the Vancouver vibe

36 Hours in Vancouver - New York Times--Most agree that Vancouver is one of the most cosmopolitan and liveable cities there is. Notice a few of its attributes in the article--it has restored (not "developed") its older districts, it is a 24-hour economy, it has public transit and bicycle traffic, it's walkable, and it capitalizes on its parks and its waterfront. A friend of mine from New York, now living in San Diego and Vancouver, tells me that being a black man is a totally different experience there as well; he's assimilated, or integrated, or just allowed to be himself; he leaves the baggage at the US border.

Perhaps we can learn a few things from Vancouver, and its "vibe".