Dancing in the streets
One of Vancouver’s most fun- and food-filled celebrations, Greek Day 2008, flows onto West Broadway between Macdonald and Blenheim streets on Sunday (June 22) from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. There’ll be souvlaki-laden grills, dancing, music, and Greek vegetarian cooking demos at the Cambas Wines Culinary Cooking Tent. Yemistá (stuffed vegetables), revithia (chickpea stew), and spanakorizo (rice and spinach) will be on the menu, plus visitors can get hands-on making dolmades and spanakopita.

Built-in baby sitter
Parents with young ’uns between the ages of three and seven have a new kid-friendly dining option. Chambar Belgian Restaurant (562 Beatty Street) is offering Freedom Night every Thursday this summer. While adults spend two blissful child-free hours at Chambar, their kids can eat and whoop it up at the adjacent Café Medina, supervised by professional nannies from Nannies on Call. Cost is $30 per kid, reservations are mandatory at 604-879-7119.

Breakfast of champions
A team of cyclists riding from Halifax to Victoria will brake in Vancouver on Saturday (June 21) for a celebratory breakfast. The riders are raising money and awareness for the Strachan Hartley Legacy Foundation (www.shlf.ca/), a nonprofit organization that provides sports and educational programs for underprivileged children. Show up at the 9 a.m. event at John Lawson Park (at the foot of 17th Street, West Vancouver) for a complimentary pancake breakfast sponsored by the Salmon House; meet B.C. Lions like Kelly Bates and Javier Glatt, who will be on hand for autographs; and more.

Sweet spot
Izakayas may be popping up everywhere, but newbie Kakurenbou Japanese Dining (793 Jervis Street, near Robson; 604-696-9965) is worth checking out. Designed by the same folks who did Denman Street’s Kingyo, it’s a sophisticated place with bar seating fronting a glassed-off open kitchen; heavy, dark-wood décor; and fun nooks and crannies. The posh small-plates menu includes Kobe roast beef and grilled scallops with fava beans.

Down by the riverside
Want to know what to do with some of those colourful veggies at local farmers markets? Hit the Sunday Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market (Chatham Street & Fourth Avenue) for demos and tastings as guest chefs roam the market for inspiration and ingredients and cook them up. This week it’s the market’s resident chef, Ian Lai. Others on the bill this summer include Savory Coast’s Romy Prasad and Sushila Nairan of Steveston Seafood House.

Can't stop at just one puff
Following its success at Aberdeen Centre, Beard Papa’s has opened a second Canadian outlet at 1184 Denman Street. The Japan-based cream-puff chain was mobbed by fans when it opened in Richmond last fall. Now West Enders won’t have to cross two bridges to find out why. One puff costs $1.75; six go for $9.50.

Fresh on Fouth
Italian Kitchen’s scaled down Kitsilano outpost, Trattoria, opens today (June 19) at 1850 West 4th Avenue. On the menu? IK’s monster meatballs, hearty bruschetta, antipasti platters, pasta, plus a well-priced wine list that kicks off with a $5 glass of red. Trattoria’s a looker, too, with a can’t-miss lipstick-red mirrored back wall.

Shaking it up
Cheers to Chambar’s Wendy McGuinness, whose “Not an EFFEN Cosmo” trumped the competition to take the top prize in EFFEN Vodka’s Cocktail Battle Invitational at Boneta on June 9. Created with Sex in the City moviegoers in mind, McGuinness’s smooth libation muddles rhubarb and kiwi, blood orange bitters, and vodka.