What to do in and around Vancouver this week?
Good lord it almost Christmas and we’ve got so much to do. How’s your holiday prep going? We’ve got presents to buy, cookies to bake, articles to write and packing to do for Kelowna. We’ll be spending the holidays with my family and zipping back to visit with Michael’s as well. No plans for New Year as of yet, but we’re pretty low key and will likely spend time with a few friends at home. In the meantime there’s lots we hope to do this week before we leave, and here’s a few suggestions for you.
Christmas Drag Queen Race
Last week we saw the Christmas Queen and loved it, and if this wasn’t so late at night (well past my bedtime) we’d go too! What happens when two queens come together? A lot of racy, outrageous hilarity and wicked wit. Join VTSL’s own Christmas Queen with her special guest co-host, drag star The Unstoppable Conni Smudge for five very naughty (but nice) late-late shows Saturday evenings at 11:15 p.m.
The (lace) gloves come off as these two Grande Dames put contestants through their paces in a series of improv challenges with the help of audience suggestions resulting in the ‘be-jewelling’ of a new Drag Diva. This limited-engagement show runs Saturday evenings at 11:15 p.m. starting on November 25 and will also run on December 2,9,16 and 23. Then poof! it’s gone.
To see ticket prices and show length for all our shows, click here. Festive Spirits Drink Specials
Decadent Lunches at Gotham
Who says the three martini lunch is a thing of the past? Well, we didn’t quite have three martinis, but we did have some wine yesterday while we checked out the new lunch items at Gotham Steakhouse. Great to catch up with PR star Paul Done and fellow blogger Rebecca Coleman. Grab your friends and prepare to stay a while. Three martinis are optional, but I’d recommend the new tuna poke, chicken paillard and the lobster cobb salad, or just a big juicy steak! Stay a while and you’ll head right into their happy hour.
Holiday Drinks at Caffe Artigiano
My pal Chef Dawn Douchette (and fellow Les Dames d’Escoffier member) has created four special drinks at Caffe Artigiano, in addition to the classic eggnog latte. Working with organic Italian syrups and holiday espresso, she starts with an Orange Mocha Latte. Chocolate and espresso balance out this subtle Italian flavour combination, topped with a creamy milk foam. Dawn tops it with a crisp orange slice she sprinkles with sugar, then dehydrates overnight in a convection oven. A Toasted Marshmallow Latte is fun, sprinkled with mini marshmallows with a serious double shot of espresso. Two Christmas inspired drinks include a Peppermint Mocha Latte, blending chocolate, espresso, peppermint syrup and a sprinkle of crunchy candy cane and, serving a whipping cream top for the first time (only for the holidays), the Gingerbread Latte is, perhaps, the most indulgent with ginger syrup and espresso topped with whipping cream, caramel sauce and crushed gingerbread cookies. YUM!
Weirdos Holiday Market, Dec. 16 + 17, caters to shoppers who treasure unconventional gift-giving
Surprise and delight your nearest and dearest this holiday season with items that were absolutely not on their list — because they never even knew they existed. The inaugural Weirdos Holiday Market takes place at Betamax Art Studios, 2244 East Hastings St., on December 16 and 17.
