The BMO Vancouver Half Marathon will be coming through Yaletown on May 5th, 2013.

Represent your neighbourhood! Come to the Yaletown Starbucks at Davie and Mainland (1195 Mainland St) before the BMO Vancouver Marathon to pick up a customizable cheer poster. On the day of the BMO Vancouver Marathon meet your friends and community neighbours Starbucks and then head on out to cheer on the runners of the BMO Vancouver Marathon.

Pick up cheer signs at any designated Starbucks location between April 22 and May 4: List of locations here.

If you’re planning on driving on May 4th, please watch for road closures.
Click on image below to download Yaletown’s traffic plan:

Find the complete listing of road closures at www.bmovanmarathon.ca/community/road-closures

The Yaletown BIA board of directors would like to invite you to the Member Open House in preparation for Yaletown’s renewal as a BIA.

When: April 30, 2013
Where: Hooker’s Green (1141 Hamilton Street)
Time: 9am – 1pm drop by anytime
RSVP: Jillian Ong at (604) 683-7473 or festival@yaletowninfo.com

At the open house you will have the opportunity to:

• Talk about your business’ specific needs
• Discuss your vision for Yaletown for the next 5 years
• Prepare yourself for the changes in relation to the Vancouver Transportation Plan
• Meet the board of directors and the BIA staff
• Give us your thoughts on the BIA budget increase

Thank you for supporting our efforts to ensure Yaletown is a viable place to do business, shop, dine and visit. Future Yaletown BIA programs and activities are being explored as part of an ongoing consultation with members. Add your ideas and comments at the Open House and help to shape the future of this neighbourhood.

New programs and activities will form the basis of the Yaletown BIA strategic plan due in June 2013. We hope to see you at the Member Open House. Stop by anytime between 9am – 1pm, the board of directors and BIA staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

There will also be a draw for 3 x $50 Donnelly Group gift cards.

Photo Credit: Tourism Vancouver / Coast Mountain Photography

Come celebrate lower costs in Yaletown!

Good news for those looking to dine at Yaletown restaurants; starting April 1, 2013 you won’t be paying PST on food. On April 1, the 12% HST will be replaced by the 5% Federal GST and 7% BC PST rates.

Menus from around the world in one neighbourhood. With over 50 restaurants within Yaletown’s 3-block radius, you’ll be sure to find something you crave. Find restaurants below.

What does this mean?
As a purchaser, you don’t need to do anything to get this exemption! The tax on your meal will be reduced from 12% to 5%. Additionally, other items that you won’t have to pay PST on include: hair cuts, bicycles (try Reckless Bike Stores) and kids clothing.

Pick your favorite Yaletown restaurant by cuisine:

Photo Credit: Matt Reeves

The Yaletown BIA has partnered with Vancouver Fashion Week to offer you a chance to win a pair of Day Passes (valued at $150). Vancouver Fashion Week runs from March 19th to 24th, showing both established and emerging designers.

The Day Pass gives access to all VFW fashion shows on one day of the week (Opening Gala not included)

Tweet

1. For a chance to win one of three pairs of Fashion Week Day Passes:

• Take a photo of a fashion find at any Yaletown fashion retailer
• Tweet the photo using hashtag #YaletownVFW
• Contest runs March 5 – 14, 2013 – Winners will be announced March 15th.

One entry per Yaletown fashion retailer. For additional entries, tweet photos from other Yaletown shops!

-OR-

2. For a chance to win another one of three pairs of Fashion Week Day Passes:

• Recommend some great eats in Yaletown for Vancouver Fashion Week!
• Take a photo of a stylish food find at any Yaletown restaurant
• Tweet the photo using hashtag #YaletownVFW
• Contest runs March 5 – 14, 2013 – Winners will be announced March 15th.

One entry per Yaletown restaurant. For additional entries, tweet photos from other Yaletown restaurants.

Wondering where to start? Try these fashionable Yaletown shops:

Vancouver-based Guillaume Rocheron has won an Academy Award for best visual effects in Life of Pi.

Photo Credit: Disney ABC TV Group

Guillaume is the VFX Supervisor at MPC (Moving Picture Company) Yaletown. This Oscar is shared with Bill Westenhofer, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott. In Life of Pi, the majority of Guillame’s VFX work was put into the ship wreck and storm of god scenes.

Read more about MPC’s award here: www.moving-picture.com

The Canada Line’s newest art piece has been installed at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station. This public art exhibit is in partnership with the Vancouver Contemporary Art Gallery.

As it Comes by Raymond Boisjoly presents its text like a credit from a B-list horror film.

Read more about this public art exhibit at TheCanadaline.com

The Dine Out Vancouver festival returns this year from January 18th – February 3rd.

This annual festival brings together hundreds of local restaurants with unique fixed price menus. During Dine Out, you can choose from participating Vancouver restaurants offering menus at $18, $28, or $38 per person.

Photo Credit: Tourism Vancouver

To see the complete list of Vancouver restaurants and events, visit www.dineoutvancouver.com

If you’re looking to stay in Yaletown, check out our participating restaurants:

Please note that beverages, tax and gratuity are extra.

BISTRO SAKANA
1123 Mainland St | (604) 633-1280
$38 Dinner Menu

BRIX RESTAURANT & WINE BAR
1138 Homer St | (604) 915-9463
$38 Dinner Menu

EL AZTECA
1130 Mainland St | (604) 638-0127
$38 Dinner Menu
$18 Lunch Menu

GEORGE LOUNGE
1137 Hamilton St | (604) 628-5555
$28 Dinner Menu

GLOWBAL GRILL STEAKS & SATAY
1079 Mainland St | (604) 602-0835
$28 Dinner Menu

HAMILTON STREET GRILL
1009 Hamilton St | (604) 331-1511
$38 Dinner Menu

HAPA IZAKAYA
1193 Hamilton St | (604) 681-4272
$28 Dinner Menu

HOOKER’S GREEN
1141 Hamilton St | (604) 669-4848
$18 Dinner Menu

HURRICANE GRILL
1137 Marinaside Cres | (604) 488-0555
$18 Dinner Menu

KEG STEAKHOUSE & BAR
1011 Mainland St | (604) 633-2534
$38 Dinner Menu

LA TERRAZZA
1088 Cambie St | (604) 899-4449
$38 Dinner Menu

MINAMI RESTAURANT
1118 Mainland St | (604) 685-8080
$38 Dinner Menu
$38 Vegetarian Dinner Menu

NEW OXFORD
1144 Homer St | (604) 609-0901
$18 Dinner Menu

PROVENCE MARINASIDE
1177 Marinaside Cres | (604) 681-4144
$38 Dinner Menu

RAW CANVAS
1046 Hamilton St | (604) 687-1729
$38 Dinner Menu

SOCIETY DINING LOUNGE
1257 Hamilton St | (604) 629-8800
$18 Dinner Menu

URBAN THAI BISTRO
1119 Hamilton St | (604) 408-7788
$18 Dinner Menu

YALETOWN BREWING CO.
1111 Mainland St | (604) 681-2739
$28 Dinner Menu

YALETOWN L’ANTIPASTO
1127 Mainland St | (604) 558-1174
$28 Dinner Menu

Looking for events in Yaletown to ring in the New Year?

We’ve compiled a list of great venues that are hosting New Year’s Eve parties on Dec 31, 2012.

Photo credit: Hakee Chang

Here’s a list of some Yaletown venues with diverse offerings:

Bar None (1222 Hamilton St): Stripped
3 DJs, New York style ball drop at midnight, Moët & Chandon packages available

Glowbal Grill (1079 Mainland St): Yaletown New Year’s Eve Gala
New Year’s Eve gala menu available, and special guest DJ in AFTERglow

Hamilton Street Grill (1009 Hamilton St): Relaxed NYE $75
Dress up, or dress down and enjoy a big, flavourful multicourse dinner with wine.

The New Oxford/Hooker’s Green (1144 Homer St): Resolution $50
2 rooms of entertainment, complimentary cocktail & dessert bar, party favours and rhinestone tiaras.

OPUS Hotel (350 Davie St): NYE at OPUS Hotel $100
2 floors with champagne bar and DJ

Society (1257 Hamilton St): NYE at SOCIETY Yaletown $100
Limited open bar, canapés and midnight countdown.

V Lounge (1095 Mainland St. above Earl’s Yaletown): Party for a Cure $70
Party with a red carpet entrance, live DJ, champagne toast, and party favours – proceeds benefit the BC Cancer Foundation.

Gift Giveaways with St. Nick’s Picks

Yaletown is bringing you 12 days of free shopping giveaways, presented by the shops of Yaletown and Breakfast Television.

To enter St. Nick’s Picks, watch Breakfast Television starting weekdays from December 6th until December 21st and answer their trivia question correctly for a chance to win a prize valued at $150 or more.

Details and participating businesses are listed online here.

New Businesses in Yaletown

Yaletown welcomes our new members to the neighbourhood!
Recently opened businesses include:

• Aruhndara
• Black Tusk Studios (a division of Microsoft)
• El Azteca
• Little Saigon
• Optiks International
• The Parlour
• Paulie’s
• Yaletown Express (& Canada Post)

If you own a Yaletown business, but aren’t listed online, please send your details to info@yaletowninfo.com

Check the newest Yaletown street directory

Available at most Downtown Vancouver hotels, Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, and at the Yaletown BIA brochure rack at Hamilton and Drake St.

Email Bert at info@yaletowninfo.com to get your free copy today

Concord Pacific presents CandyTown

CandyTown brought thousands of people to the streets of Yaletown to help kick off the Holiday season! The inaugural CandyTown event featured free activities, including the Scotiabank Outdoor Ice Skating Rink, visits with Trevor Linden, Santa photos, live reindeer, horse & carriage rides, and a gift market.

Here are some photos from the event:

CandyTown, the only free outdoor Christmas festival on Mainland Street in Downtown Vancouver.

November 23 – 24, 2012, CandyTown is kicking off the festive season with a fun and interactive weekend.