It has been ridiculously beautiful in Vancouver for the past 3 days. Good lord, if only I had time to enjoy it. Or if only my proctastination-skillz didn't preclude me from enjoying it. Anyhow, let's talk about Workspace. I heard about it last year but the guy describing it was a lame-talker ( i.e. can make anything, even exciting events, sound lame). I rediscovered it somehow by perusing (yes, on Facebook) online. That, coupled with my new found love for Gastown, makes me excited about this idea.
At 4am this morning a car that was under pursuit by police missed the turn at the intersection of Powell St. and Carrall St. narrowly missing the statue of Gassy Jack and rammed straight into the storefront of the O.K. Boot Corrall. Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning denied that the car was under pursuit, but eyewitnesses say the car was traveling around 150km/h with a police paddy wagon that had sirens blazing close in tow. Everett McGowin, the store owner said that there was over $10,000 in damage, as some of his boots were worth over $1,000. He is insured for the damage but not for loss of business, the store is planning to reopen in two weeks. The Vancouver Sun has more details.
If your looking for stylish and cheap winter clothes I suggest you go to the Westbeach store on Water ST in Gastown. I went this afternoon expecting to see some hugely expensive $400 hat or something. Instead, nearly all the merchandise was at discount there were shells for %30 off and last years coats (who really cares they're from last season, as long as they haven't been used) I bought the Westbeach style:7125 which is normally priced at $289.99 but I received it at $163.84(%50!). So i suggest there or even the Turkey Sale up in Whistler this weekend.
So here's part of my East Van to Gastown commute from yesterday (I would have done the whole thing but I accidentally forgot to turn the recording on).
The Transylvania Flavour has moved recently and opened up a new location on W. Broadway. Leaving space for a brand new Koolhaus furniture store in its wake. The furniture store could be an improvement to the streets of Gastown. The neighbourhood is seeing a trend from local restaurants leaving, bringing in the new businesses from elsewhere. This new blood can be healthy to the evolving streets of gastown but I hope to keep the restaurants as well (in a perfect world).
Koolhaus is in Roland T's words "one step up from pottery barn" and could be a welcome sight to those in need of chairs and whatnot. Please throw down a comment on what you think.
I have lived in Vancouver since July 12, 1998 but I never biked from Gastown to Granville Island to East Van !
Impressions:
Columbia Street is a mess. The Carrall Street Greenway will fix this methinks
As I said to a Vancouver Sun reporter, I want it to be like the bike paths in southern Germany where I lived for 3.5 years. No motorized vehicles because there will always be accidents when the two share the same space.
Canada Line construction is omnipresent and disrupting every mode of transit!
Biking is the best way to learn about a city next to walking.
I took 80 photos of my journey today (yes I am crazy enough to take cameraphone pictures everywhere :-) !)
Here are my favourites (guess where they are :-) ! )
