BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for June 12 – 18

Catch some ballsy ballet at Dances for a Small Stage

Spruce up Your Salads on Salt Spring – June 12


Summer means salad. And if you’re still dousing your iceberg lettuce with Thousand Island, you can learn to glorify your greens with a cooking session at Foxglove Farm (1200 Mount Maxwell Road, Salt Spring Island) on June 12. Chef Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s Restaurant will show you how to dress up your dressings during From the Field to the Plate: Spring Salad and Cooking Greens, one of several summer workshops at the 120-acre historic estate, one of Salt Spring’s original homesteads. After the class, you’re welcome to wander through the pastoral paradise to enjoy views of Maxwell Lake plus hundreds of acres of protected forest and agricultural fields. Online registration and information can be found at foxglovefarmbc.ca.


Take a Train Ride with Thomas 
in Squamish

 – June 12-13
All aboard! Thomas-loving tots are in for trainloads of fun at West Coast Railway Heritage Park (39645 Government Road, Squamish) this week. That’s because the likeable locomotive is set to chug into the station for Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour on June 12 and 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 
6 p.m. Along with live entertainment and an appearance by Sir Topham Hatt, kids will be whisked off on a 25-minute journey, complete with onboard entertainment. Want a ticket to ride? 
We recommend buying your passes in advance, priced at $20 per person for ages two and up, by visiting ticketweb.ca/dowt or by calling 1-888-222-6608.


Attend the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival – June 10-13
Sure, Vancouver may be known as “Hollywood North,” but A-listers have been bypassing the big city to check out the second annual Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival, running from June 10 to 13 at various local venues. Who knows what celebs you might bump into at the Nota Bene Release Party on June 12 at Black Hills Estate Winery, where guests can spend an afternoon grazing at wine and food stations situated among postcard-perfect vineyard vistas. Or put your name on the waiting list for Judgment in Osoyoos: the International Wine Showdown at the Watermark Beach Resort to challenge your chops in blind wine tastings. Another option? The Celebrity Wine Auction at Spirit Ridge Resort & Spa, featuring a chef-made dinner, drinks and entertainment. Visit osoyooscelebritywinefestival.com for more information.

Party in New Westminster at Sapperton Days – June 13
What do you get when you unleash a high-energy bicycle blitz and a family funfest into a New Westminster neighbourhood? There’s only one possible answer: Sapperton Days. This annual street party salutes the community spirit with two days of all-ages activities like blazing bike stunts, spectacular stage shows, pancake breakfast, games and rides galore. If you’re big on bikes or just want to check out the craft fair or food, be sure to make your way to the 400-block of East Columbia Street (at Sherbrooke) on June 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For info on this charitable shindig, benefiting the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, visit shopsapperton.com
.


Ride on over to Cowgirl Bootcamp at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch – June 11-13
Even cowgirls get the blues? Not at the Cowgirl Bootcamp at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch, set in the heart of BC’s spectacular Chilcotin Mountains. Glamazons can trade in their kitten heels for cowboy boots on this three-day escape that’s guaranteed to turn even the most diehard city slicker into a kick-ass cowgirl, courtesy of wrangler-led lessons on riding, roping and livestock handling. Off the range, you can enjoy river kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and windsurfing — or just relax with a glass of bubbly in the sauna or hot tub. And don’t worry, there’ll be no franks and beans in sight, just healthful, first-class cuisine along with loads of decadent desserts. Book this package by calling 1-877-3-GO-WEST or visiting adventurewestresorts.com.

Attend Summer Splash at Goldfish Restaurant – June 16
Pacific Kitchen (1118 Mainland St., Vancouver) is set to make a splash. But this time, it’s not because of its succulent seafood, trendy Yaletown location or inspired customer service. Nope, the raved-about restaurant is just getting set to host the second annual Summer Splash, a fab fundraiser on June 16 to benefit the Vancouver Native Health Society. Running from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the soiree includes a high-end swimwear fashion show, live entertainment, and complimentary drinks and appetizers. Tickets are $60 per person, and are available by calling 604-689-8318 or by visiting goldfishkitchen.com. See you there!


Take a Celebrity Chef Cooking Class – June 16 & 17


Too many cooks in the kitchen? Nah, the more the merrier at Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes, a foodie fundraiser featuring hands-on culinary workshops led by renowned Vancouver chefs. Each class, held at a gorgeous private home, is paired with wines for a full-meal-deal experience. On June 16, Curtis Webb, chef at Joe Fortes Restaurant, steps up to the stove to do his thing. And, on June 17, Brandon Thordarson, formerly of Italian Kitchen, assumes the apron, all to raise funds for Vancouver’s venerable Arts Club Theatre Company. Tickets are $125 per person, per class, and are available by calling 604-687-5315 or visiting artsclub.com.

See Cutting-edge Choreography at Dances for a Small Stage – June 16-18


It may have a prim and proper reputation, but that doesn’t mean ballet can’t be ballsy too. At least when you’re talking about Dances for a Small Stage, showcasing cutting-edge choreography in a rough-and-tumble cabaret setting from June 16 to 18. Held at The Legion on the Drive (2205 Commercial, Vancouver), this 22nd annual series unites dancers from Ballet BC with international and Canadian choreographers like Margie Gillis, Cherice Barton and Farley Johansson, to tear down formalities with raw scenarios on an intimate 10-by-13-foot stage. Check it out starting at 8 p.m., by purchasing tickets at the door for $20 per person (cash only). For more information, visit movent.ca.


Find Your Joie de Vivre at the Festival d’été – June 17-24
Why go to Quebec this summer when you can celebrate all things French right here at home with Festival d’été. Imagine an outdoor concert, family party and children’s festival all rolled into one, and you’ll get a feel for this francophone frolic running from June 17 to 24. Along with musical highlights from la belle province — Valley of Wolves and Coeur de Pirate, anyone? — fans de française won’t want to miss the Saint Jean Baptiste celebration on June 24 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, starting at 
4 p.m. It’s one way to find your joie de vivre fast! For information, call 
604-736-9806 or visit lecentreculturel.com
.


Enjoy a Romantic Getaway in Penticton – now
A perfect antidote to boredom in the bedroom? A change of scenery and an overnight stay at Ramada Inn & Suites (1050 Eckhardt Ave., Penticton), now rolling out a Romantic Getaway Package that just might revitalize your relationship. Picture a night in a spacious suite complete with a stone hearth fireplace, in-room jacuzzi, and king-size bed, then add a welcome basket stuffed with a bottle of Okanagan wine, aromatherapy spa scents, Purdy’s chocolates and a bottle of Body Shop massage oil, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a naughty night. And don’t worry about having to get up early; you’ll also get to enjoy a continental breakfast in bed. Prices start from $287 plus tax, with additional information available by visiting pentictonramada.com, tourismpenticton.com or by calling 250-492-8926.

Experience BC’s Rocky Mountaineer
 – this summer
Take that, Orient Express! BC’s own Rocky Mountaineer has been named “the best train experience in the world” by the Society of American Travel Writers and “one of the world’s ultimate experiences” by Lonely Planet. The accolades are well deserved, as guests can see for themselves on the Whistler Sea-to-Sky Climb, a two-day, round-trip adventure from Vancouver that includes an overnight stay at the world-class resort, plus tasty treats delivered to your seat and gourmet-quality meals served in a dining car. Prices start from $305 for Whistler Classic Service, but we suggest upgrading to Whistler Dome Service for about $115 more — the pampering, gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea are all worth it. To book, visit rockymountaineer.com or call 1-877-460-3200.



Eat for Cheap at Griffin’s Restaurant – through September


When it comes to dining at upscale restaurants, there’s usually an inverse relationship between your waistline and your wallet — as the former gets fatter, the latter gets skinnier. The difference won’t be quite so obvious, though, at Griffins Restaurant at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W. Georgia), where diners can enjoy 50 per cent off all dinner menu items, including appies, mains and desserts, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily until the end of September. You can’t go wrong with executive chef Robert LeCrom’s signature dishes, including slow-roasted Alberta prime rib, grilled rack of lamb and Queen Charlotte halibut, along with lots of kid-friendly options, too. For reservations, call 604-662-1900 or book online at opentable.com.

Originally published in TV Week. For daily updates, subscribe to the free TV Week e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.