I paid my first visit to the Benie Legge Theatre to watch a Vagabond Players production in the late…read moresummer/early fall of 2022. Tucked away in a corner of Queen's Park in New Westminster, I had no clue this theatre even existed until a friend promoted the play (and the theatre). There is the main parking area close by, or if you know your way around Queen's Park, you can park in the lanes right next to the theatre. There are just over 100 seats, and as soon as you walk in you will feel the building infused with character and history. (If you had any doubt, the numerous pictures on the wall will give you a hint about the rich history). There is a small lobby area, concession stand, and surprisingly roomy washrooms (a plus!) As I understand it, the concession stand and other roles during play productions are all staffed by volunteers who are members of Vagabond Players. I had never known this theatre existed, but now I will keep an active eye out for future productions.

This is a very old and small theater. I am used to big fancy theaters with state of the art sound…read moresystem so this is a surprise for me. I like it though. It is charming and full of history, if only the walls could talk. It reminded me of pantomime plays performed in small town theater in Enid Blyton's books. Being a small place, you can still see the performers clearly even if you are sitting at the back. I hope this place will remain open and be home to performances in the new west area.

A place of pure magic and curiosity. Quite intimate and a great opportunity to see the art of magic…read moreup close. This experience took me straight back to my childhood, watching P. C. Sarkar perform magic with my late grandpa -- a deeply nostalgic and special feeling. We sat in the couple VIP seats, and the showmanship was exceptional. You can choose what magic will be performed in the show when you seat in these seats. The 75 minutes flew by. The secret location and the unique way you enter make the entire experience feel immersive from the very beginning. Truly one of a kind and a must-visit in New Westminster. The ambience has a flapper-era vibe, perfect for photos. So, definitely dress nicely, as there are great photo opportunities. Popcorn and pops are available, but honestly, you won't want to eat because you won't want to take your eyes off the magician, Shawn Farquhar for a second.

What a fantastic time at Hidden Wonders! Shawn and his team dazzled the audience. The venue was…read morespectacular. The front of the building has a wonderful presentation/collection of knicknacks. You are brought into the back one group at a time where you may purchase snacks and take pictures (i.e. the famous bathtub). The theatre is small and intimate, and there is truly no bad seat in the house. Shawn was personable, funny, and took the time to try and include every single audience member in some way. Available street parking in the evening. Overall, it was perfect for an unforgettable date night or an evening with friends. Highly recommended!

Massey Theatre is a smallish theatre in New West. Because it is on the small side, there are no bad…read moreseats. There is a concession stand in the lobby which sells drinks and snacks. Free parking available.

Neat little community theatre in New Westminster. It's basically a high school auditorium. I mean…read morethis literally. Parking is quite strange here. The high school lot doubles as venue parking, but the lot is shared with the adjacent skating rink (Moody Arena) outside, and those Moody spots CANNOT be used. Be careful and avoid getting ticketed or towed. As mentioned, this theatre is actually the auditorium of New Westminster Secondary School. The lobby is a school corridor, and they use security fences (similar to those in shopping malls) to keep the masses out of the rest of the school. The auditorium itself is quite beaten up, but I'm sure it has its share of local history. The accoustics are, well, similar to that of a high school auditorium. In other words, amusingly crappy, but expected. Don't expect the likes of the Orpheum or QE Theatre here. My friend and I had a lot of fun at the concert. This venue also seems to host quite a bit of local talent, as one of the performers I watched that evening actually attended this high school. Good to know that there's some nice local entertainment around here. Keeps the kids (and seniors in this case) out of trouble.

Recently a co-worker's quartet was performing here and I have been wanting to see one of her…read moreperformances for the year we've worked together so this was perfect for me. Prior to this I had never been to this theatre and was pleasantly surprised that it was also a part of the high school. I hadn't realized that before on the numerous times I had driven by. In another lifetime I worked for three live performing arts theatres and the Bell is definitely on par. The seating was great and intimate. I had a clear view of the stage from my seats although I would probably sit further back next time, my mistake when buying tickets. It was an overall good experience.

This space is often used for music festivals for schools/programs, theatrical performances,…read moreconcerts and sometimes graduation ceremonies. I love listening to musical performances here as the acoustics are great although performing can be overwhelming because of the large stage and audience. The volunteer staff are always very courteous.

Lovely little dance studio. My 5 year old absolutely loves Ms Serena. There are a few toys for the…read morelittler ones as they wait for their class to show up. Cubby holes for shoes and water bottles, a nice dance floor with mirrors and a ballet bar. Great for an after school activity and to get kids into different styles of dancing. Online registration is straight forward.

We take our daughter here for dance lessons and she loves them! She really likes Miss Jessica and…read moreall the kids are trained to follow her lead. Would highly recommend this studio for children!

Bought tickets to see a specific comedian and got Bate and switched with no real explanation no…read moreoption for refund as they told us after we ordered our mandatory 2 items minimum per person. The food was disappointing probably frozen Costco stuff. The venue was like a dinghy attic and comedians were basically the joke, 1/3 was ok. Over all walked out of there feeling ripped right off. Never again

I'm so lucky to have this fantastic vintage venue within walking distance of my home. A few years…read moreago, the most recent owners took on the gigantic project of restoring this 1920s era vaudeville/movie house to its former glory, while also adding modern sound and lighting and reconfiguring the seating into a dinner theatre style. The pictures don't lie - there are big red velvet drapes, chandeliers and exotic Moorish/Morroccan touches like columns and murals. Just a damn cool theatre to see a show in, and I've now been to a few, from burlesque shows to my comedy idols like Bruce McCulloch. Upstairs in the smaller, and less lavishly appointed room, is Lafflines, which is a great spot to see up and coming comedians while having a few glasses of sorrow-drowning liquids and a basket of chicken strips. Both upstairs and downstairs have the same basic menu, so if you can deal with Sleemans and nachos, you're laughing. The wine list is OK, and for girl-drink drunks, they've got some sweet throwback martinis. The servers are really nice, but there never seem to be enough of them, so be decisive when they come around, because they might not get back around to you for a while! I've noticed that for some of the shows in the theatre, they'll have maybe two or three working the entire venue. Upstairs, one or two depending on the night (I tend to go on Thursdays for amateur night, so it's not usually very full). For all the fanciness of the decor, it's not at all posh, just a laid-back place to go see a live show. If you don't like fun, well, stay home.

I have taken Jan's beginner and advanced comedy classes and each one has been instrumental to me as…read morea comic. Her first class helped me gain the courage to stand in front of a mic and tell jokes for the first time in my life. After spending some time getting experience out in the comedy world, her advanced class then helped me get over the next hurdle as a comic: telling stuff that felt really scary and opening myself up to crowdwork and more improvised jokes to better connect with my audience. Jan is an incredible teacher and comedy mentor to so many comics in BC and taking this class has not only helped me develop my skills but has meant becoming part of the positive and supportive comedy community that she has nurtured over the past two decades--something no online class can offer. Take her class. You can thank me later.

I took Jan's class and it was great…read more While she didn't serve any delicious food or drink that I like to review about on YELP she did serve up some extremely tasty learning. She creates a structured fun learning environment. You get a showcase at the end that is the best environment to get out and try your new skills. TONS of fun too! Not only does she have talent, experience, and a great ear for comedy, she has a support network for you as you leave should you want to continue on as a comedian. If you suck, and need to be slapped around... she will do it! In a way though that is kind hearted and nurturing. I've learned a lot about myself through her class, as well as made some great friends from it. Jan is like... my comedy momma! Stop thinking about taking her class and just take it.

The classes at AVA Fitness are so much fun, and they're great for people of all levels. I really…read moreenjoy it here. While I haven't had a chance to try out all the different types of classes, I've noticed that some require more independence than others; in particular, in the mixed level classes, the instructor will often teach moves and instruct you to practice with other people of your level, and leave you on your own for a bit while she tends to the people of the other level(s), and she goes back and forth. Most days this works well, but some days you're left on your own for a little longer than you anticipated. Still, there's loooots to practice, so that time alone isn't a bad thing as long as you use it wisely. If you were thinking of giving pole dance a try, definitely come here! Because their facility is a bit small, make sure you download their app and book well in advance. Many classes book up quickly!

Best pole dance & fitness studio in greater Vancouver hands down! I have been attending classes at…read morethis studio for a couple of years now and I love that they offer so many great classes for all levels of fitness. The owner and instructors are just awesome and friendly and are always willing to help everyone reach their fitness goals. Definitely recommend trying them out!

If you're looking for a night out that hits the perfect sweet spot between killer comedy and great…read moredrinks, you have to check this place out. I came here specifically to catch Ryan Long, and he did not disappoint - he was super funny, and his set had the whole room losing it. Even the host was great, setting a high-energy, hilarious tone for the rest of the night. Just a heads-up that there is a two-item per person minimum, which is pretty standard for most comedy clubs in town, but the menu makes it easy to hit. I tried David's Punchline, and it is an absolute must-order if you have a sweet tooth. The mix of melon liqueur and peach schnapps gives it a bright, fruity base, while the mango nectar and pineapple juice make it incredibly smooth and lush. I also have to shout out the Snickers shot. It was a total revelation - honestly, it felt like a sophisticated hybrid of a chocolate milkshake and a top-tier Espresso Martini with a perfectly smooth texture. One tip: if you're picky about where you sit, definitely try to grab a seat early. The front rows and tables fill up fast, and you'll want that prime view. The service was decent overall; it was a bit on the slower side, but that's totally understandable given it was a packed house. One thing they handle brilliantly is the bill. They actually go around and let people settle up before the show even ends. Many other comedy clubs I've been to make you wave down a waiter and wait forever to pay once the lights come up, but here, you can just head out the second the last comic finishes. It's such a small detail that makes a huge difference in the overall experience. 10/10 night.

​I went to the House of Comedy for the first time this weekend! We got tickets in advance for the…read morelate show, which we chose because we were okay with the comedian using dirtier jokes. If you're concerned about the content, there's an earlier show at 7:30 PM that's for guests 16+. I'd also recommend checking out some YouTube videos of the featured comedian to get an idea of their style before you go. ​ ​We arrived around 8:30 PM, which was a bit early since doors didn't open until 9:00 PM, but no bigs! We walked around and came back at 9 and got seated right away. (Pro tip: Seating is first-come, first-served, and you can't reserve seats in advance, so I recommend arriving early to snag the best ones!) I liked the size of the venue; we were a good distance from the stage--close enough for a great view but far enough away that we avoided being roasted, thankfully. ​Warning: There is a two-item minimum per person, which applies to either food or drinks. The servers were friendly, but the drinks came a bit slow. The food is decent enough to snack on while you have your drinks, but don't expect the quality to blow your mind. We had the buffalo chicken bites and fries, which were just okay. The best drink I had was the Dark Humour (dark rum and ginger beer--yum!). I also appreciated the creative name of the cocktail. ​ ​The main act, Andre Kim, was hilarious and much better than expected. He did a great job making jokes by feeding off input from the crowd. I'm glad we didn't sit in the front because he definitely grilled the people who sat there, but it was certainly entertaining to watch! ​ ​Would I come back again? Absolutely! I'm always down for a nice cocktail and a good laugh :)