Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
walk in and ask how to help you, and the items they're selling harken to a bygone age
when fine pens and penmanship were important markers (no pun intended) of civiliza-
tion. It's not all gold-nibbed fountain pens, though: there are writing tools for every
budget here.
If you're a real aficionado of the modern-day quill, check out the monthly meetings
of the Vancouver Pen Club, staged at venues across the city
( www.vancouverpenclub.com ) .
SIKORA'S CLASSICAL RECORDS
MUSIC
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( www.sikorasclassical.com ; 432 W Hastings St; 10am-7pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun; Gran-
ville) Sikora's blows away the classical inventory of mainstream music stores with its gi-
ant selection of more than 25,000 CD/DVD titles, plus hundreds of LPs for all those
traditionalists out there. Opera, organ, choral, chamber and early music are well repres-
ented, as are New Age and spoken word, and there's also a section devoted to celeb-
rated and lesser-known Canadian musicians.
The staff is highly knowledgeable and can point you to a hot Mahler or Rach-
maninov recording at the drop of a hat.
BIRKS JEWELERY
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( www.birks.com ; 698 W Hastings St; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 5:30pm Sat, noon-5pm Sun;
Waterfront) A Vancouver institution since 1879 - hence the landmark freestanding clock
outside - Birks crafts exquisite heirloom jewelry and its signature line of timepieces.
It's an upscale place, similar to Tiffany & Co in the US, and ideal for picking up that
special something in a classy, blue embossed box for a deserving someone back home.
If you're keen to splash your vacation spending money around, consider a little
something accented with a Canadian diamond, laser-engraved with a tiny maple leaf.
ROOTS CLOTHING
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( www.canada.roots.com ; 1001 Robson St; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 7pm Sat, to 5pm Sun; 5)
Basically a maple-leaf-emblazoned version of the Gap, Roots designs athletic, plaid-ac-
cented streetwear that's unmistakably Canadian. Its retro-styled jogging pants, hoodies
and toques (if you don't know what that is, this is the place to find out) are ever-popu-
lar. There are additional outlets (usually in malls) throughout the city.
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