Some of the best times I had here were spent shooting the shit with open-minded travelers from around the globe. In one day, I talked with cats from Australia, England, France, Israel, Switzerland, and, of course, Canada. In fact, I met only two or three other Americans the whole time, which was fine by me. Since my visit came shortly after the "war" in Iraq, I did experience a little anti-Americanism from a few people, but their ire was mostly aimed at the actions of our government, and after sharing my opinions on that predicament, a common ground was always discovered.

Quick Tips:

Allow yourself ample time to tromp around the city coastline that opens up to calming views of the snow-capped Coast Mountains and the vast amount of water that surrounds the city. It goes without saying that world-renowned Stanley Park is one of the ultimate spots to soak it all in, especially when hopping on a bike for a trek around the Seawall.

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transportation in Vancouver is a bit cumbersome, though wholly efficient. At some point or another you’ll need to get from one side of the city to the other, and the best way is to use the BC Transit bus. I’m not a fan of riding the bus by any means, but unless you want to shell out a day’s spending money on a cab, you’re just going to have to bite the bullet and do it. There aren’t many publicly posted bus schedules around, so just ask somebody at your accommodation or the begrudgingly helpful bus drivers. It’s C each trip, with a free transfer ticket valid for up to 90 minutes after your initial ride. There are no day passes available; make sure you have correct change.

Upon arriving at the airport, they hop in a cab and are whisked downtown. After a short tour of the nearby Robson Street shopping bonanza, and taking note of the Vancouver Art Gallery across the street, they step into the grand lobby of the Fairmont, a hotel built in 1939. The helpful staff assign them the standard Fairmont room, starting at C$287 a night. Already exhilarated by the chance to stay in one of Vancouver’s classiest hotels, the lucky man’s grateful girlfriend insists that he not splurge on one of the more expensive rooms the Fairmont has to offer--the Fairmont Deluxe, Fairmont Gold, or Courtyard Suite.

Before going to their room, they walk around to survey the lobby. A piano sits adjacent to the large bar/lounge area that screams "serve me a pricey drink, please!" They take note of the two on-site restaurant options--Griffin’s, serving standard chain-restaurant fare at widely inflated prices, and the more upscale lounge, with a menu boasting dishes such as grilled portobello mushrooms, Szechuan seafood stir-fry, and a $13 grilled cheese sandwich (but it comes with spiced fries, too!). The resident dog has his own personal bed set up in the lobby as well, helping give the hotel a more homey feel amidst all the stoic grandeur. The couple also browse the Fairmont Store, St. John, Louis Vuitton, and Snowflake, all selling either designer clothes or souvenirs.

The feeling of being high rollers for a few days is invigorating. The couple's room, with a few chairs, dining table, and heavenly bed, spoils them. The health club and indoor pool, sleekly designed with a skylight above, go hand in hand with the spa they pamper themselves at every day. Yes, indeed, ‘twas a romantic stay at the Fairmont.

After checking out, the man grabs a Fairmont brochure and notices the "Fairmont Fling" special--one night's accommodation, overnight parking, a bottle of Blue Mountain wine, and strawberries dipped in chocolate for C$317 high season. Thinking of his playboy friend Ted, he pockets the brochure and laughs to himself. "This is perfect for Ted," he thinks. "After that Motel 6 incident, I know he wants nothing but the best for his next one-night stand."

The sprawling lobby, painted from floor to ceiling in sweeping bright colors, resembles one of those ultra-cool college dorm lobbies inaccurately depicted on television shows and in movies. Please, anybody who''s lived in a dorm knows they''re nothing like what Dwayne and Whitley had in A Different World. Off to the right of the lobby is a well-worn pool table, four Internet-ready computers ($1 for 10 minutes), an assortment of games, and a variety of flyers and newspapers to help plan your day. Couches and chairs are scattered throughout, with a snack and beverage machine off to the left, right next to three phones for calling home and telling your pals how cool your hostel is.

Off the main lobby is a TV room outfitted with couches and chairs; videos are available for checkout at the front desk. I was amazed by the number of people sitting around watching movies at night instead of checking out the city--yo man, you''re on vacation! There''s also a back patio for smoking cigs, but be advised that alcohol isn''t allowed here. No worries, just put it in a plastic cup--nobody is going to harass you.

Compounding the dorm-like feel was the getting-to-know-you banter that was commonly shared among everybody. Instead of the obligatory college question "what''s your major?," here it was "where are you from?" and "how long are you here for?" Just about everyone was cool, and this is where I met my man Liron from Israel. There were also plenty of lovely ladies, always a bonus. The flirting going on between the guys and girls kept making me think of this article in The Onion. Hehehehe . . .

My room had two bunk beds, and I claimed true one of the top bunks. The rooms are mixed sex, and everybody was polite in regards to respecting your belongings. There are private lockers in the hallway for passports, money, etc., if you don?t feel comfortable leaving something in the room. Each room is equipped with a sink, and most have mirrors. Communal bathrooms with showers are on each of the three floors, and there''s a full-service kitchen on the first floor.

For five nights I spent C$90, a total bargain.

I woke up one morning with an unmistakable craving for food of the Indian variety, and after dragging Liron out of his room at the hostel, we walked up to Gastown on the hunt for an affordable place to satiate the urge. This would be Liron’s first time trying this type of cuisine, and probably about my 200th time around the Indian food block.

We settled on Sitar because the other Indian place down the street looked a little slim shady. We arrived at around 11:30am and took up one of the only two occupied tables. Our server had an air of confident elegance about him as he seated us near the back window and politely took our drink order. The menu had a great selection, with plenty of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetable dishes to choose from. Between picking out my eats and dishing out advice to Liron on what to get, I smiled at the surroundings--rich fabrics depicting religious images hanging from and around the upstairs balcony, along with brick walls and a mock-shingled roof that gave the illusion of sitting in a private house. I decided on vegetable pakora and naan bread to share as appetizers, and went for the Mutter Paneer, Indian cheese cubes and peas, as my main dish. Carnivore that he is, Liron picked the Keema Paneer, ground meat and peas cooked in ginger, garlic, and spicy sauce. Both of us bravely ordered them spicy.

The pakora was fantabulous, accompanied by a sweet plum sauce and tangy mint chutney. The naan was equally tasty, served soft, fluffy, and piping hot. After finishing off the appetizers, the waiter/possible owner brought our main dishes, which came with a plate of basmati rice to share. We scooped out our respective dishes from the small bronze bowls and dug in. Honestly, this was some of the tastiest Indian food I’ve had in quite some time. The cheese and peas were soft, the sauce spicy. No, the sauce wasn’t spicy--it was hot! Damn hot! About halfway through, Liron and I just stopped eating and pointed out how much the other was sweating. Our waiter came out to check on us and we told him, "Everything is perfect, and man is this spicy!" He smiled, turned around, and walked back towards the front area quietly laughing to himself.

It seems that whenever I’m visiting a new city, whether Atlanta, Chattanooga, or now Vancouver, I always seem to sniff out a lovely Indian restaurant. Sitar effortlessly maintained that tradition. And the lunch prices were slammin’--for two entrees, basmati rice, appetizer, and bread, our tab ran C$30.

I showed up on the scene at 6pm on a Saturday night, and was greeted by a line that flooded out the door and wrapped around the front of the building. It seemed that this was the norm, as nobody was too surprised or worried about it. After a little internal deliberation, I decided that it’d probably be worth the wait, and about 30 or 40 minutes later I was pining to see if my gamble would pay off. Based on the the Naam’s numerous awards posted near the front door, it certainly seemed it wasn't bluffing when it came to showing its hand.

I took a quick glance over the menu, and immediately two thoughts popped in my head: the first was "how am I going to pick only one dish?" and the second was of Rod Roddy, all decked out in purple and pink sequins, booming, "the price is right!" That’s right--not only did the food range from Oaxacan Quesadillas (red and yellow organic corn tortillas with chili, red onions, cilantro, jalapenos, and cheese) to sesame fries with miso gravy, but none of the entrees were priced over C$11. Put it this way--if the Naam were in the Showcase Showdown, it would have bid more closely to my actual dining-out tastes than any other restaurant challenger in Vancouver (okay, I know that’s a way cheesy analogy, but I had to tie in the Rod Roddy mention).

Knowing that no matter what I ordered I couldn’t go wrong, I started with the small Naam salad (with the famous Naam dressing) and moved on to the Gold Dragon, a mix of Naam fries, cheese, miso gravy, steamed veggies, sprouts, carrots, and deep-fried tofu. The salad rocked (and the dressing was fantastic--make sure you try it if you go for a salad). My entree was served in a portion befitting a starved Jerry Falwell, and was strastopherically stacked with bean sprouts and red cabbage, with a long pair of chopsticks stuck in the side. I knocked out as much as I could stomach, and relished the fondue-like taste of the cheese that brought the whole dish together.

I briefly entertained the idea of trying the famous apple crisp, but took one look at the heaping portion and thought otherwise. For a salad, entree, and pint, my tab was C$20--now get down on it like Kool and the Gang, you won’t be disappointed.

Okay, that counts as my first-ever rant about tablecloths--I must be losing my mind! For real, though, this is a great place to sit down, relax, and hide behind a towering plate of tofu pad Thai. Located just off Corporate Shopping Street--I mean Robson Street--Royal Thai is a very small, cozy resto with fewer than 30 tables, including the outdoor seating area. A mixed crowd of families, seniors, young couples, and loners like myself all seemed to be put at ease by the purple walls and soothing Asian-influenced music that poured out from the overhead speakers. While we were kicking it, though, the two young people basically running the whole shebang were flustered with activity. Seating people, taking phone orders, running the cash register, serving food, busing tables--they were like bionic waitstaff robots. Despite being overworked, however, they were doing a damn fine job and maintained a pleasant attitude throughout.

For an appetizer, I chose the deep-fried Thai spring rolls of the vegetarian variety, but I’d pass if I were you. "Vegetarian" basically meant fried minced cabbage rolls, and the only reason I polished them off was because they were served with ample sweet sauce. Now feeling a little trepidation about what my entree might consist of, I was relieved when a heaping plate of pad Thai with tofu (ask for it in place of shrimp) was laid before me. I dug in to my dish--overflowing with broccoli, cauliflower, tofu, sprouts, and crushed peanuts--and was pleasantly surprised by the rich, peanuty flavor. Somehow I restrained myself and didn’t eat the whole thing; then, feeling a sense of obligation, I picked the coconut surprise off the dessert menu. This was one good-sized ball of coconut ice cream with mango ice on the inside--make sure you don’t miss out on it.

My total bill, for an appetizer, entree, and dessert, came to C$22 plus tip. So go ahead and support this place--maybe then they’ll be able to get rid of those tablecloths.

The small dining area of the Observatory is completely enclosed by tall windows, which allows you to sit and admire the surrounding mountains, bay, and cityscape as you prepare to order appetizers ranging in price from C$9 to C$13 and entrees between C$29 and C$37. The wooden chairs marked by off-kilter stars fit perfectly with the simple yet elegant decor in the dining room. If you’re visiting during cold months, I’m sure the waitstaff will have the sleek fireplace a-blazing to warm up your propensity for tipping.

Head chef Sylvain Cuerrier has concocted a nice array of gourmet dishes to choose from, with help from his assistant, Benjamin Chan. For an appetizer, you might try the slow-roasted Okanagan red beet soup, braised Pacific albacore tuna, or alderwood-smoked salmon. Like the starters, the entree choices are very seafood-heavy, though you’ll also find veal, lamb rack, duck, and pasta dishes. As Yoda would say, "Vegetarian-friendly is not the Observatory." Standing out among the 10 or so entrees was the Bocatini pasta, tossed with black truffles, virgin olive oil, and sage, then speckled with Parmesan and wild boar pancetta from Oliver, British Columbia. Featured wines start at C$32 a bottle, going all the way up to a bottle of Stag’s Leap Peite for C$95. There’s also a full bar.

If you’re classy and you know it, don’t clap your hands (please)--splurge on a meal at the Observatory.

The Cambie is a big, boisterous pseudo-dive bar filled with long wooden tables. A picket fence divides the room in half, and there''s an outdoor seating area and smoking room in the back. Hanging from the high ceilings are some rather lovely chandeliers colored in shades of blue, red, and yellow. Over to one side of the bar are a dartboard, three pool tables, and two pinball machines, Monopoly and Playboy. Most of my attention, though, was focused on the Cambie''s jukebox, which rivals even the juke at NYC''s very own Library Bar. Here you''ll find the likes of Tool, the Clash, Korn, Ben Harper, Sublime, Guns ''n'' Roses, and all those assorted ''80s jams that are oh-so-lame yet oh-so-rockin''.

The drink prices are quite drinker-friendly, if ya know what I''m saying. C$3.25 pints and C$2.75 shots are the everyday norm, with a full slate of rotating daily specials such as "Foster''s Fridays," featuring C$3.50 pints and C$10.50 pitchers of Foster''s lager. There''s also a kitchen serving up burgers, nachos, appetizers, and other assorted munchies. The first time I came here, I sat down to watch the Nets/Pistons playoff game (which of course ended in disaster) and shared a pitcher with a friendly guy from France who had just arrived in Vancouver. Good times with a very cool kid--as a student of the English language, he had fun trying to decipher all my terrible slang.

What brings this place so much character is the great mix of people from all walks of life. You''ve got your backpacking world travelers (the Cambie doubles as a hostel), your middle-aged locals, your young, hip scenesters--this bar is most definitely a melting pot of Vancouver. I also got the feeling that this place has more than its fair share of regulars--hell, I would be if I lived here.

Check out the fly T-shirts and hoodies for sale that twist Canadian hockey teams'' logos to promote the bar instead, and make sure you tip your bartender well. The service is a little gruff, but a smile and a few bones go a long way. After all, I got them to begrudgingly turn on the basketball game even though the bartender let me know how much he absolutely abhors basketball.

The badass downtempo beats were simmering from the sound system, the abstract artwork added a European sensibility to the atmosphere, and the laid-back crowd was getting lost in private conversation as I contentedly smoked a few cigarettes, downed some brewskies, and snacked on a veggie burger out at one of the three outdoor tables.

I overheard some guy walk by and say to his companion, "This is the place where you can sit and people-watch." No kidding--on Granville Street, all kinds of people populate the landscape. An outdoor table is most definitely the prime spot to sit here at Taf’s, but be prepared for a bombardment of requests to bum a cigarette. Between me and the table of three girls nearby, we probably fielded about seven or eight requests in under an hour.

The menu at this café consists of a fine selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and assorted entrees. I went for the Mushroom Veggie Burger, served on an open-faced kaiser roll with a fresh garden salad. Included was a lovely amount of pickles, so props to Taf’s for that. The food was pretty solid, so don’t be hesitant to order anything. The kitchen is open relatively late, and even though I was one of the last people ordering, my waiter was very cool about it and even let me chill outdoors as he tried to wrap up his duties and get the hell out of there.

If you can’t grab a table outside, you’ll be surrounded by some great art for sale inside. I think there's probably a rotating slate of artists who display their work, and I was really digging what was up during my visit. It was all reasonably priced, and if I'd had some extra loot, I would have jumped at the opportunity to pick up one of the pieces myself. There’s also a spacious seating area upstairs.

Drink prices here are the topper--enjoy a pitcher of Granville Island Lager or Pale Ale on tap for C$11 (or a pint for C$4). If you don’t feel like drinking beer, a pitcher of sangria is going to run you only C$15. Of course, you can always opt for the mixed drink, but I can’t tell you the prices. I’m sure they won’t break your bank.

Taf’s was one of my favorite nightlife places I checked out in Vancouver. No pretend scene here, just a bunch of mellow cats having a few drinks and enjoying their time together. That’s what good times are all about, right?

On a cool, crisp Vancouver morning, Martin from Montreal, Liron from Israel, and yours truly from Brooklyn took the SeaBus over to North Vancouver with the intention of seeing what the Grouse Grind Trail was all about. I had read that it was a somewhat strenuous trail, but nowhere did I see or hear about it being an unforgiving, gut-wrenching trek that went straight up. This isn’t your usual meandering path that slowly winds its way up--straight-up verticality is all it knows. Sometimes you’re scratching and clawing your way up some jutting rocks, other times you’re high-stepping on log steps. Either way, even those who consider themselves relatively in shape (and of course I am) should be ready to tax that cardiovascular system.

Once you make it up to the top, though, the view is utterly gratifying and the sense of accomplishment overshadows your desperate gasps for breath. Seriously, I was itching to strike the infamous Rocky Balboa pose after he scales the courthouse steps. There’s a plethora of activity going on up at the top of Grouse Mountain, including a couple restaurants, a grizzly-bear exhibit, and the popular cable car, which we decided was too expensive at around C$20 each way (more on that choice later). Liron and I had packed some wheat bread, cheddar cheese, and Cracker Jacks to snack on, which saved us from purchasing overpriced "top o’ the mountain fare."

After taking a long, relaxing siesta, we decided to go back down the trail. Even though we were well aware that we had just gone through the same thing two hours ago, Liron and I couldn’t stop laughing at everyone’s body language and expressions as they finally got to the end of the trail. I thought we could make some cash if we crouched right at the end and snapped Polaroids of how everyone looked--even if people didn’t buy them, at least we’d have some riotous pictures to laugh at!

In many ways, going down was worse than going up. The impact on your knees is killer--every time we stopped for a break, Martin’s legs were involuntarily shaking. Yeah, we saved some cash by not taking the cable car down, but accelerated our pace to "the days of the walking cane."

Yes, there’s lots of history to the park. But I really don’t want to get into all of that here--I’m sure if you want to read up on all the specifics of this fabulous park, you’ll have no trouble finding that information elsewhere. There are oodles of picnic areas, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, etc., but when I headed over here, the one thing I really wanted to do was rent a bike and make the trek around the park via the expertly planned out Seawall Walk, a paved double path with enough room to accommodate rollerbladers, joggers, walkers, and bicyclists.

I walked to the park from downtown and stopped on the way at Bikes N’ Blades, 718 Denman Street (604/602-9899), to rent a bicycle for a few hours. The guys there were very cool, and I think I paid something like C$3 an hour for a bike that put mine back home to shame. I felt like I was pedaling a chariot descended from heaven. Helmets are "required" in Vancouver, but I declined the offer and didn’t catch any flack from the pleasant policemen whom I intermittently encountered on the Seawall. Yeah, I could get hurt if for some reason I wiped out, but hey, at least I’d look cooler doing it than if I were wearing a helmet! Yes, that’s me, Mr. Fashion-Conscious. By the way, the cost of a bike rental also includes a lock.

If you enter the park at Denman Street, the whole trek around the park is around 9km and is mostly flat. The cool breeze coming off the water was invigorating, and the views of the bay, North Vancouver, and the surrounding mountains were, for lack of a better word, awesome. You’ll probably be snapping photos left and right, doing your best to emulate Cindy Sherman, albeit with different subject matter. Just make sure that you ride on the correct side of the path, or the locals will be quick to point out you’re wrong (their way of assuring you that they’re not a tourist). You’ll get caught up in the views and want to see what’s around the next corner, but don’t forget to stop at a prime vantage point to sit and soak it all in while relaxing on one of the many waterfront benches.

Damn, it felt good to be out there tossing discs. I’m proud to say that my pro-like skills haven’t diminished in the least bit, and I pretty much picked up where I left off in Tennessee--kicking major ass. Yes, that’s right Ken Climo, I’m gunning for you, buddy. Seriously, though, these were some great courses, with all of them lying in the shadows of the nearby mountains. The fresh air, the scenery, nailing par shot after par shot--yo, this was exactly what the doctor ordered.

I first found my way over to Little Mountain DGC, located in the vastly underrated Queen Elizabeth Park. Running parallel to the nearby golf course, there are nine holes here that require both distance drives and accuracy. Hole #2 is beautifully set up, with the hole straight ahead between two columns of drooping trees. There’s a few holes with feasible ace runs, like #6, and be careful on #9, the biggest ball-buster of all. The basket lies on the other side of a pond, which stretches pretty close to it. Play it to the left and you should be okay. I shot an even par for 18 holes here (playing all holes as par 3 is standard).

Next up was the course at Jericho Park Community Centre. Again, this course has outstanding scenery, and plays up and back down a hill. This course isn’t laid out too well, with a lack of signage making it a little difficult to tell which basket you should be throwing at for which hole. I played nine holes just guessing, then had some local guys point out the real course map. It’s still pretty sweet--most of the holes are open, but it wasn’t an easy course by any means. For 18 holes I threw 1 under par after a birdie on #9--thank you for your applause.

Last up was Quilchena Disc Golf Course, over in Kitsilano. I think this one was my favorite--it’s pretty damn tricky, with trees impeding your throw on every toss. It wraps around a small park and, not to be redundant, the views here are incredible. Make sure you stop at #9 to see what I mean. I threw a 4 over par on this one, but still felt like I did pretty well. It’s just an unforgiving course.

For more info on Frisbee golf, check out this site.

Located on the tip of the British Columbia University and just a short walk to the water, the surrounding environment lends the museum a secluded, rustic feel that further enhances the effect of totems seen around the front and back of the MOA. As you step in you’ll immediately be drawn to the Great Hall, which houses a stunning collection of totems and statues from the Haida and other Northwest Coast natives. The high ceilings accentuate the re-creation of the longhouses these people built that were supported by thick, load-bearing poles. This impressive room resembles a big, oversized trophy case of a fanatical collector - I could easily see Bruce Wayne buying this wing to add to his mansion. Given my affinity for slightly macabre work, I stood rapt with curiosity at Jim Hart’s "Wasco", a squat, devilish looking piece. Legends say that the wasco was an ocean-dwelling creature of great strength that was blamed for the disappearance of Haida people that came up missing. Aw, c’mon, it’s so cute, who cares if it murders people?

Over to the right is the Gathering Strength wing, highlighting the work of Mungo Martin, or Chief Nakapankam. He helped keep alive the culture of the Northwest Coast First Peoples, and played a major role in the preservation of their monolithic carvings. I really liked how in this exhibit they featured some modern day natives’ work and talked about how they were keeping alive their cultures’ traditions such as loom weaving.

Another unique feature to the museum are the Research Galleries, a veritable maze of masks, arrows, etc that another place might have stored in the basement. Instead, they’re on display, stored in cases and drawers that the public can poke and prod through (mostly). As you emerge from this area, you’re bound to see Bill Reid’s much ballyhooed "The Raven and the First Men".

Don’t let your museum tour stop inside the building. Saunter around the back for amazing mountain views and to check out a few more totem poles. A short rain had fallen while I was inside, and afterwards the mist about the mountains and fresh smell in the air lulled me into complete relaxation. Liron and I then discovered a sharply declining trail that emptied out onto a secluded beach, part of neighboring Pacific Spirit Park. With hardly anyone around except a few fishermen, we walked out to some rocks that stretched into the water and just chilled for a bit. If you can manage the hike back up, make sure you find your way down here. Just be careful on the way down - it was a little muddy from the rain.

The aquarium is broken down into a few rooms. The front room has a great mock environment of the Georgia Strait, and what fauna you can’t see from up top, you can get a closer look at from one level below. The H. R. MacMillan Tropical Gallery features a walk-through re-creation of a South American rain forest that has free-roaming insects, lizards, birds, spiders, etc. If you’re going to freak out if something crawls across the walkway in front of you, you may want to consider skipping this part, but I really doubt much harm will come of you. Well, okay, one rather large tarantula did drop out of a tree and crawl down some woman’s shirt, but--nah, I’m just playin’. In addition to the aforementioned crawlies, out here in this very humid outdoor wing you’ll see a variety of birds, ducks, fish, and turtles. Continuing indoors, you’ll see some wicked-looking crocodiles. The only deficiency here was the lack of signage explaining what everything was.

I enjoyed the Treasures of the BC Coast wing the most. It’s divided into different coastal regions and gives a nice cross-section of what you’d find in each region's waters. The giant green anemone tank was at once intriguing and sublime, and I loved the reminder of what everyday products we can find algae in--lipstick, sushi, ice cream, etc. (make sure you tell your kids that the next time they’re crying for the ice-cream truck). Easily the highlights, though, were the alien-like moon jellies, which kept my attention for at least 15 minutes. The up-close view you get of these amazing creatures is worth the price of admission alone. Moving along, you’ll see an extensive frog exhibit that’s distinctly geared towards kids, with big lettered signs, hands-on exhibits, and fun facts everywhere--a nice way to squeeze in a little educational lesson.

On the bottom floor is an exhibit explaining Whalelink, which is used to track the movement of whales. Stepping outside, you’ll have the opportunity to see a dolphin show, a gigantic sea lion, and a beluga whale. I had no idea that sea lions could be so freakin’ huge! After you’ve finished making your rounds, there will be no way of avoiding it--you’ll have to exit through the gift shop. D’oh!

"Watch, all they’re going to play are a bunch of Bob Marley cover songs," I said to my friend. Ha ha. After finding the bar at its beautiful waterfront location under the bridge, we grabbed a table on the outdoor deck for a fantastic evening view of downtown. We each had a bottle of Kokanne beer for C$5.25 as we waited for the band to take the stage, and basically just unwound from a long day of hiking. And then, just as we finished our drinks, Dub Freque struck up a slow reggae beat.

Wait, stop, you’re not opening with a cover song, are you? Ugh, bad start. And then, like the Energizer Bunny, they kept going . . . and going . . . and going. Just like I had joked, they went into a slew of Bob Marley songs, pleasing the mostly white college-aged crowd. I had really hoped to see an authentic reggae band playing 95% original material, but it wasn’t to be. To combat our boredom, my friend and I had to dump some quarters into the nearby pool table and shoot a few games before jetting. From this vantage point, we got to see all the noodle dancing going on, which was actually pretty entertaining.

Though we didn’t luck out as far as our music choice went, the bar was still very cool and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to check it out. I’m sure that on a regular night, it’s a very chill place to kick back and have a few drinks, and I’m positive that Dub Freque won’t play every night.

As you walk in, you’ll be greeted by an assortment of Blunt Bros. wear to your left (hoodies, tank tops, shirts, etc.) and to your right every sort of smoking accessory you could possibly want--rolling papers, flavored blunt wraps, pipes made of glass/stone/metal, bongs, etc. (basically everything you’d expect to find in Jeff Spicoli’s bedroom). The very chill staff will be more than happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

While a good variety of music plays at a keen level, check out Blunt Bros.’ food menu, filled with all kinds of munchies sure to satisfy any appetite. In addition to nachos, veggie platters, pizza, and Jamaican patties, there’s also specialty sandwiches such as the Half-Baked (tuna melt with fresh tomato and cheddar) and burritos like the Thai Blunt (Thai noodles, fresh grated carrots, bean sprouts, sweet peppers, and Thai sauces in a flour tortilla). If you plan on continuing into the lounge area, you’ll have to buy something, as there is a $2 minimum purchase requirement, but if you’re not hungry (yet), just scoop up something to drink from the cooler.

The proprietors of Blunt Bros. have really done a great job making this space a very comfortable place to relax. Big plushy couches that you sink into are off to one side of the room, while the other side has semicircular couches wrapped around very large glass-topped tables. Oftentimes you’ll end up sharing a table with others and will meet some friendly people that way. Trees placed throughout the room go well with the various paintings hung on the walls, and you can’t miss the sweeping mural of Bob Marley, Jerry Garcia, and other deceased music legends all jamming together at that great rock coliseum in the sky. There’s also a few video games and a foosball table. Thursday is Open Mic night, while on Friday and Saturday, Blunt Bros. hosts live music from local bands.

There’s nowhere else like it in North America, so stop by and unwind in this one-of-a-kind café.

With home gaming systems rubbing off the luster of the arcade since the mid-1990s, arcades aren’t as numerous as they once were, but there still has to be a place for pinball machines and virtua-whatever games, and along Granville Street in downtown Vancouver are a few rather choice spots to take a break and drop a few Canadian quarters.

Movieland, at 906 Granville Street, is your basic bare-bones arcade that goes skimpy at best on the decor, but houses six--count ’em, six--pinball machines. Yo, anybody who knows me can guess that I spent way too much time in here because of that! I rocked Playboy, Roller Coaster, and Medieval Madness the most, but there's also Addams Family, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Phantom Menace, which licks even harder than the actual film. If you can pry yourself away from the pinball machines, there’s a few vintage throwbacks mixed in amongst games like VirtuaCop and Tekken 4 (on a big screen). A nice plus is that Movieland doesn’t have any of those silly dancing games--you know the ones I’m talking about. No admittance under 18 (supposedly); open every day until 1am. An older Asian guy mans the change booth, and I swear he just sits there every day for 15 hours without food, water, or any kind of stimuli.

Down the street a few blocks, you’ll run into Lion’s Lair, a more aesthetically welcoming arcade that doubles as an Internet and PC games lounge. The computer area is behind the games room, and is souped up to look like some kind of Internet jungle room, with fake trees everywhere, low lighting, and plush black chairs. The whole place is really clean, with a few snack machines and carpeting throughout. There are only two pinball machines, Viper Night Drivin’ and High Roller Casino, but Viper was pretty generous as far as free games go (and uses a different kind of ball than normal, which was interesting). You also got your even mix of old-school and modern titles, and this spot does have the dancing games if you really care to indulge. Hours here are 9am to 1am seven days a week, and again, admittance is supposed to be restricted to those 18 and up.

For my fellow pinball wizards, The Cambie also has Playboy and Monopoly, so there’s your chance for the match made in heaven of shooting balls and drinking a few cold ones. The days of gathering around the Super Mario Bros. machine may be over, but that’s no reason to forget about the institution known as the arcade.