Inside Vancouver

A Table with a View: Patio dining in Vancouver

by Remy Scalza in Food & Drink on June 11, 2011

Winters in Vancouver have a reputation for being . . . well . . . a bit wet and cloudy. So when the first warm rays of summer grace city sidewalks, Vancouverites can’t wait to get outside for some patio dining.

The city boasts hundreds of bars and restaurants with patio space, offering a uniquely Old World dining experience on the West Coast. But for the consummate warm weather meal in Vancouver, you have to choose a patio with seaside views. The Coal Harbour, English Bay, West End and Granville Island neighborhoods are all home to great restaurants offering outdoor dining on prime waterfront real estate.

Here are just a few selections for a memorable patio meal right on the water:

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A Table with a View: Patio dining in Vancouver

Top 5 Places to Watch the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final

by Remy Scalza in Sports on June 1, 2011

Photo Credit: CBC Vancouver

Looking for a place to watch the Canucks battle it out with the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final? Options in downtown Vancouver range from sports bars and brew pubs to bistros with big-screen TVs and even special outdoor viewing areas. Here are 5 top picks (One tip: Plan on getting to bars and restaurants a few hours before first puck is dropped if you hope to get in the door).

CBC Plaza: As you might have noticed already, Canucks games throughout the playoffs have been broadcast on a 13-foot outdoor screen outside CBC studios on Hamilton Street, between Georgia and Robson Streets. An extra screen has been added for the Stanley Cup Final, plus food trucks, free Canucks posters and face painting. The party starts at 3 p.m. on game days.

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Top 5 Places to Watch the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final

Last Chance to See Outdoor Masterpieces of the Vancouver Biennale

by Remy Scalza in Outside on April 21, 2011

It’s going to be sad to see them go. Some incredible outdoor sculptures – which have graced Vancouver’s streets and parks for the last two years – are set to be packed up and shipped off soon, with the pending close of the Vancouver Biennale. The two-year long sculpture exhibit brought world-class outdoor art from around the world to the city, from the big laughing faces at Davie and Denman (A-mazing Laughter) to the huge engagement rings on Sunset Beach (Engagement).

But don’t get too teary-eyed about the imminent departures. The next installment of the Biennale begins in June 2013 and lasts for another two years. And Biennale organizers are holding a gala fundraising dinner and auction on April 30 in an effort to raise money to keep at least some of the existing sculptures in the city (And they’re not exactly cheap: A-mazing Laughter retails for $5 million . . . . Who’s laughing now?).

It’s not too late to enjoy these sculptures before they’re gone. In all, 33 separate pieces make up the exhibit, scattered around Vancouver and Richmond. In addition to the examples mentioned above, here are five highlights that are definitely worth a second look (Complete descriptions and a handy map are available on the Biennale website):

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Last Chance to See Outdoor Masterpieces of the Vancouver Biennale