Lexicon
Welcome to the Vancouver Lexicon. Its purpose is to pin down the patois of the City of Vancouver by recording its toponyms, nicknames, slang terms, personalities, places, and other Van-centric things.
Chinook Jargon Term That Conveyed Power, Courage, Awesomeness
"I was on the seawall last night when the clouds broke at sunset -- the light was skookum."
The Cheap & Cheerful Greasy Spoon That's Been Around Since 1954
"Grab me a grilled cheese if you're going to The Argo..."
The Legendary DTES Eatery That'll Forever Live On In Name "Only"
"It's a real shame that The Only Seafood isn't around anymore. That place was terribly amazing..."
The Rabid, Hooligan-Singalong Tribe Of Vancouver Whitecaps Fans
"I kinda wish Canucks fans were more like the Southsiders..."
The Cruel Trick That All Landlords Can Play On Vancouver Renters
"It was either sign the Fixed Term Tenancy or keep looking, but there's just nothing out there..."
What Local Doubters Call A Neighbourhood Targeted By Developers
"With so many fancy coffee shops and new high-rises on the way, __________ is 'The Next Yaletown'..."
The Day That Marks The Anniversary Of Your Arrival In Vancouver
"I'm sorry but I can't come to work next Tuesday night. It's our family's 15th Vanniversary."
The Special Hat You Should Wear When In The BC Wilds All Alone
"If you're going out alone, don't forget to wear your Cougar Hat."
Strathcona's Iconic 'Moderne' Warehouse At Venables & Clark Dr.
“Man, you would think the iconic Russell Foods Building would be designated as a heritage site by now.”
Talented Landscape Architect Who Helped Make YVR So Beautiful
“Did you know Cornelia Oberlander is an Officer of the Order of Canada? What a badass.”
The Ridiculous 'Park' That No One Ever Really Wants To Hang Out In
"If you want to know why we should all be wary of urban planners getting into bed with developers, spend two minutes with the embarrassing orphan that is Yaletown Park."
A Different Visual Representation Of Vancouver's Housing Crisis
"I sometimes think I'll see Chris Farley's motivational speaker character Matt Foley emerge from one of the vans parked on RV Alley..."
One Of The Last Operational Public Payphones In Vancouver
"I used Lawyer Phone the other day to call my girlfriend."
The West Broadway Icon That Put Vancouver On The Culinary Map
"I used to work at Lumière during its heyday."
Downtown Eastside Team Of Legend & Lore That Used To Kick Ass
“Have you seen the plaque at Oppenheimer Park honouring the Asahi?”
What To Call A Place When It's No Longer Meant For Its Own People
"I picture the mayor of Hedge City as being some sort of feisty badger hoarding bags of cash..."
Our City Had A 600-Strong Fleet Of Uber-Like Cars 100 Years Ago
"Jitneys were, like, the Uber of the past, man.”
The Decadent Act Of Drinking Sherry Down A Bone's Marrow Cavity
"Let's head over to Wildebeest for one more drink and a bone luge."
Legendary Sign That Still Mezmerizes In The Rain On East Hastings
"One of the best things about being on Hastings Street after a rain storm is how cool the reflection of the Harris Paints sign looks in the puddles..."
Nickname Highlights 'Wonky Grid' In Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood
“I’m looking for a house party up on Elgin but the street doesn’t go through! What's with this wonky grid?"
The Other Character-Giving Triangular Flatiron Building In Gastown
“Have you ever noticed that cute little balcony on the corner of the Horne Block?”
The Calamitous Event That Destroyed The City In Less Than An Hour
"I heard that during The Great Fire, a bunch of guys headed into the empty saloons and drank all the booze they could find."
How Some YVR Real Estate Agents Reveal Themselves To Be Dicks
"I was totally into Shadow Flipping before I started beating my own pets..."
What Customers Try To Order A Week After Seeing It On Instagram
"My table is pointing to Instadrinks on their phones like it's a menu. They haven't said a word to me…"
After Brush With Real Estate Marketers, Strathcona Gets Nickname
"All my friends and their small dogs are moving to Strathtopia..."
The Final Customer Who Stays Long After The Restaurant Closes
"I don't mean to alarm you, but I've served Table #66 before. I'm afraid they're Blueberry Teas."
A Stratovolcano That Looms Threateningly On Vancouver's Horizon
"Woah, check out Baker! Man, one day that thing is totally gonna blow and we'll all have front row seats..."
The People Who Are Dead Set Against All Construction Everywhere
"There was talk of a new daycare going in on the corner but the BANANAs made short work of that..."
