Westender - February 26, 2015

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4 // 2015

EVERYTHING VANCOUVER

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Best of the City 2015 • LOCAL DESIGNER FINDS ‘INSTA’ SUCCESS • • TOP TABLES AT WINE FEST • • REEL PEOPLE GOES CRAZY8S • NEWS // ISSUES • STYLE // DESIGN • EAT // DRINK • MUSIC // ARTS • FILM // TV • HEALTH // SEX Franchise Opportunities Baked Goods

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NEWS // ISSUES

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INSIDE THIS WEEK You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack by Tom Gauld

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News3 Vancouver Shakedown3 Fashion4 Shop Talk4 A Good Chick to Know4 Nosh5 Fresh Sheet5 13 By the Bottle6 The Growler7 LOUD listings8 Music10 Reel People11 Movie reviews11 What’s On12 Best of the City Section13 Readers’ poll results14 West End results21 Neighbourhood rants25 Downtown results28 East side results34 West Side results40 Real Estate50 Whole Nourishment55 Play Outdoors55 Drive56 Horoscopes57 Sex with Mish Way57 WESTENDER IS A DIVISION OF LMP PUBLICATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. THE NEWSPAPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY ADVERTISING WHICH IT CONSIDERS TO CONTAIN FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION OR INVOLVES UNFAIR OR UNETHICAL PRACTICES. THE ADVERTISER AGREES THE PUBLISHER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ERROR IN ANY ADVERTISEMENT BEYOND THE AMOUNT PAID FOR SUCH ADVERTISEMENT. WE COLLECT, USE, AND DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PRIVACY STATEMENT WHICH IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

2 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

RANT//RAVE email: rantrave@westender.com ALL RANTS ARE THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE WESTENDER. THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY, SO PLEASE KEEP IT SHORT AND (BITTER)SWEET.

READERS TAKE TRANSLINK TO TASK Re:‘Yes’ forces kick off transit drive, Feb. 12, 2015 It is clear that to have a better-served population we need to make transportation available and accessible to everyone.

There are many corporations increasing their profits significantly by using the resources of our beautiful British Columbia, which ultimately are there to benefit its people.

For example, in just over a decade, Saskatchewan’s exports to Asia grew 182 per cent from $2.4 billion to $6.7 billion while Ontario’s exports grew by 318 per cent during the same period.

Many of these exports are being transported through our province. So much so that the premiers of Saskatchewan, Alberta and our own province called the federal government to invest over $1 billion in infrastructure projects in Western Canada to support this growth.

We all want our country to grow and do well, however, corporations have a social responsibility.They cannot simply use up our resources and not contribute to our communities in any way.

Would this be a neighbor who was constantly eating out of your fridge, but not ever putting any food back in it or helping you around the house, you wouldn’t keep them around for too long.

So I say that if these corporations are benefiting so immensely from transiting through our province, polluting our air and causing congestion in our roads and oceans along the way, it should be them, and not a citizen that makes $10 an hour, who havs to pay an additional 0.5 per cent tax.

–Sara Potts-Romera

Up until today, despite some misgivings about TransLink (based upon previous poor management of various things) I was in the “YES” camp.

Today, I shifted to the “NO” camp and am asking you to consider doing the same. If you don’t usually vote, please do...and please encourage people you know to vote “NO” as well.

Why have I changed my mind?

TransLink announced that they’re replacing their CEO. However, the outgoing CEO will be paid $35,000 per month until July 2016 (the end of his contract), while the new CEO will be paid the same concurrently.

This is proof positive that TransLink is completely out-of-touch with the average Lower Mainlander and that they cannot be trusted with any more of our tax dollars.

As I said, I was in the “YES” side as I am a firm believer in transit (I do not own a car and often rely on it).

However, I think that TransLink needs to be shaken up before they can be handed an extra several billion dollars to squander seemingly without common sense or oversight.

–John Merzetti All the efforts that are going into trying to make a better functioning transportation system around here are good…it definitely is needed, especially for people who do not have vehicles. But let’s be realistic about this venture.

It will merely give people another option to get around; it will not get vehicles off the roads. No amount of improved infrastructure is going to change that fact.We love our cars and we ain’t giving them up without a fight.

Automobile control is as cantankerous an issue as

gun control is in the United States.We don’t even dare consider that maybe vehicles could do with a whole lot of restrictions or that maybe, just maybe they could be totally banned in M-A-N-Y places, with exceptions of course – like emergency vehicles.

Driving and parking regulations on streets and highways are practically negligent. How often do we get stuck in nonmoving traffic, whether in a car, or in a transit bus, or in an emergency vehicle? How often is an automobile driven around somewhere and there is only ONE person in that vehicle? How often do empty cars (and some trucks) sit in side streets and alleys, so packed that moving vehicles – one at a time – can barely scrape through? How often do residents prefer to park in streets, even if they live in places that have parking facilities on the property.

Even if by magic, all vehicles became electric overnight, and we no longer had to contend with greenhouse gas emissions, there would still be traffic congestion.

We are not going to give up driving in our own personal vehicles, unless we are forced to. The number of Smart Cars is still too small to have any significant effect, but it’s the only car-like vehicle yet I’ve seen that has a size that makes any sense in a tight urban space like Vancouver. And even so,TWO people can fit into these Smart Cars.

The bulk mass of our automobiles taking up so much space disallows efficiency in our transportation system!

Unless some huge undertaking is done to strictly enforce control and regulation over The Automobile, we just better accept that congestion is a fact of life here in the Lower Mainland and it will only get worse with increased population.

–Frannie

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NEWS // ISSUES

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YOUR CITY

Tenants sound alarm over renovictions

BOB MACKIN @bobmackin

When she received the Jan. 28 eviction notice, Christiane Helzel also lost her job of 20 years as the resident manager of a 30-unit East Vancouver apartment building.

The couple that owned 1925 Woodland Drive for 20 years, Ole and Jytte Hansen, is retiring and sold to a company connected to Jameson Development Corp. It couldn’t have come at a worse time for Helzel, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

“We don’t blame (the Hansens) for selling it, we blame the guys that bought it,” said Helzel.

Helzel, whose one-bedroom suite rents for $740 a month, said Jameson’s John Pappajohn had told her the plan was to convert the laundry room and storage room into bachelor suites.

“He said that they’re just doing a few renovations, we could all stay in here,” she said. “A week later we all got registered letters saying we had to be out of here by April 30.”

Because of the “renoviction,” Helzel said she fears for elderly tenants who have lived in the building longer than her and the future of affordable housing in GrandviewWoodland.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corpora-

Little Woo, Enrica Orazietti and Denise Luke are three of the tenants being evicted from their Woodland Drive home. Dan Toulgoet photo tion, the citywide apartment vacancy rate fell to 0.5 per cent last October and monthly rents averaged $1,176.The East Hastings zone that includes 1925 Woodland Dr. had an 0.8 per cent vacancy rate and $957 average rent.

Tenant Pam Burge provided the Courier a copy of the eviction notice from 1925 Woodland Drive LLP, signed by Tony Pappajohn.

It came with a copy of a Jan. 21, 2015 civic building permit for renovations to increase floor area by 520 square feet, resulting in two new residential units, a seismic upgrade and additional storage and common areas.The Hansens originally applied last June for a development permit.

The Residential Tenancy Act requires a minimum twomonth notice to vacate and one-month free rent. After tenants complained to Vision Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs, the new landlord revised the offer to two months free rent and a $500 moving

allowance.

Meggs said the building would remain within the city’s rental stock, but conceded future tenants would pay higher rents. “(Rental housing) really is an area under provincial jurisdiction, not the city’s,” Meggs said. “It’s very upsetting for those tenants, I understand that. But there is nothing in the city’s laws that could prevent upgrading of apartments.

In many cases we would like to see upgrading.”

Hansen declined comment when contacted by the Courier. Neither Tony, John nor Tom Pappajohn responded to interview requests.Vision Vancouver’s pre-election donation disclosure showed Tony and Tom Pappajohn gave the party $125 each, plus $20,000 from Jameson.The Pappajohns’ marquee downtown residential, office and retail development, Jameson House, was put under court protection from creditors after construction halted amid the

2008 credit crunch. It was eventually completed in 2011

by Bosa Development.

Tenant Little Woo said most of her neighbours are resigned to moving, but are joining a Residential Tenancy Branch complaint out of principle.

She said the building was well-kept, with a low turnover rate. Ole Hansen kept rents low and fostered a community atmosphere in an already diverse neighbourhood, she said.

“He’s taken in people that have been through violence and needed an affordable place to live. He’s got a big heart, the previous landlord, we all appreciate him very much,”Woo said. “There is a huge contrast, what the two types of landlords can be like in Vancouver. It’s the second one, the developers, that are growing because of the B.C. tenancy act that allows this type of thing to happen and Vancouver city hall.We keep hearing that it’s the provincial legislation that allows this, but they’re offering these development permits and not creating affordable housing.”

Burge said the location was ideal, with spacious suites and walking distance to Broadway, Commercial Drive and SkyTrain, after she experienced poor conditions at social housing projects in downtown and the Olympic Village.

“I’d hate to leave here,” Burge said. “It’s my home.”

–Courtesy ofVancouver Courier

Confessions of a Vancouver Weather Bragger Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

I’m sure you do it. I know I do.

I’m a fully confessed Vancouver winter Weather Bragger.

Just look out your window: yes, those are indeed pink, fluffy, gorgeous, cherry blossoms.

Yep, they’re about three weeks early this year. Hurrah for us! And yes, those are bright yellow daffodils blooming beneath them. And indeed, those are sweet lil’ crocuses all the colours of the rainbow popping up through our evergreen grass of the West Coast. It’s February in Vancouver, which means spring is here.

This is, of course, while the rest of Canada digs out from its latest, epic, record ass-dumping of snow, in ever-plunging, Game of Thrones-like temperatures. Eastern Canadians are forced to spend Family Day (or Louis Riel Day, or Heritage Day, or Islander Day, or whatever it is they celebrate east of the Rockies) either trapped indoors desperately trying to

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stay warm, or just centimetres outside of their front door shoveling gargantuan mountains of white stuff so they might make a storm chips run to Giant Tiger. All the while, here in Lotus Land, we bask in Frisbee-golf temperatures.

Do we feel guilty? HELL, NO! Do we whip out our phones with the speed and dexterity that only mittenless hands can manage, snapping pics of every early sign of spring? HELL, YES! Do we hold back on posting and sharing those photos on every one of our social media streams for fear of offending our frozen Canadian brothers

and sisters of the East? HELL, NO! Do we brag, scoff, tweet, gloat, Instagram, and (if you’re in East Van) crow about just how utterly glorious February is on the West Coast? HELL, YES! If indeed we are in agreement, then you too are a Vancouver Weather Bragger.

However, if you happen to be that solitary Vancouverite who has yet to indulge in weather bragging on social media, be warned: for some jerky Canadians, weather bragging from the West Coast is about as popular as cranking Nickelback in your shared office space for

everyone to rock out to.

According to my friend Jon in Whitehorse (where it is -17 C and snowing as I type), “you’re a dick if you weather brag”. According to my friend Benoit in Ottawa (where it is -20 C and snowing as I type), weather bragging is considered “arsehole” behavior.

According to my friend Sasha in Montreal (where it is -27 C and snowing), “I will unfriend you on Facebook faster than you can type ‘rhododendron’”.

But Vancouverites are willing to take those social risks.

We continue to weather brag, as fast as the forsythia flowers.

Why? Because we live in the most expensive city in Canada, that’s why! We pay a premium for the privilege of our weather!

We’ve purchased the right to weather brag, by somehow being able to afford to still live here.We must take advantages of the few perks of living in Canada’s richest housing market, besides, you know equity, or whatever. Now… go outside without your jacket and Instagram some those spectacular cherry blossoms, eh? #weatherbrag W

There is more online

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Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director

Impulse

with Percussionist Beverley Johnston

Saturday, March 14, 2015 7:30pm Ryerson United Church

2205 West 45th Avenue and Yew Street, Vancouver

Tickets: $28 Regular | $22 Senior | $15 Student (with valid ID)

1-877-840-0457|ticketstonight.ca elektra.ca|604-739-1255 This concert generously supported by

Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation

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STYLE // DESIGN

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FASHION

Warhol’s pop art pops up NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

Eighty AndyWarhol prints and paintings will be on display at a pop-up exhibition inVancouver next month.The show will feature works in the WARHOL – A Different Idea of Love exhibition, which comes from the private collection of Ron Rivlin and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.The exhibit will be staged Monday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm, in a warehouse at 1280 Homer from March 1 to 30. Admission is free.WarholVancouver.com

Sarah Shabacon wears one of her headpieces on a tropical shoot. Contributed photo

Letting it go to her head NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

It’s no surprise her accessory business blew up on Instagram.

Sarah Shabacon is a stunner with an alluring feed that shows off the darling headbands she creates, along with the exotic locations she’s travelled to, gorgeous interiors that inspire her, and many stylish women wearing her trademark bands.

“Honestly, it was Instagram that took my business up for me,” Shabacon says, explaining the rise of her quaint headband empire, called IWEARTHEHEADRESS, which she runs from her home.

Her one-woman operation has thousands of eager followers, waiting to see the next post

from the young accessories designer.

Her creations are simple: headbands made of either patterned or monochromatic fabrics, along with flower bands, which sit on the head like a floral crown.The appeal of the bands is that while they are simple, they add serious hits of colour and style.

Shabacon started making the gypsy-inspired headpieces two years ago when her first son was born. She recently gave birth to her second child.

While juggling a toddler (and now a newborn), Shabacon has put together a charming assortment of headdresses with fabrics she sources from around the world. She travelled extensively before her oldest son was born, spending time in Europe and Africa.

“After I graduated high school, I went to Africa and I was volunteering in an orphanage inTanzania.When I was over there, I was obviously in love with all of the fabrics,” she explains.

Along with the bold African prints, Shabacon uses exotic fabrics fromThailand and India.The interesting prints are what distinguishes her headpieces from other bands – they have that boho feel, but are elevated by the quality materials she works with.

“You can’t find clothing, or especially head wraps, made out of that kind of fabric anywhere (inVancouver), so I like to be able to offer that,” Shabacon says.

Next up for the busy mom – she is planning a website re-launch and a spring/

summer release of her latest creations next month, which have started trickling in on her Instagram account.

Shabacon nourishes her creative appetite through travel, home décor, and fine art.

“Usually if I see a colour scheme that I like or a piece of artwork, I go off of that. I try to find fabric that just sort of emulates that,” she says, adding that being a mom has only intensified her need to be creative. “I also feel like since I’ve become a mom, it’s easier for me to tap into my creative outlet. I never would have done this before I had a kid.”

Check out her inspirational feed on Instagram at IWEARTHEHEADRESS. Check out her designs at Wishlist Boutique and Privilege Clothing. W

BLO BOUNCES INTO HUDSON’S BAY

Blo Blow Dry Bar recently opened an express style bar at TOPSHOP in Hudson’s Bay Vancouver.The location will feature express Blo Out Dry Style Stations offering up styles from their signature hair menu for $28. Blo’s stylists will be on site atTOPSHOP locations every weekend,Thursday through Sunday.

NIFTY SHOPPING EVENT

Vancouver’s eighth annual Nifty for Fifty sale is set to bring together 30 local designers and artists under one roof on April 19. Just in time for locals to stock up on spring staples, the event will be held at Heritage Hall (3102 Main), from 11am to 8pm, and will host some ofVancouver’s finest indie designers, including Adhesif Clothing, Allison Wonderland, Elroy Apparel, Bronsino, KDON, Bueno Style, WE3 and more.

One of North America’s largest collections of Andy Warhol paintings comes to Vancouver March 1-30.

LIGHTING UP GASTOWN

A new modern lighting showroom is opening in Gastown’s historic BC Electric Building.The showroom launch party is set for 6pm on Friday, Feb. 27. LightForm owner and founder Richard Assaly will be on hand, along with local historical painter Tom Carter, who will share the fascinating history and evolution of the building.

OBAKKI: GIVING IN TRUE FASHION

Shop in good conscience at Vancouver design house Obakki. Creative director Treana Peake has provided an astounding 600 water wells for drought-plagued South Sudan, created 12 schools in Cameroon, and supported a number of orphanages for more than 20 years through the Obakki Foundation. Meanwhile, the fashion brand absorbs the administrative fees of the Obakki Foundation, allowing the charity to send 100 per cent of public donations directly to its humanitarian projects. Plus, let’s not forget how stunning Obakki’s designs are. W • Send your retail and fashion happenings to nikihope@shaw.ca

Designer Files: Spa style Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

Great service is essential, but nothing compares to a full service experience.

When I first featured the Miraj Hammam Spa as part of my Valentines Day Five Finds for their Couples Special, I couldn’t resist checking out what other services they offer. I booked an appointment to discover the traditional practice of Hammam & Gommage and from my first steps into the spa, I knew this would be unlike anything else in the city.While the actual Hammam was one of the most relaxing, invigorating treatments I’ve had, it was the design of the space that was

the true indulgence.

What struck me initially was the beautifully intimate ambiance; I was immediately greeted with intricate tile work, the inviting aromas of essential oils, and seating adorned with globally-inspired textiles.The overhead lighting was carefully selected to offer soft light with ornate detailing, and even the design of the reception desk added to the overall feel.

I was inspired by my discussion with spa owner, Surinder Bains-Kassour, who sat down with me post-treatment to share the origins and story behind the curated interior décor.When Miraj Hammam opened in 2000, the first of its kind in Canada, it was designed to reflect the the essence of La Mosquee in Paris in the 5 Arrondissement.

“We custom built our space

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to [emulate] the culture and architecture of North Africa, specifically Morocco,” says Bains-Kassour.

Global treasures adorn the waiting area amongst the custom made essential oil blends, aromatherapy burners and infamous Moroccan black soaps, offering a taste of the experience ahead. Small wall hangings, carvings and brass urns and vases collected over world travels create the essence of a global setting. One of the most notable pieces I saw was an intricate tea set; this Syrian collection was a gift to Bains-Kassour from author Barbara Hodgson, who wrote No Place for a Lady.

My favourite part of the spa was the Sultana Lounge, the quiet room of reflection where guests unwind and partake in traditional teas and sweet cakes.The lounge

Intricate details create a global experience at Miraj Hammam Spa. Rob Newell photo offers elaborate beds to stretch out it, layered with stunning textiles, pillows and overhead curtains to create the intimate vibe. A warm, inviting palette enhances the feel, with deep reds, purples and golds.

Within the lounge, there

is a beautiful water feature inspired by the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain.

From a designer’s perspective, this was one of the most unique, eclectic spaces I’ve seen – one that I didn’t know I could find in Vancouver. For

anyone looking for a complete global experience, combined with an incredible relaxation, the Miraj Hammam should be at the top of your list of mustsee places. W • For more photos, head to Westender.com

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EAT // DRINK

@WESTENDERVAN

DINING OUT Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet

@FoodGirlFriday TrumpTowerVancouver has announced some grand new dining and drinking additions. Famed Hong Kong restaurant Mott 32 will be opening a satellite location once the building is completed and the hotel will have what they claim is the city’s first hotel champagne bar.TrumpVancouver.com

Clockwise from top left: Bâtard Boulangerie exterior; Owner Elsie Born; Latte with St. Honore pastry; Batard Boulangerie interior; Fresh Kouign-Amann pastries.

Rob Newell photos

Bâtard bakes up rustic and delicious goods Anya Levykh Nosh

@FoodGirlFriday BÂTARD BOULANGERIE

3958 Fraser St. 604-506-3958 BatardBakery.com Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8am-6pm.

The name might be a bit off-putting, but calling your business a “bastard” isn’t exactly new in France. It’s the name of one of Drouhin’s most highly-rated Grand Crus, and one of the most famous white wines in the Côte de Beaune. Such a pedigree, if only by name, might sound a bit chi-chi, but this

new bakery on Fraser Street is anything but.

Bâtard offers both retail and café service. One wall is plastered with garage sale oils, all harmoniously playing together, the bathroom walls are covered with portraits of famous “bastards” like David Bowie, and the furniture is old country kitchen kitsch.

In other words, it’s a fun, slightly cheeky space that balanced the line between “reclaimed” and “grungy” with panache. The retail side of the space offers spreads, salads, oils, San Marzano tomatoes and dried pasta, chocolates and housemade beverages like old-fashioned lemonade and chilled ginger soda.

Like many boulangeries

GRAND OPENING

in Paris, Bâtard also bakes monstrous loaves of their signature levain, which you can buy in a more reasonable size for $6. The kilo rounds hover around $25-$30, and are perfect for large groups. The levain is lovely, with a slightly crispy crust that isn’t too crumbly, and a beautifullytextured interior that stands up well to hearty sandwiches and the toast bar.

Yes, there’s a toast bar (one of the first in Vancouver). Four dollars or thereabouts gets you two thick slices of toast with your choice of smoked wild salmon or cognac liver pâté, housemade jams, nut butters or olive tapenade.You can even take it home for morning treats.

Speaking of treats, these are less rustic than the breads, but no less delicious.

Salted chocolate rye cookies are rich, fudgy and perfectly delightful. A lemon tart has a nice custard that’s almost a gelée, but it’s the miniature St. Honoré that blows me away. The palm-sized cream puff is topped with tiny, caramel-glazed profiteroles and fresh raspberries. It’s so heavenly my eyes close while chewing.

For something heartier, turn to one of the sandwiches (around $9 each). While the solid shrimp salad is a bit messy to eat with your hands – it’s served open face with thick tomato slices – it’s the truly outstanding beef dip that is worth returning for.

Proud to serve the West End! Best Traditional Poutine West of Montreal!

Over 40 kinds of poutine Spruce Beer • Smoked Meat Steamies • Licensed

699

$

792 Denman St. 778-379-3280 11 AM - 11 PM Westender.com

Food: ★★★★★ Service: ★★★★★ Ambiance: ★★★★★ Value: ★★★★★ Overall: ★★★★★

Angus An, owner of Maenam, is also opening a new restaurant in Chinatown, called Fat Mao at 217 East Georgia.

Opening is set for early April.

The small, licensed space will focus on noodles, but don’t expect ramen. ExpectThai, Japanese and Singaporean noodles, among others.

Wildebeest and Road 13 Vineyards have partnered again to release the restaurant’s second vintage of wines.The Syrah-Mourvedre andViognierRoussane blends are now available at the restaurant by the bottle and glass.Wildebeest.ca

Continued on page 7

Legendary Noodle 2013

We proudly serve the West End neighbourhood with Gold Standard.

LUNCH SPECIAL SWEET & SOUR PORK & RICE

The meat is sliced just thin enough to retain its juices and allow for an easy chew, and the accompanying jus is practically a gravy. Savoury and soul-satisfying, it will hopefully be a constant on the menu.

Like the many celebrities hanging on the bathroom walls, this bastard has turned out good.

Find Anya Levykh on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday. FoodGirlFriday.com W

Salli Pateman, formerly of Section (3) inYaletown, will be opening SaiWoo at 160 Pender in Chinatown. Opening is set for early March.The restaurant will have two levels: the 113seat upper floor will be home to a dining area, bar and chef’s table; the 75-seat lower floor will feature its own bar and smaller menu.The location was home to one of the city’s earliest and most popular Chinese eateries, SaiWoo Chop Suey, in the 1930s, and, most recently, New Town Bakery. Chef Douglas Chang (formerly of West and Bambudda) leads the kitchen, while Justin Anello (also from West) will handle things behind the wood. Look for contemporary share plates with aWest Coast and Cantonese focus, and Asian-influenced cocktails.

SaiWoo.ca

1215 Davie St • 604-569-1215

1074 Denman St. 604-669-8551 LegendaryNoodle.ca

Take-out poutine for your main meal, side dish, or a yummy after school treat.

Fresh noodles • Gluten free noodles available

February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 5

EAT // DRINK

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WINE There is more online

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Five Wine Fest tables to visit Michaela Morris By the Bottle @MichaelaWine

E XC E P T I O N A L I TA L I A N C U I S I N E

Join us for Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday starting February 12th, 2015.

Come and hear some of the finest Jazz musicians in the country.

FEATURING: Feb 12 - 14 Olly Gannon Trio

March 5 - 7 Cory Weeds Quartet

Feb 19 - 21 Steve Kaldestad

March 12 - 14 Mike Allen Trio

Feb 26 - 28 Cam Ryga Trio

March 19 - 21 Jodi Proznick Trio

$10 COVER CHARGE - FREE COVER CHARGE WITH DINNER

Don’t forget to visit us for

1/2 PASTA PRICE

SUNDAYS

RESERVE TODAY! 860 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X9 (Across the street from the Sutton Place Hotel)

T: 604 685 7770 | francescos.com

heart health clinic keep your heart healthy Register with your Urban Fare pharmacist and receive: • A blood test of your cholesterol • Lifestyle tips, including diet and nutrition • A review of your medicines Call your pharmacist to book your appointment today.

March 6, 2015 10am to 2pm pharmacy:

Yaletown + 177 Davie @ Pacific 604+975+7544

pharmacy:

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• Source of Omega 3 • Supports heart health See in store for more details.

The Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Tasting Room could be considered heaven.

One hundred and seventy wineries will be pouring more than 750 wines.The sad truth is that you won’t be able to try them all.While making a valiant attempt, don’t forget to chat with the fine folks who are behind the booths pouring. Many of them are winery owners or winemakers and have a come a long way to chat about their wines.

Below are just a few of my must-visit tables with the fascinating people you’ll meet there and what to try.

Yalumba with Jane Ferrari, winemaker and communicator extraordinaire To Jane’s title I would add tireless ambassador, not just forYalumba but also for the Barossa Valley. Hilarious, sometimes irreverent but always a fascinating educator, she’ll deftly defendYalumba’s position as organic “fencesitters”.Try her.

My pick: 2014 Yalumba,Y Series, Viognier • South Australia • $17.99, BC Liquor Stores This plush white evokes spring flowers and a bowl of the ripest, most succulent peaches.

Fowles with Matt Fowles, CEO Handsome, witty, charming and down-to-earth all describe Matt. An avid hunter, he also knows how to shoot a gun. Most importantly, he is responsible for some damn good Shiraz and Chardonnay.

Spend some time with him finding out why the region of Strathbogie Ranges is capable of producing top-notch wine.

My pick: 2013 Fowles, Are You Game? Chardonnay • Australia • $24-28, VIWF

and private wine stores Taste what a judicious use of oak means.Tropical mango and vanilla notes and a creamy texture are balanced by zesty lemon and bright acidity.

McGuigan with Neil McGuigan, CEO/chief winemaker One of Australia’s five largest producers, McGuigan may be associated with inexpensive everyday drinking wine.What intrigues me though is their expansion to the premium level. Besides delving into more specific regional expressions of Aussie’s classic varieties, they’re also offering some interesting off-the-beaten-track gems.

Highly awarded winemaker Neil McGuigan will lend insight into where Australian wine in general is headed.

My pick: 2013 McGuigan, Shortlist Montepulciano • Barossa Valley, Australia • $29.99, VIWF store only Italy’s Montepulciano grape meets Australia. Exuberant yet firmly structured with wild dark cherries, chocolate and licorice. A mere 400 cases made.

Montes with Aurelio Montes Jr, director of winemaking I had the pleasure of meeting Aurelio Montes Sr when Chile was the theme country in 2012 and he made quite an impression on me.This year his son, who is said to

be just as charismatic, will be joining us. Questions about terroir, biodynamics or Syrah in Chile? He’s your guy.

My pick: 2012 Montes, Alpha Syrah • Colchagua Valley, Chile $25-29 • VIWF and private wine stores A spicy and expressive number. Lots of baked black plum and blackberry tangled with sarsaparilla and toast.

Stina with Ivica Kovačević, winery director Though Croatia has been making wine for centuries, great improvements in the last couple of decades make this a most exciting up-and -coming wine country.The Stina winery, located on the stunning Dalmatian coast and brought to its modern iteration by Ivica Kova"evi!, attests to this.

My pick: 2010 Stina, Majstor Plavac Mali • Bra", Croatia • $59.99, BC Liquor Stores Crafted from the indigenous Plavac Mali grape, which boasts Zinfandel as one of its parents. Grilled herbs, maraschino cherry, subtle smoke, tamarind and cinnamon stick are underlined by grippy tannin. W • If you don’t have your VIWF tickets yet, there are still some available for Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon.VanWineFest.com

Queers & Beers an East Van original KRISTYN ANTHONY @allovthethings

There is no denying that craft beer is taking over Vancouver, or at least East Van. Anyone who has worked in the industry, or simply stepped inside one of the dozens of breweries to open its doors last year alone, knows there is a definite broculture associated with the craft beer scene.

Ryn Broz wants to change that. Moving to Vancouver a year and a half ago with her partner, Broz couldn’t help but notice a lack of queeridentified establishments.

“We wanted to create an alternative to loud, busy bars where people may have

intentions other than simply socializing. A space that was comfortable and safe to meet new people or take a date and explore the craft brew scene.”

Already an avid home brewer and self-professed beer nerd, Broz quickly noticed a parallel between the growing craft beer scene and the LGBTQ community. A few phone calls to the local favourites she frequents followed by a Facebook shout out, and Queers & Beers was born.

“We’re definitely still morphing the event, getting the word out, etc.” Broz explains over a pint at Strange Fellows, “but we’ve had great turnouts, always different

faces and the ages range, sometimes depending on the brewery we choose.”

For now, the event is held monthly, on a loose schedule dependent on space in tiny tap rooms across the city.

Broz says she’d like to see the event evolve the way its participants want it to, so feedback is important while getting it off the ground.

As for how many other beer nerds were in attendance, Broz laughs sheepishly. “The thing about the beer is that it’s the perfect conversation crutch, a good fall back when that awkward silence occurs.”

After a moment she adds, “What did you think of the dark IPA?” W

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EAT // DRINK

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BEER

How to become a drunk, fat loser Stephen Smysnuik The Growler @StephenSmys

This might surprise you, but I drink a lot of beer. A lot.

It’s exhausting work, drinking beer most days and having to write about it. So is watching the belly expand. And observing the looks of consternation grow more permanent on my wife’s face, what with the grizzled beard and regular hangovers. Also, witnessing the fridge’s ratio of fresh veggies to beer bottles skew ever greater toward the latter.

I’m helpless to stop all of it, of course. This is free beer we’re talking about.

But can you believe I receive little-to-no sympathy when discussing the perils of this job? I’m beginning to think no one wants to hear about it. All I hear are orchestras of tiny, stringed instruments, playing off in the distance, whenever I bring this up.

I’m going to make a change. Complaining has led me nowhere. Attempts at a healthier lifestyle have fizzled. My only option now, after six months of beer writing, is to embrace the life totally, to own my destiny completely: I’ll become a flabby, drunken slob.

Here’s how to do it.

Come join me, won’t you?

Limit “self control” to selfcontrolling exercise.

Once you give up the desire to do anything remotely active, and the illusions that it’s somehow “vital to your health”, you’re open to a world of unimpeachable freedom.Yes, a freedom to partake in diddlysquat in your underpants with a can a beer resting on your swollen abdomen. It’s a beautiful thing, letting it all go.

Avoid relationships that don’t involve alcohol.

This includes your spouse, if you have a marriage like mine, where you haven’t gotten obliterated – just the two of you – since the heady days of courtship.

What days wasted! Such time, lost!

Ensure all social calls include beer.

If this means you see the same two people every single day, one of whom has been missing his left shoelace for three weeks and primarily smokes discarded cigarette butts, then so be it.

Cut out anyone that questions your drinking, or expresses concern.

Be savage about it. Most people aren’t worth speaking to any way.

Avoid sessional beers.

Yes, low-alcohol, the socalled “sessional” beers, are trendy right now, but any serious beer drinker knows these beers are for pansies.

What, you call that can of Bottle Rocket a real beer?

Chump, please. Get a head full of Thor’s Hammer, then we can talk.Yes. Only then can we talk.

Eat A&W. Because it’s the best. Also I’m paid $20 and a Teen Burger every time I mention the brand in print.

Keep beer in your desk.

The most effective cure for the workplace hangover is more beer. OK, I understand that not everyone has the luxury of receiving free beer at their office on a weekly basis, and that not everyone’s co-workers understand and accept that the half-empty 650ml bottle of Imperial IPA cradled between your thighs at 10:42am is “for research purposes.” I get it. A creative approach might be necessary. Coffee mugs and breath mints are helpful tools.

(Speaking of which, peppermint schnapps is a fine alternative to both breath mints and toothpaste.)

Lie to everyone, regularly.

In response to a brewery manager’s query of whether I had enjoyed the free beer he had recently given me, I wrote this: “I’ve been clean and sober for the past week, so haven’t [sic] had a chance to try the beers.” This is fiction. I’ve been semi-drunk since last Saturday.

Why would I lie?

Because it’s necessary to keep a healthy – emphasis on healthy – distance between yourself and everyone you know, at all times, in order to stave off any insights or perspectives that may disrupt your desire to drink constantly and prodigiously.

So lie. Lie to your mother. Lie to your spouse.

Lie to your dog, and your grocer, and your barista.

Tell them white lies, and porous black ones.

But you must, without question, lie to yourself about everything, always, if you want to keep it up.

There we have it. We’re now drunk losers. Manifest destiny. Onward soldier.

Prosper. Blarghin. W

Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet

@FoodGirlFriday Vikram Vij’s latest restaurant, Mian Barwachi (the name translates as “Sir Cook,” his grandmother’s nickname for him as a young boy) is set to open in the current Vij’s location on West 11th.Vij’s will be moving to Cambie Street later this year, after which the new restaurant will launch.

Save On Meats has launched a special monthly chef collaborative supper

Tickets $95. GreasySpoonDiner.com As part of its ongoing Coast to Coast Market Dinner series, Edible Canada will welcome Top Chef Dale Mackay (formerly of Lumière and Ensemble, and currently owner of Ayden Kitchen & Bar in Saskatoon) on March 2 to launch Saskatchewan Month.

The three-course menu includes Pine Farms prairie pork pate, Lake Diefenbaker trout with Saskatchewan beluga lentils, and bramblethorn ice cream.Tickets $125.

EdibleCanada.com W

Vikram Vij to open new restaurant on West 11th.

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series, Greasy Spoon Diner, in support of A Better Life Foundation. Each chef is challenged to create a four-course meal and will be paired with a local craft brewer or distiller.The chef will also get to bring in their own bartender and custom drinks menu for the night. At the end of the night, the chef will challenge a peer to take on the next month’s dinner.

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February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 9

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MUSIC

The redheaded superheroes of Supermoon play Winter Waste Feb. 27. Contributed photo

Music Waste: Not that kind of music festival LOUISE BURNS music@westender.com

With a fresh crop of music festivals popping up each year, “The Music Festival” has become synonymous with big business, superstar headliners, and $7 water bottles.

Music Waste is not that kind of music festival.

“It started as a protest against the music industry festival that was New Music West,” says Mike Gittens, one of Music Waste’s event coordinators. “No one remembers New Music West soooooo that part is pretty much irrelevant now.”

Music Waste first saw light in 1994, starting as a

one-night concert. It quickly caught on, appealing to the city’s underground community who saw industry-centric festivals like New Music West as a misrepresentation of their scene.

Now, 21 years later, long after New Music West has died and been forgotten, Music Waste is still going strong. The festival now sprawls over four days, featuring dozens of bands at 20 music venues across East Vancouver.

The event is run by and for the local music scene, fostering a powerful sense of community and showcasing a diverse range of local artists. As a result, Music Waste has showcased some

REVIEWS // HUMANS

Noontide (Hybridity) It is hard to believe that Humans, one of Vancouver’s most well established electronic-pop duos, are only now releasing their debut album.

Years of EP’s, relentless touring and audience engagement have made them a great live band, so needless to say their debut falls under the “highly anticipated” category.

For the most part, Noontide delivers. Opener

“Tell Me” has an anthemic, catchy-as-sin chorus one could easily see being the main event at a big-stage festival. “Watusi” is the sonic definition of a “summer jam”, giving us visions of beach parties and sun burnt flings, while “Follow”

10 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

of Vancouver’s biggest talent and its alumni, including White Lung, Mac DeMarco and Japandroids.

“I think one of the reasons the festival has survived 21 years is that it isn’t about money or the music industry at all.” says Gittens. “The entire festival is volunteerrun, from the organizing committee to the web site, poster and logo design to the wonderful door staff volunteers.”

In other words, there are no energy-drink-funded stages or corporate sponsorship to pay the bills. Every show at Music Waste has a bargain ticket price of $5, and a pass to the entire festival is only $15. Of course, running a showcases their more electronic side, reminiscent of the robotic dance hall pop of Edmonton steamrollers Shout Out Out Out Out, who’s Nik Kozub produced Noontide.

Sometimes the vision drifts, and you get the sense they are not entirely sure which side of electro-pop to fall on. But when Humans are on top of their game, there’s no telling where they could take it. –Louise Burns Rating: ★★★ ★ ★

music festival that’s based on affordability while also making an effort to make sure bands get paid can put a certain strain on the financial side of things for the people running the show.

Enter Winter Waste, the third-annual submission kick-off party and fundraiser happening on Feb. 27 and a welcome break up to Vancouver’s dreary, often indolent winter season.

This year will see the likes of Supermoon, Energy Slime, High Wasted and more take stage at The Hindenburg – a small sampling of the great talent we will see come June.

“Winter Waste will be so much fun!! It’s comprised of

some of our favourite bands from Music Waste last year and some new acts that we really like,” says a rather stoked Gittens.

If Music Waste sounds enticing to you and your band, submissions start on Feb. 27 and close on April 17. All you have to do is visit MusicWaste.ca, fill out a form (including your music) and wait to hear back from their “completely sober panel of judges”.

Even if you aren’t selected, you can still get involved: “We invite you to put on your own show, send us the info and we promote it along with the rest of the festival!”

Gittens explains. “We call it the Go Your Own Waste

MOON DUO

Shadow of the Sun (Sacred Bones Records) On their third LP, San Francisco’s Moon Duo (lead

by Wooden Shjips’ Ripley Johnson) ride their psychedelic soundwave to more solid ground.

The band were said to have written Shadow of the Sun in an “evolving phase”, AKA, when they were not on tour.This is not apparent in the music, as there is an undertow of motion and drive in each and every song, perhaps thanks to the new addition of Canadian drum-

mer John Jeffrey (Yukon Blonde, High Ends).

“Wilding” opens the record with a Suicide-meetsThe Velvet Underground hammering organ beat, while Ripley whispers his way into a tambourine heavy chorus.

“In A Cloud”, one of the

portion of the fest. It really makes the festival inclusive and accessible to the entire city.

“Music Waste is a celebration of Vancouver’s creative culture right now. Nestled away in studios and jam spaces throughout Vancouver there are a wealth of people creating amazing art.” W

Winter Waste is Feb. 27 at The Hindenburg, featuring Supermoon, Weird Candle, Energy Slime, Brass, High Wasted, Poor Baby, Ace Martens. Tix $5 before 10pm. $10 after 10pm.

album’s mellowest moments, takes us into a hazy drift of golden guitar tones and meditative beat, met with the Duo’s signature soft-cool vocal delivery.

While most of their work has dwelled in the subterranean kraut-like terrain of drone and far-out grooves, Shadow Of The Sun elevates them into a brighter territory. In a press release, the music is described as a “paradoxically sane sound of confusion”, ironically, it may be their most coherent to date. –Louise Burns Rating: ★★★★★

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ARTS // CULTURE

@WESTENDERVAN

FILM & TV

Take a walk on the Crazy side Sabrina Furminger visits Crazy8s sets during insane filming weekend Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

When I step onto the first of the two Crazy8s sets I’m scheduled to visit onValentine’s Day, I’m on the lookout for wild-eyed, hyped-up filmmakers on the verge of nervous breakdowns.

I think nervous breakdowns are called for, given the circumstances.The entire premise for Crazy8s is nuts: six filmmaking teams receive eight days (three on set, five in postproduction) to shoot and lock a short film.

What’s more, these teams won this opportunity over 189 other filmmaking teams, up 40 from last year.They all willingly put themselves forward to create their short films under the gun.

Of course, there are benefits to being selected for the Crazy8s movie-making marathon: an influx of cash, and a production package containing everything filmmakers might need to make a short film in just eight days (not to mention the world premiere of said film at a fancy gala).

In recent years, Crazy8s films have gone on to do exceptionally well on the festival circuit: last year’s puppet-centric Bed Bugs:A Musical Love Story screened inWhistler and at theVancouver Short Film Festival, and 2013’s ode to film noir Under the Bridge of Fear aired on CBCTelevision.

The results speak for themselves. Nonetheless, heading into my set visits, I find the entire premise to be bonkers, and I expect to see bonkers

Cinderella is a fella in The Twisted Slipper – a modern Crazy8s fairy tale starring Arctic Air alum Adam DiMarco. Contributed filmmaking in action.

But as I pass through the doors of the NorthVancouver elementary school where Crazy8s comedy Kindergarten, Da Bin IchWieder is being filmed, and observe dozens of cast and crew quietly performing their tasks with laser-focused diligence, I quickly realize I’m going to have to revisit my definition of crazy.

Kindergarten, Da Bin Ich Wieder is the story of Audrey Ragnarson (played by Aubrey Arnason, the affable co-host of TheWedding Belles), a grown-up who (for the kind of reasons that exist only in movies) must enroll in kindergarten after skipping it the first time around.

They’re running three hours behind schedule, which is concerning to writer and codirector Arnason, but she’s not banging her head against the blackboard (yet).

“We’ve had to move things around, but [co-director Kalyn Miles] has a great vision for the

film, and we’re able to change things on the fly,” says Arnason, dressed in a kindergartenappropriate yellow frock. “We know the story so well that we’re able to manipulate things to get our shots. And if we don’t, what are we going to do?” Arnason laughs. “Maybe we’ll put the script page right up on the screen.”

She’s laughing, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy.

I don’t detect any craziness at the other Crazy8s set I visit that day, either: TheTwisted Slipper, filming at North Shore Studios, although I do encounter a helluva lot of hairspray.

TheTwisted Slipper is a modern take on the Cinderella story. In this version – cowritten by Sharai Rewels and Angie Nolan, and directed by Nolan – Cinderella is a fella (portrayed by Arctic Air alum Adam DiMarco) who yearns to be a drag queen. “[DiMarco] has to really play the emotion for the audience to really care, and I

can’t imagine what it’s like for him because he’s never done it in massive high heels and a crazy wig and a gown before, but what he’s brought so far is magical and beautiful,” raves Nolan.

I peek into the bustling hair and make-up room. Actresses like S. Siobhan McCarthy and Laura Adkin perch patiently in chairs while make-up artists and hair stylists secure intricate wigs onto their heads and false lashes onto their eyelids.

David C. Jones (who plays Destiny, a Fairy Drag Mother) shows me his long fake fingernails, and professes admiration for theVancouver drag queens who’ve inspired his performance in the film.

I leave TheTwisted Slipper not having found crazy, but creativity, a collaborative spirit, and lots and lots of glitter.

The four other Crazy8s films each promise their own special blends of cinematic magic: One Last Ride from writer/director Caitlin Byrnes (daughter of blues legend Jim Byrnes) showcases the staggering talent of singer/songwriter Colleen Rennison; Scott Belyea’s gritty drama Outside the Lines peels back the curtain on telephone fraud; Under a Glass Moon from writer/director Mo Soliman requires septuagenarian thespian MelTuck to engage in hand-to-hand combat; and Jem Garrard’s TheWolfWho Came to Dinner employs an array of special effects techniques, including an epic werewolf prosthetic.

You can tap into the Crazy8s madness yourself at the gala screening of the six Crazy8s films atThe Centre (co-hosted

by Diana Bang from The Interview and NelsonWong of American Mary), followed by a rollicking after-party at ScienceWorld.The craziness goes down Feb. 28. W • Details at Crazy8s.cc/events/ gala-screening-party

REVIEWS // HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2

Starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Adam Scott Directed by Steve Pink While wedding high-concept storytelling with low-brow comedy, 2010’s HotTubTime Machine retained a modicum of relatability by tapping into a fantasy that we all routinely indulge in:What if you were offered a redo of one critical moment in your life? Deprived of the original novelty factor, this follow-up abandons any opportunities for emotional resonance in favour of posing the more speculative question:What if someone travelled back in time and shot you in the dick?

If you’re Lou (Rob Corddry) – a temporally displaced, insufferable billionaire who struts around like Bret Michaels and has exploited his knowledge of aughts-era technology to launch search engine “Lougle” in the ‘80s – you have your buddy Nick (Craig Robinson) and son Jacob (Clark Duke) haul you into the whirlpool/wormhole and transport you to 2025. Joining up with Adam Jr. (Adam Scott) – the son of John Cusack’s character from the first instalment – they attempt to identify Lou’s assailant.

With Cusack having the good sense to steer clear of this ill-conceived sequel, Corddry is disastrously promoted to lead.While you begrudgingly appreciate Corddry’s uncompromising boorishness – it’s unusual for a comedian to make no attempts to ingratiate himself to an audience – he lends the already laboured attempts at comedy a spitefulness that rankles rather than amuses.

Ultimately, a dip in this Hot Tub leaves you feeling in desperate need of a shower.

–CurtisWoloschuk

A STORY OF CHALLENGED FAITH, A FORGOTTEN PAST, AND EMERGING LOVE

MCFARLAND

Starring Kevin Costner, Carlos Pratts Directed by Niki Caro Disney’s new sports drama is like a batch of your mom’s beloved chocolate chip cookies – you know exactly what you’re going to get but, boy, does it taste good.

Based on the true story of 1980s track coach JimWhite, Kevin Costner, enjoying a full-fledged comeback, portrays the protagonist who, after being fired from a string of jobs for his erratic temper, lands an underwhelming gig teaching cross country running to the boys of the predominantly Latino community of McFarland in California’s CentralValley.

Reluctant at first to listen to their new coach, the students soon rally around the stoicWhite as he imbues their potential for greatness.

Director Niki Caro sets the tone early and audiences know what they’re in for; it may be another rousing story of overcoming the odds and following your heart but it’s hard not to root for everyone along for the ride and the film’s examination of racial tension is commendable albeit simplistic.

Costner, who seems to be aging like a fine wine and actually becoming a better actor, is solid and balances his performance with just enough edge and sentimentality.The runners, including Carlos Pratts and Johnny Ortiz, avoid the distraction of being recognizable actors and let their compelling performances speak for themselves.

Technically, the movie is beautiful to watch thanks to Terry Stacey’s crisp cinematography that captures the film’s dust-caked setting.

McFarland doesn’t break any new narrative ground and the script could have used some finesse but it’s not without its inspirational charms. –Thor Diakow

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WHAT’S ON Th/26

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Sa/28

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MUSIC

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OLD MAN GLOOM Experimental sludge metal band from New Mexico appear in support of their new album The Ape of God with guests Coliseum and Baptists.

8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu, Neptoon, Highlife and Scrape Records or at TicketWeb.ca

TOPS Montreal pop band on tour to support their latest release Picture You Staring with special guests Dada Plan. 7pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

HOWLIN’ RAIN American heavy rock band on tour in support of new LP release Mansion Songs with special guests Three Wolf Moon, The Blank Tapes and Dead Quiet. 8pm at The Hindenburg. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu, Scrape, Neptoon and TicketWeb.ca

HALLELUJAH PRAISE THE GOOD NOISE Vancouver Gospel Choir presents an uplifting finale to celebrations for Black History Month, featuring a program where Motown meets Gospel, for a groove-filled evening. 3:30pm at Ryerson United Church. Tickets $15 at BrownPaperTickets.com

GONDWANA Pop-reggae outfit from Santiago, Chile appear as part of the Reggae ‘N’ Roll tour.

7pm at Red Room. Tickets $20 at ClubZone.com

FRED EAGLESMITH Veteran rocker appears in support of his latest release Tambourine, playing the second of two shows. 8pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $32 at Highlife, Red Cat, Prussin Music, Rufus’ Guitars and RogueFolk. bc.ca

LEISURE CRUISE New York duo of Dave Hodge (Broken Social Scene) and Leah Siegel on tour to support their forthcoming debut release with special guests Young Liars. 7pm at Media club. Tickets $14 at Red Cat and TicketWeb.ca

GAY NINETIES Vancouver rockers appear in support of their new album Liberal Guilt. 8pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $12 at EventBrite.ca

COMEDY SIMON KING Prolific writer and utterly explosive stand-up brings his sharp, socially conscious material to the stage after appearances at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival, The Comedy Network with work featured on SNL, Mad TV and The Daily Show. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

THEATRE/DANCE SISTER JUDY A popular university theology professor is rocked when a brilliant new student challengers her notions of love and devotion.

8pm at Revue Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Opening night, runs until March 21.

ART 60 SECONDS IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC A group of paintings by artist KA Colorado; his statement on the contemporary implications of global warming and its effect on climate, that will remain for three years. Opening reception at 6pm at the Maritime Museum.

MEDIUM-BASED TIME Berlin based Canadian artist Jeremy Shaw presents a black and white 16mm film of transgender voguer Leiomy Moldonado, an HD video installation and a new series of light-activa ted UV prints. Opening reception 7-10pm at Contemporary Art Gallery.

SAM ROBERTS BAND Montreal rockers on tour in support of Lo-Fantasy with special guests Vancouver’s own, The River and The Road. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $35 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca JMSN R&B singer-songwriter from Detroit on tour to support his latest release JMSN (The Blue Album).

7pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife, Beatstreet and TicketWeb.ca LITTLE DEBBIE Northern California rapper plays an early show with guests. 8pm at Fortune Sound Club. Tickets $20 at FortuneSoundClub.ElectroStub.com

COMEDY SIMON KING Prolific writer and utterly explosive stand-up brings his sharp, socially conscious material to the stage after appearances at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival, The Comedy Network with work featured on SNL, Mad TV and The Daily Show. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com BYRON BERTRAM Vancouver born and bred stand-up comic, juggler, entertainer with roles on Alcatraz and Once Upon A Time with an innate talent for voices and accents. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s.

Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com

THEATRE/DANCE THE VILLAGE A one woman show

by Canadian artist Tina Milo draws on real life stories to paint a mosaic of the roles modern women are often confined to, exploring why they often give up their true hopes and dreams. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com. Runs until Feb 28.

Byron Bertram, Feb. 27 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A fast paced adaptation of Jane Austen’s romantic novel of class, gossip and scandal, love and values in the England of 1812. 8pm at Metro Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.

MetroTheatre.com. Runs until March 7.

SISTER JUDY A popular university theology professor is rocked when a brilliant new student challengers her notions of love and devotion. 8pm at Revue Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com.

Runs until March 21.

ART

CONTINUITY & CONNECTION A concert of traditional and innovative Japanese noh performance and jazz piano featuring Yamai Tsunao and Kihara Kentaro.

7:30pm at Koerner Concert Hall.

Tickets $29 at TicketsTonight.ca TANYA TAGAQ AND LEELA GILDAY A powerful and electrifying evening with Polaris Award-winning throat singer Tagaq and Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter, Gilday. 8pm at York Theatre. Tickets $35 at Tickets.TheCultch.com BEN EVERYMAN AND JER BREAKS Folk-blues-countryrap ‘everyman’ plays the small intimate space with Vancouver guitarist Breaks. 8pm at Skinny Fat Jack’s.

BATTLE OF THE BRUSH XXII A contest consisting of five teams of two artists each with differing styles, combining their skills to complete a painting on a chosen theme with only 80 minutes to do it. 8pm at Heritage Hall. Tickets $10 at EventBrite.ca or $15 at the door.

JOSHUA RADIN Cleveland born singer-songwriter on tour in support of latest release Onward and Sideways with special guest Andrew Belle. 8pm at Rio Theatre.

Tickets $33.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca

EVENTS

CRAZY8S GALA SCREENING & AFTERPARTY Come witness the premiere of the six films made in only eight days hosted by Diana Bang and Nelson Wong with an afterparty at Science World featuring performances by Colleen Rennison and No Sinner. 7pm at the Centre (777 Homer St.) Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL The world’s best in wine come to Vancouver in a rare opportunity to meet owners and winemakers, to eat and to drink with tastings, pairing, gourmet dinners, educational seminars and culinary competitions.

At various locations throughout Vancouver. Tickets at VanWineFest.ca. Runs until March 1.

EVENTS

REBELUTION California rock, world, and reggae band appear with guests Gondwana and Jeremy Loops. 7pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $21 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca LEIGHTON MEESTER American actress and singer-songwriter on tour to support debut release Heartstrings. 7pm at The Rio. Tickets $25 at Red Cat and Ticketmaster.ca. All ages show.

THEATRE/DANCE VINETAS DEL MOZAICO A colourful flamenco dance spectacular showcasing a dozen performers in twelve dance vignettes, world percussionists and belly dance/ flamenco fusion. 3-4pm at Scotiabank Dance Centre. Tickets at EventBrite.com SHAKESPEAREAN RHAPSODY The Carousel Theatre for Young People stages this magical introduction to Shakespeare with the tales of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest full of comedy, tragedy, magic, and zaniness for young audiences. 2pm at The Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.

CarouselTheatre.ca. Runs until March 29.

COMEDY THE LAUGH GALLERY WITH GRAHAM CLARK Legendary weekly stand up show of East Vancouver’s biggest and brightest comics. 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at Eventbrite.ca

THEATRE/DANCE THE MOUNTAINTOP Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on earth in a Memphis hotel is re-imagined in this lively drama that looks both to the past and the present. 8pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until March 14.

EVENTS SICK BOSS MONDAYS AT THE LIDO Every Monday night in Mount Pleasant there’s avantgarde, improvised jazz and rock accompanied by warped analogue visuals, good beer and German pretzels. 9pm at The Lido.

Admission is always free.

15TH ANNUAL CHUTZPAH! FESTIVAL Awe-inspiring dance, insightful theatre, first-rate hilarious comedy and engaging music highlight this year’s festival with world class performances and workshops by international, local and Canadian artists. Runs until March 15 at the Norman Rothstein Theatre and various venues. Tickets at ChutzpahFestival.com

EVENTS TALKING STICK FESTIVAL Discover the work of Aboriginal arts and artists at the 14th annual festival presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance at various venues throughout the city celebrating aboriginal culture and showcasing new evolving work of today’s contemporary artists.

Tickets at FullCircle.ca.

Chutzpah! Festival, runs until March 15

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Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

WINNERS

It’s no secret that Vancouver is best place to live in the world. Heck, we know it, that’s why we live here!

Vancouver has a lot going for it: there’s the majestic mountains, the ocean, the beaches, the parks, and the untamed wilderness at our doorstep.

But what makes Vancouver a truly great city is more than good looks and fortuitous geography. It’s the people who make this multicultural metropolis what it is today. It’s our friends, our families, our neighbours that make Vancouver the best place on Earth.

So for the 18th year in a row, Westender has asked you, the people of Vancouver, our readers, to tell us what makes this city so special. This year a record number of people took part in the online poll, proving once again that Vancouverites love their city, and they’re not afraid to say so.

Robert Mangelsdorf, Editor

INDEX Winners profiles 13 City-wide results 14 West End results 21 Neighbourhood rants 25 Downtown results

28

East Side results 34 West Side results 40

DAN MANGAN: BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN

Contributed photo

Dan Mangan on Meds TheVancouver musician opens a new chapter with new album KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

There’s something refreshing about being able to call up Dan Mangan and have the number still start with a 604.

TheVancouver musician, who achieved national household-namedom for being the firstWest Coast artist signed toToronto’s illustrious Arts & Crafts record label (and has since resisted the lure of all the other eastern “making it” meccas), happily stays right where he started it all.

In doing so, Mangan has managed to become one of Canada’s most popular artists without giving up the luxury of beingVancouver’s most beloved.

From regularly promotingVancouver’s avant-garde, experimental music scene to headlining local celebrations like the city’s 125th birthday, Mangan never shies away from reminding the world where he’s from. And it’s this reciprocal relationship with the people ofVancouver that saw the singer-songwriter reach the top of the list when Westender recently tallied its 2015 Best of the City readers’ choice results.

It’s not the first time he’s received such an honour.

“To be honest, being anointed as sort of ‘Vancouver’s house band’ is great – we love

it – but we try not to put too much thought into how that happened,” he laughs, when told the good news by phone.

The conversation quickly turns serious, however, as we delve into labels that aren’t as embraced, such as the lingering, one-note image – despite executing an ambitious sonic evolution – projected upon him as an artist.

It strikes a nerve.

“I’d have this great conversation with a journalist and feel like we totally connected on all these levels,” Mangan recalls, “and then I’d read the article and it would be like, ‘Oh, he’s bearded and he wears plaid and he’s this Canadian, friendly, DIY guy’.

“There was this tendency to just go to these simple, ‘low hanging fruit’ ideas of who I was or whatever,” he concludes, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Yes, the Dan Mangan who crafted the cheery Nice, Nice, Very Nice is actually a little bent out of shape six years into his mainstream career. Not with the fans who clearly adore him, but with a world that seems stubbornly against getting to know him.

“I don’t think there was a chip on my shoulder,” he says, “but I think there was a willingness to reinvent myself a little bit.”

A large part of that reinvention involved relaunching, after an extended hiatus for side projects and fatherhood, as Dan Mangan + Blacksmith.

Initially misconstrued as a new band, Blacksmith is

actually comprised of the same “heavy fuckers” – Kenton Loewen, Gordon Grdina, John Walsh (and often Jesse Zubot, JP carter andTyson Naylor) – who have been with him since the beginning of his ascent from struggling, self-financed musician to star more than half a decade ago.

“I don’t know how I did it,” he says of the depth of talent in the band. “I’m unquestionably the worst musician on stage,” he laughs. “So it’s a beautiful thing to feel like you can lean back and they’re going to catch you.Whatever trip I’m on when approaching a song, I can explain myself in a sentence or two and they know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Sharing the spotlight has also allowed Mangan’s musical identity, one sometimes ironically criticized as being vague, to finally coalesce.

“My early work drives me crazy!” he exclaims. “I always felt, with every other record, ‘If only I had had a little bit more time or money, you know, I could make this a bit better.’ But this record feels like a finished thought,” he says confidently.

“And because it was such a group dynamic in creating it,” he adds, “I feel like I can brag about this record a little bit more. It’s not me; it’s that group of people, that time frame. It feels like a step forward into a new era of my body of work.”

And this Blacksmith move has had one other very important effect...

“What I realized after-

wards,” he adds with a laugh, “is that the band name is giving people a new reason to write about us.”

And he’s half serious, although the tonal shift of his fourth album would be reason enough to cover Club Meds.

The good-natured, selfdeprecating troubadour is at his best on this album, burying his “plaid” tendencies under swelling layers of instrumentals and bold lyrical themes that reflect the political events on his mind at the time.

Being touted as Peter Gabriel meets Grizzly Bear with a dash ofThomYorke, it’s still quintessentially Dan Mangan – the overall effect like weaving an edgy new pattern into a cozy old Cowichan sweater.

In the standout “Kitsch”, Mangan’s gravelly baritone anchors arpeggiated beeps and kaleidoscopic ripples, driving the song through the fuzzing streets of Blacksmith city. And listeners scanning the 11-track playlist for the hit-making hooks of “Robots” or its ilk are instead treated to the intense emotional climax of lead single “Vessels” (from the indie film Hector AndThe Search For Happiness).

You’ll also want to experience Ben Clarkson’s mushroom trip of a music video, starring singing inukshuks and headbobbing loons.

We’ll spare you the pause and rewind and confirm that, yes, those are Dave Grohl’s vocals chanting away in the background. It’s a subtle cameo – one Mangan himself is slow to talk about.

“We’ve had to approach it

kind of carefully,” he explains of the high-profile collaboration. “You have somebody like Dave Grohl on your record, you can’t just go flogging him and all of his notoriety for all its worth. He’s constantly playing on different records and stuff, but he does it all kind of quietly, without taking away any juice from Foo Fighters.”

Mangan met Grohl in LA while working on the soundtrack for Hector – one of the side projects he explored during his three-year performing break. Coming after the success of Mangan’s third album, 2011’s Oh Fortune, (which received two Juno Awards and a Polaris Music Prize listing) it might have seemed like an inopportune time-out, but seven years of near-non-stop touring had taken their toll.

Now, the entire ensemble is returning refreshed. And fans can expect to get the best of both Mangans this tour – the band planning to strike up a mix of new and old work alongside their largest set production yet.The audience will also get a glimpse into Mangan’s pre-fame days with the addition of Canadian grunge legend Hayden to the lineup.

“It’s amazing,” says Mangan, his grin audible over the phone. “Anyone who came near my dorm room at UBC heard some Hayden music at some point.” W • Dan Mangan + Blacksmith are inVancouver for two all-ages shows March 13 and 14 at the Vogue (918 Granville).Tickets $39.50 at NorthernTickets.com.

2013 Tesla Model S P85+ Sedan 10,795 km $108,800 Westender.com

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 13

BEST OF THE CITY //

CITY-WIDE CULTURE / PEOPLE LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR 1. Jim Pattison 2. Erin Ireland 3. Patrick Levesque

PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL 1. Push Fest PushFestival.ca 2.Fringe Fest VancouverFringe.com 3. Bard on the Beach BardOnTheBeach.org

VISUAL ARTS FESTIVAL 1. Eastside Culture Crawl CultureCrawl.ca 2. VIFF VIFF.org 3. Queer Arts Fest QueerArtsFestival.com

VISUAL ARTIST 1. Alice Rich Alice-Rich.com 2. Joe Average JoeAverageAnnex.com 3. Tiko Kerr TikoKerr.com

MUSIC FESTIVAL 1. Jazz Fest CoastalJazz.ca 2. Folk Fest TheFestival.bc.ca T-3. Squamish Valley Music Festival SquamishFestival.com T-3. Khatsalano! Music & Art Festival Khatsalano.com

MUSICIAN/BAND 1. Dan Mangan DanManganMusic.com 2. Mother Mother MotherMotherSite.com 3. Hey Ocean LoveHeyOcean.com

THEATRE COMPANY 1. Arts Club 1585 Johnston St. 604-687-1644 ArtsClub.com 2. Van TheatreSports 1502 Duranleau St. 604-738-7013 VTSL.com T-3. Firehall Arts Centre 280 East Cordova 604-689-0926 FireHallArtsCentre.com T-3. The Cultch 1895 Venables St. 604-251-1363 TheCultch.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE 1. VSO VancouverSymphony.ca 2. Chor Leoni ChorLeoni.org 3. Musica Intima MusicaIntima.org

14 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

ART GALLERY 1. VAG 750 Hornby St. 604-662-4700 VanArtGallery.bc.ca 2. Hot Art Wet City 2206 Main St. 604-764-2266 HotArtWetCity.com 3. Art Works Gallery 225 Smithe St. 604-688-3301 ArtWorksBC.com

REPERTORY/ ART-HOUSE MOVIE THEATRE 1. Rio 1660 East Broadway 604-879-3456 RioTheatre.ca 2. VanCity 604-683-3456 1181 Seymour St. 3. The Cinematheque 1131 Howe St. 604-688-8202 TheCinematheque.ca

CASINO 1. River Rock 8811 River Rd. 604-247-8900 RiverRock.com 2. Edgewater 760 Pacific Blvd.

604-687-3343 EdgewaterCasino.ca

T-3. EQ3 2301 Granville St. 604-681-5155 EQ3.com T-3. Urban Barn Various Locations UrbanBarn.com

SECOND HAND/ CONSIGNMENT FURNISHING 1. The Main Sellution 3206 Main St. 604-876-4517 2. Refind 4609 Main St. 778-855-0969 RefindHomeFurnishings.com 3. Metropolitan Home 1626 West 2nd Ave. 604-681-2313 MetropolitanHome.ca

KITCHENWARE/ COOKING 1. Ming Wo Various Locations MingWo.com 2. The Gourmet Warehouse 1340 East Hastings St. 604-253-3022 GourmetWarehouse.ca 3. Cookworks 1548 West Broadway 604-731-1148 Cookworks.ca

GARDENING STORE

3. Hard Rock 2080 United Blvd.

604-523-6888 HardRockCasinoVancouver.com

1. Art Knapp 1401 Hornby St. 604-266-9581 ArtKnapps.ca

POLITICIAN

2. Garden Works Various Locations GardenWorks.ca

1. Gregor Robertson MayorOfVancouver.ca 2. Spencer Chandra Herbert SpencerChandraHerbert.ca T-3. Hedy Fry HedyFry.com T-3. Libby Davies LibbyDavies.ca

SHOPPING FOR THE HOME HOME ACCESSORIES 1. The Cross 1198 Homer St. 604-689-2900 TheCrossDesign.com 2. Mint 1805 Fir St. 604-235-1918 Shop.MintInteriors.ca 3. Room In Order 1055 Davie St. 604-684-8884 RoomInOrder.com

3. David Hunter 2560 West Broadway 604-733-1534 DavidHunterGardenCenters.com

LIGHTING STORE 1. Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre 2285 Cambie St. 604-879-6847 RobinsonLightingAndBath.com 2. Light Form #2-425 Carrall St. 604-688-7022 LightForm.ca 3. Light the Store 2045 West 41st Ave. 604-879-6377 LightTheStore.com

HOME ELECTRONICS T-1. Future Shop Various Locations FutureShop.ca

HOME FURNISHING

T-1. Best Buy Various Locations BestBuy.ca

1. Moe’s 1728 Glen Dr. 604-687-5599 MoesHome.ca

2. Commercial Electronics 1565 West 7th Ave. 604-669-5525 CommercialElectronics.ca

2. Inspiration Furniture 1275 West 6th Ave. 604-730-1275 InspirationFurniture.ca

3. Visions Electronics 1672 SE Marine Dr. 604-718-6434 Visions.ca

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

A TRIBUTE TO

WINNERS

THE LEGENDARY

BARBRA STREISAND FRI & SAT, MAR 13 &14, 8PM

Orpheum Theatre

John Morris Russell conductor Ann Hampton Callaway vocalist Multi-platinum singer, composer and stage actor Ann Hampton Callaway joins conductor John Morris Russell and the VSO in a musical portrait of the most celebrated singer of our time, Barbra Streisand. Singing timeless classics from Streisand’s multi-faceted career, Callaway crafts a loving tribute that you will never forget.

VSO POPS RADIO SPONSOR

VSO POPS SERIES SPONSOR

MARCH 13 CONCERT SPONSOR

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TICKETS ONLINE

vancouversymphony.ca

@VSOrchestra #VSOpops

PARALLEL 49: BEST MICROBREWERY Parallel 49 brewmaster Graham With poses with a pint of his tasty handiwork.

Rob Newell photo

It’s all about the beer at Parallel 49 STEPHEN SMYSNUIK @thegrowlerbc

Is it any surprise that Parallel 49 has won Vancouver’s favourite microbrewery?

Well, maybe it is. With the explosion of craft breweries in this city, there’s now a considerable selection of quality beers to choose from. It’s certainly something that Michael Tod, P49’s sales director and founding partner, is excited about. He says the success of his brewery isn’t about his brewery at all. It’s about the success of every other brewery too.

“It’s not us. It’s the industry as a whole,” Tod says. “If it weren’t for all the phenomenal breweries and tasting rooms that have opened up, I don’t think we would be as recognizable as we are.”

Westender.com

He’s being modest, of course. The crazed, bizarro beer labels and tap handles ensured Parallel 49 was immediately identifiable the minute they opened in 2012. Since then, P49 has had a profound impact on the beer industry – and, by extension, Vancouver culture as a whole by helping to establish the first authentic and homegrown cultural movements a long, long time.

Sure, there’s an element of “right place at the right time” with P49’s success and popularity, but they were also the “right people”, “the right branding” and, obviously, the “right flavour”.

The marketing: totally bonkers.

The tasting room: unpretentious and as fun-loving as any other drinking estab-

lishment within city limits.

And the beer: creative, approachable, delicious.

You probably already know this.

Tod says good beer is the only thing that matters in the end.

“We can do all the good, creative marketing we want,” Tod says. “If the brewers aren’t putting out good, consistent product, no one’s going to support it.”

It hasn’t been an issue yet. It’s why surpassed its six-year growth projections in Year 2. It’s why they’re on tap at basically every bar and restaurant in town. It’s why their tasting room is perennially crammed…but of course you already know all this. It’s why you voted for them in the first place.

Ain’t no surprise at all. W • Parallel49Brewing.com

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REAL TRENDS CANADIAN TOP 250 REPORT, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 15

BEST OF THE CITY //

CITY-WIDE

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1. Pacific Centre 701 West Georgia St. 604-688-7235 PacificCentre.ca 2. Oakridge Centre 650 West 41st Ave. 604-261-2511 OakridgeCentre.com 3. Metrotown 4700 Kingsway 604-438-4700 MetropolisAtMetrotown.com

SHOPPING STREET 1. Robson Street 2. Main Street 16th Annual

3. West 4th Ave. SILVER WINNER

LINGERIE

Readers’ Choice

2013

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Special congratulations to Best Realtor Gold Winners the Mike and Will Team (Mike, Will, Kate, Justin and Sandra) and Best Realtor Bronze Winner Aaron Jasper (Klein Group)!

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ROYAL LEPAGE CITY CENTRE 204-345 Robson Street • 604.408.9311 www.royallepagecitycentre.com

1. Victoria’s Secret 750 Burrard St. VictoriasSecret.com 2. Diane’s Lingerie 2950 Granville St. DianesLingerie.com 3. Change 2358 Cambie St. 2815 West Broadway Change.com

LEATHER GOODS

TOY STORE

1. Danier 1018 Robson St. 604-689-7330 Danier.com

T-1. Kaboodles Toy Store 3404 Cambie St. 604-558-1117 KaboodlesToyStore.com

T-2. Pelle Italian Leather 1204 Seymour St. 604-428-2235 PelleItalianLeather.com

T-1. Granville Island Toy Company 3298 Main Street 604-875-0065 ToyCompany.ca

T-2. M0851 1035 Alberni St. 604-688-9575 m0851.com 3. Erin Templeton 511 Carrall St. 604-682-2451 ErinTempleton.com

SHOES 1. Gravity Pope 2205 West 4th Ave. 604-731-7647 GravityPope.com 2. John Fluevog 837 Granville St. 65 Water St. 604-688-2828 Fluevog.com T-3. Ingledew’s 535 Granville St. 604-687-8606 Ingledews.com T-3. Miz Mooz 2177 West 4th Ave. 604-739-7430 MizMooz.ca

JEWELLERY 1. Maharani Jewels #1500-701 West Georgia St. 604-637-1947 MaharaniJewels.com 2. Blue Ruby 1089 Robson St. 604-899-2583 BlueRuby.com

Silver Winner 2012 & 2013 Best Dental Clinic

Gold Winner 2011 Best Dental Clinic

on Beach

112-1000 Beach Ave.

604-683-5530

at BC Place

919 Expo Blvd.

604-689-0965

on Cambie at Coal Harbour on Denman at Hornby in Yaletown on Seymour in Whistler Village

2180 Cambie St. 1560 Coal Harbour Quay

604-684-0224 604-688-2354

917 Denman St. 1270 Hornby St. 1156 Pacific Blvd.

OPENING SOON

604-647-0006 604-681-8530 604-629-0386 604-688-7607

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We Do Not Charge Above BCDA Fee Guide Prices

We Accept Most Major Dental Insurance Plans

Emergency & New Patients Welcome

Open 6 Days a Week & Free Parking

2. Paul Toffoli 1965 West 4th Ave. 604-787-6963 Toffoli.ca 3. Aaron Jasper AaronJasper.ca

REAL ESTATE AGENCY 1. Sutton SuttonWestCoast.com 2. Royal LePage RoyalLePage.ca T-3. TRG Realty TRGRealty.ca T-3. Remax Remax-SelectVanBC.com

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

2. Bosa Properties 838 West Hastings St. 604-299-1363 BosaProperties.com

2. The BMW Store 2040 Burrard St. 604-659-3200 TheBMWStore.BMW.ca

T-3. Tesla Motors 1712 Powell St. 604-255-4427 TeslaMotors.com

3. Beedie Development Corporation 200 Granville St. 604-637-3321 BeedieGroup.ca

MORTGAGE BROKER 1. Centum Financial Group #700-1199 West Pender St. 604-257-3940 Centum.ca 2. GLM Mortgage Group #164-1001 West Broadway 604-259-1486 GeoffLeeMortgage.com

1. Autoform 1885 Clark Drive 604-877-0800 AutoFormCo.ca

3. Verico Financial Group 609 West Hastings St. 604-681-6155 Verico.ca

2. Affinity Auto 1918 Fir St. 604-730-1001 AffinityAuto.com

BANK/CREDIT UNION

T-3. Dockesteader Subaru 8530 Cambie St. 1-800-663-3359 DocksteaderSubaruVancouver.ca T-3. Company of Cars 1502 Boundary Road 1-877-427-1179 CompanyOfCars.com

16 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

REALTOR 1. Mike and Will Team MikeAndWill.com

CAR DEALERSHIP (NEW)

CAR DEALERSHIP (USED)

Voted #1 Dental Clinic Gold Winner 2014 DT/West End/Yaletown

SERVICES

1. Concord Pacific 88 Pacific Blvd.

604-899-8800 ConcordPacific.com

T-3. Mini Yaletown 1039 Hamilton St. 604-899-6464 MiniYaletown.ca

Voted #1 Dental Clinic Gold Winner 2015 DT/West End/Yaletown

3. The Toy Box 2933 West Broadway 604-336-3224 ToyJungle.ca

3. Spence Diamonds 888 Burrard St. 604-734-3912 SpenceDiamonds.com

1. Downtown Toyota 1395 West Broadway 1-888-716-4869 JPToyota-Downtown.com

Aarm Dentists and Staff, Thank you Vancouver for voting for us...

2. Dilly Dally 1161 Commercial Drive 604-252-9727 DillyDallyKids.ca

1. VanCity Various Locations VanCity.com 2. CIBC Various Locations CIBC.com 3. BMO Various Locations BMO.com

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

CITY-WIDE CATERER

MOVING COMPANY

1. The Lazy Gourmet 1605 West 5th Ave. 604-734-2507 LazyGourmet.ca

1. Two Small Men With Big Hearts 2251 Number 5 Road 604-324-3333 TwoSmallMen.com

2. Savoury Chef 1175 Union St. 604-357-7118 SavouryChef.com T-3. Culinary Capers 1545 West 3rd Ave. 604-875-0123 CulinaryCapers.com T-3. Emelle’s 177 West 7th Ave. 604-875-6551 Emelles.com

PLUMBER 1. High Mark Plumbing & Heating 2818 Main St. 604-678-1650 HighMarkPlumbing.com 2. Hillcrest Plumbing & Heating 3260 Main St. 604-879-5301 HillcrestPlumbingAndHeating.com 3. KC’s Plumbing & Heating 1896 Kingsway 604-873-3753 KCPlumb.ca

2. Small Moves 1030 Denman St. 604-800-2715 SmallMovesVancouver.com 3. Ferguson Moving 1584 Columbia St. 604-922-2212 FergusonMoving.com

STORAGE COMPANY 1. Maple Leaf Storage Various Locations MapleLeafStorage.com 2. Yaletown Mini 864 Cambie St. 604-683-5885 YaleTownStorage.com 3. Public Storage Various Locations PublicStorageCanada.com

JUNK REMOVAL 1. 1-800-Got-Junk 644 Southwest Marine Drive 604-738-2152 1800GotJunk.com 2. Hunky Haulers 280 Nelson St. 1-855-438-4865 HunkyHaulers.com

3. 505 Junk 3537 West 6th Ave. 604-505-5865 505Junk.com

T-2. SFU SFU.ca

CONSTRUCTION/ RENOVATION CONTRACTOR 1. Refine & Design 778-895-4001 RefineAndDesign.com 2. Fair Trade Works #101-1520 Rand Ave. 604-264-7366 FairTradeWorks.biz

LANDSCAPER 1. Perkins Group #101-1520 Rand Ave. 778-651-5499 VancouverBCLandscaping.ca 2. Plant Parenthood 604-862-1101 PlantParenthood.ca 3. De Haas Landscaping 1127 Homer St. 604-721-0015 DeHaasLandscapeDesign.com

CONTINUING EDUCATION FACILITY T-1. BCIT BCIT.ca T-1. Vancouver Community College VCC.ca

2. Both Feet on Main 4410 Main St. 604-872-1318 BothFeet.ca

3. Tad’s 8570 Granville St. 604-261-6540 TadsSportingGoods.com

3. Langara College Langara.BC.ca

3. Bob’s Shoe Repair 3216 Oak St. 604-731-3890

BOARD & SKI SHOP

CAR SHARE

FUNERAL HOME

T-2. UBC UBC.ca

1. Car2Go Car2Go.com 2. Modo Modo.Coop 3. Zipcar ZipCar.com

AUTO DETAILER 1. Showroom Auto Spa 55 East 5th Ave. 604-568-3110 ShowroomAutoSpa.com 2. Pearl’s Auto Spa 1652 West 5th Ave. 604-683-2886 PearlAutoSpa.com 3. Downtown Auto Detailing 1248 Seymour St. 604-682-5891 DowntownAutoDetailing.ca

COBBLER 1. The Quick Cobbler 430 West 2nd Ave. 604-682-6354 QuickCobbler.com

1. Amherst Funeral Home 207 West Hastings St. 604-831-3023 AmherstCremation.com 2. Kearney Funeral Services 450 West 2nd Ave. 604-736-0268 KearneyFS.com 3. Mount Pleasant Funeral Home 306 East 11th Ave. 604-876-2161 DignityMemorial.ca

HEALTH & FITNESS SPORTING GOODS 1. Sports Junkies 102 West Broadway 604-879-6000 SportsJunkies.com 2. Mountain Equipment Co-op 130 West Broadway 604-872-7858 MEC.ca

1. Comor 1980 Burrard St. 604-736-7547 ComorSports.com 2. Mountain Equipment Co-op 130 West Broadway 604-872-7858 MEC.ca 3. Skiis & Biikes 1701 West 3rd Ave. 604-738-3715 SkiisAndBiikes.com

CROSSFIT GYM 1. Crossfit 604 124 East Cordova 604-899-9443 CrossFit604.com 2. Kalev Fitness 128 West Pender 604-568-6006 KalevFitness.com 3. Crossfit BC 1232 Richards St. 604-683-2446 CrossFitBC.com

100+ years of continuing studies.

LANGARA CS AT VSB

Thank you Vancouver! from the Kearney - Crean family & staff

Over 100 years of Vancouver School Board tradition continues at Langara College. All your favourite VSB courses are now offered through Langara Continuing Studies.

Learn more.

Jennifer Madigan, Program Coordinator jmadigan@langara.bc.ca | 604.218.0720 www.langara.bc.ca/vsb

www.kearneyfs.com Westender.com

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 17

BEST OF THE CITY // THANKS F O R YO U R V OT E S .

THANKS for your vote.

HEALTH & FITNESS NATUROPATH 1. Dr. Brian Martin 604-681-8380

We’re happy we made it to the podium!

Unit 102-1626 W.2nd Ave | 604-681-2313 www.metropolitanhome.ca @modmethome

CITY-WIDE

2. Dr. Kyla Kremblewski 604-736-6646 3. Dr. Briana Peddle 604 732-9355

604-812-1101 www.plantparenthood.ca

1. Yaletown Laser Centre 1010 Mainland St. 604-331-1777 YaletownLaserCentre.com 2. Masc Skincare 433 Davie St. 1-877-940-4555 ShopMasc.com 3. Skoah 1007 Hamilton St. 604-642-0200 Skoah.com

CHIROPRACTOR

COSMETIC SURGERY

1. Dr. Farokh Zavosh 604-568-6545

1. Skinworks 3568 West 41st Ave. 604-737-7100 SkinWorks.ca

2. Dr. Enrique Domingo 604-929-7222 3. Dr. Gordon Gertz 604-687-2900

ACUPUNCTURIST 1. Monita Triplett 604-568-6545 2. Dr. Shih Acupunture Centre 604-688-8281 3. Kelli Taylor 604-732-9355

MASSAGE THERAPIST 1. Maja Pilipovic 604-687-2900 T-2. Cathy Charbonneau 604-687-2900 T-2. Janina Edgar 604-732-9355 3. Theron White 604-684-0544

SPA 1. Absolute 1015 Burrard St. 604-684-2772 AbsoluteSpa.com 2. Chi at Shangri-La 1128 West Georgia St. 604-695-2447 Shangri-La.com 3. Skoah 2737 Granville St. 604-558-0200 Skoah.com

PERSONAL CARE LASER EYE CENTRE 1. Pacific Laser Eye Centre 1401 West Broadway 604-736-2625 Pacific-Laser.com 2. Lasik MD #101-1281 West Georgia 604-639-8088 LaskiMD.com 3. London Eye Centre 918 12th St., New West 604-526-2020 LaserEye.com

18 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

SKINCARE FACILITY

2. Dr. Andrew Denton 943 West Broadway 604-879-3223 DoctorDenton.com 3. Dr. Benjamin Gelfant #100-1333 West Broadway 604-874-2078 DrGelfant.com

BOTOX CLINIC 1. Yaletown Laser Centre 1010 Mainland St. 604-331-1777 YaletownLaserCentre.com 2. Project Skin MD 1495 West 11th Ave. 604-732-0800 ProjectSkinMD.com T-3. Carruthers & Humphrey Cosmetic Medicine #820 – 943 West Broadway 604-714-0222 Carruthers-Humphrey.com T-3. Skinworks 3568 West 41st Ave. 604-737-7100 Skinworks.ca

COSMETICS RETAILER 1. Sephora 701 East Georgia St. 778-331-3942 Sephora.com 2. Beauty Mark 1268 Pacific Blvd.

604-642-2294 BeautyMark.ca 3. Murale Oakridge Centre 604-264-8035 Murale.ca

LASER HAIR REMOVAL 1. Yaletown 1010 Mainland St. 604-331-1777 YaletownLaserCentre.com 2. Arbutus #106-2025 West Broadway 604-731-5512 ArbutusLaser.com T-3. Electra 955 Hornby St. 604-255-2737 ElectraLaserHairRemoval.com T-3. Project Skin 1495 West 11th Ave. 604-732-0800 ProjectSkinMD.com

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

CITY-WIDE BROW BAR 1. Bombay 1056 Mainland St. 604-683-2769 BombayBrowBar.com 2. Dona Lucia Esthetics 521 West Georgia 604-566-9112 DonaLuciaEsthetics.com 3. Blink 577 Bute St. 604-428-2769 BlinkBrowBar.ca

3. Koodo Various locations 1-866-995-6636 KoodoMobile.ca

2. Rex Dog Hotel Spa 760 Terminal Ave. 604-696-5166 RexVancouver.com

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

3. Stanley Bark 1788 Alberni St. 604-568-5056 StanleyBark.com

1. Tom Lee 929 Granville St. 604-685-8471 TomLeeMusic.ca

LASH BAR

2. Long & McQuade 368 Terminal Ave. 604-734-4886 Long-McQuade.com

1. Noir Lash Lounge 1150 Hamilton St. 604-915-5274 NoirLashLounge.com

T-3. Exile 3730 Main St. 604-879-9483 21Exile22.com

T-2. The Studio 1054 Hornby St. 604-764-6452 MikaDoesMakeup.com

T-3. Prussin 3607 West Broadway 604-736-3036 PrussinMusic.com

T-2. W Lash Beautique 1828 West 1st Ave. 604-696-9465 WinkBeautyLounge.com 3. Mink Lash Boutique 1237 Burrard St. 604-336-5274 MinkLashBoutique.com

WAX BAR 1. Stripped Wax Bar 1016 Mainland St. 604-681-8660 GetStripped.ca 2. Sugar Box 1025 Cambie St. 604-569-1100 MySugarBox.com 3. Bare Wax Bar 1828 West 1st Ave. 604-558-1338 BareWax.com

LIFESTYLES & HOBBIES MOBILE DEVICE RETAILER 1. Rogers Various locations 604-736-3326 Rogers.com 2. Fido Various locations 604-687-3291 Fido.ca

GAMES 1. Drexoll Games 2880 West 4th Ave. 604-733-6511 DrexollGames.BlogSpot.com

1. Pawsh Dog Spa 80 Smithe St. 604-685-6088 PawshDogSpa.com 2. The Groom Room 3728 Oak St. 604-732-7387 TheGroomRoom.ca 3. Paw Prints Dog Grooming 2635 West 4th Ave. 604-733-1144 PawPrintsGrooming.com

VETERINARIAN 1. Dr. Tara White AnimalER.com 2. Dr. Janet Maclean CatsOnlyVet.ca 3. Dr. Robert Spooner YaletownPetHospital.com

3. Imperial Hobbies 5451 No. 3 Road, Richmond 604-273-4427 ImperialHobbies.ca

1. Michaels 665 West Broadway 604-638-2523 Michaels.com

TATTOO/PIERCING STUDIO

2. Opus Art Supplies #100-207 West Hastings St. 604-678-5889 OpusArtSupplies.com

2. Rainfire Tattoo 1635 East Pender 604-558-3473 RainFireTattoo.com 3. Adrenaline 1014 Granville St. 604-669-6800 AdrenalineVanCity.com

PET DAYCARE 1. Sit Doggie 1064 Davie St. 604-685-2306 SitDoggie.ca

westender.com Thank you for voting me Best Chiropractor.

PET GROOMING

2. EB Games 457 West 8th Ave. 604-874-1080 EBGames.com

1. Gastown Tattoo Parlour 105 West Cordova 604-642-6556 GastownTattoo.com

There is more online

ART/CRAFT SUPPLIES

DR. ENRIQUE A. DOMINGO Chiropractor Director - College of Chiropractors of British Columbia Clinical Examiner - Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board Member - Quality Assurance Committee Dr. Domingo has been practicing since 1996. He graduated from UBC with a degree in Microbiology, and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon with honors.

Dr. Domingo helps patients improve their lives by addressing their neuromusculoskeletal health concerns. He has a special interest and perspective in dealing with athletes and treating sports-related injuries. He has learned that prevention, early intervention, regular maintenance, proper preparation and training are of utmost importance in avoiding injury, accelerating recovery and increasing longevity in both sports and everyday activities. He has firsthand experience with custom-made orthotics and is able to evaluate, prescribe and provide these and other orthopedic devices to his patients, as he has solid relationships with multiple pedorthic laboratories in Canada and the USA. Spinal Decompression Therapy is available at his Westside location.

Canopy Integrated Health Suite 149-1233 Lynn Valley Road North Vancouver Tel: (604) 929-7222 or (604) 973-0210 www.canopyhealth.ca CanopyHealth

Westside Chiropractic and Associates 1430 West 7th Avenue Vancouver Tel: (604) 738-2503 www.westside-chiropactic.com

Canopy-Integrated-Health

THANK YOU!

3. DeSerres 1431 West Broadway 604-733-1331 DeSerres.ca

HEAD SHOP 1. Puff 3255 Main St. 604-708-9804 PuffPipes.ca 2. Ignite 109 West Cordova 778-786-0977 IgniteSmokeShop.ca 2. Cottonmouth Smokeshop 1120 Davie St 604-331-1602 CottonmouthSmokeshop.com

Smoke Shop Light it up

E-CIGS | VAPORIZERS | OIL PENS | BONGS | ILLADELPH | ROOR SOVEREIGNTY | TORO | SOKOL | SKIMASK | GHOST | EVOL EMPIRE 109 W CORDOVA ST. (ABBOTT x CORDOVA, GASTOWN) 778-786-0977 IGNITESMOKESHOP.CA

Look behind you!

The oldest toy store in BC has reopened across the street.

Same great toys, same great staff, great new location!

THANK YOU for voting us your favorite toy store where we always have the right toy for the right child.

Get $5 off $20.

Get $5 off your purchase of $20 or more before tax with this coupon. One coupon per customer, offer expires March 7, 2015. Not valid on web orders. Some restrictions apply. See store for details.

Westender.com

2933 West Broadway (near MacDonald) 604.336.3224 • toyjungle.ca February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 19

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

CITY-WIDE LIFESTYLES & HOBBIES SEX/EROTIC SHOP

Thank You for voting us All breed dog & cat grooming

The Groom Room Pet Salon

1. Womyns’Ware 896 Commercial Drive 604-254-2543 WomynsWare.com 2. Little Sister’s 1238 Davie St. 604-669-1753 LittleSisters.ca

3728 Oak Street • 604-732-7387• thegroomroom.ca

T-3. Honey 3448 Cambie St. 604-708-8065 HoneyGifts.com

T-2. The Red Room 398 Richards St. 604-687-5007 RedRoomOnRichards.com

3. Score on Davie 1262 Davie St. 604-632-1646 ScoreOnDavie.com

T-3. Art of Loving 1819 West 5th Ave. 604-742-9988 ArtOfLoving.ca

T-3. Roxy 932 Granville St. 604-331-7999 RoxyVan.com

COMEDY CLUB

T-3. Fortune Sound Club 147 East Pender 604-569-1758 FortuneSoundClub.com

AFTER DARK LIVE MUSIC VENUE 1. The Commodore 868 Granville St. 604-739-4550 CommodoreBallroom.com 2. Electric Owl 926 Main St. 604-558-0928 ElectricOwl.ca 3. The Media Club 695 Cambie St. 604-608-2871 TheMediaClub.ca

THANK YOU

for voting us Best Breakfast and Best Brunch 604-879-3114 | medinacafe.com

PROUD TO BE VOTED YOUR FAVOURITE TOY STORE!

Best Toy Store

PUB

2. Yuk Yuk’s 2837 Cambie St. 604-696-9857 YukYuks.com

1. Doolin’s Irish Pub 654 Nelson St. 604-605-4343 Doolins.ca

3. The Improv Centre 1502 Duranleau St. 604-738-7013 VTSL.com

2. Steamworks 375 Water St. 604-689-2739 SteamWorks.com

COMEDIAN/COMEDY GROUP

3. The Morrissey 1227 Granville St. 604-682-0909 TheMorrisseyPub.com

NIGHTCLUB

GAY BAR

1. Celebrities 1022 Davie St. 604-681-6180 CelebritiesNightclub.com

1. Celebrities 1022 Davie St. 604-681-6180 CelebritiesNightclub.com

T-2. Venue 881 Granville St. 604-646-0064 VenueLive.ca

1. The Comedy Mix 1015 Burrard St. 604-684-5050 TheComedyMix.com

1. Ed Hill KingEdHill.com 2. The Sunday Service TheSundayService.ca T-3. The Fictionals TheFictionals.com T-3. The Ryan and Amy Show RyanAndAmyShow.com

2. The Junction 1138 Davie St. 604-669-2013 JunctionPub.com

CELEBRITIES: BEST NIGHTCLUB BEST GAY BAR

Best Kids Store – East Van

Visit us for a HUGE SELECTION of Lego!

Flux Pavilion performs at Celebrities Nightclub earlier this month. Celebrities photo

Celebrities still kickin’ it after all these years

www.toycompany.com 11-1496 Cartwright St In the Kids’ Market 604-684-0076 20 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

3298 Main St (at 17th) 604-875-0065

8710 Granville St (at 71st) OPENING SOON!

Even after close to 30 years in business, Celebrities Nightclub on Davie Street continues to be the place in Vancouver to get down with your bad self.

The iconic club first opened

its doors in the 1980s and has grown along with the Davie Village community in which it calls home.

Recent renovations have seen improvements to club’s the sound system, visuals

and light show, helping to attract A-List headliners like David Guetta, Tiesto, and Avicii. And if you’re looking for fun on a Tuesday night, look no further.

• CelebritiesNightclub.com

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

WINNERS ANYA LEVYKH @foodgirlfriday

Brunch in the West End has become so ubiquitous that it’s almost impossible to find people who don’t regularly clink orange juice or mimosas over bennies and granola bowls. So, when the good folks of the West End voted Forage as their favourite brunch spot, it was a big deal and spoke to the shifting preferences of the dining public.

Executive chef Chris Whittaker launched Forage, inside The Listel Hotel, approximately three years ago, it was with a concept that had been oft-touted, but rarely to this extent. About 70 per cent of the menu (more in the growing months) comes from the Pacific Northwest, within about 100 miles, give or take.

Another 20 per cent comes from the rest of BC and Canada, with the remainder accounting for items that just can’t be found locally – like lemons and sugar.

A lot of what’s local is also sourced, grown or foraged by Whittaker himself. He grows some of the produce used in the restaurant kitchens, and is an expert forager.

Whittaker is also a master of introducing ingredients that you might not at first recognize as edible. Don’t worry, they’re delicious. Spruce tips, alpine juniper, raw honey, they’ve all become popular ingredients, but were likely first seen on the menus here.

Forage: Best Brunch West End

As for the this menu, while brunch covers classics like eggs and toast, bennies, and a standout Two Rivers turkey sausage hash, it’s some of the more eclectic

dishes that are the most popular. The double-fried pork cutlet sandwich, with fried egg, gouda, housemade pickles and Whittaker’s tangy take on Thousand

Island dressing, makes for a decadent two-fister. The Rangeland game burger, made with whatever meat is seasonally available and fresh, is topped with

caramelized onion preserve, house-cured bacon and local gouda. It’s a standout menu that speaks loudly about place, and the chef ’s knowledge of it. W

1300 Robson St. 604-661-1400 ForageVancouver.com

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

ANYA LEVYKH @foodgirlfriday

BEST FINE DINING WEST END

“Fine dining is dead!” cried the multitudes a few short years ago. In short, no more starched white tablecloths, black-vested servers and pouffe rests for your purses.

Instead, the rise of comfort food, greasy spoon fare, diner grub – call it what you will – became the taste du jour. “Elevated” com-

fort food – truffled mac ‘n’ cheese, foie gras poutine – was as fancy as it got for a while.

It seems, however, that, as popular as leatherette booths and beer-brined fish and chips may be, Vancouverites still have a hankering for something more exquisite, possibly lavish.

Before you start thinking of la Belle Epoque and bustles, turn to the modern and

well-fitted-up room that houses Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar at the Sutton Place Hotel. No white tablecloths, but the occasional tableside service, a veteran oyster shucker (no other than “Oyster” Bob Skinner), and an acclaimed bartender (Justin Taylor) make for a pretty swank room.

Well, that, and the food.

Thanks to Executive Chef Alex Chen and Chef de Cui-

sine Roger Ma, the elegant stylings of the room extend to the plates. Don’t think for a second, though, that comfort is forgotten. This is the home of my favourite chicken wings in the city.

Yes, chicken wings. Despite the high-end display, there’s a lot of play on the menu, and hoary chestnuts like hamachi crudo and octopus are re-imagined with smoked mayo or marcona

almonds. Paired with the many approachable wines picked out by wine director Lisa Haley, this is a room in which the sartorially splendid can let their hair down for an elegant – and fun – night out. W 845 Burrard St. 604-642-2900 BoulevardVancouver.ca

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Best Local Grocer in the West End

Pick up your new PC Plus Points card in-store today!

St

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Westender.com

D

• Download your personalized weekly offers on your smartphone!

• Earn points towards dollars off your grocery bill!

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1255 Davie Street • (604) 688-0911 yourindependentgrocer.ca • OPEN 7 days 7am-3am

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 21

BEST BREAKFAST in the West End

You really love us!

Thanks for voting!

BEST OF THE CITY //

WEST END / ROBSON HIDDEN GEM

UNIQUE GIFTS

1. Exile Bistro 1220 Bute St. 604-563-8633 ExileBistro.com

1. Chocolate Mousse 1553 Robson St. 604-682-8223

2. Adesso Bistro 1906 Haro St. 604-568-9975 AdessoBistro.net

TAKE-OUT • LICENSED 1031 Davie St. • 604-682-3683 948 Denman St. • 604-642-6588

3048 Main Street • 604-879-6586 2061 W. 4th Ave • 604-736-6588

3. Cardaro Bottega 1016 Cardero St. 604-689-0450

HOME DÉCOR

MEN’S APPAREL

1. CB2 1277 Robson St. 604-669-9797 CB2.com

1. Boys Co. 1044 Robson St. 604-684-5656 BoysCo.com

2. Room in Order 1055 Davie St. 604-684-8884 RoomInOrder.com

2. State of Mind 1100 Davie St. 604-682-7116

1. The Little Hardware Co. 1320 Davie St. 604-687-6285

PET SUPPLIES

2. Plenty 1107 Robson St. 604-689-4478 GetPlenty.com

3. Rovers Return 1064 Davie St, Vancouver, 604-682-1955 RRGrooming.ca

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DITERRANEAN

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1. Flight Centre Various Locations FlightCentre.com 2. Marlin Travel 1075 West Georgia 604-681-0117 MarlinTravel.ca 3. Travel Masters 1166 Alberni St. 604-568-3944 TravelMasters.ca

DRY CLEANER/ LAUNDROMAT 1. Davie Drycleaning 1713 Davie St. 604-685-5536

WOMEN’S APPAREL 1. Aritizia Various Locations Aritzia.com

2. Big Dog Little Dog Bakery 985 Denman Street 604-568-5540 BigDogLittleDog.com

TRAVEL AGENCY

3. Quick Nickel 1178 Davie St. 604-689-8910 QuickNickel.ca

2. West End Paint & Hardware 835 Bidwell St. 604-633-1941

1. Bosley’s Pets Pet Store 1683 Davie St. 604-688-4233 Bosleys.com

3. Downtown Florist 730 Davie St. 604-697-9007 VancouverDowntownFlowers.com

2. Room In Order 1055 Davie St. 604-684-8884 RoomInOrder.com 3. Kim Prints 1179 Denman St. 604-685-4550 KimPrints.ca

HARDWARE STORE

2. Davie Flowers 1139 Davie St. 604-685-9111 VancouverDavieFlowers.ca

2. Laundry Valet 1238 Davie St. LaundryValetServices.com 3. Swan Laundry 1352 Burrard St. 604-684-0323 SwanLaundry.com

TAILOR

3. Banana Republic 1098 Robson St. 604-331-8285 BananaRepublic.ca

1. Vivien Fashion 1180 Bidwell St. 604-684-0712

FLORIST 1. Lavender & Lilacs #101-1180 West Hastings 604-688-5936 LavenderAndLilacsFlorist.com

2. Rose Stitch 1030 Denman St. 604-488-1464 3. Sperles 1177 Davie St. 604-669-2942

Thank you to all our Stanley Bark customers for voting for us!

Eat

Come and enjoy our healthy North African Cuisine made with grass fed meats and local organic vegetables.

We are open for lunch and dinner.

Thank you for voting us your favourite Neighbourhood Restaurant – West End/Robson

Are you a talented groomer? Call us about joining the team!

Small Dog Daycare

(OFF DENMAN)

604-568-5056 www.stanleybark.com

Thursday-Saturday 7-9pm featuring Jamel Kremba

22 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Organic Dog Grooming

1788 ALBERNI

Live Music 1331 Robson Street • Reservations: 604-559-4FEZ (4339) • fezcafe.ca

In-home Boarding

StanleyBarkDogDaycare

@StanleyBark

@StanleyBark

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

WINNERS

BEST MENS APPAREL West End/Robson

available at

1100 Davie St, Vancouver, BC

DENMAN FITNESS: BEST WEST END FITNESS FACILITY

9am-5pm 604.682.7116 State of Mind Boutique

it’s what you wear

Ryan Chistison, Dustin Pettet, and Randy Vencek are part of the Denman Fitness team that helps keep the West End looking so good! Rob Newell photo

Keeping the West End beautiful since 1996

STEPHANIE FLORIAN @playoutdoorsvan

How often do you come across a pet-friendly fitness centre that offers a designated space for dogs to mingle and chill out while their owners sweat it out? Do Beard Clubs and Polar Bear Swims sound like regular gym membership perks?

Absolutely, if you’re referring to the West End’s favourite place to get sweaty, Denman Fitness.

General manager Marc Siemens says Denman’s long standing reputation is built solely on community. Siemens is the leader of the tribe of high-caliber fitness gurus who not only walk the walk, but legitimately care about the well-being of their 1,600+

members. No BS, no contracts, no gimmicks or curve balls, the team of loyal staff at Denman Fitness looks out for number one, you.

“We just do our thing and provide what people want,” he explains.

With over 18,000 square feet of workout space, Denman Fitness isn’t about keeping up with the fitness Joneses but rather keeping the atmosphere local and friendly.

Connected to the Coast Plaza at Stanley Park Hotel, the club is conveniently located at 1731 Comox in the heart of the West End. Services like tanning, massage, free parking, squash courts and spinning keep members coming back year after year.

Denman employees know guests on a first name basis

and this is what makes the membership experience so special. Shared on the Denman Fitness Facebook wall, member Christopher Alan writes a review entirely about the staff. “Helpful, knowledgeable, they make their members feel welcome.

I find them very approachable. I would recommend this gym to anyone who’s looking for a health club that is welcoming and encourages your personal success.”

For more than 18 years Denman Fitness has been supporting local community events and charities. They take pride in providing fivestar customer service while maintaining a casual Maand-Pa vibe. Drop in and try it for yourself. W • DenmanFitness.ca

thank you for voting us

BEST DINNER WEST END / ROBSON

AS UNIQUE AND AS BOLD AS YOU ARE! Thanks for voting us your favourite eyewear store in the West End.

Buy any l.a.Eyeworks frame and lenses and receive $100 off.

(Limited time offer.)

DOCTORS OF OPTOMETRY

Where fashion and function fuse.

®

ENGLISH BAY’S COMPLETE VISION CARE SERVICE • Eye Exams • Eyewear • Contact Lenses Westender.com

1620 Davie Street • 604.899.8899 February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 23

BEST OF THE CITY //

WEST END / ROBSON

Thanks for voting us your favourite Nail Spa in Downtown/ Yaletown/Gastown!

655 Davie Street | 604.682.3688 lalotusnailspa.com

BIKES & REPAIR

FITNESS FACILITY

1. Denman Bike Shop 710 Denman St. 604-685-9755 DenmanBikeShop.com

1. Denman Fitness 1731 Comox St. 604-688-2484 DenmanFitness.ca

2. Bikes on Robson 1531 Robson St. 778-371-7316 BikesOnRobson.com

2. YMCA 955 Burrard St. 604-689-9622 VanYMCA.org

3. Strada Cycles 595 Broughton St. 604-566-9664 StradaCycles.com

3. Trevor Linden Club 16 #50-1055 Canada Place 604-558-1600 TrevorLindenFitness.com

ENCHANTÉ HAIR BY DESIGN Thank you to the community and all

YOGA STUDIO 1. Inner Truth 1160 Davie St. 604-726-6967 InnerTruthYoga.org 2. Robson St. Yoga #208-1610 Robson St. 778-888-9642 RobsonStYoga.ca

of our valued clients. It’s always been

DENTAL CLINIC

our pleasure to help you with your hair

1. Aarm Dental 917 Denman St. 604-647-0006 Aarm-Dental.com

and now you’ve showed us how much you really care. From all of us here at

2. English Bay Dental 1653 Davie St. 604-688-9678

Enchanté, thank you so very much.

1687 Davie Street | 604-669-9166 | info@enchantehair.ca

3. Denman Place Dental Centre #107-1030 Denman St. 604-688-3335 DenmanDental.com

HAIR SALON

24 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

2. Sushi Bella 1175 Davie St. 604-559-7707 SushiBella.com 3. Fez Café Bistro 1331 Robson St. 604-559-4339 FezCafe.ca

BAR 1. The Three Brits 1780 Davie St. 604-801-6681 DonnellyGroup.ca 2. Bayside Lounge 1755 Davie St. 604-682-1831 BaysideLounge.ca 3. Comox St. Long Bar & Grill 1763 Comox St. 604-688-7711

BREAKFAST 1. Joe’s Grill 948 Denman St. 1031 Davie st.

604-642-6588 JoesGrill.ca

3. Sylvia Hotel 1154 Gilford St. 604-681-9321 SylviaHotel.com

3. Cut My Hair Barbershop 978 Denman St. 604-684-6813

BRUNCH T-1. Forage 1300 Robson St. 604-661-1400 ForageVancouver.com T-1. Tableau Bar Bistro 1181 Melville St. 604-639-8692 TableauBarBistro.com

2. Kaen Beauty Studio 1238 Robson St. 604-696-5236 KaenVancouver.com

2. Score On Davie 1262 Davie St. 604-632-1646 ScoreOnDavie.com

3. Fantasy Nails #2-1229 Burrard St. 604-669-9688

3. Central Bistro 1072 Denman St. 604-689-4527 CentralBistro.com

1. Skylight Optical 1073 Robson St. 604-683-8223 SkyLightOptical.com

BEST ORGANIC PRODUCE IN THE WEST END

T-1. Stepho’s 1124 Davie St. 604-683-2555

2. Maximus 1221 Davie St. 604-484-6666 MaximusHairStudio.com

EYEWEAR

BEST LOCAL GROCER

T-1. Kingyo Izakaya 871 Denman St. 604-608-1677 Kingyo-Izakaya.ca

2. Hamburger Mary;s 1202 Davie St. 604-687-1293 HamburgerMarys.com

1. Sophie’s Nails & Waxing 1688 Davie St. 604-428-0991

FOR YOUR SUPPORT

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT

1. Enchante 1687 Davie St. 604-669-9166 EnchanteHair.ca

NAIL SALON

THANKS

3. Eyeworx 1112 Denman St. 604-685-7001 EnglishBayEyeWorx.com

T-2. Abasa Optical 1037 Davie St. 604-687-3937 AbasaOptical.com T-2. Urban Eyes 1620 Davie St. 604-899-8899 UrbanEyesVancouver.com

WEEKDAY LUNCH 1. Banana Leaf 1096 Denman St. 1779 Robson St. 604-683-3333 BananaLeaf-Vancouver.com 2. India Bistro 1157 Davie St. 604-684-6342 IndiaBistro.ca 3. Hub 1037 Denman St. 604-428-0400 HubRestaurant.ca

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

OPINIONS

RANT//RAVE BEST OF THE CITY EDITION WE ASKED VANCOUVERITES WHAT THEY LOVE OR LOATHE ABOUT THEIR CITY, AND BOY DID THEY DELIVER! RANTS AND RAVES ARE THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF WESTENDER (DUH).

WEST END The anti-downtown atmosphere is amazing. Forget the craziness of Granville Street... There are so many fantastic restaurants and entertainment venues down in the West End to be explored.

And who doesn’t love being so near the ocean! Check out the Bayside Lounge...a quaint, hidden gem above Starbucks on Davie and Denman. DJs every night, cheap drinks, no cover, and an amazing panoramic view of English Bay. Best viewing at sunset!

–jrdnlcrx The area is too crowded all the time, with very expenisive up-town snob type stores and restaurants. Not enough smaller family-oriented restaraunts.

–Roy and Tia Hey you, cyclists! Please get off my sidewalk! Espe-

cially if you’re just a few metres from the seawall.

–vcinbc

Robson is great for shopping! And people watching!

–drewski74

Plethora of small stores packed with interesting goodies, will definitely need a few smoothies.

–Domo Arigato

Parking meters have too short a time limit.

–Lisette Peterson

Robson Street is busy people! Walk on the “right” side and remember there are OTHER people on the sidewalk with you!

–westcoastnerd When parking in a permit parking spot people park too far ahead or too far behind the permit parking border and it wastes part of a parking spot.

–bacall77 Living in one of the cheaper buildings, I HATE how other residents have no respect for the common spaces! Your trash does not belong in the hall!

–cj

Permit parking: I just hate arriving home late in the evening and seeing cars parked over two spots so permit parking is full.We will turn into something similar to Boston as locals are afraid of using their cars in case they lose their parking space. Asking at the permit office, they admit they oversell permits, so the number of permits sold are way over the actual number of parking spots. Ride share programs didnt help buying up parking spots.

–SM Without any skytrain lines heading this way it seems so far from the rest of downtown!

Despite a myriad of amazing restaurants, bars and even nightlife, the crowds are reluc-

tant to make the journey.

–jrdnlcrx We live in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the world. Mountains and ocean together. Truly magnificent.

–Queenie Hey, gardeners who claim those West End roundabouts for big, tall plants – people crossing the street are hard enough to spot now, what with all the trees and turn signs. If I see one more dog walker or kid on a bike almost mowed down by a car that didn’t spot them among the big, lush, groovy flowers, I might just whip out my clippers. Lush and low! Colourful creepers, people!

–Christina Summer and the beach, it can’t get much better.

–Jessica Snooty attitude on Robson.

I miss Robsonstrasse.

–zipodoug We have to shut up before 10pm, so not so funny after 10pm.

–sara galli Everything is close by – I LOVE that I can walk to get anything and everything I need.

–cj People should be proud of where they live and refrain from throwing garbage, coffee cups and cigarette butts on the ground.

–Queenie If people are to get out of

their cars and they choose to walk, they better walk at a fast pace and have a definite destination because public washrooms along the way are sparse to non-existant.

–Klaus Ganske Love all the improvements and highlights the city is putting into our West End. This is nothing to do with being gay, straight...but the fact that it’s culturally open. Although do love the rainbow crosswalk. Miss the parking benches. And love the running street lights. Keep it up.

–Kev

17th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2014

16th Annual

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Best Cit y 14th ANNUAL

of the

Readers’ Choice 2011

Best Cit y of the

SILVER WINNER 13th ANNUAL 2010

Thank You Vancouver

for voting us for the SIXTH time BEST HARDWARE STORE IN THE WEST END. Your support means the world!

Your West End Benjamin Moore Paint and Hardware Store

1320 Davie St. (@ Jervis) • 604-687-6285 M-F 9:30-6 • Sa 9:30-5:30 • Su 12-5 benjaminmoore.ca Westender.com

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 25

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

WEST END / ROBSON DINNER T-1. Boulevard 845 Burrard St. 604-642-2900 BoulevardVancouver.ca T-1. Cactus Club 1790 Beach Ave. 1085 Canada Place 604-681-2582 CactusClubCafe.com T-2. Espana 1118 Denman St. 604-558-4040 EspanaRestaurant.ca

T-2. Ciao Bella 703 Denman St. 604-688-5771 CiaoBellaVancouver.ca 3. Nook 781 Denman St. 604-568-4554 NookRestaurant.ca

2. Melriches Coffeehouse 1244 Davie St. 604-689-5282 3. The Greenhorn Café 994 Nicola St. 604-428-2912 GreenHornCafe.com

LOCAL GROCER

COFFEE SHOP 1. Delany’s Coffee House 1105 Denman St. 604-662-3344 DelanysCoffee.com

1. Whole Foods Market 1675 Robson St. 604-687-5288 WholeFoodsMarket.com 2. Your Independent Grocer 1255 Davie St. 604-688-0911 YourIndependentGrocer.ca T-3. Kin’s 1160 Davie St. 604-687-8081 KinsFarmMarket.com

CUT MY HAIR

BARBER SHOP

T-3. West Valley Produce 1156 Bute St. 604-669-5612

ORGANIC PRODUCE 1. Whole Foods Market 1675 Robson St. 604-687-5288 WholeFoodsMarket.com

Thanks for voting for us!

Best Hair Salon - West End

THE THREE BRITS: BEST WEST END PUB

• HAIR CUT • SHAVING • SKIN FADE • THREADING OPEN 7 DAYS 9AM-7PM

978 Denman Street • 604.685.6813

2. Kin’s 1160 Davie St. 604-687-8081 KinsFarmMarket.com

ETHNIC FOOD STORE

BEER & WINE STORE

BAKERY

1. European Deli 1220 Davie St. 604-688-3442

1. Marquis Wine Cellars 1034 Davie St. 604-684-0445 MarquisWineClub.com

1. Cobs Bread 1160 Davie St. 604-681-0689 CobsBread.com

2. West End BC Liquor Store 961 Denman Street 689-3100 BCLiquorStores.com

2. Thierry 1059 Alberni St. 604-608-6870 ThierryChocolates.com

3. Sutton Place Wine Merchants 855 Burrard St. 604-642-2947 SuttonPlaceWineMerchant.com

3. Transylvania Traditions 1111 Davie St. 604-682-0096 TransylvanianTraditions.com

2. Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts 2048 West 4th Avenue 604-558-2933 Ayoubs.ca 3. Aria Market 837 Bidwell St. 604-569-1744

3. West Valley Produce 1156 Bute St. 604-669-5612

THANKS FOR VOTING US:

SILVER Best Dinner in the West end

1118 DENMAN STREET | 604-558-4040 | ESPANARESTAURANT.CA OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 5PM-LATE. NO RESERVATIONS.

Thanks for voting us Best Dry Cleaner & Laundry Mat in the West End.

Laundry Valet

Coin Laundry & Dry Cleaning 1238 Davie at the rear 604-568-2020 No chemicals. 100% environmentally friendly

VANCOUVER EUROPEAN DELI

VANCOUVER’S BEST HUMMUS & EGGPLANT DIPS

Thanks for voting us Best Ethnic Food in the West End

We also bring you THE FAT BADGER NOW OPEN FOR BRUNCH SAT & SUN 11AM-3PM

1616 ALBERNI STREET | 604-336-5577 | FATBADGER.CA OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 5PM-11PM. RESERVATIONS FOR GROUPS 8+ ONLY. 26 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

at HANDMADE $Starting 99 SANDWICHES 3 +tax

1220 Davie Street

604.688.3442

Serving our customers for over 20 years.

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

WINNERS

Gastown Tattoo Parlour triumphs with tradition

GASTOWN TATTOO PARLOUR: BEST TATTOO / PIERCING STUDIO

KRISTYN ANTHONY @allovthethings

The team at Gastown Tattoo Parlour have got you covered... in ink. Clockwise from back left: Nomi Chi (cutout), Boone Naka, Uncle Arlo, Shawzy, Cleo Johnston, Henry Black, Craig Moston (dark cutout), Logan Howard (in toque), Mitch Kirilo (cutout), Sydney Stevens, Amanda Meowzen, Ed Miller (cutout). Not pictured: Frank Grimes. Rob Newell photo

Since Gassy Jack first landed on Vancouver Harbour’s south shore and put Gastown on the map, the neighbourhood has served as a destination for legendary artists and tattooers, the go-to spot where sailors came ashore to have their anchors inked. For this very reason, Mitch Kirilo chose the neighbourhood as the location for Gastown Tattoo Parlour, paying homage to the pioneers of an industry, preserving tattoo culture in it’s first Vancouver home.

“Back then you could get a tattoo for $5, and the artists were often broke, but for me, it’s never been about the money,” he explains. “It’s about respecting the trade and creating a tattoo that lasts a lifetime.”

Quality work and professionalism is important to Kirilo, evident in the sanitation practices the shop upholds with a dedicated staff hired just for cleaning.This enables his nine full-time artists, each

handpicked to create a varied menu of tattoo styles, to focus on their creativity.

A revolving door of guest artists means Gastown Tattoo’s staff is constantly evolving, learning new techniques from tattooers all over the world.

And, if removal is more your thing, Kirilo’s business partner Ed Miller runs sister company Vancouver Tattoo Removal out of the same historic building on West Cordova.They saw an opportunity to provide a good alternative to laser clinics who may go a bit deeper than necessary in their efforts to remove a piece.

“This way we can work with our client to merely lighten lines in order to design a cover-up,” Kirilo says.

Whatever you’ve got in mind, mark your calendar accordingly – Kirilo’s wait list is currently booking in late November. Unless of course, you want one of those tiny anchors, drop by on a Saturday when Kirilo and his crew will welcome walk-ins throughout the summer. W • GastownTattoo.com

THANK YOU

FOR SELECTING US

FOR BEST DINNER IN THE WEST END & COAL HARBOUR AREA

CACTUSCLUBCAFE.COM

Westender.com

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 27

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

WINNERS

Lauren Mote, mixology mistress at Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar ANYA LEVYKH @foodgirlfriday

What is it that makes for a stand-out watering hole? Is it just the quality of the hooch or the mastery of the person mixing and shaking ingredients behind the wood?

According to Lauren Mote, bar manager at Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar, and this year’s Bartender of the Year, it’s all about the total experience. And, that experience encompasses many parts. “Making drinks is complementary to the hospitality experience,” explains Mote. “People aren’t coming just because of a good cocktail. They’re coming to interact with our staff, the music, the atmosphere, the energy. We are curating escapism experiences for our guests.”

Mote describes herself as both an artist and an entertainer, two talents she’s worked to her advantage over the last 16 years spent in the hospitality industry.

Those are also traits she is passing on to her team of apprentices. “It’s how I train, I don’t hire anyone with a lot of experience, I train apprentice bartenders. Of the six team members, five are apprentices. It takes a certain type of bar manager to nurture a team, give them confidence.”

Mote describes herself as the “Mother Goose” of the team, but don’t mistake

her as a softie. “Ask any of my team, and they’ll say the same thing,” she laughs. “To work here, you have to be turbo, but you also have to be like a graceful swan in the chaos, giving incredible service.”

Mote describes her team as knowledgeable, intellectual and passionate. And she tests them on that knowledge. “There’s a 25-page bar manual, a 10-page bar exam, and timed cocktail trials.

They have to have the speed and grace under pressure.”

The pressure is quite real, as Uva has become the belle of the ball since Mote’s arrival. Weekends (and some weeknights) see line-ups and packed rooms, and the happy hour program is never quiet. “We’re packed every day,” smiles Mote. “People have stopped looking at the website to see what’s new, they just come down, because there’s something new every day – new cocktails and programs, new bands [on the weekends], and new events.”What makes the room such a draw? “The cocktail program at Uva is one of the most unique programs in the city, if not in Canada. We’re lucky that we have a monster budget; we can pull exciting spirits from all over the world, we work with a lot of brands, and we’re forthcoming with brand sponsorships, so, for instance, Bacardi is a longtime sponsor of the Happy

Hour program.”

But paramount to all is the guest experience. “It’s about letting the guest become part of cocktail culture, be part of that experience. There’s no sense in making things so complicated you can’t do them well. We aim to have a global approach to how we make cocktails, but it’s also very approachable, so if someone wants a Cosmopolitan, we’ll make the best Cosmopolitan they’ve ever had.”

If you think the pace is a bit frenetic, factor in the Mote is also the successful co-owner of Bittered Sling, a retail line of high-quality, small-batch bitters and extracts. “This is the only speed that I operate at,” laughs Mote. “I do it for the day-to-day fulfillment of the staff and the guests.”

What’s next for the mixology dynamo? “Well, we’re getting new bar stools,” laughs Mote. All joking aside, Mote list Uva as her primary focus in work and life. And, in addition to that?

“We’re going to Mexico for Tales of the Cocktail and there will be some major announcements from Bittered Sling later this year.” W

900 Seymour St. 604-632-9560 UvaVancouver.com BitteredSling.com

BEST BARTENDER/ BEST BAR DOWNTOWN

SHUN Classic 7” Hollow Ground Santoku

A VANCOUVER ORIGINAL SINCE 1917

Thank you for voting us Best Kitchenware Store

Best 18th annual

$99.95

REGULAR $198

• Hollow ground indentations help reduce friction • Blade glides through the food more easily • Hand-sharpened 16* double bevel blade • VG10 cutting core, 32 layers damascus cladding • Handcrafted in Japan

SHUN Premier 6” Chef

$129.95

REGULAR $234

City of the

2015

GOLD WINNER

TEL 604 683 7268 mingwo@mingwo.com

• Hammered Finish helps release food easily when cutting • Hand sharpened 16* double-bevel blade • VG-MAX cutting Core, 34 layers each side stainless damascus cladding • Handcrafted in Japan

Prices valid until March 1, 2015 or while qtys last.

23 E. PENDER :: 2170 W. 4TH :: 2707 GRANVILLE :: 2839 W. BROADWAY :: CAPILANO MALL :: LOUGHEED TOWN CENTRE :: WWW.MINGWO.COM

28 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

WINNERS Revolver Coffee owner George Giannakos.

Jen Gauthier photo

accessories * gifts * collections * kids * weddings

Thank you for voting us one of the best gift shops in Vancouver!

1014 Mainland * 604-669-8325 * finefindsboutique.com /FineFindsBoutique

REVOLVER COFFEE: BEST DOWNTOWN COFFEE SHOP GARY MCKENNA @westendervan

When walking through the doors of Revolver, one feels more like they have entered Sherlock Holmes’Victorianera laboratory than a Gastown coffee shop. And while general manager George Giannakos may not be a scientist, the way in which he approaches his coffee-brewing craft is equally precise.The menu features a variety of made-to-order, single-origin coffees from all over the world, with different types of beans roasted in various fashions.The result is a range of distinctive flavours that has turned Revolver Coffee into a neighbourhood institution.

“We have been in the industry for a long time,” Giannakos

said. “You get to know a lot of the roasters and the profiles that you are going to like… A lot of it is just sampling.”

For Giannakos, coffee is a family affair.

His parents owned he Daily Roast in Sechelt in the 1990s before selling the business and opening up Crema Coffee, which still operates in North Vancouver. Revolver, which opened its doors in 2011, is jointly-owned with Giannakos’ parents and three brothers.

“We are all in it together,” he said. “We were able to hit the ground running.”

The name Revolver is appropriate for Giannakos’ establishment.

Not only is it an evocative almost-palindrome that looks good on a sign, but he said

that it adheres to one of the philosophies of the business.

“It really plays to one of our main ethos, which is to be rotating and revolving the roasters that we use,” he said.

“You can choose one thing one day and the next day it might be different.”

Giannakos attributes Revolvers success to a strong focus on what they know best: coffee.Trends can change quickly, he said, but as long as he and his family are committed to producing a quality product in a comfortable environment, he believes the business will remain successful for years to come.

“We are very focused,” he said. “We do this one thing and we do it well.” W • RevolverCoffee.ca

PARLIAMENT INTERIORS: BEST DOWNTOWN HOME DECOR JENNIFER SCOTT @goodchicktoknow

A Gastown go-to for on trend furnishings and accessories, Parliament Interiors has been upping the city’s style since 2009.The boutique is owned and operated by three local creatives: Colette Soros (Minister of Environment), Craig Parkes (Minister of Interior) and Tina Lee (Minister of Finance); the ‘Ministers’ stay in touch with their market and clientele by working in-shop themselves.

This hands-on approach is what initially drew them to the location – Gastown offers a highly creative, independent-business oriented vibe that the trio identified with.

The overall decor philosophy of Parliament is to bring functional, stylish options to shoppers without branching

Westender.com

into overly high price points.

A mix of contemporary and mid-century-modern inspiration drive the designs offered in store, with a number of pieces available for custom order such as their selection of stellar sofas and bed frames.

According to Colette, Parliament is best known within the city for being “an independent, local furniture store with our pulse on what our market wants. Being local allows us to quickly forecast what our market needs.”

A cute and quirky side note to the company, says Soros, are the many owl-related items the store sells (FYI, a group of owls is called a “parliament”).

The shop caters to a broad clientele base, encompassing everyone from young new homeowners, to emptynesters who have downsized

to neighbourhoods like Coal Harbour, False Creek or the West End. Parliament also sees a lot of year-round tourist business, as much of the area does, and has built strong working relationships with interior designers shopping for clients.

Staying true to their original outlook, Parliament strives to maintain and support the hyper-local retail approach.The Ministers feel that it is an important aspect of their business to showcase the amazing art scene Vancouver offers.They adorn their wall space within the store with pieces featuring local artistic talent that they have come to know and respect, as well as house an in-shop shop for local plant design team, Kermodi. W • ParliamentInteriors.com

@FineFinds

@FineFinds

Les0 Tw2eting. Mor1 Eating.

BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT

101 Main Street (at Alexander) • 604.684.1555 NOW OPEN: 3189 W. Broadway (at Trutch) • 604.379.3727 www.deaconscorner.ca

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US # 1 PUB IN VANCOUVER! PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR A COMPLIMENTARY PINT-SIDE APPETIZER WITH PURCHASE OF A HAPPY HOUR BEVERAGE.

OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 31, 2015 NOT VAILID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER OR COUPON EXCLUDING SPECIAL EVENTS.

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 29

BEST OF THE CITY //

DOWNTOWN HIDDEN GEM

Get FRESH at Nesters ...in the heart of your community

GREAT SELECTION • ORGANIC FOODS • GLUTEN FREE • GREAT PRICES • QUALITY PRODUCTS CONVENIENT LOCATIONS • FRIENDLY STAFF

THANK YOU!!

Nesters is extremely honoured to have been voted Best of the City 2015 by our customers and friends.

1. Little Pink Dress 1086 Hornby St. 604-616-6848 LittlePinkDress.ca 2. Olla Urban Flower 235 Cambie St. 604-609-6552 OllaFlowers.ca 3. Notturno Restaurant 280 Carrall St. 604-720-3145 NotturnoGastown.ca

HOME DÉCOR 1. Parliament Interiors 115 Water St. 604-689-0800 ParliamentInteriors.com 2. The Cross 1198 Homer St. 604-689-2900 TheCrossDesign.com

PET SUPPLIES 17th Annual

17th Annual

BRONZE WINNER

BRONZE WINNER

2014

2014

Readers’ Choice

BEST LOCAL GROCER

BEST LOCAL GROCER

Readers’ Choice

BEST ORGANIC PRODUCE

1. Bones Pet Stores 191 Smithe St. 604-559-2663 BonesPS.com 2. Waggy Pooch 903 Howe St. 778-869-6624 WaggyPooch.com 3. Wagababa Petshop 88 Keefer Place 604-628-2458 Wagababa.ca

Nesters Market at Woodwards 333 Abbott Street • 604-688-7550

UNIQUE GIFTS

Thank you for voting us

BEST NAIL SALON

Anniversary Special 10th

*

$80 for 2

1. Fine Finds 1014 Mainland St. 604-669-8325 FineFindsBoutique.com T-2. Meadow Gifts and Apparel 104 Water St. 604-620-5802 ShopMeadow.ca T-2. Litchfield 38 Water St. 604-428-5880 LitchfieldTheShop.com

3. Orling and Wu 28 Water St. 604-568-6718 OrlingAndWu.com

MEN’S APPAREL T-1. Roden Gray 8 Water St. 604-689-7302 RodenGray.com T-1. Neighbour #125-12 Water St. 604-558-2555 ShopNeighbour.com 2. The Shop 432 Columbia St. 604-568-7273 TheShopVancouver.com 3. Brooklyn Clothing Co. 91 Powell St. 604-559-5180 Shop.BrooklynClothing.com

WOMEN’S APPAREL 1. Dream #145-332 Water St. 604-683-7326 DreamVancouver.com 2. Ishara 38 Water St. 604-264-7494 ShopIshara.com 3. Hunter and Hare 334 West Pender 604-559-4273 HunterAndHare.com

VINTAGE CLOTHING 1. Wildlife Thrift 1295 Granville St. 604-682-0381 WildlifeThriftStore.com 2. Used House of Vintage 831 Granville St. 604-694-0322 UsedHouseOfVintage.com 3. Vous Valet Consignment Store 1241 Hamilton St. 604-558-4228 VousValet.com

There is more online

westender.com

mani pedi combos

when you come in together with a friend.

UPGRADE TO GEL POLISH $20 HANDS OR FEET *$40 per combo. Not valid Saturdays & statutory holidays. Cannot be combined with other promotions or coupons. Not applicable with gift card redemption or gift card purchase. Extra charge vinylux & gel polish. Offer expires March 31, 2015

YALETOWN 1282 Pacific 604.605.1282 DOWNTOWN 202-1030 W Georgia 604.569.1799 KITSILANO 137 W 4th 604.738.8990 2575 W Broadway 604.558.2155 30 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

OLYMPIC VILLAGE 1780 Manitoba 604.559.7488 SOUTH MAIN 2836 Main 604.874.9222 NORTH VAN 116 West 3rd 604.988.1150

PORT MOODY Suterbrook Village 604.469.6388 SOUTH SURREY #120 Shops at Morgan Crossing 778.294.4500

BOOK ONLINE @ WWW.PURENAILBAR.COM

BestDowntown Breakfast All day DRINK SPECIALS on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Diner comfort food with a healthy original twist Serving breakfast everyday until 3pm. Fully licensed.

1087 Granville Street • 604.685.4612 Sun-Thu 9am – 11pm • Fri & Sat 9am-12am

www.thetempleton.ca | info@thetempleton.ca

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

Dog Spa & Boutique

DOWNTOWN / GASTOWN / YALETOWN FITNESS FACILITY

1. Crocodile Baby 1081 Marinaside Cres.

604-684-7707 CrocodileBaby.com

1. Urban Fitness Club 928 Davie St. 604-696-5549 UrbanHealthClub.com

2. Saf and Benjamin 1081 Marinaside Cres.

778-328-8194

2. Crossfit 604 124 East Cordova 604-899-9443 CrossFit604.com

3. Ella and Elliot 126 West Hastings 604-563-1845 EllaAndElliot.com

FLORIST

1. Downtown Florist 730 Davie St. 604-697-9007 VancouverDowntownFlowers.com

2. Divine Vines 1066 Mainland St. 604-696-0211 DivineVines.ca

3. Eden Florist 843 Davie St. 604-685-8058 EdenFloristOnline.com

TRAVEL AGENCY

1. Jade Tours 139 Keefer St. 604-683-4480 JadeTours.com

2. Happy Times Travel 8 Pender St. E. 604-685-9366 HppyTimesTravel.com

3. Nikko Tours and Travel 512 Beatty St. 604-656-2108

DRY CLEANER

1. Sew Clean 648 Abbott St. 604-728-5050 SewClean.ca

2. Liberty Cleaners 331 Howe St. 604-681-8849

3. Fast Iron Cleaners 1060 West Georgia 604-669-1944 FastIronCleaners.com

TAILOR

2. Modernize 5 West Pender 604-685-0610 ModernizeTailors.BlogSpot.com

3. Albert’s #227-470 Granville St. 604-683-2890 AlbertsTailor.com

BIKES & REPAIR

1. Reckless Bike Stores 110 Davie St. 604-648-2600 Reckless.ca

2. Bicycle Sports Pacific 999 Pacific St. 604-682-4537 BSPBikes.com

3. Simon’s 608 Robson St. 604-602-1181 SimonsBikeShop.com

Westender.com

YOGA STUDIO 1. Y Yoga 1050 Homer St. 604-684-3334 YYoga.ca 2. West Coast Hot Yoga 1128 Mainland St. 604-221-9642 WestCoastHotYoga.com 3. Exhale Yoga 1083 Cambie St. 604-689-2246 ExhaleStudio.com

DENTAL CLINIC 1. Aarm Dental 1156 Pacific Blvd.

604-629-0386 Aarm-Dental.com 2. Yaletown Dentistry 1050 Hamilton St. 604-801-6669 YaletownDentistry.com

3. Breathe Spa 464 Granville St. 604-688-4769 BreatheSpa.net

1. Hurricane Grill 1137 Marinaside Cres.

604-488-0555 HurricaneGrill.ca

T-3. Deacon’s Corner 101 Main St. 604-684-1555 DeaconsCorner.ca T-3. Salsa and Agave 1205 Pacific Blvd.

604-408-4228 SalsaAndAgave.ca

BARTENDER 1. Lauren Mote, Uva 900 Seymour Street 604-632-9560 uvavancover.ca

NAIL SALON

BAR 1. Uva 900 Seymour St. 604-632-9560 UvaVancouver.ca

2. La Lotus Nails Spa 625 Davie St. 604-682-3688 LaLotusNailSpa.com

2. The Diamond 6 Powell St. 604-568-8272 di6mond.com

TANNING SALON

T-3. Clough Club 212 Abbott St. 604-558-1581 DonnellyGroup.ca

1. Bruce Optical 219 Abbott St. 604-662-8300 BruceEyewear.com 2. Strozzi’s 1175 Mainland St. 604-602-1880 New.Strozzis.com 3. Galaxy #1127-88 West Pender 604-683-9382

SPA 1. Spruce Body Lab Richards St. 6004-683-3220 SpruceBodyLab.com

Thank You

Nicli Antica Pizzeria Lovers!

62 East Cordova Street Vancouver BC

604 669 6985 niclipizzeria.ca

2. Shawn Layton, L’Abattoir 217 Carrall Street 604-568-1701 labattoir.ca

1. Pure Nail Bar 1282 Pacific Blvd.

604-605-1282 PureNailBar.com

EYEWEAR

80 Smithe Street • 604 685 6088 • www.pawshdogspa.com

2. Yaletown L’Antipasto 1127 Mainland St. 604-558-1174 YaletownLantipasto.com

3. Danielle Tatarin, Keefer Bar 135 Keefer Street 604-688-1961 thekeeferbar.com

2. Cocoa Tanning 1165 Pacific Blvd.

604-899-7989 CocoaTanning.ca

From a bath and tidy, to a full groom and individually tailored style — we’ll give your pooch the pampering they deserve.

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT

3. Wall Centre Dental 1065 Hornby St. 604-879-3333 WallCentre-Dental.com

1. Sunscape 415 Helmcken St. 604-899-2290 SunScapeTanning.com

Thanks for voting us the BEST PET GROOMER in Vancouver!

T-3. The Keefer 135 Keefer St. 604-688-1961 TheKeeferBar.com

BREAKFAST 1. Café Medina 780 Richards St. 604-879-3114 MedinaCafe.com 2. Cibo Trattoria 900 Seymour St. 604-602-9570 CiboTrattoria.com T-3. The Elbow Room 560 Davie St. 604-685-3628 TheElbowRoomCafe.com

A TH FOR

1. Townline 541 Howe St. 604-684-6105 TownLineTailors.com

3. Steve Nash Sports Club 1214 Howe St. 604-681-3232 SNClubs.com

2. Spa Utopia #1001-999 Canada Place 604-689-7700 SpaUtopia.ca

V

NK YO U

OT

RU S

KID’S STORE

O ING F

For the month of March

SUZTX RWY TV custom pet tags

T-3. The Templeton 1087 Granville St. 604-685-4612 TheTempleton.ca

191 Smithe Street 604 559 BONE (2663) corner of Smithe and Cambie bonesps.com | facebook.com/bonesps February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 31

TFOH ANKS R YO UR VOTES

BEST BAR IN VANCOUVER OPEN

MIC

SUNDAYS

EVERY SUNDAY 5-9PM INFO@THEMORRISSEYPUB.C OM

$10 BURGER AND BEER CAESAR $5.25 SINGLE/$8 .50 DOUBLES MILL STREET PINT $4.75

BEST OF THE CITY //

DOWNTOWN / GASTOWN / YALETOWN BRUNCH 1. Café Medina 780 Richards St. 604-879-3114 MedinaCafe.com 2. Yew 791 West Georgia 604-692-4939 YewSeafood.com

COFFEE SHOP

WEEKDAY BRUNCH

2. Timbertrain Coffee Roasters 311 West Cordova 604-915-9188 TimberTrainCoffeeRoasters.com

3. Taco Fino 15 West Cordova 604-899-7907 TacoFino.com

Thank You

3. Nicli Antica Pizzeria 62 East Cordova 604-669-6985 NicliPizzeria.ca

1. Revolver 325 Cambie St. 604-558-4444 RevolverCoffee.ca

2. Meat and Bread 370 Cambie St. 604-566-9003 MeatAndBread.ca

BEST BAKERY

2. The Flying Pig 102 Water St. 604-559-7968 TheFlyingPigVan.com

3. Twisted Fork Bistro 1147 Granville St. 604-568-0749 TwistedForkBistro.ca

1. Homer St. Café 898 Homer St. 604-428-4299 HomerStreetCafeBar.com

We are humbled and grateful to be voted

WESTENDER.COM

DINNER 1. Chambar 568 Beatty St. 604-879-7119 Chambar.com

3. Trees Organic Coffee & Roasting House 450 Granville St. 604-684-5022 TreesCoffee.com

LOCAL GROCER T-1. Nester’s Market 333 Abbott St. 604-688-7550 NestersMarket.com T-1. Urban Fare Various Locations UrbanFare.com 2. Choices Various Locations ChoicesMarket.com

DOWNTOWN RANT//RAVE

T-3. Sunrise Market 300 Powell St. 604-685-8019 T-3. T&T Supermarket 179 Keefer St. 604-254-9668 TNT.Supermarket.com

BEER & WINE STORE 1. Crosstown Liquor Store 568 Abbott St. 604-683-8438 MyLiquorStore.ca 2. Swirl Wine Store 1185 Mainland St. 604-408-9463 SwirlWineStore.ca 3. Steamworks Liquor Store 375 Water St. 604-689-8729 Steamworks.ca

BAKERY 1. Pure Bread 159 West Hastings 604-563-8060 PureBread.ca 2. Cartems Donuterie 534 West Pender 778-708-0996 Cartems.com 3. Small Victory 1088 Homer St. 604-899-8892 SmallVictory.ca

534 West Pender 778-708-0996 cartems.com

I love how there are so many trendy restaurants in Yaletown. My girlfriends and I always have new places to go. I also love how Yaletown has upscale grocery stores and everyone has a puppy!

–Samantha Dogs off-leash or on-leash but attached to owners who use up the entire width of the sidewalks.

–westcoastnerd Although it may not be the popular opinion, I love the bike lanes, they keep those that live downtown out of their cars and on their bikes! So well designed for Urban Living - many people who live and work downtown are riding their bikes exclusively now rain or shine! Thumbs up!

–Madalena Corsi Awful setup, impossible to find a great bar right outside Rogers Arena and Yaletown is too far away for it to be a convenient location. Lets not even start on the parking!

–Cory B

Ocean and Crow yoga/space

Photo: Ash Tanasiychuk

Thank you for voting for us in the Reader’s Choice Best of the City!

Mention you saw this ad for a FREE class for you and a friend!

1707 Grant Street | oceanandcrow.ca

32 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

Thank You

WINNERS NOIR LASH LOUNGE: BEST LASH BAR

Emily Mount, Lexi Boyd, and Carly Chan of Noir Lash Lounge Yaletown. Rob Newell photo

The eyes have it at Noir Lash Lounge NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

Noticing a lot more eyebatting these days? It can likely be traced back to the Noir Lash Lounge.

The salon got the wink from Westender readers for their semi-permanent lush lashes.

“We have a passion for lashes, and I think our customers know it,” Yaletown Noir Lash Lounge manager Lexi Boyd says.

Along with their lash love, what makes their lounge such a fave is that all of the staff are either makeup artists or estheticians with the expertise and technical skills to apply lashes, which last six to eight weeks, Boyd says.

“When we go with lashes, we go big,” she says. “We totally understand our clients’ obsession because we are obsessed ourselves.”

At Noir Lash Lounge, individual lashes are professionally applied

with a special latex and formaldehyde-free adhesive to create longer, thicker lashes, which are individually applied and laid atop of the natural lash.

Joyce Poon started the company – which now has locations in Metro Vancouver, Alberta, Washington, and California – in Yaletown in 2008. The lash bar offers up to 100 types of lashes and shapes – from demure everyday looks to sultry lashes to plump, feathery shapes. Whatever the style, they make the eyes pop, which is why they are growing in popularity, Boyd says.

“People have discovered this new beauty trick that makes their lives so much easier,” she says, describing the benefit of lash extensions, which start at $40 and go up. “Lashes are huge right now – we have everything from the everyday gal coming on her lunch break to people coming for special events.”

Bridal season is an especially busy time, she says, adding that because business is booming they plan to hire to two staffers in Yaletown to keep up with the fluttering demand. W • NoirLashLounge.com

Brunch is served 7 days a week open - 2:00pm

Check out Yaletown's Best Waterfront Location False Creek Marina 3 heated, sun-drenched patios 1137 Marinaside Crescent

| 604-488-0555 | hurricanegrill.ca

T N A R U A ST REST ER

N N I D T S E B GOLD E B D L GO

,

ior décor, r e t n i t s e B e dining, n i f t s e visitors. e k B a t o R t E e V c L a I l ntic. // S ZE - Best p N O R B / Best Roma / owntown. d t n a r u a t s Best re

Thank you!

Westender.com

568 BEATTY ST 604 879 7119 www.chambar.com @chambar_restaurant #CivilizedDebauchery February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 33

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

WINNERS

JACKALOPE’S NEIGHBOURHOOD DIVE: BEST EAST SIDE HIDDEN GEM

Bartender Andrew Hanson and server Alice Guevarra show off the stuffed head of the rare and endangered North American jackalope. This once vicious beast is now on permanent display at Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive on East Hastings.

Gen Handley photo

Delicious dishes at this East Van dive bar

GEN HANDLEY @westendervan

“So what the hell is a jackalope?” I ask.

Kristy Lynn Clark and Alexis Murphy, sitting across from me, look at me like they’re both questioning my intelligence.

“It’s over there, on our wall,” Murphy says, pointing to the mounted head of a rabbit with antelope horns coming out of it.

“It’s a mythical creature,” says Clark, jumping in.

“Like Bigfoot.”

This animal, that may or may not exist, is the

moniker of one of East Van’s newest establishments, Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive, a cozy space on East Hastings off of Vancouver’s culinary beaten path.

Owners Clark and Murphy said they opened the place a year ago for pretty simple reasons.

“We both live in this neighbourhood and we have a lot of friends here,” Clark says. Both women live within a few blocks of the restaurant. “There was really no place to hang out.

We just wanted a place to for the community to come have some delicious food

and local beers.”

Calling yourself a neighbourhood dive has a number of connotations and Jackalope’s encompasses mostly the positives.

The restaurant is laid-back, unpretentious with the ambience of a friend’s home.

Music is clearly integral to Jackalope’s with a constant stream of rock, blues, metal, country and punk playing on the not-too loud speakers. Along with the frontand-centre jackalope head, random art and objects adorn the dimly lit walls. A stuffed raccoon, a blackand-white photo of Bruce

Springsteen, mismatching lampshades.

“This place is very DIY,” says Clark. “It’s very unique and personal.

Almost everything in here has come from our homes, from garage sales. It has personality.”

“We’re a place where you can come eat breakfast and listen to Black Sabbath,” she adds.

And what you can have for breakfast, lunch or dinner is a small-but-refined menu of comfort-food items like skillet cornbread, breakfast nachos and a beef brisket. The bar keeps

thirsty customers happy with a rotating selection of local pints as well as craft cocktails like the Lavender Lemonade.

In what is a backwards process to how restaurants usually come to fruition, Jackalope’s space came to the pair before the idea for an actual restaurant.

“We were renting the space next door (for a pet store) and our landlord was like, ‘Do you want it?’” says Murphy. “We said yes before really knowing what we were going to do with it.”

In spite of not having a clear vision initially, busi-

ness has been good in the inaugural year and buzz around the small establishment is getting louder.

“This place has gotten a lot busier than expected. I mean look at our kitchen… it’s tiny,” Murphy says laughing. “We’ve been working hard, trying to keep up with the pace.”

With the increasing business, it has also been a lot of work.

“A fuck-ton of work,” says Clark. “Every day is different and has new problems, but it’s fun.Yeah it’s fun. It’s getting better.” W • JackalopesDive.com

Thank You Vancouver!

We are proud to be voted your BEST BEER & WINE STORE since 2008!

Your one stop bottle shop for CRAFT BEER, FINE WINE and SPECIALTY SPIRITS Open 11-11 EVERY DAY • 14th & Main • FREE PARKING AROUND BACK

www.brewerycreekliquorstore.com 604-872-3373 34 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

WINNERS

THANK YOU

for voting us your #1 Vintage Consignment Furniture Store.

WE LOVE YOU VANCOUVER!

WOMYNS’ WARE: BEST SEX/ EROTIC SHOP

The

S

n o i l l u t Quality

eConsignment Ltd.

WE ALSO SELL VAN GOGH FOSSIL PAINT! Sign up for a workshop and learn how to revamp your old furniture.

3206 Main Street at 16th Avenue • (604) 876-4517 TheMainSellution • mainsellution@gmail.com

We provide a holistic dog care support system which combines exercise, nutrition, stimulation, education and health care.

Womyns’ Ware, the “women’s sexuality business” on Commercial Drive, came about in 1995 as a political statement. Rob Newell photo

New era, same philosophy for Womyns’ Ware KRISTYN ANTHONY @allovthethings

For 19 years,Womyns’Ware has stood at the helm of Commercial Drive as a hub for all things sex positive; a feminist headquarters of sorts in a vibrant neighbourhood known for its alternative offerings.

Under new ownership as of late last summer, the philosophy is still the same.

People and integrity come first, health and safety are always a priority, as is freedom of sexual expression, for all bodies.

“We aim to provide a quality, safe customer experience, but also to educate and operate a business in the true sense of feminism,” co-owner Lesley says. “We don’t want to alienate anyone.”

Taking on an established business isn’t easy, but it was

Westender.com

those exact principals already in place that drew Lesley and her business partner Ann to the endeavour. Leaving in place the team of knowledgeable, personable staff members, who over the years have worked to build the community of loyal customers was imperative. Anyone who has come through the door over the years knows how welcoming and comfortable the atmosphere can be, a rare find in what can be an intimidating space for some.

“Look around, you’ll see no pornography or objectification, only sex positive representation,” Lesley explains. “People shop here, but they also hang out, read, and learn.”

The notion of integrity is of utmost importance in their buying policy.You won’t find glass dildos here, but instead body safe replacement items

that look and feel similar but are much more safe as each product is carefully reviewed before hitting the shelves.

The customer feedback speaks for itself – many are repeat shoppers, some from as far away as theYukon and all offer thanks for honouring women’s bodies, and making the experience a human one.

“We have the greatest customers here and everyone’s needs are different at different times,” Anne says.

Each customer has the option of designing a profile to be accessed at each visit as well as a loyalty program for purchases, making the shopping experience that much more personal.

Get on the email list and keep an eye out for their quarterly newsletter for educational resources, industry trends and fun anecdotes. W

• Raw, dehydrated & freeze dried foods • Locally made and low ingredient treats • Holistic health care products and services • Walking, coaching and Overnight care

20

% OFF

your entire purchase

* Excluding food. Expires April 30, 2015

701 KINGSWAY at Fraser

778-228-7458 www.discoverdogs.ca February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 35

BEST OF THE CITY // “I should have gone to Both Feet On Main Street.”

Keep going with your shoes in top shape.

EAST SIDE HIDDEN GEM 1. Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive 2257 East Hastings 604-568-6674 JackalopesDive.com

Best Cobbler

Thanks for your votes.

2. The Union Market 810 Union St. 604-255-5025 UnionMarket.ca T-3. The Lido 518 East Broadway 604-879-5436 TheLido.ca

4410 Main St 604.872.1318

www.bothfeetonmain.ca

T-3. Nomad 3950 Main St. 604-708-8525 Nomad-Vancouver.ca

HARDWARE STORE

KID’S STORE

1. Magnet Home Hardware 1575 Commercial Drive 604-253-1747 HomeHardware.ca

1. Dilly Dally 1161 Commercial Drive 604-252-9727 DillyDallyKids.ca

2. Nineteen Ten 4366 Main St. 604-558-0210 Nineteen.ca

2. Welk’s General Store 3511 Main St. 604-873-3330 WelkMart.com

2. Granville Island Toy Company 3298 Main St. 604-875-0065 ToyCompany.com

CALL 604-671-1727

Thanks for voting us one of the BEST in Vancouver!

3. Lee Valley Tools 1180 SEast Marine Drive 604-261-2262 LeeValley.com

PET SUPPLIES 1. Mark’s Pet Shop 1875 Commercial Drive 604-255-4844 2. Sophie’s Pet Palace 1280 Commercial Drive 604-255-1211 3. Discover Dogs 701 Kingsway 778-228-7458 DiscoverDogs.ca

UNIQUE GIFTS • Transmission Flushes • Engine diagnosis • TerraClean Fuel • Servicing all makes Injection and models

65 East 3rd Avenue • 604-671-1727 • www.ootmarauto.ca • Open Monday-Friday 7:30-5:00

1. LaLa’s 1748 Commercial Drive 604-877-7708 LaLas.ca 2. Front & Co. 3772 Main St. 604-879-8431 FrontAndCompany.ca 3. Much & Little 2541 Main St. 604-709-9034 MuchAndLittle.com

MEN’S APPAREL 1. Motherland 3647 Main St. 604-681-0780 ShopMotherland.Tumblr.com 2. Still Life 2315 Main St. 604-876-5659 StillLifeBoutique.com 3. Eugene Choo 3697 Main St. 604-558-3298 EugeneChoo.com

WOMEN’S APPAREL 1. Twig & Hottie 3671 Main St. 604-879-8595 we3.ca/pages/twigg-hottiehome-of-we3-designs 2. Barefoot Contessa 1928 Commercial Drive 604-255-9035 TheBarefootContessa.com

VINTAGE CLOTHING 1. Front & Company 3772 Main St. 604-879-8431 FrontAndCompany.ca 2. Burcu’s Angels 221 East 16th Ave. 604-874-1030 T-3. Woo Vintage Clothing 4366 Main St. 604-687-8200

36 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

T-3. Mintage 1714 Commercial Drive 604-646-8243 MintageVintage.com

HOME DÉCOR

OOTMAR AUTOMOTIVE Ltd.

BEST AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE

3. Refind 4609 Main St. 778-855-0969 RefindHomeFurnishings.com

1. Exposure Home 1616 Commercial Drive 604-253-5808 ExposureHome.ca

Your neighbourhood Auto Centre, servicing Vancouver since 1928.

• Lube & Oil Service • Brake service & Repairs

WESTENDER.COM

3. Dandelion Kids 1206 Commercial Drive 604-676-1862 DandelionKids.ca

FLORIST 1. Flower Factory 3604 Main St. 604-871-1008 FlowerFactory.ca 2. The Flower Box 1319 Commercial Drive 604-254-3269 TheFlowerBox.ca 3. Floral and Hardy 688 East Hastings 604-255-7199

GREEN/ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS 1. The Soap Dispensary 3718 Main St. 604-568-3141 TheSoapDispensary.com 2. Mattress Recycling 8275 Sherbrooke St. 604-324-3211 MattressRecycling.ca 3. Spud 1660 East Hastings 604-215-7783 Spud.ca

AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE 1. Sunlight Auto 550 East Hastings 604-251-9489 2. Ootmar 65 East 3rd Ave. 604-681-1727 Ootmar.ca 3. Soares Auto Repair 1283 East Hastings 604-253-3355 SoaresAuto.ca

TRAVEL AGENCY 1. Happy Times Travel 8 Pender St. E 604-685-9366 HappyTimesTravel.com 2. Da Vinci International Travel 1428 Commercial Drive 604-254-9557

DRY CLEANER 1. Launder All 2706 Main St. 604-873-3888 LaunderCleanCenter.com 2. William Laundry 1315 Commercial Drive 604-254-7623 3. Shirtland Drycleaners 746 Powell St. 604-254-4415 ShirtLand.ca

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

@WESTENDERVAN

WINNERS

LA GROTTA DEL FORMAGGIO : BEST CHEESE SHOP Above: La Grotta del Formaggio owner Fortunato Bruzzese. Right: With son Domenico.

Nothing cheesy about this mom and pop shop Mijune Pak Follow Me Foodie

@FollowMeFoodie La Grotta Del Formaggio for the win! Are you surprised?

Neither am I. I mean have you tried their sandwiches? It’s a simple concept and it works, hence the constant line-up during peak hours.

La Grotta Del Formaggio is just one of the many mom and pop shops on Commercial Drive. However it’s not just any “mom and pop” because without it, Commercial Drive would not be complete. An institution in the neighbourhood, it has defined what hard work and family bonds can mean to a business successful.

Husband and wife Fortunato and Anna Bruzzese started the business in 1977 and still continue their handson approach as a family-run business specializing in Italian goods.Their daughter, Sandra Raines, manages the administrative side of the business as well as the social media and catering, while her brother Domenico heads the wholesale division, sourcing and importing products.

When I say “hands on” I’m not exaggerating either. Fortunato rarely takes a day off and is at the deli seven days a week. He divides his time between paperwork and making sandwiches and there’s no job too small or big.

I’ve been lucky to get to know the humble family after traveling with Domenico and La Grotta’s corporate chef, Alex Tung, to Abruzzo, Italy last year.Tung represented Canada in the Rustichella d’Abruzzo Primograno Pasta Competition and took home Best Pasta Dish as well as Best

Westender.com

Overall – the only two titles to be won. Considered an honorary “Italian”,Tung is part of the Bruzzese family and they make their customers feel the same way.Their store is their glorified pantry and it’s admirable how they have grown as an independent company.

Although they are known for Italian goods, they have also increased their focus on locally-made BC products.

They sell some BC cheeses exclusively to local retailers, but also have a burrata and stracciatella produced specifically for their shop available at the deli. Other specialty products I’m a fan of their bot-

GOLD!

targa, Rustichella PrimoGrano pasta, salt cod, charcuterie, and premium olive oils.

Next time in the store, introduced yourself to Fortunato. He is a wealth of information and stories – a passionate and true Italian who welcomes anyone as if they were family.

If you ask nicely, he might have some special cheeses ageing in his cheese cave that will fit your palate and special occasion. W Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ followmefoodie.

THANK YOU

FOR VOTING US BEST NAIL SALON

Thank you Vancouver.

We love you too!

Our services include: • 3D Nail Art & Nail • Manicure & Spa Pedicure • Shellac / Gel Manicure & Pedicure Designs • Waxing Services • Solar, Acrylic & Gel Nails

STANLEY NAILS SPA 3851 Main Street • 604.876.2118

www.trimhairsalon.com

Vancouver 1181 Commercial Drive (Beside BierCraft) Tel. 604-428-5559

Burnaby 4723 Kingsway (Across the street from Metrotown Center) Tel. 604-568-3636

Web: www.stanleynails.com • Email: stanleynails@hotmail.com

#StanleyNails

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 37

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

EAST SIDE 3. Trout Lake Community Centre 3360 Victoria Drive 604-257-6955 TroutLakeCC.com

BIKES & REPAIR 1. Denman Bikes Shop 2607 Main St. 604-559-9494 DenmanBikeShop.com

YOGA STUDIO

2. Bikes on the Drive 1350 Commercial Drive 604-215-7433 BikesOnTheDrive.com

1. Bikram’s 1109 Commercial Drive 604-251-9642 BikramYogaCommercialDrive.com

3. Dream Cycle 1010 Commercial Drive 604-253-3737 Dream-Cycle.com

2. Ocean and Crow Yoga 1707 Grant St. 778-706-8805 OceanAndCrow.ca

FITNESS FACILITY

3. Moksha 560 East 15th Ave. 604-569-3300 East-Vancouver.MokshaYoga.ca

1. Mount Pleasant Community Centre 1 Kingsway 604-257-3080 MountPleasantCC.ca

DENTAL CLINIC

2. Creekside Community Centre 1 Athletes Way 604-257-3050 Vancouver.ca

1. Mercato Dental 1617 Commercial Drive 604-254-5900 SmileOnTheDrive.ca

2. Care Dental Cedar Cottage Mews 604-568-2901 CareDentalClinic.ca

2. Charm Nail & Spa 3598 Fraser St. 604-558-2771 CharmNailSpa.com

2. St. Augustine’s 2360 Commercial Drive 604-569-1911 StAugustinesVancouver.com

HAIR SALON

TANNING SALON

1. Trim 3851 Main St. 604-876-2118 TrimHairSalon.com

1. Banana Tans 148 East Broadway 604-872-8267 BananaTans.com

3. Portland Craft 3835 Main St. 604-569-2494 PortlandCraft.com

BREAKFAST

2. Nonna’s Table 1489 East Hastings 604-253-7141 NonnasTable.ca

2. Manifesto 1126 Commercial Drive 604-255-5858 ManifestoSalon.com

2. Solaris Sun Lounge 1740 Commercial Drive 604-215-2797 SolarisSunLounge.com

1. Slickity Jim’s 3475 Main St. 604-873-6760 SlickityJims.com

T-3. BierCraft 1191 Commercial Drive 604-254-2437 BierCraft.com

3. East Vanity Parlour 2408 Main St. 604-637-1122 EastVanityParlour.com

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT

2. Red Wagon Cafe 2296 East Hastings 604-568-4565 RedWagonCafe.com

T-3. Chicha 136 East Broadway 604-620-3963 ChichaRestaurant.com

3. Yolk’s 1298 East Hastings 604-428-9655 Yolks.ca

DINNER

NAIL SALON 1. Stanley Nails & Spa 1181 Commercial Drive 604-428-5559 StanleyNails.com

OR A BRING IN THIS AD F

UNT 10% DISCT O PURCHASE

EX OFF YOURLimN it 1 per person.

MAGNET

2. Via Tevere Pizzeria 1190 Victoria Drive 604-336-1803 ViaTeverePizzeria.com 3. Bandidas 2781 Commercial Drive 604-568-8224 BandidasTaqueria.com

Thanks for your votes

Best Hardware Store East Side

1. The Wallflower 2420 Main St. 604-568-7554 TheWallflowerModernDiner.com

BAR 1. The Cascade Room 2616 Main St. 604-709-8650 TheCascade.ca

WEEKDAY LUNCH 1. Burgoo 3096 Main St. 604-873-1441 Burgoo.ca

BRUNCH

1. East Is East 3243 West Broadway 604-734-5881 EastIsEast.ca

1. Havana 1212 Commercial Drive 604-253-9119 HavanaRestaurant.ca

2. The Acorn 3995 Main St. 604-566-9001 TheAcornRestaurant.ca

2. Graze 3980 Fraser St. 604-620-8822 GrazeRestaurant.ca

3. Burdock & Co. 2702 Main St. 604-879-0077 BurdockAndCo.com

3. El Camino’s 3250 Main St. 604-875-6246 ElCaminos.ca

Celebrating 50 years in business • Paint and Sundries • Kitchen Supplies • Garden Tools • Bedding Plants • Hardware

1575 Commercial Drive • 604.253.1747 facebook.com/magnethomehardware

EAT DRINK DANCE PARTY

(not necessarily in that order) THANKS FOR VOTING FOR US VANCOUVER WE ARE PROUD TO WIN SILVER FOR BEST LIVE VENUE IN TOWN!!!

S BANDS & DJ G IN R U O T LOCAL & T SHOWS R A Y * D E M CO

Thank you, everyone, for voting us best bakery in East Vancouver!

2474 East Hastings • 604-563-5094 • blackrookbake.com • Open 7 days 38 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

COME VISIT

OUR COLD B

928 Main Street • 604.558.0928 electricowl.ca • ElectricOwlSocialClub •

EER & WINE

STORE

ElectricOwl_ca Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

EAST SIDE COFFEE SHOP 1. JJ Bean 3010 Main st.

604-879-2326 JJBeanCoffee.com 2. Matchstick Coffee Roasters 639 East 15th Ave. 604-558-0639 MatchstickCoffee.com 3. 49th Parallel 2902 Main St. 604-872-4901 49thParallelRoasters.com

LOCAL GROCER 1. Donald’s Market 2342 East Hastings 604-254-3014 DonaldsMarket.com 2. Famous Foods 1595 Kingsway 604-872-3019 FamousFoods.ca 3. Benny’s Market 598 Union st.

604-254-2746 BennyFoods.com

ORGANIC PRODUCE 1. Donald’s Market 2342 East Hastings 604-254-3014 DonaldsMarket.com 2. Organic Acres 3603 Main St. 604-569-1132 OrganicAcresMain.com 3. Drive Organics 1045 Commercial Drive 604-678-9665

ETHNIC FOOD STORE 1. Fujiya Japanese Foods 912 Clark Drive 604-251-3711 Fujiya.ca 2. Sweet Cheribum 1105 Commercial Drive 604-253-0969 SweetCheribum.com

3. Bosa Foods 1465 Kootenay St. 604-253-5578 BosaFoods.com

3. Big Lou’s Butcher Shop 269 Powell St. 604-566-9229 BigLousButcherShop.com

BEER & WINE STORE

SEAFOOD SHOP

1. Liberty Wine Merchants 1622 Commercial Drive 604-633-1922 LibertyWineMerchants.com

1. The Daily Catch 1418 Commercial Drive 604-253-3474 DailyCatch.org

2. Legacy Liquor Store 1633 Manitoba St. 604-331-7900 LegacyLiquorStore.com

2. The Fish Counter 3825 Main St. 604-876-3474 TheFishCounter.com

3. Brewery Creek 3045 Main St. 604-872-3373 BreweryCreekLiquorStore.com

CHEESE SHOP/DELI

MICROBREWERY

1. La Grotta del Formaggio 1791 Commercial Drive 604-255-3911 LGDF.ca

1. Parallel 49 1950 Triumph St. 604-558-2739 Parallel49Brewing.com

2. Les Amis du Fromage 843 East Hastings 604-253-4218 BuyCheese.com

2. Brassneck 2148 Main St. 604-259-7686 Brassneck.ca

3. Santa Barbara 1322 Commercial Drive 604-253-1941

1. Black Rook Bakehouse 2474 East Hastings 604-563-5094

T-3. 33 Acres 15 West 8th Ave. 604-620-4589 33AcresBrewing.com

2. Uprising Breads 1697 Venables St. 604-254-5635 UprisingBreads.com

BUTCHER

3. Brekka Bakery & Café 6533 Fraser St. 604-325-6612 Breka.ca

Explosion of great local craft beers. Couple rounds of cheers.

–Domo Arigato To the few cyclist who have reflective gear, lights, and helmets,THANKYOU! To the many cyclist out there who ride around in black clothing, no reflective gear, no lights on their bikes, AND no helmet... get off the road! (And stay off the sidewalks too!)

–Sam My neighborhood of East Village is so up and coming and a great place to live.

Everything is here you have no need to go anywhere else! Great coffee shops, great food, and everything in between!

Westender.com

1748 Commercial Drive 604-877-7708 4381 Gallant Avenue, Deep Cove 604.924.2016 lalas.ca

T-1. Harkness & Co. Butchers 666 East Broadway 604-558-3807 VancouverButcher.com 2. Rio Friendly Meats 2477 East Hastings 604-253-0345

EAST SIDE RANT//RAVE

All the great places seem to be slowly disappearing to make way for new developments, which is sad!

–Jessica

BAKERY

T-3. Bomber Brewing 1488 Adanac St. 604-428-7457 BomberBrewing.com

T-1. Windsor Quality Meats 4110 Main St. 604-872-5635 WindsorMeats.com

Most Unique Gift Store?

Aww Gee Shucks

Street people that can inform you of all the gossip going down in my hood.They know who’s moving into businesses, who to watch out for, and keep an eye on your car.

–Stephen Bonner Commercial Drive will always be my favourite part on the East Side!

–drewski74 Why are we moving all the homeless shelters and social housing to the best areas of town? We worked hard to get where we are and yet some people are gifted these –IanY

I live in the Gastown/ Crosstown area bordering on Chinatown, we have a young toddler and a teenager. Our neighbourhood has an eclectic mix of residents, never a dull moment! I thoroughly enjoy walking my dogs and young son and discovering our ever

many new and exciting local businesses opening on the regular. I probably wouldn’t have bothered to walk around Chinatown a few years ago, but if you haven’t lately I’m sure you would be pleasantly surprised! Great coffee, food, local designers and pop up shops and much more!

–Erin Rocco I’m a big fan of supporting local businesses and the Main Street area is where a lot of them thrive. From craft beer pubs like Brassneck to niche boutiques like the Soap Dispensary, Main Street offers a diverse line up of fun, hip businesses. Rent is relatively affordable compared to the downtown core and there are great pockets of green space.

I can guarantee the best coffee can be found in the hood with 49th Parallel, Matchstick and JJ Bean within blocks from each other. I vote for hipsterville, Mount Pleasant!

SPRING BREAK CAMPS Work with ‘Caps coaching staff, meet Spike, hang out with a Whitecaps FC player and get a camp t-shirt. All skill levels U6 - U13 boys and girls.

VANCOUVER March 16 -20, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Point Grey High School Hosted by: Vancouver Athletic Club

Register now, space is limited | whitecapsfc.com/camps

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 39

BEST OF THE CITY //

WESTENDER.COM

WINNERS

Thirty years strong and still Vancouver’s favourite

DREXOLL GAMES: BEST GAME STORE

ANYA LEVYKH @foodgirlfriday

For more than 27 years, owner Sophie Dikeakos has been serving breakfast, brunch and diner classics to happy customers at her eponymous café. As famous for its long wait lines as its very-soft-poached bennies, Sophie’s Cosmic Café definitely take you on a trippy journey. The interior hasn’t changed since opening, with its bright yellow walls crowded with original art from the likes of Fred Herzog and Ken Lum vying for space with kitschy tchotchkes like antique lunchboxes, vintage

toys and sundry collectibles from bygone eras. The only change over the years is the mural that was added to the exterior patio wall by artist Eric Metcalfe. The bold, bright geometry is a perfect complement to the woodfloored outdoor space, with its bright green chairs.

The menu is also firmly rooted in its beginnings, albeit the eggs are local and free-range now. Diner fare describes the food here pretty well, but the fruit is always seasonal and cut to order, and, if you’re looking for a deal, two eggs any style with fries, toast and jam will set you back less than eight dollars. The bennies

are famous here, as are the omelettes, but the ashoura, a chilled bowl of red winter wheat with raisins, nuts, cinnamon and vanilla, is an unsung hero that deserves a spotlight all its own.

After almost 30 years in businesses, you’d think fickle Vancouverites would move on to a new favourite, but Sophie’s, like its owner, happily shows no signs of slowing down. Like the cosmos, it seems this café’s run is fated to be infinite. W 2095 West 4th Ave. 604-732-6810 SophiesCosmicCafe.com

L-R: Bojan Zimonja, Darcy Paulin, Cem Ozbay, Lise Thompson. Rob Newell photo.

Darcy Paulin is living proof that board games aren’t just for kids

GARY MCKENNA @westendervan

As the owner of Drexoll Games for more than a decade, he has encyclopedic knowledge of the trends and changes occurring in the industry.

And young people are not the only ones coming through the doors of his Kitsilano establishment.

“On some level, everyone is a gamer,” he said. “Games aren’t a foreign concept.

Even in adulthood, we like to play.”

When Paulin opened up his shop in 2002 a renaissance was taking place in the gaming business.

Many European products were gaining popularity in North America and his customers were increasingly

looking for more complex role-playing and strategy games.

Settlers of Catan was an early crowd pleaser, but so were games like Carcassone and Paulin’s all-time favourite, Puerto Rico.

The best part about these new games, he said, is that those who started them knew there was an end in sight.

“Monopoly and Risk — they are fun, but I am not sure I have ever finished them,” he said. “They just go on for a long time.

That is what impressed me about the strategy games.

You could finish them in an hour.”

These days, shops like Drexoll are under pressure from online and large-format retailers.

Thank you Vancouver!

But Paulin, who managed a comic book shop before launching his own venture, said he continues to be successful because his customers rely on him for advice about which games they should buy and what suits their interests.

He has also made the store a hub for gaming enthusiasts, hosting a weekly games night every Friday.

“It is really fun,” he said.

“We also have demo tables anytime we are open. It gives people a chance to try something they have never heard of before… and see whether it is something they are interested in.” W For more information go to drexollgames. blogspot.ca.

SOPHIE’S COSMIC CAFÉ: BEST WEST SIDE BREAKFAST Sophies Cosmic Cafe. L-R: Emmanuel, Jimmy, Sophie, George Dikerkos. Rob Newell photo.

Celebrating 24 years of exceptional, award winning automotive service

The BEST full service maintenance and repair shop for all makes and models.

WALRUS 3408 Cambie Street

walrushome.com

40 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Come see why we’ve won GOLD 7 years in a row! #30 - 966 SW Marine Drive • 604-327-7112 www.pawlikautomotive.com

Enjoy a well maintained vehicle Westender.com

Redefining the grocery store Greens Organic and Natural Market

by Raman Kang

B

etween House of Pain’s “Jump Around” bumping out of the speakers, the standup comedy of the cashiers and the certified chefs in the kitchen, Greens Market is more than just your average grocery store.

Five years ago, seeing that there wasn’t a market for organic, GMO-free food at an af-

Westender.com

fordable price, a young man named “T” came up with an idea. He wanted to build a grocery store that provided natural, non-processed food from local farmers that would go right into the hands of customers.

“We’ve always done things with value, there’s no middleman,” say Dane Robertson and Damian Connolly, Greens Market General Manager and Assistant General Manager respectively.

“In the beginning, it was tough to figure out what we were. Sales were low and it was a fight every day” says Robertson and Connolly, but that was five years ago.

Today Greens Market knows exactly who it is; it’s the best grocery store in the West Side, as voted by Vancouverites. Describing Greens Market as a “grocerant-” a combination of a grocery store and restaurant, Robertson and Connolly go on to explain that Greens Market is the community grocery store where the employees will jam to the Electric Boogie and customers are known by name. They’re the store where all you have to do is ask for a product and it will somehow find its way to you.

“Our customers have become our eyes and ears to unique products we don’t have.”

On most days instead of being at home both Robertson and Connolly will stay at work until the 11th hour trying to find a product for a customer.

Greens Market also recognizes the universal law of food: fresh is always best. No longer does a customer have to guess how long a bottle of ketchup has been sitting on the shelf for or taste the old age in their hummous;

1978 W. Broadway @ Maple • 604H568H3079 www.greensmarket.ca • Open 8am-10pm every day

Green’s Market has begun making their own product lines such as fresh soups, nut butters and juices and are working on a lot more.

Among the many things that make Greens Market successful and unique, and perhaps the most fascinating, is their “Nose to Tail Butcher Program.” This unusual system entails “dryaging” the entire animal by hanging it in house on their rail for 14-21 days.

“We realized that if we wanted to offer the best meat we had to deal directly with local farmers and it had to be the whole animal.”

Their butcher program ensures that none of the animal goes to waste, anything left over, including the bones, is sold or used.

Looking ahead, they are currently negotiating setting up their own organic farm to keep costs low and hold on to their talented staff.

“We’re glad to still be here, we’re glad to be thriving, in the beginning we couldn’t see five years into the future, but now we’re looking at 10 years ahead. We know we want to expand and keep coming up with healthy solutions for our customers,” says Robertson.

“We’re all in this together, it’s just how it is.

We love what we do.”

BEST LOCAL GROCER

BEST ORGANIC PRODUCE

ADVERTORIAL

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 41

BEST OF THE CITY //

WEST SIDE BEST Neighbourhood Restaurant on the West Side

THANK YOU!

TRACTOR FOODS: BEST WESTSIDE WEEKDAY LUNCH

2724 West 4th Avenue (@ Stephens Street) • 604-738-7151 • www.thenaam.com

Tractor Foods owners Steve and Meghan Clarke. Contributed photo

BIKE STORES

you

www.Reckless.ca

HOME DÉCOR

VINTAGE CLOTHING

1. Briers 2025 West 4th Ave. 604-738-0379 Briers.ca

1. Immersion Clothing 2846 West Broadway 604-739-7633 ImmersionClothing.com

T-2. Mint Interiors 1880 Fir St. 604-568-3430 MintInteriors.ca

2. Turnabout 3112 West Broadway 604-731-7762 Turnabout.ca

T-2. Living Space 1706 West 1st Ave. 604-683-1116 LivingSpace.com

KID’S STORE

3. Ed’s Linens 3301 West Broadway 604-731-2700 EdsLinens.com

UNIQUE GIFTS

2. Kids Books 3083 West Broadway 604-738-5335 KidsBooks.ca

1. Oh My Gift 2235 West 4th Ave. 604-733-0008 OhMyGift.ca

3. Pebble 2675 Arbutus St. 604-568-6923 PebbleBaby.com

2. Walrus 3408 Cambie St. 604-874-9770 WalrusHome.com

FLORIST

3. Wink and Willo 2070 West 4th Ave. 604-730-0147 WinkAndWillo.com

MEN’S APPAREL 1. Ray Rickburn 2100 West 4th Ave. 604-738-9177 RayRickburn.com 2. Finn’s 3031 West Broadway 604-732-3831 FinnsOnBroadway.com 3. Plenty 2803 West Broadway 604-736-4484 GetPlenty.com

WOMEN’S APPAREL 1. Twist Fashions 2952 West 4th Ave. 604-732-0199 TwistFashions.com 2. Blue Sky Clothing 2029 West 4th Ave. 604-620-8903 BlueSkyClothingCo.com 3. Plenty 2803 West Broadway 604-736-4484 GetPlenty.com

42 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

1. TJ’s 2737 West 4th Ave. 604-739-2922 TJsKids.com

1. Garland’s 2950 West Broadway 604-739-6688 GarlandsFlorists.ca T-2. MayheWest Sherwood Florist 3691 West Broadway 604-736-6565 MayhewFlorist.com T-2. Blumen 438 West 8th Ave. 604-708-0882 Blumen.ca 3. Thomas Hobbs 2127 West 41st Ave. 604-263-2601 ThomasHobbsFlorist.com

HAIR SALON 1. Hype Hair Studio 2695 West 4th Ave. 604-732-4973 HypeHairStudio.com

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT 1. Naam 2724 West 4th Ave. 604-738-7151 TheNaam.com T-2. Burgoo 2272 West 4th Ave. 604-734-3478 Burgoo.ca

T-2. Bufala 5395 West Blvd.

604-267-7499 Bufala.ca 3. Aphrodite’s 3598 West 4th Ave. 604-733-8308 OrganicCafe.ca

BAR 1. Local Public Eatery 2210 Cornwall Ave. 604-734-3589 LocalPublicEatery.com 2. The Bimini 2010 West 4th Ave. 604-733-7116 DonnellyGroup.ca T-3. Darby’s 2001 MacDonald St. 604-731-8750 DarbysPub.ca T-3. Colony 3255 West Broadway 604-559-6070 ColonyKits.com

BREAKFAST 1. Sophie’s Cosmic Café 2095 West 4th Ave. 604-732-6810 SophiesCosmicCafe.com 2. Jethro’s Fine Grub 3420 Dunbar St. 604-569-3441 JethrosFineGrub.com 3. Café Zen 1631 Yew St. 604-731-4018 CafeZenOnYew.com

BRUNCH 1. Heirloom Vegetarian 1509 West 12th Ave. 604-733-2231 HeirloomRestaurant.ca T-2. Enigma 4397 West 10th Ave. 604-222-6881 EnigmaVancouver.com T-2. Fable 1944 West 4th Ave. 604-732-1322 FableKitchen.ca 3. Abigail’s Party 1651-1699 Yew St. 604-739-4677 AbigailsParty.ca

Westender.com

@WESTENDERVAN

// BEST OF THE CITY

WINNERS Thank Ya’ll for voting us Best Hidden Gem on the Westside.

Sweet, Salty & Spicy. That’s How We Roll

BEST COMEDIAN

3322 Shrum Lane | 604.333.5474 | doughgirlsbakeshop.com

King of the Hill KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

From professional DJ to standup comic, “Canasian” comedian Ed Hill has dodged his parents’ expectations his entire life. Maybe winning gold for best comedian in our annual Best of the City poll will finally get his mom off his back. (Just kidding, he has his master’s degree and a performance degree in concert piano).

A Coquitlam resident and clinical counsellor by day, we rang up the hard-working Hill to hear about how he spends his nights.

How does it feel to take down best comedian in a city like Vancouver?

I didn’t even know this poll was happening until you emailed me.

So you didn’t game the system then.

No! Usually if I know there’s something like this I promote it through social media and stuff but I had no clue this was happening.When you emailed me I thought it was just one of my comic friends playing a prank on me. So I emailed your email address and was like, ‘Oh! She’s a real person! Okay.’

Yeah, just social situations, everyday life, my family. I’m very honest on stage. A lot of people come up to me after to ask are these things real, and yeah, they’re 100 per cent real. Like one thing I always tell people on stage is that I’m allergic to alcohol, marijuana and nicotine. I have a terrible allergy system, it comes from my dad, and we never really had allergies until we came here. But the way I look at it is now, whenever I go out I’m the designated driver, and it’s the first time in history where humanity comes together and believes the Asian driver is going to keep them safe!

I’m beating the stereotypes left and right. [Laughs] When you survey the local comedyscape, are there many AsianCanadians doing stand up?

Ummm, very, very, very few.

We’re a very small minority.

I think because stand up is such an honest and truthful art form, but in the Asian culture, we really try to be hush-hush about our personal lives.What is being said at home stays at home, it doesn’t go outside.

There’s that inherent shame that we don’t want other people to know our problems or our stuff.

So what does your family think?

My dad always says, ‘Why do you keep talking about me?

Why don’t I just go on stage...

You’re talking about me anyways!’ [Laughs] And my mom consistently asks me when this phase is going to be over. But then she shares everything with her friends. It’s the strangest dynamic. It’s like she doesn’t approve of what I do but she’s proud of the fact that I do it.

I am a real person! And I’d like to think that you’re a real person, too. What’s your story?

Well, the term I use is Canasian. I’m Canadian and Asian, so I was born inTaiwan an immigrated here when I was 10 with my parents. At the time my dad told me we were going on vacation, so 20 years later I’m still sitting here on vacation, having gone through school, college, all that stuff.

Growing up, I didn’t really realize what was going on until my senior year in high school. I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t think I’m ever going back. I think this is it.’ So it’s looking at growing up in this culture while maintaining values from my past.

What career did they want?

They wanted me to be a doctor, of course. And my brother is in medical school becoming a doctor, so I’m putting all my hope on my brother to make them happy. [Laughs]

Is that where you get your inspirations from?

How did you go from half a decade of DJing to telling jokes?

Westender.com

Contributed photo I wasn’t really enjoying where the music trend was going – I was more of an old-school guy – so I stopped doing that, but I was craving to get back on stage and didn’t know what to do. I was going to graduate school at the time getting my master’s degree, and there happens to be a [comedy] class offered right below SFU. So I took it, and like a good Asian student I went online and downloaded a whole bunch of books about how to write jokes before I even entered the class.

I came into class with a

complete, written out set and the teacher was like, ‘What are you here to learn then?’

From then on it was just refining things and understanding how it works.

Where can people see you perform?

I’m atYukYuk’sThursday, March 5. W • KingEdHill.com

Thank you for your support!

Best Florist West Side

2950 West Broadway

604.739.6688 • garlandsflorists.com

Thanks for your votes.

THE BESTS OF ED HILL Best comedian (other than you)?

KTTatara.

Best comedy show to binge watch?

Brooklyn Nine-nine.

The [cop show] with Andy Samberg; I just love how stupid they all are.

The best decision you ever made?

Deciding to go for coffee with my wife for the first time.

The best person you’ve ever been mistaken for?

Hahahaha, really? I have a great story for this one.There’s a viral video inTaiwan that teaches people about sexual assault and it’s men raping men. And I look just like the guy who’s the rapist.

Like identical – what he wears, his glasses, his skin tone. I put it on my website under my news section.

Best career highlight?

I think it would be opening for Louie Anderson at the CentralWashington State Fair, and winning Best of the City without even knowing it was happening. W

We at Hype Hair Studio thank you

Voted Vancouver’s favourite boutique hair salon in the heart of Kitsilano.

We are dedicated to revealing your unique inner beauty. Our commitment to detailed consultation ensures you receive your dream hair with the personalized styling lessons and professional recommendations you deserve. Let our passionate stylists make you feel beautiful and confident so that every day is your best hair day.

Experience your best hair day with Hype.

Mention westender social for 15% off of all Hype Merchandise.

2695 West 4th Ave 604-732-4973 HypeHairStudio.com February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 43

BEST OF THE CITY //

WEST SIDE WEEKDAY LUNCH

COFFEE SHOP

1. Tractor Foods 1903 West 4th Ave. 604-222-2557 TractorFoods.com

1. 49th Parallel 2198 West 4th Ave. 604-420-4901 49thParallelRoasters.com

2. The Bimini 2010 West 4th Ave. 604-733-7116 DonnellyGroup.ca

2. Elysian 590 West Broadway 604-874-5909 ElysianCoffee.com

3. The Cove 3681 West 4th Ave. 604-734-1205 TheCovePub.ca

3. Momento 2766 West 4th Ave. 604-736-9900 MomentoCoffeeHouse.com

DINNER

LOCAL GROCER

T-1. Fable 1944 West 4th Ave. 604-732-1322 FableKitchen.ca

1. Green’s Market 1978 West Broadway 604-568-3079 GreensMarket.ca

T-1. Au Comptoir 2278 West 4th Ave. 604-569-2278 AuComptoir.ca

2. Whole Foods 2285 West 4th Ave. 510 West 8th Ave. 604-739-6676 WholeFoodsMarket.com

T-2. Maenam 1938 West 4th Ave. 604-730-5579 Maenam.ca T-2. La Quercia 3689 West 4th Ave. 604-676-1007 LaQuercia.ca 3. Oakwood Canadian Bistro 2741 West 4th Ave. 604-558-1965 TheOakwood.ca

T-3. Stong’s Market 4560 Dunbar St. 604-266-1401 Stongs.com T-3. Choices Markets 2627 West 16th Ave. 3493 Cambie St. 604-736-0009 ChoicesMarket.com

WA X B A R

BEST WAX BAR

BEST NAIL SALON – WEST SIDE

Thank you Vancouver, for voting us Best in the City.

1828 West 1st Ave 604-558-1338 44 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

@barewax

101-2065 West 4th Ave 604-732-8017 Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

Since

WINNERS

1917

Korrina Ede and Elias Garrido of the Granville Island Toy Company love to kid around.

GRANVILLE ISLAND TOY COMPANY: BEST TOY STORE

Thank you! for voting us Best Local Grocer in East Van. We’re a proud family-run business in its 98th year. Thanks for your support!

KABOODLES TOY STORE: BEST TOY STORE

598 Union Street • www.bennyfoods.com • 604-254-2746

Thank you for voting us your favourite Garden Centre.

Leah Baker of Kaboodles Toy Store is a big kid at heart. Rob Newell photos

We look forward to seeing you this spring.

For the best toys in town, look under the rainbow When it comes to toys, it’s no secret that the coolest, funnest, most awesomest gadgets in the city can be found in the shadow of the Granville Bridge at the Kids Market. So it’s little wonder, then, that the two most popular toy stores in the city are both located under the rainbow.

Kaboodles Toy Store and the Granville Island Toy Co. tied for first place for Best Toy Store inWestender’s annual Best of the City readers’ poll. The two stores specialize in toys that will not only entertain, but educate and inspire.

In addition to standbys like Lego and Playmobil,

both stores offer a wide selection of board games, puzzles, and science-themed toys. Little kids and big kids alike will have no trouble finding something to ignite their imagination, or at the very least, a fun way to enjoy a rainy afternoon. W • KaboodlesToyStore.com • ToyCompany.com

Get involved in an

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1731 West 4th Ave | 604 669 3483 www.rowandsreef.com

Westender.com

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David Hunter Garden Centers 2560 West Broadway • 604-733-1534 www.davidhuntergardencenters.com facebook.com/DavidHuntersBroadway

HOURS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9am to 5:30pm

February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 45

BEST OF THE CITY //

WEST SIDE

MARKET MEATS: BEST WESTSIDE BUTCHER

Contributed photo

ORGANIC PRODUCE 1. Whole Foods 2285 West 4th Ave. 518 West 8th Ave. 604-739-6676 WholeFoodsMarket.com 2. Green’s Market 1978 West Broadway 604-568-3079 GreensMarket.ca

3. Choices 2627 West 16th Ave. 3493 Cambie St. 604-736-0009 ChoicesMarket.com

ETHNIC FOOD STORE 1. Parthenon 3080 West Broadway 604-733-4191 ParthenonSupermarket.com

V A N C O U V E R

A N I M A L

E

M ER G E N C Y C L I N I C

L T D .

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who took the time to vote for me as“Best Veterinarian”. This unexpected recognition is overwhelming and I will continue to strive to offer the best possible medicine and surgery to the pets of Vancouver. I truly enjoy caring for animals and their families and I would not have it any other way. Thank you again.”

Dr. Tara White

kitsilano

2380 W4th Ave - at Balsam St Cafe + Bakery

olympic village 1605 Manitoba St Licensed Cafe + Bakery

mt pleasant 53 W 5th Ave - at Ontario St Cafe + Bakery

granville island Granville Island Public Market Bakery Only

2. Persia Foods 2827 West Broadway 604-558-4866 PersiaFoods.ca

BEER & WINE STORE 1. Darby’s Liquor Store 2001 MacDonald St. 604-731-8750 DarbysLiquorStore.ca T-2. Bimini’s Liquor Store 2018 West 4th Ave. 604-738-2714 BiminisLiquorStore.com T-2. Burrard Liquor Store 2401 Burrard St. 604-566-9244 MyLiquorStore.ca 3. Kitsilano Liquor Store 2289 West Broadway 604-733-7155 KitsilanoLiquorStore.com

BUTCHER 1. Market Meats 2326 West 4th Ave. 604-737-0905 MarketMeats.com

1 5 9 0 We s t 4 t h Av e . ( 6 0 4 ) 7 3 4 - 5 1 0 4 E m a i l : Va n c o u v e r A n i m a l E R @ g m a i l . c o m

2. Jacksons Meats 2214 West 4th Ave. 604-738-6328 JacksonsMeatAndDeli.com 3. Pete’s Meat 2817 Arbutus St. 604-730-1661 Petes-Meat.com

SEAFOOD SHOP 1. 7 Seas Fish Market 2328 West 4th Ave. 604-732-8608 7Seas.ca imagine • taste • enjoy™

2. The Daily Catch 1148 Davie St. 604-685-3479 DailyCatch.org 3. Finest At Sea 4675 Arbutus St. 604-266-1904 FinestAtSea.com

BAKERY

Thanks for voting us your favourite BREAKFAST on the WEST SIDE!

1. Terra Breads 2380 West 4th Ave. 604-736-1838 TerraBreads.com

“Best Of The City” Stars of Vancouver – 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards

2095 west 4th ave, vancouver • 604 732 6810 www.sophiescosmiccafe.com 46 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

604-734-2507

lazygourmet.ca

2. Beaucoup Bakery 2150 Fir St. 604-732-4222 BeaucoupBakery.com 3. Faubourg 2156 West 4th Ave. 604-266-2156 Faubourg.com

Westender.com

// BEST OF THE CITY

Thank you Vancouver for making us your choice.

OPINIONS WEST SIDE RANT//RAVE

Kitsilano needs a microbrewery. We are losing hold of our last frayed wisps of rope in the tug of war with EastVan over night life.We know we will never come close to winning, but to not be able to play the game altogether?...That sucks.

–Dr. Z

SPRING MAINTENANCE PACKAGE 1. OIL, LUBE & FILTER: Change oil, install new oil filter and lubricate the chassis.

2. BRAKES: Check front & rear brake systems.

3. FRONT END: Check shock absorbers, struts & steering

I like the location of my neighbourhood, as it doesn’t take too long to travel to other areas inVancouver and to nearby municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby and NewWestminster.

–Vancouver Guy

Housing prices, traffic congestion, overcrowding on the 99 B Line Express.

–zipodoug Too expensive!

–bjh Too pricey to live in!

–Sonja Starke Too many trees!

–Chuckie

Hooray for bike lanes.

Contrary to what a lot the retirees and multi-millionaires of Kits believe, our bike lanes will not bring anarchy and will not destroy our wonderful neighbourhood.

–BM

We have so many young kids on the street who will not take shoes when they have none or bottles in exchange for money when they are asking for it...

[I] feel more and more that we are enabling instead of helping when we are giving money to those who are not willing to work for it and are able to work for it.

–Winnie Upton

I absolutely love living in theWest Side!There’s nothing better than waking up to a beautiful beach and being able to jump on your bike and ride along the seawall.There are so many amazing restaurants, big and small.There are tons of really great bars! You can find so many awesome activities including lots of yoga studios and bike shops. Shopping on West 4th is fantastic.

–Andy M

Beautiful area – nice and cozy up against the mountains with a view of the ocean and Stanley park.

–Roy andTia

Traffic congestion during rush hours linger, And the usual idiot that gives a finger.

–Domo Arigato

I live in the gap. Not the clothing store but the nonneighbourhood of mostly renters that deserves an identity.

We are a square north of the rich area of Shaunessey, south of Broadway, west of Oak, and east of Hemlock. The outdoor

Westender.com

Voted Best Auto Repair

components.

4. EXHAUST SYSTEM: Visual inspection of catalytic converter, muffler, exhaust pipes, manifold & gaskets.

5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Check battery, lights, horn & wipers.

6. TIRES: Rotate all tires, check tread depth, & adjust tire pressure.

7. COOLING SYSTEM: Check for leaks, check hoses, clamps, shopping mall for the rich known as “South Granville” has disowned us, and no longer services us since removing any decent food, grocers, or affordable stores. We are not part of Fairview slopes, as we are not on the slope. Even the city has multiple names for us and we have no park.

–SteveV. So many absentee home owners willing to pay above what the market demands.

–Bro D I just discovered a new neighbourhood,WesbrookVillage in UBC. It is such a lovely neighbourhood right beside Pacific Spirit Park. You feel like you are inWhistler with tons of green streets, parks and playgrounds. I love that I can park there (for free), grab a coffee and walk through the park with my dog.

–Vancouver Resident Nothing beats May atWreck Beach. During weekdays there is no one around and the weather is gorgeous.

–Dr. Z I just have a total pet peeve about trend things... I drank coffee before it was trendy to do so. If you think about it...it’s just coffee...no big deal really!

Now there’s a coffee shop on every corner of the street! It bugs me to no end to think people just drink coffee to fit in and feel good about themselves! Sad really!

–drewski74 What is with all the laneway houses?! Our neighbourhood is becoming worse day by day!

The neighbourhood is pricey for a reason.

–IanY I love how close I am to the hospital.When I have to wait six to eight hours in the emergency I can cross the street for food breaks and reading material. Other than that I’m not sure if there’s a perk.

–Angela Meter parking is too expensive.You want business inVancouver but you deter people to shop local by gouging the customer.

–Karey

To the few cyclist who have reflective gear, lights, and helmets,THANKYOU!To the many cyclist out there who ride around in black clothing, no reflective gear, no lights on their bikes, AND no helmet...

Get off the road!! (and stay off the sidewalks too!)

–Sam 1. I’m angry as hell at people who use their phones while driving; they are putting all of our lives at risk! 2. I’m tired of people complaining about the bike lanes.They are here.

Embrace them. Get on a bike.

Embrace it.

–Ben

waterpump, & radiator.

8. BELTS: Check all belts & hoses.

9. FLUID LEVELS: Check all fluid levels.

INCLUDES FREE SAFETY CHECK AND TIRE ROTATION

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I live off 18th and Cambie.

Its a nice area but I get sick of all the yuppies in nice cars shopping at choices market growing kale in their gardens and playing tennis.

–Caelin So many cars driving by.

My window sills are constantly layered with soot and I’m not even on the main road!

Evenings filled with the sounds of cars, ambulances and the occasional car crash to add to the mix.

–Angela Too much tidy and clean.

–sara galli Why are you biking onWest 4th when there are bike routes north and south of this always busy street? There should be streets closed to through traffic and there should also be streets closed to cyclists. If a cyclist gets hit on 4th they will blame the driver and not their bad judgement. Even if it’s totally the cyclist’s fault it still ruins the driver’s day. Don’t be selfish and don’t give cyclist’s a bad name.

–BM

ilano’s We are Kits uor Store Liq Community

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Thanks for voting us your favourite LIQUOR STORE ON THE WEST SIDE!

Westside is more neat and tidy... better kept than the East Side!

–drewski74 I’m loving the number of good restaurants developing around this area of town.

–IanY Parking is a nightmare.

–alynne

2289 West Broadway • 604-733-7155 kitsilanoliquorstore.com • OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-11pm February 26 - March 4, 2015 B 47

48 B February 26 - March 4, 2015

Westender.com

ARTS // CULTURE

WHAT’S ON Tu/03

We/04

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

DANIEL LANOIS Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter on tour to support his latest release Flesh and the Machine with special guest Rocco DeLuca. 7pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $28.50 at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca

CARIBOU The Canadian composer, producer, recording artist known to his parents as Dan Snaith plays two shows in support of his latest release Our Love. 7 & 10:30pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $35 at Ticketmaster.ca

BLEACHERS Multi-talented musician/songwriter/producer Jack Antonoff’s new project appears in support of upcoming debut release with guests Joywave and Night Terros of 1927. 7pm at Rio Theatre. Tickets $27 at TicketFly. com. All ages show.

SALES Minimalist guitar pop duo from Florida named “Ones to Watch”, and one of the most blogged artists yet to release a full LP. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret.

Tickets $10 at Red Cat, Zulu, Luke’s General Store and TicketWeb.ca

COMEDY

IMPROV FIGHT CLUB The Fictionals Comedy Co. is back in action with the Vancouver Improv Fight Club, where the city’s top improvisors battle for comedy glory dictated by audience votes.

8pm at Café Deux Soleils. Tickets $7 at TheFictionals.com

THEATRE/DANCE RIBCAGE: THIS WIDE PASSAGE The little known queer story about displacement and identity and the meaning of history is a true account of Esther Brandeau, a Jewish woman from the French Basque region who arrives in eighteenth century Quebec City as a Christian male labourer.

8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com.

Runs until March 8.

COASTAL FIRST NATIONS DANCE FESTIVAL An annual celebration of cultural expressions, indigenous stories, songs and dances featuring artists from Arizona, Alaska, Yukon, Washington and throughout BC. At the Museum of Anthropology, runs until March 8. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca

EVENTS CESNA?EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY Musqueam First Nation, MOA and MOV partner on a transformative journey to explore ancient landscape and living culture right under Vancouver’s nose in a series of three unified exhibitions. Musqueam Cultural Education Centre and Gallery. Runs until Dec. 30.

Westender.com

THEATRE/DANCE

MATT BRAUNGER Portland, Oregon native with a series regular role on MADtv, hour-long comedy special Shovel Fighter and former regular roundtable guest on Chelsea Lately. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

MOZART & SALIERI David Newham’s adaptation of Pushkin’s classic is the story is told through the eyes of one composer and his struggle to accept his own artistic limitations in the shadow of the world’s greatest composer. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca. Runs until March 14.

THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE Itsazoo Productions presents this story of two white collar workers as they battle for a high stakes raise and the affections of a rebellious female co-worker. 8pm at Shop Theatre at Renegade Studios. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs until March 22.

ART

CADRE A mesmerizing work from South Africa that examines what happens when the future you meet is not the one you were expecting in a story of dreams and change in a country in times of turmoil. 8pm at Historic Theatre.

Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch. com. Runs until March 7.

MAINSTREETERS: TAKING ADVANTAGE, 1972-1982 A coming of age multi-faceted project that looks at a self-identified collective of socially and artistically motivated men and women who took advantage of a new medium (video) and of each other. 126pm Satellite Gallery. Runs until March 14.

ème Édition

February 26 to March 1 Mackin Park • Coquitlam

www.festivaldubois.ca Financé en partie par / Partly Funded by

Avec l’appui de / With the participation of

IKEA Coquitlam

VANCOUVER’S NEW ROCK

COMEDY

NORDOST Produced and performed by an all-female cast and crew, this story of the harrowing 57-hour hostage crisis in Moscow’s Dubrovka Theatre examines contemporary issues through past events. 8pm at Havana Theatre.

Tickets at BrownPaperTickets. com or at the door. Runs until March 7.

HOLI: A FESTIVAL OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHER Kyla Bailey’s exhibit of her images from the Holi Festival in Jaipur, Rajasthan, aimed to show the significance of the festival for people on the other side of the world. At Havana Art Gallery until March 18.

26

Th/05

SINGLE MOTHERS London, Ontario punk band on tour to support debut full length release Negative Qualities with special guests The Dirty Nil. 8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $12 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

ADAM DEVINE American comedian, actor, writer, producer and star of Comedy Central’s Workaholics and Adam DeVine’s House Party. 7pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $29.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca

Maillardville’s Music Festival

THEATRE/DANCE

CHEAP & FUN BEGINNER GUITAR CLASSES Learn basic chords, strumming patterns and play along with others at the same level.

12:30pm at the Gathering Place Community Centre. Drop in is free, runs every Thursday until April 2.

February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 49

LIFESTYLES //

WESTENDER.COM

REAL ESTATE Real estate transactions Cheap money floods increasing: BC Notaries commercial real estate market

Real Estate Opens West End 1127 Barclay St #502 2 bdrms, $474,900, Sun 2-3

CHRISTINA NEWBERRY REW.ca

51

1535 Nelson, 1 bdrm + office, $369,900, 50 Sun 2-4 1838 Nelson, 2 bdrms, $659,900, Sat/Sun 2-4

52

EastHastings Village 210-2320Trinity St, 2 bdrm, $368,000 Sat & Sun 2-4

51

Coquitlam

214-605 Como Lake Ave, 2 bdrm, $183,000 51 Sat & Sun 2-4

The real estate market is already seeing the start of a spring boost, according to the Society of Notaries Public of BC. “Spring is just around the corner, and notaries are already seeing an increase in real estate transactions,” said Wayne Braid, the society’s CEO, in a Feb. 23 press release.

Notaries, who are involved in more than half of the real estate transactions in BC, noted some changes in market trends.

“I have seen an increase in local residents purchasing condos downtown as an investment,” said Akash Sablok, the

society’s president and a notary public in East Vancouver.

“Due to lower interest rates and a strong rental market, investment properties are seen as a good investment, creating a positive cash flow and adding to affordable rental housing.”

Kristy Martin, a notary public in Langford, said, “We are seeing a great number of high-ratio financing purchases right now, where the purchaser is only required to have a minimal down payment.We are also seeing multiple family members, such as parents and their children, going on the title and the mortgage together to make the purchase more affordable, and in some cases to make the purchase possible.” W – Story courtesy of REW.ca

2,576 sq.ft. 3 BED with MANCAVE Straight out of BC Home Magazine! 2,576 sq.ft. 3 bdrm townhouse with 2.5 baths. Across the street from the Seawall in False Creek. Hardwood flrs, granite, crown mouldings throughout. 2 gas fireplaces. Giant 468 sq.ft. soundproof mancave in basement. Private 2 car garage with direct home access. 350 sq.ft. of in home storage. 2 garden patios. This extraordinary home must be seen! You will be amazed! $1,590,000 • 1020 Quebec Street • Exceptional value!

FIRST TIME ON THE MARKET

OFFER PENDING

These SW facing ocean view waterfront 2 bedrooms RARELY COME ON THE MARKET. Breathtaking English Bay & Granville Island views! Air conditioned, 1,252 sq.ft. 2 bed/2 bath.

2 private side by side secured parking stalls. Located directly on the seawall. Outdoor balcony. Deluxe amenities. Indoor pool, squash, concierge, sauna, hot tub, gym. Hardly used.

Mint condition! $1,288,000 • 1704-1000 Beach • Immaculate!

Call MICHAEL ROBSON

for your private appointment

604-671-7256

Prompton Real Estate 201-179 Davie Street, Vancouver

michaelrobson@shaw.ca www.vancouvercanadarealty.com

Landlords are qualifying for fiveyear loans at much lower rates than homebuyers FRANK O’BRIEN BIV.com

The Bank of Canada’s (BoC) surprising January cut in the overnight lending rate to 0.75 per cent from 1.0 per cent could be the beginning of more BoC cuts to the benchmark interest rate.

Vancouver mortgage broker Peter Kinch and others believe economic uncertainty triggered by slumping oil prices could drop lending rates to unprecedented lows.

“I think we will see another Bank of Canada rate cut in March,” said Kinch, a mortgage consultant with Dominion Lending Centres.

He predicts the BoC will reduce its overnight lending rate to 0.5 per cent on March 4, the date of the next BoC rate announcement.That, Kinch said, could result in variable lending rates for residential mortgages of 1.9 per cent – “the lowest any of us have ever seen.”

As well, yields on Canadian bonds, which are tied to longterm mortgage rates, are at near-historic lows. Kinch said this could drive five-year mortgage rates down to 2.6 per cent compared with current rates in the 4.6 per cent range.

“These are absolutely record low mortgage rates.”

Kinch is not alone in expecting a rate decline.

TD Bank is predicting a further 25-basis-point cut in the BoC’s rate in March. HSBC

Bank PLC has predicted the BoC will lower its overnight target rate to 0.5 per cent next month and again in the second quarter to 0.25 per cent.

Even BoC governor Stephen Poloz has hinted at further rate reductions. Poloz said recently that low oil prices were “unambiguously negative” for the Canadian economy and that the central bank can “take out extra insurance,” which analysts say signals further rate cuts.

The lower rates have “been a game-changer” in the commercial real estate market, particularly in the multi-family rental sector, said commercial mortgage broker Michael Lee of Mortgage Alliance.

“I have a client buying a multi-family property with fiveyear financing at 1.77 per cent.”

Lee added that landlords can already secure 10-year mortgages at 2.43 per cent.

Based on the potential returns onVancouver rental apartments – cap rates are in the 3.5 per cent to 4.0 per cent range and the average appreciation of a city apartment building in the past year is 16 per cent – Lee said, “it’s practically like giving away free money.”

As a comparison, the lowest five-year bank rate for firsttime homebuyers – at which they must qualify for a mortgage – is 4.69 per cent, since most major banks trimmed residential loan rates by just 15 basis points following the recent BoC cut.

Multi-family mortgage loans have the lowest commercial rates because landlords can apply for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. insurance, which Lee said removes any risk from the lender.

“Generally, lenders have become more aggressive in

the commercial real estate market.”

Lee added that investors could even look at medical marijuana facilities for easy financing.

“Believe it or not, if permits are in place and it is all done by the book, financing is available. Lenders know the cash flow will definitely be there.”

Lee said that one of his residential clients, having problems securing a $1.5 million mortgage on aVancouver house purchase, is considering buying a small apartment building instead because it’s so much easier to achieve favourable financing.

Mortgage broker Kyle Green, of Mortgage Alliance in Vancouver, estimates that for about 10 per cent of residential borrowers, rate cuts are not the issue: it’s trying to get financing at all.

“It is very difficult to get a home mortgage loan [at a major bank] if you don’t have qualifying income.”

Green said this would include such borrowers as self-employed people, new immigrants and those on fixed incomes, such as retirees or those tapping trust funds.

Unlike commercial lending, residential loans are based more on qualifying the borrower than on the property, he said.

In a bid to cool a white-hot housing market, Green said the federal finance ministry has been tightening regulations on residential loan approvals.

“Banks are being audited consistently by the federal government, and if a [residential] borrower doesn’t fit into the boxes, they won’t get a loan.” W – Story courtesy BIV.com

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RRSP DEADLINE SPECIAL Don’t forget your tax deductible contribution to your retirement plan and consider using some of those savings toward the purchase of your home. Call for details or discuss with your investment advisor or banker. Our mortgage specialists can assist also. This unique home is perfect for first time buyer, retiree or downsizing from a house. The spacious rooms accommodate house size furnishings and the nine foot ceilings provide more cubic feet of storage and add to feeling of space.

With only one common wall this unique home enjoys the quiet side of the building with peaceful outlook to garden. Laminate floors, stone counters, fresh paint & enlarged kitchen are only some of the features.

Insuite laundry may be added. Cat welcome. Midway between Robson and English Bay; Stanley Park and Yaletown. $369,900 OPEN SUN 2-4 AT 1535 NELSON

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50 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

SURREY OFFICE: #112-7565 132ND STREET 604-599-1650

WEN

West End Neighbours

New info always available on the website; an opportunity for community to stay in touch and keep up on local issues. www.westendneighbours.ca

TALK TO LIZ CARNEY 604 685-5951/603-3095

liz.carney@century21.ca • www.vancouvercondo.com Century 21 In Town Realty • 421 Pacific • 1030 Denman

In Town Realty

Westender.com

REAL ESTATE //

@WESTENDERVAN

Rob Joyce & Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialists Nobody knows the West End better!

MLS Diamond Master Medallion Award 2014

Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialist Rob Joyce

nn oooo S S ngg miin m o o C C Coming Next Week 1146 Harwood Water & City Views

Whistler Style Strata 1924 Comox #412 West of Denman

High floor view suite at The Lamplighter on the North West corner.

Beautiful renovations, immaculate with rentals permitted. $349,900.

Unique West facing suite, skylights, 20’ ceilings at The Windgate.

New rainscreen & windows. Pets welcome. 728 sq. ft. $488,000.

Helping West Enders buy and sell for more than 24 years

day n : Su n e Op

New Listing: 1127 Barclay

Two Bedroom Strata OPEN: SUNDAY 2:00 - 3:00 1127 Barclay #502

Beautiful contemporary renovations in this South facing corner unit with city views, large patio balcony in prime pet friendly strata in the heart of the West End and steps to downtown. 828 sq. ft. $474,900.

WEST WEST COAST COAST

Sandpiper 1740 Comox #1503 Best Buy in West End

Water, mountain and city views from from the NW corner. Renovated with great light and air. A+ West End strata. No issues and all the long term maintainance work is complete. Pets OK. $379,900.

604.623.5433

www.robjoyce.ca

MAUREEN YOUNG

5 Year Variable

(Prime less 0.85%)

Rates subject to change without notice. O.A.C.

Do you have unsecured debt, credit cards?

Other rates and terms available.

CALL 604-805-5888

maureen@maureenyoung.ca | maureenyoung.ca Dominion Lending – Downtown Financial An Independently Owned & Operated Corporation

Westender.com

1850 Comox #1707

SOLD

1855 Nelson #301

SOLD

1055 Harwood #309

robjoyce@telus.net

A Sophisticated Approach to Lifestyle Attainment.

Professional Advisement and Marketing of Fine Vancouver Properties.

Number One Realtor in Office 2012, 2013 & 2014 2014 RE/MAX Charman’s Club Award Winner

CURRENT LISTINGS: MACKENZIE HEIGHTS NEW LISTING

More on My Website at: www.MichaelDowling.ca

NORTH DELTA

COQUITLAM

OFFER PENDING

NEW LISTING

There has never been a better time to refinance and pay off that debt.The difference between rates on credit cards and mortgages is about now about 17% (19.99% for credit cards vs 2.79%). That’s a difference of $778 per month in payments if you were to refinance $30,000.

Contact me for all your purchase, refinance and renewal options.

SOLD

Certified Senior Agent & Luxury Marketing Specialist

CURRENT RATES

2.69% 2.00%

1855 Nelson #P2

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

Senior Mortgage Advisor

5 Year Fixed

SOLD

OPEN SAT & SUN 2-4PM 2905 West 37th Avenue, $4,988,000

• Brand New 5,383 SQFT 7 Bdrm, 8 Bath Home • Stunning Architectural Craftsman-Style Masterpiece • 4 Bdrms Up, 1 Down, Plus 900SQFT 2 Bed, 2 Bath Legal Suite • Three Car Garage • Beautiful Landscaping, Built-in Water Fountains & BBQ • Stunning Oak Floors, High-End Appliances,Wok Kitchen • Fully Automated Technology, High Efficiency Boiler, LED Lighting • Incredible Location Near Best Schools and Right on Bike Route • Super Hot Mackenzie Heights/Kerrisdale Location • Completion February 2015

Crest Westside Ltd.

11366 96th Avenue, N. Delta, $588,000

• Gorgeous Contemporary/West Coast Renovation • Great Family Home – South Facing Private Backyard • 5 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Pool, Hot Tub, FencedYard • Five Min to Annieville Elem., Delview Sec., Parks, Shopping,Transit • Basement Bedroom With Sep Entrance - Could be Mortgage Helper • Sep Powered 10 Feet by 20 Feet “Artists Studio” Great for Home Business!

• ExceptionalValue ForYoung Families!!! Welcome Home!

Prepare to be MOVED™.

214-605 Como Lake Avenue, Coquitlam, $183,000

• Investor &Young Family Alert!

• Rentals Now Allowed and No Age Restrictions!

• Large 924SQFT 2 Bed, 2 Parking, 1 Block to New Burquitlam Skytrain at Lougheed Mall!

• Nicely Renovated and South Facing • Heat, Hot Water and Free Laundry Included in Maint. Fee • Pets Allowed, 1 Storage Locker - Solid,Well managed Building!

EAST HASTINGS VILLAGE

KITSILANO

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

OPEN SAT & SUN 2-4PM 210-2320 Trinity Street, $368,000

• Beautiful Partially Reno’d 2 Bedroom 900SQFT With Wood Fireplace!

• North West Corner Suite – Best Location in Building.

• Quiet Side of Solid Building With Lions, Stanley Park & Harbour Views on Quiet Lovely Street • Building Backs Onto A Park • Parking & Storage Included.

• Pets & Rentals Allowed!

• Hottest Neighbourhood Up and Coming!

Call Us Today for a Confidential Needs Assessment and Market Analysis

202-2475York Avenue, $438,000 • Attention Gardeners & Beach Bums!

• Best Condo in “York West” - 3 Blocks From Kits Beach!

• Large 1 Bed & Den/Office 730SQFT • Nice Renovations, Great Floorplan.

• South Facing With Huge Sunny Patio Deck & Garden • 1 Parking, 1 Storage Pets & Rentals ok.

• This one is Hot! Welcome Home.

604-787-5568

www.MichaelDowling.ca February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 51

REAL ESTATE //

WESTENDER.COM

DEXTER ASSOCIATES REALTY 604-689-8226 604-263-1144 Kevin Skipworth Managing Broker

Layla Bamford

Nicole Cannon

Jennifer Devlin

Christopher Dohm

Sandi Fratino

Erica Fremeau

www.dexterrealty.com

Jeff Holmes

Megan King

Kavi Lehdar

Kevin Skipworth

Johan Leung

Clarence Lowe

Travis Mako

Bob Moore

Sean Murty

Brad Pacaud

Kris Pope

604-689-8226

Michael Shaw

Steps to the seawall and all that Yaletown has to offer, this beautiful 2 bedroom plus den apartment in Parkview Gardens, with 1260 SF offers amazing views of False Creek and the city. Amenities include swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and gym. Conveniently located steps to the Canada Line, 1 block from the seawall, Urban Fare, restaurants and shops in the heart of Yaletown.

104-1010 CHILCO ST.

Christine Saulnier

Sheila Sontz

Gurdeep Melany Daryl Stephens Sue-Johnson Suarez

3208-1495 RICHARDS ST.

$555,000

West of Denman – steps to English Bay, Stanley Park & seawall.

Garden level 2 bdrm, 2 bath 1,048 sq.ft. suite that feels like a small house. Some updating, leaving room for your personal stamp.

Private street entrance, parking & storage included. Pets welcome, rentals unrestricted in this wellmaintained, smoke-free building.

$608,000

713-1333 HORNBY ST.

$249,900 VIEWS TO ENGLISH BAY. Bright SouthWest top floor unit. Completely updated with re-designed kitchen & full-sized appliances. Breakfast bar, sleeping nook & easy care finishes. Enjoy the view from large bay window with skylight and balcony. Great investment property.

VIEW - AZURA 2 Compact and beautiful with gorgeous English Bay view from this high floor, 1 bedroom with large den.

Balcony, in-suite storage plus parking and locker.

loftsvancouver.com

Commercial Real Estate Needs? Dexter Associates Realty’s

commercial team will answer all of your questions and will help with all your commercial needs. Whether you need office space, somewhere to set up your business or retail store, or are looking to buy an investment property we can help you. Call us at 604-689-8226 today.

Details & Photos of all lofts for sale in Vancouver

Ed Gramauskas Cell: 604-618-9727

STEPHEN BURKE

BEST OFF DENMAN

SUTTON GROUP - WEST COAST REALTY 301-1508 W BROADWAY

W NE

604-714-1700

www.stephenburke.com

604-551-4190

1 OF A KIND

OCEAN TOWERS E IV US L C EX

THE BACHELOR T& SA N E OP

D SOL

D SOL

• • • • •

N SU

Concrete strata 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Sunny Southeast corner suite View from LR, DR, Kitch & 2nd BR Gorgeous kitchen with stainless steel Open plan w/Sileston counters

1743 sf fab floorplan + 257 sf terrace Spacious 3rd BR for office or guests Bring your house-size furniture along Rainscreened/warranty/new plumbing New common area, gym, pool. 2 prk

• • • • •

Approx 1500 sf deluxe 2BR 2 bath Stunning Park, Beach & Eng Bay views Dream gourmet Thermador kitchen Massive living/dining for entertaining Premiere co-op bldg 100% owners

• • • • •

Spacious 1160 sf. NW corner plan 2 bedroom, 2.5 baths custom plan Sub-penthouse w/Bay & mtn views 2nd BR w/built-in queen wallbed & office Rare-2 side by side parking stalls

• • • • •

Live mortgage free by Stanley Park Bright Top floor remodeled studio Upgraded kitchen, refreshed bath Oak wood floors. Steps to Beach Well managed co-op. No smoking

1020HARWOOD$1,250,000 1835 MORTON $1,398,000 1010 BURNABY $850,000 1975 PENDRELL $229,900 52 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

G IN ND E P

G TIN LIS

2-4

1838 NELSON • • • • •

Laurel Wood

604-263-1144

christine.saunier@gmail.com www.christinesaulnier.com

FA M I LY S I Z E

Larry Esther Michael Traverence Twerdochlib Webster

Gloria Chamberlain

604-250-9177

Check out our website, www.dexterrealty.com for current market condition updates.

Simmy Sandhu

sumarieb@hotmail.com www.sumariebaird.com

$738,800

NEW LISTING

Mike Rooney

604-263-1144

604-263-1144

cline@dexterrealty.com

1501-212 DAVIE ST.

Nadine Ramos

Su-Marie Baird

Cathie Cline

skipworth@dexterrealty.com www.skipshomes.com

Tyrone Robinson

• • • • •

Rich ‘American walnut’ engineered floors Gas FP feature wall, cozy dining room alcove Generous Living space. No rentals allowed New plumbing, roof, rainscreen Warranty. 1 parking, 1 storage, 2 pet OK

• • • • • •

Approx 800 sq. ft. 1 Bedroom (or 1 + den) Adjacent to Stanley Park, 2 mins to bay Bright, needs a complete makeover Prestigious concrete co-op building Fantastic lifestyle location 35% down Make this your own!

$659,900

STANLEY PARK

2055 PENDRELL

$369,900

Westender.com

7 20,000

NO W

SE LLI NG

YEARS OF PLANNING

21

4

SF PRIVATE BACKYARD AMENITY

STOREYS OF VIEWS

WAYS TO COMMUTE: SKYTRAIN, BIKE, BUS OR WALK

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LIFESTYLES //

@WESTENDERVAN

HEALTH

Tell the Grim Reaper to shove it with these simple health tips Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

@WholeNourishBC

We all have our daily rituals, or weekly, or sometimes even monthly ones. For some of us it is simple, we wake up brush our teeth, shower, eat breakfast and indulge in some coffee and then go to work. For others skipping breakfast and going straight for the coffee is the only way that they and stay awake and survive their 9-to-5 life.

Then there are the healthy conscious ones, people that have a daily routine whom you get all judge-y in front of your friends about, but silently envy and wonder what their secret is.You know of whom I speak, the ones who appear to be positive and happy all the time, frequent the gym or a yoga class daily, sip on fresh juices instead of wine to chill out after a long day at work while you get half cut at happy hour and convince yourself that you are going to do a cleanse starting on Monday.

Making the choice to live a healthy lifestyle can be quite daunting, there is

so much information out there that it’s hard to know where to start. Also going into an extreme diet isn’t always the most realistic way to succeed, however if that works for you go ahead, get extreme, do your thing.

Healthy habits will help you live a longer healthier, happier life and the trick is to transition and get a routine. Being healthy doesn’t always mean changing your whole being right away or going on a juice cleanse.

It can be just adding little things to your days that go a long way in the long run.

So, no, you don’t have to be a raw, vegan, yoga-doing, iron-pumping elitist, just focus on one activity at a time. For example, if you eat McDonalds for breakfast five days a week maybe next week you try only four days, maybe the following week you do three, and so forth.

Or just add little weekly, daily or monthly habits that will help you live a healthy life like a boss.

Here are a few suggestions to start.

TIME FOR YOURSELF

Whether it is seeing what the Real Housewives are up to or drinking a glass of cheap wine while reading a book in the bathtub, or

thing.This will increase your stomach acid so you can digest those much needed nutrients from your food. Lemon water will also help out your liver from all those highballs you drank the night before.

EXERCISE

Not only good for you, but an awesome way to spend time. Even just going for a walk 30 minutes a day is a great way to get your health on, or you could simply pump iron, lift cars then take us all to the gun show.

FORGIVENESS

Holding on to grudges will make you physically sick so forgive your roommate for using the last of the ketchup and forgive yourself for being angry for something as trivial as ketchup. dancing naked in your kitchen to Taylor Swift (cause life is too short not to). Self care is very important, and self care means whatever you want it to, it means alone time or time with friends.

DIGESTION

So many of our health problems can be helped by aiding your digestive system.

Ninety per cent of your serotonin is in your digestive tract as well as your immune

Dream big at FEAT Canada Stephanie Florian Play Outdoors

@PlayOutdoorsVan

FEAT Canada (Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks) has become an iconic annual event in the outdoor world over the past five years. The event brings together some of the country’s most fascinating adventurers and puts them on stage to share their story, in seven minutes or less.

This year’s event takes place March 4 at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver, which will no doubt be buzzing with local athletic-types eagerly awaiting inspiration.

MEC-clad, diehard adventurers and weekend warriors will be sitting on the edge of their seats as speakers share their personal encounters and heroic feats.

Whether you run, climb, sail, surf, bike or shred… the universal message at this event is clear. Dream BIG! FEAT producer Sean Verret says guests can expect a few surprises this year.

“The opening act will blow the audience away and a top-secret special an-

Westender.com

nouncement will be made,” he said.

Verret has been mountain biking for more than 20 years and loves that FEAT brings so many outdoor types together under one roof.

Kevin Vallely, named Canada’s leading adventurer by the Globe and Mail in 2003, will emcee the evening. The list of speakers is impressive and includes environmentalist and filmmaker Frank Wolf.

Other speakers include Ray Zahab, Vikki Weldon, Bob Purdy, Susan OakleyBaker, Steph Jagger and Peter Marshall, to name a few.

Gavin Kennedy will save the best moments of his journey by bicycle from Vancouver to South America for FEAT, but shares a few fun personal facts beforehand: What’s your favourite outdoor activity? Downhill mountain biking and skiing.

What music pumps you up? Fleetwood Mac or Steppenwolf.

What’s your inspirational quote: If you plan you’ll be OK, if you don’t plan…it will be an adventure.

When planning your next adventure Kennedy’s best piece of advice is this: “Don’t think too hard when you are planning a trip or an idea, just go for it!”

Adventuring with a sidekick also has its benefits.

“It’s safer, good company and offers the dynamics of a group but a solo mission is good too,” he explains.

Together Jason Cole and Rand Surbey prove that anything is possible. Cole made a personal choice to tackle personal health

system. This means that your mood and your overall health is directly affected if your digestion isn’t working properly. Eat fermented foods and eat your god damn veggies (the real ones that live in the produce section of your grocery store).

LET GO OF FEAR

“Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”Yoda wants you to resist the dark side.

Help our your digestion and your liver with a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning 30 minutes before you eat anyissues by getting active, while Surbey suffers from cerebral palsy. Together, they have completed five half-marathons and a Tough Mudder. Jason Cole shares his personal motivations.

Cole passionately explains that we should not let others define what we can or cannot do; find a reason to just do it.

Year after year, FEAT Canada speakers up the

What’s your favourite outdoor activity? Sailing my 26-foot Tanzer.

What music pumps you up? Phil Collins.

What is your inspirational Quote: “Nothing is insignificant” (Cole’s tattoo is a daily reminder).

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BREAKFAST CHIA PUDDING TO-GO Ingredients 1 tbs chia seeds 1 tbs flax meal 1 can organic coconut milk ½ tsp goji berries 1-2 bananas (mashed) Instructions 1. Mix chia seeds, coconut milk, flax seed, goji berries, and bananas together in a glass mason jar. Mix together, screw on lid and let it set in refrigerator overnight.

2. Remove it from the fridge, and make sure your pudding looks thick and the chia seeds have gelled. Top with fresh fruit and nuts, and enjoy.

EATING BREAKFAST

Kick start your metabolism with a healthy breakfast. This will get you sorted for the day and will also help regulate your sugar levels. So replace that donut or croissant with some complex carbs. W

LEMON WATER

RECIPE //

ante. It’s not that the adventurers get better but rather that their shared message becomes clearer.

Dream big and go find your true self outdoors. W

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February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 55

LIFESTYLES //

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DRIVE

Today’s Drive: 2015 Kia Optima A practical sedan that doesn’t look like one DAVID CHAO westender.com

Kia tends to be often ignored in the marketplace, simply because people don’t talk about this brand often. However, every model in its lineup is worth consideration in its respective market segment thanks to the fact that their products have been updated continuously.

On that note, if you need a practical family sedan that has amazing styling, the Kia Optima deserves a thorough examination.

The Kia Optima has the

Those seeking more performance can opt for a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder. Producing 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, this engine is capable of delivering a thrilling 0-100km run, yet still return admirable fuel economy.

A separate Optima Hybrid is also available.This uses a 2.4-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder creating 159 hp.That is boosted 46 hp by an electric motor to improve both efficiency and off-theline acceleration.

Mated to both the base and hybrid motors is a six-speed automatic with Sportmatic clutchless manual shifting.The turbo still uses a six-speed auto, but the gear ratios are closer and it

styling that turn heads, but it has more than just good looks. It boasts a lineup of efficient and powerful engines, a comfortable and premiumlooking interior – all for a non-premium price.

Significantly refreshed last year, the 2015 Optima receives subtle interior updates and upgraded tech.

The Kia Optima shares its architecture with the Hyundai Sonata, though the Optima has unique styling inside and out.The exterior lines of the Optima are cleaner and more crisp compared to the Sonata.

Most Optima models will have a 2.4-litre four-cylinder under the hood.This motor is rated at a respectable 192 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque.

Ignore it no more: the 2015 Kia Optima blends practical elements with premium features. adds steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

The cabin of the Optima is quite welcoming – especially in the upper-end trim levels – and would not look out of place in a premium automobile. Some upscale features include heated and cooled front seats, a massive dual-panel moonroof, and a

voice activated navigation and infotainment system.

Starting prices range from $24,795 to $35,895 as the Optima is available in five trim levels.The Optima Hybrid comes with two trim choices and starts at either $30,095 or $33,695.

Standard equipment includes heated front seats,

power driver seat, power windows and locks, steering wheel mounted controls, automatic headlights, cooling glove box, and keyless entry.

The 2015 Kia Optima offers all the practical elements needed in a family sedan, while still providing classy looks and premium features.

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Pricing applies to a 2015 Forester FJ1 BP with MSRP of $27,645, a 2015 Outback FD1 BP with MSRP of 29,445, and is plus a documentation fee of $395 air and tire levy of $125. License taxes, taxes, insurance, and registration extra. Dealers may sell for less. Dealer order or trade may be necessary. Vehicle shown only for purpose of illustration and may not be equipped exactly as shown. 0.9 %, 1.9% lease/ finance rates available on 2015 Forester/Outback is for a 24 month term. Financing and leasing programs available from Toyota Credit Canada INC on approved credit. Rebates valid unit March 2nd 2015 See dealer or www.suabru.ca for full details.

56 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

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LIFESTYLES //

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SEX

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny Lately your life reminds me of the action film Speed, starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. In that story, a criminal has rigged a passenger bus to explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour. In your story, you seem to be acting as if you, too, will self-destruct if you stop moving at a frantic pace. I’m here to tell you that nothing bad will happen if you slow down. Just the opposite, in fact. As you clear your schedule of its excessive things-to-do, as you leisurely explore the wonders of doing nothing in particular, I bet you will experience a soothing flood of healing pleasure.

Oneofthemostdazzlingmovesaballetdancercandois thefouettéentournant.ThetermisFrenchfor“whipped turning.” Assheexecutesa360-degreeturn,thedancer spinsaroundonthetipofonefoot.Meanwhile,herother footthrustsoutwardandthenbendsin,bringinghertoes totouchthekneeofhersupportingleg.Canyouimagine adancerdoingthis32consecutivetimes?That’swhat thebestdo.Ittakesextensivepracticeandrequiresahigh degreeofconcentrationanddiscipline.Paradoxically,it expressesbreathtakingfreedomandexuberance.You maynotbeaprimaballerina,Taurus,butinyourown fieldtheremustbeanequivalenttothefouettéentournant.Nowisanexcellenttimeforyoutotakeavowand makeplanstomasterthatskill.Whatwillyouneedtodo?

If you’re a martial artist and you want to inject extra energy into an aggressive move, you might utter a percussive shout that sounds like “eee-yah!” or “hyaah!” or “aiyah!” The Japanese term for this sound is kiai.

The sonic boost is most effective if it originates deep in your diaphragm rather than from your throat. Even if you’re not a martial artist, Gemini, I suggest that in the coming weeks you have fun trying out this boisterous style of yelling. It may help you summon the extra power and confidence you’ll need to successfully wrestle with all the interesting challenges ahead of you.

The prolific and popular French novelist Aurore Dupin was better known by her pseudonym George Sand. Few 19th-century women matched her rowdy behavior. She wore men’s clothes, smoked cigars, was a staunch feminist, and frequented social venues where only men were normally allowed. Yet she was also a doting mother to her two children, and loved to garden, make jam, and do needlework. Among her numerous lovers were the writers Alfred de Musset, Jules Sandeau, and Prosper Mérimée, as well as composer Frederic Chopin and actress Marie Dorval. Her preferred work schedule was midnight to 6am, and she often slept until 3pm. “What a brave man she was,” said Russian author Ivan Turgenev, “and what a good woman.” Her astrological sign? The same as you and me. She’s feisty proof that not all of us Crabs are conventional fuddy-duddies. In the coming weeks, she’s our inspirational role model.

It seems you’ve slipped into a time warp. Is that bad?

I don’t think so. Your adventures there may twist and tweak a warped part of your psyche in such a way that it gets healed. At the very least, I bet your visit to the time warp will reverse the effects of an old folly and correct a problem caused by your past sins. (By the way, when I use the word “sin,” I mean “being lax about following your dreams.”) There’s only one potential problem that could come out of all this: Some people in your life could misinterpret what’s happening. To prevent that, communicate crisply every step of the way.

In English and French versions of the word game Scrabble, the letter z is worth ten points. In Italian, it’s eight points.

But in the Polish variant of Scrabble, you score just one point by using z. That letter is rarely used in the other three languages, but is common in Polish. Keep this general principle in mind as you assess the value of the things you have to offer. You will be able to make more headway and have greater impact in situations where your particular beauty and power and skills are in short supply.

“Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have to make them all your yourself.” So said Alfred Sheinwold in his book about the card game known as bridge. I think this is excellent advice for the game of life, as well. And it should be extra pertinent for you in the coming weeks, because people in your vicinity will be making gaffes and wrong turns that are useful for you to study. In the future, you’ll be wise to avoid perpetrating similar messes yourself.

“Love her but leave her wild,” advised a graffiti artist who published his thoughts on a wall next to the mirror in a public restroom I visited. Another guerrilla philosopher had added a comment below: “That’s a nice sentiment, but how can anyone retain wildness in a society that puts so many demands on us in exchange for money to live?”

Since I happened to have a felt-tip pen with me, I scrawled a response to the question posed in the second comment: “Be in nature every day. Move your body a lot. Remember and work with your dreams. Be playful. Have good sex. Infuse any little thing you do with a creative twist. Hang out with animals. Eat with your fingers. Sing regularly.” And that’s also my message for you, Scorpio, during this phase when it’s so crucial for you to nurture your wildness.

“Don’t worry, even if things get heavy, we’ll all float on.” So sings Modest Mouse’s vocalist Isaac Brock on the band’s song “Float On.” I recommend you try that approach yourself, Sagittarius. Things will no doubt get heavy in the coming days. But if you float on, the heaviness will be a good, rich, soulful heaviness. It’ll be a purifying heaviness that purges any glib or shallow influences that are in your vicinity. It’ll be a healing heaviness that gives you just the kind of graceful gravitas you will need.

“What I look for in a friend is someone who’s different from me,” says science fiction novelist Samuel Delany. “The more different the person is, the more I’ll learn from him. The more he’ll come up with surprising takes on ideas and things and situations.”

What about you, Capricorn? What are the qualities in a friend that help you thrive? Now is a perfect time to take an inventory. I sense that although there are potential new allies wandering in your vicinity, they will actually become part of your life only if you adjust and update your attitudes about the influences you value most.

A bit about that movie everyone likes Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay My editor really wanted me to talk about 50 Shades of Grey this week because everyone and their grandmother is fawning over that pile of shit, so here’s the break down: 50 Shades of Grey is a complete misrepresentation of BDSM. It was written by some middle-aged, British Twilight fan who obviously has never engaged in BDSM behavior before and used her stupid, poorly written book as a means of exploring her own fantasies of ownership and aggression under the umbrella of “BDSM” (Come on, guys. Twilight was nothing but metaphor for female purity and virginity masquerading as a novel and later, a movie with that actor who looks like a giant foot with hair and eyes).

Why was our entire nation, including full grown adults, obsessed with a romantic novel with the morality of a Disney cartoon? Oh right, 95 per cent of this world is stupid.To conclude, 50 Shades of Grey is about as important to BDSM culture as my pinky toe nail I just clipped off into the toilet, and it belongs down the toilet bowl with my toe nails and feces.

Now, onto what I actually wanted to write about.

For the last few weeks, my husband has been out of town, which has allowed me plenty of time to read, go to YouTube school and more importantly, venture out into

bar culture without him.

I realized that, last year, the only time I spent in bars was either on tour (so not actually in them at all just on stage or in a hidden green room) or out with my husband and our friends back in LA. It was rare I went to a bar with just one girlfriend (or alone) and had a drink (or seven.)

Last night, I went to a bar with a good friend of mine and tried to enjoy a nice evening of tequila and shit talk, but at the end of the night we were interrupted by a dimwit who tried his luck and reminded me it must be very pitiful to be a straight man who is inherently cocky and almost always wrong in his verbal choices.

We’re at a transformative time for gender. Mother Nature is no longer calling all the shots (she’s still the Queen Bitch) but, because we have quickly begun to perfect this thing called technology and science it fucks with her order. Books and popular culture debate whether it’s “the end of men”.Whether the fact that as we North Americans move to an economy that values technological skills rather than manual labor, the work force has changed, thus family roles and gender as we have known them have, too. Not to mention, that our archaic, rigid definitions of sexual orientation have multiplied from two to a dozen.

You can be transgender or demisexual or married legally to your car (we refer to that as “objectùm-sexual”) and that’s totally OK – for some.

The only people that are

really bummed out by all the visibility of otherwise marginal orientations are those who think of gender equality as a zero-sum game. It’s not, but I digress.

Hook-up culture is a vague purgatory that both plagues and benefits us all. Courting is not what your grandparents remember. Shit done changed (and we know it’s far, far from perfect), but still remains the doltish attempts from men to hit on women with the intelligence of a shoulder check. Except, now it’s not 1960 and women can turn around and say, “Back off,Warchild. Seriously.”We don’t have to pretend we’re blessed to get male attention.

Last night when a man tried his best to intervene on my friend and I’s conversation to “get to know us” by asking us first our names and how old we were (yes, he actually did that), we didn’t feel obligated to blush, lie and fake flattery.We told him exactly why his question is straight up stupid and maybe he learned something.

Then again, some shit ain’t changed: I had a random, drunken creep outside the bar (who I had not even spoken with) try to open the back door of my Volvo and get inside.Twice.

In short, 50 Shades of Grey is verbal feces and it’s a wiggly world.What do you think? W

EMAIL MISH Send Mish your own sex questions and queries to sex@westender.com

At the turn of the 19th century, Russian laborers constructed thousands of miles of railroad tracks from the western part of the country eastward to Siberia. The hardest part of the job was blasting tunnels through the mountains that were in the way.

I reckon you’re at a comparable point in your work, Aquarius. It’s time to smash gaping holes through obstacles. Don’t scrimp or apologize. Clear the way for the future.

The British rock band the Animals released their gritty, growly song “The House of the Rising Sun” in 1964. It reached the top of the pop music charts in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, and was a hit with critics. Rolling Stone magazine ultimately ranked it as the 122nd greatest song of all time. And yet it took the Animals just 15 minutes to record. They did it in one take. That’s the kind of beginner’s luck and spontaneous flow I foresee you having in the coming weeks, Pisces.

What’s the best way for you to channel all that soulful mojo? W

Feb. 26: Erykah Badu (43) Feb. 27: John Steinbeck (113) Feb. 28: Eric Lindros (41) March 1: Justin Bieber (20) March 2: Chris Martin (37) March 3: Jessica Biel (32) March 4: Brooklyn Beckham (15)

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February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 57

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February 26 - March 4, 2015 W 59

WEEKLY SPECIALS Prices Effective February 26 to March 4, 2015.

100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE

MEAT Organic Large Jonagold Apples

Russet Potatoes 4.54kg/10lb bag

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

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.98lb/ 2.16kg

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60 W February 26 - March 4, 2015

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Choices Seminars & Events Sunday, March 1, 2:00-3:30pm.

Choices South Surrey, 3248 King George Blvd.

Grow Food in Small Spaces: Container Gardening with Victory Gardens In this workshop, container gardening will be the focus: types of containers, as well as what and when to plant and how to care for your container garden.

Cost $30 plus tax. Price includes a veggie starter pack and container, a $55 value. Prepayment and pre-registration is required.

For full details visit choicesmarkets.com or call 604-541-3902.

/ChoicesMarkets

@ChoicesMarkets

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