English Bay

My first day at the beach this year!

Winter Bike Ride

It was the second day in a row where I didn't have to work and it was sunny, so Leonard and I went for another bike ride. This time we went downtown and around the seawall at Stanley Park, stopped at Third Beach to enjoy the sun and sand, and then biked up to Finch's for my favourite sandwich of all time in Vancouver (yes, it beats the porchetta sandwich at Meat and Bread in my books) - the pear, blue brie, proscuitto, and walnut sandwich. Nom nom nom!

One sandwich wasn't enough for Leonard since we had just biked 20km, so we went to Save On Meats a few blocks away for an after-lunch poutine...

...and then I biked home, showered, and then went to Burnaby for dinner and bowling with work friends until late. Phew! Another very full day, and 40+km biked in the past two days. Now that's what I call a good weekend.

Gastown

I went to Gastown after the Keane concert (the photography was so strict and was such a big joke!) to Peckinpah for some deep fried cornbread and bourbon. Good southern times.

Bahamas on the Beach

Cat and I went to Shorefest at English Bay before the fireworks because we heard Bahamas was playing, and Joce had told us that Bahamas was one of the best out of the 30+ concerts she's been to this year. It was such a nice day - sunny, warm, gorgeous, and PACKED. Everyone was there early to stake out spots for the fireworks. We stayed for the show (which was perfect because it was very beachy music) but left before fireworks since I had to wake up at 6am the next day and didn't want to deal with the huge crowds going home. We used to spend so much time on the beach back when I was in university - I would study my biochem while Cat would read her Vogue. I don't spend enough time on the beach anymore!

Stanley Park

Went to watch an outdoor showing of Zoolander at Stanley Park. I took this picture as we walked along Stanley Park to get to the movie. Vancouver is so beautiful! I can't get enough of it in the summer.

Stanley Park at Night

207: TANDEM BIKING

Tandem biking around the seawall! But not without eating our way through downtown first..

First, tacos at La Taqueria:

Next, scrumptious pear & brie sandwiches at Finch's:

And finally, some good old Guu:

198: SEAWALL

Stanley Park seawall

196: GARY

I went out with my friend Gary to do a photo shoot of him in Gastown. He took me to a sketchy area..notice the (bloody) syringe in the corner of the above photo!

183: LOST LAGOON

Swans.

Geese.

Window shopping for boats. Wench was one of my favorites.

Grassy areas.

Pizza at Nicli Antica.

164: SUMMERY

After a failed attempt to fly a kite on a windless day, we took a little ferry from Vanier Park to English Bay. Such a gorgeous day! Totally summer weather, finally. This type of weather makes me so happy.

Black and white, or colour? I couldn't decide.

154: RIOT WALL

After the riots, many businesses in downtown Vancouver had wooden boards erected to temporarily replace the glass that had been smashed that night. Messages of love have been scrawled all over these boards as a testament of how the vast majority of residents in Vancouver did not support the riots.

143: ALMOST LIKE BEING ON VACATION

A visit to Stanley Park led Anna, Rae, and me to Prospect Point and Lord Stanley's statue. Even Lord Stanley believes that the cup should go to the Canucks.

Lord Stanley cheering on the Canucks

Today was Italian Day on Commercial Drive. We sat down to have lunch at the patio at Federico's and it felt like we were back in Italy (but missing our fourth travelling sister, Giosy, who is having her own Italian adventure right now). The combination of the sunny and hot weather, leisurely eating Italian food, people/baby/dog watching, listening to Italian music in the background, and not having to wear pants made it really feel like I was back on vacation in Sicily. I miss Italy! And I also missed not having to wear pants. Thank God summer is here. A random man at the table next to us gave us his baby.

Lasagna at Federico's

Random man's baby

142: MIS TRUCOS AND THE CANUCKS

Anna and I went to Mis Trucos for a six course dinner today because I had bought a two for 1 deal awhile back. It took two hours for all our food to come out. Everything was delicious, but my favourites were the chicken and the panna cotta. Yum!

Gazpacho with prawn and avocado

64 degree egg with ham and artichoke

Risotto nero with squid and squid ink

Sockeye salmon with orange and fennel

Sous vide chicken with quinoa

Panna cotta with apricots

Oh yeah, and the Canucks won game 2! Downtown was total madness. Granville Street was packed! They estimated about 80 000 people were at the downtown core for the game, and everyone was cheering and honking and high fiving everyone else. Everyone was on such a high after the win. I can't imagine what it will be like if and when the Canucks actually win the cup.