Top Ten Cities for Fun in North America

10. Boston

It may be home to the Bruins we love to hate, but it's also home to one of the most famous marathons in the world and one of biggest St. Patrick's Day Festivals outside of Ireland. It has a string of public parks known as the 'The Emerald Necklace' that encircles the inner city. The abundance of green mirrors the city's strong Irish roots and the colours of their NBA franchise, the Boston Celtics.

9. Nashville

The home of country music, well music in general, Nashville is teeming with live music venues. From the Blues, to alternative, to southern rock, Nashville is the scene. Period. The city also has a ton of outdoor activities available such as horseback riding and canoeing.

8. Miami

Miami is warm all year, has beaches a plenty and boasts a plethora of available water sports. At night, the strip is alive with singles looking to have fun. Their foam parties are legendary.

7. Chicago

Another city with a vibrant music scene, Chicago is the place to go for intimate music experiences.

6. Dallas

Everything is bigger in Texas! The Barcadia bar has a giant Jenga game made of 2x4's. Even their graffiti is done to size. Check out the massive murals at Deep Ellum. Dallas also has a wicked bike trail to rival Vancouver's seawall. The Katie trail is perfect for cruiser riding with friends.

5. San Francisco

Home of the beat movement, San Francisco ooOOoozes cool. Take a stroll through the Citylights Bookstore, a literary landmark in Fog City. Dolores Park is a great place to do some people watching. And trust us, San Fran has some colourful characters.

4. Seattle

Seattle is our Emerald neighbour to the south. The Experience Music Project is worth the drive alone. It's like a musical playground for adults. It's also a great city to catch a soccer game. They are absolutely fanatical about their Sounders.

3. Atlanta

Hot-Lanta has a crazy nightlife. Pack light. You won't need more than a t-shirt and shorts. The city is also known for it's (artificially) lush golf courses.

2. Manhattan

The city that never sleeps, New York has it all. Comedy, music, sights, museums, ethnic neighbourhoods and sports galore. You could eat at a different restaurant everyday for the rest of your life.

1. Vancouver

Home sweet home Vancouver is full of adventure - check out the E&A calendar. From hikes, to rafting, to beach volleyball, to zip lining, to paddleboarding, to night tubing, our city has wicked events year-round. This Friday the club is learning to pour at the Fine Art Bartending School. Time to mix it up!

You know what all these cities have in common? They all have Events and Adventures clubs. The E&A experience thrives in cities that prioritize fun events. The club organizes the time, they make the reservations and they supply the singles. And the coolest part, by being a member, you can attend any of their events in North America.

Seek out the fun. Join Events and Adventures and eliminate boredom from your vocabulary.

10 Things To Never Do On a First Date

For this week's second entry, I thought we could look at ten of the worst things you could do on a first date. Even if you've been out with someone before in a casual setting, the first time it's one-on-one, you really need to watch what you say and do in order to make a good impression. To guarantee a second date, avoid these ten 'dealbreaker' taboos:

10. Do Not Arrive Late - It should be pretty simple. Give yourself lots of time, plan ahead and arrive on time. Public transit is pretty decent in Vancouver. Use the Translink website to figure out your route. If you are going to be late, apologize and tell your date as soon as you know. If you already have a zillion things to do before the date, choose another day. 

9. Do Not Show Too Much Skin - Ladies, you may want to dress sexy, but too much skin is a distraction. Cleavage is a wonderful thing and should be celebrated, but when it's the main attraction, your other attributes may be missed. And guys, lose the wife beaters. Yes, you've been working on your arms, but she doesn't need front row tickets (…to the gun show).

8. Do Not Ramble On - Choose your stories wisely. Pick about five that compliment your character. Avoid work stories, especially if they involve jargon or other references that your date may not know. And discard any story that involves a kegstand or a bachelor party exploit.

7. Do Not Get Drunk - Speaking of kegstands… Alcohol helps us all deal with the awkwardness, but overdoing it can lead to disaster. Have a two drink maximum.

6. Do Not Flirt With Other People - Keep your focus. When you are on a date, it is the two of you. Forget about all the other attractive people in your peripheral vision and focus on the person in front of you. Flirting with others will not make you more appealing to the person you arrived with.

5. Do Not Mention Your Cat - This applies to both sexes. Cats are wonderful companions for those of us living the single life, but they do carry an unwanted spinstress association.

4. Do Not Forget Your Manners - This is incredibly important. Do not burp, fart, spit or eat with your mouth open. Excuse yourself when you need to leave the table, open doors and guys, always let the lady order first.

3. Do Not Talk About Your Ex - Bringing up your ex on a first date is a cardinal sin. It might seem strange, but the illusion you are trying to create is that you have never been with anyone before. Bizarre, I know. But bringing up exes immediately starts unnecessary comparisons. They're in your past for a reason. Keep them there.

2. Do Not Insult the Wait Staff - Sometimes we want to impress our dates by making fun of others. Don’t. Mocking another human being is never attractive. As well, it’s never a good idea to make fun of the people serving your food. Ever!

1. Do Not Check Your Phone – There are only two scenarios where you can check your phone: If your date needs to know the time, or if you or your date has gone to the washroom. The rest of the time it needs to be on silent and stowed in your pocket. We have moved past the days of phones being a sign of social status. We all have one now – keep it hidden.