The Sam Kee Building

The Sam Kee building on the corner of Carroll and Pender hold the Guinness book of Record as the shallowest building in the world. 

It wasn’t intentional, as the Sam Kee Company purchased a standard-sized lot in 1903 for future use. In 1912 Vancouver widened Pender Street and expropriated 24 feet or 7.3m of the above ground portion of the property. 

The neighbouring property offered to buy the narrow lot and expand on theirs, but See Kee declined. Involving architects, a steel framed building was designed to fit the property and maximizing all possible space.

The depth of the ground floor of the building measured 4’11” o 1.50m  was the store front. The top floor had more space with bay windows bringing the living space to 6ft or 1.83m.

The basement was the largest, extending beneath the sidewalk and originally housed public baths.

Vancouvers China Town

As a long time resident of Vancouver, one of my favourite places is China town. I have seen a change over the last 37 years. From the small mum and pop stores to close down building renovated and making room for the more modern and trendy shops. 

The small shops have closed down and replaced by the larger Dollar stores. An ageing generation who have educated their children to be successful and who do not want to take over their parents dated business. 

The real estate value remains high and there is a renewed interest to live and work in the heart of the city. 

Impressive architecture remains and some of the shops have been gutted to show their bones of brick and mortar. Exposed beams and wood ceilings showed the past, when wood was plentiful and now sought after.

Some buildings remain isolated in their location and might now see the expansion they had hoped for in the past.

There are some buildings which property value exceeds the intrinsic value of the building and cranes are looming, like vultures, in the background.

Weird & Wonderful Main Street

A Walk Down Main Street

There is hidden art in this section of tree-lined Main Steet. Beautifully designed with its cast iron framework at the base of the trees depicting our wildlife. It doesn't stop there and reinvents itself with each block.

Artistic ideas for the garden

Further down the street is an art expression area for adults. The area is designed to bring out the artist, the Picasso or just the inner child who longs to play with paints. Large canvases are provided with lots of colours to brush on, throw around or just splash. 

No lessons required.

In a Pub close by art takes on an alien form with fun creations and other similar objects suspended from the ceiling. Reruns of Star Trek can be watched instead of your cell phone.

moving towards a more eccentric and disturbing shop with skeletons and creatures of all kinds

                                                                                     to just plain creepy

                              

including a taste for bizarre snacks

More happy and encouraging art found in a nearby store 

There are weddings with limo and photographer to record the event.

plus a classic Motel that has been around forever.

New style barbers come with a variety of tattoos,

and an older forms of art remaining.

A Magnificent Day in Vancouver

It was a fabulous day in Vancouver as the temperature reached 31 C. 

The tide was low and I decided to join a few walkers for a stroll on the ocean floor. We made our way through Pacific Spirit Park to get to Spanish Banks and Jericho  Beach,

The first European explorers in the Straight of Georgia were the Spaniards Juan Carrasco and Jose Maria Narváez who sighted the area in 1791.

The Spanish Banks named in commemoration of the meeting of the English under George Vancouver and the Spanish under Galliano and Valdés in June 1792.

Galliano's charts show the banks in 1792 as well as 1795. The Hudson Bay Company came to call the area Spanish Banks for that reason.

Jericho Beach is close to Kitsilano and the name derived from a logging camp called Jerry and Co.

Not far from the downtown area of Vancouver are the beaches. 

Remote in a sense but also with it comes tranquillity, a big sky and mountains to complete this picture. 

The rest we can capture on camera.

A place to relax, unhurried.

Among the peace and quiet, is a place for everyone, calm and serene. 

There is a place for families, walkers, sun worshipers and then there are the dogs.

The dogs love the ocean and its gentle waves, and it doesn't impede in retrieving their sticks. After a good wash down getting rid of the oceans smell as well as salt, they are ready to go home for a nap.

It has been a magnificent day in Vancouver.

The Second Time Around

A Walk Down Main Street

Most likely these stores have always been on Main Street but with a changing venue and window display, not noticeable.

 Far away from the saris and the glitz, are the now trendy Bohemian Style Clothing.

Not a great fan of collectables.

Vintage clothing is plentiful and so are the shops that store them. 

No wardrobe complete without a pair of leopard skin stilettos.

A treasure hunter delight finding that perfect item to take home.

 

Little Punjab

A Walk Down Main Street

I love design, textiles, colour, sitting behind my sewing machine and putting it all together. One of my favourite sources was ”Little Punjab" on Main Street Vancouver.

Fascinated with their fabrics, so different from our traditional European imports. The saris are exquisite with the most elaborate colour combinations.  

Witnessing a slow change over the last 30 years, but lately, there has been a more significant one.

Gone are the eating establishments, clothing stores, imports from India, brass, bangles, pots and pans. A few remaining jewellery store remain and are surrounded by redevelopment signs.

Missing are the locals who once browsed the shops in their tradition clothes, chatted outside the shop or had a cup of tea.

The real estate value in the surrounding area has soared with an average family home now exceeding $2,500,000. The rent has become unaffordable for smaller merchants and shops have moved over to Surrey with its large Indian population and more affordable rent.