BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for April 7-13

UBUNTU (The Capetown Project), which focuses on “the spirit of the human community,” plays at the Firehall Arts Centre

What to do in BC this week

Explore the Female Form at Angela Grossman’s The Future is Female – April 4 to May 6
With a name like “The Future is Female,” don’t be surprised if Vancouver painter Angela Grossman’s latest exhibition courts a little controversy. On display from April 4 to May 6 at the Winsor Gallery (3025 Granville St, Vancouver), the collection just might ruffle a few post-feminist feathers as it explores the ways in which women are shaped by both personal experience and socially prescribed notions of sexuality, beauty and femininity.

Watch Michael Ignatieff Take the Stage in Scar Tissue – April 5 to 28
Most of us know Michael Ignatieff as the former leader of the Canadian Liberal Party. But he’s also making a mark with Scar Tissue, a Booker Prize-nominated novel that debuts at the Revue Stage (1601 Johnston St, Vancouver) from April 5 to 28. This compelling, quietly humorous story follows a man’s quest to unravel the mysteries of his mother’s past after she’s diagnosed with the memory-robbing disease of Alzheimer’s. Tickets for the show, running Monday through Saturday, are available by calling 604-687-1644.

Gaze at Cherry Blossoms at the Sakura Days Japan Fair – April 7 and 8
The first thing you might wonder when you hear there’s a Sakura Days Japan Fair on April 7 and 8 at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak St, Vancouver) is, what’s a sakura? It’s the name of the Japanese cherry blossom — the country’s iconic symbol of spring. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., check out the family-friendly festivities that include Japanese food and sake, arts and crafts and cultural performances ranging from taiko drumming and martial arts to origami and calligraphy workshops. Tickets are $10, with discounts for seniors and children.

Swing Into Spring – April 7 to 13
Shake off the winter chills with a visit to Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour at the Magnolia Hotel & Spa (623 Courtney St), offering a special “Spring Saver” rate from $149 per night for superior rooms. Better yet, if you book from now until April 28, you’ll also receive a $25 nightly credit to use toward any hotel service. One more reason to go? The award-winning hotel, located just strolling distance from the city’s best restaurants, shops and entertainment, was recently voted one of the “Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Canada” by TripAdvisor’s® 2012 Travelers’ Choice® Awards.

Scramble for Easter Eggs – April 8
Sweet on treats? Good news: the Easter Bunny’s seasonal stash is up for grabs at Kelowna’s Johnson Bentley Sports Field (3737 Old Okanagan Hwy), site of the second annual Easter Egg Scramble on April 8. And even though there’s 12,000 eggs to uncover – including prize-winning gold varieties – you’d be wise to get there on time to ensure your kids won’t go home empty-handed. Check out the festivities, which include free Starbucks coffee, hot dogs, juice and a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny, from noon to 2 p.m.

Take the Kids for Brunch with the Easter Bunny – April 8
What does the Easter Bunny do once he’s done bounding all over town delivering baskets of goodies? He hops over to Café Pacifica in the Pan Pacific Hotel (999 Canada Place, Vancouver) for an Easter Sunday Brunch. He’ll be the headliner at a bountiful buffet on April 8 that rolls out entertainment for all ages, including kid-friendly fun like face painters and balloon artists. Tickets for the lunch, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., are $69 per person, and $34.50 for kids aged 6 to 12. For reservations, call 604-895-2480.

Celebrate the Spirit of the Community – April 11 to 21
In South Africa, “ubuntu” is a word that means “the spirit of the community,” a humanist notion that focuses on the interconnectedness of all people. That’s the theme of UBUNTU (The Capetown Project), which uses storytelling, music and dance to tell the tale of two strangers, separated by oceans, who are brought together by ghosts to discover the secrets of their pasts. See it from April 11 to 21 at the Firehall Arts Centre (280 E Cordova St, Vancouver).

Meet Local Artists at Burnaby Artists’ Guild Art Exhibition and Sale – April 13 to 15
Those who can paint, do, and those who can’t . . . well, they visit the Burnaby Artists’ Guild Art Exhibition and Sale, held April 13 to 15 at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6540 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby). Meet and greet talented local artists, including featured painter James Koll, as you browse original artwork in a variety of styles and mediums. Admission is free. For hours, call 604-291-6864.

Rock Out at the BC Gem Show – April 13 to 15
Looking for a new place to “rock” out this weekend? Three words: the BC Gem Show, taking place April 13 to 15 at Abbotsford’s Ag-Rec Building (32470 Haida Dr). Pick up a grab bag, try your hand at gold panning then check out the mountains of minerals, beads and crystals, along with demos and displays from Britannia Mine Museum and Sego Resources. Cost is $6 at the door, opening at 10 a.m.

Experience a Fusion of Flavours – now
After sailing the seas of the Pacific Rim, executive chef Darren Brown of ORU (1038 Canada Place) worked up an appetite to create a new menu — one that transports taste buds on a journey from B.C.’s coast to French Polynesia to Chile. The result is a fusion of flavours that focuses on the Pacific Northwest, seasoned with a twist of the Pacific Rim, including duck confit gyoza, Kalua pork belly and sake-cured Haida Gwaii sablefish. Just as wow-worthy: the dreamy chocolate desserts by pastry chef Jason Pitschke.

Relax Your Feet – anytime
It’s said that feet are the most neglected part of the body. That may be the case, but not at Footworks Relaxology (2992 W. Broadway, Vancouver), specializing in treatments for tired tootsies. You could book a 25-minute, $25 foot massage but, chances are, you’ll want to opt for a full 50-minute session for $39, both of which include a complimentary shoulder massage and a relaxing foot bath in healing salts. And, if you swing by on Mondays, check out the special 50-minute full-body massage for $39. Book by calling 604-730-2992.

Try Southeast Asian Cuisine – anytime
Vancouver is known for its mean cuisine, and the latest addition to its world-class restaurant scene is The Union (219 Union St), serving up authentic Southeast Asian eats expertly prepared by chef Linda Henderson, former co-owner of Tofino’s celebrated Raincoast Cafe. Take a seat at one of the communal tables and choose from noodle bowls, Vietnamese subs and sharing plates, including rave-worthy chicken wings with garlic chili glaze. Check it out nightly from 5 p.m., with details at 604-568-3230.

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.