They scooped me again! I was going to blog about this:

‘Yours Truly,’ the E-Variations

There is such an east coast/west coast difference with the sign offs that the journalist didn't even address. East Coast is "Best" everyone, all the time. And West Coast is "Thanks!" (notice the exclamation!) "Best" is so icky and unfriendly. "Thanks!" is so happy and encouraging. Yet those adjectives aren't how I would describe the people on the east vs west coasts.

The article didn't even mention "Thanks!"!

So to the journalist, I say, Best.

Stay:
Times Square Suites
http://www.timessquaresuites.com/
These are clean, large apartments right in the thick of things. They are also cheaper than a hotel and come with a full kitchen, a balcony, windows that open, total quiet and privacy, more tvs than you will know what to do with, and a washer/dryer in case you need one.

Eat:
Bin 941 – very festive and tiny tapas restaurant
http://www.bin941.com
One of my favorite restaurants ever, anywhere. They have two locations and we've only been to the Davie St. one. Kobe beef, mussels, asparagus and Navajo flat bread are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. No reservations, and always a long wait. Put your name down and grab a drink someplace nearby while you wait.

Alibi Room – Fusion-y food, and good for dancing.
http://www.alibi.ca/
This is the original Alibi. The other one is one of the coolest places in Seattle.

Tsunami Sushi – melt in your mouth sushi
http://www.vancouverplus.ca/portal/profile.do?profileID=383176
Perfect for lunch, and right on Robson Street.

Sun Sui Wah – Fab Chinese, perfect for dim sum
http://www.sunsuiwah.com/e-about-1.html
Outside Vancouver, on your way back home. And better than anything you've ever had.

Crime Lab – general fusion-y
http://www.greatestescapes.com/index.php?revid=72&issue=2000-10-01
The food is pretty good, but the drinks are amazing. The restaurant stands where a forensics lab used to be, so all the drinks are named after strange diseases and ways in which people die.

Yale Town Brewery – bar food
http://www.nwbrewpage.com/bcbpubs/Yaletown.html
Good for a break, a drink and people watching.

Cupcakes – Cupcake shop
On Denman, great for after-park activities
http://www.cupcakesonline.com/

I am omitting an Indian place that many of my friends who go to Vancouver love. And a Korean place Jane and Jas love that is off of Robson (I can’t remember what it is)

Activities:
•    Bike around Stanley Park
•    Eat a cupcake at Cupcakes when you're done with your bike ride.
•    Walk around the Gastown District, the oldest part of Vancouver.
•    Eat your way through Granville Island – like Pike Place Market but a zillion times better and cleaner.
•    Shop on Robson Street. Everything you could ever want in a shopping district and all at Canadian prices!
•    Visit the Vancouver Library – an amazing indoor/outdoor space modeled after the Roman Coliseum.
•    Shop for overpriced goods at sleek boutiques in Yaletown.
 
Sample weekend, since I know you're curious ;)

Friday night
•    Check in to Times Square Suites
•    Go across the street to Safeway and grab some snacks for Saturday breakfast
•    Take a nice stroll to Bin 941
•    Get a drink some place nearby while you're waiting for your table

Saturday (this is probably impossible to do in one day)
•    Get up as early as possible
•    Nibble on the breakfast treats you purchased at Safeway
•    Go across the street and rent a bike
•    Ride around (the perimeter of) Stanley Park
•    Eat a cupcake at Cupcakes when you're done
•    Book over to Gas Town for a quick stroll
•    Walk over to Yaletown and do a little shopping (most of the shops are closed on Sunday)
•    Grab a drink and a rest at Yaletown brewer
•    Go back to homebase for a quick break
•    Go to the top of the Empire Land Mark hotel for a drink at sunset
•    Cab over to this Indian restaurant I won’t mention by name.

Sunday
•    Go directly to Grainville island and eat your way through all the stalls
•    Assuming you’re driving, say bye bye to Vancouver and have a mid-afternoon Dim Sum at Sun Sui Wah (they stop serving at 3pm,

A few friends have recently asked me for recommendations for places they're traveling, and then I remembed how much I like sharing that information (because my suggestions are the best ;) and I want them to have as good a time as I had). So I'm going to start posting those recommendations here. First up, Vancouver. Followed by, Buenos Aires.

This also got me thinking about NYC and all the places I want to go to and eat at, so here is the starter list of restaurants I want to try. This is only half the list for the Upper West Side. More to be added shortly.

Oliver and I are mister and missus.