Hey there. 

As you might be able to guess from the subject line of this newsletter, the big news around here is that it's Golden Plates time! Our new print edition just dropped, and with it our annual exploration of the city's culinary landscape.

Pick it up wherever you find your local free alt-monthly, or check the map here if you're not sure where the closest location to you is. Bon appetite!

— V.`
Senior editor

Vancouverites love to have strong opinions about food. And finally, our Golden Plates Awards are here and ready to prove what you've always known: that you, yes you, have the best taste in food there is. We've compiled all the reader-voted winners from across dozens of categories. Check them all out here and see if your favourites nabbed the top spot—or find somewhere new to try out for date night.

Clap along with the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Come From Away, on now at the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage until August 16. On one day in 2001, the population of Gander, Newfoundland, doubled. Inspired by the true events of September 11, this Tony-nominated musical tells the story of 7,000 stranded airplane passengers and the tiny town that welcomed them into their hearts and homes. Filled with undeniable Canadian charm and memorable songs, Come From Away has delighted audiences across Canada and around the world with its resonant themes of hope and community in dark times, and speaks to the inherent goodness in all of us.

Tickets are on sale from $39 here and going fast—don’t miss this beloved homegrown show!

It's Gemini season! What do the stars have in store for us this month? Our not-an-astrologer Rachel Burns tries to divine what might be heading your way regarding FIFA, matcha, and micro-mobility.

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A decade ago, Arts Club artistic director Ashlie Corcoran was in Toronto and looking for something to do on Christmas Eve. “You could not get a ticket for Come From Away at the time—it was a big hit,” she recalls. But there was a single seat, and the show turned out to be worth the hype. “I was clapping and crying and stomping my feet and laughing—it’s an incredibly moving piece,” says Corcoran, who is now directing the same show at the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage.

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For more than sixty years, Cockney Kings has been proudly serving classic, British-style fish and chips to communities across Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster. What began as a small family shop has grown into a local favourite known for warm hospitality, quality ingredients and a commitment to honest, comforting food.

As Madonna once said, music makes the people come together. Vancouver has no end of endlessly talented singers, producers, and bands putting out new tracks. From dream-pop to indie folk to big-band rock, we've gathered up some of the best recent releases and given them a spin.

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Since 1979, Lee’s Donuts has built a Vancouver favourite around handcrafted classic donuts — and now, the local icon has its sights set on expanding across Canada.

Take a bite of nostalgia or discover the hype on National Donut Day, June 5, featuring throwback pricing and free coffee all day.

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