Lately I’ve been following local blog Vancouver Is Awesome, whose aim is to reflect the city in permanently positive light. They may just be permafried from snorting too much pixie dust, but whatever it is that’s making them so optimistic, it’s contagious. I often find myself thinking about what makes Vancouver awesome, and one thing deserves a mention: the alleys.
Here are three reasons why alleys are awesome (but I they only apply in suburban neighborhoods, because downtown alleys are usually the opposite of these):
1) They’re unpopulated.
2) They’re full of interesting shit that you want to take home.
3) Free off-the-vine blackberries.
I’ve had an alley addiction lately (sidewalks suck). Here’s photographic proof:
You know you have an alley problem when you come home with weird, unsexy stuff. Like an old TV or a pylon. Alcohol made it appear to be the perfect thing for your dog/ house/ project, but in the harsh light of day you realize it’s just a dirty piece of shit.
However, that’s part of the fun; alley walking is about discovery. For example:
Compost vision, making sustainability fun on West 13th Ave
Here are some other recent alley discoveries:
Giant blackberry bush! If it's in the alley, it's fair game right?
Juicy close-up
Pumpkin patch
A friendly challenge: I defy someone to post a weirder alley find than the fuzzy octopus chair.
Holy shit! Alley pumpkins!
I spent my days growing up in Dunbar, and relying on Alley’s as quick getaway routes from neighbourhood bullies, grandmas with brooms after stealing her raspberries, I even remember when you were allowed to burn leaves…
well, jackie likes the nasty plush octopus, so it’s fair game?