Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Vancouver

Who will take bed buggy furniture?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:48:22 -0800

Does anyone know a junk removal service in Vancouver, B.C. that will take bed bug infested furniture? Most of it I can get rid of myself in the bin for my building, but I have an old Yamaha organ and a chair that's too heavy to get in there. Suggestions? If you prefer, email me at bedbughell@gmail.com.

The Gift of Scotch

vansly — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:45:35 -0800

What is a good Scotch for ~$200? My co-worker is retiring after 30+ years of service. About $200 has been collected in order to buy him a nice bottle of scotch.

I know he likes scotch and I have seen him drink Glenlivet and Glenfiddich in the past. I also know that he likes Oban. I am looking for a ~$200 bottle in the Vancouver, British Columbia market.

Dominosteine in Vancouver?

findango — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:52:05 -0800

WeihnachtsFilter: anyone have a confirmed source for Dominosteine in Vancouver? I will try European Specialty Food Imports, but they are closed (or not answering the phone) today.

Thanks!

Restaurant suggestions in Vancouver

csjc — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:40:04 -0800

I'm turning 16 this weekend, and decided to get together with some friends for dinner. Problem is, I have no idea where to go. Suggest a Vancouver restaurant for five 16-18 year olds on a Sunday night? A few requirements:

-The absolute max. budget is $30 per person, preferably lower
-Some choice for vegetarians
-Preferably in either kits or downtown (gastown, maybe?)
-Cuisine/atmosphere usually described as American/Lounge would work best, I think. If you have any other suggestions, though, shoot!

I hope that there's at least somewhere out there which matches my specifications!

Vancouver BC restaurant recommendations, please

rabinowitz — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:45:17 -0800

We're going to be in Vancouver BC in late December, and would love your restaurant recommendations. For the most part, we tend to like the same places as those "foodie" folks, especially places that concentrate on local, seasonal ingredients, but we love all good food. Nothing too snooty (Mr. Rabinowitz won't be bringing a jacket and tie), but we're open to (almost) all cuisines and price ranges as long as there's deliciousness involved. We'll be there for several days, and we'd like to experience a range of Vancouver's food offerings-- but we definitely want to have at least one GREAT Chinese meal, as that's one of the few things not available to us at home in Portland.

As to geography, we'll probably be staying at a hotel downtown (any opinions on Sutton Place vs. Fairmont Vancouver vs. Wedgewood, by the way?), but we'll have a car so we figure we can get just about anywhere we need to.

Thanks so much, Metafilter.

How to split 7-8 nights between Seattle and Vancouver?

greendress — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:24:01 -0800

With 7 or 8 nights to spend in Seattle and Vancouver, how should we divide our time? My husband and I, along with my in-laws, may be going to Seattle/Vancouver next June. The total trip will likely be either 7 or 8 nights. None of us have never been to either city and I haven't done much research on either yet. I'll buy some Eyewitness guides, but it's sometimes hard to get a good feel from guidebooks for how much time you'll need/want in an area. But in the interest of possibly trying to firm up vacation rentals further in advance than my in-laws usually do (we try to rent houses/apartments most of the time rather than stay in hotels), I'm wondering how to split our time.

So, for those who are familiar with both cities, how would you suggest splitting the time? Half the time in each city? The bulk in one with only a couple of days in the other?

We typically would visit most or all of any given city's major tourist destinations -- e.g., most of the stuff you'd see in an Eyewitness Top 10 guide. Other than that, when we visit a city, we tend to just spend a lot of time walking around, eating and drinking, and sometimes even catching a movie. None of us are outdoorsy -- no hiking or bike-riding will be on the agenda. If one city is vastly more expensive than the other, that could make a difference.

Where should I live in Vancouver?

Alex404 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:06:16 -0800

Where should I live in Vancouver? So, I've recently moved from Toronto to Vancouver, to do an 8 month stint at a lab at UBC. I'm currently staying at a friend's, but am planning on moving out in January.

Where should I live!? I'm a total west end, downtown, night life loving, pub crawling, cafe haunting, everywhere walking Torontonian, and I'm finding the transition to Van a little difficult. I can totally see why people love Van, and I'm trying to remain open minded, but I'm really not an outdoorsy type (I like parks, but have no urge to take off in the mountains for intensive recreation), and I crave some scene.

I've heard that I want to locate myself either in the downtown, or maybe commercial drive area. I just want an existence where groceries, coffee shops, bars, etc are within walking distance, and I'll bike to UBC when I need to head over there (proximity to UBC isn't important).

Thanks for your help! Canada rocks.

Where are the baking supply stores in Vancouver

Xianny — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:23:07 -0800

What are some good cooking/baking/candy supply stores in Vancouver? More specifications under the cut. I'm looking for a few specific things:

- tablespoon ice cream scoop
- foil candy cups
- lollipop sticks
- candy thermometer
- good quality couverture chocolate and baking chocolate
- various candied fruits: orange peel, ginger, etc

I realise you can find most of these things in some department store or supermarket, but I usually have to visit 5 different stores before I find what I'm looking for. Lack of personal transport and time leads me to seek one (or more) go-to supply store. This magic store should be functional and affordable - no overpriced dinosaur cocktail stirrers - and located in downtown/east Van, N. Burnaby or S. Burnaby (Metrotown area). Thanks very much!

Escape from rain city

PercussivePaul — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:43:44 -0800

We want to go somewhere sunny and warm in February. We're in Vancouver BC and don't want to fly too far; cost is an issue. We would really like to bring our touring bicycles and do a mini-tour at a relaxed pace - maybe 250 miles over two weeks. So far we're looking at South Baja. Good idea? Other ideas? I have all kinds of questions about South Baja if anyone has been there. Specifically we were thinking of flying to Cabo San Lucas (looks like around $600 round trip plus baggage fees), then biking to La Paz and back in a loop, and we need to know about road conditions, traffic, availability of services, typical price of a hotel, etc etc.

But I'm also interested if any other destination comes to mind. The bike tour is not a requirement but something we would really enjoy. Touristy mega-resorts are not really our thing but we would appreciate a little bit of comfort on this trip I think. Beaches would be nice. Sunny and warm in February is the key.

Where to buy daiginjo sake in Vancouver

findango — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:24:13 -0800

Where can I buy a bottle of Daiginjo sake in Vancouver? BC Liquor Stores carry a number of Junmai and Ginjo options, but no Daiginjo, from what I've seen. Does anyone know where I might look (preferably downtown)? I've checked Granville Island already. Cheers!

Places to study in Vancouver

csjc — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:30:40 -0800

Vancouverites: Where's the best place in the city to go and study? With good Wi-Fi, of course. A friend has been looking for a long while for somewhere better to study. As of the moment he spends a lot of time on the UBC campus, but I was wondering if any of you had more specific recommendations, especially your favourite coffee shops...

The requirements: relatively quiet, comfortable place to sit down, tables for writing on, comfortable chairs, stable wifi. Also, must be on Vancouver's west side, preferably north of 41st and south of 16th. Hopefully I'm not being much too specific?

Can someone recommend a reliable, reasonably priced vendor for snap frames in Vancouver or Canada?

branparsons — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:34:43 -0800

Can someone recommend a reliable, reasonably priced vendor for snap frames in Vancouver or Canada? I'm looking for a company in Vancouver (BC) or Canada who sells snap frames like the ones on this site at a reasonable cost.

Any recommendations from those have experience with a vendor (through this product or any other) would be fantastic, but any tips in general are appreciated! I can also look at America if someone has preferred vendor there. (I'm sort of looking at displays2go, linked above, but not sure about their reputation and want to compare pricing, etc.)

Where can I find Dr. Brown's Cel-Rey in Vancouver?

csjc — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:17:51 -0800

Where can I get Dr. Brown's Cel-Rey soda in Vancouver? I've looked everywhere!

Where do I get Vancouver Olympics tickets this late in the process?

mathowie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:01:34 -0800

I just realized the Olympics are happening in a few months and they are within driving distance. I have memories of going to several events during the 1984 games as a small kid, and loving the experience. Is there any chance this late in the game that I could get tickets to some events like speed skating or ski jumping? Are scalpers the only option at this point? Are hotels already well-booked? Basically I'm wondering what my chances are of getting into an olympic event, as a lazy american that completely forgot about the games until now.

Fall camping in vancouver

hungrysquirrels — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:21:37 -0800

Vancouver/Surrey: camping/fishing late October Long shot, but, relatively new in town, so I don't know the parks. Google is just giving me RV sites. Anyway, my friend and I would like to take a camping trip for a few days in mid-late October, somewhere we could also do some fishing, preferably on a lake. Any suggestions? Most provincial campsites must be closed by now.

Caves around Vancouver

RGD — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:19:15 -0800

Are they any nice caves around Vancouver that aren't out on Vancouver Island? I'm going to visit in a week and would like to find a nice cave by the sea. Just something interesting to explore, not particularly a grand spelunk. Thanks.

Bummin' around BC

scose — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:45:59 -0800

What are some free or cheap things to do in Vancouver, BC? My girlfriend and I are heading up to Vancouver, BC and looking for a vacation on the cheap. We will be couchsurfing/camping/???, and hoping to have fun for a few days without going broke. What are your favorite low- or no-cost activities in the area? Any mix of touristy and non-touristy is fine. Stuff like house shows, student art exhibitions, and other events that might fly under the radar of mainstream media would be good.

We will arrive by car, and bring our bikes to get around the city. Any place within a reasonably short drive is fair game. We are bringing food with us, but if you are chomping at the bit to recommend a restaurant, we would appreciate it. Thanks!

What's a good Vancouver hostel?

msbrauer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:51:55 -0800

I need a place to stay in Vancouver on Sunday before a flight. What's a good and cheap hostel in Vancouver, Canada, close to easy transportation to the airport (i.e. the Quick Shuttle)?

What have I spent my life on?

Big Fat Tycoon — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:15:53 -0800

How do I apply to Master's programs when I don't have either real academic credentials or a particularly distinguished career reputation? I'm interested in applying to Master's programs in three related areas: Planning, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, all at UBC in Vancouver. Here's the problem: I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science that I completed in 1999, and almost no experience in any of the aforementioned areas except at a layman's level. Even worse, in my current "career" in software (first as a developer, now as technical support), I've had far from an illustrious career -- it's not a solid ten years of experience I have, with the concomitant excellent professional references that might subsitute for a lack of academic ones.

So... how do I get those "three letters of reference" that seem so important, and the related exposure I need? I have my own vague ideas -- mostly in the area of volunteering and making an impression there -- but I'm interested in what other people have to say. Also, is it a crazy idea to contemplate applying for next year's admission (Sept. 2010)? Given that the application deadlines are around December 1st this year, I'm thinking it might be a pipe dream.

What would you do if you had an engineering degree?

MechEng — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:55:15 -0800

What would you do if you were a recent engineering graduate? (What companies would you be looking into across Canada?) Suggestions for all branches of engineering are welcome.

A bit of background about myself:
Recent Mechanical Engineering graduate. ( with ~ 2 years of co-op experience). I am interested in almost anything Mechanical Engineering related, from vehicle engineering (aircraft, trains, automotive, etc) , HVAC, to power generation. What would you suggest as companies to apply for within Canada?

Willing to move anywhere for the right Job / experience. (Although Major cities of interest are Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto)

It has also been suggested to go back to school for something business related (seen a bunch of links about mba on ask metafilter)

I understand that mechanical engineering is a wide branch of engineering on it's own, and would like some suggestions as to which direction I should take.

Help me avoid having the Dallas club experience while I'm in Vancouver

Unicorn on the cob — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:45:10 -0800

Techno in Vancouver? Is there such a thing? If no techno, how about a really good blues bar? Help me find it before September 6. I'm about to be in Vancouver for a week (returning to US September 6). My mother is coming along; she likes live blues, I like techno. When I say techno, I don't mean remixes of top 40 music, I mean stuff like The Black Dog, Heartthrob, Drexciya, Rob Hood, Cybotron, that sort of thing. I also like tech-house and electro, even DnB, but kind of can't stand vocal or deep house or bad dubstep being drowned out by a crappy MC.

I see that Mark Farina is playing while I'm there, and that Lotus might be a good venue. But all the club listings look like they do here in Dallas; there's a lot of hype talk on flyers and all-caps Twittering, but I can't tell crap about the sound system or what style of music the djs play there. I don't care about the crowd or how much it costs to get in; I want a good sound system and a bar where I can get a decent drink without waiting 45 minutes or ordering bottle service for a few hundred just to sit down.

Alternatively, I'd also like to know what DJs to look for by name or if there are underground parties (I see there is an afterhours scene there too).

If there's none of that to be had, a dive bar with a jukebox would be just great. I'm not super-picky, but I don't want to pay $30 to go into a place that sucks, you know?

My mom would like a place where we can sit and hear local blues musicians play, or at least hear blues and jazz of some kind if it's not live and possibly eat dinner.

If anyone has suggestions on how I should dress for going out fashionably in Van, it'd be welcome, too; I see that "dress code" is listed on some clubs' pages. I'm sort of the anti-jeans and tshirt girl to begin with; I'm just trying to avoid being gauche, I suppose.

We will be staying near Robson and Granville.

Shout-out, Vancouver MeFites! If you see this and want to meet up, MeMail me. I won't have my laptop but I'll have my Blackberry which is always reliable for hitting up MeFi. :) I'll be wearing my Metafilter shirt at least once, so if you see a super-short girl walking down the street with one on, it might be me. Say hi!

How to get from Vancouver to Seattle?

Cosine — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:39:49 -0800

How to get from Vancouver, BC to Seattle without a car? Looking for suggestions/coupons/tricks for getting from Vancouver to Seattle Airport (Sea Tac) by bus/train/boat/unicycle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How to move to Canada and bring my UK small business with me?

dflock — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:31:13 -0800

We currently live in the UK and my wife has secured a job in Vancouver, so we're moving to Canada! Yay! However, I am self employed and run my own small business in the UK. All the Canadian Work permit stuff is geared to people who've got a job offer from a Canadian employer, not someone bringing a small business with them. Anyone done this (or something similar) before? Got any advice? It seems there are some Business/Entrepreneur/Investor visa/work permit schemes available in Canada - but that these only apply to people who've got $300k-800k+ kicking around, which I don't. The self employed one is, for some reason, only for Artists, Athletes or Farm Managers. My web development business doesn't really fall under any of these categories.

My research so far indicates that my wife should get one of these: Temporary Work Permit and I should get one of these: Spousal Open Work Permit. Does anyone know if that's the best way to do it, or have any personal experience of this?

Bonus Round: What do I do with the biz when I get there? Setup a new Canadian company, or what?

Thanks!

Weekend getaway near Vancouver

miles1972 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:15:31 -0800

Where can I go this weekend from Vancouver? I would like to go away for a writing retreat this coming weekend. Probably Thursday to Tuesday morning.

Parameters: within 4 hours of Vancouver BC, power, cell coverage, ability to cook meals. Ideally, somewhat inspirational in terms of setting, just a good place to write and not a ridiculous amount of money.

The ideal spot would be someone's empty summer home on a Gulf Island, you know what I mean? (but I've used up my favours for this year)

Please help me to plan a fun trip in Vancouver for my mom

Xianny — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:45:39 -0800

VancouverFilter: My mom is coming to visit for 2 weeks and I need help planning a fun trip for her! More details inside. My mom had hip surgery last year and although she says she can walk fine, I don't want to take her on across-the-city hikes. She's also wearing a knee-high stiff plastic foot brace, so no activities that require specialised footwear (bowling, rollerblading etc).

With that caveat, she'll be here for two weeks. We'll be in the Burnaby/Metrotown area for the first week and then downtown (around Robson) for the second week. My dad will be joining us for the last 3-4 days of the stay. We'll be taking transit mostly but can rent a car for a few days for trips to out-of-the-way places.

I've only been in Vancouver for a short time myself so I'm not too familiar with the area. I'm from Singapore if that matters. My mom is pretty laidback, and I'm looking for low-budget activities. She tends to enjoy slightly active things like checking out a museum or walking through a park, but not more passive things like watching movies or going to a concert. She also likes to have lots of activities planned, not so much a meandering holiday.

I'm planning to take her to Stanley Park and Granville Island, and spend some time walking around downtown, but I'm not sure what other specific places we could go to. Also, if there's anything specific to see or do at Stanley Park or Granville Island, I want to know! Please help me brainstorm activities to keep my mom entertained.