Free skating, a wellness show, an adventurous film festival, a golf show, a comedy festival, romantic dinners, dancing, and movies are all happening around Metro Vancouver this weekend.

John and I will be spending Valentine’s Day with Variety BC as I sponsor the Social Lounge at the Show of Hearts Telethon, broadcast on Global this Saturday night and all day Sunday. You’ll also find me on the phone lines on Sunday around 11:00am and please tune in the rest of the weekend to support kids with special needs in BC.

Photo credit: lens gazer on Flickr

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green below.

Friday, February 13, 2015
Sponsored by Miss604: Late Night Movie at the Rio Theatre
Say Hi to a Stranger Weekend
A Night of Bowie: The Definitive Bowie Experience, Surrey
Transforming Society: 5 Wild Ideas for a Better Future
Transforming Society: 5 Wild Ideas For A Better Future #wildideas
Movies at Market: Chocolat
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – VIMFF
Vancouver Wellness Show
Staircase Theatre: Love Letters by AR Gurney
Small Stage Point 5 – The Valentine’s Edition
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival: Various Locations
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Northwest Comedy Fest

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Sponsored by Miss604: Social Lounge at the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon on Global
VanDusen Garden Valentine’s Picnic
Valentine’s Dinner & Wine Pairing at The Belmont
Vancouver Shogi Club (Japanese Chess)
#HeartsUnlocked Speed Dating + Social Cocktails
Vegetarian Supper Club Series
Valentine’s Dinner at Café Medina
Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, Surrey
Vancouver Golf Show
Early Music Vancouver: G.F. Handel’S Theodora
Movies at Market: Chocolat
Hockey Day in South Delta
Winter Farmers Market
Staircase Theatre: Love Letters by AR Gurney
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – VIMFF
Vancouver Wellness Show
Say Hi to a Stranger Weekend
Small Stage Point 5 – The Valentine’s Edition
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival: Various Locations
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Northwest Comedy Fest

Sunday, February 15, 2015
Sponsored by Miss604: Social Lounge at the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon on Global
Winter Games Legacy Celebration
Vancouver Golf Show
Belly Dance Show, Langley
Koerner Quartet
Sailboats painting pARTy
ZHOOSH Sunday Series – Health & Fitness Seminars
Weaving with Invasive Plants and Garden Waste Workshop
Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project and Cécile McLorin Salvant
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – VIMFF
Vancouver Wellness Show
Say Hi to a Stranger Weekend
Small Stage Point 5 – The Valentine’s Edition
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Northwest Comedy Fest

View the full monthly event list to plan ahead at any time. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for frequent updates about local events and community happenings.

Known as the Best Place to be on a Rainy Saturday, the Vancouver Farmers Market winter edition at Nat Bailey Stadium is hosting Food Truck February, bringing in the city’s best food trucks to compliment the seasonal offerings at the market.

Photo credit: Ruth Hartnup on Flickr

Food Truck February at Vancouver Farmers Market

Every truck will be challenged to create a delicious new Market Menu item using market products. Shoppers will decide who does it best. The trucks will submit sources for their Market Menu item ingredients and the winner is the one who uses the most ingredients from the farmers market.

Snap a shot of you at the market digging into your favourite Market Menu item and tag @vanmarkets and #foodtruckfeb. Every week they’ll pick a lucky winner of a Winter Market Survival Kit that includes a colourful Vancouver Farmers Market toque, umbrella and cozy coffee mug.

The winter market runs through April 25th, every Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St). On February 14th and 28th the market will be across the street from Nat Bailey at Riley Park. For more information follow Vancouver Farmers Markets on Facebook and Twitter.

Grab a cup of hot chocolate, take your sweetheart’s hand, and enjoy a full day of romantic music at the Robson Square ice rink as Downtown Vancouver’s favourite free wintertime activity hosts a Valentine’s Day celebration on Saturday, February 14, 2015.

Photo credit: Tim Shields on Flickr

Valentine’s Day at Robson Square Ice Rink

From 9:00am to 11:00pm romantic music will be the soundtrack for skaters at the Robson Square ice rink. The UBC Heart and Stroke Foundation Club will be providing hot chocolate by donation, and will accompanied by “Hearty” their mascot between 11:00am and 5:00pm.

Officiant Shawn Miller of Young, Hip and Married will also perform complimentary marriages and vow renewals between 2:00pm and 4:00pm! For marriages, all you need to do is bring your marriage license and services will be performed on a first come, first served basis.

It’s always free to skate at the Robson Square ice rink and skate rentals are available for $4.

One of the best things about living in Vancouver is the access the city gives us to the mountains, sea, and valleys nearby, including reasonable and reachable quick getaway destinations like Harrison Hot Springs. This is where you’ll find beautiful, natural settings and indulgent spa treatments within 90 minutes of eastbound travel on the highway.

Harrison Hot Springs Romance Package

Create a love affair to remember with a romantic British Columbia couples’ vacation package at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Nestled among beautiful snowcapped peaks and tranquil lakes, the resort features everything you’ll need to create lasting memories.

Enjoy a side-by-side massage in the Healing Springs Spa, indulge in an evening of dinner and dancing at The Copper Room, relax in the hot springs pools, and wake up to a lazy breakfast.

Enter to Win

This is all a part of the Romance Package at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, and they’re giving one of these packages away to a very lucky Miss604 reader.

Prize includes:

• One nights’ East Tower accommodations^*
• One Couple’s Massage at Healing Springs Spa
• Breakfast for two in the Lakeside Café
• Three Course Dinner for two in The Copper Room
• In-room amenity

How you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their seasonal specials and packages. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, February 20, 2015.

^*Based on availability. Prize must be booked and used between Sunday to Thursday (except for holidays) by April 30, 2015.

Update The winner is Dan!

Working with the Mount Pleasant BIA over the years, visiting over 20 businesses each season for fun community promotions, I’ve walked up and down, from 18th to 7th, from Kingsway to Quebec, and one thing that always resonates is the unique passion that each business owner and organization member has for their neighbourhood. When it comes to Valentine’s Day – whether you’re searching for that perfect gift or experience, chances are you’ll find it in Mount Pleasant.

5 Valentine’s Day Gifts from Mount Pleasant

1. French Made Baking‘s macarons are the macarons that put Vancouver on the macaron map, if indeed such a map existed. For Valentine’s Day you can pick up a box of sweet and chewy heart-shaped macarons for your special someone but be sure to get there fast as they are bound to sell out. French Made Baking is also participating in the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival so if you’re not just popping in to pick up a treat, stay a while and enjoy 4 unique hot chocolate concoctions.

A photo posted by French Made Baking (@frenchmadebaking) on Dec 5, 2014 at 12:50pm PST

2. Looking for a more savoury treat? Rosemary Rocksalt is serving up heart-shaped bagels with pink rocksalt, $10.95/dz. Place order by end of day Friday the 13th by calling 604-874-4570 to guarantee your dozen.

3. For truly locally-inspired gifts Bird on a Wire and Much & Little are your go-to shops. Find everything from cotton towels, hand-forged scissors, silk dresses, soy candles, and dinner ware at Much & Little. Bird on a Wire carries products for him, her, baby, home and more. You’ll love their paper goods, scents from the Vancouver Candle Company, and crafter classes.

A photo posted by Bird on a Wire Creations (@birdonawireart) on Feb 7, 2015 at 2:22pm PST

4. The Brewery Creek Liquor Store has everything you need for a spirited Valentine’s Day with well over 800 craft brews from local and global standouts, a top notch selection of BC wines and bubbly, hard-to-find products, craft Vodkas and Tequilas with an ever-growing selection of Rums, Ryes, Bourbons, Single malt and Vatted-malt Scotches, as well as Blended Scotches, Irish Whiskeys, Gins, Brandy and Cognacs.

A photo posted by Brewery Creek (@brewerycreek) on Feb 10, 2015 at 4:20pm PST

5. Brunch it up! Mount Pleasant has so many incredible brunch spots from The Wallflower and Thyme to Indulge, to Caffee Rustico and Burgoo. Treat your sweetheart to hearty comfort foods or elevated, inspired cuisine with a cup of locally roasted coffee to start your day on the right note.

The Independent at Main

In the heart of all of this lovable neighbourhood, The Independent will grow, consisting of five architecturally distinct buildings, inspired by the building palate of Mount Pleasant.

It offers unmatched views, urban agricultural areas, over 300 bicycle parking stalls, dog run space and dog wash area for grooming, a fitness room, a workshop room with bike repair area, and more. Choose from many different suites types, from studios to 3 bedroom condos to suit the many different needs of those moving into this unique community — from young families, to single urban professionals, to downsizing couples. It’s close to the B-Line, Downtown and cross town buses, and the 10th Ave and Ontario bike lanes.

Opening previews for The Independent at Main start on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Sales Centre on the corner of Main and Broadway. Stop by to find out more and enjoy FREE snacks from Roaming Dragon food truck from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

Beginning February 14th the Sale Centre will be open from 12:00pm, to 5:00pm every day except Friday.