The three of us (myself, my Significant Other and a friend of ours) are traveling to vancouver this coming weekend. While we already have our weekend planned for the most part, we are still looking for a place to unwind at on Friday night. We are looking for a nice lounge/bar/club, something trendy and hip, some place in the gay area (or just a predominantly gay lounge), where we can just enjoy a martini or two.
We will be going to Crush Champagne Lounge and Ginger and Shine, I guess we are looking to see what gay Vancouver has to offer in terms of cool swanky places.
We are staying at Four Seasons, so anything close to the hotel would be even better.
Any recommendations? Thanks

[This message has been edited by asnovici (edited 01-14-2003).]

Cool and swanky, huh?
Hmmm..... Vancouver gay scene... how about the Milk Bar at the Lotus Hotel - small venue and not sure how popular it is now that Creme is over (taken over by "Martini" or something like that). Wild Rice is funky restaurat nearby as well for dinner. Other than that, and the ones you have mentioned, not sure what else is cool and trendy - you could just go skanky and stop by Odyssey later or Numbers. Pumpjack is leather place nearby. Hope that helps.

Thank you, CP7

I will try the Milk Bar on Friday, as per your suggestion. What kind of food is Wild Rice? I actually couldn't find anything on "Wild Rice", but did find Wild Garlic...is that the same thing? Do I need reservations? I am also going to that tapas place, I think its called Bin 941 Parlor on Davie Street...


[This message has been edited by asnovici (edited 01-15-2003).]

The Oasis Pub reopened recently. I haven't been there since, but it was a nice place back when it was also a restaurant.

Of all places it's above a Denny's on Davie street, a mere block away from Bin 941 Tapas. Just walk west on Davie towards the gas stations, go one block further west to Thurlow where you'll find the Denny's and walk around the Denny's to the side entrance on Thurlow.

The block between Bin 941 and Oasis also has a small gay pub called the Fountainhead and a larger, somewhat earthy disco/bar called Numbers.

A block further west on Davie will take you to the Pumpjack, the bear/denim/leather bar with the collection of underwear hung over the rafters.

A block and a half east from Bin 941, and south on Howe street by half a block will take you to the Odyssey. It used to be dance club favouring the 20 somethings, but I'm a whole lot of years out of date on that - haven't been there since 93 or 94. Hmmm, coincidentally the year I turned 30.

Have fun and enjoy the city!

Cheers,

Mike

[Edited because my fingers go off in their own direction when I'm typing and complete unrelated words. Holy Cow, I have aphasics fingers. I also spell bad. Spell not smell. Although....nevermind.]

[This message has been edited by BuddyBoy (edited 01-16-2003).]

I never seem to know the exact answer to your question, asnovici, but I'll chime in again anyway. We like Yaletown best of the Vancouver neighborhoods, and really recommend Brix. The wine-bar has dozens of terrific wines available by the glass & the atmosphere is great fun. The restaurant features both yummy tapas and more-substantial entrees.

Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1138 Homer St.; (604) 915-9463. Tapas are a specialty, $6-$9; entrees $12-$16.

David

[This message has been edited by IndyDavid (edited 01-16-2003).]

David,

Actually, all your answers to my questions have been extremely helpful, and I appreciate your help always!

Wow, BuddyBoy, we will try to check out the places you recommended. We will also try brix per IndyDavid's recommendation...
BuddyBoy, thank you for such a great description of locations/places.

Sadly, unlike other major cities, adjectives such as "cool & swanky" or "trendy, chic" are hardly associated with anything gay in Vancouver. Crush, Ginger, and Shine do fit those adjectives, however, they are "mixed" at most.

BIN does serve some tasty tapas with very loud high-energy house music, but it's decor is borderline-back-alley-grunge-wannabe. Also, with barely 6 tables designed for maximum cramped seating for 2, the 1 hr+ wait (longer for Fri/Sat nights) for a table in their 'waiting area' (aka standing room alley in front of their washrooms) may hardly be worth it.

Wild Rice, however, is truly a miraculous (First Class) upgrade from BIN's 'cattle' class. Serving a fusion of pan-asian & fresh West Coast delicacies, in a Wallpaper-decor lounge atmosphere, it certainly lives up to it's WALLPAPER and ENROUTE magazine recommendations. With a long, beautiful back-lit bar, it serves up a long list of drinks to delight the chic/stylin' crowds.

Neither Wild Rice, nor BIN takes reservations, so arrive early or expect to wait. They close late.

Alternatively, a stroll through Yaletown can be very entertaining and productive. Just pop into any of the bars or restaurants (mixed crowded on the weekends) that you find amusing. However, many have started to stop serving early in that area (usually because for fear of disturbing their surrounding neighbours, but sometimes because the wait staff would rather opt to be 'off-duty' and mingle with their visiting friends at the bar).

For an exclusively gay time, you might want to check out, the new "Gorgeous" night at the VODA on Fridays. The club (straight during the week) is quite nice, but I haven't been to this event. Supposedly, they'll have a LIVE band.

On Sundays, there's "Twilight" at Luce...claiming that "one should dress fabulous and be glamorous". Another straight club, opting for a gay evening. Again, I haven't been, but it's $10 cover, snobby doormen, and quiet location on the outskirts of the business district has detered most gays.