West End Fitness

There is a certain body image that is adopted by residents of the West End. It fits nicely into a pair of Lululemon pants, works well with a stiff collared dress shirt and is perfectly suited for English Bay tanning.

In the summer, these bodies are shaped with runs along the sea wall, outdoor yoga at David Lam Park and dragonboat training along False Creek. But what about the winter months, when the rain returns? Where do all the beautiful people go to maintain their athletic physique?

The answer: residents of the West End are spoiled with an abundance of private and public gym and fitness centres. Open early and closing late, these facilities are the perfect getaway for condo owners intent on keeping their bodies firm and tight. They are also great settings for networking opportunities; many of my friends and clients have actually met their partners at fitness facilities in the West End.

Some of the most popular private gyms are Steve Nash's Fitness Centre and Denman Fitness. With an abundance of cardio equipment, personal trainers and group lessons, the gyms have something for every working professional trying to lose that little tummy.

For those on a tighter budget, the Denman Community Centre and the Burrard Bridge Aquatic 

Centre offer basic equipment and services at reduced rates. If you buy the general pass you can use the fitness centre, the Aquatic Centre pool and the Denman Street ice rink. Not bad for a community membership.

I could go into more details about the services offered by these gyms, but I'm late for my pilates lesson.

For more information on living in the West End, visit my website: http://www.antheapoon.com

Chinese Realtor in Vancouver

If you are looking for a Vancouver real estate agent that can help you in your own language, Anthea Poon is your girl.

Anthea speaks Mandarin and Cantonese (as well as English and French) - so she's the one to look for if want to you buy or sell real estate in Vancouver, and navigate the legal processes between Canada and China.

Anthea has been a Chinese realtor in Vancouver for over 13 years, so she understands the Vancouver market as both a Canadian and a realtor, and how it intersects with the Chinese language and culture.

Her cultural insight can help you make the most of your Vancouver real estate should you wish to sell in Chinese, or English. And she can help you get the best deal when buying real estate in Vancouver, negotiating in Mandarin, Cantonese or English.

Anthea is the best real estate polyglot the city's got. So don't hesitate to call her at: 604-719-6103

Vancouver West End Real Estate Reconnaissance

It's a good idea to get a lay of the land before you begin your condo hunt.

Here's an excellent place to start.

Vancouver West End Condos on MLS

When you have a bit of a feel for the market -that's when you'll need your agent.

Once you've gathered your information- it's time to mobilize Anthea - and I'll get you what you want for less.

My Apologies to the Mailman

I have to admit, I've been on a roll.

As soon as I advertise a property: It sells.

>Excuse me while I polish my knuckles on my shirt.<

Look at this great one I just promoted through direct mail in the West End. 

The postcards went out. The place sold. Just like that.

This is great news for my sellers. But think of the poor mailman. 

He just gets around delivering my notice that this fantastic two bedroom is up for sale, and then, what does he have to do? He has to make the rounds again, just a few weeks later, saying it's sold.

I feel for his legs. 

But the owner's are happy. The client's happy. I'm happy. Everyone is happy, I guess, except for the mailman. 

Vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver

Sometimes you just need to shake your head.

What happened?? How embarrassing.

Our beautiful city went all "Stu in Thailand" (from the Hangover 2) on Wednesday. 

Well, those riots were certainly ugly, and losing the cup at the very last game was sure a drag. But we did bounce back fairly well. 

1. The Cleanup was amazing. Talk about a city redeeming itself. 

2. The love we showed the police for keeping the city safe - just check this out: Much love in Vancouver.

3. This picture is great. Hopefully it's the way we remember the riots, there's always room for passion, if it's the good kind. 

 It's sunny now. Time to put the unfortunate actions of a few crooks, and a bunch of drunk kids behind us and enjoy the best summertime city in the world.

Apologies to the world.

And moving on....

The WestEnder

The West End is a unique corner of Vancouver's ever expanding community. It contains high-rises, character homes, quaint townhouses and plush condominiums. It is the most densely populated area in all of Canada. It also borders Canada's largest urban park.

The seawall that surrounds it offers panoramic views of the Coastal Mountains, English Bay, Kitsilano and False Creek. The bike lanes running through it offer alternative byways for transportation. The sporadic parks, built to reduce direct motor vehicle traffic, offer community gardens, social areas and green nooks for escape.

Denman, Davie Burrard and Robson are lined with culinary offerings from around the world. Always busy, these streets see more pedestrian traffic than any other sidewalks in Vancouver. Walk to dinner, then the theatre, then a late-night haunt; all can be found within blocks of each other.

The West End contains Vancouver's cultural heart, it's largest green space and the homes to some of the cities wealthiest and most important citizens.

Your entrance into this world can be facilitated through the services of Anthea Poon.