Shiro

Rated this place:

3096 Cambie St., Vancouver, BC, V5Z 2V9

Tuna sashimi: "I can't believe it's not butter" comes to mind.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tuna sashimi

Yaletown

Rated this place:

Hamilton Street and Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC

Small dog spotting: They're everywhere - on leads, in handbags, in driver's laps, in baskets, on patio chairs and more invisibly on the sofas, bed cushions and jet tubs of the lux lofts above street level.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• small dog spotting

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre

Rated this place:

1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z2R9

Skyscraper: Unlike most of Vancouver's other skyscrapers the "lipstick building" has an elegance and unity that seems timeless. I would say it adds to the city more so than it dominates the skyline. At sunset it's a beacon of yellow and orange hews, hinting at the story unfolding on the ocean. Designed by Peter Busby.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• skyscraper

Richard's on Richards

Rated this place:

1036 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B3E1

Indoor concert venue: It's a intimate warmly lit bowl of good vibes which serves up some of the best music acts in town and around. You can join the ground level gang or head upstairs to the arching balcony for the wall fly view. The acoustics are great all round.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indoor Concert Venue

East is East

Rated this place:

4413 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Chai tea: It's all about the cardamom. A not too sweet robust Chai that conjures up South Asia with one sip. The incense infused air, tabla and sitar music and textile rich decor of E is E also help in this regard.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chai tea

The Cascade Room

Rated this place:

2616 Main St., Vancouver, BC, V5T 3E6

Mojito: It's deep in mint and the cruched ice is a perfect response to summer (a Havana summer!)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• mojito

The Foundation

Rated this place:

2301 Main Street, Vancouver, V5T 3C9

Oppp ( brocolli pesto pasta): Every time I go to Foundation - Main Street's candlelit retro vegetarian fog den - I get a hankering for OPPP. Maybe it's the combination of fresh pasta, crunchy brocolli and lip smacking vegan pesto. A savoury salvation that goes nicely with a local bitter.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• OPPP ( brocolli pesto pasta)

Deer Lake

Rated this place:

6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby, BC, V5G 2J3

Outdoor concert venue: The sky, the trees, the water, the breeze, the music and the sky, the trees, the water, the breeze, the music....

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Outdoor concert venue

Budgies Burritos

Rated this place:

44 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, V5T 3H9

Burrito (jame dog): It's the freshest full bodied "roast potato" burrito out there. Conceived and created in a sliver of a hangout by tattooed wrap artists. Yummy, healthy and generous!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• burrito (jame dog)

217.5 Arcs x 13' (Vancouver Biennale)

Rated this place:

Intersection of Beach Ave and Denman St, Vancouver, BC

Public art (natural setting): I came across this only recently at it's latest resting spot at the intersection of Denman St. and Beach Ave. and even in that less appropriate setting it is dramatic and moving. Like an abstraction of whale bones or the ribs of a ship (or maybe broken olympic rings). The individual arcs are grouped or seperated in different combinations. Part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale by French artist Bernar Venet

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• public art (natural setting)

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters

Rated this place:

2152 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Croissant, Hot chocolate (chocolat): If white bread has a place in heaven than it's taken up by a well made croissant like the one I recently savoured at 49th Parallel. Crisp, chewy and light they're simply delicious! And I think they make them on site.

It's not syrupy like all the others. You can actually taste the chocolate, and it's rich and smooth. Perfect on a rainy day......that is - perfect most days.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• croissant
• hot chocolate (chocolat)

Strathcona Neighbourhood

Rated this place:

Between Hastings St. (north), BNSF Railway (south), Chinatown (west) and Clark Dr. (east), Vancouver, BC, V6A-

Heritage homes: As a place to live, Strathcona is not without its challenges, but its character comes from it being one Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods with a strong identity and some of the most interesting and colourful houses in the city, which reflects the people inside of them. The front porch is alive and well in this hood.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• heritage homes

Zachary's

Rated this place:

3150 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H2L1

Spanish delight pizza: Like home made paella minus the rice on a chewy crust. Addictively addictive.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• spanish delight pizza

Darth Bear

Rated this place:

3981 Oak St (in front of the Easter Seal House), Vancouver, BC, V6H 2M7

Darth bear: The best of the lot from the tacky 'Spirit Bears in the City' project that had artist adorned bears pop up all around town. Like Chicago's cows and Toronto's moose (yawn!). It was for a good charitable cause though. White spirit bear = sinister darth bear. Smart. Darthafide by Judson Beaumont

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• darth bear

Happy Bats Cinema

Rated this place:

198 East 15th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Indie video/dvd rentals: It's only slightly bigger than your walk-in closet but it's packed with quality films of every genre, with a special emphasis on foreign, cult and horror. The 3 regular staff are approachable and clearly passionate and opionated about film. Their cheery bat T-shirts are also much superior to the Blockbuster blue uniforms 300 feet down the street.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• indie Video/DVD rentals

Trout Lake

Rated this place:

3350 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N4M4

Farmers market: It's the best place to jump into a weekend morning melee full of smiling faces, playing kids, shaggy dogs, local artists and fresh organic food.....no matter how late you might have partied Friday night. Take your bike, some canvas bags and community spirit and imagine you're from East Van. even if you're not.

Welk's Discount Store

Rated this place:

3511 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, V5V3N4

Discount store: The other day I needed some dish rags, a glass vase, a VHS tape of "The Goonies", some faux African art and a wooden box to carry apples.....and I only had $22 dollars and 29 cents in my pocket! Luckily I live only a few blocks from Welk's. Yes it has it all - except the junky feel of a dollar store. A Main Street staple (with staples).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Discount Store