Looking for last minute Christmas gifts or ideas? The Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair brought to you by the Great Canadian Craft Fair is happening at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, this weekend. There will be over 150 artisans on hand from all over British Columbia. The first 25 people in the door each day receive a FREE Swag Bag. They will also be accepting donations for the Vancouver Food Bank. Admission is $5 at the door and children under 12 are free. The event runs 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. TIP: If you visit Eventbrite, you can get Early Bird Free admission for Saturday, December 20th. If you are looking for a coffee stop before or after the fair, you have some great options close by including Commercial Street Café, Bakery Sate and Lear Faye Espresso Kitchen.
Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair Croatian Cultural Centre December 20th & 21st
17 Dec
The Weekend Café Class Social Yoga At Pallet Roasters
16 Dec
Well if you are an early bird, then you might enjoy the new Social Yoga that begins on January 10th at Pallet Roasters, 323 Semlin Drive, in the Hastings Sunrise area. Classes run from 7:30 – 9:30 am on Saturday, January 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st and include breakfast and freshly roasted coffee. The class does have a maximum of 6 people so if this appeals to you, best be quick, space is limited. Cost is $120. Or if you prefer, you can check out The Café Class running on Thursdays at 6:30 a.m. at Railtown Catering & Café starting January 8th for 4 sessions for $100. If you’d like more information or to register, visit the Social Yoga. Of course, these classes would make a great gift for the yoga and coffee lover in your life.
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The East Van H.A.M. At Studio East Saturday December 20th
15 Dec
The East Van HAM (Holiday Artisan Market) is back again for a second year this Saturday, December 20th. This is a last minute gift show taking place at Studio East. This market brings together over 30 local artisans and craftspeople. You can expect to find unique thoughtful gifts that are locally made and sustainable in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. While you shop, DJs will be spinning tunes. As well food and beverages will be served during the afternoon. The event takes place at Studio East, 1480 Frances Street, (off McLean Drive) from Noon – 6:00 p.m. Stop by and support local.
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Got Craft? At Maritime Labour Centre December 13th & 14th
12 Dec
Got Craft? is an independent craft fair which will be holding its Holiday Edition market this weekend at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street, with some 75+ local vendors.
Got Craft? is one of many great opportunities to see first hand how much creative talent there is in this City. The event aims to bring together a community that fosters handmade and do-it-yourself culture. You can expect to find a variety of handmade items including jewellery, stationery, housewares, plush toys, baked goods, artisan chocolates and much more. Some new vendors lined up this year include Rogue Florist, Shoreside Studios, Small Wonder, Livia Sweets and Jon Shaw Paintings. For a full rundown of all the vendors at this year’s fair, check out Vendors 2014.
This weekend you are also invited to come flex your creative muscle in one of the their FREE hands on workshops hosted by Spool of Thread sewing lounge, Small Wonder and Delish General Store. Projects include do-it-yourself ornaments and holiday tags. And if all that shopping makes you hungry, they’ve got you covered there as well. A few local food carts including Taser Grilled Cheese, Ze Bite and The Kaboom Box will be on hand.
The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both Saturday, December 13th & Sunday, December 14th. Tickets are $3.00 cash at the door. Children under 10 are free. The first 50 attendees on each of the days, will receive a free swag bag. Now that’s certainly an incentive to get out early if you aren’t generally inclined to.
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Shiny Fuzzy Muddy At The Heritage Hall December 13th & 14th
10 Dec
Shiny Fuzzy Muddy happens at the beautiful historic Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, this weekend. This collaborative effort is brought to you by Janna Hurtzig, Kari Woo, Arleigh Wood, Frances Dickinson and Laura McKibbon. This event was created in 2003 in an effort to bring the organizers art to people and has continued since that date. They hand pick the artists that join them each year so you can expect some returning favourites as well as some new guest artists that will be exhibiting their work. You can expect to find jewellery, ceramics, fine art, clothing, textiles from local artists including Toodlebunny, Julie MacKinnon Ceramics, Heather Konschuh Glass, Daub & Design, Adhesif Clothing Company and kari woo contemporary art jewellery to be name but a few. Shiny Fuzzy Muddy runs Saturday, December 13th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 14th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is $2.00.
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Chelsea Hotel: Songs of Leonard Cohen At The Firehall Arts Centre December 13th to January 3rd
8 Dec
You are invited to check out New York’s infamous hotel, The Chelsea Hotel, which makes a special return to the Firehall Arts Centre December 13th to January 3rd. Leonard Cohen’s powerful and inspirational music is the heartbeat of Chelsea Hotel, as six performers play seventeen different instruments in a rollicking tribute to the remarkable writer. Through Cohen’s transcendent songs and the honesty of his lyrics, you will be transfixed by this eclectic cabaret of loves won and lost. Opening night for Chelsea Hotel is December 17th and the show runs till January 3rd with half price previews on December 13th, 14th and 16th. You can also check out the show for Pay What You Can matinee at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 17th. Or you can ring in the New Year with the Chelsea Hotel. The Firehall Arts Centre will be throwing a bohemian New Year’s bash which includes champagne, hors d’oeuvres, a DJ and, of course, lots of Leonard Cohen songs. Tickets are available for $75 which includes entry to the Chelsea Hotel show, nibbles and a glass of champagne at midnight.
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Pet Photos With Santa At Vancouver SPCA Saturday December 6th
5 Dec
Come out and support the Vancouver SPCA this Saturday, December 6th by bringing your pet for a photo with Santa. The event will take place at the BC Vancouver SPCA Branch, 1205 East 7th Avenue, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For a minimum $20 donation, you will receive a digital photograph with 100% of the proceeds going to support the animals in the Vancouver Shelter.
While you are at the shelter, feel free to drop off an item from their Wish List. The Vancouver SPCA is always grateful to receive donations in kind of items such as canned cat & dog food for the finicky eaters and treats for both cats & dogs. Of course, toys to keep animals from getting bored or frustrated are graciously accepted as well. Every donation counts no matter how small. If you wish to see the other items the Vancouver SPCA is grateful to receive, visit their website at Vancouver SPCA. Thank you for helping support the great work the staff and volunteers do at the Vancouver SPCA.
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TOQUE: Western Front’s Annual Fundraiser & Craft Fair December 5th & 6th
4 Dec
You are invited to come out and support TOQUE. This is an annual fundraiser for the Western Front which is one of Canada’s leading artist-run-centers for contemporary art and new music. The two-day event will be held in the Luxe Hall at Western Front, 303 E. 8th Avenue, and features a selection of talented artists, designers and artisans. Some of the items you can expect to find include books, cards, jewellery, textiles and ceramics as well as one-of-a-kind objects and delectable treats. Vendors participating in this year’s event include Fable Naturals, 1UP Caramels, Hives for Humanity, Draw Me A Lion, Made by Kin, Maggie Boyd Ceramics, Olla Flowers, Simply Read Books and WarmAndDrift and many more. This event runs Friday, December 5th from 6:00 to 10:00 pm and Saturday, December 6th from 11 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is by donation.
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16th Annual Trinity Street Christmas Light Festival
1 Dec
The 16th Annual Trinity Street Christmas Light Festival gets under way on December 1st. The residents of 2400 – 2900 blocks of Trinity Street put up an amazing display of Christmas lights. You are invited to come out and take a wander among the lights. The Trinity Street Christmas Light Festival will also be holding Winter Walks on December 13th and 20th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. On those evenings, hot chocolate will be available to help warm you up. To ensure this remains a safe event, organizers ask that you leave the car behind, or park a little ways away and walk in. Lights go out each night at 10:00 p.m. So come early to see the dazzling display which will surely get you into the spirit of Christmas! This event raises funds for Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and The Bloom Group.
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This Holiday Season SHOP LOCAL & Check Out Fable Naturals
29 Nov
At ILiveInEastVan.com we are passionate about supporting local businesses. With the upcoming Christmas season, we would like to introduce you to some local businesses whether online retailers or brick and mortar stores. Our goal is to let you know about some of the great products, retailers and artisans right in your own backyard.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Fable Naturals which is a relatively young company run by Gwen Richards and Chris Nicol. Fable Naturals is based in Mount Pleasant and makes a line of fair trade certified bath and body products. They are inspired by locally sourced ingredients as well as ethically sourced ingredients from afar. All of their products are made by hand in small batches in their Mount Pleasant studio. Their line includes organic lip balms, skin exfoliators, moisturizers, soaps, lotions, body wash, sugar scrubs and more. Gwen and Chris focus on making healthier skin care products without unnecessary fragrances and chemicals. Their newest product is their Vanilla Orange lip balm which Chris thinks smells just like a creamsicle. Their lip balms will be on our Christmas shopping list this holiday season.
If you wish to try their products, Chris and Gwen recently revamped their website and to celebrate they are offering 20% OFF all orders made on or before December 24, 2014. They invite you to use the Coupon Code EAST VAN in order to obtain the discount. If your order is over $60, Fable Naturals offers free shipping. If you are local in East Van and do no wish to pay for shipping, you can also pick up from their office.
If you wish to see their products in person so you can sample and smell this great line, you can visit Chris & Gwen at the following events in and around East Vancouver:
Saturday, November 29th
Strathcona Winter Craft Fair
Strathcona Community Centre
601 Keefer Street
December 4th – December 7th
Make It Vancouver
PNE Forum 2901 E Hastings Street
December 5th – December 6th
TOQUE
Western Front
303 East 8th Avenue
Saturday, December 20th
Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market
Nat Bailey Stadium
4601 Ontario Street
You can also find their products at a few select retailers around town. For a rundown of where, visit them online at Fable Naturals.com. Chris and Gwen also just announced their Holiday Giveaway. You have the opportunity to enter to win their organic facial care line which includes their Quinoa + Almond Facial Exfoliator, Rosehip + Olive Facial Oil and Chamomile + Shea Moisturizer. For an opportunity to enter, check out Holiday Giveway.
We hope you will join us in supporting local this holiday season.
ILiveInEastVan.com 
