<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"There are lots of reasons to go Vancouver, Canada. Snowboarding, skiing, hiking, climbing, mountain biking\u2026The natural beauty of British Columbia draws outdoor adventure seekers from all over the world. The good news for those of us more at home in urban climes is that Vancouver offers up at least two great reasons to skip the back country altogether, namely the stores Lark and Roden Gray.\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef0115711b8a1e970b-pi.jpg)\n\nThe first thing you notice when you walk into Lark is the whale of a piano right in front of the long rectangular space. The 100-year-old-plus Steinway isn't just for merchandising; occasionally the shop keeper on duty will double as the resident pianist, entertaining patrons as they browse the well-edited goods. The husband-and-wife team behind Lark, Dane and Veronika Baspaly, along with sharp-eyed buyer Natsumi Akatsuka, have put together a diverse group of clothing and accessories from brands like Lova, Gilded Age, Alexander Olch, and Zeha-Berlin. Plus, in a nod to Vancouver's rainy tendencies, Lark stocks a strong collection of Anglo-outerwear from mainstays Barbour and Mackintosh. Besides the musical display area, Lark compliments the space&amp;amp;#xE2;&amp;amp;#xBF;&amp;amp;#xBF;s natural hardwood flooring (left intact by its previous inhabitant, a dance studio) with neatly organized displays crafted from reclaimed Canadian Fir and four handsome-looking changing areas complete with comfortable seats and wool slippers\u2014a set-up that leaves you with a North-Woods-meets-Tokyo vibe.\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef011570266df2970c-pi.jpg)\n\nThe ladies of Lark. Veronika Baspaly (left) and Natsumi Akatsuka.\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef0115711b8c12970b-pi.jpg)\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef011570266eee970c-pi.jpg)\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef011570266f38970c-pi.jpg)\n\nLocated in the heart of Gastown, Vancouver's old-timey nod to NYCs SoHo, is the men's store Roden Gray. The shop, one of the very best in Canada, would be at home in any major city in America or Europe, with a stock list that includes lines like Band of Outsiders, Robert Geller, Filson, Hyden Yoo, Tim Hamilton, Generic Man, and Vancouver's own Wings + Horns, among others.\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef011570266fbd970c-pi.jpg)\n\n h(y)r Collective founder Ryan Willms (left) and Roden Gray owner Rob Lo at the launch of the h(y)r collection.\n\nRecently, Roden Gray formed another local partnership with the men's style website h(y)r Collective (pronounced higher, like that feeling British Columbia's other well-known product delivers) to produce a great looking limited-edition series of oord shirts from Pennsylvania's Gitman Brothers and canvas and leather duffel bags from nearby maker Tannis Hegan. All of which, combined with the store&amp;amp;#xE2;&amp;amp;#xBF;&amp;amp;#xBF;s already strong roster of brands, will keep guys looking sharp whether they're in the city or the wilderness.\n\n[\n\n](http://blog.gq.com/images/.a/6a00d8341cc8d453ef0115711b8e16970b-pi.jpg)\n\nLimited-edition button-down shirts from Gitman Brothers at Roden Gray.\n\nLark: 2315 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C9; 604-879-5275; www.lark.me\n\nRoden Gray: 231 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5A4; 604-689-7302; www.rodengray.com"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.gq.com/story/the-great-indoors>