A couple weeks ago, I took you on a journey through Thornhill and various boroughs in Montreal, if only because live events were mostly on hold. 

So, before the March back to normalcy gets in full swing, we’re finishing up the tour of Places Ilana’s Lived (I received a complaint for omitting Côte Saint-Luc—sorry, I’ve never lived there!) by flying out to beautiful British Columbia.

I lived in Vancouver, off and on, between 2016 and 2021. Being situated near the ocean was a massive change from growing up in suburban Dollard-des-Ormeaux. That fresh ocean air can do wonders for the soul.

Here are some of my favourite spots around my old stomping grounds:

Kitsilano

This neighbourhood starts at Burrard Street and goes west, before you hit Point Grey and the famous UBC campus. 

Downtown is just a hop skip and jump away! Or, technically more like a half-hour bike ride and/or 20 to 30 minute bus ride—depending on how deep downtown you’re going—right over the glorious Burrard Bridge.

Insider tip: the best place to watch the sunset is from the bridge itself. You can see the downtown beaches, as well as the ones in Kitsilano and Point Grey from a bird’s eye view and it’s breathtaking. When I’d bike over the bridge, I’d often stop just to take photos. How could you not?

Kitsilano itself is a quiet beach neighborhood, filled with young families, yoga enthusiasts (the Lululemon office and headquarters is the first thing you hit, when you get off the bridge), young artists and dogs. So. Many. Dogs. 

Vancouver people are certainly dog people–and even moreso in this neighborhood. There’s even a spot informally known as Dog Beach, where you can take your pups off-leash and they can even make puppy pals! It’s very heartwarming.

Best brunch: Nelly’s Grill. I am OBSESSED with this place. What looks like just a typical diner, upon first glance, is actually the best brunch I’ve had in all of Vancouver. They make their own hot sauce—which can be purchased bottled-up on your way out—and have the most scrumptious eggs benedicts. As a gluten-free person, they have an enormous amount of options–from gluten free toast for the benedicts to waffles and pancakes! Pro tip: you can do a mix-and-match benny, to try more than one at once! Also their potatoes are to die for. But it’s now hoping to find a new owner.

Best ice cream: Rain or Shine. Again, my favourite ice cream in all of Vancouver (given these faves, good thing I lived in this area the longest). They have a set menu, as well as a rotating seasonal menu with funky flavours. It was always very exciting to walk by, every month, to see the new rotation. On top of that, all of their ice creams are homemade (literally! you can see the ice cream room behind a glass window, near the cash) made with fresh, local ingredients. This ice cream is the real deal. My favourite: Blueberry Balsamic (don’t knock it till you try it!) They also have Taco Tuesday, where you can get three scoops of ice cream in a waffle cone shaped like a taco.

Best coffee shop: Platform 7, hands down. This place looks like a little train station and has excellent locally brewed coffee. It’s right next door to a used bookshop if you want to grab a book, before sipping your espresso. There’s not a ton of seating space, but if you’re lucky to grab a table, it’s a great place to meet a friend for a chat. 

Coffee shop runner-up: Arbutus Coffee. This adorable little shop has a great selection of teas, coffees and treats. Their outdoor tables are great for getting some work done or having a meeting (I’ve had many artistic meetings there) or you can grab a to-go treat and walk down to Kits Beach.

Beaches: Kitsilano and Jericho are two I frequented often. At one point, I challenged myself to go down to the ocean every single day for a month. Anytime I felt stressed, I went down there, breathed in some ocean air, then headed home. Truly magical. Kitsilano Beach can get pretty crowded (in early COVID days it was slightly terrifying), but has easy access to the Dog Beach just around the corner, as well as lots of volleyball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts and a playground. Jericho is quieter and a great place to bike through towards the beaches further west. Great for a sandy picnic—there’s grassy areas too, not to worry—or summer BBQ!

East Vancouver

I only lived in East Van (as the cool kids call it) for a few months, but I nonetheless feel very nostalgic towards it. The part I lived closest to is near the artsy and grungy street, Commercial Drive. You’ll meet some colourful characters on the Drive, from the Hari Krishna dude—who’s so devoted to his post that he seems to be there upon every waking hour—to modern-day hippies in outlandish outfits. Some of my favourite cocktail bars and cafés are in this ‘hood.

Best café: Prado is where I’ve spent many, many hours working. My favourite drink is the Turmeric Latte. They also have a small breakfast and lunch menu, filled with healthy items, as well as baked goods. The atmosphere is calm and inviting, with minimal design so you can focus on your work.

Best bookstore: Canterbury Tales. I ADORE this place. The first time I passed by, I saw a stunning Peter Pan anthology in the window and it drew me in. The shop features a mix of new and used books with quality content. The books are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. It’s well organized, but certainly a maze at times. A great place to get lost in for an afternoon.

Best bar: The Charlatan’s cocktail atmosphere is classy-yet-homey, and they have a great drinks and food menu. It’s on the pricier side, but certainly worth it. Try out their vegetarian East Ender burger, upgrade to a poutine as a side dish if you’re feeling adventurous (their sauce is meatless) and top it off with their Vanilla Bean Old Fashioned for dessert drinks.

Thinking about Vancouver makes me miss living there, for sure. I’ll definitely have to pay all my old spots—and my friends, they’re cool too—a visit sometime soon.

A little night music worth watching

Olive Branch Theatre is presenting A Night On Jewish Broadway, from March 3-10 at the Leah Posluns Theatre (4588 Bathurst St.).

The two-hour show will feature performers from Toronto and New York and pay homage to acclaimed composers including Oscar Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin and more.

I’m told tickets are selling fast—which makes sense after two years of starvation from live theatre—so grab yours while you can. Looks like a lot of fun.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Olive Branch Theatre.

Ilana Zackon can be reached at ilanawritesthings[@]gmail.com and found on Facebook and Instagram.

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