{"id":667061,"date":"2026-05-13T16:53:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/667061\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:53:21","slug":"what-to-send-your-vancouver-group-chat-this-week-may-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/667061\/","title":{"rendered":"What to send your Vancouver group chat this week (May 12)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to the\u00a0Vancouver Group Chat. If you\u2019re hoping to uncover some of the city\u2019s biggest updates of the week, you\u2019ve come to the right place. And if you\u2019re looking for something more niche to add to your long weekend itinerary, we\u2019ve got you covered, too. The weather forecast<\/a> might not be on your side, but we are!<\/p>\n

Last week, we dove into Kits Pool reopening<\/a>, Nick Jonas\u2019 love of Vancouver, and where to get your pet\u2019s portrait drawn.<\/p>\n

This week, an exciting summer festival has announced its return, and Stanley Park might just be getting a new bus route.<\/p>\n

You know the drill. Here\u2019s what\u2019s worth sending in your group chats this week (May 12).<\/p>\n

What\u2019s new, Vancouver?\"thePhoto via Isabelle VauclairChillin\u2019 in the Park is back<\/p>\n

Mount Pleasant\u2019s iconic free music and beer festival<\/a> at Dude Chilling Park is officially back<\/a> for Summer 2026. We can already feel the sun in our eyes and the grass on our feet as we sip a crisp, craft brew, listening to the sounds of talented local artists waft through the air. It\u2019s a perfect way to spend a Saturday in the summer, and it\u2019s one of those community events that really makes Vancouver feel like a living, breathing entity, and not just a pretty destination.<\/p>\n

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25!<\/p>\n

New bus around Stanley Park<\/p>\n

The ink isn\u2019t dry on this just yet, but TransLink<\/a> recently proposed a new bus route around Stanley Park, and you can take the survey<\/a> to make your voice heard. The new bus service would run seasonally on weekends only, but it would be a major step in making Vancouver\u2019s largest urban park more accessible.<\/p>\n

It would also reduce traffic in the area and the demand for parking.<\/p>\n

You have until May 31 to take the online survey and help TransLink make some key decisions, including how long the service should run, hours of operation, bus stop locations, bus frequency, and where the route connects to within Stanley Park.<\/p>\n

Laburnums, rhododendrons, and other surreal blooms<\/p>\n

Cherry blossom season might be over, but the vibrant spring blooms are just getting started.<\/p>\n

Speaking of, VanDusen\u2019s golden laburnum season is now in full swing, as of a garden update issued on Instagram on May 8<\/a>. If you\u2019ve never been on the Laburnum Walk and let these stunning, honey-yellow blossoms drape over you, now is your chance.<\/p>\n

According to the botanical garden\u2019s bloom calendar<\/a>, May is also prime time to enjoy the rhododendrons, which absolutely thrive in the rainy Pacific Northwest. You may have even noticed these large, trumpet-shaped flowers popping up on your neighbourhood streets\u2014they\u2019re everywhere, and some of these mostly-evergreen shrubs are taller than trees!<\/p>\n

\"VancouverPhoto via Isabelle Vauclair\/Curiocity<\/p>\n

VanDusen is home to over 650 different varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas, making it a great spot to enjoy the peak of the season.<\/p>\n

Your sign to do something random<\/p>\n

And with that, we leave you to explore and discover something new until next week, when we do it all again.<\/p>\n

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A new one-of-a-kind cruise will set sail from Vancouver to Bowen Island this summer<\/a><\/p>\n

Isabelle Vauclair<\/p>\n

Staff Writer, Vancouver \u2013 Isabelle is a West Coast native with an appreciation for Vancouver\u2019s natural landscape, patio scene, and community spaces. She loves to discover new hidden gems in her neighbourhood and share them with readers across the city.<\/p>\n

Read articles<\/a>