About a month ago, Chaise Lounge (4444 Main Street) opened in the former Wing Nuts space on Main Street.  I had been eager to visit this new lounge since its inception never mind the poor review it recently received, which I had come across.  Already, I loved the chic look of it from the outside – with its black and white trimming, simple and minimalist signage, big glass windows and outdoor seating.

A proprietorship of the same team from Burgoo (not too far down the street), Chaise is a modern-day 40 seat diner, adorned with laminated tables, chandeliers, original graffiti art installations on concrete walls with a variety of seating including benches, bar stools, a sofa, and purple and blue velvety couches.  The bar area is intimate – seating only five – and is perhaps where the only 1950’s feel stems from with classic cocktails and drinks like the Negroni and Manhattan.  Better even is their own variation of the Citrus Drop, offering fresh-pressed (done in front of your eyes) citrus orange, lemon, grapefruit or pineapple with vodka complete with a sugar rim.

Their food offerings include small and large plates and is described as “updated and upgraded classic diner food prepared with environmentally conscious and organic ingredients” (as per their Facebook page).  Chef Jordan Knight (ex-C Restaurant) dishes up items such as “THE Slow Roast Sandwich”, a “Bad Ass Burger” featuring Fraser Valley beef, and “Macaroni & Cheese” made with truffle oil and herb infused heavy cream.  The menu also offers Ocean-wise items and daily “Blue Plate” specials.

On Thursday March 19th (7pm to 10pm) join Think City for an evening for Vancouver stories at Heritage Hall on Main Street (3102 Main Street at 15th).  This storytelling event will includecocktails and a silent auction featuring Vancouver memorabilia and stories past and present told by Vancouver notables including CBC Radio’s Bill Richardson. 

For more information and to purchase tickets ($50), click here.

They have chosen to decorate their establishment with the same twist that can be found in their creations; “the theme of the store is eco chic with a vintage twist” says Jenny. The new space, formerly Madison’s on Main, incorporates the old wooden racks with new wood floors to create a clean natural feel. While a mix of modern and antique furniture and a splash of sassy red paint makes it a fun and flirty environment to find that perfect Valentine’s Day dress.

Here’s another bonus: the first 25 people through the door will recieve gift bags packed with a whole bunch of nifty goodies from Vancouver artists.

By Guest-writer Joanna Lee

Main Street has evolved. Having lived in Southeast Vancouver almost my entire life, I have certainly noticed the changes and rapid developments to Main Street. It has transformed from a majority of antiques-stores-thrift-shops neighbourhood to a bustling upscale locale with trendy restaurants and hip bars, independent coffeehouses and local designers/retailers.

Take, for example, The Cascade Room, located just off Broadway. I celebrated my 22nd birthday there and what appealed to me about this resto-bar/lounge was its comfortable booth seatings, long spacious bar, and most importantly, the drinks menu. Bar-managed by Nick Devine, the cocktails list is truly impressive in its extensiveness and creativity (egg whites in a drink?!). And with its standing-out neon blue signage, The Cascade Room radiates an unpretentious glow and is almost always filled with a young and urban crowd.

Adjacent to it is sister restaurant, Habit Lounge, serving small plates and tapas dishes to the electic Main Street crowd. Just down the block is the recently-opened Caffe Barney (of South Granville) and Bean Around the World coffeehouse. (Click here to read a Modern Mix Monday perspective on Bean Around the World.) North of Broadway is Soma Restaurant (formerly Soma Cafe), a small yet classy restaurant with interesting food and an extensive wine list that even wine connoisseurs can appreciate. And even further north is an even smaller bar called Narrow Lounge. Narrow is “dark and moody” and is indeed narrow, with only a few handful of tables. While the menu is unoriginal, Narrow is unique in that it is also an art gallery upstairs

What I like about many of these gathering places is that they open onto the street or include patio areas perfect for people-watching on a sunny day. From the aforementioned Cascade, Caffe Barney, and Soma, to the very recently-opened Burgoo, The Five Point, The Reef Restaurant, Public Lounge and Crave, which even has a heated patio. Even the coffeehouses including J.J. Bean and Salt Spring Coffee Co. stand out from Starbucks.

See what I mean? And these are only a few places I’m talking about. If you haven’t been to Main Street lately, you don’t know what you’re missing out on.

Re-entry Espresso (4363 Main Street) is a modern cafe located on 27th and Main with an affordable selection of drinks and pastries and wireless internet access. With booth style seating, large mugs of coffee in the $2 to $3 range and a pot of tea for $2.25, and artwork showcased on the walls, this cafe exudes a laid-back atmosphere for long conversations, catching up with friends or doing some work on your laptop. The only downside are its early closing hours: 6pm every evening.