Last night over at the Lamplighter in Gastown over a hundred people mixed, mingled and shmoozed at Vancouver’s third Launch Party event, organized by the folks at Strutta.

It’s something I would have attended regardless but the night was extra special because we were getting together all of Vancouver’s Tech Women to Watch in 2008 for some photos, drinks, and good times. Duane was commissioned to take most of the shots and his work will be up soon on his website or Flickr. In the meantime, here are a few snaps from others that I’ve been able to find.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Maura of Strutta, and me in self-portrait mode
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Jordan of Strutta and me
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

The lovely Megan Cole and I, up to no good
Photo credit: IanivandArieanna on Flickr

Mr and Mrs Bollwitt
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

I had a wonderful night hanging out with familiar folks from some really great companies, meeting new people, making new connections, and being able to promote my site all while sporting a snazzy yet cheap new ‘do.

After Launch Party, and with the help of Monica, we ended up at Tanya’s for what pretty much turned into a Vancouver Twitter meetup. I got to experience Rock Band and it was a lovely end to the evening although I think I’m still recovering… from all the photos that have been taken at least.

A short while ago Keira told me about the butcher shop/deli at So.Cial, the place I’ve been passing on my way to work for months and always thought it was *just* an oyster bar. But on recommendation from Rod, Keira then checked it out, loved it and passed along the knowledge to yours truly.

Today a co-worker and I wanted to grab a quick bite for lunch and he said the word “sandwich”. I immediately thought of this place and we decided to go check it out. From 322 Water Street, head up the stairs and to the back of the hallway, past the restaurant/oyster bar.

Choose from our selection of local & organic custom cut meats, house made charcuterie, terrines, sausages, bacon and a delicious assortment of condiments. Special orders are also welcome. [So.Cial]

Everyone was right, it’s DELICIOUS. I had the “small” sandwich (which was anything but), choosing from any type of select meat and every delectable topping imaginable. The “small” is a triangle-sized portion of fresh focaccia and comes with a side of house-made chips for $4.50. I have to say, we’ll definitely be back.

Every single workday I walk through hoards of tourists all crowded around the steamclock in Gastown. On the 15’s, 30’s and 45’s it lets out a little toot and on the hour it plays its little steamy whistles for about a minute. Now, I’ve unveiled the “true” steamclock in a previous post and I for one know of at least a dozen locals who can’t stand the sight of the thing:

I enjoy the coffee, I enjoy the coffee often. In order to get to my green logo’d dealer I must bob and weave through this sadly miss led crowd of photographers whom appear to be awaiting a press conference from the next alleged father of Anna Nicole’s baby. Does it anger me, well…yes! After all I’m Jonesing for my caffeine fix and tripods and the likes slow me up which increases my withdrawal headache to the point of having irrational thoughts about loading up a golf cart up with screechers and bottle rockets and driving it through the clock to put and end to the madness. Daddy needs to feed the addiction, damn it!
[Rod Bruno on MatthewGood.org]

This weekend Keira and I decided to be tourists in our own town, checking out all the tacky tourist shops along Water Street. We got out alive although we narrowly averted purchasing some maple syrup in a can. We decided a pretty fun thing to do would be to take our picture with the locally-despised clock on the corner of Cambie and Water. As we stood there, posing like so many visitors to our city do every second of every day, we giggled. Many times have we walked by this cursed landmark from the days of disco and scoffed at those taking photos, and now here we are, posing all cheeky-like and doing the same.

Photo credit: Keira on Flickr

I think the best part was, while we were posing facetiously a couple walked by us and snidely remarked, “… Seems like everyone is taking photos of that clock pfffft!” I had to laugh because they did what we do pretty much every day. Oh well, it was a good time to hang out and be silly in Gastown and our photo is, as Keira fittingly deemed it, dedicated to Merle and all those who just can’t comprehend why a faux-steam clock would attract so much attention in this fair city.

Before moving downtown a few years ago I had only ever been to Gastown [wiki] a couple of times. Aside from being a usual destination for out-of-towners the majority of my experience included hitting dank ol’ pubs for nights of sticky shoes and Irish music. Times have changed and there’s more life in that corner of downtown, no longer is it solely for tourists and the downtrodden, although the combination of the two is a little perplexing. You have geeks and hipsters toting their Macs to the cafe, passing by trendy restaurants while BMW’s breeze through spewing the essence of Yaletown egos from their tailpipes.

The neighbourhood has character, I’ll give it that, and the history is beyond compare [Gastown.org][Warehouse Studio]. I’m looking forward to exploring more facets of Gastown - starting with the food.

Photo credit: Bill Macewen on Flickr

One thing that I’m still searching for is a great lunchtime eatery since I’m now working a fancy new job on Water Street. I put the call out on Twitter the other day and Roland [RolandTanglao.com] [Twitter] was gracious enough to share some knowledge, which of course I have to pass on.

There’s Blake’s Coffee Parlour (221 Carrall St), Salty Tongue (213 Carrall St), and Fetch’s Hotdog Cart which can be found at the corner of Water St and Abbott. At Brioche (401 West Cordova) you can get pastries, coffee and soup and Roland recommends Jules Bistro (216 Abbott St) for great steak fries. There are even more choices when you take a short walk into Chinatown, such as Newtown bakery (John’s personal favourite is the spicy steamed pork buns).

I have yet to try any of the above, except for Newtown, but I’m looking forward to all the possibilities. I’m used to being within close proximity of a food court and I’d be pretty happy not to see another for a very long time. Above all I’m pretty stoked about exploring a part of town that is less than familiar, be it for the food, the history, the people, or the blog fuel.