My friends and I stopped here for a pre-hike coffee and a treat. I don't have any photos of this…read morebut inside there are tons of other wonderful things. If you're looking for some handmade soap or some other crafty items this is a place for you. A wonderful place to find items to bring home if you need souvenirs for loved ones. I got a latte and two different squares. The coffee was very tasty and rich in flavor. I tried the lemon Square and the blueberry square. I have to say the lemon square was the winner. It had such a nice zest to it with the delicious lemon curd.

Coffee, snacks, and gifts galore! We took a small detour when we were hiking around Lynn Canyon and…read morefound ourselves here in need of an energy boost! I'm so glad we stopped by for coffee, energy drinks, and a restroom break. We also ended up finding several cute gifts for my nephew - they have an extensive kids section full of educational games and toys. The gals working here were friendly and helpful, too! The coffee was tasty and things were not overpriced as one might expect them to be in a neighborhood such as this!

Definitely the BEST bagels you can get in the GVA, and this is coming from someone who loves…read morebagels! I originally tried Mount Royal when I was visiting Victoria and was super glad that they have a location in North Vancouver as well. They have tons of flavours to choose from and homemade cream cheeses as well. As for ambiance, there's no seating inside as it's definitely a grab & go kind of spot so keep this in mind. My favourites are the everything bagel, rosemary rocksalt bagel, and the sesame and I would definitely recommend trying their basil & garlic cream cheese - so good! I would also recommend coming here early in the day because they tend to sell out, especially of their more popular flavours, quite quickly. The service is super nice and patient with some customers that take longer to choose what they want. Finally, the bagels also freeze really well so I always buy a bunch when I'm there to stock up. Definitely recommend!

So unhygienic. Owner was sweeping up crumbs from the cabinets/register area with the same gloves…read moreshe cut a bagel with. Didn't change the gloves once. Plus, the bagels have absolutely no flavor.

Came across this lone girl while bicycle riding around Stanley Park. It was low tide, so you could…read moresee the entire boulder that she is on. And you could also walk/jump amongst the rocks to get a closer look. I find her gaze to be quiet and contemplative. I find the setting serene and peaceful. Nice :)

This was one of those landmarks in Stanley park that either you completely understand and love or…read more... like me, admire for the given moment and then look for the next. I'm not saying it's not worth your time but this is a 'your mileage may vary' situation. I've seen the Little Mermaid in the Copenhagen harbour. It's crowded as it's surrounded by a never ending mountain of tourists. Girl in a Wetsuit is MUCH further out from the shoreline and you could miss it if you're not paying attention. When I was here.. she was alone and if anything, I would say the sombre weather was mimicked in her too. I could have approached her since it was low tide and she perched on top of her rock. For me, the only interesting tidbit I found about her was a simple plaque on the side of the path. It mentioned she was placed in 1972 and her meaning is Vancouver's dependence on the water. A simple sculpture with a simple meaning. Perhaps it'll resonate with you but to me, her solitude was one of longing and poise. Perhaps that's Vancouver but I dont see it quite represent the current Vancouver.

This history with the 2010 Winter Olympics makes this thing seem cooler than it is. I saw some…read morepictures from back when it was lit up with flames and it is in fact pretty spectacular looking. Now it's only lit for special occasions. But besides that as a "landmark" it's just meh. Since I was in this part of Vancouver it was somewhat worth it to stop by just to see it. The big black LEGO dolphin nearby is much cooler.

It's now located at the Jack Poole Plaza. Max and I had a dickens of a time locating it. If you are…read morein the downtown area, definitely take advantage and come see it. It's a part of history.

On the southeast False Creek seawall, just east of the Cambie Bridge, is the strangest, coolest art…read moreinstallation around. (It's actually visible from the Cambie Bridge if you are walking across it. It's practically right below the bridge, just off a bit to the side, if you're looking toward the Science Center, close to the VPD parking lot site). In truth, I had passed this structure many times before really noticing it, as it's comprised of large neon letters that spell out "SHOULD I BE WORRIED?" atop of a wooden support beam, and these wooden planks blend in with the craggy site at the shoreline here below the bridge (and of course the neon letters aren't illuminated during the daytime hours). So it's easy to miss during the day. Then, one day, I noticed the sentence atop the beams and now I am fixated on this piece whenever I pass it, when I walk on the seawall in this area between Athlete's Village and Spyglass Place, or when I cross the Cambie Bridge on foot. I keep on wondering, SHOULD I be worried? Should I? And, if so, about WHAT, exactly? There are so many possible stressors to worry about. Should I worry about them all? Prioritize them? Just deal with a few? Or perhaps not worry at all? To me, this work is both whimsical and provocative and it really makes me wonder what exactly should I be worrying about. It's simultaneously humorous and serious. It both blends in to its environment (by way of the rough, unfinished wooden support structure) and it also stands out (by way of the neon letters). In so many ways, it embodies dichotomies and contrasts. One can appreciate it at face value or one can ruminate on its possible deeper meanings. This piece was installed here fairly recently, in 2017, and the artist, Justin Langlois, is a professor and associate dean at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. He was/is concerned with many of Vancouver's social and economic issues, and his art reflects that. Should we be worried? Check out this art piece, and you tell me! *NOTE: FYI I did not take the awesome photo of this art installation; rather, it is a stock photo, found online on multiple sites (including the City of Vancouver's official site, under its public art tab, and also online in every article about this art piece). So don't think I'm such a great photographer! My photos are usually blurred, or of my hands obscuring the lens...

One of the really cool quirky (and pagan) festivals in the East Side. Not sure how to describe…read morethis event, other than that it really brings the community together, and one can really feel the free-spirited culture of the Drive here. Parking here is pretty horrendous for the event. SkyTrain is your best bet. For 2014, the organizers set a path (loop) around Britannia high school, so it's pretty easy to hit all of the "exhibits". People are all dressed up, and there is definitely something there with all the spiritual stuff going on. There is a station where you can write down your fears on a piece of paper, then toss it into a nearby fire pit, symbolically burning them away. Great place to reflect on what's holding you back in life. The crowd is quite eclectic, and one can really feel the energy and excitement in the air. Certain parts of the event have a bit of a Blair Witch type feel (strangely-dressed actors acting like they're possessed), but everything here is safe. This event really has to be experienced. My review can't do it justice.

Parade of the Lost Souls is organized by the Public Dreams Society…read more(http://www.yelp.ca/biz/public-dreams-society-vancouver), but I really feel it deserves it's only piece of the Local Flavor pie. My favorite Vancouver event, Parade of the Lost Souls evokes traditions from the Mexican Day of the Dead festivities and Halloween. For one night (the Saturday preceding Halloween), Commercial Drive shuts down and costumed locals parade through the streets dancing as a celebration of life and death. Think four blocks of crazy costumes, bands, light shows, food vendors, and friendly folk. People who live on and around the Drive decorate with amazing creativity and the community comes out to support this treasured event. My tips? Get there early and start wandering, it's a must to dress in a costume (say my rules), and take your camera.

The City of Vancouver, as part of its every-other-year Biennale, commissions artists to bring their…read morecreativity to the city. Installed in March 2015 in eastern Vancouver, the Trans-Am Totem has quickly become the great BC city's must-sees. I won't get into all the possible interpretations and grad-schooleque "merging of consumerism and nature" or "metaphor of recurring consumerism" or "throwaway consumer culture" talk and just give a run-down. Located near the Georgia Viaduct, Vancouver artist Marcus Bowcott has given us a 33-foot (10 m)-high, 25,000-pound (11,340 kg) sculpture. Simply put, it's a stump of an old-growth cedar tree topped with five cars. At the top is the car that gives this sculpture its name: a 1981 Pontiac Trans Am. Then there's a BMW 7 Series, a Honda Civic, a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Cabriolet, and a Mercedes-Benz ... all donated by a local scrapyard. While the Trans Am Totem is perfectly viewable while driving down the road, I highly recommend parking and viewing it up close and personal ... it really accentuates the experience. Its location on a grassy median where Pacific Boulevard turns into Quebec Street does not make up-close viewing ideal, but well worth the extra effort. One of great things about modern art is the capability of grand scope ... it took gigantic moving trucks to get everything here and cranes with a construction crew to get it all in place. It's a real site to see!

I pass this sculpture regularly and, like Seattle's "Freemont Troll" or "Gum Alley", this towering…read moretotem pole is definitely a whimsical oddity of sorts, one that people either love or detest. Personally, I love it. I think it funky and odd and comical. Until fairly recently, the headlights on the uppermost vehicle lit up at night. I'm not sure why they no longer do so, but I hope the City fixes this minor issue, as this feature truly enhances the novelty of the work when viewed at nighttime. I've read a few articles about this piece in the past year. I had no idea how controversial this totem pole was; many people take offense at the use of an indigenous people's symbol (the totem pole), used in a contemporary, artsy, funky way. I guess it's not PC to use indigenous symbols in art in this way. I guess this work is polarizing (emphasis on "pole" - get it? My weak attempt at humor here!). In my opinion, any artwork worth its weight in salt elicits dialogue and conversation and debate. In this way, I think this work is successful. Another note to pass on: I read that this totem pole is going to be moved this year to another location (as yet to be decided). So if you're interested in checking this eclectic piece out, I'd recommend doing so soon before it's moved to God-knows-where.

I liked the orca statue, it's a cool thing to check out if you're near the convention center or…read morewalking along the water front. Not that I need to compare but it's a lot cooler looking than the Olympic sticks statue in the same area. The orca made up for the lackluster impression the Olympic structure left me with.

This is a sculpture of a killer whale made in 2009 by Douglas Coupland. It is installed next to the…read moreVancouver's convention center. It is an aluminum sculpture on a stainless steel frame and it kind of looks like legos or a pixelated image. It's located along the waterfront area near to Vancouver downtown. It's definitely worth taking a walk along the seawall here for great views, and why not stop at the Digital Orca for a fun photo while there!

On top of this 30 story building is the Vancouver Harbor Control Tower for the float plane's…read morelanding and taking off on the Burrard Inlet. This control tower is the tallest in the world.. The building's many retailers provide unparalleled views of Vancouver Bay & Stanley Park.

In the summer, it's the go-to place for munching on your lunch and enjoy the North Shore views…read more In the fall, you avoid this b/c there's no shelter from the rain lol. Quite open and a lot of ppl don't realize the upper level that leads over to the Seabus terminal side. Historically, it's been here for decades with the Province/The Vancouver Sun as well-known tenants. Built right above the train tracks. Aqua Riva sadly went belly up too a few years back, now it's the high-end Miku taking over.

A fun stop while in Vancouver. You can find anything you want at the Granville Island Public…read moreMarket(just like Alice's restaurant). We bought fruit,pastries,home made lemonade and chocolates. Of course we ate them all up! Prices weren't cheap however, we are just visiting so I have nothing to compare them to. Every business was very helpful and didn't rush us. Definitely a go to spot when you are visiting Vancouver!

Granville Island Public Market is one of those classic Vancouver experiences that pretty much…read moreeveryone tells you to do--and now I get why. The market sits on Granville Island, which used to be an industrial area before being transformed in the 1970s into a cultural and food hub. Getting there is part of the fun: you can take a quick water taxi across False Creek, drive, or grab a regular taxi. We went the easy route and arrived by car, but I'd love to try the water bus next time for the full experience. We got there later in the evening on a Sunday, so they closed early and time was limited. Before I even stepped inside, I spotted a vendor making maple candy--the kind that is poured onto ice and rolled up o to a stick. Highly recommend giving this very Canadian treat a try! Inside, it's exactly what you hope for: a lively space packed with vendors--produce, baked goods, prepared foods, local specialties. I had a short must-try list, starting with Lee's Donuts, Siegel's Bagels, and a hunt for Nanaimo bars, the iconic no-bake Canadian dessert named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia. Even with little time, it was fun weaving through the stalls and admiring all the products. Since we were visiting during the holidays, there were extra vendors selling arts, crafts, and locally made sweets, which made the whole place feel even more festive. We picked up bottles of maple syrup to bring home as gifts and also tried a few canelés. After we enjoyed our dinner, I stepped outside and took a moment to soak in the view--city lights reflecting on the water, the bridge glowing in the distance, everything calm and picturesque. It was a quiet contrast to the busy market inside and ended the visit on a really peaceful note. Definitely take in the view if you have a minute! Even though we didn't have as much time as I would have liked, it was still a great experience. Granville Island Public Market absolutely lives up to its "must-do" reputation.