Oakridge

What do tweezers, Q-tips, secateurs and dress socks have in common?

They’re all on the list of items professional rose growers should have on hand while preparing their flowers for competition. Which means they’ll all come in handy this Sunday, June 24, when the Vancouver Rose Society hosts its annual show at VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Floral Hall. The judging starts at 9:30 a.m. and the show is open to the public at noon. Admission is free.

Downtown

The Shangri-La Hotel is launching its inaugural farmers market this Sunday, June 24, on the third floor terrace of Market by Jean-Georges restaurant, which will include nine local vendors and one winery.

As a bonus, Shangri-La’s executive chef Wayne Harris and his team will use products from the vendors to create signature Market canapés while the bartending team will be stirring up house-made sodas. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards will also be on-hand with complimentary samples. (A bartending team and wine? Now that’s my kind of farmers market.) The market runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to the public.

Oakridge

Speaking of farmers markets, a new addition to the Oak Street market is a Shiatsu stand so shoppers can buy their free-range eggs, pick up organic produce and get a massage at the same time. Now if only it had a bartending team.

The Oak Street Farmers Market runs Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, located at the corner of Oak Street and West 49th Avenue.

Granville Island

Granville Island invites you to bring your “eh-game” July 1 for fun and mostly free patriotic pleasures to mark Canada Day.

Visitors can enjoy a parade set to live jazz, culinary adventures, fun for kids with a multicultural twist, craft demonstrations and a retro-inspired dance party dedicated to disco queen Donna Summer. (That pretty much sums up my life in Canada.) As well, “bike artist” Red Sara will be at the False Creek Community Centre Sports Court on Granville Island from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. helping cyclists add some colour and sparkle to their wheels. Bikes, trikes, strollers and helmets are all a blank canvas as far as Red Sara is concerned.

The Canada Day parade runs from 1:30 to 2 p.m. starting at Ocean Construction and featuring the Carnival Band and lion dancers. (Don’t get me started on the stilt walkers.) Don’t forget to wear your best red and white to take advantage of False Creek Ferries and Aquabus’ offer of two-for-one ferry transportation. For a complete schedule, visit granvilleisland.com.

West End

Whole Food Markets is hosting a free screening of Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? at Denman Cinemas, June 28 at 7 p.m.

The documentary aims to raise awareness of the global bee crisis, motivate people to take action and share ways they can be part of the solution. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the long-term fate of honey bees is not good. By sponsoring the Share the Buzz, Honey Bee Campaign, now through June 28, Whole Foods hopes to raise $180,000 to restore pollination habitats. Admission is by donation.

West End

Author Lisa Anne Smith presents a free reading from her book Our Friend Joe: The Joe Fortes Story, co-written with Barbara Rogers, in Alexandra Park June 25 at 7 p.m. The book launches June 30 at Roedde House Museum.

sthomas@vancourier.com

Twitter: sthomas10