March 21, 2013

Vancouver Best of the City 2013

WEVancouver.com

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Vancouver’s Best Blogger gets ready to take on the town at our readers’ favourite hair salon.

See all of our Best of the City results inside!

M

aybe you think after 16 years of voting that there can’t be any surprises in this year’s Reader’s Choice Best of the City survey. But did you know that, for the first time ever, Best Pizza was the most hotly contested category? Or that Best Hair Salon consistently comes in with the largest range of choices?

Here at WE Vancouver, we really enjoyed learning more about our winners, too. Sonic FM’s Kid Carson, at right, turns out to be one of those men who really “gets” women. Our cover girl, Rebecca Bollwitt (aka Miss 604), has found a way to both be everywhere in this city and yet find balance in her home life too.

The results are a conversation with the city, and she has lots to say in this, our longest-running and most read edition. Discover which best kept secrets are actually everyone’s best kept secrets, and which businesses are simply The Best. Enjoy!

INDEX FOOD .....................................................3

LIFESTYLE & HOBBIES ....................... 30

AFTER DARK .......................................15

MEDIA ................................................. 31

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS .............16

LIFE ..................................................... 31

CULTURE, PEOPLE ..............................16 SHOPPING FOR THE HOME ................19 SHOPPING FOR THE SELF...................21 SERVICES ............................................23 HEALTH & FITNESS ............................25 LOOKING GOOD..................................27

THE 2013 BEST OF THE CITY POCKET GUIDE IS PUBLISHED BY 205-1525 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, BC, V6J 1T5 Main switchboard: 604-742-8686 www.wevancouver.com Managing Editor Martha Perkins Managing Director Gail Nugent Design Robbin Sheriland • Tara Rafiq Sales Team Angela Meier • Shawna Kisell • Gagan Sandhu • Jonathan Grand Pierre • Hilary Kaye Cover Rob Newell

ON THE COVER: Rebecca Bollwitt (aka Miss 604) at Hype Hair Studio.

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Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

FOOD New Restaurant (opened in 2012)

1. Fable (1944 W. 4th, 604-732-1322, fablekitchen.ca) 2. The Acorn (3995 Main, 604-556-9001, theacornrestaurant.ca) 3. Wildebeest (120 W. Hastings, 604-687-6880, wildebeest.ca)

Chain Restaurant

1. Cactus Club Cafe (multiple locations, cactusclubcafe.com) 2. White Spot (multiple locations, whitespot.ca) 3. Earls Kitchen & Bar (multiple locations, earls.ca)

Chef (Fine Dining)

1. David Hawksworth — Hawksworth Restaurant 2. Vikram Vij — Vij’s, Rangoli, Railway Express 3. John Bishop — Bishop’s

Chef (Casual)

1. Rob Feenie — Cactus Club 2. Trevor Bird — Fable 3. Kirsten Stevens (tied) — The Endless Meal Supper Club 3. Felipe Ramos (tied) — Rio Brazilian Steakhouse

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

West Coast Cuisine

1. West Restaurant (2881 Granville, 604-738-8938, westrestaurant.com) 2. Coast Restaurant (1054 Alberni, 604-685-5010, glowbalgroup.com/coast) 3. Raincity Grill (1193 Denman, 604-685-7337, raincitygrill.com)

Seafood

1. Coast Restaurant (1054 Alberni, 604-685-5010, glowbalgroup.com/coast) 2. Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House (tied) (777 Thurlow, 604-669-1940, joefortes.ca) 2. Blue Water Cafe + raw bar (tied) (1095 Hamilton, 604-688-8078, bluewatercafe.net) 3. Boathouse Restaurant (tied) (1795 Beach, 604-669-2225; 1305 Arbutus, 604-738-5487, boathouserestaurants.ca) 3. C Restaurant (tied) (2-1600 Howe, 604-681-1164, crestaurant.com)

Chinese

1. Kirin Restaurant (1172 Alberni, 604-682-8333; 555 W. 12th, 604-879-8038, kirinrestaurant.com) 2. Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant (3888 Main, 604-872-8822, sunsuiwah.com)

Committed to our customers, our communities and our planet

choicesmarkets.com Kitsilano 2627 W.16th Ave., Vancouver 604.736.0009

Floral Shop 2615 W. 16th Ave., Vancouver 604.736.7522

Cambie 3493 Cambie St., Vancouver 604.875.0099

Kerrisdale 1888 W. 57th Ave., Vancouver 604.263.4600

Yaletown 16th Annual

16th Annual

1202 Richards St., Vancouver 604.633.2392

Rice Bakery 2595 W. 16th Ave., Vancouver 604.736.0301

SILVER WINNER

SILVER WINNER

2013

2013

Readers’ Choice

Best Organic Produce

Readers’ Choice

Best Grocery Store Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

South Surrey 3248 King George Blvd., Surrey 604.541.3902

Choices at the Crest 8683 10th Ave., Burnaby 604.522.0936

Kelowna 1937 Harvey Ave., Kelowna 250.862.4864

3

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

FOOD 3. Seoul House (1215 W. Broadway, 604-739-9001)

3. B ao Bei Chinese Brasserie (163 Keefer, 604-688-0876, bao-bei.ca)

Singaporean

Japanese

1. T ojo Restaurant (1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050, tojos.com) 2. Guu (multiple locations, guu-izakaya.com) 3. Hapa Izakaya (multiple locations, hapaizakaya.com) Cl ose runners up: Miku (2-1055 W. Hastings, 604-568-3900, mikurestaurant.com); Minami (1118 Mainland, 604-685-8080, minamirestaurant.com); Samurai Japanese Restaurant (1108 Davie, 604-609-0078; 6428 Fraser, 604-676-4479, samuraisushi.ca)

Thai

1. T hai House (1116 Robson, 604-683-3383; 1766 W. 7th, 604-737-0088, thaihouse.com) 2. Sala Thai (102-888 Burrard, 604-683-7999, salathai.ca) 3. Maenam (1938 W. 4th, 604-730-5579, maenam.ca)

Korean

Malaysian

1. Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine (multiple locations, bananaleaf-vancouver.com) 2. Tropika (1128 Robson, 604-737-6002; 2975 Cambie, 604-879-6002, tropika-canada.com) 3. Kaya Malay Bistro (1063 W. Broadway, 604-730-9963, kayamalay.com)

Vietnamese

1. Phnom Penh (244 E. Georgia, 604-682-5777) 2. Pho Hoa (3121 Granville, 604-731-1817, phohoa.com) 3. Pho Tan Vietnamese Restaurant (tied) (4598 Main, 604-873-3345) 3. Pho Goodness (tied) (1183 Davie, 604-568-3253)

n the ti

Bulgogi

c ne

K

inning Award-W oR eAn cUi

Si

Bibimbap

AU

1. J ang Mo Jib (1719 Robson, 604-642-0712, jangmojib.com) 2. S ura Korean Restaurant (1518 Robson, 604-687-7872, surakoreancuisine.com)

1. Red Ginger Asian Cuisine (967 W. Broadway, 604-558-0888) 2. Hawkers Delight (4127 Main, 604-709-8188) 3. Tropika (tied) (1128 Robson, 604-737-6002; 2975 Cambie, 604-879-6002, tropika-canada.com) 3. Café D’Lite (tied) (3144 W. Broadway, 604-733-8882)

Samgyetang

Bossam

SURA

Korean Cuisine 1518 Robson 604.687.7872 4

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

16th Annual

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

FOOD Indian

1. V ij’s Restaurant (1480 W. 11th, 604-736-6664, vijsrestaurant.ca) 2. M aurya Indian Cuisine (1643 W. Broadway, 604-742-0622, mauryaindiancuisine.com) 3. E ast is East (4413 Main, 604-879-2020; 4433 Main, 604-565-4401; 3239 W. Broadway, 604-734-5881, eastiseast.ca)

French

1. L es Faux Bourgeois (663 E. 15th, 604-873-9733, lesfauxbourgeois.com) 2. L e Crocodile (100-909 Burrard, 604-669-4298, lecrocodilerestaurant.com) 3. B istro Pastis (2153 W. 4th, 604-731-5020, bistropastis.com)

Italian

1. I talian Kitchen (1037 Alberni, 604-687-2858, theitaliankitchen.ca) 2. Campanolo (1020 Main, 604-484-6018, campanolorestaurant.ca) 3. C in Cin (tied) (1154 Robson, 604-688-7338, cincin.net) 3. I l Giardino di Umberto (tied) (1382 Hornby, 604-669-2422) 3. T rattoria (tied) (1850 W. 4th, 604-732-1441, trattoriakitchen.com)

Maria’s taverna

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Greek

1. Stepho’s Greek Restaurant (1124 Davie, 604-683-2555) 2. Maria’s Taverna (1037 Denman, 604-731-4722; 2324 W. 4th, 604-731-4722, mariastaverna.ca) 3. Olympia Restaurant (998 Denman, 604-688-8333; 3205 W. Broadway, 604-732-5534, olympiapizza.com)

Mexican

1. Las Margaritas (1999 W. 4th, 604-734-7117, lasmargaritas.com) 2. La Taqueria (322 W. Hastings, 604-568-4406; 2549 Cambie, 604-558-2549, lataqueria.ca) 3. La Casita (tied) (101 W. Georgia, 604-646-2424, lacasita.ca) 3. Bandidas Taqueria (tied) (2781 Commercial, 604-568-8224, bandidastaqueria.com)

Caribbean/West Indies

1. The Reef Restaurant (4172 Main, 604-874-5375; 1018 Commercial, 604-568-5375, thereefrestaurant.com) 2. Calabash Bistro (428 Carrall, 604-568-5882, calabashbistro.com) 3. Havana (1212 Commercial, 604-253-9119, havannarestaurant.ca)

16th Annual

TRADITIONAL GREEK CUISINE GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Consistently voted one of the top Greek food every year.

Thank you for supporting Maria’s for over 25 years.

16th Annual

Once again

Best Burger

10 years running

Check out our newly renovated

Davie Street store.

Under New Management!

16th Annual

Drink and Food Specials Daily!

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

2324 W 4th Ave. (604) 731-4722

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

5

Best New Restaurant: Fable

C

apitalizing on his fame on Top Chef Canada, where he was the Season 2 runner up, chef Trevor Bird opened Fable in May 2012 on West 4th. It was a chance for him to flex his creative muscle and pursue his dream of creating exactly the sort of restaurant where he’d like to eat.

It appears that Vancouverites want to share the same table. Fable was an overnight success, and the gold medal choice for WE Vancouver’s readers. “It’s a dream, really,” he says.

Bird is very conscientious about eating foods that are fresh and healthy. The most popular items on the menu include the steak with black pepper jam, and duck that is seared to crispy perfection and brushed with a sherry glaze.

But the dish that surprises people the 6

most is his Canned Tuna appetizer.

“People don’t quite understand it when they read it on the menu,” he laughs, “but when you eat it, you’re like, ‘Oh shit, this is good!’”

He takes fresh albacore tuna and puts it in a mason jar along with fingerling potatoes, confit lemon, confit tomatoes, olive oil, tarragon and chervil. He submerges the jar in hot water and lets it bathe for about an hour, cooking the tuna and melding all the tastes together. When it arrives on the table, people are given a teaspoon of salt which they mix in to release all the flavours before spreading it on toasted sourdough bread. Delicious!

It’s this sort of creativity that makes all the demands of owning his own restaurant so rewarding.

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

FOOD

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Steakhouse

1. The Keg (multiple locations, kegsteakhouse.com) 2. G otham Steakhouse (615 Seymour, 604-605-8282, gothamsteakkhouse.com) 3. Hy’s Encore Vancouver (637 Hornby, 604-683-7671, hyssteakhouse.com) 4. B lack + Blue (1032 Alberni, 604-637-0777, glowbalgroup.com/blackblue)

Burgers

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER

1. V era’s Burger Shack (multiple locations, verasburgershack.com) 2. W hite Spot (multiple locations, whitespot.ca) 3. R omer’s Burger Bar (multiple locations, romersburgerbar.com)

Readers’ Choice

2013

Pizza

1. N icli Antica Pizzeria (62 E. Cordova, 604-669-6985, nicli-antica-pizzeria.ca) 2. N at’s New York Pizzeria (2684 W. Broadway 604-737-0990; 1080 Denman, 604-642-0777, natspizza.com) 3. Uncle Faith’s (tied) (multiple locations, unclefaith.com) 3. R ocky Mountain Flat Bread Co (tied) (multiple locations, rockymountainflatbread.ca)

NAT’S

NEW YORK

PIZZERIA

Bella Gelateria

Bella

PIZZA BY THE SLICE • DINE IN • TAKE OUT • LOCAL DELIVERY

Old-World Handcrafted Gelato

THANK YOU

to the community & staff for voting us best pizza.

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

16th Annual

BEST GELATO/ICE CREAM

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Real Italians making real Italian pizza for over 20 years.

KITSILANO 2684 W. BROADWAY 604-737-0707

WEST END 1080 DENMAN ST 604-642-0777 1001 West Cordova Street 604.569.1010 www.bellagelateria.com @bellagelateria bellagelateria

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

7

FOOD Cl ose runners up: Via Tevere (1190 Victoria, 604-336-1803, viateverepizzeria.com); Pizzeria Farina (915 Main, 604-681-9334, pizzeriafarina.com)

Barbecue

1. M emphis Blues Barbecue House (multiple locations, memphisbluesbbq.com) 2. P eckinpah BBQ (2 Water, 604-681-5411, peckinpahbbq.com) 3. H og Shack (3900 Bayview, Richmond, 604-272-7264, hogshack.ca)

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Old-School Diner

1. The Templeton Restaurant (1087 Granville, 604-685-4612, thetempleton.ca) 2. Lucy’s Eastside Diner (2708 Main, 604-568-1550) 3. Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe (2095 W. 4th, 604-732-6810, sofiescosmiccafe.com)

Vegetarian

Brewpub

1. Y aletown Brew Pub (1111 Mainland, 604-681-2739) 2. Steamworks (375 Water, 604-689-8729, steamworks.com) 3. S t Augustines (2360 Commercial, 604-569-1911, staugustinesvancouver.com)

Late-Night Dining

1. T he Naam (2724 W. 4th, 604-738-7151, thenaam.com) 2. L ucy’s Eastside Diner (2708 Main, 604-568-1550) 3. D enny’s Restaurants (multiple locations, dennys.ca)

1. The Naam (2724 W. 4th, 604-738-7151, thenaam.com) 2. The Acorn (3995 Main, 604-556-9001, theacornrestaurant.ca) 3. The Foundation (2301 Main, 604-708-0881)

Bread Bakery

1. Terra Breads (multiple locations, terrabreads.com) 2. Cobs Bread (multiple locations, cobsbread.com) 3. Uprising Breads (1697 Venables, 604-254-5635; 3066 W. Broadway, 604-254-5635, uprisingbreads.com)

To all our customers for voting us

est Best Mexican it Restaurant B C y

B est Cit y

Readers’ Choice 2011

13th ANNUAL 2010

14 th ANNUAL

of the

of the

OVER

G O L D W I N NRE

MUCHAS GRACIAS

30 YEARS And still serving you a great Mexican experience in the heart of Kits!

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

@lasmargaritasbc lasmargaritasvancouver @lasmargaritasbc 8

2013

B est Cit y 14 th ANNUAL

of the

Readers’ Choice 2011

B Best Cit y 14th ANNUAL

of the of the

G O LD W IN N E R 13th ANNUAL

Readers’ 2010Choice 2011

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

www.lasmargaritas.com

Thanks a Dozen Vancouver for voting us

Best Independent Grocery Store Best organic Produce Store

www.donaldsmarket.com Vancouver Hastings Vancouver Commercial Dr New West River Market 2342 East Hastings St. 2279 Commercial Drive #130 - 810 Quayside Drive 604-254-3014 604-255-1440 604-525-3331

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

9

FOOD Patisserie

Ice Cream/Gelato

Bagels

Breakfast

1. Thierry (1059 Alberni, 604-608-6870, thierrychocolates.com) 2. T homas Haas (2539 W. Broadway, 604-736-1848, thomashaas.com) 3. B eaucoup Bakery & Cafe (2150 Fir, 604-732-4222, beaucoupbakery.com

1. S olly’s Bagels, Bakery & Deli (multiple locations, sollysbagelry.com) 2. S iegel’s Bagels (1883 Cornwall, 604-737-8151; 1698 Johnson, 604-685-5670, siegelsbagels.com) 3. B enny’s Bagels (2505 W. Broadway, 604-731-9730)

Desserts

1. T rue Confections (866 Denman, 604-682-1292; 3701 W. Broadway, 604-222-8489, trueconfections.ca) 2. Thierry (1059 Alberni, 604-608-6870, thierrychocolates.com) 3. T homas Haas (2539 W. Broadway, 604-736-1848, thomashaas.com)

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

1. Bella Gelateria (1001 W. Cordova, 604-569-1010, bellagelateria.com) 2. La Casa Gelato (1033 Venables, 604-251-3211, lascasagelato.com) 3. Mario’s Gelati (88 E. 1st, 604-879-9411, mariosgelati.com) 1. Joe’s Grill (multiple location, joesgrill.ca) 2. Café Medina (556 Beatty, 604-879-3114, medinacafe.com) 3. Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe (2095 W. 4th, 604-732-6810, sofiescosmiccafe.com)

Coffee Shop (Chain)

1. Starbucks (multiple locations, starbucks.com) 2. JJ Bean (multiple locations, jjbeancoffee.com) 3. Caffé Artigiano (multiple locations, caffeartigiano.com)

Coffee Shop (Independent)

1. Melriches (1244 Davie, 604-689-5282, melriches.com) 2. Revolver Coffee Brew Bar (325 Cambie, 604-558-4444, coffeefoodies.com) 3. Elysian Coffee (590 W. Broadway, 604-874-5909; 1778 W. 5th, 604-734-1778, elysiancoffee.com)

Your original natural food store

Thanks Vancouver!

For voting us Best Independent Grocer

16th Annual

BRONZE WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

1595 Kingsway 604-872-3019

Get This Week’s Flyer at www.famousfoods.ca Open 7 days a week 8am - 9pm

10

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

Best Butcher

Thank you for choosing us, Vancouver!

Best BC Wineries

By Kurtis Kolt

Mission Hill, silver

fter the ballots were all counted, WE Vancouver readers anointed Burrowing Owl, Mission Hill and Quail’s Gate as the top three British Columbia wineries. Of course, this is an extremely subjective category that really comes down to the style of wine that floats your boat, but I like these three choices for a couple reasons.

All of them play an important role in the history and evolution of British Columbia’s wine industry but, more than that, they have all maintained consistent quality over the years, particularly in tougher vintages.

You simply cannot tell the story of British Columbian wine without having Mission Hill as part of the conversation.

Established in 1981, Anthony Von Mandl’s stately winery in West Kelowna is not only our mostawarded and well-known internationally, but big-name global winemakers from Michel Rolland to Fritz Hasselbach get to kick the tires and play around on the property with longtime winemaker John Simes as well. Hasselbach and Simes’ collaborative Martin’s Lane Riesling ($25) has quickly gained cult-status as one of the Okanagan’s best, while the winery’s S.L.C.-level Syrah ($29.99) is a personal favourite for its Old World, earthy spicy character that carries some New World, fruit-forward power.

A

Here’s my take on the bottles you should be grabbing from each winner, the labels I feel express the winery’s strengths and are always dependable, vintage after vintage. Prices in brackets are winery direct.

Burrowing Owl, gold Burrowing Owl was certainly the Next Big Thing when their inaugural 1998 vintage was released, and their wines have been in high demand ever since. Handsome and sturdy packaging aside, they constantly offer great concentration and solid balance; the level of oak used across both whites and reds is always in check. Their Cabernet Franc ($33) shows us why the grape is so much more suited to our climate (its big brother Cabernet Sauvignon being notoriously tough to ripen properly) and can be counted on to be chock-full of red fruit, spice and warm, toasty gingerbread. If you think you don’t like oaky notes in your Chardonnay, don’t be afraid to give their $25 version a whirl. It’s so beautifully integrated — just the perfect amount to handle all of that ripe, tropical fruit.

Quail’s Gate, bronze Finally, Quail’s Gate has been bottling elegant, well-rounded wines since 1989, with their Chenin Blanc ($18.99) being one of the Okanagan’s too-few examples of the pear and honey-laden grape, while their ‘Stewart Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir ($45) consistently sets the bar for “the heartbreak grape” west of the Rockies.

Kurtis Kolt’s wine column, City Cellar, appears every week in WE Vancouver. You can also check out what he has to say at KurtisKolt.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @KurtisKolt.

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

11

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

FOOD

Teahouse

1. D avid’s Tea (multiple locations, davidstea.com) 2. T he Secret Garden (5559 W. Broadway, 604-261-3070, secretgardentea.com) 3. T he Urban Tea Merchant (tied) (1070 W. Georgia, 604-692-0071, urbantea.com) 3. Shaktea (tied) (3702 Main, 604-873-5151, shaktea.ca)

Grocery Store (Chain)

1. W hole Foods Market (multiple locations, wholefoodsmarket.com) 2. Safeway (tied) (multiple locations, safeway.com) 2. C hoices Market (tied) (multiple locations, choicesmarket.com) 3. Save-On (multiple locations, saveonfoods.com)

Grocery Store (Independent)

1. D onald’s Market (2279 Commercial, 604-255-1440, donaldsmarket.com) 2. Stongs (4560 Dunbar, 604-266-1401, stongs.com) 3. F amous Foods (1595 Kingsway, 604-872-3019, famousfoods.ca)

Organic Produce

1. W hole Foods Market (multiple locations,

wholefoodsmarket.com) 2. Choices Market (tied) (multiple locations, choicesmarket.com) 3. Kin’s Farm Market (tied) (multiple locations, kinsfarmmarket.com) 3. Donald’s Market (tied) (2279 Commercial, 604-255-1440, donaldsmarket.com)

Specialty Wine Store

1. Liberty Wine Merchants (multiple locations, libertywinemerchants.com) 2. Marquis Wine Cellars (1034 Davie, 604-684-0445, marquis-wines.com) 3. Legacy Liquor Store (1633 Manitoba, 604-331-7900, legacyliquorstore.com)

Okanagan Wine

1. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (500 Burrowing Owl, Oliver, 1-877-498-0620, bovwine.ca) 2. Mission Hill Family Estate (1730 Mission Hill, Kelowna, 1-250-768-7611, missionhillwinery.com) 3. Quails’ Gate (3303 Boucherie, Kelowna, 1-800-420-9463, quailsgate.com) Cl ose runners up: See Ya Later Ranch (2575 Green Lake, Okanagan Falls, 1-250-497-8267, sylranch.com); Dirty Laundry Vineyard (7311 Fiske, Summerland, 1-250-494-8815, dirtylaundry.ca)

We’ve got your beer here!

Brewery Creek has over 800 craft beers and certified Cicerones to help you choose the one (or few) that are right for you.

(That’s the beer version of a sommelier so they REALLY know what they are talking about!)

Proud to be chosen as your BEST SPECIALTY BEER STORE 4 years in a row!

OPEN 11am-11pm EVERYDAY @BreweryCreek 12

Find us on Facebook

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

14 & Main | 604-872-3373 FREE PARKING AROUND BACK www.brewerycreekliquorstore.com

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

FOOD

Cheesemonger

Specialty Beer Store

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

1. B rewery Creek Liquor Store (tied) (3045 Main, 604-872-3373, brewerycreekliquorstore.com) 1. L egacy Liquor Store (tied) (1633 Manitoba, 604-331-7900, legacyliquorstore.com) 2. Firefly Fine Wines and Ales (2857 Cambie, 604-875-3325, fireflywinesandales.com) 3. Viti Wines & Lager (900 Seymour, 604-683-3806, vitiwinelagers.com)

1. Les Amis du Fromage (1752 W. 2nd, 604-732-4218; 843 W. Hastings, 604-253-4218, buycheese.com) 2. Benton Brothers Fine Cheese (multiple locations, bentonscheese.com) 3. La Grotta Del Fromaggio (1791 Commercial, 604-255-3911)

Microbrewery

1. Seven Seas Fish Co Ltd (tied) (2328 W. 4th, 604-732-8608, 7seas.ca) 1. The Lobster Man (tied) (1807 Mast Tower, 604-687-4228, lobsterman.com) 2. Daily Catch Seafood Company (1418 Commercial, 604-253-3474, dailycatch.org) 3. Finest At Sea (multiple locations, finestatsea.com)

1. Granville Island Brewing (1441 Cartwright, 604-685-0504, gib.ca) 2. Parallel 49 Brewing Co (1950 Triumph, 604-558-2739, parallel49brewing.com) 3. Storm Brewing Ltd (tied) (310 Commercial, 604-255-9119, stormbrewing.org) 3. Central City Brewery (tied) (13450 102nd, 604-582-6630, centralcitybrewing.com)

Butcher

1. Windsor Quality Meats (4110 Main, 604-872-5635, windsorqualitymeats.com) 2. Jackson’s Meat / Deli (2214 W. 4th, 604-738-6328, jacksonsmeatanddeli.com) 3. Save-On-Meats (43 W. Hastings, 604-569-3568, saveonmeats.ca)

Fresh Seafood

Chocolatier

1. Thomas Haas (2539 W. Broadway, 604-736-1848, thomashaas.com) 2. Purdys (multiple locations, purdys.com) 3. Chocolate Arts (1620 W. 3rd, 604-739-0475, chocolatearts.com)

we’re proud to be you favourite local brewery.

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Thanks WE Readers for your votes!

For more of Vancouver’s best stand up comedy, check us out at: www.yukyuks.com • 604-696-9857 2837 Cambie (at 12th)

WASSERMAN + PARTNERS

GIB P31063 Feb 22, 2012 11.30am

TRIM: 2.29” x 3.58” BLEED: LIVE: VISIBLE:

BestCYAN of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

13

THANK YOU VANCOUVER FOR VOTING FORTUNE SOUND CLUB! 1ST PLACE DANCE CLUB 1ST PLACE BAR (CASUAL) 1ST PLACE BEST BARTENDER (A.DUDLEY) 1ST PLACE BEST LOCAL DJ (MJE) 2ND PLACE LIVE MUSIC VENUE

14

Best of the City 2012 Pocket Guide

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

after dark

The Fortune Sound Club won gold as Best Dance Club and gold as Best Casual Bar. One of its bartenders, Aaron Dudley, also won for Best Bartender.

AFTER DARK

Live Music Venue

1. Aaron Dudley — Fortune Sound Club 2. Ryan Steele (tied) — 1181 2. Jay Jones (tied) — Donnelly Group 3. Nigel Alexander (Alibi Room)

1. Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville, 604-739-4550) 2. Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender, 604-569-1758, fortunesoundclub.com) 3. Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward, 604-676-0541, biltmorecabaret.com)

Bar (Casual)

Dance Club

Best Bartender

1. Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender, 604-5691758, fortunesoundclub.com) 2. The Cove Neighbourhood Pub (3681 W. 4th, 604-734-1205, thecovepub.ca) 3. 1181 (1181 Davie, 604-787-7130, 1181.ca)

Bar (Formal)

1. Barcelona Ultra Lounge (1180 Granville, 604-249-5151, barcelonanights.ca) 2. Hawksworth Restaurant (801 W. Georgia, 604-673-7000, hawksworthrestaurant.com) 3. Pourhouse (162 Water, 604-568-7022, pourhousevancouver.com) Close runner up: Yew in the Four Seasons (791 W. Georgia, 604-689-9333, fourseasons.com)

1. Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender, 604-569-1758, fortunesoundclub.com) 2. Celebrities Night Club (1022 Davie, 604-681-6180, celebritiesnightclub.com) 3. Ginger 62 (tied) (1219 Granville, 604-678-8991, ginger62.com) 3. The Roxy (tied) (932 Granville, 604-331-7999, roxyvan.com)

Gay Bar/Club

1. Celebrities Night Club (1022 Davie, 604-681-6180, celebritiesnightclub.com) 2. 1181 (1181 Davie, 604-787-7130, 1181.ca) 3. Oasis Ultra Lounge (1240 Thurlow, 604-685-1724, oasisondavie.com)

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

15

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

entertainment

Comedy Club

1. Yuk Yuk’s (2837 Cambie, 604-696-9857, yukyuks.com) 2. The Comedy Mix (1015 Burrard, 604-684-5050, thecomedymix.com) 3. Theatre Sports League (1502 Duranleau, 604-738-7013, vtsl.com)

Place to Meet New People

1. The Cambie (515 Seymour, 604-684-7751, thecambie.com) 2. The Endless Meal Supper Club (theendlesssmeal.ca) 3. Starbucks (multiple locations, starbucks.com)

Local Band

1. Buckman Coe (buckmancoe.bandcamp.com) 2. Hey Ocean (tied) (loveheyocean.com) 2. Mother Mother (tied) (mothermothersite.com) 3. Deborah Ledon (deborahledon.com)

Local DJ

1. Marlon English (facebook.com/marlon.j.english) 2. Hot-Wax (604-649-6919, hot-wax.com) 3. Adam Dreaddy (facebook.com/dj-Adam-Dreaddy)

Entertainment, Sports LOCAL CASINO

1. River Rock Casino Resort (8888 River, 604-247-8900, riverrock.com) 2. Edgewater Casino (311-750 Pacific, 604-687-3343, edgewatercasino.ca) 3. Starlight Casino (350 Gifford, 604-777-2916, starlightcasino.ca)

WHITECAPS PLAYER 1. Jay Demerit 2. YP Lee 3. Joe Cannon

LIONS PLAYER 1. Travis Lulay 2. Geroy Simon 3. Paul McCallum

CANUCKS PLAYER 1. Ryan Kesler 2. Kevin Bieksa 3. Alex Burrows (tied) 3. Henrik Sedin (tied)

16

LOCAL SPORTS TEAM 1. Canucks 2. Whitecaps 3. Giants

CULTURE/PEOPLE Favourite Vancouverite 1. David Suzuki 2. Trevor Linden 3. Mark Brand

LOCAL CELEBRITY YOU’D LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER 1. Michael Buble 2. Trevor Linden 3. David Suzuki

Local Business Open for 25+ Years

1. Jim Pattison 2. Umberto Menghi (tied) with Naam and Zulu 3. La Bodega (tied) 3. Flamingo House Chinese Restaurant (tied)

Local Entrepreneur 1. Jim Pattison 2. Peter Girgis 3. Ken Charko

Performing Arts Festival

1. PuSh International Performing Arts Festival (300-640 W. Broadway, 604-874-7874, pushfestival.ca) 2. Vancouver Fringe Festival (1398 Cartwright, 604-257-0350, vancouverfringe.com) 3. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival (203-456 W. Broadway, 604-737-0625, bardonthebeach.org)

Music Festival

1. Vancouver International Jazz Festival (295 W. 7th, 604-872-5200, coastaljazz.ca) 2. Vancouver Folk Festival (2425 Quebec, 604-602-9798, thefestival.bc.ca) 3. Olio Festival (facebook.com/oliofestival) tie with Live at Squamish (squamishfestival.com)

Visual Arts Festival

1. Vancouver International Film Festival (1181 Seymour, 604-685-0260, viff.org) 2. Eastside Culture Crawl (108-1000 Parker, 778-960-7575, eastsideculturecrawl.com) 3. Queer Arts Festival (21706-1424 Commercial, 604-802-7269, queerartsfestival.com) Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

M

Y

Y

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

culture

Neighbourhood Festival/Event

Choral Group

1. Car-Free Day (Multiple locations, carfreevancouver.org) 2. Vancouver Greek Summerfest (4641 Boundary, 604-458-6432, vancouvergreekssummerfest.com) 3. Vancouver Pride Festival (304-1080 Howe, 604-687-0955, vancouverpride.ca)

1. Vancouver Men’s Chorus (1270 Chestnut, 604-669-7464, vancouvermenschorus.ca) 2. Chor Leoni (949 W. 49th, 604-263-7061, chorleoni.org) 3. Musica Intima Vocal Ensemble (204-3102 Main, 604-731-6618, musicaintima.org)

Theatre Company

Classical Music Group

1. Arts Club Theatre Company (1585 Johnson, 604-687-5315, artsclub.com) 2. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival (203-456 W. Broadway, 604-737-0625, bardonthebeach.org) 3. Vancouver Theatre Sports League (1502 Duranleau, 604-738-7013, btsl.com)

1. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (500-843 Seymour, 604-684-9100, vancouversymphony.ca) 2. Vancouver Opera (1945 McLean, 604-682-2871, vancouveropera.ca) 3. Pacific Baroque Orchestra (604-215-0406, pacificbaroque.com)

Dance Company

1. Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby, 604-662-4700, vancouverartgallery.bc.ca) 2. Museum of Anthropology at UBC (6393 NW. Marine, 604-822-5087, moa.ubc.ca) 3. Contemporary Art Gallery (555 Nelson, 604-681-2700, contemporaryartgallery.ca)

1. Ballet BC (677 Davie, 604-732-5003, balletbc.com) 2. Goh Ballet Academy (2345 Main, 604-872-4014, gohballet.com) 3. The Burlesque Beauties

Art Gallery (Public)

Art Gallery (Private)

UBC MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY

1. Douglas Reynolds Gallery (2335 Granville, 604-731-9292, douglasreynoldsgallery.com) 2. Ayden Gallery (2103-88th W. Pender, 604-376-6947, aydengallery.com) 3. Rennie Collection at Wing Sang (tied) (51 E. Pender, 604-682-4088, renniecollection.org) 3. Equinox Gallery (tied) (525 Great Northern, 604-736-2405, equinoxgallery.com)

First-Run Movie Theatre

1. Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver (900 Burrard, 604-630-1407, cineplex.com/scotiabank) 2. Fifth Avenue Cinemas (2110 Burrard, 604-734-7469, festivalcinemas.ca) 3. Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas (Tinseltown) (88 W. Pender, 604-806-0799)

Repertory/Art-House Movie Theatre 1. Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway, 604-879-3456, riotheatre.ca) 2. Fifth Avenue Cinemas (2110 Burrard, 604-734-7469, festivalcinemas.ca) 3. Pacific Cinematheque (200-1131 Howe, 604-688-8202, thecinematheque.ca)

at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada

moa.ubc.ca 18

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

shopping for the home SHOPPING FOR THE HOME Home Furnishings (Chain)

1. Ikea (multiple locations, ikea.com) 2. Urban Barn (multiple locations, urbanbarn.com) 3. Urban Brick (2360 Granville, 604-734-7963, thebrick.com)

Home Furnishings (Independent) 1. Parliament (115 Water, 604-689-0800, parliamentinteriors.com) 2. Liberty Beautiful Living (1062 Homer, 604-682-7499, libertyliving.ca) 3. Moe’s Home Collection (tied) (1728 Glen, 604-687-5599, moeshome.ca) 3. The Cross Decor & Design (tied) (1198 Homer, 604-689-2900, thecrossdesign.com)

Home Accessories

1. HomeSense (493 Robson, 604-683-4406, homesense.ca) 2. Ikea (multiple locations, ikea.com) 3. Parliament (115 Water, 604-689-0800, parliamentinteriors.com)

Vic-tree is ours!

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Home Appliances

1. Trail Appliances (2876 Rupert, 604-434-8711, trailappiances.com) 2. Sears (multiple locations, sears.ca) 3. Coast Appliances (8488 Main, 604-321-6644, coastappliances.com)

Office Furnishings

1. Staples (multiple locations, staples.ca) 2. Ikea (multiple locations, ikea.com) 3. Heritage (807 Powell, 604-688-2357; 1588 Rand, 604-688-2381, heritageoffice.com)

Antiques & Collectibles

1. Bakers Dozen Antiques (3520 Main, 604-879-3348, antiquesincanada.com) 2. Refind on Main (tied) (1849 Main, 778-855-0969, refindhomefurnishings.com) 2. Attic Treasures (tied) (944 Commercial, 604-254-0220, attictreasuresvancouver.com) 3. Sugar Barrel Antiques (4514 Main, 604-876-5234, sba-antiques.com)

Second-Hand/Consignment Furnishings 1. Value Village (multiple locations, valuevillage.com)

VANCOUVER’S DOWNTOWN GARDEN CENTRE 1401 Hornby St., Vancouver 604-662-3303 Stor e Hours: Monday - Sunday 10 a m - 6 • www.a r tk n a p p s .c a

16th Annual

16th Annual

BRONZE WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Thank You! for voting us your favourite garden centre!

We are happy to be back on Broadway and look forward to seeing you this spring.

David Hunter Garden Centers

Your garden centre & so much more!

2560 West Broadway • 604-733-1534 www.davidhuntergardencenters.com HOURS: 9am-5:30pm 7 Days a Week

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

19

shopping for the home

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

2. Sellution Vintage Furniture (3206 Main, 604-876-4517) 3. Refind on Main (1849 Main, 778-855-0969, refindhomefurnishings.com)

Hardware (Chain)

1. Home Depot (2388 Cambie, 604-675-1260; 900 Terminal, 604-608-1423, homedepot.ca) 2. Home Hardware (multiple locations, homehardware.ca) 3. Rona (multiple locations, rona.ca)

Hardware (Independent)

1. Home Hardware (multiple locations, homehardware.ca) 2. The Little Hardware Co (1320 Davie, 604-687-6285) 3. Kerrisdale Lumber (6191 W. Blvd, 604-261-4274, kerrisdalelumber.com)

Kitchenware/Cooking

1. Ming Wo (multiple locations, mingwo.com) 2. Gourmet Warehouse (1340 E. Hastings, 604-253-3022, gourmetwarehouse.ca) 3. CookWorks (377 Howe, 604-662-4918; 1548 W. Broadway, 604-731-1148, cookworks.ca)

Gardening

1. Art Knapp Plantland & Florist (1401 Hornby, 604-662-3303, artknapps.ca) 2. Garden Works (gardenworks.ca) 3. David Hunter Garden Centers (2560 W. Broadway, 604-733-1534, davidhuntergardencenters.com)

Lighting

1. Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre (2285 Cambie, 604-879-2494, rlrbc.com) 2. Home Depot (tied) (2388 Cambie, 604-675-1260; 900 Terminal, 604-608-1423, homedepot.ca) 2. Ikea (tied) (multiple locations, ikea.com) 3. The Lighting Warehouse (12420 Bridgeport, 604-270-3339, thelightingwarehouse.com)

Home Electronics

1. Best Buy (2220 Cambie, 604-638-4966, bestbuy.ca) 2. Future Shop (1740 W. Broadway, 604-739-3000; 798 Granville, 604-683-2502, futureshop.ca) 3. London Drugs (multiple locations, londondrugs.com)

Blight’s and Gandy’s

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

16th Annual

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Thanks for voting us Best Hardware Store & Best Independent Hardware Store

Save $5

on any gallon Beautitone Paint.

With this ad. Expires April 30th, 2013.

Blight’s Home Hardware 3322 Dunbar Street Vancouver, BC 604-738-3312 20

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

Gandy’s Home Hardware 2262 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, BC 604-733-8014

shopping for self Florist

1. Blumen Floral Boutique (438 W 8th, 604-708-0882, blumen.ca) 2. Flower Factory (3604 Main, 604-871-1008, flowerfactory.ca) 3. Flowerz (2883 W. Broadway, 604-742-1000, flower-z.com)

SHOPPING FOR SELF Unique Gifts

1. Front and Company (3772 Main, 604-879-8431, frontandcompany.ca) 2. Obsessions (101-595 Howe, 604-633-0091, obsessionsonline.com) 3. Parliament (tied) (115 Water, 604-689-0800, parliamentinteriors.com) 3. Walrus (tied) (3408 Cambie, 604-874-9770, walrushome.com)

Men’s Apparel

1. The Bay (650-W 41st, 604-261-3311; 674 Granville, 604-681-6211, thebay.com) 2. Harry Rosen (650 W. 41st, 604-266-1172; 700 W. Georgia, 604-683-6861, harryrosen.com) 3. Holt Renfrew (tied) (737 Dunsmuir, 604-681-3121, holtrenfrew.com) 3. Moores Clothing for Men (tied) (524 Granville, 604-669-1712, mooresclothing.com) Close runners up: Roden Gray (8 Water, 604-689-7302, rodengray.com); Zara (1056 Robson, 604-677-9859, zara.com)

Women’s Apparel

1. Aritzia (1110 Robson, 604-684-3251, Oakridge, 604-269-0892; Pacific Centre, 604-681-9301, aritzia.com) 2. Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir, 604-681-3121, holtrenfrew.com) 3. H&M (609 Granville, 604-692-0308, hm.com)

Women’s Apparel Local Independent

1. Plenty (1107 Robson, 604-689-4478; 2803 W. Broadway, 604-736-4484, getplenty.com) 2. Devil May Wear (3957 Main, 604-218-2515, devil-may-wear.ca) 3. Spank (multiple locations, spankclothing.ca)

Vintage Clothing

1. Front and Company (3772 Main, 604-879-8431, frontandcompany.ca) 2. Value Village (multiple locations, valuevillage.com) 3. Mintage (1714 Commercial, 604-646-8243, mintagevintage.com)

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

Shoes

1. Gravity Pope (2205 W. 4th, 604-731-7673, gravitypope.com) 2. John Fluevog (837 Granville, 604-688-2828; 65 Water, 604-688-6228, fluevog.com) 3. Browns (multiple locations, brownsshoes.com)

Shopping Centre

1. Pacific Centre (701 W. Georgia, 604-688-7235, pacificcentre.ca) 2. Oakridge (650 W. 41st, 604-261-2511, oakridgecentre.com) 3. Metrotown (4700 Kingsway, 604-438-4715, metropolisatmetrotown.com)

Shopping Street 1. Robson 2. Main 3. 4th Avenue

Toy Store

1. Toys R Us (1154 W. Broadway, 604-733-8697, toysrus.ca) 2. Granville Island Toy Company (1-1496 Cartwright, 604-684-0076; 3298 Main, 604-875-0065, toycompany.ca) 3. Kaboodles (tied) (multiple locations, kaboodlestoystore.com) 3. Toybox (tied) (3002 W. Broadway, 604-738-4322, toyjungle.ca)

Jeweller

1. Tiffany & Co (multiple locations, tiffany.ca) 2. Birks (tied) (698 W. Hastings, 604-669-3333; 650 W 41st, 604-266-2301, birks.com) 2. Spence Diamonds (tied) (888 Burrard, 604-734-3912, spencediamonds.com) 3. Ragnar Jewellers (8038 Granville, 604-261-0412; 285-650 W.41st, 604-261-5138, ragnar.ca)

Car Dealership (New)

1. Honda (multiple locations, honda.ca) 2. The BMW Store (2040 Burrard, 604-659-3200, thebmwstore.ca) 3. Toyota (multiple locations, toyota.ca)

Car Dealership (Used)

1. Auto One (8555 Cambie, 1-877-350-7307, autoone.ca) 2. Dueck Auto Group (888 Terminal, 1-888-818-6358; 400 SE. Marine, 1-877-606-4115, dueckgm.com) 3. Toyota (tied) (multiple locations, toyota.ca) 3. Honda (tied) (multiple locations, honda.ca)

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

21

Best Blogger: Miss 604

W

hen Rebecca Bollwitt started her blog, it was more like an online personal diary. “There really was no goal,” she says. “It was to write about my day, the shows I watched, the music I listened to…”

cheerleader but more of the enthusiast who shows her love of the city by embracing many of the activities it has to offer. “The focus is not ‘Oh, look at me, look at what I’m doing. I’m writing about what other people can do….

The year was 2004. There were only two other bloggers in Vancouver, plus musician Matthew Good, and Bollwitt laughs when she says her mother was her primary fan (and reader.)

“I write about things my mom can talk about at her office. It’s for people who want to get out and about and don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of money.”

Today, Bollwitt’s mother is still an avid follower of Miss 604 — along with the roughly 5,000 other people a day who visit Bollwitt’s popular blog or have signed up for her RSS feed, not to mention the almost 41,000 people who follow her every move on Twitter.

She’s informed, informative and seems to know every corner of this city and beyond. She’s not so much Vancouver’s 22

As to the ethical debate about how honest bloggers should be about the perks that can come with the job, Bollwitt says, “My readers have helped keep me accountable. They are really smart and wanted me to have disclosures. As long as you’re up front about it, they’re fine. I don’t want to piss my readers off.”

Judging by her success in Best of the City, she’s a long way from doing that.

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

services

SERVICES

3. Brad A Davis (1050 Howe, 778-238-0801, brad-davis.com

Auto Repairs & Service

1. Pawlik Automotive (30-966 SW. Marine, 604-327-7112, pawlikautomotive.com) 2. Ootmar Automotive (65 E. 3rd, 604-681-1727, ootmar.ca) 3. Axle Alley Tires-Auto Repair Ltd (tied) (396 W. 5th, 604-875-9988, axlealley.ca) 3. Tremblay Motors Ltd (tied) (1505 W 3rd, 604-682-0044, tremblaymotors.ca)

Travel Agency

1. Flight Centre (multiple locations, flightcentre.ca) 2. Travel Masters (200-2678 W. Broadway, 604-659-4150; 1604-1166 Alberni, 604-568-3944, travelmasters.ca) 3. BCAA (999 W. Broadway, 604-268-5600; 2347 W. 41st, 604-268-5800,bcaa.com)

Realtor

1. The Mike & Will Team (204-345 Robson, 604-782-3545, mikeandwill.com) 2. Aaron Jasper (204-345 Robson, 604-669-3131, aaronjasper.ca)

Real Estate Agency

1. Remax (multiple locations, remax.ca) 2. Royal LePage (City Centre, 345 Robson, 604-408-9311, royallepage.ca) 3. Century 21(multiple locations, century21.ca)

Real Estate Developer

1. Bosa (500-1901 Rosser, 604-294-0666, bosadev.com) 2. Westbank (501-1067 W. Cordova, 604-685-8986, westbankcorp.om) 3. Cressey (800-925 W. Georgia, 604-683-1256, cressey.com)

Mortgage Broker

1. Ryan McKinley (ryan_mckinley@vancity.com, 604-340-1611) 2. Tony Marchigiano (tony.marchigiano@hotmail.com, 604-505-7109) 3. Birgit Holm (birgit@mawest.ca, 604-762-0166)

Celebrating 20 years of exceptional, award winning automotive service

We Specialize In: • Air Conditioning Service • AirCare Repairs

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

16th Annual

• Diesel Repairs and Service • Maintenance is how we serve you best!

As voted by you, we are your BEST choice for full service vehicle maintenance and car repairs. We service and repair all makes and models of cars, trucks, vans, 4x4’s, SUV’s and service vehicles.

#30 - 966 SW Marine Drive 604-327-7112 www.pawlikautomotive.com

Enjoy a well maintained vehicle

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Thank you for making us the #1 Choice in Vancouver!

2390 Burrard Street, Vancouver Sales 1 877 790 0978 • Service 1 888 415 2205 www.carterhonda.com

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

23

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

services

Financial Institution

1. Vancity (multiple locations, vancity.com) 2. TD Canada Trust (multiple locations, tdcanadatrust.com) 3. RBC (multiple locations, rbc.com)

Hotel (Chain)

1. Fairmont (multiple locations, fairmont.com) 2. Westin (433 Robson, 604-602-1999; 1601 Bayshore, 604-682-3377, westin.com) 3. Four Seasons (791 W. Georgia, 604-689-9333, fourseasons.com)

3. Cambie Plumbing & Heating (tied) (3905 Fraser, 604-873-1874, cambieplumbing.com) 3. Mr Swirl (tied) (604-731-4664, mrswirl.com)

Moving Company

1. Easy Around Moving (2540 Larch, 604-728-8941, topmoving.ca) 2. The Move Man (1121 W. 15th, 604-505-3715, themoveman.com) 3. Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving (1-888-396-8883, twosmallmen.com)

Hotel (Independent)

Construction/Renovation Contractor

Plumber

Continuing-Education Facility

1. Opus Hotel (322 Davie, 604-642-6787, opushotel.com) 2. The Loden (1177 Melville, 604-669-5060, theloden.com) 3. Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (845 Hornby, 604-689-7777, wedgewoodhotel.com)

1. Hillcrest Plumbing + Heating (212 E. 17th, 604-879-1415, hillcrestplumbing.com) 2. Yaletown Plumbing (1503-1255 Seymour, 604-727-4484, yaletownplumbing.com) ell ! or s today uy e b m o t l l g a kin ?C Loo home a

AARON JASPER

realtor ® |

Working for you!

604.669.3131 aaronjasper@royallepage.ca

aaronjasper.ca

@aaron _ jasper fb.com/aaronrealtor City Center Vancouver

1. HDL Group (1-9049 Shaughnessy, 604-324-4352, hdlgroup.ca) 2. Level One Construction + renovations (202-1610 Clarke, 604-647-1718, levelone.ca) 3. Klondike Contracting (300-1375 W. 6th, 604-708-3337, klondikecontracting.com)

1. UBC 2. Langara 3. VCC

Being good with money feels great.

It also feels great to be chosen Gold by readers of the WE. Because it shows you believe there’s a way to make money work hard for you and for your community.

Thank you Vancity members, staff and everyone who voted.

Make Good Money (TM) is a trademark of Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.

24

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

health & fitness HEALTH & FITNESS Sporting Goods (Chain)

1. Sportchek (multiple locations, sportcheck.ca) 2. Mountain Equipment Co-Op (130 W. Broadway, 604-872-7858, mec.ca) 3. Atmosphere (multiple locations, atmosphere.ca)

Sporting Goods (Local)

1. Sports Junkies (102 W. Broadway, 604-879-6000, sportsjunkies.com) 2. Cyclone Taylor Sports (6575 Oak, 604-266-3316, cyclonetaylor.com) 3. Abbie’s Sporting Goods (4774 Main, 604-874-6910, abbiessports.com)

Sports Apparel

1. Lululemon (multiple locations, lululemon.com) 2. Sportchek (multiple locations, sportcheck.ca) 3. Mountain Equipment Co-Op (130 W. Broadway, 604-872-7858, mec.ca)

Board & Ski Shop

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

2. Comor Sports (1980 Burrard, 604-736-7547, comorsports.com) 3. Pacific Border (1793 W. 4th, 604-734-7245, pacificborder.com)

Bikes & Bike Repairs

1. Our Community Bikes (3283 Main, 604-879-2453, pedalpower.org) 2. Simon’s Bike Shop (602 Robson, 604-602-1181, simonsbikeshop.com) 3. Denman Bike Shop (tied) (710 Denman, 604-685-9755, denmanbikeshop.com) Close runners up: Reckless Bike Stores (1810 Fir, 604-731-2420; 110 Davie, 604-648-2600, reckless.ca); Super Champion (245 Main, 604-689-3610, superchampionshop.org); Bike Doctor (137 W. Broadway, 604-873-2453, thebikedr.com)

Fitness Facility

1. Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club (multiple locations, stevenashfitnessclubs.com) 2. YMCA of Greater Vancouver (tied) (multiple locations, ymca.ca) 2. Symmetrix (tied) (1226 Seymour, 604-682-6765, symmetrix.ca) 3. Latin Fitness Ztudio (A-5595 Kingsway, 778-995-9426, latinztudio.com)

FINDING GREAT HOMES

1. The Boardroom (1745 W. 4th, 604-734-7669, boardroomshop.com)

for great people

778.238.0801 | brad@brad-­davis.com w w w . b r a d -­ d a v i s . c o m

1050 howe st vancouver bc, V6Z 1P5 t e l : 6 0 4 . 6 8 9 . 5 11 5 f a x : 6 0 4 . 6 8 9 . 5 6 6 16th Annual

16th Annual

SILVER WINNER Readers’ Choice

BRONZE WINNER

2013

Readers’ Choice

2013

Thanks for voting me your favourite mortgage broker!

FINDING GREAT HOMES

Tony Marchigiano

for great people

Mortgage Specialist | Royal Bank of Canada T. 604-505-7109 | F. 778-737-0054

778.238.0801 | brad@braddavis.com w w w . b r a d - d a v i s . c o m 1050 howe st vancouver | 604.689.5665

Twitter: @RBCTMarchigiano http://mortgage.rbc.com/tony.marchigiano

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

25

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

health & fitness

Yoga Studio

1. Y Yoga (multiple locations, yyoga.ca) 2. Semperviva Yoga (multiple locations, semperviva.com) 3. Bikram Yoga Vancouver (multiple locations, bikramyogavancouver.com)

Pilates Studio

1. Y Yoga (multiple locations, yyoga.ca) 2. Exhale Studio (1083 Cambie, 604-879-2446, exhalestudio.com) 3. Line 5 Studios (1 W. Pender, 604-558-1030, line5studios.com)

Specialty Health Store

1. Finlandia Pharmacy & Health Centre (1111 W. Broadway, 604-733-5323, findlandiapharmacy.com) 2. I Love Health Store (430 Homer, 778-855-4301, ilovehealth.ca) 3. Body Energy Club (multiple locations, bodyenergyclub.com)

Naturopathic Retailer/Clinic

1. Elements Wellness Centre (207-2678 W. Broadway, 604-732-9355, elementswellnesscentre.com)

2. Sage Clinic (487 Davie, 604-697-0397, sageclinic.com) 3. Finlandia Pharmacy & Health Centre (1111 W. Broadway, 604-733-5323, findlandiapharmacy.com)

Natural-Health Practitioner

1. Kelli Taylor (207-2678 W. Broadway, 604-732-9355, elementswellnesscentre.com) 2. Dr Thara Vayali (213-1529 W. 6th, 604-500-1888, tharavayali.ca) 3. Dr Nari Pidutti (608-1788 W. Broadway, 604-737-0012, springseternal.com)

Dental Clinic

1. Kits Family Dental (2223 W. Broadway, 604-738-1816, kitsfamilydental.com) 2. Aarm Dental Group (multiple locations, aarm-dental.com) 3. Broadway Dental (700-777 W. Broadway, 604-872-8201, preventivedentistry.ca)

Chiropractor

1. Dr. Brenda Mason (3-1238 Homer, 604-688-1500, yaletownchiropractic.com) 2. Dr. Harold Meinzer (2184 W. Broadway, 604-742-0111, back2health.ca)

for voting us GOLD 2 years in a row for Best Specialty Health Store

&

for voting us one of the Best Naturopathic Retailer/Clinic in Vancouver 16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

26

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

looking good

Thanks for voting us Best Movers!

3. Dr. Randall Trester (3-1864 W. 1st, 604-736-8353, drrandalltrester.com)

LOOKING GOOD Hair Salon

1. Hype Hair Studio (2695 W. 4th, 604-732-4973, hypehairstudio.com) 2. Suki’s (multiple locations, sukis.com) 3. Bambu the salon (1025 Mainland, 604-662-7701, bambuthesalon.ca)

Manicure/Pedicure

1. Pure Nail Bar (multiple locations, purenailbar.com) 2. Absolute Spa Group (multiple locations, absolutespa.com) 3. Element Spa for Nails (1151 Homer, 604-687-6245, elementspafornails.com)

• Efficient, Professional Staff • Competitive Rates • Licensed and insured • Offers an eco-friendly alternative to cardboard moving boxes 16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Eyewear

1. Bruce Eyewear (219 Abbott, 604-662-8300, bruceeyewear.com) 2. Urban Eyes (1620 Davie, 604-899-8899, urbaneyesvancouver.com) 3. Abasa Optical (1037 Davie, 604-687-3937, abasaoptical.com)

Call today:

604.728.8941

www.easyaroundmoving.com

Aarm Dental Group We’re in your neighborhood to make you smile…

New Patients Welcome

Voted #1 Dental Clinic Gold Winner 2010 & 2011

on Beach 112-1000 Beach Ave. at BC Place 919 Expo Blvd. on Cambie (Opening Summer 2013) at Coal Harbour 1560 Coal Harbour Quay on Denman 917 Denman St. at Hornby 1270 Hornby St. in Yaletown 1156 Pacific Blvd. in Squamish 103- 40775 Tantalus Rd. in Whistler Village 12- 4122 Village Green

604-683-5530 604-689-0965 604-684-0224 604-688-2354 604-647-0006 604-681-8530 604-629-0386

Voted #2 Dental Clinic Silver Winner 2012 & 2013

604-898-4318 604-966-0599

Open 6 Days a Week

www.aarm-dental.com

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

27

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

LOOKING GOOD

SKIN-CARE FACILITY

COSMETICS RETAILER

COSMETIC SURGERY/LASER EYE CENTRE

TAILOR

1. SKN Holistic Rejuvenation Clinic Inc (150-1152 Mainland, 604-568-6333, sknclinic.ca) 2. SKOAH (multiple locations, skoah.com) 3. MASC (433 Davie, 1-877-940-4555, shopmasc.com)

1. Pacific Laser Eye Centre (1401 W. Broadway, 604-736-2625, pacific-laser.com) 2. London Eye Centre (918 12th, 604-526-2020; 306-126 15th, 604-985-2011, laser eye.com) 3. Lasik MD (101-1281 W. Georgia, 604-639-8088, lasikmd.com)

1. Sephora (701 W. Georgia, 778-331-3942, sephora.com) 2. MAC (multiple locations, maccosmetics.com) 3. Shoppers Drug Mart (multiple locations, shoppersdrugmart.ca)

1. Oakridge Tailors (5534 Cambie, 604-325-0545) 2. Kerrisdale Tailors (tied) 2082 W 41st, 604-266-6422) 2. LGFG Fashion House (tied) (2082 W. 41st, 604-266-6422, lgfgfashionhouse.com) 3. Alberts Tailor (227-470 Granville, 604-683-2890, albertstailor.com)

SPA

1. Spa Utopia & Salon (1001-999 Canada Place, 604-689-7700, spautopia.ca) 2. Absolute Spa Group (multiple locations, absolutespa.com) 3. Willow Stream Spa (1038 Canada Place, 604-695-5550, fairmont.com)

28

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

Best Radio: Kid Carson

W

hen it was announced at the WE Vancouver office that Kid Carson had been chose as Vancouver’s Best Radio Personality by our readers, some of our female staff members swooned. Why? Because, as they said, the host of Sonic 104.9 radio’s morning show “gets” women.

They love listening to him because he listens to them.

Who taught you to be so thoughtful of others?

KC: My mom. I remember many discussions at a young age about how everyone is equal regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality or financial situation. That was hammered into me almost as if she was terrified to have a child who felt otherwise! Ha. Thumbs up for mom!

I think we’re all connected in a very literal way. It’s obvious that emotions and experiences are contagious. We feed off each other as intimate partners, as co-workers, and even as a city.

You seem to be able to look at life’s issues and blessings from all perspectives.

KC: I just came to accept that I’m not ‘right’ about anything... There’s always a book, or a person or an idea that reminds me how little I know.

That keeps me open to new ideas all the time. Sometimes people don’t get that about my personality on the radio, because when you’re doing a radio show, you have to polarize the audience to spark a discussion. So I’ll dig my heels in and represent a hard opinion on something, when in reality... what the hell do I know!!?? My

view is just a snapshot of the moment.

I’m hopefully evolving all the time.

What do you try to convey through your show?

KC: If there’s ever an overall theme to my show, it’s that happiness doesn’t come from the things we’re trained to believe. We’re all just trying to be happy. We’re on the same mission, Let’s help each other.

I use the term “knowledge Bomb” when I share a cool piece of info. I think it’s the “real talk” that people enjoy the most. I’m not an expert on anything… but I like to start conversations that could potentially carry on with co-workers or friends throughout the day. That being said, I really enjoy the distraction of pop culture. It’s fun, and always getting weirder, and it’s part of why I LOVE working at a Top-40 Radio station.

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

29

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

lifestyle & Hobbies

LIFESTYLE & HOBBIES

Independent Music Store

1. Rogers (tied) (multiple locations, rogers.com) 1. Telus (tied) (multiple locations, telus.com) 2. Fido (multiple locations, fido.ca) 3. Bell (multiple locations, bell.ca)

1. Zulu Records (1972 W. 4th, 604-738-3232, zulurecords.com) 2. Red Cat Records (4332 Main, 604-708-9422, redcat.ca) 3. Tom Lee (929 Granville, 604-685-8471, tomleemusic.ca)

Personal Computers

Tattoo/Piercing Studio

Mobile-Devices Retailer

1. Apple (multiple locations, apple.com) 2. NCIX (1887 W Broadway, 604-731-9208; 1711 W. Broadway, 604-739-9985, ncix.xom) 3. Best Buy (2220 Cambie, 604-638-4966, bestbuy.ca) 3. Future Shop (1740 W. Broadway, 604-739-3000; 798 Granville, 604-683-2502, futureshop.ca)

Musical Instruments

1. Long and McQuade (368 Terminal, 604-734-4886, long-mcquade.com) 2. Tom Lee Music (929 Granville, 604-685-8471, tomleemusic.ca) 3. Prussin Music (3607 W. Broadway, 604-736-3036, prussinmusic.com)

1. Adrenaline Professional Body Piercing & Tattoos (1014 Granville, 604-669-6800; 1926 W. 4th, 604-734-8282, adrenalinevancity.com) 2. Sacred Heart Tattoo (725 Nelson, 604-647-0826, sacredhearttattoo.ca) 3. Gastown Tattoo Parlour (tied) (105 W. Cordova, 604-642-6556, gastowntattoo.com) 3. The Fall (tied) (644 Seymour, 604-676-3066, thefalltattooing.com)

Video Game Retailer

1. EB Games (10-457 W. 8th, 604-874-1080; 650 W. 41st, 604-263-3745, ebgames.ca) 2. Best Buy (tied) (2220 Cambie, 604-638-4966, bestbuy.ca) 2. Future Shop (tied) (1740 W. Broadway, 604-7393000; 798 Granville, 604-683-2502, futureshop.ca) 3. Gamestop (10-457 W. 8th, 604-874-1080; 650 W. 41st, 604-263-3745, gamestop.com)

Pet Supplies

THANk YOU VANCOUVER

1. Bosley’s Pet Food (multiple locations, bosleys.com) 2. Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply Stores (multiple locations, tisol.ca) 3. PetSmart (multiple locations, petsmart.com)

Art Supplies

1. Opus Art Supplies (100-207 W.Hastings, 604-678-5889; 1360 Johnson, 604-736-7028, opusartsupplies.com) 2. Michaels (665 W. Broadway, 604-638-2523; 1022 Alberni, 604-638-1940, michaels.com) 3. De Serres (2811 Grandview, 604-681-7351; 1431W. Broadway, 604-733-1331, deserres.ca)

ADRENALINEVANCITY.COM 1014 GRANVILLE ST | 1926 W 4TH AVE VANCOUVER BC 30

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

Media & LIFE Media

16th Annual

READERS’ CHOICE

2013

PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS

LOCAL PODCAST

1. Stop Podcasting Yourself (stoppodcastingyourself.blogspot.ca) 2. Caustic Soda (causticsodapodcast.com) 3. CBC (cbc.ca/podcasting)

LOCAL BLOG

1. Miss 604 (Rebecca Bollwitt) (miss604.com) 2. The Endless Meal (theendlessmeal.com) 3. Vancouver is Awesome (vancouverisawesome.com)

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

1. Science World 2. Vancouver Aquarium 2. Stanley Park 3. Granville Island

OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IN BAD WEATHER 1. Walking 2. Running 3. Skiing (tied) 3. Snowboarding (tied)

NEIGHBOURHOOD THAT BEST REPRESENTS VANCOUVER 1. Kits 2. West End 3. Gastown (tied) 3. Yaletown (tied)

1. Tamara Taggart (CTV News) 2. Squire Barnes (Global Sports) 3. Sophie Lui (Global News)

LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

1. Kid Carson (sonicnation.ca) 2. Stephen Quinn (cbc.ca) 3. Nat & Drew (vancouver.virginradio,ca)

LOCAL FM RADIO STATION

1. 102.7 The Peak (thepeak.fm) 2. 104.9 Sonic (sonicnation.ca) 3. 95.3 Virgin (vancouver.virginradio.ca)

LOCAL AM RADIO STATION 1. News 1130 (news1130.com) 2. Team 1040 (teamradio.ca) 3. CBC (cbc.ca)

LIFE RESORT HOTEL-BC

1. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler (4599 Chateau, 1-604-938-8000, fairmont.com/whistler) 2. The Wickanninish Inn (500 Osprey, Tofino, 1-800-333-4604, wickinn.com) 3. Harrison Hot Springs Hotel (100 Esplanade, 1-604-796-2244, harrisonresort.com)

OUT OF TOWN SPA GETAWAY-BC

1. Scandinave Spa, Whistler (8010 Mons, Whistler, 604-935-2424, scandinave.com/whistler) 2. Harrison Hot Springs (100 Esplanade, 1-604-796-2244, harrisonresort.com) 3. Tigh-Na-Mara (1155 Resort, Parksville, 1-250-248-2072, tigh-na-mara.com)

16th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2013

Come taste why weʻre the

BEST SOUTHERN BARBEQUE

Th an k s fo r vo ti ng us #1!

WE NOW DELIVER!

MEAT YOU AT MEMPHIS!

430 Robson Street • 604-682-6220

View full menu at www.memphisbluesbbq.com

Best of the City 2013 Pocket Guide

31

For great times with friends, we the times spot. with friends, Forhit great For great times friends, At White Spot, our lounges and patios with are the perfect place to get together with friends.

At Whitehit Spot, our lounges and patios are the perfect place to we the spot.

You’ll not only find a great selection of drinks and cocktails, you’ll also enjoy the great TANDOORI CHICKEN BURGER

we hit the spot.

BANH-MI VEGGIE BURGER

SMOKEY BBQ BIGGER BURGER

MAUI SALMON BURGER

get together with friends. You’ll not only find a great selection

16th Annual

appies and delicious entréesand thatpatios have made Spot a favourite spot for with overfriends.

At White Spot, our lounges are theWhite perfect place to get together SANTA FE BIGGER BURGER of drinks and cocktails, you’ll also enjoy the great appies and At White Spot, our lounges and patios are the perfect place to get together with friends.

D WINNER L O G 80 years You’ll notnow. only find a great selection of drinks and cocktails, you’ll also enjoy the great Readers’ Choice

delicious entrées that have made a favourite spot You’ll not only find a great selection ofWhite drinks Spot and cocktails, you’ll also enjoy the great appies and delicious entrées that have made White Spot a favourite spot for over appies and delicious entrées that have made White Spot a favourite spot for over for over 80 years now.

Our Executive Chef, Chuck Currie, invites you to enjoy our new lineup of Burger Guest 80 years now.

2013

80 years now.

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