The Vancouver Group Chat: What your friends are talking about this week (July 7)

Welcome back to the Vancouver Group Chat, your go-to for some of the city’s hottest updates, upcoming events, and reasons to stay out late. Last week, we covered a pop-up wine bar and the reopening of an iconic back patio.

This week, the city is abuzz with impromptu street celebrations regardless of what the scoreboard says, a new rooftop patio, mini golf at Stanley Park, and so much more.

If you’re waiting for the city to slow down for a minute, don’t hold your breath. It’s go time!

Here’s what your friends are talking about this week (July 7).

What’s new, Vancouver?

Host nations are out, hosting parties is in

Mexico (and before that, Brazil and Canada) may not be advancing in the FIFA World Cup, but fans did not shy away from celebrating their teams’ fantastic runs. A post is making its rounds on Reddit that shows just how hard Vancouver’s Latin communities ride for each other, with people dancing and cheering along Granville Street, hand-in-hand.

“Honestly, it was just pure, good-natured fun despite the loss. Love seeing the city like this for the World Cup,” reads the post.

Plenty of commenters echoed their support and appreciation for just how much the city has come alive over the past month and a bit.

“I’ve never seen so many of my fellow Mexican people out and about, let alone other nationalities,” said one Redditor. “Everyone is bonding, socializing, and happy.”

Granville Street is staying fun

Speaking of, it looks like the pedestrian zone is here to stay beyond the World Cup! The Vancouver City Council voted to extend the car-free fun to Sept. 6, 2026, and the province has extended liquor and patio licenses through Labour Day, Sept. 7. So the outdoor rallying, singing, dancing, eating, and drinking doesn’t have to dwindle just because we’re nearing the finals.

In fact, consider this an official call to action, Vancouver. If you haven’t made your way to Granville Street or the PNE Fan Festival yet, this is your chance to do it. And if you have as much of a blast as we’ve had (much to our surprise), make your voice heard and let’s hope the City continues to support local businesses and promote third spaces like these.

A Pride-themed meet-cute

Imagine being able to say that you met your significant other at an after-hours gallery event. As it turns out, the Vancouver Art Gallery is all about making your dreams of whimsy, art, and romance come true.

In collaboration with Thursday Dating, the gallery will present “Meet Me at the Gallery: Pride Edition” on Friday, July 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. The singles mixer will get you out there in the most gentle way possible: With fun music, great drinks, and art in every corner that encourages conversation over swiping.

The night will be hosted by one of Vancouver’s most iconic drag performers, Mx Bukuru, and will include exclusive access to the Gallery’s first and second-floor exhibitions. This includes That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature, Jim Lambie: Zobop (Colour-Chrome) and Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change.

Tickets are available online for $40 to $45 a pop, and doors officially open at 6:45 p.m., if you prefer to show up a bit early.

Vancouver’s newest rooftop patio

Bar Supernova, a highly anticipated project by award-winning cocktail artists Max Curzon-Price and Andrew Kong, has officially opened the doors to its rooftop patio downtown.

In a pop-up series aptly named “Dude, Where’s My Bar?!” the team has decided to start pouring before the bar is even technically complete.

“Construction takes forever, and we’re tired of waiting,” say the pair in a recent Instagram post. “We’ll be pouring drinks every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the summer ’til the contractors are finished building our frickin’ bar!”

You can check it out at the Keefer House Rooftop (123 Keefer St.) from 1 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Your sign to do something random

• Try Cyanotype printing at this free workshop at Slice of Life Gallery on Tuesday, July 7.
• Relive your youth at this old school games night with Tabletop RPGs at Slice of Life Gallery on Thursday, July 9.
• Attend a pancake picnic and block party in Mount Pleasant on Sunday, July 12.
• Sculpt a mushroom with Pomelo Pottery Club on Sunday, July 12.
• Peruse this monthly Makers Market in East Village on Saturday, July 11 (and the second Saturday each month through September)
• Go on a West End mural tour on July 11, 18, and 25 with Curated Tastes.
• Try needle felting in the plaza at this free community workshop in the West End on Tuesday, July 14.

That’s a wrap for now, Vancouver. We’ll check back in next week!

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