Country Stars
It’s the ideal time to throw on a cowboy hat and squeeze into your tightest jeans, when Aussie country superstar Keith Urban (pictured) makes all the cowgirls’ hearts skip a beat at GM Place (Sep. 16). This month also sees the hottest country stars packing their steel guitars to descend on Vancouver for Country Music Week, the highlight of which is the Canadian Country Music Awards (Sep. 13) at GM Place. One of the stars crossing his fingers is Paul Brandt, nominated for Male Artist of the Year. Fans have a chance to see the multi-platinum artist Sep. 11 at Langley Events Centre.
–Leszek Apouchtine
Big Journey
Immerse yourself in Islamic civilization in the 1300s in Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta, at the OMNIMAX Theatre (opens Sep. 18).
Georgina Point, Heritage Park and Lighthouse
The “Mayne” Attraction
Looking for a Mediterranean escape without the hefty airfare—and equally hefty carbon footprint to get there? The charming Gulf Islands have a
Mediterranean climate but are just a ferry ride away. For a truly relaxing day trip, let someone else do the planning and driving. I go with
Enjoy Tour and Travel, which offers several guided bus tours around the province, including one to Mayne Island.
The day starts with a leisurely ferry ride from Tsawwassen through Active Pass to Mayne, where, according to our tour guide, Joy: “We should have lunch around 12-ish. In the Gulf Islands, you have to add a lot of ‘ish.’ ”
Life moves at a different pace here. The 940 residents of Mayne embrace their idyllic setting. It’s bucolic without any threats: no bears, no cougars, but plenty of deer. It can be a full-time job, thwarting the deer from devouring the tasty gardens
Arbutus walk at Bennett Bay
Our own tasty lunch is served on the expansive patio of the Springwater Lodge, after which we visit some of the island’s sights. From the Georgina Point Heritage Park and Lighthouse, we have a spectacular view of nearby Galiano Island and Active Pass. At Bennett Bay, the arbutus walk gives us a chance to stretch our legs. The Japanese Memorial Garden pays homage to the Japanese people who lived on the island between 1900 and 1942. We end the afternoon sipping tea and savouring decadent chocolate desserts at the Wild Fennel.
All too soon, we’re back on the ferry, returning to Vancouver by dinnertime. A day on Mayne is definitely quicker than a trip to the Mediterranean, but just as satisfying. –Sheri Radford
Hollywood at Home
Vancouver native Jason Gray-Stanford has enjoyed eight years as Lieutenant Randall Disher on the
award-winning TV series Monk. As it heads into the final season, Gray-Stanford wants to “savour the experience; we have a few more episodes to film so I plan to enjoy it.” Up next is
Kerosene Cowboys, a movie he filmed earlier this year in Russia, and perhaps next year he’ll head back here for a new project. Though he splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles—“they are very different cities but I love them both”—there are a few places he always visits when in town. To lighten the wallet, he heads to
Holt Renfrew and
Harry Rosen for formal wear and
Ocean Drive Leather in Yaletown for custom leather jackets. Hunger cravings are satisfied at
Hy’s Steakhouse, “an old-school favourite for their signature steak and cheese toast”;
Bacchus Restaurant at the Wedgewood, especially in winter; and
Havana Restaurant on Commercial Drive, for the great patio. Gray-Stanford always takes out-of-town guests to the Grouse Grind, Kits Beach, Gastown and Yaletown. The annual Shakespeare festival
Bard on the Beach is also on his don’t-miss list. He may be Hollywood-bound, but he’s certainly a Vancouver boy at heart. –
Jennifer Patterson
Stay, Dine, Do
