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.
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