EnRoute Magazine, April 2008

Actress Jennifer Beals' Commercial Drive

Jennifer Beals was propelled to fame as a welder in the 1983 film Flashdance. Now whe's better known as workaholic Bette Porter in The L Word. Entering its 5th season, the TV drama is set in West Hollywood but filmed in Vancouver, where Beals shares a home with her husband and two-year-old daughter.

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Britannia Centre
It's the centre of everything. Ther's ice-skating, a pool and a gym, and it all costs about $5. The whole notion of a community centre was a revelation to me, you wouldn't find this in L.A.

Joe's Cafe
The Drive is so ethnically diverse and driven by music and people and soccer. I used to live in the area, and during the world cup, it's just so alive. Joe's Cafe is a popular place for games, and they have great coffee.

Dandelion Kids
They have fun toys and clothes and carry a lot of wooden items and things you won't find anywhere else, like unusual puzzles and mobiles.

Havana
At almost any restaurant on the Drive, you'll usually hear live music playing or people talking about their band or a short movie they just made. This place has a warm atmosphere, the food is cuban-and-latin-influenced and one of the cool things about it is the art gallery in the back.

Little Nest
This is a comfortable new cafe that's really family-oriented. There's a play area, which is fun for kids. It's like eating in a living room. They server great sandwiches and soup.