Vancouver Is Awesome

At Your Convenience: 2601 Quebec St.

2013-05-22T17:44:16Z

At Your Convenience is a weekly ode to our indie convenience stores. The ones we frequent everyday and the hidden gems nestled in the heart of each neighbourhood. An old-school throwback in our modern world.

A well known shop to users of the 10th Ave bike route, Federal Store sits on the corner at Quebec St.

Jason Statler – Photography

Listen to the EP from new local band, Galiano

2013-05-22T17:01:20Z

This past winter, Vancouver musicians Brent Freedman and Rolla Olak posted up in a cabin at my favourite Gulf Island resort, Bodega Ridge, and proceeded to record a series of songs under the band name Galiano. What resulted is a wonderfully folky and upbeat EP, which we were recently treated to a live performance of at a launch party at… wait for it… Bodega Ridge!

Listen to the EP below and if you enjoy it maybe pay for a download?

GALIANO EP by Galiano

Dogtown Vancouver: My Pet Diaries Episode 4

2013-05-21T20:02:04Z

It’s a new dog once a week! Click here to find out how to get your dog posted if you haven’t sent in your photos yet!

Today’s dog featured in Dogtown Vancouver: My Pet Diaries is Shabtaab. Here’s her story…

NAME: Shabtaab.
BACKGROUND: Iranian street dog.
DIARY: Written by Stephen Dunne

Dear Diary,

My dog Scout, a dalmatian, passed away in Jan/12. She was 14 years old and I had her since she was a puppy. I was pretty heartbroken. I didn’t think I would get another dog.

On a trip to NYC in Sep/12 I came upon a FB page for adopting dogs in Brooklyn and it got me to thinking that I might like to do that when I returned home to Vancouver. In late Sep I started to look around online and came across a few dogs that interested me, including Shabtaab. I didn’t know much about her except what had been posted online; the story of how she was a stray in Iran and was injured, then had surgery and then was looked after for about a year before coming to Canada. She was a dog that needed special care. She was sweet. I didn’t take her right away but I didn’t stop thinking about her either. I kept wondering if I was the right person to look after her.

Local company produces 5 intense infographics all about GOLD!

2013-05-22T16:28:48Z

A friend of mine who works in mining sent me this super interesting LINK to a series of infographics developed by a company out of Vancouver that you may or may not have heard of by now. Visual Capitalist only recently flew onto my radar, though they’ve been around since 2011. Their aim is to guide investors in ways that weren’t really feasible before the information age, using “both data visualization and infographics to showcase [their] original research on commodities and equities”. The bonus is that some of the work they produce (like this gold series) is easily digestible for “regular” people (maybe “curious” would be a better word) who just want to learn a thing or two.

There are five super deep infographics that make up this particular series, and the most interesting thing I picked up from it was actually this second point they made on the first page…

Take a few minutes today and check out the entire thing HERE and learn a thing or two!

Save On Meats sandwich tokens “A good idea” say 86% of panhandlers

2013-05-21T23:42:45Z

A few months back we TOLD YOU about the sandwich token program that our friends at Save On Meats launched. Essentially, if you’re someone who’s inclined to give money/donate to panhandlers on the street, you can buy tokens off this DTES business and instead of giving panhandlers money you give them these. They then turn them in for a healthy sandwich at Save On.

The reason I’m sparking the story again is because a company called Contagion Consulting just released an independent report on how they’re viewed within the community of people who actually use them to obtain food (as opposed to those barking from the sidelines), and as it turns out most of them think it’s a good idea. 86% of them, as a matter of fact. 9% were unsure and 5% didn’t think they were a good idea.

“Strangers just walk by and hand them out. I can tell they are more comfortable giving me tokens instead of cash,” says one anonymous panhandler. “The money goes back into the community and helps feed the poor. It’s a win/win.”

Have a read through the entire study HERE, or view a more easily digestible infographic (pun intended) HERE.

Super, Neighbours in BC: Feast Tofino 2013 – Part Five: What To Do!

2013-05-22T08:54:33Z

Welcome to the latest series of Super, Neighbours blog posts where we highlight incredible travel destinations in British Columbia!

Feast Tofino is back for it’s third year and it’s better and longer than ever. Stretching throughout May, it features “Stay and Dine” packages as well as $29, $39 and $49 “Dine About” set price menus, special events, and celebrates “the abundance of seasonal produce, seafood and sustainable “boat-to-table” practices commonly adopted by the area’s restaurants” and the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild.

In this 5 part series I’m going to show you everything from the ease of travelling to Tofino, to the amazing food you can eat, activities you can try, places you can stay and people you can meet.

If you missed it, here’s Part One: Getting There!, Part Two: Where to Stay!, Part Three: Feast!, Part Four: TUCG and presenting:
Part Five: What To Do!

Finally after 4 other posts (links above) I’m going to show you some of the awesome things you can do while in Tofino (you know, if you leave your amazing hotel/aren’t feasting every second of the day)…

The Tofino Brewing Company was actually my very first stop…my cabin wasn’t ready yet, so of course I went to get some supplies (and beer to bring back home to Vancouver…which I may or may not be drinking while I’m typing this).

Amazing people behind the counter and samples/growler fills/bottles for sale…what more could you ask for? It was a great way to start the trip!

—
The day that I arrived the town was actually having a little street festival (you know, because they paved the street!)… Who was I to argue with checking out the bouncy castle, cotton candy, live music, and roller derby girls demonstration!

Saturday morning I woke up to find out I’d be setting out on what turned out to be quite the adventure…whale watching with local company Jamie’s. It was a blustery day and my face below illustrates what I looked like when it rained sideways on my face, but I loved every minute of it…

We actually saw quite a bit of wildlife (make sure to check the facebook album to see more photos!), including the sea lions and orcas pictured below, as well as several eagles, sea otters, and a seal. I call that success.

Jamie’s also does “bear watching” trips out on the boat, where you can see black bears doing their thing, as well as many other activities which you can see on their website. Check them out! (Thanks for having me!)

So almost everyone before and after my visit, upon learning that I was in Tofino, asked if I went surfing. Since I was only there for 48 hours, and I spent a large chunk of that eating delicious food, I didn’t exactly have time to do it myself (maybe next time!?). BUT I did head down to Cox Bay to shoot some photos of the brave souls facing the chilly waters (I froze my feet to get these) and rain to catch some waves:

Finally as I was leaving town for the airport I was GOING to go on a mini hike (I decided to check out the beach near the airport instead) but was turned off by an insane downpour, which left me cowering in Liam Nissan (my car).

Between the rain, I did manage to get this photo of the beach…kind of hard to tell but one of the people on the rock is flying a kite!

I want to thank Tourism Tofino for having me out for this amazing visit! I’m already dreaming of my next trip over…surfing, food, sunshine. It will take a lot to keep me away.

Thanks to the amazing people I met in town, however briefly, you all made it an excellent trip! – Check out the Facebook album for more photos!

Foncie’s Corner Volume 16

2013-05-17T07:27:12Z

From 1934 to 1979, street photographer Foncie Pulice set up his camera on Vancouver city sidewalks and snapped candid shots of people strolling by. For almost half a century, he took thousands of photos, unwittingly capturing moments in time, the history of a city, and the lives of British Columbians.

Now documentary filmmaker Melanie Wood and British Columbia’s Knowledge Network are bringing these photographs together – collecting them from albums around the province and giving them a public home. Photo negatives of Foncie’s images do not exist. He destroyed most of them when he retired. Until now there was no central archive or collection.

Here are some thoughts from one of the subjects of this 1970 photo:
“This is my brother and me with our grandmother, Emily Crozier, in 1970. My grandmother took us to see the movie Snow White in one of the theaters on Granville Street. We lived in West Vancouver so going to a movie “over town” was very exciting.” – Kerry

This is a story about Vancouver, about British Columbia, and about it’s people… so they need your help. Visit Knowledge.ca/FonciesCorner to add your photos and stories to the collection.

We’re sharing a couple of Foncie photos here on V.I.A. each week leading up to the premiere of the documentary film being released in the summer. Share your memories (or the ones you find in your parents’ and grandparents’ archives) and become a part of Vancouver’s history!

Super, Neighbours in BC: Feast Tofino 2013 – Part Four: Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild

2013-05-21T23:13:54Z

Welcome to the latest series of Super, Neighbours blog posts where we highlight incredible travel destinations in British Columbia!Feast Tofino is back for it’s third year and it’s better and longer than ever. Stretching throughout May, it features “Stay and Dine” packages as well as $29, $39 and $49 “Dine About” set price menus, special events, and celebrates “the abundance of seasonal produce, seafood and sustainable “boat-to-table” practices commonly adopted by the area’s restaurants” and the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild.In this 5 part series I’m going to show you everything from the ease of travelling to Tofino, to the amazing food you can eat, activities you can try, places you can stay and people you can meet.

If you missed it, here’s Part One: Getting There!, Part Two: Where to Stay!, Part Three: Feast! and:
Presenting Part Four: The Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild

Now that you know how to get to Tofino, where to stay and the magnificent things you can eat during Feast Tofino, I thought I’d tell you a bit about one of my guides for the weekend and program I learned about along the way: the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild.

The mission of the guild is to “work closely with each other and our region’s farmers, fishermen and foragers to provide unique food experiences that rely on sustainable farm/boat-to-table practices and the freshest local ingredients prepared with integrity and passion.”

Bobby Lax, “Professional Food Lover” and Community Food Coordinator for TUCG, and I parked the van at the Tofino Botanical Gardens for the community food pick-up, where members could pick up their orders from local farms. Fresh in that day was asparagus and some delicious tomatos (both of which I got a sample of) and rhubarb.

I also wandered around the gardens shooting some photos of the plants and the chickens (including the chicks!)…though I wasn’t as brave as the close-up photos might suggest, I used my zoom and may have shouted occasionally (I’m pretty afraid of birds).

For more information on the Botanical Gardens, click here. And for more info on the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild, click here.

To see more photos from my Tofino trip, check out the album on our Facebook page, and stay tuned for tomorrow and check out some of the awesome activities I got to be part of while in town!

Canadian Design Resource Week 10: City of Vancouver’s 100th Birthday

2013-05-21T22:11:44Z

Each week we sift through the nearly 8,000 entries that our friends at the Canadian Design Resource have made since 2005, selecting one particularly awesome Vancouver-centric design that they’ve featured and sharing it with you here.

Design: Unknown
Client: Stonecoat Ind. and City Of Vancouver
Date: 1986

On the Road to Whistler in the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid

2013-05-22T16:55:40Z

Welcome to the tenth instalment of our “On the Road to…” series! The deal is simple: manufacturers loan us vehicles, we drive them to sweet locations, shoot photos along the way and then share that experience with you.

Up until this point all of the vehicles that we’ve featured have been SUVs which I’ve generally taken you just a little bit off the beaten path in. I hadn’t planned to leave the pavement (in a vehicle anyway) for Victoria Day long weekend so instead of something with 4WD, Acura Canada loaned us the 2013 ILX Hybrid for a hop up to Whistler.

This first photo (the obligatory hero shot) was taken on a sideroad that leads up to the Garibaldi Lake trailhead. It was one of many quick departures we made off the Sea to Sky highway, as we tend to meander and explore. It’s often cited as one of the most scenic drives in North America, and I would advise you to take as many exits as you can along the way and poke around a little bit. What’s immediately out your window on the 99 is fabulous but there is so much more.

But I’m getting ahead of myself here! I should start by letting you know that my day began at 102.7 The Peak FM’s studio, as it does almost every Friday when I do a feature called One Awesome Thing. Before I do my segment I always try to capture and share a “weather report” photo on Instagram like this one below (HERE are 15 of the most recent ones I’ve IG’d). I think I described this one as “promising”.

After I was done at The Peak I drove back to the Village, picked up the fam and we were on our way. First stop on the side of the road? Porteau Cove. Here’s the view looking back towards the Lower Mainland(ish)…

And the view across the inlet to the Sunshine Coast(ish).

And below is one of the views from our suite at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (the child is not included), which I’ll tell you all about in a couple of days. We got there pretty quick, and I suppose this piece should be called “On the Road to Whistler… and Back!” because the photos after this one were shot on the return journey.

After two nights we checked out of the hotel and got the valet to bring the car around, and I went looking for a place to park so we could explore the lower village. What’s amazing about Whistler is something I often say about Vancouver, and that is that it’s so easy to get out of it. This was literally a two minute drive from the Fairmont. Lost Lake. Whoa.

After we eventually got back onto the highway headed back to the city, I was set on throwing a fishing line into a lake during the drive back. You can’t see it in this photo but the highway is literally 20 metres from the right edge of this beautiful lake. I didn’t catch anything, but much like life being about the journey often fishing is just about getting out there, regardless of what you drag in.

The final stop on the trip was this pullout that I’ve somehow never stopped at. I find myself looking so much for out-of-the-way spots that the ones that are right in front of my face get passed by. I’m glad we stopped to view the Tantalus Range.

So how was the driving experience? To be honest it was a little weird at first. The fact that the engine completely shuts off whenever you’re about to come to a stop wasn’t something I was expecting, and at first it startled me. But after about 5 stops or so it just becomes normal, and there’s this sort of brief moment of coasting that happens when the engine turns off and it just becomes something you factor in to the pressure to put on the brakes. Something else that was new is that with all sorts of fancy digital displays telling you exactly how good (or bad) your fuel consumption was, I found that driving this hybrid became like a game. “How can I get the quickest start from this light while also saving fuel?” and “How on earth is the range of this vehicle on a single tank about 800km?” were a couple questions I found myself asking. And, yes, you read that right: the vehicle goes roughly 800KM on a single tank of gas. At least that’s around what I got out of it. Beyond the brief learning curve of this compact luxury sedan lies a fun – and surprisingly powerful, and not-surpisingly fuel efficient – driving experience.

Learn more about the 2013 ILX Hybrid HERE.