Enjoy Life in Vancouver.

image via Spend Locally

Last Friday morning, during my adventure to Vancouver (I am a Victoria Lilyite), I sat at the Bean Around the World coffee shop on the corner of Main and 20th, enjoying a great cup of coffee and an amazing breakfast wrap. I was way too early for my first Vancouver store shift, so I relaxed read the paper and people watched.

Main street is full of flavor. The streets are lined with shops and stores filled with endless possibilities for finding original clothes, show stopping shoes and vintage items for your home or your body. One thing that had me was the food. During my two days in the Vancouver store I gained about 15 pounds. Friday I went to Zipang Sushi (Erin recommended) where I enjoyed California rolls hand-made to perfection, along with a Philadelphia roll that I almost ordered more of. On Saturday, I strolled happily down the street to Chef Claire's (Christina recommended) where I shamelessly devoured an entire chicken panini with brie cheese and blueberry chutney. After my panini, I had to roll myself back to the Vancouver store.

After spending two shockingly relaxing days in the Smoking Lily store, working with two awesome ladies, eating, shopping, people watching, meeting inspiring customers, and eating, I have a new love for Vancouver. I will be back to Main street to eat, shop and relax very soon.

Vancouver Customer Appreciation Party Tonight!

Yes, tonight, Thursday the 9th!

Come on in to our shop at 3634 Main Street in Vancouver this evening between 6:00 ad 9:00 pm for a soiree of bubbles and shopping. Allow us to thank you for your patronage by serving you Champagne, giving you a discount of 15% on all purchases during the evening, and gift wrapping any presents you purchase (we have beautifully hand silk-screened boxes for in-town gifts and our hand silk-screened bags for gifts that need to be mailed).

As always, we are looking forward to visiting with you!

Cheers,

glenda, Erin, Margaret and Christina

Vancouver Art: Beautiful Frontier

Two accomplished Main Street artists have joined forces and created a really interesting new team and first installation. It's a cool combination of nostalgia and visual beauty. Check it out at the On Main Gallery if you are in the neighbourhood before the end of the month!

As I am an art appreciator not an art reviewer I will leave the description to Urban Pill

"This work combines stories that respond to the traditional iconic imagery found in representations of life and personal histories growing up in rural BC in the 70's and 80's. This includes landscape, memory, and nostalgia of growing up in highway towns, Squamish and Westbank."

Congratulations Rosanne and Katherine! I'm looking forward to more enthralling shows!

Where I Live: Mount Pleasant, Vancouver

It amazes me if I take the time to sit on a bench, of which there are many around the hood, I get to enjoy, for a moment, the lives of not only the people in my neighbourhood but the wildlife we tend to forget about. Raccoons seem to be abundant and quite enjoy a good time in the sun, who knew? Not only have I enjoyed raccoons but also a family of skunks, with baby skunks in tow, and a lovely woodpecker that worked very hard on his home, outside our bedroom window for a month. Good job!

I’ve always been fascinated by the creativity of people's gardens and yards. Many an evening has been spent perusing the neighbourhood, commenting on houses and what they’ve done the place and their soundings. Recently on such a night, I was intrigued by, no, not the lovely bicycle decorated with lights and a bunch of flowers in the basket--no, it was the car in the backyard. With plants overtaking the roof and growing into the windows and a sprinkling of yellow flowers I got the feeling Mother Nature was gobbling up the car, taking back what was hers.

It's nice to know there are still hidden little gems out there where artists can have the space to work. My very good friend dabbles in the world of aerial silks. I went down the street to check out her work. Not only was she amazing but I thought the space was amazing as well. Not to worry, they had many safety measures and a well padded floor. I’m told the aerials are very good for core strength; all it did for me was make me scared hungry!

Lucky for me there is the Main St. farmers market at Main and Terminal. I purchased a bag full of peppers, kale, apples and a great pot of ready to eat salad. I could hardly wait to dig in--thanks local farmers! Bon appetite.

After my fill of salad I needed a good walk. What’s that in the distance? Oh, that’s just a fire spinner in the park. What a great capper to the evening. I love my neighbourhood.

Wake For Slickety Jim's - Anza Club Tonight - Dec 10th

Our much beloved breakfast joint, Slickety Jim's Chat and Chew, was one of the businesses destroyed by the fire at Main and Broadway last month. So sad. When will my craving for awesome kooky vintage decor, great kitchen entertainment, and those amazing vegetarian sausages be satisfied again?

Good news is - Mike is determined to reopen Slickey Jim's, at a new location on Main Street.

Tonight at the Anza Club (8th and Ontario) a Wake is being held to morn our collective loss, to party with Chat and Chew fans, and to help raise funds for the next incarnation of Slickety's.

I'm hoping that crowds of good folk will pile into the Anza to celebrate a new beginning for Mike and the manifestation of his unique vision. There is a great line-up of entertainment in the works. Cover is by donation at the door.

Here's a link for more details.

http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=7ffcc5aa-12b8-48a7-830a-67eff68e264c

Hope to see you there! glenda.

mummified window display at the Main Street shop