I didn’t have a chance to go in and check. It might have been a trap.

One of my favorite drink places when I first moved to Vancouver was the Crime Lab, and I’ve missed it since it’s closure back at the start of 2006 [mbv]. Walking around the seawall the other day Lydia pointed out the sign for the new Crime Lab, which seems to be focusing more on the restaurant aspect. 

Restaurant or not the Crime Lab was always a nice and relaxing place to head after a day of work, and I’m glad to see it opening again even if its new location on the corner of Denman and Bayshore Drive has kind of become the last resting place for a number of failed eateries in the last couple of years.

But us non-Starbucks members aren’t left out in the cold (out in the heat?) mind you – a look in today’s mail netted a coupon postcard for a free iced-drink from Starbucks (see my photo at left.) And when you’ve used that up, here’s a thought. Make your own for a fraction of the cost! I’m going to try this out over the weekend – anybody else brave enough to try, we can compare notes later.

This is what I had for breakfast. Thus ends this week’s theme post.

Catch us for week 3: July 27 – Aug 2, when the theme will be Hallways.

Former chef Anthony Bourdain is famous around foodie circles both for his books, the most notable being Kitchen Confidential, and the niche he’s carved for himself as a travel food journalist with his show No Reservations which is shown on the Travel Channel down in the States. The most talked about shtick on the show is when Bourdain will eat something stomach turning, presenting audiences with a reality television version of the monkey brains scene from Temple of Doom.

Vancouver seems an odd destination for the show, since it’s neither one of the major food capitals of the world nor a place where one is likely to find something quite so unusual as a cobra heart like he ate in Vietnam. Still our city was one of the destinations for the show on this season, and while you won’t find it on Canadian television thanks to YouTube we can watch the episode online (for now).

I’ve said before that having outsiders come to Vancouver is a great way to get a new perspective on the city, and see just how much other people appreciate what we have there. Granted some of the eating that he does in the episode is way beyond a lot of people’s pocket books (mine included) but it’s still a great indication of what we have in our city.

The first three parts of the episode after the jump.

It’s meetup time again, and after months and months of no getting together the Metroblogging Vancouver crew want you to come on out.  All of our bloggers and you the readers are invited, as we come together to drink, chat and drink. 

Will our adventures be blogable?  Will we have Flickr ready poses all worked out?  I say yes and again yes.  Our special guest for the evening will be Metroblogging co-founder Sean Bonner whose in Vancouver for a few days.

This Tuesday May 20th come down to the Library Square Pub at 7:30 pm and partake in the fun.  If you can please RSVP in the comments.  Metbloggers please check the authors’ forums or email me to confirm that you can make it.

Lamplighter Pub re-opens today, originally uploaded by bmann.

In response to my complaint at having spent last night at a hotel bar in Seattle I was challenged on Metroblogging Seattle to name three pubs that I’d take people in downtown Vancouver [mbs]. I panicked and listed off The Mill, The Dover Arms and The Library Square Public House.

Did I fuck up and forget something? There’s got to be something in Gastown I missed.