This Friday, we’re all about Dine Out. With a record number of restaurants (well over 200) partaking in one of Canada’s largest food-centred celebrations, it’s a foodie no-brainer (not to mention, easy on the wallet). There are plenty of new options guaranteed to pique the interest of YPs yearning for something a bit less run-of-the-mill, and menus starting at only $18 help sweeten it.
Not feeling the Dine Out vibe? Perhaps you’re more inclined to dine for a cause. Enter Feast Van. Running for the same period as Dine Out, Jan. 18 to Feb. 3, Feast Van’s participating restaurants vow to donate $1 from every multi-course meal sold directly back to the Strathcona Community Centre’s Backpack Food Program. With noteworthy spots like Les Faux Bourgeois, Bao Bei and newcomer The Parker all on board, there’s definitely no excuse to stay home for dinner. Speaking of The Parker, watch for our Notable review coming soon.
Once you’re done with dinner, cruise over to Granville Island and catch the evening performance of Ride the Cyclone if you can score a set of tickets. This dark comedy is part of the PuSH Festival and has been garnering quite the buzz. The show’s premise is (slightly) morbid: based on a “high school chamber choir that perishes in a freak roller-coaster accident and sings about their thwarted dreams.” It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill play – and worth noting in our books.
Saturday, be sure to head over to the recently opened Heirloom Restaurant on South Granville for a bit of brunch. Aim to get there on the early side as the place gets packed with hungry vegetarians on the prowl for their gluten-free fix. Veggies aside, we’ll admit that it is worth the wait. We love their mushroom benny, Spanish eggs and avocado frites.
Post eats, we suggest you stick around this bustling neighbourhood that’s become a haven for new boutiques, cafes, home decor stores and more. Sneak a bit of culture into your day and peruse a few of the more than 20 art galleries that call South Granville home. Unofficially known as ‘Gallery Row,’ there’s something for everyone. On our notable list: check out the Bau-Xi Gallery’s latest instalment, The White Show, running until month’s end.
For anyone craving a little hockey action, the Canucks are just about ready to get things started (we can’t wait!). To help warm you up to the sport, this Saturday pits the SFU men’s hockey team against island rivals UVIC Vikes. The puck drops at 7pm at the Bill Copeland Arena and tickets are available for $10 at the door. Click here for more details.
If you’re so inclined on Sunday, head out to the Tradex to take in this year’s Motorcycle Show (on all weekend). With hundreds of vendors on hand, live demonstrations, daring freestyle shows and a vintage motorcycle display, it’ll have you thinking about all the two-wheeled freedom that comes with owning a bike of your own…
Another option for Sunday-funday is making the trek up to Mt. Seymour for a bit of fun in the outdoors. Given that Vancouver weather is calling for a few more days of sun, we think you ought to take advantage of all the natural vitamin D and strap on some snowshoes for a bit of west coast winter adventuring. They’ve got one of the best selections of trails in the city and were recently named the #1 Resort for snowshoeing in North America. Ticket and rentals are available for only $27. Find more details here.
Before heading home, reward yourself with a post-snow beer at North Van’s The Narrow’s Pub. With a slightly out-of-the-way location (half the fun is finding it), this North Shore favourite’s got the laid back vibe dialled. Their menu includes all tax, has great drink specials and features 35 cent wings (some of the best we’ve found yet). It’s the perfect spot to unwind before thinking about the work week ahead.