Editors’ Picks: Our Favourite Vanmag Stories of 2024

Who has time to read through every single past edition of Vancouver magazine and scroll through a whole year’s worth of web-exclusive content?! You’re busy! It’s the holidays! To ease the burden, our editors are sharing their own favourite stories from the year. It’s hard to play favourites when you love each issue like your own, saddle-stitched child, but duty calls.

The Vanmag Editors Pick Their Favourite Stories of the Year

The Ultimate, Hyper-Specific City Guide

I’ve been working for Vancouver magazine and our sister mag, Western Living, for a very, very long time, but this was my first full year as editor-in-chief of this particular publication, so choosing a favourite story was particularly tough this year. Sketching out last-minute Vancouver-themed Halloween costumes was incredibly fun; grilling Vancouver’s coolest people for their holiday wish lists was a joy; and researching Vancouver’s sauna-culture was a hot, hot, hot assignment. I think, though, that our Ultimate City Guide is something really special—our editors put together 25 incredibly detailed, hyper-specific itineraries for dozens of imaginary scenarios, and in each bespoke schedule, you’ll find a portrait of a city that truly has something for everyone. Even if you can’t make it through all 25 itineraries (thanks again to our incredible art director, Stesha Ho, for making this dense, dense visual puzzle work—you’re a dreammaker!), I hope you find one that speaks to you and inspires you to get out and enjoy a very particular perfect Vancouver day. —Stacey McLachlan, editor-in-chief

Why Is International Village Mall So Empty?

I’m as surprised as you that my favourite story this year isn’t the one where I was the cover star (but seriously, check out the July/August 2024 The Outsider’s Guide issue with hilarious comedian and pal Ronald Dario). It’s also not the big September Fall Arts and Culture Preview I curated (though that’s definitely up there). No, in the spirit of giving (‘tis the season), I’m giving props and shouting out our fearless editor-in-chief Stacey McLachlan’s scandal-inducing exposé on a certain landmark city mall that’s somehow always empty—except for its theatre and an equally drama-filled McDonald’s. If you haven’t read one of Stacey’s ‘City Informer’ columns (renamed ‘Know-It-All’ this year… or should it be Know-It-Malls?), you’re missing out. Her writing is sharp, her sleuthing relentless and her coverage of Vancouver’s quirkiest mysteries (like why every Uber is a Tesla) feels Pulitzer-worthy. Someone should nominate her (is there a form for that?). Bonus points for the illustrations—chef’s kiss! —Kerri Donaldson, assistant editor

Vancouver Magazine’s 2024 Gift Guide

If you’re like me and as a child (teen?) you used to spend hours upon hours reading your favourite catalogues, circling exactly what you wanted for Christmas—then this hyper-local gift guide is for you. The team knocked it out of the park with this absolutely stunning guide of practically every giftable item this city has to offer. We asked some of Vancouver’s coolest people, and then sourced some incredible finds ourselves to round things out. Sure, right now it’s the holiday season (and you need to get on it if you want to snag some of these incredible gifts in time for your loved ones!) but gifting doesn’t stop in December! I’m going to be referencing this guide all 2025-long in order to secure the best birthday, Valentine’s, and just-’cause-you’re-worth-it gifts for everyone on my list. And in the meantime, since my holiday shopping is done, I think I’ll grab a little something for myself too (I’m obsessed with the Ded Cool Xtra Milk on this list, and the bowls by glass artist Jemma Van Osch.)—Dani Wright, managing editor

11 Wine Recommendations for 11 Very Specific Problems

Our wine editor Neal McLennan is a wizard with both words and wine, and no matter how complicated the problem (a pairing for both a lentil-loving vegan and steak-obsessed carnivore? The wine that would impress your wine-loving boss? An Aussie-themed party, but you’re not a big fan of a jammy shiraz?), he’s got it covered. It’s the page to bookmark when you’ve got your own wine-related conundrum approaching, or when you just feel like an entertaining read. Perfect example: what wine to bring on a hike to propose? Before getting to the final pick (spoiler, it’s a half-bottle of Tattinger Champagne), you’ll enjoy bon mots like this: “Ok, lots of vectors at play here. While red wine doesn’t need chilling and can hold up to jostling, do you really want a plastic cupful of barolo after sweating it out climbing the Chief?”—Anicka Quin, VP content