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Gifting An East Van Experience This Holiday Season

17 Dec

GiftBoxXmasWe 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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Christmas Drive-In Movies At River District December 11 & 12

30 Nov

ElfMovieWell it’s time to bundle up, load up the car and head down to River District to watch a Christmas classic movie.  If you’ve never experienced a drive-in movie, here’s your chance. Happening December 11th and 12th with 2 movies each evening, it will be a nice break from the hustle and bustle that will invariably come with the holiday season.  Fresh Air Cinema will be hosting Canada’s only Christmas Drive-In.  The movie line up includes:

Friday, December 11 at 7:00 pm – How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Friday, December 11 at 9:30 pm – A Christmas Story
Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 pm –The Polar Express
Saturday, December 12 at 9:30 pm – Elf

The River District Drive-In is located at 3650 E. Kent Avenue South which is located just west of Boundary Way and before Kinross Street in SE Vancouver.  River District will provide you with the FM station for audio, so a working radio/FM station and free popcorn to round out your experience. The cost is $20 for a carload pass which entitles you to one vehicle, yourself and 7 guests.  Tickets are available for purchase online at Picatic.com or click on the link of the movie you wish to see above.

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show At The Rio Theatre 2X!

6 Oct

RockyHorrorRiotLet’s Do The Time Warp Again and Again!   The cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in all its campy glory will be showing at the Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway, not once but twice this coming week. First chance is this Sunday, October 11th at 10:15 pm. For the 40th Anniversary screening of this iconic movie, there will be an extra treat that being Vancouver’s nerd troupe, The Geekenders. If you can’t make this show, it will also be showing on Friday, October 16th at 11:59 pm. Tickets are $12.00 at the door. Audience participation is highly encouraged and $2 prop bags will be sold in the lobby prior to the show. For those wanting advance tickets, please take note they are already SOLD OUT. There will be limited tickets available on each of the two evenings. Box Office opens at 5:30 pm and after that they will be creating a Rush Line from 8:30 pm. Costume optional but highly encouraged.

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East Van Short Film Showcase At The Rio Theatre August 23rd

21 Aug

east-van-short-film-300x169You are invited to come celebrate the creative culture in East Vancouver this Sunday at the Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway. The East Van Short Film Showcase presented by Hammer & Tong Picture Industries and Raindance Vancouver brings together filmmakers and audiences for a night of unique, independent cinema. This event will feature a selection of short films from some of Vancouver’s best young independent filmmakers. You can expect films by James Kingstone, Marshall Axani, Kelvin Redvers, Sean Ronan, Sinziana Corozel, Ross Munro, Kyle Samuels and Edson Castro. Doors open at 6:00 pm for the East Van Short Film Showcase and the event runs till 9:00 pm. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite for $5.50 or at the door for $6.00. For those interested in attending the after party, it will take place at Toby’s Pub & Grill, 2733 Commercial Drive.

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Vancouver Queer Film Festival August 13 – 23

7 Aug

VancouverQueerFilmThe Vancouver Queer Film Festival kicks off on August 13th and runs until August 23rd at various theatres around Vancouver. This film festival showcases over 70 films from 21 countries with themes ranging from transgender trailblazers to spectacular queer con artists. There will be two films showing in East Vancouver at the Rio Theatre on Friday, August 14th namely:

The Coast is Queer 6:30 pm

Is a series of grassroots shorts which offer a tantalizing view of BC’s queer film pie including Polarity, Soak and The Future Perfect. There will also be sneak peak of the The Out-Laws an inaugural episode of a coming web series.

Grandma 9:30 pm

Lily Tomlin fans can rejoice as she’s clearly having a ball in Grandma. This film is a rousing, exhilarating joyride that brings limitless energy and a decidedly un-Hollywood approach to storytelling about three generations of women. Here, the carefree feminist plot reveals itself early when Elle’s granddaughter Sage shows up on her doorstep seeking $600 for an abortion. Neither of them has the money so they set out on a road trip (in Grandma’s own 1955 Dodge Royal) to get it without involving Sage’s mom, Judy. Their journey sparks new life in Elle, a self-described misanthrope who’s been grieving the loss of her long-term love. You will also see supporting performances by Laverne Cox, Judy Greer, and Sam Elliott. This is touted as a sharply funny and warm film and you only get once chance to see it.

To check out the full line of films playing during Vancouver Queen Film Festival, check out the Schedule online. Tickets are also available in advance online.

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Free Outdoor Movie Dude Chilling Park August 15

31 Jul

MovieMt.PleasantAug.15If you would like to enjoy a free outdoor movie in East Vancouver, then mark your calendar for Saturday, August 15th. Mount Pleasant Cares will be showing How to Train Your Dragon 2 at Dude Chilling Park (also known as Guelph Park) in Mount Pleasant. There will also be lots of activities for the kids starting at 7:00 pm including games, zumba and face painting. The movie gets under way at dusk (approximately 9:00 pm). You are invited to bring your lawn chair and/or blanket. This is a free community event brought to you by Collingwood Community Policing Centre, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire Department and Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House.

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River District Drive-In Movies This Summer Starting July 12th

8 Jul

FilmMovieReelWell it’s time to get a little nostalgic folks.  River District is hosting drive-in movies this summer.  For those that have never experienced a drive-in movie, now’s your chance.   River District will be hosting four of them starting this Sunday with a personal favourite, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  This is a classic 80s movie to which you are encouraged to wear your 80s garb.   Also on hand for this event, will be a selection of food trucks. They anticipate the following line up for Sunday’s feature movie:

Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck
Tasty Torpedo
Cheeses Crust
Reel MAC and Cheese
Street Meat Truck
Mr. Cool Ice Cream Truck
Chili Tank

The River District Drive-In is located at 3650 E. Kent Avenue South which is located just west of Boundary Way and before Kinross Street in SE Vancouver. Gates open at 6:30 pm and the movie gets under way at dusk (approx. 8:00 pm).  River District will provide you with the FM station for audio, so a working radio/FM station will round out your experience.

Sunday, July 26 – Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark
Sunday September 6  – DOUBLE FEATURE
The Outsiders and Stand by Me

This is a free event and there is space for 250 cars, but it is first come first served. So if you are keen, best to arrive early.

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Italian Film Festival At The Rio Theatre June 6 – 13

2 Jun

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June is Italian Heritage Month and that means in true Italian form, you can expect a colourful celebration of this heritage from food to art to film and everything in between. Outside of Italian Day coming on Sunday, June 14th, The Italian Cultural Centre will also be hosting a great line of activities which include the Italian Market, but will feature a few extra events to celebrate their heritage.  The Rio Theatre has also jumped on board to celebrate the Italian spirit and partnered with Italian Day, the Italian Cultural Centre and the Vancouver Italian Film Festival.   In case you hadn’t heard, the theme for this year’s Italian Day is “Art”, so we think it very fitting that the Rio Theatre will be showcasing some favourite Italian films.  And for those that wish to see them all, they are even offering a $50 festival pass.  The films they have lined up for the Italian Film Festival include:

​Saturday, June 6: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly “Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo” (Sergio Leone, 1966) | Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef star in Sergio Leone’s masterpiece, a “spaghetti Western” that is generally considered to be the most influential (if not thoroughly entertaining!) in the genre.

Saturday, June 6:  Black Sabbath “I tre volti della paura” (Mario Bava, 1963) | Mario Bava’s stylistic influence on cinema can not be understated, and Black Sabbath is a prime example of how his innovative visual and structural aesthetic permeated the horror genre. Black Sabbath is one of the most influential anthology films of the 20th Century, composed of a “trio of terror” whose narrative is held together by its powerful and very colourful narrator, Boris Karloff. Quentin Tarantino cited the structural style of the film as one of his influences on Pulp Fiction and the title of the film was, quite famously, lifted by English metal band Black Sabbath.

Tuesday, June 9: Bicycle Thieves “Ladri di biciclette” (Vittorio De Sica, 1948) | In spite of Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves being, at its core, a simple story of a father and his young son searching for a stolen bicycle [vital to the father’s] job, the film is frequently cited as one of the best films ever made. De Sica opted to cast his film with amateurs, their honest performances as fresh and natural today as they were upon release in 1948.

Tuesday, June 9: Cinema Paradiso “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988) | With its sweeping cinematography, gorgeous performances, and a heart-tugging nostalgic storyline about childhood and coming-of-age, the Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso (Best Foreign Film, 1990) remains one of Italy’s most popular and best-loved cinematic exports. Loosely based on writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own life, the story follows a prominent filmmaker recalling the days of his magical boyhood, when he fell in love with movies and formed a deep friendship with the projectionist at his village’s theatre.

Friday, June 12L La Dolce Vita (Federico Fellini, 1960) |  Marcello Marstroianni and Anita Ekberg star one of the best from one of the best, Federico Fellini. La Dolce Vita is a dazzling film that weaves elements of the surreal and magical to humbly expose honest elements of the human condition via a week in the life of a philandering paparazzo journalist (Mastroianni, in one of his most memorable performances), living in Rome.

Friday, June 12: The Night Porter “Il portiere di notte” (Lilliana Cavani, 1974) | After a chance meeting at a hotel in 1957, a Holocaust survivor (the exquisite Charlotte Rampling) and the Nazi officer (Dirk Bogarde) who tortured her resume their sadomasochistic relationship, which threatens them both. Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter continues to divide audiences over its controversial themes and moral ambiguity; the far-reaching impact of its fetishistic aesthetic as influential today as it was upon its release in 1974.

Saturday, June 13:  8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963).  Frequently listed as, “one of the best films ever made,” Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 stars Marcello Mastroianni as Guido, harried film director who, following his last big hit, relaxes by retreating into the surreal dream world of memory and fantasy. Fellini’s quasi-autobiographical film about love, loss, and the trials and tribulations of film-making is often cited by the master himself as one of his favorite films, ever. Also starring Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, Barbara Steele.

Saturday, June 13: Last Tango in Paris “Ultimo tango a Parigi” (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1974 / 128 mins, 18A) | Passionate, sexual, and entirely unforgettable, Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris is an exotic, erotic masterpiece about an engaged Parisian woman (Maria Schneider) and her clandestine affair with a recently widowed, middle-aged American businessman (Marlon Brando). Upon its release in 1974, the film received worldwide attention for its unflinching sex scenes (it originally received an “X” rating and was banned in many countries) as well as its raw, naturalistic portrayal of a very adult relationship.

Viva Italia!

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Double Bill Of Rocky Horror Picture Show Rio Theatre April 1st

31 Mar

RockyHorrorPictureShowIn case it slipped your mind, April Fool’s Day is Wednesday, April 1st.  For this ‘fun’ day on the calendar, the Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway, will be showing the ultimate cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show not once but twice.  If you haven’t seen the film, it has a newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who encounter a few monsters, a sweet transvestite in a castle and there is, of course, lots to sing and dance about, in particular the “Time Warp”.  This is a great opportunity to dress up and have some fun with your favourite character. Those with costumes get to see the show for $8.00 and those without costumes $10. The movie will show first at 7:00 pm which will be open to all ages. Then a second showing takes place at 9:45 pm for 19+ crowd which will include an exclusive April Fool’s cut of the movie featuring some Geekenders performers. Advance tickets are available online at Rio Theatre.

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Broadway East Art Walk Community Film Festival Saturday October 11th

10 Oct

CommunityFilmFestivalOct.11The folks at Broadway East Art Walk will be hosting their second annual Community Film Festival on Saturday, October 11th from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at 303 8th Avenue. You are invited to come celebrate the places and stories that make our neighbourhoods unique and see them unfold through the screening of local short films. You will experience a wide range of locally made films in a variety of genres, ranging from documentary to music videos and experimental films. The event is free but an RSVP is required which you can do via this link at Eventbrite. If you would like a run down of the all the films that will be showing, visit Broadway East Art Walk.

 

AND for something else artistic, fun and environmentally friendly, the Broadway East Art Walk will be collecting broken umbrellas to upcycle them and create the Mount Pleasant Canopy Project. If you wish to get a sense of what this type of project ‘could’ look like check out these great displays in Agueda, Portugal. You are asked to bring your broken umbrellas to the Community Film Festival. You can also leave the umbrellas at the front desk of The Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, 800 E Broadway, during their normal hours Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is another great community project funded by the Vancouver Foundation through the Neighbourhood Small Grants program.

Umbrella Photo: Flickr user pmtnagueda-portugal-umbrella-sky-project-woe7-690x518

 

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