With Friday being a day off, get into the swing (or shall we say, swirl) of things this Thursday and grab tickets to attend ReWined (starting at 5:30pm). This wine-savvy, charitable function benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC and Yukon with an auction, live jazz performances, fantastic food and a fine selection of wines. Join former MuchMusic VJ and host Terry David Mulligan as well as local TV personality Marke Driesschen as they tour you through the world’s wine regions for an evening of grape-hued fun. The event takes place at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel (1088 Burrard Street).
In the market for a set of new wheels, or just want to wishfully drool at your dream car? The Vancouver International Auto Show is back for another year of greased-up goodness for all you YP car fanatics out there. Stroll down to BC Place Stadium and check out the line-up of SuperCars and Luxury Lane as well as the new Redline Stage and TruckCity. Admission is only $15 and the show runs all weekend long (Friday from noon until 10pm and Saturday from 10am until 10pm; Sunday from 10am until 6pm).
Stroll into Saturday and head over to check out Strathcona’s newest spot to set up shop, Harvest Community Foods for a late morning fix of locally sourced goodies and groceries. Open from 10am until 9pm, this unique neighbourhood store doubles as a casual eatery offering a selection of delicious comfort foods, over-stuffed sandwiches, soups and more. Located on the fringes of Chinatown at Union Street, we’re pretty excited to see the final project This Space become home to such a necessary store. This Space actually asked locals to vote as to what business would ultimately be granted the 243 Union Street address based on what the community most needed.
Still looking to stock up on locally-grown goods? The end of April will mark the season finale for the Winter Farmer’s Market held at Nat Bailey. They’re constantly rotating new products and producers’ offerings – a noteworthy destination if you’re hosting a traditional Easter dinner with friends and family. Looking to garner a little escape? Then why not make it a day trip and head over to Bowen Island by ferry and explore Alderwood Farm or The Ruddy Potato Wholefoods Market? It doesn’t get much more locally-sourced and west coast-style than this.
Fancy an excuse to dress up a laThe Untouchables? Saturday night, dust off your best pinstriped suit, don those suspenders and wingtips, and get yourself over to The Cellar for the highly anticipated and always-fun Spicebox Prohibition Party. Their first such event was hosted in Whistler and still has people talking, so we’re definitely thinking you don’t want to miss out on this one. There will be DJs on-hand, plenty of original (20s-themed) cocktails to enjoy, great food, contests for best-dressed and more.
Embrace Sunday in full-on lazy mode and reserve a few spots at the historic Rosewood Hotel for Easter Brunch. Load up on specially prepared Easter offerings (including an Eggs Benedict buffet and sushi bar), and be entered to win plenty of prize giveaways (including a free hotel stay, spa treatments and more). In keeping with the prohibition theme from the previous night, the Kris Covlin Trio will play jazz and ragtime tunes from the Roaring 20s. Brunch starts at 11am and tickets start at $70.
Spend the rest of your day strolling through town and take in the ongoing festivities that celebrate spring’s arrival as part of The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. With plenty of daily events taking place until month’s end, here are a few to get you started.