February 11, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Shopping
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I’ve firmly attached myself to the Olympic gear bandwagon. It started with a pair of red mittens, and I’ve since added a hoodie, a maple leaf toque, a t-shirt, and face paint. Whew.
Here’s where to gear yourself up for the Games:
Clothes: Plenty of shops are selling Canada-themed items. The Olympic Superstore at The Bay is well-stocked with official Olympic gear. Some stores have options for other countries; try Roots and lululemon. Customize your own tee at Bang-On or Cherry Bomb.
Flags: Head to the Flag Shop!
Face Paint: Face paint shows the team – and anyone you accidently rub up against – that you’re a true fan. Dressew and Party Bazaar are my favorite places in town to pick up good quality face paint – Dressew was almost sold out, so move quickly!
Olympic Superstore at The Bay: Granville & Georgia; Roots: various locations; lululemon: various locations, Bang-on (961 Robson St or 1062 Davie St); Cherry Bomb (841 Granville St); Flag Shop (1615 Powell St); Dressew (337 W Hastings St); Party Bazaar (215 W 2nd Ave).
February 09, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Shopping
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Stores in Gastown are an eclectic mix: there’s everything from independent designer boutiques to vintage stores, high-end galleries displaying Aboriginal art and Euro-centric furniture stores. Oh, and seemingly more souvenir shops than Starbucks coffee shops (if that’s possible).
Walking down the cobbled streets made me feel like I was exploring a quaint European alleyway and I enjoyed window-shopping almost more than actually shopping. Partly this was because prices can run a lil’ high in some stores.
I first ventured into Fluevog. This international shoe store started its origins in Vancouver and its funky shoes have been worn by people like Madonna and Scarlet Johanssen. It has such a cult following that there is even an International Fluevog Day (May 15th). I’m assuming it’s celebrating wearing your ‘vogs(as they're fondly called) but I'm not entirely sure.
Next I headed to One of a Few. Like the name suggests, there are only a few of each item of clothing, which is great if you’re looking for something unique. If you want slightly more selection head next door to their aptly named sister shop, Two of a Few.
In search of a good deal, I visited Army & Navy (Canada’s version of Wal-mart). If you’re willing to hunt you can find some pretty good stuff here. Also: their annual shoe sale is a HUGE deal – line-ups usually start forming at 6am and in 2009 they sold 75,000 pairs of shoes in just 12 days!
Also worth checking out: Koolhaus for higher quality, Ikea-esque furniture (but with a heftier price tag); and the OK Boot Corral, a small shop jam-packed with all things Western - including rows and rows of cowboy (and cowgirl!) boots.
Happy shopping!
Locations: Fluevog, 65 Water St; One of a Few, 354 Water St; Two of a Few, 356 Water St; Army & Navy, 36 West Cordova; Koolhaus, 1 Water St; OK Boot Corral, 205 Carrall St.
February 07, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Shopping
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Like most Vancouverites, I’m a big fan of exploring the local mountains. I’m also a fan of staying warm, dry, well-fed and not-lost. So, before I gallivant into the forest, I head to the stretch of outdoor supply stores clustered around the intersection of Broadway and Manitoba Street.
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) tops my list, as it has everything from bird identification books and dehydrated food to bicycle lights and wool socks. In addition to the oodles of stuff they have for sale, they also have rental gear, such as snowshoes, kayaks and ice axes.
If MEC doesn’t have what I’m looking for, I venture into one of many other outdoor shops in the area. This is often the case when I’m shopping for a specific item (such as hiking boots or bike gloves) or are looking for popular rentals (such as snowshoes on a powder day). Tip: 3 Vets, just a few blocks from MEC (at Yukon St. and 6th Ave), is jam-packed with inexpensive outdoor goods.
If you're an outdoor gear geek, you could spend many hours and dollars in this part of town. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)