Dine for design
Diners at Boneta (1 West Cordova Street) can end their meal on Sunday (July 13) with rhubarb cheesecake and a good feeling. That’s because half of the ticket price for the $65 three-course dinner goes to Lu’s Pharmacy for Women. The Downtown Eastside project, slated to open in September, was designed by a team of UBC architecture students, who have paired with Boneta for this fundraiser. For reservations, call 604-684-1844.

No snobs allowed
Want to get into wine, but without all the pretentious wine-speak? Then sign on for the WaaZuBee Wicked Wine Club, which goes the last Tuesday of every month at the WaaZuBee Café (1622 Commercial Drive, 604-253-5299). Themed tastings ($30 to $35) are paired with food. Get some practice on Wednesdays, when a special lot of wines is $6.95 a glass.

Light my fire
Barbecues are all about dining in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. And what better environment is there for meeting new people? On July 25, the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is holding Cook! and the City BBQ, a class for singles that breaks the ice by putting barbecue technique front and centre. The Friday-night event includes a buffet barbecue and two beers, as well as hands-on instruction, for $95. For info, call 604-734-4488.

Shack attack
A new eatery has opened in the former space of Ouzeri Greek restaurant. As you might expect from the name, the Shack Eatery and Watering Hole (3189 West Broadway) has a casual, roughly hewn décor. Owned by the same folks as Lola’s Bar down the road, the Shack’s menu sorts the beer choices by bottle colour: clear, brown, or green. Munchies include burgers, pizzas, and pad Thai. Lots of windows bring the outside in, plus there’s a patio.

French fete
Reserve now and you might just squeak into Bistro Pastis’s Bastille Day celebration on Monday (July 14), where $45 buys a three-course French-roots classic meal—pissaladií¨re, entrecí´te Bordelaise and í®le flotante, plus musique franí§aise and dancing. Miss that? Then tuck into a summerlong $35 three-course prix fixe, Monday to Thursday (2153 West 4th Avenue, 604-731-5020) for sublime poulet chasseur and more.

No shoes and service
Duck into the new Barefoot Kitchen (1725 Davie Street) for yoshoku fare. The restaurant, which serves this Japanese-style western food, specializes in curry rice ($6.50 to $9.50). Other classic yoshoku dishes include teriyaki hamburg steak, tonkatsu breaded pork cutlet, and spaghetti with tarako fish roe. Find the place just below street level on Davie, marked with a bright orange awning.

Bombay or bust
If you’re a regular at Davie Street’s India Bistro, read on. If you’re not, try it. Either way, hightail it downtown to Salam Bombay, chef-restaurateur Kamal Mroke’s newest resto (217–755 Burrard Street); this one’s uptown all the way. An inventive menu features Ridiculously Fibrous Kamasutra Vegetables, Holy Prawns with Cashew Spice Fondue, and spicy calamari with shaved coconut.

Festival a go-go
Some go to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 18 to 20) for the cool beats, others for the food. This year, the Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company, Taste of Thailand, Noah’s Fish Tacos, Jamaican Mi Juicy, and more will be fuelling festivalgoers. The Ethical Bean Coffee Company has stashed weekend passes for the festival, Willy Wonka–style, in specially labelled bags of Ethical Bean Vancouver Folk Music Festival Blend, available at Choices Market, Capers Community Market, Donald’s Market, and London Drugs.