You are invited to an Italian Grappa Tasting at the Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, on February 11th. Grappa is a uniquely Italian alcoholic beverage that is made from discarded grape seeds, stalks and steams that are the by-product of the winemaking process. It has been called Italy’s ‘elixir’ and has been around for many generations. It was popular in Italy and mainly produced there, but is now being made by distilleries in various parts of the world including just south of Vancouver in Oregon. On the evening of February 11th, Carmen d’Onofrio of Stile Brands will take you through a tasting of 7 Italian grappas. Having had the pleasure of taste tasting grappas in Italy, we expect this to be a very delicious experience. Tickets for this event are $45 and can be purchased by contacting the Italian Cultural Centre at 604.430.3337 or online. The event runs from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Trattoria Hall.
Italian Grappa Tasting Italian Cultural Centre February 11th
11 Jan
Dark New Comedy ‘All New People’ Comes To Havana Theatre January 17-30
8 Jan
A dark new comedy is coming to Havana Theatre this month called All New People. Ben Bilodeau, an actor for many years in Vancouver, is making his directorial debut with this fast-paced 4 person play. The play was created by actor/writer Zach Braff. If the name is not familiar, you may recall him as one of the ‘doctors’ on the TV sitcom Scrubs. All New People opens with a young, disenchanted Charlie on a chair with an extension cord around his neck, intent on ending his life. Unknowingly, his plans are about to be put on hold with the unexpected arrival of a spiritually misguided, British real estate agent, a Thespian-turned-fireman and a dim-witted, but well-intentioned working girl. Zach Braff brings you a perky, sitcom-style comedy that we hear is guaranteed to keep you laughing as these unlikely roommates open their hearts to each other and you. All New People runs from January 17 -30. Tickets are $20 and available online from Brown Paper Tickets.
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TEDxEastVan Is Looking For Speakers & Volunteers for April 2016
4 Jan
In case you haven’t heard, TEDxEastVan is coming to the York Theatre on Saturday, April 23rd. For those unfamiliar with TED Talks, they are a day long event that brings together creators, catalysts, designers and thinkers to share their ideas. TEDx is a local self-organized event that brings people together for deep discussion and connection within a small group. Talks from TED conferences are shared with the world for free as TED Talks videos on TV, radio, Netflix and many websites and are now available in more than 90 languages.
The TEDxEastVan team is searching for people with interesting ideas to speak at this year’s conference. They are on the hunt for scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, writers or Joe/Jane Average down the street. What gets you on the stage is your great idea. So first up, you need to apply. Once/if accepted, they will help you through the process with coaches to help you fine tune your talk. If you think you or someone you know has a great idea worth spreading, then you are encouraged to apply at TEDxEastVan 2016. The deadline for application is January 16th. If you have questions, you can email them directly at speakers@tedxeastvan.com.
Now on the other hand, if you prefer to be part of this amazing day, but not as a speaker but instead as a volunteer, there are many opportunities available. We invite you to check out the full listing at Volunteer Opportunities. If you have experience with graphic design, communications/marketing, project management, speaker development, volunteer management, camera operations, video production or video editing, TEDxEastVan would like to hear from you.
If you want to be inspired and share ideas, this will be the place to be on April 23, 2016. This is certainly where we will be. Hope to see you there.
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Vancouver Foodster Brings The Brunch Crawl To Main Street January 31st
30 Dec
Richard Wolak of Vancouver Foodster is hosting a Main Street Brunch Crawl on January 31st as part of the upcoming Dine Out happening in the New Year. So if you love brunch, this might be the ticket for you. The event is a culinary roving tour that takes place at different food and/or beverage establishments. You register for the event at the designated spot in this case, The Honey Shoppe, 4125 Main Street. Thereafter, you wander whether by bike, foot, car or transit to the various venues and nibble away to your hearts content. Each location will have specific menu items on offer for the Brunch Crawl.
We understand there will be six stops on this Brunch Crawl which will include juices, smoothies, coffee, eggs benedict, pancakes, french toast, omelettes, brunch pizza, hash browns, desserts and more. Although names are still being added to the list, some confirmed stops include Rosemary Rocksalt with delish Montreal style bagels, Radicle Juice which is a new juicer offering pressed juices and smoothies and a little spot off the radar, Dock Lunch which specializes in comfort food from all over the world. As mentioned, more restaurants are being added, check Vancouver Foodster for the latest updates, but we expect it will be delicious. Tickets for the Main Street Brunch Crawl are now available online. Advance ticket prices are $45 before December 31st after that, ticket price is $60 per person. The event runs from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm with registration starting at 9:30 am at The Honey Shoppe.
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Charlie Demers Brings Leftovers To The York Theatre January 26-30
28 Dec
An interesting new show is coming to The York Theatre in the New Year called Leftovers. The show is part of the upcoming PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. Leftovers is created by Charlie Demers with Marcus Youssef of Neworld Theatre and is a political comedy like none you’ve ever seen. Charlie Demers, if you don’t know him, is one talented guy. He has worn many hats including one of the stars of CBC Radio’s the Debators, playwright of the East Van Panto – Jack & The Beanstalk and more recently a creative writing instructor at UBC best-selling author. Charlie Demers was born in 1980, between the elections of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, and emerged from that era as a proud socialist. This January, Charlie brings you a complex comedy which we expect will move quickly and touch on many subjects including ideology, dreams and politics. It will be serious and hilarious and this is one show we will be lining up to see. Leftovers runs from January 26 to 30 at The York Theatre. Tickets start at $10 and are available online from The Cultch. A post-show talkback happens on January 27th which we expect will be an exceptional evening. Also, a matinee show has been added for Saturday, January 30th at 2:00 pm. This show has a short run, so if you wish to be entertained, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. If you wish to learn a bit more about Charlie Demers, we invite you to check out this write up in BC BookLook.
Photo Credit: Simon Hayter
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Action Fiction Project Till December 31st – Self-Guided Stories By Foot Or Bike
22 Dec
Are you up for a little adventure and exploring? If so, we might have something fun for you. We invite you to check out Active Fiction Project. This is a mashup of public space intervention, literature, create your own adventure and walking tour in East Vancouver. Action Fiction Project has created short fictional stories set in East Vancouver that features you as the main character. These are self-guided stories that are ‘hidden’ in public spaces for you to discover by walking or biking through the same neighborhood in which the story unfolds. It is on now until December 31st and a great way to get out with the family and do a little exploring. The starting point is the planter boxes on East 28th near Main Street. For more information, visit Active Fiction Project.
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Gourmet Warehouse Cooking Classes In The New Year
21 Dec
The Gourmet Warehouse has a great line up of cooking classes in the New Year. Attending one of these classes, is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Of course, there is always shopping after the cooking class as participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes. We have set out a sampling of some of the delicious classes they have lined up:
Flavours of Morocco – Saturday, January 23rd 11:00 am ($65) SOLD OUT
Chef Cindy Low invites you on a culinary adventure to Morocco. This is home to one of the world’s most intriguing cuisines. You will learn about the countless spices used in their dishes and the combination of sweet and savory that produces some unforgettable dishes. You will learn to make some classic dishes like briouats (filo pies), tajines (stews) and couscous. The menu for this class includes:
- Briouats – Moroccan spiced beef wrapped in filo pastry
- Kale salad with carrots, dates, pomegranate-orange vinegrette
- Chicken Tajine (stew) with preserved lemons and olives
- Butternut Squash tajine with chickpeas
- Saffron Cous Cous
- Chocolate-Mint tea sorbet
David Robertson of “The Dirty Apron” – January 28th 6:00 pm ($75)
Chef David Robertson, Chef and Owner of the Dirty Apron Cooking School, is their celebrity guest chef this season. Chef Robertson is known for making meals effortless. His class focuses on flavour and having attended a cooking class at Dirty Apron, we expect it will be rather fun as well. The menu he has lined up for this upcoming class includes:
- Grilled Corn, Double Smoked Bacon & Clam Chowder
- Carmelized Fennel, Seared Haloumie Cheese with a Pomegranate Reduction
- Miso Sake Roasted Sablefish
- Green Thai Curry
- Frangelico & Red Wine Poached Pear Tart
Game Day – Feeding A Crowd – Saturday, January 30th ($65)
Are you planning to host a SuperBowl Party this New Year? Chef Cindy Low will show you how to feed a crowd for game day or for any other occasion where you might be feeding a hungry crowd. Chef Cindy will focus on delicious and (mostly) make-ahead favourites so you won’t miss all the fun during your party. The dishes she has lined up for this class include:
- Pulled chicken sandwiches with homemade barbeque sauce
- Grilled marinated flank steak (Argentinian style) with chimichurri sauce
- Turkey chili mole – chili with minced turkey, six varieties of beans and a hint of chocolate
- Cajun roasted potatoes
- Tangy coleslaw
- Chocolate chip ice cream
If you are interested in any of the cooking classes, be sure to register early to avoid disappointment, classes do sell out. Bon Appetit!
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Gifting An East Van Experience This Holiday Season
17 Dec
We here at ILiveInEastVan.com are big fans of gifting experiences. There is so much to see and do close to home and sometimes we just get busy and don’t get organized to put it together. So why not gift someone a fun East Van experience this holiday season? We have set out below a few of our favourites which include brewery and foodie tours, cooking classes, theatre as well as dinner and dancing. We have included links which take you directly to each site to make that gift giving easier.
Vancouver Brewery Tour – East Van Brewery Tour
Vancouver Brewery Tours does great brewery tours in and around East Vancouver. A $75 gift certificate gets you onto one of their regularly scheduled brewery tours which run approximately 3 hours. Another option is purchasing tickets for their Beer and Food Pairing Tours which happen in January 2016 for Dine Out.
Off The Eaten Track – Culinary Tours
Off The Eaten Track offers a number of culinary tours including Vancouver’s Best Brunch Tour which takes you through the Hastings Sunrise area for $65. There is also the Railtown Urban Eats Tour runs you $55 and starts in the historic ‘Japantown’ and takes you to a number of stops including Railtown Café and the Settlement Building. Also on offer are the Main Street Hidden Gems Culinary Tour for $65. Then a personal favourite, the Vancouver Distillery Tour which stops at a number of local distilleries and provides tours, tastings and bites for $75. Tours all begin at the Waterfront Station and times vary but approximately 2 ½ hours for each.
Federico’s Supper Club – Dinner & Dancing
What about a gift certificate for an evening of dinner and dancing. Federico’s Supper Club offers amazing Italian food, wine and impeccable service. You will regularly find owner, Federico Fuoco, belting out tunes but they regularly bring in lots of local talent to mix things up.
Les Amis Du Fromage – Wine & Cheese Tasting
If you know someone that loves cheese, you may wish to consider purchasing a ticket(s) to one of Les Amis Du Fromage’s upcoming wine & cheese tasting classes. They have some delicious classes lined up for the New Year including Viva Le France on January 27th and March 9th for $65 and a Wine & Cheese Tasting Class on February 23 for $60.
The Gourmet Warehouse – Cooking Classes
Have a foodie in your life that loves cooking? Or someone that wishes to kick up their cooking skills a notch to impress that special someone? The Gourmet Warehouse offers some delicious and fun cooking classes. In the New Year they are offering Flavours of Morocco on January 23rd for $65, David Robertson of ‘The Dirty Apron’ will be on hand the evening of January 28th showing you how to make some delish dishes for $75, or if you are feeding a crowd for SuperBowl this year, there is Game Day – Feeding A Crowd for $65. Most classes are instructional vs. hands on, but certainly informative. To purchase tickets, call the store at T: 604.253.3022.
The Cultch – Live Theatre
This is a favourite spot of ours. The Cultch has an amazing array of talent that graces their stages whether drama, comedy, musical, historical, they cover all the bases. In the New Year, they have an interesting show we have our eye on called Leftovers. It features Charlie Demers, one of the stars of CBC Radio’s the Debators and best-selling author. This is a political comedy which we hear will cut through decades of BS. Tickets are available online from $10. Note the show itself takes place at the York Theatre between January 26 – 30, 2016.
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The Motherf**ker with the Hat At The Firehall Arts Centre January 16 – 30, 2016
16 Dec
An interesting show is premiering in Vancouver in the New Year at the Firehall Arts Centre. The Motherf**ker with the Hat is the inaugural production of Haberdashery Theatre Co., a company whose mandate is to contribute to the local theatre scene by doing edgier, issue driven plays. This story features 12 Steps, 3 Heart, 1 Hat as well as love and addiction. The story begins in New York City and moves to the Downtown Eastside. It features Jackie an ex-con and addict who is determined to stay clean and get his life back track with the help of his sponsor. Jackie’s efforts are challenged by Veronica, the love of his life, who is an alcoholic/addict and he suspects is cheating on him with a ‘mofo’ with a hat. The play is being billed as “blisteringly funny and poignant”. The Motherf**ker with the Hat previews January 16th at 8:00 pm and continues until January 30th at the Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova Street. Tickets are available online from $16 – $33 and Wednesday matinee shows are Pay What You Can.
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Eastside Flea – Last Dash Holiday Bash At The Wise Hall December 19 & 20
15 Dec
The Eastside Flea is back at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, December 19th & 20th with their Last Dash Holiday Bash. There will be over 60+ local vendors on hand selling an array of items new and used. You can expect to find collectibles, gift cards, handcrafted and vintage jewellery, vinyl records, succulents and plants and a whole host of gift items for the last minute holiday shopper. The Salt Dispensary will be on hand with Gourmet Blended Salts under the $10 mark. Also Noble & Co will be on hand with handmade natural beeswax candles and our personal favourite East Van Jam. To keep you warm, Kahve & Chai will be on hand with an indoor concession serving up chai, coffee and tea. Tacofino will be stationed outside all day serving what they do best, tacos. Admission is $3.00 and $2.00 with a non-perishable food donation. Eastside Flea runs from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday.
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