Richmond

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Hot Dates: Richmond’s Summer Night Market

The Summer Night Market in Richmond

May 11 to September 16

Barbecued squid and bubble waffles are just a couple of the exotic eats you’ll find at the Summer Night Market (pictured), deemed one of the world’s best by Travel + Leisure magazine. Foodies and bargain hunters hop on the SkyTrain to taste Asian street food, enjoy live entertainment and haggle with retail vendors over super-cute trinkets and jewellery. The nearby Richmond Night Market (May 18 to Oct. 8) is also worth a visit for snacks, shopping and carnival rides. —Kristina Urquhart

Hot Art: Reflections at Richmond Art Gallery

Artist Hua Jin exhibits her photography at Richmond Art Gallery

Explore the consequences of China’s one-child-per-family policy through photography and video by former Shanghai resident Hua Jin in her exhibit My Big Family. Jin, a first-generation “only” child, uses her own experiences to examine the repercussions of this rule on not only families, but the community and country, too. View her work at the Richmond Art Gallery (Apr. 20 to Jun. 10).—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Entertainment: Road to Richmond

Photo: Toyohara Kunichiki, 1879, Woodblock print, The Actor Kaharazaki Shasho in the role of General Yoshitsune Minamoto

Bursting with Asian eateries and quirky stores, nearby Richmond is also home to a thriving arts and culture scene. Check out Edo: Arts of Japan’s Last Shogun Age (pictured) at the Richmond Museum (to May 21), which examines Japanese society from 1603 to 1868. Also in Richmond this month: comedian Jay Mohr (Mar. 30) and psychic Sylvia Browne (Mar. 23), both at the River Rock Show Theatre.—Sheri Radford

Strait of Georgia Sunset—Richmond, British Columbia

Every Friday we feature an inspirational travel photo of a Canadian destination taken by one of our readers.

Why we chose it: BC has some of the most enviable sunsets in Canada, as evidenced here. It’s a beautiful silhouette—and the fiery sunset makes winter feel almost warm. But it’s the reflections in the puddles that makes it a truly remarkable shot. (more…)

When East Meets West: Chinese New Year in Vancouver

Ring in the year of the dragon and experience the best of Chinese culture

By Kristina Urquhart

The grounds at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Photo by KK Law

Think big. That’s our advice for the auspicious year of the dragon, which kicks off Jan. 23 and lasts until Feb. 9, 2013. Dragons are symbols of power, good fortune and lofty ideas—and the world could use some of each after being encouraged to pause and reflect during the peaceful year of the rabbit in 2011.

The Chinese New Year adheres to a lunar and solar calendar and usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice; what follows are days of decorating, exchanging gifts and passing lucky red money packets. The festivities culminate in the spectacular two-hour Chinese New Year Parade on Jan. 29, which starts at the ornate Millennium Gate, an imposing entrance to North America’s third-largest Chinatown. Expect to see colourful lion dances and martial arts demonstrations making their way through the red-lamppost-lined neighbourhood. (more…)

Hot Dining: Going for the Gold

This year’s HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards (www.chineserestaurantawards.com) dished out six Gold Awards of Distinction. Looking to taste the best of the best? Grab a cab to Sun Sui Wah for Alaska king crab three ways, or hop on the Canada Line SkyTrain to Sea Harbour Seafood to sample pan-fried prawns with soy. Other Distinction winners: Richmond’s BBQ Master and Bamboo Grove, and Burnaby’s Alvin Garden.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Entertainment: Podium-Worthy

The eco-friendly Richmond Olympic Oval

The 2010 Winter Games athletes have since hung up their skates, but their home-away-from-home—the stylish and sustainable Richmond Olympic Oval—has become a must for workout enthusiasts. Find your inner Olympian with six hardwood gyms, two ice rinks, a running track and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Asian Persuasion

If it’s Chinese fare you crave, there’s no need to hop a plane to Shanghai or Beijing. Just board the SkyTrain to Richmond, where you’ll find grilled eats at BBQ Master, succulent king crab at Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant and crispy prawns at Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant (pictured). Your chopsticks will be poised for pleasure, because all won Critic’s Choice gold at the 2010 Edgewater Casino Chinese Restaurant Awards. For a full list of winners, visit www.chineserestaurantawards.com.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Dine on the Line

Dim sum at Sun Sui Wah. Photo by KK Law

Richmond is a mecca of superlative Chinese dining. Hop on the Canada Line SkyTrain to discover a truly different world, just 25 minutes from downtown. Within a few steps of Aberdeen or Lansdowne stations you can feast on the likes of succulent Alaskan king crab, prepared four ways, at Northern Dynasty; discover the delicious flavours of tea-smoked roast duck, tender spareribs and crackling pork from HK BBQ Master; or marvel at tasty crabmeat spring rolls or richly flavoured sesame peanut glass noodles at Northern Delicacy. Or check out cart-service dim sum and seasonal specialties at Sun Sui Wah before spiriting away exquisitely executed pastries and desserts of every kind from Saint Germain Bakery. All are winners, among many, of the 2010 Chinese Restaurant Awards (www.chineserestaurantawards.com).—Tim Pawsey

Fast Track to Gold

BC speed skater Denny Morrison is poised to be a top contender at the 2010 Winter Games

By Kristina Urquhart

The eco-friendly roof at Richmond Olympic Oval. Photo by KK Law

Under a magnificent domed roof, the cavernous arena echoes with the sound of the starting bell, of the first moment a sharp skate blade touches the pristine rink, of 8,000 spectators cheering wildly.

This is the Richmond Olympic Oval (see “Fast Facts,” below) just one month from now, when it will host the long-track speed skating events during the 2010 Winter Games. This is where Denny Morrison, Canadian speed skater and Olympic silver medallist, will vie for the gold.

Unlike many athletes who only recently discovered whether they’d be competing in sport’s biggest contest, the 24-year-old Morrison has known since his stellar race results last winter.

“I’m really excited,” he says. “I have good feelings about Richmond. The oval is pretty spectacular.”

Morrison now calls Fort St. John, BC home, but he was born in the tiny town of Chetwynd where there was no hockey league. Eager to skate, a three-year-old Morrison started speed skating lessons. The rest is, as they say, history.

No stranger to the podium, Morrison brought home a silver medal in the team pursuit race

Denny Morrison will skate for gold at Richmond Olympic Oval. Photo by Ewan Nicholson

at the Torino 2006 Winter Games. This year alone, Morrison won the bronze in three events at two ISU World Cup events. He is also pictured on the packages of Wrigley’s Excel Polar Ice chewing gum—a portion of the proceeds goes to the Canadian Olympic team.

Morrison’s busy training and competition schedule doesn’t offer much down time, but he likes to try new restaurants, including Chop for both its innovative cuisine and its proximity to the Richmond Olympic Oval, where he trained last year.

Watch Morrison on Jan. 16 and 17 in the World Championship Sprint in Obihiro, Japan, and tune in during the 2010 Winter Games to see him race the 5,000 m (Feb. 13), the 500 m (Feb. 15), the 1,000 m (Feb. 17), the 1,500 m (Feb. 20), the 10,000 m (Feb. 23) and the team pursuit qualification (Feb. 26) and finals (Feb. 27). Whether or not Morrison ascends to the podium, he is sure to make Canada proud.

FAST FACTS