Been a few years since the last time I've been to The Arbutus Club. They've been around since 1964…read more They have plenty of facilities; racquet courts, ice rink, gym, day spa, children's centre, pool and studio rooms (arts & craft/fitness/music/karate/pilates). A couple of tidbits: - 5 squash courts and 12 tennis courts. Squash courts (walls) are not lively - $13.00 guest fee entry - $80K initiation fee plus monthly fees (~$350/month) although new memberships are suspended - Spacious men's locker room. Was told there's an adults only hot tub/sauna area

Love their Thursday night sushi…read more The sushi we had were: Avocado Dynamite Roll with Tobiko - this was fantastic Smoked Salmon with Chopped Scallop Roll - also truly amazing Tuna Tataki - this was our appetizer and I love the garnish and the sauce the chef used. It was so delicious! Aside from that, it was also Italian theme last night so we had this beautifully cooked linguini paired with mushrooms. Finished off with some sugar pie (the crust and flavour of this is divine) and the black forest chocolate mousse, was light and not too sweet. I really like the texture. We had a bottle of Pinot Grigio to accompany our dinner. The dining experience was amazing and I truly enjoy my dinner.

Stopped by Christmas pop up market, free admission and the first 25 guests got free $10 voucher to…read moreuse in the market. It was very pleasant and cool event. Mostly they were jewelry and soap/candle shops. What unique this time, they have a leather shop and it was dog friendly event. Pet dog could walking around and that was so cute. This building is so gorgeous. High ceiling makes me feel pleasant even in crowded event.

I have passed by this prominent, very brown, very stately building on Main at 15th SO many times…read more It takes up nearly a city block and is 3 stories high, and has a very imposing clock tower, too! My kid had her high school prom here, and there are often various community events held here, as well as private parties, receptions and weddings. Today I finally got the chance to visit the building, though, as there was a weekend-long artisan fair held here. What a lovely venue! Outside, by the entrance, there is a plaque on the facade declaring this building as a "Heritage Building" (designated as such in 1974). The actual building was built in 1915 and was first used as a post office. For those who care about architectural and design styles, the building is classified as being done in the Beaux Arts Classicism style, with a lot of ornamentation on the sculptured columns and facade's stone. There are many sculpted faces and sandstone festoons visible on the first and second story exterior. Inside, the first floor used to be a grand ballroom, and it was recently re-done (in 2015), so now there is a terrazzo floor, and where once was a huge trompe l'oeil mural is now a blank wall (bummer). There still are beautiful chandeliers and an ethereal ceiling that's reminiscent of calming green-blue sea glass. Today at the artisan fair, there were tables lined up and creating aisles in the ballroom, so the room looked somewhat small. I'd imagine the venue appearing much larger and spatially impressive without all the tables. I was impressed by this building. It was lovely inside and out. The location on Main Street is awesome, too, with tons of parking on Main and the side streets, and so many fun shops, coffee houses and restaurants nearby.

Friday June 24 - Planned and attended a private event Harbour Room (100 guests)…read more Pros - Some of the most amazing views of the Vancouver waterfront!!! - Outdoor patio seats 30, they have patio umbrellas if needed - Well known venue, you'll likely come here for a wedding or special event - Professional staff such as an events coordinator, catering and bartending no complaints - We ordered 6 hors d'oeuvres that were passed throughout the event, our guests loved the items! They are made on-site as far as I know. - Full bar with domestic and import beers, spirits including scotches and 6 beers on tap. Cons - A little bit stuffy in some way with metal plaques on the walls from old events, this place really has 125 years of history - A private member's club, so you won't be able to just walk into the venue to enjoy the view - There is one pulldown screen on stage and the projector was decent but could be a bit better - Audio was also not as loud as it needed to be and it was already on max - They had wired mics, no wireless Damage -A few thousand dollars. Protip - No free parking that I know of, only hourly and daily rates.

We just recently booked the Harbour Room and Trophy Lounge in the Rowing Club for our wedding, and…read morewe couldn't be happier. The staff were all incredible to work with, so easy going and approachable while organized and thorough. Our coordinator, Nicole, was full of great suggestions and responded to every one of our last-minute, frantic emails with grace and helpfulness. The bar manager, JJ, gave us everything we needed during setup the day of, and provided all logistical support with our dj, florist, and guests with a smile. Bar staff were full of laughs, good humour, and friendly. The venue is wildly charming, the main hall has a wrap around licensed deck that looks over Coal Harbour providing stunning views day and night. Our guests from the prairie provinces were in awe all night. Emelle's catering, exclusive caterer, provided food and service for the wedding and we couldn't have been happier. Food was 5 star, and service was friendly, efficient, and unobtrusive. Venue and alcohol service costs are very affordable, especially in comparison to other local venues. Can't wait to have another event there!

Mountain View Farm was the perfect venue for our August 2024 wedding!…read more We initially discovered Mountain View Farm through internet searches and were immediately drawn in by the beautiful photos. After visiting the venue in person, we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. Oana, who manages the venue, gave us a tour of the backyard and the house. Seeing it firsthand helped us visualize how we wanted to set things up. The outdoor space was ideal for the event itself. At the same time, the house provided a convenient and cozy option for us and our family to stay together, eliminating any worries about accommodation or travel time. The location is just far enough from Vancouver to feel like a peaceful escape, but close enough that it's easily accessible--only about a 45-minute drive. It ticked all the boxes for us. Venue Details: House rules: No shoes inside, and quiet hours start at 11 PM. Guests are responsible for cleaning up, trash/recycling and collecting towels in the laundry room. Pricing: The indoor house is $1,000 per night (5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms). Outdoor space prices vary by guest count: $135 per hour for up to 25 people, $165 per hour for up to 50 people. Rentals: They offer table and chair rentals (rectangular tables for 6 people, round tables also available) that can be added to your contract. Decor: Oana has decor available for rent, or you can bring your own. We loved the flexibility of choosing our own vendors, although they also provide recommendations. Before the wedding, we visited the farm one more time to finalize the layout and decor details. Oana was incredibly helpful throughout the planning process, and we were thrilled to have her as our day-of coordinator. Her knowledge of the venue and her experience made everything run smoothly. We stayed at the farm for two nights--one night before the wedding and the night of--which was a huge help. It gave us time to settle in, unpack, and handle some of the setup the day before. The house is spacious and lovely, there's room to take it easy and even a jacuzzi, One minor issue some of our guests mentioned was the house's septic system, which requires no tissues to be flushed to avoid a potential flood. Honestly, we found this to be a small sacrifice for such a beautiful venue. The Wedding Day: The day of the wedding was absolutely perfect. Oana played a key role in ensuring everything went off without a hitch. Our guests loved the venue, and many commented on the stunning views. It felt like our little hidden gem, and all our hard work paid off. The photos were breathtaking, especially with the unobstructed views of Golden Ears. In the end, Mountain View Farm was the perfect choice for an outdoor wedding. We're so glad we had the flexibility to customize the space with our own vendors and decorations, and it gave us the beautiful, peaceful setting we were looking for.

We chose Mountain View Farm for my daughter's grad party and it was the best experience we have…read moreever had. With the stunning backdrop and well designed property amenities everyone loved it and had a beautiful time. Oana, Milad and the owner are beyond helpful and accommodating of any needs. We would highly recommend any special occasion to be held here.

I visited this amazingly stunning, stately mansion yesterday to attend the seasonal winter artisan…read morecraft market here. I had never visited this building before, but somehow I was getting ads on my Facebook feed about this event, and the winter market, and the building looked so beautiful, I just had to visit. It did not disappoint. Right off 16th, just south of the south Granville strip, I had clearly passed this place so many times, yet I had no idea it existed. (For folks fairly new to Vancouver, you'll probably understand, yet every native Vancouverite seems to know about this place!). SO centrally located, yet hidden off the main drag and up a tiny hill. And the building itself is just stunning. I had read somewhere that the building had been featured in many a Hallmark Christmas movie, and once you see the building, it's totally believable. It's like out of a picture book. Dressed up for the holidays, there are red berry wreaths and sparkling lights and garlands and festive Christmas trees everywhere, seemingly in every room, with fireplaces aglow with lights, and a pianist playing carols, the music wafting in the air to each room. Lady volunteers wander the floors, dressed in red and green plaid dresses and sashes. All these volunteers were extremely friendly and personable to us, from the ladies manning the outdoor tent where you purchase admission tickets and get raffle forms, to the ladies inside, explaining where various vendors and services area. As for vendors, of course there were way less than the huge seasonal market at Circle Craft at the Convention Center, but there still were quite a few on the two floors of the mansion here, and there was a decent variety in types of items available for purchase, too: from soaps and lotions to gourmet foods (artisan vinegars and oils, amazing shortbread cookies, nuts and chocolates, etc.), to jewelry makers and clothiers, to Vancouver tote bags and stationery and greeting card makers, to homemade ornaments and organic light fixtures, and more. So much more. I recognized some vendors and artisans from the Circle Craft fair, but there were many artisans that were new to me, too. I'd estimate that 50-70% of the vendors were new to me. Admission cost $15 for adults. Parking is free (I was lucky to get a spot in the small lot but there was also free street parking). If you are in the market for getting some holiday gifts, or needing to get into the holiday spirit yourself, I really recommend visiting this particular artisan market. The venue is truly magical. I am attaching some photos but honestly, they don't do the building justice.

If you are a vintage person then this place and ofcourse it's membership is a must. As soon as I…read morelearnt about a membership option to enjoy this cozy mansion of good old days , I registered ( still waiting to hear back though but I am so excited after the tour of this property) It's beautiful. It's very warming. Staff is really really helpful and supportive. Small rooms for personal private meetings , in-house coffee service and a small library adds to its charm. It can be rented for weddings or photography or film shoot and the best part is those funds get used to maintain the house and the staff. Many different classes, events and games happen on regular basis for the club members.

Oh where do I start?…read more This place is exquisite, unique & extremely beautiful. The event manager Nicole is friendly, efficient and works harder then anyone I've ever met. The architecture and design of this place plus the original pieces that are still intact makes this building come to life. Whether it is a corporate event, wedding or a birthday bash, they all fit perfectly with The Permanent.

Great event space! Came here for a party and the space is…read morelovely. Spacious, high ceilings and nice layout. Bathrooms and coat check are downstairs, main floor can be organized how you want, and there's a bar area at the back. The bank vault in the middle on the main floor is really cool - apparently they used to open it so you could see inside, but it's closed now. Catering was by Railtown Cafe when I was here and everything was well organized and comfortable. Lovely place for an event. Note: It was a little hard to find since it's street number is 300, but it's not where you would expect (i.e. closest to Hamilton and W. Pender). It's on the actually on the right side of Covenant House, so the numbering is a little funky on this side of the street.