W2 Storyeum

I had never heard of this spot until free tickets to an Isis show and Peaches DJ set landed in my hands. I had no idea what to expect since I had only vaguely heard of the bad idea that was Storyeum being turned into a party venue. I walked off the streets of Vancouver and into a huge warehouse space with the passionately semi-​finished feel of underground. The sound is great distribution, the décor is just enough, and the bar? The bar pours their drinks from actual bottles into real shotglasses. I appreciate that. Singles and beer is standard pricing, though they do that asshole thing where doubles are almost double the price. $ 5.50 for a single hiball, $ 10 for a double. Really lame. I’m trying to be economical when getting smashed and this does not help one bit. (Time to pre-​drink!) They could do better with the cheapest beer being $ 5 as well. (Not sure if that was the venue or the event!)
There are three smaller rooms off the one giant main room as well and all with their own thing going on, sound totally blocked from the other areas despite being completely open.
The stage is REALLY low. If you’re not right up front you can’t see anything when there is a show going on besides the top of the performer’s head, and that’s only a few rows back. From beyond the crowd you can’t see anything at all.
I usually hold a healthy skepticism of new venues in a city where «new» usually means over-​priced faux-​chic nonsense where my ID will be scanned, I’ll be metal-​wanded, my purse will be dug through thorough, all drinks will cost $ 7+ and liquor will come from those suspicious automated spouts and I will swear up and down they are weaker than they should be. (They are! I’m not getting drunk!!) It’s refreshing to see a new spot with so much potential. Just a few improvements and it would be perfect!

What is it about dark, underground raw spaces that sends my spine a tingling and my heart afire? I think it’s the memories of awesome parties past, shaken with the anticipation of what could be coming next.
This space is larger than life! It has a vibe all it’s own that seems to appeal to every urban subculture. You can dress it up (Juno after party comes to mind) or dress it down. You could host almost any kind of event imaginable (music, corporate, fashion, foodie), provided you don’t need heaps of daylight. And every single time — provided you’re there for an event you wanna be at – Storyeum will provide the 31,000 square feet of background splendor. Now, that’s a party!