PlanetEye

If you are hanging out in the neighborhood of Burnaby Heights, and are craving indian food- you do not have to make the trek to Surrey or Main St (in Vancouver), there is a perfectly delightful restaurant right there.

Located next to the uber-popular Anton's (you can easily find it-because the line up is about 1/2 a block long), Bombay Bhel serves delicious fare (and I guarantee that you won't wait nearly as long as you would for your so-so bowl of pasta from their next door neighbor).

I have been several times, and I have never been disappointed.  If you are a bit on the timid side, order their butter chicken- its delicious.  I try to order something different every time I go.  My current favorite is all about the eggplant (stupid me forgot to write down the dish), but anything with eggplant is to die for!

Of course, this wouldn't be a Planet Eye Vancouver review if I didn't mention the bar.  The pomegranate martinis are a must try.  Not going to tell you anything about them, you will have to discover the yumminess for yourself.  But try one, or several - just make sure you have a safe way home.

Make sure you finish off your meal with some chai tea.  It's very authentic.

Oh, and they also do take out. 

Every region in the lower mainland will lay a best pizza place claim.  If you live in the suburbs you will get your pizza from a reputable chain like Me-N-Eds or Boston Pizza.  If you live in Kitsilano -you probably get your pizza from Rocky Mountain Flatbread Pizza (for good reason-its yummy and different).

However, if you live or frequent the Kerrisdale area, there is a smallish pizza place called George's.  This pizza is not to be passed up.  My personal favorite is the Napolean (try it out, once the tomato ban has been lifted).  it consists of tomatoes, feta, and capers.  In my opinion its the best thing they offer.

 The decor is dated, think back to the early or mid -80s.  But who cares what the decor looks like when the pizza is so fantastic.  If you like a thick crusted pie, then this is the place for you.

On weekends, a little jazz combo plays in the evenings. 

You are visiting Vancouver, and realized that it rains almost everyday.  OK that is technically not true.  But at certain times of the year, it certainly feels like it.  Like right now, for instance.  It feels like March and not almost the middle of June.

You can pick up umbrellas at practically every corner.  Even at 7-11, you can find an umbrella, for under $10.  However, chances are that it will not last the afternoon let alone your vacation.

But, if you want an umbrella that comes with a guarantee for life, then you should visit The Umbrella Shop.  Not only are they the sturdiest umbrellas that you can find in the city, but they are sooo cute.  

Check out the many different kinds at www.theumbrellashop.com

And if you find a black one, with the cityscape printed in beige, you will have just come across my favorite.

 As long as you have one of these umbrellas, you will want it to keep on raining. 

Baskin and Robbins 52 flavors has nothing on La Casa Gelato, which has 218 flavorsof ice cream ready for you to taste.  Yes thats right, I said 218!  But they actually have upwards of 500 flavors in their facility.

Can you imagine having that much delicious ice cream at your disposal?  I don't know about you, but I am glad that the summer weather has finally arrived in Vancouver, so I can start sampling the delicious concoctions that La Casa makes.

Flavors such as dandelion, wasabi-green apple, asparagus, pear and gorgonzola - are all waiting for you to try.  Bet your mouth is watering right now.

This place is definitely not for the weak or generic ice cream taster.  If vanilla is your favorite, you will probably have some experience some form of sensory overload.  So I suggest all you vanilla heads stay home, and let the more adventurous ones enjoy this treat.  Vanilla equals killjoy.

I am headed over there this afternoon, maybe I will run into you. 

When you think of British Columbia, what comes to mind. Nature, lush greenery, rich culture, mountains, rushing rivers, grand adventures to be found at every turn, perhaps.  The Capilano Suspension Bridge encompasses all of that.

The bridge is 450 ft long, and swings 230 ft high over the Capilano River.  There are loads of things to do in this park.  Besides the main attraction of the suspension bridge, you can participate in some of the following activities.

*Treetop Advenures including a Cliffhanger Walk

* The Living Forest Exhibit (which of course in interactive)

*West Coast Rain Forest

*Guided Eco Tours

*Take your camera to the Totem Park

*Demonstrations from First Nations artists

*Spending your hard earned cash at the Trading Post gift shop.

 Do not forget to bring your camera.  It would be very hard to find a more beautiful setting in Canada.   

Starting tomorrow (May 29th) one of Vancouver's most fun and cultural festivals will have its opening night.  It's Bard on the Beach.  Four Shakespearean plays will be having its turn under the big tents in Vanier Park.

This year the plays being staged are: The Tempest, King Lear, Twelfth Night, and Titus Andronicus.

 The productions are interesting and innovative.  For instance, Twelfth Night is staged during the 1920's.  Think "old hollywood" style.

It will be an interesting, educational, and fun (only if you see the comedies) summer when you go see a Bard on the Beach production. 

For more information (like where to get tickets) go to www.bardonthebeach.com 

I spent a great portion of the early afternoon, looking for a coffee bar that had free wireless.  I didn't look too too long.  I had started out with a plan of where I was going to end up - but from where I started walking to my final destination, was about 12 blocks.  I must have passed at least eight different coffee houses.  Almost all of them had huge line ups, and completely packed seating areas.  

I understand that it is Mother's Day today, but seriously.... line ups that go out the door, and down the block - is a little ridiculous, when there are tons of other great places to have coffee in this city.

 When I finally got to my original destination, The Paradise Cafe, not only were there no line ups, the patrons were having a grand old time.  There are large television screens up, on every corner, and you could choose to watch the baseball game, or the hockey game.  Since we are in Vancouver (a hockey town) - the hockey game was the one with the volume turned up.

The Paradise Cafe is very much a family place.  The patrons are obviously regulars, and definitely feel like they are "at home".  I love that a coffee place has regulars - it makes me feel good when I enter a place.  I also love that the owner/mgr recognized me, and it was the only the 3rd time that I had been - the last time being over a month ago.  Says something - and not that they don't do any business, because, I have walked past that place many times when it was packed....especially on game night, when Vancouver was actually playing real hockey.

Their espresso, is rich and thick - just like how espresso is supposed to taste  - and the double chocolate biscotti is to die for....and so is the chocolate gelato (at least that is what I overhead).