Mark it on your advent calendar Dec. 2, is the official date of the Rogers Santa Claus Parade. The parade will start at W. Georgia and Broughton at 1pm, travel east along W. Georgia, turn south on Howe and finish at Howe and Davie. This years parade will feature marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, entertaining over 300,000 spectators. Pre-parade fun runs from 10:30am to 1pm: visit the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square in front of the 麻豆传媒映画Art Gallery for the Food Bank drop-off zone, gingerbread decorating station, face painting, letters to Santa station, balloon twisting, and an entertainment stage featuring several music and dancing performances. Post parade, head down to the Robson Square Ice Rink for photos with Santa (3 to 5pm). The outdoor ice rink will be open Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 (Sunday Thursday 9am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday 9am to11pm). Skate rentals are available for $4.
Last month graphic artist and blogger Jeff Hamada, creator of acclaimed art blog Booooooom.com, took 200 avid early morning listeners through the amusing flow charts of his mind (think deep ponderings on aliens and Nicholas Cage). On Dec. 7, the final of the year welcomes... the mayor! And he wont be talking politics in the wee hours of Friday morning, just creativity. Tickets to this free event become available through the new lottery system on Monday, Dec. 3 at 11am.
This is this week's pick from r: Sugar, Spice and All Things Nice, the new Christmas market put on by the 5-star and , is just a little bit different than your typical folksy fair. The outdoor patio of Market Restaurant will be filled with vendors offering one-of-a-kind crafts, original jewelry and edible delights from 9am to 2pm on Dec. 2. Head into Market Restaurant for the Brunch with Benefits ($45), orchestrated by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten for the . The hotels Xi Shi Lounge will become the scene of a childrens afternoon tea party from 11:30am to 5pm ($24 per child). All the action culminates in a tree-lighting ceremony inside the hotels lobby at 1pm, decorated with hand-crafted ornaments from local artisans and 4,000 lights. The ceremony will also feature the seasonal piano stylings of six-year-old prodigy (pictured), who has already performed twice at Carnegie Hall. Supplied photo
