- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Westender
Category: Mass Media Print Media Print Media [Edit]
1490 Broadway WVancouver, BC V6H 4E8
Neighbourhoods: Fairview Slopes, South Granville
(604) 742-8686
7 reviews for Westender
7 reviews in English
-
Review from Richard W.
Vancouver, BC
5/14/2009
I certainly prefer WE over the Georgia Straight. It doesn't seem to be as saturated with advertising, and the reporting tends to be a lot more objective. I hate reading articles in the Straight and they're trying to tell me what my opinion should be, no thanks.
And then in the articles, such as on the plate with Andrew Morrison, now obviously these are excrutiatingly subject, and we should all know that. Though, his articles tend to have personality, you get the feeling that you are having a conversation with Mr Morrison.
All around WE is far superiour to the Georgia Straight, and always provides a great read. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
11/16/2008
I love the Westender paper, and will often pick it over that other city news-and-entertainment weekly. It's a lot smaller, but covers the essentials of food, movies, arts, and news. Steve Burgess' column is a weekly must-read, the "Free Will" horoscopes are genius, and then there's my favourite feature of all - Rants and Raves. And right above the (mostly) rants, they run Matt Groening's Life in Hell cartoons. Akbar and Jeff make me cry every time.
The only thing I don't understand about the Westender is why they insist on putting flyers in the middle. I am always picking these up on the way to the SkyTrain, and it's so annoying to have to figure out how to dispose of the the flyer, so I'm not making litter fly around too.
I love you more than the other guy, Westender. You make perfect transit light-reading material. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2009
I'm not a fan of the Westender. That doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with it. Since it became "WE" it's coverage news-wise has really gotten better and the snooty attitude of "The Westender" has dissapated. It used to kind of be the yuppie swipe at an alternative paper, now it actually has some backbone.
Still, a lot of its reporting is weak, or at least weak in comparison with other news outlets. I mean, it's no 24 or Metro, but I prefer The Georgia Straight to get my news and reviews.
What WE does well though is features. The aforementioned exploration of local spaces and various other topics shine. They are the equivalent of the Straight's great columnists. I'm also, from time to time, enamored with their fashion and arts coverage. I just eat that stuff up so I love numerous perspectives.
So yeah, my opinion, this paper isn't so great. But I'm a stickler, and I've worked in the industry so I have a rod up my ass. If you're stuck on a bus or just need something to read, it's not going to kill you. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
1/16/2009
Five Stars and five reasons:
1. Andrew Morrison's On the Plate column. He's funny, he always knows what's going on and he has good taste. I also love how he always tells you the chef's name and gives you a mini-bio of where they've worked. It helps fill in some blanks for those of us who don't know the working history of every chef in Vancouver!
2. Steve Burgess' column -- although it is missing from the most recent addition, hopefully this is not a permanent thing or I might have to take back a star -- is always clever, often from overseas, and will make you grin.
3. Rant/Rave. I just love to read the strange things that make people so furious they call or write in to a newspaper! And then the next week the even angrier come-backs to the already-ridiculous initial rants. And the (less frequent) raves are touching.
4. The listings for arts, music and movies and the commentary that goes along with them will keep your social calendar booked up.
5. The Curious Times column by Andreas Ohrt. A whole page of stuff that will make you shake your head. It's makes for a great coffee break.
Notice that hard news is not one of the five. I don't go to WE for my current events, and I don't want them to weigh down their tidy little 35-page paper with loads of politics and world events. That's not what this free paper is about! Although it claims to provide "news - entertainment - life," I clearly love WE for the two latter provisions. If you want news, buy the Globe & Mail. -
Review from Megan S.
1/15/2009
My favorite thing in the Westender is when they interview someone about the space they live. It's really fascinating, including details of square footage and price. I love this voyeuristic look into a stranger's life, and how they've customized their homes.
Otherwise the articles are decent, but the entertainment and event ideas are what most people search for in here. Good thing to skim on the bus! -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2008
The Westender has saved many an evening with its events listings. There's nothing quite so distressing is standing outside a bar and having to decide where to go next. That's where a well-placed newspaper box is important.
I find the type a little easier to read that The Straight, a little less heavy. Overall the paper often features bright covers. Sometimes the style covers are a little magazine-y for my taste. As Christine mentioned, Steve Burgess often presents a sharp, unbridled take on events. A smart read indeed.
I also like that the paper is not a marathon to read. You can finish it cover-to-cover over a large cup of coffee. -
Review from BB H.
Burnaby, BC
5/27/2010
I like the writing in the West Ender better BUT the movie listings are so bad now. They can't most of the theatres listings in by press time. Pathetic really.
