Top Ten Ways to Date Safely

The Events and Adventures experience is amazing because it allows you to get to know other Vancouver singles in a safe setting with zero pressure. The safety issue is huge, especially for females who may not feel comfortable going out on blind dates with strangers. 

At an E&A event, you know all the members have been screened. You also know they are in to having fun in a casual environment where activity and enjoyment are top priority.

On a blind date, you never know what you're going to get. You're also incredibly vulnerable. For those of you willing to give it a shot, here are a few simple safety rules:

1. Always tell a friend or family member where you're going. Arrange to call them when you finish.

2. Choose a public location for your date. Hikes are great for Events and Adventures outings, but a hike with a stranger is never a good idea.

3. Take your own car or use TransLink. If the date goes south, you don't want to be stuck somewhere relying on a creep to drive you home.

4. Keep your personal info private. Don't give out your home or work address. Stalking is a serious issue in the 21st century. No sense giving out too much until you're comfortable with the person.

5. Never add someone you don't know to your Facebook friend list. This is pretty self-explanatory. We all post a lot of info on our page and again, if things don't work out, you don't want a stranger to have access to the last seven years of your life.

6. Ladies, you may think it's overkill, but a little pepper spray for emergencies never hurt. Well, it will hurt someone, if you need it, but it could also save you.

7. Keep your eyes on your drink at all times. Finish your drink before you head to the bathroom. Everyone has a friend who has a rooffie story. You don't need your own one.

8.  Don't be afraid to end a date abruptly. If you start feeling a creeper vibe, pull the rip chord and eject.

9. If possible, choose a location that you are familiar with or where you have friends living nearby.

10. Don't misrepresent yourself untruthfully online. It sounds weird, but this can anger some people. If you are doing online dating, use current photos.

For a completely safe and fun dating experience, stick with Events and Adventures and leave the pepper spray at home.

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.

Top Ten Reasons To Expand Your Social Circle Beyond The Office

Dating in the workplace is a fairly common occurrence. Bill Gates, Barak Obama and Angelina Jolie all met their current spouses at work. But for many, the office scene has its pitfalls. Here are ten good reasons to ditch the cubicle crew for some active leisure time with Vancouver's most successful singles club:

10. Fresh Faces

• The turnover in companies these days is fairly low. It's more likely that a position is eliminated, than the company hires a new applicant. As a result, the same faces are seen around the office and at the social events after work. For single folk, this limits the options available. At Events and Adventures, new members are signing up each week. This increases the chance of finding Mr. or Mrs. Right.

9. Secrecy

• You find someone in the office that you share some chemistry with, but you don't want the others to know you're dating, so you agree to keep it secret. Let the games begin. You shouldn't have to hide your relationship from anyone. Dating outside the workplace reduces your need for hiding your love.

8. Jim's Crab Cakes

• Staff social functions can be fun and important for team building, but after awhile, those crab cakes get really boring.

7. Human Resources

• You can't date anyone above you in management and you can't date your subordinates. The HR manual is filled with rules and regulations for office romances. Why even bother? You've worked hard to get where you are. Don't jeopardize it with a rule slip.

6. Circus Class

• Your last office social was a book club meeting on "The Secret." Love Oprah, but really, time outside of work should be designated for fun activities. This month Events and Adventures is hosting a circus class at the Circus West Performing Arts Society. Learn trapeze, have some trampoline fun and try your skill at the unicycle.

5. Smart Phones

• The paparazzi are everywhere. Social media and camera phones can catch and publish your most vulnerable moments. Trina, from Marketing, is tweeting your every move. She must be jealous…

4. The "Cheers" Syndrome

• Sure, every now and again, it's nice to socialize in an environment where 'everybody knows your name.' But even a few beers won't help Norm's stories. Meet new people at every event when you attend an E&A function.

3. Trust Games

• Why not paintball or rafting? Something with a little adrenaline please!

2. Separate Worlds

• Keeping a healthy distance between your work life and your social life is always a good idea. Mix the two and it might feel like you never leave the office.

1. Water Cooler Mondays

• Avoid being fodder for the post-weekend gossip circle.

First For FUN!

The 2014 Mercer Quality of Living Report has ranked Vancouver’s quality of life first in North America. One of the factors that lead to our dominance was our recreational potential. The city's proximity to outdoor adventure is what keeps us at the top, year after year. We may pay more for our groceries, our property taxes, even our services, but we also get to live in the land of outdoor opportunity.

Events and Adventures is the ultimate facilitator for taking full advantage of Vancouver's 'quality of life.' Their calendar is a perfect example of all that is available to Vancouverites. In what other city could you tube on the mountains, hike on the beach and golf on the greens, all in the same week? If you really wanted to rush it, you could actually squeeze them all into the same day!

Even in our winter months, when Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal (the other three Canadian cities that made it into the top five in North America) are shivering from the cold, Vancouver is still a-go-go!

What's hard, is keeping up with all there is to do. Again: E&A to the rescue! Their events coordinator searches out and finds the fun for you. Keep your mind on your work during the 9-5 and when it's time to play, your activities are all there waiting for you. Don't worry about bookings, reservations, minimum numbers - you already have a spot amongst a dozen other fun singles ready to live life to the fullest.

Why live in a city where 75% of your wage goes to living expenses, if you can't actually LIVE! Let's get out there and make use of these beautiful facilities that are literally right there at our back door.

Mountains. Ocean. Parks. Trails. Yes please!