Tarantino Tease

Peanut butter and chocolate - Once these two hooked up, there was no turning back. The same can be said for the FanClub's latest late-night entertainment offering: Tarantino Burlesque.

Combining Quentin Tarantino’s hand-selected music for films like Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, with Vancouver's hottest burlesque troupe was pure genius. The result is a high-energy show that will have you gawking and rocking.

The music for this one-of-a-kind performance is supplied by the Rock and Roll Burlesque band. The group is fronted by lead guitarist Blue Morris, with vocals by Red Heartbreaker. The choreography team is lead by Voodoo Pixie (I'm not sure if that is her real name). The cast of local dancers includes: Little Miss Risk, Sparkle Plenty, Mama Fortuna, Ariel Helvetica and the Voodoo starlet herself.

Why the interest you ask? The Events and Adventures organizers are feeling a little naughty this week...

On Friday, the E&A crew will be heading down to Granville to take in the performance. The plan is to arrive early and secure some prime seating.

If you haven't been to Fan Club, you're in for a treat. The venue is inspired by the New Orleans jazz scene. With a wrought iron balcony facade, French colonial doors and antique chandeliers, the FanClub is Vancouver's trendiest new entertainment space. The venue also includes four private booths, an elevated lounge area, a mezzanine dance floor and a Bourbon Lounge tasting room. Dine on signature smoked meats and customized cocktails, including in-house smoked Bulleit Bourbon. And for the craft beer lovers, don't worry, they have those as well.

The burlesque feature will start up at 8:00 and will wrap-up, or possibly unwrap, around 11:00. After the burlesque, the cover band, Bangarang will take center stage, providing familiar beats until the wee hours of the morning.

Are you in? I am. I can't remember how many times I listened to that Dick Dale track on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. The perfect opening theme to a film that would permanently alter the cinematic landscape of the next ten years. If you need a reminder of the shiver factor,  watch the clip below.

Adventures South of the Border

Events and Adventures offers nightly excursions during the week and a mix of activities on the weekends. I've had a ton of fun at both. The weekday events are a nice way to the end the day, something to look forward to during work, and the weekend adventures are a wicked way to spend a Saturday or Sunday being active with friends.

But in addition to the calendar events, Events and Adventures also coordinates weekend getaways. This month, E&A is hosting two weekend trips south of the border.

Tahoe Luxury Chalet

I saw this event on the E&A calendar in December and was instantly intrigued. The place is a mansion! Sauna, hot tub, pool, outdoor heated patio and an all-wood interior… It's like one of those crazy ski chalets from the movies. There's also a games room with a foozeball table, billiards, card table and a bar. According to the description it's close to both the Heavenly Ski Hill and a local Nevada Casino. The mansion hosts seven bedrooms, with a mix of shared and private rooms. For meals, the package being offered covers breakfast and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

The entire mansion will be rented, so no randoms will crash the party.

Leavenworth Snowmobile Adventure

Have you ever wanted to reenact one of those crazy snowmobile scenes from a bond film? Or how about the opening scene to True Lies? Well, now's your chance - minus the firearms, the explosions and the ridiculously high speeds.

E&A is hosting a snowmobile extravaganza at the Mountain Springs Lodge, just outside of Leavenworth, Washington. The package includes two nights at the lodge, two dinners and two breakfasts. Activities available include the already mentioned snowmobile option, cross-country skiing, sledding, dogsledding and shopping in nearby Leavenworth.

The accommodations are a little more rustic than the Tahoe mansion, but there is a games room and a hot tub and a massive fireplace to curl up and get cozy by.

Both of these adventures are a great excuse to get out of the city for a few days and have some fun in the snow. And remember, what happens south of the border, stays south of the border. Unless it’s something like murder. Cause the Mounties will give you up for a tuna sandwich. Remember that little gem if you ever need to bribe a redcoat. Kidding. Don’t bribe. Don’t murder. Just have fun. I’ve said too much…

The Subtle Art of Mix-Tapes

I think one of the surest signs of compatibility is a similar taste in music. If you share a favourite song with someone, it is an instant attraction. Why? Because you have both made a connection with that piece of music.

It doesn't have to be a romantic connection, or a deep passion for the artist; just a simple agreement on what good music should sound like.

This connection can come over a simple discussion or in the much more personal and complex form of a mix-tape.

Being presented with a mix is like opening a diary. It is a private revealing of a person's tastes, a window into their life. It is a coded message, written with someone else's words, but framed within your own.

Choosing songs and crafting a mix takes time and thought. You have to think about what the other person likes, but at the same time what you share. It should include music that the intended listener may not have been exposed to. You can include your favourite artist, but you can't rely to heavily on their work alone. You need to include a variety of music styles, genres and tempos. It needs to have a beginning, middle and an end. It needs to be fun, yet endearing. But most importantly, it needs to reflect how you feel. That's the hard part.

No pressure.

Receivers, you need to respect the time it took to create. Give it at least three listens from start to finish before you comment. If you're blown away, you've probably found yourself a keeper. If you're completely confused by the song choices, you're probably on two separate pages. If you're creeped out…yikes! End it.

Mixers, don’t give it all away at the start. Hold back a few tracks. Mystery is sexy.

Hold off on the Ryan Adams tracks...

At least for the first mix.

10 Things Not To Forget On A First Date

Confession time...

I went on a date this week with a friend-of-a-friend. I know, usually not a good idea, but my friends were adamant that we would make a good match. Turns out they were wrong.

The date itself was a lot of fun. We had coffee on Granville Island and walked around talking about the holidays and our families. She suggested we get some oysters and pulled out an oyster shucker from her purse. She obviously came prepared, which was super sweet of her.

We shucked oysters on a bench and ate them raw with a little lemon and tobacco sauce.

In the end, the chemistry was off, but the date did get me thinking of 'pre-date planning.' So I made another list.

10 Things Not to Forget on a First Date

10. Shave

You shave your face for work, just don't forgetto shave for your date.

9. Doors

This is a big one. Occasionally I get a little preoccupied with how the date is going and I forget some of the basics, like manners. Chivalry is not dead. Guys, you need to open doors. Always let the lady enter first if you're going into an establishment. Hold the door and smile. If you are driving, go to the passenger side and open her door first. Automatic locks are for suckers.

8. Gum

It's always good to carry along a 'fresh' package of gum. Make sure to offer your date a piece. She/he will like the gesture. It also shows you are considering a kiss. Never a bad thing. Just don't buy Hubba-Bubba. Do they still sell that?

7. Compliments

Everyone likes compliments. Girls, it might not always seem like it, but your date may have spent the same amount of time as you did getting ready. Mention his shirt or his shoes. This will let him know that you are interested and appreciate his selections. Guys, this is basic stuff. Always compliment your date's outfit within a minute of meeting.

6. Research

You may be only meeting for coffee, but it's always good to know a bar or restaurant in the local area if you find you want to lengthen the engagement. If you're doing an activity, figure out the pricing beforehand. Bring the right clothes and or equipment (helmet, towel, lightsaber). If you're going hiking, know the trail distance and terrain. 

5. Phone Settings

Change your lock screen to something appropriate. Also set your text settings to notification only. You don't want your date seeing that awkward text from your friend asking how the date is going.

4. Cash

Sometimes it can be awkward paying with cards. Bring along cash for small purchases and for any taxi rides.

3. Condoms

It never hurts to come prepared. You don't want to be in a situation where you wished you had one.

2. Clean House

Again, you never know where a date is headed. Start with a quick vacuum, wash the sheets, do your dishes, hang your clothes and finish with the bathroom. Make sure to have an extra towel in the wings.

1. Laugh

Do not forget to laugh. Dates can be stressful, but you need to let that go and enjoy the moment.

Resolutions for 2014

The number one New Year's resolution for North Americans is to be more active. The second is to find love.

Both of these can be fulfilled with a membership to Events and Adventures.

There are two types of 'active.' There's going to the gym five days a week to lose ten pounds in three months active and then there's the getting out of the house, having fun with others, exploring new sports and having random weekday adventures active. The second is what the Events and Adventures Club is all about.

Let's start with the 'getting out of the house' part. It is so easy to get stuck at home these days, when the glorious internet can serve us our friends and favourite media forms right to our laptop. We can catch up with our closest BFs and watch the latest films without leaving our couch. Convenient, but soul sucking.

Why not spend two nights of the week out and about, expanding your social circle, instead of scrolling through photos of your friend's latest rug-rat? At the very least it will provide new material for your Instagram and SnapChat accounts.

Vancouver is full of cool people to have fun with, but we all lead such busy lives, making it hard to connect. E&A simplifies the planning process. With a calendar full of events, you get to pick and choose what you want to spend your time on. When you go to an event, you know the people there have valued the same outing. That's an immediate talking point. 

Wow, we both like trampoline dodgeball.

And then there are all the events you've always wanted to do but never got around to. Or, in some cases, never even knew existed! Like snowshoeing fondue parties! Or Wallyball!