The Robson Square ice rink in the heart of downtown Vancouver is your hub for holiday-themed events this season. Starting tonight, they’ll host live music and performances to add to your skating experience and I have a very special announcement for the New Year as well.
Photo credit:
BC Gov Photos – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool
Robson Square Ice Rink Events
12 Days of Christmas at Robson Square features local bands, carolers, musicians, and more. Here’s the lineup:
- December 13, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The Christmas Celts
- December 14, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The Strays
- December 15, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – JC and The Wailin’ Wassailers
- December 16, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – John Gilliat World Music Ensemble
- December 17, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – Phat Santa Swing
- December 18, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The Christmas Celts
- December 19, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The Dal Richards Band
- December 20, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The So Tight Band
- December 21, 2013, 3:00pm to 5:00pm – The Charles Dickens Carollers
- December 21, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – JC and The Wailin’ Wassailers
- December 22, 2013, 3:00pm to 5:00pm – Santa’s Brass
- December 22, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – Caviar & Lace
- December 23, 2013, 3:00pm to 5:00pm – The Charles Dickens Carollers
- December 23, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – Rumba Calzada
- December 24, 2013, 3:00pm to 5:00pm – Santa’s Brass
- December 24, 2013, 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The Tom Arntzen Showband with special guests The Hot Mammas
The rink is open on Christmas Day from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and there will be a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31st along with an early countdown. Regular hours return on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 (9:00am to 9:00pm Sunday to Thursday; 9:00am to 11:00pm Friday and Saturday).
Skating is free with your own skates otherwise rentals are available. Skate rentals are $4, helmets $2, and ice cleats are $2. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks.
Miss604 Night at Robson Square Ice Rink
I will be hosting a special night of skating on Thursday, January 2, 2013. Along with your free admission, I’ll have free hot chocolate (when you mention MISS604 at the concession) and thanks to Robson Square, I’ll be giving away a brand new pair of skates. Miss604 Night at Robson Square will run from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
You don’t need to RSVP, you can just show up, but I have created a Facebook event so that you can add it to your calendar.
The VanDusen Festival of Lights opened this week adding even more beauty to Vancouver’s stunning botanical gardens.
VanDusen Festival of Lights
Until January 4, 2014 enjoy this magical experience with the whole family as you explore over a million twinkling lights between 4:30pm and 9:00pm daily (closed Christmas Day, December 25, 2013).
Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake starts nightly at 4:30pm with two different shows alternating every thirty minutes throughout the evening. Explore the Gingerbread Wood, Golden Chain Walk, and Candy Cane Lane throughout the gardens as well. Take photos with Santa until December 24, 2013 and sit in on the following performances throughout the month:
- Scandinavian Christmas Gnomes, Svend and Jens, appear nightly in three performance areas
- Mischievous Grinch and his secret hut
- Shadow puppet performance by the talented duo Mind of a Snail
- Choirs on the Performance Stage
- Community choirs (December 11 – 20)
- VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir (December 21)
- The Christmas Revelers (December 22 – 23)
- Make-A-Wish Candle Grotto
- Candy Cane Express model train
- Make-A-Wish “Room of Joy” featuring a Parade of Lego creations by the Vancouver Lego Club
You are encouraged to purchase your tickets in advance since this is such a popular event. You can do so at the Admission Desk in the Visitor Centre (no service charge applies), at Tickets Tonight (service charge applies), or online.
Enjoy light fare and full meals at Truffles Café during the Festival of Lights and dinner is served every night at the Shaughnessy Restaurant (reservations recommended). VanDusen Botanical Garden is located at 5251 Oak St (37th and Oak) in Vancouver, BC.
Over the next few days I will be profiling a handful of gadgets and tech gifts. Some will be a part of a general gift guide and others will include giveaways. They are all items that I have used (the giveaways will be brand new, just for the winners of course) and that I find useful.
Belkin Grip Power Battery Case Giveaway
I love my smartphone and all of the useful apps that I talk about when I get invited to join Dotto Tech‘s radio show however at this time of year the battery just drains at an expedited pace. Being on the go, checking email, taking photos of festive sights, running apps for shopping, parking, and productivity all mean that my battery isn’t going to last very long after it charges overnight.
Fortunately the Belkin Grip Power Battery Case can keep you going, doubling battery life by providing a full, additional charge on the go.
The Grip Power Battery Case’s rechargeable 2000 mAh battery capacity means you can talk, text and browse the web twice as long on one charge than with your phone alone. It’s easy to use — just press and hold the power switch to turn the battery power on and off, and press it once to see the battery’s status.
I have been using a similar battery case from another manufacturer and two things it does not have, that the Belkin does, is headphone compatibility and the shock-resistant bumper with secure-hold grip.
Other features of the Belkin Grip Power Battery Case (for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s):
- A Micro-USB charging cable: just plug the cable into the side of your case, and in one charging session, you’ll have full iPhone power and backup power whenever you need it.
- Putting on the Grip Power Battery Case takes just two simple steps: First, slide your iPhone 5 into the battery pack and connect it to the built-in Lightning connector. Then, snap on the outer shock-resistant bumper. In seconds, you’re fully powered, fully protected, and ready to go.
- The Anti-Glare Camera Ring doesn’t get in the way of your camera flash, so you can keep on snapping great pictures.
If you would like to win a Belkin Grip Power Battery Case, here’s how you can enter the draw:
- Leave a comment here naming your favourite app this season (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. Follow Belkin on Twitter and Facebook for more gadget gift ideas. The Belkin Grip Power Battery Case is for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s only and the prize is the white model.
Update The winner is Emilia!
Vancouver has its share of awesome history and food-focused tours but there’s one experience coming up that will be truly unique — a Vancouver Punk Tour. Not only will you have the chance to reach into punk history with this two-hour driving tour around the city, it will be followed by a private D.O.A. concert and get together. This priceless experience is part of D.O.A.’s pledge campaign for their new live DVD “To Hell and Back”, which you can currently support.
13 spots are available to drive in a 15-seat van around Vancouver as Joe Keithley regales you with hilarious and pointed stories of Vancouver’s punk roots. The tour will stop by the historic places where D.O.A. cut their teeth: The Smiling Buddha and the Japanese Hall. Included on the tour will be present day punk spots like the Astoria, The Cobalt, Profile Studios, Funky Winkerbeans, there’s also stops at Vancouver Police HQ and Joe’s old house, the Plaza International East.
Then the tour will go to a secret location for a one hour private D.O.A. show. Each fan will be able to submit two song requests ahead of time. Food and refreshments will be provided. At the after show get together, each fan will get five rare posters and of course D.O.A. will sign these for you. The package includes a signed live DVD and five rare posters.
You can also pledge D.O.A.’s campaign in return for memorabilia, DVDs, CDs, VIP passes, and more — sorry, Joe’s jean vest is already taken.
Vancouver’s punk roots run deep and D.O.A is at its core. Read more about the scene: Nardwuar’s Northwest Punk Rock History, Vancouver’s Punk Scene: Then and Now, A Brief History of Punk in Vancouver, and Bloodied but Unbowed traces Vancouver’s punk history.
The advantage of living in Vancouver, a beautifully vibrant city on its own, is that it’s so close to so many fantastic getaway options. A weekend in the Fraser Valley, on Vancouver Island, across the border, or up the Sea to Sky is rarely out of the question in any season. For that reason, I thought it was time I planned a weekend away with my friend Keira-Anne since we realized recently that we hadn’t been away together since we went to New York in 2010.
Good times together. Photo credits Keira-Anne.
Between delightfully crafted meals and sipping wine by the fireplace, we went on an adventure through the treetops and crisp alpine air and had a bubbly night time hot tub soak hugged by snow banks.
Four Seasons Whistler
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Before this weekend, Keira had a less than favourable impression Whistler based on a previous experience. However, upon arriving in the Four Seasons’ lodge-inspired lobby with roaring fireplace and West Coast art, her perception immediately change. A smile lit up her face as she pointed out design elements like a child spotting stars in the sky on a clear summer night — and we still hadn’t left the lobby.
Our west-facing room was very specious, so much so that I walked in and jokingly quoted the bunk bed scene from the Will Ferrel movie Step Brothers: “Look at all this floor space! We can do aerobics in here, step class, so many activities!”
The main activity in our room was turning on the fireplace, popping a bottle of Prosecco, and catching up on girl talk. The two bathrooms, soaker tub, two showers, and dual vanity also provided us plenty of space to get ready in the morning and before meals as we hit Whistler Village.
Sidecut at Four Seasons Whistler
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On our first night at the Four Seasons we dined in the resort at Sidecut, a grand steakhouse inspired restaurant on the ground floor. We didn’t make a reservation so we waited at the bar (as could be expected) with cocktails in hand for about 10 minutes before being shown to a table. The space was massive, which seemed to be a trend at the Four Seasons, offering warm lighting, friendly service, and delicious menu items starting with the complimentary popovers that arrived at each table.
We definitely indulged. Selecting a few classic sides, we enjoyed roasted mushrooms and creamy whipped yukon potato alongside our 6oz tenderloins. A bottle of red wine was next and Keira reminded me that we could cork it and take it back up to our room, which was a nice option as we did end up enjoying it again the following evening.
Ziptrek Eagle Zipline Tour
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Whistler had just opened a few runs, Blackcomb was stilled closed when we arrived and Keira had sold her snowboard last season so I knew hitting the slopes was out as an activity option. There wasn’t enough snow in the valley for snowmobiling so in a brilliant light-bulb moment I knew exactly who to call: Ziptrek! At first I was thinking we would do the TreeTrek Tour, then I figured we might as well actually zipline. Prepared to do the shortest series, I was (thankfully) upsold to Ziptrek’s Eagle Tour.
Keira on her way to the first line.
After meeting up in Whistler Village we took the gondola up to the mid-point on the mountain and walked to our first line of five, the first and latest being a 2400ft zipline with a 30-storey descent.
When you’re on the starting platform, secured on the line and ready to walk down a set of stairs that lead nowhere to set sail across a sea of snowy trees, your heart races. Why am I doing this again? How did I get up here? All of a sudden you let yourself fly over Fitzsimmons Creek and epic views appear as you soar between Whistler and Blackcomb. You arrive on the other side and find yourself giddy for the next line where you’ll again feel fear and doubt followed by high-speed moments thinking that this is the best thing ever! It really helps to have fun and friendly guides with you as well (like Martin and Bobby). Their warm and helpful demeanour adds a level of trust that is crucial — there’s a reason that Ziptrek is ranked #1 of all 55 activities in Whistler on Trip Advisor.
The best part about Ziptrek is that you’re not just riding a zipline, you’re getting a history lesson about the area, information about the environment and its biodiversity, and learning about what the company is doing to be sustainable by following the Natural Step. From natural and unpainted wood platforms, to solar power, it’s a thorough education about the coastal temperate rainforest in which you’re playing for the morning.
Spa at the Four Seasons Whistler
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Following our three-hour Ziptrek tour and our walk back to the Four Seasons (on Blackcomb) from Whistler Village, we were ready to warm up and the spa was the ideal place to do so. We walked down in our robes from our room and were welcomed with a delicate tray of tea and bite-size morsels of dried fruit before we headed in. The dressing room was fully stocked with amenities (from robes and towels to hair dryers, lotions, hair spray, and anything else you would need to get ready after a spa visit) and we waited in a tranquil lounge before our appointments.
We were booked for a West Coast Marine Scrub and an Apres Ski Massage, and I let Keira take her pick of treatments — she opted for the scrub. Just the right amount of pressure and a warm towel wrap on my chilled feet had me drifting away before the 50 minutes of Apres Zip were up and us girls were reunited in the lounge. We took our time then grabbed our suits and went outside for a dip in one of the resort’s many hot tubs. After spending hours on the mountain it was nice to spend an equal amount of time in our robes, reflecting on the day.
Four Seasons Whistler lobby
Throughout the weekend we also enjoyed dinner at Alta Bistro and breakfast at Elements Bistro, both were cozy, unique, and offered delicious health-conscious dishes with gluten free options. At Elements we sat at the bar for breakfast, mesmerized by the preparation of their infamous brie-stuffed French toast, and at Alta Bistro Keira remarked that it was so warm and welcoming it was as though we were all dining at someone’s home.
I find that the key to planning any weekend away is to have a few key building blocks in place (like where you’re staying and what your main activity will be) and then let the rest flow so you’re not stuck to a schedule.
For meals I consulted few a resources. The first was The Celiac Scene for Gluten-Free options for Keira, and the second was simply Yelp. Other than that, we played it by ear, like making the compulsory breakfast stop at the Southside Diner in Creekside on our way back to Vancouver.
The trip was the perfect way to start our holiday season, with our first steps in snow and our first glance at twinkling Christmas lights strung up on evergreens. My ultimate goal was to have an epic “girls getaway” and to also warm Keira up to Whistler. When she looked at me in the car and said “I can’t think of a reason to give any of the places we visited any less than 5 stars on Yelp,” I knew my mission was accomplished.
