Poem: Moments
April 1, 2024
ordinary lives shattered by
curiosity
&
revenge
invisible shadows reflected off
murder
&
bodies
momentary madness defence fails to
execution
&
nothing
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Posted by jakking
Changes On The Drive #143
April 1, 2024.
We’ll start this month by noting that Commercial Drive was named one of the 30 coolest streets on the planet by Time Out magazine. It reminds me that back in the 90s we were declared one of the hippest neighbourhoods by Utne Reader Magazine. This year, we made it into the top five along with streets in Melbourne, Hong Kong, Austin, and Buenos Aires.
“Hip by default, the Drive (as it’s known to locals) also boasts a family-owned bowling alley, a plethora of coffee shops (try finding a seat on a nice day), no fewer than four used book shops and three record stores – and more pizza (and pizza slice) joints than you can shake a pepperoni stick at.”
That’s all true enough, and they don’t even mention the grocery stores, the bakeries, the rich diversity of racial and linguistic and sexual residents, and the genuine sense of community that pervades the neighbourhood.
The Georgia Straight has an interesting article about the various Canadian Legion halls in East Vancouver, much of which is about our own hall at 2205 Commercial Drive.
Harambe Ethiopian at 2149 Commercial gets a shout out as one of Daily Hive‘s most under-rated restaurants.
Rinconcito Salvadoreño at 2062 Commercial closed on 30th March after 26 years on the Drive.
With the Vet Family Restaurants move across the street, 431 Commercial has now become the Beeryani Indian Kitchen.
As mentioned last month, the Don’t Argue Pizzeria has opened in part of Cafe Soccavo at 1321 Commercial. Scout Magazine and Daily Hive have the full run down.
Open now at 1250 Commercial is Mocktails, Vancouver’s first alcohol-free liquour store. In an interview with Daily Hive, the owner, Angela, says ““With the opening of Mocktails, I hope to offer a beautiful space where you want to spend your time, a comfortable place to explore and experience all the thoughtfully selected varieties of non-alcoholic wines, spirits, beers, premixed drinks, bitters, aperitifs, syrups, mixers, and more… as well as our carefully curated selection of unique vintage barware.”
CBC did an interesting piece on the growth of the non-alcoholic market place on the Drive featuring both Mocktails and the Canteen.
As suggested last month, Community Taps at 1191 Commercial has closed. That is unfortunate, as is the fact that the wonderfully colourful mural by Chairman Ting that graced its exterior has also been painted over, presumably by the new business that will be moving in. It will be missed.
Vacancies on the Drive this month:
2105 Commercial, 2062 Commercial, 1604 Commercial, 1414 Commercial, 1409 Commercial, 1230 Commercial, 1204 Commercial, 1191 Commercial, 938 Commercial.
This does not include Dolce Amore or Hanai which are still closed due to fire damage.
Previous editions of Changes on the Drive
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Posted by jakking
Jak's View of Vancouver v.3 