Ep 20: Quest to meet the Scholar-Queen of the Red Tulip
Introduction
Earlier this year, I was at an intimate music event to support a performing friend. The venue, tucked beneath a labyrinthine set of hallways in Chinatown, was warm, dimly lit, and well...lit. During an intermission, I wandered about, first searching for the bathroom, then exploring and speaking to people.
It was then that I noticed a woman standing alone behind the bookshelves that formed the backdrop of this event. My curiosity was piqued when I saw her pick up and turn over a few James Baldwin books. While intrigued by the library, I found myself more drawn to this person.
I approached her, pointing out one of Morrison's books. “I love Toni Morrison!”, she said, a phrase she repeated several times during our brief conversation. My initial assessment was correct - this woman was both scholarly and beautiful, her shy smile betraying her often.
Just as I was about to ask about what brought her to Vancouver, the intermission ended and everyone rushed back in. Dang it! The night continued with much singing, snapping and instrumentals. Although I had to leave early due to work the next morning, I was determined not to leave empty-handed. Before departing, I discreetly approached her, got her contact info, and silently exited the venue.
Invitation
Fast-forward to weeks later, a Toni Morrison quote on social media sparked memories of the woman from the event — the one I'd mentally dubbed the Scholar-Queen. Inspired, I reached out to this literary enthusiast, inviting her for brunch at Nemesis Coffee - a charming café in a distinctive red, tulip-shaped building.
To my delight, she accepted. We set a date for the weekend, and I found myself eagerly anticipating a rendezvous with the “Scholar-Queen of the Red Tulip”.
Plan
I woke up unusually energized on the rainy Vancouver Saturday, excited for the meetup. After confirming our plans, I realized Nemesis Coffee was about 10km away - in Vancouver.
Pulling up Gogomi's map of my walks, I noticed the sparse area between Brentwood and Vancouver Downtown. It reminded me of my previous adventure bridging Brentwood and Metrotown. At that moment, I knew there was only one way forward - I had to walk the entire distance.
This grand expedition would take me through several neighbourhoods, from West Central Valley to Mount Pleasant. It wasn't just about meeting the Scholar-Queen of the Red Tulip anymore; it was a calling to connect these two lonely clusters on my map, echoing my earlier adventure.
Expedition!
I set out at 12 PM, hooded up for ten kilometers in the rain—true Vancouverites don't use umbrellas. My grand quest across unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations had just begun and my first obstacle was a flooded sidewalk along the way.
This forced me to cross the highway, for a drier path to avoid wetting my agnostic New Balance shoes. I was surprised by how different the landscape looked on both sides of the highway. A good sidewalk really made a difference!
I used Gogomi to view unexplored roads, choosing a jagged path through residential areas instead of right next to the highway.
Crossing the Burnaby-Vancouver border, I entered Hastings-Sunrise. The 5km ping on my Apple Watch coincided with my walk back to the main road, where I could still see the distant Brentwood Towers.
The cherry blossoms were now shedding their petals and leaves. The thinning canopies offered less shelter, allowing more of the light rain to mist me as I made my way towards the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood.
Construction sites dotted the area of Grandview-woodland, signalling a healthy neighbourhood. This reminded me of cellular autophagy - clearing out the old to make way for the new. Amidst the sounds of development, a few starlings chirped, nature's soundtrack to the city's evolution.
Approaching Commercial Drive—and now close to the tulip—I got a unique view from below the SkyTrain tracks, a perspective I'd never had before.
A passing railway train added to the urban symphony.
Just then, a text from the Scholar Queen arrived saying she'd see me soon. I replied “ditto,” and she seemed confused by how long I'd been on the road. She didn't realize I was on a big walk to meet her. Ha!
I promised I'd explain later when we were seated in the warmth. The cold rain was numbing my fingers, and my text sentences kept getting interrupted by gibberish from raindrops on my onscreen keyboard. I pocketed my phone and carried on.
As Downtown came into view, I knew my journey was nearing its end. My rain-slicked jacket bore witness to a meandering path through Burnaby and Vancouver. Approaching the arts and design university, I spotted a colourful strip of crocheted yarn adorning a fence - a form of street art I learned is called “Yarn Bombing”. The term made me wonder if my message to Scholar Queen might be misconstrued as “love bombing”. I pushed the thought aside; we'd sort out any misunderstandings in person.
I smiled when I noticed a bright red object in the distance. Finally, the tulip-shaped Nemesis Coffee came into view! - a striking landmark signalling the end of my rain-soaked expedition.
Meetup
I met the Scholar Queen just outside the café, sheltered from the rain. Her eyes widened at my drenched appearance. “You were actually serious?”, she said, laughing. I confirmed, explaining my quest to walk all of Vancouver's roads, and showing her some photos from my journey.
Inside, we found a cosy spot and settled in. We caught up on the weeks since our library encounter, discussing our current reads. I introduced her to LEGO, and we built the butterfly set together. We even took a short walk later (Nemesis closed up), extending our rendezvous beyond the cafe walls.
End
This adventure was truly special - not only did I bridge two clusters on my walking map, but I also enjoyed an awesome hangout getting to know the Scholar-Queen of the Red Tulip.
Later, Gogomi chimed in with notifications of my progress through various neighbourhoods, seeming just as excited as I was about the day's achievements.
