Jessica Napier

Each year, Vancouver locals and visitors get an inside look at some of the city’s landmark buildings during the annual Doors Open festival. This year, the free, family-friendly event takes place on Saturday, October 3, and features 18 participating cultural sites and heritage buildings across the downtown. Check out a few of our top picks and remember this event takes place rain or shine, so dress accordingly!

For some people, a work wardrobe means jeans and steel-toed boots; for others it means hospital scrubs and comfy sneakers. For those of us with nine-to-five jobs, sticking to the company dress code means dressing in sophisticated separates and formal footwear. If you’re looking to revamp your office attire, here are some standout retailers in Vancouver – for men and women – that’ll send you to work in style.

There’s nothing quite like flipping through the pages of a new (or new-to-you) book. Whether you’re a casual reader or a dedicated bibliophile, there are plenty of great independent stores in Vancouver to find the latest chart-topping paperbacks, classic literature and niche specialty books. Take a peek inside these local bookstores and keep the love of reading alive.

The season of polka, pretzels and pilsner is upon us! Oktoberfest officially kicks off in Munich, Germany on Saturday, September 17, and there are plenty of local Vancouver bars that are joining in on the fun. Grab your lederhosen and dirndl and fill up your stein at one of these festive local venues. Prost!

They don’t call it Raincouver for nothing! Cloudy skies and wet weather are plentiful in Vancouver, especially during the grey winter months. Next time you need to shield yourself from a light drizzle or a full on thunderstorm, these local shops will have you covered (so to speak) with sturdy umbrellas and protective rain gear.

After a long and tiring day, sometimes it’s best to let someone else do the cooking. Chinese food is a classic option for those who want to order in and luckily Vancouver is home to numerous eateries to help satisfy your chow mein cravings. These local spots serve up traditional Chinese fare, inventive fusion flavours and tasty Westernized variations. Even better, they’ll deliver hot-and-ready dishes directly to your door.

Starving for some sushi? Feeling tempted by tempura? If you’re jonesing for Japanese but don’t feel like leaving the house, these sushi delivery spots can maki your life easy. Here are your best bets if you want sashimi, nigiri, teriyaki and more delivered to your door in under an hour.

You don’t have to travel across the world to sample authentic Indian cuisine; in fact, you don’t even have to leave your living room. Vancouver’s world-class Indian restaurants will deliver hearty curries, sizzling tandoori chicken, fragrant rice dishes and crispy naan bread right to your door. Skip the dishes and put these local spots on speed dial.

Let’s face it, an out-of-the-box frozen pizza just doesn’t compare to a hot and fresh pie delivered right to your door. When you’re craving a cheesy slice and can’t bear the thought of leaving the house, these Vancouver pizza delivery spots are here for you.

Serious foodies know that sometimes the best cooking happens in your very own kitchen. At these local specialty shops, you can stock up on gourmet edibles, high-end cooking supplies and all the kitchen utensils you need for your next at-home culinary adventure.

As Vancouverites, we’re lucky enough to have some of the country’s best campsites and hiking trails right in our backyard. That said, discovering the great outdoors is a whole lot easier when you’ve got the right equipment. From lanterns to tents to doublewide sleeping bags, here are some of the city’s best outdoor supply stores where you’ll find everything you need to set up camp for a night (or week) in the woods.

Ooey, gooey, sticky, sweet. Craving something good to eat? Vancouver bakeries serve up some seriously tasty handmade cinnamon rolls and we’ve got the goods on the best buns in the city. Whether you prefer yours slathered with cream cheese icing or studded with nuts and raisins, these nostalgic baked goods are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get ’em while they’re hot!