I struggle with eating out in Vancouver, generally I prefer the burrito style places like Bandidas Taqueria on Commercial drive or Budgies Burritos on Kingsway, because they can keep it mellow and hassle free. Pronto is a new one, it has a great Italian coffee bar from the 60’s vibe.

I'm here once a week, bouncing round the park with my dog Martha, generally yelling her name trying to stop her eating poo or lick little kids faces, usually one after the other. There are so many parks and woods and mountains in and around Vancouver, but for some reason this place just works for me - maybe there is less of a fear of being eaten by a bear or bugs?

The place to go for a refreshing morning walk. Here you can really see and feel the magic that occurs when the mountains, the city and the ocean meet. Close by is also the Museum of Vancouver which, among other things, holds some colorful displays of the local 1960s hippie movement.

1067 is one of the best music venues in Vancouver, playing host to experimental jazz and other electro-acoustic offerings. It is underground in every sense of the word, hidden in an alley behind an unmarked door (aside from the faintest scribbling of the address in the top right corner). $5 and a ring on a hidden buzzer gets you in to this amazing spot through a labyrinth of stairs and hallways.

It may see like I have an affinity for dingy looking doorways leading to amazing spots, but it just so happens that another of the best bars in Vancouver is hidden behind such an entrance. The Narrow plays great music ranging from heavy metal, to hard rock, classic rock, grunge, 70’s soul and everything in between. The atmosphere is awesome. It is small, dark, VERY loud (due to the music), and the red walls are adorned by rows of deer antlers a glowing neon cross. It has a massive liquor selection too.