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I visited the Rio theatre to find a very rare local Vancouver film being shown to the public for the first time. I've never visited the Rio Theatre before so I did not know what to expect. The Rio Theatre is conveniently located by Commercial and Broadway, so getting there is simple from the Skytrain, other public transit or even driving. The facility itself is very clean and has some really cool décor. The seats are spacious even for a larger and longer individual such as myself, and thankfully they have armrests that can be raised or lowered. Apart from the expensive popcorn, which all theatres have, they are licensed and allow alcohol to be consumed on the premises, although not in the actual theatre itself. The staff are all genuinely friendly unlike the larger, big box franchise theatres and the overall vibe is quite trendy. Though you won't be able to expect the 1080HD type quality or 4K that you would see in some of the upper high end theatres, the picture and sound quality is on par with the admission. The admission itself is generally inexpensive for such a cool place. The staff even invite you to hang out after with the showing and chill. The Rio Theatre is a must for those looking to step away from generic theatres and move into something more local and trendy.

I visited Samurai Sushi on Fraser as this has received great reviews from critics in the vibrant Vancouver eatery scene. I did have high expectations and actually went out of my way to visit as there are many other fantastic restaurants in the area. Unfortunately for me my high expectations were not met, and even if I lowered my expectations it would still be satisfactory. The menu items are extensive and there are a lot of regular Japanese fair that you would find in most Sushi restaurants. I ordered two of their most expensive rolls. The house roll and their crab roll. In total it cost $20. The portion size is tremendous, and one roll is generally enough to satisfy one person. I was not able to finish both rolls, not only due to the size but due to it's taste. The rolls are nothing spectacular and incredibly bland. For the price and considering the quality or lack of, I could have had better Sushi from a take-away at a local strip mall. Why Samurai Sushi has rave reviews is beyond my comprehension. Having dined at exclusive Sushi houses to cheap food court eateries I know my Sushi well and this is one place I would definitely pass up.

Gondola Pizza remains one of Winnipeg's main pizza parlours with a loyal following for over 25 years. Especially at the McPhillips location, which has even seen generations of staff come through. I myself have been a loyal custom for over 15 years. Most recently the management and staff have changed and the training procedures and quality of their product has failed. Every two weeks as a treat to my family we would dine here and order our normal dishes. We were known by name and it came to the point where we would be seated and our orders already on their way. Unfortunately due to the change in management and the staff we were treated as poor tourists time and time again. Our orders were not taken correctly and always seem to arrive much longer than normal. The quality has gone down as the toppings were more and more sparse. Staff would disappear for lengthy periods of time without returning and asking if needed anything further. Management was combative when approached about improving their training. I would not recommend Gondola any longer and I have moved on to other pizza parlours with far better food and service. It is a shame as this was once an exciting restaurant for my family and I to look forward to but now we simply drive by without a second thought.

I have visited Make It Fit Alterations several times over the past couple of weeks. I ordered clothing from a retailer that did not fit properly. The tailor and seamstress at Make it Fit Alterations was extremely helpful and altering my clothing to have it fit like a glove. The service is quick and friendly and my clothes were done in the time requested and fit far beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend this business for any type of tailoring, alterations and repairs for clothing.

24/7 Thai is a small Thai diner conveniently located on Broadway. It has been around for quite some time and has a loyal following. I myself was one of the loyal customers who would frequent this restaurant regularly. However, during my last three visits I have been greatly disappointed as the quality of their food and the overall service has diminished. For years they served dishes that were flavourful with fresh ingredients and superb quality. Now their courses are smaller in portion size, tasteless in comparison from their previous servings and overall dissatisfying. The staff are no longer attentive as they were previously, and the regular staff are no longer employed there. Overall I would not recommend visiting this restaurant and if you have previously then it would be time to move on to another eatery,

I scheduled an appointment with Napa Autopro to have my vehicle serviced with their seasonal specials. This included an oil change, tire rotation and visual inspection of all major components of my vehicle. I left my vehicle first thing in the morning and went shopping at the local mall. The service advisor called me later and notified me that they were going to replace suspension components in my vehicle that were worn out and that would be an additional cost. I told them specifically not to replace the parts as it would not fall within my budget. The service advisor argued with me and then hung up. I called back later on and they told me they were in the process of replacing the parts anyways, although I never once gave them permission to. Infuriated, I demanded to speak to the owner. The owner told me that I have no choice in the matter and they would do it regardless. I told them to immediately stop working on my vehicle and I will be contacting Napa Autopro customer service to file a complaint. I went back to their shop right away and told them that their conduct was disrespectful and unprofessional. The owner defended himself and his staff and threw my keys on the counter and told me to pay up. I paid my bill and left and I promised never to return to a shop where I was looked down upon and spoken to in a manner which was degrading. Have your vehicle serviced at a shop where you are treated with respect from professionals who value your business, and stay far away from Napa Autopro in Port Coquitlam.

In response to Brandon's Review, I have long since replaced my Dodge Caravan and with it were all the receipts from the dealerships and independent shops where I had it serviced. After the horrible service I received there years ago I would never give Napa Auto Pro another chance at my business. Considering how many local independent shops there are in the Greater Vancouver area that are going well out of their way for their customers, there is no reason to come back to a facility that has proven to have failed their customers. Given the negative reviews on Weblocal as well as many other local and regional forums, anyone who does their research will see that there have been many customers who have been mistreated. Though your establishment may be under new ownership and management, that does not reflect the fact that many of us have been mistreated previously and will gladly take our business elsewhere and forewarn others about your shop. In today's competitive market, you have only but one chance to win a customer's loyalty. Your shop has failed to do this.

I have been taking my vehicle to Euro Otto Sport for some time and they have been treating me very well. However on my last visit they had my vehicle for well over a week for a waterpump and timing belt replacement. Claiming being short staffed, owner Otto Hotz still charged me a full amount when I picked up my vehicle. I would have expected some discounted rate for my long wait. Being that I really needed my vehicle, I would have paid a much higher price at a local Audi dealer and have my vehicle done in one day rather than 7 days. Though I have never had any problems previously, I would strongly consider other independent shops.

I visited Blitzkrieg Autowerks as I was looking for a new independent service and repair facility for my Audis. Feeling quite disappointmented with the last few independent shops that I've been to, I didn't put high expectations with Blitzkrieg. After speaking to the owner, Cheyne, I learned more about Blitzkrieg, their staff and their history. The well trained staff have years of experience in the motorsports industry, and they take that motorsports experience to their customers vehicles. Pushing the boundaries of a vehicle's capabilities on a closed course allowed them to gain an understanding of how improvements can be made to road-legal cars for better performance and safety. Of course I was only there for what was a simple repair, but I left with the feeling that I was dealing with race proven professionals. The had my vehicle finished on time, to my satisfaction for a price that was fair. A quick tour of their shop and I was able to see some very high performance, heavily modified vehicles for both track and road use. The owner mentioned that they do everything from the simple oil change all the way to a custom race engine. This shop is definitely one of the better independent shops around Vancouver.

I visited Vancouver Auto Liquidation as I found they had a vehicle that I have been specifically searching for with an ideal price. I called them to make arrangements to view and test drive the vehicle. I must admit their pricing was very, very good. Easily several thousand less than what I would find at a more reputable sales lot. Upon visiting their lot I soon discovered the difference between this type of establishment and a professional manufacturer dealership. The sales staff were smoking right on the premises, using foul language and dressed in cheap casual clothing. The building itself looked to be old and poorly maintained. Although those minor details
are not of critical importance when purchasing a vehicle, it goes to show how far this company will go to set a good impression. I viewed the vehicle which was deemed "accident free" on their website. It looked to be in good shape, and when I drove it I felt confident that it was in very good condition. Having a slight mechanical background I did notice some minor issues, but nothing that would cost me a lot of money in the long run. After finishing the paperwork they provided me with an ICBC report that did actually show that it had been in an accident with less than $2,000 worth of damage, as well as two vandalism claims. They also failed to have the vehicle pass an AirCare Emissions Test so I had to wait another hour for them to find someone who can
run the vehicle through AirCare and bring back the papers. They have independent technicians who
inspect the vehicles prior to being placed on the lot for sale, and their technicians seemed to have missed that the exhaust from the catalytic converter to the exhaust tips were so badly corroded that it would require immediate replacement. Finally, they only had one key for the vehicle, no spare tire wrench or scissor jack and almost no fuel in the vehicle. They said the vehicle is as is as no extended warranty was purchased and what I see is what I get, which is why the pricing is far lower than anywhere else. As mentioned previously, the pricing was considerably less than what I could find elsewhere, but they failed to detail the vehicle, fill it with fuel and give me the basic equipment. I would never recommend returning to this establishment to purchase a vehicle. It is just as risky as purchasing privately, it not more. Their records with the
Vehicle Sales Authority has one note on it, and overall the service and after sales support is
non-existant.

To update my experience with Vancouver Auto Liquidation Centre, my exhaust did eventually fall off
about a week after the purchase. From the muffler all the way to the tips was undercoated or painted black to hide the corrosion but the rust ate through to the muffler where it broke free. I was able to purchase another key from Ford, which cost me $120 and a spare tire kit I was able to purchase at an auto recycler for $40. For less than $200 this company would have made me a bit more satisfied, with the exception of the exhaust.

After having a several nightmarish experiences with logistics companies I was able to find Dil's Trucking to move pallets of goods around the greater Toronto area for my business. I can not begin to explain how professional the driver Brian Boyd is with all of the fragile goods and time sensitive freight. For once a logistics company that delivers on time and even earlier than expected, with no damage to the freight! Great attitude, well experienced and professionalism is what I seen in Dil's Trucking and I would highly recommend them to anyone who requires a higher level of logistics.

Jethro's is a quaint little diner on Dunbar near the west end of Vancouver. It generally has a line-up for breakfast and lunch. Jethro's has a small dining area with little decor. The establishment itself is clean and the hosts well staffed. Their breakfast and lunch menus include very interesting items. Their take on breakfast and lunch is something different from the general diner you see around the Kitsilano and Kerrisdale areas. Everything from their sausage and hashbrowns to their omelettes and pancakes is prepared wonderfully and served with a genuine friendliness that is sometimes difficult to find in Vancouver's dining scene. Highly recommended for a great time and great food, check out Jethro's for for something new. Be warned that waiting times for breakfast and lunch can be anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, with no waiting area inside the restaurant. Come early!

Calhoun's Bakery and Cafe is a fixture in Vancouver's student scene close to University of British Columbia. This is due to it's free wireless Internet, 24 hour convenience and spacious accommodations. Otherwise, realistically this is a poor establishment for those searching for an above average coffee and pastry experience. The service is average as the staff are friendly and provide you with your order quickly, although they are at most times robotic in their presentation. The coffee is not bad, but a far cry from some of the better coffee shops around the city with similar pricing. The food, however, is the greatest disappointment with this bakery. Absolutely everything available is horrible. From the pizza to the desserts it is nothing anyone would realistically want to order. Everything consumable that is being served other than the coffee was either worse than a cheap supermarket manufactured dish or made in-house by inexperienced staff. Though I have been to Calhoun's twice already for coffee, I would never recommend visiting unless you really need coffee and wireless Internet at a late hour. There are far better places in the city where you will not leave your plate with only one bite out of your order.

I drive a Ford vehicle. Ford builds some of the most innovative vehicles of all the manufacturers. Unfortunately for Ford owners, poorly managed dealerships with improperly trained staff bring a negative reputation to the parent company. This is how Metro Motors has lost a customer for life, and lost the confidence in it's principal company.

I scheduled an appointment to have my vehicle serviced at Metro Motors on Saturday morning. This was to replace one spark plug which I was unable to change myself. I dropped my vehicle off at 8:00 as my appointment stated. I waited in the customer waiting area for my vehicle to be serviced. At around 10:30, I wanted to know how the progress was on my vehicle. I went back to the service department and inquired about the progress. I then learned, just at that time that they were delayed due to another work order that was scheduled before my vehicle. In essence, my vehicle was not even worked on at all and was sitting in the parking lot. I was then told that I will be contacted as soon as they are able to work on my vehicle. I was very irritated as I took time off work to have my vehicle serviced. I had breakfast at a nearby eatery to kill more time. At 12:00 I came by again and inquired about my vehicle, since I did not receive any call from the service department. I was told that my vehicle was not worked on at all and that it will take considerable time before they will get to it. So for 4 hours, or half a work day, I waited for absolutely nothing and walked away with absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing but sheer disappointment and disbelief that a successful local Ford dealer would treat their customers with such unprofessionalism and lack of consideration.

I have since contacted Ford Canada, which has informed me that I must contact the management of Metro Motors. I have since contacted Metro Motors management and they have not returned my inquiries. If anything I simply wanted an answer as to why they would have my waiting for 4 hours to end up with nothing. If management can not find the time to answer my inquiries then I will find the time to make sure the public is known about their mistreatment of their customers.

I will continue to own a Ford vehicle, I simply won't ever bring it to Metro Motors. Metro Motors is involved in the community by supporting local charities and youth groups, but that does not take away from the realistic fact that they are a group of individuals who know nothing about proper management, customer service or business ethics. I would outright insist that anyone and everyone avoid this poor business all together.

I drive a Ford vehicle. Ford builds some of the most innovative vehicles of all the manufacturers. Unfortunately for Ford owners, poorly managed dealerships with improperly trained staff bring a negative reputation to the parent company. This is how Metro Motors has lost a customer for life, and lost the confidence in it's principal company.

I scheduled an appointment to have my vehicle serviced at Metro Motors on Saturday morning. This was to replace one spark plug which I was unable to change myself. I dropped my vehicle off at 8:00 as my appointment stated. I waited in the customer waiting area for my vehicle to be serviced. At around 10:30, I wanted to know how the progress was on my vehicle. I went back to the service department and inquired about the progress. I then learned, just at that time that they were delayed due to another work order that was scheduled before my vehicle. In essence, my vehicle was not even worked on at all and was sitting in the parking lot. I was then told that I will be contacted as soon as they are able to work on my vehicle. I was very irritated as I took time off work to have my vehicle serviced. I had breakfast at a nearby eatery to kill more time. At 12:00 I came by again and inquired about my vehicle, since I did not receive any call from the service department. I was told that my vehicle was not worked on at all and that it will take considerable time before they will get to it. So for 4 hours, or half a work day, I waited for absolutely nothing and walked away with absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing but sheer disappointment and disbelief that a successful local Ford dealer would treat their customers with such unprofessionalism and lack of consideration.

I have since contacted Ford Canada, which has informed me that I must contact the management of Metro Motors. I have since contacted Metro Motors management and they have not returned my inquiries. If anything I simply wanted an answer as to why they would have my waiting for 4 hours to end up with nothing. If management can not find the time to answer my inquiries then I will find the time to make sure the public is known about their mistreatment of their customers.

I will continue to own a Ford vehicle, I simply won't ever bring it to Metro Motors. Metro Motors is involved in the community by supporting local charities and youth groups, but that does not take away from the realistic fact that they are a group of individuals who know nothing about proper management, customer service or business ethics. I would outright insist that anyone and everyone avoid this poor business all together.

Tang Dynasty was featured on local restaurant reviewers as a place to go when craving an authentic Chinese noodlehouse. I had high expectations when visiting as I have had quite a number of bad experiences with other noodlehouses claiming to be authentic. I must say that their noodles are actually made in-house. Their selection is vast and their menu is extensive. Unfortunately none of this matters as their food and their service are absolutely horrible. I ordered a crispy noodle dish with seafood and blackbean sauce and the sauce came cold and the seafood was still partially frozen. The server did not know how to count properly and had to count my change twice. Despite having numerous positive reviews I must have arrived on a bad day or simply their restaurant does not live up to their reputation. I would not bother giving this restaurant a second chance and I would skip this all together. Considering how many wonderful eateries there are around Broadway I would stay away from this one and try something different. Something with great food and service.

Chapters has always been a favourite store for me to visit. They have an extensive selection of hard-to-find horror novels. They also have a large selection of magazines of different cultures and languages and friendly staff. Although recognized as chain of booksellers, Chapters has become an institution for very select readers looking for unique books and people who know them. I recommend them for their experienced staff and selection of great reading material.

I was just outside London when I ran over road debris that blew my front driver-side tire. I am more than capable of replacing a flat tire with a donut on my truck, but unfortunately due to upgrading my wheels and tires a week ago, I didn't have the proper size lug wrench. I had to call CAA to see if a tow truck in the area would assist me. In less than 20 minutes a driver from Silverbird Towing showed up. She was friendly, courteous and profesional. She replaced my flat tire with my factory donut in less time than it would take me, and did it on the infamous 401 in poor weather conditions. She even took time to torque down the nuts to the proper specs and check to see that everything else was good. Many thanks to the driver at SilverBird Towing. Keep up the great work!

On a weekend getaway I visited Lord Chumley's Fish and Chips on Harvey Street in Kelowna. It was at a convenient location not too far away from my hotel, and I needed a fix for my Halibut craving. The diner is a quaint with a old fashioned English decor. The settings are spacious and the facilities are clean. The staff are very friendly and know proper customer service. Their menu has the usual fare of most English style fish and chip eateries, so I already knew what I would order. Their Boston clam chowder was fabulous and was a generous portion size for the fee. The halibut pieces are large and priced well. The food came quick, the service was great and the overall experience was a very postive one. I recommend Lord Chumley's in Kelowna when in town for some fabulous halibut and seafood courses.

I visited Cloverdale Paints to match some exterior paint for cedar siding that I was installing. Being very inexperienced in paints, the staff were friendly and knowledgeable regarding all types of paints and their appropriate uses. They carry so many different types of paints and can custom match paints for different surfaces both interior and exterior. They have various product lines from the budget minded economy line all the way to an ultra exclusive line for those wanting to spare no expense. The staff were great and helped me find exactly what I was looking for, and even described the best possible method for applying the paint to maximize adhesion, durability and coverage. I recommend Cloverdale Paints in White Rock for all painting needs.

I visited The Eatery on a recommendation from a friend. This same friend has given me recommendations which lead to poor dining experiences and therefore poor reviews on Weblocal. However, this dining experience was very positive and the recommendation was well earned. The Eatery is located at the end of trendy Kitsilano. The servers dress very casual, as well as most of the patrons. The decor is very unsual, bordering strange. Not offensive in any manner, but definitely something to catch your attention. Even the dinner and drink menus have a theme of them, as it seems everything in The Eatery does. The layout is spacious for any group of individuals to be comfortable, and the dining areas are well kept and clean. The music is a bit loud but that adds to the overall experience. This restaurant is very dark, so every table is lit up by a candle. One thing to be noticed is that this is not a traditional or genuine Japanese restaurant. It is blended with Western fusion, as well as some unique and odd twists on Japanese dishes. Overall I would say that this is definitely a place to visit if you wish to try something new. Although I'm a traditionalist when it comes to ethnic cuisine, I do like to explore new things and The Eatery is a new dining experience for those who have never ventured off the path of authentic Japanese cuisine. The service is prompt, friendly and attentive. The food comes quick and is prepared from scratch. I enjoyed this so much that I ended up staying after the store was closed and chatted up the servers. Great place, great people, great food and great experience. Stop by and have a blast!