Visiting Vancouver

This compendium of useful information is brought to you by local planning committee members Mark Jordan, Mimi Lam, Larissa Ringham, Shirley Lew, Tara Robertson, and Paul Joseph.

How do I get to the hotel? #

Vancouver’s rapid rail system is called SkyTrain, and its newest line, the Canada Line, will take you from Vancouver International Airport to the Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront. Just find platform sign “Canada Line to Waterfront” and take that route to Waterfront Station. From Waterfront Station, the hotel is a 7-minute walk down West Hastings Street, or a 3-minute taxi ride. View these directions in Google Maps.

What will the weather be like? #

We can expect temperatures in the 40s and 50s fahrenheit/5-13 degrees celsius. Vancouver has rain about half the days in the month of October. You will probably want to bring rain gear or an umbrella, your favorite cardigan, and a jacket.

Where’s the nearest grocery store? #

Urban Fare in Coal Harbour
305 Bute Street
(604) 669-5831
http://www.urbanfare.com/home

Where can I rent a bike? #

Photo courtesy of Tourism Vancouver

There are 3 bike rental places at Denman and Alberni:

Spokes on the corner of Denman at the entrance to Stanley Park
1798 W. Georgia St.
(604) 688-5141
http://www.spokesbicyclerentals.com/

Yes Cycles 687 Denman St.
(604) 569-0088
http://yescycle.com/

Bayshore Bicycles 745 Denman Street
(604) 688-2453
http://www.bayshorebikerentals.ca/

Bike rental reviews on Yelp are here.

Accessibility #

The DLF is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. Please see the Code of Conduct for more information. We value your attendance and your comfort!

Vancouver has been called “the most accessible city in the world” (We’re Accessible, a newsletter for travelers with disabilities). Our conference hotel is equipped with accessible paths of travel and offers mobility accessible rooms and roll-in showers; for specific questions and concerns regarding the accessibility of the Pinnacle Hotel, please contact the hotel by phone at 1-844-337-3118 (toll-free from anywhere within North America). For more information on accessible travel and transportation within BC, visit: http://www.accesstotravel.gc.ca/1.aspx?lang=en.

We wish to remind attendees that refraining from using scented products will help ensure the comfort of everyone at the Forum.

How do I get to UBC to visit the Library, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum? #

If you take a bus it’ll take you about an hour and cost $2.75.

To get to UBC by transit:
Walk to Burrard Station and catch the westbound #44 UBC bus at Bay 1
UBC Library Branches and Hours: http://hours.library.ubc.ca/

To get to UBC by rental car: From downtown, take 4th, 10th or 16th Avenue west to UBC.

If you go to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC you must check out one of the current exhibitions, the award winning c̓əsnaʔəm, the city before the city: http://www.thecitybeforethecity.com. The exhibition is also featured at the Museum of Vancouver and the Musqueam Cultural Centre.

To get to MOA http://moa.ubc.ca/ by transit:
From UBC bus loop, catch either the C18 (faster) or C20 (scenic) campus shuttle to MOA, one of which leaves every 15 minutes.

Or walk north 10 minutes to NW Marine Drive. MOA is on the north side of the street (see on Google Maps).

To get to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum http://www.beatymuseum.ubc.ca/ by foot:

From UBC bus loop, walk west to East Mall, south along East Mall to Biological Sciences Road, then west to the museum entrance (see on Google Maps).

If you take a taxi it’ll take about 30 minutes and cost $30.

I have a cold! Where can I find a drug store? #

Shoppers Drug Mart 1202 West Pender Street
(604) 605-1200

London Drugs 1187 Robson Street
(604) 448-4819

Pharmasave 1747 Robson Street
(604) 669-6927

Is there urgent care nearby? #

Coal Harbour Health Centre
622 Bute Street
(604) 558-3313
Takes walk-ins

I need to wake up! Where can I get good coffee? #

Revolver Coffee 325 Cambie Street
http://revolvercoffee.ca

JJ Bean Marine 353 Burrard St.
http://jjbeancoffee.com/

Timbertrain Coffee Roasters 311 West Cordova Street
http://timbertraincoffeeroasters.com

Sciué Italian Bakery Caffé 1115 Melville St.
http://www.sciue.ca/

Matchstick Coffee Roasters 312 East Georgia Street
http://www.matchstickcoffee.com

Caffe Artigiano 1101 West Pender Street (many locations, but this is close to the conference venue)
http://www.caffeartigiano.com

What’s open late? #

Blenz Coffee _Open 24 hours!_401 Burrard Streethttp://blenz.com/
5-minute walk from hotel (& another 24-hour location at 708 Thurlow Street, 7-minute walk from hotel)

Breka Bakery & Cafe Open 24 hours!
812 Bute Street
http://www.breka.ca/
10-minute walk from hotel

Bubble World (bubble tea, coffee, and Taiwanese snack food)
_Open ’til 1am on the weekends, and midnight on weeknights
_1325 Robson Street
http://bubbleworld.ca
11-minute walk from hotel

Je veux une bière! Where’s the good beer? #

The many many many breweries are not that close to the hotel, but fortunately beer bars abound. Read about the breweries here.

And sample some of Vancouver and British Columbia’s beers at these fine establishments:

Alibi Room 157 Alexander St
http://www.alibi.ca/

Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar 601 W Cordova St
http://www.roguewetbar.com/

Malones Bar & Grill 608 W Pender St
http://malones.bc.ca/

Devil’s Elbow Ale and Smoke House 562 Beatty St
http://www.devilselbowalehouse.com/

Central City Red Racer Restaurant 871 Beatty Street
http://centralcitybrewpub.com/red-racer-restaurant-on-beatty-st/

Six Acres 203 Carrall St
http://sixacres.ca/

The Mill Marine Bistro & Bar 1199 W Cordova St
http://www.millbistro.ca/

Friends of Bill W. meetings in Vancouver! #

The Greater Vancouver Intergroup Society has a searchable directory of meetings here: [http://www.vancouveraa.ca/?page_id=115]http://www.vancouveraa.ca/?page_id=115). Don’t hesitate to send us any specific questions or concerns you might have, and we’ll do our very best to help you out.

Where can I catch a hockey game? #

The Vancouver Canucks host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, October 27, 2015; for information on tickets, visit tickets.canucks.com. If you’d like to take in the game from the comfort of a restaurant or bar, Yelp has a round-up of the top hockey-watching establishments in town.

Cupcakes vs. Donuts! #

The cupcakes are here…:

Mancakes 288 Robson Street
604.721.7868
http://mancakesbakery.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/mancakes-bakery-vancouver?osq=Best+Cupcakes

Sweet Bake Shop 1141 Mainland Street
604.424.8800
http://www.sweetbakeshop.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/sweet-bake-shop-vancouver?osq=Best+Cupcakes

…but the donuts are better:

Cartems Donuts downtown is good.
534 West Pender
778-708-0996
http://cartems.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/cartems-donuterie-vancouver-4

Lucky’s Donuts on Main Street and in Kitsilano is better.
Mount Pleasant Location 2902 Main Street
604.872.4901

Kitsilano Location
2198 West 4th Avenue
604.420.4901
http://www.luckysdoughnuts.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/luckys-doughnuts-vancouver-2?osq=lucky%27s+donuts

What’s the best ramen in Vancouver? #

Motomachi Shokudo
740 Denman St
(604) 609-0310

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
1690 Robson Street
(604) 681-8121

What’s the best happy hour in Vancouver? #

Best Happy Hour in Vancouver
http://30dayadventures.ca/5-of-the-best-happy-hours-in-vancouver/
http://fabulouslyfrugalinvancouver.com/oh-happy-happy-happy-hour/

Other things to do in Vancouver #

Neighbourhoods #

Vancouver’s Chinatown
http://www.vancouver-chinatown.com/

Gastown
http://www.gastown.org/

Yaletown
https://yaletowninfo.com/

Mount Pleasant
http://www.mountpleasantbia.com/

Kitsilano
http://www.kitsilano.ca/

Attractions #

Stanley Park
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/do/explore/stanley-park-complete-guide/

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden
http://vancouverchinesegarden.com/

Vancouver Public Library Central Branch
http://www.vpl.ca/branches/details/central_library

Vancouver Art Gallery
http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/

Science World http://www.scienceworld.ca/

VanDusen Botanical Garden
http://vandusengarden.org/

Grouse Mountain
https://www.grousemountain.com/

Lynn Canyon Park and Suspension Bridge (Less crowded than the Capilano Suspension Bridge and $30 cheaper–it’s free!)
http://lynncanyon.ca/

Queen Elizabeth Park http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/queen-elizabeth-park.aspx

Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour
http://vancouvertrolley.com/tours/seasonal/haunted-halloween

The more you know: #

In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1-for free from any phone, including cell phones and pay phones.

SkyTrain (Vancouver’s rapid transit rail system) stations have emergency telephones, and the trains themselves have yellow strips above each window that can be pressed to alert operators of a security hazard.

The Vancouver Rape Crisis Centre provides immediate and confidential support via a 24-hour crisis line: 604-255-6344 or toll free 1-877-392-7583.