We visited on a Friday afternoon and the area seemed pretty dead and I could see why people say…read moreit's unsafe at night. Being Chinese, I make it a point to visit Chinatowns all over the world and take a selfie with the Chinatown gate. It was a nice surprise that we passed by and visited the Dr Sun Yat Sen park, which is free. A nice, serene park with nice photo ops with the city peaking out in the background and the juxtaposition of East meets West, old vs new. Sad to see it looked like the city gave up on the area though.

Pretty negative reviews didn't dissuade us from visiting, and we are glad we did…read more We came into Vancouver really early on a Friday. Knowing that our downtown hotel room wouldn't be ready until much later, we took the expo train two stops to the arena/chinatown station. From there, it was a short walk to Chinatown. Considering how Vancouver is known around the world for its Chinese population, it was a bit small and not very crowded. But it did have shops that were worth visiting and restaurants worth frequenting. And it had decent sidewalks and crosswalks to get around safely.

Peaceable Kingdom is a public work of art by Tom Dean located at King Edward Village, just outside…read moreof the Kensignton branch of the public library. Peaceable Kingdom consists of several bronze statues of various animals, and they can be quite strange, such as a snake wrapped around a sow, or a goat lying on the back of a leopard. While odd, I think the statues are pretty neat, and if you're in the area, definitely take a few minutes out of your day to take a look. For more information: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/public-art-brochure-peaceable-kingdom.PDF [Yelp collections: Public Art]

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.

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.

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...

Tourist are able to find different types of good food in the city of Vancouver…read more Asian cuisine, Indian cuisine, Middle East cuisine and the Africa. Of course, there are Europe cuisine : France, British,Italy,Greece, Mediterranean. Most of them are operated under the management of the professional chefs. I am sure this is not a one day travel and tourist should plan ahead of time to enjoy the trip with good food.

A dynamic city. Vibrant and alive! Artsy, open minded and cool…read more The Pacific Ocean's storms are tamed by the many islands in the Straits of Georgia and the Salish Sea. The city's proximity to the ocean also helps it maintain a easy climate, especially in comparison to other inland cities of British Columbia. Never too hot or too cold. The area was home to First Nation groups like the Musqueam almost 10,000 years before George Vancouver sailed into what is now known as Burrard Inlet in the late 1700s and 'Gassy' Jack founded the settlement of Gastown. It is this mix of native and European cultures (and most recently Chinese) that makes this area so ethnically diverse. I'd love to learn more about the areas history, which I imagine is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Also, just think of it - the first people to settle into North and then South America are said to have come over the Bering Straits land bridge starting around 14,000 BC! Yes, these are the first humans to discover America. That means a lot of these people may have traveled through Vancouver and other parts of British Columbia So many films have been made in greater Vancouver as well. It would be fun to tour some of the areas where our big screen myth making was filmed. I'll do that on another visit. Vancouver has a wonderful vibe and mild weather compared to other parts of Canada. A interesting city to explore and an enviable place to live.

I'm in love! It was my first visit to this beautiful country's city of Vancouver. I had heard so…read moremany good things, and it was on my list forever, so I'm so glad I finally made it out. Not only is the country gorgeous, but so are the people. Every other person that I passed on the street looked like tall supermodels. And nobody had the ridiculous injected lips, or crazy plastic surgery as so many do in the US. And almost everyone is very into fitness. Lots of runners, bicyclists, and obvious gym goers. And the best part is that it's an English speaking country. I felt so very much at home! Although there are a lot of foreigners that have moved here, so you'll hear languages from all around the world, and food too! Usually I check off a vacation destination and don't plan on a second visit, but I will definitely be coming back here! And I definitely want to explore more of the country. This summer temperature was so perfect too! Between 80-83 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. The locals, and even the news described it as "sizzling" but for the So Cal residents, it's absolutely perfect! I thought I had it all where I live, but here, you have the beach just a few minutes away, and the high mountain that gets snow and is only 1/2 hour away. And then the dense city with a bit of forestry. Vancouver literally has it all! There's really so much to do and see just in this city! There's the giant Stanley Park that you can hike at, picnic at, and bike through. There's also the very quaint Granville Island with the huge public market, shops and restaurants. There's the beautiful beaches with no waves due to the bay. My favorite beach being English Bay with clean and mirrored restrooms. And then there's Grouse Mountain that you can hike up, or take the gondola ride. You get a spectacular view of the whole region and there's shows, zip lining, a restaurant and a grizzly habitat up there. Not to mention all the amazing and delicious restaurants evvvvverywhere! They even have public restrooms at the sidewalks. I would rather use the ones inside an actual building, but if it's an emergency, they're there. It also seems like a super safe city, and country for that matter, even with some homeless people around the streets. The police patrol constantly, sometimes in groups just walking through the alleys fully armed and vested. I also noticed cameras at almost every intersection. The speed limits are on the slowwww side, but I'm sure that prevents many car accidents that would happen other wise. They also post it as kilometers per hour and are metric system users. It was kinda funny to see a sign when entering a tunnel that advised to take off your sunglasses. It was like mother Canada being a little over protective, but with all good intentions. I would say that I could totally move here. And I never thought that I would want to live anywhere outside of the US, but now, maybe.

Vancouver is such an unexpected gem! Dramatic mountains looming over the surprisingly expansive…read moreskyline and Burrard Inlet as it flows into the Pacific! With its oceanic climate and gorgeous PNW vibes, it's such a pleasure to explore the area. We've visited 3-4 times and will definitely be back - there's so much to see and do! Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada and is even more dense than LA if you can believe it (according to wiki). It's also the most expensive place to live in Canada and the population is extremely diverse. Our favorite must-see spots on every visit - Granville Island market and Stanley Park for sure. Things I recommend you do at least once - Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (don't forget to do the Cliffwalk!!) and definitely the Vancouver Aquarium- yes these are touristy spots but the bridge park is a really fun adventure and their aquarium is the best one I've ever visited! The food is fantastic- there are so many excellent restaurants in all genres - we always use Yelp to find the best ones - can't go wrong! The Flying Pig is one of our fave local chains - the one in Yaletown is the best imo. Yaletown has a lovely dockside walk and large marina. It would be an excellent place to stay while visiting. Gastown would also be another good choice, as well as the historic and quaint part of West End. On our last visit (March 2024), we stayed in the entertainment district on Granville Row and I can't recommend it which is why I have to knock a star off. Unfortunately parts of the city have deteriorated quite a bit since before the pandemic. The number of homeless has increased dramatically- and very sadly the open air drug use in this area was staggering - absolutely mind blowing! Expect to be walking by tranq-zombies and people actively shooting up. It's not safe there and be careful when you walk bc there are tons of syringes and excrement on the street :( It's really sad - but I live in the LA area and all cities have that going on to a certain extent. Just avoid the entertainment district and be vigilant and you should be fine. Definitely don't let it stop you from visiting bc it's a wonderful place to explore!

Highly recommended…read more Street Art Works Around Vancouver, British Columbia A trip to Vancouver is incomplete absent an effort to gad about town to view the various street artworks. One way to do this is to take one of the city bus tours to get a sense of the different neighborhoods and then taxis later to the areas you prefer. Another way to figure out where to go is to research areas on the Internet and then walk or take a cab to those areas. Yes, to be sure, the City of Vancouver holds an annual street mural project and pays artists to fly into town and paint their creations in various sections of the city during a specific period. But this city-sponsored mural effort is only part of the street art story. Vancouver is chock full of works produced by local artists, some of renown and some not so well known. If you don't know what else to do after reading this review, get yourself over to the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver and start your exploration there. If you plan to shoot photos, you'll need a wide-angle lens -- some works are expansive. You'll consume an entire day walking from block to block in the Mount Pleasant area alone. After that, if you have time, explore each section of the city for unique and different works. If you love street art, Vancouver is resplendent with various offerings. We took hundreds of photos during our stay. A few samples are below. Go and enjoy!

Where David Lam Park meets the seawall lies a large, circular rock sculpture: narrow rock columns…read morearranged in a circle hold up a large ring. Inscribed on the inside of this ring is the message: "As the moon circles the earth the oceans responds with the rhythm of the tide." At the base of the columns are a number of stepped concrete blocks one can walk upon, circling the piece. The artist, Don Vaughan, created this piece and the inscribed poem as an homage to the tides. Supposedly, if one visits here when the tides come in, one will witness an interesting feature: at high tide, the moment the water crests over these concrete blocks, it creates a square ripple of water that quickly culminates at the centre of the circle with a tiny splash. Neat! This installation is visually arresting and, to me, has a Stonehenge-like aura about it. Almost other-worldly, somewhat spiritual, hard to articulate. There's something mystical about it. The inscription and circular/infinity aspect of the work evokes the tides, the moon, the water, the earth. It's a profound piece (to me, anyhow). I've never experienced this work at high tide proper (though I have seen the area during the "King tides" when there was semi-flooding, and the water level was overflowing the seawall path, totally covering the concrete stone slabs at the base of this work). But I've passed it hundreds of times when the tide was lower, and have walked with my dog and/or kids along the circular stepping stones at the base. I see so many others doing likewise. This work is enjoyed by so many people and families and kids and dogs. Its stepping stone base calls for people to walk here, to interact with it at the base and, from the base, to read the inner inscription in the ring above. As a humorous aside, the first few months I lived here, in the company of my kids I always referred to this piece as the SPUT. (This acronym stands for the Sacrificial Pit for Unruly Teenagers). This SPUT name has stuck for me. And I smile whenever I pass it by.