http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6679 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6679 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6536 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6536 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6482 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6482 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6477 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6477 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6453 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6453 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6450
Start by stocking up with fresh breads, fruits, herbal remedies and more, punctuated by a few coffee breaks along the way in one of many of the NON franchised coffee shops. Then finish your experience in one of the fantastic restaurants (many with outdoor heated patios) dotted along Commercial.

La Grotta del Formaggio is a treasured local purveyor of the best new-world Italian Deli sandwiches and cheeses. If you like kitsch then Urban Empire is the place for you - a shop filled with wonders and surprises. Havana is a great restaurant for good (if not traditional) Cuban food and it has a great photo gallery at the back. Waazubee is also a good rest stop or even better dining experience with a wide range of veggie dishes.

This all comes from a person who doesn't even live in Vancouver. Guess it must be great eh?]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6438 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6438 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6437
Farther north on Main is also lovely, but quite different. Between about 33rd and 16th it has plenty of antique shops, second hand stores and cute little stores selling home furnishings and accessories (no chain stores). Between 16th and Seventh it's more eclectic, with some very good second-hand stores (the Salvation Army is on 12th just east of Main) and cafes. Urban Source, at 16th and Main, is a fantastic resource for craft supplies: they recycle industrial leftovers, and the results and the offerings are irresistable.

The strange triangle between Fraser, Main and Broadway is known as Dysfunction Junction, and hosts 2 outstanding second-hand bookstores, literary cafe Our Town, a pool hall, a neon art cafe, and several hole-in-the-wall galleries and restaurants. The Jem gallery is a particular gem; a recent exhibit featured the work of I.Braineater, an outstanding local artist.

Farther north again, Loomis arts and crafts superstore is an awesome place for paper junkies. Just to the west is the Seawall; you can go on the south side all the way to Kitsilano, or you can take the north side and go up to Yaletown, English Bay, and Stanley Park. If you know some tricks you can connect with Portside Road and skate all the way from Science World (near Loomis) to Stanley Park and back to the foot of Main street, a loop of about ten miles if you don't also skate around the park itself. And it's all on the Seawall, away from traffic, except for a mile along Portside Road.

North along Main is Chinatown, and then at the very foot of Main street is the Viaduct which will give you a fantastic view of the mountains, North Vancouver, and Downtown. It will also take you to Crab Park (closed after 10pm) which is the only beach on the Downtown Eastside, and features nesting eagles and hawks, seals in the water, and a marvelous break from city noise.

Nearby, on Alexander just west of Main is the Alibi Room, a very arty place with a very hot crowd, very good food, and very original (and tasty) cocktails. Open late, and for great Saturday brunch, but the DJ might be a bit loud if you're hungover. Not that I would know what that's like.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6434
See the Sun Yat-Sen garden and park, the Chinese Cultural Centre, and Pender Street between Carrall and Gore. Keefer Street is also Chinatown, between Columbia and Gore, and in the summer (late May-September) on Friday and Saturday nights it's closed to host the street market. This features entertainment, games, children's rides (dinky ones, but fun) and lots of bargains along the cheap bag/sunglasses/clothing line.

Good restaurants include Goldstone on Keefer (closes early), Hon's on Keefer, and Gain Wah on Keefer, which is open late. Great groceries are to be had at many of the local stores, or the local Asian supermarket, T&T, on Keefer near the Stadium Skytrain station.

After the street market (which runs till nine or so) walk over to La Casa Gelato on Venables and get one of their 200+ flavours of ice cream: rocky road, yes, but also durian, basil and pernod, or gorgonzola.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6434 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6427 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6427 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6425
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6424
If travelling to Vancouver, these clothes reflect Vancouver's culture more uniquely than (for example) Holt Renfrew clothing which can be purchased internationally.

Main Street clothing shops are still an untapped vein of creativity.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6424 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6419
In fact, I have not stayed in the new part but would not hesitate - you are there because it is the BEST spot in town.

English Bay and Stanley park are right out the lobby door. When you cross the street you are on the "sea-wall" which encircles Stanley Park. Even better, it is the part that is not a wall but English Bay beach, with a sidewalk. Robson St., for shoppers, is 6 blocks away. Going the opposite direction, a beautiful stroll along the ocean for 10 minutes (20 if you take in the air and view, which you will ) brings you to the water taxi stand, going to Granville Island.

I have stayed there 5 or 6 times since the '80s, and having travelled much of the world, can honestly say it has genuine character, history, an unrivalled location and reasonable prices. The Sylvia is clean, charming, and not "luxuried up" to the detriment of a budget. I would recommend reservations, but I have got lucky on short notice - in August no less. One of my favourite places on earth.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6419 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2078 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2078 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2077