6046058282

Website: gothamsteakhouse.com

For over70years,Hy’shasdeﬁnedthe steakhouseexperience in Canada. StepintoHy’sand feeltransported. Dark mahogany, richcolors,texturesand intimatelightingcombinetocreatean upscale,luxuriousatmosphere. Hy ’s is famous forCanada Primesteaksand cold martinis,and belovedforthetheatre of

tablesideservice.CaesarSalad,Steak DianeandBananas Fosterarea fewof the classicsprepared rightatthetablewith care andexpertisebyseasonedser vers. Reﬁnedovertime, butalwaysauthentic, Hy ’s continuestosetthe standard by which allCanadiansteakhousesare measured ❚

Address: 637HornbyStreet,Vancouver

Phone: 604683 7671

Website: hyssteakhouse.com