VC09 - Gastown / Chinatown

Charcuterie took off here a few years back with Salt — still a stellar spot for after-work and late-night drinks. Then came So.Cial Custom Butcher Shop & Deli, where house-made charcuterie on focaccia earns or vote for the best sandwich in town. Latest: The Greedy Pig, a friendly joint serving local artisan meats (lots of whole-animal butchery) and new-classic cocktails by bartender-about-town Nick Devine. Salt Tasting Room: 45 Blood Alley, 604-633-1912. So.Cial: 332 Water St., 604-669-4488. Greedy Pig: 307 W. Cordova St., 604-669-4991.

Bless the duo behind (212) for a store full of stylish, sexy clothes that are actually affordable. Lots of urban labels, like Sunday Sun for boys and Mink Pink for girls, but the minimalist house line is reason enough for a look-see. 454 W. Cordova St., 604-685-2426.

Find Erin Templeton’s gorgeous leather belts, strappy flip-flops, and signature hand-knotted bags at her Chinatown atelier. 511 Carrall St., 604-682-2451.

Obakki is a West Coast clothing collective overseen by Treana Peake (wife of Nickelback guitarist Ryan Peake) and showcased in a stunning retail space — all concrete, exposed brick, and wood. The clothing is manufactured locally and is distinguished by its muted colour palette and beautiful draping. 44 Water St., 604-669-9727.

Score reproductions of modern furniture like Saarinen dining chairs and Noguchi tables, at neighbouring stores Koolhaus and Nood. (We like Koolhaus for massive statement mirrors and sleek patio furniture, and Nood for well-priced tableware and luggage — love the Whistler Weekend bag.) Koolhaus: 1 Water St., 604-875-9004. Nood: 151 Water St., 604-684-9008.

Those seeking authentic Eames, Platner, Aalto, et al. should proceed directly to Inform Interiors. Owner Niels Bendtsen’s locally manufactured furniture line, Bensen, holds its own, with modern lines and incredible construction. 50 and 97 Water St., 604-682-3868.

Keefer Street transforms into the lively Chinatown Night Market every summer weekend, complete with flea-market finds, entertainment — be it Canto-pop or traditional Chinese opera — and flavourful street eats. Vancouver’s cheapest night out. 6:30 to 11 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May 15 to September 6. 604-682-8998.

The stark loft conversions in this neighbourhood are well served by Provide, a lifestyle store carrying striking home accessories like Dwell Studio table linens and Rina Menardi vases, plus artwork by local designer Martha Sturdy and David Keeler, the store’s co-owner. 529 Beatty St., 604-632-0095.

Start with weekend brunch at Café Medina, where Belgian waffles, topped with fig/orange marmalade or pistachio/white chocolate, are specialties — and a deal at $4 and change. 556 Beatty St., 604-339-9395.

Planet Claire stocks sustainably and ethically produced clothing and accessories, and many pieces are one-of-a-kind. Look for hand-printed LiliKoi dresses and Re-Surface’s bold light fixtures, inspired by Brooklyn graffiti. 212 Abbott St., 778-829-9275.

John Fluevog is perhaps Vancouver’s best-known designer, with his incredibly detailed shoes, sandals, and boots — many bearing his trademark chunky hourglass-shaped heel. 65 Water St., 604-688-6228.

Look skyward for the neighbourhood’s new landmark: the red-steel-latticed W Building. Part of the Woodward’s redevelopment, the new tower references the flat-iron building in New York and the mansard-roofed Dominion Building at Cambie and Hastings. 100 W. Hastings St., between Cambie and Abbott.

An oasis in the inner city, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is designed in the Ming Dynasty tradition, all winding pathways, waterways teeming with koi fish, and lush stands of bamboo and flowering plants like rhododendron — visit in May, when they’re starting to bloom. 578 Carrall St., 604-662-3207.

STATISTICS

Average age - 47
Residents per block - 232
Percentage of renters - 93
Median household income - 31,733
Typical household - Singles

REAL ESTATE MARKET PLACE

#501-28 Powell St.
$449,900
{Maintenance Fee} $241
{Specs} 810 sq. ft. 1-bed loft overlooking Gassy Jack Square. Ten-foot ceilings, maple hardwood floors, and private rooftop deck