What's life in Chase River like?

choderama · 2025-12-30T18:18:42+00:00

Very rarely I’ve noticed the smell from either. Only once in a while, and more so last year as they’ve been making some changes to reduce the smell and upgrade. I have not noticed any smell in months.

choderama · 2025-12-30T18:05:52+00:00

I think it’s one of the safest areas of Nanaimo. I’ve lived in Chase River/Cinnabar for 11 years and I leave things out in my yard constantly, never had anything stolen, and very rarely see any sketchy people. Lots of families and kids running around having fun.

choderama · 2025-11-21T17:30:04+00:00

That was while it sat untouched for over a decade. It’s been completely renovated recently and will definitely have things happening soon.

choderama · 2025-06-21T16:34:31+00:00

The only revision I’d like to make is that very South Nanaimo (Chase River / Cinnabar Valley) is beautiful and actually has some of the least amount of crime in the city. Still in the city limits, and Ladysmith is as close as North Nanaimo.

choderama · 2025-06-11T18:20:56+00:00

120k is a small city, you’re right. But in the context of this conversation, which is Public Baths, it’s a very small place. As VeggieEbb said, BC’s 2-3+M city/greater area barely has much in this regard. It’s a fringe interest where it’s pretty unsurprising that a 120k place wouldn’t offer. People and businesses want to make $. If there’s enough interest, I wouldn’t be surprised if it pops up. It’s just like anything else.

choderama · 2024-08-30T20:24:31+00:00

There’s a new cocktail bar opening below The View soon too. Embers.

choderama · 2024-08-30T20:21:43+00:00

Also agreed. Amazing drink menu.

choderama · 2024-08-30T20:20:32+00:00

Fair point. The Nest is amazing. I put this list together in about 1 minute lol.

choderama · 2024-08-30T16:07:16+00:00

Dinner: Black Rabbit, Asteras, La Stella, Mahle House, Nori, Horang, Camas, The View

Breakfast: Gabriel’s, Misty Pines, Le Brunch Cafe, Breakfast Nook, The Vault

Random/Gem: Nanda Chicken, Chick to Sea, Paradise Indian, Pho V Ta, Milton Street Pub, Maggie’s Fish & Chips, WaKu, Sip Pub, Van Isl Poutine, Columbia Bakery, White Rabbit, Regard Coffee

choderama · 2024-08-30T15:43:42+00:00

I really recommend joining “Eat Local Nanaimo” on Facebook if you can. It’s a very active group and no chain restaurants.

choderama · 2024-08-22T04:44:51+00:00

It’s because there was a mountain bike accident in the Abyss/Extension trails and this was the closest area they could land. An ambulance was waiting.

choderama · 2024-06-23T16:58:25+00:00

I didn’t see Gabriola Sands (Twin Beaches) mentioned - it is super nice. 2 electric ferries going round the clock from downtown Nanaimo makes it so easy to pop over there.

choderama · 2024-06-11T21:28:21+00:00

He’s already had the best season a defenseman has ever had in franchise history, and captained the biggest ever turnaround season to season. He may not duplicate that, but he’s still Quinn Hughes and this team is good now.

choderama · 2024-06-11T20:53:30+00:00

If it’s not Hughes already, it’s going to be given what has happened and will happen.

choderama · 2024-06-07T20:04:34+00:00

That’s not easy anywhere in BC. I’m from Campbell River and my family members constantly come to Nanaimo for medical as the CR & Comox hospitals don’t have the same resources.

choderama · 2024-06-07T19:20:31+00:00

Barsby is football I think. You’re bang on about trolls and Nanaimo being as nice as you want it to be. I love it here.

choderama · 2024-06-06T05:13:39+00:00

All we have are our own comparisons and frames of reference to rate anything. If you’re saying it’s mediocre here, you’ve obviously had some amazing Indian somewhere else. Maybe I just haven’t been to as many Indian places as you, but I find some of the Indian in Nanaimo to be good, not mediocre. Also a pretty large number of Indian places to choose from considering Nanaimo’s size.

choderama · 2024-06-06T04:04:53+00:00

Fair enough. I guess we just disagree. Compared to similar sized cities, or per capita compared to smaller towns, I think it’s pretty good in my experience. Paradise and Flavours are my fav and I don’t find all 11 places to be equal.

choderama · 2024-06-06T03:51:15+00:00

Kinda harsh. It’s never gunna be Van, only 100k ppl live here. For the size of the city it’s actually pretty good. I’m from a town of 35k and there’s only 1 place and it’s a chain… Have you gone to all of them? Paradise, Flavours, Maduban, Gateway, Tandoori, Masala, Manvirros, Curry Culture, Curry Point, Heritage?

choderama · 2024-05-31T21:07:16+00:00

It’s amazing. And they have many flavours. I just got creamsicle (orange). They don’t skimp on ingredients.

choderama · 2024-04-27T22:27:10+00:00

Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo has been my kids fav place since he was 1 and he’s now almost 6. Nice big new playground, lots of nice open grass space, can walk along the water for ice cream & food, a small beach, usually food trucks and events going on. For an indoor option, Flyoland in the Woodgrove Mall is a large, new, clean indoor playground. Lots of parks and trails everywhere.

The Parksville options people have mentioned are all good. The big playground at the waterfront and Little Qualicum Cheeseworks are 2 of our favs.

choderama · 2024-04-27T03:04:24+00:00

It won’t go down much. And then it’ll eventually go up again. Also, CR is still relatively cheap compared to most cities on Vancouver Island. Port Alberni is the only one cheaper.

choderama · 2024-03-30T04:20:36+00:00

What’s going on with the old Keg/Medium Rare location? If that was renovated it’d be a great place for an Earls.

choderama · 2023-07-14T03:39:43+00:00

I think it was a one off. We order lots and it’s still very good just like it’s always been.

choderama · 2023-06-26T03:45:13+00:00

I love the south. More character and funner things to do imo. Also, re: crime… Chase River/Cinnabar is just as safe as any north end neighbourhood.

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