Well, it’s official. The last remnants of the Christmas season are over, and as the final days of January fade into the beginning of February, many of us are left looking for something fun to do after the rush of the holiday season. Couple this with the constant monsoon of rain that we poor souls are forced to deal with on a day to day basis, as well as stress about upcoming midterms, and the result is some students desperate for something out of the ordinary. Well, with the SFU Reading Break only a week away, it is the perfect time to plan something entertaining for you and your friends to do. Here is a small list of events, indoors and out, to check out for a prince that isn’t going to break your wallet.
1. Skating at Robson Square
Sometimes it is great to be outside, but the Vancouver weather often makes being outdoors …unpleasant. That is why Robson Square skating is so great. It is outside, so you can get some fresh air and exercise, but aren’t faced with the pouring rain at the same time. Skating at Robson runs until February 28th, and is open from 9am-9pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and 9am-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Best part is that it is free if you bring your own skates, or only $4 to rent a pair of skates.
2. The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art
When people think of art galleries in Vancouver, they generally think of the Vancouver Art Gallery, which is beautiful and is definitely worth a visit. However, right now it’s under construction with only one gallery open, and is a little pricier at $21 a visit. But there are some great alternatives around the city that no one really knows about. The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art is one such place. It is located right on Lonsdale in North Vancouver, and is open on Tuesday’s-Saturday’s from 12-5. They also have Jazz Nights, one of which is on February 9th at 7pm, which includes a tour of the gallery and live jazz music, for only $7. North Van may be a little far for some, but this could make a great day trip, as Lonsdale is littered with great restaurants and shops to check out on your visit as well.
3. Bloedel Conservatory
Around this time of year, many of us start to dream of summer, warm weather, and a nice vacation. Unfortunately we live in a temperate rainforest and are in school, so none of those things are easily accessible to us. We do, however, have the Bloedel Conservatory, which can give us a hint of the tropics in the middle of winter. The Conservatory is in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, and it has more than 200 free-flying exotic birds, and 500 exotic plants and flowers spread over three different ecosystems. They are open from 10am-5pm every day of the week, and it only costs $6.75 to get through the doors.
4. Vancouver TheatreSports Annual Massacre
Any sort of play or stage show tends to cost somewhere in the triple digit range, which often leaves students out in the cold. The Vancouver TheatreSports Annual Massacre is a series of Improv shows where both local and international teams go head to head to determine who is the funniest. A night of laughter is always a good thing, especially when you go watch some comedy for $15, or $21 if you want a drink included. Tickets are available for purchase on their website, and the shows run until February 10.