July 30 edition: Your favourite chef’s favourite chef

Hey there. Happy Tuesday.

We’re still locked out of Meta—maybe for good, maybe until big tech and the Canadian government come to some kind of pyrrhic understanding—but the good news is we have a couple of section-specific accounts still kicking.

Check out @georgiastraightfood and @georgiastraightculture on Instagram to stay up to date with all our food, arts, and music content. You know what they say: you can’t keep an old hippie rag down. 

— V. 
Associate Editor

FEATURE

The quiet magic of East Van’s Elephant

When multiple chefs and restaurateurs all swear by the same spot, it’s a good sign that you should go check it out. So when the local food scene all started singing the praises of Elephant, we listened. It’s not hard to see why: the food is elegant and elevated, seasonal and specific. “The type of cooking that I do requires a lot of accuracy and finesse,” explains chef Justin Song-Ell. “It can go from being good to not good real quick.”

LIVING

How to not be cringe at the beach

Yesterday’s rain shouldn’t do anything to dampen your beach spirit. If anything, a cooler week means you’ll have more of the sand to yourself. To best enjoy our beaches, remember to follow our simple advice. Keep your food to yourself, your sprawl to a minimum, and your jams to a respectful level. In short, don’t be a dick—or a beach cop.

• The Olympics are rolling along. Here’s where to watch the games 

• Want to learn about all things fluttery? VanDusen has a new class for that

• Cloverdale Fairgrounds is getting a haunted house for Halloween

SPONSORED BY CHILLIWACK MURAL FESTIVAL

Watch buildings transform from blank canvases to urban art

Chilliwack Mural Festival returns to Downtown Chilliwack from August 15-17.

Watch Chilliwack come alive with music, art and community. Enjoy live music, mural tours, interactive community murals, an art market, a kid’s zone, and an assortment of food trucks!

Experience over 40 performers across three stages, busking tents, and more. So don’t miss out! Click here for details.

ARTS

This local artist paints iconic Vancouver storefronts

Moving to Riley Park inspired Perrin Leung to get deep into urban sketching. The plein-air painter loves to post up outside one of the area’s recognizable buildings and commit it to paper. “Many of the buildings and businesses have so much character and beauty,” Leung says, “and I wanted to capture them through painting.”

• Indo-jazz fusion singer Shruti Ramani performs tonight as part of Early Music Vancouver

• Art Vancouver returns for its ninth year of visual allure

• Vancouver Queer Film Festival shares 36th season highlights

•  Aug 2 - It's BIG GAY FRIDAY @riotheatre for Pride! Join Host @dandyandfriends for Dandy's BIG GAY CABARET & The Rocky Horror Picture Show*

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY FOOD BURNABY

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Your special day deserves a spectacular venue. Let us make your vision a reality at one of the City of Burnaby's breathtaking venues. With many locations to choose from and a range of packages to fit your budget, let us make your event one to remember. Book a tour today!

MUSIC

Vancouver music fans mourn former Spiritbox bassist Bill Crook

The Vancouver music community is remembering the rocking Bill Crook (left). The former bassist for A Textbook Tragedy and Living With Lions was best-known for his stint playing with Spiritbox, from 2018 to 2022, and had deep roots in the local hardcore and metal scene. “Shocked and devastated. I’ll miss you buddy,” said Fake Shark frontman Kevin Maher. “Always so much fun playing shows with you and going to shows with you.”

• Pop Eye: Céline Dion’s comeback energy is exactly what Team Canada needed

• A newbie’s guide to New York rock’s longtimer James Mastro

• Berkeley's legendary punk rock band Samiam bring their tour to The Pearl on Friday August 2nd with special guests Off With Their Heads & Precursor.*

*sponsored listing

FOOD & DRINK

One Great Thing I Ate: Fraser Valley duck from Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie

Change is always a challenge. When Le Crocodile main man Michel Jacob announced he was hanging up his whites, it was paired with the announcement that renowned chef Rob Feenie would be taking over the kitchen. We stopped by to see how the fine-dining French restaurant was faring. Spoiler alert: it’s très bien.

• A barista’s guide to Vancouver’s specialty coffee subscriptions

• Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar is getting sustainability-forward, tea-infused ice cream

• Brunch staple the Red Wagon is now doing dinner

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

VISUAL ARTS 
Aaron Nelson-Moody’s new exhibition, Stepping Into the Circle/Tawx'sin Yexwulla, has its opening party. (July 30 @ West Vancouver Art Museum, West Vancouver) 

SPORTS
Raise money for QMUNITY with cardio at the Fitness is Such a DRAG fundraiser. (July 30 @ šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square/Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza)

MUSIC 
Early Music Vancouver releases the Bach beast with its summer festival. (July 30 to August 8 @ various venues)

COMEDY
Three comics take on a battery of late-night games in The Gamest Show Ever. (July 31 @ Little Mountain Gallery)

MUSIC
Ukrainian electronic duo TVORCHI brings the beats. (July 31 @ Biltmore Cabaret)

FILM
Iranian women filmmakers take centre-stage in the shorts program Disruption (July 31 @ The Cinematheque)

NIGHTLIFE
It’s Brat Summer! Get your chartreuse on at this Charli XCX dance party. (August 1 @ The Pearl) 

VISUAL ART
A free summer Art Party includes works from Brandy Mars and Meesh QX, sounds from DJ Bella Sie, and more. (August 1 @ šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square/Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza)

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

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