Help ensure everyone can stay warm and dry this season by dropping off winter clothing and other essentials to these organizations around Vancouver:
Where to Donate Warm Clothing in Vancouver
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre Location: Drop-in Centre (302 Columbia St, Vancouver) Location: Drop-in Centre (25 E Hastings, Vancouver) Location: Emergency Shelter (412 E Cordova, Vancouver) Location: Warming & Respite Space (265 E Hastings, Vancouver) Items Needed: Leggings, jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, socks, shoes, bras, and outerwear. View the full wish list here along with specific drop-off instructions for each location.
Aunt Leah’s Place Location: 8380 Street George Street #101, Vancouver The Donation Centre is open for donation drop-offs, by appointment only, call 604-230-0941. Items Needed: In Season pants, shirts, jackets, shoes, hats, belts for all genders/sizes.
Union Gospel Mission Location: 601 East Hastings Street, Vancouver UGM’s Donation Centre is located inside the UGM Thrift Store. Donations can be dropped off Monday-Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm at the front door of the Thrift Store or in the Loading Bay in the back alleyway off Heatley Ave. Items Needed: Socks, underwear, hats, gloves, shoes, long underwear, shirts, sweatshirts, pants, and outerwear (larger sizes are preferred).
NightShift Street Ministries Location: 10635 King George Boulevard Drop off clean, bagged clothes weekdays, Monday-Friday, between 9:30am and 4:30pm. Items Needed: Lightly used men’s and women’s jeans, hoodies, and jackets. New underwear, socks, tops, shoes, and blankets. Winter coats, boots, scarves, and gloves. View their full wish list.
Lookout Housing + Health Society Location: Russell Housing Centre (740 Carnarvon St, New Westminster) Location: North Shore Shelter (705 West 2nd St, North Vancouver) Location: Front Room Resource Centre (10667 – 135A St, Surrey) Items Needed: Jackets, rain coats, boots, socks, gloves, hats, and rain ponchos. Clothing donations can also be made online through the Amazon Wish List.
Realtors Care Blanket Drive Location: Various locations at participating real estate offices to be announced Items Needed: Blankets, sleeping bags, winter clothing (coats, jeans, pants, sweaters), scarves, gloves, hats, new socks and underwear.
East Van Roasters Pajama Drive Location: East Van Roasters (319 Carrell St, Vancouver) Items Needed: On Thursday, November 30th, donate new and unworn women’s pajama sets in sizes ranging from XS to 4XL to East Van Roasters. As a token of gratitude, you’ll receive a complimentary hot beverage in exchange for your donation.
If you have any suggestions to add, please leave a comment so we can include the organization. Thank you!
Surrey Art Gallery Association (SAGA) invites arts and craft lovers to the annual Heart to Home Holiday Market happening November 25th and 26th.
Heart to Home Holiday Market. Photo by Scarlet Black
Holiday Market at Surrey Arts Centre
Location: Studio Theatre at Surrey Arts Centre (13750 88 Ave, Surrey)
Date: November 25 and 26, 2023
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Admission: Free
The Heart to Home Holiday Market features over thirty artists from Surrey and around the Lower Mainland, as well as from further afield such as the Gulf Islands. Shoppers will find ceramics, jellies and cookies, skincare, apparel, jewelry, paintings, and much more. Vendors such as chocolatier Ladner Artisan Chocolates and meet new vendors including Sapphorica Creations and Brenda’s Cottage Crafts are returning this year.
Adding to the ambience, enjoy live musical performances by Lisa Rae Simons on Saturday and Ranj Singh on Sunday. Simons plays a mixture of classic rock, blues, and R&B, while Singh blends Eastern rhythms and melodies with Western folk-rock.
SAGA members receive 15% off, and if you’re not a member already, you can become one on-site or online. For those who would rather shop from home, SAGA’s gift shop is also available online. From November 25 through to December 18, use the code H2H@H at checkout for 15% off.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
Vancouver’s stages are ready to light up for the holiday season with festive performances that will delight audiences of all ages. Celebrate the magic of the season with this lineup of shows:
Christmas Presence by Pacific Theatre
Holiday Theatre in Vancouver
Pacific Theatre
Christmas Presence Date: December 10 to 12 & 17 to 19, 2023 Location: Pacific Theatre (1440 W 12th Ave, Vancouver) Details: Pacific Theatre’s favourite Christmas tradition. With poems and prose that range from the heartfelt to the hilarious mixed in with songs both old and new, Christmas Presence is an intimate and warm way to usher in the holiday spirit. Different performers every night.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Date: November 23 to December 23, 2023 Location: Pacific Theatre (1440 W 12th Ave, Vancouver) Details: Peter and Lucy Pevensie are all grown-up… but upon returning to a most peculiar wardrobe, they are caught up once more in the wintry world of Narnia. Ron Reed’s beloved interpretation of C.S. Lewis’s magical tale has delighted more than ten thousand audience members since its premiere, and Sarah Rodgers’ imaginative 2018 production returns for the 40th anniversary season.
Massey Theatre
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy Date: November 28 & 29, 2023 Location: Massey Theatre (735 8th Ave, New Westminster) Details: When catastrophe strikes at James and Jamesy’s Christmas tea party, flooding the world with tea, the duo conjure wildly funny solutions to stay afloat, and sweep the audience out to sea in this jolly holiday escapade.
Buddy’s Holly Jolly Christmas Date: December 10, 2023 Location: Massey Theatre (735 8th Ave, New Westminster) Details: Zachary Stevenson is the leading man from the hit musical The Buddy Holly Story, he is the main attraction and host for this special Christmas concert. Stevenson will be joined by the Chicago-based trio The Lovettes with their show-stopping salute to the female icons and girl groups of the 50s and 60s featuring a special tribute to Tina Turner. For over a decade, The Lovettes have been putting their own twist on the ladies who shaped Rock and Roll music.
The Nutcracker Date: December 17, 2023 Location: Massey Theatre (735 8th Ave, New Westminster) Details: It’s Christmas Eve, a time when dreams may come true. Drosselmeyer, the godfather to Clara, brings gifts and magic to her parents’ home for the annual Christmas party. His special gift to Clara is a large Nutcracker soldier. When she falls asleep after the party, Clara is cradling the Nutcracker in her arms and begins to dream. In her dream, her Nutcracker soldier fights a battle and transports her on a sleigh through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and people from far away lands. Experience the magic of The Nutcracker this holiday season with RCYB’s full length ballet, featuring a cast of 100+ dedicated and enthusiastic dancers under the direction of Keitha Campeau.
A Grinch musical is coming to Vancouver this month and you can win tickets! Innovation Arts and Entertainment presents Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical at The Centre in Vancouver, November 14 to 18, 2023.
James Schultz as THE GRINCH Musical. Photo credit Jeremy Daniel
The Grinch Musical in Vancouver
Date: November 14 to 18, 2023
Location: The Centre For Performing Arts (777 Homer Street, Vancouver)
On stage for seven performances, discover the magic of this Dr Seuss classic as it comes to life life in Vancouver this season.
Featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas“, the Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos.
The musical broke box office records for two consecutive years on Broadway during its holiday engagements at the St. James and Hilton theaters in New York. Since then, more than 2.5 million theatergoers across America have been delighted by this heart-warming holiday musical. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musicalfeatures magnificent sets designed by John Lee Beatty and costumes designed by Robert Morgan, inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original book. Mel Marvin and Timothy Mason’s music and book breathe new life into this timeless story.
Win Tickets
We have 4 tickets to give away to the performance on Thursday, November 16th at 7:00pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:
We have curated a list of our current culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for this month’s Vancouver Foodie Friday feature. Here are November’s finds and updates for all foodies alike:
Vancouver Foodie Friday Seasonal Offerings and Events
Westin Bayshore Winterlust – Photo submitted
H Tasting Lounge at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver: Winterlust
Where: 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver
When: Open Daily: 11:30am – 12:00am starting November 2, 2023
Details: A true Vancouver upscale staple, The H Tasting Lounge, at The Westin Bayshore Vancouver, is hosting their annual holiday “Winterlust” dining experience starting November 2nd. Winterlust is elevated outdoor dining with five private translucent domes located on the H Tasting Lounge patio. Each dome, accommodating up to six guests, is decorated with evergreen elements to create a photo-perfect and enjoyable atmosphere. The domes offer breathtaking views of the North Shore mountains and waterfront. They are also fully equipped with heaters and independent sound systems ensuring a cozy and personalized dining experience. This season, the focus of the culinary program within Winterlust will be seasonal, sustainable and local sourcing with the diverse global flavours of The Westin Bayshore.
Reserve your spot now, as they will sell out quickly. Minimum spends on dining and time allotments may apply.
Longtail Kitchen and Sen Pad Thai limited edition dishes. Photo by: Joanna Chu
The Ultimate Pad Thai Throwdown: Longtail Kitchen and Sen Pad Thai
Where: Longtail Kitchen (810 Quayside Drive Unit 116, New Westminster) and Sen Pad Thai (1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver)
When: November 7 (World Pad Thai Day) – November 21, 2023
Details: This fall, Full House Hospitality presents a friendly culinary rivalry between sister restaurants, Longtail Kitchen and Sen Pad Thai, to determine the best Pad Thai creation. Over a span of 14 days, noodle lovers can join the fun by voting on two unique, limited-edition Pad Thai dishes at each eatery.
In order to enter, guests can pick-up a Pad Thai stamp card at one of the locations and must enjoy each of the two competition specials. After making a choice, they can submit their completed stamp cards at Longtail Kitchen or Sen Pad Thai. The contest ends on November 21, 2023. A winner will be announced on December 1, 2023. The grand prize for the winning submission? Pad Thai for a year, to be enjoyed at both locations!
Photo by: Paul Bakery Cafe
Vancouver Croissant Crawl
Where: Vancouver & North Vancouver; New Westminster and the Tri-Cities participating locations
When: November 1 – November 14, 2023
Details: Returning for the second year, the Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl will feature limited edition croissant flavours and creations at participating vendors around Metro Vancouver. Participants are invited to choose their own adventure and walk, bike or drive with friends from one bakery to the next to sample multiple flavours.
This year the event is extended to two weeks and includes vendors beyond Vancouver in North Vancouver, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities. There are two plant-based offerings this year for vegans to join the fun, including a Miss604 favourite location, To Live For. In response to last year’s demand, all vendors are offering pre-orders while supplies last. New this year, customers can vote on the event website for their favourite croissant of the crawl. Limited quantities will be available for walk-ins, so pre-orders are highly encouraged. Share your photos on Instagram and use the hashtag #vancouvercroissantcrawl for a chance to win yummy prizes.
Yes Shef: Celebrating Women in Vancouver’s Food and Beverage Industry
This year’s line-up of participants:
Nutcha Phanthoupheng, Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine
Eleanor Chow, Cadeaux Bakery
Tia Kambas, Chambar
Kate Siegel, Leah Patitucci & Chloe Sy, Fairmont Pacific Rim
Pricilla Deo, Folke
Marisa Gonzales, Hawksworth
Yasmin Shariff, Kilimanjaro Snack House
Maria Ponce, La Taqueria
Stacy Johnston and Minette Lotz, The Restaurant at Poplar Grove
Ying Ying Gao, Riley’s Fish and Steak
Donya Darreh Shouri, Seaside Provisions
Top Chef’s Siobhan Detkavich
Jessica Kwon, Cactus Club Cafe Bentall
Select chefs from Les Dames Escoffier
Nikki Callaway, O’Rourke Family Estate
Severine Pinte, Le Vieux Pin & La Stella
Lyndsay O’Rourke, Tightrope Winery
Shiva Reddy and Alexia David, Burdock and Co
Britt Hoorne, Bar Susu
Reverie Beall, AnnaLena
Bar talent from Cactus Club Cafe and Glowbal Group
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada Place, Vancouver)
When: November 6, 2023
Details:Yes Shef, WORTH Association’s celebration of women in Vancouver’s food and beverage industry, is set to return on Monday, November 6th hosted by Fairmont Pacific Rim. It will be an evening celebrating local women’s culinary excellence and empowerment. Following sold-out success in 2019 and 2022, this year’s event by Women of Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Association has been reimagined to accommodate even more attendees, ensuring the audience can experience the culinary creations and beverages pairings from more than 20 of Vancouver’s top female-identifying chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and bartenders.
Whistler Cornucopia – Photo Submitted
Whistler Cornucopia Returns November 9th
Where: Whistler, BC at participating locations
When: November 9 – 19, 2023
Details: Whistler Cornucopia is returning to the mountains with a packed schedule curated for those looking to try new dishes and wines in an exciting setting. Whistler’s fall festival celebrating all things food and drink, Cornucopia pushes culinary boundaries with 70+ events between November 9 to 19, 2023. The schedule includes Signature tasting events such as Cellar Door (November 10), Poured (November 18), and Cornucopia’s flagship event, CRUSH Grand Tasting (November 11). This year’s schedule also has classic Cornucopia events returning including Night Market: Taste of the World (November 17), the Bearfoot Bistro World Oyster Invitational and Bloody Ceasar Battle (November 19).
House Party: Best of BC is Cornucopia’s kick-off event featuring sample tastings from B.C. wineries, distilleries and craft breweries, as well as an exceptional dinner buffet on November 9th. See the full schedule here.
Foodie News
Chef Jasper Cruickshank Winner of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party 2023 Vancouver Regional Qualifier Event
The Canadian Culinary Championship (CCC) Vancouver Regional Qualifier event was hosted at BC Place this past month by Canada’s Great Kitchen Party. Guests gathered to eat, drink and experience an exciting showcase of culinary talent – a lineup of eight participants all competing for the top spot. Chef Jasper Cruickshank of Whistler’s Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar won over the judges with his “Wild B.C. Experience,” a dish of coastal-inspired flavours, featuring a Side Stripe Shrimp Terrine, a Tartlet of Dungeness Crab, Wakame Leek Crisp and Essence of Geoduck Clam paired with Roche Wines’s 2021 Tradition Pinot Gris, from the Naramata Bench in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. Chef Cruickshank will head to Ottawa in February 2024 to represent Vancouver in the national Canadian Culinary Championship.
New Michelin Star Rankings
Following the 2023 MICHELIN Star Awards, Vancouver has one new MICHELIN-Starred restaurant, five new Bib Gourmand and 12 new recommended restaurants. Okeya Kyujiro is the proud recipient of the star, bringing the cities total to nine restaurants. The five new Bib Gourmand recipients are Farmer’s Apprentice, KarmaIndian Bistro, Motonobu Udon, Seaport City Seafood and Sushi Hil. 77 restaurants total constitute the 2023 selection – which up from 60 restaurants in 2022. The 77 restaurants include 21 different types of delicious cuisine. More information regarding the 2023 guide can be found here.
Don’t forget to check out last month’s Vancouver Foodie Friday for local restaurants to add to your “must try” list. And check back in December for Foodie Friday! Be sure to tag @miss604 during your adventures or send us insta-worthy recommendations and fall festivals of your own!
