Stumble it!
Feb 3rd: Ode to Kingsway, Volume One
(click for larger version)
Kingsway cuts a diagonal swath through East Vancouver and South Burnaby, with pockets that have barely changed in decades, interspersed with nondescript stretches of buildings that it’s impossible to even assign a time period to. Lots of them may have gone up in the 50’s, but had horrible facelifts in the early 80’s, and nothing since. A lot of it is pretty depressing, really.
I have mixed feelings about the fact that Kingsway is about to change. I hate that Vancouver can be so heartless about tearing down anything old—but at the same time, the stretch near where I live is particularly barren. While there are a few nostalgia-inducing gems like crazy old Wally’s, for the most part it’s just downtrodden, and attracts an unseemly after-dark trade. And the problem with the gems that do exist is they all miss the mark a little like Wally’s does—it tries to trade on its former persona, but I’m afraid that vanished with the Packards and Studebakers that once graced its parking lot. There’s a secret magical formula that allows a joint like this to retain its original charm—and unfortunately our Wally was not let in on it.
And so it is with a heavy heart that I guiltily look forward to some of the impending changes on Kingsway. For my penance, I will document what I can as a series of drawings, so that it won’t be entirely forgotten. At least one thing is for certain: no matter what happens to the buildings along this strip, the crows will remain.
Wow, I really love your work here! Such clarity! I’ll surely be coming back!!
Comment by Nick — February 4, 2008 @ 8:35 am
That is such a fabulous idea, and of course, executed in your usual, whimsical and expert way.
The historic old-town area of Ventura, where I spent so much of my time haunting, had gone through a few facelifts. It was painful to watch, at first, and it took a few years to get over the resentment. But it’s turned into quite the hip little place, while retaining almost all of it’s charm and character. It can happen.
Wish I would have documented the change, however. Really great idea you have for this series.
Comment by sketched out — February 4, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
It’s great to see some of my neighbourhood in these wonderful drawings! I have watched this strip of Kingsway from Fraser to Nanaimo go through perpetual change over the last few decades. I’ve watched the concentrations of different cultures come and go…. Koreans, Chinese and now of course Vietnamese. You could swing a cat and hit a Pho joint on this strip. If you find the time to do a sketch of Dominics bargershop just off Vic at Kingsway be sure to drop in a show it off to Terry……Dominic’s grandson. It’s the best Italian barbershop in East Van hands down….always entertaining!
Keep up the great writing and illustratation.
Comment by Big — February 29, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Thanks, all. Big, I will definitely work Dominic’s barbershop in, I would actually like to do an interior drawing there… And I’m planning to move closer to Fraser next, there are still a few great old buildings down at that end, and some amazing archive photos from that area as well. Plenty of Kingsway to come!
Comment by Bambi — February 29, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
I just read the article about you in the Courier and I wanted to say how much I love your drawings. I am an urban planner and Mt. Pleasant resident and I would love to buy prints of your sketches of Ode to Kingway. Please let me know how I can do so.
Comment by nadia — April 13, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
More please :-)
Comment by gert sigvardsen — October 24, 2008 @ 9:09 am