The little things

You really don't notice certain things such as selection of foods or options in cell phone plans until you move somewhere (and then move back).

In Canada (well at least Vancouver):
- most juices comes in rectangular containers (which fit into the door of the fridge really well)
- you can't find Campbell's vegetable soup (there's always some kind of meat in it)
- fruits and veggies are cheaper at the local and plentiful produce shops (there seems to be at least two on every block of Broadway)
- you can walk everywhere (we drove less than 1,000 miles in a year)
- there's no Target (and Canadian Tire doesn't come close)
- there's no Macy's (and the Bay doesn't compare)
- there are no outlets (although there is an Aldo outlet on Granville, probably the only exception)
- but you can still find Sears, Gap, Game Stop, the occasional Old Navy, Levi's, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Safeway and Blockbuster (don't worry Starbucks is there too)
- places to check out Jacob (a mix between Gap and Ann Taylor), RW, M&M Meat shops, and the loads of independent places on Broadway, 4th Street and south Granville.
- when dialing you enter the area code even when it is the same as the one you're calling from
- the silly blinking green street lights (indicating that its a pedestrian controlled intersection)
- there's very few places that have a green arrow for left turns
- car insurance is run through one company (ICBC)
- the local news rarely has violent crime to report on
- people like to sit in their parked cars (whether talking on the phone, reading the paper or maybe just thinking... we saw this quite often)
- there are dedicated streets for bike riders rather then having them ride on the major streets
- the houses are colorful and cute to walk by
- a common drink to order is a Caesar (vodka, clamato (a blend of tomato juice and clam broth), Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce (The legal drinking age in Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba is 18, while the rest of the country is 19)
- And lastly, the iced tea. It's not brewed iced tea... it's Nestea... out of a can, yuck.

7 Million Dollar Home for my camera

Some women have a pile of purses, one for commuting that can hold a bottle of water, eye glass case and a book, another little one for the night on the town just to carry along a few essentials (lipstick, gum, money, and id) and the rest are variations on this theme. Some leather, some fabric, some patch-worked and even some are made out of candy wrappers.

I don't have a pile of purses. I actually own one purse that my mom brought for me. I usually have my mini backpack or my Timbuk2 messenger bag slung around my shoulder. Since bags offer solutions pending on what your doing, dinner out with friends, going hiking or carrying groceries home, there seems to be a shape and size for all.

I wanted a bag for carrying my everyday stuff like wallet, sunglasses, keys but I also wanted it to carry my camera equipment and possibly a small bottle of water. I searched the Internet and read many reviews, went to the camera shop and tried on the Lowepro Sling, a few Lowepro packs, and then a saw the Crumpler bags. They make a messenger style bag built to carry photo equipment. I told my brother about the bag and he surprised me by ordering one from the Crumpler warehouse in Toronto. When it arrived it was a little on the small side (the 4 million dollar home). But as it turns out Crumpler opened a new store in downtown Vancouver in Gastown (Richards and Cordova) over the weekend and I was able to upgrade to the 7 million dollar home (funny names huh?)

My camera now has a cozy home. Lime green on the inside and light brown outside and the best part is that the bag is reconfigurable. As set up right now I can take all my lens, my battery grip, filters, even thrown in my point-n-shoot and still have extra room.

Ah, a new bag for the photographer on the go. Can't wait to sling it on and wonder around town. Next will be a photo backpack for hiking. See there really is a bag for every occasion and instead of having a pile of purses I'll have a pile of photo bags.

Let me know what you use to carry your stuff around even if it's a brown paper bag. Leave it in the comments.

The land of blue jeans

Ok, so how many pairs of blue jeans did you have to try on before you figured out that the mid-rise, straight leg with a touch of stretch was the pair for you?

Well, I discovered (thanks to two friends) this little blue jean gem, Dutil, in Gastown. Although, I wasn't the one looking for blue jeans (as I spent many hours several months ago searching for my perfect pair, Essential jeans at the Gap was the winner for me) I was in for a treat at this shop.

This shop is loaded with all tints from black to a stonewashed blue. There are stacks of varying styles as well as numerous labels such as: True Religion, Paige Denim Stronghold, Capital E by Levis, Rock & Republic, Stitches and J Brand.

So if your looking for a rounded back pocket, or button fly, maybe cool side stitching, then Dutil is the place for you. Check it out!

Exploring Granville's 700 block

Just one block and really just one side of the block, the even side. This is my friend Gill's school project. She invited me to tag-a-long for a bit of sightseeing, some school research, shopping and sushi.

We walked through a construction zone of activity. Vancouver is working to install a new public transit rail line which will link downtown Vancouver to the airport. We walked down the short block passing Crepe's cafe (a small chain about 4 of these are scattered throughout the Vancouver area), a clothing store, Claire's (the popular accessories shop), a hair product place and then we discovered the beautiful Vancouver Block building.

The Vancouver Block building, designed by architects Parr and Fee, standing at fourteen stories was built in 1912. While the style and taste of this Edwardian structure is somewhat questionable, its clock, framed by Greco-Roman ornaments is most definitely eye-catching. (from http://www.urbanvancouver.com/node/218)

Illuminated revolving signage and fixed signage graced the top of the tower for much of its history.- Penthouse opens out to a roof terrace.- Terra cotta sculpted caryatids and corner brackets at the top of the building.- Dials of the clock are 22 feet in diameter, on what was the largest clock in Canada when the building was completed.- A minor earthquake on December 7, 1918 stopped the clock.- The clock hands and hours are outlined in neon.(from http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=113300)

Following our walk down Granville we headed through the shopping district on Robson Street, then back to the Pacific mall where I found a new beanie (love argyle) and Gill picked up her favorite blush.

We stopped for a bit to eat at a little sushi spot, Kitto Japanese House, on the 800 block of Granville just across from the Commodore, where we went bowling (see past post). The sushi rolls were good: California - always a favorite, spicy tuna - tingly, avocado - loads of the green stuff and the house roll - worth a try. The prices were reasonable, the service was good and with a friend sushi is always fun.

A find on 4th Street... Country Beads.

A beautiful array of color catches your eye as you walk down 4th. The window is filled with a rainbow of various beads glittering in the window.

The shop is a perfect stop for a Saturday afternoon or a raining evening with friends. They have all the tools to string a necklace, earring, even key chains. There loads to pick from and the selection is even more amazing when you walk in.

I may have to return to fulfill the holiday gift list. And I noticed that they offer classes, I'll have to add that to the things-to-do list.