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jamesqArriving in Vancouver I went to my B&B, which was a ground floor apartment on St. Albert Street. On the front door was a prominent sign saying absolutely no AirBnBs. Hmm. Not unexpected. There was another sign at the front warning trades not to do any work on unit 110. Curious. Finding the hidden key and entering the building I found that my suite was 110. And it didn't have the look of a typical AirBnB. For one thing, it didn't have that sterile look that a lot of B&Bs have where the owner was clearly using it as an ad hoc hotel (as opposed to living in the space and renting it out when they were out of town, as originally intended). However, it wasn't really lived in either - lots of basic stuff was simply not there, like the owner's clothing. Lots of stuff was around but if I had to guess, I'd say they used to live there, but were now mostly moved out. The suite had the look of a place that had been cleared out of what the owner wanted, and all that was left was, well, leftovers. The stuff you're not sure you want to keep, but you're pretty sure the next people aren't going to want either. Otherwise, the suite had clean linens and toiletries, so it was presentable as far as AirBnB was concerned. There was still a couch to sit on and a bed to lay in, and things to cook with, so I was set. My needs are light.
That said, I kinda need internet, and the suite didn't have it. To be fair, it didn't promise it either, but I hadn't read the fine print so it was still unexpected. I ended up tethering my laptop to my phone. My data rapidly vanished, but I just topped it up and counted it as a vacation expense. It ended up being my biggest phone bill ever.
In my mind, I imagined a person who was getting kicked out by the strata board. They had no fucks to give so they figured they'd rent the place out for cheap, against the rules. I benefited from that, since the suite was pretty cheap. Anyway, it was my home for a week.
Having checked in and relaxed for a bit (and hauled my AC unit into the bedroom since the summer had made the place stinking hot) it was time to go see Bard on the Beach. This year's feature, As You Like It, done as a Beatles Jukebox Musical.
I enjoyed it. The performers could sing/dance/act. It's a fluffy play and it paired well with the Beatles' fluffier songs. There were a few weak bits, but I think they could firm it up into a passable movie. I mean, if Mamma Mia could spawn two movies, then this would certainly make a profit for some studio.
After the show I walked up to the Storm Crow Alehouse and had an unfortunate flight of beer. Unfortunate, since each sample was something like 8 oz, and I was expecting 4. Oh well, it's not like I wasn't going to drink beer this trip - that ship had long since sailed.
Wednesday is of course #DNDLive, so I went down to the Rio Theatre to watch my favourite RPG/Improv/Comedy show.
Our merry band ended up battling angry sous chefs in a restaurant that served decidedly unwholesome food. They made easy work of them since you shouldn't bring spatulas to a lightning bolt fight. They also managed to work tattooing and twerking into the show. Since the lead twerkess is the performer I have the biggest crush on, I was definitely OK with this.
After the show I wandered up to Storm Crow Tavern and rolled a 20. Critical hit shot after the Critical Hit Show!
Thursday was a me day, and I started it with lunch at the newly reopened Hamburger Mary's on Davie Street. Also did a bunch of window shopping around town and also sampling a flight of beer at Strange Fellows.
Friday, Rosie and I had some poké for lunch and went to pop some tags at assorted thrift shops, and used book stores, and maybe a bakery or two. This cat was at a bookstore in Burnaby that we checked out during our travels.
We wound up at Granville Island, doing the usual window shopping one does there. It was also where we started sampling assorted distilleries, including Liberty and Long Table. We wanted to go to Yaletown, but the distillery was closed, so we opted for supper at their bar instead, sampling some of their beer instead. It was still relatively early, but being slightly tipsy and having a full day, we decided not to get completely loaded and split ways. Quote of the day: "A steak knife through the hand teaches many lessons." This came up during a conversation with our server about drunken/handsy clientele.
Fat Forever, a fitness joint near Storm Crow.
Saturday I spent hanging out with the Port Wood folks in the afternoon, introducing them to the wonderful game Red Flag. But is was also fireworks day, so I had to leave quasi early to get down there. A bitt too early as it turns out. I got to downtown about 90 minutes before the show so I got off a few stops early and walked along the seawall from Science World to the YVR Observation Deck, where I had two tickets to the fireworks.
Aside: Yeah, I can see them for free, but I like being able to sit in a designated spot where I can relax with a snack and a drink, go to the bathroom, and have the music piped in (to the show, not the biffy). Given my joy around fireworks, it's worth it to me.
I don't have any pictures of the fireworks, because I'd rather see them with my eyes than through a camera. Thankfully, people with better cameras than me have posted videos. Here's a good one:
Another benefit of my own venue is I could just cool my heels for twenty minutes after the show and let the crowds die down. I ended up walking out of downtown to Burrard and Broadway. Along the way, I manage to get depressed. Mostly because I'm such a loser I can't get someone to join me even with the offer of a free ticket. Or at least that's how I felt (and still feel) - rationally, people were just busy, or have had their fill of the fireworks over the years. But still, the loneliness that is always just below the surface welled up again. I get it universe, I get it. If only I could get past the feeling and just be satisfied with the relatively good life I have. Sleeping it off helped bury it again.
Sunday we had plans to have dinner together in my neck of the woods. But that gave me the day to kill so I spent another day window shopping, but I decided to go in another direction - south on Main street. Lots of cool shops down there. Lunch was at Lucy's Eastside Diner, which promised good diner fare and delivered on that promise. All told, I probably walked about 9km. In 30C+ weather.
Gareth, Steph, Ken and I ended up have a perfectly adequite meal at Hail Mary's. Sadly, the venue was cozy and lacked AC, so it was very hot inside. I'd recommend this joint for a rainy winter day in Vancouver, since it looks like a good place to bundle up with friends and enjoy cocktails. Sadly, those weren't the weather conditions we had.
I had an offer to hang out at Port Wood afterward, and was going to take it, right up until me and Gareth went to his car and I bonked. Hard. I hadn't realized it until after dinner, but I had a brush with sun stroke. Nope, it was time to head back to the suite, drink lots of water, and lay in front of my AC unit. Hmm. Two bad nights in a row - one emotional and one physical.
Monday was to be my last day there. People were working, but that was OK, because it meant I could sneak into Port Wood and make cookies! I let myself in, spent a few hours baking, and then stashed their share of the cookies in the freezer for them to discover later. I also bagged up some cookies for Lisa; and also for Athena's family.
As it was our last evening together, we went to the Burrard Pub. That was when I realized that I wasn't stealthy enough - Steph totally called me on it. What was my mistake? I cleaned up after myself and left the place better than I'd found it.
Stand on your bike! It's the law!
Good advice.
Before I left Vancouver, I wanted to check out the Pixar exhibit at Science World after checking out of my weird suite. Afterwards I got in the car and left for Kelowna. Here are some highlights:
Me getting a Buzz.
Mike and Sully.
Up!
A plethora of monsters.
That said, I kinda need internet, and the suite didn't have it. To be fair, it didn't promise it either, but I hadn't read the fine print so it was still unexpected. I ended up tethering my laptop to my phone. My data rapidly vanished, but I just topped it up and counted it as a vacation expense. It ended up being my biggest phone bill ever.
In my mind, I imagined a person who was getting kicked out by the strata board. They had no fucks to give so they figured they'd rent the place out for cheap, against the rules. I benefited from that, since the suite was pretty cheap. Anyway, it was my home for a week.
Having checked in and relaxed for a bit (and hauled my AC unit into the bedroom since the summer had made the place stinking hot) it was time to go see Bard on the Beach. This year's feature, As You Like It, done as a Beatles Jukebox Musical.
I enjoyed it. The performers could sing/dance/act. It's a fluffy play and it paired well with the Beatles' fluffier songs. There were a few weak bits, but I think they could firm it up into a passable movie. I mean, if Mamma Mia could spawn two movies, then this would certainly make a profit for some studio.
After the show I walked up to the Storm Crow Alehouse and had an unfortunate flight of beer. Unfortunate, since each sample was something like 8 oz, and I was expecting 4. Oh well, it's not like I wasn't going to drink beer this trip - that ship had long since sailed.
Wednesday is of course #DNDLive, so I went down to the Rio Theatre to watch my favourite RPG/Improv/Comedy show.
Our merry band ended up battling angry sous chefs in a restaurant that served decidedly unwholesome food. They made easy work of them since you shouldn't bring spatulas to a lightning bolt fight. They also managed to work tattooing and twerking into the show. Since the lead twerkess is the performer I have the biggest crush on, I was definitely OK with this.
After the show I wandered up to Storm Crow Tavern and rolled a 20. Critical hit shot after the Critical Hit Show!
Thursday was a me day, and I started it with lunch at the newly reopened Hamburger Mary's on Davie Street. Also did a bunch of window shopping around town and also sampling a flight of beer at Strange Fellows.
Friday, Rosie and I had some poké for lunch and went to pop some tags at assorted thrift shops, and used book stores, and maybe a bakery or two. This cat was at a bookstore in Burnaby that we checked out during our travels.
We wound up at Granville Island, doing the usual window shopping one does there. It was also where we started sampling assorted distilleries, including Liberty and Long Table. We wanted to go to Yaletown, but the distillery was closed, so we opted for supper at their bar instead, sampling some of their beer instead. It was still relatively early, but being slightly tipsy and having a full day, we decided not to get completely loaded and split ways. Quote of the day: "A steak knife through the hand teaches many lessons." This came up during a conversation with our server about drunken/handsy clientele.
Fat Forever, a fitness joint near Storm Crow.
Saturday I spent hanging out with the Port Wood folks in the afternoon, introducing them to the wonderful game Red Flag. But is was also fireworks day, so I had to leave quasi early to get down there. A bitt too early as it turns out. I got to downtown about 90 minutes before the show so I got off a few stops early and walked along the seawall from Science World to the YVR Observation Deck, where I had two tickets to the fireworks.
Aside: Yeah, I can see them for free, but I like being able to sit in a designated spot where I can relax with a snack and a drink, go to the bathroom, and have the music piped in (to the show, not the biffy). Given my joy around fireworks, it's worth it to me.
I don't have any pictures of the fireworks, because I'd rather see them with my eyes than through a camera. Thankfully, people with better cameras than me have posted videos. Here's a good one:
Another benefit of my own venue is I could just cool my heels for twenty minutes after the show and let the crowds die down. I ended up walking out of downtown to Burrard and Broadway. Along the way, I manage to get depressed. Mostly because I'm such a loser I can't get someone to join me even with the offer of a free ticket. Or at least that's how I felt (and still feel) - rationally, people were just busy, or have had their fill of the fireworks over the years. But still, the loneliness that is always just below the surface welled up again. I get it universe, I get it. If only I could get past the feeling and just be satisfied with the relatively good life I have. Sleeping it off helped bury it again.
Sunday we had plans to have dinner together in my neck of the woods. But that gave me the day to kill so I spent another day window shopping, but I decided to go in another direction - south on Main street. Lots of cool shops down there. Lunch was at Lucy's Eastside Diner, which promised good diner fare and delivered on that promise. All told, I probably walked about 9km. In 30C+ weather.
Gareth, Steph, Ken and I ended up have a perfectly adequite meal at Hail Mary's. Sadly, the venue was cozy and lacked AC, so it was very hot inside. I'd recommend this joint for a rainy winter day in Vancouver, since it looks like a good place to bundle up with friends and enjoy cocktails. Sadly, those weren't the weather conditions we had.
I had an offer to hang out at Port Wood afterward, and was going to take it, right up until me and Gareth went to his car and I bonked. Hard. I hadn't realized it until after dinner, but I had a brush with sun stroke. Nope, it was time to head back to the suite, drink lots of water, and lay in front of my AC unit. Hmm. Two bad nights in a row - one emotional and one physical.
Monday was to be my last day there. People were working, but that was OK, because it meant I could sneak into Port Wood and make cookies! I let myself in, spent a few hours baking, and then stashed their share of the cookies in the freezer for them to discover later. I also bagged up some cookies for Lisa; and also for Athena's family.
As it was our last evening together, we went to the Burrard Pub. That was when I realized that I wasn't stealthy enough - Steph totally called me on it. What was my mistake? I cleaned up after myself and left the place better than I'd found it.
Stand on your bike! It's the law!
Good advice.
Before I left Vancouver, I wanted to check out the Pixar exhibit at Science World after checking out of my weird suite. Afterwards I got in the car and left for Kelowna. Here are some highlights:
Me getting a Buzz.
Mike and Sully.
Up!
A plethora of monsters.
