2009 Vancouver Official Travel Planner Guide - (Page 9) Chinatown Shopping Unique food items, one-of-a-kind souvenirs and Asian antiques await in this area near downtown. Be sure to have your clients visit the Chinatown Night Market, a summertime bazaar with tables and display stalls where discounted merchandise of all kinds is just waiting to be discovered. The market comes alive with people, lights and scents, with shoppers browsing booths and sampling food from vendors, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night 6:30–11pm, May through September. visitors a chance to experience the neighbourhood at their own pace. As they walk along the sidewalks, they’ll find plenty of places to pick up the perfect souvenir from their Vancouver trip. South Granville Shopping Send your clients across Granville Bridge to this 10-block area full of fashionable and fabulous goods. They’ll find fashion boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, home decor and places that sell handcrafted items from First Nations artists. Neighbourhood Festivals Artists in Our Midst More than 70 artists in three neighbourhoods — West Point Grey, Kitsilano and Dunbar/Kerrisdale — open their studios and homes to share their art. April–May. artistsinourmidst.com Italian Week The Italian Cultural Centre is the primary location for a week of live entertainment, children’s events, Italian culinary delights, market vendors and more. June. italianculturalcentre.ca or thedrive.ca/ event_italian_week.shtm West End “Young,” “hip” and “happening” describe this densely populated area west of downtown and adjacent to Stanley Park. The ever-popular English Bay Beach, with its sandy stretches and waterfront promenade, makes a natural people-watching spot, while Denman Street draws throngs looking for fun urban experiences. Others enjoy the neighbourhood for its sidewalk cafes and vibrant nightlife. The core of Vancouver’s gay community, the West End hosts an annual Pride Parade and Gay Pride Week. The Davie Village enclave, in particular, is adorned with rainbow flags and sunburst banners. Known internationally for its thriving community of gay and lesbian residents, Davie Village is also home to legendary bookstores and thumping nightclubs known for welcoming people of all persuasions. Residents and visitors hang out in the neighbourhood’s coffee shops and cafes every day of the week. Granville Island Across False Creek via the Granville Street Bridge lies a picturesque peninsula that’s a pedestrian-friendly treat for the senses. Your clients can listen to the lyric strains of street performers, the click of heels through renovated streets and the giggles of children in the kids water park. They’ll also find colourful crafts from local artisans and aromatic delicacies at the Granville Island Public Market. Or they can just sit by the seawall for a grand view of Vancouver. Granville Island Shopping What was once an industrial wasteland has become one of Vancouver’s greatest neighbourhoods with a sprawling public market full of fresh food and produce, artist co-ops, studios, bookstores and shopping complexes. Even if your clients aren’t wild about shopping, this neighbourhood is still a great place to hang out. Vancouver Chinatown Festival This celebration of Chinatown’s heritage includes a food-tasting tour, multicultural stage performances and Chinese folk art demonstrations. August. vancouverchinatown.com Vancouver Chinatown Festival ©Richard Cummins Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Scandinavian culture is explored during a weekend of folk dancing, singing, cultural displays, Scandinavian foods and more in Burnaby. June. scandinavianmidsummerfestival.org Kitsilano South Granville Located just south of downtown on the main road to the airport, South Granville is a great place to explore on foot. An eclectic mix of coffee shops, galleries, boutique clothing stores and interior design shops located on both sides of South Granville Street gives Kitsilano began as a summer retreat for Vancouver’s turn-of-the-century elite, later becoming a bedroom suburb with Craftsman bungalows, and in the 1960s attracted hippies and flower children. Today’s youth are drawn to Kitsilano’s ambling beaches and bustling streets. Besides ample shopping and dining choices, Kitsilano features the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Maritime Museum and Vancouver Museum. ilano ©Denise Shopping in Kits ver Chambers/Wea Taste of Yaletown Food and wine enthusiasts can feast on the delicious deals offered by Yaletown’s premier restaurants. October. yaletowninfo.com/events/ toy.aspx Pride Festival Two months of pride activities culminate in a parade and a festival at Sunset Beach. July and August. vancouverpride.ca Festival du Bois This festival, typically held in March, takes place primarily inside heated tents and presents Canadian folk, Celtic and world music, dance, crafts and food — all with a French twist! festivaldubois.ca Learn about dozens of other Vancouver events by turning to the calendar of events on page 40 or visiting us online at tourismvancouver.com. c a l l 6 0 4 . 6 8 2 . 2 2 2 2 t o d a y f o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n 9 http://artistsinourmidst.com http://italianculturalcentre.ca http://thedrive.ca/event_italian_week.shtm http://thedrive.ca/event_italian_week.shtm http://vancouverchinatown.com http://scandinavianmidsummerfestival.org http://yaletowninfo.com/events/toy.aspx http://yaletowninfo.com/events/toy.aspx http://vancouverpride.ca http://festivaldubois.ca http://tourismvancouver.com
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