Portland Man Calls Vancouver Waterfront 'Surprisingly Nice,' Is Escorted to Bridge
By Marsh Pendleton · Sightings Desk ·
VANCOUVER — A Portland man visiting the Vancouver Waterfront last weekend described it as “surprisingly nice,” a compliment residents have spent the days since deciding whether to frame or dispute.
The man, visiting from the Alberta Arts District, reportedly made the remark near the Grant Street Pier while gesturing at the Columbia with what witnesses called a sincere expression.
“Half of us wanted it on a plaque,” said a waterfront regular who was present. “The other half wanted to know what he meant by ‘surprisingly.’ A lot of us were both halves at once.”
Informed of the reaction, the man clarified that he “meant it as praise,” which residents agreed made it worse.
He was then escorted, politely and in a loose group, back toward the Interstate Bridge, thanked for coming, and invited to return, in a tone.
By midweek the waterfront had recovered, with residents describing it to one another as “not surprising. Just nice.”