Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162450
the street: Vancouver's Commercial Drive Shades of old Vancouver in the heart of a modern metropolis F ringed by side streets of century-old clapboard houses, East Vancouver's funky Drive has evolved through several incarnations. Once a bustling working-class neighbourhood complete with streetcar lines, the neighbourhood was fuelled by a postwar wave of Italian immigrants who delivered family-run delis and coffee shops. Later, the counter-culture 1970s saw artists, hippies and punks adding a tattooed bohemian edge – emboldened by live Charles Bukowski readings. Now a fascinating fusion of all its past lives, the ever-vibrant strip – especially between Broadway and Venables – is a people-watching paradise of indie stores, quirky eateries and patio-fronted bars ideal for laid-back urban exploring. –John Lee 12 W e s t w o r l d p12-13_TheStreet.indd 12 >> [ fa l l 2 0 1 3 october Parade of Lost Souls november Eastside Culture Crawl ONGOING First Thursdays on the Drive The Go Spots SHOPS Well-curated stacks of used tomes lure literary locals at Canterbury Tales (2010 Commercial), while nearby Barefoot Contessa teams vintage-look dresses with sparkly jewellery (thebarefootcontessa.com). Create a Grandview Park picnic with prosciutto and smoked ricotta ] from legendary Italian deli La Grotta Del Formaggio (1791 Commercial), and don't forget to add asiago bread at next door's Fratelli Bakery (fratellibakery.com). Northbound, dip into Licorice Parlour's 65 chewy varieties (1002 Commercial) then peruse the midcentury Bakelite antiques and dinettes at Attic Treasures (attictreasuresvancouver.com). EATS Falconetti's house-made sausage hot dogs — consider a Hot Italian and a Storm Brewing beer (falconettis.com) — compete in the belt-busting stakes with nearby Cannibal Café's kimchi-topped Korean BBQ burger (cannibalcafe.ca). Complete the comfort-food trio with a thin-crust capricciosa pizza at Lombardo's across the street (lombardos.ca). Crank it up a notch at ever-friendly Mexican joint La Mezcaleria with its perfect little tacos (lamezcaleria.ca) or hop two doors north for a Libra Room night out fresh — mussels and a side order of smokin' live jazz recommended (libraroom.com). DRINKS Sip cappuccino among classicalstyle statues at grotto-esque Italian coffee shop Café Calabria (1745 Commercial), or slurp espresso among the elderly soccer fans across the street at Caffe Roma (1510 Commercial). Hit the sudsy stuff at BierCraft, where the gigantic Belgian ale menu includes both Orval and Gulden Draak (biercraft.com), then catch the eye of elven-eared waitresses at nearby Storm Crow Tavern, lined with fantasy movie memorabilia (stormcrow tavern.com). Finally, weave southbound for St. Augustine's menu of more than 40 craft beers. The four-glass tasting flights are a must for beer-lovers (staugustinesvancouver.com). DON'T MISS Sliding back to a more innocent era in retro rented shoes, the Drive's best alternative night out is Grandview Bowling, a 65-yearold family-run gem. Downstairs houses 10-pin lanes, but upstairs it's all about five-pin, glow-in-thedark fun. Wear white to partake of the room's full luminosity (grand –J.L. viewbowling.com). Jeff Topham 13-08-19 1:08 PM