Gastown Style

Complex Magazine recently did a feature article on the 50 most stylish neighbourhoods in the world; rolling in at number four was Gastown, in Vancouver.

The article took into consideration the districts' architecture, public and private art establishments, fashion, subculture and food. It sought to quantify the elusive 'vibe' factor that pulls creative and fashionable people together. Once the data was gathered, the list was made.

Beating out districts in Berlin, London, Miami and Stockholm - Gastown came fourth, only behind SoHo in New York, Harajuku in Tokyo and 1st Arrondissement in Paris.

The district's numerous menswear boutiques were one of the reasons for its high ranking. Shops like Vole, a new menswear concept store, provide brands and fashions that can't be found anywhere else in the city.

The site of Vancouver's Jazz Festival helped improve its musical score and restaurants like Boneta, its edible mark.

The article also referenced the Gastown riot of 1971, where a hippy smoke-in led to a violent clash with police. Interesting, that an area with so much history, is also the site of multi-generations of counter culture enthusiasts.

But history inspires and Vancouver, being a relatively young city, needs artistic inspiration. Residential towers offer litlle. Comblestone streets, architecture from the Victorian age and the legend of Gassy Jack elicit the imagination and inspire art that can't be hung on an off-white wall of cookie cutter condo.

The steam clock may pull in the tourists, but the 'vibe' pulls in the artists.

Gastown is the place to be seen. It's the district where new media tools and methods are being created, refined and used to document the creative process. It's the area where chefs want to cook, musicians want to preform and tourists want to replicate.

Don't settle for a souvenir, when you could live in one of the most stylish neighbourhoods in the world. Contact a Gastown real estate agent for active listings in the Gastown area.