I love taking a walking tour of Vancouver and learning something new. Having published hundreds of history posts over the years, I’d like to think my knowledge is pretty vast but when I have an excellent guide like Maurice Guibord, Historical Researcher and Director of the BC Historical Federation, my head fills with even more interesting facts and I feel even more passionate about my city.
Intracorp, who is excited to move into the West End with their new development, The Jervis, invited Maurice to tour around a group of local media around the West End earlier this summer to show off some of the neighbourhood’s unique architecture and history.
We snapped photos of tiles, foyers, grand entrances, brick work, and learned about the people that have made this part of town great – from the Three Greenhorns to Jim Deva.
Share Some West End Love…
What I love about the West End is that when you walk in from one of its three major streets, Robson, Denman or Davie, you hear birds chirping, neighbours chatting, and kids playing — but you’re still in the centre of a metropolis. You have the best urban park in the world on one side, a world class city on another, and beaches all around the rest. I’ve called the West End home for 10 years now and from its small businesses and cafes to convenient retail options and proximity to both the Downtown Core and Stanley Park, I can’t imagine living anywhere else in Vancouver.
Enter to Win a West End Prize Pack
Intracorp is crazy about their new neighbourhood too and they want to share it with you. They’ve supplied a $100 gift card for Exile Bistro and a Fuji Instax camera so that one lucky Miss604 reader can have their own dinner and photowalk in the West End. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming what you love about the West End, if you’re a resident or a visitor who loves the beaches, the park, shops, restaurants, etc. (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a West End prize pack from @IntracorpCanada #TheJervis + @Miss604 http://ow.ly/SA6rS
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.
About The Jervis
Renowned designers Niels and Nancy Bendsten, principals of Vancouver’s Inform Interiors and leaders in the modernist movement, have formed a unique architectural design partnership with national developer Intracorp. This partnership has created The Jervis: modern, design forward homes that complement their dynamic West End neighbourhood. Intracorp is working with InForm and the City of Vancouver to create a socially sustainable development that offers 58 market homes and 28 non-market suites, along with lively street level retail.
Set in a prime West End location on Jervis Street, The Jervis is close to a vibrant community of flourishing businesses, award-winning restaurants and beautiful parks and beaches. The Jervis will fill the needs of young families, urban professionals and downsizers equally well, fostering an integrated community of unique, truly liveable homes.
Bacon lovers rejoice! Urban Digs Farms has a festival just for you this weekend as they celebrate all things crispy, smokey, and cured. The 6th annual Baconfest takes place September 26th featuring local craft beer, live music, farm gate shopping, and of course, bacon.
Baconfest at Urban Digs Farm
Where: Urban Digs Farm @ 4992 Byrne Road, Burnaby When: Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 6:00pm to 10:30pm Tickets: Available for purchase online for $5 and at the door for $10 while supplies last. Admission is free for Urban Digs members.
Baconfest will feature a selection of dishes all featuring bacon such as grilled Irish bacon buns, pork bacon hot dogs, smoked chicken and bacon sandwiches, Oceanwise Sockeye salmon with maple bacon topping, bacon veggie plates, bacon dessert plates, and more.
The good thing about a torrential downpour in Metro Vancouver, once everyone’s hung up the Gore-Tex and taken shelter indoors, is that when the clouds clear, our region returns to being lush and lively. If we’re lucky, the sun peeks through, bounces off downtown buildings or moisture-filled clouds clinging to the North Shore, and we get a rainbow.
To brighten your Tuesday morning, I have put together a collection of photos featuring Rainbows Over Vancouver:
I may be Vancouver-born and raised, but Victoria’s been home for three years. I’m leaving now to travel the world, but before I go, I had some unfinished business with Miss604, who I long ago promised I’d write about one of my favourite ways to spend a day here.
A Victoria Day Trip from Vancouver
When my Vancouver friends, especially those with kids, have sought activity tips from me, I’ve told them what I’m telling you — one of my favourite ways to spend a low-key afternoon, and you don’t need a car or a ton of money for it.
What’s great is that it gets you out of the touristy chaos of downtown Victoria, but it’s only five-minute walk away from most of the hotels and involves a leisurely 5-kilometre walkabout afternoon.
Stanley Park’s a whopping 5 times the size of Beacon Hill, but you shouldn’t give this wonderful park a pass. Once ranked as one of Canada’s “top 10” public spaces for smart planning, there’s truly something here for everyone year-round, but May to September is its golden time.
In this perfect-sized park, you’ll find lots worth checking out! Such as:
The Mile “0” marker on the Trans-Canada highway (say hi to Terry Fox’s statue–the locals love Terry and give him a toque and scarf in the cold snaps)
A free putting green at the Robbie Burns Memorial (look for local homeless guy Red who plays three balls at once and will give you the best golf tips ever)
Stunning gardens (the palm trees that anchor the tropical section once graced the front door at my friend Patricia’s house, and when they got too big, they called the park)
The Cameron Band Shell for tons of free live music in the summer (don’t mean nothin’ if it ain’t got that Dixie swing!)
Great playgrounds for kids
A soccer pitch and cricket grounds (on Sunday mornings you’ll sometimes find the local bagpipers practicing near the cricket pitch around 10am–I used to have breakfast at Bubby’s on Cook then wander over for a listen)
First Nations burial cairns (bonus points if you can actually spot them)
Beautiful but fragile Garry oaks I’ve loved photographing
Victoria’s premier beachfront for windsports (and a beach where seals will leave their pups during pupping season so they can go hunt)
The only thing you won’t find in Beacon Hill Park — or on the beachfront that runs along Dallas Road for nearly 5km — is anything to eat or drink (other than the cafe by Ogden Point, 2km from the park). It’s been illegal to sell anything on park grounds for decades, what many tourist learn the hard way. Bring snacks and beverages, folks!
First Up?
Heading south from the Royal BC Museum on Douglas Street, you’re just 300 metres from the park! The first landmark you’ll hit is Goodacre Lake, the star of Beacon Hill Park and part of its original grounds. (The park has grown triple in size since formed in 1882, six years before Stanley Park was gifted to Vancouver.)
Goodacre’s gorgeous stone bridge, built in 1889, adds a beautiful moody feel to the scene.
It’s here at Goodacre you’ll find Victoria’s Blue Herons nesting. In Spring, it’s a no-dogs-allowed spot as herons mate, bleating and squawking like pterodactyls — both ominous yet hilarious. Beware the large white patches you’ll spot on the ground during mating season– there isn’t a messy painter in the trees above, you’re in the Heron Poop Zone. Move it, lest you be splatted!
In the summer, on hot days, along the Douglas Street side of Goodacre, there’s the “turtle log.” See if you can beat my record — I once counted 21 turtles sunning themselves. When the turtles aren’t around, the ducks will keep you entertained.
In fall, it’s a stunning display of nature’s artistry.
Forward, ho!
Crossing south over the pond, you’re on Bridge Way. On the left, you’ll see the first of the two park playgrounds. Shortly after this is one of the park’s two bathrooms (the other is way over by the beach — don’t wait).
On the right, though, through the trees, you’ll see the Cameron Bandstand. There’s a nice walking path by it that runs parallel to Bridge Way, but under lovely big trees. Sigh and swoon as you pass the lovely flowers. A bit further right is “the stream,” the prettiest place in the park during the autumn, and the little Fountain Lake, which is so full of lilypads in spring that kids think it’s froggy heaven.
Soon you’ll hit my Moment of Zen, the free putting green, the heart of which is a giant monument to the not-at-all-connected-to-Victoria poet Robbie Burns. The green gets retired for the winter months, so don’t get your hopes up for a round of putting between November and May.
Once you reach Circle Drive, by the palm trees, look left. See the a little red barn in the distance? There, my friends, from April to September, is one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets. Brace yourself for the awesomeness that is the Goat Stampede.
Bleating a Path to the Barn
During Farm season, every day at 10:10 and 5:10, all Beacon Hill Park Children’s Farm visitors line the path from the barn to the holding pen while the pygmy goats run from the barn to the pen in the morning, or the pen to the barn at night.
If you’re lucky, a staffer will instruct you to clap while shouting “Come on, babies!” as they run by, and if the goats don’t make you die of the cute, little 2-year-olds shouting “Come on, babieth!” sure will.
But let’s not neglect the other wonderful residents, like Acon the Llama, the sheep, chickens, mini-pigs, and other seasonal residents. Entry is by donation, but hey, man… it’s for the animals!
Beach, Play or Eats?
After, you can walk south and see what was once the world’s tallest totem pole, and then visit the windsports capital of Victoria — Clover Point Beach, topped with gorgeous cliffs, native grasses, and a whole lot of bliss. My happy place is somewhere along there. Clover Point Beach is arguably the best spot in the city for a sunset.
If you have kids wanting to play more, turn right from the Farm onto Circle Drive, and walk until you see the cricket grounds. Just behind there is the park’s “premier” playground, just upgraded in a couple years back, including a little zip-line for kids.
You’re now on the Cook Street side of the park. Want to see the ocean after all? Turn right down Cook and walk a few minutes. No stores or eateries that way, just amazing beaches, so keep that in mind. Hungry now? Instead, hang a left up Cook and you’ll hit two of the best family-friendly joints in the city — Big Wheel Burger and Prima Strada Pizza.
A throwback to ‘50s burger joints, Big Wheel sources ethical meat while being 100% carbon neutral with biodegradable packaging, so have no guilt if you get it to go! Don’t like burgers? Maybe Nathan’s Hot Dogs, deep-fried pickles, milkshakes, and poutine are what you’re after. There’s even beer for Mom and Dad.
Prima Strada is one of Canada’s best pizza joints — no exaggeration. It’s certified as true Neapolitan Pizza — one of only five pizzerias in all of Canada to meet the Naples pizza board’s lofty standards, and no one I’ve sent has had bad food. Love tiramisu? Get you some! Now they’re making gelato from scratch too, and it’s amazing. A word to the wise — long line-ups are frequent between 6 and 8, but they’ll text you when your table’s up.
That’s A Wrap
If you make a day of this, bring along a snack, wander through the park, enjoy the rugged beauty of Victoria’s Dallas Road beaches, stroll back for the 5:10 Goat Stampede, sally on over to Cook for some dinner, then wander back downtown or head to the beach for a sunset.
All told, you’re looking at about five kilometres of walking, so it’s manageable for just about any family with kids over five.
With this detour off the “tourist” beat, you’ll be recharged for seeing the rest of Victoria’s popular attractions.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — This is not a paid post. Our meal was compliments of Royal Dinette. Views and opinions are my own. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
“It’s like a diner from paintings of diners,” John told me as we stepped into Royal Dinette on Dunsmuir. Greeted by Manager Chen Wei-Lee, we took our seats at the window, watching the tail end of the after-work crowd rush to their buses or to the pub upstairs.
With its tiled floors, hard woods and soft, textured accents, fine wines and preserves on display, the space to me is like a French bistro you’d find on Manhattan’s Upper West Side -minus the stick of butter you feel you’ve ingested by the end of the meal.
The menu lacked staples that would be expected from a space with such decor (steak frites wasn’t anywhere to be seen) but Royal Dinette boasts a seasonal selection of goods from the garden, cured meats and artisanal breads along with the catch of the day and BC wines. It’s hearty without being hard on the heart.
We ordered the summer Tasting Menu (that will of course change with each season) and were presented with manageable and bite-size 8 course feast.
The Tasting Menus have 2 and 3 course options but we tried it all during our visit. We began with a gazpacho that had an island of icy cucumber and a dusting of black olive. It was the most creative presentation I’ve seen for this crisp, cool soup and I loved the melting cucumber that contrasting with the creamy tomato. It was one of my favourites of the night along with the Egg Yolk Trenette simply presented with smoked butter, parmesan, and summer truffles.
Foie Gras, Ling Cod (with perfectly, tenderly grilled octopus), sourdough, Beef Bavette, and a cheese course were also included. The meal ended with strawberries, jasmine tea parfait, and dehydrated sponge cake croutons that, when put together on my fork -and although completely deconstructed- tasted exactly like my Oma’s strawberry shortcake. It was a very pleasant way to end the meal.
Tasting menus can be accompanied by drink pairings and we did partake in a few, trusting our server’s recommendations which worked out beautifully — even if we were given different wines and we presented cases to each other about whose pairing worked better, each of us loyal to our own glasses.
Royal Dinette has a warm and sociable ambiance, the kind of place where you’d want to split a bottle of wine with friends while slurping back some fresh, house-made pasta or share a charcuterie board while telling stories about lessons learned on recent travels. We’ll definitely be back for another date night, and the latest seasonal Tasting Menu which is now posted online.
Royal Dinette is open for lunch, happy hour, and dinner, closed on Sundays. It is located at 905 Dunsmuir, Vancouver. Follow on Twitter for the latest news, menus, and special events.
With its tiled floors, hard woods and soft, textured accents, fine wines and preserves on display, the space to me is like a French bistro you’d find on Manhattan’s Upper West Side -minus the stick of butter you feel you’ve ingested by the end of the meal. 
Tasting menus can be accompanied by drink pairings and we did partake in a few, trusting our server’s recommendations which worked out beautifully — even if we were given different wines and we presented cases to each other about whose pairing worked better, each of us loyal to our own glasses.