Bars, restaurants pour a few for Pride
Some proceeds to benefit AIDS Foundation
A slew of Vancouver bars and restaurants are getting into the spirit of Pride — while also raising funds for a good cause — by inviting patrons to raise a glass (or two).
More than 45 establishments including Bauhaus, Royal Dinette, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Tacofino, The Union and more, have pledged support to the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation by crafting a variety of signature themed cocktails inspired by Pride.
Dubbed the Pride Cocktail Crawl, the fundraiser sees the establishments offer their guests the opportunity to sip on creative concoctions such as the Clover Club Martini, Over The Rainbow, Purple Rain and The Proud Seaman throughout the month of August, with partials proceeds from each drink sold going to benefit the Dr. Peter Centre, which provides support to British Columbians who are battling with HIV.
“We are indebted to the generous support of an ever-growing group of local bars and restaurants for showing their pride and giving back to those living with HIV in a profound and meaningful way by taking part in our inaugural Pride Crawl,” Brittany Grant, the spokesperson for the foundation said in a news release. “We look forward to this event becoming a regular part of the annual celebration of Pride in Vancouver for years to come.”
To learn more about the fundraiser, visit drpeter.org/ cocktail. The Vancouver Pride Parade takes place Aug. 6 in downtown Vancouver.
The ROYGBIV
Toast this weekend’s PRIDE celebrations with a custom cocktail that’s inspired by the LGBT flag.
Shaun Layton, of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, crafted this delicious drink with all the colours of the aforementioned flag in mind.
“I tried my hardest to incorporate all these colours into the recipe,” Layton said in a news release. “I made a beautiful, bright-blue cocktail, a fun, flamboyant, and of course tasty beverage.”
Here’s how to make it at home, or you could always imbibe at Boulevard, where The ROYGBIV will be on offer for $15, with $5 from each drink going to the Pride Crawl Fundraiser to benefit the Dr. Peter Centre. What you’ll need: 1 1/2 oz. (45 mL) Jamaica rum 1/2 oz. (10 mL) Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur
1/2 oz. (10 mL) fresh orange juice 1/2 oz. (10 mL) Blue Curaçao 1 oz. (20 mL) coconut milk 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla syrup 4 dashes Ms. Betters Green Strawberry bitters
How to mix it
Shake all the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain over crushed ice into a tall glass. Garnish with fresh mint, and two (or more!) Pride flags. Sip and enjoy. Happy Pride!