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Vancouver Greek SummerFest July 6 – 16, 2017

5 Jul

 

GreekFestival2017The Vancouver Greek Summerfest is back for its 31st  consecutive year. The festival kicks off Thursday, July 6th and runs until Sunday, July 16th.  This is a fun community event with great Greek food including BBQ Lamb, Loukoumade, souvalaki, gyros and more. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the dancing, there will be lots of it, belly dancing, folk dancing, Serbian dancing and of course those attending will be encouraged to dance.  Organizers also have a great music line up including performances by bands Zougla, Urban Myth, Asi Somos, Dolphin Jazz and Golden Thread Orchestra, Jim Byrnes as well as Steve “Elvis” Elliot tribute artist.  When there are not live performances, a DJ will be spinning tunes.   The event takes place in the parking lot behind the Greek Orthodox Community Church of East Vancouver at 4641 Boundary Road which is located on the border of Vancouver and Burnaby.  If you are coming from Vancouver, the intersection is 29th Avenue. If you are coming from Burnaby, it is Moscrop.  The event is free to attend. Note, as there is food and lots of moving bodies, pets are not permitted and in the summer heat, they’ll be happier at home. During the week, Monday to Wednesday, activities take place from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and from Thursday to Sunday, things go from Noon to 11:00 pm. To learn more about the event, what’s available for food or which musician is playing on which date, check out Greek SummerFest. Opa! Live and eat like a Greek for a day.

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Ice Cream Ice Cream We All Scream For Ice Cream!

3 Jul

 

We are blessed in East Vancouver with an array of frozen treats whether it’s ice cream, gelato, non-dairy, vegan ice cream or sorbet, options abound. While we are now truly into summer we thought we’d highlight some of the many spots worth checking out for ice cream.

Earnest Ice Cream

Admittedly we are die hard fans of Earnest Ice Cream which now has not 1, not 2, but 3 locations to serve you in East Vancouver, Fraser Street, Quebec Street and now their new location on Frances Street. Not only do we love their ice cream, we also love the Company’s philosophy to support local, be sustainable and environmentally friendly. If you’d asked us to choose one favourite flavor, we’d be hard pressed, Salted Caramel is up there, but then Whiskey Hazelnut not far behind. For seasonal, Lemon and Rhubarb Oatmeal are in our freezer now.

La Casa Gelato

The pink palace in East Vancouver located at 1033 Venables Street. A favourite spot as well, the choice of flavours beyond amazing. La Casa Gelato boasts some 238 flavours which include gelato and sorbets as well as other options including non-dairy and sugar free. They have a great outdoor seating space just across the street. Added bonus is they are open 11:00 am to 11:00 pm each day and we do mean every day as in 365 days a year.

Dolce Amore

Dolce Amore is a gelato spot located on Commercial Drive next to Merchant’s Oyster Bar. They have of course some delish gelato as well as some other sweet treats. We noticed a vegan Blueberry Basil Sorbetto in their line up which sounds pretty great. That’s on our list to try.

Rooster’s Ice Cream

Rooster’s Ice Cream is a great boutique ice cream shop located at 1309 East Broadway just West of the the Vancouver Community College campus. We checked out this spot last summer and it was a hit. They had some unique flavours and this year, we have our eye on their Lime Lavender.

Gourmet Ice Cream & Pizza Tour

If you prefer to taste test ice cream at a few different spots for something fun to do, you may wish to check out the Gourmet Ice Cream & Pizza Tour. This is offered by Off The Eaten Track Tours who regularly host foodie tours around the City. This delish tour runs from June 1st into September. Cost is $45.99 and runs weekly Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon for 2 hours. To register, or learn more, visit Off The Eaten Track Tours.

Innocent Ice Cream

Innocent Ice Cream is a sweet spot located at 4895 Main Street at 33rd Avenue that offers gluten free ice cream sandwiches, handmade all natural ice cream as well as coffee, so affogatos are available as well.   Some of the ice cream flavours include Salty Peanut, peanut butter and salted caramel and the Canadian, maple walnut and oatmeal.  We liked their flights of 3 mini ice-cream sandwiches. There are small seating areas inside and out. Definitely worth checking out.

Brown Paper Packages

We’ve been hearing great things about Brown Paper Packages which specialize in small batch handcrafted ice cream and ice cream sandwhiches. You can find their sweet treats at various events around town, but regularly at Pazzo Chow located at 620 Quebec Street at Keefer.  They are open Monday to Friday 10:30 am to 4:30 pm closed Saturday and Sunday.

Elephant Creamery 

The Elephant Creamery is the newest addition located at 2080 Commercial Street.  The  Georgia Straight featured some of their unique flavours that were coming down the pike. They are open daily 12:00 to 9:00 pm save for Tuesdays.  We have yet to check this one yet, but looking forward to trying it.

READER’S RECOMMENDATION: For a cone with familiar flavours, Bianca Maria at 2469 East Hastings and Renzuli at 1370 Nanaimo Street at Charles Street.

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What’s On East Van: June 16, 2017

16 Jun

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Lots happening in East Van this next week.  Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out 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.

Italian Market – June 16, 2017

The outdoor Italian Market is back at the Italian Cultural Centre Friday, June 16th. This market is situated in the parking lot of the Italian Cultural Centre and has a great mix of vendors which include food, artisans and bits of Italian flavour sprinkled throughout.  Food trucks are always on hand and we’d be very surprised if you didn’t find some pizza and cannoli. Market happens from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Perfect stop after work for a shop, bite and if you want to move, dance! See below for more.

Tango Lessons – June 16, 2017

Have you ever wanted to learn to tango? You are in luck. The Italian Cultural Centre is now hosting drop-in classes every Friday until July 28th at 6:00 pm in the piazza at the Italian Cultural Centre.  Cost is $20 for each drop in session and class runs till 7:30 pm. To register, visit Il Centro.

Farmers Market  – June 17 & 18, 2017

This weekend, you have the opportunity to check out 3 farmer markets. First up, is the largest hosted by Vancouver Farmers Market at Trout Lake from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 17th. Also on Saturday, you will find River District Farmers Market on the Fraser River in SE Vancouver just below SE Marine Drive at Kerr Street from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sunday, June 18th , Vancouver Farmers Market hosts the Mount Pleasant Market from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Great Grandview Garage Sale – June 17, 2017

The Great Grandview Garage Sale is a multi-family garage sale that happens in the Grandview-Woodlands area. To find a map of the locations, visit Great Grandview Garage Sale. The event happens rain or shine 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday, June 17th.

Car Free Day Main Street – June 18, 2017

Car Free Day happens this Sunday, June 18th on Main Street from Noon to 7:00 pm. This is an all day event in which car traffic is blocked between Broadway and 30th Avenue.  There are a host of activities for all ages. Getting there by transit, bike or foot is recommended. To learn more about what events are happening, we invite you to check out Car Free Day Main Street. Note, this year Commercial Drive will not be hosting their Car Free Day on the same day. They have elected to host it on Sunday, July 9th.

East Van Garden Tour – June 18, 2017

If you wish to tour some of the beautiful gardens in East Vancouver, this self-guided tour happens this Sunday and it’s a great way to see how others use their outdoor space. You can do the tour at your own pace and see as much or as little as you’d like. Tickets for the East Van Garden Tour are a very reasonable $15 and are available at Britannia Community and Figaro’s Garden Centre on Victoria Drive.

Gourmet Ice Cream Tour – June 18, 2017

Off The Eaten Track regularly has a great line up of foodie tours around the City. We’ve learnt their Gourmet Ice Cream Tour is now back for the summer months. A tour runs this Sunday, June 18th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Cost is $29.99. If you can’t make it Sunday, tour also runs Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Eat.Drink. Play. – June 22, 2017

Eat.Drink.Play. is a fundraiser for the Firehall Arts Centre and brings together local food purveyors, distillers of craft beer and spirits and art as well as a silent auction. Tickets are $35 plus $20 for artists. For tickets, visit the Firehall Arts Centre.

The Rio Theatre’s Vinyl Cafe: A Tribute to Stuart Mclean – June 22, 2017

The Rio Theatre plays host to a night of  story telling and live music in honour of the late, CBC host, Stuart Mclean. In honour of his legacy as a great Canadian story teller, they have invited some of their favorite local story tellers and musicians to come together to perform original work and celebrate the art of story telling. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door. For more info and tickets, visit the Rio Theatre.

Entertainment: Arts, Theatre, Comedy & Live Music

If you are looking for live music, Tangent Café has The Meghan Gilhesphy Trio on Sunday, June 18th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. If it’s a Latin groove you are looking for, Café Deux Soleils is playing host to Wasakaka on Friday, June 16th.  If it’s Trivia your after, Tuesday night is the night.  The Eastwood at 4245 Fraser Street hosts a Trivia Night, as does The Storm Crow Tavern on Tuesdays, but the name gives it away – Nerdin’ Trivia Tuesday. On the other hand, if you love to sing, you may wish check out the Impromptu Rock Choir which checks in every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm at the Wise Hall.

NOTE:  Image Credit: June Hunter

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Car Free Day – Main Street & Commercial Drive

12 Jun

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Main Street Car Free Day – Sunday June 18, 2017

Car Free Day is one of Vancouver’s biggest festivals. The Main Street Car Free Day happens Sunday, June 18th from Noon to 7:00 pm.  The festival spans some 21 blocks from Broadway to 30th Street and includes 15 stages and mini festivals along this stretch of Main Street.  This is an all ages event which boasts many family-friendly activities including kid-zones, cool artisan shops, food vendors, artisans and much more. Note, transit will be rerouting buses during this event. 

Commercial Drive Car Free Day  – Sunday, July 9, 2017

Car Free Day on Commercial Drive is where it all began some 13 years ago and there is something new for 2017, being a date change.  Instead of Car Free Day following one week after Italian Day, another big street festival, they  have elected to change the date to Sunday, July 9th this year. This Car Free Day on the Drive will also run from Noon to 7:00 pm and feature 15 blocks of great food, entertainment, live music, local artisans and much more.  There is a strong message of advocacy and activism in this community for providing car free spaces and a green culture. Note, transit will also be rerouting buses during this event.

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What’s On East Van: June 9, 2017

9 Jun

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERALots happening in East Van this next week. We’ve set out below What’s On, but first we’d like to give a shout out to East Van artist June Hunter for creating this image for our new weekly series.  As you may know, the crow didn’t make it into the running for official bird for the City of Vancouver’s. We felt the crow needed a little love and recognition, so it’s officially our graphic for What’s On East Van. June Hunter is well versed in all things crow and she captures some amazing photos of them. We invite you to check out her art work and photos. For now let’s see What’s On East Van for the coming 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.

Driven – June 10, 2017

If you love cars, Driven is happening this Saturday at Pacific Coliseum. This is an aftermarket show featuring some 300 vehicles. Event runs from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Admission is $20. For more info, see DrivenShow.ca.

Main Street Bike Expo – June 10, 2017

If travelling by 2 wheels is more your style, you will want to check out the inaugural Main Street Bike Expo happening this Saturday at The Ellis Building, 1024 Main Street also home to the Eastside Flea. This event happens from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm and features photography, exhibitors, workshops, free bike tune ups, show & shine bike beauty pageant and to top it off a brewery bike tour at 6:00 pm sharp.  Admission is $3.00.  For more info, see MainStreetBikeExpo.com.

Vancouver Mini Maker Faire – June 10 – 11, 2017

If you are curious how things are made, or just want to see some of the amazing talented makers we have in this City, you will want to check out the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire. This event happens at the PNE Forum. It is an all ages event where you will find everything from tech geeks, painters, potters, knitters, roboticists, artists, bakers and 3D printing enthusiasts and much more.  There will be over 150 makers on hand for this 2 day event happening at The PNE Forum June 10th and 11th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For more info, see MakerFaire.com.

Italian Day – June 11, 2017

Honestly, Italian Day is one of our favourite community events. Commercial Drive from Grandview to Venables is blocked off from traffic. The space is turned into a large piazza with food, music, dancing, vendors, displays, people watching, activities for kids, patios for sipping & nibbling.  This year’s theme is Amore, which of course is Italian for love.  Event kicks off at Noon and runs till 8:00 pm. Free to attend.

Workshop Canning & Freezing Your Summer Bounty – June 11, 2017

If you wish to learn the basics of canning, the folks at The Uncommon Café in Strathcona are hosting a workshop on Sunday, June 11th from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.  For more information or to register, visit TartineMapleCuisine.com.

Tasting Plates Riley Park – June 14, 2017

Vancouver Foodster (aka Richard Wolak) is hosting Tasting Plates at self-guided foodie tour in the Riley Park area on Wednesday,  June 14th.  The event kicks off at The Honey Shoppe on Main Street and continues to a number of delish spots in the area. For information on tickets see Vancouver Foodster.

Free Italian Opera – June 15, 2017

June is Italian Heritage Month and with that comes some cool events in Vancouver for the month. One of them is free outdoor opera at the Italian Cultural Centre Thursday, June 15th. Two of City Opera Vancouver’s young singers will fill the air with Neapolitan songs. Food and wine will be available for sale starting at 6:30 pm, the concert is free and starts at 7:00 pm. The event runs till 9:30 pm.

Retro Design & Antiques Fair – June 11, 2017

If you are on the hunt for antiques, vintage or collectable items, you may wish to check out the Retro Design & Antiques Fair being held at the Croatian Cultural Centre on Sunday, June 11th from 11:00 to 3:00 pm. Admission is $5.

Entertainment: Arts, Theatre, Comedy & Live Music

This weekend, An AcroYoga Show happens at The Cultch on Saturday with 2 shows at 3:00 and 7:00 pm.  Can you spot a liar? Check out Story Story Lie at Café Deux Soleils at 8:00 pm for its last show of the season.  Looking to listen to some live jazz, the Sara Kennedy Trio will be playing at Tangent Café on Commercial Drive from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.  Looking for comedy,  Trae Crowder billed as a Liberal redneck is performing at the Rio Theatre Saturday night. Instant Theatre hosts sketch comedy at the theatre at Havana Restaurant Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 pm. East Van Comedy picks things up on Sunday in the same spot.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Italian Day Sunday June 11, 2017

29 May

ItalianDay2017One of our favourite community events is back, Italian Day which will be held on Sunday, June 11th. This year’s theme is Amore, which means love in Italian. Organizers chose the theme because “love lies at the heart of Italian culture and its lifestyle. It is  a universal language and an exchange evoking many things: affection, romance, passion, respect, creativity, and commitment.  It is life, unity and the pursuit for an emotional connection and is shared in relationships, arts and culture, at the dinner table, in our daily work, in pursued dreams, and in community.” For Italian Day 2017, organizers wish to celebrate Amore in all aspects of life and the magical power it holds to inspire, connect and create infinite possibilities and experiences, both individually and collectively.

For Italian Day, Commercial Drive from Broadway to Grandview will be turned into one long piazza. Many of the restaurants will have outdoor seating areas, food trucks will be dotted along the stretch, live music will take place on several stages and much more. This year, we hear there will be some talent flown in from Italy to celebrate.  Danilo Ciaccia and his band ItalyAMO will be performing. As well 2 DJs from an Italian Radio Station, DJ Osso and Pippo Lorusso will be on hand at the 5th Avenue Stage mixing things up. You can also expect Federico Fuoco to entertain the crowds as will be singers from Vancouver Opera. If you stop by the Napier Greenway at the Britannia Community Centre, East Van artist Paula Luther will be hosting a free workshop ‘Little Hearts Project’. Materials are supplied and everyone is welcome to stop by and participate. This event runs from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, there will be a Bike Valet set up at the Royal Bank of Canada at 1st Avenue & Commercial. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian.

Photo Credit: Italian Day

 

 

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22nd Annual Stone Soup Festival Saturday May 13th at Britannia Community Centre

10 May

StoneSoupFestivalBritannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, is hosting the 22nd Annual Stone Soup Festival on Saturday, May 13th.  This annual event is a celebration of food, art, environment and community. You can expect to find a food market, local artists, community groups, talks and workshops, live music, tea leaf reading, children’s activities, free soup and much more. The Stone Soup Festival aims to bring awareness to the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources and eating ‘local’ and celebrating the diversity of food in our neighbourhood, the environment and its importance to the culture of our community.  Some of the highlights from this year’s festival include:    

 

             Wild Salmon Caravan Art Build with Artist Nadine Pluzak
 Location: West Zone 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Katari Performance
Location West Zone 1:00 pm

V’ni Dansi-Metis Dance & History. Come Learn The Red River Jig
Location: Gym D 2:00 pm

Pasta Jewellery Making Workshop with Paula Luther
Location: Britannia Courtyard 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Britannia Box of Light with Kelty Jean McKerracher & Ronnie Dean Harris
Location: Britannia Site: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

There will be live music on the Commercial Drive Stage starting at Noon with the Carnival Band kicking things off, then at 1:00 pm Backspin takes the stage followed by the Tim Sars Duo at 2:00 pm. After that The Vancouver Fiddle Club keep things moving about 3:00 pm which are followed by Rio Samaya at 4:00 p.m. The Stone Soup Festival kicks off at Noon and runs till 5:00 pm. This is a family friendly event with lots of activities for the kids including face painting, storytelling and a kids activity area.  For more information, contact the Britannia Community Centre at T: 604.718.5800.

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Spring & Summer Farmer Markets In East Vancouver 2017

3 May

The warm Spring weather is now finally here which also brings with it more options for local produce.  We are fortunate to have yet another season of farmers markets lined up which offers us not only produce, but handmade goods, artisans breads, locally made jams, cheese, free range and organic eggs and of course wineries, breweries and makers of spirits are now on hand offering tastings as well.  Each market is unique and offers a little something different. Trout Lake is the largest and a great place to sit down and have a picnic on the spot at the park with your new purchases. River District is one of the smaller markets situated just below Marine Drive at the foot of Kerr Street in SE Vancouver, but generally different vendors than the markets organized by Vancouver Farmers Market.  Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is also smaller than Trout Lake, but we love that it’s on a Sunday so giving some options when faced with a busy weekend. The Italian Market is held on Friday afternoons in front of the Italian Cultural Centre and is a personal favourite. Along with produce, you will find artisans, food trucks, coffee and more. The added bonus is the Italian Cultural Centre often has other events going on including art on display, live music and/or dancing.  The Main Street Farmers Market is a great afternoon market and perfect for those just leaving downtown for home, or a quick cycle from Mount Pleasant and the Olympic Village.  We have set out below the dates when the markets begin and end for the Spring/Summer season. We invite you to get out and support local.

Trout Lake Farmers Market
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Saturday: May 6 – October 21, 2017
Location: Lakewood Drive & E 13th Avenue

Main Street Station Farmers Market
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Every Wednesday: May 31 – October 4, 2017
Location: 1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Sunday: May 28, 2017 – October 8, 2017
 Location: Guelph Street between 7th & 8th Avenues (on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park/Dude Chilling Park)

Riley Park Farmers Market (New This Year)
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Saturday: June 24, 2017 – October 28, 2017
Location: 30th Avenue & Ontario Street

River District Farmers Market
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Every Saturday:  May 13, 2017 – October 14, 2017
Location: 8683 Kerr Street (at E. Kent Avenue S.)

Il Mercato: Italian Market
Fridays: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
June 16, July 21 and August 18, 2017
Location: Il Centro, Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street (off Grandview Highway)

 

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The Uncommon Café Lines Up More Delish Cooking Classes

24 Apr

Eclairs&CreamPuffsFebruary5,2017The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, is hosting another delicious line of up cooking and baking classes this Spring. Valentine Kitamura owner of Tartine Maple will be leading the classes which will be held at two locations one of which is Trout Lake Community Centre. We’ve set out below a few of their upcoming classes. No baking or cooking experience? No worries, the recipes are easy, Valentine will walk you through it and make it fun.

Eclairs & Cream Puffs: Sunday, April 30th – Trout Lake Community Centre 2-4 pm

Valentine will teach you the basics of Choux pastry which will then be filled with cream and covered with a warm chocolate sauce. The eclairs are the long version that are filled with a bit of heaven.  You are asked to bring containers so you can take some of your creations home, that is if you don’t eat them all. This class is $57.14 and runs from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Note, registration for this event is through the Trout Lake Community Centre. Hint: We’ve tasted Valentine’s cream puffs made with pistachio filling that is hands down one of the best things we’ve ever tasted. We guarantee it will impress your guests. Personally, we’d ask for that recipe.


Chocolate Lovers Cooking Class – May 7th – Trout Lake Community Centre 2-4 pm

If you love chocolate and want to learn how to make easy decadent desserts, than this class is for you. Whether you wish to impress guests, or that special someone or keep it all for yourself, no judgment. What you will learn to make in this class is:chocolateloversclass

  • Chocolate Mousse
  • Lava Cake
  • Chocolate Truffles
  • Chocolate Sauce to Drizzle

This is a demonstration cooking class after which you will get to enjoy your Lava Cake. The rest of the goodies you get to take home with you.

Mother’s Day Brunch & Bake – Sunday, May 14th – The Uncommon Café 11-2

You are invited to bring your mom to a fun food event in which Valentine will demonstrate some easy brunch recipes including:

  • Beet Soup with Whipped Goat Cheese
  • Mini Asparagus & Bacon Quiches
  • Homemade Baba Ganoush and Tapenade with Toasted Tortillas
  • Eclairs and Cream Puffs for dessert 
This class is a demonstration class in which you get to eat all the delish dishes in the dining area after class at The Uncommon Café along with a refreshing Mimosa.  There is a bit of hands on for those that wish to participate, or you can sit back and relax.   Cost of this class is $69 and there is a $10 discount for early registration. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

MotherDaysBrunch&Bake

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Whiskey & Tapas Experience At Cabrito Tapas April 25th

17 Apr

whiskeydenisedochertyLove whiskey and great food?  Cabritos Tapas on The Drive is hosting another Whiskey and Tapas Experience on Tuesday, April 25th.  Their guest, Colin Bussiere, President of Only Hearts Spirits will be walking and talking you through the whiskey they will be pouring that evening.  Chef Alex will pair each whiskey tasting with what we expect will be very delish tapas.  Tickets for this event are $95 per person and available online at Cabrito Tapas. Event kicks off at 6:00 pm.

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