Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Donnelly Hospitality Management Press Release:

DHM’s Olympic Spirit

Donnelly Hospitality Management Celebrates the Olympics in Style

(Vancouver, BC) February 4, 2010 - Donnelly Hospitality Management, the company behind Vancouver’s finest nightclubs, bars and pubs, will celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in unparalleled style. Throughout February, DHM nightclubs Modern Dance Club, Pop Opera, Bar None, Republic and The Granville Room cocktail lounge will welcome guests with the city’s most high-end nightclub events, while DHM Pubs will be the most exciting places to watch athletes from around the world vie for gold.

Throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Donnelly Pubs will be the coolest locales for catching all the Olympic action, thanks to their edgy atmosphere, flat-screen TVs and full-service food menus—printed in French, Spanish, German, Russian and Mandarin—available from 10 am to 3 am. After the evening’s sporting events have come to a close, The Calling, Library Square Public House, The Lamplighter, The Metropole, Smiley’s Public House and The Academic will ease into nightclub-style parties, complete with vibrant atmospheres and DJs spinning into the wee hours.

Pop Opera, the most popular destination in Vancouver’s high-end club scene, welcomes legendary urban music producer and DJ Jermaine Dupri on February 23 for his first show in Vancouver. The rapper and Grammy-winning songwriter has worked with Usher and Mariah Carey, and has a celebrity fan base that includes Jamie Foxx. On February 17, hip-hop legend Biz Markie takes the stage. Pop Opera welcomes a number of special guest DJs throughout the Olympics. Pop Opera, 686 W. Hastings Street. Open daily from 8:30pm – 3:00am.

Republic, Vancouver’s premiere nightclub, toasts the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with Olympic Opening and Closing galas on February 12 and 28. After walking the red carpet and having their photos snapped in front of the media wall, guests will dance to tunes spun by DJs Coki, Matty C and Kenya and sample Olympic inspired cocktails created by renowned Vancouver mixologist Trevor Kallies. Tickets are $30 tickets and available at Clubzone.com. February will see Republic’s usual stellar talent, including DJ Supafly, Trevor Risk, The Boyscouts, Matty C and others. 958 Granville Street, Vancouver. Open daily from 8:00 pm - 3:00am.

Award-winning Modern Dance Club is a discotheque for the new millennium and Gastown’s premier spot for club music – from big electro to blog house, drum n bass to classic hip hop. The Modern is housed in a heritage building and equipped with two floors of state-of-the-art sound and light systems, finished with dark smoked glass, multi-coloured tile and sleek neon lines. Special DJ-hosted events will be held from February 12th to February 28th, including DJ Fashen, Goodlife, and DJ Spider. 7 Alexander Street, Vancouver. Open daily from 9:00pm – 3:00am.

Bar None, the epicenter of nightlife in Yaletown, hosts a rotating lineup of Vancouver’s finest DJs, including Zak Santiago, Marlon J English and DJ Marvel. Vancouver’s only true New York night club boasts a Soho attitude and feel, from its innovative cocktails and brick and wood interior to the impressive lineup of international and local DJs and live talent, including live reggae and retro classics from Mostly Marley. 1222 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. Open daily from 9:00pm - 3am.

The Granville Room, the Vancouver entertainment district’s true speakeasy, gets into the spirit of the games with Olympic Inspired Cocktails crafted by Trevor Kallies. Each cocktail is inspired by a great Canadian Olympic moment and showcases Canadian liquor and ingredients: The Winner Take All, Lord of the Oval, The Gold, Silver and Greene, The Double Lucky Loonie. An oasis of good taste and casual elegance, The Granville Room focuses on excellent service, quality craft cocktails, a boutique dining menu and DJs spinning nightly. 957 Granville Street, Vancouver. Open daily from 8:00pm.

Donnelly Hospitality Management (DHM) is a creative and diverse management company. DHM owns and operates award-winning nightclubs: Pop Opera, Republic, Bar None, and the Modern; popular pubs: Biminis Public House, The Calling, The Library Square Public House, the Academic and the Lamplighter; the cocktail lounge The Granville Room, and the Metropole. The company’s attention to detail, impressive entertainment calendars, modern designs, community and charity support, and strict policies on patron safety have earned them a reputation as an industry leader in Vancouver. For more information please visit: www.dhmbars.ca

Directly from the Elixir Bistro and Opus Bar Press Release:

SWEET, SEDUCTIVE VALENTINE’S DAY AT ELIXIR BISTRO & OPUS BAR
Dive Into Decadence on February 14th

(Vancouver, BC) February 3, 2010 - On February 14th, Elixir Bistro and OPUS Bar welcome guests with sweets, seduction—and that signature OPUS luxury.

On Valentine’s Day, casual French bistro Elixir invites guests to savour a decadent four-course menu and amuse bouche. After sampling kushi oysters on the half shell with champagne jelly and caviar, guests will relish a sunchoke and truffle veloute, roasted candy cane beets or Qualicum Bay scallops. Perfect for a romantic evening a deux, the lobster paella, beef Wellington and rack of lamb mains are designed for sharing. And because February 14 is incomplete without something sweet, the meal is capped with a bittersweet chocolate mille-feuille with black cherry sorbet and Valentines petit fours. The four-course menu with amuse bouche is $85.00 per person.

At OPUS Bar, guests will sip a bold, sweet or seductive cocktail then dive into a savoury shared platter of s&b tempura oysters, red curry prawn skewer and Mediterranean lamb popsicle. For dessert? A tier of seductive Valentine’s sweets, including chocolate pistachio éclairs, milk chocolate chai truffles, chocolate macaroons with cherry-chocolate ganache and a hot chocolate shot with passion fruit marshmallow. The savoury and sweet platters and choice of cocktail are $55.00 per person.

Directly from the CRU Restaurant Press Release:

CRU Helps Haiti with Fundraising Dinner

February 3, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – Vancouver’s CRU restaurant is pleased to announce that it has raised $7600 to donate to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.  CRU held a gala fundraising dinner on Sunday January 31st.  100% of the dinner revenue and silent auction proceeds went to charity.

The fundraiser was truly a team effort, as CRU staff volunteered their time and donated their tips, and the restaurant, with help from their suppliers, donated all food and beverages for the event.  The monies raised will be matched by the Canadian government, making the total donation to Haiti relief efforts $15,200.

CRU’s Owner Mark Taylor wishes to thank all his generous guests, the silent auction contributors, and his fantastic staff for their hard work.