Tourist aboard a Horse Tour carriage in Vancouver's Stanley Park May 21, 2008.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
Editor's Note: Globe B.C. has joined forces with Scout Magazine to give you the best of what's happening in Vancouver this weekend. For a full week's worth of listings, head over to the complete Scout List, updated each Monday. See the list in calendar view here.
Chekhov: Anton Chekhov's 'tragicomedy' Uncle Vanya is playing at The Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch) this week: "Vancouver's finest presenter of classical theatre is back with Anton Chekhov's heart-wrenching Uncle Vanya – a timeless 19th-century masterwork rich in improbable love, yearning, and folly." There's something perfect about attending a Russian play on a winter's night. Get into it with a faux fur coat and a pre-show vodka for the full experience.
Through Jan. 18, The Cultch (1895 Venables St), From $18 | thecultch.com
Train: Stretch out the holiday cheer! There is still time to grab a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and take a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas Train. Take a crew of family or friends and fill your lungs with fresh air as the train chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Even though the holiday rush is over, buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. A wander through the Bright Nights Train Plaza to enjoy the decorations is free (although a donation to the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund is encouraged – and important).
Through January 5 (Closed Christmas Day), Stanley Park, $11/adults $7/kids, vancouver.ca
Skate: Sitting on the couch watching the fire-log channel is a noble holiday pursuit, but don't let it go on for too long. Get up and get your blood flowing by hitting Robson Square for a few laps around the ice rink. Burn off some of those holiday calories! There might be one or two other people out there thinking the holidays would be a lovely time for a twirl, too, so plan ahead and expect a crowd. Bring your thermal mug, some nice thick gloves, and some cash (although skating is free, equipment rentals are cash only – skates $4, helmets $2). Rink hours are Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Through Feb. 28, 2014, Robson Square Ice Rink (800 Robson St @ Howe), Free, robsonsquare.com
Culture: If you're lucky enough to have a few days off this week, take an afternoon to explore one of the many Vancouver museums and galleries that you've been meaning to get to. Out at UBC, the Museum of Anthropology and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum offer beautiful architectural settings with compelling collections that will teach you lots about the cultural and ecological history of the region. The Museum of Vancouver is showing Play House: The architecture of Daniel Evan White and The Vancouver Art Gallery has Emily Carr: Deep Forest on the walls.
Museum of Anthropology (6393 NW Marine Dr, UBC), 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $16.75, moa.ubc.ca
Beaty Biodiversity Museum (2212 Main Mall, UBC), 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $12, beatymuseum.ubc.ca
Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | $12, museumofvancouver.ca
Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St), 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $17.50, vanartgallery.bc.ca
City: Get to know your city a little more intimately by pulling on your gumboots, grabbing a warm beverage to keep your hands warm and hustling down to Lost Lagoon to follow Stanley Park expert Jolene Cumming on a Historical Secrets tour of the park this Sunday. Hear about the evolution of the park and get acquainted with some of the characters that shaped its development. The tour will also include rare historical photographs for context. This afternoon walk leaves from the Viewing Plaza overlooking Lost Lagoon (at the foot of Alberni St) at 1 p.m.
Sunday, December 29, 1-2:30 p.m., Stanley Park, $10, stanleyparkhistory.wordpress.com
Feast: Did you know that Vancouver cheese shop Les Amis Du Fromage will lend you a fondue set for free when you buy cheese for said set? Supplies are limited, but if you call ahead to reserve a set and order your cheese (they'll even grate it for you), all you have to do is pick up some bread and wine and you're ready to go. Scout tip: Take an invigorating walk around Lost Lagoon (see above) or hit a serene winter beach for a stroll before your feast. Once your cheeks are rosy and your stomach starts to growl, the timing for fondue is bang on.
Les Amis Du Fromage, 1752 West 2nd Avenue, buycheese.com
Chip: If you just can't wait to get rid of your Christmas tree, you can get it recycled at UBC Botanical Garden starting on Boxing Day. Rest assured, tree recycling goes on until January 5 (for those of you who like to be a bit more leisurely about these kind of things). The great thing about this tree-chipping service is that money raised will support the expansion of General Brock Elementary School's food garden. Hooray for food producing gardens in school yards!
Through January 5 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine Drive, UBC), botanicalgarden.ubc.ca