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By Broken Arrow – An East Van Gifter

20 Oct

ByBrokenArrowFloralWe love featuring local businesses and with the gift giving season soon approaching, we would like to introduce you to a great East Van business – By Broken Arrow.   Sami Wall is the creative talent behind this business that creates beautiful gift boxes packed with local product much of it from East Van.  Sami is a self described ‘mompreneur’ who started her business 1 ½ years ago. Wanting to work from home to be there for her young children, she came up with the idea and created a gift box for a friend. She posted a photo of the gift box on Instagram and a business was born. Sami’s background is in interior design and home staging which shows in her gift boxes. We, of course, love that they are packed with local East Van products. Some of the businesses she features in her gift boxes include East Van Jam, Candid Confectioner, Fable Naturals, Marsh & Mallow and Noble & Co. to name a few. Many of her gift boxes include fresh flowers from the Flower Factory on Main Street.  The gift boxes can be customized for wedding or baby showers, birthdays, house warming or that the foodie in your life. All you need to do is give Sami a bit of background information on the recipient and she’ll put together the perfect gift box.   If you wish to order a gift box from By Broken Arrow, the lead time is 2 days, but Sami can accommodate some rush orders.  Shipping is a flat rate of $25. We invite you to check these elegant gift boxes that make the perfect gift and at the same time support local. UPDATE: By Broken Arrow now offering online shop featuring some of the great items by local makers. We invite you to check what some of our local makers have to offer.

Photo Credit: By Broken Arrow

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Parade of Lost Souls October 31st

19 Oct

ParadeofLostSoulsWe are pleased as punch that this much loved East Van tradition is continuing again this year. For those not familiar with this event, The Parade of Lost Souls is a community-driven event celebrating  Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead). The event includes a parade in East Van as well as performance art, live music, interactive art installations and YOU lost souls. The Day of the Dead is a time for celebration, for ceremony, for reflection and renewal. This parade is for YOU and by YOU, all the lost souls of the world. Bring your past and your present for a celebration of life and death. We may all be lost, but at least we can all be lost together.

This year’s parade will be held on Saturday, October 31st from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. The location will be revealed at midnight on October 30th on the Dusty Flowerpot website as well as the Dusty Flowerpot Facebook page. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Parade of Lost Souls, we invite you to check out all the great workshops taking place at the Britannia Community Center leading up to the event.  The Parade of Lost Souls was conceptualized and produced by the beloved Public Dreams Society for over 25 years. The parade now carries on under the direction of The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret. As the Parade of Lost Souls is a community driven event, it can only exist through donations from the community.  It costs over $20,000 to put on this parade each year, so we invite you to consider donating online to ensure this parade continues. Whether you participate in this event, or just come out and take in the spectacle, it really is something to see. Will we see you?

Following the Parade, for all of those souls that want to keep the party going, the Lost Souls After-Party will be taking place at The Hall (Astorino’s), 1739 Venables Street from 9:00 pm – 2:00 am. The party will feature performances by The Tailor, Sweet Anomaly, Orkestar Slivovica and Bone Rattle Burlesque. Early bird tickets are available online for $15 per person until October 25th.  From October 26th – 30th, tickets will be $20 per person. Tickets will be available on October 31st at the parade’s information booths only. Tickets will not be available at the door.s can

Photo Credit: Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret ParadeAfterParty

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In Anticipation Of The Parade of Lost Souls Coming October 31st

16 Oct

DayoftheDeadDollsThe Parade of Lost Souls is coming on October 31st. This is a community-driven parade inspired by Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead). This is ultimately one of our favourite events in East Van. The parade has travelled around various parts of East Vancouver featuring performance art, interactive art installations and YOU lost souls. The Britannia Community Centre is a big part of the creative process for this event and is featuring some great workshops leading up to the big event.  We have set a few of the upcoming workshops below, but we invite you to check out Britannia Community Centre’s website which has a full listing of workshops leading up to the parade and how you can participate.  Whether you play an instrument and want to participate in the Carnival Band or make costumes/masks or be part of a Thriller Flashmob, there are lots of options to be part of the Parade of Lost Souls.

Thriller Flashmob – October 17, 20, 24 & 27

Back again by popular a Thriller Flashmob workshop will be hosted by Kat Single-Dain. You will learn the original choreography of Michael Jackson’s record breaking hit Thriller. You are asked to come to at least two of these rehearsals times set out below, but if you can make it to all of them, even better.  This workshop is by donation minimum $5-10 suggested.

Saturday October 17 & 24, 12-2pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre
Tuesday October 20 & 27, 7-9pm, Auditorium, Britannia Community Centre

The Ghost Caravan – Kids Theatre Show – October 18 & 25

You are invited to “imagine two ghostly figures riding two white bicycles. Behind them, like a horse drawn carriage is a magnificent portable theatre. Costumed characters emerge, played by local children and the lucky passersby are treated to short magical, musical stories and vignettes!”   On October 25th, Chris Ross, writer and director with Project Limelight, will lead a theatre workshop which will work towards a group performance at the Parade of Lost Souls.

Sunday October 18 & 25, 2-4pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre

Parade of Lost Souls – Carnival Band – October 19 & 26

You are invited to join the Carnival Band for one big night during the Parade of Lost Souls. You are asked to dust off that flute from Grade 9 or come and learn the tuba. Why not?  If you are musically inclined, come on out and practice with the Carnival Band and be part of the big night.   Drop in rehearsals will be happing on:

Monday October 19 & 26, 7-9pm, AML, Britannia Community Centre

The Sounders Costume Making – October 22 & 29

Nayana Filekov will be hosting a costume & mask making and performance workshop on October 22nd and 29th. The Sounders are other worldly masked creatures that create beautiful music together. This workshop is equal parts visual art and sound.  This is a two part workshop in which participants will make wonderful take home masks made out of paper-mache. If you wish, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a group performance at this year’s Parade of Lost Souls.  There is a suggestion donation of $5-10 for this workshop and pre-registration is encouraged for this workshop. Contact the Britannia Community Centre directly to register.

Thursday October 22 & 29, 7-9pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre

Again, these are just a few of the workshops taking place over the next couple of weeks prior to the big parade on October 31st. A full listing of workshops can be found at Britannia Community Centre. Whether you participate or just come and watch, we encourage you to check out this fun community driven event.

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All Souls Night October 24th Mountain View Cemetery

14 Oct

AllSoulsNightYou are invited to All Souls Night Saturday, October 24th  6:00 pm – 10:00 pm at Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser Street.  This event is curated by artist Paula Jardine and Marina Szijarto and was created to provide opportunities for the public to commemorate their dead with a family-oriented community art event. The Celebration Hall will be open 6:00 -9:00 pm for tea and personal memorial making. Artists and community members will come together to create a sanctuary for remembrance and reflection. You are encouraged to bring a lantern and candles as well as photos if you wish to create a memorial for a loved one in a gentle atmosphere of contemplative beauty. The event takes place rain or shine.  To learn more about All Souls Night and events that continue to November 1st visit a Night For All Souls.

The departed they visit us in dreams. They glide across our memories like shadows over streams. Inscription on a headstone at Mountain View Cemetery.

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East Van GoGos Benefit Concert & Brunch October 18 Trout Lake Community Centre

12 Oct

EastVanGoGoLogoThe East Van GoGos invite you to a Benefit Concert & Brunch on Sunday, October 18th at Trout Lake Community Centre.  What is a GoGo? Gogo is a Zulu word meaning “grandmother”. The Greater Van Gogos which includes chapters in various parts of the Lower Mainland are grandmothers and ‘grandmothers’ working in groups to support African grandmothers raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS. This network of grandmother groups in south western BC are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

In March 2006, Stephen Lewis, a Canadian humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, issued a call to Canadian grandmothers to bond with their African counterparts. In his travels, Lewis noticed the phenomenal grandmothers who had buried their adult children and stepped in to raise the orphans left behind. They needed money for school fees and uniforms, food and other necessities. In the Vancouver area, three women answered the call. They invited a few others and launched Greater Van Gogos in the summer of 2006 with four groups. Although grandmothers in Africa’s many countries are addressed in different ways – ja ja in Uganda, sho sho in Kenya or nyana in Zambia – the word gogo felt right. Many years later, there are 20 groups registered with approximately 600 members from Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Together they have raised more than $1 million for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The funds are distributed to community level projects supporting grandmothers and the children in their care in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.

The brunch on Sunday, October 18th is a fundraiser for the East Van GoGos which will feature a musical performance by the Soda Crackers.  The group consists of Sue Malcolm, Don Fraser and Stu MacDonald who are also members of Highrise Lonesome.  To find out what they will be playing, you’ll just have to come out and listen. It could be country, bluegrass, blues, jazz or some western swing.  Brunch will be provided along with coffee, tea and juice. Suggested donation is $25. To order your ticket contact Sharon at T: 604-254-4071 or eastvangogos@gmail.com. The brunch takes place from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Grandview Room at the Trout Lake Community Centre, 3360 Victoria Drive. The music gets under way at 12:15 pm. Come out and support these great GoGos!

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The MakerStore Now Open In Strathcona

9 Oct

MakerStoreYou are invited to come check out the MakerStore opening in Strathcona on Saturday, October 10th. The MakerLabs in collaboration with Basic Design, Haeccity Studio Architecture and other contributors is launching their own retail space. If you are unfamiliar with the MakerLabs, it is a 26,000 square foot space located in East Vancouver that provides people with the tools, space and skills to make just about anything. MakerLabs now has over 200 members since its launch in April of 2014 and provides creative and economic opportunities for individuals and small businesses.  The MakerStore will feature local makers offering one of kind products and small run products designed and produced at the MakerLabs. Some of the items you will find include hand crafted furniture, housewares, natural body care products, jewellery, stationary from vendors such as Tubify, Goliath Coffee and Living Lotus to name a few. The opening event takes place this Saturday, October 10th from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at 780 East Cordova Street. There will be games, food, drink and the opportunity to meet many of the makers.   In true East Van style, there will be craft beer available from a local brewery which be sold by donation in support of Binners Project. Come out and support these local makers.  Now if you miss the opening, you can visit the MakerStore Noon – 9:00 pm daily.  You can also check items on their new online store with Antsquare.

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Rescue Me: Maggie & Mr. G Looking For Their Forever Homes

8 Oct

Mr.GWelcome to the next installment of Rescue Me in which we feature pets waiting for adoption at the Vancouver SPCA. Today we would like to introduce you Mr. G. He is a 5 year old orange and white tabby cat.   Our friends at the Vancouver SPCA tell us that Mr. G is ‘one cool dude’.  This handsome boy was a stray from northern BC and has personality plus. We understand it takes Mr. G a little while to warm up to people, but once he knows you, you are golden to him.  He is a smart independent cat who knows his mind, but still likes having those people around.  Let’s be clear here people, not other cats, not dogs or kids. His friends at the Vancouver SPCA think Mr. G would be best suited with adult people who are cat savvy and can pick up on some of his body language.  This boy has a bit of energy and might enjoy a little safe outdoor access to burn off some of that energy off, but games and hiding treats will be sure to keep him stimulated as well.  If you think this handsome boy might be a perfect fit for you, the Vancouver SPCA Shelter would love to hear from you. You can find them at 1205 East 7th Avenue and are reachable by telephone at 604-879-7721 or by email at vancouver@spca.bc.ca.

While we have your attention, we’d like to re-introduce you dear Maggie.  This girl is STILL waiting for her forever home.  Maggie is a beautiful 8 year old tortoiseshell cat that is the true definition of a lap cat.  We hear that although Maggie might initially be a little shy, she enjoys every minute of love and puts on quite the purr.  Maggie does not have any of the typical “tortitude” like many other tortoiseshell cats.  She is an absolute sweetie and is looking for the same in her new guardian.  Maggie was devoted to an elderly person that she lived with, but that person had to go into a care home so she was brought to the Vancouver SPCA. As might be expected, she found life in the shelter a little overwhelming so Maggie is now happily residing in the comforts of a quiet foster home until she’s adopted. Maggie needs to be strictly indoors only and is MaggieCatlooking for a home where she can be your one and only. You won’t need anybody else with this sweetie around.  Her foster parent reports that Maggie is pretty independent and low-maintenance. If you’re looking for a truly wonderful diamond in the rough, Maggie’s your girl.

As always, we are grateful for those that share this information and help Maggie and Mr. G find their forever homes.

UPDATE: We are pleased to report that both Maggie and Mr. G. have found their forever homes.

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Lantern Making Workshop October 17th For All Souls Night

3 Oct

LostSoulsSouthHilltin-can lanterns hangingSouth Hill Neighbours is hosting a lantern making workshop on Saturday, October 17th at Mountain View Cemetery Celebration Hall from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. You are invited to come and craft your own lantern. Supplies will be provided, but you are asked to bring your creativity with you.  Last year they saw beautiful carved turnip lanterns (pictured below), wax paper window lanterns and tissue paper globe lanterns.  Adults and teens can design their own more complex shimmering orbs of beauty while small children can work on simpler versions.  All ages are welcome.  South Hill Neighbours will be creating these lanterns in preparation for a lantern procession to All Souls Night which takes place on October 24th.  Everyone is invited to come out and participate.  If you plan to participate in the All Souls Night, participants are encouraged to bring photos of loved ones they have lost so they can incorporate their photos into the lantern so that it becomes a creative memorial to honour that person.  This community event is organized by South Hill Neighbours and funded by the Neighbourhood Small Grant Project which is brought to you by the Vancouver Foundation. If you would like more information about this event, please email southhill.neighbours@gmail.com.

Photo credit: South Hill Neighbours

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Knit City At The PNE Forum October 3 & 4

2 Oct

PurpleYarnKnit City ‘A Modern Fibre Event’ happens on October 3rd and 4th at the PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street. If you are a maker and love to knit or want to learn, this is the event for you.  There will be a variety of workshops all day long, plus demonstrations, tips, tricks and much more. There is quite the extensive list of vendors.  For a full rundown of who will be at this weekend’s event, we invite you to visit Knit City.  If you get hungry, quite a few food trucks will be on hand including Varinicey Pakoras and Taser Grilled Cheese, Big Red’s Poutine, Disco Cheetah, Serious Sausage and Johnny Pops.  Admission to the event is $10 per day (children under 12 are free). Your admission includes free demonstrations, book signings and a chance to win a gift basket filled with items from participating vendors. Event runs 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day.

Photo Credit: Ula Kapala

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Impromptu Rock Choir Tuesday Nights At The Wise Hall

28 Sep

ImpromptuRockChoirDo you love to sing, but have no experience? Maybe you never learned to read music. Well the Impromptu Rock Choir invites you to come out and sing with them on Tuesday nights at the Wise Hall. There are no auditions, no commitments, no waitlist, just fun.   The Impromptu Rock Choir is a new community choir in East Van that began August 11th and is brought to you by Fiona Sizer and Matt Smith.   Matt is a vocalist, pianist and music educator who has been teaching music and directing small ensembles for the past five years.   Fiona on the other hand has no formal musical training, but loves singing and has boundless energy to gather people to have fun. The songs they plan to sing include classic and contemporary rock, pop and indie songs. So far we hear they have sung songs by Oasis, the Killers, Arcade Fire, the Lumineers, Simon & Garfunkel and are about to start Renegade by the X Ambassadors. Doors open each Tuesday at 7:00 pm at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street. Singing starts at 7.30 pm and the evening usually goes till 9:00 pm. Drop in fee is $10. To learn more, visit their website Impromptu Rock Choir or their Facebook page which sets out which song they will sing each week. You can also check the recent interview by CBC.

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