Dear Vancouver, Thank you for letting me see the natural beauty that every Vancouverite is so proud of and somehow the world really hasn't grasped how vast that is yet. You've shown me your best and it's quite a beauty. To only pop into Vancouver for less than 3 days is a bit of a travesty. There is much to see and if you do have a week, the surrounding areas hold much to do. Though I know it never snows in Vancouver, you literally can be in snow capped Mountains in under 90 minutes. Speaking of no snow... I was lucky on my visit to only have a morning of rain. I know my friends have experience the unending hours, days, and weeks of rain in Vancouver. So to those are worried about the rain... yes, it will come but in the summer months (July & August), you'll have more days of sun. To say that Vancouver is health conscious, it's like saying bears sh!t in the woods... and WOW, do they ever. Thank you Vancouver Mother Nature, now that I've seen it... I can cross that off my list (ew). Everyone is wearing Lululemon even the dogs are too... leashes count as wearing? There is yoga in the park en masse and every corner you turn, there is a cold press juicery, acai bowl, or salad shop. I applaud you for being so green and energetic but for the rest of us, Vancouver also has a great foodie scene to indulge in. The Granville Market is a must do (not on the weekends) with it's wealth of fresh food, lots of vendors, and great spots to search out. The coffee scene is alive and well with so many microroasters putting out some phenomenal coffee (Modus and Timbertrain). The butter route is also wonderful with Beaucoup (so amazing in every way), Nemesis Cafe, and Rain or Shine Ice Cream. For meals, I highly highly recommend both Fable restaurant and Fable Diner. They were superb in every way of service and flavour. I also think BLVD was incredible for brunches. What's a completely stuffed and full tourist to do to burn off those excellent calories? Vancouver is probably of the best cities that has hiking paths, incredible bike paths, and a wealth of activities to do within 10 minutes of the downtown core. If you're considering biking the Seawall, that would literally just be a minutes to start off that adventure. That is an absolute must. I've never had the joy of that experience any where else in the world. Between Lynn Canyon & Capilano, you can experience a pedestrian version of what it is to do a hike. If you're more ambitious, there are a lot of trails that will challenge ANYONE. On top of those, there are many walking paths along the coastline and Kitsilano is a great neighhourhood to walk around. Gastown is the perpetual favourite with its food and historical icons. And then you have the West end with a lot of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics (loved seeing this!) All this definitely amazed me but one thing I did notice and it marred the perfect image of Vancouver for me. The homeless and drug problem is quite serious. I was staying on the border of Chinatown and Gastown, and it was normal to find someone shooting up on a nearby bench or having used needles outside the place I was staying. And I was in the gentrified area. It's incredible sad to see this... depressing even. I know you shouldnt hide this problem but it seemed so pervasive that every native Vancouverite pretended the homeless and drug users didnt exist. Overall, I loved Vancouver and yes it has an uglier big underside but it should never detract from the overall incredible offering it gives you. Definitely a great city and one to enjoy! read more

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Born and grew up here. Love Vancouver because of the weather. Most of my family members live here. Great place. Summer time, we have lots of beaches and in the winter we have the mountains aka snowboarding season. Life is slow and relaxing. Also note that Vancouver has better Chinese food out of Asia. Yes no kidding. Also we are so multicultural, you can find all sort of different cuisine here. Very multicultural! read more

Came here to look at some building plans - this is done in the E building. They're still using microfiche here. Wow! Good thing I paid attention in elementary school. They've gotten smart though - you can't just take pictures of the screens. Not sure if there's a security guard just waiting to kick you in the shins. The staff were very courteous. read more

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I applied for a business license. They canceled the application without letting me know. I called after two weeks. They told me somehow the application is canceled, but didn't not how that happened. And she re-activated the application. After three weeks I called to inquire about the status of my application. Then they figured that There was a missing document. That's why it got canceled. Then they told me to resubmit the application. Which wasted five weeks of my time. I should have been notified if some thing was missing not only cancelling and putting it on the side. Couple really lazy and irresponsible individuals work there. read more

I may be a bit biased, but Vancouver is one of the greatest cities in the world. Not only is Vancouver a beautiful city (I mean how lucky are we to be able to be so close to the ocean AND the mountains), but it's a friendly, growing, world class city filled with culture, food, nature and breweries. Whenever I'm walking around downtown, I always marvel at the tall buildings with the mountains in the background. There is always something beautiful to see - the art on the street walls, live music on the street, sunrises or sunsets from the top of Grouse Grind. When tourists leave, they always end up appreciating the beauty that the city has to offer. I know I've said that the city is beautiful numerous times, but it truly is. From the mountains, the beaches, marinas, and parks, Vancouver likes to show off it's nature. There is something to be said about the food scene here. Being so multicultural and diverse, there has been plenty of influence on the culinary experience in Vancouver. You can be sure to find plenty of exotic fusions, Chinese dishes, sea food, and plain cheeseburgers, anywhere you go in the city, and 95% of the time you won't be disappointed. With the many breweries popping up on every street corner and all the local wineries, we Vancouverites sure do like to drink. But how can we not when we have new, craft beers and local wines that we always need to try. We may be the butt of the joke about being Canada's marijuana capital, but if thats the worst thing that Vancouver is known for, then I'd say that I'm A-OK with that. Even on it's rainiest of days, Vancouver will always hold a special place in my heart. read more

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*On my two hundredth review* Dedicated to 20 things that make me go weak in the knees about this beautiful place that I love calling home! (I know there are a tonne more, but these are off the top of my head!) 20. Being able to keep chickens in backyards. 19. Simon Fraser University - the view on a summer day and for having a downtown campus to escape the autumn/winter of the Burnaby Campus. (I guess I can thank them for my education as well ;p) 18. Getting to one of first farmer's market of the season...in the rain but loving the smell of summertime on the horizon. 17. Riding my bike down the streets of Dunbar and Kits and fantasizing about owning a house there one day... 16. Watching as neighbourhoods and the city change and transform, restoring characteristic aspects from yesterday or modernizing for the future. (Yeah! Davie runs through to Pacific again!) 15. Obviously: the mountains, the ocean, the parks, the recreation all at our fingertips! 14. Getting excited for an upcoming event: the fireworks, Jazz festival, Theatre Under the Stars, Folk Festival, Parade of Lost Souls, Water fights, Lantern Festival, I could go on...(and some people think there's nothing to do here) 13. Granville Island on A Sunny Weekday morning: quiet and bustling at the same time! 12. Having a farm with Vancouver in the address - way to go UBC! Stay strong and stay open! 11.The wafting smell of weed that drifts through beaches and even through my open window...reminding me of younger days. 10.The Seawall in a misty rain, no umbrella, after a huge snowfall, or in the sun. 9. Walking or biking over the Burrard Street Bridge and stopping for birds eye peeks of Granville Island and English Bay. 8. Barbecues at Spanish Banks that last until full darkness sets in, complete with concealed booze. 7. The Roller Coaster at Playland's rickety ride up to the first drop. 6. The food: the plethora of hole-in-the-walls still waiting to be discovered and the good old faithfuls that bring comfort food to a whole new level. Like the Naam at 2 am on any given weekend... 5. Being able to get lost on a trail in Stanley Park and forgetting that you're surrounded by city. 4. The West End. My neighbourhood: incredible views, a truckload of awesome people, shops and services. Makes me smile every time I walk outside! 3. Freaking out out-of-town visitors on an East Van drive by tour. 2. Watching the Sun Set over the South Gulf islands. It never gets old. 1. After being gone for a long time, flying in to YVR from the East and naming the streets/neighbourhoods/cities on the approach, the North Shore Mountains in the backdrop and butterflies in my tummy - home... read more

Great food all around, in unique neighbourhoods; kitsilano, commercial drive, riley, collingwood, west end, coal harbour, yaletown... Add the outdoor life, mild weather, easy breezin lifestyle, yeah, it's all good. You travel around the world, sure, some more exciting aspects in some areas, but Vancouver's pretty safe, no need to worry. read more

Constructed in 1937, the Vancouver City Hall is a beautiful building on 12th and Cambie that rises high and provides a spectacular view of downtown Vancouver. Like any good city hall, it has a statue of the city's founding father George Vancouver around the outdoor walkway, which is a nice place to sit and eat lunch if you work at the mall across the street. Many melodramatic things have happened in this building since its erection, several within the past ten years. Because of Vancouver's unique problem with drug addiction, there have been several scandals surrounding at least two of the previous mayors. This includes Philip Owen's forced resignation as Mayor after studying the drug problem and betraying his party lines by agreeing to support harm reduction initiatives like safe injection sites. And then there was Sam Sullivan, who before he was elected as mayor invited two crack addicts into the back of his van to watch them get high. But neither of this compares to the celebrity status of Larry Campbell, whose history as the city's mortician was the blueprint for the popular protagonist in TV's Divinci's Inquest. After being elected, he divided the party lines of his own party and split the group into two separate entities. And then the main character of Divinci's Inquest became Mayor. The people who work here, including the engineers and clerks, are very friendly and clearly enjoy their jobs. People are allowed to roam around a little and feel the tremors of the city's most powerful decisions being compromised by developers. The people at the front desk are helpful and you can call ahead about guided tours. read more

Vancouver City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I have nothing to do with Vancouver municipal dealings or anything like that. My rating is strictly on the aesthetics of the exterior and the architecture of the structure. I had not gone into the building so again this is not of the inside, only the outside and the appearance and the opinion of somebody that has never seen and didn't know what Vancouver's City Hall even looked like or where it is located. I came across Van's City Hall by accident because I parked down the street to go to a nearby restaurant and noticed the building. I was curious as to what the building was and noticed the stone marker near the street saying it was City Hall. My impression was that the structure itself was not very impressive. For a very diverse and beautiful city the City Hall representing that city seems very plain looking and doesn't do anything for me on an architectural level. My favorite City Hall's that I've seen and been to are still Philadelphia's and San Francisco's. They stand out as impressive structures this however does not. read more

Vancouver City Hall - Van City hall near 12 and Cambie - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I love Vancouver! Living here IS as good as it gets. Every town has it's share of 'wobbly bits' and I've learned to embrace hers. What really gets me is that really, I've never been to another place that has people that are so willing to be polite to others (I like to think I speak of Canada as a whole here). I recently had a visitor from France and we were eating burgers on Granville after a hard shop, and the waitress and I were talking about the current sales and swooning over the brilliant cost of my new jeans. Anyways, my girlfriend asked; so how long have you known her for and I replied I don't we were just being friendly. She was pretty shocked we weren't more close. Personally I have no problem with people seeing me as surprisingly-polite. The relaxed, welcoming mentality that you'll find in the people living here is wonderful. Not to mention the Scenery!!!!! read more

Vancouver City Hall - Olympics - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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If you're going to City Hall for Development Services (including building and zoning applications), the "East Wing" you are looking for is the regular rectangular building, not the cool tall one with the clock and the flags by 12th Avenue. Also, Tuesday morning is a bad idea, since the staff are in a meeting 8:30 to 10:00. I wish I had known that, but oh well. (I mean, they have a reasonably informative website; would it have hurt to write it there?) Many applications are available online, and regular business license renewals can just be mailed in. Yay. Less people who need to queue, the better. Enquiry Centre (north end of second floor) has free strong Wi-Fi. read more

Vancouver City Hall - approach from Broadway-City Hall Skytrain Station - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The city of Vancouver approved the building of the New Masonic centre and 18 story residential building 1495 west 8th ave. The mechanical Equipment/HVAC butts up against a residential heritage building and a condo complex. The noise generated is loud - vibrating / fans and generator sounds - and runs 24/7. Why on earth would you design a building and approve a building that has mechanical equipment that makes so much noise next to residents. Complaints to 311 Vancouver go unanswered and unresolved. City of Vancouver believes in squeezing people into congested areas and NOISE pollution. The city councillors have no common sense or sense of decency when considering the impact poor building design has on people already living in Vancouver. read more

Full disclosure: I spent just under 24 hours in Vancouver recently, which was not enough to form a comprehensive opinion. Still? Awesome. First, the city is small (600,000 to Chicago's 2,700,000) and manageable on foot. However, there are still neighborhoods with distinct personalities. We stayed downtown and ate once in Gastown, but walked through a couple other 'hoods. Second, it's beautiful. I don't even ski but the mountains provide an awesome natural hug around the city. The mid-June weather was mild and when it rained, it stopped after a short shower. Kind of like a kid whose tantrum only lasts long enough to get the stress out. Third, Vancouverites know what's up. That is, their values are aligned with mine. They have many "ethnic" food options (we are all ethnic, so why do we use that term?) including a ton of Asian and Indian, a walk-up crepe shop, and a variety of food trucks. And if the bike lanes are to be believed, they are active. I also got this impression from the lack of morbidly obese people toddling around town, which made me homesick, but not really. Finally though, they have more dog parks than I would know what to do with (I mean, look at this: http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/dogparks/index.htm !!). We visited one just for fun, and it was like a modern-day Norman Rockwell scene, if Norman Rockwell were Canadian and had a thing for dogs. The dogs frolicked off-leash (while their owners didn't stress out), in the green grass, with the harbor, city skyline and mountains in the background. If I am reincarnated, can I be a dog born in Vancouver? I want to return to you, Vancouver. Until then, we will have to maintain a long-distance relationship. Write me. read more

The City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada is a fabulous city to visit or (as my wife's aunt can attest) live. I have visited the city quite a few times over the years. The weather has been great no matter what time of the year. Maybe, I have just been lucky. This international city is so diverse. Many varieties of ethnic food available. So many places to eat, but not enough time or stomach to try them all. Only thing I am not too crazy about is the traffic infrastructure. I am not a fan of those blinking traffic lights, and most major intersections do not have a left turn arrow so traffic can get backed up because of that. Other than that, I am a fan of Vancouver. If I ever moved back to Canada, then Vancouver would be my number 1 choice. I like their mild winters with hardly any snow. Go to Vancouver and explore this wonderful city for yourself. There is so much to explore both in and out of the city. read more

I have a love hate relationship with Vancouver, mostly love. My hate comes from the economics and the fact that the wage in the city will never match the living cost. We have medical and nice air to make up for it I guess. It bugs me when people say, "Go move to Alberta." Sure I would be economically sound but that means starting a whole new social life: my family is here, my lifestyle services are here and there is culture. To be honest given my personality and lifestyle I wouldn't survive socially anywhere else. You can't always have a 100% perfect city. There are things that bother me like how we allow foreign buying of property, making it inaccessible for locals to buy houses. I've seen many awesome local staple shops being torn down for condo development for foreign buyers. If we continue to do this we are going to lose what makes Vancouver so characteristically awesome. My heart broke when the Rumpus Room closed for this reason. We've allowed a change in language unofficially 'cause the politicians have been pussy whipped to conform to their traditions. My parents are immigrants and they made every effort to conform to Canadian traditions so that we would have a better life. My parents had no expectations of Canada conforming or catering to our religion or culture. They were grateful just to live in Canada. I've been disqualified from jobs in the past 'cause the only languages I know are Canada's official ones that I was taught in school: French and English. On the same note I appreciate and I am blessed that we have such a diverse culture in Vancouver. All I ask is that you adopt the ones here that you immigrated to. Have an open mind instead of expecting us to change to make you feel comfortable. I went to the best colleges and universities in hope of advancing my job placement only to get paid $1 more. Employers want a long laundry list of duties, often the job of 2 - 3 in one person for $12 - $13/hour (if lucky). In spite of the wage vs. living cost battle we still have it better than most countries. I'm forced to buy gas and groceries across the border 'cause my wage just can't compete with the living cost in spite of living in subsidized coop housing, having no children and no marriage. I've been lied to by politicians (that's with everywhere). I realize that the above are problems all over the world but it saddens me when you see a drastic decline in 10 years. It also saddens me that this isn't on the politician's agenda to try and problem solve in baby steps. I am a very extrovert person and a social butterfly. Vancouver is very anti-social. Even when I try to be social people think that I am weird. The social aspect is what makes me run to places like Portland and Seattle. Their culture is all about looking into each other's eyes while conversing rather than texting someone who isn't the person you're eating with. We have awesome neighborhoods with shops. There are some good things about Vancouver that I won't find anywhere else (I've travelled a bit). There are many communities and cultures to adopt socially. Our food culture is amazing. You can have any dietary restriction and still find a place to eat. The weather is decent. Yes it rains 52 weeks of the year, however, we have it better than most provinces. Traffic is a gong show. Even if I wanted to I don't drive as much as I used to 7 years ago. I waste more time and gas idling in traffic. For $2.75 one way I can still idle in traffic but not waste gas. Also someone else can drive. We have our issues with Translink, many of which are justified, however, it's one of the best Transit systems during the day. It's a beautiful city to live in. I know that financially I won't be able to retire here due to the lack of CPP that will be available for our generation. While I am still young and alive I can enjoy the life that I have planted here. There are some events in the city that I look forward to: 1. Seawall...cheap way to get exercise and talk with a friend. 2. Farmer's Markets. 3. Fireworks (for others not for me). 4. Zombie Walk 5. Free movies in the park. 6. The awesome Stanley Park. 7. Lantern Festival. 8. Car Free Day. 9. Hot Chocolate Festival. 10. Granville Island. 11. Playland. 12. PNE 13. Food (many different eateries). 14. Walking over the Burrard bridge. 15. The walking trails. 16. Craft Fairs. 17. Food Cart festivals (We still need to aim to be at Portland's Level). In spite of my b*tching Vancouver still earns 4 stars. read more

What is it about Vancouver? Maybe it's the rain, maybe it's the trees, maybe it's that smell when you're so far deep into the woods that you swear you're just breathing in pure oxygen. Maybe it's the fantasy of living in a high-rise apartment downtown and falling asleep the the most beautiful sunset every single evening. Or turning off iTunes and listening to the music of the rain. Maybe it's being able to see the mountains without any smog in the way. Maybe it's the people. Maybe it's the plethoras upon plethoras of pigeons willing to steal a fry out of your hand if given the chance. Maybe it's Whistler. Maybe it's the beauty of the people. Maybe it's the little hole in the wall pubs, maybe it's the feeling before Christmas when you'd kill for a hot chocolate. Maybe it's the kindness of the people. Maybe it's the beautiful campus at UBC, or maybe it's the environmental consciousness that is apparent on every corner. Maybe it's the crepes. Maybe it's the big city surrounded by nature's beauty. Maybe it's the weather, but maybe it's the people. read more

I love Vancouver BC!!!! I have been going to Vancity since 1999!! Used to party at Gastown, hit the street races over in Richmond... damn.. I loved Vancouver. I have been going a couple days at a time, but recently stayed there for more than week... it was really nice to just enjoy and explore Vancouver. Love this place!!! read more

The city of Vancouver is failing to provide basic services to its residents. My property tax has rise 40% in the past three years meanwhile it took three years to get the city sewer line repaired, which backed up into my house three times while waiting. They stonewalled the entire time. read more

Great experience, friendly staff. Just wish the ride itself had more aromas to entice the senses, but overall it was great. Great way to sum up Canada in 8mins. read more

mayor robertson thank you for standing up against racism and intolerance the sikh community thanks you for your brave stand. we wish you were premier at least we could have a visible premier for the people unlike the invisible and frankly useless bc liberal government under christie corporate clark read more

I love this city! By far the most laid back city on the coast, even after counting the Washington marijuana laws! Tell your friends!

Really! Having to rate a criticism with a star. Doesn't that just smack of categorizing a criticism and making me think does anybody at City Hall read these things if it's rated at the bottom. I just watched BCTV News tonight and was appalled that the City has enforcement officers harassing a disabled person who is living in his own trailer on a rental property where both the renter and landlord on that property had given their okay that he be there. Apparently someone had complained about his trailer. At the same time there are many other trailers stored in backyards in the same area. Apparently his trailer doesn't fall within the code parameters in size. That is what the City came up with How petty. Here are three people who are working on a solution to the housing crisis. Instead you have the City agreeing with the person who complained and then to come up with code restrictions as well. Apparently this type of housing is not in the scheme of what the unsympathetic neighbour and City think should be in Vancouver. Maybe because it isn't $300,000 guest cottage? At least the renter and landlord showed some compassion, shared what they thought they could and gave this man a place for his "home" and more importantly perhaps a feeling of belonging to a community. Perhaps the City could show some compassion by looking at these solutions on a case by case basis instead of the rules and regulations basis. I think the City has to start looking at the faces again. read more

Let me preface this by saying that this is a review of the city of Vancouver and the government that maintains it as opposed to the structure they're operating from. Vancouver has to be one of the most over-rated cities that I've had the misfortune to not want to visit, but forced to nonetheless. My plan was to go directly from Portland to Whistler, but the geniuses in the city's urban planning department came up with the bright idea of running the 99 highway (the continuation of the 5) directly through a residential district and the city's urban core, and thus foiled my attempt to avoid their city. Miles and miles (or, more aptly, kilometers) of stoplights, without turning arrows, on a 2 lane road. This is a nightmare. Nothing worse than forced into driving on a street teeming with traffic and, to be quite candid, novice winter drivers in SUVs. Why are there not green arrow indicators on the streetlights on Granville Rd.? Why?????!!!!!!!!! For goodness sake, let people make a LEGAL turn onto the streets that branch from the Granville artery. This would alleviate some traffic and make turns less dangerous and more legal, as that at present time everybody turns on red because of the gridlock. How's Granville by the way... ehh? Traffic, cars, and mindless consumers. An excessively long street of various novelty stores and cheap looking restaurants with a glorious river of exhaust spewing traffic running through its center. What aboot downtown Vancouver? Slender condo towers and more consumers on the prowl, with Canadian banks and ATMs dominating the retail spaces below. HSBC alone must have about 300 branches in downtown Vancouver. It appears that there are two large shopping thoroughfares in this city and nothing much more. To be truthful, any city in Canada brings upon that uneasy feeling that gnaws away at you. I can not pinpoint the cause of it directly, but believe it is an amalgamation of feeling that you're in: an inauthentic version of the U.S., or U.K.; a place that suffers from not having its own identity (quite unlike Portland or Seattle); a place that is superficially cosmopolitan. Importing droves of Chinese (Canada advertises to, and actively recruits, new immigrants) doesn't make a city cosmo, quite contrary, it makes it feel like an inauthentic version of Hong Kong-so add that to the aforementioned list. The Lions' Gate bridge was nice, if only because it signaled my departure from the city of Vancouver and on to Whistler-a place, despite its intrinsic artificiality-that developers and urban planners got right. Vancouver city hall politicians: build a highway around the city, or, at the very least, add turning arrows on the roads that now cause people to idle in traffic for hours on end. How the Vancouver car commuter, or pedestrian, copes with this only points to that missing vigor, will to action, and independence, innate in the Canadian national character. read more