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Other Products and Services...
There are many services and products available on
the beach. Sometimes you may find wandering vendors offering their wares
as they walk through the crowd. You will have to listen to their by-lines
to see what they offer. Other vendors will set up a space to market their healing,
jewellery, art, carvings, clothing etc. and although some are regular
vendors each year, only a few set up in consistent locations so you can
find them easily, mostly near the back row at Trail 6 beach area.
Some of the wandering or stationary services that show up
yearly may include wreck beach postcards, massage oils & suntan
lotions, tarot card readings, henna tattoos, body painting,
wood carving, personal portrait sketches, caricatures, energy
healing, casino games, scrabble letters, poetry readings, books
to read, umbrella rentals, art and so on.
The early summer months
often find more new transient people
trying their hand at vending to make a fast buck. Most find out quickly
that it is grueling hard work to walk the beach and be in the sun all day and
sales can be blown at the whim of the weather or crowds at any given moment.
Apparently there are vendors who sell natural
herb and mushroom treats or alcohol, all which are illegal to be sold on the
beach. Keep in mind that the police
do occasionally frequent the beach on the lookout for such transactions and may
even be undercover. So, please, if you choose to indulge yourself
with local herbs of your own, be conscious of others so you do not ignore or invade others personal values and right to comfortable enjoyment on
the beach with their families and small children. |
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Products and Services to watch
for...
Bruce & Mari - (Look for the
first colorful fabrics you see blowing in the wind beach north). Bruce
& Mari make a trip to India and Nepal most every year and bring back a huge selection of
beach blankets, sarongs, dresses, skirts, purses, hats, jewelry and more
to outfit most of us for the summer with vibrant and inexpensive handmade
cotton or silk products plus sterling silver and other jewellery and goodies. Also watch for their friend next door who sells more of
the same types of wonderful products.
(If you wish to be listed
in this area, please contact
stars@cocreation.net with Wreck Beach listings on the
subject line. All listings subject to approval.)
Food and Beverages...
Local food and beverage vendors work very hard to
bring you treats on Wreck Beach as all must be hauled up and down the trail daily as there is
no place to leave these goods. Therefore, feel grateful to
pay the prices asked as they are extremely committed and often labor hard and
long in the hot sun to provide you with lots of variety and yummy goodness.
Unlike any other beach in
Vancouver, Wreck Beach community has come together with the Parks Board to
align licensed food vendors to prepare you wonderful treats in rustic flavored
beachside stands. Food vendors that are licensed have had to pass food safe
and are regularly checked by the Parks Board for cleanliness.
Other food and beverage vendors
may wander through the crowds selling their wares out of a cooler and may or
may not be licensed. If you are concerned about this factor, feel
free to ask if they are licensed and use your judgment in regards to
cleanliness. If there personal appearance is questionable
cleanliness wise, chances are their food is too. You could
also ask the locals for some help in this department as they
will be happy to direct you accordingly.
Wares include sandwiches, samosas, Chinese buns, pop, juice, water, beer,
tropical mixed drinks, special coffees, banana bread, brownies and cookies.
Special "herb" cookies, brownies or chocolate coated mushrooms have been known to be sold so be conscious of what you are
buying as these are illegal as is the sale of alcohol.
Food and Beverage Vendors
to watch for...
Not all vendors attend the beach everyday,
although most we have listed are fairly regular on any given sunny day
throughout the summer months June - Sept. The following are listed
according to where they hang out beginning at the bottom of Trail 6 at the back
of the beach and heading south towards the rock abutment...
-
Stormin' Norman's Spirit
Grill
- (Look for the largest food stand with the big green parachute beach
central). Great burgers of every description including veggie, chicken, beef,
wild meat (venison, ostrich, buffalo, alligator, musk ox), smokies, veggie
and beef dogs etc. You can stack the burger with all your favorite
raw veggies, sauces and condiments yourself. Norman also sells pop,
juice, water, potato chips, sarongs, cigarettes, papers, suntan lotion, Wreck Beach postcards and rents umbrellas too. He has
been a fixture on the beach for 13 years now and is usually set up for lunch
and stays to sell the dinner rush as well. Stormin'
Norman's
Menu
-
Abdul's Sandwiches
-
(Look for the stump with 2 umbrellas beach south near the rocks) The best
sandwiches you have ever had from vegetarian to sliced meat, cheese or
tuna. Always the freshest as he shops every day and sells limited
amounts so he usually sells out and leaves late afternoon. Abdul also
sells pop and water and is responsible for creating and maintaining many of
the flowerbeds you see throughout the beach.
-
Nudius Foodius
- (Look
for the stump with the umbrellas and big sign beach north). The yummiest of
Mediterranean fare on the beach with Greek salads, humus, rice and souvlaki
plates. It is so good you will love it for a change in taste.
-
Lucy's Peruvian
Food
- (Look for the
stump near Nudius or watch for her lively Peruvian smile wandering the
crowds). She sells homemade sandwiches and empanadas very reasonably priced
throughout the day and usually leaves early.
-
Other food and beverage
vendors - There are many ever changing others that walk the beach with a cooler and
advertise their wares so bring cash to spend. Listen for the vendors call and ask them to show you
what they have. Get them to check back later if you are not hungry in
the moment as most food and drink tends to sell out and there is nothing
worse than leaving a great beach day because your tummy is calling you or
you have run out of money.
(If you wish to be listed
in this area, please contact
stars@cocreation.net
with Wreck Beach listings on the subject line. All
listings subject to approval.)
What it costs for a Day on the
Beach...
Condensed Wreck Beach Guide
Bring cash
as there are no bank machines or credit card services nearby except
perhaps on the university grounds somewhere...
Parking
ranges from $1 hr and up and $4- $5 day or $12 day in the main
parkades depending
on where you park. See
Wreck Beach main page for more
info and exact parking details, where, how much etc.
Food ranges from
$1.00 - $8.00 on average for an item or a plate.
Beverages
run $2-$5.
Colorful beach sheets
run $10-$20 and
sarongs from
$7.50 -$10. Clothing
sells for $5 and up.
Massage
is usually $1 per
minute. Jewellery ranges from $2 - $50 and up.
Remember, it is illegal to bring alcohol to the
beach or sell it on the beach and if caught, the authorities will have you pour it
out and/or fine you or even have you leave the beach. Thus, please be
discreet and save yourself and others the aggravation of dealing
with the police or parks board officials and the hassle of being
challenged about alcohol.
Vendors
usually take American $ either at par or with exchange depending on the
individual. Currently there are not any vendors that take Visa or MasterCard. |
