OTP - Vancouver, BC information

I'm coming up to Vancouver, BC this Friday to attend a concert that
starts at 7:30pm. I'd like to come up earlier, have dinner somewhere
HEALTHY, and then go to the concert. So these are my questions (keep in
mind that I've never been to Vancouver before ))

How long does it take to get across the border? I've been told by a
classmate down here that it's easier to cross at the border crossing on
Guide Meridian than on the I-5.

I want to eat somewhere healthy. I've just lost 32 lbs and have no
intention of blowing it now, not even for one night. If there is a
casual type steakhouse (with prices like Outback) where I could get
steak and salad or grilled chicken and salad, that would be perfect. I
have to eat low carb as I also have diabetes.

Is there a good map of the city of Vancouver on the web that I can
download and print out? I want to find the Banyen Bookstore at
3608 W. 4th Ave., and then the concert is at the St. Andrews Wesley
Church on Nelson St. at Burrard.

Any suggestions and/or helpful information is greatly appreciated ))

Thanks,
Carole

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:42:48 -0700, Carole <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com>
wrote:


>Any suggestions and/or helpful information is greatly appreciated ))
>
>Thanks,
>Carole
I have not been in Vancouver too often, so can offer no advice. Have
fun though. I will check tomorrow at work and see if anyone has any
suggestions.
Rose @}->--
Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown,
one seeks to understand it.

Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Thanks, Rose! I'm sure I'll have fun, I just don't want to get lost,
LOL ))

Carole

RoseB wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:42:48 -0700, Carole <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Any suggestions and/or helpful information is greatly appreciated ))
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Carole
>
> I have not been in Vancouver too often, so can offer no advice. Have
> fun though. I will check tomorrow at work and see if anyone has any
> suggestions.
> Rose @}->--
> Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown,
> one seeks to understand it.
>
> Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Also, where will you be staying?
Rose @}->--
Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown,
one seeks to understand it.

Please remove "Ima" to reply.

RoseB wrote:

> Also, where will you be staying?

I live in Bellingham so I'll be coming back home after the concert

Carole

Carole,
Will let you know some choices tomorrow around all of those places.
Personally I always find the truck crossing easiest and fastest to get
through.

Kelly

"Carole" <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5ok3h9Fnf1o5U1@mid.individual.net...
> I'm coming up to Vancouver, BC this Friday to attend a concert that starts
> at 7:30pm. I'd like to come up earlier, have dinner somewhere HEALTHY,
> and then go to the concert. So these are my questions (keep in mind that
> I've never been to Vancouver before ))
>
> How long does it take to get across the border? I've been told by a
> classmate down here that it's easier to cross at the border crossing on
> Guide Meridian than on the I-5.
>
> I want to eat somewhere healthy. I've just lost 32 lbs and have no
> intention of blowing it now, not even for one night. If there is a casual
> type steakhouse (with prices like Outback) where I could get steak and
> salad or grilled chicken and salad, that would be perfect. I have to eat
> low carb as I also have diabetes.
>
> Is there a good map of the city of Vancouver on the web that I can
> download and print out? I want to find the Banyen Bookstore at
> 3608 W. 4th Ave., and then the concert is at the St. Andrews Wesley Church
> on Nelson St. at Burrard.
>
> Any suggestions and/or helpful information is greatly appreciated ))
>
> Thanks,
> Carole

Kelly wrote:

> Carole,
> Will let you know some choices tomorrow around all of those places.
> Personally I always find the truck crossing easiest and fastest to get
> through.
>
> Kelly

Thanks Kelly. Is the truck crossing the 539 (Guide Meridian) one? You
can tell I have never been across the border, LOL!!!

Also, any good little shops, especially thrift shops where I might pick
up some clothes? I've exhausted the ones in B'ham and am still looking
for a suitable, cheap winter coat since I will only be wearing it for a
couple of months.

Carole

"Carole" wrote:

> Is there a good map of the city of Vancouver on the web that I can
> download and print out? I want to find the Banyen Bookstore at
> 3608 W. 4th Ave., and then the concert is at the St. Andrews Wesley
> Church on Nelson St. at Burrard.


I found both locations at http://maps.google.com/ by entering
3608 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC then
Nelson Street and Burrard, Vancouver, BC


.... Never stand near a sneezing dragon.

california_chief wrote:

> I found both locations at http://maps.google.com/ by entering
> 3608 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC then
> Nelson Street and Burrard, Vancouver, BC

Yea, I found them both on Yahoo maps, but they don't tell you if there
is construction going on or areas one should avoid. That's why I figured
I'd ask those who live there

Carole

You want the pacific highway truck crossing. not sure if we are talking the
same but pretty sure - not the Peace Arch as it is so busy most of the time.

Personally I don't think that there are as many good deals in large size
clothes here as there are in the states. I find the large size stuff is
picked over quickly here. I do find things in Value Village and in our
local thrift store but not as often as I do in the states. (Sidney - the
town I left is the thrift store area of the Island I think). If I think of a
place along the way to where you are going I will let you know. There is a
Winners just off the highway over the border - but I find even Catherine's
has better prices on large sizes.

Banyan Books on Fourth sounds familiar. Right now though books are a much
better deal in the states - the dollar hasn't adjusted. You can afford to
pay shipping for the amount that you pay here for books. It is a crying
shame. Is there anything particular you are looking for??

Food - there is a Milestones on 4th and Bayswater. Milestones is also
downtown as is the Keg (I believe close to where you are going. I think
Milestones is a bit cheaper and I do like the 4th Avenue one. Not sure
where you will be. Will write if I think of anything else. This is the
google map for Banyan (within a couple blocks of Milestones and Banyan)
move the arrow on the left hand side of the top of the map to the right)
http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8...to&iwloc=A&f=d
Milestones is a local chain that has steak, (an excellent one with blue
cheese), great salads, seafood etc. Personally I love it.

To get to 4th Ave. Take the I5 to the truck crossing (my recommendation
although you could take Peace Arch), get back onto the highway to Vancouver.
Follow signs to Vancouver, under the tunnel, keep going, you will go over
the Oak Street Bridge and keep going down Oak street. When you reach
Broadway (a street past a major hospital complex on your right hand side -
quite a drive) turn left at the lights (a left hand turn signal - a
blessing) Go down to Alma and turn right. 3 blocks down will be W 4th.
Turn right and Banyan books is in that block on the right hand side I
believe. Milestones is 4 blocks over from there.
http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/menus.html - menu

To get to the church you would be going down 4th to the Burrard St Bridge,
over the bridge and to Nelson Street.

Google will give you directions from each place. I love google directions -
they do work. The hardest part with Vancouver right now is all the Olympic
construction but I think the directions I gave you avoid most of the worst
of it.

Whose concert??

Kelly

"Carole" <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5oknuqFmrs5vU1@mid.individual.net...
> Kelly wrote:
>
>> Carole,
>> Will let you know some choices tomorrow around all of those places.
>> Personally I always find the truck crossing easiest and fastest to get
>> through.
>>
>> Kelly
>
> Thanks Kelly. Is the truck crossing the 539 (Guide Meridian) one? You can
> tell I have never been across the border, LOL!!!
>
> Also, any good little shops, especially thrift shops where I might pick up
> some clothes? I've exhausted the ones in B'ham and am still looking for a
> suitable, cheap winter coat since I will only be wearing it for a couple
> of months.
>
> Carole

Kelly wrote:
> You want the pacific highway truck crossing. not sure if we are talking the
> same but pretty sure - not the Peace Arch as it is so busy most of the time.

Does the I-5 go to the Pacific Highway crossing? I've only been up the
I-5 as far as the outlets that used to be called the Peace Arch
outlets...now they are called Birch Bay or something like that.

I'm not really looking for clothes. I just thought if there was a good
thrift shop, I'd check it out.

I also don't have to stop at the bookstore. They are sponsoring the
concert, but I can get my ticket when I get to the church. I'm going to
see Krishna Das. When I first got sick and had to have the heart cath,
his music was the only thing that would keep me calm. I still chant with
him at least once a day. It keeps me sane He will be in Vancouver on
Friday and in Seattle on Sunday. I'm going to both ))

> Food - there is a Milestones on 4th and Bayswater. Milestones is also
> downtown as is the Keg (I believe close to where you are going. I think
> Milestones is a bit cheaper and I do like the 4th Avenue one.
> Milestones is a local chain that has steak, (an excellent one with blue
> cheese), great salads, seafood etc. Personally I love it.

That sounds good. I just have to get something healthy )

Thanks, Kelly!

Carole

On Mon, 29 Oct 2007 3:24:58 -0500, Carole wrote
(in message <5oljmsFnaefoU1@mid.individual.net>):

> Kelly wrote:
>> You want the pacific highway truck crossing. not sure if we are talking
>> the
>> same but pretty sure - not the Peace Arch as it is so busy most of the
>> time.
>
> Does the I-5 go to the Pacific Highway crossing? I've only been up the
> I-5 as far as the outlets that used to be called the Peace Arch
> outlets...now they are called Birch Bay or something like that.

heehee, no offense, Carole, but I just had to chuckle. Mike and I are both
map addicts. I try to organize them so we don't pick up more repeats, but we
do anyway! And when it comes to the area we live in, we acquire specialized
maps and greater detail maps - we have trail maps and road maps and
snowmobile maps (and we don't snowmobile!). Our big problem lately is that
the Gazetteer doesn't indicate which roads are gravel - the state map does,
but doesn't have all the roads we venture off on!

The whole point being, Mike and I would know such a detail even if we never
crossed the border. Just a part of our shared nuttiness!

I know around here getting into Canada is easy, getting back into the States
is the hassle. Michigan's border crossings all involove bridges, so it's
really rough to be backed up on a bridge. Hopefully, traffic will be down by
the time you come back in after teh concert so things will be faster.

I hope the concert is as rewarding as you anticipate! I know music is the
best medicine for us. That's why we've acquired the habit of taking 2.5 days
and $500 just to get to Chicago to see operas we haven't seen before. Would
love to get to more there, but can't swing the effort and the money for the
operas we know inside and out.

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare

Nann Bell wrote:

> heehee, no offense, Carole, but I just had to chuckle. Mike and I are both
> map addicts. I try to organize them so we don't pick up more repeats, but we
> do anyway! And when it comes to the area we live in, we acquire specialized
> maps and greater detail maps - we have trail maps and road maps and
> snowmobile maps (and we don't snowmobile!). Our big problem lately is that
> the Gazetteer doesn't indicate which roads are gravel - the state map does,
> but doesn't have all the roads we venture off on!

Well, I feel kind of dumb since I've lived here for a little more than a
year and this is my first time going to Vancouver! But I found out that
the truck crossing is off the I-5. The one my classmate told me to take
is about 7 miles west but he said the drive into Vancouver from there
was such incredible scenery. So depending on what time I get out of here
and on the road, I may go for the scenery. I'm heading to B&N to get a
map today just to be on the safe side )

> I hope the concert is as rewarding as you anticipate! I know music is the
> best medicine for us. That's why we've acquired the habit of taking 2.5 days
> and $500 just to get to Chicago to see operas we haven't seen before. Would
> love to get to more there, but can't swing the effort and the money for the
> operas we know inside and out.

Music has always been my life. If I had to do over again, I would have
made it my profession. I was blessed with a beautiful voice but I had
parents who thought that one should only take a job depending on how
much money one could make. So I became a teacher. Music is what got me
through the whole congestive heart failure thing. And I'm happy that you
go to the opera. I used to go to the Met when I lived in NYC. We'd get
discounted tickets through the school. And one year, one of my students
was in the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center and her mom gave me two tickets.
I LOVED IT )))

Carole

Well, I went to Vancouver yesterday and all I can say is never again. I
was fine getting to the border, even got across the border in 20
minutes. I was so surprised that they didn't even ask for ID! Here I sat
with my passport, driver's license, insurance card for Canada, etc. and
nada...all he asked me was where I lived, and where was I going and why.
I told him I was going to Vancouver for a concert. He asked me who was
playing. I said "Krishna Das". He, of course, said "Who??" so I repeated
it and he said "Have a good time". I was so amazed.

Then I was fine until I got to a point on 99 where the traffic just
stopped. We all had to merge into one lane! Why?? God only knows!
Anyway, by the time I got to Vancouver (I had left Bellingham at 3:30),
I didn't even have time to get dinner, much less do any shopping. I just
found the church where the concert was, got in line and that was it!

The concert was great but I was starving by the time I got out of there.
Well, not really starving, but I wanted something to eat. Of course,
there was nothing open at that hour and to boot, it was pouring rain, so
I just came home. I did need my passport to get back into the US (or I
guess some kind of ID - I took my passport knowing it would be faster).
But it only took 5 minutes to get through and then I zoomed home so I
could fix dinner )

My little birdie was so glad to see me. I don't usually leave for that
long so he was a happy camper when I got home.

But my one thought whilst driving back and forth was - if this is what
it's like on a typical Friday, I am NOT even going to consider going to
the Olympics, and I was really looking forward to being able to go since
it will be so close to me. But the TV is closer and there is NO traffic!!

Carole
who is staying on this side of the border from now on

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:01:07 -0700, Carole <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Well, I went to Vancouver yesterday and all I can say is never again.

Awww. I am sooo sorry you had a bad experience. I think part of it is
as a result of road construction. They are redoing every road in
preparation for expo, i think.
I need to go on the 20th for my long awaited appointment with the
foot/ankle surgeon. Too bad your experience was bad, as we could have
arranged to meet in Vanc. at some point.
Rose @}>->--
Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

Please remove "Ima" to reply.