[Vancouver] Italian Day on Commercial Drive | June 5th 2011

SFUVancouver · #1 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 7:09 AM**

Vancouverites filled Commercial Drive today for Italian Day; one of our city's biggest and best loved festivals, which this year occurred less than 24 hours after more than 70,000 people were in the streets downtown to celebrate the Canucks win in game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. It's been quite the weekend for street parties.

Commercial Drive is a neighbourhood of Vancouver that has historically been home to a large part of the city's Italian and Portuguese community. Over the years the demographics have blended to reflect the multicultural mosaic of the city at large, but it has retained its fierce cultural connection to the Old Country, its food, music, and especially its coffee.

For Italian Day the street is closed off to car traffic from Venables Street to 8th Avenue/Granview Hwy North, just a few steps from the Commercial - Broadway SkyTrain station. This 1.5 kilometre/1 mile stretch of shops, restaurants, and cafes gently climbs to a peak at 1st Avenue and then descends down to Venables Street. Merchants set up tables and chairs in the street, sell food and drink and their wares, concert stages are set up, and for the whole day everyone lives the good life. Enjoy my photos. (taken with a combination of cell phone camera and an actual camera)

Taken by SFUVancouver, June 5th 2011.

SFUVancouver · #2 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 7:33 AM**

Taken by SFUVancouver, June 5th 2011.

SFUVancouver · #3 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 7:34 AM**

Taken by SFUVancouver, June 5th 2011.

SFUVancouver · #4 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 7:35 AM**

Taken by SFUVancouver, June 5th 2011.

Taken by SFUVancouver, June 5th 2011.

And that's it! Thanks for looking at my photos.

giallo · #5 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 9:25 AM**

I love The Drive. It's always felt like the heart of Vancouver to me. I hope it never loses it's charm.....and food!

Coldrsx · #6 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 4:31 PM**

"It's always felt like the heart of Vancouver to me."

Concur.

One of, if not the best street in the City to chill out, eat, and drink on.

David · #7 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 5:36 PM**

I just moved to The Drive this past November, and I love it! I agree, it is the heart of Vancouver. I can't think of another place in Vancouver where you really see the diversity of the city so clearly and consistently. Case in point, I don't think there are very many Italians in these pictures from Italian Day

agrant · #8 Posted **Jun 6, 2011, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I just moved to The Drive this past November, and I love it! I agree, it is the heart of Vancouver. I can't think of another place in Vancouver where you really see the diversity of the city so clearly and consistently. Case in point, I don't think there are very many Italians in these pictures from Italian Day

Interesting you say that. I don't see our 1/3 Asian ratio. Not that it really matters.