Hey there. I hope you had a lovely weekend.

With the solstice officially in the rearview mirror and summer stretching out ahead of us, now is the time to get excited about what the warm months have in store. Whether it's overseas vacations, weekend trips to the Sunshine Coast, or just grabbing a bike to cycle somewhere new, I hope you find the time to have a break. Just remember that, if you're planning on falling asleep on a beach, SPF 60 is your best friend.

— V.
Senior editor

Les Rouges are playing their final group stage match tomorrow versus Switzerland, but a huge performance against Qatar all but solidified the team's ability to get out of the group stage. Nathan Caddell was inside BC Place for the team's dominant performance, and wondered if it was actually the most Canadian World Cup game that had ever been played.

On Sunday, September 27, the Under Armour Eastside 10K returns—and the PHS Run Team is ready to make every step count. This isn’t just a race; it’s a chance to support PHS's crucial Vancouver Food Program, which delivers thousands of meals each day to people facing homelessness and poverty.

Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, joining the PHS team means becoming part of something powerful. Set a goal, invite friends, and help PHS reach its fundraising goal of $30,000 to expand this life-changing food program.

Can’t participate? Your donation still fuels hope. Help PHS ensure no one is left behind—one kilometre, one meal, one life at a time.

With so much footie happening, communities across Vancouver have organized places to go catch the games on big screens. Venture across the water to North Vancouver, and you'll find a large space being put to good use in intriguing ways.

The Ex has been kicking around ever since 1979, but the avant-punks are far from done with rabble-rousing. The Dutch band's latest album takes sharp aim at the uselessness of world leaders in stopping the climate crisis, acting like constant emergencies are normal. "Here in the Netherlands the chance of serious sea-level rising is huge and will be a catastrophe," frontman Arnold de Boer observes, ahead of the band's show this week as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

*Sponsored Listing

Every plate of pasta, every bottle of wine, every celebration around our tables is made possible by this community. Thank you for making Ask for Luigi part of yours.

Who needs to do it all when you can do one thing well? After a successful pop-up last year, Emeri Matcha Bar has opened a permanent spot on Main Street, serving carefully curated matcha, hojicha, and matcha soft serve, sourced straight from Japanese tea farms.

Tickets are now available to see global cultural icons at Vancouver's premier performing arts venue. With artists ranging from jazz luminaries Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves to Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, the Chan Centre is bringing the world’s best to the city. See all the artists coming this season.

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:

• 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.