Open House: Saturday, July 31st from 1:00 – 3:00pm.
More information is available online.
Today in the Globe & Mail Robert Matas covers Vancouver’s street-food screw-up and Kitsilano’s Roaming Dragon looks like the only winner.
Roaming Dragon opened for business this week, offering a tantalizing choice of Asian duck confit salad, Japanese chicken karaage, Korean short rib tacos and Chinese pork belly sliders.
The sleek new food-vending truck, parked a stone’s throw from popular Kitsilano Beach, is the first street vendor in Vancouver to offer more than hot dogs under a much-anticipated pilot project intended to inject a bit of sophistication and fun into the city’s street culture.
But the project has hit a rough spot. None of the 17 winners in city hall’s lottery for locations is expected to meet Saturday’s much-anticipated deadline for opening. Roaming Dragon, which was not one of the winners, managed to open only by finding a winner to pay for use of the site.
The street-food project has degenerated into a money grab by some businessmen trying to sell their prized locations for exorbitant prices. Matas also reports that the lottery for spaces may not have drawn as much interest as the city claims as some businessmen had family and friends put in applications on their behalf in an effort to improve their chances of winning spaces. Winners who were placeholders had no intentions of ever opening a business at the locations.
And the city may not have the variety of food it anticipated: The lottery winners are free to change their menus to whatever they wish.
Looks like Kits Beach lucked out on this project with Roaming Dragon though. Owners Jason Apple and Jory Simkin had been working on their business plan for months. Their specially designed $150,000 truck is fitted with wireless to expedite ordering, point-of-sale technology connected to the Internet and up-to-date appliances.
At Kitsilano.ca we’re big fans of Jolly’s Indian Bistro on West 4th, so our mouths started watering when we saw today’s Grooster deal – $10 for $20 Worth of Food and Drinks from Jolly’s Indian Bistro in Kitsilano.
Did rent increase last month for retailers along the popular West 4th shopping district? Perhaps it was the lack of visitors to Kits during the Olympics that caused businesses to suffer, but the turnover this summer has been rapid. Here are just some of the closed doors and new neighbours of note on West 4th:
Book Warehouse – Sadly they are gone! Reading enthusiasts not to worry. This location is the new home of Sitka Books and Art – led by an former manager of Duthies who closed their doors earlier this year. This is the second “sitka” brand to join W4th as Sitka Surfboards is located just a block east of the new book store which also uses an almost exact same sitka spruce image in their posters.
Mintage – This popular vintage clothing store on Commercial Drive tried to have the same success on W4th by opening up next to the popular restaurant Re-Fuel….but Kitsers weren’t as into second hand clothing and throw back apparel. They closed a few months ago.
Pinky’s – As reported earlier on Kistilano.ca Pinky’s wasn’t having much love aside from their 50% off Monday’s that caused foodies to cue up for their discounted steaks. It was replaced earlier this month by Romer’s Burger Bar. So far reviews are good – but they have some tough competition directly next door with the popular “quick food” option The Noodle Box.
Some other notable changes along the strip:
That video game exchange store, Play and Trade opened a franchise at the base of 4th and Cypress and gamers weren’t game. It quickly shut down. Hair salon Helmet is moving out of its location next to Spank clothing and is now Combat Athletics. It appears from my investigations (read: peering into their windows – really intense journalism!) that this store is hoping MMA (mixed martial arts) enthusiasts will come in droves to buy boxing gloves, and T-shirts with dragons and flames on them. I’m just hoping this doesn’t mean I’m going to have to pass a bunch of Ed Hardy wearing muscle men practicing their roundhouse kicks on my way to get my nightly fro-yo fix from Scoops!
Newly renovated and under new management, The King’s Head Pub on Yew Street reopened tonight.
Set in a Tudor-style building built in 1897, the building first housed a fish market and a beauty parlor before the King’s Head Pub was established in 1973. As the first restaurant to open in the neighborhood, the King’s Head was soon established as a legend and a historical gem of Vancouver. The interior, thoughtfully restored with antique furnishings, features the beautiful chandelier from the original Hotel Vancouver, and oak paneling from the original Eaton’s Spencer Building.
The new owners have updated the menu and room and hope to once again be the neighborhood’s favorite pub.
And yes, they’re still home of the classic Beggar’s Breakfast – still only $3.99.
Photograph by Chris Cheadle, Photolibrary
A new survey confirms what Vancouverites have known all along. National Geographic has awarded Vancouver one of the top 10 beach city destinations in the world.
Vancouver’s diversity in beaches and views of the downtown skyline and North Shore mountains helped the city make the cut for the top 10, which also includes premier destinations like Santa Monica and Sydney.
Canada’s most adventurous metropolis is home to ten beaches, from the family-centric Jericho to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach, many of which offer commanding views of the Vancouver skyline and majestic North Shore Mountains. Sporty types prefer Kitsilano or “Kits,” a six-minute drive from downtown, for its free tennis and basketball courts, and its super-size heated saltwater pool.
Coming in 10th spot, Vancouver rates just below these cities:
All Vancouver beaches and parks will be smoke free, starting Wednesday. Vancouver Park Board commission Ian Robertson says smoking will be banned because of extremely dry conditions.
The ban is an “early warning” because it effectively advances the implementation of a permanent smoking ban that was due to begin in September. The full smoking ban covers all parks, beaches and outdoor park board facilities such as golf courses.
In April the Vancouver Park Board approved a smoking ban in the city’s parks and beaches effective September 1, 2010. As a result of a unanimous vote at their public meeting, Commissioners made amendments to the Parks Control By-Law to prohibit smoking in all 224 parks including trails, playgrounds and fields, and 18 kilometres of beaches.
Some time ago, Vancouver Foodster was in our neighbourhood, and I suggested the lamb shank in Bistrot Bistro. He loved it. Now it’s your turn to suggest a restaurant or a dish that you think he should try.
Ever wanted to enjoy the life of a food writer? Now you can! Suggest your favorite restaurant to Vancouverfoodster.com. If yours is chosen you will be the honored guest of Vancouver Foodster, sampling the best Vancouver restaurants have to offer. Entries will be selected based on idea and pitch as to why that restaurant should be chosen.
If your suggestion is chosen, you will win sold out VIP tickets to the Vanfoodster First Year Anniversary this Wednesday, July 28. That means you’ll be able to meet, greet, and eat with chefs from Kitsilano establishments like Atithi Restaurant, Hapa Izakaya, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., Maple Grill, Xoxolat, and Nimby Burgers among many others.
Open House: Sunday, July 25th from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
More information is available online.
