15 Things We Love About Vancouver

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15 Things We Love About Vancouver

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: June

Dragon boat photo by Paul Cordick

1 The annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival (Jun. 11 to 12).
2 Sitting on the deck of the Galley Patio & Grill at Jericho Beach, enjoying a bison burger and R&B ale, watching the sun set over Howe Sound.
3 The rotating selection of pies, baked fresh daily, at Acme Cafe, Gastown’s old-style diner.
4 Flying a kite, strolling the seawall or admiring the public art in Vanier Park.
5 BC spot prawns, in season from early May through most of June. Enjoy their sweet and gently salty taste at better Vancouver restaurants.
6 Sipping a morning coffee on the beach at English Bay, before the serious tanning crowd commandeers every log in sight.
7 Cambie Street.
8 Visiting the Museum of Anthropology.
9 Enjoying one of the final concerts of the season with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
10 Exploring Stanley Park.
11 Sweet treats at Candy Aisle.
12 Heading to the The Whip Restaurant Gallery for Real Ale Sundays, where they tap a different keg of local brew every week.
13 The prix fixe, which is alive and well here, especially at Jules Casual French Bistro: lunch $24, dinner $26; Salade de Fruits: $24.99; and Le Bistro de Paris: table d’hote $36, main courses half-price on Wednesdays.
14 Taking in the first of the summer celebrations, such as the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival (Jun. 24 to Jul. 3).
15 Riding our bikes around Vancouver’s system of dedicated bikeways, which provides safe access between False Creek, Coal Harbour and the original seawall around Stanley Park.

TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival photo by Chris Cameron

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: May

Photo by N. Vandergaag courtesy VanDusen Botanical Garden

1 Laburnum season (mid-May to early June) at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
2 Bargain hunting at Joe Fresh, H&M and Forever 21.
3 All the hypoallergenic, paraben-free, natural skincare products at Lavan.
4 Fresh seafood.
5 The two cheery, colourful levels of the Kids Market on Granville Island.
6 Taking an evening stroll through Stanley Park—and jumping when the Nine O’Clock Gun goes off. This 195-year-old cannon makes an impressive Boom! every night at 9 p.m.
7 Canada’s only Agent Provocateur store, which is located right here in downtown Vancouver. It’s filled with luxury lingerie, sexy swimwear and naughty nightwear.
8 Dining at award-winning restaurants.
9 The gourmet chocolate bar line “My Therapy Bar” by local company Deliss Chocolate (www.delisschocolate.com), which grew out of bitter beginnings (the end of a marriage) into something sweet. At Whole Foods.
10 Chapeaus of every size, shape and style at Edie Hats and Goorin Brothers.
11 Bright, cheerful umbrellas from local company Possum (www.possumumbrella.com). Each comes in a pouch that folds into a shopping bag. At The Gallery Store and Fine Finds.
12 Local artist Peng Liu’s floral art in In Full Bloom at Jacana Gallery (to May 22).
13 The 40th anniversary of the BMO Vancouver Marathon (May 1).
14 Rain. We might as well love it, since we’re stuck with it.
15 The special tin commemorating Vancouver’s 125th anniversary put out by 126-year-old local company Rogers’ Chocolates.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: April

This photo of Science World and False Creek by Pete Jones was submitted for the 2010 My Favourite Vancouver Photo Contest

1 The lights of Science World —usually white, occasionally multi-coloured, and turning green on Earth Day (Apr. 22).
2 Torrance Coombs. The local actor, a UBC grad, is one of the stars of Endgame, a new one-hour drama filmed here.
3 The daily fresh sheet at Bella Gelateria. Fave flaves: chocolate orange and Tahitian vanilla.
4 People watching on busy Robson Street or South Granville.
5 Perfect sunsets.
6 The Vancouver Canucks, who finish season #40 this month—and start a play-off run that (we hope) leads to a Stanley Cup triumph. The last time locals got their hands on the cup was in 1915, with a win by the now-defunct Vancouver Millionaires.
7 Wandering through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
8 April showers. They bring May flowers, don’t they?
9 Heading out to Ladner’s Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary to see the spring snow geese migration.

This photo of downtown Vancouver by Makaisha Brown was submitted for the 2010 My Favourite Vancouver Photo Contest

10 The blues. Blue sky and blue ocean, that is.
11 Yoga. It’s everywhere here.
12 Celebrity sightings. Tom Cruise, in town filming Mission: Impossible 4, recently dined at Blue Water Cafe. He and wife Katie Holmes also took daughter Suri to Science World and supped at Simply Thai.
13 The Lions Gate Bridge, connecting downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver.
14 Cherry blossoms.
15 Yew, which offers themed “Fresh From Pacific Northwest” meals: three-course, $35 prix fixe menus that highlight the best of BC. April’s spotlight is on local chicken, eggs and leeks.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: March

Photo courtesy David Suzuki Foundation

1 Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who are in town to film Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
2 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, which is nominated for a 2011 Juno Award. Tune in Mar. 27 to see if the VSO wins.
3 Howard Hughes. The eccentric billionaire arrived at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel on Mar. 14, 1972, taking over two floors for himself and his employees—though no hotel staff ever glimpsed the recluse during his long stay.
4 Canine ambassadors such as Beau and Mavis.
5 Fresh seafood.
6 The Granville Island Broom Company.
7 David Suzuki. The local author and environmental activist turns 75 on Mar. 24.
8 Luxurious anti-microbial yoga towels made by local company Baktuli (www.bak tuli.com). Each one sports a playful saying such as “Some like it hot.” At Moule and Fine Finds.
9 Red Robinson. The legendary local disc jockey turns 74 on Mar. 30. Named in his honour, the 1,000-seat theatre at the Boulevard Casino features Gino Vannelli (Mar. 5) and Meat Loaf (Mar. 18 and 19) this month.

"Little Emperor" by Todd Couper courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

10 The Vancouver Canucks hockey team, which is celebrating its 40th season.
11 The sense of community: Mar. 24 is Dining Out for Life, when restaurants across the Lower Mainland donate 25 per cent of each food bill to HIV/AIDS charities.
12 Scuba diving. The water is cold—but it doesn’t warm up much in the summer. Scuba fans prefer winter diving here, when visibility is best.
13 The Vancouver Art Gallery.
14 Jogging on the seawall.
15 Tiny art in Spirit Wrestler Gallery’s Mini Masterworks IV (Mar. 26 to Apr. 16).

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: January and February

Skating at Robson Square, popular during the 2010 Winter Games, is back in 2011. Photo copyright Sergeibach/Dreamstime

1 Reliving Olympic magic while ice skating in Robson Square (open daily until the end of Feb.), and all the other winter activities in our city.
2 The clean, crisp winter air.
3 Listening to live jazz while cutting into a sizzling steak at O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar.
4 The most stylish salon in town, the new C:EHKO Hair Concepts.
5 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
6 Heading to shopping centres for steals and deals on winter clearance items—spring items are already appearing on shelves.

The Olympic Cauldron is on Vancouver's waterfront. Photo by Sheri Radford

7 Indulging in dim sum on a weekend afternoon at Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant.
8 Watching the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra perform at the Orpheum.
9 Abstracts by local artist Lesley Finlayson in New Paintings at Elissa Cristall Gallery (Jan. 29 to Feb. 26).
10 Warming up with a pot pie and pint of ale at The Irish Heather.
11 Getting rid of a hangover from New Year’s Eve by plunging into the ice-cold ocean for the annual Polar Bear Swim.
12 Indulging in sweet treats with your honey on Valentine’s Day or any day.
13 Checking out all the giant sculptures and billboards around the city that are part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, which ends this summer.
14 Anticipating the new Pacific Centre location of Michael Kors, opening in late January, complete with clothing, sportswear, accessories, fragrances and eyewear.
15 The Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza, and other reminders of the 2010 Winter Games.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: December

Japanese cuisine at ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro. Photo by KK Law

1 Lululemon stores, all of which offer free yoga classes every week.

2 Spying the giant tree at English Bay all lit up for the season.

3 The Lamplighter. This Gastown pub celebrated its 85th birthday last month.

4 Decking the halls with adorable holiday decorations from HomeSense.

5 Maple-leaf-adorned red mittens, ideal for winter and just $10 at The Bay. Proceeds go to the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

6 Stocking up on swimwear for holiday getaways at Just Cruisin’ Shoppe. (more…)

18 Things We Love About Vancouver: November

Your pooch will be in the lap of luxury in a suite at Jet Pet Resort

1 Bangers and mash from Mahony & Sons.
2 Driving the Sea to Sky Highway for a first glimpse of snow on the mountains above the ocean vista.
3 The mild weather.
4 Spotting celebrities at Glowbal, everyone from Chris Rock to Pamela Anderson to Caressa Cameron, the current Miss America.
5 The absence of freeways through the downtown core, thanks to forward-thinking city planners decades ago.
6 Walking the inside seawall on a blustery day before heading for fish tacos at Go Fish.
7 Maple-leaf-adorned red mittens, just $10 at The Bay. Inspired by the most popular souvenir from the 2010 Winter Games, these new mittens support our athletes, with proceeds going to the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
8 Riding the SeaBus to North Vancouver.
9 All the treasures to discover at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.
10 Checking out the best sake list in town, with sushi to match, at Oru.
11 Jet Pet Resort, which treats every pooch like a prince.
12 Our tap water—it’s some of the best in the world.
13 Lumière, which recently received the coveted AAA/CAA Five Diamond Award—for the sixth time.
14 All the downtown dwellers, who keep the city vibrant long after the workday has ended.
15 Dropping by Steamworks Brewing Co. for a pint of seasonal spiced pumpkin ale.
16 The picture-postcard beauty of the city.
17 Raccoons, skunks, Canada geese and other critters you may encounter downtown.
18 Paintings from Kurbatoff Art Gallery.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: October

1 Stepping out in wet weather in cheery rain gear from Gumdrops to pick up a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.
2 The fascinating figures in Body Worlds & The Brain at Science World.
3 Hiking up the Grind on Grouse Mountain.
4 The West Coast Chocolate Festival. Yum.

Fall is gorgeous at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Photo by R. Chan

5 Uncovering Canada’s history at the spectacular Museum of Anthropology.
6 Enjoying an Americano and cinnamon bun at the Public Market on Granville Island—or a pint at the Backstage Lounge.
7 Local writers, bookstores, literary festivals—anything to do with books, really.
8 Celebrating the fact that October is an “R” month by heading to Rodney’s Oyster House for fresh shucked oysters on the half shell with fresh horseradish.
9 Funky clocks such as the one behind the main London Drugs downtown.
10 Spending a rainy day getting pampered at Spruce Body Lab or Vida Spa.
11 Local boy Ryan Reynolds, who stars in the new film Buried. (Claustrophobic? You may want to skip this movie.)
12 Treating ourselves to foie gras terrine and Alsatian Riesling at Le Crocodile.
13 All the u-pick pumpkin farms in nearby Richmond (www.tourismrichmond.com). We also love checking out the amazing carvings at Ladner’s Westham Island Herb Farm (www.westhamislandherb.ca), which boasts more than 150 jack-o’-lanterns for the last 10 days of the month.
14 Shopping for cassoulet ingredients, or picking it up ready-made at Oyama Sausage Co.
15 Autumn colours on display at VanDusen Botanical Garden.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: September

Historic Burnaby Art Gallery

1 Watching Antony and Cleopatra (to Sep. 24) at Bard on the Beach.
2 Sara Canning. The actress wasn’t born here, but we still claim her as a local.
3 Shakin’ your groove thang at the city’s most popular nightclubs.
4 Burnaby Art Gallery and all the other sights in Deer Lake Park.
5 Eating at any of the local cooking schools, such as Bistro 101 at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Culinaria at The Art Institute of Vancouver, and JJ’s Restaurant at Vancouver Community College.
6 The annual Terry Fox Run (Sep. 19), raising money for cancer research.
7 Local wineries.
8 Taking the first ferry to Victoria or Nanaimo and watching the sun rise.

Perch on "Echoes" by Michael Goulet. Photo by KK Law

9 “Echoes” by Michel Goulet, an art installation on Kits Beach and part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale.
10 Dining at Earls.
11 Robert Bateman. The Canadian painter is visiting Vancouver to meet fans and sign copies of his new book, Bateman: New Works, at Chapters on South Granville (Sep. 25, 2 p.m.).
12 Reading reminiscences of a month’s eating in Paris in Cooking for Me and Sometimes You: A Parisienne Romance with Recipes (French Apple Press, $29.95) by Barbara-Jo McIntosh, owner of Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks, which stocks every tome a budding chef could ever need.
13 The Superdogs at the PNE (to Sep. 6).
14 Indulging our sweet tooth at Stuart’s Bakery.
15 Dropping by The Granville Island Brewing Tap Room for a pint of Brockton IPA—and picking up some small-batch beers to take home after.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: August

Satisfy your sweet tooth with the treats at Cupcakes. Photo courtesy Cupcakes

1 Zimsculpt, an exhibition of impressive stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, at VanDusen Botanical Garden (Aug. 13 to Sep. 26).
2 Cheering on the BC Lions football team.
3 A “voyage” on False Creek Ferries or Aquabus Ferries to the Public Market on Granville Island for early-morning coffee and fresh baked goods beside the water.
4 Soaking up the sunshine along the seawall.
5 Sweet treats from Cupcakes and other tasty spots along Denman Street.
6 Riding the Canada Line SkyTrain right up front, with an unobstructed view of the tracks all the way to—or from—Vancouver International Airport.
7 Leisurely afternoons strolling through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
8 Douglas Coupland’s Digital Orca art installation, near the new Vancouver Convention Centre. The local author/artist also has an eye-popping clothing line in Roots stores this summer.

Flowers at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Photo by Kristina Urquhart

9 Blasts from the past such as Melissa Etheridge (Aug. 20) and Van Morrison (Aug. 7).
10 Meeting for dim sum at big and bustling Chinese rooms such as Floata, Kirin or Sun Sui Wah.
11 The hundreds of stores (not to mention the air conditioning) in Park Royal.
12 The world’s most spectacular golf. Don’t forget your camera.
13 Walking across Granville or Burrard bridge for the best free city views with an ocean and mountain backdrop.
14 All the restaurants with fantastic patios, ideal for summer dining.
15 Exploring local gardens.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: July

BC Ferries photo by Andrea Johnson courtesy Tourism BC

1 BC Ferries, now celebrating its 50th birthday.
2 Heading east to visit Fort Langley (where BC had its beginnings) before lunch overlooking the vines at Domaine de Chaberton Winery’s Bacchus Bistro.
3 Joshua Jackson. He was born in Vancouver, he appeared in The Mighty Ducks and Dawson’s Creek, and he’s back in town right now shooting the third season of Fringe.
4 Why I Love Vancouver, by Linda Solomon. Find it at local bookstores.
5 Shopping for everything local at Trout Lake (and other) farmers’ markets.
6 Hanging out all morning in wide-open garage-door cafes, such as JJ Bean Coffee Roasters at Main and 14th and Kitsilano’s Bistrot Bistro.
7 Fireworks during the HSBC Celebration of Light (Jul. 21, 24, 28, 31).

Fireworks photo by Danielle Hayes courtesy Tourism Vancouver

8 Celebrating Canada Day (Jul. 1).

9 The seawall.

10 Listening to the waves lapping while barbecuing hamburgers on Third Beach as the sun sets somewhere behind Howe Sound.
11 Dapper dogs in mini tuxedos. Find clothes for your own posh pooch at Barking Babies.
12 Spending an afternoon strolling through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
13 Unusual cuts of meat on the menus at Salt, Refuel, Campagnolo and The Irish Heather, part of the “waste not, want not” philosophy of the local nose-to-tail dining movement. Your taste buds won’t be disappointed.
14 Totem poles in Stanley Park.
15 Perfect summer days that never seem to end.

17 Things We Love About Vancouver: June

The Keg Steakhouse and Bar has sinful sweets on hand to finish off your meal. Photo by KK Law

1 Mouthwatering desserts from The Keg Steakhouse and Bar.
2 Spending a leisurely day wandering through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
3 Sweet treats and tasty souvenirs from Canadian Maple Delights.
4 All the unique brollies at The Umbrella Shop. Yes, it’s June, and the weather is beautiful, but it never hurts to tuck an umbrella in your bag alongside the sunscreen and sunglasses.
5 Titillating fundraising events such as Fit for a Queen (Jun. 19) and The Glass Slipper (Jun. 26).
6 Spotting orcas on a whale watching trip.
7 This year’s crop of award-winning restaurants.
8 Sightseeing the charmingly old-fashioned way with Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours.
9 Pampered pooches at Barking Babies.
10 Getting our geek on at Star Wars in Concert (Jun. 22 to 23).
11 Vancouver TheatreSports League, which recently relocated to stylish new digs on Granville Island.
12 Admiring the artfully stacked apples and oranges at Urban Fare.
13 National pride, which ignited during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and is building again as Canada Day (Jul. 1) approaches.

O, Canada. Photo by Coast Mountain Photography courtesy Tourism Vancouver

14 The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe, which was recently named Canada’s best new bar in Food & Wine magazine.
15 Antony and Cleopatra—and three other Shakespeare plays—running all summer long at Bard on the Beach.
16 Live jazz every night of the week at O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar.
17 Local farmers’ markets.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: May

# 1. Photo by Holly Chan

1 Breathtaking cityscapes.
2 The passion for all things local—including goat cheese and heirloom tomatoes—at farmers’ markets around the city. If you forget to bring an eco-friendly shopping bag, most likely you can buy one there.
3 Rick Hansen. The local paraplegic activist makes us proud over and over again.
4 Walking, biking or blading along the 8.8-km (5.5-mi) Stanley Park seawall.
5 The perfect gift or souvenir, such as a bottle of award-winning BC wine.
6 All the Hollywood celebrities in our midst.

#11. Photo by Tony Chen

7 The gradual change from spring to summer. It’s the perfect excuse for a shopping spree.
8 Spotting cute harbour seals and majestic orcas on a whale watching tour.
9 Tasty Japanese tapas and addictive cocktails at Hapa Izakaya.
10 Living in a picture postcard every single day. Vancouver has been called the supermodel of international cities, but we’re more than just a pretty face. We have substance, too.
11 A sunset stroll along the seawall to view the inukshuk in English Bay.
12 First Nations bentwood boxes at Wickaninnish Gallery.

#13. Photo by Lili Vieira de Carvalho

13 Joining the throng of locals at the always-popular Granville Island Public Market.
14 The last few cherry blossoms of spring.
15 Tasting the season’s first sweet and juicy prawns, right out of the ocean and cooked up by a dozen of Vancouver’s best chefs, at the annual Spot Prawn Festival (False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf; May 8, noon to 3 p.m.). Don’t delay: the season for these local, fresh, sustainable prawns runs just eight weeks.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: April

Vancouver's gorgeous cherry blossoms paint the sky pink. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism BC

1 Cherry blossoms. Nothing says “springtime” quite like the cheerful pink blossoms.
2 Using our noodle…for a quick, cheap meal at the West End’s Kintaro Ramen, Legendary Noodle or Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
3 Rogers’ Chocolates, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Chocolate lovers choose the irresistible Victoria Creams—with fillings ranging from coffee, ginger and orange to vanilla, strawberry and always-patriotic maple.
4 Walking or biking along the seawall on a blustery day.
5 The annual Chutzpah! Festival (to Apr. 8).
6 Sipping a hot cuppa coffee while perusing the designer shops along bustling Robson Street.
7 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
8 Tasting the very best of British Columbia at Edible BC, including organic jam, wild pacific salmon and local honey.
9 Grinder and Coola, two orphaned bears who reside on Grouse Mountain. They usually come out of hibernation in April.
10 Lingering over dessert at Lupo.
11 The larger-than-life art installations located throughout the city during the Biennale.
12 South Granville Street—aka Gallery Row—for its never-ending selection of art galleries.

Eye-pleasing confections at Lupo Restaurant & Vinoteca. Photo by KK Law

13 Dim sum, or any quick-to-eat Chinese food, such as take-out barbecue pork, from Chinatown.
14 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
15 The Richmond Olympic Oval, which reopens to the public this month. It was the official speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Games.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: February

1 The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. After years of preparation, the biggest party this city has ever seen is starting.

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga don their cheerful red mittens. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

2 Our cuddly Games mascots Quatchi and Miga, especially when they’re wearing their Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens.
3 The fact that it’s only a short car or bus ride from the beach to the snow-capped mountains. How many other cities can claim the same?
4 Walking along the shoreline in a pair of rubber boots.
5 The world’s largest Canadian flag, near the Olympic Countdown Clock.
6 Celebrity spotting. Rumour has it that supermodel Cindy Crawford, swimmer Michael Phelps, actor George Clooney and NASA astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan will all be in town during the 2010 Winter Games, as well as U.S. president Barack Obama.
7 Pedestrian corridors along parts of Robson, Granville, Beatty, Hamilton and Mainland streets.

The massive Canada flag behind the Olympic Countdown Clock is a perfect photo opportunity. Photo by KK Law

8 The large inukshuk that sits in English Bay.
9 The love and appreciation for all things local and sustainable, including food, drink and even clothing.
10 Skiing and snowboarding on local mountains.
11 Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.
12 Enjoying a hot drink while people-watching on South Granville, Robson Street or Granville Island.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Public art installations that make our city even more interesting than it already is.
15 Red and white everywhere. The Canadian Olympic Committee has invited local residents and businesses to proudly wear and display our national colours.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: January

Michael Zheng's The Stop. Photo by KK Law

1 The Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, on until next year.
2 Rediscovering the sweets of yesteryear at The Candy Aisle. PEZ, Big League Chew, Sweetarts, Nerds, Runts, Laffy Taffy—yum.
3 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
4 Watching the annual Polar Bear Swim (Jan. 1) with something—and someone—hot.
5 Lights of Hope (to Mar. 21), raising money for St. Paul’s Hospital.
6 Cheap eats at Hon’s Wun-Tun House.

St. Paul's Hospital's Lights of Hope. Photo by KK Law

7 The Shoppers Drugmart on Davie Street, which is open 24 hours a day.
8 Exploring the centre of the city.
9 Stephen Colbert. He’ll be here next month—whether as the official sponsor of the US speed skating team or as the City of Richmond’s Olympic Oval Ombudsman or even as an Olympic athlete, we don’t know. We do know the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will make us laugh.
10 Catching a sunlit glimpse of the snow-covered North Shore mountains from downtown, and planning an escape to Grouse.
11 Nala, the seven-month-old (but only recently named) baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. The name is short for an Inuktitut word meaning “surprise gift.”
12 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Counting down to the 2010 Winter Games.
15 The World Needs More Canada collection at Chapters and Indigo stores, which includes books by Canadians such as Margaret Atwood and Rex Murphy and accessories such as a red umbrella sporting a patriotic message you can’t ignore.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: December

The Vancouver Aquarium gets in the festive spirit with Scuba Claus. Photo by Jan Halvarson, courtesy Vancouver Aquarium

1 Ice skating on Grouse Mountain.
2 English Bay’s giant tree all lit up, at Beach Ave. and Bidwell St.
3 Watching Scuba Claus (pictured right) splash around at the Vancouver Aquarium.
4 Japadog, the ultimate in street-food fusion. Arguably the town’s most popular cart, it serves up quality wieners with everything from wasabi mayo to bonito and teriyaki sauce.
5 Hearing our own David Suzuki speak about his life and work.
6 The recently unveiled medals for the 2010 Winter Games (pictured below).
7 Kintaro Ramen. Asian fare comes in every form but nothing thwarts a chilly day better than a steaming bowl of noodles and lean pork in rich broth at this humble—and usually packed—spot in the West End, which is always worth the wait.
8 Shopping for unique holiday gifts at Robert Held Art Glass and Gallery of B.C. Ceramics.

The unique design for the 2010 Winter Games medals includes waves, which represent the ocean, and a First Nations motif. Photo by VANOC, courtesy CNW Group

9 The stack of four fireplaces in the new Keg location in Yaletown.
10 Chinatown. It’s the largest one in Canada and the third largest in North America.
11 The decorated Christmas trees at The Bay and Sears.
12 Totem poles in and around the city.
13 Hot chocolate—or any chocolate—at Mink A Chocolate Cafe, downtown’s unique all-chocolate cafe, which sells everything from hand-made Belgian bars to specialty coffees. Try the Chocolatté bar.
14 Watching Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Vancouver Playhouse.
15 The sense of anticipation in the air as the city prepares for the 2010 Winter Games, coming here in just two months.

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: November

15 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT VANCOUVER

You may see mascots Quatchi, Miga, Sumi and Mukmuk out and about in Vancouver before the 2010 Winter Games. Photo courtesy VANOC/Covan

1 Quatchi. The sasquatch is the most huggable of the 2010 Winter Games mascots (pictured left).
2 A big, juicy, messy burger from White Spot or Fatburger.
3 Jogging along the seawall, even in the rain and fog.
4 Countless Christmas celebrations already underway. Ho ho ho!
5 All the breakfast choices at Paul’s Place Omelettery Restaurant.
6 The miniature aboriginal art at Spirit Wrestler Gallery, on display during Mini-Masterworks III.
7 The art deco-style Burrard Street Bridge.
8 The chocolate bar at Urban Fare at Shangri-La, which tempts with 400 different styles and flavours from around the world, including incomparable Thomas Haas.
9 All the great musicals on local stages, such as Evil Dead: The Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Chorus Line and Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
10 The sense of anticipation in the air as the city primps and preens for the 2010 Winter Games, coming here in just three months.
11 Cookworks, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
12 Critical Mass. At 6 p.m. on the last Friday of each month, thousands of cyclists meet in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery for a mass bike ride along an ever-changing route. Find out more at vancouvercm.blogspot.com.
13 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
14 The picturesque mountains and ocean. Vancouver has been described as the supermodel of world cities.
15 BC Place (pictured below), where the opening and closing ceremonies and nightly victory ceremonies will take place during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

BC Place and downtown Vancouver. Photo courtesy Tourism British Columbia

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15 Things We Love About Vancouver: October

15 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT VANCOUVER

Cheer on the home team at a Vancouver Giants hockey game. Photo by Kevin Arnold, courtesy Tourism BC

1 Fans of all ages at a Vancouver Giants major junior ice hockey game (pictured left).
2 Celeb-spotting: Robert Pattinson and the rest of the Eclipse cast were recently seen at Water Street Cafe and Boneta.
3 Colourful eagle statues all around the city.
4 Embracing the rainy season with a sunny attitude.
5 Eerie events such as Fright Nights at Playland.
6 Touring, shopping and tasting on Granville Island with some of Vancouver’s top chefs—part of Edible BC’s mouth-watering Chef for a Day adventures.
7 Seeing authors such as Audrey Niffenegger (who wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife) at the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival (to Oct. 25).
8 Riding the new Canada Line SkyTrain from the airport to the heart of downtown in just 26 minutes.
9 The annual Vancouver International Film Festival (Oct. 1 to 16).
10 Walking over the Burrard Street Bridge at night, with the lights of the West End twinkling across English Bay.
11 Buying souvenirs for the 2010 Winter Games, coming here in just four months.
12 Warming up with wallet-friendly Italian classics at Zefferelli’s Restaurant, Ciao Bella and Federico’s Supper Club.
13 The burst of autumn colours throughout VanDusen Botanical Garden (pictured below).
14 Spending a day at the Vancouver Art Gallery, where works by BC artists Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt are currently on display.
15 Grouse Mountain. During the 2010 Winter Games, NBC’s Today show will broadcast live from the mountain every morning—and the mountain will stay open 24 hours to satisfy snow bunnies.

Fall colours at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Photo by R. Chan

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: January

Michael Zheng's The Stop. Photo by KK Law

1 The Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale (pictured at right), on until next year.
2 Rediscovering the sweets of yesteryear at The Candy Aisle. PEZ, Big League Chew, Sweetarts, Nerds, Runts, Laffy Taffy—yum.
3 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
4 Watching the annual Polar Bear Swim (Jan. 1) with something—and someone—hot.
5 Lights of Hope (to Mar. 21), raising money for St. Paul’s Hospital.

St. Paul's Hospital is all lit up until March 21. Photo by KK Law

6 Cheap eats at Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
7 The Shoppers Drugmart on Davie Street, which is open 24 hours a day.
8 Exploring the centre of the city.
9 Stephen Colbert. He’ll be here next month—whether as the official sponsor of the US speed skating team or as the City of Richmond’s Olympic Oval Ombudsman or even as an Olympic athlete, we don’t know. We do know the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will make us laugh.
10 Catching a sunlit glimpse of the snow-covered North Shore mountains from downtown, and planning an escape to Grouse.
11 Nala, the seven-month-old (but only recently named) baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. The name is short for an Inuktitut word meaning “surprise gift.”
12 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Counting down to the 2010 Winter Games.
15 The World Needs More Canada collection at Chapters and Indigo stores, which includes books by Canadians such as Margaret Atwood and Rex Murphy and accessories such as a red umbrella sporting a patriotic message you can’t ignore.