Archive for the ‘Ongoing’ Category
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Reader Suggestion: IKEA!!!
As a Swede and a mega IKEA fanatic, I love this great date night idea from fellow blogger Peter of Peter’s Pig Out Food Reviews. Â Peter wrote us to suggest that younger couples might enjoy going to IKEA as a cheap date idea.
IKEA is a great fantasy place and it provides so many topics of conversations eg. which mock kitchen do you like; which bedroom display is the sexiest; should I spend 99 cents on this spatula shaped like a horse etc.
AND, you can’t beat $1 hot dogs or ice cream for snacks or a yummy meal of meatballs and beer for cheap! Â Now if we could just let them open the ball room to adults, it would be the ultimate outing for me!!
Thanks Peter!! Â We love this idea.
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Reader Suggestion: Bingo for Life
Today we got a FABULOUS idea for a date night from the lovely Miss Emily. She wrote (I hope it is okay that I am plagiarizing you Miss Emily, but it is how I got through university)….
I recently went on a double date to bingo at celebrities. It is run by a couple of drag queens every Wednesday night at 8:30. They recommend a $10 donation per player.. and highballs are on special. All the money goes to Vancouver Friends for Life Society which is a non-profit wellness centre in the west-end for people with terminally ill diseases… Anyways we all left there with our abs hurting from laughing so much.. the MC is hilarious.. Anyways I recommend checking it out if you would like to try something different.This totally sounds like my kind of night! I am a big fan of both bingo, drag queens and supporting a great cause. Thanks Emily!!Â
Check it out….here’s the link:
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Say Wha?! and Sara Bynoe
If you like smart comedy, literature and something different, we have a great cheap date idea for you. It is not so much one event that you need to find
but a comedienne/ producer in town by the name of Sara Bynoe. Sara runs a few monthly events around town and they all make for great date nights.We recently attended Say Wha?! a monthly reading of BAD writings done by local comics at the Cottage Bistro on Main Street. It is hilarious…and smart….and fun. The show and the intimate setting of the bistro reminded me of something that you would expect to see in the underground clubs of New York or San Francisco, but it’s here!!! WhooHoo! As a date, it is a great chill night of drinking cold beers, eating snacks and watching really talented performers reading (and commenting on) some absolutely horrific writing.  (Note: The next one is May 18th at 8pm) So, put that BA in English Literature to use and go check it out!
If you missed (or enjoyed) Say Wha?!, Sara runs another night as well called the Teen Angst Poetry Night where guests read excerpts from their teenage lives. (You know…. we all have those teen love letters and diaries somewhere…pull them out and let’s hear them!).Â
And, if you need a cheap date idea for the girls, why not go to another fun Sara event, called Dance, Dance, Party, Party. This is a girls only free form dance held every Thursday night at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre. There is no teacher. No judgement. Just great tunes and a “You can do what you want Girlfriend because we will support you†attitude. Drop in is only $7.Â
Here are some contact links for Sara so you can check out her work:
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More Cheap Dates!
We were super excited to open the arts section of the Vancouver Sun today
to see a whole list of cheap date ideas!  The more cheap dates the better! Some of these we have tried and some are on the To Try list. In case you missed the article and want to add it to your cheap date repertoire, here is the link. Enjoy!
Click to view:Â A week of cultural adventure on a shoestring.
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Bowling at Varsity Ridge
The cool thing about doing this blog is that we are forced to try things we have never done before or have not done in a long time. This past date night was no exception. Pete suggested that we go bowling. To be honest, I hadn’t bowled since Gym 7 when I picked bowling as my sport since it was the only one that didn’t involve running.  (I still managed to only get a C+. Sports are really not my thing.)
I didn’t know where one would go to bowl in modern times – thank goodness for the internet. A quick search for bowling in Vancouver gave us a few options. We chose the bowling alley at Varsity Ridge because it was close to home. I often drive by the Ridge Theatre complex on 16th and Arbutus Street but didn’t realize there was a bowling alley there (it is actually on west 15th – look for the big white bowling pin).Â
When we entered the premises, it was like stepping back in time…in a really cool way. Everything looked very vintage. The ceilings were low, the carpet was dark blue with bowling pins on it and yes, there was wood panelling on the walls. It was like bowling in your parents’ basement. We rented our shoes (yes, they were disinfected and yes, I still brought an extra pair of socks) and were given lucky lane 13. There are two sides to the bowling alley at the Varsity – the side with lucky lane 13 can be turned into a glow in the dark bowling alley at certain times. The cost to bowl was very cheap – $5 per person per game. Our shoe rental was $2.25. We grabbed a beer as well (Varsity is licenced) but their food options are limited. It would probably be a good idea to make a reservation for a date night because I am guessing it could ge
t busy at peak times.I couldn’t really remember how to bowl but since everything is automated – the machines keep score for you and tell you when to throw the ball – it is really easy. Essentially, you just throw the ball down the lane and hope 1) it hits some pins 2) it doesn’t fly out of the lane and hit something else. Â
The vibe was fun. There was a great mix of people – from seniors, to hipsters to young families. Everyone was cheering with lots of good natured banter. Since it was Pete’s first time bowling, it is no surprise that my score was much higher than his – mine was 144 and his was 61. Not that I am keeping track. Or rubbing it in his face. Or taking a picture of it and posting it on a public blog. But it is probably the only sporting event where very unathletic me could beat super athletic Pete. Ha! Yes. We will bowl again soon. Loved it.Â
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Kitty Nights Burlesque
Like tassels? Well, we have a good date night idea for you – Kitty Nights Burlesque. On Sunday nights at the Biltmore Cabaret, you can see some
The gorgeous hostess of Kitty Nights. Yes, it was their holiday show.
classy burlesque tease. Pete and I had never been to a burlesque show before and thought it would be cool to see some twirling tassels (how do they do that? Or more importantly, how do those tassles stay on?). The entrance fee is $5 and it is general seating unless you pre-pay for a reserved seat. Reservations can be made for groups of 4 or more at an extra cost of $10 per person. ($40 per table of four). The Biltmore is a cool room. It is hip-dingy and it still retains its vintage charm. Pete and I arrived a bit too late (at 8:40pm for a 9pm show) to find a seat so we grabbed a beer at the bar and just hung around people watching. The crowd is eclectic, hip and young but it was a good vibe. The show started quite late (not sure if that is the norm) so we could only watch a few acts before having to go and meet up with some friends. The girls are gorgeous and the routines are smart classy. It is sexy night out and the only recommendation I would have is to grab a couple of friends and splurge for a reserved table or to go early to grab a seat. You want a good vantage point to relax, to drink beer and to watch the show.Â
More info at:
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YVR (Vancouver Airport)
Okay, going to YVR on a date has probably been one of our stranger date nights thus far but it turned out to be super fun. Pete was reminiscing about the restaurant and bar at LAX called Encounters  and how it is a destination place for drinks, dinner and plane watching. That got us to wondering if there is a neat place to have a date at our beautiful Vancouver airport. Plus, Pete has been dying to ride the new Canada Line to YVR for a while now so our strange date night idea was borne. I had never been to the airport without good reason – you know like flying in or out of the country – so I actually liked the idea of spending time there without worrying about the weight of my luggage or if the plane’s bar had enough booze to ease my intense fear of flying.Â
So to YVR we went. The ride on the Canada Line was like any ride on a skytrain. There was the usual mix of interesting/ funny/ rude/ smelly people and Vancouver scenery. When we got to the airport, it was unusually quiet for a Friday night. We wandered around and were a little disheartened that the only restaurants we could find, at first, were White Spot, Milestones and some assorted food court (Read: greasy) options. But we did find a neat plane observation area located above the food court in the domestic terminal.  Then we remembered that the Fairmont Hotel was attached to the airport (in the International terminal above US departures – it is in the predeparture area) and so we trekked there. Inside, we found the Jetside Bar and the GlobeYVR Restaurant
Both places overlook the runway and have a lovely west coast feel to them – sort of like a lodge at Whistler if you know what I mean. We decided to hang
The elevators that take you up to the Fairmont Hotel at YVR
 in the Jetside Bar because we only wanted to have a drink and some appetizers. We chatted briefly with a fun couple from Texas who had never been to Vancouver before this trip. They had a fabulous time. (Yeah, Vancouver!!). The food and the drinks were great and it was fun to watch the planes take off and land. Naturally we started brainstorming our next vacation – both real and fantasy! As a side note, both the Jetside bar and the GlobeYVR restaurant have an offer which gives you one two zone Canada Line pass for purchases over $25. Check their website for details
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The Hollywood Theatre
I rarely go to movies in the big movie-plexes any more. I think the high ticket cost and  the annoying patrons (Come on, People…stop texting already!!)
has taken the joy out of it for me. Pete and I usually watch movies in the comfort of our own home – where I can lie in my sweatpants, drink wine and pause the movie to pee. With our good TV system, we really don’t need to go out…we can stay at home.But the one place that can lure me out to watch a movie is The Hollywood. I love this theatre. I really do. There is something so old school charming about it. The Hollywood theatre just celebrated its 75th year of showing
movies in its Kitsilano neighbourhood. The single screen movie theatre is almost a thing of the past but this one has managed to keep going. It is a pillar of the community and watching movies there is such a fun thing to do. The seats are old, the movies are second run but the popcorn has real butter and the tickets are insanely cheap. (For adults to see a double feature the tickets are $8 Tuesday through Sunday; on Mondays all seats are $6) You don’t mind watching movies with the masses because that is part of the experience.This date night we saw The American with George Clooney (the cost was a grand total of $12 for both of us since it is a Monday. We could have stayed for no additional cost to watch the second feature – Casablanca – but tomorrow is a work day). If you are wanting to extend your evening, there are tons of yummy and inexpensive restaurants and bars in the ‘hood to keep you happy. (if you need some suggestions, just ask)
Go see a movie at The Hollywood on your next date night. There is something very vintage and romantic about it.
Website for The Hollywood Theatre
***** Sadly, the Hollywood Theatre closed on May 29, 2011. Thank you to the owners for all the nights of laughs, tears and joy you brought us with your movies. We wish you much happiness. **************
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Vancouver TheatreSports League
Pete and I love to laugh and find that the most consistent comedy bang for your buck is at the Vancouver TheatreSports League. Having just moved
into their beautiful new home at The Improv Centre on Granville Island, it is a fun place to have a date. Yesterday, we went to the Friday 10pm Vancouver TheatreSports League show and it was hilarious. For those of you who have not been to VTSL (or not been for a while), they do improv comedy, which means the performers have no script. They rely upon suggestions from the audience to give them an idea and they must build a scene around it. We go a lot and always find the shows fun and entertaining. As a warning, the later the show, the looser the players get. If you are more conservative, you may want to stick with the earlier shows.Â
This was another relatively cheap date night as the cost for two tickets totalled $40. We each had one drink and that was about $15….so a super fun night for under $60.Â
If you want to expand your date night, the location gives you tons of options. Now that they are fully licenced, VTSL has a cool bar area where you can sip a drink and look out over the yachts anchored in False Creek either before or after the show. Prior to that you can grab a snack or dinner at any of the great restaurants on Granville Island like Sandbar, Bridges, Cats Social House etc. After the show, you can wander the boardwalk around the outer edge of the Island and look at the incredible views.Â
Get information on shows, ticket prices, cast lists and schedules at:
Recent Posts
- Reader Suggestion: IKEA!!!
- Reader Suggestion: Bingo for Life
- Reader Suggestion: Cycle BC
- Say Wha?! and Sara Bynoe
- All Work and No Dates
- Cheap Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day
- We’re Famous!
- Clova Theatre
- Anzabonanza Pub Quiz
- Show Us Your Wits!
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