Hey there. Summer might officially start on Sunday, but it sure feels like it's already here. 

I've had my first beach swim of the season, my first sunburn of the season, and my first frozen oat chai latte popsicle of the season. Whoever decided to put barista drinks in the freezer is a genius: it brings a whole new meaning to iced coffee.

— V.
Senior editor

A reported 52,497 fans filled BC Place to watch Australia beat Türkiye 2-0 this week. Editor in chief Nathan Caddell was there to witness the beautiful game in action. Here are his 10 takeaways from the match, from the state of the roof to the quality of the playlist.

Looking for a welcoming crowd, big screen, and fellow soccer fans to celebrate the beautiful game this summer?

Come to Richmond for family-friendly, community-focused watch parties. Through July 19, the city's community centres will each host a public party for the world's largest soccer tournament. Whether you're a resident or not, Richmond is open to all and there's something for everyone: soccer skill challenges, live entertainment, art activations, dance parties, and more.

One community. Many cultures. Game on.

Molly Spittal isn't a jack of all trades—she's a master of one. "I design really, really good jeans," she says plainly. And the loyal fans of Decade Studio's ethically made, small-ish batch pieces would agree: “The people coming to me are replacing jeans they’ve had for eight years with jeans they hope to wear for another eight.”

The Polaris Music Prize announced the 40 albums that are in contention for the title of the best Canadian record released this year. And B.C. is notably under-represented. I crunched the numbers to figure out what's going on—and what comes next—for B.C.'s musical community.

*Sponsored Listing

Summer's most iconic festival, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, is back at Jericho Beach Park July 17-19.

Headliners include Hazlett, Billy Bragg, Valerie June, Ruby Waters, Tami Neilson, Aysanabee, and tons of other great music to discover. Plus great food, beverages, free kids' admission and programming, all at a spectacular location.

For there to be a most-popular "hidden gem" is something of an oxymoron—how can anything popular still be a secret? But Mortadella certainly fits the bill: a cozy deli in a building that's slated for demolition sometime soon. “It could be three years from now; it could be five or six,” explains owner Stephen Wiese. “We spend money on the brand and, if we need to, we can move the brand somewhere else.”

Lilian Broca’s Lilith embodies the assertive, courageous, and independent part of a contemporary woman. Inspired by the ancient version of creation wherein man and woman were created equal, the artist depicts Lilith as a woman of power, justice and vision, a guide into the future for all. Until June 29.

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