Vancouver can be deathly dreary in the winter (and the spring ”¦ and the fall) but this year's Georgia Straight Summer in the City issue proves that Vancouver is the place to be once the sun begins to shine. We've scoped out the best in summer arts, movie, music, and food festivals as well as everything from dining and dating to style and sports. So no more whining about this no-fun city!

Summer events

Catching the summer arts festival fever

Summer concert tickets worth trading up for

Fair-weather film festivals let you travel the world

Go grazing at these summer food festivals

Vancouver fundraisers profit charities and you

LGBT-friendly summer fun in Vancouver

Books

Reading the city as a poem in A Verse Map of Vancouver

Vancouver Matters thinks its way through the city

Food and dining

Wanted: an affordable bistro on English Bay

Pickers point way to bounty of fresh berries

Burrard Bridge Marine Bar & Grill's pirate pub serves it all up with a view, matey

Get it while it's young: Beaujolais by the batch

Lifestyle and travel

The art of the pickup in Vancouver

Beauty takes on new shapes

Oil prices may create more local tourism

Steal this deal: staycation in the fun lane

Sports

Summer sports offer windows into other cultures

Freewheeling bicycle culture cranks out fun

Style

The monokini brings cutout chic to the beach

Making small urban patios big on design