Vancouver Weekender: February 28 through March 3, 2013

Post work, head home and spruce yourself up (grab your cocktail attire and fancy flats, you’ll need them).  Beeline your way over to the Vancouver Convention Centre for this year’s 35th Annual Vancouver International Wine Festival for their grand tasting event.  Mix and mingle your way around the massive venue, tasting your way through wines offered by 175 different wineries from around the world. It is always a sell-out party, so don’t wait to grab one of the last few remaining tickets if you haven’t already.  After the tasting, we’re thinking you’ll likely want to keep the juices flowing (and perhaps grab a substantial bite?).  That said, make your way over to the Pacific Rim’s Lobby Bar for a bit of live music and delectable bites of comfort food gems (we love the beef short rib poutine as a late-night fix).

Not into milling about with hundreds of others getting boozy? No problem, do some good and get out to CocoaNymph’s Sweet Temptations fundraiser benefit for the Sarah McLachlan School of Music on Friday evening.  Enjoy live entertainment, sweet and savoury treats, an entertaining live auction, and more, with a percentage of proceeds going directly back to the foundation that supports after-school music education for at-risk children in Vancouver. Definitely worth noting.

If you haven’t already had the chance to check out one of the last remaining performances at the Chutzpah! Festival, today might be your last chance – it ends Sunday.  On our radar as a must see: catch a performance of Haunted (at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre), a play about rational people intoxicated by the unseen and mysterious…guaranteed entertainment that will keep the conversation going. 

If you’re seeking a bit of cultural entertainment, we think you might be interested in checking out the Talking Stick Festival (also winding down this weekend).  It’s another citywide festival loaded with live performances, theatre, dance, storytelling and music, courtesy of an array of talented Aboriginal artists.  The remaining performances take place at various venues around town; find out more by clicking here. On our list of suggested performances to partake in: Ab-Original Cabaret it guaranteed to kick things up a notch and takes over the Wise Hall in East Van.

Also taking over the PNE Forum this weekend (this one’s not for the guys), the West Coast Women’s Show is back, and this time features plenty of reasons for the ladies to add a little extra spring to their step.  With fashion shows, a meet and greet with Tony Okungbowa (he’s Ellen’s main music-maker on The Ellen DeGeneres Show), 200+ vendors on hand, expert Q&A and plenty more, it’s the perfect way to spend a potentially rainy day.

Come Saturday night, why not head out to one of the city’s numerous sports pubs to catch the game (that is, unless you’re lucky enough to have tickets to attend)… The Canuck’s take on the LA Kings, and what better a place to score yourself a seat with the rowdy crowd than at the Red Card Sports Bar.  We recently paid a visit to this sprawling spot located right downtown and loved the Euro atmosphere (and great eats).

Get inspired for the season ahead and be sure to catch the last day of the Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  Score pre-season deals on summertime equipment (kayaks, SUP’s, cycling, climbing and plenty more) that will ignite the fire.  Mulling over a potential mid-season trip abroad? This show’s got it all – learn about adventure tours, eco-vacations, safaris and plenty more.

Come Sunday evening, we suggest you stick around close to home, dry that liver out and gear up for another busy week ahead.  Prep for a few more food-minded indulgences that are in store… we’re talking Dining Out For Life and Two Chefs and a Table’s special pop up ‘2 Chefs Chicken Shack’ (March 6-8 only and worth noting).  We had a sneak peek of the goods and will share our culinary droolings/musings in an upcoming post.