Once Upon A Time geeking, pt II: Gastown, Vancouver, BC

With bonus Highlander.

Anyone who’s watched OUAT, Highlander, X-Files, Continuum, or a dozen other made-in-Canada TV shows will recognize Gastown. It is the semi-gentrified “hip” neighborhood along the waterfront in downtown Vancouver. Like such neighborhoods in many cities, you can turn a corner and go from a trendy shopping area to a dodgy skid row. Most of the OUAT “Manhattan” scenes were filmed in the Alexander/Powell/Carrall street triangle.

On-screen and off-screen photos follow. Warning: Image heavy. All screencaps courtesy of screencapped.net.

Soho

 

Alexander and Carrall Sts, Gastown

 

Neal/Baelfire runs for it. Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

 

Powell Street, Gastown. I became convinced I’d found Baelfire’s apartment because of its location relative to the art deco corner building (see first pic above), then rewatched “Manhattan,” and decided I really didn’t find it, then looked at screenshots and decided I had after all. His apartment building is to the far right. But that same building, on the show, was painted white and had a big cornice/frontage added to it. My evidence: note the two buildings to its left are pretty much as they were during filming.

 

Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

The aptly-named Trounce Alley was the location where Emma trounced Neal/Baelfire, and was also once the back of Tessa’s antique store/art studio on Highlander. I took a gazillion photos of it, trying to convince myself I’d found the place. Also, because I love this EmmaFire moment:

 

Trounce Alley, Gastown

 

Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

Trounce Alley, Gastown

 

Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

Trounce Alley, Gastown

 

Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

Pretty sure this once was Tessa’s antique story on Highlander

 

Episode 2.14, Manhattan

 

The best pizza in New York

 

Powell and Carrall Sts, Gastown. The Sculptor and I had dinner at an Indian restaurant on Powell after some rainy shopping, and I recognized the corner. It’s possible I watch too much OUAT.

 

Episode 2.15, The Queen is Dead

 

Bonus Highlander:

This is just off Water street, where Duncan McLeod once lived (Water and Cambie):

 

Steam clock Water and Cambie Sts

 

Gastown

 

“Dojo”, Water and Cambie sts. I actually tracked this down 15 years ago on my epic Highlander fan’s tour of Vancouver.