BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for April 24 – 30

The Aberdeen Highland Dancers present Folk Traditions of the British Isles

See the Abbotsford Concert Band’s Folk Traditions of the British Isles
If life in Canada has left our British ex-pats feeling out of tune, they’re sure to get back in harmony at the Abbotsford Concert Band’s presentation of Folk Traditions of the British Isles, featuring the Aberdeen Highland Dancers and harpist Joanne Hankey. Expect an old-world repertoire that resurrects U.K. standards like Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ Folk Song Suite, Clare Grundman’s Hebrides Suite, and Melanie Donahue’s Eire. Catch it on April 25 at 3 p.m. at Cascade Community Church (35190 Delair Rd., Abbotsford). Tickets are $12 at the door, or $10 in advance from King’s Music and House of Fine Art in Abbotsford and Shoppers Drug Mart in Mission. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Salvation Army. For more information, call Kevin at 604-852-7250 or e-mail abbyband@hotmail.com.

Go on an ArtWalk
Port Moody is embracing its billing this week as a City of the Arts. On April 24 and 25, ArtWalk invites culture vultures to check out the work of more than 50 talented locals at 15 venues, including Port Moody Arts Centre, the museum, home studios and select shops from noon to 5 p.m. daily. Fans can get a first taste of this fine arts feast at an opening reception on April 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Old Mill Boathouse (2715 Esplanade), where you can meet the artists and see a sampling of the work available for sale — everything from painting, photography and glass to wood, pottery and stone. For information and a downloadable map, visit artsconnect.ca or call 604-931-8255.

Foster Your Well Being at the Wellness Show
The best form of wealth is your health. So it’s smart to safeguard it by swinging by The Wellness Show, running from April 30 to May 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre (999 Canada Place, Exhibit Halls B and C). Body, mind and spirit will benefit from the weekend’s worth of speakers and exhibitors, including She’s Fit, Choices Market, Left Coast Naturals and Oxylift, the latter demo-ing three-minute non-surgical facelifts! This all-ages event also includes wellness tips for kids, aging parents and even pets. And don’t forget to come by the BC Living booth for prizes and activities! Admission is $12.50 for adults; $10 for seniors/students, $5 for kids 6 to 15, and free for children five and under. For more info, visit thewellnessshow.com or call 604-983-2794.

Get out for Dine Out
So many restaurants, so little time. That’s our only gripe about Dine Out Vancouver, an annual deal on meals that runs this year from April 26 to May 6. Hundreds of top Lower Mainland restaurants, including Chambar, Saltaire and West, for starters, are featuring special three-course menus at fixed prices of $18, $28 or $38. With 207 eateries on board, foodies can sample everything from casual neighbourhood faves to high-dollar hot spots, all for an affordable price. Plus, many of the menus also highlight BC VQA wine pairing suggestions to complement the cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended. The full list of participating restaurants is at tourismvancouver.com



Follow the Judas Goat to Gastown’s New Taberna

A new Spanish-inspired tapas bar in Gastown has been raising eyebrows for its strange name, Judas Goat Taberna (27 Blood Alley, Vancouver). The meaning behind the moniker? Slaughterhouses often have trouble coaxing animals to leave the truck after transportation, so, most employ a trained goat — known as a Judas goat — to lure the creatures off the truck to their inevitable conclusion. Sad as that may be, there’s no denying executive chef Lee Humphries has a way with meat, with dishes like braised pork belly on onion purée with pine nuts and orange gremolata, and a terrine of warm lamb cheek, savoy cabbage and white truffle oil. Give it a taste-test Monday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight, with information at judasgoat.ca or 604-681-5090.


Dine on Ocean Friendly Fare
 at the Fairmont Waterfront
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is making philanthropy fun for the entire month of April by inviting diners to dive into some green cuisine and donate $1 to the National Geographic Society while they’re at it. Herons Restaurant at the Fairmont Waterfront (900 Canada Place Way) has eschewed endangered species for the bounty of our local waters, resulting in conservation-minded catches that have been reinvented into seafood dishes expertly prepared by executive chef Patrick Dore. We recommend starting with the Salt Spring Island honey mussels splashed with Chardonnay then moving on to the B.C. salmon entrée garnished with bacon truffle vinaigrette and dandelion greens. Delish! Reserve by calling 604-691-1818 or book online at opentable.com
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Book Some Play Time at Playland

Yes, it may be noisy, expensive and crowded, but, for kids, Playland is nothing short of paradise. So, parents, you can probably expect to make at least one obligatory visit to allow kids to earn bragging rights for braving rides with names like Gladiator, Hellevator and Drop Zone, and honing motor skills at an arcade, mini-golf course and shooting gallery. Of course, effort like that works up an appetite, which they’ll have no problem satisfying on-site at Pizza Pizza, Fundunkers Donuts and, of course, White Spot, serving up the chain’s legendary burgers. Playland is open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 24 to June 27, with further info (and discounted playpasses) available online at pne.ca/playland.


Celebrate the Sixth Annual City of Bhangra Festival
One of the best things about our multi-culti community? Celebrations like the sixth annual City of Bhangra Festival, running from April 29 to May 8 at various Vancouver venues. Isn’t it cool that a form of entertainment created centuries ago to celebrate the harvest in Punjab has been brought to Vancouver and made accessible to people of all persuasions? See what it’s all about for free on May 7 at VIBC’s Downtown Bhangra, an outdoor community concert featuring wild dance routines and bands like San Francisco’s Black Mahal, on the Georgia Street Plaza at the Vancouver Art Gallery, starting at 5 p.m. For a full schedule of events, go to vibc.org.

Start Wining at the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival
Thirty years ago, the thought of the Okanagan as a world-class wine destination would’ve been practically laughable. But, my, how times have changed! Still skeptical? Check out the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival from April 30 to May 9, where you can tip a glass at more than 100 events at venues throughout the region. Whether you choose to sniff, swirl and sip at wine education seminars or indulge your appetite with everything from light lunches to gourmet dinners, you’re assured an experience that will please even the most discriminating oenophile. After all, it’s no accident that this annual extravaganza, described as “one of Canada’s best small festivals,” is expected to attract a guess-timated 40,000 visitors from across North America. For further details, visit thewinefestivals.com

Cheer on the Canucks at Red Card Sports Bar
Can our courageous Canucks make it through to the Stanley Cup finals this year? And can they possibly beat the odds and raise the chalice for the very first time? Who knows; but one thing’s for sure: you can catch all the action at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery (900 Seymour Street, Vancouver), offering a Hockey Lover’s Deal that includes a delicious Hockey Lover’s Pizza and a glass of local craft beer on tap every Canucks game night for just $15. Of course, there is more than just one way to enjoy the game, so diners can also belly up to a glowing marble bar, delve into a chic cocktail menu and sample one of Red Card’s specialty dishes. For reservations call 604-689-4460 or visit redcardsportsbar.ca.

Pamper Yourself at the Kingfisher Resort
Picture it: relaxation, renewal and rejuvenation. You’re guaranteed to find all three with the Spring Spa Package at Kingfisher Oceanside Resort (4330 South Island Highway, Courtenay, Vancouver Island). Not only will you get to kick back for two nights in an ocean-view room, but you’ll also receive a whopping $200 in spa and restaurant credits, a free fitness class and – the proverbial cherry on top – a visit to the Pacific Mist Hydropath water station, offering full-body re-mineralization and detoxification treatments in a seaside-inspired setting full of sculpted caves and pools. To book this or other spring getaway packages, available until June 24, call 1-800-663-7929 or visit kingfisherspa.com

Originally published in TV Week. For daily updates, subscribe to the free TV Week e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.