After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

Jessica Kalbfleisch

Jessica Kalbfleisch is a new Vancouver resident and recent graduate from the University of Guelph, where she studied English and social psychology. Before venturing to Vancouver from Ontario, she embarked on a four month travel of Southeast Asia, where she explored the beautiful countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. From this adventure she developed a great love of diverse cultures and food. In life, and in writing, she is passionate about the outdoors, travel, advice, health, and people.

Singles vs. couples: who is really happier on Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it is becoming more difficult to ignore titles from magazines, blogs, and web sites, that spit out phrases along the lines of "How To Be Single and...

The crucifixion of women at the grocery store checkout line

Misogynists rule the tabloids. It doesn't matter where you are: London Drugs, 7-eleven,  Safeway or on the B.C. Ferries. They all display  tabloid magazines at check-out plastered with...

Vancouver Housewives: backstabbing friendships and tropical getaways

Another episode of The Real Housewives of Vancouver effectively delivers more drama, back stabbing comments and (to switch things up) a lavish getaway.

The Bachelorette's Emily meets her hot new suitors

Will Emily find her true love in Arie, Charlie, Doug or Ryan?

Vancouver housewives: catfights, guns and rehab

Don't miss the drama in episode eight of the Real Housewives of Vancouver tonight.

Get cheeky, get swabbed and save lives through stem cell donation

Saturday, May 12 |  10 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Grand Court at Metropolis at Metrotown Calling out all healthy Vancouverites between the ages of 17 and 50 years, from all ethnicities. In honour of Mother...

Finnick Odair casting reignites Hunger Games racism debate

So what's wrong with a mixed-race Jesse Williams playing a Hunger Games heartthrob? The front-runner for the casting of Finnick Odair already has fans riled up.

Team Heartbreak releases Pacific Pressure West Coast mixtape to help battered women

The Canadian West Coast mixtape with a download option to donate to the Battered Women's Support Services in hopes to eliminate all violence against girls and women.

Advice about finding love online: try POF, "Costco of humanity"

Are hectic lives of busy city-goers getting in the way of 'real world' dating experiences? As an efficient resource to seek out that perfect match, the popularity of online dating continues to grow.

Earth Day 2012: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal, Matt Damon among greenest celebs

"Hey girl. Don't be trashy," says eco-conscious celeb Ryan Gosling.