Celebrity Vancouverites Share Their Dating Stories

We asked three of our favourite local personalities to share some highlights (and lowlights) of their dating histories

Credit: Liz Roza

Mary Zilba, Dawn Chubai and Cory Ashworth dish on their dating histories

Mary Zilba, Recording artist and Real Housewife of Vancouver

Best Date

The best date of my life was the one that ultimately led to my marriage. I met a Canadian while I was living in Los Angeles and we just hit it off. Within the first day of meeting, he sent four dozen long-stemmed roses with an adorable note requesting I meet him for dinner the next day. He took me to a lovely restaurant in L.A. and had reserved a private room for us to get to know each other. We spent hours chatting and afterwards went on a long stroll on the beach. It was a truly magical date, one I’ll never forget.

Worst Date

I thought he was a great guy: charming and very handsome, so I agreed to go out with him. The evening began at a fave Yaletown spot for drinks, but Mr. Charming didn’t stop at one glass of wine – he pretty much drank a vineyard full. When we got to dinner, he sat next to me (or should I say on my lap) and started biting my ear and saying we needed to head over to his hotel room. He then asked me to join him for some hanky-panky in the bathroom. When he realized I was not the bathroom type of girl, he proceeded to pick up another woman. I left the restaurant immediately to grab a taxi.

Favourite Date Spots

I am always up for walking on the Seawall or beach, or heading up to Whistler or Grouse.  As far as restaurants, my favourite spot is definitely my friend Elpie’s restaurant, The Bacchus Lounge in the Wedgewood Hotel.  It’s so cosy, with wonderful ambient lighting, to-die-for cocktails and live piano music.

Credit: Toranj Kayvon

Dawn Chubai, Live Eye Host, Breakfast Television

Best Date

It’s not a coincidence that the best date I have ever been on was with the man who would become my husband. We met for drinks at the Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton. I ordered Caesars and he teased me about eating the garnish (celery is really loud!). We talked for hours. I later heard from friends that he asked around to find the perfect location for our first date because I was someone really special and he wanted to make a great impression. He did.

Worst Date

I am pretty lucky to have not really had any drama happen on my dates. Sometimes you don’t click, but that doesn’t make it a bad date. That’s the whole purpose of a date is to see if you work together.

Favourite Date Spots

Walking along the Seawall is a great precursor to a romantic dinner, but our go-to spot is the Four Seasons. One of our first fine dining experiences in Vancouver was at Chartwell. Since it’s (sad) closing, YEW has also become a favourite. If you want to impress your date, sit in Joel’s section. He has seen us through nine anniversaries and many other special occasions.

Credit: Christine McAvoy

Cory Ashworth, Morning host, 102.7 The Peak

Best Date

It involved an early rise for poached eggs on the city’s best sourdough bread at Nelson the Seagull (315 Carrall Street), sipping a macchiato and talking – then spending the early afternoon walking through Gastown.

Worst Date

It was a chaperoned blind date that I had no idea I was on. My friend brought her co-worker out on a date to spark something between us. It started well at a Homo Hip Hop Night at The Cobalt and ended poorly in a Main Street restaurant. Our table was knocked over by a dude having a heart attack that was more violent and almost as scarring as seeing Goose being ejected from his jet in Top Gun. Unlike my date, Heart Attack Goose made it to see many more nights.

Favourite Date Spot

Snowshoeing to the peak of Hollyburn Mountain at Cypress. I love the quiet of the wilderness, sharing the accomplishment of reaching the peak and taking in the views of the Lower Mainland and beyond. Food always tastes better up there, even if it’s oranges. Date tip: Bring a handful of sunflower seeds for the whisky jacks that will eat out of your hand at the top.