BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for May 8 – 14

Olympic gold medallists Virtue and Moir return to BC for Stars on Ice

Recycle Your Wardrobe
 – May 5-9
There’s more on the menu than just food these days at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen (1118 Mainland St., Vancouver) and Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House (777 Thurlow St., Vancouver). For the first time ever, the two upscale eateries are joining forces to host a Maternity Clothing Drive to benefit the Vancouver Native Health Society’s Sheway Program for low-income moms. So whether you’re hungering to help, or just want to make more room in your wardrobe, you can drop off your new or gently used maternity wear at either one of the two locations on May 5 through 9, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit joefortes.ca
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Celebrate Mom
 – May 9
Flowers are fab, candy is dandy and lunch is lovely, but you can really get mom’s heart racing on Mother’s Day by taking a little trip to Tiffany & Co. (723 Burrard St., Vancouver). The world-class retailer has just unveiled a new filigree heart pendant available in sterling silver, 18-karat white or rose gold, encrusted with your choice of either diamonds or gemstones. Bling it on by calling 604-630-1300 or visiting tiffany.ca. Another idea? Down-to-earth moms can munch with mutts at the Pacific Assistance Dogs’ Mother’s Day Luncheon on May 8 at Executive Plaza Hotel (405 North Road, Coquitlam), a fundraiser to help support the agency in its mission to provide assistance dogs to the disabled. Visit pads.ca for more details.

See Olympic Stars on Ice – May 11 (Victoria), May 14 (Vancouver)
Freshly crowned Olympic medallists Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Joannie Rochette barely had time to catch their breath after competing in the Vancouver Winter Games before they were lacing up their skates again for the 20th-anniversary Sears Stars on Ice tour, presented by Samsung. Lucky for us locals, Canada’s top figure-skating spectacle concludes its 12-city tour with two B.C. stops — at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena on May 11 and at Vancouver’s GM Place on May 14. Upping the entertainment ante, you’ll also enjoy performances by other members of Canada’s ice-skating elite, such as Patrick Chan, Kurt Browning, Jeffrey Buttle, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. Tickets start at $25 through starsonice.ca.

Attend Hot Chefs Cool Jazz – May 13
Just as Olympic athletes require funds for training, so do the culinary contestants of the 2011 Bocuse d’Or world chef competition in Lyon, France. And given that B.C.’s own Ryan Stone will be slicing and dicing to win the crown for Canada, Vancouver’s culinary community is supporting his efforts by cooking up Hot Chefs Cool Jazz, a foodie fundraiser on May 13 at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building, 1055 Canada Place), starting at 6 p.m. A $110 ticket entitles you to a glam evening where wine tasting, grazing stations, live jazz and a silent auction are all on the menu, plus mixing and mingling with local celebrity chefs including Vikram Vij of Vij’s, James Walt of Araxi and many more. Tickets can be purchased at hotchefscooljazz.eventbrite.com.


See Dangerous Corner at the Vancouver Playhouse
 – May 1-22
Is honesty really the best policy? Not necessarily. At least that’s the take-home message of Dangerous Corner, a play that sets the tone in the opening scene when one character declares: “Telling the truth is about as healthy as skidding round a corner at 60.” The classic comedy makes a case for keeping lips zipped when a chance remark by a dinner party guest ignites a series of shocking revelations that end in tragedy. Then, just when you think the show is over, it makes an unexpected U-turn, taking audiences on an exhilarating joyride. See it on stage until May 22 at the Vancouver Playhouse (Hamilton & Dunsmuir streets). Call 604-873-3311 or visit vancouverplayhouse.com for tickets.

Eat Pastries for Big Brothers and Sisters
 – May 8-9
No need to feel guilty about consuming carbs if you’re doing it for a good cause, right? Just keep telling yourself that on May 8 and 9 when COBS Bread invites you to purchase a pastry to raise funds for the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. On those two days, the national bakery chain will donate 50 cents from the sale of every scone, including a new banana chocolate chip variety, to the mentoring agency, which pairs adult role models with at-risk kids in communities across Canada. And no worries if you don’t want to ditch your diet — COBS will also collect cash donations until May 12 in hopes of raising $10,000 for the cause nationwide. For more information, visit cobsbread.com or call 1-866-383-COBS.


Fill up on Prawns at False Creek’s Spot Prawn Festival
 – May 8
If you’re particular about prawns, you’ll want to head to False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf (1505 W. 1st Ave., Vancouver) on May 8. That’s the launch date of the fourth annual Spot Prawn Festival, a seafood shindig featuring food and wine, live music by Terminal Station, a guest speaker from the David Suzuki Foundation, a kids’ play zone and book signings by some of the city’s best chefs for their collected recipes in Vancouver Cooks 2. Equally great, you can buy bags of freshly caught spot prawns right off the docks from May 8 and the next few weeks onward for just $12 per pound. Catch this prawn party from noon to 3 p.m., rain or shine, with further information at chefstablesociety.com
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Have a Good Time at Divertimento
 – May 14
Buon appetito! The authentic cuisine at La Piazza Dario Ristorante in the Italian Cultural Centre (3075 Slocan St., Vancouver) just might inspire you to start spouting the language of love. At the very least, if you swing by on May 14 you can be part of a full-on fundraising feast called Divertimento (translation: a good time) that supports the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s outreach and education programs. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction followed by music, dinner and wine starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $135 per person, with $75 tax receipts issued. To reserve, call 604-738-6822. For additional details, visit vancouverchamberchoir.com.

Ride the Rapids with Chilliwack River Rafting Adventures – May – September
If you’re looking for a heart-stopping hobby, Chilliwack River Rafting Adventures will practically land you on life support. After clambering aboard a rubber raft, you’ll enjoy non-stop whitewater (and white-knuckle!) action bouncing through big waves along roaring currents. And with names like Gun Barrel, Double Whammy, Pinball and Godzilla, you know these rapids have gotta be good. Feeling fearless? You can always ask your guide to “surf a hole,” in rafting speak, or to brave the Chilliwack Canyon. And if you’re less than lion-hearted, don’t worry; there are plenty of family-friendly runs, too. Tours depart daily at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from May through September 15. Call 1-800-410-7238 or visit chilliwackrafting.com for further details.

Follow the Sound of Bagpipes at the Victoria Highland Games – May 22
What’s with the masses of men in skirts at Victoria’s Topaz Park? No it’s not a drag queen convention; it’s just the 147th annual Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival. On May 22 and 23, visitors can expect a full slate of Scotland-inspired activities – everything from Highland dancing and whisky tastings to a tartan parade and sheepdog trials. Not a Scot? No worries. You don’t need to be a “Mc” or a “Mac” to appreciate this fun fete taking place at Blanshard and Finlayson streets, opposite Mayfair Mall, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Just follow the sound of the bagpipes! Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/youth and free for kids under 12. For info, visit victoriahighlandgames.com.

Sign the Kids up for Summer Science Camp – Now!
Every year at about this time, working parents face the same dilemma: What to do with the kids when they’re on summer holidays but you’re not. Science World (1455 Quebec St., Vancouver) helps solve the problem with day camps for kids in grades 1 through 6. To guarantee a spot, sign up now for the weeklong sessions, which explore the science of pirates with activities ranging from reading the sky for storms, investigating the physics behind stealthy ships, to studying the biology of sea creatures and enjoying giant-size films in the OMNIMAX Theatre. Plus, mini mateys can also hunt for hidden treasure and watch live science demos on Mondays through Fridays in July and August from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Download an application at scienceworld.ca/summercamp or call 604-443-7710.

Check out the New Cinema Public House – Anytime
Don’t let the name fool you: If you head to Cinema Public House (901 Granville St., Vancouver) expecting to settle in with a bag of popcorn for the latest big-screen blockbuster, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But that’s okay; you’ll just make more room for all the barflies buzzing around this new 148-seat hot spot, the latest addition to the Donnelly Pub Group. Described as “progressive and casual, cool and edgy,” Cinema serves up innovative pub food created with local, seasonal ingredients, along with music ranging from indie, electro and classics to live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Check it out from 11 a.m. daily, with further information at 604-694-0202.


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