Olympic fans celebrate on Granville Street, party central in Vancouver since the early 1900s.

Granville Street has always been a mecca for excitement and entertainment in Vancouver.  Back in the early 1900s, when the city was still a backcountry outpost, miners and loggers from far and wide would flock to Granville Street for its saloons, bawdy houses and cheap hotels.

A century later, Vancouver has grown into a world capital and Olympic host, but Granville Street remains the place to go for a wild night on the town.   I decided to check out the action this afternoon, before the big Canada-Slovakia hockey semifinal concluded and things got too crazy.

Throughout the Games, Granville has been a locus of excitement, with packed bars and clubs lining both sides of the street, performers and buskers clogging the middle and thousands and thousands of Olympic fans taking it all in.  While the rain might have thinned the crowd a bit, today was no different.  I started near the north end of Granville, at the busy intersection with Robson Street, which has been car-free throughout the Games

Street performers on Granville street attract mega crowds.

A crowd of at least a few hundred people had gathered in a big circle.  In the middle, soaking wet from the rain, a street acrobat struggled to climb a three-meter high metal pole.  While spectators watched from under umbrellas and volunteer assistants wrestled to keep the apparatus erect, the performer scampered to a perch on top.  Juggling followed, then a bow and finally the sales pitch.  “I’m not supported by the government or any other criminal organization,” he said, imploring watchers to open their wallets.

The Vogue theatre on Granville Street shows Olympic events live on its 42-foot screen.

As I was out of loonies (as usual), I quickly booked it down the street.  Wet from the rain, I was looking for a pub to take refuge in and watch the other big hockey semifinal, U.S. vs. Finland.  I ended up finding something even better.  The Vogue on Granville Street, which usually hosts live concerts by big-name acts, has been converted into an Olympic theatre during the Games.  Events are being shown live on a massive, 42-foot high-definition screen with surround sound.  Better yet, there are two bars inside, with beer and wine starting at $6.75.  I couldn’t resist.

Plush seats in the Vogue might be the best place to see Sunday's gold medal hockey game (apart from Canada Hockey Place).

Tickets today were $25 for an all-day pass.  Inside, the plush 1,200 seat theatre – complete with balcony and vaulted ceiling – was mostly empty, although the manager said he expected a full house for the Canada-Slovakia hockey game later in the day.  I took a seat in the balcony and enjoyed the last period of a U.S. blowout over Finland.  Comfy seats, a classy vibe, an exceptionally crisp screen and plenty of beer would have to make this my choice for taking in Sunday’s gold medal hockey game   With 1,000-plus screaming fans, it might be the next best thing to Canada Hockey Place (All-day passes on Sunday are a bit steep at $57 but do include a seat for the Closing Ceremonies).

I concluded my circuit of Granville Street later in the day at Doolin’s, one of Vancouver’s classic Irish pubs and the host of the Irish House.  Most of the Olympic partying goes down at the Irish House proper, which is in a big white tent just down the street.  Doolin’s, meanwhile, preserves the traditional pub feel – with a big bar carved from dark wood, an abundance of Guinness on tap and plenty of dark corners and back rooms to strike up a conversation.

On my way in, I noticed that someone had chalked a message on the sandwich board out front – Cap off the Games in style with a “three-day bender.”  A tempting proposition.  The Olympics come but once a lifetime.  And this is, after all, Granville Street – Vancouver’s original party district.

Remy Scalza