Today we're super excited to announce that this summer Poppytalk will be taking our online world to the streets! Yes, that's right, we are joining a group of amazing local artists, makers, food vendors and new programs to the Chinatown Night Market here in Vancouver! And we can't wait! If you haven't already heard, this year the Chinatown Night Market has been undergoing a revitalization plan that will make this much-loved summer event a really unique entertainment and shopping experience. Not only will you be able to get the regular night market fare, but you’ll also see a rotating selection of artisanal goods, local art, cool crafts, crazy fun events (think ping-pong tournaments, mahjong, hip-hop karaoke, The Street Fighter II Tournament) along with a weekly on-site food truck gathering organized by the Vancouver Street Food Society and will include favourites like Vij’s Railway, Roaming Dragon, Le Tigre, Tacofino, and Mogu!
“Now that the weather is warming up, it's hard not to get excited about the night market and to see everything we've been working on become a reality,” said Tannis Ling, managing director of the new vision for the Night Market. “The buzz has grown quickly in a short period of time and the response from everyone has been extremely positive. People are looking forward to the changes we've implemented but also for their returning favourite events and vendors so there is literally something for everyone.”
The team’s dedication to renewal, collaboration, and innovation will extend to the types of vendors being added to the existing line-up. As program director, Ken Tsui explains, “There’s going to be a resourcefulness from other more underground markets--book, art, and vintage stalls and also artisanal food items--something a little more eclectic.” Here's a list of some of the other vendors joining us!
Aka Design GeneralStore - fine goods & good finds
China Cloud – art, jewelry
Cocolico – artisanal sweet snacks
Collage Collage – kid’s arts supplies
Community Thriftand Vintage - sunglasses
Derek Gaw - laser cutting arts
Draw Me a Lion – unique colouring activities
Duchesse Vintage – vintage clothing and homeware
Espiritu DesignStudio - ceramics
Hey Jude Vintage – vintage clothing
Kaffe Coffee – locally roasted Vietnamese coffee beans
Lissu – linen products
Mellifera Bees – artisanal honey
Olla Flowers – flower arrangements and plants
Paperbacknote – blank notebooks with original covers
Pearl Knits – fibre crafts
The Pie Shoppe
Poppytalk (us)!– rotating local and int'l art, design and crafts
Port Paper Co. – custom letterpress and fine paper goods
Project Space – books and magazines for creatives
Sharks andHammers – apparel, art, candy
The SoapDispensary – natural cleaning products and tools
Sugo Sauce – authentic Italian tomato sauce
SupaSnap – snapback hats
Sunday Morning Ice Cream – small batch locally made
We Are Local – rotating art, design and crafts
The Window – arts and crafts
Woo2cu – women’s apparal
Ystävä – accessories, jewelry
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| Blackbird Letterpress |
We're super-excited to be bringing in some of our favourite designers/makers to the night market and so we thought it would be fun to give it a night camping/patio theme. We found some really fun industrial-style string patio lighting that we're looking forward to hanging in our stall which will start out with some really amazing letterpress from Blackbird Letterpress out of Louisiana –cards that you can turn into 3D (vintage station wagons, campers and even merit badges); we also have local designs from Cabin and Cub - bamboo crests, badges and pins with images like pinecones etched onto them, the beautiful lazer work of Alex Henderson of Henderson Drygoods (think really cool Vancouver Special wooden pins and jewelry), bags and pouches and tea towels from Bookhou and some really fun DIY kits and stamps from one of my favourite designers Yellow Owl Workshop out of San Francisco. So a variety of easy to carry items, but unique and something you don't normally see at a night market atmosphere.
To kick off the new program, ping pong enthusiasts--novice and expert alike--are invited down to take part in the inaugural Chinatown Night Market Ping Pong Club. Some highlights to catch in the weeks following include Rain City Chronicles; Hip Hop Karaoke; The Chinatown Mahjong Social; Night Vision: Projection Photo Show including works by Fred Herzog; a Dumpling Festival; Weekend Leisure Karaoke; Chinatown Outdoor Cinema; Sonic Boom! The Street Fighter II Tournament; and much more.
In keeping with tradition, the market’s annual opening ceremony will be hosted by AM1320; federal, provincial, and civic government representatives and community leaders will also be present to take in the festivities. Representatives will give speeches, awards will be presented and a traditional roasted suckling pig will be carved followed by an evening of music and dance to mark the opening of the 18th year of the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market.
Tannis Ling also told me the committee is really focused on rotating vendors, so there will always be something new to see all summer long. Poppytalk will be there the entire time from May through to September. And we can't wait to meet you! So if you're going to be in the Vancouver area, please please drop by and say Hi! It's going to be sooooooooo fun!
For the Love of Chinatown from Anthem Jackson on Vimeo.
The Chinatown Night Market will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. starting May 17th through September 8th, rain or shine! It’s located on Keefer Street between Main & Columbia. Vancouver, B.C.
Hope to see you there!
