The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit. This is our carefully considered first rate list of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

HOLIDAY CHEER

Fill your lungs with a little west coast fresh air. The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is a nice way to take advantage of those breaks in the rain. Fresh-made sweet or savoury waffles, apple cider and Thomas Haas hot chocolate are all on site to keep your invigorating walk through the 15 acre festively lit gardens enjoyable. More details here.
Today – Sunday, Jan 2 | 4:30pm – 9pm | VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak)

Get yourself into the holiday spirit by grabbing a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and taking a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas train. Cuddle up with a loved one as the tiny train chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while Christmas carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. More here.
Today – Jan 2 | 3:00 – 10:00 pm | Stanley Park |Train: $9 Adults / $6 Kids

If you had higher hopes for the season’s weather and just can’t get into the spirit without a few flakes of snow, you’re going to have to climb a little higher. Try Grouse for a sleigh ride through a snowy forest or lace up some skates for a turn on the mountain’s outdoor rink. Both activities come free with admission to the mountain. Other free activities include snowshoeing, Theatre Under the Sky, and the Endangered Wildlife (wolf) Habitat.
8:45 – 10pm | Adult $39 Kids $13.95 (under 4yrs FREE)

Grab your skates (or rent them once you’re there) and hit Robson Square for a lap or twenty around the ice rink. There might be one or two other people out there thinking the holidays would be a lovely time for a twirl on the ice, too, so plan ahead – bring your thermal mug and some nice thick gloves. Holiday hours are December 24th: 9am to 9pm; December 25th: noon to 5 p.m.
Robson Square | 9 am -9 pm | skating FREE (rentals $3) | Details

BOXING DAY

Chill out with the Melody Diachun Quartet as they perform Jazz Vespers at St. Andrew’s Wesley Church.
Sunday, December 26 | 4-5 pm | Corner of Burrard and Nelson | Free

If you just can’t wait to get rid of your Christmas tree already, you can get it recycled at UBC Botanical Garden starting on Boxing Day. Tree recycling goes on until January 9th for those of you who like to be a bit more leisurely about these kind of things. Whenever you decide to do the deed, know that all donations raised through the UBC Botanical Garden’s Christmas tree recycling program will be directed to support educational projects at local schools. This year UBC has chosen to support the David Thompson Secondary School garden. “Students at the school are excited to use the funds that will be donated from program, to acquire the necessary supplies for starting seedlings in the New Year.” Do it!
Sunday December 26 – Sunday January 9 |UBC Botanical Garden |  9:30 am – 4:30 pm |by donation

If you can’t see the TV through mountains of wrapping paper and Uncle Doug’s thick clouds of mulled wine breath, or you still have family visiting and they’re camped out on your couch watching Who Wants To Be Pathetic, don’t worry. Boxing Day hockey (Oilers vs Canucks) is on at the ANZA club.
Sunday December 26 | 6 pm | ANZA Club (3 W 8th)

FLICKS

Tron Legacy is on at the Rio (and everywhere else). We saw it last night and it’s pretty awesome. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader plays too, and C.S. Lewis fans are stoked with it. The Fighter, Black Swan and The Tourist are also rumored to be worth the price of admission. But if you’re feeling a little retro, Vancity throws down with a Marilyn Monroe trifecta: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (the story of “two buxom buddies gold-digging while on a transatlantic ocean voyage”; How to Marry a Millionaire (“three marriage-minded blondes who pool resources to rent a posh Manhattan penthouse, the better to ensnare rich male prey”); and Let’s Make Love (which is totally self explanatory).
December 27 – January 3 | various times | Vancity Theatre | $10.50

EAT

As mentioned last week, I’ve been trying to think of a good last minute place to hook up with friends over the holidays. Something no-fuss and relatively cheap, but also festive and cool. Really, no one pulls it off better than The Heather. I am completely enamoured with their Long Table Series and couldn’t resist sharing upcoming menu options. On Sunday, December 26 at 7pm you can get roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables, roasting jus and a 16oz pint of Driftwood ale for only $17. On Monday, December 27 at 630pm you can sit down to a mushroom risotto with braised beef short ribs with a 20 oz pint of Newcastle brown ale for $15. And on Tuesday, December 28th at 630pm it’s chicken pot pie, seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes and a 16oz pint of Grimbergen for $15.

Abigail’s Party is on my list as well. I can’t decide weather it’ll be for brunch (cinnamon bun French toast) or dinner (buttermilk fried chicken), but I will get there before the holidays are over.

As for lunch, I have my eye on Cin Cin and West. It’s not their usual gig, so get in while you still can.

Lastly, the Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe is open orphan-style, on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the full traditional spread.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Start preparing yourself now. The Swim goes down New Years Day in English Bay. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights, not to mention the general insanity. Rumor has it that a few swigs from the scotch bottle beforehand can help boost courage (not that we encourage that sort of thing).
Jan 1 | 2:30 pm | The icy shores of English Bay | FREE

Once a month the Vancity Theatre invites a guest to present his/her favourite film. After the screening, audiences and guests mingle and discuss the film over drinks. In January, that guest will be John Furlong, CEO of VANOC for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. His movie choice? Chariots of Fire. Find out all about it here.
January 4 | 7:30 pm | Vancity Theatre | $15

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives in beautiful Strathcona and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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