What to do on the weekend?

No question, you should celebrate St. Patricks Day! But before you immerse yourself into this experience, let me give you a little bit of background knowledge.

Saint Patrick lived during the fifth century and is the patron saint of Ireland. His death is believed to have been on March 17, 461 which is the day of the celebrations. The probably best-known legend of St. Patrick his explanation of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) by using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

Fun Fact: The first St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t take place in Ireland but in America in 1601.

1772 homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City to honour the Irish patron saint. From then on the enthusiasm for St. Patrick’s Day parades grew. Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, especially throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Popular dishes include Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage and champ. In some places you find green beer, green rivers and of course people dressed in green black and gold.

If you’re really interested in the history, meaning and background there’s more stuff on the internet like articles, videos etc. 🙂

INTERNeX is obviously going to an Irish Pub here in Vancouver to get the full experience. 😉 Are you coming? Or do you have other plans to celebrate?

A good idea is to buy tickets on pre-sale or come early since it’s going to be super busy and it might be more expensive to get tickets at the door. But nevertheless there’s lots of things going on around the pubs as well. I recommend checking out the place in front of the art gallery or just wander across Granville street to take a peak of what St. Patricks Day might be like, but be aware there might be some intoxicated people along the way.

You don’t like partying? I’ve got another idea for you this weekend that involves cultural program. I heard a lot of you like dancing, so how about checking out the Vancouver International Dance Festival? There are performances this weekend in different locations and the tickets range from $20-35. If you want to find out more check out their website: https://www.vidf.ca/

Another good thing to do if you like to be more active outside and are into winter sports is spending the day at a local mountain like Seymour or Grouse for example. Enjoy the last days of the season before spring arrives and the slopes won’t be as good to ski or snowboard anymore! Right now mountains are easy accessible through a shuttle or public transit. A lot of gear can be rented on the mountain as well, so really there’s no excuse for you not to go. If you are lucky you even get an amazing view over Vancouver when you’re up there!

As always, I can’t wait to hear about your weekend at our next Pub Night!

See you then!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

How was the weekend?

It was rainy and still kind of cold on the weekend which called for cozy nights and things to do inside. Let me tell you about my weekend Highlight.

After a change of plans INTERNeX met Friday night to watch a movie at VIFF and I gotta say, I haven’t been disappointed yet. The movies they show are not really comparable to all those Hollywood Blockbusters that you find in a classic cinema. “VIFF strives to engage and empower communities, encourage dialogue, educate, and champion local artists.” So it’s not just sheer entertainment, but whenever I attend a movie at VIFF I leave a little bit wiser. I learn about different cultures and the movie stays with me for a while after I leave the theatre, thinking about what I just saw and reflecting on it. I find it very special and love to support the artists of the film.

This time we watched a movie about a group of Arab and Jewish women attending a video workshop at a small town community centre run by a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv, who teaches them to document their lives. As each student shares footage from her home life with the others, their beliefs and preconceptions are challenged and barriers are broken down. It gets very emotional and gave us lots to talk about after we’ve seen it. It’s like looking into another world without leaving yours and in my opinion that’s what cinema is about. That and the fresh popcorn of course. 😉 Overall I really enjoyed the night and from what I’ve heard, so did the others. 🙂

Are you a movie lover? Would you be interested in watching a film like that, or do you prefer the classic Hollywood movies?

Let me know in the comments or at our next Pub Night! 🙂

See you soon,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

Even though I’m not the biggest sports fan I’m quite excited for this event! INTERNeX is going to watch the Canada Sevens today! For all of those who don’t know, I’m talking about Rugby. It’s a major sports event but more than that it’s also a big party where people dress up and celebrate all day long. That’s really the part I’m looking forward to. 😉 Friday the tickets are much cheaper than the rest of the weekend which makes it the perfect day to go for a broke international student. If you can’t go with us on Friday, or are more interested in the big final on Sunday there’s still a chance for you to order tickets online. If you need a costume, just let us know and we’ll find something for you. 😉 Either way don’t be surprised if you see weirdly dressed people on the Skytrain or around Downtown this weekend. 😀

If you’re looking for something more cultural to do, I have the perfect event for you: The 16th Annual Coastal Dance Festival in New Westminster. Use the day to go for a walk, explore this area of Metro Vancouver and finish at the festival. Honour and learn about Indigenous stories, song, and dance from the Northwest Coast of Canada and around the World. The CDF ‘provides an opportunity for Indigenous artists to share and support one another in a celebration of song and dance, bringing recognition to their unique and diverse cultures and showcasing their artistic strength. Audiences are invited to witness these practices to see that Indigenous arts are thriving and vibrant.’ To me, this is a great way to immerse yourself into another culture. Here are some more information for you:
https://damelahamid.ca/coastal-dance-festival/

Want to travel around Canada, but have no money? No problem! Why don’t you try ‘FlyOver Canada’? With advanced technology to showcase thrilling captures and authentic footage of real locations, you’ll experience those places as they truly are. On top of that special effects like wind, mist and scents make it seem even more realistic. There’s flight motion seats, the floor will disappear underneath you, so your feet are hanging in the air and the wraparound screen gives you amazing views wherever you look. I did it once and thought it was absolutely crazy! I enjoyed it a lot despite the weird feeling it gave me for like 30 seconds because I’m very sensitive to motion sickness. 😀 The ride is relatively short but definitely a cool experience and a great way to explore Canada without actually leaving Vancouver. 😉 The cost is affordable with about $35. At the moment they also offer ‘Hawaii from above’, in case you’re sick of this rainy weather and would like to escape for just a moment. 🙂

As always I’m excited to hear about your weekend at our next Pub Night.

See you then,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

We are getting closer and closer to Christmas, who’s excited for the Holidays?
I sure am. This weekend I have a few great suggestions for you on what to do.

The first one is the Christmas Cabaret which will be an immersive experience with the theme of Light, Love and Liberty. Guests will explore a labyrinth like space filled with live music, weaving voices, corridors of original paintings, movement artists, all flowing inviting the audience to come on magical journey for a few hours. There’ll be wine & cheese, coffee, hot chocolate, mulled apple cider and other Christmas goodies, perfect to get into the Holiday spirit. Be prepared for 11 musicians, 6 actors, 3 movement artists and 4 painters. See what Vancouvers art scene has to offer and maybe take a walk along the beach beforehand. 🙂 The price for this event is by donation, recommended is around $25, but really just see for yourself how much you’d like to give to support the artists. 🙂
Let me know if you’d like to join. 🙂

Link: https://youtheatresociety.com/2022/11/04/christmas-cabaret/

Maybe you’re not into arts? I have a few other events that could prevent you from being a Grinch this year. A bunch of you asked me about the Capilano Canyon Lights and it’s for sure nice to experience. If you want to go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge I’d go during this time rather than in summer time. It just has a nice touch to it, kind of like walking through fairy land if you ask me. But be prepared for crowded paths, like almost every event here in Vancouver it gets quite busy. The entrance fee is $62.95 plus tax. You can get there free with a shuttle bus that leaves from Canada Place. Make sure to buy your tickets online in advance for the planned date.

Link: https://www.capbridge.com/events/canyon-lights/

If your budget is low because you’ve been buying lots of Christmas presents I totally understand! How about a nice stroll through Stanley Park? I feel like that’s always a good idea to spend the weekend. There’s of course the seawall, or different paths through the forest, just make sure to stay on the path and give wildlife its space. 🙂 The weather will be sunny, so make sure to catch the sunset on your walk and maybe you could end up at the ‘Bright Nights in Stanley Park’. Volunteers of the Burn Fund set up their dazzling displays including an antique fire truck, a giant red reindeer, and a sparkling tunnel of lights in the plaza. There’s also going to be food vendors offering churros, pretzels, popcorn, hot chocolate and more for a cozy evening in Stanley Park. Enjoy some live entertainment and donate as much as you’d like to support the Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund when you leave this event. 🙂

Link: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/bright-nights-train.aspx

Whether you decide to immerse yourself into the Holiday spirit, go last minute gift shopping because I just reminded you that it’s next weekend, or avoid it all by watching movies in bed, I hope you have a great weekend!

Let me know how it went at next week’s pub night. 🙂

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

This weekend INTERNeX is going on a bike ride along the sea wall around Stanley Park. Definitely a must do while you are here. The route offers beautiful views, close to the ocean and the parks forest, while technically being in the city. It’s a unique park with lots of different areas to explore. We could of course walk around as well, but that would take a long time and it’s not quite as fun as biking. Don’t worry you don’t need to have your own bike, we can just rent them right at Stanley Park. 🙂

Another great activity for weekends is hiking. Vancouver is perfect for a day in the nature since it’s so close and has so much to offer. There’s numerous trails around that you can choose from. I recommend getting the AllTrails app. It shows you maps, routes, difficulties of the trails, time, etc. There’s also comments and tips from others that have been hiking those trails which can be really useful. Make sure to check out our ‘Hiking Survival Guide’ as well before you head out to your adventure.

If you like Music Festivals at the beach this one’s for you. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival takes place at Jericho Beach this weekend. It’s a unique, community-based celebration of contemporary and traditional folk and roots music. There’ll be artists from Korea, Chile, Mexico, Taiwan, India, Finland, the USA, and Canada. A day pass is $68.60.

In case you want a cultural program, but are short on money, you can get a free guided tour through one of the most beautiful and historic concert halls in North America. Vancouver Civic Theatres offers a 90 minute walking tour, led by the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame at the Orpheum theatre, which was built in 1927 and is now a National Heritage site. Fun Fact: Frank Sinatra got kicked out of the theatre once, for breaking one of the dressing room lights while practicing his golf swing.

Looking for something to do in the evening? Good news, the Richmond Night Market is still going on till October! It is the largest Night Market in North America and attracts over 1 million visitors each year. There’s lots of booths and unique food, sometimes live music on the stage and other fun activities. General Admission is only $6, so I’d say if you have the chance you should definitely go and check it out. These are their hours of operation: Friday: 7PM-12AM; Saturday: 6PM-12AM; Sunday: 7PM-11PM

So, what are you going to this weekend? Are you team active or team culture? Or maybe both?

I look forward to hearing about your weekends next Wednesday at pub night. Hopefully I’ll see lots of you on our bike ride. 🙂

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂