Kyle and his bachelor crew are arriving this evening so I had a frantic day trying to wrap up the last of my work before bachelor party festivities derailed me for the next several days. Went to my new favorite 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Donut place for breakfast and some dialed in productivity.

Kyle’s team had to wait to check in to their AirBNB when they arrived so I met them at some hotel bar, Bar One, near their place for drinks while we waited. Caught up, met Kyle’s groomsmen. Clarke and I plotted our takeover of Canada, the usual.

We had a sunset kayaking tour around the harbor planned for that evening. It was departing from Granville Island so we headed over early and walked around the market before our departure. After being turned away from many bars and restaurants nearby in our attempt to get a drink we finally just headed over to our kayaking place early. We were originally supposed to go out of False Creek but it was too windy so we had to settle for a lap around there instead.

Afterwards we went over to The Morrissey for drinks and some light and surprisingly late dinner. Everyone has been telling me how great/terrible The Roxy is at just about every place I turn up. I decided I needed Clarke & Kyle to weigh in on this so we headed over there to cap off the evening. Didn’t stay long but I think in the short time we were there it really lived up to my explanation to them… whether or not they actually liked it.

Another day dedicated entirely to work, both actual and a proposal I’ve been working on. Had lunch at Café Crêpe which I thought was a takeaway crepe place but it took freakin’ forever to get my crepes. Krav Maga in the evening.

Another day almost entirely dedicated to work. In the evening I was looking for some pasta and set out for an Italian place but got distracted by
JOEY Burrard which I’m always walking by but never go in. It’s kind of a slightly upscale chain around here. I actually rather enjoyed it, food was good, not great but the scene certainly had a lot going on. After that I went home and resumed working.

Swarm is a real help during these long periods when I slack off on updating the ol’ blog. Not much on today, nor the next couple. Trying to get ahead of work before Kyle & Co. arrive for his bachelor party. Worked, worked out, had lunch at my staple Basil Box and then went to Krav Maga. Pretty low key.

Still trying to follow the twisting path of this story so just read all day. Did manage to summon up the gumption to actually work out and to even leave the house and get sushi for dinner at Shizen Ya which is known for “healthy sushi.” It was good and reasonably priced but I don’t reckon I’ll be back.

Pretty low key day today. I fell into reading this “book” and it’s totally consumed me so I just laid around and did that. Tried to venture out to get a stand and keyboard for my laptop so I wouldn’t have to get massages every week but failed in that endeavour. Had take out from Viet Sub which is a decent Bahn Mi place. That was literally it all day.

After being so productive yesterday I actually set myself up for kind of a light day today. I had coffee at Elysian Coffee which I’d heard good things about but which had no WiFi so I’ll obviously never be returning to that place!

Headed home and worked and worked out until around mid-afternoon and then set out for a quest to try “the best” burger in Vancouver. Had an unusually trying time rounding up some bikes and making my way across the bridge but eventually I made it to Romer’s Burger Bar. If this is the best burger in Vancouver I’m not sanguine about the city’s future. It was a fine burger but way overdone to be considered even average.

Having not really been out past 6pm in Vancouver yet I decided do reconnoiter among some some of the bars in town and hit Odd Society Spirits, which I’d been hearing about a lot from others. Resurrection Spirits Distillery, which was a real pleasant surprise and The Diamond which could actually be one of my favorite bars in the world now.

I’ve been trying to get more of my calories in the morning versus the evening so I ventured out in search of a big breakfast. However, walking to that I passed Forage which I’d been meaning to check out and didn’t realize was open for breakfast. I dipped in there and was extremely glad I did. Really good food in a nice setting. Don’t think it was very expensive either.

I had a fair amount of work to do today so then I headed to the nearby Breka Bakery & Café which is a very common chain around here. Great place to do some work owing to their giant pours of coffee and WiFi, elsewise it’s pretty standard.

Headed home and worked out and then continued to work for awhile before adjourning to nearby Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House for some happy hour. This place was packed, had great food, and great service. I’ll surely be returning.

I was a little worn out as a result of an extra early start today so I headed home and crashed after that.

I was quite hungry this morning so I resolved to get some more substantial breakfast over my usual wee cup of Greek yogurt. I went just up the block to 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been in a coffee shop this busy. The line was huge (but swift) most of the time. I had gone with the specific intent of having one of their pistachio croissants but even at… 6:50am those were already sold out. So I settled for a pistachio doughnut which was amazing and a breakfast sandwich which was also very above par.

I worked from that coffee shop all morning until I had to head back home for the daily workout.

I had lunch at the previously mentioned The Basil Box which is also becoming a staple destination of mine here in the neighbourhood.

Talked to my parents on the phone for a while. They’re at our ranch in Wyoming and had a very exciting day full of kayaking and moose encounters. Then I had what I believe was my first ever actual video chat with Tricia. That is to say my first video chat ever, not just the first with Tricia. I don’t know why we don’t do that more often! Anyway we talked forever and then I had to hustle off to Krav Maga. …where I actually sustained a fair number of injuries on this particular evening. Then it was home and to sleep.

Jeez, I get a day behind and I can barely remember what I did with myself.

Probably because today was also dedicated to productivity and thus rather uneventful. Worked all morning, then worked out. Went to Meat & Bread for lunch which I’d highly recommend. Although, it’s just a simple sandwich shop so I’m not sure it’s worth a special trip.

I was flagging a little in the evening and so to keep going I was looking for a nearby coffee shop and ended up at Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie which is a great little French pastry place. Very busy, a lot going on. I even relented and had an excellent savarin pastry as well. It reminded me a little of this place Amoud that I used to love in Rabat. Very likely that this becomes an evening staple for me.

Anyway, worked there for the evening and then home and to sleep.