Valentine’s Day is a time to create unforgettable romantic memories for you and your honey. Enjoying delicious food in a cozy restaurant can contribute largely to that! We’ve come up with a list of romantic restaurants in Vancouver to help you plan for that special day.

1. L’Abbattoir: 217 Carrall St. in the heart of Gastown, 604 568 1701
If you like a mix of modern and classic, we recommend L’Abbatoir. Set in a refurbished brick and beam building that combines classic French tile work with industrial fixtures, natural wood, and glass and steel finishes. The restaurant offers a bar and lounge setting, elevated dining room, and a plush, sun soaked atrium. L’Abbattoir is dedicated to highlighting the finer points of eating and drinking with a French influenced West Coast eclectic wine program and an innovative cocktail list.
2. Tableu Bar Bistrboth o: 1181 Melville St., 604 639 8692
Voted winner in Georgia Straight’s Best of Vancouver 2014 and Golden Plate Award, discover a beautifully renovated interior that combines old world classic bistro elements with modern touches and a French-inspired menu that blends classic culinary flavours of Paris with the use of fresh west coast ingredients. This Coal Harbour restaurant serves in-house and classic cocktails with a great selection of local and draft beers on tap as well as an eclectic mix of wines from France.
3. Cin Cin: 1154 Robson St., 604 688 7338
Cin Cin is famous within the Vancouver dining scene located on renowned Robson Street. Charming and cozy, it combines Spanish and French cuisines using only the freshest market fish, and prime cuts of meat are deliciously rendered over fruitwood charcoal.
4. Lupo: 869 Hamilton St., 604 569 2325
Enjoy modern Italian cuisine at its finest! The Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca, formally known as 'Villa del Lupo', is a classy and romantic establishment, and a hidden gem in downtown Vancouver. It is a contemporary kitchen serving fresh reinventions of Italian classics in a cozy, neighbourhood environment.
5. Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar: 900 Seymour St., 604 632 9560
From the finest charcuterie, to artisanal cheeses and hard-to-find wine selections, indulge in Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar's cosmopolitan, yet relaxed interpretation of a true Italian 'enoteca'. The elegant modernism of its interior design combined with the building's historical elements, such as its delicate 1908 terrazzo floors, creates a unique, yet vibrant setting that must be experienced.
6. Hawksworth Restaurant: 801 West Georgia St., located at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia w/valet parking, 604 673 7000
Hawksworth is said to be Vancouver’s best restaurant with breathtakingly good food, ambiance, and service. It’s the perfect spot for celebrating special occasions, and the chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings could end up being one of the best meals of your lives!
7. YEW Seafood: 791 Georgia St., 604 692 4939
In short: modern, coastal, and social. YEW Seafood + Bar is one of the city’s finer seafood restaurants, delivering exceptionally delicious cuisine, great wines, innovative cocktails, and a fun, welcoming environment. Located at the treetop level inFour Seasons Hotel Vancouver, it provides a chic space and great views.
8. MarketBy Jean-Georges: 1115 Alberni St., 3rd Floor of the Shangri-La Hotel, 604 695 1115
If you value elegance and contemporary dining then Market is the place for you! The Menu features Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s “greatest hits” reinventing classic dishes where guests are able to try new flavour combinations and explore spices from exotic regions.
9. Hy’s Encore Vancouver: 637 Hornby St., 604 683 1749
Established in 1955, Hy’s holds a reputation of warmth and elegance. Enjoy perfectly grilled Canadian Prime steaks, cold martinis , and warm hospitality in a relaxed and refined atmosphere. Interiors speak of elegance with rich wood accents, chandeliers, and red velvet seating.
10. The Refinery: 1115 Granville St., 604 687 8001
The refinery offers charcuterie, cheeses, cured and fresh seafood as well as offering timeless classics of modern gastronomy. Cocktails are taken seriously at The Refinery, almost everything is made from scratch with an emphasis on using local ingredients.

(Photo: flickr.com/portobaytrade)

Another New Year, another chance at fulfilling your resolutions. Like many people, one of your resolutions for 2015 is probably to get in better shape. People often think of the gym when considering fitness, and by the time February rolls around their fitness regime becomes uninteresting, and sometimes non-existent.

Guess what? Getting fit doesn’t have to be confined to the gym! Here is a list of fun fitness ideas located in or near the West Side. Go get it!

1. YYOGA has several locations offering regular yoga classes, special workshops, and even international retreats! YYOGA is a community of yoga studio and lifestyle centres dedicated to supporting people in their commitment to a balanced and healthy life. They also offer amenities such as a sauna, complimentary organic shower products and herbal tea. Take a look at their event page to see what’s coming up.

2. Harbour Dance Centre is at the center of Vancouver’s dance scene! Their world class faculty offers a variety of dance forms for adult dancers of all levels. Harbour Dance is opened 7 days a week with a different schedule every day to accommodate the diverse lifestyles of Vancouverites. This studio is the perfect choice for everyone from professionals to adult beginners. Enjoy styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, salsa, hip hop, belly dance and many more. Check out their drop-in and progressive classes to see what appeals to you.

3. Do you have a little one with you? No problem! Fit 4 Two is a pre and postnatal fitness, nutrition and wellness program for mothers in their own communities. They offer a huge list of classes to suit your needs during your childbearing years. Take a look at the location nearest you to see their current classes.

4. Perhaps you’re over the age of 55? The Seniors’ Activity Centre in Vancouver’s Westside can keep you busy! The Centre offers a range of activities from fitness and educational classes to social and creative programs. No matter what age you are you can stay healthy and strong while making new connections. Take a look to see which activities they have for their winter schedule, including cross-country skiing,  snowshoeing, and their cycling club.

5. Alright, we can’t forget those who are already in shape! If you need a real challenge, try out CrossFitBC. Their CrossFit program helps you reach your goals through high intensity training with 300 different workouts throughout the course of a year to keep you on your toes. Regardless of your experience level, CrossFit’s expert coaches will get you where you want to be. Does that sound appealing? Here’s their schedule.

To accompany the REBGV Report for 2014, REBGV President Ray Harris returns this month with a look at the housing market in 2014 in a detailed year-end review video.

Statistically speaking, it was a typical year for home buyer and seller activity in Metro Vancouver. Home sales and listings for the year both ranked 5th highest in the region over the last decade. There were 33,116 homes sold in our MLS listings for 2014. That’s up 16% from 2013 and 32% from 2012! This total, however, remains below the record breaking years seen in the middle part of the last decade.

On the supply side, there were 54,066 homes listed for sale on the MLS in 2014. That’s 2.4% above 2013 and 4% below 2012. This total also ranks 5th highest in the last 10 years of activity in the region.

While this largely created a balanced market conditions, we did experience some upper pressure on home prices over the course of the year. The benchmark pricing for all residential properties for Greater Vancouver rose 5.8% over the last 12 months to $638,500. Detached homes continued to be the most sought after property type in our market. The benchmark price for a single detached home rose 8% in the last 12 months, while townhomes and condos rose 4.5% and 3.5% respectively. Some of the largest home price increases in 2014 occurred in the detached home market of Vancouver, Tsawwassen, and North Vancouver.

It was another sound year for our market here in Vancouver. On Vancouver’s Westside, (the priciest of markets in the metro area) home prices for single family homes continued a steady climb higher. Inventory remained stable with a slight bias to the downside.

The market here on Vancouver’s Westside for homes continues to be driven by immigration into the city. We saw a steady stream of buyers for all types of homes this past year compared to 2012 when new construction remained soft while all the action was centered around Lot Value homes.

This past year saw strong activity in the high end of the market too. There were 43 homes sold over $7 million in 2014 compared to just 10 homes sold back in 2010.

Demand for Lot Value properties of all shapes and sizes was strong with many home sales attracting multiple offers and selling prices substantially over the Listing Price.

The Condo and Townhome market also saw a strong market with average sale prices remaining stable with a slight bias to the upside. Inventory levels of re sale properties remained stable with a slight bias to the down side. We saw many condo and townhome properties sell quickly with multiple offers.

For home owners looking to sell, 2015 should pick up where 2014 left off. The Lunar New Year is typically a very busy time for home sale activity in Vancouver and this year probably will be no different. Home owners that list their homes early may be at an advantage facing less competition verses waiting for Spring when many more homes enter the market. Many of our clients have had tremendous success selling before the flowers bloom taking advantage of the late Winter Market.

If you are planning to sell your home this year, here are a few tips now to ensure a smooth selling process:

1. Interview realtors who only work in your neighborhood. Listing with an “out of area” realtor is not recommended.
2. Spring Cleaning is essential. De-clutter, have the garden pruned and ready for Spring. Fix any minor repairs needed.
3. If you own an older home (Pre 1960) check for a buried underground Oil Tank.
4. Have your Furnace / Boiler serviced if it has not been done in 2 years. 
5. Have your Windows Cleaned.

These are just a few Things to Do to get you started. For a complete list of suggestions call us anytime or visit our website and download our Pamphlet, “29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast for Top Dollar”.

Wishing you a healthy and Prosperous 2015,

Andrew & Jill Hasman