The Vancouver Group Chat: What your friends are talking about this week (June 23)

Welcome back to the Vancouver Group Chat! We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to dive into the first week of summer headfirst. Vancouver’s parks, beaches, and patios have all come alive, and not just because of FIFA season. The iconic Vin Van is back with tons of wine bar pop-ups, Chupito is bringing back an important piece of its back-alley past, and so much more.

Will you be the first to send these in your group chats, or will someone else?

Here’s what your friends are talking about this week (June 23).

What’s new, Vancouver?

Vancouver loves Team Egypt

Egypt sits at the top of Group G of the FIFA World Cup, and after Sunday’s game against New Zealand, they’ve officially stolen the hearts of everyone in the city. Multiple posts on Reddit are going viral for capturing the team (and specifically, Mo Salah) celebrating with fans on Burrard Street, where celebratory dancing and cheering broke out after the iconic match.

Their energy is palpable and completely unmatched, and Vancouver is absolutely loving it.

“Great to see, especially someone of that caliber and recognition, celebrating with his country’s fans. This is what it’s all about,” says one Redditor.

“The World Cup has made the city feel genuinely global,” adds another.

A taste of Euro summer

It’s no secret that Vancouver’s pop-up wine bar, Vin Van, is back in full swing, but they’re really kicking it into high gear this week.

On Wednesday, June 24, Vin Van is back at Be Fresh on Cypress Street and West 1st Avenue with “A Slice of Euro Summer,” a special edition with antipasti, “patio pounders by the glass,” and focaccia sandwiches. All the makings of a Euro trip minus the hefty plane ticket!

And if you can’t make Wednesday evening, mark your calendars for this Saturday, June 27, when they’ll be at Bar Bravo for an epic Oyster and Wine patio pop-up.

Chupito is so back

Well, it never left, but Chupito 1.0 (in Gastown) was such a vibe with its colourful, hidden back-alley patio, that we’ve definitely caught ourselves reminiscing. Fortunately, the beloved cocktail bar and restaurant was able to bring back its iconic yellow shipping container bar, which totally takes us back to summer 2022 and 2023.

Now situated in Chupito 2.0’s backyard, the shipping container bar and patio now operates from Wednesday to Friday starting at 5 p.m., and from 2 p.m. on weekends.

Your sign to do something random

It’s the time of year we’ve all been waiting for, so don’t let a couple of drizzly days in the forecast get you down. Soak up the late sunsets, dance in the rain, and get out there and try something new. The universe may reward you for putting yourself out there in ways you never thought possible.

• Learn to salsa at Sun Hop Park on June 5, 12, 19, and/or 26.
• Check out an Urban Vibes Market on Saturday, June 27, with the West End BIA.
• Enjoy a full day of free live music at the Kamloops Plaza in East Village on Saturday, June 27.
• Make a travel mug at Slice of Life Gallery with Pomelo Pottery Club on Sunday, June 28.
• Indulge in some live jazz with your wine at Fabrique St. George.
• Tour a historic jazz venue in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, June 30.
• Listen to the confessions of a mystic on Thursday, July 2.

We’ll catch you on the flipside, Vancouver.

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