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Tag: Erick Villagomez

5 Things Vancouver: Erick Villagomez

by Dan
Architecture + Travel + Vancouver / February 25, 2010

Erick Villagomez is a former Torontonian who moved out west after he mistakenly froze his tongue to a metal pole one grim wintery day.

He is a self-declared urban cartographer and bibliophile who runs an environmental design practice, teaches architecture at UBC, and is a co-founder and writer for re:place magazine in his spare time.

What is the single best thing about living in Vancouver?
Flowers blooming in February while rest of the country is outfitted in parkas and toques.

What’s the one place everyone should visit?
If we have visitors coming in for the day we usually hit three places that each give a different sense of what the city has to offer: Commercial Drive (activist, gritty, left-wing, etc.), Granville Island (the industrial-wasteland-turned-touristy-artist-haven) and Lighthouse Park in North Vancouver (the not-too-hard-trekking park with beautiful views of the ocean and city). Did I mention each of these is about 20 minutes apart?

Where do you look for books in Vancouver?
Hmmmm….too many places. But being a book junkie, I frequent used bookstores searching for hidden gems—Bibliophile (used book in best condition found anywhere the city—Commercial Drive), Pulp Fiction (great selection of all around titles new and old - Main Street), and Macleod’s Books (a Neverending Story-type books store with piles of books that house hidden gems—Downtown, Pender St.).

What’s your favourite book about Vancouver?
Most recently read: Vancouver Special by Charles Charles Demers. Cartographic: Vancouver A Visual History by Bruce Macdonald. Tour: Vancouver Discovery Walks by John Atkin. Classic: The Greater Vancouver Book edited by Chuck Davis.

What’s your favourite restaurant for a romantic dinner?
I’m not sure that I’d put it in the “romantic” category, but Bin 942 is one of my favorite places to eat. Small, funky, sweet tunes and great food….you can’t ask for more. Not to mention you can visit Oscar Art Books next door while you are waiting to be seated.