It’s freakin’ hot. Chill out in a theater. American Graffiti plays at the Rio on Friday night.
July 9 | Midnight | Rio | $10 | find out more…

Theater Under the Stars goes down in Stanley Park – such a great concept. I’m not a huge fan of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” but it’s outdoor theater. Moonlight makes a lot of things better. Maybe this is one of them. Details.
July 9 | 8pm – 10pm | tickets are somewhere in the $30 – 40 range

On Saturday Heritage Vancouver offers another one of their historical walks – this one is “From Sawmill to Strathcona: An East End History Tour” Find out all about it here.

And speaking of Vancouver Heritage – this is Hotdogs for Heritage weekend – here is the scoop from The Vancouver Heritage Foundation: “Step out of the ballroom and into the backyard The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is hosting its second annual Hotdogs for Heritage fundraiser.  This fun-filled family fair takes fundraising out of the ballroom and into the backyard of an elegant old home in Shaughnessy.  The event features an architectural salvage sale with items from Vancouver’s iconic buildings including the Hotel Georgia, the original downtown Woodward’s, the Marine Building and much more.  Incorporate a bit of Vancouver’s heritage into your own house, all the while grooving to live music from local band Headwater, relaxing with a beer and, of course, enjoying a free hotdog!” Find out more…
July 11 | 11 am – 3 pm | 5026 Connaught Drive, Vancouver | Admission by donation ~  $10 suggested

Or there is the  2010 West Coast Tattoo Culture Show – it’s in Langley over the weekend.

On Monday night we urge you to attend Cinema to Savour, the most delicious film festival to ever hit Vancouver screens.  Guests will be treated to a screening of Campbell Scott’s foodie classic, Big Night, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub followed by Italian food prepared by one of Canada’s top chefs, Pino Posteraro of Cioppino’s. Chef Posteraro will share with the audience why he selected the film and will prepare and serve Italian-inspired food, paired with wines from Burrow, Luongo & Associates, local craft beer from R&B Brewing Co., and finished with Caffe Artigiano coffee and fabulous biscotti provided by Terra Breads.
July 12 | 7pm | Vancity Theatre |  $75 (includes movie, food, wine, beer and a cookbook) | Details

Break out the blanket and lawn chair – there is an outdoor screening of Goonies on Wednesday night. Bring your own popcorn, or whatever.
July 14 | 9 pm | Ceperley Meadow (Second Beach) | A link to a sort of useless website.

It’s perfect gardening weather – head to the Strathcona and Cottonwood Community Gardens Open House and Plant Sale to pick up some plants and celebrate 25 Years of Community Gardening! Highlights will include: plant sale, garden tours, silent auction, honey sale, backyard chickens – the lot.
July 11 | 10 am – 2 pm | Cottonwood Community Gardens (between Prior and Hawks Avenues and Raymur and Malkin avenue in Vancouver)

There is a new show opening at Emily Carr on Wednesday: On Collections is a Book Arts Institute exhibit that features masterworks and contemporary pieces from the numerous collections (including the Regional Assembly of Text (interview) and current bookworks by Emily Carr alumni and students. More info…
July 14 – 24 | 9am – 6pm

While you are at Emily Carr, slip in to the Charles H. Scott Gallery to catch the tail end of the “In Study Model Wonderland from Halifax to Vancouver” exhibit – “The exhibition examines the roll of the study model and its relationship to the architectural creative process”. Sort of cool.

Hit Trout Lake to see it transformed into Wonderland for the Alice in Wonderland Festival. I haven’t been – but I can’t imagine this being a bad way to while away part of your Sunday. There will be croquet, a caucus race and – I’m going out on a limb here – but probably tarts too. More info.
July 11 |  Trout Lake Park (John Hendry) Victoria between East 13th & East 19th | FREE and costumes encouraged!

Good places to buy locally grown produce from good people!   In season this month: luscious salad greens, green onions, radishes, shallots, spinach, sprouts, tomatoes, apples, delectable rhubarb, fresh strawberries. dips, sunflower sprouts, crepes, goat and cow’s milk cheese, yogurt, eggs, and an inspiring array of bedding plants, beautiful flowers and, in some cases, fresh pasta from Campagnolo (woot!).
East Side: July 10 | 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake | FREE
West End: July 10 | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Dundarave (West Van) July 10 | 9am – 2pm | Between 24 & 25 on Marine
Kits: July 11 | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE
DTES: July 14 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park | FREE
UBC Farm Market: July 10  | 9-1 | UBC Farm

PS – Grab your Outstanding in the Field tickets while you can – the AMAZING outdoor meal goes down next Sunday (Pemberton) and next Monday (UBC). It will be one of the best foodie events of the year!

——————————————————————————————–

Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives by the beach in Vancouver and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

——————————————————————————————–