Photo: Gorgeous Canucks cupcakes by Candice Roach & Sonja Williams. Source: Candice Roach
1 . Bake for the Quake – April 20:
If you can be in Yaletown this Wednesday evening, get yourself to the Roundhouse Community Centre for Bake for the Quake – a collective bake sale to raise funds for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief. The proceeds will go directly to Doctors without Borders. This event’s hosted by Vancouver’s Melody Fury of GourmetFury.com and Joy of Gourmeted.com. Expect an amazing array of baked goods by the Lower Mainland’s most talented cooks and bakers, including these prize-winning Canucks cupcakes as baked by Candice Roach & Sonja Williams of Baked in Vancouver. They’re pretty sweet, aren’t they? Those cupcakes helped Candice win Canucks playoff tickets in a recent contest held by MARKET by Jean-Georges. Needless to say, they’re super impressive! You can read all about Candice’s story here! Of course, cupcakes are just one of the many decadent delights awaiting you this Wednesday… and honestly? We can’t wait! For full details, visit the official Bake for the Quake website here.
2. Hell’s Gate Airtram:
The Fraser Canyon plays a massive role in the identity and history of British Columbia – the exploration, the gold rush, the railroad, the salmon runs, and the First Nations people who lived there. Well, Hell’s Gate – the most narrow and dangerous point in the Fraser Canyon – plays a significant part of that history. These days Hell’s Gate is one of the most popular visitor destinations on the Fraser Canyon, and if you haven’t visited yet, we highly recommend the drive out there to experience it. Explains Venture Vancouver, “An interesting historical adventure for all ages, Hell’s Gate provides the opportunity to learn about the perils faced by British Columbia’s early explorers, settlers and salmon while offers spectacular views of the canyon from the lower terminal, airtram and highway level.” This Thursday, April 21st is the season opening of Hell’s Gate Airtram in the Fraser Canyon. Kristen Wehlow of Inside Vancouver visited last summer. She says, “Whether you’re a local getting to know the area, a visitor exploring the region for the first time or you just happen to be driving through – there is something in store for young and old including the air tram, suspension bridge and even a fudge factory (yum!).” Needless to say, this is perhaps one of the most unique ways of experiencing not only the Fraser River, but the gorgeous Fraser Canyon. We think the Hell’s Gate Airtram makes a beautiful day-trip road trip, especially if you take Scenic Highway 7 to get there. It’s particularly alluring, especially if you’re a photographer. For more information, visit the official Hell’s Gate Airtram website here.
3. Kilby Historic Site:
For those with an interest in local history, the Kilby Historic Site in Harrison Mills is definitely a worthy destination for a day trip. Just like the drive to Hell’s Gate, we really do recommend the Scenic Highway 7 because it takes you through gorgeous pastoral countryside that really showcases the laid back country life of the Fraser Valley. Located near the confluence of the Harrison and Fraser Rivers, the Kilby Historic Site stands as the only reminder of the once thriving community of Harrison Mills. When Miss 604 paid a visit two springs ago, she discovered that “Kilby was a bustling whistle stop destination home to thousands at its peak where Mr. Acton Kilby ran the general store (1906), post office, hotel, and most elements you’d find in a turn-of-the-century town.” And that’s the beauty of Kilby Historic Site – it’s like going back in time to the 1920′s and 1930′s. Kilby’s museum (the Kilby General Store – refurbished to look like how it would have back in 1906), the restaurant and the gift shop open for the season this Thursday, April 21. And this Easter long weekend on Sunday, April 24th and Monday, April 25th, the Kilby Historic Site is hosting a family-friendly Easter event which includes an Easter egg hunt, baby farm animals, crafts and games, and a special restaurant feature. For more information, visit the official Kilby website here.
4. BC Book Prizes on Tour – April 19 & 20:
BC’s home to so many talented authors, but we often don’t get a chance to really show them how much we appreciate them. Well the BC Book Prizes on Tour event has given British Columbians a fantastic opportunity to do just that! Over the past few weeks they’ve organized events all over the province so that readers can meet and greet some of BC’s most noteworthy authors who have been shortlisted for various prestigious literary prizes. If you’re in North Van or White Rock this week, you’re in luck! Grant Lawrence and Sylvia Olsen will be at North Vancouver’s The Edge Bistro this Tuesday, April 19th at 4:30pm, and the FVRL White Rock Library on Wednesday, April 20th at 7pm. Grant Lawrence is a CBC Radio 3 broadcaster and author of “Adventures in Solitude: What Not to Wear to a Nude Potluck and Other Stories from Desolation Sound” (shortlisted for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize & Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award). Sylvia Olsen is the author of “Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater” (shortlisted for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize). For more details, visit the official BC Book Prizes on Tour website here.
5. Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival:
This is definitely one of the most exciting times to be in Whistler. The Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival is taking place right now until Sunday, April 24th and it’s a great excuse to enjoy free concerts around the village while mingling and shmoozing with like-minded ski bums. This year is the 16th anniversary of this 10 day event… and it’s more than just free concerts. As it says on their website, it combines “Canada’s largest free outdoor concert series with career-making showdowns of action sports and lifestyle fashion, photography and film, the best spring snow conditions, and burn-the-candle nightlife, it’s a celebration of everything that’s core to mountain culture.” Some of the events include Pecha Kucha (tonight, Monday April 18th at Maxx Fish), the 2nd Cuts Filmmaker Screening (Wednesday, April 20th at 12 pm), and the OLYMPUS Pro Photographer Showdown (Thursday, April 21st at 9pm). That’s just the tip of the iceburg. For everything happening in Whistler during the festival, see the full schedule here.
