British Columbia Entertainment

The cuisine of the province has long been enhanced by English traditions. More recently, it has shown a pronounced Pacific Rim (particularly Asian) influence.

Things to know: Spirits, beer and wine can be served in licensed restaurants, dining rooms, pubs and bars. In many jurisdictions, bars and pubs are open until 0200, but hours vary, since they are set by local governments.

Regional specialities:
• The Pacific Ocean yields a great variety of seafood, including king crab, oysters, shrimp and other shellfish, as well as cod, haddock and salmon (coho, spring, chum, sockeye and pink), which is smoked, pan-fried, breaded, baked, canned or barbecued, and complemented by local vegetables.
• Fruits grown in the province include apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, strawberries, blackberries, the famous Bing cherries, cranberries and loganberries.
• Victoria creams, a famous chocolate delicacy derived from a recipe dating back to 1885, are exported worldwide from British Columbia. The original confectioners shop, Rogers', is situated in Victoria on Vancouver Island. 

Regional drinks:
• Red and white wines, sparkling wines and icewines are produced in the Okanagan Valley, and several other regions have fledgling wine industries. All the usual alcoholic beverages are widely available.

Legal drinking age: 19.
 
Tipping: It is customary to tip between 15% and 20% at bars and restaurants in BC. Tips are also given to tour guides, and for taxi service, spa treatments, porters and haircuts.

Major cities and towns have top-class restaurants, nightclubs and bars, sometimes in pub style. Vancouver has an active theatre life. Good nightspots are often found in hotels.

Vancouver is a shopper's paradise. Robson Street offers fashion boutiques, souvenir and speciality shops. Yaletown is the shopping ground of Vancouver's young and aspirational, with designer fashions, art galleries and trendy home decor shops. Other popular areas include Chinatown, Gastown and Granville Island. Indoor shopping downtown includes the Pacific Centre, Royal Centre and the Sinclair Centre, while Metropolis at Metrotown is a large suburban mall in Burnaby (with about 500 shops and food outlets). Popular handicrafts include Pacific Northwest and Inuit arts and crafts: soapstone sculptures, carved masks, totem poles, pottery, jewellery and prints.

Shopping hours: In the larger areas shops are generally open daily 0930-1800 (Thurs-Fri until 2100, Sun from 1200).