KITS BEACH
You've grooved your way through the jazz fest, hula hooped through the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and flung beads during Pride Week - so what's next?
How about tennis, basketball or volleyball during KitsFest, taking place at various locations at Kits Beach Aug. 9 to 11.
This is the fifth anniversary of KitsFest, a festival celebrating sports and healthy living so you can expect the "sexiest beach in Canada" (according to Forbes magazine) to be in full swing next weekend.
But it's not just fast-paced action taking place next weekend. To that end BYOM (bring your own mat) to SeaWheez, which will see crowds flock to Kits Beach for a sunset yoga session Aug. 9 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 9.
Of course, what would any Vancouver festival be without offerings for foodies. The Baseline Bistro, featuring 1970s Motown music, will offer up classic Kits food and beverage from the Boathouse, Chronic Taco and more, while Smooth Grooves Productions has booked some of the hottest DJs in the city.
Kids have not been excluded from the festival and activities for the little ones will include face painting, obstacle courses and fitness programs dedicated to family fun. For a complete schedule visit kitsfest.com.
SOUTH GRANVILLE AND MARPOLE
The Westside Mobile Market I wrote about two weeks ago will continue now through Sept. 26, not Sept. 6 as I had written. I have no idea what happened to that "2" between the time I wrote it and it went to press, but nevertheless it disappeared.
The market was developed to help low-income seniors living on the West Side and in Marpole to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at low prices through a joint initiative between the South Granville Seniors Centre and Westside Food Collaborative.
Inexpensive produce is purchased at the Greater Vancouver Foodbank and then sold at two locations, including at the seniors centre, 1420 West 12th Ave., every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at Marpole Place Neighbourhood House, 1305 West 70th Ave., from 2 to 4 p.m.
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Choices Markets has partnered with Autism Speaks Canada to raise funds during a campaign through which customers can purchase puzzle pieces in-store at the checkout for $1.
All proceeds from the campaign will benefit the sixth annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising and awareness event, which takes place Sept. 29 in Stanley Park. To raise additional funds, Choices Markets has teamed up with Happy Water to host a series of barbeques Saturday Aug. 10th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information visit walknowforautismspeaks.ca or contact 604-629-9298.
CHINATOWN
The Chinatown Night Market is celebrating the classic bite-sized morsel with the Dumpling Cook Off, sponsored by Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, Aug. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot beside the Keefer Bar, 135 Keefer St.
Nine of the city's top chefs will go head-to-head to be named King of the Dumpling. I might have made that part up, but I did hear the competition will be fierce. Each contestant will make 300 dumplings for a cook-off total of 2,700, which will then be available to sample through the purchase of the $12 Dumpling Passport. While the creations will be officially judged by a panel of discerning dumpling connoisseurs, the Dumpling Passport will allow those sampling to decide for themselves. All proceeds go to the Chinatown Night Market towards continued programming.
Consider yourself a die-hard dumpling fan? Sign up for the Dumpling Derby and eat as many as possible in two minutes. Participating restaurants include Chambar, La Mezcalaria, Wild Rice, Wildebeest, Fable, Cibo, Sea Monster Sushi, Harvest, and The Parker. For more information visit ancouverchinatownnightmarket.com.
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