August 15 edition: Actually, geese are great

Plus: Homemade coffee and the PNE's new venue

August 15, 2024

Hey there. I hope you’re having a lovely Thursday. Not that much of Thursday has happened yet—but, depending when you wake up or what timezone you’re in, you could have already accomplished so much. 

Breakfast! Coffee! Workouts! Meal prep! A trip to a bakery to buy fresh bread. A commute with minimal traffic. A morning meeting with your team that went better than you expected. The promise of a day full of possibilities, all in your hands.

— V. 
Associate Editor

FEATURE

Maybe we don’t have to hate Canada geese

An array of Canada geese swim in shallow water

Honk, honk: the sound can strike fear into even the steelist of hearts. But do Canada geese really deserve our ire? Julia Dumbrell argues that actually, the nearest living relatives to dinosaurs are a core part of our city.

LIVING

The PNE is finally announcing the name of its new amphitheatre

An artist's rendering of an outdoor music venue, with tiered seating and an arched roof

It might just be a pit of dirt right now, but one day soon the PNE will have a new outdoor music venue. And even sooner, we’re going to find out what it’s called. The long-awaited concert and cultural facility will officially be named this weekend—but, alas, it won’t be Sir Bublé’s Wah Wah Hut.

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SPONSORED BY CHILLIWACK MURAL FESTIVAL

Experience free Art, Music & Fun in Chilliwack this weekend!

Chilliwack Mural Festival brings over 40 performers to Downtown Chilliwack this weekend for the free, annual street festival! Artists include Sadé Awele and Serengeti, Las Empanadas Illegales, Vox Rea, Higher Ground Dance Battles, Spank Williams, Kara Kata Afrobeat Group, Michaela Slinger, The Wookiez, and more. The festival runs from Thursday, August 15 to Saturday, August 17 in Downtown Chilliwack.

Every year, Chilliwack Mural Festival is held to celebrate new mural paintings throughout the city. Attendees can experience free live entertainment, music, interactive art, kid’s activities, food trucks, and much more. All ages welcome.

ARTS

The Book of Mormon returns to Vancouver for the first time since 2018

A variety of white men in blak pants whte shrt-sleeved shirts and black ties stand on stage

It’s time to dream of Sal Tlay Ka Siti. The Book of Mormon, the award-winning musical from Trey Park and Matt Stone (of South Park fame) and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, Frozen) is returning to Vancouver this fall for the first time in six years as part of Broadway Across Canada’s 2024-25 season.

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL

Vancouver Fringe Festival returns September 5-15th

Vancouver Fringe Festival marks its 40th anniversary year with over 70 shows from September 5–15th. For 11 days, immerse yourself in unconventional, unforgettable performing arts—from big venues to tiny book shops, parking lots and even a show on a boat! Tickets start at $15, see you there!

MUSIC

Edzi’u explores the dark side of love

An Indigenous femme lies on a whte sheet, wearing a whte dress, with orange eye make-up. A tattoo is visible on their shoulder.

On Edzi’u’s synth-drenched new EP Tunnel Vision, the Indigiqueer musician owns their truth. After an abusive relationship in their youth robbed them of their ability to sing, a second similar experience crystalized their desire to speak out. “This time, instead of quieting,” the Vancouver-based artist says, “I felt like I took some of my voice back.”

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FOOD

A barista’s guide to beginner home coffee brewing

Two dark coffee cups on saucers sit on a reclaimed wooden table

As someone who only owns a kettle, I find making a nice cup of coffee at home intimidating. But barista Heidi Collie is here to help change that. She breaks down all the different methods to make java at home, their pros and cons, and why doing it yourself can dispell “the dark magic of pod machines.”

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

MUSIC
Local talent takes over the Rickshaw. Headlined by post-punk upcomers Slightest Clue. (August 16 @ Rickshaw Theatre)

COMEDY 
Musical comedian Janelle McGuinness lampoons the everyday in Self Made (still in the making). (August 16 to 17 @ Tightrope Impro Theatre) 

PERFORMING ARTS 
The North American premiere of Jake Elwes’s The Zizi Show explores drag and data. (August 17 @ New Media Gallery)

FOOD & DRINK
River and Sea Flower Farm hosts a fundraising long-table dinner for the Fresh to Families Fund. (August 17 @ River and Sea Flower Farm, Delta)

PERFORMING ARTS 
Farhad Khan hosts a meditative Cosmic Sound Journey under the starscape. (August 17 @ Planetarium Vancouver)

VISUAL ARTS 
Richmond Art Walk spotlights the city’s Golden Village neighbourhood. (August 17 to 18 @ Lipont Gallery, Richmond)

SHOPPING 
Seek Bespoke hosts a pop-up market full of one-of-a-kind creations in South Granville. (August 17 and 18 @ Fir Street and West 10th)

WORKSHOP
Wildlife photographer Liron Gertsman leads a beginner-friendly wildlife photography masterclass. (August 18 @ Van Dusen Botanical Garden)

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

That’s it!

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