[entheosfog]

The following are a some photos taken from Vancouver's trendy Main Street area in Mount Pleasant. Main Street is a major road that runs North South from Vancouver's rail yards near the water front in the North all the way down to Marine Drive in the South:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/map1.jpg?t=1201485325

The area of Main Street I focused on encompasses the more concentrated areas of shops, trendy stores and coffee shops, just a stones throw from the downtown core. Some major routes intersect with Main in my photo zone, such as Broadway, 12th Ave and Kingsway, which starts at Main and cuts diagonally across Vancouver's gridded streets all the way to Burnaby and beyond.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/map2.jpg?t=1201485571

The area of Main Street that is in this photo set is located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood::
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5733.jpg?t=1201482578

A hotel from another era. I'm sure this valuable land will be redeveloped someday soon:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5730.jpg?t=1201482637

Many old apartment blocks fill the streets of Main. Many are in pretty decent shape, too, like this one:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5731.jpg?t=1201482756

A look South up Main Street:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5732.jpg?t=1201482782

One of the few remaining XXX theatres in the city:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5734.jpg?t=1201482817

I love the name of this store. *Insert clever joke here*:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5735.jpg?t=1201482855

This is where Main Street intersects with Kingsway, which is a major road running diagonal to the standard grid of Vancouver. This creates many 'interesting' shaped parcels of land and pie-shaped lots such as this one:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5737.jpg?t=1201482911

There are a ton of antique stores along Main:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5738.jpg?t=1201483024

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5739.jpg?t=1201483066

New construction happening in the area:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5740.jpg?t=1201483087

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5741.jpg?t=1201483123

The Lee Building, which is located at the major intersection of Main & Broadway. Recently the owners fought to keep their rooftop billboard despite a Vancouver by-law that came in to effect banning all rooftop billboards. They lost the appeal so now the large ad space that generated over $8000 in annual revenues, sits empty:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5742.jpg?t=1201483146

Entrance to the Lee on Broadway. It's near impossible to get a clear shot during rush hour and that bus didn't feel like moving any time soon:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5746.jpg?t=1201483331

The alleyway behind the Lee, facing North:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5745.jpg?t=1201483402

A former bank across from the Lee:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5743.jpg?t=1201483460

Chutney should be this dog's name:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5744.jpg?t=1201483496

Some colourful retail along Main:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5747.jpg?t=1201483544

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5748.jpg?t=1201483580

Bingo anyone?
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5749.jpg?t=1201483603

I love the detailing on this old building and apparently so do these pigeons:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5750.jpg?t=1201483650

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5751.jpg?t=1201483702

Pinky Laundry - charming!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5752.jpg?t=1201483730

Heritage Hall...damn you power lines!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5753.jpg?t=1201483767

Another shot of Heritage Hall:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5754.jpg?t=1201483801

A colourful Hasty Market:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5755.jpg?t=1201483830

Parting shot:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5756.jpg?t=1201483865

Thanks for stopping by!

[giallo]

Brilliant tour. For me, Main is the heart of Vancouver. Yeah, it's been populated by hipsters in the last few years, but for the most part the people on Main are old school Vancouverites; hard drinking, hard living warm souls. They also have a huge love and respect for their street. The various shops, pubs and restaurants are all heavily supported by the locals.

Cool shot of the Fox Cinema. I didn't realize that it's the last 35mm adult movie theater in North America. The website is pretty budget, but I wouldn't expect anything more from this paradise of sleaze.

http://foxcinemavancouver.com/Fox%20and%20Film,%20History.html

[excel]

Great thread, thanks.

[raggedy13]

Awesome set of pics entheosfog. Main has some great old buildings and unique retail. I love the Lee Building and Heritage Hall. Thanks for the tour and commentary.

[vanman]

Nice tour. I've never explored Main st before. I never even knew heritage hall existed.

[Country]

Nice pics!

The Lee Building reminds me somewhat of the Canada Building in Saskatoon. But the Canada Bldg. is a tad more ornate and has 1 additional floor.

[Robynobotica]

Ahhh, my favourite neighbourhood!

The Vancouver Folk Fest holds its annual volunteer meeting every year in late May at the heritage hall - it's a beautiful retro building. They also have community events held there throughout the year. I know there's a comic book festival held there once in a while... worth checking out just to see the building.

And for some historical trivial - Kingsway is one of the oldest roads in Vancouver. It used to be called "Vancouver Road" and was built before there was any grid system in Vancouver. It used to be one of the first wagon trails between New Westminster and Vancouver before Vancouver was even a town. This was when New West was the old capital city of BC, back when BC was a British colony separate from the colony of Vancouver Island. This was also back when Vancouver was merely Hastings Mill - a logging mill on Burrard Inlet (present day Gastown/Downtown Eastside).

About Hasty Market - you can kind of see how there's white paint around the "H". Somebody a while back painted an "N" over the "H", making it Nasty Market. At night when the awning is lit up, you can still see the remnants of the "N" under the white paint. It's classic.

[Pinion]

I used to live on Main and 33rd back in 2003 or so. Still trying to work off the 40lbs or so I gained thanks to Duffin's.

Other than that I really didn't enjoy living there. Everything got stolen, repeatedly. But I suppose I wasn't quite in the trendy area.

[the dude]

ouch...you only try that once.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/wang.jpg

never seen this part of vancouver. looks like a great mix of people call this neighbourhood home. you don't get that impression with most of van city.

[MolsonExport]

Nice to see that much of the old-time grit of Main Street has not yet vanished. I remember it fondly from my Vancouver years (1994-1998).

[Buck]

Good to see a different side of the city. Thanks!

[LeftCoaster]

I love it... definetly my favourite neighbourhood in the city. looking to move there in the next few years.

[entheosfog]

Brilliant tour. For me, Main is the heart of Vancouver. Yeah, it's been populated by hipsters in the last few years, but for the most part the people on Main are old school Vancouverites; hard drinking, hard living warm souls. They also have a huge love and respect for their street. The various shops, pubs and restaurants are all heavily supported by the locals.

Cool shot of the Fox Cinema. I didn't realize that it's the last 35mm adult movie theater in North America. The website is pretty budget, but I wouldn't expect anything more from this paradise of sleaze.

http://foxcinemavancouver.com/Fox%20and%20Film,%20History.html

Wow, thanks for the link and info! That's crazy!

[entheosfog]

Thanks for all the comments everyone :)

[smArTaLlone]

Nice tour!

[Jimby]

Interesting tour!

[entheosfog]

:previous: thanks and thanks!!

[skyscraper_1]

It has a similar vibe to Quinpool in Halifax except Main has some great old stone buildings. "Guys and Dolls billiards" makes me giggle.

[Swinefeld]

That Heritage Hall is a beauty. Nice tour.

[Jularc]

Main street is cool. :cool:

[Hot Rod]

very way cool indeed

[entheosfog]

very way cool indeed

Thank you!

[denveraztec]

Heritage Hall is a gem! Very cool. Thanks for the post.

[someone123]

It's a funny area. Of course there's the picture of Wang On Blinds, something I pass by when biking across the city. I also have friends who talk about Duffin's, not so much because of the amazing food but because of the weird variety and the fact that it's open late (or 24 hrs?).

As for the comparison with Quinpool, having been to both places they never really reminded me of each other. I think Commercial Drive is more like Quinpool than this stretch of Main, but Quinpool is quieter, more sparse looking, and a little less rough (though Commercial Dr is not that rough anymore).

[entheosfog]

It's a funny area. Of course there's the picture of Wang On Blinds, something I pass by when biking across the city. I also have friends who talk about Duffin's, not so much because of the amazing food but because of the weird variety and the fact that it's open late (or 24 hrs?).


I love all the 'ecclectic-ness' that makes Main Street what it is.

[Architype]

I am pretty familiar with the area, and you covered it nicely. Some other parts of Main are interesting too, though a lot different.

[Coldrsx]

Main is one of the last "untouched" major roads in van and i love it for being that.....

Commercial is where i would want to live but main sure is wicked

[10101000]

Thanks

[entheosfog]

I am pretty familiar with the area, and you covered it nicely. Some other parts of Main are interesting too, though a lot different.

Thanks! There's so much to all of Main, maybe another photo thread would have to be in order ;)