Inside Vancouver

Five Vancouver Coffee Shops to Cozy Up in this Fall

by Sonu Purhar in Food & Drink on November 7, 2017

Fall is the perfect time to cozy up with a cup of coffee.

As the leaves turn to gold, orange and red, so too do our shorts turn into sweaters, our sunglasses into umbrellas and our beach days into cozier (and warmer!) interludes. In fact, one of the best parts of chilly autumn days is shacking up for the afternoon at an atmospheric café with a steaming cup of coffee. So grab a friend – or a laptop, or a stack of books – and check out one or all of the coffee shops below. Catch you at the latte bar!

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Five Vancouver Coffee Shops to Cozy Up in this Fall

4 Unique Ways To Spend Mother’s Day With Mom In Vancouver

by Bianca Bujan in Events on May 9, 2017

Handmade cards are lovely, and a personal phone call is perfectly sweet, but there are more exciting ways to show your mama you care on Mother’s Day. Luckily for you, Vancouver is filled with special offers and activities to help you plan your surprise as the special Sunday approaches.

From tantalizing her tastebuds, to trying something entirely new, we’ve got a list of some fun (and unique) ways to honour your mother this Mother’s Day. Check out our list of 4 ways to spend the day with mom in Vancouver, and make her special day a day to remember.

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4 Unique Ways To Spend Mother’s Day With Mom In Vancouver

Vancouver’s Love Affair with Coffee – I’ll take mine with a Splash of Nature

by Jane Weiss in Outside on October 23, 2016

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Horseshoe Bay Photo: Rob Weiss

I adore coffee, and like many Vancouverites, my morning cup is a daily ritual and my local Barista a trusted friend. Fortunately, when in Vancouver, you do not need to look far to find a coffee shop. From your basic double-double to exclusive gourmet roasters, the city has much to offer. For many, the simple surge of caffeine is the draw, but in neighbourhoods throughout the city, the local coffee shop reflects the fabric of the community. These welcoming spaces have become neighbourhood hubs so to speak. From Gastown to the Drive, it is apparent that we love our Java.

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Vancouver’s Love Affair with Coffee – I’ll take mine with a Splash of Nature

Espressotec Hosts Latte Art Throwdown: A Showcase of Local Barista Talent, April 28

by Inside Vancouver in Events on April 21, 2016

When it rains, it pours—but here in Vancouver, it pours intricate Instagram-worthy latte art. And on Thursday, April 28^th at 5:30pm, Espressotec Sales & Services will be positively storming as the city’s top baristas compete for the title of Throwdown Champion.

“We’ve got a lot of talent on the coffee scene here in Vancouver,” says Espressotec owner Reg James. “It’s about time we show it off with a little friendly competition, like they do in the States. We want to engage our coffee community and celebrate our local talent.”

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Espressotec Hosts Latte Art Throwdown: A Showcase of Local Barista Talent, April 28

Caffeinated Love: How and Where to Rock a Coffee Date in Vancouver

by Tara Lee in Food & Drink on November 12, 2015

Photo Credit: Flickr – Kris Krüg

Last year, the year I decided I was going to fall madly in love, I went on 32 first dates. It wasn’t quite an Adam Sandler movie (he and Drew Barrymore made it to 50) but it was a dizzying array of new people.

There was occasional disappointment (baths and ice cream became my best friends), but I’m fortunate to say that, for the most part, everyone I met was kind and pleasant. It’s just that a real connection, that feeling of being on the same electrifying frequency, was elusive.

Many of those first dates occurred over coffee since the proverbial coffee date has a few key advantages: it’s short, expectations are kept in check, and both people are sober. Believe me: a multi-course meal as a first date can be a recipe for extended awkwardness. And over the course of that year, I did learn a few things about acing that quick initial meeting.

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Caffeinated Love: How and Where to Rock a Coffee Date in Vancouver

5 lazy things to do on Labour Day weekend 2015 in Vancouver

by Carolyn Ali in Town on September 1, 2015

Photo sourced from Vancouver Brewery Tours on Facebook

Labour Day weekend is the last hurrah of summer, the final chance to cram in some seasonal fun before the old routine resumes.

Sure, you could huff it up the Grouse Grind or jog around Coal Harbour this long weekend. But in honour of Labour Day, which marks how Canadians fought for better working conditions and shorter hours, why not celebrate the fact that you have a glorious day off (or three) by doing nothing strenuous?

In other words, milk the “lazy” part of the “lazy hazy days of summer”.

Here are 5 laidback ways to celebrate the Labour Day weekend.

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5 lazy things to do on Labour Day weekend 2015 in Vancouver

Dating in Vancouver: 3 Commercial Drive date ideas

by Miranda Post in Food & Drink on November 30, 2013

Photo credit: Federico’s Supper Club

Commercial Drive is the modern day Mecca for Vancouver’s earth-loving, coffee-sipping, nano-beer making types. While Kitsilano claims to be the original home to Vancouver’s hippies, Commercial Drive comes in at a close second place.

Commercial Drive is my spiritual home in Vancouver. During my university years I would trek over from Vancouver Island to stay with friends who lived on Commercial and East 1st Avenue. We would order garlic fries from Wazubees (RIP) and wander the drive checking out shops like Beckwoman’s, The Jean Queen and Sweet Cherubium.

The vibrance, multiculturalism and great food on The Drive continues to draw me east. So you probably won’t be surprised by this little statement: the Commercial Drive area is one of best date destinations in the city. As a part of my regular ‘Dating in Vancouver’ features, I implore you to ask that cute boy/girl on a date and explore one of the most down-to-earth yet exuberant hoods in Vancouver. Continue reading:
Dating in Vancouver: 3 Commercial Drive date ideas