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!

In the southeast corner of Garry Point Park is the most wonderful - and imposing! - art…read moreinstallation devoted to the fishermen of Steveston - and BC in general. Also known as the "Fishermen's Needle", the work is made of aluminum, stone, bronze and concrete, and it depicts an enormous "needle" (the commonplace tool used by fishermen to repair their fishing nets) standing on high, on end, vertically reaching up to the sky. The enormous needle sits on a base on which is embossed scenes of the sea, with a boat perilously navigating angry waves, and a lone fisherman is seen on the deck. These sea scenes are essentially a bas relief encircling the round, dark stone base. On the ground, in a wide circle surrounding the base holding the needle is a "compass rose" etched into the concrete cement ground. My friend and I initially thought this ground engraving was a sundial of sorts, but no, it's a special type of maritime compass which, we learned, is a primary navigation tool for seamen and women. Lastly, there are rounded panels around 2-3 feet high, encircling the needle and base. On the exterior of these panels are engraved the names of all the fishermen "of our community who have lost their lives" while fishing. On the interior is the dedication plaque (the work was installed on May 4, 1996) and a touching poem by John Skapski titled "Spawning Cycle". The artists who created this work George Juhasz and Georg Schmerholz. This work is equally powerful and moving, and IMO it is a fitting memorial to those Steveston fishermen who were lost at sea. I have attached photos of the work but I really encourage folks to see this piece in person, as it loses something when seen online.

Having watched the 2010 Winter Olympics on television, I hoped then to someday get the chance to…read morevisit Vancouver to see it in person. Today was that day of a wish coming true. While it seemed more impressive on the tv screen back then, I nevertheless appreciated the moment.

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.

I always thought Lafarge Lake lights would be the same every year! But I was wrong there's some new…read morestuff they add each time ^^ so it was refreshing to see, it's a cute date idea for free to do with friends or luved ones

We come here once a year. Usually during Christmas/holiday season it's super busy and hard to park…read moreat. This year we decided to go after the holiday season since the weather was nice. Way less people which made the whole thing more enjoyable. Love that they have lots of photo stations and that there are warming stations.

What a wonderful organisation. What an amazing way to learn about mushrooms and their (and our)…read moresurroundings. What a lovely group of individuals with a collected knowledge that spans generations of learning and sharing. Welcoming and inclusive group; don't feel shy, they love to teach and share their knowledge. You can learn common and scientific names as well as facts about edibility of mushrooms found. They also love to inform people about the many other wonderful uses of the fungi such as their medicinal and textile dying applications, to name a few. Annual mushroom show every October at the Van Dusen Floral Gardens. (Event listing here: http://www.yelp.ca/events/vancouver-vancouver-mycological-society-annual-mushroom-show-2012 ). Another annual event is a 'Survivor's Banquet' - a potluck dinner coordinated by and for the members. A truly fun bunch of individuals. Throughout the collection season they organize forays for their members and members of the general public to join in on a trip through the woods to talk about mushrooms, how they grow, where they grow. They also provide you with the tools you'll need to learn about mushrooms so you can hunt on your own. 'Mushroom School' - Galiano Island foray and picnic: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/s0cxgNy90C2yHar2Dk7yTg?select=MuxMW6ZjsqEuxr5B76slYQ#WN6AnC2VXtstLnHDJItr6w The club has monthly meetings, the second Tuesday of every month (except January, July, and August). Members can take advantage of the extensive library of reference books owned by the club with monthly loans allowed. They have a speaker or presentation at every meeting,as well as discussion of upcoming events and recent happenings in the mycological world. There is a display table, where members bring in their most recent finds for identification. Whether you like eating, photographing, finding, sharing or learning about mushrooms, or just simply being out with a wonderful group of people, you'll very much enjoy the Vancouver Mycological Society. ***Review # 600***

If you haven't been to Barnston Island, you're missing out on an adventure. First, there's the…read morewacky ferry to get over there. It's basically a tugboat with a barge attached that chugs back and forth across the river every ten minutes or so. You can drive, but the ferry has limited capacity for cars (maybe six?), no public parking on the island, and you have to back up off the ferry when you get to Barnston Island. It's better to leave the car in the free lot at the end of 104 Ave in Surrey and walk or take your bike. (The ferry is also free.) Most of the island is private property (lots of "no trespassing" signs), although there is one park at the northwest corner with picnic tables and some marshy beach. A narrow paved road encircles the island, a 10 km route with very little traffic and plenty of scenery. On our summer bike ride, we saw everything from goats to eagles to skydivers, with views of Golden Ears Bridge, the North Shore Mountains and Mt. Baker in the distance. An abandoned home with brambles taking over the doorway was also strangely cool. Barnston Island has a peaceful feeling, inhabited yet abandoned at the same time. One car passed us on the entire ride, and the only other people we saw were fellow cyclists and walkers. There are also no stores on the island, so be sure to bring your own water and provisions. You can say you've been somewhere without really leaving.

The coolest (and still free!) ferry! It's a fun little ride over to the island and only 10 km…read morearound... Very idyllic and restful... Nice for a little bike ride, a walk in the country or just a peaceful drive... I wish there was a legal place to enjoy a picnic beside the river, though.., And it is a smart thing to bring some mosquito repellant because they like to attack fresh blood... Lol

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.

Finn slough is a hidden gem of local flavour. It is a little heritage site that no one seems to…read moreknow about, a tiny fishing village that stands on stilts/ floats over the south arm of the Fraser village, not far from Steveston Village. When I stand on the bridge and look at it, I feel like I'm in a place where time stands still. Once there were dozens of such villages on the banks of the Fraser. Now we're down to this last one. The people who live in Finn Slough live a way of life that is all but forgotten in modern times. Whenever I tour around south Richmond on my scooter, I usually make a stop at Finn Slough to take a quiet moment to ponder. If you go there though, be sure to respect the privacy of those who live there. Stay in the designated public areas.

It's a piece of history in Steveston. It's a memory of what…read moreit used to be like in this town when everyone was a fisherman or you worked in the canneries or related job in the industry. It's character, but not many will venture here. Kinda scary, yes for some, others and adventure. Lori pretty much sums it up pretty good in her review.

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...