Our friends at The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, have a workshop lined up this August that will help preserve some of your summer bounty. On August 8th, Valentine Kitamura owner of Tartine Maple will lead a class at The Uncommon Café. If you don’t know this space already, it is great little café and commissary located across the street from Oppenheimer Park. In this summer workshop, Valentine will show you how to make some delish preserves while also teaching you some basic preserving techniques. Some of what you’d be making in this upcoming class include Apple & Jalapeno Jelly, Vodka Drunken Cherries, Salsa and Canned Peaches. Did we mention these folks know how to do workshops? While learning about preserving, sip on a glass of wine during the class along with a snack or two. You will go home a 4 oz jar size of each item made and printed recipe cards. The cost of this class is also $65 per person. You can book your spot online via Eventbrite. If you haven’t already checked out their classes, we encourage to pop down and give them a try.
Workshop: Preserving The Summer Bounty August 8, 2018
25 Jul
The 42nd Annual Powell Street Festival August 4 & 5, 2018
24 Jul
Canada’s largest celebration of Japanese Canadian arts & culture will be held on August 4th and 5th in Vancouver’s historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood. The 42nd Annual Powell Street Festival takes place in Oppenheimer Park as well as the surrounding areas including the Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver Buddhist Temple and the Vancouver Japanese Language School. There is a long line up of events including Sumo Wrestling, Japanese Food, Martial Arts, Dance, Taiko Drumming, Walking Tours, Anime, Film, Literary Events, Live Music and much more. Festival highlights include a performance by virtuoso percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani and the Nakatani Gong Orchestra as well as Sadgrrrl rocker Emma Lee Toyoda. Also on hand for this festival is an exhibit by international artists Chiharu Mizukawa & Nao Uda. This barely scratches the surface. There’s much more happening. For a full rundown on all the events, visit 42nd Annual Powell Street Festival. They have a great map prepared that sets out all the events and their locations. The fun happens from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 pm on August 4th and 5th.
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What’s On East Van: July 20th Edition
20 Jul
Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some 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.
Movie Night In the Park – Trout Lake – July 20th
Collingwood Community Policing is hosting another movie night in the park Friday, July 20th at Trout Lake/John Hendry Park. Movie gets under way at dusk. Note, this event is weather permitting. If it rains, the movie night will be postponed.
Summer Savour Festival – River District Town Centre – July 21st
River District and Wesgroup Properties are hosting 4 free summer events starting this Saturday, July 21st. This first event features wine and cheese samples from Everything Wine, local vendors, a few food trucks and music by Grooveport at 4:00 pm and The Booms hitting the stage at 7:00 pm. For more information on their upcoming dates, visit Summer Savour Festival.
Bakery Pop Up – les amis du fromage – July 21st
Les amis du fromage’s East Van location at 843 East Hastings is again hosting a Bakery Pop Up this Saturday from Noon to 5:00 pm. Two Bald Bakers will be on hand with fresh bread from Noon until they run out.
Vancouver Bonfire Sessions – Hastings Park Lagoon – July 21st
Jansport presents Bands and Bonfire Under The Night Sky. This is a free event happening in Hastings Park from 6:00 – 10:00 pm this Saturday. To register for the event, visit Eventbrite.
Introduction to Organic Gardening – Hastings Community Centre – July 21st
Village Vancouver is hosting a workshop this Saturday which covers the basics of planning and starting a food garden. Rhiannon Johnson leads the class in which you learn the simple technique of starting a plant indoors and then moving it outdoors into your garden space. The cost is $18 and the reward is fresh veggies. To register, email seasonoffoodhcc@gmail.com or call T: 604.718.6230.
Fiesta With Flamenco Music & Dance – Grandview Park – July 22nd
You are invited to Grandview Park to experience some beautiful flamenco music and dance this Sunday, July 22nd from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. You are encouraged to bring a picnic basket with your favourite things and come down to enjoy the music and dance. This is a free event. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Made In The 604 – Heritage Hall – July 22nd
Made In The 604 is hosting a pop up market this Sunday, July 22nd at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street. As you might expect by the name, locally made products will be available. Tickets are $3.00 at the door with proceeds for admission going to Covenant House BC. This summer market happens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. A couple of fav vendors will be on hand including Sriracha Revolver and Il Fioraio Florist, but there are many new names to us. For a full list of vendors, visit, Made In The 604.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
Looking for live music, David Blair is back from a tour in Europe and performing at Café Deux Soleils this Sunday at 8:00 pm. Cover is $10. For fun and laughs, the Geekenders are hosting The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Rio Theatre Saturday night at 11:15 pm. Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back and it’s Berry Festival this Sunday and we expect that the winner of the BC Berry Pie Bake Off will be announced. Event happens at Dude Chilling Park 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
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What’s On East Van: July 13th Edition
13 Jul
Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some 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.
Greek SummerFest – Boundary & 29th Ave. Until July 15th
Great food, live entertainment and dancing continues this weekend and then it’s done for another year. The Greek Summerfest is happening at Boundary and 29th Avenue. Lots of great talent taking the stage this weekend including Greek sensation Yanni Sahamis and Grupo Asi Somos performing Venezuelan Music. This is an all ages event and admission is free. For more information, visit Greek Summerfest.
Movie In The Park – Collingwood Park – July 13th
Collingwood Community Policing is hosting a free movie in the park event Friday, July 13th. Festivities get underway at 7:00 pm. Movie name not announced, but we expect it to be family friendly.
Adult Nights – Playland – July 13th
Playland Nights continues this Friday Night for the 4th of 6 evening events for the 19+ crowd. There will be beverages, alcoholic and non, midway games, rides, DJs spinning tunes with a definite party theme. New this year is also a burlesque show and the opportunity to test your lumber Jack/Jill skills with axe-throwing which we understand there’s an extra charge to participate in. Tickets are $31 in advance or $34 at the gate.
Eastside Culture Crawl’s 3rd Annual Art, Bike, Beer Crawl– July 14th
This is a fundraiser for the Eastside Culture Crawl Society which does a great job of featuring East Van artists. This event takes you to 4 breweries whether you wish to cycle or walk, your call. Last stop is Strange Fellows Brewing which will be serving light bite as well. To get your ticket, visit Eventbrite.
Miqayel Voskanyan & Friends – The Cultch – July 14th
Miqayel Voskanyan and Friends will be performing at The Cultch this Saturday. This is an ethno-jazz and folk band based in Yerevan, Armenia. They have introduced jazz to the tar (a folk instrument used across the Caucasus and Iran), which we’ve learnt makes them stand out with a fresh, modern sound in world music. This is a new genre of music that fuses old and new. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and available at The Cultch.
RecycleFest – Trout Lake – July 14th
You are invited to stop by RecycleFest this Saturday at Trout Lake from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm with your unwanted or broken small appliances and power tools. While there, enjoy free food, music, games and prizes and learn a little about recycling.
Weiner Dog Races – Hastings Racecourse – July 14th & 15th
Hastings Racecourse presents their Dog Days of Summer event, the very popular Weiner Dog Races. Along with the races, there will be food trucks, craft beer and live music and we hope some shade and cooling mats for the hot dogs. Event happens both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. First race each day is at 1:50 pm.
Summer Series At Grandview Park – July 15th
The Commercial Drive Business Society is hosting a free family event at Grandview Park (Commercial Drive at Charles Street). You are invited to stop by between 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm for Zumba on the main stage, face painting, balloon twisting and more.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
Looking for live music? Breaking Boundaries is back at Cafe Deux Soleils on the Drive this Saturday night. If you are looking for comedy, East Van Improv League hangs out at Havana Theatre Sunday nights at 8:00 pm. Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back at Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
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What’s On East Van: July 6th Edition
6 Jul
Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some 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.
Vancouver’s Greek Summerfest – Boundary & 29th Ave – July 5-15
Great food, live entertainment and dancing for 11 days at this summer festival. The Greek Summerfest is back at Boundary and 29th Avenue. Jim Byrnes and Gotta Be George Michael will be two of the performers over the course of the festival. This is an all ages event and admission is free. For more information, visit Greek Summerfest.
Plant Club With Wine – Figaro’s Garden – July 6th
The first Friday of the month, Figaro’s Garden Centre on Victoria Drive is hosting Plant Club. Stop by for a glass of wine and as they say ‘geek out on plants together’. To chat about all things plants, get some tips, stop by between 3:30 – 5:30 pm this Friday.
Adult Nights – Playland – July 6th
Playland Nights continues this Friday Night for the 3rd of 6 evening events for the 19+ crowd. There will be beverages, alcoholic and non, midway games, rides, DJs spinning tunes with a definite party theme. New this year is also a burlesque show and the opportunity to test your lumber Jack/Jill skills with axe-throwing which we understand there’s an extra charge to participate in. Tickets are $31 in advance or $34 at the gate.
Bakery Pop Up – les amis du fromage – July 7th
Les amis du fromage is hosting another Bakery Pop Up Shop this Saturday, July 7th. Ritchie’s Bakery will be on site at their East Van location at 843 East Hastings Street from Noon – 5:00 pm this Saturday or until they sell out. Ritchie’s Bakery specializes in artisanal breads and pastries.
Compost Workshop – Riley Park Community Garden – July 7th
You are invited to stop by and learn about composting by Master Composter Angela Hoy this Saturday at Riley Park Community Garden. They will be building new compost bins for the season. Workshop happens from 1:00 – 2:00 pm in Riley Park Community Garden at 30th & Ontario Street.
Sweet Peanut Sample Sale – Little Mountain Shop – July 7th & 8th
Local kids clothing company, Sweet Peanut, is hosting a warehouse sale at Little Mountain Pop Shop at 4386 Main Street this weekend. All pieces $10. Sizes are newborn to 12. Open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday & Saturday.
Mini Car Free Day – Commercial Street Village – July 8th
The local businesses that comprise the 3400 – 3500 block Commercial Street are hosting a Mini Car Free Day this Sunday from Noon to 4:30 pm. There will be chainsaw carving, live music, kids t-shirt giveaway, giant Genga game, street art, rummage sale, chocolate tasting, bike repair as well as an electric bike demo and a whole lot more.
Car Free Day – Commercial Drive – July 8th
Vancouver’s original Car Free Day kicks off at Noon this Sunday and will run for 15 blocks along Commercial Drive. There will be live entertainment, local artisans and activities for all ages and of course great food. If you are travelling by bike and wish to store it while you wander, BEST Bike Valet will be on hand. Event runs till 7:00 pm.
Pre-Launch Narcoleap – Rio Theatre – July 9th
You are invited to an exclusive pre-launch screening of NarcoLeap at the Rio Theatre Monday, July 9th. They will be screening all 8 episodes of this Sci-Fi Thriller Web Series. Doors open at 6:00 pm as does the bar. Screening gets under way at 7:00 pm. It’s free, but of course the bar Is not. Q & A follows the screening.
Street Photography Exhibit – Meet Me At The Lamp(p)ost Until July 10th
Massy Books located at 229 East Georgia Street in Chinatown has a sweet gallery upstairs. It’s currently hosting two self-taught lens based artists. They are Irish-born, Canadian residents Laura Noonan and Tara Mary Paget, through place-specific street photography, Meet me at the Lamp(p)ost. The exhibit promotes contentment in self and place. Laura and Tara founded Meet me at the Lamp(p)ost in 2016. You can view their exhibit until July 10, 2018 during regular hours, being 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Wednesday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Thursday to Sunday.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
If you are looking for comedy, East Van Improv League hangs out at Havana Theatre Sunday nights at 8:00 pm. If you need a laugh once your week gets started, Graham Clark hangs out at Havana Theatre Monday nights with his Laugh Gallery which kicks off at 9:00 pm. Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back at Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
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New In Town: Nada Grocery Vancouver’s First Zero Waste Grocery Store Is Now Open
4 Jul
We recently stopped in to check out the new Nada Grocery located at 675 East Broadway at Fraser Street. This is a bright open space that’s still getting stocked up, but they are up and running and although a new store, the creators have been running pop up stores around town for some time garnering support and testing their vision.
The store is well laid out and you won’t find plastic, unless you bring it to re-use which is encouraged. So you can bring your own containers or bags to use or re-use, but if you forget and want to pop in, they have a chest full of free containers such as empty yogurt tubs available for you to use. As well, you can find new jars available for purchase as well as cloth bags, all which of course you can re-use on future visits and just refill which of course is the aim of the store.
There are, as you might expect lots of items available to buy bulk including teas, spices, herbs, crackers, candies, rice, legumes to name a few items. There is also lots of fresh produce and bread on hand as well as eggs. Everything is well marked, but staff are always around to assist and answer any questions. They have some favourite local producers already on the shelf including Avalon Dairy and Earnest Ice Cream. The deli section is in the process of getting set up, so more additions are coming. There are of course personal hygiene items such as soaps, bulk cleaning liquids for the home. If you are on the hunt for stainless steel straws, they have a stash on hand as well as the cleaners for them. Nada Grocery has a great tap and weigh and tap and pay systems set up for returning customers. Ask in store for them to give you the rundown, or visit How It Works on their website.
As one that recently cut back on the use of soft plastics and diligently recycled what packaging collected over the course of one month, you’d be surprised how much you can accumulate. We certainly were. That’s one household, so if take even 100 people doing the same thing, it’s a big impact on our local environment. So we are 100% behind this concept store and encourage everyone to stop by and check it out and support this space.
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Car Free Day On Commercial Drive & Commercial Street Village Sunday, July 8th
3 Jul
Two Car Free Days are happening this Sunday, July 8th. First up is:
Car Free Day On Commercial Drive: Noon – 7:00 pm
The street festival which stretches 15 blocks along Commercial Drive will have at least 3 stages set up for entertainment. Local artisans will be on hand, there will be activities for all ages and of course great food. If you hadn’t heard, Car Free started on The Drive, so they have this event nailed down and will be continuing to promote car free spaces and green living within the community. Note, buses will be rerouted for the day along Commercial Drive, but there will be lots of easy access to the event by bus and Skytrain. If you are travelling by bike and wish to store it while you wander, BEST Bike Valet will be on hand. Event kicks off at Noon and goes till 7:00 pm.
Car Free Day On Commercial Street Village: Noon – 4:30 pm
The local businesses that comprise the 3400 – 3500 block Commercial Street are hosting a Mini Car Free Day this Sunday alongside the event on Commercial Drive. They have lots of fun stuff lined up including chainsaw carving by Jesse Toso of Toso Wood Gallery, live music, kids t-shirt giveaway, giant Genga game, street art, rummage sale, chocolate tasting, bike repair as well as an electric bike demo and a whole lot more. They are asking those that attend to help make this a zero waste event. This is a first time event for this group, so they are running a shorter event from Noon – 4:30 pm. Stop by and support some great local businesses tucked away on Commercial Street.
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Meet Me At The Lamp(p)ost: Exhibit of East Vancouver Street Photography At Massy Books
2 Jul
Massy Books 100% Indigenous owned and operated business that recently moved to 229 East Georgia Street in Chinatown. They have a great selection of rare and off beat books alongside best sellers. We recently learnt they also have a great gallery upstairs. It is currently featuring a collaborative collection of street photography that celebrates the artistry and grit of East Vancouver while capturing stillness in a world full of transient moments.
The exhibit is presented by Irish-born, Canadian residents Laura Noonan and Tara Mary Paget, through place-specific street photography, Meet me at the Lamp(p)ost revolves around the present and promotes contentment in self and place. Laura and Tara founded Meet me at the Lamp(p)ost in 2016, they are self-taught lens-based artists, focused predominately on exploring the landscape, people and architecture that make up East Vancouver. They chose Massy Books as a place to display their work for its quirky and artsy nature and its community space that enables people to connect. Meet Me At The Lamp(p)post is on now until July 10, 2018 during regular hours, being 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Wednesday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Thursday to Sunday. Stop by and check out how they see East Vancouver.
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Mari Omori Intuitive Providing Spiritual Guidance & Inner Wellness
26 Jun
We love featuring what makes East Van unique and over the next while we will be featuring more people who reside in East Van or work in East Van. Today, we would like to introduce you to Mari Omori. Mari is an intuitive, psychic medium and Reiki Master who provides people with spiritual guidance. We have met Mari on a number of occasions and have attended her workshops. What stood out to us about Mari from the beginning is her genuine sincerity and desire to help people feel connected to something bigger than themselves. Whether you call it your intuition, spirit guide, inner voice, or a loved one that has passed trying to provide you with some direction that’s personal to you. Mari is here to help and connect people with that voice inside you to help guide you on your path in life. What is a little different about Mari compared to some psychics and mediums you may have seen on TV, is that Mari is rather introverted and shy. It is unlikely you will ever see her seeking the lime light. She prefers an intimate setting with a small group of people seeking to expand their knowledge about things they may not understand about the world around us. This environment is where Mari does her best work.
Mari has been an intuitive since the age of 4 and has honed her skills over the years. We first became aware of her when she found herself on the front page of the Vancouver Courier on September 6, 2016. Our curiosity was piqued from a variety of events that had transpired over the years that had kicked up a notch in frequency. We were keen to delve a little deeper into things we didn’t know or understand. This wasn’t our first experience with a psychic and/or intuitive, but Mari’s gentle spirit lends easily to trusting her. Mari regularly offers Psychic Development Circles in sessions with small groups for a reasonable cost. It is a great opportunity test the waters. If you prefer privacy, Mari also offers one-on-one sessions. Come with an open mind and you might be surprised what you come away with.
Mari offers her workshops at HeartQuest Holistic Wellness located in the Il Mercato building on Commercial Drive. On many Saturdays you will find her leading psychic development circles and/or workshops as well as smudge fan workshops and more recently animal communication. We are quite taken with the smudge fans that Mari has created. She ensures that the majority of the materials are ethically sourced. These feathers used in her smudge fans are cruelty-free, naturally molted feathers or naturally fallen feathers from bird sanctuaries and from people’s pets. They are really nothing short of stunning. You can find them available for sale online at Etsy under The Secret Woods or locally in Banyen Books, The Oracle, Reflections Books, and Mountain Gems. For those not familiar with the purpose of smudging, it is an ancient ceremony in which you burn sacred plants, such as sage, to allow the smoke to clear negativity, stagnation or energetic disturbances around you or the space you reside or work in.
Recently Mari has been focusing energy on animal communication. She has a fondness and love for all creatures of the earth and her work has shifted with working on dogs and cats more. Mari also offers workshops in Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese word that translates to “Universal Life Force Energy”. A Reiki practitioner can access this energy and flow to assist in healing whether distance or in person. As Mari states “We are all energy, and it can become out of balance. One of the reasons energy becomes out of balance, is when we have negative thought patterns creating energy blocks. This can manifest in our body as illnesses or discomfort. Reiki can help by removing the energy blocks allowing energy to flow throughout your body again.” Reiki is well-known to be effective in stress reduction and relaxation, thus boosting the immune system and promoting a sense of well-being. Honestly, couldn’t we all benefit a little from that.
Whether you are interested in Reiki, animal communication, psychic development, smudge fans or connecting with your intuition, we invite you to check out some of Mari’s upcoming classes on Eventbrite. You can also find Mari on Instagram and Facebook where she posts regularly.
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Intro To Wine Tasting At Everything Wine June 28, 2018
25 Jun
Have you checked out the still relatively new Everything Wine store in SE Vancouver? If you haven’t, you are missing out. Everyone we’ve introduced the store to gets excited. It’s unique in that, unlike its other stores, this Everything Wine location carries more than wine. It’s quite a large store that carries beer, wine and spirits and yes, has a cooler section for those hot days. They also have a selection of rotating wines at their Tasting Bar which is open every day from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. All the staff we’ve encountered are very knowledgeable which leads us to their upcoming Intro To Wine Tasting happening this Thursday, June 28th. We recently attended a Sparkling Wine Workshop taught by Kris Pazma. We have to say it was fun, educational and delish. Kris is hosting another class this Thursday at the Vancouver location from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. In this workshop Intro to Wine Tasting, Kris will help you how to describe the aromas of the grapes you like so when you go into a liquor store to buy wine, you will leave with something you’ll definitely like. Cost of the workshop is $25.00. To register, call 604.416.1672 to reserve your spot. Last we heard, there were only a few spots left.
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