Vancouver recommendations

September 30, 2010 9:18 AM

Vancouver, one mid-week evening in October: what do you do to make it awesome?

Vancouver mefites: I'm coming to your town for some business meetings in October and I'll have one free evening on a Wednesday. I lived there over a decade ago, but am not in touch with anyone anymore to visit, and the last time I went back, it seemed like all the neighbourhoods had changed since my undergrad days. (I doubt, for example, that anyone is renting a basement apartment off of Commercial drive for $450/month anymore!)

What should I do with my free evening to make it as awesome as possible, or at least give me the option of doing something I couldn't do in Edmonton? (I'll be without a car and staying downtown.)

PS. I read this, but I'm looking more for evening activities as I'll be in meetings during the day.

posted by Kurichina to Travel & Transportation around Vancouver, BC (8 answers total)

Best answer: I think the Vancouver Film Festival runs to October 15 this year, and sniffing around for the date of that revealed that the Writers Festival runs October 19-24 as well. I don't know if there are any evening events associated with the Writers Festival, but there are definitely evening to-dos with the Film Festival.
posted by ninotchka at 10:07 AM on September 30, 2010

Gastown has really transformed over the past few years. Pour House is a really popular pub that I took some clients to, and they enjoyed it a great deal. Actually, we started the evening at Chill Winston, just up the street.

Tapastree, at the foot of Robson at Denman is a great place for dessert - it should be open by the time you arrive in Vancouver.

If you feel like just walking around, Wanoma Izakaya on Denman serves great Japanese food (I find Guu - the usual izakaya recommendation in Vancouver - to be a little greasy, a little crowded, and a little shabby).
posted by KokuRyu at 10:13 AM on September 30, 2010

If that Wednesday is October 6th, Talent Time at the Biltmore might fit the bill. It's a super low-rent public access variety show that films monthly, and it's one of the stranger events in the city.

Otherwise, I recommend keeping an eye on Vancouver is Awesome and the Straight's event listings.
posted by ripley_ at 10:16 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Aside from a burst of sun this week it has been a rainy fall so far, which means evening strolls around English Bay or on the seawall might be chilly and damp. Still recommended though.

If you're talking about indoor events, it kind of matters which Wednesday. There may be something cool happening. It also matters what you like to do. Are you more into delicious fancy food? Or cheap beer and live music? What do your awesome nights generally look like?
posted by PercussivePaul at 10:17 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I guess one thing you could not do in Edmonton would be to walk down Robson from Thurlow to Denman and experience all the cool Japan and Korea-related shops and pubs. There's even a Japanese convenience store. There's a really great and cheap Korean BBQ place next to Fogg N Sudds, above Hon's (another only-in-Vancouver eatery).
posted by KokuRyu at 10:18 AM on September 30, 2010

Keep an eye on the awesomely curated Scout (magazine) List.
posted by doublesix at 10:50 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I haven't made it over there myself, but if you like salami, cheese, painting and/or open mike stuff I hear all sorts of good things about Raw Canvas.
posted by juv3nal at 12:04 PM on September 30, 2010

At Science World they have the Body Worlds exhibit on right now, which is open late, I believe, and certainly easily reached from downtown via SkyTrain. I haven't made it yet but hear it's completely engrossing and can kill a couple hours easily.
posted by Pomo at 8:13 PM on September 30, 2010