'MO - May 2008 - (Page 20)

travel VANCOUVER Heading North BC in Rail Time by aefa Mullholland Photo credit: aeFa Mullholl and Next time you want to get out of town but can’t face the prospect of the gridlock on I-5, saunter down to King Street station and catch Amtrak’s Cascades service north to Vancouver, British Columbia. Instead of hours staring at bumper stickers and taillights, you’ll be treated to a ringside view of some of the Paciﬁc Northwest’s most stunning scenery, as the train traces the coastline north to Vancouver. Saved from the traumas of tailbacks and border wait times, you’ll arrive refreshed and ready to explore our neighbor to the north. STAY The Nelson House (977 Broughton St; 604-684-9793 or 866-684-9793; www.downtownbandb.com; C$88+) is a roomy, six-room Edwardian mansion in the West End. As glitteringly beautiful as Vancouver itself, the Opus Hotel (322 Davie St; 604-642-6787; www. opushotel.com; $239+) adds boutique hotel chic to already hip Yaletown, mere steps from downtown shopping and the gay West End. The 97 guestrooms encompass seven ﬂoor plans, designed in ﬁve distinct “personalities” themed to reﬂect the urbane clientele. The Sylvia Hotel (1154 Gilford St; 604-681-9321; www.sylviahotel.com; C$80+) is a good allaround deal. This small historic hotel is just a few steps from the beach on English Bay, and has presentable rooms and beautiful ocean views at a reasonable price. EAT The best food on the rainbow strip is at Bin 941 (941 Davie St; 604-683-1246; www. bin941.com; tapatizers C$3-15). One of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets, Bin 941 is a tapas parlor with inventive creations and excellent wines by the glass. This is a seriously slim venue with enthusiastic queues for its few tiny tables. A new face on Davie, Lolita’s South of the Border Cantina (1326 Davie St.; 604-6969996; www.lolitasrestaurant.com; C$16-22) is an enticing cantina, a mere block from bars. On Denman, casual American fare and one of the best views in the city can be enjoyed at family-friendly Milestones (1210 Denman St; 604-662-3431; www.milestonesrestaurants. com; C$13-29). Dive into C Restaurant (2-1600 Howe St; 604-681-1164; www.crestaurant. com; C$37-50, chef’s 14 course tasting menu C$130) on the waterfront just across False Creek from Granville Island. PLAY Though you might wonder who came up with the idea for the Fountainhead’s (1025 Davie St; 604-687-2222; www.thefountainheadpub.com; C$6-13) décor this is a pleasant spot to relax, have a beer and enjoy the good pub food. The patio is heated and either from here or through the large windows you have an excellent view of everybody passing by. A sleek venue in the heart of the gay village, 1181 (1181 Davie St.; 604-687-3991; www. tightlounge.com) opened in 2006 and throws on a bit of big city style in usually lower key Vancouver, but the swank lounge’s clientele remain a laidback bunch. Another relative newcomer is The Majestic (1138 Davie St; 604-669-2013), an ideal venue for those who 20 Seattle’s King Street Station (left) and Celebrities nightclub on Davie Street in Vancouver (below). like drag with their brunch. The 160-seat “resto-lounge” serves up a slew of martinis to a mixed crowd from the ’hood. Drag, comedy, and bingo feature most evenings. The big club in town is Celebrities (1022 Davie St.; 604681-6180; www.celebritiesnightclub.com), a packed nightclub, popular with a young and pretty set (both male and female). DON’T MISS Granville Island, with its shops, restaurants, cafés, galleries and marina, is the city’s most visited attraction. The Granville Island Brewery (1441 Cartwright St; 604-687-BREW; www. gib.ca) offers tours (prearranged only) of its brewery, from which comes its tasty and additive-free beer. The noisy and lively Granville Island Public Market (www.granvilleisland. com) has hundreds of food stalls, crafts emporiums, and colorful people watching opportunities. Other areas to explore include 1000-acre Stanley Park, shopping mecca Robson Street, and historic Gastown, which is ﬁnally shaking off its tourist trap image and is now home to an ever-increasing number of local designer stores, cafes, and some of the city’s hottest restaurants. ALL ABOARD Amtrak’s Cascades service (www.amtrakcascades.com) leaves Seattle at 7:45 a.m. and leaves Vancouver at 6:00 p.m. It takes approximately four hours to travel between the two cities. Remember to pack your passport and to book your trip in advance for cheaper fares. aefa contributes travel features travel features to the irish times, the Miami herald and many others. celebrating seattle’s gay community http://www.bin941.com http://www.downtownbandb.com http://www.downtownbandb.com http://www.bin941.com http://www.opushotel.com http://www.opushotel.com http://www.lolitasrestaurant.com http://www.gib.ca http://www.sylviahotel.com http://www.gib.ca http://www.thefountainheadpub.com http://www.thefountainheadpub.com http://www.amtrakcascades.com http://www.amtrakcascades.com http://www.tightlounge.com http://www.tightlounge.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - May 2008

'MO - May 2008 Contents Letter From the Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project 'mo-BIZ: SeattleMeds Pharmacy 'mo-Money: The Federal Reserve 'mo Magazine Interview with Will & Grace Star Leslie Jordan Form & Function: Better Legs By Summer Healthy Alternatives Vancouver: Heading North in Rail Time Book Review: Where Are You Now? By Mary Higgins Clark Seattle International Film Festival Preview Capitol Hill Guide SceneOut: People@Places 'mo-Single Q&A

'MO - May 2008

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