Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Fest Beings

Hey there,

Welcome to the March 29th edition of Noms Mag weekly run-down!

Assuming that the weather holds up, it is going to be a busy busy weekend in the city!

Whether it be events or food, we’ve got you covered on what should be on your radar!

Anyways buckle up and let's get filled in for this long weekend!

☁️ LONG WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST

🌸 FOOD FEST BEGINS TODAY

Welcome to the first Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Fest (Mar 29 - Apr 28)- another one of our month-long self guided food festivals!

Like our previous festivals, various restaurants and cafes will be crafting unique cherry blossom inspired festival items for you to enjoy.

From parfaits to torched wagyu to matcha coconut drinks, you bet the festival item line up will have something for you!

Maybe it is a delicious Strawberry Daifuku Sundae from Elephant Garden Creamery on Commercial Drive?

Or the Pink Matcha - guava & matcha - from Richmond’s Sunny M Specialty Coffee & Cafe?

Or a Sakura House Roll from East Vancouver’s Takenaka Onigiri Cafe?

There are many great items to try at this festival!

And ofcourse - the Festival Passport is back and in colour this time ✨

Purchase festival items to gain stickers for your passport.

Once you collect 3, 6, or 9 stickers, you’ll gain entries into the tiered sweepstakes to win great prizes!

Lastly, you can double your chances of winning by taking part in the Festival Missions!

These are fun and simple activities to complete during your festival adventures gain entries to win something from our prize pool!

🌟 NEW & COMING SOON & GOODBYES

1.🍜 Popular Vietnamese spot expands to Burnaby - Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen opens with 15% off dine-in for next two weeks.

2.🍣 Downtown Vancouver's 'Black Rice' bids adieu - After 10 years, innovative Japanese Izakaya closes April 7.

3.🤖 Richmond's first robot bubble tea shop soft opens - Tea Industries automates with flair, no tipping required.

4.🍜 Burnaby's MYST to spice up Vancouver - Huge menu Asian fusion coming to Kerrisdale.

5.🌿 The Arbor closing in April - Popular Vancouver veg-forward spot ends its 7.5-year run.

6.🌮🍣 Miso Taco stays put - Chinatown's Mexican-Japanese spot cancels sale.

7.🍂 Mount Pleasant cafe says goodbye - Novella to close doors April 7, ending a local era.

8.🍣 Kazu's farewell - Burnaby's staple for authentic Japanese to close after 10 years.

9.🍵 Famous bubble tea spot closing - Machi Machi's Robson St. location ends lease March 31.

10.🍜 Ramen chain's new Robson outpost - KINTON RAMEN soft opens, grand opening April 12 with 50% off.

11.🍜 Chef Hung's Kerrisdale location closes - Only UBC outpost remains for Taiwanese beef noodles in Vancouver.

12.📉 Digital food hall bids farewell - Food Republic closed its doors in downtown Vancouver.

👉 Check out 10 more new restaurants that have opened here.

👉 Or check out 10 more restaurants that have closed recently here.

📰 QUICK FOOD NEWS & DEALS

1.☕️ SHOCKING Meaning Behind % Arabica’s Iconic Logo - No it is not a percentage mark like we thought it was…

2.🫣 McDonald’s Epic Crossover - Yu-Gi-Oh Meets Hello Kitty in New Happy Meal Mania

3.💧 Soju Scam at Vancouver Korean Restaurant - Friends served water in soju bottle, sparking controversy.

4.💸 Richmond Food Court Sticker Shock - Outrageous lease rates for small spaces shock local food scene.

5.🥩[DEAL] Blackwalnut Tomahawk Steak - $89 (original $150) for min. 36 oz. tomahawk steak w/ fresh greens and fries. Only available Tues - Thurs.

6.🍦 [DEAL] BOGO at new Kits gelato shop - Tutto Belle Il Gelato grand opens March 30 & 31 with BOGO offer (11AM - 8PM) and balloon twisting.

7.🍹 [DEAL] YiFang Tea deal alert - Buy 2 drinks, get 1 free Mango Sago Smoothie until March 31.

8.🍦[DEAL]$1 Blizzards @ Dairy Queen - Happening March 11 - 31 and claimed on the DQ app.

9.☕️ POV Barista Solo Shift - watch Mia from Timbertrain sling some coffee from her point of view!

🗓️ EVENTS THAT MATTER

1.🌸 [FESTIVAL] Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Fest (Mar 29 - Apr 28) - 10+ food spots around Metro Vancouver offering limited time cherry blossom inspired items + festival passport to win prizes

2.🍔 [FESTIVAL] Bite of Burnaby 2024 (Mar 1 - 31) - 30+ Burnaby restaurants offering special menus, combos, and deals at set prices ranging from $10 to $60; @ throughout Burnaby

3.🥰 [MARKET] Eastside Flea (every Sat & Sun) - 50 local vendors, rotating food trucks, outdoor seating, yummy seasonal beverages; @ 1101 Union Street; 11AM -5PM

4.🥯 [POP UP] Wa-Bagel x Itsumo Pop Up (Mar 29 - Apr 1) - enjoy Japanese style bagels, find your fav. plate or cup; @ ENISHI Mount Pleasant

5.🐰 [POP UP] My love at first bite Macaron Pop Up (Mar 30th) - easter/spring-themed macarons pop up; @ Saje Wellness Metrotown; 1PM - 6PM

6.🎡 [EVENT] West Coast Amusements Carnival (Mar 29 - Apr 14) - the carnival is back with games, cotton candy and rides; @ Lansdowne Parking Lot

7.🖌️ [MARKET] HEE Market (Mar 29) - 30+ local vendors in arts, fashion and food and bev; @ Heritage Hall 3102 Main Street; 10AM - 4PM

8.🌸 [EVENT] Blossoms After Dark (Mar 29 - 31) - stroll through David Lam Park with illuminated cherry blossom trees, enjoy food and entertainment; @ David Lam Park; 6PM - 10PM

9.🌸 [EVENT] The Big Picnic (Mar 30) - group dance/movement activity, our Poetry in Motion booth, paper fan decorating, Wishing Tree, drum circles, and more; @ David Lam Park; 9:30 AM - 4PM

10🌸 [FESTIVAL] Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival (Apr 7) - local artisans, taiko drumming, dancers, origami folding, food vendors; @ Garry Point Park; 11AM - 4PM

🗓️ Check out more events happening in Metro Vancouver here.

That's all for now! Stay warm and have a delicious and exciting long weekend!

-Jason