Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for July

Safely celebrate culture, food, Pride and more this July, in and around the city

1. Bar Chickadee

Say cheers to the ‘new normal‘ at Chickadee, an ’80s-inspired pop-up bar in the transformed dining room of Juke Fried Chicken‘s Chinatown haunt. Chickadee allows small parties of guests to customize and order from an array of handcrafted signature and classic cocktails using an online platform and downloadable app. Guests can choose their preferred spirit family and brand from more than 50 different labels or opt for ‘dealer‘s choice‘ drinks that can be tailored to suit their preferred style (i.e. neat, rocks, short, stirred etc.) and flavour profile (citrus, bitter, sour, smoky etc.). You can also order food from Juke‘s to go along with your cocktail.
Details online

2. Indian Summer Festival — Now until Saturday, July 18

Back for a special 10th anniversary, the digital edition of the Indian Summer Festival features inspirational ‘Tiffin Talks’ on July 4th with writer Shauna Singh Baldwin, filmmaker Baljit Sangra and visual artist Sandeep Johal on how place and society affect how we imagine the feminine. Take a culinary masterclass with Chef Vikram Vij on July 11th, or take part in the festival closing party on July 18th.
Details online

3. Brentwood Great Takeout Series — Now until September 26

The Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival is still driving on, destined for Burnaby for the first time as part of the “Brentwood Great Takeout” series. The festival will operate every second Saturday, from June 20th to September 26th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2150 Alpha Avenue in Burnaby. Vendors include Street Dogs by Next Gen Concessions, Mollies Minis, G’s Donairs, Rocky Point Ice Cream, Reel Mac and Cheese and Truckin’ BBQ. 
Details online

4. Vancouver Farmers Markets — Now until October

You might still need to brave the supermarket for toilet roll, but for fresh fruits, veggies and other local produce, head to one of the six farmers markets in the city. Hours and locations vary but Saturday markets can be found in the West End, Trout Lake and Riley Park, while Sunday markets are held in Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant. Main Street offers one on Wednesday afternoons.
Details online

5. Dancing on the Edge — Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 11

Combining virtual and physically-distanced live performance, Dancing on the Edge brings contemporary dance to Vancouver (and beyond). Online performances include Amber Funk Barton’s curation of eight solo pieces via Instagram Live and Montreal’s Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata’s Zab Maboungou (The 2020 Governor General Performing Arts Award-winning choreographer). Live dance is back with the Firehall Arts Centre’s outdoor courtyard stage showing O.Dela Arts’ Olivia C. Davies’ new group work (July 8th and 10th) and Israeli-Canadian Idan Cohen with Ne.Sans opera and dance (July 7th and 9th). 30 audience members will be able to watch Radical System Arts’ Shay Kuebler’s presentation of seven soloists on the Firehall’s indoor stage on July 10th, which will also be streamed on July 11th.
Details online

6. Outdoor pools reopening — From July 16

Kitsilano, New Brighton and Second Beach outdoor pools will be reopening later this summer due to COVID-19. Pools will not have changing facilities, but will have washrooms. Lap swimmers will have to book a 45-minute period to get some speedy swimming in, while casual swimmers can book 90 minutes to float around.
Details online

7. Queer Arts Festival — Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 26

Celebrate queer dance, drag, music, theatre and discourse at the (now virtual) Queer Arts Festival. Online performances include appearances from badass babes from the Indigenous burlesque group Virago Nation with Too Spirited (7 p.m., July 17th); drag from The Darlings, Uncensored (7 p.m., July 24th); Underground Absolute Fiction’s play-meets-punk concert Speculative Theatre (7 p.m., July 23ed), and nights of storytelling and virtual pajama parties.
Details online

8. To Speak With a Golden Voice — Thursday, July 16 to April 11, 2021

Visit the Bill Reid Gallery to see an important—and relevant—celebration of one of Canada’s most iconic Indigenous artists. The exhibition is guest curated by Gwaai Edenshaw—widely considered to be Reid’s last apprentice—and includes rarely seen treasures by Reid and works from artists inspired by the legendary Reid, such as Robert Davidson and Beau Dick. Two new artworks by contemporary artist Cori Savard and singer-songwriter Kinnie Starr will also be featured.
Bill Reid Gallery, 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver; Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Details online

9. The Welcome 2020 — July & August

This summer, Blind Tiger Comedy school wants to welcome anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous and/or a person of colour to try improv comedy for free. Throughout July and August, BIPOC students in the Vancouver area who are new to Blind Tiger Comedy courses will be able to register for online classes free of charge.
Details online

10. Vancouver Pride — July & August

Pride isn‘t cancelled! While things might have moved off the street and into the virtual world, there will still be celebrations aplenty in July and August. Details are yet to be released but click here for updates.