Hey there. I hope you're having a wonderful week so far.

Some of my friends are getting married this weekend, which has put weddings top of mind for me. My fiancee and I sort of planned to get married this spring—but then decided we'd splash out on a trip to Japan. Then we sort of planned on getting married next spring—but some friends of ours in the U.K. are tying the knot. So we're eying up next fall as the soonest potential date. 

Those who want to roll the smoke dice on summer weddings, I salute you.

— V.
Senior editor

Did you know that Vancouver has one of the best goal scorers in the MLS right now? Do you have any idea what his name is? The appropriately appellated Brian White is the Whitecaps' secret weapon—and, like almost everyone else, he's keen to #SaveTheCaps. "It's a really cool city," he enthuses. "It's been really fun to interact with people on the street, see them take pictures—those kind of interactions help people feel more connected to the team," he tells us in this month's cover story.

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With a stacked lineup of niche comedy for everyone, Vancouver is Funny returns to Vancouver for a whole month of laughs. A ton of incredible local comics are taking the stage alongside huge acts like Marc Maron, Amos Gill, and Brennan Lee Mulligan. Get your tickets now at vancouver.isfunny.ca.

“I thought it would be cool to be famous back in the ’90s,” reflects James Barclay, writer and lead actor of the new play The Movie Star. But his friendship with Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau made him realize that the hyper-scrutiny wasn't worth it. "I was watching him navigate all this, and I pulled him aside and said, ‘How do you live?’ ” The answer—"very carefully"—became the basis for Barclay's new work, which premieres tonight in Vancouver.

More than 40 planetaria around the world are hosting special listening parties for Phoebe Bridgers' new album—but the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is the only one in Canada doing such a thing. We go deep on the indie icon's new album, Lost Weekend, which drops this week, and wonder: why planetarium shows? Duh—it's because she's a star.

Sometimes, you need a place where both the food and the music are top-notch. That's the promise behind listening lounges like Amber, Bar Gobo, and Bleach, where the vibes are designed to let you indulge multiple senses at once. But which one is the best? William Johnson ranks three of Vancouver's establishments by sound, snacks, sips, and scene.

MUSIC: The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra is putting on a free sunset symphony. (August 13 @ Jack Poole Plaza)

COMEDY: Smaranda Luna and Colin Cowan try out some long-form standup in a special show. (August 13 @ China Cloud Studio)

FILM: Elmore Leonard's adaptation Out of Sight, featuring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez at their suavest, gets a screening. (August 14 @ VIFF Centre)

SHOPPING: A by-donation summer market sells locally made arts and crafts. (August 14-16 @ Lipont Place, Richmond)

BOOKS: The Filipino Canadian Book Festival celebrates a vibrant diaspora. (August 14-17 @ various venues)

FOOD & DRINK: Richmond Garlic Fest makes your breath stink for a good reason. (August 15 @ Terra Nova Rural Park, Richmond)

Want to know what else is happening in Vancouver? Check out our events listings.

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