Sponsored by

Good morning,

As some of you may have seen on Saturday, we just launched our first crowdfunding campaign for the Lookout.

Without more delay, let’s get into today’s newsletter.

Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Monday: 9 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 10 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 7 🌡️ 3 | ☁️

ENVIRONMENT

Beware the rain

You know how everyone complains that it rains too much in Vancouver? Well, this week the complaints may be warranted.

What’s happening: A special weather alert was issued this weekend as heavy rain, or what’s called an atmospheric river, could potentially cause minor flooding in Metro Vancouver today, according to the Vancouver Sun. Water levels along the coast will also be elevated through Monday and Tuesday.

• Sandbags have been set up along Locarno Beach in anticipation of rising water levels. 

It’s predicted that Vancouver could get from 50 mm to 70 mm of rain, with snow on higher elevations, which is good news for you all you skiers. The storm is expected to last until Tuesday, according to Daily Hive. 

The other problem: Compounding the rains is that it’s a period of high ocean levels, according to Vancouver is Awesome, which is pushing tides higher than normal. 

Be aware that Environment Canada has also issued a warning for people driving along the Sea to Sky highway, with the weather potentially changing suddenly. 

• The rain is expected to let off by Wednesday.

SPONSORED BY INCOGNI

Your info is on the dark web

Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info—phone number, DOB, SSN—selling it to the highest bidder. And who’s buying it? Best case: Companies targeting you with ads. Worst case: Scammers and identity thieves.

It's time you check out Incogni. It scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting the world’s data brokers on your behalf. And unlike other services, Incogni helps remove your sensitive information from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites.

Help protect yourself from identity theft, spam calls, and health insurers raising your rates. Plus, just for our readers: Get 60% off the Incogni annual plan at this link with code PRIVACY.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🚶 100 km: The number of kilometres Mykael Koe walked from the Fraser Valley to downtown Vancouver, taking about 17 hours. [CBC]

⚽ 12: The date in December when soccer legend Christine Sinclair plays her last soccer game for Canada, at BC Place against Australia. [Vancouver is Awesome]

📉 17%: The percentage of votes the BC United Party would receive if there was an election today. The Conservatives sit at 26 percent and the BC NDP at 44 percent. The BC NDP are down four points since the election. [Vancouver Sun]

THE AGENDA

📈 So far this year over 2,000 people have died from toxic drug overdoses. There were 189 deaths in October and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services say there’s been more overdose response calls this year than last year, with one month left. They’ve responded to 8,128 overdoses — last year there were 7,767. [CTV]

🗳️ Elections BC has asked the police to look into spending irregularities of West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager from the election. The mayor said Elections BC had previously called him about the furniture he had bought using campaign funds, which he said the agency had previously okayed. The police said they cannot comment on an ongoing case. [CTV]

❄️ Metro Vancouver is, shall we say, not great at dealing with snow. Now two councillors are asking for, what they’re calling, a snow summit with the province and regional elected officials to find ways to better prepare for this year. [CityNews]

👩‍⚕️ A doctor is criticizing the BC government for what she says is the province’s decision to create a separate space for medical assistance in dying patients at St. Paul’s Hospital that is separate from the building. St. Paul’s is part of Providence Health which is a catholic health organization that bans the practice. [CTV]

🆕 The City of Vancouver has launched an Accessibility Committee, made up of 16 members, including 11 community members with lived experiences. The goal of the committee will be to advise the city on accessibility issues and ensure the city’s Accessibility Strategy is implemented. [City of Vancouver]

🏒 The Canucks won a tough game on the road against the Flames 4-3 on Saturday. The team is now 16-8-1, and sit at second in the Pacific Division. [Province]

FOOD

The biggest Lookout food stories you might’ve missed

If you didn’t know, we publish what we humbly think are some of the best food reviews in the city. Here are a few you might’ve missed. Please note that many of these are just for members — if you want to access them, consider becoming a member today.

For all your Italian grocery needs, trust Cioffi’s

When you buy tomato sauce as much as I do, you crave something, shall we say, a little better. Unico and Heinz just don’t cut it.

That’s the problem with Italian food. It’s so good, but it’s only as good as the ingredients you put into it. Unlike other cuisines, where spice serves as a significant part of the dish, Italian food is defined by the freshness of its components. That’s not to say it’s different for other food regions — good food requires good ingredients. But no amount of spice will mask bad Italian food.

Read the review

A stairway to food heaven at Richmond Public Market

When I started writing about food, I asked myself, what are some places in the Metro Vancouver area that aren’t covered enough by bigger outlets?

Everyone has their favourite Italian spot, or sushi place downtown. But as we move further away from the core, food coverage suffers. It’s harder to find helpful information about good places to eat. My theory? Many of the best places are off the beaten path, or include food we are less familiar with.

One of the best off-the-beaten-path areas with many undiscovered spots, at least for the average Vancouverite like myself who isn’t Chinese, are the food courts throughout Richmond. 

Read the review

How to have the perfect night out in Chinatown

A series I’ve wanted to write for a while is about how to have a perfect night out in Vancouver. 

When I lived in Chinatown, one of my favourite things was to take visiting friends on a tour of the neighbourhood in the evening, stopping at different spots depending on the mood. It’s my favourite food neighbourhood in Vancouver, and for good reason. My theory is affordable rents meant the best restaurants and drinking spots all set up shop in town. 

Read the review

Como Taperia’s Shaun Layton on what makes his happy hour so unique

Written by Jamie May

I remember back in 2014 when the BC government brought in new liquor laws allowing for happy hour service. It was a monumental moment for BC restaurateurs as we were the last province in Canada to allow for daily price adjustments.

Since then, happy hours have proliferated. The chains such as Earls and Cactus Club, use it as a bevy for a large portion of their service, often offering two allotments, one early and one late. I get why they do it even if I find it challenges smaller restaurants competitively.

The American offers a daily 3 pm to 6 pm happy hour as well, so it’s hard to argue with the logic of a chain versus a smaller operation. Getting people in the door during slower periods is the name of the game.

Then there’s Como Taperia, located at 201 E 7th Ave, a spot, which in my opinion, is doing happy hour with a wholly different approach. I see them posting about it daily in my Instagram feed so it’s hard not to wonder and salivate at what they’re producing.

Read the review

Hearty, unforgettable soup at Chef Liu Kitchen

t’s fall and you know what that means. No, you won’t ever hear me talk about anything pumpkin-related. But you will see me talking about soups. There’s something comforting about tucking into a warm bowl of soup as the fall, or winter, weather rolls it.

Unlike the other soup place I previously reviewed at the Richmond Public Market, my next stop in the food court, Taiwanese restaurant Chef Liu Kitchen, has at least a mention in English language media, with a story back in 2016 from the Vancouver Sun about cheap eats for under $10. In it, they reviewed the popcorn chicken, with Tourism Richmond’s communications manager recommending the beef noodle soup.

Read the review

EVENTS GUIDE

Holiday Splash | The Birdhouse, 44 W 4th Ave | Dec. 8, 7 pm | Natural wine tasting, with DJs and drag performances | Tickets $23

Vancouver’s View Protection Policy: How It Developed and Was Implemented | SFU Vancouver at Harbour Centre | Dec. 6, 6:30 pm | A lecture on a key policy that is shaping Vancouver’s skyline | Free

1931 Gallery Bistro X Laughingstock Winemakers Dinner | 1931 Gallery Bistro | Dec. 6, 6 pm | A winemakers dinner, with wine and meal pairings | Tickets $159

Make it Vancouver | PNE Forum | Dec. 7-10, 5 pm | Check out and purchase handmade items for the holidays, and try some local food trucks. Tickets good all week |  Tickets $8

Winter Arts Market at Pacific Arts Market | Pacific Arts Market | Dec. 8-9, 1 pm-7 pm |  Early bird tickets free

African Christmas Market | Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre | Dec. 8, 12 pm-5 pm | Authentic products and crafts from Africa or made by Africans | Reserve a time

Make Your Own Candle Holders & Rolled Beeswax Candles | 729 Gore Ave | Dec. 16, 11 am | Just like the title says! The perfect gift for the holidays | Tickets $75

Ruby's Ukes Christmas Ukulele Workshop | 815 W Hastings St., office 250 | Learn how to play some seasonal classics, and learn how to tune ukuleles | Tickets $38

IMAGE OF THE DAY

This is a really cool shot from Burrard Bridge. Wonderful composition.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• It’s official. Mobi Bikes are now red after Rogers bought Shaw. [CityNews]

• Sober bars are now a real thing in Metro Vancouver as the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks continues to grow. [CBC]

• Digital nomad but not a coffee drinker? Then you might like these tea places with laptop space in the city. [Reddit]

• The Vancouver Parks Board is asking for feedback on the new Community Centre Plaza and Riverfront Park. Share your ideas here.

• Here’s a great list of the city’s best omakase restaurants. But be wanted — they’re expensive. [Vancouver Magazine]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

GAME TIME