Get things started this weekend and leave your lunch at home so you’re forced to duck out of the office to pay a visit to Dine Out Vancouver’s Street Food City event (ongoing until Sunday at the Vancouver Art Gallery). We’ve given you the lowdown on a prior post about this popular event – so make haste and go see what all the fuss is about. Your taste buds will thank you for it, trust us.
Next, continue the Dine Out loving, keep it local and head down to Granville Island Friday to check out Edible Canada for a taste of prix fixe culinary creations; or wander down to the picturesque Dockside Eatery for a prime waterfront spot. Post eats, stick to the West Side and head over to the Museum of Vancouver for a night of loving (and hating, as it were) as part of ‘Vancouver I Love You But…’ that brings together an eclectic mix of speakers (including former mayor Sam Sullivan) as they rant and rave about the impassioned love affair we have with our fair city.
Come Saturday, take advantage of the day and be sure to head out to explore the latest locally-sourced offerings courtesy of the Vancouver Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium. Stock up on all the local goods courtesy of BeerBrats Sausages and French Made Baking treats, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and sweets courtesy of The Jam Ladies. Whatever suits your fancy, you’ll find more than enough to ensure your fridge is fully stocked for the week ahead.
Lest we forget, Saturday is also a day to honour our fellow Aussie friends, and as part of Australia Day, we’ve rounded up a few worthy ways to celebrate this good times lovin’ nation fuelled by Foster’s, rugby and ‘roos (we know we’ll get slack for that last one). Anyhow, kick things off by grabbing tickets to the Cougars game taking place at Montgomery Park with festivities hosted by Ceili’s downtown location. The party gets started at noon and goes until late.
Also setting the stage for plenty of Aussie-style partying, the Moose Down Under is definitely one spot to check out – it’s long been Vancouver’s official hang out for the Australia Day crowd seeking a rowdy place to kick back for some fun and is located below ground, just off West Pender Street. Doors open at 1pm for an all day party complete with a re-loop of the Triple J Hottest 100 (if you’re an Aussie, we’re guessing you know what that means).
Feeling up to something a bit more refined? Well then, make your way over to the Stanley Park Pavilion for a night of Down Under drinking with the House Wine girls. They’ve partnered up with plenty of Australian wineries (more than 40 different wineries to be exact), and invite you to taste your way around the country as part of a celebratory evening of discovery.
After all the food-related festivities, we’re betting you’ll be up for a bit of outdoorsy action to work it off. Start off with a day hike over on the North Shore, check out the local mountains or meander your way through the UBC Pacific Spirit Park trails. Rain or shine – just relish the fact that (unlike the rest of the country) we’re not subjected to wind chill factors and ridiculously low (-21) temperatures.
Post-workout, be sure to grab a coffee and light bite at one of our favourites: Mix. Aside from having great brew going at all times, they’ve got a great selection of savoury and sweet treats, biscotti, pastries and more. Not to mention, it’s a great place to park off for a bit of people watching.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite (again), grab tickets and beeline your way down to Chinatown for Gung Haggis Fat Choy (the annual celebration of Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year hosted by the BC Scottish and Chinese communities). It all goes down at Floata Restaurant at 5pm and will see plenty of entertainment, music and culinary fused fun.
