Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for February 13 to 19

Yoga Date Nights – February 12 and 13

Strengthen your practice and your partnership this weekend with two intimate and playful yoga workshops designed specifically for couples. The 7th annual Yoga Date Nights feature a rich, nourishing Contact Partner Yoga workshop where you and your special someone will experience duo asana and learn basic flying techniques. Popular YYoga instructor Chris Brandt will guide you and your partner through this 120-minute class, which ends with a relaxing and sumptuous Thai Massage.

$50 per person; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, February 12 at YYoga Flow, 888 Burard Street
Saturday, February 13 at YYoga Kits, 1915 West 4^th Street

Lunar New Year with Avan Yu – February 13

Ring in the Year of the Monkey with internationally acclaimed pianist sensation, Avan Yu. The Vancouver-born pianist is partnering with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for a very special Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. The program, conducted by Gordon Gerrard, features Good News from Beijing (Ma Hong Ye and Zheng Lu), Butterfly Lovers Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (Chen Gang and He Zhanhao) and Piano Concert No. 2 in C minor (Rachmaninoff).

Tickets starting at $28; 7:30 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe Street

All Love is Doumed – February 13

Are you a little spiteful this Valentine’s Day? Seven Dining Lounge is offering the perfect outlet whether you are feeling loved, lost or a little bit of both. Led by local belly dancer Azrakesh, the Bellydance Show of Love and Hate invites everyone to let loose on the notorious holiday. Best known as a live music and comedy venue, the Vancouver restaurant will be serving its regular menu with free cover based on a minimum spend of $15 per guest.

$15 food/drink minimum; Show starts at 7 p.m.; Seven Dining Lounge, 53 West Broadway

Branford Marsalis – February 13

The Marsalis family is jazz music royalty. Ellis Marsalis Jr.’s eldest son, acclaimed saxophonist Branford Marsalis, heads to Vancouver this week with his quartet as part of their Four MFs Playin’ Tunes album tour. Joined by Joey Calderazzo (piano), Eric Revis (bass) and Justin Faulkner (drums), the three-time Grammy award winner, NEA Jazz Master, and founder of the Marsalis Music label will delight the audience with an evening of outstanding modern jazz music.

8 p.m., Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Road, UBC Campus
 

Sweet Bake Shop Valentine’s Pop-Up – February 13 and 14

The beloved Sweet Bake Shop returns to Vancouver this Valentine’s Day for a two-day pop-up shop at Nordstrom Pacific Centre. The festive shop will feature signature cupcakes, macarons and sugar cookies by Sweet Bake Shop owner Tessa Sam, a charming Vancouver native currently writing her first baking book with Penguin Random House. Stop by to satisfy your sweet tooth and pick up some last-minute gifts for your special Valentine.

February 13 from 12 pm. to 7 p.m.; February 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Second Floor, Nordstrom, Pacific Centre, 799 Robson Street

Food Truck February – February 13 to 28

This February is your chance to taste some delicious fare from the city’s best and most sustainable food trucks. Bring your own reusable jar to try new food from local favourites like Le Tigre, Culver City Salads, JJ’s Trucketeria and the Aussie Pie Guy at the weekly zero waste Vancouver Farmers Markets events. Each weekend, participating vendors will be competing for the People’s Choice Award, the Zero Waste Ambassador Award and the Waste Buster Award, while visitors who tweet and Instagram their photos with the hashtag #foodtruckfeb #marketjar #zerowaste are entered to win the VFM Zero Waste Survival Kit.

Free admission
Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario Street
Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hastings Park, Pandora and Renfrew

Brunch and Late-Late-Nite Dim Sum at Sai Woo – Beginning February 14

Sai Woo is spicing (and sweetening) things up this Valentine’s Day with the launch of its brand-new Sunday brunch menu. The Chinatown establishment—which re-opened in 2015 with an updated tribute to the restaurant’s 90-year legacy—mixes innovation and tradition with exciting menu items like cashew pancakes with zesty Szechuan peppercorn syrup and classics like the house-made congee. Add some romance to your brunch spread on Valentine’s Day with Veuve bubbly, or celebrate with $7 caesars and mimosas on special.

Late-night dim sum snacks, including vegetarian bean curd rolls with spicy sambal kecap and mushroom dumplings with truffle oil, will also be available until late on Fridays and Saturdays, making Sai Woo the place to end any night out on the town.

Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday and Saturday late nite from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
158 E. Pender Street

Ravens, Eagles, Polka Dots: A Reg Davidson/Dahlia Drive Collaboration – February 16

Celebrated Haida artist Reg Davidson and eco designer Wendy Van Riesen of Dahlia Drive have collaborated to create a rare clothing line based on Davidson’s Raven Dancing silkscreen and Eagle Drum painting. Inspired by traditional colours of Haida Gwaii artists as well as the region’s landscape, the unique line (also available online) will be launched at a Skwachàys Lodge fashion show, with 10 per cent of sales benefitting the Iyoli Water Project. The collaboration follows the unveiling of four new Davidson cedar sculptures in the domestic terminal at the Vancouver International Airport.  

6:30 to 9 p.m. (Fashion show at 7:30 p.m.)
Skwachays Lodge Gallery, 29 West Pender Street

Winners and Losers – February 16 to 27

Off-Broadway hit Winners & Losers invites audiences to listen in as theatre artists and long-time friends Marcus Youssef and James Long sit down at a table and play a game that treads on touchy political topics. As the two performers work their way through a list of people, places and things debating whether each should be considered a winner or a loser, personal backgrounds, beliefs and upbringings come into play, inspiring an introspective reflection of our own opinions and influences.

Tickets starting at $19
February 16 to 20 and 23 to 27: 8 p.m.; February 21 and 27: 2 p.m.
Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables Street

BC Home + Garden Show – February 17 to 21

Get in the swing of Spring with a visit to the BC Home + Garden Show. The massive five-day event is your chance to learn the latest about entertaining, decorating and gardening from an impressive lineup of experts and celebritiesl. The weekend kicks off with the Battle of the Brewmasters, which sees Big Rock and Steel Toad go head-to-head to create the city’s best burger and beer pairing, and continues with tips from HGTV’s Bryan Baeumler, local designers Kendall Ansell, Jamie Banfield, Sarah Gallop and more. Chill out at the Floform Lounge, or indulge in some retail therapy at the Portobello West market as you get inspired for the upcoming season.  

Online tickets starting at $6
February 17 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; February 18 and 19 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; February 20 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; February 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Boulevard