Check out the results of our fifth annual photo contest. Curtis Matwishyn, who shot the below picture of False Creek and downtown Vancouver, wins the grand prize provided by Pacific Sands Beach Resort Tofino.
False Creek and downtown Vancouver. Photo by Curtis Matwishyn
A Cagey Bee necklace at Portobello West Fashion + Art Market
March 24 to 25
If you’re on the hunt for some locally made jewellery, fashion and art—aka, the perfect souvenir—look no further than the city’s über-popular seasonal market, Portobello West. Each show, held inside the Creekside Community Centre on picturesque False Creek, brings together over 50 artists displaying covetable crafts and wall-worthy art. A few favourites: whimsical necklaces by A Cagey Bee (pictured), graphic paintings by Michael Soltis and hand-dyed, vacation-ready swimwear from Daub + Design. Another hot spot for unique collectibles: the 21st Century Flea Market (Mar. 18). Scour more than 185 booths for retro furniture, kitschy decor, heirloom jewellery, china dolls, linen and lace.—Jennifer Patterson
The lights of Science World often change colours for special occasions, so be on the lookout for pink lights come Valentine’s Day. What happens when the lights burn out? A mountain climber must change them. Photo by KK Law
Every savvy media star knows when it’s time for a facelift, and Science World at Telus World of Science is no exception. The iconic geodesic dome has been an integral part of Vancouver’s skyline since 1986, when it housed Expo Centre for the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, and over the years it has appeared in TV series such as The X-Files and MacGyver. But the building’s age was starting to show, so two years ago a $35 million renovation project began.
Now the rejuvenated building is ready to enter the limelight again, showing off its 2,790-sq-m (30,000-sq-ft) expansion, new lobby and new green roof with a deck overlooking False Creek. Its improved ecological footprint includes solar-thermal installations to heat the hot-water supply, solar-thermal rejection technology to reduce the need for air conditioning, and solar panels to provide shade and electricity.
Ready for a close-up? Absolutely.—Sheri Radford
The Spot Prawn Festival near Granville Island
There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but spot prawns always make the biggest splash in Vancouver. Shellfish lovers scuttle to False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf for the 5th Annual Spot Prawn Festival (May 7), a free event signalling the start of the six- to eight-week-long harvest. Enjoy family-friendly activities courtesy of the Vancouver Aquarium, purchase autographed cookbooks and meet local chefs, including Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s. For $10, get your fill of the sweet crustaceans and a BC wine tasting.—Kristina Urquhart
Nu's Harry Kambolis in his restaurant. Photo by KK Law
Long-time restaurateur Harry Kambolis returns to his roots with the introduction of contemporary Greek cuisine into his edgy, vista-kissed room on False Creek. The proprietor-chef of Nu Aegean Cuisina got his start making souvlaki for his uncle on the shores of English Bay (near where his Raincity Grill now sits). On the menu: perfectly charred, tender octopus with parsley purée; slow-braised lamb shank and toasted walnut sauce; spinach-feta phylo triangles; and extraordinarily rich, three-cheese filo soufflé.—Tim Pawsey
You can't beat the view at Salmon House. Photo by KK Law
Vancouver’s oldest holiday tradition turns 50 this year when the annual Carol Ships Parade of Lights sets sail Dec. 3 to 23. Book early for a window seat at the restaurant of your choice. Numerous tasteful vantage points include the North Shore’s Salmon House (pictured), Bridges in False Creek, The Teahouse in Stanley Park, and Lift Bar-Grill-View, which overlooks Coal Harbour. Sightings vary according to schedules.—Tim Pawsey
Umincho bowl and ceviche at Lift-Bar-Grill-View. Photo by KK Law
You’re never far from water or mountains in this town. Some decks come with views of both—as well as great food and drinks.
1 Lift Bar-Grill-View This luxurious roof deck overlooks Coal Harbour and Stanley Park.
2 Bridges Granville Island’s gateway to False Creek is one of the city’s most popular waterside haunts.
3 The Boathouse Restaurant Enjoy a bucket of prawns in the epicentre of beach culture at English Bay.
4 The Beach House Linger over maple-soy-marinated sablefish or bouillabaisse as the sun dips behind Vancouver Island.—Tim Pawsey
Watch marine life while simultaneously admiring the Vancouver skyline aboard an Aquabus. Photo by A. Rios, courtesy Tourism Vancouver
Get up close and personal with False Creek’s underwater residents with artist Fiona Bowie’s public art installation Surface. Bowie has mounted a video camera underneath an Aquabus (pictured), which will track marine activity for up to five years. Watch the live feed on the ferry’s TV monitors, or on two large-scale screens on Granville Island, or online at www.surfacer.ca.—Kristina Urquhart
Dragon boat racing is an exciting sport to watch. Photo copyright LethalWeapon Photography
On Jun. 19 and 20, head to False Creek shores to cheer teams in the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. What started as a fertility ritual in ancient China is now a popular race with precision paddling to the rhythm of a drum. Don’t miss performances, food and retail vendors.—Kristina Urquhart
# 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.
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