Nothing says summer like a fun-filled festival, and this year there will be no shortage on the North Shore.
Be sure to mark the weekend of July 16 and 17 on your calendar for the fifth annual Party at the Pier celebration.
This popular event, sponsored by the Lower Lonsdale Business Association, is always a gas. This year's party includes live jazz and swing music, children's entertainers, Bollywood dancers, and interpretive tours by the North Vancouver Museum & Archives. (www.lowerlonsdalebusinessassociation.com)
SummerFest, the North Shore's Waterfront Festival, will also bring children's entertainment, dance classes, farmers' markets and live concerts to Lonsdale Quay every weekend this summer from June to September (www.lonsdalequay.com).
The ever-popular Caribbean Days Festival returns to North Vancouver July 24 and 25 at Waterfront Park. The event, sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC, will also feature a waterfront party at the Quay on July 23, featuring live reggae, soca and calypso music. (www.caribbeandays.ca).
Across the Capilano River, West Vancouver's Harmony Arts Festival will run from July 29 to August 7 at locations along the waterfront.
For more than two decades this North Shore celebration of the arts has included everything from studio tours, art markets and live demonstrations, to film screenings and concerts by some of Canada's hottest acts. (www.harmonyarts.ca).
For the dogs
Ambleside dog park is fun for everyone - senior dogs, puppies, dog owners and dog lovers. Every day a crowd of pedestrians heads off to this popular West Vancouver beach with its dog trail and spectacular ocean views to give Fido some air and a chance to romp in the salty water.
To get there, cross the Lions Gate Bridge and go toward West Vancouver. You will be on Marine Drive. Continue west on Marine Drive to 13th Avenue. Turn south, left at 13th and go one block to Ambleside Park. In addition to the dog park, there are playing fields, pitch and putt golf, a snack shop, skateboard park, and a pond.
For other North Shore dog hikes, visit http://www.bcpassport.com/vancouver-vital-information/north-shore-dog-hikes.aspx
Kayak 'round Bowen
This summer adventure begins with taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island. The ride is only 20 minutes but it takes you to another world. You arrive in Snug Cove with the Union Steamship Company Marina to port and the Bowen Island Marina to starboard. Sailors will be tempted to turn left to explore the boats at the USSC Marina but those who want to get out on the water under their own steam should turn right. That's where they'll find Bowen Island Sea Kayaking. If it's your first time being out in ocean waters, you can sign up for lessons or get a guided tour, including a sunset or full moon package. If you're ready to be more adventurous, you can rent a kayak and start exploring the island's rugged shoreline.
Go to www.bowenislandkayaking.com for details.
Go Shopping
It doesn't all have to be climbing, running and nature... does it? For those interested in slightly more urban activities, or for those who just want to give the hiking boots a day off, a day in Lower Lonsdale may be the answer.
Although the neighbourhood isn't always considered a hot bed of cultural activity, LoLo's Café for Contemporary Art is working hard to change that perception. This summer, the café has two very interesting openings scheduled. In July, local filmmaker and musician Shenpenn Khymsar will be premiering his new documentary "Journey of a Dream," an autobiographical account of his return to his hometown of Darjeerling, India after pursuing dreams of playing heavy metal music throughout North America. The film garnered rave reviews when it screened at the Minnesota St. Paul International Film Festival earlier this year.
In August, Vancouver's Sachiyo Takahashi will bring three performances from her "Microscopic Live Cinema-Theatre" series to the cafe. The artist uses small found objects to populate a microscopic play, which is simultaneously projected on an adjacent wall. The work plays with fable-like narratives, the imagination and our forgotten emotions.
"It's intense, a real emotional thing," says Tyler Russell. "What she does is make us very aware of the mediums she's working with."
Visit www.cafeforcontemporaryart.com for dates and show times.
Need a bite to eat before - of after - taking in a show? Just a few steps from the cafe, the Pinnacle Hotel is offering summer-long brunches on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., prime rib on Sundays, three course dinners nightly and wine specials on Wednesdays. Afternoon tea on Saturdays and Sundays also starts this summer, for those looking to indulge their inner Middleton.
Don't worry, the hiking boots will be there when you get back.
Green Produce
Getting dirty is a rite of summertime passage, so why not learn a little bit about farming in the process? Loutet Farm, a collaborative project between the city, North Shore Neighbourhood House and the University of British Columbia, has been up and running for a few months and this summer staff will be hosting Community Workbees sessions. Open to all, the workshops will offer a range of courses centred on sustainable food production and farm activities. tools are provided, activities vary. To register, contact Emily Jubenvill at [email protected].
Produce will be available for sale at the farm, dates and times will be available at www.ediblegardenproject.com
If going to the market for produce is more your speed, then the North Shore Green Markets likely has what you're looking for. Throughout the summer, the markets will maintain three locations - Wednesdays at Civic Plaza (city hall) from 2 to 7 p.m., in Lynn Valley on Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m., and Parkgate on Saturdays from 10 to 4 p.m. Recycling programs will be set up at all markets for compost, batteries, tires and electronics to name a few.
North Shore Green Markets will also be hosting a night market at Shipbuilders Square on Friday evenings in Lower Lonsdale. The night market will feature six hours of live music and 70 vendors selling local food (hot and cold) and produce for sale. Face painters and jugglers will also make an appearance. The night markets will run from 5 to 11 p.m. Be sure to make it out early - organizers anticipate 5,000 attendees per night market.
A bridge(s) too far
They're North Shore tourist institutions, but if you haven't walked across the Capilano or Lynn Canyon suspension bridges then this is your summer to do it.
This year, the Capilano Suspension - the oldest visitor attraction in the Vancouver area - will be offering a new exhibit, Raptors Ridge Birds of Prey. It features an educational look at a host of different birds. Don't worry, they won't be flying on site.
The main attraction this summer is Cliffwalk - a platform jutting out from the cliff face, providing visitors with a bird's-eye view from 70-metres above the canyon. Scheduled to open June 3, Cliffwalk is already being billed as "a heart-stopping cliffside journey" and promises to become a favourite at Cap Bridge.
For more information, visit www.capbridge.com/
For those looking to satisfy their bridge-fix on a more regular basis, the free-of-charge Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is the place to be. Located in the heart of North Vancouver, the Lynn Canyon bridge offers more than just spectacular views. East of the bridge is Twin Falls, a less popular tourist spot, but perfect for anyone looking for a quiet place to sit and relax. A short walk on the north side of the bridge is 30-foot pool, a popular choice among hikers and tourists.
For more information, visit http://lynncanyon.ca/
