Escape the rain with these fun and creative activities

As fall approaches in Vancouver, so does the rain – a lot of it.

But this year, don’t let the wet weather ruin your fun. This list of small businesses around Vancouver, brought to you by Shop The Neighbourhood, offers exciting things to do when you’re stuck indoors.

Shop The Neighbourhood is a national initiative from Yellow Pages that aims to raise awareness for the importance of local shopping year-round. To celebrate the launch of its fourth edition, Shop The Neighbourhood is encouraging Vancouverites to spend their rainy days supporting some of the local businesses in their community. Whether it’s a date night, an outing with your kids, or an activity with your friends, these local businesses cater to everyone and guarantee excitement on a lousy day: 

4Cats

3573 Main Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V5V 1M1
(and other locations)

What better activity on a rainy day than arts and crafts? 4Cats’ mission is to love what you do and make good art. Whether you’re organizing an adult class or party, or just looking to entertain your kids for the afternoon, 4Cats caters to all audiences. Best of all, you’ll have a handmade keepsake you can be proud of.

Check out some of our recommended fall-themed classes:

•    Emoji Workshop (for families) – Create a set of emoji keychains made with polymer clay.
•  Boo Crew (for kids) – Create your own Halloween creature with acrylic, metallic pens, and origami paper, then hand-build a ceramic pumpkin jar to stash your treats.
• Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice (for adults) – Paint an abstract autumn celebration on canvas using metallic gold pens and fall paint colours like burnt sienna, vermillion, red oxide, and yellow ochre on a 17×17 canvas. 

Beadworks

5-1666 Johnston Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6H 3S2

Join the knowledgeable and passionate staff at Beadworks to help you create a customized piece of jewelry – perfect for pulling out on fancy occasions or giving as a gift. Adult classes include making a bead loom bracelet, doing silk pearl knotting, learning wire working, or creating a wrap bracelet, wire rings, and earrings. Let your creativity flow.

For those less experienced in beadwork, check out this beginner’s class.

Macleod’s Bookstore

455 Pender Street W
Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 1V2

Lose yourself for hours in this cozy little bookshop. Macleod’s is filled to the brim with stacks and stacks of used books. Nowhere else in Vancouver can you have such an authentic bookstore feeling, guaranteed to leave you wondering where the time went. Perfect for those who love to cozy up to a book when it’s raining.

Vancouver TheatreSports League

1502 Duranleau Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6H 3S4

Why not beat the rainy day blues with a night filled with laughs and fun? Grab your friends and head to the Vancouver TheatreSports League.  Release some much needed endorphins watching improv comedy indoors while the weather outside is dark and gloomy.

Choose from a 7:30 pm, 9:30 pm, or 11:15 pm adults-only show every weekend night.

XOXOLAT

1271 Homer Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 2Y9

Next time it’s raining, don’t get down: treat yourself to a chocolate tasting at XOXOLAT. Learn all about cocoa production and taste some of XOXOLAT’s unique flavours, such as maple caramelized bacon with espresso, lavender, sea salt and triple peppercorns, sour cherry with chili, and a sumptuous shot of drinking chocolate. Tried something you love? Attendees get 10% off their purchases.

Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers

170-2270 Dollarton Highway
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7H 1 A8

Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers, located on the North Shore just off the Ironworkers Memorial bridge, will give you a change of scenery on a rainy Vancouver day. The brewery provides distinctive craft beers that use only sustainable Canadian ingredients. Their mission is to create a sense of community for the people and families that visit, so you are sure to step into a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Stop over and have a taste of their beers or cocktails, and choose something to eat from their menu.

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Whatever you decide to do to beat the rainy day blues, take a moment to consider the positive impact you’re having on small businesses and our larger community by choosing to shop locally.

Shop The Neighbourhood has succeeded in bringing together decision makers, local merchants, and Canadians to celebrate small businesses and their positive impacts on neighbourhood vitality and the local economy.

Visit www.shoptheneighbourhood.yp.ca for more information or follow Yellow Pages on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Use the hashtag #shopthehood to show your support.