Archive for the ‘Inexpensive dates’ Category
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The Improv Musical
Okay….we feel a bit redundant about suggesting the Improv Musical as a date night simply because we already gave you the idea to see the
Ellen Kennedy, Shaun Stewart and Alan Marriott shine in the Improv Musical
Vancouver TheatreSports League in an earlier post. But, the Improv Musical is such a different show within the VTSL schedule, we feel it deserves a post of its own.Â
The Improv Musical is well named – it is a completely improvised musical comedy. Each show is based upon one suggestion that a cast member gets from the audience. After that, everything is made up – the score, the songs, the characters and the story. It is so mind blowing that they are improvising the whole thing but they are! The ensemble cast rotates with each show but the talent within the group is fabulous. Some of the songs will make you tingle; others are so catchy, they will stay in your brain on the ride home!
So, if you like music, musicals, improv and fun times, this is a great show to see on a date night. Currently, it plays at 7:30pm every Wednesday night at the Improv Centre. Its running time is one hour and you can grab a drink at the VTSL bar either before or after the show. Check the VTSL website for further details.Â
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Kitty Nights Burlesque
Like tassels? Well, we have a good date night idea for you – Kitty Nights Burlesque. On Sunday nights at the Biltmore Cabaret, you can see some
The gorgeous hostess of Kitty Nights. Yes, it was their holiday show.
classy burlesque tease. Pete and I had never been to a burlesque show before and thought it would be cool to see some twirling tassels (how do they do that? Or more importantly, how do those tassles stay on?). The entrance fee is $5 and it is general seating unless you pre-pay for a reserved seat. Reservations can be made for groups of 4 or more at an extra cost of $10 per person. ($40 per table of four). The Biltmore is a cool room. It is hip-dingy and it still retains its vintage charm. Pete and I arrived a bit too late (at 8:40pm for a 9pm show) to find a seat so we grabbed a beer at the bar and just hung around people watching. The crowd is eclectic, hip and young but it was a good vibe. The show started quite late (not sure if that is the norm) so we could only watch a few acts before having to go and meet up with some friends. The girls are gorgeous and the routines are smart classy. It is sexy night out and the only recommendation I would have is to grab a couple of friends and splurge for a reserved table or to go early to grab a seat. You want a good vantage point to relax, to drink beer and to watch the show.Â
More info at:
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Ice Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
It is not winter in Canada without ice skating…..or at least watching ice skating. Another tradition in Vancouver just opened today – free ice skating
Skaters inside the Robson Square Ice Rink
 at Robson Square Ice Rink. Yes, there is a lot of construction going on around the rink (located underneath the Vancouver Art Gallery) but it is worth the hassle of getting there. So, Pete and I decided to have a date night by strolling Robson Street, grabbing a hot chocolate from Café Artigiano on Hornby and watching ice skating at the Robson Square Rink.   Okay, yes it would have been better to have a date night where we actually went ice skating – after all, you can rent skates at the rink for only $3 – but both Pete and I failed skating in school so we felt it was in the interest of public safety that we keep our crash and tumble act to ourselves. Still, it was highly amusing to watch the skaters – some experienced and some not – out on the ice. The rink is open seven days a week until the end of February 2011 between the hours of 9 am to 9pm. On Friday and Saturdays, it is open until 11pm.
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YVR (Vancouver Airport)
Okay, going to YVR on a date has probably been one of our stranger date nights thus far but it turned out to be super fun. Pete was reminiscing about the restaurant and bar at LAX called Encounters  and how it is a destination place for drinks, dinner and plane watching. That got us to wondering if there is a neat place to have a date at our beautiful Vancouver airport. Plus, Pete has been dying to ride the new Canada Line to YVR for a while now so our strange date night idea was borne. I had never been to the airport without good reason – you know like flying in or out of the country – so I actually liked the idea of spending time there without worrying about the weight of my luggage or if the plane’s bar had enough booze to ease my intense fear of flying.Â
So to YVR we went. The ride on the Canada Line was like any ride on a skytrain. There was the usual mix of interesting/ funny/ rude/ smelly people and Vancouver scenery. When we got to the airport, it was unusually quiet for a Friday night. We wandered around and were a little disheartened that the only restaurants we could find, at first, were White Spot, Milestones and some assorted food court (Read: greasy) options. But we did find a neat plane observation area located above the food court in the domestic terminal.  Then we remembered that the Fairmont Hotel was attached to the airport (in the International terminal above US departures – it is in the predeparture area) and so we trekked there. Inside, we found the Jetside Bar and the GlobeYVR Restaurant
Both places overlook the runway and have a lovely west coast feel to them – sort of like a lodge at Whistler if you know what I mean. We decided to hang
The elevators that take you up to the Fairmont Hotel at YVR
 in the Jetside Bar because we only wanted to have a drink and some appetizers. We chatted briefly with a fun couple from Texas who had never been to Vancouver before this trip. They had a fabulous time. (Yeah, Vancouver!!). The food and the drinks were great and it was fun to watch the planes take off and land. Naturally we started brainstorming our next vacation – both real and fantasy! As a side note, both the Jetside bar and the GlobeYVR restaurant have an offer which gives you one two zone Canada Line pass for purchases over $25. Check their website for details
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Pacific Spirit Park
Last year we got a dog and have discovered one of those  incredible hidden gems in our city – Pacific Spirit Park. It has become one of our favourite day date places to go. The park is on the west side of Vancouver (UBC
neighbourhood) and is over 54 km of walking/hiking/mountain biking trails. It is a good idea to grab a map of the various trails so you don’t get lost when you are inside the park. (Remember Hanzel and Gretel? They should have had a map!!)We love it because it is so tranquil to walk amongst the old growth forest and just relax. The trails are soft and it can get quite muddy when it rains so be sure to wear old shoes. The smell of the trees is incredible….it is like walking in your very own oxygen purifier.  Even if it is raining, the huge trees offer a nice protection from downpours. It is honestly very special.Â
After the walk (or before) there are tons of options for lunch, coffee or window shopping  in Point Grey Village which is located on West 10th. There is a Starbucks (of course!) at 4582 West 10th and our new favourite place to stop for Chinese food is called Ginger and Chili. It is located at  4423 West 10th. Check it out!
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The Hollywood Theatre
I rarely go to movies in the big movie-plexes any more. I think the high ticket cost and  the annoying patrons (Come on, People…stop texting already!!)
has taken the joy out of it for me. Pete and I usually watch movies in the comfort of our own home – where I can lie in my sweatpants, drink wine and pause the movie to pee. With our good TV system, we really don’t need to go out…we can stay at home.But the one place that can lure me out to watch a movie is The Hollywood. I love this theatre. I really do. There is something so old school charming about it. The Hollywood theatre just celebrated its 75th year of showing
movies in its Kitsilano neighbourhood. The single screen movie theatre is almost a thing of the past but this one has managed to keep going. It is a pillar of the community and watching movies there is such a fun thing to do. The seats are old, the movies are second run but the popcorn has real butter and the tickets are insanely cheap. (For adults to see a double feature the tickets are $8 Tuesday through Sunday; on Mondays all seats are $6) You don’t mind watching movies with the masses because that is part of the experience.This date night we saw The American with George Clooney (the cost was a grand total of $12 for both of us since it is a Monday. We could have stayed for no additional cost to watch the second feature – Casablanca – but tomorrow is a work day). If you are wanting to extend your evening, there are tons of yummy and inexpensive restaurants and bars in the ‘hood to keep you happy. (if you need some suggestions, just ask)
Go see a movie at The Hollywood on your next date night. There is something very vintage and romantic about it.
Website for The Hollywood Theatre
***** Sadly, the Hollywood Theatre closed on May 29, 2011. Thank you to the owners for all the nights of laughs, tears and joy you brought us with your movies. We wish you much happiness. **************
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Vancouver TheatreSports League
Pete and I love to laugh and find that the most consistent comedy bang for your buck is at the Vancouver TheatreSports League. Having just moved
into their beautiful new home at The Improv Centre on Granville Island, it is a fun place to have a date. Yesterday, we went to the Friday 10pm Vancouver TheatreSports League show and it was hilarious. For those of you who have not been to VTSL (or not been for a while), they do improv comedy, which means the performers have no script. They rely upon suggestions from the audience to give them an idea and they must build a scene around it. We go a lot and always find the shows fun and entertaining. As a warning, the later the show, the looser the players get. If you are more conservative, you may want to stick with the earlier shows.Â
This was another relatively cheap date night as the cost for two tickets totalled $40. We each had one drink and that was about $15….so a super fun night for under $60.Â
If you want to expand your date night, the location gives you tons of options. Now that they are fully licenced, VTSL has a cool bar area where you can sip a drink and look out over the yachts anchored in False Creek either before or after the show. Prior to that you can grab a snack or dinner at any of the great restaurants on Granville Island like Sandbar, Bridges, Cats Social House etc. After the show, you can wander the boardwalk around the outer edge of the Island and look at the incredible views.Â
Get information on shows, ticket prices, cast lists and schedules at:
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Summer Night Market
Okay, it’s officially fall but Sunday night Peter and I decided to check out the Summer Night Market in Richmond. I remember going a few years ago when it was the Richmond Night Market and had a vague recollection of it being kind of lame….sort of like going to a massive dollar store that served noodles. But the market has grown up since then.Â
We arrived later in the evening (around 9pm).  Even though it was dark when we arrived, it was still super busy. We paid for parking at the Home Depot lot ($5) and walked there.  You have to walk a few blocks to get to the market – so, gals, wear your comfy shoes.  It feels weird to be trudging around an industrial area late at night but just follow the crowds and you will get there!Â
The market looked beautiful lit up in the dark. Â Admission is free so we just
Latern kiosk
wandered in.  Inside the market are a lot of food and vendor stands. We chose to do some “window shopping†first and began wandering the rows of merchandize stands. There you can buy everything from cell phone covers, to underwear to Korean Karaoke discs. Anything cheap and sparkly seemed to fly off the shelf. Bling is your friend if you are a vender at the Night Market.  Â
During our wanders, we stumbled upon a fantastic busker named Dynamite. We rarely stay and watch a busker’s full
Dynamite the busker was dynamite!!
act but this guy was so good at audience patter we couldn’t help but stay and watch. He juggled and did acrobatics – and by the end he was riding a 10 foot tall unicycle in his underwear – so much fun.Â
Next we wandered off in search of snacks…in the centre of the market, there are stands selling a variety of street food (most are yummy Asian based fare). As a note, I am very picky about eating street food (Pete on the other hand has a caste iron stomach will
Yummy!
eat anything, anywhere) . I was relieved to know that all stalls are inspected for food safety.  We decided to share everything we ordered in order to sample a bigger variety. By the end of the evening we had consumed:
- Chinese dumplings (pork dumplings with a nice sauce inside)
- Hurricane Fries (a single potato swirled on a stick with sauce)
- Pork and chicken skewers
- Dragon Beard candy (a sweet light sugar and flour delicacy)
- Squid (Pete loved it; not for me!)
- Mango bubble tea
Mollie's Mini Delights aka deep fried oreo heaven
- Deep fried Oreos. (Amazing!)
By the end of the night, we were very full. While eating, we wandered around and listened to the live music in the main stage area. The night was a very inexpensive evening. Food cost us about $28. This coupled with the $5 we gave Dynamite the busker as a tip and the $5 parking meant we had a date night for under $40. We stayed for about 2 hours and had a really good time. It is now on our To Do list for next year.Â
Our Thoughts on Summer Night Market:
- A nice informal place to people watch
- Has a neat kitschy vibe
- Inexpensive outing
- Fun to nosh on a wide variety of mostly Asian street food.Â
- Must like walking – not a lot of places to sit
- It can be busy; need to be in a relaxed non-hurried state of mind.Â
The market closes for the summer on September 26th so you have a couple more weekends to check it out. Details are below:
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