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Archive for June, 2006

Soccer venue could be lost, ’Caps say

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

STADIUM I More studies not the answer, president John Rocha claims

JEFF LEE
Sun

Artist’s rendering of the stadium with view of North Shore mountains

Artist’s rendering of the stadium with view of North Shore mountains, and the city

Vancouver is at risk of losing the proposed Whitecaps soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront if the city continues to demand planning studies without promising when the proposal can go to rezoning, John Rocha, the team’s president said Thursday.
   Rocha said he and team owner Greg Kerfoot understand and support the need for the city to make sure the privately funded stadium, proposed for the land east of the Waterfront SkyTrain station, is appropriate for the area.
   But he said delays sparked by the city’s demands for special land-use studies have already cost the team millions of dollars in lost opportunities, including the ability to buy a Major League Soccer franchise, which instead went to Toronto.
   “We don’t want to cut any corners, and we want it to be done properly, but our desire is for council to recognize that this is a great community asset that the public wants and that they should commit to it,” Rocha said.
   “We want them to give a reasonable time frame and give the project some certainty, because without it, we are not sure we can continue.”
   He said the team is losing $6 million to $8 million a year in opportunities, from international sporting events to concerts.
   The Whitecaps began trying to build a stadium in Vancouver in 2003, when they were approached by former mayor Larry Campbell, who wanted such a facility. But the project has been plagued by problems that have cost the franchise several lucrative opportunities, Rocha said.
   “The challenge has been the process. In no reasonable situation in the world would you have situation where it takes from 2003 to only get to this stage,” he said.
   The Whitecaps originally wanted the stadium ready for 2007, when the FIFA Under-20 World Cup will be held in six locations, including Canada.
   The city directed the Whitecaps to city-owned land at the east end of False Creek, but then decided not to sell it, Rocha said. As a result, Kerfoot bought seven hectares (18 acres) of Canadian Pacific rail yards along the waterfront.
   The stadium would be built over the railway, which would continue to operate.
   As a result of the delays, the FIFA event went to Toronto, which won a World Soccer League franchise.
   Toronto quickly approved a $65-million stadium on the Canadian National Exhibition lands, chipping in $9.8 million in money, and $9 million in donated land. The federal and Ontario governments kicked in a total of $36 million. The rest was from private funds.
   The Whitecaps would likely have received that federal funding if its stadium had been fasttracked, Rocha said.
   Kerfoot is pressing ahead with plans to build the Whitecaps facility with private funds, but isn’t ruling out the possibility of asking for similar government support, said Rocha, who estimated the cost at $60 million to $70 million, not including the property.
   This week, an independent consultant’s report prepared for city council identified major, but solvable problems with the new Whitecaps proposal.
   City staff are recommending the project only be considered when those problems are fixed, and only after a major new study on the future of the waterfront lands and rail yards.
   The consultants identified five major issues:
   The provision of an adequate street network.
   Resolution of the risk of moving dangerous goods under the stadium.
   Reconfiguration of the stadium to make it fit better with neighbouring Gastown.
   Resolution of negative impacts on people living nearby.
   Resolution of the impact the stadium would have on development of nearby port lands.
   Trish French, the city’s assistant director of current planning, said she understands the Whitecaps’ concerns but the project is complex.
   “We can’t ensure their viability. What we can do is make best efforts to resolve the issues with them on a timeline that we can develop in detail. We’re doing our best. I think the city’s attitude with major developments is that we have to do it right. This is a major development in a contentious location.”
   She said the new study affects the future of a wide area, but the Whitecaps’ issues could be resolved earlier.
   “The full study is slated for about 18 months,” she said. “What we are saying to the Whitecaps is that it may be possible by around 12 months to have a solution to these particular issues that are affecting them.”

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Abe Charkow’s 10,000 Vancouver Postcard collection

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

JOHN MACKIE
Sun

BILL KEAY/VANCOUVER SUN Abe Charkow’s favourites tend to be the early black-and-white postcards that came out before the First World War. He also has a collection of postcards of shipwrecks.

FOURTH AVENUE, Kitsilano

PROMENADE, English Bay

WORLD BUILDING, Vancouver

SAWMILLS on False Creek

WHITE ROCK

HOTEL VANCOUVER

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who collect old Vancouver postcards. But few if any have ever had a collection like Abe Charkow.
   The 89-year-old’s collection stands at about 10,000 cards, and about 80 per cent are of Vancouver or British Columbia. Most of them would be pre-1920, or even pre-First World War.
   Charkow spent three decades building the collection. But he has had health problems the last couple of years, and has decided to part with his postcards — all 10,000 of them.
   This Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., his daughter Jill will be selling off the collection at the Vancouver Postcard Club’s annual show and sale at Hastings Community Centre, 3096 East Hastings St. (across from the PNE grounds).
   Prices will range from a low of $5 to a high of $200, and you’ll be able to find old postcards of almost anything you could imagine.
   In Charkow’s office, the postcards are arranged by subject on stacks of shelves. There are separate categories for Vancouver bridges, Central Park, Chinatown, Hastings Park, Mount Pleasant, Fairview, Wholesale District, Forest Lawn, and Queen Elizabeth Park.
   There are categories for storefronts on Broadway, Commercial, Cordova, Georgia, Pender, and Westminster/Main. There’s a box filled with postcards of residences in the West End, and boxes for Vancouver train stations (CPR, CNR, Union Station, Great Northern Station). There are multiple boxes of postcards for Granville Street, Hastings Street and Stanley Park.
   And that’s just the first couple of shelves.
   Charkow’s favourite cards tend to be the early black and white cards that came out before the First World War. There is an incredible black and white card of what appears to be a policeman riding a horse across Fourth Avenue in Kitsilano, when the street was unpaved, streetcar tracks ran down the centre of the road, there were no cars in sight and Fourth was virtually all houses.
   He also has a collection of postcards of shipwrecks such as the SS Mariposa, wrecked in October 1915 near Bella Coola.
   In the days before newspapers published much photography photographers raced to the scene of disasters, snap photos, then produce a run of postcards for the public to buy. A good example is a postcard of a sinkhole on Broadway that swallowed a house. Someone has labelled the photo “the only drop in real estate in Vancouver’s history.”
   Some of the subjects stagger the imagination, such as a postcard of sawmills on False Creek. At the time the sawmills were probably considered a sign of progress, but today people who see the pollution spewing from the sawmills’ burners are aghast.
   Charkow started as a stamp collector, and got into postcards by accident. In Toronto on business, he went to a store looking for stamps and came across a box of postcards.
   “He started off buying [hand] coloured cards, because they look nice,” says Jill Charkow. “Then he discovered no, it’s the black and whites that have the value.
   “Most of his original collection he ended up finding in England, because that’s where the B.C. cards were mailed to. People who retired or moved from England to Victoria or Vancouver sent postcards home. It was the cheapest form of mail in those days.”
   Charkow started haunting flea markets and antique sales looking for postcards. He noted the names of photographers and companies, and assembled a superb collection of cards by Philip Timms, early Vancouver’s best photographer.
   Timms’ cards are extremely rare and are worth hundreds of dollars apiece; Charkow sold the bulk of his Timms collection to another collector a couple of years ago, but some extra Timms cards will be for sale Sunday.
   Charkow focused on Vancouver postcards because he’s a born-and-bred Vancouverite. He had the financial resources to assemble the collection because he owned and operated a successful women’s clothing company, Fitwell Garments.
   His first love, though, was music. Charkow played violin in a 1930s classical troupe called the Mozart Trio, which put on recitals around town. Alas, though he has many postcards of musicians, there are none of the Mozart Trio.
   But he does have a cache of old newspaper articles and an amazing document detailing the financial success of a 1935 concert, from the attendance and ticket price (207 adult tickets at 50 cents each is $103. 50) to expenses (flowers $2.50, rental hall $35, piano $5, assisting artist $10, stamps $2.50, taxis $2.40, music $15.25) and the net profit ($24.81).
   He was just as thorough with his postcards. Whenever he bought one, he’d put a value in pencil on the back, which is how Jill was able to figure out what each was worth.
   Hence, each one of his 25 postcards of the old post office at Granville and Hastings is priced, as are his 33 postcards of the first Hotel Vancouver, 41 postcards of the second Hotel Vancouver, and six postcards of the third (current) Hotel Vancouver.
   Many cards are quite expensive (a 1912 Vancouver Sun advertising postcard is $35), but a lot are quite cheap.
   For about $10, you can pick up a lovely postcard of the Sun Tower when it was called the World Tower and had a globe at its peak; a somewhat shocking postcard of the bridge across Westminster Avenue (Main Street) before the east side of False Creek was drained for railway tracks in 1916; and an idyllic view of the old English Bay promenade around 1907 or so — small prices to pay for a piece of history.

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Home Office Business Consultant Terry Dawydiak TC Computer Services

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

SELF-EMPLOYMENT I All it takes is a lot of hard work

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HGTV Tips & Info on Patios & Decks

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

A new HGTV series focuses on designs for gracious living in our very own great outdoors

Joanne Blain
Sun

ZEN AND SENSIBILITY What was once a commonplace spot in this Kitsilano backyard has been transformed into an inviting outdoor yoga studio (above) with sheer drapes creating a zen-like feeling.

SIMPLE TRANSFORMATION With summer coming, an attractive outdoor setting takes on a new importance for homeowners. The simple transformation of the deck on this Mount Pleasant condo shows what can be done with a little imagination, with a formerly bland space now becoming the type of sitting area that makes you want to be outside.

COOL STUFF FOR A STYLISH OUTDOOR SETTING Koolhaus garden and patio furniture includes the Eclipse chair,left, Manta silo umbrella and Roma Sling lounger.

You wouldn’t furnish your living room with ugly plastic lawn chairs. So why would you think they’re good enough for your backyard or patio?

That’s the question Kelly Deck wants to get homeowners to ponder in her new HGTV series Take It Outside. Her weekly mission is to get people to look at the exterior of their homes as an extension of the interior.

“It’s all about rethinking how we live in our outside spaces,” says the aptly named Deck, a Vancouver interior designer. “Every square foot of living space that you pay for, including your yard or deck, make it exquisite and make it work for you.”

Luckily, the selection of high-quality outdoor furniture on the market today is making that task easier. Gary Christianson of contemporary furniture retailer Koolhaus says the range of products and styles has changed dramatically in recent years.

While traditional teak-slat chairs and tables are still a popular choice, he says the fastest-selling outdoor furniture is sleek and modern in style, employing materials like powder-coated aluminum, faux-wicker woven resin and easy-care synthetic mesh.

And the big trend is toward comfort, says Christianson, with many people looking for weather-hardy lounge chairs and loveseats that will allow them to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

Deck agrees that there’s far more choice today in functional and stylish furnishings that can work outdoors.

“The trend in the past five years has really been creating a home, and the market really reflected that in terms of products,” she says. “But now I think the trend is moving outside and rethinking your outside space to make it an extension of your inside space.”

For Take It Outside, which debuts June 6 on HGTV, Deck transforms everything from a deck on a Mount Pleasant condo to the expansive backyard of a North Vancouver house.

The budget for each renovation varies from home to home, ranging from $5,000 to about $50,000, says Deck. The homeowner kicks in $1,000 and the show picks up the rest of the tab, with help from sponsors who contribute products in exchange for the exposure they receive on the show.

Deck focuses on finding ways to entice people out of doors by creating the same sense of comfort and style they have inside their homes.

“Lots of people have neglected backyards,” she says. “So the question is what would make you want to go outside and how can you make it work to suit your lifestyle.”

Many people think about outdoor spaces primarily in terms of landscaping — which is swell if you’re passionate about gardening, but not so great if you have no interest in spending your leisure hours mowing, weeding and pruning.

“My personal association with gardens is labour,” says Deck. “I think what many people associate an outside space is with having to garden, and that’s so much work.”

One recently filmed episode focused on a Kitsilano house with a private, but otherwise fairly plain backyard. The homeowner was more interested in yoga than gardening, so Deck created an outdoor yoga studio, complete with a water feature and sheer draperies to create a zen-like feeling.

“It has almost no plants in it — they are more of a highlight than anything else,” she says. “The space is now conducive to what he does every day.”

The homeowner, Lawrence Cheng, says Deck captured his personal sense of style and used it to create a practical and tranquil space for yoga and meditation.

The change, he says, “was really amazing. I think Kelly really transformed the backyard space into something quite magical.”

On the show, Deck takes her inspiration for the design of the outdoor space from something inside the home. And for homeowners planning their own outdoor overhaul, “that’s a great starting point,” she says.

“When you think the possibilities are infinite and you have no parameters, it’s intimidating,” she says. “So using your inside space as a direction for how to design the outside creates a beautiful flow from inside to out.”

Mark Johnston of Fusion Television, which produces Take It Outside as well as the W network shows Divine Design and Colour Confidential, says Deck has proven to be the ideal designer for the show.

“She had a youthful energy but also a very strong, sophisticated sense of design,” he says. And the serendipity of her last name in relation to the show’s theme “was just a bonus,” he adds.

For her part, Deck — who continues to juggle a full-time design practice at the Simple Design Group with her hosting duties — says her experience on Take It Outside has given her a new appreciation of how to turn an outdoor area into a stylish, comfortable and welcoming space.

“It’s amazing how a simple transformation can make you want to go outside,” she says.

Kelly Deck of Take It Outside will be on the Pacific Centre plaza at Howe and West Georgia today from noon to 3 p.m., providing advice on designing outdoor spaces and offering homeowners a chance to win a design consultation and $3,000 home-furnishings gift certificate.

– – –

FIVE HOT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR DECK OR YARD

Cantilevered umbrellas give you more design flexibility because the supporting post is on one side of the umbrella rather than down the middle, says Kelly Deck of Take It Outside. Koolhaus has several styles with unusually shaped canopies for extra drama.

Furniture made with Textaline mesh, a woven synthetic material, has a sleek, contemporary look and does a great job of withstanding the elements, according to Gary Christianson of Koolhaus. It doesn’t fade or crack and when it gets dirty, he says, just hose it off.

Zinc planters are a great choice for decks and patios, according to House & Home magazine. They’re lightweight and rust-resistant, and the finish oxidizes to an attractive whitish-grey colour when exposed to the elements. You can also fill them with water and float candles or cut flowers in them to create a simple water feature.

Take a break from wood with chairs or tables in powder-coated aluminum, says Christianson. They look great and they’re lightweight and practical — many pieces fold up for easy winter storage.

Sconce lights aren’t just for hallways — try some outside in a powder-coated finish to throw accent lighting up or down and to create “a clean, modern look,” says Deck.

FIVE TIPS FOR CREATING MORE LIVABLE AND STYLISH OUTDOOR SPACES

Consider your needs before you shop for outdoor furniture, suggests Gary Christianson of Koolhaus. “Are you someone who is out there on a Saturday afternoon with a beer enjoying the day, or are you having dinner parties at 8 o’clock at night?” That could determine whether a dining table or a couple of lounge chairs should be your top priority, he says.

Think outside the box when you’re looking for outdoor furniture, says Kelly Deck of HGTV’s Take It Outside. By all means, check out stores that specialize in patio furniture, but also look in stores that are better known for home furnishings. Two Vancouver retailers she suggests are worth a look are Chintz & Company and Moe’s Home Collection.

Make sure your outdoor furniture is functional and flexible, says Christianson. “Everything has to perform double duty — it has to stack or store, because people want to put it away for the wintertime, and it has to be able to survive the outdoor elements.”

To extend the usefulness of an outdoor space, consider adding a source of heat — anything from an outdoor fireplace to an overhead gas heater, says Deck. You want a space that you can use for more than a few hours a day, a few weeks a year. On the west coast, she says, “there is often a chill in the air, even in the summer … and when your body’s not warm, people don’t enjoy themselves.”

Give some thought to using contrasting materials in your outdoor design scheme, says Christianson. For example, consider something other than wood furniture if you’re furnishing a wood deck, he suggest. “Break it up a bit so it’s not all wood — maybe it’s a combination of teak and stainless steel and fabric.”

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Housing likely to boom until 2007, report says

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

Biggest gains will probably be outside Lower Mainland

Derrick Penner
Sun

An artist’s conception of a $33-million oceanfront community Rockwater Properties plans to build in Pender Harbour.

British Columbia’s housing boom, already the longest on record, will continue into 2007, but the biggest gains will occur outside the Lower Mainland, Credit Union Central B.C. reported Thursday.

“The economy is growing at a good pace, [with] job growth, income growth and somewhat higher [population] in-migration,” Credit Union

Central chief economist Helmut Pastrick said in an interview.

“There are still favourable mortgage rates, and I think there’s some pent up demand there as well.”

Affordability, however, — particularly in high-priced markets such as the Lower Mainland and Victoria — will worsen.

For that reason, Pastrick believes the number of first -time buyers will decline, both as a proportion of sales and in absolute numbers “until this market makes a correction, or until mortgage rates drop significantly.”

Pastrick released his 2006/07 housing market forecast, which calls for a four-per-cent dip in housing sales in 2006 followed by a six-per-cent surge in 2007 to hit 141,800 units overall.

However, Pastrick predicts B.C. housing starts will climb in 2006 and 2007. Average real estate prices should also continue rising, 14 per cent in 2006 and seven per cent in 2007 to reach a province-wide high of $405,800 by the end of 2007.

While the high prices will push first-timers out of the market, Pastrick added that there should still be “very substantial sales” among existing homeowners.

Pastrick said that while construction levels are high, the supply of existing housing units coming onto the market is down.

The Credit Union Central B.C. diverges slightly from the recent Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. estimate for the province, which calls for housing construction to peak in 2006 and ease in 2007 and 2008 due to affordability.

However, CMHC regional economist Carol Frketich added that strong job growth so far this year, along with wage growth, will help keep the market at a high level of activity.

“[Pastrick’s forecast] is very much along the lines of my forecast,” Frketich added.

Pastrick predicts that markets outside the Lower Mainland, such as the Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Northern B.C. should also see stronger growth than the Lower Mainland. That is largely because housing growth in those regions started later and it is only within the last year that those regions posted solid job growth.

Pastrick released the Credit Union Central forecast two days after Bank of Montreal deputy chief economist Douglas Porter warned that Vancouver’s housing market was “flirting with” bubble territory.

However, Pastrick believes it would take an economic slowdown in the U.S., global recession, skyrocketing mortgage rates or a geopolitical shock such as another spike in oil prices to upset housing demand in the B.C. market and cause prices to decline.

The Credit Union Central forecast notes that while mortgage rates have risen, the posted five-year rate is stable at 6.75 per cent, and the Bank of Canada has signalled it has finished raising its key rate for the time being.

“This market will not undergo a correction because of prices alone,” Pastrick said. “I think something has to drive sales down.”

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Sunshine Coast luxury homes cost $1.5 million

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

Bruce Constantineau
Sun

A model of Wakefield Homes’ 31-unit project in Sechelt.

Sunshine Coast waterfront values have surged to the point where the latest residential projects feature luxury homes priced at more than $1.5 million — a level that potential buyers would have scoffed at just a few years ago, Vancouver developer Les Allen said Thursday.

Allen, who sold out a 40-unit cottage development near Pender Harbour this year, said that until recently, the Sunshine Coast was a real estate backwater that lagged behind the boom that dominated much of the B.C. market.

“But now buyers are catching on and the place is hot,” Allen said in an interview. “You see all these new high-end developments coming in that, five years ago, would have been a joke — a disaster. Now they’ll all probably sell out.”

Alberta-based Rockwater Properties is currently developing a 24-unit Pender Harbour project — Whittakers — that features detached homes priced from about $700,000 to more than $1.5 million. Sales won’t take place until the end of July, but Rockwater president Kevin Toth said more than 600 potential buyers have already registered their interest in the project, with 55 per cent coming from B.C. and 34 per cent from Alberta.

Average lot sizes for the three-bedroom homes are half an acre, and all the houses feature hardwood flooring, large sundecks and master bedrooms with fireplaces and water views.

“The prices are driven by the quality of the land and the quality of the site,” Toth said in an interview. “It’s one of the few low-bank waterfront properties in that area, so it makes sense to develop a luxury product.”

A 31-unit waterfront housing project in Sechelt — called Wakefield Beach — sold half its units on the first day of sales in March, including three that were priced from $1.1 million to $1.35 million.

Vancouver housing consultant Oswald Jurock said Sunshine Coast real estate flew under the radar until 2003, “when it took off like a rocket.”

“The interest is a lot higher now because Alberta, the rest of Canada and the rest of the world has discovered B.C.,” he said in an interview, noting that 38 per cent of Coal Harbour condo owners are American. “There are also many more dual-income retirees with more money to spend.”

Jurock remembers waterfront homes with sandy beaches at Porpoise Bay selling for about $220,000 in 1999, and estimates those properties now are worth from $600,000 to $700,000.

Allen, who has developed more than 200 lots on the Sunshine Coast since 1992, sold the last of his units this year and now focuses on Lower Mainland projects because there are virtually no significant Sunshine Coast waterfront properties available for development now.

He said few private property owners are willing to sell now because they know waterfront land is “priceless,” so property titles tend to get passed down from generation to generation.

“When you go over there, it looks like there’s a lot of land to develop, but it’s either private land that’s not for sale, or it’s Crown land,” Allen said.

“Just try to find a big piece to develop.

“It’s impossible.”

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Solar-powered light built in B.C. takes flight

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

Jim Jamieson
Province

Carmanah Technologies’ Art Aylesworth is selling a solar-powered light to airports. Photograph by : Debra Brash, Special to The Province

Carmanah Technologies has launched a new solar-powered LED airfield light that it feels will illuminate the way to the high altitudes of the aviation market.

Art Aylesworth, CEO of the Victoria-based solar-power company, said the A704-5 — the company’s first airfield light to include wireless control — represents a breakthrough point in Carmanah’s pursuit of the lucrative airport market.

“It’s quite pivotal for us,” he said. “This is the first second-generation product for us in this area. In the beginning, they were just marine lights re-purposed.

“Our [aviation] customers liked our product, but they wanted the features they had with the [traditional] systems. Until we proved the technology was going to be welcome, we couldn’t invest in all that research and development.”

Carmanah also is an international player in solar-power systems and equipment and LED-illuminated signage. Besides airfields, the company provides solar-power lighting systems to the marine and roadworks industries.

Its self-contained products can be seen readily in and around Greater Vancouver. There are about 200 solar-illuminated bus shelters using its patented technology in Vancouver, while Vancouver International Airport uses Carmanah’s aviation lights for runway construction projects. As well, the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project is using the company’s solar-powered flashing roadway beacons.

Aylesworth said the A704-5 has many improvements, such as re-tooled optics that are designed for aviation and feature greater visibility. But the most important improvement is full wireless control — just like the traditional technology Carmanah’s lights replace, said Aylesworth.

“Previously, we would have a light that would come on when it got dark, then we gave it an on-off switch,” he said. “Now it is fully programmable from the tower so you have light only when it’s needed.”

Aylesworth said the primary markets for the device are the military, which often requires fast deployment, secondary airports that are not lit or not fully lit, and international airports, which may install the Carmanah product as backups for existing wired runway lights.

The publicly traded company has sold 215 of the A704-5 already at about $2,495 US each. Carmanah, which has about 250,000 product installations worldwide, brought in revenues of about $7.5 million in aviation markets in 2005.

Aylesworth said the unit’s cost is greater than a traditional airfield light — typically around $300 US — but the differential is offset after costs for trenching, wiring and installation are added in.

Carmanah employs 157 in Victoria, its research and development centre, and 230 worldwide.

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U.S. home prices cooling off

Thursday, June 1st, 2006

USA Today

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. house prices soared more than 12.5% on average over the past year, but slower gains in the first quarter of 2006, combined with declines in some states, point to weakness in the market, a government report showed Thursday.

While prices continued to march higher in many areas, they declined in some states in the first quarter for the first time in more than three years, the report said.

“These data show average housing prices still growing stronger than some might have expected,” said James Lockhart, acting director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. “They do indicate, however, that price growth is moderating in some parts of the country, particularly in areas where prices have been rising the most.”

Prices rose 2.0% in the USA during the first quarter of 2006 — for an annualized rate of 8.12%. That quarterly rate is the lowest since the first quarter of 2004, according to OFHEO.

The U.S. housing market, after a run-up that shattered construction and sales records, began to slow as mortgage rates started to climb last year. Recent economic data, including a new report on pending home sales in April, have pointed to moderation in sales activity, and Thursday’s data from OFHEO signaled price softening underway.

Arizona again posted the strongest gains over the 12 months, with house prices up 32.8%. But even that large increase was smaller than the state’s previous rates of annual appreciation.

What’s more, Arizona’s quarterly appreciation slowed significantly, to 3.8% in the first three months of 2006 from 7.4% in the last three months of 2005.

Florida markets continued to post strong price gains, with the state home to 10 of the 20 U.S. metro areas with the strongest appreciation over the past year. Overall, Florida home prices rose 26.6% over the past year, bringing the 5-year gain to 111.5%.

Besides Arizona and Florida, Hawaii, Oregon, Maryland, Idaho and Washington, D.C., all recorded price gains of more than 20% over the past year.

But the report showed cooling in the most recent quarter. Price gains from the fourth quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 were smaller than previous quarterly appreciation rates.

In Iowa and South Dakota, in fact, prices declined in the first quarter, the report said.

In another 12 states, quarterly price gains were less than 1%.

Another report also indicated a slowing housing market.

Pending sales of U.S. homes fell in April for the third month in a row, indicating slower purchase activity ahead, a trade group said.

House price appreciation by state
State	12 months	Q1	5 years	Since 1980

Arizona (AZ)	32.8%	3.8%	93.5%	309.8%

Florida (FL)	26.6%	4.3%	111.5%	363.7%

Hawaii (HI)	25.0%	5.0%	113.4%	424.7%

Oregon (OR)	21.0%	3.8%	58.6%	315.9%

District of Columbia (DC)	20.8%	1.5%	124.0%	518.6%

Maryland (MD)	20.5%	3.2%	101.3%	409.4%

Idaho (ID)	20.3%	3.3%	50.9%	216.2%

Washington (WA)	19.4%	3.8%	56.4%	346.7%

California (CA)	19.2%	2.5%	115.2%	534.1%

Virginia (VA)	18.1%	2.7%	83.4%	350.6%

Nevada (NV)	17.1%	2.9%	106.1%	309.6%

New Mexico (NM)	15.9%	2.8%	45.3%	203.2%

Delaware (DE)	15.6%	2.6%	72.2%	389.6%

New Jersey (NJ)	14.9%	2.2%	86.4%	464.0%

Utah (UT)	14.7%	3.1%	28.5%	216.8%

Montana (MT)	13.9%	1.2%	53.0%	243.4%

Alaska (AK)	13.5%	1.2%	51.0%	161.4%

Wyoming (WY)	13.5%	2.8%	53.8%	141.5%

Vermont (VT)	12.7%	1.6%	64.5%	339.0%

United States	12.5%	2.0%	57.3%	293.8%

Pennsylvania (PA)	12.5%	2.1%	55.1%	291.5%

New York (NY)	12.4%	1.9%	74.5%	546.6%

Louisiana (LA)	11.5%	3.1%	35.4%	127.6%

Connecticut (CT)	11.2%	1.8%	65.1%	373.2%

WestVirginia (WV)	10.6%	1.1%	35.5%	126.6%

RhodeIsland (RI)	10.6%	1.9%	98.7%	507.2%

Maine (ME)	9.8%	1.7%	65.4%	406.7%

Illinois (IL)	9.3%	1.7%	43.6%	266.2%

North Dakota (ND)	9.3%	0.6%	36.6%	134.3%

Alabama (AL)	9.1%	1.4%	27.9%	168.4%

South Carolina (SC)	9.1%	1.8%	30.5%	199.5%

New Hampshire (NH)	8.5%	1.3%	66.2%	402.9%

Arkansas (AR)	8.4%	1.9%	30.8%	148.9%

North Carolina (NC)	8.3%	1.7%	27.0%	215.0%

Tennessee (TN)	8.3%	1.5%	26.0%	185.2%

Mississippi (MS)	8.3%	1.6%	24.7%	132.3%

Wisconsin (WI)	7.5%	0.9%	37.5%	225.9%

Minnesota (MN)	7.1%	0.9%	50.1%	270.6%

Missouri (MO)	7.0%	1.4%	34.5%	194.8%

Oklahoma (OK)	6.7%	0.8%	25.9%	94.4%

Massachusetts (MA)	6.5%	0.6%	62.4%	635.7%

Georgia (GA)	6.5%	1.4%	28.3%	227.3%

South Dakota (SD)	6.1%	-0.1%	30.3%	170.1%

Texas (TX)	5.9%	1.1%	21.5%	107.3%

Kentucky (KY)	5.5%	0.9%	24.6%	180.1%

Colorado (CO)	5.1%	0.2%	24.8%	259.4%

Iowa (IA)	4.8%	-0.4%	23.5%	144.0%

Kansas (KS)	4.5%	0.4%	24.0%	135.7%

Nebraska (NE)	4.5%	0.7%	21.9%	152.9%

Indiana (IN)	4.2%	0.4%	18.2%	155.3%

Ohio (OH)	3.3%	0.5%	19.8%	172.5%

Michigan (MI)	2.9%	0.2%	21.6%	223.4%

Period ended March 31 Source: OFHEO

Posted in Real Estate Related | Comments Off on U.S. home prices cooling off

Restaurant listings For June 1, 2006

Thursday, June 1st, 2006

Critic’s Picks

Sun

A list of restaurants recommended and anonymously visited by Sun restaurant critic Mia Stainsby. Prices are per couple for three courses, with a glass of wine each, before tip and taxes.

$ means $50 or less

$$ means $50 to $100

$$$ means more than $100

– – –

WEST COAST

Aurora Bistro The first fine dining room on Main St. Inventive food, hip spot. 2420 Main St., 604-873-9944. $$

Bishop’s Consistently one of the city’s best. Almost 100 per cent organic foods. 2183 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-2025. $$$

Bin 941 Tapas bar in tiny eclectic space. 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246. $$/$$$

Bin 942 Creative, delectable tapas dishes. 1521 West Broadway, 604-734-9421. $$/$$$

Bridges For fine dining, head upstairs, and for casual, try the downstairs bistro. 1696 Duranleau, 604-687-4400. $$/$$$

Brix Large tapas selection, 60 wines by the glass. 1138 Homer St., 604-915-9463. $$/$$$

Chartwell Beautiful food, wonderful service. Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia St. 604-689-9333. $$$

Cru Blurs the lines of fine dining, lounge and bistro. Lovely “small plates” or a four-course prix fixe. 1459 West Broadway, 604-677-4111. $$

Diner Great comfort food in contemporary setting. 1269 Hamilton St., 604-444-4855. $/$$

Diva at the Met High-end food, gorgeously presented. Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St., 604-602-7788. $$$

Feenie’s Comfort food with a modern tweak and quality ingredients. 2563 West Broadway, 604-739-7115. $/$$

Fiction Young crowd, great tapas dishes. 3162 West Broadway, 604-736-7576. $$

Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar Hip, happening destination. Creative chef. 1079 Mainland St., 604-602-0835. $$

Lift Bar and Grill Gorgeously perched over Coal Harbour. Sibling to Monk McQueen’s. 333 Menchions Mews, 604-689-5438. $$$

Lucy Mae Brown Intimate space, assertive dishes. 862 Richards St., 604-899-9199. $$

Lumiere Tasting Bar The casual sidekick to famous sibling, Lumiere, next door. 2551 West Broadway, 604-739-8185. $$/$$$

Nu A sophisticated version of casual dining. Beautiful flavours, great atmosphere. 1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668. $$

Parkside Handsome room in residential West End, richly flavoured food. Great spot. 1906 Haro, 604-683-6912. $$/$$$

Raincity Grill A Vancouver moment by English Bay. Regional food. 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337. $$$

Rare An impressive, unique menu. There’s passion here. 1355 Hornby St., 604-669-1256. $$$

Show Case West Coast menu that doesn’t shy from adventure. Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, 1128 West Hastings St., 604-639-4040. $$$

Watermark Stunning Kits Beach view, sexy architecture, casual food. 1305 Arbutus St., 604-738-5487. $$

West Vies for best restaurant in the city. 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938. $$$

ITALIAN

Adesso Neighbourhood Italian spot with light, elegant food. 2201 West First Ave., 604-738-6515. $$

Amarcord Food from the Bologna and Emilia Romagna area of Italy, elegantly presented. Clear, natural flavours. 1168 Hamilton St., 604-681-6500. $$

Borgo Antico Tuscan looks. Fine Italian food. 321 Water St., 604-683-8376. $$/$$$

CinCin Restaurant and Bar Seasonal menu with wood-fired dishes. Notable desserts. 1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338. $$/$$$

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill Fine Italian cuisine with a light touch. 1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466. $$$

Don Francesco Ristorante Romantic, classic Italian restaurant with heart. 860 Burrard St., 604-685-7770. $$$

Il Giardino “New Italian” food, light with exotic elements. Big on game. 1382 Hornby St., 604-669-2422. $$$.

Incendio Great wood-oven pizzas, robust lineup of pastas. 103 Columbia St., 604-688-8694. $/$$

Incendio West Same as above, but in modern digs. 2118 Burrard St., 604-736-2220. $/$$

La Terrazza Knock-out looks, intelligent and friendly staff, traditional Italian food. 1088 Cambie St., 604-899-4449. $$$

Lombardo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant Serving pizza lovers for years. 1641 Commercial Dr., 604-251-2240. $

Quattro on Fourth An Italian restaurant with flair. 2611 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4444. $$/$$$

CHINESE

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Slurp noodles and chomp on delicious potstickers. Huge menu. 1339 Robson St., 604-685-0871. $

Imperial Seafood Fine Cantonese food, (expensive) in the lovely Marine Building. 355 Burrard St., 604-688-8191. $$$

Kirin Seafood Exquisite Cantonese food. City Square, 555 West 12th Ave., 604-879-8038. $$$

Pink Pearl It’s been around forever and is still a going concern. 1132 East Hastings St., 604-253-4316. $

Sun Sui Wah Cantonese cuisine with light, finely tuned flavours. 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822. $$

Szechuan Chongqing An institution for those who love the incendiary fare. 2808 Commercial Dr., 604-254-7434. $$

Wild Rice Modern Chinese food in a sophisticated, hip setting. 117 West Pender St., 604-642-2882. $$

JAPANESE

1215 Japanese tapas. Experimentation rules in the kitchen. 1215 Davie St., 604-633-1215. $/$$

Ajisai Sushi Bar Small neighbourhood spot with sushi that sings. 2081West42nd Ave., 604-266-1428. $

Bistro Sakana Exciting Japanese food with French and Italian curve balls. 1123 Mainland St., 604-633-1280. $$

Black Tuna Tapas style Japanese dishes, sushi, lovingly cooked. 202 — 1184 Denman St., 604-408-7557. $$

Chopstick Cafe/Shiru-Bay Great atmosphere, intriguing izakaya food, budget prices. 1193 Hamilton St., 604-408-9315. $$

En Japanese Restaurant Bucks the usual conformity of Japanese restaurants. Splendid food. 2686 Granville St., 604-730-0330. $$

Gyoza King Gyozas reign supreme. Open late. 1508 Robson St., 604-669-8278. $

Hapa Izakaya Young and stylish; great izakaya-style Japanese food. 1479 Robson St., 604-689-4272. $/$$

Japone Wonderfully inventive dishes on the ‘chef’s specials’ menu. 8269 Oak St., 604-263-6708. $$

Sushi Wabi Sabi Exciting contemporary Japanese food. 4422 West 10th Ave., 604-222-8188. $$

Tojo’s Restaurant The topper in this category. Japanese food at its best. 202 — 777 West Broadway, 604-872-8050. $$$

Toshi Sushi Tiny place always packed for the fresh, tasty sushi. 181 East 16th Ave., 604-847-5173. $/$$

Yuji’s Expect the unexpected. Food takes some creative turns. 2059 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4990. $$

Zest Japanese Cuisine Grazing style modern Japanese menu in cool modern room. 2775 West 16th Ave., 604-731-9378. $$

FRENCH/BELGIAN

Bacchus Restaurant Some classics, some nouveau. Expect the best. Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777. $$$

Cafe de Paris Traditional French bistro. Lots of character. 751 Denman St., 604-687-1418. $$

Cassis Bistro Low budget but mod interior. Delicious traditional French bistro fare. Good value. 420 West Pender St., 604-605-0420. $$

Chambar Modern Belgian food. Hot hipster scene. Chef has cooked in a three-star Michelin restaurant. 562 Beatty St., 604-879-7119. $$

Elixir French brasserie in Yaletown; bistro food, haute quality. 322 Davie St., 604-642-0557. $$/$$$

Le Crocodile Refined French with incredible wines to boot. 909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298. $$$

Le Gavroche French food in a charming old house. 1616 Alberni St., 604-685-3924. $$$

The Hermitage Beautifully controlled classic French cooking. Quiet atmosphere. 1025 Robson St., 604-689-3237. $$$

Lumiere Chef Rob Feenie redefines restaurants in Vancouver. Tasting menus. 2551 West Broadway, 604-739-8185. $$$

Mistral Authentic Provencal food cooked by former Michelin chef. 2585 West Broadway, 604-733-0046. $$

Pastis French bistro with a lightness of being. 2153 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-5020. $$/$$$

Salade de Fruits Very good value French country bistro. 1551 West Seventh, 604-714-5987. $$

The William Tell A Swiss-French restaurant. Service excels. Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty St., 604-688-3504. $$$

GREEK

Apollonia Well-prepared Greek food and very good pizzas. 1830 Fir St., 604-736-9559. $/$$

Kalamata Greek Taverna A popular souvlaki stop dressed in the familiar white and blue. 478 West Broadway, 604-872-7050. $$

The Main Friendly, funky spot. Wonderful roast lamb. 4210 Main St., 604-709-8555. $$

Maria’s Taverna Friendly service. 2324 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-4722. $$

Simpatico Thirty-plus years old; traditional Greek restaurant with the addition of good pizzas. 2222 West Fourth Ave., 604733-6824. $/$$

Stepho’s Nightly lineups because of low prices. 1124 Davie St., 604-683-2555. $

INDIAN

Akbar’s Own Mogul-style Indian cuisine. 1905 West Broadway, 604-736-8180. $$

Chutney Villa South Indian cuisine, with dosas, idli and vadas. 147 East Broadway, 604-872-2228. $/$$

Clove An alternative Indian restaurant, funky, cheap beyond belief. 2054 Commercial Dr., 604-255-5550. $

Clove Upscale sibling to Clove on Commercial. Modern Indian cuisine. 735 Denman St., 604-669-2421. $/$$

Maurya Fine Indian food in glam surroundings. 1643 West Broadway, 604-742-0622. $$$

Rangoli Vij’s casual and take-out next-door sidekick. Impressive. 1488 West 11th Ave., 604-736-5711. $

Vij’s Dishes are a symphony of wondrous flavours. 1480 West 11th Ave., 604-736-6664. $$

Yogi’s Hip, contemporary Indian food, perfect for The Drive. 1408 Commercial Dr., 604-251-9644. $

SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Banana Leaf Homestyle Malaysian food. 820 West Broadway, 604-731-6333 and 1096 Denman St., 604-683-3333. $$

Chi Modern take on Malaysian and Thai cuisines. 1796 Nanaimo St., 604-215-0078. $$

Kedah House Halal Restaurant Malaysian food with a light, nimble touch. 5750 Fraser St., 604-325-9771. $

Monsoon An “East-West” brasserie with tropical Asian dishes, loads of atmosphere. 2526 Main St., 604-879-4001. $$

Montri Thai Restaurant Some of the best Thai food in the city. 3629 West Broadway, 604-738-9888. $$

Phnom Penh Largely Cambodian but includes Chinese and Vietnamese flavours. 244 East Georgia St., 682-5777. $

Pondok Authentic Indonesian dishes, freshly cooked. 2781 Commercial Dr., 604-872-8718. $$

Simply Thai On the A-list for Thai food. 1211 Hamilton St., 604-642-0123. $$

SEAFOOD

Bluewater Cafe and Raw Bar Handsome spot. Impressive seafood, impressive wine list. 1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078. $$$

C Chef Robert Clark takes seafood to a new level. 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164. $$$

Cannery Seafood Fine dining in rustic nautical decor on working waterfront. 2205 Commissioner St., 604-254-9606 $$$

Coast Restaurant Yaletown chic, shares kinship with Glowbal Grill and Satay. Seafood emphasis. 1157 Hamilton St., 604-685-5010. $$$

Fish Cafe Unpretentious, straight-ahead seafood at bargain prices. 2053 West 41st Ave., 604-267-3474. $

Fish House in Stanley Park Bold and imaginative seafood dishes by the creative Karen Barnaby. 8901 Stanley Park Dr., 604-681-7275. $$$

Go Fish Fab fish and chips and much more, dished out of a catering truck, made with fish from the adjacent Fisherman’s Wharf. 1505 West First Ave., 604-730-5040. $

Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House Fresh shucked oysters, cedar plank salmon, grilled chops. High energy. 777 Thurlow St., 604-669-1940. $$$

Rodney’s Oyster House Specializes in very fresh shellfish and oysters. 1228 Hamilton St., 604-609-0080. $$

AMERICAN

Memphis Blues Barbecue House Slow-cooked, southern style BBQ. Delish. 1465 West Broadway, 604-738-6806; 1342 Commercial Dr., 604-215-2599. $

VEGETARIAN

Bo Kong Buddhist-based menu using very fresh ingredients. Mild flavours. 3068 Main St., 604-876-3088. $

Habibi’s Lebanese food. Not the same old, same old. 1128 West Broadway, 604-732-7487. $

The Naam Wide variety of vegetarian fare. Quiet patio in summer. 2724 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-7151. $

Om Vegetarian Flavourful, fresh Buddhist-based vegetarian food. 3466 Cambie St., 604-873-6878. $

LATIN AMERICA

Banano’s No-frills Venezuelan/Colombian cafe. Delicious arepas. 1223 Pacific Boulevard, 604-408-4228. $

Baru Casually chic South American food for discerning diners. 2535 Alma St., 604-222-9171. $$

Century Restaurant and Bar Modern Latin food, the best in town. Great space. 432 Richards St., 604-687-1280. $$/$$$

Havana Cuban food, tweaked for Commercial Drive. 1212 Commercial Dr., 604-253-9119. $

Latin Quarter Mexican and Mediterranean tapas dishes as well as music in the evenings. 1305 Commercial Dr., 604-251-1144. $$

Lolita’s South of the Border Cantina Casual Mexican food with sparkle. Lots of buzz in the room. 1326 Davie St., 604-696-9996. $$

Mexico Sabroso A slice of Mexico. Very inexpensive, authentic Mexican cafe. 440 West Hastings St., 604-688-7426. $

Rinconcito Salvadorean Restaurant Fresh Salvadorean cuisine. Lovely pupusas. 2062 Commercial Dr., 604-879-2600. $

Tio Pepe’s Yucatan food, nicely prepared. 1134 Commercial Dr., 604-254-8999. $

MEDITERRANEAN

Circolo Italian, French, and a little bit of New York. Awesome wine list. 1116 Mainland, 604-687-1116. $$$

Provence Mediterranean Grill The menu is a marriage of French and Italian. Lovely flavours. 4473 West 10th Ave., 604-222-1980 and 1177 Marinaside Cres., 604-681-4144. $$

EASTERN EUROPEAN, CENTRAL ASIAN

Accent Eastern European, French, Russian accents on a continental theme. 1967 West Broadway, 604-734-6660. $$

The Budapest Big doses of Hungarian comfort. Smouldering goulash soup. 3250 Main St. 604-877-1949. $

Rasputin Large selection of vodkas, wonderful live music and dishes such as grilled Georgian cornish game hen. 457 West Broadway, 604-879-6675.$$

NORTH SHORE

Beach House at Dundarave Pier Spectacular setting for brunch by Dundarave Beach. West Coast cuisine. 150 25th St., West Van, 604-922-1414. $$$

Beach Side Cafe Elegant room, summer patio, fine Italian cuisine. 1362 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-1945. $$$

Bistro 1734 Traditional French bistro food in warm, friendly setting. 1734 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-922-8198. $$

Bravo Cucina Traditional Italian, cooked with care. 1209 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-985-3006. $$

Brown’s Restaurant and Bar Casually chic and bustling bistro with burgers, rice bowls, entrees. 1764 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-929-5401. $/$$

Dundarave Fish Market Charming spot; fabulous seafood from the adjoining fish market. 2419 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-922-1155. $

Gusto Di Quattro Cosy, warm. Italian food. 1 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-924-4444 . $$/$$$

La Regalade A truly, deeply French bistro. Wonderful atmosphere. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-921-2228. $$/$$$

Mythos Whitewashed walls, azure blue trim say “sun-drenched Greece.” 1811 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-984-7411. $$

Nobu Tiny, with just enough room to make the lovely sushi. 3197 Edgemont Blvd.,North Van., 604-988-4553. $

Ocean Club Chic Yaletown-style lounge and restaurant. Food is imaginative and yummy. 100 Park Royal South, West Van, 604-926-2326. $$

Palki An Indian restaurant with a good grip on the spices. Fresh ingredients. 116 East 15th St., North Van, 604-986-7555. $$

Saltaire Gorgeous roof patio. Good value West Coast food. 2nd floor – 235 15th St., West Van, 604-913-8439. $$

Zen Japanese Restaurant Creative kitchen, quality ingredients. Good sake list. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-0667. $$/$$$

BURNABY/NEW WEST

Anton’s Gargantuan portions of pasta. No reservations. 4260 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-6636. $$

Boat House Conservative seafood menu. Restaurant overlooks Fraser River. 900 Quayside, New Westminster, 604-525-3474. $$

Bombay Bhel Lovely Indian food. Menu features Mumbai-style snacks. 4266 Hastings St., 604-299-2500. $/$$

The Hart House In Tudor mansion. Exacting West Coast fare. 6664 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, 604-298-4278. $$$

Orange Room Casual tapas. International flavours. 620 Sixth Ave., New Westminster, 604-520-6464. $$

Pear Tree Small menu, sublime continental food. 4120 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-2772. $$$

Taverna Greka Greek cuisine. View of Fraser River. 326 Columbia, New Westminster, 604-526-6651. $$

Vassili Souvlaki Greek Taverna Traditional Greek foods with no reticence when it comes to portions. 6558 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-434-0626. $$

COQUITLAM, POCO, PORT MOODY

Joey Tomato’s Mediterranean Grill Casual family retaurant. 550 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam, 604-939-3077

John B Pub Above-average pub food. 1000 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, 604-931-5115. $$

Kirin Seafood Restaurant Chinese food for the discriminating palate. 2nd floor, Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, 604-944-8833. $$/$$$

Pasta Polo Organic wheat pastas, pizzas. Family restaurant. 2754 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam, 604-464-7656. $/$$

RICHMOND

Also Lounge and Restaurant A blend of Italian/French with Asian accents and high-end presentation. 4200 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-303-9906. $$

Big River Brewing Co. Pub, serving casual food. 14200 Entertainment Blvd., Richmond, 604-271-2739. $/$$

Bo Kong Restaurant Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. No alcohol. 8100 Ackroyd Rd., Richmond, 604-278-1992. $

The Flying Beaver Bar Funky bar overlooking the Fraser River. 4760 Inglis Dr., Richmond, 604-273-0278. $/$$

Globe at YVR Impressive food, sleek contemporary decor with view of U.S. arrivals terminal. Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver Airport, Richmond, 604-248-3281. $$$

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Noodles and delicious pot stickers, panfried or steamed. 4600 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-0871. $

Quilon Restaurant Southern Indian cuisine with notably delicious dosas. 6030 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-303-0011. $$

The Rainbow Vegetarian Restaurant Deliciously prepared vegan and vegetarian Buddhist Chinese food. 8095 Park Road, Richmond, 604-273-7311. $

Shanghai River Shanghai style cuisine. Dumplings and noodles made in open kitchen. 7831 Westminster Highway, 604-233-8885. $$

Shiang Garden Part of a successful Taiwanese restaurant chain. Impressive seafood. 2200 — 4540 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8858. $$

Sun Sui Wah Impressive way with seafood. 4940 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8208. $$

Zen Fine Chinese Cuisine Multi-coursed tasting menus and personalized dinners. Excellent. 2015 — 8580 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, 604-233-0077. $$$

SURREY, WHITE ROCK, DELTA, TSAWWASSEN

Big Ridge Brewing Co. A Mark James restaurant and brew-pub. Families welcome. 15133 Hwy. 10, Surrey, 604-574-2739. $$

Crescent Beach Bistro Rustic country spot. Straight ahead food. 12251 Beecher St., 604-531-1882. $$

Giraffe Charming place, eclectic West Coast menu. 15053 Marine Dr., White Rock, 604-538-6878. $$/$$$

Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club West Coast cuisine. Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club, 18150 — Eighth Ave., Surrey, 604-538-1212 $$/$$

La Belle Auberge In a heritage house in Ladner. Sublime French food. 4856 48th Ave., Ladner, 604-946-7717. $$$

Northview Golf and Country Club High-end dining, nestled amid acres of golf fairways. 6857 168th St., Surrey, 604-574-0324. $$$

Pearl on the Rock Modern Pacific Northwest cuisine with emphasis on seafood. Delicious fare. 14955 Marine Dr., White rock. 604-542-1064. $$$

Uli’s Restaurant Continental cuisine on busy restaurant strip. Water view. 15021 Marine Dr., White Rock, 604-538-9373. $$

FRASER VALLEY

Bacchus Bistro At Domain de Chaberton Estate Winery. Limited hours. Mediterranean food. 1064 — 216th St., Langley. 604-530-9694. $$

Bravo Bistro Swish little bistro, run by former Delilah’s restaurant veterans. 46224 Yale Rd., Chilliwack. 1-604-792-7721. $$

The Seasonal Experience Adrian Beaty runs an ambitious kitchen with a Throw Away the menu option. 20226 Fraser Highway, Langley, 604-514-1311. $$

Posted in Restaurants | Comments Off on Restaurant listings For June 1, 2006

Archive for June, 2006

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HGTV Tips & Info on Patios & Decks

A new HGTV series focuses on designs for gracious living in our very own great outdoors

Restaurant listings For June 1, 2006

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