With its cobbled walkways, striped awnings, vibrant window displays and sheer eclectic nature, NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Old City Quarter has always been one of my favourite places.
Nestled on a sharp incline between Fitzwilliam and Wentworth streets, itB次元官网网址檚 home to dozens of owner-operated shops and restaurants, as well as more than 70 services running the gamut from law offices to tattoo artists to mobile device repair. Some of the buildings are more than a century old, and between the old stone and the spreading maple trees, itB次元官网网址檚 always felt a little like stepping into a different world.
Growing up in the north end of the city, it was always a treat to make the trip into downtown and wander through the little shops, never knowing what I might find.
| Enjoying a quiet moment among the shops of NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Old Quarter. Don Denton photograph. |
Now, as autumn creeps in with its golden hues and hints of crisp air to come, the Quarter is a perfect place to spend a September morning. Though itB次元官网网址檚 been quite a few years since IB次元官网网址檝e done the back to school rush B次元官网网址� donB次元官网网址檛 ask how many! B次元官网网址� I always get a little thrill at the prospect of getting a few new treats for myself. And with a knitting addiction thatB次元官网网址檚 only grown stronger over the last decade, itB次元官网网址檚 inevitable that one of my first stops is at the yarn shop in the QuarterB次元官网网址檚 Heritage Mews.
B次元官网网址淭he sign should say B次元官网网址� and Therapy,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� laughs Darlene Rogers, an employee who joined the shopB次元官网网址檚 fibre family a year ago. B次元官网网址淧eople come in and just hang out. We all sit at the table and talk and knit.B次元官网网址�
Cozy is the operative word here. The walls are covered in cubbyholes reaching up to the ceiling, housing silks, mohair, bamboo and even possum skeins. Just the thing to add to my ever-growing basket of yarns at home. For those interested in learning more techniques and skills, the shop hosts drop-in and scheduled knitting classes, and Rogers teaches classes in weaving and spinning in the fall and winter.
Right next door is , another longtime favourite spot. A treasure trove of new age and metaphysical goodies, itB次元官网网址檚 been around for 16 years, and is one of the best places to find quality beeswax candles. Incense drifts out to meet me as I duck under a string of prayer flags and pop inside to browse. As well as other mediums, in-store practitioners offer tarot and Turkish coffee readings either by drop-in or appointment. IB次元官网网址檓 tempted, but IB次元官网网址檒l keep my future a surprise for the time being.
| Colourful signs and awnings for the shops of NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Old Quarter. Don Denton photograph. |
Wandering down towards Wesley Street, there are a handful of eateries along the way. serves Italian fare, including pizza from NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 first imported wood-fired oven. is open for lunch and dinner, offering exquisite Japanese cuisine. The sushi and bento boxes here are B次元官网网址渟uperb,B次元官网网址� remarks a passerby.
has B次元官网网址渇ast food thatB次元官网网址檚 good for you,B次元官网网址� says owner Tracy Collis. ItB次元官网网址檚 known for its Creamy Oh So Dreamy tomato soup, she tells me. Just the thing to warm up on a cool, fall day. And Sweet Somethings confectionery has B次元官网网址渟omethingB次元官网网址� for everyone, including homemade waffle cones and the world-famous Nanaimo Bar.
In the upper half of the Quarter, down a glass-covered walkway, the tantalizing smell of freshly baked waffles snares more than a few people, but IB次元官网网址檓 heading for an old stand-by: . This caf茅 has been here for as long as I can remember, and is as funky as ever. Local art adorns the spot, both on the walls and beneath the glass tops on the tables from BoccaB次元官网网址檚 youngest patrons. Meyer Lemon Tea in hand, I sit outside amidst sparrows hopping from table to table and watch the shoppers. Crispin Shoes has an impressive display of adorable boots while has dozens of unique consignment finds.
Heading out to the Fitzwilliam border of the Quarter, thereB次元官网网址檚 a line of shops going down the hill. ThereB次元官网网址檚 boutique fashion at , outfits (and some super fun toys) for your little ones at and entertainment galore at the . is a perennial favourite no matter the season, and it offers both vegan and gluten-free sweets. And at the bottom corner, the newest addition to the block: .
| Flowers and banners among the shops of NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Old Quarter. Don Denton photograph. |
I am immediately charmed by this high-end consignment shop, both by the enviable and fabulous collection of feathered and beribboned hats, and the handsome Mountain Bernese that greets me at the door.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 still a puppy,B次元官网网址� says owner Brianne Wilson with a smile as she ruffles his fur.
B次元官网网址淧rincetonB次元官网网址� lies down on the cool floor and watches as people drift in and out of the store. Wilson has only been open for six months, but sheB次元官网网址檚 found the Old City Quarter a welcoming and fun spot, and her inventory certainly brings people in.
There are pieces by Frank Lyman and Joseph Ribkoff. A particularly pretty Coach purse beckons to me from the window display. Fantastic shoes are everywhere. This feels like the place to find my September not-quite-back-to-school treat.
It could take a full day to explore all the shops and sights in the , but though IB次元官网网址檝e only visited a handful, the rumbling in my belly is telling me to find my way back to some of those delectable smells. ItB次元官网网址檚 lunchtime!
-Story by Angela Cowan
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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