Nelson the Seagull café coming to Carrall St.

Nelson the Seagull opening May 2011 on Carrall St.

Nelson the Seagull opening May 2011 on Carrall St.

Last night while walking down Carrall Street between Hastings and Cordova in Gastown, I spotted signage for “Nelson the Seagull,” in the windows of the recently-restored Rainier Hotel.

There isn’t a lot of other information online, but there is a website, which says Nelson the Seagull will serve fresh bread, coffee and organic fare. The proprietors say the want the cafe “to feel like a lazy summer day spent with friends.”

Nelson the Seagull will be open at 315 Carrall St. sometime in May.

New Slickity Jim’s breakfast joint at 3469 Main St.

Slickity Jim's re-opens on Main St. at E. 18 Ave., Vancouver

Slickity Jim's re-opens on Main St. at E. 18 Ave., Vancouver

Famous breakfast joint Slickity Jim’s has re-opened on Main St., in their new location at 3469 Main St., near E 18th Ave.

You may remember the original restaurant near Main and Broadway before it was destroyed in a spectacular fire in November 2009.

Owner Mike Zalman was committed to re-opening the restaurant, and in early March, the new Slickity Jim’s re-opened their doors.

Although I used to live in the area, I never made it to the original location before it burned down, so it was a treat to finally have breakfast at the new location.

It was a typical Sunday morning, and we had to wait for about 30 minutes for our table for two, because the restaurant was so busy. No big deal.

Interior of the new Slickity Jim's at 3469 Main St, Vancouver

Interior of the new Slickity Jim's at 3469 Main St, Vancouver

The room is funky, with gold chandeliers, lots of seating and all sorts of interesting pieces collected by the owner through the restaurant. The space used to be a bike shop but you would never know.

I ordered the “Morning Yearning,” which consists of two free run eggs any style with bacon, chorizo, grilled tomato, and veggie chilli, served with multigrain, rye or sourdough toast for $9.75.

It was tasty, and the chili was a nice touch I’ve never had at breakfast before. Can’t say I’ll making it part of my regular breakfast menu, though! Coffee was hot and drinkable, which can be hard to come by at some breakfast places around town. (Joe’s Grill, I’m talking to you.)

I would have liked if the bacon was a bit thicker, and not just the standard grocery store bacon, but that was my only complaint. Service was friendly and relatively quick considering how busy they were.

The following review comes from my dear friend Marisa, who had the benny and used to frequent the old location before it burned down:

“Mine was absolutely delicious, their signature hollandaise sauce though is so good that I sometimes wish they put more on there so I can have more of it with my potatoes (although I am sure they’re saving me from myself in this matter.) It was supposed to come with prosciutto which they had run out of, but was in fact perfect without it. My only complaint would be that it took a while (being so busy) and also I was looking for one on the menu they used to have called “chasing rabbits” that I think had mushrooms on it, and they don’t seem to have re-added it to the current menu. I miss all the vintage collectibles that burned down with the old place, really sad to see a lifetime collection like that go up in flames.”

Slickity Jim's Eggs Benny

Slickity Jim's Eggs Benny

Slickity Jim's "The Morning Yearning" breakfast

Slickity Jim's "The Morning Yearning" breakfast

Check out Slickity Jim’s menu and drop into 3469 Main St., Vancouver for a delicious breakfast with a great atmosphere.

Slickity Jim's Chat n' Chew on Urbanspoon

Vancouver’s Pantages Theatre to be demolished

Demolition at the Pantages Theatre site

Demolition at the Pantages Theatre site. Courtesy: David Jacklin

Sad news about the Pantages Theatre in Downtown Eastside today.

The City of Vancouver has confirmed that demolition permits have been issued for the 104-year-old theatre and adjacent buildings at 130, 132, 134 and 138 East Hastings, just west of the Carengie Community Centre.

Several engineering reports have confirmed what most already knew: the building is falling apart and is unsalvagable. Water has been leaking through a large hole in the roof of the theatre for several years now, destroying what was left of many of the heritage features.

Besides the unfortunate loss of Canada’s oldest remaining vaudeville theatre, starting next week there will be another large empty parcel of land in the Downtown Eastside. Except this vacant piece of land will be at a very vulnerable location – half a block from Hastings and Main.

The city says there are currently no development plans for the site, so get ready for another community garden or tent city.

I presume the owner is awaiting the outcome of the Historic Area Height Review, which is the subject of intense resistance by neighbourhood activists. The review would allow developers to build taller buildings in the DTES and Chinatown.

The Pantages Theatre and the adjacent buildings have been owned since 2005 by Edmonton-based Worthington Properties, who primarily specialize in commercial developments.

For several years, Worthington attempted to sell the land assembly back to the City of Vancouver, with a plan to restore the original theatre and build 120 units of social housing on the site.

The City of Vancouver turned the developer down on more than one occasion, and the property has been for sale as a “land assembly” for the past couple of years.

Next week, the Pantages Theatre and all of its history will be wiped out, and another vacant lot will line East Hastings Street.

The “Save the Pantages” group along with Heritage Vancouver tried valiantly for years to get the city’s attention.

Unfortunately, Vancouver has lost yet another significant heritage structure due to neglect.

More information:

Report from Global BC, Noon News Hour, April 8, 2011

Pantages Theatre Vancouver, East Hastings St.

Interior of the Pantages Theatre Vancouver, on East Hastings St., set to be demolished next week. Photo courtesy: Heritage Vancouver