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This week: enjoy a battle of wines (B.C. vs the world) at Cibo, buy art for the bears at the Artists for Conservation Festival, celebrate Oktoberfest at Harvest Haus and more
Talented artists and nature enthusiasts will gather to kick off the fourth annual Artists for Conservation Festival. The opening event will take place at Grouse Mountain, with this year’s theme focusing on bears, right in time for hunting season (this year around 1,800 hunting licenses were issued). Attendees will be able to purchase original works of arts, ranging from sculptures to paintings, with all proceeds directly supporting wildlife conservation and environmental education. The festival opens to public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 27 and runs until Sunday, October 5.
According to Hawkers Market, food is the new rock n’ roll. And if you don’t believe it then they’re determined to convince you. This local food extravaganza is the place to try out delicious eats and meet the people who make them. Music will be provided by local performers BESTiE, Claire Mortifee, Ashar Kazi, as well as DJ sets. On the 28th, Hawkers Market will have their family-friendly Made From Scratch event with workshops, food trucks, folk music and more.
Etsy.com is the best place on the Internet to get handmade wares, and now its best Canadian vendors are setting up shop at Robson Square. You can find anything from beautiful jewelry to one-of-a-kind clothes to quirky knit creatures. It’s the perfect opportunity to support local crafters and pick up unique treasures all in one place. You can find their list of vendors and more info on their website.
For a cultural experience that’ll tickle all of your senses, stop by Unmasked at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. Olivia Cheung from Treasure Green Tea will kick off the night by making “Hidden Treasure Mar-TEA-nis” and leading a tea-tasting experience. Guests can have a behind-the-scenes look at how the Peking Opera gets its performers into character with live demonstrations of makeup and hairstyling and then see it put into action with a performance of the play Murder of a Concubine.
There’s no better time to check out the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra than on their opening weekend. Conductor Bramwell Tovey and pianist Inon Barnatan will be performing “A Thousand Natural Shocks” by Kelly Marie Murphy, “Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor” by Brahms, and Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” Make sure to come early to catch the pre-concert talk by CBC Radio 2’s Matthew McFarlane.
Fans of ethnic food paired with authentic booze should make sure to grab tickets to Taste of Africa, hosted by Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver. Sommelier Lesley Saito and Taste of Africa Restaurant have collaborated to pair traditional African food with the best South African wines. Guests will get a chance to learn about African foods and wine all while enjoying the delicious pairings.
Just like the name implies, this special night will see Cibo General Manger/Sommelier Robert Stelmachuk and Exec Chef Faizal Kassam teamed up with former Sommelier of the Year-winner and new Georgia Straight wine columnist Kurtis Kolt to show off the best wines that the province has to offer, with competition from grapes around the world. The five-course meal will feature pairings from around B.C. as well as New Zealand, France and Italy. For one night, British Columbia takes on the world, and we have a feeling that everyone will come out a winner. Tickets are still available.
As rainy days descend on the city, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book, and on October 1st you can channel your love for reading into a good cause with Read for the Cure. The Vancouver Marriot Pinnacle Downtown will be hosting a day built for booklovers, featuring author talks from Steven Galloway, Annabel Lyon and Gabriel Zevin. Your ticket includes the author talk, a book signing, food, and three free books. Proceeds from the event go towards supporting cancer research.
There is no shortage of Oktoberfest events in Vancouver, but one of the best promises to be the first ever Havest Haus in Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza. This mini-Munich in the middle of the city will have a Bavarian style longtable to enjoy your schnitzel, spaetzle, pretzels, and bratwurst at. The beer will be flowing with a keg tapping opening ceremony, and a harvest market will be selling souvenirs and some local fall harvest goods.
Get a taste of North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay at Savour, their four-day food and beverage festival. They’ll have cooking shows, market taste tours, contests, and activities for the kids. You can have a tour of their tastiest sweet treats on October 4th, or start your day off right with a delicious breakfast on October 5th. Check their website to find out more about their themed tours and other special events.
Another not-to-be-missed food show coming to the lower mainland is the Fraser Valley Food Show. They’ll feature food from around the word right here at home, celebrity chef demonstrations, contests, seminars and more. Half the show floor will be dedicated to their gluten-free living section in response to the overwhelming success they had last year, so if you’re looking for tips on the latest dining trend, this is the place to be.
Tofino is celebrating women surfers for three days this October at the Queen of the Peak Surf Championship. Sponsored by Billabong and the Wickaninnish Inn, the event is much more than just a competition. There’ll be morning yoga sessions, a Zumba class, movie nights, and a spa experience to give participants a chance to meet and connect. It’s the perfect reason to escape to beautiful Tofino for a weekend and catch a few waves.
