Sarah Rowland of 24 Hours did a Block Walk on West 4th today and here’s what she found.
HIPSILANO – West 4th Avenue may never be the hub of counterculture like it was in the late ’60s and early ’70s, but it’s still a pretty cool place to shop, especially if you’re a yummy mommy, health freak or indie hipster. The best example of this postmodern consumer’s paradise is the north-facing block between Cypress and Maple. There you’ll find baby boutiques, high-end gift shops, a tattoo parlour, a juice bar and of course one of Kitsilano’s most respected institutions – Zulu Records.
DRY INK – At Adrenaline Tattoos (1926 W. 4th Ave.), you don’t have to sacrifice your tatty cool thanks to these Chooka rain boots ($90).
RAIN-READY RUG RATS – Prepare the little ones for precipitation with a Kidorable froggy raincoats ($37.99 – ladybug style also available), which can be found at Baby’s World (1946 W. 4th Ave.).
GET IN THE RING – Looking for a limited edition silk-screened T for the badass in your life? You found your place. This “Cuba Boxing” ($40.99) is one of many original designs that you can pick at Ironhead (1952 W. 4th Ave.), a sweatshop free, made- in-Canada specialty shop.
KICKOFFS FOR KIDS – The Australian Boot Company (1968 W. 4th Ave.) has a great selection of boots for adults and kids, including these adorable slip-on “Blunnies” ($89.95).
PHOTO FABULOUS – In addition to novelty knick-knacks and designer clothing, Moule (1994 W. 4th Ave.) has a wall devoted to provocative coffee table books ($15-85).
ON THE RECORD – Even if you’re not a scenester, audiophile and/or musician, you can still find something worth listening to at Zulu Records (1972-1976 W. 4th Ave.), such as Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black ($18.98). Quick, this could be a future kitsch classic.
TOOTH BOOTH – For people who like to multitask in the shower, Now & Then (1986 W. 4th Ave.) offers the flipper toothbrush holder ($8.80).
Last modified: June 22, 2008
Back in 1967 i bought a coffee house called the “Black Swan” just east of Arbutus on 4th Ave. We renamed it “Harry Krishna’s Famous Last Chance Saloon (which the police forced us to change to ‘Last Chance Salon’ and which was commonly known as the ‘Last Chance” I ran the joint with various partners until 1972. Great times…Dan Hill
Let us not forget “Ironhead”… Kitsilano’s most-beloved supplier of very hip and unique t-shirts!