appetite for art I by Daniel Ladd Café C o u t u r e : courting eclecticism A c o m m u n i t y ' s c h a r a c t e r is o f t e n d e f i n e d b y o n e s e c t i o n o f o n e s t r e e t , w h o s e v i t a l i t y is a s o u r c e o f i n s p i r a t i o n w h i l e a l s o a f l o u r i s h i n g e x p o s i t i o n . A c u l t u r a l f l a i r a d o r n s its s i d e w a l k s a n d byways, e x u d i n g a n intrinsic personality, s o that e v e n a casual reference t o t h e street evokes a n i m a g e characteristic o f t h e c o m m u n i t y . In N o r t h V a n c o u v e r , o n c e n t r a l L o n s d a l e f r o m 1 3 t h Street n o r t h , a v o g u e social circuit has evolved. A plethora o f coffeehouses has arisen, constituting a n urban promenade. W h i l e it's still f a r m o r e l i k e l y t o f i n d s o m e o n e q u i e t l y r e a d i n g a newspaper A n c h o r e d by America's stalwart coffeehouse, Starbucks, a n d b u t t r e s s e d b y its e q u a l l y p l a i n c o r p o r a t e c o u s i n , B r e a d G a r d e n , a n a s s o r t m e n t o f c a f e s e x t e n d s u p L o n s d a l e . In a d e p a r t u r e from t h e m u n d a n e , Bean There becomes a breezeway, with rather than reading poetry aloud, t h e daily Tabletops b e c o m e d e s k t o p s , as s t u d e n t s a m a s s t h e clutter of studies. A n d m a y b e in t h e m a r g i n s of s c h o o l b o o k s , texts o f c o n v e n t i o n , a poetess p h e n o m between pens her soul, or a music student c o m p o s e s a brilliant, t h o u g h yet unheralded c o n c e r t o . B e n e a t h t h e s t r e a m o f p e o p l e a n d life's a p p a r e n t l y ordinary aspects, a current o f creativity swirls. crossword more popular than a timeless canto, a n d recorded m u s i c m o r e prevalent t h a n p e r f o r m a n c e art, trace evidence of enlightenment bravado of glimmers. On weekends at La Z u p p a the like a flamenco challenges a n d captivates, f r o n t a n d rear p a t i o s , w h i l e at t h e h u b i n t e r s e c t i o n o f 15th a n d L o n s d a l e , B l e n z is a p r i m e l o c a l e f o r p e o p l e w a t c h i n g . Further t o r e a d o r ' s grip o n his c a p e . A flash o f brilliance s e e n -- r e d satin b r a n d i s h e d b e f o r e starry eyes. a l o n g . Bagel Street C a f e leads o n t o Beans, a mellifluous m i x of coffeehouse a n d florist, w h i c h h o s t s live m u s i c , mostly B u t t h e e m p h a s i s is o n m e e t i n g p l a c e s , s o m e w h e r e for old f r i e n d s t o g a t h e r o r a c o m f o r t a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t f o r a first d a t e . Places t o w a t c h and be watched a n d i n d u l g e t h e ritual of a c o u s t i c , o n e n i g h t a w e e k . S e v e r a l d o o r s u p , B r a z z a ' s o f f e r s its coveted gelato, while o n occasion presenting a musical act. The redefined Yaas Bazaar further enhances an international flavour, w h i l e Roastmastir's defaults as a n i n f o r m a l t e r m i n u s . c o f f e e , a n e l i x i r f o r c o m m o n t r a v a i l s . T h e lilt o f c o n v e r s a t i o n from those at o u t d o o r tables entices passersby to forgo coffee w o r l d l y cares f o r t h e simple i n d u l g e n c e of a g o u r m e t A l o n g this caffeine c a t w a l k , t h e a g e o f l u n c h e o n c o u n t e r service has e n d e d , c o n v e r t e d into s o m e t h i n g else, s o m e t h i n g cafe chic. The bottomless c u p replaced by single serving g o u r m e t coffees a n d a s w e e t t r e a t , a n i d y l l i c p a u s e i n a n o t h e r w i s e a n x i o u s day. Time t o meditate upon anything. w i t h exotic n a m e s , s u c h as chai latte, h a z e l n u t c a p p u c c i n o , a n d mini-tasse espresso. O n c e a utilitarian drink, coffee has b e c o m e a fashionable enterprise catering t o a more urbane palate. If o n l y s e r v i n g b r i e f r e s p i t e , t h e s e c o f f e e h o u s e s o f f e r a c h a n c e t o m u s e a n d c o n v e r s e , t o t a r r y a n d c h e r i s h a d i u r n a l r h y t h m . In twilight, as sunset casts l o n g s h a d o w s over t h e s i d e w a l k s , the waning light caresses t h e m o u n t a i n s b e h i n d . A n e n h a n c e d S t e p p i n g o u t , t h e s e c a f e s e x h i b i t a p o l i t e , middle-class c o m p r o m i s e , with nothing t o o avant-garde challenging the mores of the m o o d s e t t l e s o v e r , a n d w h a t f a m i l i a r i t y m i g h t ' v e l e t s l i p by, m o o n l i g h t reveals. s t a t u s q u o . T h e w a l k is y e t t o f e e l c o s m o p o l i t a n , b u t n e i t h e r is a real B o h e m i a n s u b c u l t u r e s o l i c i t e d -- t h e t r o u b a d o u r s a n d p o e t s , painters a n d prophets haven't emerged en masse. Though S o m e t h i n g s u b t l e y e t d y n a m i c is b r e w i n g a l o n g t h e a v e n u e , a n d a unique a m b i e n c e percolates. From blase t o flamboyant, an old codger ruminating by day or a gypsy spinning s o m e w h e r e between debonair a n d eccentric, sophisticated a n d q u i r k y , t h e c o n c r e t e b o a r d w a l k is d e v e l o p i n g its o w n style. Esmeraldean c h a r m i n e v e n t i d e , a p e r v a s i v e a u r a is m a n i f e s t . Multiplicity engages imagination. Dr. Debra Rovinelli D i s p a r a t e in place a n d d e s i g n , this m o n t a g e of cafes f u n c t i o n s as a n e w a g e t o w n s q u a r e . F r o m diversity a n integral complex without parameters fluidly b o u n d forum evolves, u n i t i n g in spirit a n d p u r p o s e . A m o d e r n c a f e society: a by coffee a n d conversation. A n d with g r o w i n g popularity, a n enrichment of c h a r a c t e r a n d culture, t h e cafes t h e m s e l v e s like dilettantes, courting eclecticism. 1069 V7V Dr. D e b r a Rovinelli West Vancouver Opiom 2 4 i h Street 4H1 C A N A D A West V a n c o u v e r . BC Phone 6 0 4 . 9 2 5 . 2 5 2 5 Fax 604.925.2831 4 July I August