What Vancouver can learn from North Vancouver’s shipyards

Good morning!

Almost 500 subscribers after only three days... To say we’re shocked is an understatement. Thanks to everyone for joining the Lookout.

We’ve got a packed edition today, including a look at improving public spaces, restaurants at Dine Out Vancouver, a den (but really a closet) for rent and plenty of weekend events.

Reply to us if there are any stories, events or things you want to see covered.

Now onto the newsletter.

— Geoff Sharpe

Editor’s note: In yesterday’s food edition, we misspelt Peruvian restaurant Suyo. The Lookout regrets the error.

Consider forwarding this to your friends so they can discover the Lookout. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

Weather Report

Friday: 11 🌡️ 8 | 🌧

Saturday: 11 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Sunday: 10 🌡️ 6 | ❄️

Saturday: 8 🌡️ 5 | 🌧

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

🌧️ 120 mm: Expected amount rainfall in the last half of the week. [CBC]

🏢 14,000: The number of people who’ve left Vancouver in 2022 for other places in Canada. But this was replaced by immigration from outside the country. [Vancouver Sun]

🚒 $27 million: The cost to purchase 14 new fire trucks. 

🏒 3.93: Number of goals per game given up by the Canucks. It's the second-highest in the league after the Columbus Blue Jackets. [Vancouver Sun]

COMMUNITY

What Vancouver city can learn about public spaces

What happened: Public spaces have the potential to enhance city life, as a new story from CBC illustrates. Sadly it’s not in Vancouver, but in North Van.

The Shipyards, just a short seabus ride away, has quickly become a favourite weekend spot for locals, with its open public spaces, alcohol-allowed zones, shops, and food venues. As Vancouver’s chief planner Brent Toderian told CBC, it avoids other problems like car dominant infrastructure, creating a more walkable, community-friendly space. 

• Background: The Shipyards were originally industrial land, a common situation in major cities where ports historically took up prime waterfront space. 

Fast forward: Cities across North America are grappling with reshaping waterfront properties, but not without controversy. Google’s Sidewalk project to redevelop Toronto’s Quayside was abandoned after an outcry for handing public space to a private company. It’s not often you have 12 acres downtown to develop however a city desires. 

Here in Vancouver, we may see some improvement in a place like Granville Entertainment District. The area is currently undergoing a transformation through an 18-month planning process to, among other things, “improve people-friendly public spaces,” according to Urbanized.  

Yes, but: Vancouver is, shall we say, a little slower at embracing projects like the Shipyards. Even small pilot pilot projects like alcohol in parks and a complaint-filled rollout of patio expansions show Vancouver has a lot of work to do if it wants to embrace more fun and engaging public spaces. 

FOOD

All the details on Dine Out Vancouver 

Foodies rejoice, it’s once again Dine Out Vancouver, that special time where Vancouver’s expensive restaurant scene becomes a little more affordable. 

What is it: From Jan. 20 to Feb. 5 2023, you can enjoy fixed-price menus at hundreds of Vancouver's best restaurants. There’s also events like Gelato 101, dumplings class, introduction to dim sum, and much more. 

Who’s participating: Cactus Club, The Keg, and Milestones! We kid, though these restaurants are part of it, we know you’re much more interested in actual smaller local ones (sorry Earls). 

Some standout spots include Hawksworth, Cuchillo, The Mackenzie Room, and Zarak by Afghan Kitchen (be sure to order their eggplant). 

• Burdock & Co is the only Michelin starred restaurant participating with fixed prices ranging from $20-$50.

Bib Gourmand restaurants, the more affordable Michelin-rated spots, have a stronger showing with Fable Kitchen, Fiorino, Nightshade Restaurant, Say Mercy! and Vij’s. 

• Daily Hive has the full list of restaurants and you can find a list of Dine Out events here.

QUICK HITS

🚌 It just became easier to pay for transit tickets, as Translink will now let you pay by debit card. [Vancouver Sun]

📊 Data on how many homeless people are in Vancouver is years old, and the last official count was in 2022 with 2,095. One expert says the population has likely increased by 25 percent. [Georgia Straight]

📻 The Peak radio station just fired three of it’s most popular hosts, Charis Hogg, Jeremy Baker and Jason Manning. No reason was given for the layoffs. [Daily Hive]

☠️ Vancouver’s The Metals Company responded to a video of one of their mining vessel discharging fouled water, saying it was a minor event and did not contain any toxins. [Vancouver Sun]

EVENTS

Art

Bill Reid Gallery presents Keeping the Song Alive, until March 19: Discover shared and sacred songs, through music, regalia, art and film, and the beauty of preserving art and culture. Tickets are $13.

The Original Paint Nite at The Wolf & Hound, Saturday 2 pm: Unleash your inner artist at this $40 painting class.

Music

School of Rock student performances, Saturday: Students perform some of their favourite rock tunes at The Blarney Stone. Dancing, plus food and beverages available. Tickets are $20.

Food + Drink

Riley Park Farmers Market, Saturday 10 am-2 pm: More than 85 farms and producers selling locally grown food at Riley Park. Plus food trucks! Free to enter.

Family

Fun at Toys R Us, Saturday and Sunday 11 am: Mitten decorations and story time for kids at Toys R Us on Broadway. Free.

Community

Lunar New Year Market, Jan. 14-15 starting at 11 am: Check out artists, crafters, dancing and kung fu performances at the UBC Garden to celebrate the year of the rabbit. Free.

Movies

Some selection from your's truly:

• Triangle of Sadness, Rio, Saturday at 7:15 pm: Turning social hierarchies upside down in this funny Palme d’Or winner

• Magadheera, VIFF, Saturday at 7 pm: RRR’s (the best action movie of the year) Rajamouli directs Tollywood’s version of Ben-Hur.

• The Rules of the Game, Cinematheque, Sunday at 7 pm: An essential cinema work, regularly cited as one the greatest.

BEER-COUVER

A few Vancouver beer updates from our friends at The Beerloop. Subscribe today for free.

• Brassneck has a self-deprecating explanation for its "failed" photo shoot for its new Jungle Simulator tart fruit sour. It features tangerine, peach, passionfruit and coconut.

• ♟️ Container Brewing is hosting a regular games night, with the next sessions taking place on January 17 and then the first and third Tuesday of every month. Seating is limited, so you'll need to get a ticket.

HOUSE HORROR

When a den isn’t a den…

In what we expect to be an ongoing series, we want to highlight the worst of Vancouver’s unaffordable housing crisis, in a more lighthearted way.

The owner describes the rental room as a den, but online users say it is a closet. No windows, it sort of fits the bed, but on a positive note, as it says in the listing “you can use other parts of the studio.”

See how much this 70x62 inches “den” will set you back.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Vancity Lookout food editor Jamie Mah’s first edition is a deep dive into wine — what to try, where to buy it in Vancouver and a new wine school.

• Vancouver is looking to fill vacancies on a number of civic agencies. Apply today. 

• Canucks forward Tanner Pearson is out for the rest of the season after a second surgery to fix his injured hand. [TSN]

• Depending where you live in Vancouver, it could improve your exercise levels according to a new study. [City News]

• Shige Mineshiba, one of Canada’s oldest people, passed away recently in Vancouver at the young age of 113. [CBC]

• Find some delicious momos at this new Vancouver Indo spot called Momo Factory. [Daily Hive]

QUESTION

What is Vancouver missing?

While Reddit may not be the first place you think of for nuanced conversation, it can yield a surprising wealth of insight.

This week’s question is worth considering — “what do you feel Vancouver is missing?” Here are a few responses:

• “More late night food / non-club pubs / sports bars” - @TheSketeDavidson

• “Would love late night coffee shops with patio seating. One of my good friends here is from Macedonia and berates metro Vancouver for not having late night coffee and generally not having street seating to sit and chat over a light snack.” - @Hieb

• “6-8 Dollar Ramen bowls” - @DrGrommit

• “More outdoor seating for curbside dining, food trucks, or general use. Some of the expanded patios during covid and city seating spaces for local establishments to utilize were amazing. Most seem gone now.” - @ChiefSection9

Some great suggestions here. What do you think is missing? Reply with your name and we’ll feature it in the next edition.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Local journalist celebrity Justin McElroy’s ranking of parks may or may not have gotten results, in the form of a $4 million upgrade. But the attention can’t have hurt…

VANCOUVERGUESSER

Can you guess where this is in Vancouver? Bonus points if you know what iconic landmark is behind the photo. Reply with the answer and your name and we'll feature it in the newsletter.