I’m going to try to take as many photos of fish in Vancouver as I possibly can and drop them on you as often as I can here. Which means I might actually get you one a month over the summer. Here’s one I got of two little salmon minnows at a place me n’ Arlo just won’t stop talking about, Capilano River Park.

Bon Odori is a Japanese festival where people honour their ancestors by doing folk dances.  The one in Vancouver is being held at the Vancouver Buddhist temple located at 220 Jackson St. at 4pm on Sunday July 12th.  There’s a pretty rich history in this neck of the woods, and this event is a great little reminder.  It’s a also a primer for Powell St. Festival and everyone is welcome….even you round eye….

This year’s festival features my older sister Ms. Rei Choy, who brings her own Steveston flavour to the mix.

Wonder what us V.I.A.’ers do when we’re not scouting out and posting rad things about this fine city of ours?

Gambling away our fake fortunes at fantasy games of poker, apparently.

Check out our music editor Malania  Dela Cruz and Quiksilver Canada’s Shawna Olsten, raking it in at the table during this past Tuesday’s Blubird Royale casino soiree at V Vodka (which benefited Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland) and giving the dealer a run for her money.

Literally.

The first stop of the 15th annual Bowl Series was a sweet one…It was held at the very classic and curvaceous Seylynn snake in North Van on July 1st. There’s nothing like celebrating Canada Day by throwing a big ‘ol skateboard party! Click here for more…

Next stop? Sunday, July 19th at Griffin in North Van.

Somebody just e-mailed me this late entry to our “City Critters: Raccoons!” thing. Critters on today’s cover of our local weekly is definitely an awesome thing, I suppose even if they’re only there to point out the negative aspects of sharing the city with them; it is a really cute photo…

And I’ve always said that the world would be a very dangerous place if all of the media outlets were like Vancouver Is Awesome, only focusing on the positive sides of things, and that people should read the “real” news first and V.I.A. later.

taken by Gerald Belmont…

It really does warm my heart to see cars like this one not only still on the road but in pretty good condition. Whoever’s taking care of this thing is doing an awesome job, right down to Armor All’n the tires and the bumpers.

Do any of you know the exact year of this one?

Recently we leaked the first track from CHAR2D2’s then-upcoming album. Did you like it? Find out how to order a copy off her just-launched-yesterday web site!

http://char2d2.com/

Ever wanted to hold a World Record or just a big fan of Alice In Wonderland? This Saturday, 4th July The Community Arts Workshop Society, producers of the 15th Annual Alice In Wonderland Festival are hosting “Alices Everywhere” - a challenge for the World Record for “largest gathering of people dressed as Alice in Wonderland ever assembled.” Meet at the English Bay Bathhouse at 1.30pm sharp - don’t be late for this very important date!

Sign up at: AliceInWonderlandFestival.com

Our friends at LiveNation have a few concert ticket giveaways for VIA readers. This one is for UK Electro-Pop dup La Roux. Hailed as one of the “Best New Acts of 2009”  by The Guardian (UK), their upcoming show at The Biltmore (July 27) will be a perfect opportunity to see them in a more intimate environment.

Email malania@vancouverisawesome.com  to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show. The winner will be notified by email on Friday, July 24.

Man, my son Arlo’s really been dragging me out to the fishing spots so he can post about them a lot lately (1, 2, 3 posts). The other day he was like “Dad, I have a gift for you. Close your eyes and open your hand.” and when I opened my eyes he had put this in it…

It’s from the hatchery in Capilano River Park, and you can only see …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Not only does the Cookshop at City Square have one of the best selections of cookware, knives, and gadgets, they also offer really fun cooking courses.  Sue Choy and I recently attended one put on by Dan Rocha who served us the best BBQ ever!  It’s alot like cooking class in high school except I didn’t get yelled at….then again…I didn’t put a box of detergent in the dishwasher either.

Some of the courses involve participation, but we always take the ones where we just sit back and watch, pick up a few tips and then eat!  Sue and I have found that cooking together just pulls us apart, but eating, somehow brings us together, so it’s great the offer courses where we do nothing.  In three hours, Dan prepared pizza on the grill, cedar plank salmon, grilled chicken w. avacado and mango salsa, grilled stonefruit w. mascarpone, and the best burgers ever, they had cheese on the inside….some serious engineering went into these burgers.

There are a ton of different courses at the cookshop, and the best part is that for July and August it’s two for one!  Here’s the calendar, I’ve got my eye on the ‘best burger’ one….I bet you I’m not the only one…..I’m talking to you Bob K…

Dan….flippin’ burgers….