By May 17, I’m betting that you’ve found the time to occupy a Kitsilano patio, despite the occasional rainy set back. Kitsilano.ca wants your opinion on the best neighbourhood bar/cafe/restaurant patio.
We’ve put together a list of Kits patios based on reader comments from previous years. Please vote for your favourite patio below. If we’re missing one of your picks, add it by commenting.
Well, it’s that time of year again… the time in Kitsilano where everyone stops working and heads to the beach to enjoy the sun! The weather this past weekend was spectacular and let’s hope for more of the same for the long weekend.
In the Kitsilano real estate market, comparing detached and attached markets, we are seeing one consistent trend and two divergent ones:
1) Listing inventory is climbing in both markets, as is typical this time of year, with both markets showing inventory levels higher than anything we saw in 2011 or so far this year. If this trend continues, we may see inventory levels exceed the high levels of 2010. Combined with interest rates that are still near record lows, this Summer should provide some good buying opportunities.
2) Sales activity has been steady in the attached market, but read more »
The rewards for slug prevention with pots and copper: Hosta ‘Ghostmaster’. Photo credit: Meredith Brehaut
Things are growing now with the warmer temperatures and my garden is being invaded by the season’s first line of predators: slugs.
This year plants are further along than last year when the onslaught began. That means tougher foliage and hopefully less damage. I am out there in the mornings, hunting. Some species seem more vulnerable: brunneras, hostas, polygonatum, ligularia – all of these take a hit. I can easily collect over 100 slugs an hour.
I have tried the beer trap but am not satisfied with the numbers collected. I use slug baitupon occasion – perhaps it works but if I spread too much it attracts rodents. I don’t eat enough eggs to try crushed eggshells. I prefer just picking the slugs up – immediate gratification.
Even with my vigilance, the plants that are in the ground endure some slug damage. I have only ever found one reliable solution for perfect hostas read more »
Kitsilano has been a yoga haven for years now. A yoga mat and Lululemon pants are the uniform of choice for many in the ’hood. The neighbourhood offers hot yoga, baby yoga, kundalini yoga, power yoga, laughter yoga, beach yoga and more. But anyone who has attended a post work class only to be uncomfortably close to their neighbour for a sweaty 90 minutes is sure to celebrate the fact that another new studio is opening soon.
YYoga is set to open their eighth Vancouver studio at West 4th/Cypress (in the former Kitsilano Fitness space) in mid June. Known for their spa like amenities, numerous class offerings and beautiful spaces, the new studio is certainly no exception. The new space is shaping up to be breathtaking. The 8,000 square foot center will feature two yoga rooms, including a 1,600 square foot hot room, saunas and a large outdoor patio/lounge. Namaste!
Posted by Meredith | April 27th, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Meredith’s garden last summer with Angelica sylvestris ‘Vicar’s Mead’ and Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, with echinacea and coreopsis. Image credit: Meredith Brehaut
One of the problems with having a new space to garden is deciding how you want to represent yourself. What kind of garden design will you manifest from bare earth and desire? It’s a champagne problem, I’ll admit… but read on and I’ll tell you how I decided about my front garden.
My husband and I lived in an apartment for years before we bought our house. While we had an entertaining shade garden with pots, I longed for the chance to try all those sun plants. I would walk through Kitsilano and enjoy the front gardens that others had. I saw the many ways there are to make a garden. That practice of witnessing the generosity of others sustained me until I had a chance to create my version. Gratitude towards all the gardeners whose efforts kept me happy during those years guided me through the process. read more »
Posted by Taraneh | April 25th, 2012 | 1 Comment »
I headed over to the former Refuel space (1944 West 4th) to talk to Top Chef Canada competitor Trevor Bird and partners (Kathy Schleyer and Ron MacGillivray) about their new restaurant Fable, which will open in Kits in mid May. read more »
As we reported yesterday, the Vancouver Park Board unanimously approved Boathouse Restaurant’s plans for a 56-seat, outdoor, roof patio. Here are some more details on what’s ahead.
According to board chairwoman Constance Barnes, the patio will have to have shrubbery to act as a sound barrier, low lighting, no heaters and its hours will be shorter than most outdoor patios.
The Boathouse patio will also have a glass railing to minimize the visual effect.
Barnes told The Vancouver Sun that one of the concerns expressed by some local residents was whether the patio would contribute to noise in the surrounding neighbourhood – something they plan to monitor closely. Given that citizens were part of the patio planning meetings from the get go, it’s unlikely this will be a problem. Kitsilano – which is surprisingly short of roof top patios – will benefit from a scenic, new summer hang out.
The Boathouse Patio will be open from June to September closing at 9: 30 p.m., Sunday to Thursdays and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
I have waited and am rewarded with warmth and sunshine – how I have longed for both. This early part of spring is exciting – blooms and foliage seem celebratory after a long go of rain and cold. I’ll show you what’s coming up in my garden, my favorites that indicate spring is here.
Three great things for me about this time of year are my wedding anniversary, the return of rufous hummingbirds and blooms on a Daphne odora (pictured after the jump). Everyone should know the location of a Daphne shrub so you can visit it and enjoy the scent. There’s an easily accessible one on the east side of Banyen Books. Go on a warm morning and you may smell it before you see it.
Underused but no less worthy is the Edgeworthia chrysantha (pictured above). The scent is not as lovely but the sight of them! Some have yellow blooms; I have the orange one. It makes me happy every time I pass by. It may need some protection over a hard winter, but I am reimbursed for my efforts come April. read more »
As expected, March showed further growth in activity as we near the peak of the Spring market, continuing a rising trend that started in January. Active listings in both market segments rose further, though the growth was not as great as the previous month. Sales activity was also up in both segments. Median pricing bounced back after a deceiving dip last month, but is still below the peaks we saw a few months ago.
Interestingly enough, for a time in the Kits market that is typically very active, we actually saw more activity on the Eastside and North shore this month, which I believe is representative of people finally starting to feel like the value you get for your money in those locations is a necessary trade-off. Kitsilano will always be a desirable neighbourhood, but continued decline of affordable in the neighbourhood is certainly driving some people away.
The next two months should display a further upswing in Buyer activity, with many looking to use the 2.99% mortgage rates that are locked in for the next 90 days. From there, I expect the market to flatten out over the Summer and likely the rest of the year. read more »
