Raining? No problem. Here are three indoor weekend picks.

• Heart of the City Festival
  It's the last weekend of the Now the 6th annual Heart of the City Festival, a celebration of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with free music, theatre, comedy, workshops, history walks, and more. Ends Saturday, November 8.

• Vancouver Asian Film Festival
  The 13th annual VAFF features independent Asian filmmakers from all over North America, showcasing over 40 films. Ends Saturday, November 8.

• Tibetan Monks in Residence at the UBC Museum of Anthropology
  For part of their 2009 Sacred Art Tour, five Tibetan monks will spend 7 days in residence at MOA, creating a sand mandela and answering visitors' questions about Tibetan culture and practice. Runs through November 15.

Phase 3, the third and final phase of Vanoc's Olympic tickets plan goes into effect this Saturday, November 7, which means that if you want Olympic tickets, get ready to get them!

Vanoc, the official organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, have set aside over 100,000 tickets--including tickets to gold medal hockey, curling, opening and closing ceremonies--for sale in this final ticket phase.

Tickets will be sold online at the Vanoc site beginning at 10am on Saturday, November 7, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only Canadian residents are eligible for these final-phase tickets. High-profile Paralympic tickets will also be on sale.

To get ready, make sure you register for a ticketing account or, if you've purchased tickets before, make sure your account information is up-to-date. (If the ticketing site is closed in preparation for Phase 3, check back regularly to see if you can register for an account in advance.)

More information on Buying Tickets for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Happy Halloween! Have fun, be safe, and don't eat all your candy at once.

• Halloween in Vancouver
  Halloween festivities run throughout the weekend, so use the Halloween Guide to find the best events, haunted houses, trick or treat venues, and 19+ parties in the city.

• Heart of the City Festival
  Now in its 6th year, the Heart of the City Festival celebrates Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with over 80 events--most of them free--including music, theatre, comedy, workshops, history walks, and more. Runs through November 8.

• Strathcona Chinese Dance/Vancouver Academy of Dance Salute 2010
  To celebrate the 100-days countdown to the Winter Olympics, the Strathcona Community Centre Association hosts a cultural extravaganza of Chinese dance, with over 200 performers including dancers, acrobats, choirs, and school bands. Happens Sunday, November 1.

Since Halloween is coming this Saturday, October 31, I put together a quick guide for all your Halloween in Vancouver needs, complete with events, costume shops, and party planning tips.

Vancouver Halloween Events & Trick or Treat

• Trick or Treat - Halloween in Vancouver for Kids & Families
  
• Vancouver Halloween Haunts - Haunted Houses & Haunted Tours
  
• Party After Dark - Vancouver's Hottest 19+ Halloween Parties
  
• Photo Gallery: Stanley Park Ghost Train

Halloween Costumes

• Where to Buy Costumes in Vancouver & DIY Costume Ideas

Halloween Entertaining

• Halloween Party Planning
  
• Halloween Recipes
  
• Halloween Party Games for Kids

What are you doing for Halloween this year?

_{Photo © Sergio Dionisio / Getty Images}

It's the last weekend before Halloween, so why not get in the spirit with Saturday's Thrill the World Vancouver? (Also: Now would be a good time to finalize that costume!)

• Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival
  It's the last weekend to catch this fabulous literary event, which bring together writers (including internationally acclaimed authors) and readers on Granville Island. Ends Sunday, October 25.

• Vancouver Short Film Festival
  Transformed from the Vancouver Student Film Festival into a festival promoting both professional and student filmmakers, this is the VSFF's debut year. Catch the films Friday - Saturday, October 23 - 24.

• Thrill the World Vancouver
  Every year, people from around the world dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller at the same date and time. Dance yourself, or just watch. Happens Saturday, October 24 at 5:30pm. Check out the video of Thrill the World Vancouver 2008.

There are tons of things I love about Halloween, but costume stress isn't one of them: What to wear, where to buy it, or--which I personally suck at--how to make it.

I've overcome my costume stress with the help of two things: the following Vancouver costume shops (where I can just buy something and be done with it) and my fellow About guides, who have brilliant suggestions for DIY costumes, both elaborate and cheap.

Vancouver Costume Shops

One thing to note: These places are packed the closer it gets to Halloween. I've been to Party Bazaar when there was a line around the block just to get in! Seriously. So: Shop early.

Where to wear your costume? Vancouver Halloween Guide 2009

_{Image Courtesy of Public Dreams}

One of North America's premiere literary events, the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival brings both internationally acclaimed authors and new talent to Granville Island. Over the festival's eight days, 14,000 readers will meet authors, attend lectures and discuss issues within the publishing industry.

The 2009 Festival includes a tribute to Alice Munroe, as well as events with John Irving, Kathy Reichs, and Bonnie Burnard, national luminaries Alistair MacLeod, Lisa Moore, and Michael Crummey, and Quebeçois writers Marie-Claire Blais, Monique Proulx and Dany Laferrière. For a complete list of festival authors, see the site.

The 2009 Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival runs from October 18 - 25, 2009. Many events are sold out, so move fast if you want tickets!

Complete Schedule of Events for 2009 Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival

If you even think you maybe might like Dance in Vancouver, see at least one performance this weekend. These artists are amazing--you will love it!--and the Scotiabank Dance Centre, like the rest of the B.C. arts community, needs your support.

• Dance in Vancouver
  This bienniel dance festival showcases B.C.'s contemporary dance scene. Eleven companies perform excerpts of new works and recent hits in five programs. Runs through Sunday, October 18.

• Fright Nights at the PNE
  One of Vancouver biggest Halloween attractions, the PNE celebrates the season with themed rides, creepy attractions, haunted houses and more. Runs through Saturday, October 31.

• Taste of Yaletown
  This Yaletown-only version of Dine Out Vancouver lets diners try set menus of $25, $35, or $45 at some of the city's best restaurants (which happen to be in Yaletown). Restaurants include Cactus Club, Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar, and Section (3); see the site for a full list. Runs through Saturday, October 31.

• Diwali Downtown
  Vancouver's Diwali celebrations reach their climax at this big, blow out event at Yaletown's Roundhouse Theatre. Event features music, dance, crafts, workshops, and lots of food. Happens Sunday, October 18.

Last night, my partner and I went to Dance in Vancouver, Scotiabank Dance Centre's biennial dance festival, and we loved every minute!

What makes Dance in Vancouver such an exceptional event is that it not only showcases the best of B.C.'s --and Vancouver's--contemporary dance companies, it also gives audiences a chance to see the breadth, diversity and range of today's contemporary dance scene. Trust me: if you're even just a minor dance fan, you will be blown away by these programs.

There are five programs--two a night--each featuring excerpts of two or three companies' works. We saw Program One, featuring excerpts of MovEnt's SURGE, the plastic orchid factory's endORPHIN and Rob Kitsos & Dancers' WAKE.

Though they were all excellent, my favourite was MovEnt's Surge (pictured), a thrilling exploration of strength and physicality; the sheer athleticism of the three women dancers was breathtaking.

I also couldn't help feeling excited just seeing women dancers of all shapes and sizes. Rob Kitsos & Dancers included two larger (than the stereotypical dancer) female performers who demonstrated that grace and power of movement are not confined to the svelt. Or, to be blunt: They kicked ass.

My partner and I left Dance in Vancouver talking about the pieces we saw, debating their meanings, contrasting the dancers. Like I said, we loved it, and I can't recommend it enough.

Dance in Vancouver runs October 14 - 18, 2009.

_{Photo of MovEnt by David Cooper}

I got a chance to ride the Stanley Park Ghost Train on its opening weekend, and I loved seeing how much fun the kids were having!

Along with Fright Nights at the PNE and the Parade of Lost Souls (sadly canceled for 2009!), the Stanley Park Ghost Train is one of Vancouver's most popular Halloween attractions, and its perfect for families and kids.

Transformed from the genial Miniature Train into a spooky journey through a haunted wood, the Ghost Train thematically reinvents itself every year. Last year, the theme was pirates; this year, it's multi-cultural underworld figures, courtesy of the amazing Mortal Coil Performance Society. The most startling train tableau came from a Mortal Coil stilt walker who emerged from a backdrop that had previously camouflaged him. It actually sent a jolt down my spine!

I took loads of pictures, so you can see the Ghost Train for yourself: Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train - Guide & Photo Gallery.

Want more on local Halloween events and kids' activities? Your Guide to Halloween in Vancouver

_{Photo by Dana Lynch}