5/14/20 5/14/20

Vancouver Stores Begin to Re-Open

Vancouver stores begin to re-open after being closed due to the pandemic.

Vancouver stores are preparing to open again after the BC Government announced it plans on May 6, 2020 to restart the economy after the pandemic shutdown many businesses. Stores that were boarded up and painted by artists had removed the plywood. You can see some of the boarded up photos and photos taken on May 13th, 2020 below.

Robson street store with mural taken down

5/6/20 5/6/20

Japanese Cafe in Vancouver - Yama Cafe

Japanese Cafe in Vancouver Yama Cafe

Yama Cafe in the Grandview-Woodland neighborhood is open with a takeout menu of their amazing Japanese food. They also have Japanese baked goods, other products including delicious sesame butter and cloth face masks (pre-order). The cloth face masks are made by Japanese Fabric Creations Shino. If you are in a position to, please support our local businesses. Yama Cafe is located at 2007 E. Hastings St. Please check their Facebook page below for hours as they are currently changing.Yama Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/JapaneseStyleCafe/Japanese Fabric Creations Shino: https://www.instagram.com/japanesefabriccreationshino

Reusable cloth face mask by Japanese Fabric Creations Shino

5/5/20 5/5/20

Vancouver Artists Transforming Granville Street

Here is a look at how Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver is looking these days. But like the transformation happening on Robson Street, artists are painting on boarded up storefronts on Granville Street with the support of Downtown Vancouver BIA and Vancouver Mural Festival.

Mural by Moonray Designs on Granville Street

Mural on Granville Street by Andrew Tavukciyan

Mural by @ihatestencils on Granville Street

5/4/20 5/4/20

Vancouver Fabric Stores in Gastown

Dressew (337 W. Hastings St.) in Gastown is closed because of the pandemic, but today they've launched their online store, www.dressew.com with in-store pick up between 12pm-3pm. Atex Fabrics (330 W. Hastings St.) is right across the street from Dressew is OPEN from Monday to Saturday from 12:00pm-5:30pm. They have fabrics and notions such as elastics if you are looking to make some cloth face masks. Visit their website for more information. https://www.atexfabrics.com/

4/28/20 4/28/20

WW2 Air Force Officer Veteran Celebrates 102nd Birthday With Fanfare

This WW2 Air Force Officer veteran celebrated her 102nd birthday with great fanfare on Tuesday April 28, 2020. The Vancouver Mounted Unit, Vancouver Police and Vancouver firefighters came by to wish her well and sing happy birthday to her.

WW2 Air Force Officer Veteran and her daughter with VPD. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

4/27/20 4/27/20

Vancouver Artists Transforming Robson Street

Vancouver artists are transforming Robson Street in Vancouver by painting on boarded up storefronts. The Downtown Vancouver BIA and Vancouver Mural Festival have enlisted the artists to create a more positive environment. The storefronts have been boarded up due to an increase in commercial break-ins due to the pandemic.

Artist Taka Sudo with his mural on the Muji Store on Robson Street. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Artist Animalitoland (Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva) paints her mural on Robson Street. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Mural on Robson Street by Chairman Ting. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Mural on Robson Street by Artist Sandeep Johal. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

4/25/20 4/25/20

Vancouver Tribute to Nova Scotia

The Olympic Flame at Jack Poole Plaza in Coal Harbour was lit in red on Friday April 24, 2020 in tribute to Nova Scotia and the recent tragedy there. Flags were also at half-mast across the city.

Olympic Flame at Jack Poole Plaza lit in red. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

4/23/20 4/23/20

Vancouver Restaurants Still Open With Take Out Options

Seeing all the boarded up store fronts and closed notices on so many businesses makes it seem like everything is shut down due to the pandemic. I was in Gastown the other day and passed by Six Acres in the heart of Gastown by the Gassy Jack statue. They had rigged up and outdoor stereo system and had their windows open - signs to show everyone that "Hey - we're open!" If you are in a position to, please support our local businesses. Six Acres is located at 203 Carrall St and is open for takeout from Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-8pm.

Six Acres in Gastown remains open. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Takeout menu for Six Acres in Gastown. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

4/22/20 4/22/20

Throwback to Climate Strike March in September 2019

Here are some photos from the Climate Strike March across Cambie Bridge in Yaletown in September 2019. It's unreal to look back on these photos and see large crowds like that. Happy Earth Day.

Different signs at Climate Strike March in Vancouver, BC, Canada. September 2019.

Crowds crossing Cambie Bridge into downtown Vancouver during the Climate Strike March. September 2019. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

People watch as the crowd crosses Cambie Bridge into downtown Vancouver. Climate Strike March. September 2019. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Kids with signs at Climate Strike March in Vancouver, BC, Canada. September 2019.

Buses and other traffic is held up during the Climate Strike March in Vancouver, BC, Canada. September 2019.

4/17/20 4/17/20

No Vehicle Access to Stanley Park Until Further Notice

There is no public vehicle access to Stanley Park in the Westend as of April 8, 2020 until further notice. Vancouver Park Board limited access to reduce the number of people gathering at the park due to the pandemic. Aquarium workers, yacht club and rowing club staff, HMSC Discovery, and emergency vehicles are the exception. The bus into Stanley Park is still running. Cyclists are asked to use the road now and leave the seawall for pedestrians. Park rangers and police are on hand to inform drivers of the change. Parking lots have already been closed and the City of Vancouver is enforcing parking bylaws in the Westend again.

Vancouver Park Rangers near a newly installed gate at the an entrance to Stanley Park. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Park rangers are on hand to inform the public of the changes. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Park rangers set up an ID checkpoint. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

4/15/20 4/15/20

Vancouver Gas Prices 2019 vs. 2020

Last year on April 15, 2019 I took a photo at a downtown Vancouver gas station as the prices were rising dramatically and I wanted to document it for history. This year as the prices were falling I went back out on the same day around the same time (after 3pm) on April 15, 2020 to document the price fall. What a difference a year makes - 74 cents/L! Fun fact: This is the only gas station in Vancouver's downtown penninsula. All other gas stations have been sold for development.