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A new outdoor festival is coming to downtown Vancouver this month and you won’t want to miss a single day.

Granville Block Party, presented by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA), is happening on Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27.

The intersection of Granville Street and Robson Street will transform into a pedestrian-only party from 1 to 7 pm on both days. And organizers say the family-friendly event is happening at an important time for the neighbourhood.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting this event in the Granville Entertainment District (GED),” said Jane Talbot, president and CEO of Downtown Van, in a release. “This is a critical transition period for Granville Street, especially with the recently developed Granville Street Planning Project underway.

“As an organization, we believe there is no better time than now for the GED to have its own hallmark event. I’m looking forward to seeing the streets filled with thousands of attendees enjoying all Granville Street offers.”

The fully licensed, inclusive, and family-friendly event is described as the first of its kind for Downtown Vancouver. Attendees will enjoy live music, market vendors, art demos and workshops, and more.

Bring your dancing shoes as the lineup of Block Party headliners include favourites The Boom Booms, Public Disco, Van Vogue Jam, Tonye Aganaba, and Missy D.

Other announced performers include:

• Balkan Shmalkan 
• The Roxy House Band
• Ian Cromwell
• Locals Lounge
• Cookin’ with Brass
• Now or Never Crew
• Mexican Dance Ensemble
• Royal Academy of Punjab
• Vancouver Okinawa Taiko

You can even enjoy an alcoholic beverage while exploring the festival as the entire site is fully licensed and sponsored by Red Truck Beer Company. 

And while you’re checking out Granville Block Party, make sure to stop by the many delicious restaurants and unique businesses in the GED and Downtown Vancouver. It’s a great opportunity to shop and support local.

GRANVILLE BLOCK PARTY

When: August 26 and 27, 2023 Time: 1 to 7 pm Where: Granville Entertainment District — Intersection of Granville Street and Robson Street Cost: Free

Daily Hive is the proud media partner of the Granville Block Party

Beat the heat outside, or in the kitchen, with an ice-cold feast from the ocean. A truly decadent experience, ordering right from the raw bar and diving into a tower of seafood jewels is definitely at the top of our list of favourite ways to treat ourselves.

From stunning Japanese-infused platters to tiers that include some hot items, there are plenty of seafood towers in Vancouver for any palate or budget.

Here are our picks for Vancouver restaurants where you can get epic seafood towers.

BLUE WATER CAFE

 

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Blue Water Cafe offers a range of seafood platters for nearly every taste and budget, including the Shellfish Plateau for $42 (single tier with oysters, prawns, mussels, clams, jellyfish and scallop ceviche), the Seafood Tower for $110 (two tiers with oysters, prawns, seared red tuna, salmon tartare, jellyfish scallop ceviche, clams and mussels), and the Blue Water Cafe Tower for $205 (three tier tower with oysters, prawns, clams, mussels, jellyfish salad, salmon tartar, seared black pepper-crusted red tuna, scallop ceviche, tuna Goma-ae, spicy tuna roll, crab roll and 1lb Lobster).

Address: 1095 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

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JOE FORTES

 

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A true Vancouver classic, Joe Fortes offers a Joe’s Seafood Tower on ice featuring chilled Atlantic lobster, local oysters, marinated clams and mussels, scallop ceviche, albacore tuna crudo, and chilled jumbo prawns.

Address: 777 Thurlow Street, Vancouver

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BOULEVARD KITCHEN + OYSTER BAR

 

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Boulevard has two options for seafood towers: one for two priced at $79 and one for four at $155. Expect an array of nori-wrapped steelhead, albacore tuna tataki, mussel escabèche, Dungeness crab louie, snow crab legs, prawns, and oysters. You can also choose to add on a pound of poached and chilled lobster for $65.

Address: 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

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COAST

 

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The seafood tower offerings at Coast are luxe, ranging from the basic seafood tower for $125 to the Coast Tower Deluxe for $275 and all the way up to the Coast Caviar Tower for $350. Here, you’ll get an array of fresh seafood, including things like Atlantic lobster, mussels, clams, ahi tuna poke, scallop ceviche, and more.

Address: 1054 Alberni Street, Vancouver

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ANCORA

 

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The Ancora Glacier features freshly shucked oysters, ceviche mixto, poached prawns, a selection of sashimi, tuna tartare, Dungeness crab causas, and mussels a la chalaca and is available for $80 for two or $155 for four.

Address: 1600 Howe Street, Vancouver

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MIKU

 

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A serious work of art, Miku’s Waterfront Platter includes a selection of seafood, oysters, and the chef’s daily sashimi selection.

Address: 70-200 Granville Street, Vancouver

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THE SANDBAR

 

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The Sandbar is a Granville Island must, especially with this spot’s two seafood platter options: The Sandbarge and The Sandbar Tower, for $79 and $149, respectively.

Address: 1535 Johnston Street, Creekhouse #102 (Granville Island), Vancouver

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GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE

 

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Known for its steak, Gotham also happens to have a really great seafood tower on its menu. The Seafood Tower here goes for $219.75 and features Atlantic Lobster Tail, oysters on the half shell, scallop ceviche, Gilda pintxo, cocktail prawns, langoustine, albacore tuna tataki, smoked and candied salmon, and steelhead gravlax.

Address: 615 Seymour Street, Vancouver

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SALMON HOUSE ON THE HILL

 

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Salmon House on the Hill offers a Seafood Tower for two featuring Dungeness crab salad, candied salmon, chilled prawns, fresh oysters, sesame-seared tuna and a maple shallot mignonette.

Address: 2229 Folkestone Way, West Vancouver

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PIER 7

 

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The Pier 7 Signature Tower includes poached lobster tail, Dungeness crab, fresh premium oysters, marinated PEI mussels, poached wild red prawns, citrus scallop crudo, tuna poke, maple candied wild salmon, and smoked steelhead salmon. This feast is available for $150.

Address: 25 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver

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THE VANCOUVER FISH COMPANY

 

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This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of one of Vancouver’s most iconic seafood spots. At the Vancouver Fish Company, you can get the classic Seafood Platter for $139.99, the Chilled Seafood Platter for $154.99, or the Surf N’ Turf Platter for $279 (which also includes a AAA Tomahawk steak).

Address: 1517 Anderson Street, Vancouver

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SEASIDE PROVISIONS

 

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North Vancouver is lucky to have this seafood gem in its midst. Get the Seaside Chill Platter here, featuring 8 oysters, a half lobster, chef’s ceviche, tiger prawns, and assorted sushi for $99.

Address: 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver

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The Vancouver Whitecaps have already made one big move today, and they could be poised for another. According to a report from Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt, the Whitecaps are in talks to sign Canadian international Sam Adekugbe.

Sources🚨! #VWFC are in talks to sign #CanMNT star Sam Adekugbe from Süper Lig side Hatayspor.

Not a done deal yet but negotiations are advanced. Adekugbe would join fellow Canadian star Laryea in Vancouver. Would be a big deal if it goes through. @Transfermarkt ⏳ pic.twitter.com/LThU81M2Db

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) August 2, 2023

 

A fixture on Canada’s men’s national soccer team, Adekugbe represented his country at the most recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar, appearing in all three of Canada’s matches. The 28-year-old scored a goal in Canada’s big win against the USA in World Cup qualifying and helped create a goal against Morocco in Qatar.

He was also responsible for the most Canadian celebration of all time, jumping into a snowbank during a win over Mexico in Edmonton.

The Adekugbe rumour comes on the heels of the Whitecaps acquiring his Canadian teammate Richie Laryea on loan from English Premier League club Nottingham Forest.

Adekugbe has been a member of Turkish Süper Lig side Hatayspor since 2021 but was loaned to Galatasaray this season.

Veth notes that Hatayspor has been a “difficult negotiation partner” and would like to keep Adekugbe. The Calgary-raised left back wants to return to Canada though, Veth says.

Adekugbe is no stranger to Vancouver, as he came up through the Whitecaps system, signing with the club as an 18-year-old in 2013. He made 16 MLS regular season appearances for the Whitecaps before being transferred to a team in Norway.

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Bryan Hogan has had some sleepless nights and is still in disbelief following his huge lottery win.

Hogan, a 46-year-old assistant manager from Oshawa, Ontario, won the $500,o00 Maxmillions prize on July 25, 2023. He also won an additional $20 on one of his Lotto Max selections, bringing his total win to $500,020.

The father of two said he was at home when he scanned his ticket on his OLG app, and at first, he thought he had won a much smaller prize pot.

“I initially thought I’d won around $500,” he said in a release. But upon further inspection, he realized his prize amount had a lot more zeros tacked on to it.

“I thought it was too good to be true!” he said, adding that he hasn’t “slept in a week” after learning the news.

Hogan said he’s the lotto win is going to make life “a bit easier” for him and his family.

Right now, he’s still trying to take it all in.

“It’s been a very surreal experience,” he said. “To be honest, I’m still in shock!”

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Dilpreet Singh’s family and friends have identified him as the victim of a sudden and fatal crash in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on July 31.

Singh had just turned 26 years old and was driving for Uber around 2 am when his vehicle was struck by a red Cadillac being driven by a 17-year-old. The crash involved three vehicles and sent seven people to hospital in addition to killing Singh.

His family is reeling from the sudden loss, mourning their loved one and searching for a path forward since the young man was the sole provider for his parents and two younger brothers, aged 18 and 20, back in India, one of whom lives with a disability.

“He brought joy to us, to everybody,” his close friend Jashanpreet Brar told Daily Hive.

 

Brar added Singh was a compassionate person and a dedicated son.

“Ever since he’s been here he’s worked hard as an international student, got his permanent residency, and finally, was trying to get his family here.”

Singh came to Canada in 2015 and studied for an arts degree before working in construction and doing Uber to support his family. He had plans to go back to school for a Master’s degree.

Singh also has a sister, Harpreet Kaur Sandhu, who’s married and lives in Toronto. She’s here in Metro Vancouver and is devastated by her brother’s death. She’s organized a GoFundMe to bring his remains back to India, hold funeral rites, and support their parents and brothers in the interim.

“Dilpreet held a special place in our lives and touched the heart of everyone,” she wrote.

Vancouver police say the Cadillac “broad-sided” Singh’s vehicle, and Brar added that the coroner told him the impact was so sudden he may not have noticed what happened.

“It could be any one of us who gets behind a wheel to work every day,” Brar said.

The family urges anyone with dash-cam footage of the crash to speak with police to aid in the collision investigation.

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How much of a role should the Government of Canada have in fixing the national housing affordability crisis?

On Monday, during an affordable housing announcement in Hamilton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the federal government has a role to play in housing, but at the end of the day it comes down to the individual provincial and municipal governments.

“But I’ll be blunt as well,” answered the Prime Minister when asked by a reporter, before continuing, “Housing isn’t primarily a federal responsibility. It’s not something we have direct carriage of, but it’s something we can and must help with.”

“It’s not just the federal government that can solve this,” he added.

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However, there is now ever-increasing attention over the impact of the federal government’s continued highly elevated immigration targets.

On the one hand, the greater volume of immigrants is intended to help address Canada’s immense labour shortage and help protect long-term economic growth. But on the other hand, it is further exacerbating housing affordability, with the pace of new supply not increasing to meet real heightened demand, especially in the already expensive and heated markets of Metro Vancouver and Greater Toronto.

Following the elevated numbers of 2021 and 2022, the immigration targets moving forward are 465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. By 2025, under the new targets, over 60% of the admissions of new permanent residents will be within the economic class.

Trudeau suggested the municipal and provincial governments need to step up on addressing housing issues in their communities.

Municipal governments, in particular, have control over the pace of new housing supply generated, given that they oversee building application reviews and approvals, policies such as land use and zoning, regulations that determine the cost of building housing, and have a better grasp of the needs of local communities.

As well, provincial governments can not only help support affordable housing projects, but also steer zoning and other municipal policy changes. This is already the case with the provincial governments of British Columbia and Ontario, which are overriding the jurisdiction of municipal governments’ zoning powers to permit more density. The BC provincial government, for example, is also rolling out new housing supply quotas for municipal governments to meet.

In response to rising instances of newcomers who arrived to Canada as refugees becoming homeless due to the high cost of housing and living, Trudeau also said the municipal and provincial governments should do more.

“When it comes to settling asylum seekers, municipalities and provinces have the larger part of the responsibility of that. It is unacceptable in a country like Canada that vulnerable refugees have to sleep in the streets,” said the Prime Minister.

Between 2023 and 2025, the federal government has a goal of accepting a total of 225,000 over the three-year period, which accounts for about 15% of the overall immigration total.

Trudeau also blamed the former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government’s role in the housing crisis, asserting Harper’s tenure, which lasted for a decade ending in 2014, put housing on the back-burner of federal priorities, and that current Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was part of Harper administration.

Under the federal Liberals, the federal government has a $82-billion National Housing Strategy over 10 years between 2018 and 2028. To date, nearly $34 billion has been spent on catalyzing new housing or protecting existing affordable housing. This includes a rapid housing strategy to address homelessness.

Poilievre fired back in response.

“I don’t even need to respond,” said Poilievre during a press conference. “When I was housing minister, housing cost half of what it does now. We didn’t have people living in tent cities.”

“He might brag that his policy is more expensive to taxpayers, but it doesn’t make it a success. Failing is bad, but failing expensively is worst. We will do neither. When I’m Prime Minister, we will succeed at a lower cost to homebuyers and taxpayers.”

The federal government historically had a major role in housing, particularly in directly funding affordable housing, with its investments peaking in the 1970s. Cuts to the federal housing program began with the Conservative government under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in the middle of the 1980s, but the most significant cuts took place in austerity changes of the early 1990s during the Liberals’ previous tenure under Jean Chretien, with Paul Martin as the federal finance minister at the time.

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Did you see it? Wednesday afternoon some onlookers were treated to a rare sight: A little yellow building sailing the seas off the coast of Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

The “Little Yellow School House,” which has called Maple and Cornwall Avenue home for 110 years, began its adventure to a new spot on Tuesday night after about seven months of planning.

The 1912-built structure was initially slatted to be demolished, but Renewal Home Development stepped in. The company specializes in preserving, relocating, and repurposing structures to extend their lifespan and prevent unnecessary demolition landfill waste.

Did you see the Little Yellow School House from the Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge today? The move by Renewal Home Development from Kits to the North Shore went swimmingly (get it?) #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/CkJP1uafu5

— Claire Fenton (@Ceeceefenton) August 3, 2023

The Vancouver School Board agreed to the plan, and stepped in to cover the $150,000 moving costs to take the structure from Vancouver to the North Shore.

It will be refurbished and eventually used as a language learning centre for the Squamish First Nation.

You can catch all the highlights from the relocation and procession along the middle of the four-lane street here.

According to the team behind the move, they were able to put the building on a barge early Wednesday morning during high tide, and then slowly travel from Kitsilano Beach, past Stanley Park, and around the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver.

 

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Many likely saw the mysterious yellow cargo from the Lions Gate Bridge during the rush hour commute.

It will soon be placed on a new foundation on the Squamish First Nation’s reserve, but not before taking a pause at its transfer landing site just east of the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver.

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Did you see the Little Yellow School House today? Let us know in the comments.

Seth Rogen just introduced Ice Cube to some classic Canadian snacks, and the rapper wasn’t all that impressed with our ketchup chips.

In an episode of Snacked from First We Feast, Seth Rogen and Ice Cube shared their favourite snacks with each other. The two are promoting their upcoming movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and what better way to promote the pizza-loving ninja turtles than by chowing down?

First up, Canada’s own ketchup chips. The pair were each handed a snack-sized bag of Lays ketchup chips to tear into.

“These are what I grew up eating and are my favourite chip,” said Rogen. “I know they don’t have them in America, and Americans have the weirdest reaction to these chips… in that they act as though the combination of ketchup and potato is fucking insane.”

“Wait a minute, hold up,” said Ice Cube in response. “What kind of diabolical… what scientist made ketchup into a spice?” Skeptical Ice Cube gave it a try…

…and didn’t like it. “Mmm. Nah,” he said.

Another Canadian snack that Rogen introduced to Ice Cube was Kraft Dinner, saying that they call it “mac and cheese” in the US, but “KD” here in Canada.

You can watch the full video on YouTube and see the pair eat all the snacks above.

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Are you a fan of ketchup chips? Should they have tried Old Dutch instead?

Folks in Langley are about to have one cool new hangout spot.

Steven’s Cocktail Corner Bar, a new concept from the same folks behind Haven Kitchen and Bar, tells Dished it will be opening up at 20526 Fraser Highway, the former address of Shiraz Grill.

The new cocktail concept aims to be “an unapologetic, over the top dive aesthetic corner bar,” we’re told, and hopes to become the area’s new go-to watering hole.

The 1,700-square-foot space will seat 55 people inside and 45 outside on its roomy patio.

As for the food and drinks offered at Steven’s, the menu has been developed by Chef Spencer Watts and will largely feature elevated bar food.

Expect “puffy tacos” – a creation we can’t wait to learn more about – and smash burgers, playful cocktails, screamers (slushies with soft serve ice cream), rotating local taps, and buckets of beer.

This place will be all about having a good time while being “unpretentious, bold,” and serving up an “against the grain” attitude.

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Steven’s Cocktail Corner Bar is aiming for a fall 2023 opening, and once it does, it’ll be in operation seven days a week from 11 am to midnight.

STEVEN’S COCKTAIL CORNER BAR

Address: 20526 Fraser Highway, Langley

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A bar in Abbotsford tells Daily Hive it has permanently banned a patron after getting heat on social media over allegations women were groped on the premises and staff didn’t respond appropriately.

Trisha Gill, the owner of Abbey Road Taphouse & Restaurant, told Daily Hive over email that the regular customer who was at the centre of the groping allegations has been banned for life, and the business has held meetings with staff about how to respond in similar situations.

In addition, staff will be participating in third-party training with the Ending Violence Association of BC to improve how staff can recognize and respond to harassment.

“There is already security on site on weekend evenings and we are committed to being a safe place for our guests,” Gill said. “We absolutely recognize that the restaurant industry has a responsibility to ensure we foster safe environments for all of our guests and realize that we personally will and can do better.”

The move comes after several women spoke out on social media about an alleged groping incident that took place at the bar. When the women involved raised the issue with staff, a server allegedly brought the man over to the table so the two parties could talk it out.

Daily Hive has not been able to reach the groping victims for comment.

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BC Day is coming up, and while many places will be closed, lots of places are expected to be open.

Like any other long weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to spend time with the family, visit friends, or go on that camping trip you’ve been waiting for. But if you decide to have a little staycation, there are plenty of places to stock up on snacks and other goods.

Here’s what is open and closed this upcoming BC Day.

OPEN:

GROCERY STORES, PHARMACIES, AND LIQUOR STORES

Most grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies will generally be open over the long weekend. However, we recommend checking your local store for specific opening hours from August 5 through August 7.

• Safeway

• Save-On-Foods

• Whole Foods

• IGA

• Superstore

• Loblaws City Market

• Urban Fare

• Meinhardt

• Walmart

• Pharmasave (generally closed on Sundays)

• Shoppers Drug Mart

• BC Liquor

• Costco

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MALLS

Here are all the malls that will be open this BC Day. Please refer to their websites for more information.

• Pacific Centre Mall
• City Square (Sunday/holiday hours: 12 pm to 5 pm)
• International Village
• Kingsgate Mall (Sunday/holiday hours: 11 am to 5 pm)
• Park Royal (10 am to 7 pm but individual store hours may vary)
• Metrotown (Sunday/holiday hours: 11 am to 7 pm)

ENTERTAINMENT AND ATTRACTIONS

• Cineplex Theatres
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Science World
• Bloedel Conservatory
• VanDusen Botanical Gardens (9 am to 6 pm from Friday to Sunday; 9 am to 5 pm on Monday)
• Granville Island Public Market (individual store timings may vary)
• Public parks and beaches

TRANSLINK

TransLink buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on BC Day, and holiday fares will be in place. You would only need a 1-Zone fare to travel across all zones.

However, the West Coast Express will not operate, and the TransLink Customer Service Centre, the Access Transit Customer Care Office, and the Lost Property Office will also be closed.

Those travelling on the transit to the south coast and taking the BC Ferries should check the holiday schedules. This is especially important as many BC Ferry routes were delayed over the Canada Day long weekend.

CLOSED:

Post Offices (Canada Post does not deliver on the weekends and statutory holidays)

Government buildings

Public libraries

The Polygon Gallery (open 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday; closed on Monday)

TransLink West Coast Express

Banks

COMMUNITY CENTRES

The hours for many community centres will vary according to the location. Check the website to know specific hours.

Vancouver may be in the middle of the dog days of summer, but next month you can get up close and personal with a puppy thanks to a Poetry in Parks initiative.

Canine Library is woofing it up at John Hendry Park on Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 3 pm. The event is presented by Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Park Board, Paws 4 Stories, St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon, and Trout Lake Community Centre.

All ages are invited to sign up at the park for a puppy and poetry session, though children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

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Candie Tanaka, programming and event coordinator for the VPL, previously told Daily Hive that Canine Library is built off their popular “Paws 4 Stories” program,” which allows children to practice their reading skills in a one-on-one session with a therapy dog and its owner.

“The main initiative [for the Canine Library] is to foster better relationships between dog owners and non-dog owners,” said Tanaka. “With this program, you get to take out a dog and read it some poetry for 15 minutes, as well as interact with the dog and the owner.”

Participants can choose from a variety of poetry books from VPL’s collection for their session. There will also be an on-site poetry workshop led by the library’s Poet Laureate, Fiona Tinwei Lam, and VPL’s new BiblioBike will be on-site to sign people up for library cards.

The Canine Library will take place rain or shine, and the lineup of pups available to be checked out will be revealed closer to the event.

THE CANINE LIBRARY

When: September 9, 2023 Time: 1 to 3 pm Where: John Hendry Park – 3300 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (Behind the Trout Lake Community Centre on the east side and along the path.) Cost: Free