Black Joins Blackbird; Indian Summer Festival Launch

ROBSON STREET— Eight Robson Street restaurants are offering picnic lunch-style meals until the end of August for a fun Pop-Up Picnic project. There are dedicated picnic spaces at Urban Pasture (in front of Café Crepe ), the Urban Reef at the 800 block on Robson or at the pop-up area at 1100 Robson. Every picnic lunch includes a free Robson tumbler, while supplies last. Participating restaurants include ABODE, AllStar Wings & Ribs, Cactus Club, Café Crepe, Earls, Ebisu, Milestones and Steamrollers. [EW]

DOWNTOWN— The Blackbird announced today that Alex Black is joining their weekend team alongside barstar Jay Jones. Alex, Director of Communications for CPBA, recently made it to the last 25 for the prestigious World Class Canada contest, and you can catch him at the Hawksworth Cocktail Bar on weekdays. [EW]

ALL ACROSS THE CITY— The Indian Summer festival launches today with a raft of cultural and culinary events across town until July 12. Tickets for the closing event, Dinner By Starlight, at an undisclosed secret location are still available, the glitzy dinner is "an enchanting evening of entertainment, inclusive of drinks and a 4-course meal prepared by Vikram Vij and his team" at a pricey-but-worth-it $350. [EW]

KITSILANO— The Trattoria meatball eating contest is back for this year's Khatsahlano Music + Art Festival, on Saturday, July 12. You'll have two minutes to eat as many meatballs as you can. For ever meatball consumed, Glowbal will donate $2 to BC Children's Hospital Foundation. The proud winner will receive a Glowbal Group Meatball Champion Card entitling the bearer to a year's worth of unlimited Spaghetti & Meatballs – available at Trattoria (some conditions apply). Email if you're interested in competing.[EW]