They really don't need to stimulate interest in Vancouver this winter, but we're just not going to ask any questions. Tourism Vancouver is giving away "airfare for two to Vancouver from any major North American airport, 3 nights at a four-star downtown Vancouver hotel including breakfast, and tickets to a Vancouver Victory Ceremony, the Men’s Qualifying and Final Alpine Skiing event, the Men’s Bronze Medal Ice Hockey Event, and the Closing Ceremony." They say it's all worth almost 10 grand. And that's just the Gold Prize; there's more!

You'll find all the details here: tourismvancouver.com/visitors/olympicsweepstakes.

(Photo: Cypress Mountain, courtesy of Tourism Vancouver)

Located on Brickell Key, an exclusive enclave separated from the city by a short causeway, the Mandarin Oriental Miami is full of contradictions: the decor is resolutely Asian contemporary in a city where anything but Miami modern is a radical departure. And the private (pseudo-)beach is pure zen, but both the downtown core and the port of Miami are just around the corner. Here's another one: their latest offer combines the indulgent luxury of the hotel itself with a voluntourism expedition to Everglades National Park. Help clean up the park by day, relax at the hotel by night, and you're rewarded with a discounted rate. $350US buys you two nights and a hybrid rental car for one day. The offer is valid through February 28, 2010.

305-913-8288; www.mandarinoriental.com/miami

What One of the city’s top wine bars is now selling its imported wines for takeaway, as well as other delicious treats to go. Why Instead of going to the SAQ, you can pick up an exclusive bottle of Fleurie, La dot 2006, Clos de Mez, along with crab cake or calf sweetbread.

5171, boul. Saint-Laurent, 514-273-8846, bouchonne.com

What These days, it seems that a neighbourhood just isn’t a neighbourhood without its own gourmet-casual burger shop. Brock Shepherd, capitalizing on the new trend, has transformed his previous venture, the Rice Bar, into a western saloon-inspired Burger Bar, thus admitting Kensington Market into the burger club. Why In keeping with the area’s green scene (the vegan Urban Herbivore is just across the street) Shepherd uses naturally raised organic beef and eco-friendly takeout containers exclusively, hoping to satisfy both the environmentalist and the carnivore.

319 Augusta Ave., 416-922-7423, theburgerbar.ca

What A local favourite for Southern barbeque and New Orleans style seafood. Why A new menu and newly renovated space doesn’t mean that Booker’s has lost any of its charm. Featuring Jambalaya’s, Snow Crab, blackened Catfish and smokehouse barbeque ribs and chicken, with live jazz and blues on weekends, Booker’s is a hidden gem on the outskirts of downtown.

316 3rd St. S.E., 403-264-6419, bookersbbq.com

What The Glowbal Group (owners of Glowbal, Italian Kitchen, Sanafir, Coast) recently unveiled their new, drinks-forward room. Why Experience the scene that has officially surpassed George in the plucked, primped, and plumped category. Yaletowners sip cocktails in shadowy booths under electric-pink chandeliers.

1257 Hamilton St., 604-629-8800, society-grg.ca

Q: If you could fly anywhere to get your favourite food, where would you go?
Christine Rigby, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

The list is long: I’d fly to London for pub grub or Thai food, Tel Aviv for hummus and Japan for miso soup and gyoza. I’d also head to New Delhi for chicken tikka masala, Seoul for Korean barbecue and Hong Kong for its gastronomic diversity. Closer to home, I’d set out for Ches’s in St. John’s for fish ’n’ chips or the Stinking Rose in San Francisco for the Forty Clove Garlic Chicken.

Photo: IstockPhoto.com / Mailtobee 

We’ve always found Toronto’s Drake Hotel to be a bit of a charming enigma. It’s now the focal point of it’s own little QWW food and nightlife enclave (we’ve heard the phrase “hitting the Drake district” more than once), so one might fairly assume that any expansion the brand pursues in the area will be eating and drinking-related, right? Well, that’s what we thought last year before they opened the General Store. This quirky (and appropriately enigmatic) little gift boutique had us scratching our heads at first, but we figured it was all for fun and covered it in our List. Turns out maybe it wasn’t just all for fun; they just opened a second one, this time on the Posh Yonge strip through Rosedale famous for the “five thieves” high-end food shops. So we’re back to scratching our heads (hipsters don’t shop in Rosedale, do they?), but we’re mostly just glad the Drake folks keep finding new ways to surprise us.

1011 Yonge Street, drakegeneralstore.ca

We’ve been working on our upcoming Chicago city guide — look for it in the Destinations section in January — and in our search for the best Second City hotels and restos and activities, we came across a couple of interesting announcements. First, there’s a new 264,000-square-foot wing at the Art Institute designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano that’s now housing an impressive collection of modern European painting and sculpture. Second: The Elysian, a new high-end residential-style hotel offering big rooms with terraces and fireplaces, is about to open its doors. We’ll have to make time for both on our next fact-finding mission to the Windy City.

What This international film festival showcases 100 documentaries from over 30 countries, from both well-known directors and up-and-coming filmmakers. Why The official selection includes many genres, from a social critique on the repressive justice system in Colombia to a Romeo and Juliet story set in Afghanistan. Watch out for a provocative film about a singular aspect of Israel’s porn industry.

From November 11-21, ridm.qc.ca/en