Well, Gastown it’s been a year. 2023 brought more changes, more events, and more smiling faces. We said goodbye to some old friends, and welcomed many new ones into the neighbourhood. Meet Me In Gastown returned for its second year and hundreds of bikers took to the cobblestone streets for the return of the Gastown Grand Prix after a three-year hiatus. We have also started to see the love get poured back into the neighbourhood through various new paint jobs and furniture upgrades. This is only the start.
Thanks for all the good times. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Shop & Style
Gastown Magazine, FW2023
In October, we launched the first-ever Gastown Magazine, Vancouver’s newest lifestyle and culture print magazine focussed obsessively on the city’s original neighbourhood (yes, that’s us). The eight page tabloid-style magazine covers the fashion, design, pop culture, and craftspeople that drive this neighbourhood.
The first issue included features on Nancy Bendtsen of Inform, First Nations carvers Christian Turo and Leonard McKay, Michelle Rizzardo of One of a Few, Karyna Schultz of Neighbour, Hayato of Kamuy Vintage, and Gastown local, Scott Hawthorn, as well as styling by The Block, Rowan Sky, Gravity Pope, jWs, Makers.
The Launch
On October 17th we set up a pop-up NYC-style newsstand outside of Water Front Station to launch the new magazine into the world. We handed out free coffee from Timbertrain Roasters and donuts from Lee’s Donuts – and had one hell of a time doing it. Thanks to everyone who came by.
Food & Drink
Vancouver Cocktail Week
Gastown once again partnered with Vancouver Cocktail Week from March, shining some light on the city’s, and more specifically Gastown’s, thriving cocktail scene. Local watering holes, such as Clough Club, the Diamond, Guilt & Co., and Pourhouse offered “Cinq a Sept” specials, along with a series of innovative events. Including our very own Gastown tour, which explored the history of the cocktail and the importance that it has on the neighbourhood – we were literally founded on a bar! Plus we barrel-aged our very own Gastown Negroni (under the guidance of professionals, of course).
Foodie Festivals
Between long-standing culinary-central festivals, such as Dine Out Vancouver, and new hyper-focussed food crawls like Hot Chocolate Fest and the Croissant Crawl, this city is bursting with opportunities to try the weird, the wacky, and the delicious. And restaurants and cafes around this neighbourhood didn’t hold back this year. Did you see the size of the Kozak Croissant Cube??
Art & Culture
Gastown Thursday Nights
The neighbourhood, once again, came alive this summer with the sound of kick-ass music. From acoustics on every street corner, to a Jazz Fest pop-up, Pride takeover (in partnership with Guilt & Co. + JCI), and a 30-person orchestra as a part of Meet Me In Gastown, these cobblestone’s transformed into a stage for local and international talent. Every Thursday night from June-September.
Gastown Thursday Nights: Holiday Edition
Gastown Thursday Nights made a comeback with a holiday twist. From November 30th – December 21st, a series of free (and hella fun) events took over the streets and storefronts of Gastown. Featuring ballet in shop windows, roaming mariachi and brass bands, seasonal delights, carolers, and of course, late-night shopping at some of the city’s most eclectic shops.
Meet Me In Gastown
On August 31st, Meet Me In Gastown, a vibrant celebration of dining, shopping and live music, returned. And this year it was bigger and better! Closing down part of Water Street meant way more room for activities, including games, live art activations, and the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra with a surprise Harbour Dance performance. This event would not be possible without our dear friends at Low Tide Properties and other community partners. Y’all rock!
Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix
The Gastown Grand Prix, one of North America’s most prestigious and famous bike races, returned to the cobblestone streets on July 12th to celebrate its 50-year anniversary in Gastown.
Lumiere Festival x Wishing Tree
The Lumière Festival is an annual public celebration where light, art, music, and dance enliven the city. The festival features small to large-scale illuminated artworks, light-based projections, dynamic performances and interactive workshops. This year the Wishing Tree made its way to the Gateway to Gastown from November 2-18, 2023, in partnership with the BC Parks Foundation.
Work
New 2 Gastown
We said goodbye to many old friends this year 🙁 but we also welcomed many new (and wonderful) faces to the ‘hood. We’d like to give a warm welcome to all those businesses that joined us this past year. It’s damn good to have you.
Shop & Style
- F As In Frank
- From Another
- Li/Sa
- Old Tyme Candy Shoppe
- Water Street Canabis
Food & Drink
- Arcana
- Lee’s Donuts
- Monaco Cafe
- Sonder Cafe
- Oku Izakaya
- Gastronomy Gastown
- Tekkaba
Gastown Clean-up Party
On April 21st, we were humbled by the commitment and dedication that this community has for its neighbourhood. We had over a hundred volunteers and city council members show up to lend a helping hand in giving Gastown some TLC during our annual Gastown Clean-up Party. And, when the cleaning was all done, we got our happy hour on thanks to The Lamplighter, Steamworks Pub, and The Local.
Laneway Event
On October 18th, we transformed one of Vancouver’s coolest laneways, Le Magasin Alley into a pop-up event space. The night consisted of mingling and connecting with fellow Gastown professionals over Water Street Cafe food, bevvies from Northam Beverages, and live music.
Design
New Website Launch
Since you’re already here, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve gotten ourselves a new website to share all of the amazing things going down with our businesses. A new website wouldn’t be complete without a refresh to our look. Hope you enjoy scrolling through and learning all the ins and outs of the ‘hood.
New Business Directory
Living smack in the middle of our new Gastown Magazine sits our new directory map. On the directory, you’ll find a full breakdown of all our ground-level businesses. Plus we’ve sprinkled in some colour to keep things exciting – and to keep you exploring.
PEACE OUT 2023.
And that’s a wrap. Thanks again for all of the good times. Can’t wait for more hangs in 2024. We hear it’s going to be the best year yet.
