weekend in Vancouver

Westjet has some $39 flights so I decided to go to Vancouver for a weekend - May 31st to June 1st. We'll get in at 7:30 on the Saturday morning and leave at 9:30 the next night.

I know there's a couple of Vancouverites here so I'm looking for a few suggestions on things to do and places to eat. The main thing I'm hoping to find is a good store with a wide variety of Rubik's style puzzles. We've checked the Kid's Market on Granville before. Any other places? Does Chinatown have any good shops for that? We're staying at the hostel near Sunset Beach so would like to stay mostly downtown, but would be will to go just about anywhere for a good puzzle store.

How's the Science Centre?

Any local tips for restaurants in the downtown area? My husband doesn't eat plants (don't ask) so we're thinking about trying Dix.

Beyond the cube itself which I fiddled as a kid, I haven't kept up to date where the hot spots for that stuff is.

We cycle by Science World all the time, since we ....can see it from our balcony. :rolleyes: (It looks lovely at night.) Perhaps send an email via their website to inquire in advance what they have in their gift shopp or ask for recommendations.

And I don't know Chinatown for that puzzle...just the food end of things and some sights.

Restaurants..just tons.. Are you referring to Brix? Yaletown offers much. There's an interesting genuine Mexican restaurant not far..Salsa and Algave. More restaurants with also a view of water etc.

Sounds as if you plan to pack in alot that weekend. Normally we do cycle to Granville market (approx. mid-morning) after our fitness ride on Saturdays..and do some grocery shopping. If you wish to meet.....you will be my first TE forum member I will see in person. Unless you plan to bring bikes..there is a bike rental shop down the street from us....cycling to Granville from LBS is too easy for us experts. ;) but lovely early in morning..when not raining.

Sorry, no idea about Rubik cubes! And I have gone to Science World for Body Worlds but have not stepped in their store.

For food, you could consider the Banana Leaf (Malaysian) on Denman near Davie. That location is tiny but for lunch it can be a nice option.

If you're willing to spend a little bit (ok, quite a bit) more money the Raincity Grill (also on Denman about across the street) is the home of the 100-mile menu and sophisticated food. This really hangs on how much you like (and can afford) fancy food. It's not downtown, but there is also the legendary Vij's on 11th just at the intersection of Granville, and the next-door Rangoli. HIGHLY recommended (and not very expensive).

Enjoy your stay!

Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. Those sounds great.

We're thinking about the Science Centre for spending a day there, not just for puzzle shopping. Last year we went to the Space Centre. This year we're debating between Science Centre or Aquarium but leaning towards Science. We're also going to hit the art gallery.

But really we go to Van to eat well. Everything else is filler. :D

The Banana Leaf is one of my lifetime favorite restaurants. A few years ago, they also had a downtown one, but I don't know if that's still the case. It's well worth going to the Denman one if the downtown one isn't still there.

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Originally Posted by salsabike

The Banana Leaf is one of my lifetime favorite restaurants. A few years ago, they also had a downtown one, but I don't know if that's still the case. It's well worth going to the Denman one if the downtown one isn't still there.

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The hostel is just off Davie about a 5 minute walk from Denman, so that's perfect. I just had a look at their menu online. One dish is simply called "Abundance of Seafood." I think we have a winner. Thanks Salsa and Grog for both suggesting that.

I think Raincity Grill looks like the kind of place I would love but my husband wouldn't like at all. I'll hit it sometime when I'm out there without him.

Near where you are staying..is Mondo Gelato (Denman and Comox)..great gelato and sherberts. Unique flavours (not like Dairy Queen or Baskin & Robbin). About 20 flavours --pistachio, orange chocolate, green tea, lichee (sometimes), hazelnut, passionfruit, etc. For 1 scoop, you can have 2 different flavours.

We just came back from their other outlet on Robson St. tonight ...after Vietnamese beef rice noodle big soup bowl dinner..

Above all, don't miss out choosing at least 1 good sushi irestaurant (which of course, the menu offers other Japanese food if people don't like sushi). Miki's on Robson downtown..is good. Reservations are strongly recommended.

I love gelato.

Thanks for the tips.

One more thing I forgot to ask about - used book stores! Last time we were in Van we hit a really good one - I forget the name but it was on a corner near Gastown, maybe MacLeod's books. We'll go back to it for sure. What other used book stores are worth a visit? The hubby's usually looking for sci-fi and I'm usually looking for music, canadian history, or books in German. Usually places that sell used university textbooks are good.

Downtown or Kitsilano area prefered, but we will go farther if there's a store that's worth it.

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Originally Posted by kat_h

One more thing I forgot to ask about - used book stores! Last time we were in Van we hit a really good one - I forget the name but it was on a corner near Gastown, maybe MacLeod's books. We'll go back to it for sure. What other used book stores are worth a visit? The hubby's usually looking for sci-fi and I'm usually looking for music, canadian history, or books in German. Usually places that sell used university textbooks are good.

Downtown or Kitsilano area prefered, but we will go farther if there's a store that's worth it.

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Since moving here to Vancouver from Toronto, I haven't familiarized myself with the used bookstores end much. But it would be fair to say that Vancouver has less selection of used books in different genres compared to Toronto (where toronto had dedicated bookstores on sci-fi, detective fiction before they went under...) I did work in a bookstore for almost a yr. in T.O. ...before I found my "real" jobs..

I think my book collection doesn't jive completely nor deeply with your interests...otherwise I would be happy to give away some books to you! :) Interested in travelogues? The closest Canadian history is on salmon fishing (hey it's important stuff where we are), biography of David Suzuki, history of Gulf Islands in artsy illustrated way, etc.

Vancouver has local chain bookstore which offers 20% discount off all their new titles --hardcover and softcover. Book Warehouse offers diverse selection.. There are 2 outlets in the downtown area....one of them not far from home.

For Canadian history, I think you will find the strongest, best selection on B.C. history of course....and aboriginal history. There are some real cool subjects in the latter area... Of course, realize that the smaller/local publishing presses would sell the books here and with discount you save money vs. special ordering from Alberta/Ontario...

This is what I look for whenever I travel in North America. when I visit a bookstore...the books published by the local /regional presses which are more difficult and maybe more expensive to order from another province/state/country.

As a long shot, send an reference question email to the Vancouver Public Library...their Central branch which the building looks like the Roman Coloseum.

I think the Goethe Institute teaches German..not sure if they have a bookstore.

Good point about finding local books. Last time we were there I picked up the History of Music in BC (1850-1950).

I'm mostly looking for the used book stores that are bigger on the inside than on the outside. You know the sort of place that doesn't look like it will be much, then you get inside and keep going farther and farther back, through narrow halls and tiny rooms that are all piled floor to ceiling with books? Places that are made for browsing as much as finding. The ones the live up to Terry Pratchett's definition of L-space -

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... even big collections of ordinary books distort space, as can readily be proved by anyone who has been around a really old-fashioned secondhand bookshop, one of those that look as though they were designed by M.C. Escher on a bad day and has more staircases than stories and those rows of shelves which end in little doors that are surely too small for a full-sized human to enter. The relevant equation is : Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good book really is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read.
Terry Pratchett : Guards, Guards, p 3

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Thanks for the tip about the Goethe Institute. I studied at their school in Bonn for a winter a few years ago. If I do end up getting into UBC I may reconnect with their programs.

Sorry, I FORGOT about this hybrid bookstore (used and new bks.) and coffee shop.. http://www.charactersbooks.ca/ It's actually not far from the airport. Before one mounts the Arthur Laing bridge to get to the Vancouver airport from downtown... I say mount either by car or bike (there is a bike lane... though I suspect you won't be cycling it).

I visited it the first time yesterday, when I cycled with Jack to say goodbye to him before he flew off to Europe ..

Bookstore is located in a yet another Chinatown area (Metro Vancouver has at least 3-4 well-defined Chinatowns). This bookstore is in the Marpole district which is at least 10-15 kms. away from downtown.

For breakfast do visit the Templeton at Granville and Helmcken. It's a 50s style diner with amazing breakfast food. You usually have to wait for a table but it's worth it, and the [cute] servers bring you Dubble Bubble chewing gum with the bill...

As far as puzzles go I'd visit Kitsilano. There's lots of kitschy stores along West 4th that have that sort of thing.

My FAVOURITE used book store is Pulp Fiction which is at Main and 8th (just north of Broadway) - great selection of amazing books. I can almost always find what I'm looking for, including obscure authors, sci-fi, and art books, USED! It's really fantastic. Also it's a block from The Foundation, which is one of Vancouver's best vegetarian restaurants.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Above all, don't miss out choosing at least 1 good sushi irestaurant (which of course, the menu offers other Japanese food if people don't like sushi). Miki's on Robson downtown..is good. Reservations are strongly recommended.

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+1. Tsunami on Robson has sushi boat which is fun... and Samurai on Davie and Thurlow has inarguably the BEST and BIGGEST avocado rolls I've ever eaten (which for a vegan is the highlight of any sushi joint). Samurai is super good actually, even for you omnivorous types.

For REALLY great sushi I recommend Toshi Sushi on 17th (?) and Main. You WILL have to wait in line, and you should get there before 5 to line up if you want to eat early, but it's supposed to be the best sushi in Vancouver. (As a Big V I'm not a good judge of sashimi etc as I don't eat it but that's what I've heard.)

This is more for the East Vancouverite/other Vancouverites ie. just above this message of mine:

There's a Japanese supermarket about 1 km. from the old/historic Chinatown ...that Japanese-Canadians and other Asians frequent alot. They make a wide variety of competitively priced and fresh sushi and sashimi in takeout containers.

I go there to get best selection of their buckwheat noodles and also their green tea noodles.

Go ...where the Japanese in Vancouver go regularily.. http://www.fujiya.ca/vancouver_fujiya.cfm

We like buying their stuff and packing it into our panniers for a picnic by beach/park somewhere.