I found this link that might prove enlightening:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Eastside

The only other problematical areas (if you can call them that)
were in the 1200 block of Davie St. Lots of shaven headed,
muscular gentlemen in tight black leather and sunglasses there;
and once along Main st. when some Eastern Europeans
and I exchanged 'Clint Eastwood Squints". I'm still not sure what
that one was about.