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Whiskey Pairing Dinner At Fets Whiskey Kitchen February 21st

15 Feb

whiskeydenisedochertyIf you love whisky, you may wish to check out the Whiskey Pairing Dinner being held at Fets Whiskey Kitchen Tuesday, February 21st.  Marcio Ramos, a brand ambassador for Beam Global, will take you on tasting tour of three of Scotland’s whiskey regions.  Fets Whiskey Kitchen will be pairing 5 delish delishes with 5 whiskies from 4 distilleries.  Cost for the event is $85 and there are only 25 spots. To get your ticket, check out the online registration at Fets Whiskey Kitchen.

Photo Credit: Denise Docherty

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Disney On The Drive February 19th At Café Deux Soleils

13 Feb

disneyonthedriveYou are invited to a family friendly event at Café Deux Soleils on Sunday, February 19th called Disney On The Drive. A group of local artists will be featuring songs from popular Disney movies like Let It Go from Frozen and Kiss The Girl from The Little Mermaid. Some of the artists performing at this event include Julia Spitale, Shera Kelly, Michael Averill, Joseph Spitale, Ross Christopher Fairbairn and Matt Langill.  Cover is $5-10, but we hear no one will be turned away for lack of funds.  The show kicks off at 7:00 pm and although it may be a bit late for some very young children, kids of all ages are welcome.

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For The Love Of Craft Beer Tour is Back For Valentine’s Day

3 Feb

fortheloveofcraftbeerDo you love beer? Have a partner that loves beer? Not yet made plans for Valentine’s Day? The good folks  at Vancouver Brewery Tours have a fun event for you. Their popular For The Love of Craft Beer Tour is back for Valentine’s Day which in case you missed it falls on a weekday this year, Tuesday, February 14th. One of their knowledgeable guides will tour you to 3 breweries starting with Brassneck Brewery. Next up you will head over to Storm Brewing where we hear they have some special Valentine’s Day-themed brainstorm beers.  After that, your guide will take you to Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery for beer tasting and dinner. The tour guides are filled with fun facts about the Vancouver beer scene, so bring any questions and your thirst.  This tour runs from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Cost is $89.99 per person. If you are not a beer lover, or don’t drink alcohol, but wish to go with someone that does, ticket cost for you is $70.00.  To book your spot, visit Vancouver Brewery Tours. There is limited seating so book quick if you want to share a fun experience on Valentine’s Day.

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Bodegas Lustau Sherry Tasting Experience At Cabrito Tapas February 28th

27 Jan

sherryexperiencecabritotapasDo you love sherry? Granted this libation isn’t for everyone, or maybe it’s just the ones you’ve tried. Either way, if you would like to learn a bit more about sherry, than Cabrito Tapas on The Drive has an event for you.  If you don’t know Cabrito Tapas, well you are missing out, it is a delish spot on the Drive serving Spanish tapas.  On February 28th, they will be hosting their first ever Sherry Experience. They will be featuring 7 different sherries from Bodegas Lustau in Spain. Not only will you get to experience the sherries, but Chef Alex will be pairing them with tapas to highlight both the food and the sherries.  Cost of this event is $75 which includes tax and tip. To register, visit Cabrito Tapas.

Photo Credit: Cabrito Tapas

 

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Fireweed – Art Show & Fundraiser At Bandidas Taqueria On January 20, 2017

18 Jan

fireweedbandidasNo matter what your politics, we respect those that speak up for what they are passionate about. Speaking up is certainly nothing new to East Vancouver residents who are politically minded and do voice their opinions whether it be in a traditional or not so traditional way. Which brings us to an interesting event we stumbled across happening at Bandidas Taqueria on January 20th.  They are hosting an event called Fireweed which is a community art show and fundraiser to raise funds for a “variety of organizations which serve people and environments most vulnerable to policy changes that are likely to result from a Trump presidency.” They have chosen a number of organizations to support including the ACLU, NAACP, Planned Parenthood, League of Conservation Voters and are open to suggestions from the community as they plan to choose 10 in total. If you come for dinner on January 20th, you can vote for which organizations you’d like to see receive funds.  Bandidas Taqueria will be donating 100% of their profits from the sale of food and drinks on January 20th.  They also have a line up of visual artists that will be displaying art in response to the US election.  The art will stay in place for a month after the event in the event you can’t make it out on January 20th.

Outside of the art, there will be lots of great food throughout the day. Being that East Van has some politically minded folks, they are expecting a bit of a wait, so we hear that Hardbite Potato Chips has donated plenty of snacks for those waiting for a table. Plus, lets hope for no rain, as there will be sidewalk chalk so you can turn their front sidewalk into a community art piece. During the evening, there will be musicians and performing artists and 3 DJs spinning tunes. For dessert, you can expect an  Earnest Ice Cream scoop counter from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. All proceeds from ice cream sales will also be donated alongside Bandidas’ profits. If you want to be a part of the event, but don’t have time to sit and eat, you are invited to grab a burrito for take-out. The event runs all day from 9:00 am to 1:00 am so lots of time to stop by and support.

We quite like the symbolism of the name of this event. Fireweed we’ve learnt is a vibrant plant and one of the first species to grow after a forest fire or environmental devastation. Its appearance is one of the first signs of regeneration and rebuilding. Bandidas Taqueria states “We want to act with our community to build hope, defend the marginalized, use our privilege to effect social change, and work towards prevention of further crises. Because we want to focus on regrowth rather than despair, we’ve dubbed the event ‘fireweed.'” If you are interested in having your art displayed or wish to support the event generally, you are invited to contact bandidastacos@gmail.com.

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Learn Something New – Workshops Galore In 2017 In East Van

6 Jan

learningabckrissszkurlatowskiWe are big fans of trying and learning something new. With the New Year, we tend not to make resolutions but instead sign up for a class or workshop. We also start each year with a list of new places to check out whether it be a new coffee shop, brewery or restaurant. In recent months, we’ve learned to make the perfect pie crust with the French sisters at The Pie Shoppe, we also learnt how to make some great new appetizers from Caren McSherry at Gourmet Warehouse and most recently learnt how to make chocolate at The Soap  Dispensary of all places.  We recently featured some DIY classes by The Wood Shop which are now sold out until March, so lots of you are looking for things to do/make yourselves.  With that in mind, we’ve set out a variety of workshops/classes coming up this New Year in case you wish to take a stab at trying something new, or just brushing up on something you haven’t done in a while. There’s lots going on close to home. Here’s some of what we found in and around East Vancouver:

The Uncommon Cafe

The great group at The Uncommon Café in Strathcona regularly has a great line up of classes whether cooking or baking. Their upcoming demonstration cooking classes will help you brush up on your cooking skills whilst enjoy a glass of wine. You do get to try everything that was made. Their next classes include:

Jan. 18: Stock, Soup & Stew – Learn To Do From Scratch
Feb. 5: Eclairs & Cream Puff – Choux Pastry Basics
Feb. 8: Chocolate Lover’s Ultimate Cooking Class
Feb. 14:Valentine’s Couple Cooking Demo & Dinner

Homestead Junction

Homestead Junction continually offers an array of classes all year long. Their aim is to bring self-sufficiency into the mainstream. So whether it’s making your own soap, yogurt, bread or foraging in the woods, they will have interesting classes at reasonable prices.  Some of their upcoming classes include:

Jan. 10: Veggie Based Soaps 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Jan. 22: No-Knead Sourdough – Tartine Style 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Feb. 1: Sea Salt Soaps 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Feb. 9: Salve Making 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Mar. 4: Plant Foraging Walk 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

The Pie Shoppe

The French sisters know how to make the perfect pie crust and they are offering more workshops this January to teach you how to do the same. These are fun informal hands on classes where you can bring your questions. Their new location on Powell Street is a great bright space to work in and they have some great classes lined up including

Jan. 15: The Apple Pie 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Jan. 17: Gluten Free Pie Crust 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Jan. 24: Pastry Fundamentals 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store

If you prefer working with yarn, Baaad Anna’s in the Hastings Sunrise area regularly has a great line of classes on knitting, crocheting, spinning, felting and weaving.  They, of course, also have a great selection of supplies and a wealth of knowledge to share. Some of their upcoming classes include:

Jan. 9: Beginner Knitting
Jan. 10: Beginner Knitting
Jan. 14: Intro to Loom Weaving 9:00 – 11:00 am
Jan. 15: Intro to Crocheting 2:00 – 4:30 pm

Instant Theatre

Interested in learning stand-up, improv or sketch comedy? You may wish to check out Instant Theatre on East Broadway. They regularly offer classes throughout the year and we are quite sure they offer you opportunity to test out your newly acquired skills.

Some other great spots for classes include Tiny Finery if you are interested in jewellery making, Vancouver Tool Library offers classes periodically for the do-it-yourself home projects, The Soap Dispensary has a variety of classes as does Bird On A Wire Creations if you are looking to be crafty.  Note, some of these have not yet posted their offerings for 2017, but do check back with them further into the New Year.

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Tugboat Landing Artisan Market Saturday December 17th

15 Dec

TLAMSideA.pngFor those not familiar with Tugboat Landing, this is a great little community along the Fraser River in SE Vancouver located just below SE Marine Drive.  Many of you may have heard the news about the new River District development, well under way just to the East. Whereas, Tugboat Landing has been a bit of a secret. Many people don’t know about the area, and as one of its many residents, I haven’t minded it all that much.  The community comes, in part, from the geographical layout of the area, as we are a bit cut off from the rest of the City.  Add to that, what keeps us below Marine Drive, are the river walkways on which you can catch daily glimpses of eagles soaring over the Fraser River, hummingbirds flitting about the bushes, the ever present herons and beavers on the edge of the river banks.  Tugboat Landing is situated next to Gladstone Park, which has walking trails that continue into Burnaby and beyond. The river views, nature and wildlife, along with the central location, are the reason many people move, but once here, most don’t leave.   

This weekend, you are invited to come down and experience some of the community that is Tugboat Landing.  They are hosting a smaller, intimate, artisan market on Saturday, December 17th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at 2010 East Kent Avenue (foot of Victoria Drive).  There will be a number of local residents participating including, Jill Bartlett of Cord & Stone, who makes beautiful jewellery crocheted from reclaimed Argentium sterling silver wire, and Deborah Wilkins, with exquisite infused glass pieces.  They’ve invited a number of other local makers to join them in offering some opportunities for gift giving this holiday season including, The Uncommon Good with beautiful wooden Christmas ornaments made from salvaged wood, DiG Leather with handmade leather goods, Pep Soap, with beautiful gift sets, North Bay Candle Co. with great scents like Big Sexy, LuLu Island Honey and Non La Designs with stunning shawls and cowls. Organizers will also be hosting a raffle with a gift basket that includes a number of great offerings donated to raise funds for two charities near and dear to this pet loving community 1) Vancouver BC SPCA and 2) SAINTS Rescue, an end of life sanctuary for senior and special needs animals.  Some of the gracious donations include the new book ‘East Van Foodie’, driftwood coasters made by artisans in Victoria, coffee by The Drive Coffee Bar, a beautiful cowl by Non La Designs, some jewellery by Cord & Stone, and delish macarons by East Van Sweets. There will be hot coffee brewing, sweet treats and a fireplace roaring to keep those brave enough to face the cooler temperatures, warm and toasty. The coffee and treats are available by donation with all proceeds going to the two sponsored charities.

Hope to see you down by the river this Saturday. It’s a great place to walk and take in the river views. If you get hungry, we invite you check out Romer’s Burger Bar within walking distance or a short drive. Or if you are thirsty, stop in at our local brewery, Dogwood Brewing offering BC’s only organic beer. So many reasons to come down to the river.

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Holiday Giftshop In SPACE – Collaborative Workshop December 9 – 21

12 Dec

spaceholidaygiftshop_square-01You are invited to a collaborative workspace and showroom at SPACE, 552 Clark Drive for their 2nd Annual Holiday Giftshop. The event runs from December 9th – December 21st from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.  They will be featuring over 25 local  producers that make a variety of items including art work, leather goods, jewellery, ceramics and much more. Some of the local producers featured include Wasted Effort, By Nature Design, Willow and Stump, Ben Barber Studio, DMR Ceramics, Propellor Design, Nocturnal Workshop, Daly Co., OGA Designs, Pot Inc, Hand and Sew and Shrapnel Design. Pat Christie, Founder of SPACE has created “a playful environment to encourage people to ask questions and interact with products in a new way.”  Their Holiday Giftshop is building momentum for what will soon be a permanent showroom which will have an online store.  To learn more about SPACE and the products featured visit their online showroom.

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The Wood Shop Offers Do It Yourself Classes

7 Dec

reclaimedwoodAre you interested in making a table or storage trunk by hand? Maybe you don’t have the space or tools on hand to tackle that kind of project.  You may wish to check out the upcoming do it yourself classes being offered by The Wood Shop. The Wood Shop crafts one-of-a-kind wood furniture and home decor items out of reclaimed wood in and around Vancouver.  They also offer workshops that help you tackle a wood working project in one day. One upcoming workshop features a Reclaimed Wood Table which is designed to your preferences such as style, height and base.  You will learn how to use a variety of tools and in case you were wondering, no experience is required.  In the second workshop, you will learn how to make a Reclaimed Wood Storage Trunk, again to your design preferences.  Cost of each class is $160 plus materials. Workshops take place at 251 Southern Street in the False Creek Flats near Main & Terminal.  There is availability in their classes for 2017 and gift certificates are available for those that wish to make it a gift for someone this Christmas.  For more information or to register, visit their website at The Wood Shop.

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Giving Local Gifts For The Foodie In Your Life

6 Dec

theeastvanfoodiebookHere at ILiveInEastVan.com, we love food. Whether it’s making it, eating it, or some variation thereof.  In the last few months alone we’ve taken a Pie Making Workshop at The Pie Shoppe, an Appetizer Cooking Class with Caren McSherry at Gourmet Warehouse and most recently a Chocolate Making Workshop at The Soap Dispensary.  We have found a lot more friends and family favouring edible items as gifts whether food, spirits or accessories that compliment cooking, baking or creating delish refreshments at home.  With that in mind, we have set out some gift suggestions for the foodie in your life:

Cookbook – East Van Foodie

We’ve recently had the pleasure of putting our hands on a copy of The East Van Foodie just released mere weeks ago. This beautiful hard cover book is the work of Brad Hill and Chris Dagenais and is part cookbook, but at the same time features great stories about many of the amazing foodie spots in East Van. You will find smoking tips from the folks at The Acorn, the recipe for Pulled Pork Pancakes from The Red Wagon Café and the recipe for Vegan Tinga Tacos from Sal Y Limon. Did you know that Fets Whiskey Kitchen has the largest whiskey collection in Canada and the world’s largest collection of Scotch Malt Whiskey?  This is just one of many interesting tidbits you will find in this book.  We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the stunning photography that accompanies each foodie spot featured. We think this is a great gift for the foodie in your life. The book retails for $44.95 and is available at Chapters Indigo as well as long list of East Van spots including Havana Restaurant, Earnest Ice Cream, Cabrito’s Tapas, Odd Society Spirts, Bomber Brewing, Biercraft, Red Wagon Café, The Cascade Room, Pizza Farina, The Union, ChiCha Restaurant to name but a few.  To see the full list of where it’s available, visit The East Van Foodie online.

Craft Beer

No way we could just skip over craft beer as a gift for the beer lover. So many great breweries to choose from each with their own unique offering, but pretty much all offer growlers, many gift packs with glasses such as our friends at Dogwood Brewing which includes a growler fill in the cost of the gift pack. If you prefer to give the gift of a brewery tour, our friends at Vancouver Brewery Tours have that covered.

French Made Baking

Do you have someone with a sweet tooth in your life?  We wouldn’t pass up an amazing box of French macarons from French Made Baking. Located in Mount Pleasant, French Made Baking has 13 to 18 flavours on hand every day which now include some holiday flavours such  as peppermint dark chocolate, eggnog cream, orange gingerbread and black forest.  They offer beautiful gift boxes in two sizes, one with 6 macarons for $11.00 or a box of 12 macarons for $24.00.  These make a perfect hostess gift, stocking stuffer or thank you.

Gourmet Warehouse

Whether you are looking for stocking stuffers for the cook or baker in your life, or for someone that just loves to eat food, you have lots to choose from at Gourmet Warehouse. The choices can in fact be overwhelming if you don’t know what you have in mind.  If that’s you, Gourmet Warehouse has great gift baskets that they will make and send for you. Prices range from $50 – $175 and can be ordered online and delivered right to the person’s home. We have personally sent The Crates featured in the wooden boxes to rave reviews.

Odd Society Spirits

If you are looking for local spirits to give, we are pretty fond of Odd Society Spirits which has a great selection with their East Van Vodka, Wallflower Gin, Cassis, Bittersweet Vermouth and Oaken Wallflower Gin. During the holidays, we love to serve the cassis with prosecco, an easy cocktail when entertaining.

Sips Cocktail Emporium

Do you have someone that is into the art of making cocktails?  Then you may wish to pop into Sips Cocktail Emporium in Mount Pleasant. They have everything on hand for making the perfect cocktail save for the alcohol. Whether it’s tumblers, glasses, bitters, syrups, cocktail shakers, books with recipes, they have you covered. You can visit them in person at 339 East Broadway, but you can also visit them online at GoodSips.ca.

Japanese Knives

So we’ve learnt quite by accident that when it comes to quality knives in the kitchen, there is great demand and a culture around this art form. This is evidenced by the arrival of two great stores in East Van offering high quality knives. One being, KnifeWear at 4215 Main Street and Ai & Om Knives at 129 East Pender Street in Chinatown.  If you are buying a gift for someone that loves to cook, either of these spots will help you find that perfect knife that will last a lifetime.

Lisa Lou’s Chocolate Bar

Now if you have a chocolate lover in your life, you may wish to check out Lisa Lou’s Chocolate Bar at 1007 Main Street. We hear they have some amazing hot chocolates with flavours such as Salted Caramel, Peppermint, Chai, Dark & Mayan Elixir. We are these would make the perfect stocking stuffer or hostess gift. We’d be happy with any one of these flavours.

Earnest Ice Cream

So if you are looking for cool stocking stuffers, what about artisan ice cream. Yes we know ice cream melts, but thankfully Earnest Ice Cream has gift cards in $5 and $25 denominations.  Something we’d love to find in our stocking. Just pop into either one of their two locations whether Fraser Street or Quebec Street. christmastreevector

These are just a few suggestions, there are of course so many more.  If you wish to give the gift of experience as it relates to food, we invite you to check out our recent feature ‘Giving The Gift of Experience’ which features foodie tours and much more. 

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