Archive for September, 2009

7. Gastown (Things I’d Miss About Vancouver If I Moved Away)

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

I’m currently on vacation in Europe and this month also marks my seventh year in Vancouver. To celebrate, I’m highlighting a few things I’d miss about Vancouver if I moved away:

I work in Gastown, so I’m there a lot. Gastown has changed a lot over the years and continues its transformation.

Lately, there’s been an influx of small hip boutiques and lifestyle stores, but it still manages to maintain its historic charm.

Gastown is also home to tons of restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs making it a vibrant nigh time hub.

Gastown is a popular tourist site, throngs of tourists pass through its cobbled streets every day.

The most notable attraction is the Gastown Steam Clock, and although I don’t quite get the appeal of the clock, I like that that it plays the Westminster Chimes every fifteen minutes.

There is a trendy hipster-favourite ‘wine bar’ off a dodgy, urine soaked alley way which I think is the perfect analogy to Gastown.

I’ll definitely miss Gastown’s quirks and gems if I ever moved away.

Steam Clock Steam Clock

Europe Hotel

Gastown

Gastown Gassy Jack

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6. The West End (Things I’d Miss About Vancouver If I Moved Away)

Friday, September 18th, 2009

I’m currently on vacation in Europe and this month also marks my seventh year in Vancouver. To celebrate, I’m highlighting a few things I’d miss about Vancouver if I moved away:

We Heart West End

I love the West End. I have t-shirts that prove this.

I live in the West End, a neighbourhood bordering Stanley Park.

I’ve called the West End home for the past seven years, much longer than I’ve called many places home.

I came to live in the West End by coincidence. Chris had said “where you guys want to live is Kits, it’s young, vibrant and hip”.

Davie St. Night Lights

I’d always wanted to live downtown in the city, as a matter of fact it’s part of the reason why I moved to Vancouver.

We were walking from Stanley Park when we discovered this residential neighbourhood right in the middle of the city with an assortment of old homes, high-rises, parks and trees. I felll in love with the trees. Coming from living in the suburbs, I was fascinated by the variedness of the buildings, no single building was alike. I knew I was going to like living there I just didn’t’ know how much I was going to love living there.

Walk Denman

I love the West End for its walkability, everything I need is within a walking distance – I hardly ever need to drive or take public transportation, I walk everywhere.

I love the West End for its diversity; it’s where people come to be themselves. There’s diversity in the people, the landscape and the architecture that makes up our little neighbourhood.

I love the West End for its vibrancy, there’s always something going on in the West End, residents and tourists keep the neighbourhood bouncing along.

There’s almost something mystical that makes every activity charming.

Davie Village

I love the West End for its community. It’s hard to find community in a big city, but the West End manages to combine urban living for that nice close knit community feeling.

Finally, I love the West End because it’s not perfect – and we know that. Well meaning residents work every day to steer the neighbourhood to near perfection… but seeing that we’re so diverse, perfection is relative.

Floors

Blue Hydrant

West End Bodega

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5. The 9 O’clock Gun (Things I’d Miss About Vancouver If I Moved Away)

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

I’m currently on vacation in Europe and this month also marks my seventh year in Vancouver. To celebrate, I’m highlighting a few things I’d miss about Vancouver if I moved away:

9 O'Clock Gun

The 9 O’clock Gun like the O Canada Horn is another unique Vancouver soundmark.

It’s a 12-pound muzzle-loaded naval cannon gun that fires every day at 9 O’clock. It sits enclosed in a little structure along the Seawall in Stanley Park.

On clear quiet days I can hear the gun from home, but only if I listen for it. I’ve been close to the gun a few times when it’s gone off – it’s rather loud and a tad scary if you aren’t expecting the loud boom.

There are also spectacular views of downtown from that area.

9 O'Clock Gun

Nine O'clock

Nine O'clock GUN

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4. Robson Street (Things I’d Miss About Vancouver If I Moved Away)

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

I’m currently on vacation in Europe and this month also marks my seventh year in Vancouver. To celebrate, I’m highlighting a few things I’d miss about Vancouver if I moved away:

Robson Steeet

I know as a local I’m not supposed to like Robson Street, but I’d still miss it if I were ever to move away.

It’s true; Robson Street and I have a love hate relationship.

I avoid it on most days when I’m busy, or need to get some place fast.

On Robson

Robson Street is a great shopping destination with all the big name retailers and a few independent stores. Although for years I’ve seen these independent stores fold only to be replaced by big name retailers, I guess that’s the nature of the retail business these days. I love Robson Street for leisure days, it’s very close and an amazing shopping and dinning destination and everything is conveniently available.

But Robson Street isn’t all shops and restaurants, BC Place is at the very end towards the east, the library, UBC’s Robson Square and the Art Gallery somewhere in between, it ends in the West End at Lost Lagoon.

Market

Lower Robson Street towards in the West End is still touristy but has more local stores and restaurants, the Robson Public Market between Cardero and Bidwell is a great indoor market with a wide selection of shops including a spice shop, a butcher, seafood, wine store etc.

Robson Street is also the place to go if you’re into people watching (who isn’t?), the stylish, the interesting and the plain weird can all be viewed from the comfort of any of the dozens of coffee shops that line street.

Robson

Empire Landmark Library - Out

Crowd

Vancouver Library

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3. The Grouse Grind (Things I’d Miss About Vancouver If I Moved Away)

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

I’m currently on vacation in Europe and this month also marks my seventh year in Vancouver. To celebrate, I’m highlighting a few things I’d miss about Vancouver if I moved away:


I didn’t do the Grouse Grind this summer, I meant to but laziness got the best of me.

I’ve blogged about Grouse Grind several times before; it’s not surprising that it’s on my list of fifteen things I’d miss if I moved away.

The Grouse Grind has been referred to as ‘Mother Nature’s Stairmaster’, because it’s a hard relentless ascent! I like to call it the place where-you-take-visitors-you-hope-will-never-visit-again.
Everyone’s first experience with the Grind is different; I’ve retold my first, almost disastrous experience before.

The Grind is an exceptionally steep and rugged two mile hiking trail. It’s usually closed through the winter months.

Men and women of the lower mainland have for years used it to test, prove and solidify their athletic prowess.

I love the Grouse Grind, I always start my summer intent on hiking it several times but that usually never pans out. It’s a great all around work out, it doesn’t take that much time to complete even though it’s hard.

There’s a great feeling of accomplishment when you manage to finish it – you hardly ever get that elsewhere.

I used it as an endurance training for my first half marathon and it helped quite tremendously.

As if finishing a difficult hike isn’t reward enough, the amazing views from the top of the mountain is like an extra bonus reward!

Once on top of Grouse Mountain, there are lots to see and do, and a nice ride back down on the gondola.

Grouse Grind: Close to the end of the trail

The trail ends at the rocks, it’s always a welcome sight.

Els

This is me from Sept 2004 after I’d finished the gruelling hike.

Woods

A section of the trail.

Down from the gondola

View of down the mountain from the gondola

Grouse Mountain

Viewing area at the lodge

Grouse Mountain

Folks milling in.

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