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Artisan Markets & Craft Fairs In East Van 2018

19 Nov

Christmasblue&whiteballsIt’s that time of year again where the opportunities to shop local are abundant.  There are some great artisan markets and craft fairs coming up to help you make your gift giving easy whether for Christmas or birthday gifts.  There is a phrase that makes the rounds on social media “when you buy from a local maker, someone does a little happy dance”. It really is true.  Did you know “for every $100 spent with a BC local business, $46 is re-circulated back into our BC economy versus $18 for multi nationals. Why? Because locally owned businesses circulate more dollars in the community compared to multinational organizations.” When you buy from a local maker, you’re supporting your neighbor next door, your co-worker working full-time and holding down a side gig, moms carving out some extra income while still being home with their families. All have created a business doing something they love and are passionate about.  We are 100% behind supporting those local dreamers and makers. To that end, we have again created a list of all the artisan markets and craft fairs happening in East Vancouver this holiday season.   We hope you will support some of your local makers  this holiday season.

NOVEMBER 2018

Nov. 22: The Art Studios Winter Sale & Silent Auction – Heritage Hall 12-8 pm
Nov. 22: Artisan Pottery Sale – Trout Lake Community Centre
Nov. 23: Holiday Market – Italian Cultural Centre 5-9 pm
Nov. 23: Makers Market At The Ellis – 1024 Main St. 5-10 pm
Nov. 23: Artisan Pottery Sale – Trout Lake Community 4-9 pm
Nov. 24: Artisan Pottery Sale – Trout Lake Community Centre 9-4
Nov. 25: Artisan Pottery Sale – Trout Lake Community Centre 9-4

Nov. 30: Toque Annual Fundraiser & Craft Fair – 303 East 8th Ave. 6-10 pm
Nov. 30: June Hunter Studio Sale – 2785 Parker Street 2-7 pm

DECEMBER 2018

Dec. 1: Crafty Affaire – Croatian Cultural Centre 10-5
Dec. 1: The Winter Shop – 7 East 7th Ave 11-6
Dec. 1: Antipod Workshop Studio Sale – #201 – 1610 Clark Drive 10-5
Dec. 1: Eastside Flea – 550 Malkin Ave. 11-5
Dec. 1: June Hunter Studio Sale – 2785 Parker Street 10-5
Dec. 1: Kensington Holiday Crafit Fair – Kensington Community Centre
Dec. 1: Strathcona Christmas Craft Fair – 601 Keefer St.
Dec. 1: Toque Annual Fundraiser & Craft Fair – 303 East 8th Ave. 11-5
Dec. 2: Toque Annual Fundraiser & Craft Fair – 303 East 8th Ave. 11-5
Dec. 2: Eastside Flea – 550 Malkin Ave. 11-5
Dec. 2: The Winter Shop – 7 East 7th Ave 11-6
Dec. 2: June Hunter Studio Sale – 2785 Parker Street 10-5

Dec. 8: Tugboat Landing Artisan Market-2010 E. Kent Ave. S. (Victoria Dr.) 11-4
Dec. 8: The Winter Shop – 7 East 7th Ave. 11-6
Dec. 8: Shiny Fuzzy Muddy – Heritage Hall 11-6
Dec. 8: Weirdos Holiday Market – Wise Hall
Dec. 8: Eastside Flea – 550 Malkin Ave. 11-5
Dec. 9: The Winter Shop – 7 East 7th Ave. 11-6
Dec. 9: Shiny Fuzzy Muddy – Heritage Hall 11-6
Dec. 9: Eastside Flea – 550 malkin Ave. 11-5
Dec. 9: The Winter Shop – 7 East 7th Ave. 11-6
Dec. 9: Weirdos Holiday Market – Wise Hall

Dec. 12: Make It! – PNE Forum 5-9 pm
Dec. 13: Make it! – PNE Forum 11 am – 9 pm
Dec. 14: Make It! – PNE Forum 11 am – 9 pm
Dec. 14: Makers Market At The Ellis – 1024 Main Street 5-10 pm
Dec. 15: The ARC Holiday Makers Market – 1701 Powell St. 11-6
Dec. 15: Jones General Store Holiday Market – Cambrian Hall 10-6
Dec. 15: Make It! – PNE Forum 10-6
Dec. 15: Winter Women’s Faire – Heritage Hall
Dec. 16: Holiyay Pop Up – Crème de la Crème, 1215 Clark Drive 11-4
Dec. 16: Make It! – PNE Forum 11-5
Dec. 16: Winter Women’s Faire – Heritage Hall

Did we miss one? We will be updating this list as we learn of other markets. Drop us a note with what you think should be added at ILiveInEastVan@gmail.com.

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What’s On East Van: November 16th Edition

16 Nov

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming week.  Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

The Eastside Cultural Crawl – Various Locations – Nov. 15th – 18th

This weekend over 500 artists open their studio doors for the Eastside Cultural Crawl.  See first hand the amazing talent in this City and talk to the artists about their work and inspiration.  Don’t miss the opportunity. Whether it’s a whole day, evening, or just an hour or two, we encourage you take part in The Crawl. We promise, you’ll be amazed. It only happens once a year.

4 Day Fabric Sale – Our Social Fabric – #270 – 1275 Venables Street – Nov. 15-18

If you sew or want fabrics for crafting, you best check out the 4 day fabric sale at Our Social Fabric happening this weekend. It will be happening Friday evening 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from Noon – 4:00 pm. You don’t want to miss the great deals.

35th Annual Britannia Christmas Craft Fair – Nov. 16th to 18th

One of the longest running craft fairs in the City happens this weekend. The 35th Annual Britannia Christmas Craft Fair happens Friday (3:00 pm – 8:00 pm), Saturday and Sunday (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) in Gym D.   They will have a wide range of handmade items perfect for gift giving whether Christmas or this winter babies. Entrance fee is $2, children 12 years and under are free.

Ritchies Pop Up Bakery – les amis du fromage – November 17th

This Saturday, les amis du fromage’s East Van location at 843 East Hastings Street hosts a Bakery Pop Up with Ritchies Bakery.  The pop up happens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm or until they run out of goodies.  Being that les amis du fromage is situated amongst artistic talent in the Strathcona area, it’s a perfect stop along the route during The Crawl.

Famous Perogy Lunch Weekend – Ukranian Hall – Nov. 17th + 18th

Love perogies? This is the spot you want to be this weekend. You are invited to a Perogy Lunch between 11:00 and 3:00 pm this Saturday & Sunday at the Ukranian Hall. There will be homemade perogies from the Baba’s (we are sure the best!), Borshsch, Kolbassa on a bun and Cabbage Rolls. Some homemade crafts will also be on hand.  We recommend coming early, food is available until it sells out.

21st Century Flea Market – Croatian Cultural Centre – November 18th

185 tables of bargains this Sunday at the 21st Century Flea Market at the Croatian Cultural Centre including Boho chic, 50’s kitsch, collectibles,  memorabilia, vintage  retro furnishings, jewelry, holiday decor, antiques, dolls & toys, books, shabby chic, china & glass, memorabilia and a whole lot more. General admission is $5 at the door from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.  If you want VIP admission at 7:00 am, cost is $20.

The Enemy – Firehall Arts Centre – Until December 1st

A contemporary political drama continues this weekend at the Firehall Arts Centre. The Enemy is an interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, a female Dr. Stockman discovers contamination in the community’s water source and is branded an enemy and accused of destroying the local economy. For tickets, visit Firehall Arts Centre.

Comedy, Entertainment & Live Music

If it’s comedy you are after, Graham Clark’s Laugh Gallery happens at Havana Theatre every Monday night.  For live music, the Libra Room on The Drive has a regular line up of music. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights  from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Saturday, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday afternoons from 3-7 pm, no cover.

This weekend it’s two winter farmer markets. Saturday there’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, the Hastings Park Farmers Market also happens from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Art Of East Van By ILIEV Designs Featuring Artist Kat McPhee

15 Nov

KatMcPheeWe are big fans of the amazing artistic talent we have in East Vancouver. Whether it’s behind the studio walls or in the alley way.  We decided that we wanted to blend our love of the environment, using less plastic and at the same time showcase East Van art.   ILiveInEastVan is partnering with East Van artists to showcase their art work on canvas tote bags.

Today we are excited to launch the Art Of East Van by ILIEV Designs featuring our first artist Kat McPhee. We’ve been following Kat for a few years and love her edgy work that has a definite street vibe. Kat is a self-taught artist that creates vibrant portraits and mixed media prints using elements of graffiti and animation as inspiration.  We have created 3 tote bags featuring Kat’s portraits. As you can see from the photo below, we have totes featuring the stunning Audrey Hepburn, the larger than life Anthony Bourdain and the make my day Clint Eastwood.  These totes are now available for sale at Kat’s studio which is located in the Arts Factory, 281 Industrial Avenue (near Main & Terminal) along with 20 other artists. Their studios are now open for the Eastside Culture Crawl.  We invite to stop by and check out her work during The Crawl happening November 15th & 16th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and November 17th & 18th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

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2nd Annual Disney Charity Show November 18th Fundraiser For Music Heals

7 Nov

DisneyMusic2018On Sunday, November 18th, you are invited to the 2nd Annual Disney Charity Show being held at the Notional Space, 1523 East Pender Street. Their inaugural event was held last year on The Drive in the evening. Feedback was that people wished to come with their children during the day, so woola. Organizers listened and are now hosting their next Disney Charity Show the afternoon of November 18th.  Doors open at 1:00 pm, show beings at 1:30 pm. This a fundraiser for Music Heals which raises money for music therapy programs in Canada. Tickets are a very reasonable $10 and available at the door.

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East Van Panto: The Wizard Of Oz At The York November 26, 2018 to January 6, 2019

6 Nov

EastVanPantoWizardOfOzWe are admittedly huge fans of the East Van Panto. This has become a fun holiday tradition for us.  We can’t imagine Christmas without it.  This year The East Van Panto celebrates its 6th season with the presentation of The Wizard of Oz. In this year’s storyline, we hear that a pipeline has burst and Dorothy and Toto are flung to the magical Land Of Oz (also known as Nanaimo and Hastings).  There, Dorothy is pursued by the Wicked Witch and embarks on a journey to the World’s Greenest City in search of brains, heart, courage and yes, yoga pants!  The East Van Panto always pokes great fun at the quirky things that make our City unique.   Come laugh a little at yourself and our fair City.  Tickets for the East Van Panto start at $24 for children 16 and under. Family packs are available for $146. To get your tickets, visit The Cultch.  For families on a tight budget, take note that The Cultch is offering $29 tickets on November 28th & 29th at 7:00 pm. They recently offered Housing Crisis Prices on a number of their productions. To get the special rate for this and other Cultch performances, visit Housing Crisis Prices.

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Eastside Cultural Crawl November 15 – 18, 2018

5 Nov

EastsideCultureCrawl2018The Eastside Culture Crawl is back for 4 days starting Thursday, November 15th.  This 4 day arts extravaganza is now its 22nd year and features over 480 artists in and around East Vancouver.  If you aren’t already familiar with this event, artists from a variety of mediums open their studio doors so you can see firsthand their working space, their creative process and their work.  The artists themselves will of course be on hand to discuss any aspect of their work. During the Eastside Culture Crawl, you will find painters, jewelers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, wood carvers, photographers and much more. The event grows each year and now comprises over 80 buildings from Main Street to Victoria Drive and First Avenue to Powell Street.

If time is not on your side and you want to take in as many artists in one fell swoop, 1000 Parker Street and the Mergatroid are your spots to hit and definitely a hub of action which includes some food trucks for those that get hungry. The Mergatroid, 975 Vernon Drive has glass blowing demonstrations on view at the main level, but be sure to check out the other studio spaces within the building.  Note, this part of The Crawl can get busy on the weekends, so if that’s not your thing, there are many other options.  Organizers prepare an amazing online map that sets out all the studios.  We invite you to check it out.  If you are unsure where you wish to start, check out the Program Guide for more information.

Each year, we try and tackle a new area/artists we haven’t visited before. This year we are heading to The Arts Factory to check out a young artist we’ve been following for a few years now, Kat McPhee. Her work applies elements of graffiti, is edgy and has the feel of street art.

Also, on our list this year is the artist, L.J. Throstle. Lucy creates beautiful works using single use stencils and acrylic spray paint. Her subjects are generally people and animals. If you can find les amis du fromage’s East van location (843 East Hastings), you can find Lucy’s studio, it is below ground at 841 East Hastings.  She captures subjects in a unique way.

If it’s woodworking you wish to see, you need to check out Jesse Toso and the Toso Wood Works in Parker Studios at 1000 Parker Street.  His items are made for salvaged wood are beautiful and unique.  If you can’t make The Crawl which showcase his larger pieces, you can also visit his gallery at 3567 Commercial Street before or after The Crawl.

What we love about the Eastside Culture Crawl is that you have 4 days to stop in and check out the artists at your own pace.  You go where you want on The Crawl for as long as you want.  Adding to the event, is many great spots to stop for a bite or refreshment along the way. Whether you are in Strathcona, off the Drive, Railtown, Hastings Sunrise, Downtown Eastside or off the growing stretch off Clark Drive, there are countless options for coffee, beer, food and wine.

To help guide you through some of the art available, the Eastside Culture Crawl has a great rundown of all the artists on their website including a great downloadable map to help you find your way. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out the amazing talent in this City. The Crawl runs November 15th and 16th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 17th  and Sunday, November 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. See you on the Crawl.

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews Backbone On Now Until November 4th

1 Nov

BackboneIf you think you’ve seen crazy strength and fitness levels before, think again. The international hit “Backbone”, from renowned Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths, literally tosses around the perception of what strength is, where it comes from, and how it’s measured. With an ensemble of 10 performers and 2 on-stage musicians, “Backbone” had the audience’s jaws on the floor on opening night at Vancouver Playhouse Theatre. Fun for the whole family, this masterpiece of a show is a celebration of human interconnectedness and is somehow very moving without any spoken word.

The performers all work together to bring this beautiful production to life and make their incredible feats of strength and flexibility look graceful and dance-like. It isn’t until the music quiets and lights are bright that you can hear them gasping for air and see the sweat dripping. The impressive acrobatics are enhanced by sound and light effects which get the audience leaning forward, fully engaged in what’s happening on stage and scared that if they look away for just a second they might miss something. From doing dozens of backflips in a row to throwing each other around like toys to creating 3-person high human pyramids while completely blind, “Backbone” is wild and daring. It’s also charmingly informal! While the performers pull their stunts off perfectly in sync, the way they relate to each other is like friends having a great time instead of like professionals hard at work. Not only is it stunning, “Backbone” is actually quite funny too! You absolutely don’t want to miss this unique show, testing the limits of physical, emotional, individual and collective strength.  Backbone is on now until November 4th. For tickets,  visit The Cultch.

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

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The Enemy At The Firehall Arts Centre November 10 – December 1, 2018

31 Oct

The Enemy 1 - Jenn Griffin and Paul Herbert.jpgThe Firehall Arts Centre is presenting a new political drama that touches on a number of themes including corruption, environmental activism and a lack of accountability. The Enemy is a contemporary interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. The original story was written in 1882, but with the current political climate in the US, The New York Times says this story “is suddenly as timely as a tweet.” In Ibsen’s version, Dr. Stockman is written as a male. In The Enemy, Artistic Director Donna Spencer has taken the role of Dr. Stockman and written it as a female to illustrate the road blocks women face when challenging the “powers-that-be” or “the old boys club”. This production also touches on the choices  we make, the ones we think we should make but don’t, and the influences around us that colour that decision-making. The Enemy asks “is the majority always right?” “What happens when truth is declared as not the truth?” “What happens when disbelief is spread via social media, ‘fake news’, and shoddy journalism?” Who ends up being the enemy?

Artistic Director Donna Spencer has chosen a piece that reflects what is happening in the world today. A timely piece that encourages us to look at and question the political, social and environmental landscape around us. You can catch The Enemy at The Firehall Arts Centre from November 10th to December 1st. For tickets visit, the Firehall Arts Centre.

Photo Credit: Pedro Meza

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The Ones We Leave Behind At The Cultch Until November 3, 2018

29 Oct

TheOnesWeLeaveBehind-RayShumWe had the pleasure of taking in opening night of the production The Ones We Leave Behind at The Cultch.  This is a multi-layered play created by Loretta Seto and presented by the Vancouver Canadian Asian Theatre. The subject matter being an elderly woman who dies alone with no one to claim her body makes one think about social isolation and the part it plays in our community, but then we ourselves can also play a part in that social isolation.

The Ones We Leave Behind features an investigator for the Public Trustee, Abby Chung, who has been assigned her first case. She is working with an experienced and hardened investigator 30 years on the job.  Abby’s first assignment is locating the next-of-kin for an elderly woman named Beatrice, who has died without any family or friends to claim her. As Abby uncovers more details of Beatrice’s lonely life, she is confronted by her own demons and is forced to face issues in her own life.  The Ones We Leave Behind poses the question, are the greatest walls the ones we build within ourselves?

What we didn’t expect in this production, is the laughs. The relationship between Abby and her mother are honestly quite priceless. As one with a mother that aspires to the direct approach, their relationship was very relatable.  The production touches on many issues abandonment, social expectations including those we place on ourselves.  A lot gets packed into this production which features an excellent cast.  We recommend taking some time out to see The Ones We Leave Behind on now at The Cultch until November 3rd. Tickets are available online from $24.00 at The Cultch.

“I am so grateful to Loretta, who’s written such a gorgeous, multi-layered piece, and shared an immigrant story, and a Chinese immigrant story…The relationship between Abby and her mother is like a mirror of my relationship with my mother, who is an immigrant to Canada, and the language barrier, the cultural barrier, and a generational gap within that. There are quite a lot of differences for each of us to navigate” – Agnes Tong, who plays Abby Chung in The Ones We Leave Behind, in conversations with The Vancouver Sun

Photo Credit: Ray Shum

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews A Brief History of Human Extinction On Now Until October 20th At The Cultch

16 Oct

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From Up in the Air Theatre comes this relevant and rousing tale of the two last surviving humans on planet earth. The year is 2178 and a fungal plague has rendered the surface of the planet uninhabitable, killing everyone and everything in its path. Created by award winning playwright Jordan Hall and Mind of a Snail Puppet Co., A Brief History of Human Extinction uniquely combines comedic theatre with the emerging cli-fi genre, exploring questions about human nature and our culpability in the destruction of our planet.

Trapped inside a scientific facility sealed off to the poisonous outside world, the last man, Adam, and woman, Ever, on earth prepare for the launch of “the Ark”, a ship that will carry human genetic legacy to a new home on a far away planet. Ever and Adam grapple with their impending doom and attempt to carry out the mission that they’ve been assigned while also struggling to suppress their selfish nature and instinct to hope for better things. In the play, the obvious biblical references are interestingly intertwined with the distinctly modern concept of the anthropocene. The play is seemingly suggesting that the destruction of civilization due to climate change is an act of divine retribution for the sins of humankind towards each other and our environment. The heavy, and frankly depressing, subject matter is mixed in with some comic relief and beautiful animation, making the play not only thought provoking, but entertaining!

For tickets to this unique and powerful production, on now until October 20th, visit The Cultch.

By Contributing Writer Nicole Alivojvodic

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