Bake for the Quake!

I know there are a quite a few of you who live and work in Yaletown... or who can at least easily visit Yaletown on a whim.

Anyhow... for those of you who can make it to Yaletown this evening, the Bake for the Quake collaborative bake sale's happening at the Roundhouse Community Centre from 6pm until 8:30pm.

Two local food bloggers, Melody Fury of GourmetFury.com and Joy of Gourmeted.com have organized this event as a fundraiser for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders.

Locals - food bloggers, bakeries, and those who just love to bake - are all participating and they're selling all kinds of tasty treats tonight.

Needless to say, I've got my tupperware containers ready to go and I'm going to hit the bank machine before I arrive. It'll be a great event, so I thought I'd pass this on to fellow sweet tooths.

p.s. Yes, it's 4/20, and I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or if this was strategic planning, but there you go!

Corner Suite Bistro closed? Yup. And Sweeney's and Fiasco.

Vancouver foodies were shocked to learn on Twitter yesterday that Corner Suite Bistro, a popular and hip French bistro in the West End, had closed its doors permanently without warning. This is just after many local journalists were touting it as one of Vancouver's best restaurants of 2010.

Rumours were spreading on Twitter that they had a failed negotiation with their landlord. Others speculated that it was simply due to them having the wrong location or inconsistent staff. It was even suggested that BC's tougher alcohol penalties have threatened the restaurant industry as a whole.

While people were speculating the closure, others were commiserating their Groupon and gift certificate losses. Groupon was active on Twitter today saying that once the closure has been confirmed,  they'll get in touch with people about reimbursement. I'm just glad I used mine when I did back in October but I feel bad for those who have to deal with this aftermath.

On a similar note, I was saddened to learn that Sweeney's of Yaletown - a gourmet, slow-food cafe where I ate many a delicious lunch this past summer - has closed its doors. Apparently they just weren't getting the dinner crowds, despite their popularity at lunch. Imagine a restaurant where the food is organic, most items are under $12, you can buy wine by the glass, and there's a new fresh feature every day - the pulled-beef tacos with mango and chipotle were to die for! The only catch is that you order at the counter, but they'll bring your food to the table. That's not really a catch for the Yaletown lunch crowd - most of us don't live in Yaletown, but we work here. The Yaletown dinner crowd? That's a different story. People come to Yaletown looking to be spoiled, to be wined and dined in luxury, and unfortunately, it seems that Yaletown wasn't the appropriate niche for Sweeney's. It's a shame, but at least they're spending the next few months finding a more appropriate location. May I make a suggestion to them? South Cambie needs you. So does Commercial Drive. So does Riley Park.

Unsurprisingly, Fiasco shut its doors the other week. "Fiasco? What's Fiasco?" Exactly. Formerly Amacord, they reopened as what I'm guessing was supposed to be a typical Yaletown loft space, but it was stark, dark, and lacked an inviting atmosphere. The tables, for example, were naked. The lights? The lights were lacking - the place looked closed from the outside. The bored-looking waitstaff didn't help. It simply felt unfinished from the get-go. Always empty at lunch, we decided to check out their $10 lunch specials regardless. The food was always tasty (steak sandwich with goat cheese and roma tomatos for $10?), but being served a lipstick stained water glass when we were the only patrons in the restaurant was, in retrospect, a bad omen. Upon the next visit, they told us they were changing chefs and menus - a new chef from NYC would be arriving soon. When we came back a few weeks later, gone were the $10 specials and the lunch menu consisted of overpriced pasta dishes. Two weeks later? They were closed. In this case it wasn't the closure that surprised me, but at the haste of which it was done. Wow.

We're 5 days into 2011. I wonder what other restaurant surprises lurk on the horizon?

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival 2010

If you're like me and you're kicking yourself for missing out on last night's lunar eclipse, well at least you can take solace in tonight's Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. If you've ever been to Commercial Drive for the Parade of Lost Souls or Illuminaries at Trout Lake, I'd imagine it's along the same vein - lanterns, fire, drummers - Vancouver bohemian flair. Myself? I've never been to the event, but I'm hoping to check out the festivities at Britannia Community Centre because, heck, when else are you going to walk through a labyrinth of light?

Five Vancouver neighbourhoods will be hosting simultaneous events from 6pm onward. I've provided links to their individual schedules:

East Van
Yaletown
Granville Island
South-east False Creek
Chinatown
 
For more information, check out the site at http://www.secretlantern.org

R.I.P. Sophia Books & Elfsar Comics

It was the Granville Book Co. a few years ago.

Then it was Duthies.

Now it's Sophia Books.

Sophia Books goddammit!

The news spread around Twitter earlier this morning that beloved independent bookstore Sophia Books was finally closing its doors due to Vancouver's obnoxious rent rates. The Georgia Straight's now reporting that the owners are shutting down their retail business but will still pursue mail orders. However, Vancouver's losing a gem of a literary retail space, especially since it catered to a unique niche of foreign language books, import magazines, and art books.

Man, what a heartbreaker!

One of my favourite activities was to head down to Gastown and escape into their shop to just browse without any sense of purpose. Whether it was attempting to tackle Proust en français (and fail miserably), or simply peek at what Italian Vogue considered relevant, or heck - I lie. You'd often find me seeking cutesy Japanese "how to make felt animals" books or skimming through the graphic novels. And I'd often come back with a bag full of goodies. I really, honestly, thought they'd be able to stay afloat due to their unique market, but even that doesn't seem to do it anymore.

Book stores like Sophia added to downtown Vancouver's "spice" - its eccentricity. Shops like Sophia make downtown Vancouver interesting. However, every year we see more and more of these independent businesses close their door for another generic gentrified chain business to open in its place. If it sounds like I'm bitter, it's because I partially am. It's with sincere sadness to see it closing its doors. Apparently as of this very second they're having a 40% off *everything* sale.

Bah!

Oh, and get this. As I'm composing this little post, news is spreading on Twitter that Yaletown-based Elfsar Comics is closing. Is this some sort of cruel theme for the week? What next? No, I don't even want to joke about it. Sheesh! But seriously, what do you think's going to open up in that space? A yoga studio, doggy boutique, or a hair salon?

My new favourite coffee shop

I've long neglected the Agro Cafe on Davie and Hamilton out of pure ignorance. It's only been a recent discovery of mine, but a place I've been going back to time and time again since March.


While sipping on my Americano one groggy Saturday afternoon, I called it my oasis - a retreat from Yaletown. If there's any one coffee shop that sort of defies the Yaletown vibe, this is it.

For more details, check out the little review I wrote on Yelp, here. Biggest irony? I completely blank out on the coffee. Regardless, it's good stuff.

On the day before the Olympics...

... I walked through the pouring rain to the Vancouver Art Gallery just in time to see the 2010 Olympic countdown clock reach this:

The rain continued to pour down...

...so I wandered home where hundreds of thousands of people were coming out of the woodwork, wandering down the newly-closed Pacific Boulevard in Yaletown on their way to David Lam Park to see the arrival of the Olympic torch.

I had actually planned to see the torch that night, but they were anticipating crowds of over 100,000. Seeing Yaletown as a pedestrian-only zone for the first time since, well... since ever, was an incredible experience for me. But I could see that there'd be no way I'd be anywhere close to anything.



Also, having seen the torch up close in Steveston with my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandfather two nights before, I wanted to save those special memories. No, I didn't need to compete with the hundreds of thousands to see the torch. Instead, my sister was having a birthday part at the Railway Club in the north end of downtown. Her boyfriend was the drummer for two bands playing that night. We had intended to go anyway, but since we realized there'd be no quick and easy

BTW - If you're looking for an unpretentious live music venue/pub, the Railway Club (upstairs on the corner of Dunsmuir and Seymour).

Josh and I ended up walking against the flow of pedestrian traffic to what seemed like an abandoned part of downtown. When we reached the corner of Richards and Dunsmuir, I noticed that the Holy Rosary Cathedral was beautifully lit.



We then made it into the Railway Club where it was slightly surreal. Two of my cousins were there (who I've never seen downtown, EVER), old high school friends who I see once every 5-6 years, and an old friend from school whom I hadn't seen since I was 12. That, plus my sister's friends, roommates and her old high school friends. While the rest of the city was in Yaletown, it seemed like everyone from Richmond was at the Railway Club experiencing the ultimate in nostalgia.

Scenes from Saturday: Yaletown, False Creek, Granville Street

Yaletown

False Creek

Granville Street

One week to go...

... and the city's transforming before my eyes! 

I write to you from 22 floors over downtown Vancouver where the perpetual sound of helicopters buzzes from outside and giant beams of light dance in the sky.

The Olympics are really taking over this city.

It's pretty exciting actually!

It was yesterday when I was really starting to notice an influx of tourists - athletes, reporters, and so on. People in matching jackets. Women with too much make-up, blonde hair and Euro-savvy fashion sense to be locals. People with their noses in their maps navigating on the sidewalks. And the Yaletown Mini dealership turning into "Yahoo! Sports - Live from Vancouver" media center. And the pedestrians? They're actually smiling!

Yesterday we had our first glimpse of sunshine in a few days. It was also the first day of road closures - closures that will continue until March. Entire stretches of downtown are closed to traffic. Entire entrance ramps are blocked to incoming and outgoing traffic. The major arteries cutting across the city have turned into no-stopping, no-parking zones...

... and you'd think this would be a nightmare, except driving has been a breeze! In fact, I've been able to cut 10 minutes off my commute on my drive home. Who knew?!

And because of yesterday's sunshine, I was able to get an unobstructed view out my window of all kinds of things I missed.

For example, in between the Yaletown condos, I can spot Olympic rings hanging off BC Place. Next door is the big blue Q on the Quebec pavillion.

David Lam Park? Well, we know what that's become...

If I look carefully across the street, the Roundhouse has transformed itself into the Italian pavilion...

But wait a sec...

Did you see that?

Look again...

Yup. That's my unobstructed view of the the boxing kangaroo flag that the Australian team has set up outside their False Creek Olympic Village condo.

It's all over the media, but the IOC want it removed because apparently it's trademarked, but it's not an official Olympics sponsor, blah blah blah...

Read the story here. And here. And here, here, here, here, and here.

But it makes me smile. Perhaps because the Australian team's response to the IOC threat was for them to "stuff it"! Needless to say, the whole situation's ridiculous and now there's a lot of support here for the Australian team. If that flag doesn't stay put, I guarantee you'll be seeing it flying from many a Yaletown condo. Heck, if anyone has one to donate, I'll happily fly it out my window! Back at'cha IOC!

Countdown: 2 weeks before the Olympics

I bought some Olympics tickets from the official Olympics ticket site a while ago and opted to have them delivered. Well, if you're not at home when Purolator delivers them (which is often the case - they only deliver during work hours), you have to pick them up by a certain date at their Pender Street office. The Purolator office closes at 5pm, and considering that I get home from work at 4pm, I had a narrow window to get there, flash my ID, and pick up my tickets.

So this past Friday I took the Canada Line to the City Centre station, picked up the tickets, and then meandered my way back home taking pictures of downtown Vancouver as it was prepping for the Olympics in 2 weeks time. Here's a taste of a city 2 weeks before the chaos ensues.

Olympic countdown clock at the Vancouver Art Gallery:

I remember in 2007 when I worked around the corner, it was at 1000 days and the Olympics seemed forever away. On Friday it was down to 14 days!

I walked to the other side of the Vancouver Art Gallery to Robson Street...

Upon snapping photos at the corner of Robson and Howe, I was approached by a local woman who asked if I had been to Granville Street yet. We had a nice little discussion about the upcoming Olympics, the road closures, the changing face of Vancouver, local politics, and how, despite it all, we were secretly looking forward to the chaos of upcoming games. We wished each other a happy weekend and then I continued on to Granville Street which is closed to traffic between Georgia and Robson.

Having had my fill of the art displays on Granville, I wandered back to Robson and continued east toward Homer Street...

I walked south down Homer Street and thought about just going straight home. That would have been too easy though. It was still a bit light out and I liked the way the lights were reflecting off the pavement, so I decided to detour along Mainland Street and Hamilton Street - the core blocks of Yaletown's boutiques and restaurants. I snapped a few photos around Yaletown right before the Friday night crowds overtook it.

By the time I got home, Josh had called me letting me know of that night's plans. Apparently we had dinner reservations at a local Japanese restaurant for 7pm. I jumped in the shower, quickly got ready and ran back out into the Yaletown streets. First stop was Section 3, then dinner at Bistro Sakana with a group of our good friends. We finished the night off at George Lounge.

Needless to say, it was a fun night. Sure, wine and sake make for dangerous nights, but isn't that what Fridays are for? But I'm now very curious to see what our Friday night will look like in 2 weeks! 2 weeks?! Ack!!!