VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 81

Exhibition grounds six kilometers (3.7 miles) east of downtown at Hastings Racecourse
(corner of Renfrew St. and McGill St., 604/254-1631, www.hastingspark.com ) , as it has
done for more than 100 years. Full betting and a variety of dining facilities are offered. The
season runs late April-November, with the first race starting at 1pm. The biggest races fall
near the end of the season, including the BC Derby on the last Saturday in September. Gen-
eral admission is free, or pay $10 for entry to the clubhouse. Parking is also $10.
Entertainment
There's never a dull moment in Vancouver when it comes to nightlife. The city's unofficial
entertainment district extends southwest along Granville Street from Granville Street Mall
and south from this strip to False Creek. Cinemas line Granville Street Mall, and beyond
the mall is a smattering of nightclubs, with the main concentration of these in Yaletown.
Performing arts and concert venues are scattered throughout the city, but the three
largest—Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and BC Place Sta-
dium—are south of Granville Street along Georgia Street.
For complete listings of all that's happening around the city, pick up the free Georgia
Straight ( www.straight.com ). Friday and weekend editions of Vancouver's two daily news-
papers, The Province and the Vancouver Sun, offer comprehensive entertainment listings.
As in all other major cities across Canada (and much of the United States), Ticketmas-
ter (604/280-3311, www.ticketmaster.ca ) has a monopoly on advance ticket sales to major
entertainment events; have your credit card ready. Tickets Tonight (in the visitor center
at 200 Burrard St., 604/684-2787, www.ticketstonight.ca , 10am-6pm daily) sells half-price
tickets the day of major performances.
BARS
Ever since “Gassy Jack” Deighton set up the city's first liquor outlet (a barrel of whiskey
set atop a crude plank bar) in the area that became known as Gastown, Vancouver has had
its favorite watering holes.
Gastown
In the historical building The Landing, Steamworks Brewing Co. (375 Water St., 604/
689-2739, 11:30am-10pm daily) is the perfect place to relax with a beer from the in-house
brewery. The atmosphere is casual yet stylish, and you'll have great views across Burrard