BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for February 18 – 24

Check out Whose Live Anyway?, a night of improv at the Red Robinson Show Theatre

What to do in BC this week

Dine Around Victoria – February 17 – March 16
Did you know that Victoria boasts the second-highest number of restaurants per capita in North America? That’s why it’s the perfect place to host Dine Around & Stay in Town, a price-slashing promo running from February 17 to March 16. Eat up the deals at 50-plus eateries serving up three-course meals for $20, $30 or $40, plus more than 20 hotels are offering reduced rates of $69 to $129 per night.


Catch Whose Live Anyway? – February 18
A rapier wit is a rare gift. Just ask anyone who thinks up killer comebacks after the fact. Luckily, that’s not a problem for quick-witted comics Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff Davis, stars of Whose Live Anyway?, a night of unforgettably funny interactive improv on February 18 at Boulevard Casino’s Red Robinson Show Theatre (2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam). Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $34.50 to $49.50.


Swap Seeds at Seedy Saturday – February 18
The only time it’s safe to swap seed with complete strangers? At Seedy Saturday, Victoria’s annual seed and garden show. Garden enthusiasts will have a field day rooting through all the seedlings, bulbs, herbs and plants at this horticultural hoe-down, which also includes a vendor showcase and loads of expert advice. Catch it February 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Conference Centre (720 Douglas St). Admission is $7 at the door.

Have a Cup of Tea at the Victoria Tea Festival – February 18-19
“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea,” once wrote British philosopher Bernard-Paul Heroux. So drink your worries away at the Victoria Tea Festival, held February 18 and 19 at Crystal Garden (713 Douglas St, Victoria). No bigger exhibition of its kind exists in North America, so expect scores of tastings, food pairings, vendor booths and demos by industry experts.



Attend the Talking Stick Festival – February 20 – March 4
Aside from totem poles and dreamcatchers, how schooled are you in aboriginal art? Exactly. So why not take a front-row seat at the Talking Stick Festival, a showcase of extraordinary artists from across North America who’ll entertain you with award-winning theatre, live music, dance, slam poetry and performance art. Check it out from February 20 to March 4 at various venues in Yaletown and along Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Call 604-684-2787 for tickets.


Hit up the BC Home and Garden Show – February 22 – 26
Home improvement projects giving you a headache? Relax, because “Restore, Renew and Refresh” is the motto of the BC Home + Garden Show, where 425 experts are set to share tips on decorating, renovating and landscaping from February 22 to 26 at BC Place (777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver). Plus, fans of W Network’s Love It or List It won’t want to miss host Hilary Farr as she and Disaster DIY ’s Bryan Baeumler wow the crowds with big ideas for little projects.



Get Hormone Healthy – February 23
It’s hard enough being “a woman of a certain age” without also having to contend with hot flashes, night sweats, hair loss and even bladder incontinence. Help is at hand on February 23 when women’s health expert Lorna Vanderhaeghe hosts a 90-minute seminar called “Everything You Need to Know About Hormones” at Choices Market (8683 10th Ave, Burnaby), starting at 7 p.m. To register, call 604-522-0936.


Catch a WTF Live Taping – February 24
If someone says, “WTF is happening this week,” don’t assume it’s an indelicately phrased inquiry. They could just be referring to WTF With Marc Maron, a live podcast taping on February 24 at the Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway, Vancouver). A star among the stand-up community, Maron has been called a “must-listen” by Vanity Fair and the New York Times, thanks to his raw, honest and thought-provoking comedy. Catch him in action, along with special guests, HBO legends Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, starting at 7 p.m.



Don’t Miss Winterruption – February 24 – 26
If your mood is as bleak as the weather, here’s one way to give winter the cold shoulder: the seventh annual Winterruption Festival, rolling out more than 100 free performances ranging from music and theatre to dance and comedy from February 24 to 26. And while the action unfolds at various venues on Granville Island, expect the festivities to spill out onto the sidewalk, teeming with troupes of street performers, roving characters, face-painters and buskers.


Eat Sustainable Seafood
 at the Blue Water Cafe – February 29
Calling all adventurous eaters! Be prepared to step outside your culinary comfort zone at the Blue Water Café (1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver), site of the annual Unsung Heroes Festival until February 29. Executive chef Frank Pabst has created small plates full of big taste that spotlight lesser-known dishes like sea urchin, herring roe and periwinkles. And beyond bagging bragging rights, daring diners can also give themselves props for generating proceeds for the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program.


Enjoy Storm Season
 – this winter
Ucluelet may be known for its rugged seaside setting, but don’t be surprised if it also gains acclaim for its Black Rock Oceanfront Resort (596 Marine Dr). Perched on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this rustic retreat is a perfect spot to check out winter’s wild waves. That accounts for the popularity of the resort’s Storm Watching package, which includes fab freebies like a $75 credit redeemable at Fetch Restaurant or Float Lounge, starting from $197 per person.


Stay at Silver Sage – until April 30
One of the biggest bummers after a night of wining and dining is stressing about finding a safe ride home. You don’t have to worry about any of that at Silver Sage Winery (32032 – 87th Ave, Oliver), where tipsy tipplers can bunk at one of three luxury guest suites Take your pick from the Passion, Sunset or Pearl rooms, and enjoy a free bottle of wine and a morning-after breakfast, for rates starting at $120 per night until April 30.

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.