Hyper-Specific City Guide: A Weekend With Your Culture-Vulture, Comedy-Loving Sister

This is part of our Ultimate, Hyper-Specific Vancouver City Guide, featured in the May 2024 issue of Vancouver magazine. We’ve created 25 unique personas and 25 unique itineraries to match. If this to-do list for ‘culture-vulture Millennial sister’ isn’t helpful, perhaps one of the other 24 bespoke schedules will be? Explore them all here. 

SATURDAY

11:00 a.m.: Punching Up

Some say a little fight with a visiting sibling is inevitable. We say that starting the weekend off with some heavy bag-hitting at Rumble Boxing is a tried-and-true approach to set the stage for a peaceful hangout—and the first class is free. Bond over jabbing so you can get back to gabbing. 968 Expo Blvd., rumbleboxing.com

1:00 p.m.: Brunch (Taylor’s Version)

Go track by track through Taylor Swift’s latest album over avocado bennies ($18) and chocolate bourbon milkshakes ($13) at the cozy and nostalgic Fable Diner. 151 E Broadway, fablediner.com

3:00 p.m.: Rule of Threes

Boutique hopping is the name of the game on Main Street (where we’re spending most of our Saturday, if you haven’t guessed). Hit up Front and Company for curated consignment pieces and delightful giftables, Vancouver Special for enviable modernist homewares and Eugene Choo for too-cool unisex statement pieces. 3772 Main St., frontandcompany.com; 3612 Main St., vanspecial.com; 3683 Main St., eugenechoo.com

5:00 p.m.: Cheers to You

Your sister will be impressed by the expansive cocktail menu at Zarak—order her the Heritage (sake, yogurt soju, mango, lime cordial, chili oil, $17), a drink that’s described as playful and stylish, just like her. Some buttermilk fried chicken ($31) and spicy cabbage dumplings ($19) won’t hurt either. 102 Main St., zarakvancouver.com

7:00 p.m.: Laugh Attack

Finish off the day with a show at Chill X Studio, where comedians produce fun stand-up shows in an intimate venue—like “Swipe Right,” a comedy show about dating featuring local legend Jane Stanton. 2270 Manitoba St., chillxstudio.ca

SUNDAY

12:00 p.m.: Toast Masters

After some much-needed lounge time (and catching up on whatever trashy reality show you’re both binge-watching), head downtown for brunch at Bacchus. The restaurant’s namesake breakfast (eggs, apple and rosemary chicken sausage, bacon, $28) plus brioche French toast with mascarpone chantilly ($23) is the best savoury/sweet combo. 845 Hornby St., wedgewoodhotel.com

2:00 p.m.: Story Time

Post-brunch, take a guided walk through Stanley Park with Talaysay Tours. In the Spoken Treasures tour ($70), an Indigenous cultural ambassador leads you on a 1.2-kilometre journey through vibrant oral histories—be on the lookout for wildlife, too. 715 Stanley Park Dr., talaysay.com

4:00 p.m.: Fresh Harvest

Pop over to the Granville Island Market to browse the local produce and artisan wares. Grab a snack if you’re hungry (there are canelés, hot dogs and cheeses galore) and enjoy it outside if you dare… the seagulls are always watching. 1689 Johnston St., granvilleisland.com

6:00 p.m.: Taco Time

Next, you’re headed east to Tacofino Ocho for pre-show eats. Discuss how much you regret your hard-shell Old El Paso phase while chowing down on pork carnitas, grilled lemongrass chicken and asadero cheese tacos ($8 each).
8 E 5th Ave., tacofino.com

8:00 p.m.: Take Her to Church

Despite its religious-sounding name, the Sunday Service (tickets $21) at the Fox Cabaret is a comedy show that any traditionalist would probably find a little too sex-positive and swear-y (hell yeah). Cry-laugh to end off a well-planned weekend. 2321 Main St., thesundayservice.ca

More from the Ultimate, Hyper-Specific Vancouver City Guide here.