Microbreweries have really grown in popularity over the last few years. This week you can experience thirty of BC’s microbreweries as Vancouver’s Craft Beer Week kicked off on Friday, May 18. Lucky for us, some of the best events are happening right here in Kits and at Granville Island. Neighbourhood events include:
1. Central City Brewing Brewmasters Lunch takes place Saturday, May 19 from 1-4 at Darby’s Pub. With an eat and drink local theme, tickets for this three course lunch are $35.
2. Parallel 49 Launch Party takes place Monday, May 21 from 5-closing. To celebrate Hell’s Kitchen is hosting their launch party, letting them take over the taps and showcase what it is that makes them so special. No reservations required. First come first served.
3. Dockside Cask & BBQ Party takes place Wednesday, May 23rd from 6-9pm. For $20 you can enjoy two beers poured up by brewmaster Mark Simpson and a meal off the BBQ while sitting on one of Vancouver’s best patios.
4. R&B 6 Course Culinary Adventure takes place Sunday, May 20th from 7-11pm at Kitsilano Daily Kitchen. At $65 a person, this interactive six course dinner is sure to be a highlight of the week.
5. Craft Beer Fantasy Draught takes place Thursday, May 24th from 7-9pm at The Bimini Public House. Inspired by the fantasy football draft, this event will feature a board with 24 random draughts to choose from. Tickets are $25 and include four rounds of selections.
6. Granville Island Brewmaster’s Dinner takes place Tuesday, May 22nd from 6:30-closing at Granville Island Brewery. For $60 learn the basics of food and beer pairing while enjoying a four course dinner in a local microbrewery.
By May 17, I’m betting that you’ve found the time to occupy a Kitsilano patio, despite the occasional rainy set back. Kitsilano.ca wants your opinion on the best neighbourhood bar/cafe/restaurant patio.
We’ve put together a list of Kits patios based on reader comments from previous years. Please vote for your favourite patio below. If we’re missing one of your picks, add it by commenting.
I love spending Sunday mornings browsing the neighbourhood Farmers Market with a cup of coffee. While I do find the products expensive, sometimes biting into a heirloom tomato that has never seen the inside of a refrigerator is truly priceless.
This time of year the market is filled with all kinds of greens, including kale, collard greens, salad greens, mustard greens and more. If you are lucky, turnips, cucumbers, rhubarb, radishes, apples and other seasonal produce will also be available.
Prepared food vendors will also be at the market offering baked goods, granola, jam, olives and more.
The market is open from 10am-2pm in the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Center at 2690 Larch Street (at W 10th).
Urban Outfitters (now open) renovates 2199 West 4th Avenue.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN KITS
1) Get some grassy park real estate. If the weather plays as nice as the forecast promises, now’s the time to spread a blanket or build a tent. Gather a gaggle of friends. And get grilling.
2) Be nice to mums. Brunch them, lunch them, wine and dine them, clean something, repair something, shower them with spa gift certificates, home made crafts and cards, remember to say “I love you”…. Whatever your approach, Mum’s the word, Sunday May 13.
3) Explore a neighbourhood museum. Did you know that Hastings Mill Museum (now at 1575 Alma Street) used to be the iconic “Old Mill Store” that stood at the foot of Dunlevy Street for more than 60 years? In 1931 it was barged to its current location and reopened as a Vancouver history museum by the Native Daughters of BC.
Hastings Mill Museum is easily enjoyed in 1-2 hours and is conveniently right next to a park with playground. Filled with Vancouver memorabilia (an original full-size Hansom cab, Joe Fortes’ lamp, the first Vancouver city hall table), it’s only open weekends 1-4pm, but changes to summer hours June 15.
5) Browse Vancouver’s second Urban Outfitters now open in Kits. It’s finally here. The US retailer Urban Outfitters has opened doors (2199 West 4th Avenue) in the former Le Chateau Space, which was built in 1912 and formerly housed the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Join the street wide shopping and dining party Eat, Shop, Love for Moms on West 4th Avenue (Fir to Balsam Street) this Thursday, May 10. 50+ participating neighbourhood businesses will donate part of their proceeds to the Pacific Post Partum Support Society (PPPSS).
PPPSS is a non-profit organization that helps mothers and families dealing with anxiety or depression after the birth or adoption of a child. Established in 1971 from a grassroots initiative, PPPSS was the brainchild of a small group of women who originally met at the Vancouver Crisis Line offices and supported each other throughout their recovery. These women developed the first telephone support system as well as establishing the pattern for the Society’s peer-support treatment model that is still used today.
Hell’s Kitchen, one of the best West 4th patio spots, will donate 50% of its food sales to PPPSS You can check out their full spring menu here. Bonus: every Thursday Hell’s has 20 oz. Red Truck Pale Ale Pints on special for $5.75.
Kitsilano has been a yoga haven for years now. A yoga mat and Lululemon pants are the uniform of choice for many in the ’hood. The neighbourhood offers hot yoga, baby yoga, kundalini yoga, power yoga, laughter yoga, beach yoga and more. But anyone who has attended a post work class only to be uncomfortably close to their neighbour for a sweaty 90 minutes is sure to celebrate the fact that another new studio is opening soon.
YYoga is set to open their eighth Vancouver studio at West 4th/Cypress (in the former Kitsilano Fitness space) in mid June. Known for their spa like amenities, numerous class offerings and beautiful spaces, the new studio is certainly no exception. The new space is shaping up to be breathtaking. The 8,000 square foot center will feature two yoga rooms, including a 1,600 square foot hot room, saunas and a large outdoor patio/lounge. Namaste!
While tix for the Spot Prawn Boil are sold out, there’s no need to go hungry. Spot Prawn Fest (pictured above) is also your first chance to buy fresh spot prawns right off the boat at Fisherman’s Wharf – quite walkable from Vanier Park. Plus the chef demos, Vancouver Aquarium family education centre and live music are all free.
2) Check out the new West 4th womenswear boutique XO Bella
XO Bellahas renovated the large Call the Kettle Black retail space to create a comfy, chic experience – think wood-and-white with deep couches and fitting room curtains made with striped t-shirt material.
XO Bella stocks all the bohemian West Coast style statements a Vancouverite might need. Neon denim. Flowing tanks. Flirty frocks. Pretty separates. The prices – well under the Kits boutique average – are the real draw. The store’s been packed with women ranging from 18 to 50 for the last week. (2294 West 4th Ave at the corner of West 4th and Vine)
3) Get on your bike and ride
It’s time to see those fair weather cyclists out and about, lugging picnic supplies.
4) Lock down your Mother’s Day plans
With the big day coming up May 13, this is the time to make that booking or plot that surprise. No excuses. If you’re short on ideas, Janelle already put up a list of 5 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.
5) In case of rain:
Fifth Avenue Cinemas has a few new films showing. Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline star in Darling Companion. Meanwhile for kids (and kids at heart), The Pirates! Band of Misfits offers a swashbuckling, animated adventure.
With Mother’s Day lurking (May 13), I have been giving some thought to how I want to spend the day. Kitsilano is a goldmine of options for how to celebrate Mother’s Day – from gifts to activities to edible delights the ‘hood has you covered at every price point. Here are my top five ideas from $100-$0.
5 local Mother’s Day gift ideas
1. Around $100: Book a spa treatment. The new Spa on the Rocks(Yew/W4th) currently has a special offering a 60 minutes relaxation massage for $75. Or venture across the street to Beverly’s The Spa on 4th for a 45 minute manicure and pedicure now on special for $99.
2. Around $75: Take mom out for brunch in at one of the many amazing brunch spots in Kits. For something a little special, The Boathouse at Kits Beach is offering a huge brunch buffet with seafood, omelet stations, desert, salads and more. At $29.99 for adults and $12.99 for children under 12, book early to avoid disappointment. read more »
I love spending Sunday mornings browsing the neighbourhood Farmers Market with a cup of coffee. While I do find the products expensive, sometimes biting into a heirloom tomato that has never seen the inside of a refrigerator is truly priceless.
Join the street wide shopping and dining party 
With Mother’s Day lurking (May 13), I have been giving some thought to how I want to spend the day. Kitsilano is a goldmine of options for how to celebrate Mother’s Day – from gifts to activities to edible delights the ‘hood has you covered at every price point. Here are my top five ideas from $100-$0.
