Wednesday 30 November 2011

Outdoor Skating

Date Idea: Outdoor Skating at GE Plaza Ice Rink
Location: Robson Square, corner of Robson at Howe, Vancouver
Price: Free! ($3 if you rent skates)
More Info: http://yougottabehere.com/new_events_centre/events_and_happenings_at_robson_square


The weather outside is getting colder, which is great when it comes to outdoor skate rinks. The GE Plaza Ice Rink at Robson Square opens tomorrow for the season and is open until the end of February. Living in the Lower Mainland, we know about the wet weather that often plagues this area. However, even though the GE Plaza Ice Rink is outdoor, it is covered. So you can still go skating no matter what the weather is like. The best part about this is that you can go skating for free as long as you have your skates. The rental price for a pair of skates is only a few dollars. This is a low cost way to have fun with your date. You can either be their knight in shining armour as you help them skate, or your date can have a good laugh at your skating skills. The rink opens at 9am daily and closes at 9pm, except on Friday and Saturday night when it closes at 11pm.


With the arena's central location in downtown Vancouver, it is easily accessible by transit being only a block from the Granville and City Centre skytrain stations, or you can park underground next door at the Pacific Centre for a few dollars. Come early for a casual skate and you can walk a few blocks down the street and find several restaurants for dinner including some of the more well known restaurants such as Joey Burrard, Coast Seafood, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, and Earls.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Christmas Craft Fair

Date Idea: Christmas Market
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Price: $5 per person
More Info: www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com


With the holiday season coming up, you’ll start to see more postings regarding the festive season. This week’s is the Vancouver Christmas Market at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which opens tomorrow, November 24 and stays open until Christmas Eve. The market is open from 11am to 9pm. It’s a nice place to go on a casual date where you can stroll amongst the little huts looking at handmade gifts including ornaments and nutcrackers. Last year, I ended up buying my sister a rabbit toque complete with ears. I also bought some honey sticks for myself as a snack. As you look around, you’ll hear festive music and come across carolers. Don’t forget to grab a treat and a drink while you’re there.

ALTERNATE MARKET
Want to go to the market but you live in the suburbs? Several city also host their own markets and craft fairs. The Coquitlam Craft Fair is going on Dec 2-4 at the Poirier Community Centre at 624 Poirier Street. Tickets for that are $2. On the Friday night, there’s a Canucks Alumni game against the Coquitlam Fire Fighters at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex which is across the street at 633 Poirier. Tickets are $7 and are available at www.pocomo.org with proceeds supporting the PoCoMo Youth Services Society.

So on Friday, Dec 2, you can have a night for both him and her. Head on down early to check out the craft fair, and then head across the street for the Canuck Alumni game. You may find something for her at the fair, and something for him (like an autograph) at the game.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Laser Light Show

Date Idea: Laser Light Show at the Planetarium
Location: HR MacMillan Space Centre at Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
Price: $10.75 per person or $19 per person for the double feature.
More Info: 604-738-7828 or www.spacecentre.ca/laser

I was hoping the save this one for the new year, but after 30+ years of this attraction running at the Space Centre, it is coming to an end. So now's the time to see a show if you haven't done so already. If you and your date are fans of Radiohead, Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, you can enjoy a dazzling laser and light show to the music of these artists.

The shows run Friday and Saturday nights in November and January with the last show EVER being January 28, 2012. There are no shows scheduled for December. The first show starts at 8:15pm on Friday nights and at 9:20pm on Saturday nights. With the space centre being in Vanier Park and in the Kitsilano area, bring your date down early and head up to West 4th or Broadway where you can find several restaurants suited for different likes and tastes such as Naam for Vegetarian, Las Margaritas for Mexican, or Trattoria for Italian, just to name a few.