by Jessica Napier
There’s plenty to celebrate with the arrival of March here in Vancouver. Spring Break, St. Patrick’s Day and budding sakura trees are all bound to put a smile on your face (even if the weather is still a bit meh). From charitable culinary events to ultra-chic runway shows to exotic sports cars, check out our top 10 picks for what to see and do (and eat!) in Vancouver this March. [Image courtesy of The Holy Crab. Photo credit: Sharon Ng]
For many Vancouver chefs, curries are the ultimate family-style staff meal. On Monday, March 6, eight of the city’s top culinary superstars will be showing off their curry-cooking skills as they compete in the fourth annual Curry Cup, presented by the Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia at Heritage Hall. Participating chefs include Keith Pears of EBO Restaurant, Neil Taylor of Espana, Adam Perrier from Café Medina, and Felix Zhou from Heritage Asian Eatery. Each chef will be cooking their own unique curry dish infused with flavours and spices from around the world. Tickets are $65 with a portion of the proceeds donated to Project CHEF, a non-profit outreach program that partners with the Vancouver School Board to teach elementary students about the importance of making healthy food choices.
With many Vancouver kids off school for a week mid-month, you’ll have to plan some fun activities to keep them entertained. Whether your little ones are outdoorsy adventurers, science buffs or music-lovers, there are activities to suit all sorts. Vancouver’s family-friendly pubs, interactive museums and indoor playgrounds are sure to help pass the time. Check out our complete Spring Break 2017 guide for a round up of all the family-friendly fun happening in Vancouver over the break.
Head to West Vancouver on Tuesday, March 14 to experience the best of Persian culture – the sights, the sounds and the delicious food – at the Nowruz Fire Festival at Ambleside Park. The annual event attracts thousands of spectators who come to soak up the celebratory atmosphere and ring in the New Year while enjoying delectable Persian cuisine, live music, dancing and spectacular fire jumping. The free, family-friendly multicultural celebration takes place rain or shine and is sure to be a fun mid-week celebration.
Celebrate the luck of the Irish and down a pint of Guinness in honour of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Vancouver’s annual Celtic Festival runs from March 10 to 18, and commemorates the heritage of the Emerald Isle with cultural events and performances ranging from live music and dancing to spoken word readings and film screenings. Highlights include an Irish Sports Night with Pat Spillane and Mick Galwey, Jaki McCarrick’s captivating play Belfast Girls on stage at The Cultch, and Irish accordion player Sharon Shannon performing at St. James Hall. Don’t party too hard on Friday night, the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K run in Stanley Park will take place bright and early on Saturday morning. Wear your brightest green outfit for the spirited road race and then head to the after party to enjoy green beer (courtesy of Granville Island Brewing), food and a live DJ.
Shellfish fans can roll up their sleeves and dig in at Vancouver’s newest seafood spot: The Holy Crab. Opened in late January, this Louisiana-inspired crab shack in the West End is all about a hands-on approach to family-style dining. Diners strap on a seafood bib and tuck into buckets of fresh Dungeness crab, lobster, crawfish and mussels all slathered in flavourful Creole sauces. Take note: this is definitely not a first-date kinda spot; the lively eatery is best enjoyed with a gang of seafood-loving pals who don’t mind getting a little messy.
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More things to see and do in Vancouver this March
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Want to indulge in pretty pastel macarons for a good cause? Oui s’il vous plait! Each year on March 20, dessert shops and bakeries across Vancouver take part in Macaron Day, which sees participating confectioners selling their signature sweets for a charitable cause. The annual event was founded in France (naturally) by the infamous pastry chef and chocolatier Pierre Hermé. Locally, the fundraiser benefits a number of worthy charities – including the BC Cancer Foundation and the BC Children’s Hospital – and is a great excuse to pick up a box of beautiful macarons to share…or not. Thierry Café, Soirette, French Made Baking, Bel Café, Bon Macaron and many more patisseries will be participating in this year’s event.
While the West Coast isn’t exactly known for its cutting-edge sartorial style (we’re more likely to be rocking sweats than stilettos), the bi-annual Vancouver Fashion Week is a great chance to get dressed up and check out up-and-coming local designers and international labels. The Fall/Winter 2017 show is on this month from March 20 to 26, and will include runway shows, industry awards and glamorous after parties. If you can’t get tickets to the actual shows at the Chinese Cultural Centre, we suggest grabbing a coffee in Gastown nearby and enjoying some chic people watching. The off-duty models and creative street-style looks are sure to impress, even in the rain.
Nothing makes it feel like springtime like the sight of fresh flowers. Pick up beautiful botanicals that are wild and whimsical at The Wild Bunch’s new studio on East 7th Ave. Here, the talented team of Nassi Soofi and Alexandra Schulze create artfully bohemian bouquets with local, seasonal blooms. If you prefer more structured, elegant arrangements, visit Granville Island Florist, where owner and creative director Suzanne Lee specializes in sophisticated and luxurious floral designs. Whatever your style, a springtime bouquet is bound to brighten up your home – and your mood.
Rev your engines and get ready to finish the monthly ogling exotic sports cars, luxury vehicles and vintage automobiles at the 97th annual Vancouver International Auto Show, taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre from March 28 to April 2. Last year there were a record-breaking 101,853 motor heads in attendance, so you can bet the 2017 show will be a hot ticket among local car lovers. Exhibitors include mid-range manufacturers like Subaru, GM, Ford and Chevrolet as well as high-end automakers like Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Porsche. Whether you’re researching for a new vehicle purchase or just an auto enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this weeklong event.
On Thursday, March 30, hundreds of restaurants from across the Lower Mainland will be taking part in Dining Out For Life, a fundraising event to support individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Participating restaurants will donate 25 percent of food sales to A Loving Spoonful, a non-profit initiative offering a number of charitable services including meal deliveries, nutritional counseling and meal planning support. Bufala, Wildebeest, Fable, Forage and The Union are just a few of the Vancouver dining rooms that’ll be taking part in this event.
