The Drive (Commercial Drive) is a street in Vancouver that boasts a vibrant community. All the stores and restaurants are unique and interesting. A Subway was proposed along the Drive and a committed campaign was raised to prevent it from succeeding.

Many coffee shops along The Drive have slam / beat poetry sessions if you look for them. Also, one place of particular interest is Magpie Magazine Gallery, wherein one can find magazines of all stripes. Feel free to browse forever -- it's easy to get lost in them. Slightly north along the Drive is Britannia Community Center, where there is an ice rink and a swimming pool as well as a large park.

Another place of interest is the Vancouver East Cultural Center where various dance groups and theatrical performances can be seen.

The Drive is uniquely Vancouver and it reflects a slightly anti-corporate sentiment here - as I said before, it belongs to small businesses and restaurants that are not chains. It is ideal to spend an afternoon (sunny, of course) walking along, starting at Broadway and slowly making your way north along the street, stopping for coffee or ice cream or sushi or Thai or...

Enjoy.

Commercial Drive, from Broadway to Venables;
www.thedrive.ca

Magpie Magazine Gallery: 1319 Commercial Drive

Vancouver East Cultural Center: 1895 Venables Street;
www.vecc.bc.ca

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Free concerts and talks at The Central Library, including lectures in the Alice McKay room. (www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca)

Talks and lectures at the Simon Fraser University downtown campus (www.harbour.sfu.ca), and at The Carnegie Centre (www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/CARNEGIECENTRE).

Word on the Street at the end of September is day of free music, poetry and book reading by the authors and a giant booksale in one block of closed streets around The Central Library and the CBC (www.thewordonthestreet.ca/vancouver.php).

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A September tradition, the Fringe Festival (www.vancouverfringe.com) is now in its 21st year. All performances over the 11 days are held on or around Granville Island. Uniquely entertaining, my favourite venue to date was on a moving Aquabus.

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The building alone is worth the trip, designed by Arthur Erickson and based on traditional northern Northwest Coast post and beam structures. Check out the full scale Totem Poles and outdoor Haida Houses. Adults $9, concessions $7 and children under 6 free.

6393 N.W. Marine Drive; Tel: 604.822.5087; www.moa.ubc.ca

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