BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for November 12-18

In Passing is a multimedia meditation on death and dying at the Western Front

What to do in BC this week

Fill up at Whistler Cornucopia – November 10-13
When a food fest is called Cornucopia, you know it’s guaranteed to deliver oodles of eats. And rest assured, Whistler’s premier wine and food extravaganza doesn’t disappoint. From November 10 to 13, this 15th annual eat-a-thon invites guests to sniff, swirl and sip a selection of vintages while enjoying gala tasting events, sizzling after-parties, sommelier-led seminars and winemaker dinners.


Catch In Passing at the Western Front – November 12-13

Musings on mortality. Those three words only partially describe what’s in store at In Passing, a multimedia meditation on death and dying taking place at the Western Front (303 E. 8th Ave, Vancouver) on November 12 and 13. But don’t think “depressing,” because this dynamic deconstruction includes live classical music, a dance performance, photo installation and even a guided tour of the venue’s eerie past. Catch it at 
8 p.m. for $25 per person.


Take a Pub Tour – until November 13
A pub crawl without the beer-belching bozos? That’s no contradiction in terms, it’s just what you can expect at Nanaimo Museum‘s Pub Tours, offering guests guided walks through the town’s historic city centre for brief stops at three of Vancouver Island’s oldest liquor establishments. Sound like fun? Better hurry and reserve a spot then, ‘cause tours conclude November 13. Catch it at Nanaimo Museum (100 Museum Way), starting at 6:45 p.m.

Get Keyed up
 for Israel’s Silver-Garburg Piano Duo – November 14
Praised for their “lyric sensitivity, extraordinary inner perception and overwhelming technical mastery,” Israel’s Silver-Garburg Piano Duo has dazzled fans in more than 50 countries on five continents. Now it’s our turn, when the top-notch ivory ticklers take the stage for the first time ever in Vancouver on November 14 at Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre (950 W. 41st Ave). Word of advice? Make sure your hands are well rested because this dynamic young duo always warrants standing ovations.
 Tickets available through Tickets Tonight.


See Capilano University’s Rendition of Arabian Nights – November 17-26
Imagine the pressure on poor Shahrazad: Unless the legendary storyteller could weave enough cliffhangers to keep a Persian king captivated, she’d be killed. She did, she wasn’t, and the result was the Arabian Nights, peopled by such colourful characters as Ali Baba, Sinbad and Aladdin. And while it’s always risky to rejig a classic, Exit 22 gives it a go with a new adaptation premiering November 17 to 26 at North Shore Union Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver).


Enjoy Oysters – November 17-19

For centuries, oysters have been prized as one of the ocean’s most delicious delicacies. Even tight-fisted Roman emperors were known to buy them by their weight in gold. These days, there’s no need to shell out big bucks to shuck — especially when you can just head to the 15th annual Clayoquot Oyster Festival, running from November 17 to 19 at various venues throughout Tofino. And whether your taste runs to slurping contests or cocktail receptions, you’ll find lots of ways to honour the oyster.


Watch Toy Story 3 on Ice – November 18-20 & 23-27
The toys are back in town! Why be content to watch Toy Story 3 on the small screen when you can catch Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl on ice as they band together to escape from Sunnyside Daycare. But that’s only half the fun: Disney on Ice is also debuting an innovative 3D technology that shrinks audience members down to toy size. Sound like fun? See it November 18 to 20 at Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre or November 23 to 27 at the Pacific Coliseum.

Join the Eastside Culture Crawl – November 18-20
Who gives a fig about fine arts? Lots of us, which is why Lower Mainlanders are expected to turn out by the thousands for the 15th annual Eastside Culture Crawl. As Western Canada’s largest open-studio arts festival, it’s an annual opportunity to meet and greet 317 Vancouver-area artists. So if you’re up for a cultural awakening, check out this artistic affair from November 18 to 20 in the neighbourhood bounded by Main Street and Victoria Drive, north of 1st Avenue.


Man up at the Vancouver Men’s Show – November 18-20
Up for some male bonding with the buds? You’ll find the perfect backdrop at the first annual Vancouver Men’s Show at Tradex (1190 Cornell St, Abbotsford) from November 18 to 20. Booze? Check. Barbecue? Check. Hotrods, poker and sports? Check, check and check. And that’s not even including the 150 vendors showcasing the hottest gadgets for guys, plus a CFL tailgate party, Strongman competition, slapshot contest and paintball shooting range.

Plan a Gals’ Getaway – November 18-20
Champagne, shopping and chefs. These are three of the main ingredients in Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort‘s new weekend getaway for gals. Taking place in Osoyoos from November 18 to 20, this $225 per person package includes a relaxing two-night stay in a luxury suite, a weekend’s worth of meals, a winery tour and a swag bag stocking stuffed with goodies. Upping the ante even further? Throw in an appearance by celebrity chef Dave Ryan, some seasonal shopping and a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

See the New Coastal City Ballet – November 18 & 25

Move over, Ballet BC — Vancouver’s got a new troupe in town. Coastal City Ballet will be on its toes to win fans during its inaugural season, kicking off with a premiere performance on November 18 at The ACT (11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge) and November 25 at Kay Meek Centre (1750 Mathers Ave., West Vancouver). What’s in store? Classic and contemporary works, including excerpts from Petipa, Rachmaninov and up-and-comers like Charlene Hart, Farley Johansson and Li Yaming, starting at 8 p.m.

Try Your Steak Black + Blue – anytime

Talk about Glowbal appeal! The wildly successful restaurateurs behind Coast, Sanafir and Trattoria Italian Kitchen are really raising the “steaks” with their biggest and boldest venture to date: Black + Blue (1032 Alberni St., Vancouver). Hearkening back to “the Golden Age of dining,” this elegant new eatery is the place for standout steaks — whether you like ’em black, blue or medium rare.


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