Vancouver & Me

A foreign point of view on Vancouver, BC: culture, food, fashion, social initiatives... and much more! 

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Bowen Island: so close and so far at the same time

Only twenty minutes away with a BC Ferry from Horseshoe Bay, Bowen Island is a perfect day trip from Vancouver or even a weekend away. Here are a few recommendations to enjoy your time on this small gem, ideal to take a break from the city noise, enjoy nature and to take unforgettable pictures of British-Columbia. 

Get some fresh air and some culture  First, you can stop by Tunstall Bay and take a walk on the beach to take in a very peaceful area of the island. Docks, small and bigger rocks, and logs will surround you while strolling by the ocean. Closer to the ferry station, Dorman Point Trail is a short hike (45 minutes roundtrip) to admire the great viewpoint of Dorman Bay. Some areas of the trail can be steep, especially the last 200 meters but are totally worth it and see from afar Whytecliff park and UBC. If you would like to get a better sense of the local art and culture, The Heart Gallery offers regular exhibits of artists from the area and others, using different mediums to spark contemporary conversations such as the littering of the ocean and beaches.

Where to eat and drink on Bowen Island For breakfast, brunch, or coffee, enjoy some treats at Artisan Eats Café & Fine Foods. The busy place (especially during the weekends) serves everyday succulent loafs of bread and viennoiserie. Barcelona Tapas and Wine Bar is a wonderful place to savour some Spanish bites with a BC twist! The croquettes and the tortilla are a must with a classic sangria. For a classic pub meal, Doc Morgan is an institution on the island to enjoy a beer and a burger! 

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Three new year’s goals

The beginning of the new year can be a good opportunity to set some goals or expectations. They can be simple ones to improve someone’s well being and everyday’s life. Here are three of my personal goals for the next months:

- Go out(side) more That can be in your neighborhood, or in another neighborhood you do not know as much. Discovering a shop, a new restaurant or a small park… Walking is a great way to discover any places, your hometown or any place you visit. Don’t forget, the adventure can be found right down your street!

- Invest in new gear New gloves, a new scarf, sunglasses, conformable wooden socks or if you can, a simple camera for instance. My personal tip would be to go explore thrift stores like the Salvation Army where you can find great treasures for great prices!

- Keep learning That can be through apps, youtube videos… For Vancouverites, you can go create or use your library card. Thanks to your Vancouver library card, you can use many sites for free: you can, for instance, read Canadian and international magazines and even sites such as lynda.com to learn new skills (business, artistic, software…). 




It is just a matter to set reachable goals and stick to them for at least three weeks as creating or losing habit can be done in 21 days. What about you: do you set goals for the new year?

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My top 3 places to visit in British-Columbia in 2018

This is this time of the year when you can create wish-lists. Lists of things you want to accomplish or at least, you can try to get closer to. Being a travel-oholic, here are my top three destinations I want to visit around Vancouver and in British-Columbia next year:

the Okanagan Valley: BC wine country is located in the inner part of the Province. It is worse visiting both for the landscapes and for the wine tasting. 

the Sunshine Coast: located close to Vancouver, the area is mainly accessible by ferry boats. It is a great area to camp, to enjoy the cabin life and to spot the local wildlife.

the smaller islands off Vancouver Island: of course Vancouver Island itself with Victoria, Nanaimo or Tofino and also Salt Spring Island are great places to visit! But there are so many other islands to travel to such as Quadra Island or Galiano Island. They are great for hiking, sailing, kayaking and enjoying the great outdoors….

So many things to do, so little time, so many BC pictures to take...

What are the places you want to visit in 2018?

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A look back at 2017: let’s keep exploring! You can find these pictures on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/vancouverandme

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Looking for unique and artsy Christmas gifts? 

Go to etsy.com/shop/vancouverandme where you will find Vancouver and British-Columbia photos showcased in restored second-hand frames. They are ideal presents for traveling, urban and also nature lovers! Also, you can find on etsy.com/shop/vancouverandme unique frames where you can showcase your own pictures. 

Shipping to Canada, Europe, and the US!

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Event for arts and crafts enthusiasts: Make It!

What if we could combine a nice weekend event to attend and taking care of the holiday shopping? Well, Make It! can help you with that! From December 7th to 10th at the PNE Forum, Vancouver’s Handmade Market is a great place to find original gifts from home decor, accessories to jewelry pieces or gourmet delicacies… A beer garden and food trucks will also be available for all the visitors. Check out the full list of artists and artisans who will be attending the event: http://makeitshow.ca/vancouver-makies/

For more information, go to http://bit.ly/2jDAbFU  

Photo credit: Sara Stasi/Flickr 

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Travel blogger from British-Columbia: Lost Leblanc

Another great travel vlogger from BC: meet Christian Leblanc! The young man quit his job a few months ago to explore the world and share his discoveries on Youtube. North America, Europe, Asia, useful tips… Christian uploads beautiful videos that will you make you want to book your next vacation! Check out Christian Leblanc’s Youtube Channel on Lost Leblanc.

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A morning at Science World

If you have kids or if you have young visitors coming to visit Vancouver, Science World is a great option for visits. Even with children who do not speak English. It was the case with my nephew Artus who came from France for about ten days with his mom Sophie and his dad Alban. The globe shape building itself close to the Olympic Village has become a landmark of the city of Vancouver and is great to take a closer look at!

Inside, there are numerous small workshops that allow children alone or accompanied with others or with adults to realize experiences from visual effects to sounds and music, puzzles and brain-teasers… At the center of the first floor, there are regular short conferences on a wide range of topics. They are led by a Science World volunteers who get their small audience members participate in their presentation.

On the upper floor, several exhibitions allow the visitors to experiment some more: with small canal locks, parachutes and wind, water and its strength, the light and the speed of sound… But if you are interested in learning about how the body works, learning about math or about the secret lives of animals, there are also regular changing exhibits all year round.

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Book recommendations: Best Weekend Getaways from Vancouver

This is another great guide by author Jack Christie. In this book, you kind find great recommendations and tips to choose short trips starting from Vancouver to the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands and the Okanagan area. For those who are not originally from Vancouver, it is a great way to discover British-Columbia but for BC natives, it can give new places to enjoy and maybe rediscover.

You can find Best Weekend Getaways from Vancouver on http://amzn.to/2io7M6I

#vancouver #weekends #gateways #guide #britishcolumbia

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Second-hand store find: the colorful tunic

Turnabout is a small local chain of higher-hand second-hand pieces of clothing. For women or men, you can find timeless tops, pants, dresses, accessories… but also more original clothing items like the one I found and that I was wearing to attend a wedding this past summer: a light green tunic with a sleek navy blue neckline. It was a great piece to wear with simple black pants and cute shoes. 

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A godsend book full of coastal recipes: The Sobo Cookbook

A must-go restaurant while in Tofino, BC is Sobo where you can savor sea-food dishes such as fish tacos or the Left Coast Seafood Stew, on season veggies like the Botanical Garden Salad and their classic dessert, the Key Lime Pie. Tasting this glorious pie is a heavenly experience… Sobo started as a food truck that had surfers as main clients and grew to become a culinary Tofino landmark. You can now enjoy these fresh recipes at home as Chef Lisa Ahier gathered them in a The Sobo Book illustrated with beautiful photos. To find this book, you can go to http://www.sobo.ca/cookbook.php

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Local chocolate goodness: the Nanaimo Bar

Moving a few years ago to British-Columbia, I discovered a local chocolate goodness called Nanaimo bar. It is named after a town on Vancouver Island. This is a one of a kind bar made to indulge. Its particularity is that there’s no baking involved and that it is made of three layers: wafer crumbs, custard and then chocolate. A must-eat delicacy! 

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The spot of the week: Bird on a Wire

Located in the neighborhood of Mount Pleasant, Bird on a Wire is a great shop that gathers creations made by local artists and artisans. You can find there one of a kind souvenirs if you are visiting the city or if you want to support locally made small businesses. They carry jewelry, clothing, cards, children’s items… You can even take part in their workshops to learn how to sew, cross-stitch… The classes change depending on the season. #gifts #christmas #local #artists #artisans #BC #vancouver 


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Oh Susanna: Painting the city with words

Great interview of Oh Susanna, singer-songwriter raised in Vancouver published in October in the Vancouver Sun. I personally did not know this artist but this article made me want to listen to Oh Susanna’s recently released new album A Girl In Teen City. She offers some pop and folksy tunes, but also sweet and nostalgic vibes about her youth in Vancouver and how things change.

Check out this article: http://bit.ly/2xVekDW

To listen to Oh Susanna's latest album, go to: http://apple.co/2zo6Oh4

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Craft enthusiasts event ahead!

For those of enjoying arts and crafts like I do, The Circle Craft Market is coming soon! It will take place from November 8th to 12th at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. A wide range of artisans will be represented from ceramics to jewelry, leather and much more. It will be a great way to start gathering idea for Christmas.

For more information, go to: http://circlecraft.net

Photo by Dave Catchpole/Flickr: http://bit.ly/2xUULvg

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Book recommendation: 52 Best Day Trips from Vancouver

A great guide by Jack Christie for those who want to discover the Lower Mainland. Divided into seven categories, this book allows new and long-time Vancouverites to discover or rediscover their area when they have one free day ahead of them. Parks, trails, lakes from Bowen Island to Whistler, the author not only gives the necessary information to access each area (map, distance, activities) but also shares great descriptions and suggestions on what to expect for each day trip. 

Here is where you kind find the guide: http://amzn.to/2yCFhLp

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Framed picture of the week: a French bulldog in South Granville

This is so good to chill in the sun especially on a cold Sunday in January. Even for dogs! This was the case for this French bulldog on the picture, warming up while his owner was having a coffee. The sun, the shadows, the red chair and the cute expression of the dog convey a peaceful and warm atmosphere. The photograph is displayed in brown restored frame that was originally found in a thrift store. 

You can find this framed picture on Etsy. Go to: http://etsy.me/2yvo7Qq