Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for June 9 to 15

This week: celebrate the best of Italy, dine with Aussie chefs + more

1. Music Waste – Thursday, June 7 to Sunday, June 10

Vancouver’s independent festival returns with a packed schedule of comedy, drag, art and music at various venues around the city for four days and nights of artistic adventures.
Details online

2. Velopalooza – Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 24

From ’90s themed bike rides and North Shore brewery tours to Car Free Day celebrations, a bike rave and “roll the dice” bike routes, Velapalooza celebrates life on two wheels with a full lineup of fun bike-based events around the city.
Details online

3. WE Summer Sounds Community Gathering – Saturday, June 9

Enjoy a free, family-friendly day of fun and music to celebrate the West End’s art scene at Alexandra Park. Singer-songwriters and musicians will be providing live music at the Haywood Bandstand, while art workshops take place all day.
Alexandra Park at Beach Avenue and Bidwell Street, Vancouver; Noon to 9 p.m.; Free registration online

4. Breakout Festival – Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10

Hip hop heads can enjoy two days of rap and R’n’B at the inaugural Breakout Festival. Headliners include Migos, Tory Lanez and Lil Pump. Wondagurl, Brevner and Manila Grey are amongst the lineup of DJs that will be spinning tracks at the festival.
PNE Amphitheatre, Vancouver; 2 p.m. until late, with various set times; Day passes from $129

5. Italian Day on the Drive – Sunday, June 10

Say ciao to the vibrant cultural street festival that celebrates Italian culture, heritage and community as “Little Italy” (along Commercial Drive) becomes the place for piazza-style fun, live music, food, fashion, retail vendors, activities, and children’s zones.
Commercial Drive between Venables Street and Grandview Highway, Vancouver; Noon to 8 p.m.; Free; Details online

6. Mid-Main Art Fair – Sunday, June 10

Established in 2010 by artist Enda Bardell to help promote local artists, the annual event showcases art produced in a variety of media and styles, including abstracts, landscapes, florals, still life and figurative works rendered in watercolour, oil, acrylic, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Free

7. Chef Meets Truck – Tuesday, June 12

Chefs’ Table Society of B.C. and Yaletown BIA once again host Chef Meets Truck for a fun collaboration between Vancouver’s restaurant chefs and local food trucks. This year’s event features some of the city’s top culinary talent, including Felix Zhou of Heritage Asian Eatery, Bryan Satterford of Juke Fried Chicken and Tony Starratt from Two Rivers Meats.
Intersection of Hamilton and Nelson Streets, Vancouver; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tickets $69

8. L’Abattoir Guest Chef Dinner – Wednesday, June 13

L’Abattoir chef and owner Lee Cooper will host acclaimed Australian chef Mark Best and Calgary-based chef Darren MacLean of Shokunin for a spectacular six-course dinner with wine pairings called “From Australia to Canada’s Rocky Mountains and West Coast”. The guest chef dinner will be held in L’Abattoir’s private room, tucked away in a refurbished 19th century brick-and-beam heritage building located behind the main dining room.
L’Abbatoir, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver; 6:30 p.m.; Tickets $200 per person (sold in pairs)

9. Vancouver Public Salon – Wednesday, June 13

Listen to short presentations by Vancouver’s leaders and thinkers during this fascinating evening, which will entertain, educate and provoke, with subjects ranging from extreme exploring to piloting a submarine to being a musician in Syria.
The Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Tickets: $22.99 or $30 cash at the door)

10. 5X Festival – Wednesday, June 13 to Sunday, June 17

Vancouver celebrates its local Bhangra scene with a City of Bhangra Festival annually but, this year, it has been rebranded as the bigger 5X Festival, celebrating global South Asian culture with an art gallery, Bhangra competition and a big block party at Central City Plaza on June 17th.
Details online