The adorable manager of famed Vancouver vintage shop F As In Frank is named Goose, and she has the special privilege of having grown up in Vancouver. Knowing she’s been here since back in the day means that it’s safe to say her word about the best down-home spots in Vancouver can be trusted.
Do you love pizza? Me too! If you’re on the prowl for some delicious and inexpensive pizza, Goose says, “For something quick, and something that I know I’ll always want to eat, it’s Papa’s Pizza. That’s on Main and 14th…They’ve been here for 21 years, I think, and I grew up in the neighbourhood. So after school or like lunch time, I’d run over there and grab a pizza and come back…It’s like a Mom and Pop shop, but they just recently retired, and, I guess, forwarded it to the next person. His name is Nick.”
I took Goose’s suggestion and tried out Papa’s Pizza, and I can also attest to it’s great prices, cozy interior, and yumminess (is that a word?)!
If you’re in the mood to check out the sunset, then head over to Kensington Park. If she has the time, Goose likes to enjoy a beautiful amber sky in this park, and she says, “I was a student for a bit, right, and I couldn’t afford very much. So I would just go to the park…Kensington Park. That was my favourite park”.
Chelsea D.E. Johnston is a Vancouver transplant who has lived here for 11 years. While it’s almost as common to complain about the prices in Vancouver as it is to discuss the weather, Chelsea recently realized there are a few things in Vancouver that are cheaper than out east.
Chelsea, who is originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia, laments, “…I just came back from my hometown, and the produce was seriously lacking. I don’t want to harp on Sydney, but it was, like, way more expensive than I was used to, being able to buy veg for like $10, you know, and you’re able to feed a big chunk of your friends”.
Nice to hear that something as important as vegetables can be purchased for less here than in other places in Canada! In a city this expensive, you’ve got to focus on the small gains us consumers make in comparison to other locales.
Ms. Johnston is a Commercial Drive gal. When she is on the Drive, The Libra Room and Café de Soleil (“They’ve got the poetry slam going on there…the open mike.”) are where Chelsea likes to spend her time. And if the exuberant Chelsea is heading downtown, then it’s usually to go to the Railway Club to see a show.
On the 4th Friday of every month, it’s my job to take my ESL class on an outing in Vancouver. Last Friday I took my class to the Railway Club for lunch, since I wanted to give them a taste of “authentic” Vancouver. The roast beef sandwich and fries I had hit the spot, and the one man cooking for all 12 of us was kind and patient.
Goose, Chelsea, and I are all fans of Van. If you want to see more of this city take a look at my blog VANISREAL.com!
