The Urban Grind returns for 5 Tuesday in March with great perks! This spring you can stay in shape, and get entry into one of the city’s top attractions, as you climb up 633 steps at Harbour Centre to the Vancouver Lookout.

The Urban Grind

• When: Every Tuesday in March 2020; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.
  • Climbers will have the opportunity to customize their workout by completing the route as many times as desired between 4:30pm to 6:30pm.
• Where: Harbour Centre lobby, 555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
• Cost: $5 (includes unlimited circuits). RSVP on Facebook for updates.

Participants will be rewarded with a stunning 360º aerial view at the Vancouver Lookout, a refreshing beer, and DJ entertainment. Additionally,
every participant will receive a $5 voucher for Harbour Centre’s
Food Court and shops. 

Climbers have the ability to customize their workout by completing the
route as many times as they like during the allotted time. On March
31st, timing chips will be available for people who want to race to the
top or set a personal record. 

Coat check will be available for a minimum donation of $2 per item.
All proceeds from the coat check will benefit The Kettle Society, a
local mental health charity. 

Fun fact! The first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, left a set of footprints in concrete at Harbour Centre!

Follow Harbour Centre on Twitter, and the Vancouver Lookout on Twitter, along with the tag #UrbanGrind for more information.

Vancouver Academy of Music (“VAM”) celebrates its 50th anniversary season with a special presentation in honour of the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven with Resounding Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, on March 1st at the Orpheum.

Under the baton of Conductor Emeritus Leslie Dala, more than 100 students from the VAM Symphony Orchestra (“VAMSO”), four esteemed vocal soloists, the Vancouver Bach Choir,  and members of VAM’s choral program will perform a dazzling concert featuring Beethoven’s most revered works. The program order will see Fidelio Overture open the concert, followed by Piano Concerto No. 4, and will conclude with Symphony No. 9.

VAM Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

Where: Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe S, Vancouver)
When: Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 2:00pm
Tickets: Available online now or by calling (604) 734-2301 (Student/Senior: $10, General: $15 plus fees)

One of the most celebrated and instantly recognizable compositions of all time, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will bring the afternoon concert to a grand conclusion. The VAMSO presentation will feature a range of esteemed artists including luminary Vancouver Tenor Martin Renner Wallace; VAM faculty member and internationally-renowned Soprano Joslin Romphf Dennis; Baritone Alan Corbishley, a member of VAM’s faculty of voice; and local Vancouver Mezzo Soprano Leah Giselle Field, an award-winning graduate of Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program.

The artists will be joined by the 100-strong voices of the Vancouver Bach Choir, members of VAM’s choral program, and VAMSO for a breathtaking performance of this towering composition, which includes the gloriously iconic Ode to Joy in the fourth and final movement.

Follow VAM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this concert, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, February 27, 2020. UPDATE The winner is Fiona!

Enjoy free admission during Spring Break at Burnaby Village Museum (March 16-27, 2020) with special activities and games every day.

Spring Break at Burnaby Village Museum

Where: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
When: March 16 to 27, 2020 from 11:00am to 4:30pm
Admission: FREE! Carousel rides are $2.65

CANCELLED: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Burnaby has closed access to facilities include Burnaby Village Museum for the time being.

Crocuses and cherry blossoms, a slice of pie with ice cream, games, a carousel, and a whole lot of history. There’s a reason so many Hallmark films use this location as a setting for their idyllic towns!

With special activities and games every day, visitors can explore the 1920s Village on a scavenger hunt, learn about Chinese Canadian history at the Across the Pacific exhibit, and explore Indigenous ways of knowing and learning with our Indigenous educators at the Learning House. Wander through the gardens, take a ride on the vintage 1912 C.W. Parker carousel and treat yourself at the Ice Cream Parlour.

Enhance Your Visit

Adventure Guides ($6)

• The 24-page Guide is full-on 1920s fun. The special activities at 6 locations in the Village lead Adventurers through some of the daily routines and tasks of the period.
• There are experiences and activities in the Dry Goods, Tinsmith, Royal Bank, General Store, Tram Barn and Carousel Pavilion. Adventurers need to be observant, thoughtful and ready to try new things. Guides also include post-visit projects. Children can take on the Adventure by themselves or work with adult partners.
• Includes a carousel ride

Village Adventure Packs ($19.50)

• The Adventure Guide leads you through hands on creative activities and exploration adventures at 6 locations around the Village.
• Includes two rides on the carousel, as well a large ice cream cone from our authentic Ice Cream Parlour
• At the end of the day, a canvas adventure bag, carousel magnet, Burnaby Village Museum reusable water bottle and, of course your completed Adventure Guide will make wonderful mementos.

There’s a lot to see and do over Spring Break at Burnaby Village Museum! Follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more info. Miss604 is a proud media partner of this events.

Winter in wine country with some of Big White’s champagne powder? Yes please! I flew up with Air Canada to do some #OkanaganExploring with ZenSeekers to see just how easy it is to Ski, Stay & Play in Kelowna during the winter months. I learned rather quickly that snow days and rosés go very well together.

Winter and Kelowna: Ski, Stay and Play

Snowshoe in the Winery

Where: The View Winery (#1 2287 Ward Rd, Kelowna)
What: Slip & Sip
When: Saturdays and Sunday January 4, 2020 – March 1, 2020
Hike or snowshoe in the vineyard and then enjoy a tasting back at the winery. You can also catch some behind the scenes action and see what goes on at a winery in the winter.

What: Fondue Fridays
When: February 7, 2020 – March 27, 2020
Enjoy fondue with wine or cider pairings in the tasting room. Warm up with cheesy goodness or some sweet strawberries all paired with delicious wines from The View.

The Skinny on Après in Downtown Kelowna

Where: Skinny Duke’s Glorious Emporium (1481 Water St, Kelowna)
Come for the Roman-style pizzas, dim sum and Thai fusion, stay for the plush and fringy rumpus room decor. Tiki mugs filled with craft cocktails? They have that too!

Champagne Powder at Big White

When: Right now! They’ve had 303cm of snowfall so far this winter – the conditions are amazing.

ProTip: Meet up with a Snow Host. This is my favourite program, and it’s totally complimentary thanks to Big White and its big-hearted volunteers. Meet in the village at 10:30am on any given morning and look for the yellow jacket Snow Hosts. They’ll split into groups based on experience level and desired runs then show you the mountain and tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the area. It’s fun, it’s friendly, and it’s the best way to see Big White (they know where to find all the best powder).

Want to know more about my experience? Read my full article on ZenSeekers here »

When You Go

• Check out the Tourism Kelowna website to start exploring the area. 
• Want to learn more about wine tours and skiing in the Okanagan? Head on over to ZenSeekers for the scoop. 
• Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Kelowna is less than an hour to Big White (and they have complimentary breakfast!)
• If you’re planning to base yourself for a winter vacation in Kelowna, check out a full list of accommodations here.
• Uncover more about the Okanagan’s offers for adventure. Check out ZenSeekers #OkanaganExploring Expedition page to see how you can have an adventure like this. 

One last ProTip! Book the Kelowna Concierge to get you around, from the airport to your hotel, wineries and in between!

Don’t miss American jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves at the Chan Centre on March 8th along with a hugely talented band for a performance showcasing both her inimitable voice and vast repertoire. The newly developed program (Dianne Reeves: Beleza Brazil) will highlight pieces Reeves has honed over countless recordings and live performances, and features well-known Brazilian players—guitarist Romero Lubambo, drummer Rafael Barata, and bassist Itaiguara Brandão—along with pianist John Beasley. 

Dianne Reeves at the Chan Centre

Where: Chan Centre for Performing Arts (UBC, 6265 Crescent Rd)
When: Sunday March 8, 2020 at 7:00pm
Tickets: Available now from $36 online or by calling (604) 822-2697. $15 student rush tickets for this performance will become available on February 22, 2020 at 12:00pm.

“One of our generation’s definitive jazz masters, a vocal stylist of extraordinary skill and vivacity ” (The Huffington Post), Dianne Reeves is jazz royalty. Her commanding performances showcase the magic of her novel phrasing and the magnificence of her timeless voice. 

“The music of Brazil is known for its unique arrangements, infectious rhythms, and deep emotion, and coupled with Reeves’ outstanding vocal skill, this promises to be a truly memorable musical journey and a wonderful way to celebrate International Women’s Day,” says Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director of the Chan Centre.

Brazilian music has been a consistent presence and passion for Reeves, and its influence can be seen in just about every one of her recordings as well as in her longtime collaborations with leading Brazilian jazz musicians. In advance of a forthcoming Brazilian-inspired album, this will be Reeves’ first full-length program dedicated entirely to the vibrant sounds of the South American country, where familiar genres such as bossa nova, choro, and forró originated.

Known for working with fellow musical greats, Reeves has toured with Harry Belafonte, Eduardo del Barrio, and Sergio Mendes, which cemented her longstanding kinship with Latin American music. She has recorded and performed with several symphony orchestras, including with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and served as the first creative chair for jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Reeves has received five Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this show, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post a bonus entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. UPDATE The winner is Velma!