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5 Things Vancouver: Crystal Allen
by Crystal
Kids + Travel + Vancouver / February 24, 2010
Crystal Allen has been in the book industry for 11 years and has been a publicist at Raincoast Books for 3 years. She specializes in Children's Books and Travel Books. In her spare time she is mom to Isabella, wife to Rob (who also works at Raincoast) and designs children's clothing for her own online store Lilikoi Lane. She moved from Bellingham, Washington to Vancouver when she was 19 years old and classifies herself as a truly West Coast Girl. "The West Coast is my home... I can't imagine living anywhere else!"
What neighbourhood do you live in? In my 11 years in Vancouver I have lived all over the place. My first apartment was above the Chapters on the corner of Robson and Howe. A great way to be introduced to the city as a 19 year old girl. I've also lived in The Commercial Drive Area, The Westend, Yaletown, Burnaby and now we live in the Queensborough Area of New Westminster. It is a great neighbourhood for families. We have a waterpark and community center 3 blocks west of us, a plot at our local community garden 5 blocks east of us, beautiful views of the North 
Shore Mountains and Mt. Baker... AND the Olympic Torch went right past our house! The exchange of the flame was literally right in front of our deck. It was such an incredible, intimate, community celebration. Just us and approximately 150 of our neighbors. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget!
Shore Mountains and Mt. Baker... AND the Olympic Torch went right past our house! The exchange of the flame was literally right in front of our deck. It was such an incredible, intimate, community celebration. Just us and approximately 150 of our neighbors. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget!
Where’s your favourite spot to eat on a budget? Whenever my sister comes up to visit from Washington we always hit Legendary Noodles on Main Street. Not because it is budget friendly (though it is) but because it is just so darn good! I credit finding this restaraunt to Bob Blumer and his show Glutton for Punishment. I had probably walked past the restaurant a dozen times and never noticed it but Bob did an episode on the art of pulling noodles that I happened to catch. A week later I was dining at the small family run restaurant. There can't be more than 10 or so tables in the place. They have a glass wall so you can see back into the teeny-tiny kitchen and watch them turn a ball of dough into hundreds of noodles with a few tugs and flips. They make it looks so easy but after watching Glutton for Punishment I'm very aware that it is anything but. They also do handshaved noodles... Oh it's just so good. Now I have to go again. Good thing my sister is coming up in March! They have a few locations but I've only been to the one on Main Street.
What is your favourite building in Vancouver? Hands down my favourite building in Vancouver is the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library at the east end of Robson Street. I had a great view of it from my living room window in my first apartment. Inspired by Roman Architecture it is a must see. So many people stop their walk on Robson once they reach Chapters and Sears... DON'T!!! Continue a few blocks further east, enjoy a coffee on the front steps, people watch and take in this beautiful building. Check out the Wikipedia Entry on VPL for photos and history.
Where’s the best place for coffee? Skip the coffee and go for tea! Check out David's Tea on 4th Avenue at Yew. David's Tea is a small chain of tea shops started in Montreal in 2008 by the then 27 year old David Segal. In the two years that followed 1 store bloomed to 9 with more on the way. Blends like Coco Chai Rooibos, Singapore Sting, Love Tea #7 and Forever Nuts keep me (and others) coming back for more. I'm in there often enough that my favourite Tea Gal Maegan knows me by name and we're now friends on Facebook (ask for her if you make the trip in.) There teas are so original with ingredients like chocolate chips, candied pineapple, shredded coconut and beetroot... this is not your grandma's tea. And if you can't make the trip to 4th ave you can always order online!
What is the best thing to do with kids in Vancouver? There are so many great things to do in Vancouver but one of my favourites has to be Granville Island. We used to make the trip up in the summer from Washington to visit when I was a kid and now I love taking Isabella there. It is the Canadian version of Pike Place Market but (in my humble opinion) even better. I could go on and on and on about all the terrific things to do there as an adult (strolling the Public Market for fresh cheese, pasta, produce, meats and flowers, visiting the artists community, having a leisurely lunch overlooking the water at Bridges or Sandbar...) but with kids I would say my favorite things to do are:
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-Visit the Kids Market
-Stroll the Public Market and grab a pint of raspberries in the produce section and a Montreal Smoked Meat Bagel at Siegel's Bagels
- -Head outside and eat your lunch on one of the benches overlooking the water and be entertained by buskers and interesting visitors from all over the world
-Chase the pigeons for awhile... Like Bella did in this picture.
-Hop on the Aquabus and take in the gorgeous views of False Creek and English Bay
-Then when they are all tuckered out and snoozing in their strollers head over to the Net Loft and browse the great titles at Blackberry Books
Enjoy Vancouver! It really doesn't rain here all the time. I feel so blessed to live in such an incredible city! Can you tell that I'm passionate about my city by the length of this blog post? :)
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5 things vancouver blackberry books crystal allen davids tea kids lilikoi lane olympic torch raincoast tea travel vancouver winter olympics
