Calling all Greater Vancouverites

[PurpleRain]

PurpleRain is comming to town this December/January. Well, that is if things pan out well.

So I want to know, where's great places to see, cheap places to stay/eat, if you guys wanna hang out (PM me if you don't want to discuss details online) anything really! Hopefully I'm staying for a month and I have to soak this place up a little bit.

Vancouver's gonna get PURPLERAINED!

 

[PurpleRain]

Ohh, neato. Thanks Khell.

I might visit Trolls restaurant for the novility value that, 'I'm in your Trolls eating your foods!'

I don't know if I'll be heading to Vancouver island but there's a chance I could go. Not sure how good I'll fare at skiing seeing how I've never even seen a clump of that white cold stuff you call 'snow.'

As for VGL, damn!

So where about's in Canada are you Khell?

 

[Wolvaroo]

I lived there for the first 21 of my 22 years of life. Great place to be, though not too much especially interesting things to do during winter. You missed the PNE.

Try taking a ferry to Vancouver Isle for a day. If nothing else it's a nice and beautiful ride that will only cost you about $15 walk-on.

One of my favorite places to eat is a small little burger joint on East Hastings in Burnaby called "Burgers ect." they serve a great pulled pork sandwich!

When I moved they were working on some sort of self-tour headset thingy for the skytrain. Might want to consider getting a day pass and just taking the whole line even if it isn't finished yet. Great view and helps get a nice feel for the different areas.

If you're in to asian cuisine Vancouver has some of the best and most varied.

Take a day to walk the seawall of Stanley park or down by some of the beaches.

Granville Island is always a nice place to grab a bite or a brew. Why not try some from the Granville Island brewery whilst there?

Most importantly is to go catch a Canucks [http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=SubseasonSchedule&gameType=2] game at GM place!

EDIT: I believe Khell is from Edmonton. But Larenxis is supposedly somewhere in the GVRD.

Hotels/motels/ect. are quite expensive in Vancouver ($70~/day) so if you can I'd suggested staying with someone you know especially if you're there for more than a week or two.

MOAR EDITz: A good way to see more of the area and avoid high hotel prices would be a camping/fishing trip. It doesn't take long to get far enough north for suitable wilderness but it will require a friend in the area with knowledge of such and a vehicle. Unless you are both avid hikers with proper equipment.

 

[Anarchemitis]

!!!

Well, I don't specifically live in Vancouver, just in the area. Like about an hour's drive away from Downtown. Thus I can't really recommend any restaurants, other than any earls you may encounter. Stanley Park is a fantastic place to go for a run or walk or ice cream, and the mass transit all over the valley is quite useful, although the buses aren't all on time. But you could set your watch to the West Coast express, or the Millennium line Skytrain, they're always on time.

 

[PurpleRain]

!!!

Well, I don't specifically live in Vancouver, just in the area. Like about an hour's drive away from Downtown.

We gotta do something! I'll think Larenxis and I will come say 'hi' to you, if you wanted. Like a reunion between friends that have not met. Touching.

As for restaurants, I'm hoping not to break budget which may be a neat sum of... jack all! Hoping their will be cheap hostels around there, if not bum arond for a bit. Couldn't get a working visa so finding a job is out of the question.

 

[Good morning blues]

The original Benny's Bagels in Kitsilano is also worth a visit. If they haven't changed it since I was last there (10+ years ago so maybe) they had the place decked out real originally, and make some of the best bagels around.

Benny's Bagels is overrated; Solly's [http://www.sollysbagels.com/] is what it's all about.

I'll go ahead and give you the secret: on a Sunday night, go to the Hennessey [http://www.hennesseydininglounge.com/home/] around 8:00 - 8:30 and watch The Sunday Service. It's the best comedy show in town. (The restaurant itself is mediocre and overpriced, so eat first and just buy drinks.)

Additionally, my favorite pub is Funky Winkerbean's near the corner of East Hastings and Abbott (right next to Save-On-Meats), but I understand that that particular area is a bit seedy for some people.

 

[Smiles]

hey Vancouver, thats where I live! Granville Island is pretty awesome, even though its not an island...

I don't get around Vancouver much so I don't know any places really...

But we don't really need any more rain...

Unless its Purple!

 

[Wolvaroo]

'fraid hostels aren't very big in North America. But Good luck to you for finding a fellow escapist with a couch!

 

[GenHellspawn]

I myself live in Ontario, but I know my cousin owns a club called Transmutation, if you're into that sort of stuff then you should check it out (he goes under the name "DJ Spraypaint", if you're interested).

By the way. what's the PNE?

 

[PurpleRain]

'fraid hostels aren't very big in North America. But Good luck to you for finding a fellow escapist with a couch!

Hmm, I'd do it if it was offered but I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome. If anyone does know a website or place where there is cheap hostels or hotel/motels I'd be extra happy. I'm trying to work out accomodation and food at the moment.

hey Vancouver, thats where I live! Granville Island is pretty awesome, even though its not an island...

I don't get around Vancouver much so I don't know any places really...

But we don't really need any more rain...

Unless its Purple!

Awesome, another person I could catch up with. I hope to do a sort of tour of duty.

I find Canada should be a nice place to start hollidaying due to the fact people speak (mostly) English and I know a few people there.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

I find Canada should be a nice place to start hollidaying due to the fact people speak (mostly) English and I know a few people there.

we're pretty groovy bunch of cats and we like to drink too

btw dress warmly, it gets cold unlike aussieland, tho bc is a bit warmer, still should be around 0 C when you're there

 

[Wolvaroo]

It rarely gets below 5 C in the lower mainland, but for sure colder than you aussies will be used to.

Also the PNE is the Pacific National Exhibition. Not too different from the CNE you may or may hot have attended in Toronto. Although the PNE is open for a good deal, it's only really worthwhile during the couple months playland is open also.

EDIT: Another fun way to see the area is to do a bit of geocaching [http://www.geocaching.com/]. It's fairly prevalent in Vancouver.

 

[Anarchemitis]

A little colder, but I imagine much wetter. It's been raining in Maple Ridge for 6 days.

 

[PurpleRain]

I find Canada should be a nice place to start hollidaying due to the fact people speak (mostly) English and I know a few people there.

we're pretty groovy bunch of cats and we like to drink too

btw dress warmly, it gets cold unlike aussieland, tho bc is a bit warmer, still should be around 0 C when you're there

Yeah, that should be fun. I'm going from 30-40 degree heats to a place where your blood freezes inside your body.

Now I know hostels aren't very prevalent in Canada, but what about the YMCA (place, not the song)? Never done it m'self but I heard you can stay at them fairly cheap, can someone confirm?

I was actually thinking those. They were suggested to me by my dad as well. I wasn't too sure if they were in abundance in Vancouver or how far in advance I'd have to book.

 

[Good morning blues]

I find Canada should be a nice place to start hollidaying due to the fact people speak (mostly) English and I know a few people there.

we're pretty groovy bunch of cats and we like to drink too

btw dress warmly, it gets cold unlike aussieland, tho bc is a bit warmer, still should be around 0 C when you're there

Yeah, that should be fun. I'm going from 30-40 degree heats to a place where your blood freezes inside your body.

Now I know hostels aren't very prevalent in Canada, but what about the YMCA (place, not the song)? Never done it m'self but I heard you can stay at them fairly cheap, can someone confirm?

I was actually thinking those. They were suggested to me by my dad as well. I wasn't too sure if they were in abundance in Vancouver or how far in advance I'd have to book.

YMCAs are around; I know there's one near Burnaby City Hall, and I would assume that they're not difficult to find in the other municipalities. There are a couple of hostels at least, though; I worked with a fellow who got evicted and needed to stay in one for a couple of weeks. I think his was downtown. If you do go the hostel route, make sure you research the area that it's in; if it's in the downtown eastside, I'd advise finding something else. A hostel in the downtown eastside is more likely to be a brothel or a drug den than a place for travelers to sleep.

 

[PurpleRain]

Thanks for the locations and help.

I looked around at a few Hostels and some look kinda shaddy. I don't want to be drugged and sold to some sicko who's going to stick a drill down my mouth and Eli Roth to make a wank fest about it.

 

[nick_knack]

Seeing that I live in Vancouver, I'd love to give you some advice. But I am just....too.....tired. Maybe later.

 

[PurpleRain]

Seeing that I live in Vancouver, I'd love to give you some advice. But I am just....too.....tired. Maybe later.

But, but, our friendship was just begining!

Thanks, I don't mind any info at all. The best arcade place, your favourite stand up bar, good place to write your name in the snow with yellow liquid and not get caught. I wanna try and pack as much as I can within the month there.

 

[Smiles]

I know of some hostels actually! They are pretty shady but they are also very close to a bar that sells cheap beer and has pool! My dad trusted them back in the old days but doesn't trust them now but I'm sure you would be fine because the doors come with bolts...

 

[Fire Daemon]

Have fun Rain. I wish I could go and chill out with you guys in chilly Canada. Not sure how much fun I would be though...

ANYWAY, make sure you take lots of pictures. I speak for everyone here when I say that we want photos of all your anticts.