Vancouver Great Date Itinerary
For some inhabitants, Vancouver will always be remembered for its New Year's Eve, 2000.
That was the night the local constabulary, fearful of rioting, mass hysteria, and/or crazed Canucks fans, warned citizens away from the downtown core.
For a metropolis already burdened with the nickname "No Fun City," the scene was enough to make fun-loving Vancouverites laugh, at least once they stopped crying.
Happily, though, not even Draconian police measures have managed to keep the spirits of Vancouverites down. Today, the city is booming with condo developments, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Today's fun-seeker confronts a plethora of possibilities, any of which are almost guaranteed to lead to a memorable night, and one probably not involving pepper spray.
The Alibi Room is an ideal place to begin your evening. Located just on the edge of historic Gastown, it's a popular hangout for movie types (wrap parties for flicks like X-Men 3 are a regular occurrence) with a great view of the rail yards. Enjoy a martini at the bar while watching the trains go by in the late afternoon summer sun.
If you're a beer drinker, Six Acres - in the cobblestoned heart of Gastown - offers a great selection of both Belgian brews and local micros. For a taste of something more social and unique, duck around the corner into Blood Alley and the Salt Tasting Room, for a taster plate of cheese and meat, served at long, communal tables.
In just a short period of time, Chill Winston has become one of the most popular hangs in the city, which probably says a lot about how hungry Vancouverites are for cool places. Also in Gastown, the bar/restaurant has one of the best patios in the city for people-watching, while inside co-ed facilities mean you never know who you'll be next to while washing your hands.
All this eating and imbibing means you're probably ready for a stroll. Gastown has its charms, but in spring and summer folks can't wait to mingle and gaze while walking the Seawall around Stanley Park. One of the city's most beautiful settings, the Seawall is minutes from downtown and offers a spectacular view of the water, along with cruise ships, barges and other ocean-going vessels. Be on the lookout for cyclists and rollerbladers to avoid collisions.
Just as awesome but frequented more by locals, the walk around Kits Beach provides some awe-inspiring sights of its own and not just of nature - the tanned 'n' toned bodies of volleyball players and sun-worshippers catching the day's last rays are also on display.
Cap the evening off with some entertainment at the Commodore Ballroom. Offering some of the finest acts in contemporary music, from classic rock to indie to pop to dance, the Commodore is the belle of Granville Street. Further up the street, the Yale offers the best in blues, both local and touring acts, every night.
Heck, you don't even have to walk through the doors of either venue to see a show. Year-round, Granville Street resembles a miniature Mardi Gras as its sidewalks fill with revelers looking for action - just the kind of thing needed to rid the city of its "No Fun" reputation.
-- Shawn Conner
