Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has recently been caught in the whirl of gentrification controversy, with protestors opposing trendy new shops and eateries.
Lost in the shuffle is some historical perspective: Once upon a time, the streets around Hastings and Main were trendy. In the early 1900s, the area was the place to go in Vancouver for music and entertainment. And one of the hottest spots just so happens to still be standing: Pat’s Pub inside the Patricia Hotel.
Pat’s opened in 1914 as the Patricia Cafe, a jazz club. Big name acts from around the world graced its tiny stage, including the legendary “Jelly Roll” Morton, credited in part with inventing jazz piano.
Nearly 100 years after its opening, Pat’s Pub is still quietly going strong at the corner of Hastings and Dunlevy Streets, offering up jazz and live music every weekend. And while the surrounding neighbourhood may have fallen into disrepair, the club is as classy as ever.
I checked out the place for the first time on a recent weekend for Jazz @ The Pat Saturdays, a free afternoon concert series featuring some of the city’s top jazz musicians. Continue reading:
99-Year-Old Pub in Downtown Vancouver Still Going Strong: Inside Pat’s