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BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for March 30 to April 5

This week in BC: Kick off the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival at Cherry Jam Downtown, attend a masquerade ball to support the BC SPCA, take the kids on a hunt to track down the Easter bunny, enjoy up-and-coming comedic talent, and more

By Anna Dupas /

Credit: Hilton Whistler

Spring Fling: A Taste of Whistler — March 30

With its all-season activities, there’s never a bad time to visit Whistler. But this week there’s an extra incentive, thanks to Spring Fling: A Taste of Whistler. Held on March 30 at the Hilton Whistler Resort, this après-ski afternoon features fine wine, gourmet food, live entertainment, silent auction and a grand-prize raffle draw, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 online or by phone at 604-938-3203, with proceeds supporting the Whistler Film Festival Society.



BC SPCA Masquerade Ball — March 30

Do you have a “pet passion” for animal welfare? Then you’ve got something in common with Citytv’s Breakfast Television host Dawn Chubai, emceeing the Vancouver Masquerade Ball in support of the BC SPCA. Want to join her? Then don a mask and your best evening attire for this formal fundraiser held on March 30 at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W. Georgia St), starting at 7:30 p.m. For $99 per person, or $350 for a group of four, guests will enjoy live music, dancing, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the BC SPCA.



Credit: Pacific Lounge

Curling and Deals at Pacific Lounge — March 30 to April 7

Heading to the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Victoria this week? Get your fill of the on-ice action at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre then keep the fun going at Hotel Grand Pacific (463 Belleville St). Not only is this luxurious urban retreat the host hotel, it has also transformed the Pacific Lounge into a curling “club house” from March 30 to April 7. Drop by for food and drink deals, tabletop curling games and continuous big-screen coverage of the world-class competition.



Credit: Pan Pacific

Easter Sunday Brunch at Café Pacifica — March 31

What does the Easter Bunny do once he’s done delivering baskets of treats? He takes a breather at Café Pacifica in Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel for an Easter Sunday Brunch. The floppy-eared furball will be the headliner at a March 31 buffet that promises entertainment for all ages, including kid-friendly fun like face painters and balloon artists. Tickets are $71 per person, and $35 for kids aged 6 to 12, by calling 604-895-2480.



Credit: jc-pics

Critter Caper: Case of the Lost Bunny 
— April 1

On April 1, pint-sized Poirots are invited to bring their sleuthing skills to Burnaby Lake Park to help solve “The Case of the Lost Bunny.” Inspired by TV’s CSI, this free outdoor adventure for kids involves examining fur samples, paw prints and other clues to retrace the baby bunny’s steps and help bring it back home. Allow one hour to solve this Critter Capers’ mystery, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Burnaby Lake Nature House (4519 Piper Ave).



Cherry Jam Downtown — April 4

There’s one time of year when Vancouverites can’t help but think pink. That’s when the city’s cherry trees — all 37,000 of them! — erupt into a bounty of blooms, signaling that spring has finally sprung. The short-lived sight of these pastel-pink petals is the inspiration behind the eighth annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring everything from a Sakura Days Japanese Fair to a Haiku Invitational, plus plein-air painting and Cherry Jam Downtown, a free concert April 4 at Burrard SkyTrain Station at 11 a.m.



Times of India Film Awards — April 4-6

Hurray for Bollywood! That’s what fans will be saying at the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, unspooling for the first time ever in Vancouver from April 4 to 6 at BC Place, the Pacific Coliseum and other local venues. The Times of India Film Awards guarantee fans will enjoy celebrity sightings of their fave stars, including Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, during three days of gala events ranging from film premieres and red-carpet walks to awards presentations and a music concert.



Credit: Wise Hall

Steve Hofstetter at Wise Hall — April 5

Who’s Canada’s next Jim Carrey? It just might be Steve Hofstetter, headlining a comedy showcase on April 5 at Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St, Vancouver). Along with 10 million hits on YouTube, Hofstetter’s other accolades include appearances on the Late Late Show and E! True Hollywood Story as well as being sniffed out by network talent scouts. Catch back-to-back performances at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. for $20 per person, by booking online or by phone at 604-254-5858.



Pacific Sands’ Forty & Fabulous Anniversary Package

Forty years ago, B.C.’s Pettinger family had a vision to build a seaside resort where storm watchers could relax and enjoy the sight of Tofino’s famed wind-whipped waves. The result was Pacific Sands Beach Resort, now offering a Forty & Fabulous Anniversary Package that includes a stay in a two-bedroom Beach House, dinner for four and a copy of the resort’s new Flavours of Tofino cookbook. Book from $432 per night, and Pacific Sands will sweeten the deal by donating $40 to local food banks.



Credit: Yew Restaurant

Yew Restaurant’s Snack Stand at Holt Renfrew — Until April 9

Lunchtime shopping excursions at Vancouver’s ritziest department store just got a whole lot tastier! Spend your lunch hour enjoying the latest and greatest Holt Renfrew fashions and pick up a delicious lunch on the way back to your desk. Fans of the Four Seasons Hotel’s Yew Restaurant stand-out salads and sandwiches can enjoy its “limited time only” pop-up snack stand on Holt Renfrew’s third floor, open daily from 11 a.m. until April 9.


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.