Gastown + East Van

Hello one + all!!!!  Come join us as we walk our way around Vancouver’s hip (do people still say hip?) destinations for some snap-your-fingers hepcat coolness!!!!

 

 

 

 

I really don’t know what the kids say these days.  Awesome, rad, cool, dope, sweet…..I need to watch some One Direction interviews + find out what the current lingo is!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like to say, “Oh, you MUST take a jaunt to charming Gastown + East Van!!!!  It sure is a swell time!  AND HOW!”.  And don’t worry I’m totally not going to watch any One Direction interviews.  I haven’t completely lost my mind yet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANYWAY MOVING ON!!!!!  That day we used the subway as our mode of transportation – which is such an amazing feature about Vancouver!  And my mom is always pumped about it since it reminds her of Tokyo.

Jeff was really exhausted from work + was quite the cranky pants as we headed out.  My mom on the other hand was all Oooooooohs + Aaaaaaaaaahs as is her usual state of being – look at that Cranky Face!!!!

Here is my mom + big sis with Jeff on the corner of Burrard + Georgia smack dab in the middle of downtown Vancouver.  Shiny, shine!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hopped on the train again to head towards Gastown.  The interior of the Waterfront Station, a major transit terminal along Vancouver’s Skytrain route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking out across the inlet towards North Vancouver.

We walked towards Gastown + found ourselves bombarded by a myriad of shops aimed straight for the tourists’ wallets.  Maple leaves, anyone???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest downtown core.  It was named after “Gassy” Jack Deighton a steamboat captain who opened up the first saloon in 1867.  Gastown fell into hard times + after the depression the area fell into neglect + deterioration.  It is now revived as a major tourist attraction – which sometimes is associated with major cheese.  Oh, but wait my patient friends!!!!  As we meandered around, Gastown began to renew my faith in Vancouver in terms of fashion + design!!!!!!

My new favorite shop in Vancouver!!!!  One of a Few!!!  Rachel Comey shoes, new young designers + beautiful baubles!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister was drooling over their feminine yet architectural dresses + even my mom found a few pieces that she was enamored with!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff on the other hand felt it was in his best interest to step outside for a breather every once in a while.  Too bad, so sad!  That’s what happens when you go shopping with three Japanese ladies!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another shop that I’ve been dying to visit was Old Faithful Shop.

They specialize in the rustic + woodsy.  The simple life.  The back to nature life.  I loved all the thoughtfully picked out items that they had for sale.  There were many other great design shops + vintage shopping to enjoy, but I can’t fit them all in this post!  It’s all good stuff!!!!

Here’s Gastown’s good ol’ trusty landmark – The Gastown Steamclock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was originally placed there to harness the the steam streaming from  a steam grate + to deter homeless people from sleeping on the spot during cold weather.

Gastown historic buildings are gorgeous.  I’m so glad that the city has been able to preserve them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we had our fill of Gastown, we walked our way into East Vancouver.  “East Van” as the locals like to call it!  Cha cha cha!!!!  Jeff kept reminding us gals that it was a “sketchy” area.  Yo, we are from Los Angeles!  We know how to defend ourselves – we three were clutching our purses in our little fists in such a manner to be ready for smashing people in the face!!!  We ain’t skerred!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An old part of the neighborhood that we walked through used to be a huge Japanese neighborhood before World War II.  Cordova, Powell Street + beyond was the home to an entire community of Japanese Canadians until they were all forced into relocation camps.  Their property was seized + sold without consent in 1943.    It’s so sad.  There were even 3 Japanese bath houses within the community at one time!!!!  The majority of them did not return to their once vibrant neighborhood after the war.  My mom + I noticed an old run-down home, ready for bull-dozing with a Japanese mon (emblem or family crest) at the top of the house.  Do you see it???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier in the week, my sister Ashley + I saw a flyer for Noche Buena Holiday Market Fair, when we were at Le Marche St. George.  So we walked + walked + walked the mean streets wondering if we would ever find it!  It was a small, cozy event full of vendors selling their locally made crafts, canned goods + whatnot!  My sister found a couple of vintage items that she scooped up – which is rare because my sister is cheap + VERY PARTICULAR!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier in December I went to another craft fair that was like 70 times bigger than Noche Buena + I felt that the latter had more unique vendors + a cooler aesthetic!  Oh + there was spicy hot chocolate there as well!  Score!!!

Boy we did a ton of walking that day!!!  My mom is really hearty + she is all smiles on Hastings street!!!

We ended up on Broadway looking for food + some more shopping.  At that point my poor wee mum was bagged out!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love walking around Vancouver – we saw so many amazing things + people that we would have definitely missed if we were zooming by in a car!  I miss my family being in Vancouver + dragging them around!  Gastown + East Van are a good time for people who don’t want the bright + sparkly of chain stores!  Support local stores + vendors!  Yay!