Woo! I'm excited about this weekend. There are a lot of outdoor events happening like the annual VanDusen Botanical Garden plant sale! Also happening on Sunday is the The Game of Life Run/Walk - Vancouver, a run benefiting the  Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC)’s grassroots sport programs in Africa and the Caribbean. Join the run for a good cause! Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Kerrisdale Village’s Carnival Days - Parade, Sidewalk Sales, Ice Cream Trailer & Giant Slide! - April 26th & 27th  Send out good vibes for sunny weather and spring into the new, warmer season with one of Vancouver’s longest traditions – Carnival Days in Kerrisdale Village. Cheery and magnolia blossoms will scent the air and carpet the sidewalks as free entertainers amuse shoppers intent on some of the best sidewalk sale buys ever. All the festivities are set for the weekend of Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. Most events on Saturday starting with a parade - Marching bands, antique cars, mascots, service and athletic clubs.

Critical Mass Ride and Roll
5:30pm. Meet at 5:30, ride at 6. 
Meet At: Vancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Join fellow bicyclists, skaters, and bladers for this leisurely and spirited celebratory ride and roll through the streets of Vancouver. Meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. -- and roll and ride at 6:00 p.m. The ride is on rain, shine, or snow! Decorated bicycles, trailers, signs, flags, noisemakers, gettoblasters, sound systems, drums, and wildly modified bicycles are all highly encouraged!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Ocean Concrete Open House
Kerrisdale Village’s Carnival Days - Parade, Sidewalk Sales, Ice Cream Trailer & Giant Slide! - April 26th & 27th  Send out good vibes for sunny weather and spring into the new, warmer season with one of Vancouver’s longest traditions – Carnival Days in Kerrisdale Village. Cheery and magnolia blossoms will scent the air and carpet the sidewalks as free entertainers amuse shoppers intent on some of the best sidewalk sale buys ever. All the festivities are set for the weekend of Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. Most events on Saturday starting with a parade - Marching bands, antique cars, mascots, service and athletic clubs.

Got Craft? - $3
10am-5pm Sat & Sun
Templeton Secondary School Gymnasium, 727 Templeton Drive between Adanac and Turner
Got Craft? aims to bring together a community that fosters handmade and D.I.Y. culture. Founded in 2007, Got Craft? is held twice a year in April / May and December featuring 80 handmade designers, craft workshops, tasty treats, music, FREE swag bags, and an average attendance of 5700+ a year.

Party for the Planet 
10am - 9pm
Central City Plaza, 13450 102nd Avenue, Surrey
Party for the Planet is a top-quality FREE, family-friendly event produced by the City of Surrey. Join us as we celebrate the environment and learn all the ways you can create a sustainable future. Live music, entertainment, tree sale, booths and exhibits.

Bike The Blossoms
11am - 3pm
Meet At: China Creek South 1255 East 10th Ave, Vancouver (Clark and 10th Ave)
Join Velopalooza and the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival for a fun, free guided bike ride. The ride will tour the blossom cherry trees in Vancouver and include a talk by Parks Board Arborist, Bill Stephen. We will have our mobile bicycle repair trucks along the ride with us courtesy of VanCycle!

Baker's Market
Saturdays 11am - 3pm Mar 30 - May 4, 2013 
Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert Street, Vancouver BC
Get your fill of sweet & savoury baked goodies from local bakers and artisans. Inspired by traditional farmers markets in Vancouver, this market is even better since it is indoors with lots of free parking too. You'll find talented budding, professional or home bakers selling fresh artisanal breads, soft German pretzels, butter croissants, chocolate croissants, cupcakes, yummy cookies, hand made chocolates, brownies, Belgian Liege waffles,vegan cupcakes, mini bundt cakes, muffins, gluten-free baked goods and much more!

Royal Canadian Navy Vancouver Port Visit
Sat 11am - 4pm -  HMCS Algonquin public tour at West side of Canada Place
Sat & Sun 9:30am - 3:30pm - USS Lake Champlain, HMCS Nanaimo and Saskatoon public tour at Burrard Pier, North Vancouver
The Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy are pleased to invite members of the media and the public to attend the Vancouver Port Visit from April 25 – 28, 2013 at Canada Place in Vancouver and Burrard Pier in North Vancouver.  The Destroyer Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin and the West Coast based Submarine HMCS Victoria will be docked at Canada Place while two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Nanaimo, four ORCA Patrol Craft Training vessels, along with USS Lake Champlain will be berthed at Burrard Pier, North Vancouver. Approximately 1,000 Canadian and American sailors will be in Vancouver to meet with members of the public and media. The vessels will be open to the public Saturday, April 27, 2013. For more information please visit www.vancouverportvisit.com

Tree Talks and Walks in the West End and Downtown
1pm - 4pm
Meet at the A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture at Davie and Denman
Presented by Wendy Cutler, VCBF Cherry Scout Co-ordinator. Wendy has been scouting and documenting the tree locations in these neighbourhoods since the festival began, and she has led several sakura tours of the area  After briefly checking out a few trees in the West End, this walk will head into Stanley Park at the heronry, then thru the Rhododendron Garden to see two unusual cherry cultivars (and lots of camellias and rhododendrons), then back to the West End for a few more cherries. If there is time, we may carry on to a grove of lovely cherries at the Japanese Memorial near the Aquarium. This is the longest of the walks, but it's never more than ten minutes from transportation.

Vancouver Gallery Hop
all day
11:00 AM–12:30 PM - Panel Conversation @ VIFF’s Vancity Theatre
1:15 PM–5:30 PM - Tours & Talks @ Various locations throughout the city (check website)
5:30 PM–7:30 PM - Magazine Launch @ Vancouver Art Gallery
Join us for a day of art, tours and talks at the Canadian Art Foundation Gallery Hop Vancouver, presented in partnership with the Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver.

Sunday, April 28 2013

The Game of Life Run/Walk - Vancouver
10K Run/Walk – 9:00 am     
5K Run/Walk – 9:10 am
start at Lumberman's Arch, Stanley Park
Proceeds from this event go towards Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC)’s grassroots sport programs in Africa and the Caribbean. CGC supports the social development of individuals, communities and organizations within commonwealth countries using the transformative power of sport. For more information on specific program details please visit www.commonwealthgames.ca/ Best-selling Canadian author of eight books on running and walking, John Stanton will be attending the Game of Life Run and Walk! Online registration closes at midnight on April 25th. After April 18th, you can register in person on April 26th-27th at Race Kit Pickup and on April 28th at the race site on Race Day.

VanDusen Botanical Garden Plant Sale
10:00am - 4:00pm
VanDusen Botanical Garden - 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
THE sale of the year. More than 40,000 plants for sale. Bring your wheelbarrow and a friend. Master gardeners will be on site to give advice. Other features include Plant Check and Plant Pick Up areas. Visa, MasterCard, personal cheques and cash accepted. Admission to the Garden is free this day. 

Got Craft? - $3
10am-5pm Sat & Sun
Templeton Secondary School Gymnasium, 727 Templeton Drive between Adanac and Turner
Got Craft? aims to bring together a community that fosters handmade and D.I.Y. culture. Founded in 2007, Got Craft? is held twice a year in April / May and December featuring 80 handmade designers, craft workshops, tasty treats, music, FREE swag bags, and an average attendance of 5700+ a year. 

Menchies Grand Opening at Highgate Village 
11am - 5pm Sat & Sun
7155 Kingsway, Burnaby BC
Celebrate the grand opening of Menchies at Highgate Village on Saturday with free frozen yogurt from 11-5pm, free gift bags for the first 30 families, fill your cup for $1 from 5pm - 7pm, balloon artist and face painting 11am - 3pm. The fun continues on Sunday with buy one get one  free from 11am - 5pm, balloon artist and face painting from 11am - 1pm and have your picture taken with Menchie! 

Hakka Cookbook Show and Tell 
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver
The highly acclaimed food author Linda Lau will be at the Garden to share recipes and stories from her experience as a food connoisseur. She will also present a mini live cooking show for the audience to try her special Hakka sauce. Her Hakka Cookbook was awarded the Best Chinese Cuisine Cookbook in the world for 2012 by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Royal Canadian Navy Vancouver Port Visit
Sat 11am - 4pm -  HMCS Algonquin public tour at West side of Canada Place
Sat & Sun 9:30am - 3:30pm - USS Lake Champlain, HMCS Nanaimo and Saskatoon public tour at Burrard Pier, North Vancouver
The Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy are pleased to invite members of the media and the public to attend the Vancouver Port Visit from April 25 – 28, 2013 at Canada Place in Vancouver and Burrard Pier in North Vancouver.  The Destroyer Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin and the West Coast based Submarine HMCS Victoria will be docked at Canada Place while two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Nanaimo, four ORCA Patrol Craft Training vessels, along with USS Lake Champlain will be berthed at Burrard Pier, North Vancouver. Approximately 1,000 Canadian and American sailors will be in Vancouver to meet with members of the public and media. The vessels will be open to the public Saturday, April 27, 2013. For more information please visit www.vancouverportvisit.com