#VANCOUVER WOULD BE COOLER IF #173: If It Had A Forest Of These Rad Treehouses

Of course, getting the requisite permits might mummify the intrepid with red tape a la slow motion City Hall, but an Ewok can dream! From Oregon, natch, via BoingBoing:

This 17-minute mini-documentary introduces Michael Garnier, proprietor of the Out’n'About Treehouse Resort in Oregon. Garnier is a thoughtful and salty woodcrafter who’s put a lot of thought into the right way to build a treetop B&B, and his guided tour of his little hotel with its Ewok-style treehouses is a delight.

OTHER CIVIC IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTIONS

GOODS: “Red Card” In The Moda Hotel Set For Superbowl Sunday With Specials Galore

Red Card is located at 900 Seymour Street (at Smithe) | Vancouver | 604-689-4460 | www.redcardsportsbar.ca

The GOODS from Red Card

Vancouver, BC | Named by those in the know as the absolute best place to watch a sports event, Red Card is undoubtedly the ‘go to place’ for the Super Bowl this Sunday. With 18 hi-def TV’s, two of which are 106” projectors, you will not miss a single moment of the action, including Madonna’s half time show. And what’s Super Bowl without amazing beer and food specials? All day at Red Card you can enjoy pints of Stanley Park Amber and Pilsner for just $5.00. Lovers of coveted Westcoast IPA Green Flash will be excited to know its back in stock and on tap this weekend at Red Card (one of the few bars in town to have it). And, of course, we will be pouring our very own Red Card Lager specially brewed for us by Sleemans. [ Keep reading ]

GOODS: Diva At The Met’s Jeff Kang Wins “BC Chef Of The Year” At Foodservice Expo

Diva at the Met is located at 645 Howe Street in Vancouver BC | 604-602-7788 | www.divamet.com

The GOODS from Diva at the Met

Vancouver, BC | Diva at the Met sous chef, Jeff Kang, has been named “B.C. Chef of the Year” after winning the annual Roasted Competition at the BC Foodservice Expo. The event, held on January 30, was presented in partnership with both the BC Chefs Association and the Canadian Culinary Federation. The Roasted Competition is a knock-out black box event for up-and-coming chefs, with all competitors preparing appetizers, but only top contestants going on to prepare main courses and, ultimately, desserts. Chef Kang impressed judges with his skill, creativity and quick thinking, going on to win the final round over Chef Dan Craig from the Delta Burnaby (2nd) and Chef William Tse from The Sandbar (3rd). As the winner of this event, he will head to Halifax in June to compete in the national competition. As an added bonus, this year’s top two finalists will also travel to Toronto in March to take part in the “Discovered Chef Competition” at the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association’s national show. [ Keep reading ]

Cool Thing We Want #328: Sweet Gunmetal Grey Industrial Tool Bottle Openers On Etsy

Dark, gunmetal grey with a light coat of wax to prevent rusting (rad) | $48 | Etsy via Get Addicted To…

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT

GOODS: Kale & Nori’s “Bittered Sling Bistro” Hosting Zubrowka Showdown At Legacy

Kale & Nori Culinary Arts is Vancouver's newest catering company | 604-809-9479 | www.kaleandnori.com

The GOODS from Kale & Nori

Vancouver, BC | The concept of cocktail and food pairings has become extremely popular, and since 2010, Lauren Mote’s original “Cocktail Kitchen” competition at The Refinery produced energetic statistics: 168 original cocktails produced, 56 bartenders invited, 224 bottles of spirits poured, 14 different sponsors. This city’s brightest bartenders – a collaboration of seasoned veterans and young apprentices – took their place behind the wood and produced magic for 1680 total guests in 14 months. We are proud to re-introduce you to “Bittered Sling Bistro” – a bi-weekly food and cocktail pairing competition using a special featured spirit(s) that is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of cocktail craft presented at the beautiful Legacy Liquor Store in Olympic Village. Get the details on February’s match-ups after the jump… [ Keep reading ]

Seen In Vancouver #338: Cool “Matchstick” Getting Its New Grind On In The Fraserhood

by Andrew Morrison | I really like the look of Matchstick. It’s a recently opened cafe and coffee company in the Fraserhood from former JJ Bean, Crema, and Elysian hands Spencer Viehweger, Annie Viehweger and Aaron Braun (639 East 15th, just a few doors down from Les Faux Bourgeois). The 1926 space, which had previously housed a hoarder for some 17 years, was – if my notes are correct – once upon a time a Bank of Montreal (I could see the massive vault door still in place). It has clearly undergone a top to bottom spruce, the clean effects of which are being beautifully amplified by lots of natural light. The minimalist design was done in house and put together by the same construction folks (Tetherstone) who did the awesome Revolver coffee house on Cambie. It’s a looker, for sure.

Matchstick is setting up to start roasting beans in a couple of months (as evidenced by all the equipment in the back), but the coffee is pretty damn fine as it is (from Calgary’s excellent Phil & Sebastian). Ancillary offerings include an array of sandwiches (meats supplied by Save On Meats) and baked goods, including fresh baguettes (from Baguette & Co). About 25 seats all day (no patio yet), with the majority being communal. Wireless? Plenty and quick.

The branding is superb. They’re aiming for quality everything, from bean to bread, with the name symbolizing the significance of a single, high quality matchstick in a world of plastic lighters (so take that, Starbucks). If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. They’re open every day from 8am to 4pm, and killing it.

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EVERYTHING SEEN IN VANCOUVER

GOODS: “Dine Over” Evening At The Waldorf To Celebrate End Of Dine Out And Feast Van

The Waldorf Hotel is located at 1489 East Hastings in beautiful Vancouver, BC | 604.253.7141 | WaldorfHotel.com

The GOODS from The Waldorf Hotel

Vancouver, BC | Join us on Monday, February 6th for a special, multi-room edition of the Ice Cream Social. We’re calling this event “Dine Over” because it’s the first night after Dine Out and Feast Van. So come on down if you’re a waitress who got yelled at because something from the set menu had been 86′d or a waiter who got stiffed because a customer thought the gratuity was included. To show our appreciation to all the brave souls who toughed it out during for the two week dining festivals, we’re offering 2 for 1 admission to service industry employees so they can blow off some steam, enjoy cheap drinks and dance to the best rock and pop from the 50′s and 60′s… [ Keep reading ]

HONOUR BOUND: Check Out The Launch Of Stan Douglas’ New Book On February 10th

If you’ve ever walked around the new Woodwards 3 complex in Gastown you’ve likely noticed Stan Douglas’ translucent photo mural, Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971 (as seen above). It’s pretty awesome, as is Douglas’ revealing book of the same name (published by Arsenal Pulp Press). It details how he came to create the scene from the 1971 Gastown Riot (fascinating), and also takes both the riot and his work “as points of departure to discuss the legacy and implications of this tumultuous time, not only for Vancouver but for all urban centres where dissent and conflict based on class, lifestyle, or other issues arise, and where the role of authorities is contested in the form of public demonstration” (learn more about riot and the work here). The official launch goes down on Friday, February 10th at the Charles H. Scott Gallery (Emily Carr). Stan Douglas will be in attendance and signing copies. Be sure to check it out.

Honour Bound details the many cool things that we feel honour bound to check out because they either represent Vancouver exceptionally well or are inherently super awesome in one way or another.

Cool Thing We Want #327: A Week Camping Near And Fishing On Sweden’s Vindel River

Holy shit do we ever want this, with or without The Tallest Man On Earth soundtrack.

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT

GOODS: Cozy On Up To “The Oakwood” In Kits During The Last Four Days Of Dine Out

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro is located at 2741 West 4th in Vancouver, BC | 604.558.1965 www.theoakwood.ca

The GOODS from Oakwood Canadian Bistro

Vancouver, BC | Only four days remain of Tourism Vancouver’s 2012 Dine Out (the celebrated festival comes to a close this Sunday, February 5th). Take your Dine Out adventures this week to Kitsilano’s latest room – The Oakwood Canadian Bistro – and try their tasty $28, 3-course menu while sipping premiere BC craft beers and hand crafted cocktails. Menu after the jump… [ Keep reading ]