Granville Island Market

Andy Lynes · March 5, 2005

That fishmonger is so very sad, and look and the butcher - so little to offer.
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The fishmongers stock was run down as it was early Saturday afternoon, but his stuff never looks fresh enough to me to be tempted to buy it. The "butcher" only sells bacon, eggs and cheese. I don't think there is even a proper butcher left in the market now.

Brighton and Hove is a small city, more a seaside town of 250,000 people, so it can't really be compared with Vancouver, but my God we can surely do better than that.

Foodie in Vancouver · March 5, 2005

I concur with Butter in terms of being grateful for what we have. As I noted earlier, I was at the Borough Street Market in London earlier this week and at the Portobello Road Market today. Neither offer anything close to parking that's for sure. The food quality at the BSM seemed to be quite good and I was practically in tears over finally finding a good coffee at the Monmouth Coffee stall. They don't have as many 'day vendors' as we do but certainly there is a lot of pride in local, sustainable type of product. And there is Neal's Yard Dairy.

But, the topic did ask us for our thoughts on the market - and to my mind, being able to get in and out of the Island would enhance it for me, as would not having to constantly try to manouevre around gawking tourists who don't spend a nickel.

But, I can assure you, I know I live in paradise and I am very, very grateful for that.

Daddy-A · March 5, 2005

Being close to some of the buskers there I really took offence to Kayaksoup's comment, "better buskers". I hope you didn't mean the ones I know. And what do you mean by "better" since it is for the most part free entertainment? I suggest you go to the lottery they must partake in every day at 10 a.m. to get spots and times so you can meet them and find out who they really are. I'm sure they would also like your suggestions on how to improve.

I don't know kayaksoup, but as someone who worked the Market for a number of years, I can say two things:

The buskers today are WAY better than they were 20 years ago
Any busker can be annoying if they are parked by your stall for an entire day.

We used to have the two Flamenco-guitar playing guys right by our stall (Longliner) avery Fri-Sun for an entire summer! If I hear "Guantanamera" one more time....!!! :angry:

Best time to see buskers on GI? During the Comedy Fest! Best free entertainment in the city IMO!

A.

jamiemaw · March 5, 2005

Reading this thread, I was compelled to visit the open Market here in Brighton, England. I was going to post something amusing along the lines of "hey, if you think you've got problems, you should see what we have to put up with!" But after this afternoon's visit I was just too disheartened. You can see my photos on this thread.
I visit markets wherever I go in the world, and while Granville can't match the likes of Les Halles in Lyon or some of the amazing markets I have visited in Malaysia, there's no question that its world class. Borough Market in London was mentioned earlier in this thread; well in my opinion it doesn't come close to Granville.
So there's one of two more tourists than you'd like and a bit more tat than might be ideal. Big deal. If you know of better places to shop, then all that says to me is that Vancouver is spilling over with great produce. Anyhow, what's the fun of being a local if you can't say "oh, don't go there, that's strictly for tourists."
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How very sad. And that fish looks like Yasser Arafat's death mask. Salmonella?

Andy Lynes · March 5, 2005

How very sad. And that fish looks like Yasser Arafat's death mask. Salmonella?
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Even worse, the market is less than three quarters of a mile from the sea.

Pam R · March 5, 2005

In November I visited Vancouver for the first time on a very short publicity trip for my cookbook. Having a short down-time between doing City-TV morning show (breakfast show?) and getting to a cooking demonstration and signing, by publicist was kind enough to take me to GI for a late-morning breakfast. So that means it would have been a weekday - mid-morning. (I assume this is where foodies are told to go when in Vancouver?)

My first thought was that GI is what the planners in our city could only hope for when they set up our own Forks Market. They took old train terminals by the forks of two rivers in downtown Winnipeg and renovated them, turning them into 'food' markets. When it first opened I suppose, people went there. There were a few produce people, a wine shop, bakers, some butchers (not kosher, so I don't really know what they offered), fish stores, candy makers, gift shops, florists, buskers, restaurants etc. They also had lots of food booths - highlighting some of our cultural foods (Winnipeg's claim to fame) in fast-food form.

It didn't take long for locals to stop going there. The huge, empty, free parking lots were soon taken over by tv stations, museums, hotels and theaters. Not bad things of course, but it took away the ease of going there. For those of you who have never been to Winnipeg, if people can't drive and park somewhere - they aren't going to go. We don't have a good public transportation system and it's not unheard of for groups of people to all take their own vehicles to meet somewhere.

Eventually things changed.. there was less local produce... and most times when I went, the stuff wasn't great. Food stores made way to more chatchkie (craft) stores. Now, the only time anybody I know goes there is if they have out-of-towners with them. It's the place to take tourists. Occasionally, you may be visiting one of the other places in the area, so you stop in because you're there.

I don't know if the stuff available went downhill because locals stopped going there and requesting good stuff, or if the products went downhill and then people stopped going there (chicken or egg?).

My very brief stop at GI made me wish again that our market could offer 1/2 of what was being offered there. I hope you locals continue to shop there and appreaciate what you have. (Prices in places like this will almost always be high because of rent/staffing costs - it's the price you have to pay for supporting local and fresh)

And please, don't be upset with the tourists (or ban them!!!) because I intend to visit again (and spend more time there) the next time I'm in Vancouver.

Sam Salmon · March 5, 2005

the accompanying heinous airbrushed wolf emblazoned sweatshirts

I wonder do any of you long time GI going folk remember when the Wolf People used to bring a real Wolf down on Saturdays?

It was in the mid 80's and there were protests across the country about the northern BC Wolf kill.This group would bring a live Wolf down with a bunch of his Husky dog brethren, the animals would lie in a heap just in front of La Patisserie and the group would hand out pamphlets.

A far cry from the waddling hordes who today buy an airbrushed Wolf head t-shirt to commemorate their visit to the wilderness of Stanley Park :raz:

Tat Indeed!

I agree about the Buskers as well-some of the worst excuses for entertainment ever are to be found on GI.Banning any electric amplification of sound would be a start.

As to local produce it's sad to see the paltry turnout for the GI Thursday Truck Market but I suppose that events like the Nat Bailey and Trout Creek Markets have thinned the talent pool.

In a way I suppose I am spoiled-having lived in Mexico with it's fabulous markets-Mercado Benito Juarez in Oaxaca city :wub: , the Saturday market in Patzcuaro :wub: , visiting beautiful Medellin in Colombia last year with is stunning setting and endless staggering variety of locally produced fruits, veggie and flowers :wub: does make what we have seem a tad anemic.

jamiemaw · March 5, 2005

Sam Salmon,Mar 5 2005, 01:01 PM]
In a way I suppose I am spoiled-having lived in Mexico with it's fabulous markets-Mercado Benito Juarez in Oaxaca city , the Saturday market in Patzcuaro , visiting beautiful Medellin in Colombia last year with is stunning setting and endless staggering variety of locally produced fruits, veggie and flowers does make what we have seem a tad anemic.

Did the locals mind that you were a tourist?

Edited March 5, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

stovetop · March 5, 2005

One of the main problems for produce in Vancouver that is for local non organic but sustainable or not heavy industrial farming that there is not central wholesale market like there is in Ontario. The whole produce is so controlled and comes through American lines, farming for local consumption is rather small, any big farms are going to export, so we export our food and import food to sell in our local markets.

Granville Island was never really a local farmers market, it has stores in it, and they were for lease, then people could rent booths, this is where local farmers and Artisans could sell their wares. Many businesses have come and gone in GI but a few old stalwarts still remain.

These days there is a lot of competition for produce and food products, Broadway, Main Street, South Granville, Commercial Drive, Victoria Drive, and Fraser Street.

All these areas are just as exciting and have many stores that sell bread, meat and produce.

So where would you go??

steve

rlibkind · March 6, 2005

PS--I hope that a few of our friends in other cities (see the excellent post from Philadelphia, above) who have visited Vancouver weigh in on their relative opinions--I think more parochial Vancouverites would be pleasantly surprised to more fully comprehend just how good we've got it.
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Thank you, Jamie, for educating me. Vancouverites it is!

Since you invite some further outlander thoughts, here goes.

The "tourist" issue is probably more acute at the Reading Terminal Market than GI. It's located under the convention center. (A bit of explanation. The RTM is a former outdoor "High Street" market which the Reading Railroad enticed to come indoors when it built its grand terminal in downtown Philadelphia more than a century ago. The market has, since 1892, occupied the space underneath the terminal's train shed. When the train system was rebuilt there was no more need for the terminal, but rather than tear it down, which was a real possibility, the terminal headhouse and trainshed was incorporated into the design of the new convention center.) There are probaby on the order of 1,000 hotel rooms within two blocks of the market.

So, whenever there's a convention in town, guess who descends on the RTM? (This week will be particularly bad, as the convention center hosts the annual Philadelphia Flower Show, the world's largest indoor such show, which draws a couple of hundred thousand visitors from the region and farther afield.) In addition, the market is only six blocks away from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, so from spring through fall the area is innundated with tourists.

The RTM copes well with this. First of all, it's large. I don't know the comparative square footages, but I'd guess the RTM is twice as big as GI. In addition, the market managers have strict rules about the type of busnesses they permit. Although a few vendors sell "tschokes", the market limits the number of non-food vendors as well as restaurants. There are certainly plenty stands to get a sandwich or slice of pizza of any number of other goodies for breakfast or lunch, but the market managers go out of their way to encourage and nurture purveyors of meat, fish, produce and other cook and/or eat-it-at-home food necessities.

I, too, stop by markets whenever I travel. My last trip to London, three years ago, included an early Saturday morning visit to Borough Market. Truly a wonderful place (and the bacon on bats are superb) but, last time I checked, it is only open Fridays and Saturdays. And while the quality of what is offered is top notch, the variety and depth could be considerably better, especially in the produce department. The meats, though, are hard to beat. GI gets a higher overall score in my book.

I think the answer to preserving and improving what we've got, both in Vancouver and Philadelphia, resides in putting our money where out mouth and stomachs are. The more people who shop for their weekly food needs at public markets, the more they will outnumber the tourists and encourage the vendors to serve our needs. Sure, you've got to overcome transportation issues (in Philadelphia, it's parking), and other impediments. But if we make the effort to take advantage of the offerings, perhaps the merchants will be encouraged to cater to our needs.

jamiemaw · March 6, 2005

PS--I hope that a few of our friends in other cities (see the excellent post from Philadelphia, above) who have visited Vancouver weigh in on their relative opinions--I think more parochial Vancouverites would be pleasantly surprised to more fully comprehend just how good we've got it.
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Thank you, Jamie, for educating me. Vancouverites it is!
Since you invite some further outlander thoughts, here goes.
The "tourist" issue is probably more acute at the Reading Terminal Market than GI. It's located under the convention center. (A bit of explanation. The RTM is a former outdoor "High Street" market which the Reading Railroad enticed to come indoors when it built its grand terminal in downtown Philadelphia more than a century ago. The market has, since 1892, occupied the space underneath the terminal's train shed. When the train system was rebuilt there was no more need for the terminal, but rather than tear it down, which was a real possibility, the terminal headhouse and trainshed was incorporated into the design of the new convention center.) There are probaby on the order of 1,000 hotel rooms within two blocks of the market.
I think the answer to preserving and improving what we've got, both in Vancouver and Philadelphia, resides in putting our money where out mouth and stomachs are. The more people who shop for their weekly food needs at public markets, the more they will outnumber the tourists and encourage the vendors to serve our needs. Sure, you've got to overcome transportation issues (in Philadelphia, it's parking), and other impediments. But if we make the effort to take advantage of the offerings, perhaps the merchants will be encouraged to cater to our needs.
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Thanks rblikind, the history of the Reading Terminal Market was very interesting. By the way, what's the name of the beautiful railroad terminal where we would have arrived from Lancaster?

I'm a fairly frequent visitor to your wonderful market; my business partners live in Philadelphia and I visit several times a year. Because I'm a Canadian loyalist, I'm forced to stay at the Four Seasons, but I generally make a beeline to the RTM for a pork sandwich and other treats to decorate the mini-fridge.

In addition to the market, one can't help but be impressed by the newly scrubbed city, rife with excellent restaurants and bars. Your city's architecture is also fascinating, and it's terrific to see so much activity coming back, especially after dark. I think it's really quite under-rated as a destination, although a visit to The Old Guardhouse on the Main Line reminded that Ike and Mamie food is still extant in the northern suburbs.

And just so you know, as I write this I'm looking at a photo of my fiancee and I wolfing down a Gino's cheesesteak. I also used Ralph's in South Philly as a set up for an article on red sauce joints. The premise was that I was on an Anti-Atkins Diet--pasta, beer and bread for six weeks. I lost one pound:

SOUTH PHILLY, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

A great Wise Guy meal in South Philly a few months ago is where my concept began—at the legendary Ralph’s, the 104-year-old home of red sauce and raffia bottles of nasty Chianti and swarthy chaps with bulges under their mohair suit jackets. Resting up for the big night, I dined lightly that day on but a single cheese steak at Gino’s. Then a brisk walk limbered up the dining organs and that night I loped up the stairs into Ralph’s. The waiters were suitably timeworn, raspy and rude, the clams casino excellent, the roast pepper and anchovy salad and platter of spaghetti and meatballs huge and hugely satisfying. This was the full-Bertuzzi of red sauce dining (we drank the very good local Yuengling beer), and right at centre ice, where it all began, in a packed-out dining hall of Atkins denialists just like me. And the good news is that the diet worked at Ralph’s: I left lighter, if only by about about 25 dollars.

The rest of the article is here

But I digress. As I said in an earlier post, I always start a city tour with a visit to its markets. It's a sure way to look iside a culture. And more than once I've found that a quality fishmonger knows a couple of quality fish restaurants. A vist to Granville Island, as well as to Old Chinatown, allows a fair bit of knowledge, pleasurably learned. So too in Philly, with a few hours spent walking around chatting with the vendors, especially during off peak hours.

And unlike what some of the more xenophobic remarks on this thread might suggest, they didn't seem to mind at all that I was a tourist.

Overall though, there have been some excellent suggestions on this as to how the market can be improved, with many thanks to you and Andy Lynes for the extra sets of eyes.

Jamie

Edited March 6, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

*Deborah* · March 6, 2005

By the way, what's the name of the beautiful railroad terminal where we would have arrived from Lancaster?

If it was beautiful, it must have been 30th Street Station (also a location in the movie Witness), a grand and glistening old-style station, all white stone...

jamiemaw · March 6, 2005

Thanks Deborah,

That's it! A very beutiful terminal, but where's Kelly McGillis? :biggrin: Come to think of it, it would make a mighty fine market!

Jamie

rlibkind · March 6, 2005

I generally make a beeline to the RTM for a pork sandwich...

That would be Tommy DiNic's. I hope you order that sandwich with greens and provolone!

And just so you know, as I write this I'm looking at a photo of my fiancee and I wolfing down a Gino's cheesesteak.

Who's got the best cheesesteak is a continual debate in these parts. I prefer Pat's to Gino's, and Jim's to both. And there are plenty of other contenders.

I also used Ralph's in South Philly as a set up for an article on red sauce joints. The premise was that I was on an Anti-Atkins Diet--pasta, beer and bread for six weeks. I lost one pound.

Funny piece! Alas, I don't even try to be on the anti-Atkins and put it on! Of course, I make a weekly stop at Sarcone's Bakery two doors away from Ralph's for the best Italian breads and rolls in Philadelphia

BTW, the railroad station is, indeed, as Deborah illustrates, 30th Street Station. Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and very similar in style, though larger in scope, to that same railroad's station in Newark NJ. There was an attempt to put a "food court" and market at the station with meat, fish and produce vendors as well. The "market" part of it was pretty much a bust. The food court, with its McDonald's, lives on.

This has gone way off topic (and I'm to blame for that), but I probably enjoy the food life of my fair city as much as all of you do yours. Places like Granville Island Market are among the things that make urban, and particularly downtown, living worthwhile. (Good art museums and restaurants don't hurt, either).

I was a bit surprised to read in one of the posts that a lot of the produce is imported. Given BC's mild clime, I would imagine there is lots of good local fruits and vegetables. And given the large Asian population, has an agricultural industry developed to supply that market. In southern New Jersey a number of Asian farmers (since imitated by other farmers) started about 20 or 30 years ago to grow produce that the oriental markets of NY, DC, Boston and other Eastern cities crave.

jamiemaw · March 6, 2005

rlibkind,Mar 5 2005, 11:43 PM]
I was a bit surprised to read in one of the posts that a lot of the produce is imported. Given BC's mild clime, I would imagine there is lots of good local fruits and vegetables. And given the large Asian population, has an agricultural industry developed to supply that market. In southern New Jersey a number of Asian farmers (since imitated by other farmers) started about 20 or 30 years ago to grow produce that the oriental markets of NY, DC, Boston and other Eastern cities crave.

British Columbia is very much a seasonal producer of fruits and vegetables, although there is a rapidly growing hydroponic-hothouse industry for tomatoes and peppers. And because of that seasonality, much of the produce from November to May is imported from the Salinas Valley, Mexico and Central America.

From late spring to October we have very good produce, much of it now organic. And we have certainly rediscovered the ocean; many local species such as octopus, mackeral and sardines enjoy currency again.

The Asian truck farmers that used to work the Fraser delta are less in evidence today; the reason, just as in many other jurisdictions, is that the next generation typically did not follow them into the business.

There are many dedicated souls out there though--here are a few.

So in the prime summer months, as you might expect produce switches locally, to the excellent tree fruits of the Okanagan, and a variety of fruits and vegetables from the Pemberton and Fraser Valleys. A lot of that shows up at Granville Island during that five month season. During the rest of the year, though, merchants have no choice but to sell imported or hothouse produce.

So there's market competition from lower-rent and -labour shops in midtown and Chinatown. But to some extent that is harmonizing as rents on West 4th and West Broadway are increasing rapidly, from the low $20 range psf to as much as the mid $30 range. That's got to hurt the price of a head of lettuce.

I continue to find Granville Island a positive and largely convenient shopping experience.

Edited March 6, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

Kayaksoup · March 6, 2005

Being close to some of the buskers there I really took offence to Kayaksoup's comment, "better buskers". I hope you didn't mean the ones I know. And what do you mean by "better" since it is for the most part free entertainment? I suggest you go to the lottery they must partake in every day at 10 a.m. to get spots and times so you can meet them and find out who they really are. I'm sure they would also like your suggestions on how to improve.
I don't know kayaksoup, but as someone who worked the Market for a number of years, I can say two things:
The buskers today are WAY better than they were 20 years ago
Any busker can be annoying if they are parked by your stall for an entire day.
We used to have the two Flamenco-guitar playing guys right by our stall (Longliner) avery Fri-Sun for an entire summer! If I hear "Guantanamera" one more time....!!!
Best time to see buskers on GI? During the Comedy Fest! Best free entertainment in the city IMO!
A.
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There are good buskers in the market. I even have a few favourites. But a little diversity (same guys, same sets, day in day out) would be nice. And I am sorry, if you think all the buskers we get are fabulous. I doubt that I am referring to your friends. There are buskers the market who have very little basic musical skill... Also, as DaddyA mentioned, its much worse when you have to listen to them all the time. :wacko:

I appreciate that it is free entertainment - except for the one who won't perform unless the kids "go get a loonie or toonie from mom & dad". So I can't be too picky. But that was my "wish list". And if I had my wish, we would have a bigger selection of buskers.

Edited March 6, 2005 by Kayaksoup (log)

Sam Salmon · March 6, 2005

Sam Salmon,Mar 5 2005, 01:01 PM]
In a way I suppose I am spoiled-having lived in Mexico with it's fabulous markets-Mercado Benito Juarez in Oaxaca city , the Saturday market in Patzcuaro , visiting beautiful Medellin in Colombia last year with is stunning setting and endless staggering variety of locally produced fruits, veggie and flowers does make what we have seem a tad anemic.
Did the locals mind that you were a tourist?
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In Benito Juarez I was the only tourist I ever saw and the vendors ignored me unless I adressed them directly-except in the food stalls.It's common to be hailed to try a certain trademark dishes-a good way to learn who's cooking what.

The Indian Market in Patzcuaro is a quiet orderly afffair all around with lots of space-very informal and few outside visitors.

In Medellin gringo tourists are rare as popes*** and apart from a few startled stares no one took any notice of me.

The only city produce market I've felt uncomfortable in was the Mercado Central in San Jose Costa Rica.

The 'waddling hordes' have invaded the place and now frosty stares, jostling, short changing and worse are rampant.

butter · March 6, 2005

[

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maxmillan · March 6, 2005

In my earlier comment I suggested banning casual cars. Maybe I ought to have said, only allowing casual cars outside the boundaries of GIM. I think it's fine for buses, handicaps, etc. to enter the market. I think the larger parking spaces should be used for more outdoor market stalls during the summer. Generally, parking seem to be the crux of the problem during the summer months. Competition between merchants can be minimized by the central board that reviews the businesses.

I can sympathize with those who have to carry heavy items a long distance. I think the suggestion of a free shuttle bus can be incorporated here. Shuttle buses can drop off and pickup near where the cars are parked. And they should only operate within the GIM so that frequency is not a problem.

I bought a collapsible two-wheel buggy for high volume shopping. They have them for $30 at London Drugs and can fold to the size of a briefcase. Great for GIM shopping.

From what I remember in my youth, the market in Brazil was in a central location and only pedestrians were allowed inside. Cars, taxis, buses, etc, parked and travelled the perimeter of this large market.

What I miss about these markets is being able to find merchants "outside" of the buildings such as the farmers markets. Of course this would be in the summer and if they had extended hours I'd go more often. Someone suggested free samples, and this can be done at the outside stalls, thereby dispersing and decreasing stop traffic in the market.

As a local and a tourist, I think it would be more pleasant walking the market without the high amount of vehicular fumes and presence.

This is quite the interesting thread. I'll see what my friend at GIM has to say about this.

jamiemaw · March 6, 2005

Sam Salmon,Mar 5 2005, 01:01 PM]
In a way I suppose I am spoiled-having lived in Mexico with it's fabulous markets-Mercado Benito Juarez in Oaxaca city , the Saturday market in Patzcuaro , visiting beautiful Medellin in Colombia last year with is stunning setting and endless staggering variety of locally produced fruits, veggie and flowers does make what we have seem a tad anemic.
Did the locals mind that you were a tourist?
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In Benito Juarez I was the only tourist I ever saw and the vendors ignored me unless I adressed them directly-except in the food stalls.It's common to be hailed to try a certain trademark dishes-a good way to learn who's cooking what.
The Indian Market in Patzcuaro is a quiet orderly afffair all around with lots of space-very informal and few outside visitors.
In Medellin gringo tourists are rare as popes*** and apart from a few startled stares no one took any notice of me.
The only city produce market I've felt uncomfortable in was the Mercado Central in San Jose Costa Rica.
The 'waddling hordes' have invaded the place and now frosty stares, jostling, short changing and worse are rampant.
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Perhaps different cultures handle their xenophobia differently. In some tourism destinations that are in the process of being discovered, that might look like:

Curiousity> Gratitude (for hard currency> Suspicion > Resentment (in the form of frosty stares, jostling, and short changing) - indicating dependence) > Worse

Fortunately, we live in a society that is relatively accepting of outsiders and generous in our hospitality. Around the world, societies become defined by their xenophobia or lack of it-- it becomes iconic and archetypal: the surly Parisienne waiter versus the gracious Thai hostess. British Columbia has been defined as being safe, friendly and good to look at.

Do I mind sharing it, even with people in bad track suits? Not in the least, because I believe that we are all tourists here.

jamiemaw · March 7, 2005

As an experiment today, I drove down to Granville Island, yes, on a Sunday, mid- afteroon.

There was a short wait going around the Granville Island Brewing corner. Time to park though was zero seconds.

I made my usual sorties: Mr. Lee's, magazine shop, Duso's, milk store, Stock Market, Longliner, La Baguette, Oyama and out the door. Elapsed time including a chat with old pals: about 25 minutes.

The 'entertainer' outside La Baguette was annoying. I asked the counterman if he ever felt like strangling his amped neck. "Yes," he allowed, "he is annoying but he does make a lot of money. Maybe the two go together."

transfattyacid · March 7, 2005

As an experiment today, I drove down to Granville Island, yes, on a Sunday, mid- afteroon.
There was a short wait going around the Granville Island Brewing corner. Time to park though was zero seconds.
I made my usual sorties: Mr. Lee's, magazine shop, Duso's, milk store, Stock Market, Longliner, La Baguette, Oyama and out the door. Elapsed time including a chat with old pals: about 25 minutes.
The 'entertainer' outside La Baguette was annoying. I asked the counterman if he ever felt like strangling his amped neck. "Yes," he allowed, "he is annoying but he does make a lot of money. Maybe the two go together."
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hi

me and the missis were down there today too . fish and chips at go fish , not bad .

we walked down from 4th ( we live locally ) the market was busy and the buskers out side the bakery shop were very bad indeed ( spanish guitar man and dude playing the weird flute things ) loads of `mericans lapping it up thou .

your coments ealier about the face lift are spot on the place does look a bit dated. the island should be a gem for vancouverites and tourists alike and there should be more of " best of BC " there ie , restaurants

the comments from people about the parking and queues to get on the island are valid , but i must say i either walk down there from kits beach or i hop on my scooter and nip in weave through the traffic , park where i like and get the hell outta there before the buskers rot my brain ,

i like the idea of making GI pedestrian and only allowing trade vehicles in . shuttle busess from an off island parking lot to the market would be good for the terrorists *cough* tourists .

but do you know what ? i kinda love the island ,( disclaimer* and i aint no hippy ) but i only go there for specail stuff around christmas or a treat or just a nice walk with the wife

Kayaksoup · March 7, 2005

Thanks to this thread, I stopped and really paid attention to the market yesterday. I know a lot of negative stuff has been said, but this is also highlighting the positives for me. Although the tourists are there, it seemed to me that the regulars were out in force yesterday. Granville Island has a real sense of community, something I will miss alot when I do finally leave. While on my lunch, a complete stranger tipped me off to a great recipe for lamb. :biggrin:

butter, I concur that the indoor talent is of a lower quality than the outdoor, although there are some indoor musicians that I really like. The annoying busker parked by my store for 3 hours yesterday does not rank on my good list, though.

Andy Lynes, thank you for sharing the images of that English market. I lived in England for four years. I was always in awe of our market in York - until I discovered Granville Island. It is sad to see the potential of places like that being wasted and wasting away.

Vancouver · March 7, 2005

This thread has inspired me to start a hunt for the other alternatives to GI for produce around the city. I've started a separate thread: Produce best bets

Any comments much appreciated! :smile: