BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for April 28 – May 4

Asian Heritage Month festivities run May 1 to 31 at various Lower Mainland venues

What to do in BC this week

Support BC’s Wildlife at the O.W.L. Rehabilitation Society’s Open House – April 28 – 29
Crazy about all creatures great and small? Then check out O.W.L. Rehabilitation Society’s annual Open House (3800 72 St, Delta) on April 28 and 29. This animal-friendly affair, held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the rescue facility, along with a garage sale and on-site snacks, with proceeds supporting the care and rehabilitation of B.C.’s native wildlife. Call 604-946-3171 for details.

Take a Stand at the Scotiabank MS Walk – April 29
Canada can take pride in many accomplishments, but being a country with one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world isn’t one of them. On April 29, you can join thousands of Vancouverites as they take a big step toward ending this disabling disease at the Scotiabank MS Walk, beginning at 10 a.m. from Ceperley Park. Take a step in the right direction by registering for this wheelchair-accessible walk by calling 1-800-268-7582.

Experience Far East Fun During the Asian Heritage Month Festival – May 1 – 31
Many cultures, many languages, one celebration. That’s the tagline for Asian Heritage Month Festival, unfolding from May 1 to 31 at various Lower Mainland venues. But don’t let the name fool you — everyone’s welcome to enjoy the all-ages agenda featuring loads of Far East fun, including art exhibitions, author readings and a world poetry festival, along with Korean dance, youth activities and flamenco performances.

Celebrate Shakespeare’s 448th Birthday – May 3
Sorry Twi-hards: we’ll wager a no-brainer bet that today’s best-selling scribes — we’re looking at you, Stephenie Meyer! — won’t leave the same lasting legacy as William Shakespeare, whose 448th birthday is set to be celebrated on May 3 at Performance Works (1088 Burrard, Vancouver). A $25 ticket for Bill’s Birthday Bash buys you a night of fun, food and festivities, plus a sneak peek of this summer’s Bard on the Beach productions, starting at 7 p.m.

Go Grape During the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival – May 3 – 13
The Okanagan Spring Wine Festival has been called “one of Canada’s best small festivals.” And it’s no wonder. With more than 100 events taking place throughout the Okanagan Valley from May 3 to 13 — everything from sommelier-led seminars to food pairings to gourmet dinners — wine lovers are guaranteed to have a great (or should we say “grape”?) time.

Get Snap Happy at April Point Resort – May 4 – 6
If you’ve always wanted to snap pictures like a pro, your wish is as close as April Point Resort & Spa (900 April Point Rd, Quadra Island), hosting the seventh annual Photographers at Painter’s from May 4 to 6. For $329 per person, this weekend retreat includes two full days of workshops, demos and panel discussions by pro shutterbugs, along with two nights’ accommodation, brunches and a wine and cheese reception.

Feel So Write at BOOKtopia – May 4 – 12
One way to encourage kids to turn off the TV and crack open the books? By taking them to BOOKtopia, a literary festival for tots and teens at Kay Meek Centre and West Vancouver Memorial Library. From May 4 to 12, local authors will be on hand to conduct everything from writing workshops, poetry readings and illustration classes to puppet shows, artwork displays and even a screening of Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film The Adventures of Tintin.

Spend a Day at the Races – now
What’s all that hootin’ and hollerin’ coming from Hastings Racecourse (Exhibition Park, Vancouver)? You guessed it: The 2012 thoroughbred racing season is off and running. Offering excitement you can bet on (literally!), the course features stakes races with some of the world’s top jockeys, along with 600 slot machines on the gaming floor. Tip: Catch a free shuttle from Renfrew SkyTrain Station on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays every half-hour from 11:30 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Freshen Up with Sparking Hill Resort – now
Spring cleaning isn’t just for houses. Sparkling Hill Resort (888 Sparkling Place, Vernon) is offering a new cleanse detoxification program for guests looking to take the next step in good health and wellness. Led by a naturopathic physician, this personalized program consists of seven days of guided treatment and nutrition to decrease the body’s toxic burden. And if you think this sounds tough, consider that you’ll also enjoy luxe accommodation, 12 KurSpa treatments and access to everything from an outdoor infinity pool and Kneipp water therapy to a sauna, steam room and serenity relaxation space. Price for this package, beginning on Saturdays, is $2,500 per person, based on double occupancy.

Sample Persian Classics at Darchin Restaurant – anytime
Diners with an appetite for the exotic can please their palates on a Persian excursion to one of the Lower Mainland’s top Middle Eastern eateries. And better yet, the Georgia Straight “Readers Choice Awards” has done the taste tests for you, choosing Darchin Restaurant (801 Pacific St) as Vancouver’s top Persian pit-stop. Whether you order salad or stew, kebabs or hommous, just make sure you leave enough room for the honey-drenched baklava or saffron ice cream for dessert.

Explore the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market – Saturdays until late October
There are many reasons why Salt Spring Island Saturday Market is considered Canada’s best-loved outdoor market. The big one, though, has got to be its “homespun guarantee,” requiring all of the market’s140-plus vendors to “make it, bake it, or grow it.” That means you’ll find no shortage of Island-style ingenuity, with heaps of handcrafted products running the range from organic food and pottery to jewelry and herbal soap. Check it out on Saturdays through late October, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Centennial Park in Ganges.

See a Camping Trip Go Sideways – until May 26
“A very adult story about remaking your future at 55,” is how Arts Club artistic director Bill Millerd describes Henry and Alice: Into the Wild, running until May 26 at the Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston St). This sequel to the smash hit Sexy Laundry catches up with the kooky couple on a camping trip gone awry, complete with collapsing tents, unexpected guests and enough drama to test both their endurance and their relationship.

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.