In fairness, the Gazette has now been covering francophone Québécois popular culture for at least 20 years. Maybe more. I don't think there is an anglophone media outlet anywhere in the country that does this. Francophone culture is still treated by all of the others (as it used to be by the Gazette too) as if it is an "ethnic fringe" culture, unworthy of any real, mainstream interest.
The Gazette's main guy on this beat, Brendan Kelly, is actually something of an authority on Québécois pop culture, and as a result appears regularly in the francophone media. In spite of his very thick (for an anglo of his generation - assuming he's from Montreal) accent in French.
I think pop-up patios are a good workaround, but they still reveal two huge flaws in Canadian urbanism:
1) That we have archaic liquor laws where you have to drink behind a tall fence;
2) That we dedicate too much public space to the car.
100% agree, especially space to parked cars which are the least efficient form of street furniture.
In regards to 1), I wonder if this is something that will ever change. IMO, the single worst aspect of living in Canada. Let people drink where they want and free up the police to deal with actual crime in the process.
I think pop-up patios are a good workaround, but they still reveal two huge flaws in Canadian urbanism:
1) That we have archaic liquor laws where you have to drink behind a tall fence;
2) That we dedicate too much public space to the car.
Popup patios are one of those planning clichés that basically benefit the business beside it (usually a coffe shop) at the expense of others who lose a customer amenity (aka street parking). In Vancouver they're also useless about half the year.
I think pop-up patios are a good workaround, but they still reveal two huge flaws in Canadian urbanism:
1) That we have archaic liquor laws where you have to drink behind a tall fence;
2) That we dedicate too much public space to the car.
Is the archaic laws even applicable in the instance? I've sat in cafe patios within the public boulevards in many places. They all are, to varying degrees, confined spaces.
Popup patios are one of those planning clichés that basically benefit the business beside it (usually a coffe shop) at the expense of others who lose a customer amenity (aka street parking). In Vancouver they're also useless about half the year.
Do they leave them year-round in Vancouver? The ones in Edmonton are packed up for winter.
Speaking of urban renaissance in Hamilton, I was quite impressed with King William St when I was there the other weekend. The Templar building fits in well and there are a bunch of new restaurants that seem quite nice. Had a drink at a promising new brewpub that was having their soft opening that day.
Popup patios are one of those planning clichés that basically benefit the business beside it (usually a coffe shop) at the expense of others who lose a customer amenity (aka street parking). In Vancouver they're also useless about half the year.
I presume the income the city generates for the pop up patio on their property is a lot more than the parking revenue for that spot. It's definitely not just about being hip and urban minded.
Popup patios are one of those planning clichés that basically benefit the business beside it (usually a coffe shop) at the expense of others who lose a customer amenity (aka street parking). In Vancouver they're also useless about half the year.
I don't know, the second parklet in New Westminster has people in it year-round. Except when we had all that snow in December though.
I've seen pop-up patios on Jasper Ave in Edmonton, where they've become more-or-less permanent installations. OTOH, the ones that show up in Calgary (there is a particular space in Inglewood that I'm thinking of) tend to be only for a day or two.
Not that I particularly mind street parking. I'd certainly prefer a road heavily packed with parked cars over empty lanes.
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"The only thing that gets me through our winters is the knowledge that they're the only thing keeping us free of giant ass spiders." -MonkeyRonin
Former long closed BMO pavilion is now fully occupied by McMaster University. The building was probably abandon for close to 15 years and it was right in the heart of downtown Hamilton, King and James.
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