Indoor Activities | 604 Pulse

Afternoon Tea for Mother’s Day

May 9th, 2012

Photo: Afternoon tea at Tracycakes Bakery Cafe. Source: Tracycakes via Facebook.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, 2012 which is really just a few days away. If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering what you’re going to do to celebrate (without copying whatever it was you did last year). So why not take your Mom out for an afternoon tea? Whether you do it on Mother’s Day or get her a gift certificate to do it at a later date, you’ve got more than a few places to choose from in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. Here’s just a sampling!

Tracycakes Bakery Cafe – White Rock

Here’s an idea for Mother’s Day. Surprise mom with a drive out to the seaside community of White Rock for the afternoon. Meander along the pier and stroll up and down Marine Drive, and then pop into Tracycakes Bakery Cafe for some High Tea. Their High Tea includes specialty loose leaf teas, finger sandwiches, Devonshire cream, jam, baby cake cupcakes and “dainty rounds” (which is, well, I’m not entirely sure, but I’m sure that it must be delicious!). They also have locations in Abbotsford and Fort Langley. Visit their website for more info.

Adorabelle Tea Room – Steveston

In a similar fashion, you could take mom out to Steveston for the afternoon, browsing through the boutiques and admiring the fishing boats. If you haven’t visited Steveston in a few years, it’s actually changed quite a bit. The Adorabelle Tea Room is one of those changes, being the new kid on the block in this historic fishing village. Adorabelle Tea Room offers a one-hour tea service four times a day with menus tailored to both adults ($23) and children ($16). Afternoon tea includes sandwiches, fresh baked scones with sweetened cream and strawberry preserves, house-made petite sweets plus an individual pot of tea per person. Visit their website for more info.

Rowena’s Inn on the River – Harrison Mills

If mom ever wanted to see Harrison Hot Springs, take her for a scenic drive along Hwy 7, stopping off in the community of Harrison Mills. It’s here where you can treat mom to an Afternoon Tea at Rowena’s Inn on the River, a short distance from Harrison Hot Springs. This daily tea service is $19.95 per person and it’s served in the Drawing Room of a beautiful English-style manor on their secluded 160-acre waterfront estate. This daily tea service includes scones with Devonshire cream and strawberry preserve, a variety of tea sandwiches (curry chicken, cucumber and butter, smoked salmon and cream cheese) as well as a sampling of cakes and pastries. Visit their website for more info.

Little White House & Co. – Fort Langley

Maybe your mom has a thing for French style? If so, delight her with a visit to The Little White House & Co. This is a charmingly sophisticated Parisien-inspired boutique located in a beautiful heritage house at the heart of Fort Langley. Not only do they have beautiful merchandise for sale, they’re also hosting a Mother’s Day High Tea for $18 per person in their Salon Café. This special Mother’s Day Tea includes pink champagne punch and pink sweet petits. Visit their website for more info.

Truffles Café - Gibsons

Surprisingly, many people who live in the Lower Mainland have never been to the Sunshine Coast, despite it being only a 40 minute ferry ride away from Horseshoe Bay (and a spectacular one at that!). If you or your mom have never ventured to the other side of Howe Sound, use Afternoon Tea at Truffles Café in Gibsons as your excuse. Vancouver-based blog Wise Monkeys wrote a review about their experience having afternoon tea there last year where they dined on smoked turkey, roast beef and onion, and sandwiches cucumber; cheese and crackers, rugelach, scones, lemon-poppyseed tea bread, blueberry tarts, merengues and a selection of teas served up in an old English “Betty” teapot. They say it’s a steal of a deal, but reservations are recommended. Read their story and check out their photos here. And seriously consider making this a Mother’s Day outing to remember.

The Shangri-La Hotel – Vancouver

Maybe your mom likes to live it up a little, and really, who doesn’t? If your mom enjoys the hustle and bustle of a city centre, take her shopping (perhaps along Alberni, Robson & Burrard?) and then take her out for an Afternoon Tea at the Xi Shi Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel. Their afternoon tea is served daily (until June 30, 2012) and includes a variety of savoury snacks, sweet treats, and exotic loose leaf teas. Visit their website for full details.

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont

The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria may be the most famous place in BC (if not all of Canada) for a traditional afternoon tea, but did you know that the other Fairmont hotels in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region host traditional afternoon teas as well? All feature signature Fairmont teas, a variety of sandwiches, pastries, and scones, and are without a doubt elegant experiences unique to their properties. There’s the Fairmont Vancouver Airport which does an Afternoon Tea as you watch the planes take off. If you’re doing a trip to Whistler, why not go for at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler? And in downtown Vancouver, the Fairmont Pacific Rim does a unique take on afternoon tea in their Lobby Lounge by serving both classic and sushi-style sandwiches. Of course, there’s also the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for an “Afternoon Tea at the Castle” – a nod to their castle-like architecture; the perfect place to dote on mom.

Rainy Day Activities: 5 Current Art Exhibits

April 30th, 2012

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Well it looks like we’re in for a week of rain, so what better opportunity to explore the some art showing around the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region? I’ve highlighted five current exhibits that I think are pretty unique…

1. Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson – Maple Ridge

If you’re interested in learning more about BC’s First Nations art, you will definitely want to put Maple Ridge on your radar this month. The Maple Ridge Art Gallery is hosting a solo show of paintings on cedar and paper by one of the living masters of the Northwest Coast style, Vancouver-based Haisla artist, Lyle Wilson.

“School of Salmon” by Lyle Wilson, 2011.

The exhibition, Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson, opens this Saturday with a public reception from 2-4pm. As explained on the gallery’s website, “This 20-year retrospective will demonstrate the stunning refinement of Wilson’s work and its unique blending of traditional and contemporary imagery” and “offers a rare, in-depth visual encounter with some 40 paintings on wood and paper, revealing the impressive range of traditional and contemporary elements that inhabit Wilson’s evolving artistic vision.”

When: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm from May 5 – July 28, 2012.
Website: www.theactmapleridge.org/gallery-current

2. Urban Flaneur at the CityScape Community Art Space – North Vancouver

Urban geographers and architecture enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Urban Flaneur exhibit at Lower Lonsdale’s CityScape Community Art Space before it ends on May 12. As described on their website, “This exhibition explores the grandeur and densification of urban space, particularly contemporary urban architecture and an individual’s experience within a city. Four accomplished artists address this theme with an intricate sculptural installation, acrylic paintings, large scale photo-montages, and photo-conceptual multimedia wall pieces”.

When: Monday-Saturday, 12-5pm until May 12, 2012.
Website: http://nvartscouncil.ca/exhibitions/cityscape-community-art-space

3. Positive Fallout at FibreWorks – Madeira Park

Vancouver mixed media artist Wendy Browne brings her exhibit, Positive Fallout to Madeira Park’s FibreWorks Studio & Gallery. Hosted in a collection of yurts, FibreWorks showcases fibre art – basketry, paper, textiles and wood , created by local, national and international artists.

Inside a yurt at Fibreworks Studio & Gallery, October 2011. Robyn Hanson photo.

Browne writes, “My show, ‘Positive Fallout’ is about power, faith, discipline, whimsy, survival, change, spirit, symbolism, and inner essence. It is a reflection of the desire for transformation and the tenacity required of me to create a body of work consistent with and reflective of a cohesive thought process. I have never considered my work to be main stream and I don’t strive to make it so. My wish has been to successfully convey an emotion within the piece, disturbing or pleasing as that may be to the viewer. The discipline required to do this has been a very positive experience. Tenacity is powerful.”

When: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm until May 6, 2012.
Website: http://www.fibreworksgallery.com/artist/wendy-browne/

4. Package Deal at The Fort Gallery – Fort Langley

If marketing and design tickles your fancy, drop by The Fort Gallery this week in Langley to see the Package Deal exhibit before it ends this Sunday. As detailed on their website, packaging is “stuff we barely glance at before throwing it away: it’s the wrapping around the real goods nestled inside, a nuisance factor in our daily lives that clogs our recycling bins and landfills, a gorgeous distraction concocted by marketers to lure us into the consumerist mindset. For artists Claire Moore, Jo‐Ann Sheen and Diana Durrand commercial packaging in all its gaudy, upscale, brash and crinkly forms has become the material of art

When: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-5pm until May 6, 2012.
Website: www.fortgallery.ca

5. Multiverse at the Scotia Creek Gallery – Whistler

Featured works in the “Multiverse” exhibit at the Scotia Creek Gallery.

If you find yourself in Whistler in the next few days, drop by Millennium Place and pop upstairs to the Scotia Creek Gallery which currently features the original art works of Mandy Tsung, Russell Alton, Kristian Adam, Nomi Chi and Daniel Tibbits. As described on the gallery’s website, ”In this eclectic exhibit entitled “Multiverse” each artist brings forth their own interpretation of an alternate universe; bizarre & surreal, yet playful & beautiful, this look into another world encourages the viewer to gain a fresh perspective into their existing world.”

When: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 11am-4pm and Sun 4-7pm until May 10, 2012.
Website: http://www.artswhistler.com/scotia-creek-gallery

10 Quirky Cafes in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

April 2nd, 2012

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Photo: Enjoying an Americano in Vancouver. Photo by Robyn Hanson.

In a city that seems to have a coffee shop on every corner, we thought it would be interesting to uncover the most quirkiest of cafes in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. Our definition of cafe is indeed coffee-centric, although we do have a few exceptions. As for our definition of quirky? You be the judge…

1. Holy Smoke Coffee – Surrey

This may be the only cafe in the region that’s located in a gigantic stucco teepee. You’d almost expect Holy Smoke Coffee to be all about the gimmick, but they’re arguably one of the best places in South Surrey for coffee. Just ask Jasmine Bradley of The Surrey Now who finally decided to see what the fuss was about. Her findings? “They serve coffee. Really good coffee”. And it makes sense; owner Al Nemeth only uses organic, fair trade coffee which he roasts on site every morning. Be sure to time your visits accordingly though as Holy Smoke is only open Monday to Friday from 6am until 1pm.

2. The Yellow Deli – Chilliwack

Formerly the Preserved Seed Cafe, The Yellow Deli is probably not what you’re expecting to find in the Fraser Valley: a hippy cafe run by a Chilliwack commune who serve some of the tastiest organic food and drinks this side of Vancouver, all in one rustic, cozy cottage that wouldn’t look out of place on Salt Spring Island in the 70s. They even have a storehouse where you can purchase local, sustainable food to bring home with you. And if these photos by photographer Theresa Le’s anything to go by, then this has to be one of the quirkiest cafes in the region. Come for the coffee, stay for the food!

3. The Back Porch – Harrison Hot Springs

The next time you’re craving an afternoon drive through the countryside, head out and do the Agassiz-Harrison Circle Farm Tour, making sure you stop off at The Back Porch. It’s on this Harrison Hot Springs farm where owners Dan and Lynda run a pottery studio, antique barn and a coffee roasting facility. Taste their coffee which is roasted in house in a 1919-era Flame Roaster, and buy some coffee to bring home with you. Note that The Back Porch is only open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am until 5pm, so plan your trip accordingly.

4. Cafe Savoureux – Richmond

There’s something just so wonderfully quirky about Cafe Savoureux. Maybe it’s because it’s an unusual mix of a French-inspired Chinese coffee shop. Maybe it’s because they serve all their coffee in beautiful fine bone China cups. Perhaps it’s that they have a great selection of coffee varieties which are all made to order and made using a siphon. Oh yes, and they also serve the coveted (and extraordinarily expensive) civet coffee. What’s civet coffee, you ask? Well, it may sound gross if I explain it, so it’s probably better if you Google it. In any case, this quirky Richmond cafe isn’t all hype. It’s currently rated 5 out of 5 stars (out of 5 reviews) on Yelp, so you know this local’s secret won’t be secret for much longer.

5. Elvis Rocks The Canyon Cafe – Hell’s Gate

Although it’s more of a roadside diner than a coffee shop, if you’re driving along the Fraser Canyon toward Hell’s Gate, you’ll definitely want to make a pit stop at the famous Elvis Rocks The Canyon Cafe. Imagine a roadside cafe where the owners are such die hard Elvis fans, they own the entire Elvis discography on vinyl which they display proudly on the walls. And believe me, the Elvis albums are just part of their Elvis shrine. It’s really quite impressive and a must-see. The husband and wife owners even look the part, him with the Elvis hairdo and her with the Elvis bicep tattoo. I am not joking. I love this place. A total quirky cafe in the most unexpected of places – sitting alongside the edge of the Fraser Canyon between Yale and Boston Bar.

6. The Prophouse Cafe – Vancouver

I remember when I first visited the Prophouse Cafe in early 2011. I was told that it would be like discovering a secret attic where dozens of lanterns hung from the rafters; where a record player with a stash of vinyl was available for anyone who wished to play it. All the furniture is mismatched, and the place is full of the weird, the wonderful and the obscure: ceramic tigers, an old dentist chair, a velvet painting of a topless Polynesian. You get the picture…

Photo: Watching a concert during the Olio Festival at the Prophouse Cafe. Photo by Robyn Hanson.

But what’s cool about the Prophouse is that it gets its name because it is an actual prop house for movies and TV shows filmed in Vancouver. They also host a variety of shows in the evening, from music and comedy to burlesque. And what’s even cooler is that despite all the crazy decor and the fun events, the coffee and the food is amazing. In fact, my sister swears it’s the best value in town if you’re seeking an Americano and a large, fluffy scone. I completely agree. And that’s saying something, given its proximity to Commercial Drive.

7. Galileo Coffee Company – Britannia Beach

The tiny town of Britannia Beach is probably best known for the Britannia Mine Museum – a national historic site and fabulous day trip destination from Vancouver. But this former mining community has another treasure: it’s home to some of the best coffee along the Sea to Sky. The next time you’re driving up to Whistler, make a pit stop at the Galileo Coffee Company. All their coffee is roasted in house – a process you can watch from inside the cafe as you try to decide what coffee you’re going to have. The coffee’s so popular, many businesses in nearby Squamish and Whistler have begun to serve it as well!

8. Breakwater Cafe – Powell River

Imagine wandering into a charming bookstore only to discover a quaint little cafe nestled within. This is the Breakwater Cafe. Situated in Breakwater Books, Powell River’s only independent bookstore, this cafe is a must for any book lovers, especially those who enjoy reading local, west coast authors. Enjoy some homemade baking with your coffee, get comfy with your favourite book, or simply admire the waterfront view. If you visit on Saturdays at 2pm, you might even be able to take in some storytelling!

9. The Copper Sky Gallery and Cafe – Madeira Park

When I visited Madeira Park during the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl last October, I spent a leisurely lunch at the the Copper Sky Gallery and Cafe and absolutely loved it. Acting as the hub of the community, this whimsical cafe and art gallery hybrid features the beautiful paintings, sculptures, and jewellery of Cindy Cantelon and Marshall Mar. But the food here – made with fresh, seasonal produce – is equally spectacular. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat, admire the art, and watch the community spirit of the Sunshine Coast come alive.

10. Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe – Langley

Photo: Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe in downtown Fort Langley. Source: Robyn Hanson

The book nerd in me loves Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe. This carefully curated selection of books, stationery and gifts sits in the same heritage building as the cafe, where you can grab an espresso, a dessert bar, or even grab a proper meal… even pizza! I personally love coming here after spending the afternoon touring nearby Langley wineries. It makes for a perfect post-dinner destination and a wonderful place to grab a coffee for the drive back home.

Best Places for BBQ in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

March 21st, 2012

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Photo: BBQ’ing it up at the Hog Shack Cook House. Photo by Rick Chung for RickChung.com

Let’s face it, Vancouver doesn’t really have a southern-style BBQ culture. As the Globe and Mail‘s Alexandra Gill states, “In Canada, we often confuse barbecue with backyard grilling”. By comparison, southern BBQ is all about slow cooking the meat with smoke at low temperatures for long periods of time.

Our fascination with smoky carnivorous delight is on the rise, however, and I’m not talking char siu or Montreal-style rotisserie chicken either, but good ol’ fashioned BBQ ribs, brisket, sausage, and pulled pork. Inspired by the 1st Annual Big Red Barn Burner BBQ Competition in Chilliwack this weekend (March 23-25), we thought we’d list five of the best places for southern-style BBQ in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains.

1. The Campfire Grill – Squamish

Start off your trip to Whistler with a pit stop at The Campfire Grill, or simply make this Squamish BBQ joint a worthy destination in its own right. Serving up BBQ sandwiches, BBQ grub plates, campfire feasts, and BBQ street tacos, The Campire Grill prides itself on smoking their ribs, chicken, pulled pork and beef low and slow on their outdoor wood pellet BBQ. A popular place for take-out, it’s even better if you stay to eat in their alfresco environment. They have a covered seating area and an open fire to enjoy. You can even roast marshmallows for dessert! It’s only fitting that they’re located within an RV park.

2. Lucky’s Smokehouse – Sechelt

If you’re seeking natural wood smoked BBQ on the Sunshine Coast, look no further than Sechelt’s Lucky’s Smokehouse. They serve up southern style BBQ from slow roast chicken to melt-in-your-mouth brisket, all made in-house on their wood smoker. Their sides are also made from scratch, from their pit-smoked beans to the slaw. But what’s particularly appealing to yours truly is their “Train Wreck” sandwich. It’s not every day that you get pulled pork, smoked sausage, brisket and slaw piled high between two pieces of bread!

3. Memphis Blues BBQ House

Memphis Blues BBQ House is definitely a pioneer of the Vancouver southern BBQ scene. It’s by far the most popular BBQ joint in the city and is often considered the litmus test for good BBQ in the region. Try their Elvis Platter if you want to sample every meat (ribs, rib ends, brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, catfish, chicken) and every fixing (corn bread, collard greens, slaw, potato salad, fries, BBQ pit beans) on the menu. Needless to say, it’s ludicrously huge. If you had to choose one item, their brisket is supposed to be phenomenal. Memphis Blues ain’t fancy, but BBQ isn’t supposed to be. Just flavourful, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs goodness, and you know that’s exactly what you’re going to get here.

4. Embers BBQ House – Mission

BBQ lovers in the Fraser Valley have a hidden gem in their back yard called Embers BBQ House. Not only do they make all their food fresh from scratch, they’re the only BBQ joint around to bake their own bread and wraps in-house in a stone oven! While BBQ ribs, brisket, and chicken are items on their menu, they also offer some creative wraps and sandwiches, like the Heidi Baked – a BBQ chicken sandwich with pickled asparagus, tarragon sauce and Swiss cheese, served on the very bread that Embers is so famous for.

5. Hog Shack – Richmond

If you love craft beer with your BBQ, the Hog Shack Cook House will satisfy your soul. It’s Steveston’s first (and only) BBQ restaurant, offering a nice contrast to the typical seafood offerings the place is famous for. Their beer list is one of the most impressive in all of Richmond, although those in the know come to Hog Shack for their coveted nuggets of BBQ gold: Burnt Ends. The only caveat is that burnt ends aren’t actually on the menu, so you’ll have to find out about them via word of mouth. (Hint: follow Hog Shack on Twitter @HogShackCa). And if you’re wondering what the heck burnt ends are, allow me to introduce you to local food blogger Ed Lau who explains on his blog Ed Eats why they’re considered the most desired food amongst BBQ enthusiasts.

Special Mention: Re-Up BBQ – Vancouver

A shout out to my favourite Vancouver food cart, Re-Up BBQ. They serve pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, and sweet tea. I can only vouch for their pulled pork sandwich, but it’s one killer pulled pork sandwich – tangy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Due to the nature of being a food cart, they can literally pick up and take off to whatever destination they desire. Fortunately they remain parked by the Vancouver Art Gallery on some Thursdays and Fridays (11am-3pm), but on Fridays and Saturday nights they’ll linger outside the Biltmore Cabaret feeding hipsters from 9pm-2:30am! Nevertheless, if you have a craving for pulled pork sandwiches (and who doesn’t?), you can’t go wrong with Re-Up BBQ.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of every BBQ restaurant in the region, but merely a sampling of the better ones based on our research and your feedback. Did we miss your favourite BBQ joint? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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5 Irish Pubs in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

March 15th, 2012

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Photo: Gastown’s Irish Heather. Source: Sean Heather via Flickr.

Did you know that the Lion’s Gate Bridge was built by the Guinness family (yes that Guinness family) as a way to connect Vancouver with their properties on the North Shore? These properties are now known as the “British Properties”, and the rest, they say, is history.

Although Vancouver doesn’t have a huge Irish expat community in comparison to other Canadian locales, the city and region does know how to throw a good St. Patrick’s Day party. Celtic Fest is taking place in Vancouver all week, culminating with the 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday morning.

At first we thought we’d use this opportunity to highlight the St. Patrick’s Day activities taking place this weekend, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that people just want to drink beer on St. Patrick’s Day. Irish beer. Irish beer in an Irish pub – the more authentic the better.

Tourism Vancouver’s Inside Vancouver blog published a great list of Vancouver’s Grandest Green Pubs, but we wanted to expand the concept to the rest of the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. Based on our research and your feedback, here’s our top 5 picks:

5. Duke of Dublin Olde Irish Pub – Abbotsford

When we first spread the word that we were looking for your favourite Irish pubs, more than a few of you came back to us highly recommending the Duke of Dublin Olde Irish Pub for their fun atmosphere and quality pub food. If you’re looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this Saturday, the Duke of Dublin will be having live Irish music all day performed by the Streels, Irish dancers performing at 7:30, and DJ Chris all night.

4. Dublin Crossing Irish Pub – Surrey

Surrey’s Dublin Crossing Irish Pub isn’t just celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, they’re having a St. Patrick’s Week! On Saturday it’s first come first serve from 10am until 2am. Try their new Irish sampler flight of 4 different Irish beers, or enjoy a 20oz Irish beer served in its signature glass. There will also be performances by The Pat Chessel Band, Brian & Michele Duo, Steel School of Irish Dancers, the Irish Pipe Band, Rob Thompson, and David Blair. There is a $10 cover, but you also get a chance to win tons of prizes including a trip for two to Ireland!

3. Dubh Linn Gate – Whistler

It’s all about the Guinness at Whistler’s Dubh Linn Gate. According to one Irish-born Yelp reviewer, they pour the perfect pint, and isn’t that what you want on St. Patrick’s Day? This Saturday from 12-5 pm it’ll be admission by donation to the Whistler Food Bank. Please bring $5 for the effort or a non perishable food item. Live music starts at 1pm with the Splinters and Ruckus Deluxe in the evening. And being Whistler’s only Irish pub, you know the place will be hopping!

2. O’Hare’s GastroPub – Richmond

Here’s something I didn’t know about: O’Hare’s GastroPub was the first pub in British Columbia to serve Guinness imported straight from Dublin. Founded in 1987 by Irish expats Jack and Jane O’Hare and currently being run by their daughter Erinn, it’s an authentic piece of Ireland and with 16 beers on tap, it’s the perfect place for a pint in Richmond. But that’s not all – the food is top notch, hence their recent GastroPub moniker. If you’re coming to eat, you can’t go wrong with any of their traditional Irish dishes – Dublin steak & Guinness pie, Irish beef stew, and the like.

This Saturday, you should get down early if you want a seat at this Richmond institution. They say, “We will have copious amounts of green beer, enough Irish Stew to sink a ship & Irish dancers at 1pm, 3pm and 7pm. It’s going to be tons of craic!”

1. The Irish Heather GastroPub – Vancouver

I’ve always loved The Irish Heather‘s introduction on their website: “In a world filled with ‘Plastic Paddy’ establishments, the Heather stands out as a beacon of authenticity. An Irish House that is owned by Irish people who actually work there…how refreshing!!” Indeed.

There are so many reasons to love the Irish Heather: their separate space the Shebeen Whiskey House (only accessible by a tiny alley out their back door), their impressive whiskey list, their Irish beer selection, their good taste in music, incredible food (from quality bangers & mash and braised lamb shank to snacks like curry chips). Even their collection of Guinness memorabilia makes this space tick. When U2 come to Vancouver, they have been known for frequent this establishment. Enough said.

For St. Patrick’s Day they aren’t charging cover or fees, but they do require a reservation as they only have 200 seats, and they claim that they can easily fill that four times this Saturday. As a result, they’re limiting seatings to a maximum of three hours. But three hours at the Irish Heather is three hours well-spent.

Note: Did we forget to mention your favourite Irish pub in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region? If so, leave us a comment to share your tips!

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5 Art Galleries for a Rainy Weekend

March 2nd, 2012

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With rainy weather forecast for the whole weekend, why not explore some of the cool art exhibits in some of our local galleries? Here’s a highlight of some exhibits that piqued our interest:

1. Maple Ridge Art Gallery – Maple Ridge

Image: St. Luie by Christopher Friesen. Source: Maple Ridge Art Gallery.

You don’t have to be a Canucks fan to enjoy Christopher Friesen’s art, but for his 54″x 54″ acrylic on canvas piece St. Luie, it certainly helps. The University of the Fraser Valley faculty member showcases his works at the Maple Ridge Art Gallery in an exhibit titled Duplicity: Paintings by Christopher Friesen. The exhibit runs until March 17 and showcases three different aspects of his studio practice through three distinct bodies of work: In Media Res; Pulse; and Soft Topographies.

The Maple Ridge Art Gallery is open Tuesday until Saturday from 11am-4pm.

2. Surrey Art Gallery – Surrey

Photo: How do artists picture the city? Perhaps this is one way… Source: Robyn Hanson

Urban geography geeks will no doubt appreciate the current exhibit at the Surrey Art Gallery. Exploring the question, “How to artists picture the city?”, Beyond Vague Terrain: The City and the Serial Image looks at the many sides of cities, especially Metro Vancouver’s, through photography, painting, drawing, and video. Featured artists include Sylvia Grace Borda, Michael de Courcy, Chris Gergley, Jeremy Herndl, Bill Jeffries, Roy Kiyooka, Owen Kydd, Khan Lee, Helma Sawatzky, Susan Schuppli, Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace, and Neil Wedman. The exhibit ends on March 18.

The Surrey Art Gallery is open from Monday and Friday from 9am-5pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 9am-9pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 12-5pm.

3. Gibsons Public Art Gallery – Gibsons

Image: Poster for Amelia Epp’s exhibit. Source: Gibsons Public Art Gallery.

The Sunshine Coast has no shortage of talented artists. Discover Gibsons-based artist and art educator Amelia Epp with her current exhibit Remnants: Strained, Stained and Stitched. Her exhibit will be showing until March 12 at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. In this exhibit, Epp transforms recycled and found materials to create sculptures, prints, collages, drawings, paintings and mixed-media works.

The Gibsons Public Art Gallery is open Thursday to Monday from 12-4pm during the winter season.

4. Richmond Art Gallery – Richmond Art Gallery

Photo: Once upon a time at Fantasy Gardens. Source: Antirrhinum City.

Anyone who remembers the Bill Vander Zalm era may want to visit the Richmond Art Gallery before April 1st. It’s here where Stuart McCall and Neil Wedman have combined their two separate bodies of work – both drawings and photographs – to create Fantasy Gardens, an exhibit which looks at the history, politics, and changing economics of this now demolished Richmond tourism attraction. If you’re able to visit on March 3, McCall and Wedman will be in the gallery to talk about their work from 1-4pm.

The Richmond Art Gallery is open weekends from 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday from 10am-6pm (Thursdays open until 9pm).

5. The Reach – Abbotsford

Blame it on all the art history courses I took at UBC, but I’m stoked about this Goya exhibit at Abbotsford’s The Reach Gallery Museum. Organized and circulated by the National Gallery of Canada (arguably the most impressive art museum in all of Canada), the Goya exhibit features Los Caprichos (1799) and The Disasters of War (1810-1820) – two two bodies of work which according to The Reach, “have come to be seen as the most influential graphic series in the history of Western art”. This exhibit, in addition to four others, will be on display until March 25.

The Reach Gallery Museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-5pm, and Thursday from 10am-9pm.

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About 604 Pulse

Where should we go this weekend? This is a question we hear a lot, and it’s a question we often ask ourselves. So we had an idea: why not create a website where we explore all the things to see and do in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, and then share them with you. We’ll provide locals and visitors personal insight into the cool things you can see and do in the region. Each week we’ll give you new tips, highlight upcoming events, share our favourite blogs, and tell you about our travels.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains is a non-profit society, which represents business and community tourism interests from throughout the region. VCM invites you to come and discover the four distinct destination areas that make up Vancouver, Coast & Mountains: Metro Vancouver, Mighty Fraser Country, Sea to Sky Country, and the Sunshine Coast.

Do you have a suggestion for a blog post?
E-mail us at info@604Pulse.com.

Blogger Bio

The voice behind 604 Pulse is that of Robyn Hanson. Born and raised in Vancouver, Robyn is a recognized expert on social media use for tourism operators. She has been an active participant and frequent contributor to online travel communities since 1998. With a keen interest in local history, geography, live music, and photography, Robyn has a passion for the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region that is evident in the enthusiasm in the posts. Robyn posts almost daily to 604 Pulse and authors all of the site content.

604Pulse: Want to escape the city and go for a walk in the forest? Head to Lynn Canyon Park: http://t.co/MmpMSo3y

604Pulse: @SeanEckford Egmonsters? Love it!

604Pulse: Seeking adventure this weekend? We recommend river rafting in the Fraser Canyon: http://t.co/MmpMSo3y

604Pulse: Egmont - an unfortunate name for a town but one of the most stunning views on the Lower Sunshine Coast: http://t.co/J7pMmoVC

604 Pulse