British Columbia

Hot Dates: Fleetwood Mac in Vancouver

Fleetwood Mac circa 1970s, with the “classic” line-up of Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham. Photo courtesy Warner Music Group Canada

May 19, 2013

Those aren’t just rumours: Fleetwood Mac really is going on tour. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Rumours, the rockers are issuing a deluxe new version of their hit album, including previously unreleased tracks, and hitting the arena circuit, making a one-night stop at Rogers Arena. Get ready to sing along to timeless hits such as “Go Your Own Way” and “You Make Loving Fun,” and party like it’s the ’70s again.—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: All British Classic Car Show in Vancouver

This Austin-Healey 3000 is sure to turn heads

Gentlemen, start your engines. The All British Classic Car Show rolls into VanDusen Botanical Garden on May 18, bringing more than 600 classic cars and motorcycles and attracting thousands of automobile enthusiasts. A swap meet, artists’ gallery, brass band and pipe band rev up the excitement level even more.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Spruce Your Space with Crate & Barrel

Salud barware and Chevron Tray at Crate & Barrel

Once your spring cleaning is done, spruce up your digs with some new furnishings and accessories. Head to Crate & Barrel, which recently opened its first Vancouver location. But before you set foot in the store, be warned: you may wind up wondering where your day went. You can go big (patio pieces and dining room decor) or go small (barware and bedding), but you definitely won’t go home empty-handed.—Rachel Dunlop

Hot Dining: Vancouver Spots that Make Bomb Girls Jodi Balfour Tick

Bomb Girls bombshell, Jodi Balfour. Photo by Kyla Hemmelgarn

Jodi Balfour’s career is blowing up in the best possible way. The South African actress plays Gladys Witham—a socialite turned munitions factory worker—on the Canadian television drama Bomb Girls.

She loves stepping into the role of Gladys. The wardrobe helps her adopt a 1940s mindset, but her transformation isn’t complete until she slips on Gladys’s shoes: “I consider that the crossing-over point,” she says. (more…)

Hot Dining: Tarts Bakery in Vancouver

Find all kinds of these petite pastries at Tarts Bakery

Do you heart tarts? Lisa and Shawna Coan of Tarts Bakery do. Inspired by a coconut jam tart their mother used to make, the two sisters opened up shop to bring their pastry passion to Vancouverites. If you have trouble deciding on just one (and who wouldn’t, with tempting choices like butter pecan, chocolate mousse and raspberry macaroon?), scoop up several of the smaller tartlets to sink your fork into. Savoury options grace the menu as well, and all the goodies are made from scratch. Treats for sweet- and savoury-lovers alike—sounds like a recipe for success to us.—Rachel Dunlop

Hot Dates: Celebrating Mother’s Day in Vancouver

Treat mom with tea at The Urban Tea Merchant

May 12, 2013

Mom may have appreciated gifts crafted out of macaroni and glitter at some point, but now? Trust us: she’d prefer a fragrance from the new L’Occitane Collection de Grasse, launching this month at L’Occitane en Provence, or a bangle from Frey Wille. And she shouldn’t have to cook: treat her to a Mother’s Day tea service, complete with sandwiches, savouries and sweets, May 10 to 12 at The Urban Tea Merchant. If she’s not the hot-tea type, she can order a tea-infused cocktail. And please, leave the macaroni art at home.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Get Jazzed Up at Tiffany & Co.

The Daisy Locket is a throwback to the Jazz Age. Photo ©Tiffany & Co.

Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby hits the silver screen this month, and it’s not the only thing hearkening back to the roaring ’20s. Timed to coincide with the film, the new Ziegfeld collection from Tiffany & Co. celebrates the elegance and exuberance of the Jazz Age. Favourite pieces: the medium-sized Daisy locket (pictured) and the tassel necklace of freshwater cultured pearls. For the gents, top picks include cufflinks of black enamel and a Daisy signet ring of black onyx. All of the pieces are based on archival Tiffany designs, but they feel fresh and contemporary. It’s true: everything old is new again.—Sheri Radford

Where Reviews: Tea: A Mirror of Soul at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Chen-Ye Yuan as Seikyo and Roger Honeywell as The Prince. Photo by Tim Matheson, courtesy Vancouver Opera

By Louise Phillips

If a stage production can come close to perfection, this is it. Vancouver Opera closes its season with a 2002 work by China’s Tan Dun, best known in the West as the Oscar-winning composer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A small masterpiece, Tea: A Mirror of Soul is as entertaining as any martial-arts flick and as deep-seeing as a Zen meditation. It’s raised to audience consciousness by music director Jonathan Darlington conducting orchestral sounds that range from familiar brass and strings to the highly unusual: running water, rustling paper, rattling stones and even throat singing. (more…)

Hot Art: Photographs by Patrick Faigenbaum at the Vancouver Art Gallery

“Famille Frescobaldi, Florence” by Patrick Faigenbaum.

Find artfully composed photographs in Patrick Faigenbaum’s self-titled exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery (to Jun. 2). The Paris-born artist’s early training as a painter is evident in sculptural snaps that use light, shadow and meticulous framing to achieve his desired effect. Photos of Italian aristocratic families were among the first to bring him acclaim (pictured). Our opinion? Picture perfection.—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Dining: Upscale Food-Cart Fare at Diva at the Met

Unlike any corndog you've seen before? Us too. Find it at Diva at the Met

Unlike any corndog you’ve seen? Us too. Find it at Diva at the Met

Pity the poor corndog, getting no respect—except at Diva at the Met, that is. The downtown restaurant, long known for elegant, innovative fare, recently added a selection of food-cart-inspired $17 lunch items to its menu. The lowly corndog, now elevated to gourmet status with a batter of buttermilk and cornmeal and toppings of truffle mayo, grainy mustard and homemade sauerkraut, has proven such a popular item that it remains one of the stalwarts on an otherwise weekly changing selection of food-cart fare. You’ll never ignore a simple corndog again.—Sheri Radford

Mother’s Day in Victoria: 7 Amazing Things to Do That Will Please Any Mom

Mother’s Day in Victoria can be spent here, at the magnificent Butchart Gardens (Photo: paulhami)

Mother’s Day in Victoria is perfectly timed: the gardens are blooming, the sun is shining and the city is buzzing. But what to do with your mom? Skip the predictable and choose something from our list of top picks for an charming and unforgettable Mother’s Day in Victoria.

See the list of 7 amazing things to do on Mother’s Day in Victoria »

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7 Top Restaurants to Spoil Mom on Mother’s Day in Vancouver

Mother’s Day in Vancouver: Treat mom to this lemon tart from Urban Tea Merchant (Photo: kslee)

Mother’s Day hits Vancouver very soon, so the time is right to plan the perfect meal with mom. Here, our local Vancouver experts list their picks for the best restaurants to put a smile on any matriarch’s face.

See the list of 7 top restaurants for Mother’s Day in Vancouver »

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