Fresh Ice

There's nothing like skating on fresh ice, especially when you're surrounded by friends and other singles.

We went skating on Saturday and had a blast under the Robson Street Square. Where else can you enjoy a winter event for $5 in the heart of Vancouver?

Our meeting time was 12:30, but our group had a staggered arrival. By 1:00 our numbers had swelled to a dozen; we were by far the largest group there. The ratio, once again, was excellent for single men, as the ladies outnumbered us.

We had a range of ages and skating abilities. I was in the middle for both; I can skate but not stop and I'm thirty-six, the magical age when being single starts to raise a few eyebrows.

The night before, a number of our members had been at an E&A event at the Roxie, only three blocks away. I talked to a few of the ladies about their evening and regretted missing the dancing extravaganza at Vancouver's iconic singles bar.

We also talked about upcoming events in February, specifically the Icebreaker/Games Night party on Friday. I've never been to a games night, but I was told it is the best reoccurring, monthly event offered by Events and Adventures. I need to signup before Friday.

On the ice, a few of our members were experiencing ice-skating for the very first time. It was cool to see everyone involved, offering tips and supportive arms. By the time we left the ice, one of our members had advanced from hugging the side rails, to skating with the blue stabilizers, to roaming hands free around the rink. Pretty impressive.

During an ice break, we also got to witness a mini-zamboni, painted with an orca theme, clean and resurface the ice. So Canadian…

Skating on the fresh ice was awesome. The experience got me thinking about an extended metaphor that I would like to share:

Joining the E&A club offers a new way to approach dating. You don't have to return to the tired dating tropes of going for coffee or a having a drink at a bar. E&A lets you experience new thrills, while mingling with potential dating prospects. It's like a new sheet of a ice every time. For every event, the surface is cleaned and reformatted. You can hug the sides or test your skills bobbing and weaving between the other skaters. You can carve your own track around the rink or link-up with other singles. The rink is yours to experiment on. Have fun.

Pretty poetic, don’t you think? To sample the E&A ice, head to their Vancouver website at: http://www.eventsandadventures.com/vancouver

Red Rockets

First trip up the local mountains this season was a tubing adventure with E&A.  Last Saturday we went for a two-hour tube bonanza at Cypress Mountain. Loved it!

We met at the Nordic ticket window, but the adventure started on the drive up. I had swapped my car with my cousin, trading the Corolla for a Ford Explorer with four-wheel drive. Always trade-up!

The first 3/4s of the mountain drive was no problem, but with maybe 2 km to go the snow appeared and then suddenly it was everywhere. By the time I pulled off the main highway for the tubing area, I was thanking the gods (new and old,) that I had made the vehicle switch.

I arrived early, but most of the crew was already waiting at the ticket booth. About 40 percent new faces, which is nice and a few of my friends from other events. Everybody was stoked to get going and we quickly made our way down to the sledding hill. I guess we arrived between busy hours, so we had our choice of tubes. For any readers thinking of trying the tube fun on their own, I HIGHLY recommend the red tubes. They are newer, faster and hold their air better than the older darker tubes. That's a free tip for you. You’re welcome.

After grabbing our rides, we walked around the corner to the tube hill. Unfortunately, just as we were arriving, the tube hill officials announced that the tow service was shutting down for maintenance. For most of us, the two-minute walk up the hill was not a problem, but a few members seemed literally crushed by this news. That kind of blew my mind. I actually heard one lady say: "If I had known that the tow was down, I wouldn't have come." I ended up carrying her tube up the hill after one slide, just so she wouldn't mope.

Fortunately they got the tow working later in the evening. Ironically, it was faster to walk.

On the hill, there were three separate tube runs and they seemed to fluctuate speed wise. Actually, speed fluctuation was a pretty big issue. When we arrived the runs were super fast, but a brief snowfall slowed them all down. Then the snow stopped and the temperature began to drop. By the time we were leaving, the runs were lightening fast. In fact they actually had to close one slide, out of possible fears a tuber could fly through the plastic fence barrier at the bottom and land in the parking lot. Personally, I think that would have been awesome. Next time I'm slipping the sled guy a twenty, just to see if I can do it.

After a few single rides, spinning and straight, we started to team up, heading down in groups of four to six. We used a number of different formations, from lines, to rectangles to huge circles. Those geometry lessons from grade school finally paid off.

The largest group I was a part of was an eleven-tube circle formation. One of our members recorded it on his Samsung. I bet that footage is awesome.

Setting up the groups took awhile, but it was a good excuse to chat with other members. This was probably the most social event I've attended. There was lots of incidental contact and high-fives aplenty. The walk up the hill also afforded a number of chances to talk with my fellow sledders. By the time we were hitting the last few runs, I had probably chatted with almost every member of our group.

Oh and did I mention Ambrea was the host. That girl knows how to have a good time! Her enthusiasm is infectious.

All in all, a great evening of sledding and socializing. And two hours is definitely enough time. My hands were pretty frozen by the end.

So what have we learned: snatch up the 'red rockets,' bring thick gloves, forget the towline and you'll have an awesome time on the Cypress tube hill. And it doesn't hurt to go with a few of your closest friends. 

Social Sobriety

Being the only one of my friends who doesn't drink, I often end up handling the driving duties. Apart from the gas bill, taking on the role of the DD is not that bad. You get to decide when everyone leaves, you get to watch your friends make ridiculous accusations about their high school athletic abilities and you get to wake-up on Saturday with the whole day ahead of you.

But, being perpetually sober has its drawbacks - not many, but a few.

Social custom tells us the best place to meet other singles is at the bar. When you don't drink, there's not much point in going to the bar, unless you're driving your compadres. If I go alone, I usually only last about thirty minutes before I am totally bored.

Then there is the attitude dished out by restaurant wait staff who are often miffed that you're not ordering wine or expensive cocktails. "No, just water thank you." I always feel like I have to order dessert or an extra appetizer just to appease the waitress.

And finally, the hook-up factor. No one, that I know of, ever hooked-up after a coffee date. Drinks on the other hand… 

So what are my options? Few.

That's why E&A is so great. The calendar is full of fun group activities, group dates that don't involve getting plastered to try and meet a handful of girls operating under the same veil. There are drinks available at some of the E&A social functions, but it is definitely not the prerequisite for having a good time.

The events on the calendar are all centered on outdoor or indoor fun. I've never felt pressure to drink or been bored with people who were drinking. That's what's cool about a social club. It's not your traditional, go to the bar to meet people set-up. It's more of a, "let's go have a ton of fun doing this random activity with other available singles" kind of vibe. Sounds a lot better doesn't it?

Let the bar-stars enjoy each other’s slurry company. Let E&A take you on an adventure you can look back on with fondness and clarity.

Tis the Season for First Kisses

If you've just started dating someone and you're looking for a memorable spot to share your first kiss, here are few seasonal suggestions:

5. Granville Island

It's noisy, there's always live music playing somewhere, there are crowds - Granville Island is the perfect spot for an unsuspected first kiss. Make it natural and quick, as if the spirit of the season took hold of you both for a split second and magically pulled you together. If your date responds favourably, there will be more time for longer, repeat versions. If your date seems shocked, you can always blame the oysters.

4. Lost Lagoon

The swans at Lost Lagoon are an instant aphrodisiac; just don't get to close. Their white graceful bodies exude innocence, while their long necks are highly sexual. The lagoon itself is a close stand-in for Central Park, one of the most romantic spots in North America. Pick a bench, wait for a pause in the conversation when you are both looking out at the lagoon, then turn and lean. Voila! Thank the swans…

3. Seasons in the Park

Not as cheap as the market or the park, but combine the food, the wine and the view and you have yourself a virtual kiss guarantee. Go easy on the garlic.

2. Spanish Banks

My parents used to call it: 'heading down to watch the submarine races.' Spanish Banks at night is one of the most romantic spots in Vancouver. Why? Because it's secluded, you have a beautiful view of both the harbour and the city and there are no streetlights. Sometimes you have to sneak a kiss.

1. #VanKiss
If you haven't heard about this holiday hashtag, let me enlighten you. A secret society of elves has set up close to a dozen mistletoe stations around the West End. Attached mostly to light poles, these kissing invitations are causing quite the stir this holiday season. Suggest a walk down Davie, checkout the rainbow intersection, giggle in front of the adult shops and then innocently point out one of the two dangling boughs at Thurlow. Tis the season...

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.