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Dana Lynch

Dana's Vancouver Blog

By Dana Lynch, About.com Guide to Vancouver

Vancouver Christmas Shopping - Last Minute Vancouver Gift Ideas

Saturday December 19, 2009

I always think the two most difficult things about holiday gift buying are buying last-minute and buying gifts for people you don't know that well. This list is one I've used to help with both situations; hopefully, it will help you, too!

  • 2010 Olympics & Paralympics Gifts & Memorabilia
    I admit, I was skeptical about Vanoc's Olympic goods at first, but if you haven't checked out the selection, you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was: there are some very cute things! The $10 Canadian team toque or $10 Christmas ornament are great choices for smaller gifts or for gifts mailed to family outside Canada. No time to order off Vanoc's site? Get most of the same goods at The Bay.

  • Vancouver Restaurant Cookbooks
    Cookbooks are often crowd pleasers, and many of Vancouver's best restaurants have their own, adding local flavour to the gift. The Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook (from Yaletown's Blue Water Cafe) and Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant have won Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Best Chef Book in Canada and Best Seafood and Fish Book in Canada, respectively. West Restaurant's West: The Cookbook won Most Innovative Cookbook in Canada in 2008. Other great choices include C Food from C Restaurant and Vancouver Cooks 2 by the Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia.

  • Vancouver Food & Gourmet Goods
    Fabulous food is a perfect last-minute gift; it's easy to mail, too. Every year, I send Pacific Northwest favourites like smoked salmon and Chukar Cherries to my in-laws in Brazil. Meinhardt has a fantastic selection of sweets and elaborate food baskets; Kitsilano's Chocolate Arts makes wonderful hand-made chocolates.

    For more last-minute holiday gift ideas, check out my Vancouver Gift Guide - Top 10 Shops for Gifts.

    Since I'm always looking for new ideas (aren't we all?), please share your favourite local gifts!

    Image Courtesy of Vanoc

  • Vancouver's Top Christmas Shows & Concerts - Weekend Picks

    Friday December 18, 2009

    It's the last weekend before Christmas, so--if you haven't already--take a break from the shopping and take your friends and family to one of Vancouver's top Christmas shows. (They're always a little anti-climactic after December 25, no?)

    • Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker
      Can it be December without The Nutcracker? The beloved holiday tradition is the ballet to see, and this is the only weekend to see it. Runs from Thursday, December 17 - Sunday, December 20.

    • The VSO's Traditional Christmas
      Sing along to holiday favourites and carols at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra famous Christmas concerts. Catch the show before it ends on Saturday, December 18.

    • White Christmas, The Musical
      The Arts Club Theatre Company's holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin's famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike. Runs through December 27.

    Want more Christmas activities? See my list of Top 5 Vancouver Holiday Attractions.

    Image Courtesy of Arts Club Theatre

    Ready for a Vancouver Christmas?

    Monday December 14, 2009

    Hanukkah is already here, Christmas is less than two weeks away....Are you feeling overwhelmed by the holidays yet?

    It can be difficult to make time for everything that both needs to happen--e.g., gift shopping--and that should happen, i.e., spending time with our friends and families and enjoying the month's special events.

    To help make your holidays easier and keep you organized, check out these Quick Guides to Christmas in Vancouver:

    Holiday & Christmas Shopping in Vancouver

    Vancouver Christmas & Holiday Attractions

    Buying Christmas Trees & Seeing Santa

    Christmas Decorations & Recipes

    Festival of Lights & Holiday Concerts - Weekend Picks

    Friday December 11, 2009

    Christmas and holiday music are part of the joys of the season; why not make this weekend a musical one?

    Want more seasonal ideas? Check out the Top 5 Vancouver Holiday Attractions.

    • VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
      The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more. Runs through January 3.

    • The VSO's Traditional Christmas One of the city's most beloved holiday musical traditions, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents this concert full of carols, Christmas music, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Runs through December 19.

    • Vancouver Men's Chorus Making Spirits Bright
      The VMC's popular holiday concert series returns to the the historic St. Paul's Anglican Church in Vancouver's West End; it's a fun, festive launch to the holiday season. Runs through December 14.

      Image Courtesy of VanDusen Botanical Garden

    Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden

    Thursday December 10, 2009

    Vancouver loves celebrating the winter holidays with light shows. There's Stanley Park's Bright Nights and Canada Place's On the Sails, and there's the pièce de résistance, VanDusen Botanical Garden's over-the-top Festival of Lights.

    A friend of mine and her family make visiting the Festival of Lights an annual tradition. It is definitely a sight to see: millions of lights light create bright pathways, there are musical Dancing Lights (around Livingstone Lake), and there are bursts of colour so exuberant they're a sight to behold.

    Truthfully, I find the Festival of Lights a bit much (and, mind you, I love the VanDusen Botanical Garden). But many people adore it, especially kids.

    For kids, there's the pleasure of running around bright lights in darkness (never to be underestimated), a chance to visit with Santa, Gingerbread Walk and Candy Cane Lane.

    If you do head to the Festival of Lights this year, say "hi" to Christian, a.k.a. Dr. Waffle, who's on hand to provide delicious night-time fare. He's a friend of mine, and he does, indeed, make killer waffles.

    Want more Christmas/Holiday info? My Guide to Christmas in Vancouver has it all.

    Image Courtesy of VanDusen Botanical Garden

    Main Street's Slickety Jim's Fundraiser / Wake December 10

    Monday December 7, 2009

    If you're one of the many Mount Pleasant locals who loved Main Street and Broadway's Slickety Jim's Chat n' Chew, which tragically burned down in a fire last month, you have a chance to both mourn the old restaurant and, hopefully, help raise funds for a new location.

    Eggfest, the fundraiser/wake/memorial concert for Slickety Jim's will be held at the Anza Club on December 10, and will feature Eldorado, SWANK, I Braineater, The Furniture, The Minimalist Jug Band, and Slowpoke and the Smokes. Tickets are just $10; $25 will get you a Slickety Jim t-shirt.

    I find it truly touching--and really indicative of the community spirit of Mount Pleasant / SoMa--that this is only one way the residents have rallied to help businesses destroyed in that fire. A benefit concert to help rebuild Zocalo, another felled restaurant, was held last Saturday at La Casa del Artista.

    Santa Claus, Canyon Lights & Baker's Market - Weekend Picks

    Friday December 4, 2009

    There are a lot of Christmas events this weekend, besides these picks; check out the December Events Calendar for more great, seasonal activities.

    • Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
      It's the opening weekend for this annual winter holiday event, which includes a celebration of light, live music, kids activities, and more. Runs through January 2, 2010.

    • Vancouver's Baker's Market
      Support local bakers--and indulge in delicious baked goods--at this occasional baker's market. Happens Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, September 12.

    • Rogers Santa Claus Parade
      This annual parade features over 60 marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, attracting over 300,000 spectators. Volunteers will also be collecting non-perishable goods for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society--so don't forget your donations! Happens Sunday, December 6.

    Image Courtesy of Capbridgeviews.com

    Where to Get the H1N1 Flu Shot in Vancouver

    Thursday December 3, 2009

    The H1N1 vaccine is now available to all British Columbians, not just those with priority health issues. That means that if you want it, you can get it.

    So how do you find a clinic where you can get the H1N1 shot near you?

    UBC students and faculty can get the H1N1 shot on campus (while supplies last) at a flu clinic at Gage Residence in the Isabel MacInnes Room. The UBC flu clinic will be held on Friday, December 4 and Monday, December 7. Find more information here.

    Santa is Coming! Rogers Santa Claus Parade

    Monday November 30, 2009

    You know it's time to start working on your Christmas and holiday gift lists when Santa arrives in Vancouver, courtesy of the annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

    The Rogers Santa Claus Parade starts at 1pm this Sunday, December 6, 2009.

    One of Vancouver's Top 5 Holiday Attractions, the parade is a huge event in downtown Vancouver, attracting over 300,000 spectators. Santa himself is the parade's main event, but there's also Frosty the Snowman, Chinese dragons, stilt-walkers, dancers, bag pipes, and more.

    The parade starts at Georgia and Broughton at 1pm and takes about an hour and a half to reach its end-point at Davie and Howe.

    Map to the 2009 Rogers Santa Claus Parade Route

    Quick Tips for the Rogers Santa Claus Parade:

    • Don't drive! Parking will be impossible. Use Translink to plan your trip and take the SkyTrain, bus or Canada Line.

    • Wear warm clothes and rain gear (if you need it). It gets cold out there, and the closer to Davie and Howe you are, the longer the wait.

    • Go early if you have small children who need to be "in front". People start staking out spots with chairs and blankets as early as 10:30am.

    Want a more up-close-and-personal encounter with Santa? Where to See Santa Claus in Vancouver

    For more on Christmas in Vancouver, top holiday attractions, gift shopping, and more: Your Guide to Christmas in Vancouver.

    Image Courtesy of Rogers Santa Claus Parade

    Bright Nights, Women's Faire & Downtown Ice Skating - Weekend Picks

    Friday November 27, 2009

    It must be the official start of the holiday season, because the first of Vancouver's top annual holiday attractions--Bright Nights at Stanley Park--is already up and running.

    • Bright Nights at Stanley Park
      It's the opening weekend of Stanley Park's Bright Nights, an annual Vancouver holiday tradition that transforms the forest around Stanley Park's Miniature Train into a winter wonderland of light. Runs through January 2.

    • 15th Annual Women's Winter Faire
      Kick off your holiday shopping at the Winter Faire, an annual arts and crafts fair featuring BC's finest women artisans. Happens Saturday, November 28 - Sunday, November 29.

    • Free Ice Skating at GE Ice Plaza
      Grab the kids and grab your skates: It's the first weekend to skate at the reinvented Robson Square ice rink--now the GE Ice Plaza. Open daily from 12pm - 9pm

    Image Courtesy of Vancouver Park Board

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