log #3: vancouver guide
i made a list
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Over the last thirty days, I hosted two people for a week each. I have only lived in Vancouver for just over seven months now and while I am not qualified to give an “official” tour guide, I did make a “Vancouver Guide” on the Keep app. If you plan on visiting, shoot me a message, we can grab some natural wine and I’ll export the guide as a PDF. All that to say, I tested new restaurants and explored new grounds. Many people recommended Shannon Falls as a stop along the Sea-to-Sky corridor. She’s cute. You’re in and out in thirty minutes. Between hosting two people, I had a small window of no responsibilities and went on a gay hike. Hiking with gays. My friend wanted to go on an approachable hike to assuage his boyfriend for more difficult hikes in the future. Listen, I mentally prepared for easy and it was moderate. Moderate isn’t hard. I was expecting to walk on clouds and instead I was literally rock climbing (which was fun!) and pulling roots while ascending a mountain. I would definitely hike Mount Crumpit Loop again with a moderate mindset. We also foraged some oyster mushrooms and while eating them I thought I was going to die (lol). I probably shouldn’t forage mushrooms. If you were visiting and you wanted beer, I would take you to 33 Acres, which I go often and took my friend Maegan who visited. That was on a Wednesday. By Friday evening, after tacos from Santo Taco, we leisurely made our way to Bar Tartare for natural wine. Unbeknownst, they hosted a Sunday in August from Salt Spring Islands. There was no seating inside, so we sat outdoors. People watching was top tier. Everyone looked like they all pulled pieces from Neighbour. Something about natural wine that attracts a certain type of demographic: creatives who have never held real jobs but somehow can afford $4k a month in rent. My bet is generational wealth. I don’t have generational wealth and I work in nonprofit. The cost of natural wine should be out of my reach, but since I am and have always been smart with money, I often don’t feel deprived by making less. The following day, we went for dim sum at Sun Bo Kong devouring fried oyster mushrooms and fried dough rice noodle rolls. I grabbed a bottle of a Sunday in August for a sunset beach hang at Kits. This bottle costs $37 (ouch). Though, two 5 oz glasses of riesling at Bar Tartare set us back $40. Finally, we make the three hour trek (with a stopover in Squamish for donuts at Fox & Oak) to Joffre Lakes Park. The three hour round trip hike was stunning and kinda of brutal on my knees (read: old, almost middle aged). My friends decided to swim in the lake which, sure, I am happy for them. I acted as DP of their experience. It’s a very uncanny experience to be surrounded by snow and the sun so radiant that it also feels like summer.
Daniel looking thic