| Wanderful is an ongoing feature where each week I throw a hypothetical dart at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»map and travel there – by foot or by transit, and attempt to capture some of the cool and interesting small details that make that particular neighborhood unique and special. From sidewalks to back alleys, gardens to graffiti, I’ll become a wandering tourist in my own backyard. Armed with only a camera and very little natural sense of direction, it’s an journey of modest proportions, and an opportunity to see more of what makes this city AWESOME! |
The last few days of unexpected downpours and windstorms have brought the coldish weather in, but rather than hole up in our apartments sobbing we should celebrate the return of all things pumpkin: lattes, ale and pie, and enjoy opportunities for new scarf shopping, and the sound of leaves crunching underfoot (when they aren't being drowned in puddles). These are the things we must do to console ourselves when the inevitability of change is upon us; that, and revel in the puffy clouds once the sky clears.
South Granville is my neighbourhood. I moved here almost 10 years ago to attend Emily Carr and just never left, despite changing apartments 3 times. It feels like it has changed substantially over the last little while in particular, but perhaps those changes are in me as much as the landscape. There are things that I have always loved about living here; I think that it is hands-down one of the best streets in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»to window shop (or regular shop, if that is your preference). Block after block, it is a mass collection of art galleries, antique stores and niche boutiques with lavish display windows. I feel somewhat removed from my neighbourhood at times; it can feel a bit hard to relate at this financial stage in my life. (Although in all likelihood, once my dream of winning the lottery is realized, I'm sure I’ll feel differently). Until then, I’m happy strolling the strip with a coffee in hand, perusing windows of sweater-clad mannequins, racks of designer winter boots, stores full of nothing but stacks of lush Persian rugs... and more crystal adorned chandeliers than you could shake a stick at.
But with every season and every neighbourhood, there are reminders of changes happening...
Some things feel sentimental, like the iconic Stanley Theatre (it's sign is a remarkable piece of art in itself), the cute little Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Public Library Firehall branch, Oscar's Art & Design Bookstore, the Ouisi Bistro (which in my opinion is the best weekend brunch in town), and the distinctive intersecting transit cable skyline at Broadway & Granville... to name a few.
The longer I do Wanderful, the more fascinating I think it is to notice the subtle (or at times, not-at-all subtle) differences from one place in our city to the next. This neighbourhood is undeniably lovely, but in ways unique from most other areas I’ve explored for the purpose of this project. The canopied tree-lined streets are quiet and safe, and overall it's quite a bit more commercially polished & refined. I don't love my area any less after all these weeks spent wandering, but I certainly appreciate the diversity in other parts of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»a lot more. It’s made me think about how maybe getting older means that sometimes you outgrow yourself without even realizing it; and how easy that is to miss if you don’t step out of your comfort zone and explore a little bit to find out.
