Start off this sunny Vancity weekend by grabbing a few bike-bound friends for a whiz around the seawall. Start by Sunset Beach on Beach Avenue and wind your way around and under the Burrard Bridge where you’ll land at our first suggested stop: The Pirate Pub. Stop for an obligatory pint before continuing the journey on to False Creek. Once you pass Science World, you’ll have all but landed at your final destination, the newly opened Tap & Barrel, in the Olympic Village. Since quietly opening earlier this week, this spot has garnered quite the local buzz with a comfort food-minded menu, local beers and great wines to wash it all down. We think you’ll enjoy chillaxing on one of their two huge decks to be quite the draw unto itself.
Rise and shine on Saturday and head over to the recently opened Waffle & Berries spot on West Pender for a Euro-themed start to your day. This quaint downtown spot specializes in custom Liege Waffles (an authentic-style Belgian waffle) served with chocolate, fresh berries, cream and plenty of other toppings to sweeten the deal. Try their specialty espresso and coffee selection as well as other baked goods on-hand as well.
Next, we think you ought to head over the Burrard Bridge to Kitsilano in order to check out this Saturday’s day-long, multi-block musical party known as Khatsahlano. You’ll find a slew of performances happening all day (starts at noon) featuring local and international indie talent, not to mention plenty of great deals from local vendors, artisans and packed patios to scope.
After a few hours of musical mayhem, head to quieter pastures (by this we mean a few blocks down toward the ocean) and cool off at the action-packed Kitsilano Beach or the Kitsilano Pool for a bit. After you’ve sunned yourself, or partaken in a game of volleyball, we suggest dusting off and making your way over to the nearby lounge at The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant for a casual evening wind-down with a glass of wine in hand.
Start Sunday off by doing something active, taking advantage of another sun-filled weekend. The great thing about our city is the proximity we’ve got to so many outdoor hot spots. Consider renting a kayak or stand-up paddleboard in Deep Cove, heading out for a trail walk in around the Cleveland Dam. It’s a great, one-hour loop that offers stunning mountain views and is perfect for Fido – should you want to bring a four-legged friend along. If you want something a bit more challenging, test your hiking stamina at Cypress Mountain’s plethora of trails.
Not feeling so up for the outdoors challenge? No problem – get cultured instead. You can either stay local by checking out the 24 Artists 24 Hours event that takes place at Sheppard’s Pie Gallery (starts Saturday at 3pm and goes until Sunday at 3pm). This unique, live-painting project aims to raise awareness about the need for artist-friendly gallery spaces in our city – without major handouts or grants that can clip creativity.
Another culturally enriching option you might want to consider checking out on Sunday, head to Surrey and partake in the Surrey Fusion Festival happening all weekend long. The event draws about 60,000 people from around Vancouver looking to enjoy live music (Hawksley Workman, Walk Off The Earth), food and other cultural finds.
En route back from a day’s worth of activity, we doubt cooking will be high on your list of priorities. We suggest ducking into a Notable favourite for a satisfying bite, Italian-style. Our Sunday supper suggestion is Novo Pizzeria and Wine Bar – especially since its cute garden-side patio popped open earlier this summer. Relax while you dine on fresh pastas (try the truffle mushroom fettuccine) or pizzas while sipping one of nearly 30 wines available by the glass.
Don’t shy away from ordering extras…it makes a perfect grab-and-go lunch for Monday morning.
Photo courtesy Waffle & Berries