Showing posts with label Robson Square Ice Rink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robson Square Ice Rink. Show all posts

Monday, 3 February 2014

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


Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Holiday Savings

Your pocketbook may be feeling a little lighter this month, as you shop for holiday gifts for friends and family, but don't let your lack of funds slow down your dating calendar. There are a ton of, dare we say, cheap options for dates over the winter months. Here are few ideas to inspire Vancouver singles on a holiday budget:

1. Robson Square Ice Rink:
Skating is a great idea for a date. Lots of people, small space, plenty of post-skating activities in the area and it only costs $3. If you bring your own skates it's free! The rink is super small, which gives the date a more intimate vibe. It also means less pressure if you're not the greatest skater. If you are a pro, you may want to hide your skills.



2. Bike Lights
Try a different spin on the vehicular Christmas light tour. Bundle up, throw some dollar store Christmas lights on your bikes and tour the cities brightest light displays. Finish with the giant tree at English Bay. You can grab a hot chocolate at the Davie and Denman Starbucks and walk down to the beach for a quiet end to the evening.

3. Downtown Shopping
Two birds with one stone - suggest a shopping date. Even if you hate shopping, having someone else along to help you pick out gifts for your family is always a plus. Share a few laughs over joke gifts and bond over family Christmas stories.

4. Hike to Hollyburn Lodge
Take a winter walk through the forest to Hollyburn Lodge on Cypress Mountain. The fully licensed lodge has live music on the weekends and long tables for meeting new friends. Spend the walk getting to know each other, before entering the lodge; the noise level can be a little high on the weekends. Make sure to bring a headlamp or a small flashlight. If you do have a few more dollars to spare, try the Chocolate Fondue Tours offered by the Cypress Mountain Nordic Area.



5. Art Gallery Tuesdays
Admission to the Vancouver Art Gallery is 'by donation' on Tuesday nights after 5pm. Show your sophisticated side and take a stroll through the VAG. Winter exhibits include the Korean textile based artist Kimsooja and the multi-media artist Antoni Muntadas.

6. German Christmas

The German Christmas market is a great spot to take in some classic holiday cheer. Entry tickets are only $3 during the weekdays and $6 on the weekend and evenings. Try some sausage and Glühwein and wander the craft tables. Take a ride on the carousel for only $3 and show your date the kid inside you.