| OCTOBER - TIME TO EXPLORE |
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Sure, October brings cooler weather, but it also offers the chance to explore some of Vancouver's different sides. If it's fresh air you are after, spend your morning at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver hiking rainforest trails or wandering among the rocks near the lighthouse. The view of downtown from here is amazing. Back downtown, it's time to refuel and discover Vancouver's multicultural side. Sample succulent BBQ pork in Chinatown, spicy curries and exotic sweets at the Punjabi Market plus rich espresso and giant Italian sandwiches on Commercial Drive. Looking for some local flavour? Visit the Granville Island Public Market to taste-test Indian Candy (sweet smoked salmon jerky), local fruits, veggies, mushrooms and cheese, west coast oysters and a pint (or two) of Granville Island Brewery's signature Granville Island lager (www.gib.ca). For a quiet escape and time to digest, visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (www.vancouverchinesegarden.com), the Nitobe Memorial Garden to evoke memories of Japan (www.nitobe.org) or even the Buddhist Temple in Richmond for a meditation session (weekends only). How's that for a range of cultures, flavours and landscapes?
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| HALLOWEEN HAUNTS |
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Ghouls and goblins will soon be coming out of hiding to haunt Vancouver's attractions. From a haunted trolley car and a spooky forest to a torch-lit procession, 'tis the season for goose bumps.
Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours
October 14 - 31
Tour Vancouver's haunts and listen to stories of betrayal and revenge when the Vancouver Trolley Company presents "Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours". Those brave enough to board enter a decorated trolley bus and travel through the city, listening to experienced storytellers spin spooky tales of treachery and intrigue. Dress warmly as guests will walk through Mountainview Cemetery. This tour is recommended for the big kids (not for children 12 and under), and reservations are required.
www.vancouvertrolley.com
World of the Weird
October 8 - 30, weekends
At the Vancouver Aquarium, get nose to nose with some of the world's weirdest creatures, explore the aquarium's Haunted Hallways, and if you're brave enough, venture into the bat cave. Dare to touch (even taste!) things that go squish in the night.
www.vanaqua.org
Stanley Park Ghost Train
October 7 - November 2, 6:30pm - 10:30pm
Vancouver's autumn must-see and must-do family event is back this October. Every night, from October 7 to November 2, people flock to Stanley Park for the train ride that carries guests through a live theatrical performance. The forest is backlit, haunting music plays, and instead of waiting for a velvet curtain to rise, the train carries you along as performers enter and exit through towering firs and cedars.
www.vancouver.ca
The Parade of the Lost Souls
October 22, 6:30pm
The Parade of the Lost Souls is the Commercial Drive neighbourhood's annual celebration to honour the dead, wake the living and overcome fears. A colourful torch-lit procession makes its way through neighbourhood streets and alleys. Held at Grandview Park (1200 Commercial Drive).
www.publicdreams.org
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| APPLE OF MY EYE |
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October 15 and 16, 11:00am - 4:00pm
The Apple Festival celebrates one of British Columbia's favourite fruits. Held at the UBC Botanical Garden each October, this is a family event for all ages. With many varieties of heritage, new and "tried and true" varieties available, one of the most popular activities at the Apple Festival is apple tasting. For $2, you can taste up to 60 varieties of new and heritage apples grown in British Columbia, such as the "Grimes Golden" and "Ambrosia". There is also a display on mason bees (used for pollination), demonstrations of grafting and cider-pressing, a children's corner and the chance to enjoy apple pie, hot apple cider and other apple treats.
www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org
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| FLOAT WITH EAGLES |
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Canadian Outback Adventures offer the chance to view the world's largest concentration of bald eagles as they feast on dying salmon laying their eggs in the Squamish River. In previous years, over 3,700 eagles were counted in the corridor. A photographer's dream, the trip is suitable for everyone including kids as young as five. It's a perfect family adventure and is fully guided.
www.canadianoutback.com
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| STORM WATCHING |
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Head to the Wickaninnish Inn to watch fall and winter storms break on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Cozy up by the fire to view the spectacle of 20-foot waves or bundle up in rain gear (rain slickers and boots kindly provided by the hotel) and wander Chesterman Beach exploring what the waves drag up. Be sure to make a reservation at Pointe Restaurant and Ancient Cedars Spa. The restaurant is set on top of a rocky promontory with a 240º view and showcases fresh coastal seafood, Vancouver Island's farm fresh ingredients and a great selection of BC wines. The spa offers a "Cedar Sanctuary" room - a beautiful oceanfront room that overlooks the swells - perfect for side-by-side massages.
www.wickinn.com
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| VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WRITERS & READERS FESTIVAL |
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October 18 - 23
One island, 10,000 readers, more than 90 writers...all in only six days. This festival is one of North America's top literary events, attracting some of the world's best writers (and readers) to Vancouver's Granville Island. Whether you attend an author reading, a discussion amongst several authors, a poetry bash or a theoretical debate between writers, you can count on two things - stimulation and inspiration. This year's festival includes renowned authors John Irving, Neil Gaiman, Julian Barnes and Simon Winchester (to name only a few), with Canadian talent including Margaret Atwood, William Gibson, Susan Musgrave, William Deverell, Jack Whyte and Jane Urquhart.
www.writersfest.bc.ca
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| MAMMA MIA! RETURNS |
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September 27 - October 9
This smash hit musical, based on the songs of ABBA, returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for two weeks only. Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA songs, this tale unfolds on a tiny Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Songs include "Dancing Queen"; "The Winner Takes It All"; "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me". Tickets are available through Tickets Tonight; however no half-price tickets will be sold for this show.
www.ticketstonight.ca
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| DISCOVER DANCE! |
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From ballet and contemporary to flamenco and classical East Indian, British Columbia's dance scene boasts dazzling richness and variety. The Dance Centre's "Discover Dance!" series enables guests to sample this diversity, as each show offers the chance to experience dance in performance, hear the artists introduce their work, ask questions, and even try a few steps. There is one midday show every month, September 2005 to May 2006 (excluding December). See the website for a full schedule. Tickets are $8 CAD (approximately $6 USD).
www.thedancecentre.ca
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| PUBLIC ART WALK OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER |
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The City of Vancouver's public art program incorporates contemporary art into city planning and development. The program funds art of many kinds, from single-artist commissions to artist collaborations with engineers, designers and communities. The intent is to provide for the creation of art that expresses the spirit, values, visions, and poetry of place that collectively define Vancouver. The following are some examples of art pieces that can be viewed on a walk around downtown Vancouver. Source: Downtown Shoreline Public Art Walk (City of Vancouver)
The full version of the Downtown Shoreline Public Art Walk guide is available free at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/publicart (under "Resources and Links").
Working Landscape, 1998
Artist: Daniel Laskarin
Location: 901 West Hastings Street
Laskarin quotes the typical business week in his design of three rotating platforms. Office workers and visitors can ride the macro time piece and complete a full revolution in one-hour, eight-hour or forty-hour time frames.
Public Service/Private Steps, 2002
Artist: Alan Storey
Location: 401 Burrard Street
Situated outside the main entrance, five cubes glide up and down a simple steel structure in direct correlation to the movement of the elevators inside the building. The ebb and flow of activity is further revealed by the transference of elevator passenger's footprints to an LED matrix screen on the underside of the sculpture's traveling cubes.
The Eugenia, 1991
Architects: Henriquez Partners
Location: 1919 Beach Avenue (English Bay)
The pin oak tree growing on the roof of this residential high-rise is at the height of the massive first growth trees once found in this part of the city. Cast and planted cement tree stumps integrate with the footprints of previous buildings to bring the site's past forward to the present.
Footnotes, 1994
Artist: Glen Boyle
Location: 1300 block Pacific Boulevard between Homer and Drake Streets (Yaletown)
Like many of the artists who produced sculpture specifically for the Concord Pacific site, Gwen Boyle chose to make present some of the lost history of the area. Writers' impressions of the False Creek basin are interspersed throughout the sidewalk of Pacific Boulevard, creating a subtly unfolding physical poem.
Brush with Illumination, 1998
Artist: Buster Simpson
Location: False Creek
An illuminated kinetic "brush" pivots on a steel column balanced by two large spun steel buoys. The brush moves with the currents and transmits weather and tide changes to a website: www.brushdelux.com.
Street Light, 1997
Artists: Bernie Miller and Alan Tregebov
Location: South foot of Davie Street (Yaletown)
Bronze I-beams support images taken from Vancouver's archives. The sculpture is carefully aligned to cast shadow images onto the sidewalk on the anniversary of the selected historical event. The form of the sculpture suggests Vancouver's transformation from an industrial centre to an information age economy.
The Coopers Mews, 2002
Artist: Alan Storey
Location: Coopers Mews and Marinaside Crescent (Yaletown)
A meandering path transforms from trail to rail to boardwalk. The line of the path is mirrored overhead and supports five wooden barrels in honour of the cooperage which once stood here. When the boardwalk planks are stepped on, the barrels emit steam and sound. A different note for each plank.
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| YVR STARTS BUILDING THE GATEWAY |
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Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR) has begun construction on their $1.4 billion Gateway project. The project will see nine more gates added to the international terminal, expanded customs, check-in, passenger screening and baggage handling facilities, the ability to handle new larger passenger aircraft like the Airbus A380, as well as the airport portion of the new rapid transit line linking to downtown Vancouver. This is the biggest expansion of the facility since the construction of the current international terminal in the mid-1990s. The 10-year project is designed to enable YVR to handle the estimated 23 million passengers that will pass through the facility in 2013.
www.yvr.ca
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| PACIFIC COLISEUM GETS OLYMPIC FACELIFT |
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The first phase of Olympic Games-related improvements at the Pacific Coliseum - site of the figure skating and short track speed skating competitions in 2010, are underway and will see the replacement of nearly 16,000 seats by the beginning of December. The Coliseum, located about 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, will be upgraded in time for the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships. The balance of upgrades will include building and technical improvements to create superior competition and training conditions for athletes, as well as an enhanced spectator experience. All phases of renovations are scheduled for completion by December 2007.
www.vancouver2010.com
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| ALL ABOARD! WHISTLER MOUNTAINEER NOW TAKING BOOKINGS |
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Bookings are now being taken for the new Whistler Mountaineer rail trip, that will begin service in May 2006. The train offers a unique way for visitors to travel up to Whistler from Vancouver. The three-hour trip will take in breathtaking views of the Sea to Sky corridor, old-growth forests, deep valleys, snow-capped peaks, seascapes and mountain views. The daily morning service from Vancouver will include breakfast, while the afternoon return trip will include afternoon tea. One way fares start at $99 CAD (approximately $81 USD).
www.whistlermountaineer.com
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| FEATHERLESS FLOOR AT FAIRMONT |
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The Fairmont Waterfront has created a "featherless floor" due to increasing requests for "non-feathered" pillows and comforters. Rooms now have pillows and duvets which are 100% polyester fibre cluster (foam) and equal in luxury to their feathered friends. And to take it a step further, the floor has also been designated "non-feathered", "non-smoking" and "no pets allowed" - significantly reducing allergens. There is no additional charge to book these rooms.
www.fairmont.com
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| TOMATO SEASON AT RAINCITY GRILL |
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August 23 - September 30
Raincity Grill's annual tomato menu is back. For five years running, Raincity has prepared a menu based solely on tomatoes - Stoney Paradise tomatoes to be exact. Plump and juicy, these tomatoes are prepared five different ways to create this five-course menu, including tomato and Dungeness crab leg salad with sun gold tomato soup, Pacific octopus and fennel salad with cured tomatoes and tomato flatbread, seared sea scallop with tomato confit and consommé, bison striploin with tomato gooseberry glaze and "Happy Days" goat cheesecake with candied dried tomatoes, hazelnut and tomato powder brittle and tomato granite. The menu is available for $43 CAD (approximately $33 USD) or $73 CAD with suggested wine pairings (approximately $56 USD).
www.raincitygrill.com
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| VIRTUAL VISTORS' GUIDE ONLINE |
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Tourism Vancouver has made it a whole lot easier for visitors to plan a vacation to Vancouver. Now you can view a virtual Official Visitors' Guide online instead of ordering a guide and waiting for it to arrive in the mail. The best part? You can flip through the actual pages of the guide, so you won't miss a thing! Instantly access information on the city's top sites, restaurants, sightseeing options and neighbourhoods, electronically search through the guide and add "sticky notes" and bookmarks when you find something of interest. To view the guide, follow this link: http://www.nxtbook.com/fx/books/vg/VCOVG105/
www.tourismvancouver.com
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| SNEAK PEEK: CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER |
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Always an exciting place to be, Vancouver becomes even more alive during the holiday season. You are guaranteed to be surrounded by twinkling lights, festive scents, inviting flavours and the sound of carols.
Santa Drops into Town Early
Sunday, November 20, 1:00pm
Santa Claus will make an early stop in Vancouver when the Rogers Santa Claus Parade marches through the centre of downtown on November 20. This year's theme is Christmas carols, and the parade is expected to turn into a sing-along with 60 different bands and floats. Grab a warm coat and hot chocolate and bring your family to this free and festive celebration. The parade's new route runs east along Georgia Street from Nicola Street, then south along Howe Street.
www.rogers.com/santaparade
Carol Ships Parade of Lights
November 25 - 30, December 1 - 23
This annual Christmas tradition began over 44 years ago with one boat decorated with Christmas lights in Coal Harbour. On peak evenings, this holiday tradition has grown to more than 80 decorated boats gliding through False Creek, over 150,000 twinkling lights and more than 45,000 singing voices. Hop aboard a boat charter to watch the show. The spectacle from the shore is free, while boat cruise reservations range from $20 to $60 CAD (approximately $15 to $45 USD). Be sure to check the route schedule online as it changes periodically.
www.carolships.com/carolship.html
Festival of Lights Adds Sparkle
December 9 - 31, 5:00pm - 9:30pm (closed Christmas Day)
The central acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden are transformed into a holiday wonderland every Christmas. The festival delights young and old alike with seasonal displays and close to a million twinkling lights wrapped around trees and trellises.
www.vandusengarden.org
Bright Nights in Stanley Park
December 2 - January 2, 3:00pm - 10:00pm, (closed Christmas Day)
Nights of magic and illumination await visitors in the middle of Stanley Park. The Stanley Park holiday train has been a Christmas tradition for over 20 years with more than a million twinkling lights transforming the forest, train and children's farmyard. The train winds its way through the forest while the aroma of hot chocolate, fresh popcorn and roasted chestnuts brings back childhood memories. Admission to the plaza is free. Tickets are required to ride the train and visit the farmyard - $7 CAD for adults (approximately $5 USD) and $4 CAD for children (approximately $3 USD).
www.vancouverparks.ca
Karaoke Christmas Lights Trolley Tour
TBA December Dates
Looking for a way to combine karaoke, Christmas tunes and spectacular holiday lights? Well grab the mic and lead the chorus as the Vancouver Trolley Company offers a unique holiday journey. The evening begins at Canada Place and heads through the streets of Vancouver to the "Festival of Lights" at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Next, drive through the beautifully decorated homes in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood to your second stop in Stanley Park for "Bright Nights in Stanley Park". It's enough holiday cheer to last you all the way to spring, and you don't want to miss it! Cost is $25 CAD for adults (approximately $19 USD) and $20 for children (approximately $15 USD).
www.vancouvertrolley.com
The Peak of Christmas
November 25 - December 24
What better way to enjoy a white Christmas than 3,700 feet up in the mountain air? During the holiday season, Grouse Mountain comes alive with a multitude of festivities. Visitors can take sleigh rides through the forest, catch a Christmas classic at "Theatre in the Sky", pay a visit to Santa and his reindeer or listen to carols in the chalet. Guests can also lace up skates - bring your own or rent them there - and go for a glide on their 8,000 square-foot outdoor ice skating pond - the only one of its kind on the west coast. Warm up afterwards with some hot chocolate in Altitudes Bistro. Admission to Grouse is $29.95 CAD for adults (approximately $23 USD) and $10.95 CAD for children (approximately $8.50 USD).
www.grousemountain.com
Canyon Lights
December 1 - January 1
Capilano Suspension Bridge invites guests to experience "Canyon Lights". Open every day except Christmas, locals and visitors can experience the park lit up with over 60,000 twinkling lights and explore the forest from an entirely new perspective. Carolers will also be roaming throughout the park and rainforest dressed in historical winter costumes, and guests can enjoy mulled apple cider and festive baking from the Canyon Café.
www.capbridge.com
Country Christmas at Maplewood Farm
December 10 and 11
Songs of the season spill out of the doors of the livestock barn, while farm animals watch from their stalls and farm visitors sing along from straw seating. Each December, Maplewood Farm is decorated in the spirit of Christmas, with carols and performances beginning at 10:30am and continuing throughout the day. Admission is $5 CAD for adults (approximately $3.50 USD) and $4.50 for children (approximately $3 USD).
www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
Nutcracker Ballet
December 28, 29 and 30
Clara is given a magical nutcracker by her godfather Drosselmeier. She falls asleep and dreams that her nutcracker is transformed into a handsome young prince ready to battle the fierce Mouse King. Don't miss this holiday classic performed by Ballet British Columbia at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
www.balletbc.com
Winter Solstice Lantern Procession
December 21, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year and has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years. Join the procession at Science World and follow the sea of hand-made lanterns and the rhythm of drummers to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, where the garden comes alive with lights, music and dance. Create your own paper lantern at a workshop prior to the festival.
www.secretlantern.org
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
Here Comes Scuba Claus
Weekends, December 10 - 18, Daily December 19 - 24, 11:30am
Everyone knows Santa can fly, but did you know he scuba dives, too? This holiday season take your family to the Vancouver Aquarium, grab a hot chocolate and look for Scuba Claus swimming with the different animals.
www.vanaqua.org
Christmas Train to the Canadian Rockies
Celebrate the Christmas season with family and friends onboard the festive Rocky Mountaineer train, a two-day rail journey between the coastal city of Vancouver and Banff in the Canadian Rockies. Onboard the train, guests will experience exemplary service, outstanding regional cuisine and a front seat view of the postcard-perfect winter scenery. This holiday-themed getaway will ignite the Christmas spirit in everyone with an appearance by Santa Claus, a children's entertainer, gifts, live music and dancing. A special holiday menu is also featured and includes Christmas turkey with all the trimmings. Prices start at $539 CAD (approximately $429 USD) per adult and $259 CAD (approximately $199 USD) per child. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offers four December departures.
www.rockymountaineer.com
Naughty or Nice?
Travelers looking for a weekend getaway in Vancouver this winter can indulge their naughty or nice side at the Pacific Palisades Hotel in downtown Vancouver. The "Guilty Pleasures" package is for those who don't care about being naughty in the eyes of old Saint Nick. It includes one night in a suite, two rounds of drinks for two, an in-room movie, junk food and an "intimacy kit" with must-haves for a fun-filled evening. The "Resolutions" package aims to help guests keep a few of them, and includes one night in a suite, a basket of fruit and bottled water upon arrival, a one hour session with a personal trainer, a yoga kit to borrow during the stay and a yoga video to take home. Both packages are priced at $295 CAD (approximately $227 USD) from November 1 to March 31, 2006.
www.pacificpalisadeshotel.com
An Early Christmas Gift
Treat your special someone to an early Christmas gift this year. The Comfort Inn Downtown is offering two special packages for the hockey fan in your family. Both World Junior Hockey and Canucks packages are available. The World Juniors package (December 26 to January 5) includes one night's accommodation, tickets to a World Juniors game, parking and complimentary continental breakfast. Package price is $112 CAD per person (approximately $86 USD). The Canucks package is $159 CAD per person (approximately $122 USD) and includes one night's accommodation, Canucks tickets (lower bowl seats, section 103), parking and complimentary continental breakfast.
www.holidayinnvancouverdowntown.com
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