Oh yeah, I should have been more clear - I was referring specifically to the back room setup which my friends and I loved (and the location in general was better). The new setup just isn't the same with it being at the front (and the new location isn't great).

I'm assuming you won't like the 2 speakeasy as well; Laowei and bagheera.



Since it's in Jan. If you want go all out - do a snowmobiling trip. If you have 20 people, you can just take up the whole tour and take over the group and ask for a discount.
*I would coordinate with the guide so you can say when they take 1/2 hr to do a pit stop (where they usually let you in a big field) to bbq some hot dogs / steaks + hot chocolate.

If it was summer, we do Kumsheen river rafting 2 day trip. You get all catered buffet lunch + camp (they have pool + catered dining), which was a great plce to just hang with the boys. Far enough from the wives and palce to just grill and smoke a lot of cigars.

I'm trying to find a place locally to do steak + whiskey + drinks. A place outdoors so we can build a bon fire then just have someone grill some tomahawks... We have been doing that monthly but being at someone's house got a bit old cause they guy has to clean each time. We'll see.
Something like Camp Beer Co in Langley would be cool.

We did a friend's 40th at Greta a few years back, it was good.

Did another one at Jay Nok Modern Thai on West 2nd a few months back, also decent.

The problem with speakeasys is that they often have a 2-hour limit, or aren't very large for parties, so not always the best option.

since you mentioned curling, what if you did something at your local legion?

beer and food are cheap, it's SUPER casual, very much the same feel as the marpole curling club.

go on a night when they are doing trivia or something like that.

I'll actually check out Laowai and Bagheera - I had thought about the Keefer Bar or Bao Bei as an option or even buying out Oyster Express.

Snowmobiling or anything like that isn't gonna fly with my crowd - too many parents who will be on the clock. Even getting out for a few hours will be an accomplishment for them.

This stuff though is one of the times where I wish I had a summer birthday - I'd probably do a catered garden party at my house (that sounds super white) or something like that.

Ooo, a legion would be cool. Maybe the one that was a legion on Main that's now Heroes Welcome. I'll take a look.

TFTI, supafamous. :suspicious:



This is not a popular option but certainly something novel, but Egg & Co. on Fraser and King Ed'ish will do a buy out and cater a menu to your liking with a staffed bar and all. I've hosted a few parties there and the prices are reasonable. Don't let the breakfast menu fool you.

Tekkaba Omakase in Gastown (? it's closer to the sketchy part of town) will do a buy out as well - we just hosted a corporate event there. It was $2000 for 20 people, including beer, 2L bottle of wine, and what felt like an open bar. Very good quality seafood - I'm allergic to shellfish but I was fine eating it here (and in Japan - I was still allergic in HK lol).

Chambar also does a private menu, unsure of cost as Scotiabank foot the bill for that one.

I don't know if it's too far or not but the Legion in Lynn Valley is pretty good. It's got that old school pub feeling. They do events like trivia nights and live music. Super friendly crowd. Decent food and drink prices.

Obviously it's the complete 180 from Keefer Bar. Just depends on what kind of vibe you want.

I've had birthdays at Shebeen (the old one) before and yeah it was great. I feel like when I turn 50, the Legion is where I'll be too, haha.

That will be us in a few years. :alone:

ive been going to the commercial dr legion since my 20s.. ive been an old man for a long time then

We do that too but it’s good.

the fuck is this shit !? you weridos talking about drinking or something? the hell is a speakeasy? isnt that a drinking thing from the prohibition era?

Now it's just pretending it's hidden and charging twice as much for cocktails

Bunch of lousy drunks !!!

The speakeasy trend is so funny. If you’ve got a liquor licence, me telling you some fuckin password that I read on DISHED Vancouver isn’t the qualifier to turn it into some elite club lol. Pretentious bullshit.

I don't mind if they really lean hard into it... like in Calgary I went to this one where it looks like an abandoned business building and you walk in and it's all 1920's decor and some girls dressed in 20's fashion... you just pick up a fancy old rotary phone to give the password or whatever and the girls appear from a hidden door in a bookcase. I think it is called Betty Lou's Library or something?

Inside was quite done up, they even used fog machines I guess to get a bit of a "haze" in the room like people still smoke inside and the cocktails were stuff I'd never even seen or heard of before.

It was quite an experience.

^ Man if I could do that I'd never leave the house :lol

Having your 50th at the legion is certainly embracing being an old fart.

Can you make the experience more realistic with unbridled sexism and racism of the 20s ?!?

Whats that drunken mick doing in here ?! Ethel you stupid dame, let me wipe my coal blackened hands on your flapper while you pour me another.

:badpokerface:

WELL NOW PETER PAN WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST US 20-SOMETHING YEAR OLDS DO!?!??! FeelsGoodMan

When I was 20 I went to the Legion because I was too poor to buy beers elsewhere.

they're not that cheap anymore there either, but at least there is always free darts, pool, pingpong, etc..

"It ain't gay if you auto-fillet"