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This week: get your sip on at the Vancouver International Tequila Expo, commute on two wheels for Bike to Work Week, zipline at Grouse Mountain and more
Looking for a brunch experience you won’t find anywhere else? Head to Calabash Bistro, where you can now enjoy Caribbean cuisine in the morning. That means offerings like the Escovitch Fish, a pan-seared dish with fried plantains (so good!), and Salara French Toast with spiced mango maple syrup, banana cream and fresh fruit. Looking for a little hair of the dog? Try brunch-themed cocktails like Calabash’s Dark & Stormy, with ginger-infused rum, house-made ginger beer and more.
When it comes to young minds, you reap what you sow. That’s why it’s smart to fire up fertile imaginations with events like the 10th annual Surrey International Children’s Festival from May 22 to 24. But a word of warning: you’d better wear your runners ‘cause with attractions like a magician, storytelling tent and puppet shows, you just might have a tough time keeping up with the kids. Catch it at Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park, starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Don’t let the $60 price tag stop you – Glow: A Women’s Evening of Change and Celebration, held on May 23 at Coquitlam’s Executive Plaza Hotel, is worth every penny. That’s because this gala for gals, which supports Tri-City Transitions, includes everything from a plated dinner and paparazzi-style photo booth to swag bags and a silent auction. Still not sold? There will be a live DJ, vendors, prizes and inspiring speakers, all starting at 6 p.m.
“Fun run, lots of sun.” That pretty much sums up the vibe at the South Okanagan Half Corked Marathon, an annual race taking place through Oliver wine country on May 23 to 25. And while it’s too late for wannabe runners to sign up – this popular event sells out super early – you can still stake out a spot along the route on race day to cheer on hordes of costumed joggers or catch the festivities, including an awards ceremony from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 24 at the Oliver Community Centre.
For North Americans, access to fresh water is as simple as turning on a tap. And yet, around the world two billion people live without clean water to fulfill their most basic needs. On May 25 you can help reduce those sorry stats at the World Partnership Walk, Canada’s largest annual event dedicated to fighting global poverty. This five-km fundraiser takes place in 10 Canadian cities, including Vancouver’s Stanley Park, starting at 10 a.m.
Love ’em or hate ’em, Vancouver’s dedicated cycling lanes will definitely come in handy during Bike to Work Week, taking place from May 26 to June 1. This city-wide program encourages avid cyclists and new riders alike to sign up, log their commutes, win prizes and be a part of making Metro Vancouver a better place to live, work and play. And be sure to pedal over to the dozens of Celebration Stations across town, offering free refreshments, prizes and bike-mechanic services.
For some fine folk, there’s nothing sweeter than the sound of children laughing. And we guaranteed, there will be giggling galore at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, taking place from May 27 to June 1 on Granville Island. Expect 30,000 attendees to turn up for this 37th annual kiddie carnival that features everything from dinosaur puppets and circus arts to performances by Fred Penner and First Nations dancers. Tickets start from $8 at the gate or online.
When it comes to food, are you the type who eats to live or lives to eat? Either way, you’ll find something that hits the spot at the 12th annual EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival, running from May 30 to June 1 at BC Place. As Canada’s No. 1 consumer food and cooking show, this three-day eat-a-thon invites you to savour the flavours with over 250 vendors showcasing a smorgasbord of food, wine, beer and spirits, along with culinary demos by celeb chefs like Vikram Vij, Ned Bell, Rob Feenie, Chuck Hughes and Lynn Crawford. Tickets are $17 at the gate, but check out the special discounts online.
Better arrange a designated driver if you plan to swing by the Vancouver International Tequila Expo, held on May 31 at the Hyatt Regency (999 Canada Place). That’s because this third annual fest dedicated to Mexico’s favourite spirit features some of the world’s top tequila, along with a variety of seminars and consumer tastings, all starting at 7 p.m. Proceeds from tickets, $65 per person, benefit the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation.
Forget traditional tour buses. If you want to see Vancouver in high style, check out the flightseeing tours by Harbour Air. You’ll get out of gridlock in the most glorious way while enjoying a bird’s eye view of spectacular scenery offered by B.C.’s biggest city. Other options: check out the Fly ‘n’ Dine tours to Butchart Gardens or Horseshoe Bay, the Whale Watching excursions, or even the Ultimate Glacier tour to Whistler, with all the deets online.
Gravity has been officially defied. That’s the tagline of Grouse Mountain’s heart-pounding zipline adventure, an unforgettable outdoor experience guaranteed to take your breath away as you zoom 80-kilometres per hour across alpine peaks, valleys and old-growth forests. Tickets for the two-hour tour, departing daily from 10 a.m., are $109 per person, and include a Skyride, mountaintop activities as well as travel aboard a dual-track, five-line zip circuit.
