Quote:
Originally Posted by SpongeG
Vancouver is "scene" driven always has been and seems it always will be - unless you know what you like you probably can't find it
I know i used to go out 5 nights a week or more back in the day and would see the same people night after bight - the venues changed but the people didn't change too much
i've met tourists who get puzzled - they say i was here last night and had the most amazing time so i came again tonight and its dead - which is common - go to the proper club and you will get that great night again you just have to know where to go what scene to follow
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There are 2 types of nightlife: you either get drunk off your ass or are part of a scene.
The problem with Vancouver nightlife is that it is dominated by thug-ism. So people who go out to get drunk off their ass have to contend with the rather large number of people who can't handle getting drunk off their ass. If you are trying to go out to have a good time, you need to be careful in this city, there are a surprising number of people who seem to be continually upset, even when in bars. I can't remember the last time I went to a bar when no one was kicked out.
Heck, even at festivals: I was at Surrey's fusion fest for all of 3 minutes before I saw a fight. At least it was the only one I saw over my next 3 hours there and I had a great time, but still, that stuff should not happen at all.
You also have to contend with the macho-ism and endless number of people trying to hookup. If this is what nightlife is to you, then Vancouver is actually pretty good. There are a lot of bars, all pretty similar once you're inside, that are full of drunk people yelling over the loud music. Usually they are all so full you have to stand all night.
To escape this, Vancouver has Scenes. A particular promoter will set up/be part of a scene and will rent out a usually dead venue for 1 night a week, and they will do this 3 times a week at different places. You then go to these clubs and see the same people, but it's your scene so it's a lot more comfortable, and avoids a lot of the issues of normal Vancouver nightlife. You see the same people, get the same DJ's, listen to the music you like, and everyone is as good/bad a dancer as you. Then people start to notice, and the scene gets invaded by people looking for hookups or to get drunk off their ass. So the promoter changes venues. You have to follow closely to know where to go.
If you are in neither of those groups, and just want a hang out, drink a beer, have a meal, shoot some pool, then I agree, Vancouver is sorely lacking. There are not enough casual pubs downtown for the population. And a lot of places that are pubs by day turn into dance clubs at night.
There are a lot of amazing restaurants, so tourists and locals are not lacking in the dinning category. But if you don't want a fine dinning experience and just want a pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos, and a decent live band, there aren't that many places.
But is that because we don't try, or because when we do try, they fail? Maybe Vancouver's nightlife is exactly what it both wants and deserves.