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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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Steveston Village
It had been a while since we had been to Steveston. On a beautiful, sunny winter day, Pete and I decided to go for a nice walk to stretch our legs and to work off some excess Christmas calories. Steveston was the perfect choice for our walk.Â
Fishing boats!
We took our dog and walked a nice loop around Garry Point Park. It was quite cold and windy, but it allowed us to watch some brave folks try to paraglide. The scenery in Steveston is just fantastic – fishing boats, the water, the heritage buildings – it is quaint and relaxing.Â
After our stroll around the park, we wandered the short distance to the village itself. We passed the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, which is an interesting museum about what life
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Museum
was like for the people who lived and worked at the cannery so many years ago. Admission is cheap ($7-ish) and is worth a walk through if you have the time and the interest.Â
We continued along the boardwalk and passed even more fishing boats (they can be a great place to buy fresh fish when it is in season). There are plenty of restaurants in the Village core but this was a walking and not an eating date, so we kept on going. We did stop and grab a coffee at one of the many coffee shops(seriously…there are a lot of coffee shops…the people here must never sleep) and kept on strolling. You can walk or bike forever on the boardwalk.
View of the Village core
The actual path goes for miles along the Fraser River and it is completely flat so it is very easy walking or bike riding. The views are wonderful. We found Steveston Village to be a a great place to spend some time. We will be back soon.
Click here for an information site about Steveston Village
Lovely Fraser River
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The Improv Musical
Okay….we feel a bit redundant about suggesting the Improv Musical as a date night simply because we already gave you the idea to see the
Ellen Kennedy, Shaun Stewart and Alan Marriott shine in the Improv Musical
Vancouver TheatreSports League in an earlier post. But, the Improv Musical is such a different show within the VTSL schedule, we feel it deserves a post of its own.Â
The Improv Musical is well named – it is a completely improvised musical comedy. Each show is based upon one suggestion that a cast member gets from the audience. After that, everything is made up – the score, the songs, the characters and the story. It is so mind blowing that they are improvising the whole thing but they are! The ensemble cast rotates with each show but the talent within the group is fabulous. Some of the songs will make you tingle; others are so catchy, they will stay in your brain on the ride home!
So, if you like music, musicals, improv and fun times, this is a great show to see on a date night. Currently, it plays at 7:30pm every Wednesday night at the Improv Centre. Its running time is one hour and you can grab a drink at the VTSL bar either before or after the show. Check the VTSL website for further details.Â
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Snowshoeing at Cypress
This has been my favourite date so far. Now that winter is here, it means that we can play in the snow on our local mountains. I must admit – while Pete is super fit, I am not very athletic. I have always been scared of skiing and snowboarding, because I am clumsy. The chances of me requiring snow patrol assistance for such activities is guaranteed 100%…..BUT, snowshoeing is different. If you can walk, you can snowshoe.Â
Today, we went snowshoeing for the first time at Cypress. The conditions were perfect. During the day, you can go unescorted on the trails. The snowshoe paths are well marked. (but you should remember that parts of the trails intersect with the cross country skiers so you need to be careful crossing their routes!). A snowshoe day pass costs $10 or you can rent snowshoes with pass for about $25 We took the easy trail since we hadn’t
Hollyburn Lodge: A great place for hot chocolate!
been on the mountain before and it was very easy. At a certain point, we ventured onto the advanced trail for a challenge.  For most of the time, we were alone walking in a beautiful winter wonderland. It was very peaceful and fun. I guess that is what happens when you showshoe midweek. At about the half way point of our walk, we found Hollyburn Lodge which offered a chance to take a break, grab a snack and have some hot chocolate. (there is also a warming hut further up the mountain). If you want an evening walk in the snow, Cypress also offers guided evening trail tours…and fondue tours as well.Â
Check out their site for further info:
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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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Ice Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
It is not winter in Canada without ice skating…..or at least watching ice skating. Another tradition in Vancouver just opened today – free ice skating
Skaters inside the Robson Square Ice Rink
 at Robson Square Ice Rink. Yes, there is a lot of construction going on around the rink (located underneath the Vancouver Art Gallery) but it is worth the hassle of getting there. So, Pete and I decided to have a date night by strolling Robson Street, grabbing a hot chocolate from Café Artigiano on Hornby and watching ice skating at the Robson Square Rink.   Okay, yes it would have been better to have a date night where we actually went ice skating – after all, you can rent skates at the rink for only $3 – but both Pete and I failed skating in school so we felt it was in the interest of public safety that we keep our crash and tumble act to ourselves. Still, it was highly amusing to watch the skaters – some experienced and some not – out on the ice. The rink is open seven days a week until the end of February 2011 between the hours of 9 am to 9pm. On Friday and Saturdays, it is open until 11pm.
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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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Pacific Spirit Park
Last year we got a dog and have discovered one of those  incredible hidden gems in our city – Pacific Spirit Park. It has become one of our favourite day date places to go. The park is on the west side of Vancouver (UBC
neighbourhood) and is over 54 km of walking/hiking/mountain biking trails. It is a good idea to grab a map of the various trails so you don’t get lost when you are inside the park. (Remember Hanzel and Gretel? They should have had a map!!)We love it because it is so tranquil to walk amongst the old growth forest and just relax. The trails are soft and it can get quite muddy when it rains so be sure to wear old shoes. The smell of the trees is incredible….it is like walking in your very own oxygen purifier.  Even if it is raining, the huge trees offer a nice protection from downpours. It is honestly very special.Â
After the walk (or before) there are tons of options for lunch, coffee or window shopping  in Point Grey Village which is located on West 10th. There is a Starbucks (of course!) at 4582 West 10th and our new favourite place to stop for Chinese food is called Ginger and Chili. It is located at  4423 West 10th. Check it out!
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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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