July 22 2025: Fraser and Kingsway will never be the same

Plus: Little local libraries and a big world record attempt

July 22, 2025

MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER

Hey there. It’s another wonderful Tuesday.

Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter—and a special thank you to our new readers east of Boundary. The Burnaby Beacon has moved from being its own publication to being part of the Georgia Straight—so now you’re in here with the rest of us. Welcome, and happy reading.

— V.
Associate editor

— FEATURE — 

Map: Here are all of Vancouver’s neighbourhood book exchanges

Have you ever wondered where the nearest little library is to your house? Well, wonder no longer: former Straight staffer Korky Day has created a map of 329 book exchanges operating within Vancouver city limits. Have a browse and see if you can spot the literary loan locations in your neck of the woods.

— CITY & CULTURE —

Dear Northeast corner of Kingsway and Fraser, I will miss you

Intersection strip malls are weird, but they are ours: encapsulations of whatever neighbourhood they are in. Or, as Nathan Caddell eulogizes his favourite, sometimes they become the soul of a neighbourhood by themselves.

SPONSORED BY MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER
MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER

Deep-Seated Histories: chairs with a story

Deep-Seated Histories: Chairs from the Collection brings 150 chairs out from the Museum of Vancouver’s (MOV) storage—and each has a story.

See Seraphim “Joe” Fortes’ Morris Chair, his spot to rest after teaching Vancouver’s children how to swim. Question why a hand-cranked wheelchair from 1910-30—which brought attention to the needs of veterans with disabilities after World War One—was left behind in a UBC Fine Arts Lab in 1988. Imagine sheltering in the creepy yet comforting 1800s-era Nightwatchman’s Chair.

Explore Vancouver’s changing attitudes to migration, labour, identity, family, and social activism with the chair as the medium—including ones you may have seen in your grandparents’ kitchen!

— ARTS —

What's In Your Fridge: Happy, joyful comedian Mark Thomson

Mark Thomson, host of the Lido’s feel-good Happy Joyful Comedy, is getting on the big screen as he features in season 2 of Killjoy Comedy. We caught up with the comic to find out about his cocktail must-have, which comedy specials he can’t stop watching, and what his “bohemian bi-curious” first concert was.

  • Artists are asking City Council for much-needed cultural investment

  • The Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival returns July 24-27! Catch ticketed big band concerts, the Cool Blues Show, Tribute to Aretha Franklin, and 2 days of free music, art, and culture activities.*

    *sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY BC DAIRY
BC DAIRY

From barn to bistro: one farmer’s mission

Russell Reitsema isn’t just milking cows—he’s reshaping how we think about food. A third-generation dairyman with a sharp mind and an open heart, Reitsema runs Westview Dairy in Abbotsford, where the days start early, the work is steady, and the mission runs deep. He’s teamed up with chefs like Ned Bell to connect what happens on the farm with what lands on your plate. “We grow it, they plate it,” he says. “Together, we make it matter.” Whether he’s feeding calves or hosting The Modern Rustic podcast, Reitsema is driven by one thing: real connection—from the soil to the table. Read his story.

— MUSIC —

Long-time Vancouver jazz champion Gavin Walker has died

Gavin Walker, the long-time host of CiTR’s The Jazz Show, died earlier in July. The Vancouver musician has long been known as one of the city’s most passionate supporters of jazz, and tributes from family and friends have poured in to remember his dedication.

SPONSORED BY BARD ON THE BEACH
BARD ON THE BEACH

The Dark Lady explores love and legacy

Experience the romance and drama of Jessica B. Hill’s The Dark Lady, running until September 19 at Bard on the Beach! Spanning multiple decades, The Dark Lady imagines the all-consuming creative and romantic entanglement between William Shakespeare and poet Emilia Bassano—the possible “Dark Lady” of his sonnets.

— ICYMI —

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK —

VISUAL ARTS: Art Out Side drenches PoMo in colour and character. (To August 10 @ various locations, Port Moody)

FOOD & DRINK: Belgard Kitchen hosts Modern Perogie for a collaboration dumpling dinner. (July 23 @ Belgard Kitchen)

VISUAL ARTS: John Clinock’s Short Stories tells tales through evocative panels. (July 23 to October 20 @ West Vancouver Municipal Hall)

MUSIC: Beatdapp’s Battle of the Bands sees six artists face off for a grand prize of money—and bookings (July 23 @ Hollywood Theatre)

MUSIC: Bring snacks, a blanket, and your most refined palate to Opera Lirica’s open-air showcase. (July 24 @ Oak Park) 

—

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

That’s it!

You made it all the way to the bottom, and we love you for it! Readers like you are what keep us going. If you want to support free arts and culture journalism, send this newsletter to a friend.

And before you go, let us know:

What did you think of today’s newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

• Did a friend share this with you? Sign up for free.

• Want to advertise to locals? Contact our team.

• Have a cool story to share? Drop us an email.