With the Olympics arriving around the same time as Tourism Vancouver’s annual Dine Out Vancouver promotion, it was plain that some rescheduling was in order. The whole point of Dine Out is to help put bums in seats during what is traditionally the slowest period on the restaurant calendar (end of January and the beginning of February), so with reservations in scarce supply during the Games it would be wise to find another time of the year in need of a steroidal shot in the arm. The following note – just arrived from TV – makes total sense:

The official Dine Out Vancouver promotion dates for next year are April 26 to May 6.

That’s a pre-patio, rainy, shitty, not-yet-nice-out time here in Vancouver, when I assume everyone will be piss poor and spiritually broken from all the revelry of the months previous. It’s sort of refreshing to imagine a life after the Olympics, no?

Just in case you need a good excuse to indulge at one of Vancouver’s best restaurants, Tourism Vancouver and BC Hydro Power Smart have teamed up for the one-night-only Candlelight Conservation Dinner, a restaurant event featuring 30 of the city’s best, and best-loved, eateries.

On October 28, 2009, 30 Vancouver restaurants—ranging from the hip Sanifir and C Restaurant to family favourites like Las Margaritas and the Old Spaghetti Factory—will promote energy conservation by turning off their electric lights. It’s the perfect win-win: Patrons dine by candlelight, enjoying delicious food in a romantic atmosphere, while helping the environment, too.

Members of BC Hydro’s Team Power Smart—people dedicated to reducing their energy consumption by 10%—have even more incentives to dine by Candlelight: Team Power Smart members are eligible for coupons for either a 2-for-1 entree, $5 off per-person, or a complimentary appetizer or dessert.

Want in on the Team Power Smart deals? Join here.

Whether you’re a Team Power Smart member or not, the evening will be memorable. My partner and I will be dining by candlelight at Raincity Grill; and we can’t wait!

Complete List of Candlelight Conservation Dinner Restaurants

Remember to contact individual restaurants for additional promotions, too.