BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for November 10-16

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This week in BC: Enjoy shucking oysters, Christmas crafts, Culture Crawl, Vancouver Health Show, and more

Circle Craft Christmas Market – November 7-11

Don’t be surprised if you’re tempted to buy one of everything at the 39th annual Circle Craft Christmas Market, taking place from November 7 to 11 at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building, 999 Canada Place). After all, this seasonal showcase features the works of more than 300 of B.C.’s best craftspeople, each exhibiting high-quality, one-of-a-kind wares. Buy tickets at the door for $12 or online for $10.

Taste of Tulalip – November 9-10

Cheap milk is only one reason B.C.-ers brave the border crossing. Another is Taste of Tulalip, an award-winning food and wine weekend guaranteed to give gastronomes a great time. Held on November 9 and 10 at Tulalip Resort Casino (10200 Quil Ceda Blvd, Washington), this culinary carnival features everything from gala dinners and wine tastings to chef demos and sommelier seminars. Tickets online are selling out fast, so buy now or call 1-888-272-1111 to book yours today.

Vancouver Health Show – November 10-11

Whether it’s smoking and drinking or overeating and undersleeping, these all-too-common habits can play havoc with your health. That’s why you might want to check out the 22nd annual Vancouver Health Show, taking place on November 10 and 11 with dozens of exhibitors, seminars and keynote speakers, including fitness guru Tommy Europe, lifestyle coach Dr. Marita Schauch and nutritionists Brad King and Lisa Kilgour. Check it out at Vancouver Convention Centre East.

Kid Gloves – November 10 to December 1

Did you know that Canada’s first two female cops were hired exactly 100 years ago by the Vancouver Police Department? Playwright Sally Stubbs did, and she presents a fictionalized account of these two fearless femmes in Kid Gloves, running November 10 to December 1 at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre. How will constables Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller find their way in a profession not used to female authority figures? There’s one way to find out: buy tickets online or by phone at 604-689-0926.

Remembrance Day – November 11

In Flanders Fields lie many of the folk who fought for our freedom, but on November 11 we can honour them right here at home during Vancouver’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony at Victory Square (between Cambie and Hamilton streets), starting with a 10:30 a.m. parade. Can’t make it downtown? Similar ceremonies are happening across B.C., including at the Cloverdale Cenotaph, Port Coquitlam Veterans Park and the B.C. Legislature grounds in Victoria.

A Taste of Dignity Dinner – November 14

With a name like A Taste of Dignity Dinner, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s all about a fundraising feast. That’s only part of the equation at this social shindig, which ups the entertainment ante with a silent auction, pottery sale and a raffle for two tickets to anywhere in North America that Air Canada flies. Why should you care? Because it helps support Just Work, an initiative to help disabled folks enter the workforce. Book your $40 ticket for the November 14 festivities, held at Vancouver’s Heritage Hall, by calling 604-734-2104.

Clayoquot Oyster Festival – November 15-17

Tofino harvests 500,000 gallons of oysters each year, so it’s only appropriate that the seaside city is set to host the 16th annual Clayoquot Oyster Festival, November 15 to 17 at various venues, including SoBo Restaurant and the Wickaninnish Inn. Attracting mollusk maniacs from both near and far, this oyster eat-a-thon includes wine and food pairings, educational seminars, oyster farm tours, slurping contests and even an Oyster Gala, a button-bursting bacchanal for foodies who like to get formal. Call 1-800-863-4664 for tickets.

David Mamet’s Race – November 15 to December 1

Provocative and profane. That’s how Chicago critics have described David Mamet’s play Race, hitting the stage from November 15 to December 1 at Vancouver’s Studio 16 (1555 West 7th Ave). And who’d expect anything less from the controversy-courting playwright, whose latest work revolves around two lawyers defending a wealthy white executive charged with raping a black woman. Tickets are available online or by phone at 1-800-838-3006.

Eastside Culture Crawl – November 16-18

Talk about a culture shock! Who knew Vancouver boasted such a bounty of talented artists? You’ll meet some of them at the 16th annual Eastside Culture Crawl, a free fine-arts fest that opens the doors to working studios in East Vancouver. Held from November 16 to 18, it features the work of emerging and established artists, from painters and potters to photographers and furniture makers, each hailing from the area bounded by Main Street to Victoria Drive north of 1st Avenue. Check it out starting Friday at 5 p.m. and continuing through the weekend.

Bakers Market – Until December 8

What’s “the sweetest event in Vancouver?” If billing is to believed, it’s the Bakers Market, selling a variety of fresh-baked savoury and sweet treats to suit eaters of all ages, including plenty of vegan and gluten-free selections. Bring your own containers, and stock up on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until December 8, at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre (7646 Prince Albert St, Vancouver). Admission is free.