Gastown Archives

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Opening Soon / Gastown

Take a Look Inside Gastown’s New Kafka’s Coffee

The new, bright and colourful cafe in the Ormidale Building at 151 West Hastings Street is truly something to behold.

The Dishes

Christina Cottell Does ‘The Dishes’

15 Places

In the latest edition of The Dishes, the restaurateur who gave us Dixies and Gringo takes us around town to her favourite spots.

TBT / Gastown

Five Years Ago Today, Inside the Mess That Would Become One of Gastown’s Busiest Restaurants

For this week’s edition of #ThrowbackThursday we look back exactly five years to the construction of the Cordova St. location of Tacofino.

You Need To Try This / Gastown

You Need to Try the Chef’s Catch Dinner at Coquille

The last dinner in the series featured an unforgettably delicious saffron and mussel risotto. The next feast focuses on Dungeness crab.

TBT / Gastown

11 Years Ago, This Gastown Diner Started Taking Shape in a Crazy World of Uncertainty

Obama was newly elected, nuclear powers were flexing, the economy was collapsing, and all we could think of was corned beef hash...

Comfort Food / Gastown

The Deliciously Comforting 18th Century Traveller’s Snack We Need Right Now

Developed in the early 18th century as a traveller's snack, the humble Scotch Egg is a deliciousness delivery system in a league of its own.

Restaurant Graveyard / Gastown

Remembering the Beautiful, Short-Lived Gastown Restaurant That Never Sold Flowers

Despite some positive reviews and a very good looking design by Craig Stanghetta, Blacktail Florist didn't last two years.

Comfort Food / Gastown

The Comfort Food Guide to Vancouver: Gastown’s Simple ‘Gambas al Ajillo’

The shrimp are flash-seared in spiced olive oil with garlic, sherry, plenty of paprika and a parsley/lemon finish. Uncomplicated by impactful!

TBT

Nine Years Ago This Week, When Meat & Bread Was Still Dust and Drawings

We look back to Gastown in 2010 and the first location of Meat & Bread when it was midway through construction.

Drinker / Gastown

Has Vancouver’s Cocktail Culture Peaked?

Jamie Mah interviews some of Vancouver's top bartenders to understand where our cocktail scene is and where it might be going next.

Branding Vancouver / Gastown

What’s the Story Behind the Branding of The Magnet?

Nigel Springthorpe and designer Alex Nelson fill us in on the many elements and people at the centre of this brand's undeniable force.

Restaurant Graveyard / Gastown

This Promising Vancouver Restaurant Closed Long Before it Should Have

Despite good reviews, a solid drinks program and a very interesting menu, The Abbey didn't last two years in the old Wild Rice address.

Seen In Vancouver / Gastown

33 Acres’ Community Journal Spotlights One of Vancouver’s Coolest Shops

Good people celebrating good people is a good thing, as evidenced here in this 33 Acres video spotlight on Community Thrift & Vintage.

Heads Up / Gastown

Tickets for Inform Interior’s ‘Japan Handmade’ Workshops Now Available

This year's event includes two days of incredibly intimate hands-on opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge from four Kyoto artisans.

View From Your Window / Gastown

The View From Your Window #188

We love posting photos like this that reveal the views through the windows of our readers. We hope you'll consider sharing yours!

Restaurant Graveyard / Gastown

Remembering a Prolific Restaurateur’s Counter-Service Experiment in Chinatown

Sean Heather launched this small coffee and sandwich shop (cheffed by Lee Humphries) at 75 East Pender St. in May, 2010.

Power of Two / Gastown

Understanding the Dynamic Partnership That Drives Two Prolific Restaurateurs

Josh Pape and James Iranzad of Bells and Whistles, Lucky Taco, Wildebeest and Bufala sit for an lengthy interview with Jamie Mah.

View From Your Window / Gastown

The View From Your Window #187

We love posting photos like this that reveal the views through the windows of our readers. We hope you'll consider sharing yours!

Drinker / Gastown

On Minding the Bar and Finding Your Spirits Animal with Kristi-Leigh Akister

In this short Q&A, the local bartender and industry activist gets us up to speed on her wild, whirlwind year.

Best Seat in the House / Gastown

This Is Why Everyone Wants Table #5 at This Seafood Restaurant in Gastown

Overlooking Gassy Jack Square, the refined and good-looking Coquille is home to many a great table, but only one is best.

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If / Gastown

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If Its Restaurant Workers Had a Fully Licensed Member’s Clubhouse

If the annual fees were on a scale of accessibility so a dishwasher didn't have to pay as much as a server, this might work...

Picking Grapes

Picking Grapes with Colin Ross of Tuc Craft Kitchen

7 Places

We asked the co-owner and Wine Director of the Gastown restaurant to map out his affections for British Columbian wine.

You Should Know / Gastown

You Should Know That Gastown Was Home to Canada’s First Movie Theatre

In this edition of 'You Should Know', we remember the groundbreaking Edison Electric Theatre on W. Cordova Street.

Gastown

Shoel Davidson Does ‘The Dishes’

17 Places

We asked the co-owner of good times spots Gringo and Dixie's BBQ to take us on a tour to some of his favourite local spots.

Restaurant Graveyard / Gastown

Remembering One of the Most Beautiful, Romantic Restaurants Ever Built in Gastown

The romantic 40 seater was opened by first timers Alice Wu and Johan Friedrich on Valentine's Day in 2015. It lasted just three years.

Lexicon / Gastown

The Vancouver Building That Was Once the Tallest in the British Empire

Despite popular belief, The Dominion's architect J.S. Helyer never fell to his death during the building’s opening party in 1910.

Gastown

The View From Your Window #171

We love posting photos like this that reveal the views through the windows of our readers. We hope you'll consider sharing yours!

TBT / Gastown

Six Years Ago This Week, Inside the Construction of Gastown’s PiDGiN

For our Throwback Thursday feature this week we go back to the beginnings of one of Vancouver's best restaurants.