Sarah Rowland of 24 Hours did a Block Walk on West 4th today and here’s what she found.
HIPSILANO – West 4th Avenue may never be the hub of counterculture like it was in the late ’60s and early ’70s, but it’s still a pretty cool place to shop, especially if you’re a yummy mommy, health freak or indie hipster. The best example of this postmodern consumer’s paradise is the north-facing block between Cypress and Maple. There you’ll find baby boutiques, high-end gift shops, a tattoo parlour, a juice bar and of course one of Kitsilano’s most respected institutions – Zulu Records.
DRY INK – At Adrenaline Tattoos (1926 W. 4th Ave.), you don’t have to sacrifice your tatty cool thanks to these Chooka rain boots ($90).
RAIN-READY RUG RATS – Prepare the little ones for precipitation with a Kidorable froggy raincoats ($37.99 – ladybug style also available), which can be found at Baby’s World (1946 W. 4th Ave.).
GET IN THE RING – Looking for a limited edition silk-screened T for the badass in your life? You found your place. This “Cuba Boxing” ($40.99) is one of many original designs that you can pick at Ironhead (1952 W. 4th Ave.), a sweatshop free, made- in-Canada specialty shop.
KICKOFFS FOR KIDS – The Australian Boot Company (1968 W. 4th Ave.) has a great selection of boots for adults and kids, including these adorable slip-on “Blunnies” ($89.95).
PHOTO FABULOUS – In addition to novelty knick-knacks and designer clothing, Moule (1994 W. 4th Ave.) has a wall devoted to provocative coffee table books ($15-85).
ON THE RECORD – Even if you’re not a scenester, audiophile and/or musician, you can still find something worth listening to at Zulu Records (1972-1976 W. 4th Ave.), such as Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black ($18.98). Quick, this could be a future kitsch classic.
TOOTH BOOTH – For people who like to multitask in the shower, Now & Then (1986 W. 4th Ave.) offers the flipper toothbrush holder ($8.80).
