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VA2007 - Area - South Main

Vancouver - Annual 2007


Antique shops and quirky cafés have given way to the infiltration of hip restaurants and design-forward fashion boutiques in this neighbourhood on the rise.

VA2007 - Area - South Main
Crave Restaurant in South Main.
Photo - Jeremy Maude

EAT: Crave Restaurant

Wayne Martin, former Executive Chef at Four Seasons Vancouver, opened his own casual finedining room, Crave (3941 Main St., 604-872-3663), where basic plates are lifted with rich sauces and refined ingredients (like the wild salmon burger with wasabi glaze). The tree-lined courtyard patio is open for brunch.

SHOP: Local Designers

A mecca for locally designed fashion and accessories lies between 19th and 23rd on Main: don’t miss Twigg and Hottie, Eugene Choo, Narcissist, Hum Clothing, Life of Riley, Front & Company, Barefoot Contessa and Umeboshi.

BUY: Smoking Lily

Graphic prints with whimsical themes (line drawings of lyre birds or Louis Riel) adorn silk scarves, pillows and trend-driven accessories like the hi-lo geisha belt at Smoking Lily (3634 Main St., 604-873-5459).

EAT: Rekado’s

At Rekado’s (4063 Main St., 604-873-3133), the city’s first decidedly modern Filipino restaurant, English conversations are interspersed with Tagalog chatter and patrons nibble on pancit bihon (rice stick noodles tossed with sliced carrots and celery, shrimp, pork and Chinese sausage) instead of chicken wings.

SEE: Regional Assembly of Text

Earnest hipsters gather at the Regional Assembly of Text (3934 Main St., 604-877-2247) for a monthly letter-writing club: electronic communication is eschewed for the quaint charm of hand-typed notes. The store also sells buttons, handmade books, quilted letter blocks, iron-on letter patches and more.





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