Market Friday - Granville Island: Vancouver, BC
This is my first post for #MarketFriday created by @dswigle, a gal who is both a great member of #steemusa and is also the first person I ever exchanged greetings with on a DISCORD! 😄
One of my FAVORITE markets is one I didn’t discover until MUCH later in life.
Granville Island
GRANVILLE ISLAND , located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, is a wonderful little neighborhood that is home to many shops, restaurants, artists studios, theaters and a public market. Though not technically an island, the area can be reached by boat or car and is within walking distance of downtown Vancouver, BC.
The aquabus makes several stops along False Creek including Hornby Street, Granville Island, Yaletown and the Plaza of Nations.
The “island” itself is man made. In the early 20th century this former mud flat was transformed to create a space to house a variety of factories and warehouses. Industries from shipping, to forestry, to mining utilized the land reclaimed from False Creek. Today there is still some industry on the island including the company Ocean Concrete.
Ocean Concrete
Ocean Concrete is famous for their silos. Known as The Giants, these silos were painted by Portuguese twins, Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo in 2014.
More Information
In the 1950’s Granville Island transformed once again. To create more space for industry, the city filled the channel on the island’s south side. Today the island is connected to the city via the Granville Bridge and to the Fairview neighborhood via the fill.
In the late 1970’s Granville Island began it’s transition from industrial area to urban oasis. At the time, many of the island’s industrial buildings had fallen into disrepair. Vancouver MP, Ron Basford, championed the idea of creating a mixed use space that was both friendly towards industry, shopping and the arts. With Basford’s support, the Public Market opened in 1978. This paved the way for the island’s future success.
Entrance Granville Island Public Market
My First visit to Granville Island wasn’t until 2014!!!
Growing up in Seattle I had MANY opportunities to visit Vancouver. The cities, though in different countries, are only 3 hours apart by car (it would be a shorter drive without border delays). Yet somehow I missed this gem for almost 40 years of my existence! Now I make it a point to visit Granville Island every time I am in Vancouver.
View of the Public Market as seen from Granville Street Bridge.
The Public Market is divine. It is filled with food, flowers and artisans. If I lived in Vancouver this would be a favorite spot to buy fresh ingredients for dinner. As a visitor it is still a fantastic place for breakfast or to put together a picnic lunch.
Fresh vegetables 🥦🍅🌽
Meats 🥩🍖🍗
ALL the cheese. 🧀
Bread and pastries
Next are the desserts. The Public Market is good for all the fresh stuff, but GREAT for the sweets!
Macaroons
Cookies
Chocolates
Cheesecakes
So nice I ate it TWICE!!! 2014 & 2018.
What is almost as nice as food? Flowers! Beautiful fresh flowers are available for purchase year round.
Hydrangeas, roses, tulips, gerbera, etc. 💐
Each visit to Granville Island I try to buy a piece of art. I am oddly obsessed with sort of whimsical, childlike pieces. An artist named Olga Sugden frequents the market and I love her work.
HERE is a link to her website. I own this piece and this piece. So stinking cute.
In addition to the the Public Market, Granville Island is home to almost 50 artisan galleries. These include fine arts, photography, jewelry, silk weaving, ceramics, candle making, wood working and a blacksmith. There is also a pet shop (supplies and treats only) and an entire children’s market devoted to toys, children’s books and clothing.
Pet treats, toys and Canadian themed bandannas.
Husband chatting up a couple of girls at the Children’s Market. 😄
A whimsical bit of woodwork.
Granville Island also provides a bountiful selection of quirky and tourist items. The beauties below were spotted at Make, one of my favorite places to shop on Granville.
Entertaining t-shirts, housewares and blankets.
Enjoy the Views
Granville’s location on the south side of False Creek lends itself to beautiful views. It is a great spot to watch ships pass and to view the city skyline. You can also catch glimpses of the mountains which tower to the north of the city.
Looking towards Yaletown.
Soak up that Canadian vibe.
Snow covered peaks behind the Burrard St. Bridge.
Thanks for joining me on this tour of Vancouver’s Granville Island.
Very fun to read a visitor’s impression of a local treasure! Glad you liked d-fin — next time up make sure you have a cocktail (upstairs patio) at the Sandbar 😜👍
I have seen the Sanbar but have never been in. I always notice it because my favorite Mexican restaurant ANYWHERE is also called Sandbar. But that is down in Santa Barbara. 😄 🌮
It’s a cool spot for a drink and appy — right under the bridge on the water 😎👍
My daughter lives in Vancouver and now I have a sure program to do, in the future. All is beautiful!
How often do you visit? Once a year? Definitely check it out when you return again. The food is so yummy! ☺️
I spent April with her. Maybe I will be back in October.
Great post, it's like i was there with you. I would have gotten lost in the sweets section🍪🍰🎂.
😄 Thanks @firecajun9262! The sweets.... me too! I ate both those cheesecakes for dessert after eating a full breakfast! Who has dessert at breakfast? 🐷 🍰 🍪 🍩
What a cool Market, I love those colorful Silos
tip!
It’s a lot of fun. The silos are HUGE too. Scale is so hard to share in a picture. Thank him for stopping by and for the lovely “tip”. ☺️
I have never been to Vancouver, but I always wanted to go and your post confirmed that even more.
All that food looked so good nomnomnom.
I bet that Justin Trudeau is a big seller.
Great post!
@lizzyib, thank you! Yes Vancouver is lots of fun. Definitely go! It’s a really vibrant city topped off with amazing scenery and tasty food. Hope you are having a great weekwnd. 😃
Nice to see that Terra Breads is still around! I used to live in Vancouver in 2000-2001. It's a great city. I can't imagine how it has changed since I lived there! But I used to go to Granville Island all the time to shop for food. Thanks for this post! I was a great trip down memory lane!
Still around and doing great business! Vancouver would be such a fantastic place to live. How lucky for you to be able to take advantage of all the food at Granville as a local. I always see the EVERYTHING, then realize I would have to throw it all out at the border.😩
At first I thought I would make a list of what I like here, then I thought the list would be too long because I like almost everything! It's a beautiful market full of goodies :)
Oh my goodness! You are too kind! Thank you. Granville Island is really tops. It’s hard to go wrong sharing something that sells itself so well. Thank you for stopping by!
My pleasure :)
That was very detailed and informative. Great work you put in there :)
Thank you so much @misterakpan! I appreciate your kind words. ☺️
This is wonderfully fun and educational place to go, with an emphasis on the fun. Granville Island was a pleasant surprise with the huge market, filled delicious food, amazing Artisans and beautiful flowers.
It wasn't sure which one I wanted to start with. The bread has long been a personal weakness of mine and coupled with the cheeses galore, I would be in heaven. Until you spot the fresh fruits and veggies! Yummy delicious!
The desserts are in A League of Their Own.
This was one of the most delightful places and it was a real treat to be able to talk along with you. I love the artwork with the two little rabbits and I must be honest with you. You need to keep track of your husband I'll hit you up to them with those Bevy of beauties .
That little redhead has eyes for him.
Sites for delightful and it was an amazing from start to finish. You reign supreme. I especially like the shot the painted Silo's. How cool!
All in all- one of the best trips- ever! Now, can I head back to those desserts?
Upped and steemed
Tip!
Edit: congratulations on the Curie!!
😄 Hi @dswigle! Thank you for your lovely comment and for creating this fun tag/initiative. I am happy I finally participated. ☺️
And believe me, I kept an eye on those two chicks in the children’s market. 😉
Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much! You do the same!
What a great post! That looks like an awesome place to visit. My favorite image is the one of les macarons! I love those treats! I buy imported frozen French ones from Trader Joe's!
Is that Les Trader Joes? 🤣😃