15 things to do in Vancouver this week

Jul 12 2016, 6:01 am

If you’re not already busy playing Pokémon GO – or you need a screen break – there’s plenty of other cool stuff happening in Vancouver this week.

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So – all Pokémons aside – here are 15 things to do in Vancouver this week, from ladies night at Queer Prov to a late night fusion of private lives and public dreams.

Tuesday, July 12

Tour the Orpheum

  • What: This summer, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and Vancouver Civic Theatres are offering free guided tours of the Orpheum Theatre, built in 1927 and now a National Heritage Site and home to the beloved Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
  • Where: The Orpheum – 601 Smithe St, Vancouver
  • When: Tuesday, July 12, from 11 am to 12:30 pm and at the same time on Thursday
  • Register: To reserve, call 604-665-3047

Border Crossings

  • What: Guests of this year’s Indian Summer Festival allow improv actors to act out key moments of their lives in front of a live audience, backed up by a musical trio who will create the soundtrack to this amazing theatre experience.
  • Where: Ismaili Centre Burnaby – 4010 Canada Way, Burnaby
  • When: Tuesday, July 12, at 8:30 pm
  • Tickets: On Eventbrite, priced $20 in advance, $25 on the door

Napoleon Dynamite

  • What: This week’s instalment of the Evo Summer Cinema Series of free outdoor movies, shown on a four-storey inflatable movie screen in Stanley Park.
  • Where: Ceperley Meadows (Second Beach), Stanley Park
  • When: Every Tuesday from July 5 to August 23, movies start at dusk
  • Admission: Totally free, just pull up a deckchair or picnic blanket. VIP seating priced $20 available from Picatic.

Wednesday, July 13

Berry Festival

  • What: Celebrate the bountiful berry harvest right here in the city! Get recipes, sign up for a berry food swap and taste samples of the best berry pies in BC. As an extra bonus for your pups, BC Blueberries will also be handing out blueberry dog treats.
  • Where: Main St Station Farmers Market – 1100 Station St, Vancouver,
  • When: Wednesday, July 13, from 2 to 6 pm
  • Sign up: At Vancouver Farmers Market website, free or by donation

Gastown Grand Prix

Gastown Grand Prix cyclists round the hairpin turn at Water and Cordova (Greg Descantes)

Gastown Grand Prix cyclists round the hairpin turn at Water and Cordova (Greg Descantes)

  • What: For one day, the charming cobblestone streets of Gastown are transformed into one of the fastest, best-loved and most challenging cycling race courses in North America – and it’s totally free to watch.
  • Where: Start/finish line next to Gastown’s steamclock. Spectators can line the route along Water, Cordova, and Carrall streets.
  • When: Wednesday, July 13, youth race at 5:30 pm, opening ceremonies at 5:55 pm, women’s race at 6:15 pm, men’s race at 7:30 pm, award ceremonies are at 9 pm.
  • More info: globalrelayggp.org

Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake

  • What: Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver, and join 50,000 fans at BC Place as our beloved Whitecaps take on Real Salt Lake.
  • Where: BC Place – 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver
  • When: Wednesday, July 13, at 7:30 pm
  • Tickets: At whitecapsfc.com/tickets, priced $27-$142

Ruby’s Ukes Beginner Ukulele Workshop

  • What: Ruby’s Ukes presents a Ukulele Beginners Workshop Extraordinaire with Daphne Roubini at the helm. Learn the basic ukulele chords, simple songs and melodies to easily open the amazing world of ukulele playing!
  • Where: Ruby’s Ukes Ukulele School in The Seymour Building – 525 Seymour Street, Vancouver
  • When: Wednesday, July 13, from 6 to 8 pm
  • Tickets: On Eventbrite, priced $35; ukeleles available to borrow for free

Thursday, July 14

Bastille Day

  • What: A fairly new festival, Bastille Day brings a piece of Paris to Vancouver. For one unique afternoon, Granville Island’s Public Market Courtyard will turn blue, white and red and transform into a typical quartier français – French neighbourhood.
  • Where: Roundhouse Community Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
  • When: Thursday, July 14, from 11 am to midnight
  • More info: bastilledayfestival.ca

Funiculi Funicula!

  • What: From humour to heartbreak, the beloved opera of Napoli will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. Shadan Saul, soprano, and Sunny Shams, tenor, Roger Parton, piano, will fill the evening air with la gioia di musica Italian style.
  • Where: Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre – 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver
  • When: Thursday, July 14, from 7 to 9 pm
  • Admission: Totally free, food and drink will be on sale from 6:30 pm

Don’t Let Them Know

  • What: Another Indian Summer Festival event, this time a discussion with writers Sandip Roy, Minal Hajratwala and Vivek Shraya exploring love, sexuality and the difficulty many LGBTQ+ South Asians feel coming out to their families.
  • Where: SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts – 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
  • When: Thursday, July 14, from 6 to 7:30 pm
  • Tickets: On Eventbrite, priced $15 in advance, $20 on the door

Helixophiles Wine Tasting

  • What: Join other helixophiles – people who love corkscrews – at this wine tasting night at MOV. You’ll hear from local corkscrew collectors, get a brief illustrated history of corkscrews and get to try some wine from BC’s Okanagan Valley.
  • Where: Museum of Vancouver – 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
  • When: Thursday, July 14, from 6 to 9 pm
  • Tickets: At MOV, priced $25 for adults, $18 for students

Friday, July 15

Hawaii Night Lights

  • What: Catch this night of international rollerderby, as the Echo City Knockouts from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii take on BC’s own Bad Reputations and Smokin’ Laces. After the double header, there’ll obviously also be a post-season derby Luau.
  • Where: Royal City Curling Club – 75 East 6th Avenue, New Westminster
  • When: Friday, July 15, from 7 to 11 pm
  • Tickets: From Brown Paper Tickets, priced $10

L’arbitro

  • What: More Italian treats – a screening of Paolo Zucca’s comedy film L’arbitro, the story of an Italian soccer referee that is demoted and exiled to Sardinia. There’ll also be live entertainment, food trucks and a bar. Bring your own chair or blanket.
  • Where: Queen Elizabeth Plaza – 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
  • When: Friday, July 15, at 7 pm, movie starts at sunset

Il Mercato Italian Market

  • What: Vancouver’s only Italian market, Il Mercato is about bringing together the tastes of Italy with the produce grown in local farms. Come and enjoy a vibrant assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables, and handmade products from local artisans.
  • Where: Italian Cultural Centre – 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver
  • When: Third Friday of every month, starting June, ending August – June 17, July 15 and August 19 – from 4 to 8 pm

FUSE: Private lives/Public Dreams

  • What: This unique adult event at the Vancouver Art Gallery explores the relationships between the personal, the political, the fantastic and the mythical with live performances in the Gallery spaces, DJs and unexpected surprises.
  • Where: Vancouver Art Gallery – 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
  • When: Friday, July 15, from 8 pm to midnight
  • Tickets: On the door, priced $24 or free for Vancouver Art Gallery members
DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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