BC Business
The Tragically Hip Concerts | BCBusinessThe Tragically Hip plays Cranbrook on January 19, and Kamloops on January 20.
Chinese eats, ski-town treats and rediscovering a Canadian classic will ensure a great start to 2013. Live Music // The Tragically Hip
True to form, The Hip are eschewing big, overexposed stadiums in Vancouver in favour of two small – and thereby far cooler – shows in rural B.C. Practically a national institution, the Kingston, Ontario, quintet have flown somewhat under the radar in recent years but are looking to re-establish their place in the forefront of Canadians’ consciousness with their latest studio effort, Now for Plan A, released last October. Not that any true Hip fan needs to be reminded of the group’s greatness – “New Orleans is Sinking” still gets regular rotation everywhere from small-town basement Legions to Vancouver’s hipster hangouts. (Cranbrook, January 19 and Kamloops, January 20. stubhub.ca and ticketmaster.ca)
If you are looking to celebrate the Chinese New Year but don’t want to brave the cold (and, let’s be honest, wet) winter, BC Place offers a stellar compromise: a four-day Chinese extravaganza, all beneath the multi-million-dollar protection of the stadium’s revamped roof. Featuring larger-than-life character lanterns, amusement park rides, fortune telling and lion dancing, this event brings traditional as well as contemporary aspects of Chinese culture to Vancouver’s largest stage. This is also the place to get your hands on authentic delicacies like dim sum, noodle concoctions and barbecue duck – the stuff you probably haven’t had since summer’s Richmond Night Market closed for the season. (BC Place, January 31 to February 3. asianexpovancouver.com)
The turkey leftovers are gone, the Christmas tree has been mulched, you’re back at work and your gym pass is gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. Put off the post-holiday slump for one more month by heading to Sun Peaks Resort’s annual Winter Festival of Wine. Choose from 20 events that range from chocolate and wine tastings to multi-course dinners. To truly procrastinate returning to reality, make a weekend of it by signing up for one of four event packages, which include one, two or three nights of accommodation at the resort along with tickets to your choice of events. And no matter how culinary your intentions, don’t forget to pack your skis – you know you’ll regret it if you don’t. (Sun Peaks, January 12-20. sunpeaksresort.com)