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Chinatown
Although the Chinese-Canadian population of Van¬couver is spread throughout the Lower Mainland, the old Chi¬natown is still a vital and interesting area to visit and shop in. It consists of a few blocks east and west of Main Street on Pen-der and Keefer streets. The little stores look as though they’ve been there for generations, and of course many of them have, so you’ll get a good idea of the architecture of Vancouver in the first few decades of the 20th century. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gar¬den at 578 Carrall Street is definitely worth a visit. Many of the buildings there were built by artisans from China in a style that cannot be found anywhere else outside China. Other stores to check out include the original Ming Wo cookware shop at 23 East Pender Street and Chinese Linen & Silk at 27 East Pender. Just take a leisurely walk up one side of the street and down the other. Be sure to stop at the Oriental Dragon at 154 East Pen¬der, the Man Sing Meat Centre for a little barbecued pork or duck, and the Ten Ren Tea & Jinseng Co. at 550 Main Street.
Commercial Drive
Once known as Little Italy, the section of Commercial Drive between 1st and 12th avenues is now an amalgamation of many different cultures. The Italian Cultural Centre is the hub of the still-thriving Italian community, but many other Latin groups and Asian people live in the area, and the stores along the drive reflect this diversity.
Downtown
The area bounded by Stanley Park to the west, Main Street to the east, False Creek to the south, and the har¬bour to the north has experienced a lot of growth recently. No¬table buildings to see include the Marine Building at Pender and Hastings streets (a tribute to art deco inside and out), the Hotel Vancouver at Burrard and Georgia streets, the fabulous old Orpheum Theatre on Granville Street, and the Hudson’s Bay Building at the corner of Georgia and Granville streets. There’s also the magnificent Canada Place at the foot of Bur¬rard Street, with its sails perpetually raised. But also like many centres, the shopping action has moved underground to malls such as Pacific Centre, Vancouver Centre, Royal Centre, Ben-tall Centre, and Harbour Centre.
Granville Island
Under the Granville Street Bridge, across False Creek from the Expo 86 site, warehouses and factories have been transformed into a public market and craft-y shops. There’s still a cement plant down there, so watch out for large trucks, but the rest of the place is a tourist mecca. Locals flock to the public market for a tremendous selection of fresh food and gourmet items. It’s a walk along the seawall from the many False Creek condos, co-ops, and townhouses; or a ferry ride from the apartments of the West End. Most of the shops are closed Mondays in winter.
Kerrisdale
This area is arguably the best shopping neigh¬bourhood in town for variety and quality of selection. You can find it spread along 41st Avenue for about four blocks east and west of West Boulevard and along West Boulevard from around 39th to 49th avenues. There is a decidedly English flavour to the neighbourhood. The stores are all well maintained, and there is a strong residential community to support them, as well as a community centre with a pool and a library. You’ll find lots of fashion shops, like Margareta, Torri’s, Martinique’s Fashions, and Rose Marie’s of Kerrisdale. There are shops for the home decorator, such as Hobbs, Linen Collection, Afford-ables, Salar Persian Carpets, Courtyards, and Ragfinders. And there are specialty shops for everything from cheese to choco¬lates. No wonder Kerrisdale shoppers are so loyal—they have no reason to wander.
Point Grey
This university district runs along West 10th Avenue for about five or six blocks before you get to the gates of the University of British Columbia. Specialty shops run from decorator stores like Peasantries, the Cloth Shop, and Splish Splash Bath Boutique to stores selling imported fashions like Bali Bali and La Papillon to the very practical Hewer Home Hardware and Francoise knitting shop. There is also a Safeway (with lots of parking). This is a great area for browsing, crowds are sparse, and the quality of the merchandise is very high. It has a true neighbourhood feel to it, and it is set in an old and prestigious part of town.
Robson Street
This street is the meeting place of cultures and couture, as tout le monde can be found strolling among its many shops every day. Weekends can be very crowded, but
there’s lots to see, since the street runs from the Granville Mall right down to Denman Street in the West End. You’ll find the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Provincial Courthouse and its be¬low-street-level Robson Square, the current central branch of Vancouver Public Library (the new one is under construction a few blocks east), and a number of designer boutiques, coffee shops, and neat little international-flavour restaurants.
West Vancouver
Apart from the massive Park Royal Shopping Centre, the shops along Marine Drive in West Vancouver re¬flect the British heritage of the original European settlers of West Vancouver. The stores are quaint but carry a good stock of quality merchandise, whatever they may be selling. There are some nice little restaurants and galleries too. West Van¬couver is one of the more prestigious neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland, so expect the prices to reflect that.
Canada West Antiques
Authentic pine antiques from Eastern Canada mix with country furniture and decorator pieces. Be sure to see the selection of grandmotherly folk crafts—quilts, hooked rugs, and more.* 3607 W Broadway; 733-3213; every day.
Folkart Antiques
Besides antiques, this charming and fanci¬ful place features unique pieces of folk art that are simply irresistible. There’s a good selection of pine furniture as well. •3715 WlOth Ave; 228-1011; every day.
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