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This week in BC: Go green at EPIC: The Sustainable Living Expo, enjoy a night of laughter at Theatre Under the Stars, treat your digits to the perfect mani at "Get Polished", and more
If you’re bold enough to label your event “epic,” you’d better make sure you can deliver. No worries there when it comes to EPIC: The Sustainable Living Expo, Vancouver’s only green consumer tradeshow and marketplace. Held on July 6 and 7 at VanDusen Botanical Garden, this annual expo features hundreds of eco-exhibitors, celebrity speakers, top chefs, gardening workshops, live music and organic beer and wine. Buy tickets online or at the gate, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Summer just got a little bit more artsy with Metropolis at Metrotown’s “Get Polished” events, a series of weekend nail-art workshops run by local experts that teach shoppers how to dress up their digits. Admission to the 90-minute classes is by donation (proceeds support non-profit society Beauty Night), and participants will receive a swag bag, including three Metropolis nail polishes, a topcoat and emery board. Register online for workshops running July 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Restorative waters and sand sculptures are only two of the reasons tourists visit Harrison Hot Springs. Another great reason is the Harrison Festival of the Arts, a 35th annual community carnival taking place July 6 to 14. Called “the best little fest in the West,” it lives up to the hype with a hip hodgepodge of theatre, art, literature and music from around the world, held at various local venues including Harrison Memorial Hall.
Did you know that the Okanagan boasts the sunniest summers in Canada? See for yourself at Okanagan Days, held from July 9 to 11 at various local venues. Slop on some sunscreen and check out the all-ages activities, including a sip-fest at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, mixology demos, guided campus tours at UBC Okanagan, a golf tournament and even an opportunity to stargaze with astronomy experts at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory.
Who says it’s not smart to walk in a park after dark? The warning obviously doesn’t apply to Theatre Under the Stars, where families stake out spots on the grassy field surrounding Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl each summer for a night of Off-Broadway in the great outdoors. The fun kicks off on July 9 with Legally Blonde — The Musical, running until August 17, followed by How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on July 10, and alternating nights thereafter, until August 16. Book your tickets by calling 604-696-4295.
Think all the action on Vancouver Island happens in Victoria? Think again. Every summer, the Vancouver Island MusicFest puts the seaside city of Comox on the cultural map. Held from July 12 to 14, this weekend roundup spotlights world beats with dozens of big-name performers, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kris Kristofferson (shown), The Wailin’ Jennys and David Wilcox. And if that’s not enough music to your ears, you’ll also find a beer garden, food vendors, arts exhibitions, kids’ zone and riverside camping, all at the Comox Valley Fairgrounds.
Batter up! If you’re bonkers about baseball, the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship is guaranteed to hit a home run. Taking place from July 12 to 22 at Softball City and various other Surrey venues, this 11-day pitch-fest will cover all the bases with 1,300 elite athletes from over 80 top international women’s teams competing in 350 ball games. And if that’s not enough, check out the lineup of live music, food vendors and kid-friendly fun, too.
Swooping in to spend the fifth consecutive summer season at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver), Raptors Ridge Birds of Prey offers a unique opportunity to interact with the winged warriors in their natural habitat. Every day until September 2, you can get an up-close look at red-tailed hawks, Lanner falcons and great horned owls while bird handlers answer your every question. And while you’re there, why not stroll the rainforest canopy on Treetops Adventure, take a guided rainforest tour or get your heart racing on the new Cliffwalk attraction?
While most markets around town close up shop by 9 p.m., the International Summer Night Market (12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond) is just getting started. An estimated 20,000 people turn up each night to bargain hunt at hundreds of vendor stalls selling everything from sunglasses to shoes and cellphone accessories. The biggest draw, though, is the 60-stall food court that sells international eats ranging from Asian-style hot dogs and wasabi corn on the cob to sushi and waffle pops. It’s open weekends and holidays from 7 p.m. until September 8, with a free shuttlebus operating from Bridgeport SkyTrain station.
Vancouverites’ tastes are trending toward fresh fare, if all the health-food hot spots debuting recently are any indication. The latest is Tractor (1903 W. 4th Ave), a just-opened eatery specializing in comfort-style cuisine ranging from salads and soups to sandwiches and stews, all prepared with a gourmet twist. Open seven days a week for sit-down or takeout, the place is already winning raves for its Moroccan chicken stew and pan-seared albacore tuna steak, with plenty of vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options available, too.
Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.
