Got Craft is back for the upcoming holiday season that is just around the corner. Got Craft will be hosting an in person market for 2 days at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3350 Commercial Drive, on Saturday, November 19th and Sunday, November 20th. from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The market will feature 95 local makers and small shops, a mini makers area with kidpreneurs aged 5-13 years old, plus food carts by Nami Vietnamese and the Brownie Bakers. You can expect to find a wide variety of items perfect for gift giving including clothing, fashion accessories, bath & body products, home goods, greeting cards, jewellery, food & drink, ceramics, art prints and much more. Tickets for the market are $5 and available online. Kids aged 12 and under are free. For those that aren’t able to shop in person, Got Craft is also hosting a Holiday Virtual Market from Wednesday, November 16th to Sunday, November 27th. Visit Got Craft Holiday Virtual Market for more details.
First Pick Handmade is back at the Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, on Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th. The Fall Pop Up Sale features fashions for you and the home. There will be a wide range of high quality Canadian designs. For this Fall Show, you can also expect to find size inclusive and gender-neutral designs for all body types.
Some of the designers on hand including Givers and Takers Clothing, Jessica Redditt Designs, Kate & Francis, Uni Design, Winterluxe Recycled Cashmere, Joanna Lovett Sterling, Zula Jewelry + Design, art by Lydia Cecilia and Sola Fiedler as well as skin care and beauty products by Conscious Care. Whether you are looking for something for your home, for yourself, or as a gift, there will be lots to choose from with all of this talent under one roof. Stop by and check it out between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm September 24th and 25th. Admission is $3.00 at the door or online.
Gourmet Warehouse has added more cooking classes to their Fall season which includes one for those interested in mastering the art of making cocktails. If you haven’t already experienced one of their classes, it is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with some like-minded food lovers. If you have participated, you know it’s a great way to pick up some knowledge and some great tips in the kitchen. Added bonus is after each cooking class all the participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. We have set a few of their upcoming classes that caught our eye. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes.
The Flavours of Peru – October 18, 2022
You are invited to take a journey and experience the flavours of Peru with local chef Shelome Bouvette. She will be showcasing classic Peruvian comfort food with a contemporary twist. Chef Shelome has expertise from such infamous restaurants Lolita’s and CHICHA. If you’ve been to either, you know it’s going to be good. Menu for the evening will be:
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• Chicha Morada – Traditional spiced purple corn drink • Peruvian Ceviche – Classico – seasonal white fish, poached yam, Peruvian cancha corn, sweet corn, salsa criolla, aji amarillo chili, citrus broth. •Causa del Cangrejo – Peruvian aji amarillo chili, whipped & chilled potato, layered with Dungeness crab, mango, avocado,topped with cherry tomato corn salsa and poached local prawns • Locra de Zapallo Empanadas – Corn, kale, potato, cheese and Aji Amarillo butternut squash empanadas, lime crema • Picarones – Peruvian sweet potato donuts with spiced honey and pisco raspberry sauce
Pasta Like A Pro: Italiano Classico – October 19, 2022
Do you love fresh pasta, but think it’s too difficult to make in your own kitchen? Think again! Chef Deniz will show you how to mix, roll, shape, and cook fresh pasta. You’ll learn how to make ricotta gnudi, tortellini, and traditional egg noodles, along with simply delicious sauces to pair with each! We’ve set out the delicious menu:
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• Autumn Salad of Roasted Squash with Marinated Apples, Goat Cheese, Aged Balsamic Dressing, Fall Greens • Tortellini With Mortadella and Parmesan in Cream Sauce • Traditional Egg Noodles with Sunday Ragu • Vanilla Gelato with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
Intro Into Cookie Decorating: Fall Favourites – October 23, 2022
Chef Lizzy Wong from Butter Baked Goods is back to guide you through an array of colourfully decorated seasonal cookies using classic Royal Icing Techniques on sugar cookies. You will learn about consistencies, colouring and piping techniques along with some advanced techniques to wow a few people with your new skills. Each attendee from this class will leave with delicious cookies to take home. Here’s whats on the menu for this class:
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• Cherry Pie Cookies • Warm Sweaters • Ripe Pumpkins
To see all the classes being offered and or to register, we invite you to visit GourmetWarehouse.ca.
Vancouver Farmers Markets is back for the summer season which means the return of the ever popular Trout Lake Farmers Market. This market which takes place in John Hendry Park is now under way every Saturday until October 29th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Riley Park Farmers Market continues every Saturday near Nat Bailey Stadium until October 29th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Another favourite is the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market which opens Sunday May 22nd and continues every Sunday until October 30th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We’ve set out below the markets taking place in East Van. To see a full listing of Vancouver Farmer Markets, visit eatlocal.org.
Trout Lake Famers Market 13th Ave & Lakewood Drive Saturdays 9:00 am – 2:00 pm April 23, 2022 – October 29, 2022
Riley Park Farmers Market 50 East 30th Avenue & Ontario Street Saturdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm April 23, 2022 – October 29, 2022
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market 8th Avenue & Guelph Street Sundays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm May 22, 2022 – October 30, 2022
Main Street Farmers Market Still Closed For Construction
Got Craft celebrates its 15th year in Vancouver as one of BC’s largest curated markets featuring makers, designers and small shops. They will be hosting their next event Saturday May 7th and Sunday May 8th at the Croatian Cultural Centre from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The event is just in time for Mother’s Day and features 80 independent makers and small business.
What can you expect to find at Got Craft? Some of the goods you can find include ceramics, clothing, bath + body goods, jewelry, food + beverage, homewares, greeting cards, art along with a mini maker area with kidpreneurs aged 5-13 years old. You can also expect food carts to be on site if get hungry while shopping. Advance tickets are available online for $5 which also gets you an opportunity to win a handmade prize pack. Kids 12 and under are free. To learn more about all the vendors on hand, or to grab your advance ticket(s), visit Got Craft.
If you missed the recent artisan markets and craft fairs, there’s still lots of opportunities to support local makers. We are setting out some of our favourite shops that carry a wide range of items that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season. If you haven’t already visited them, check them out in person, or visit them online.
Second Nature Home is a home décor boutique located at 3565 Commercial Street in Cedar Cottage. The store has a wide range of items outside of home décor including jewellery, gifts for the foodie in your life, something cute for the new baby or new mom and much more. They usually have extended hours running up to Christmas. Be sure to pay them a visit.
Plenty + Spare is located at 2168 East Hastings Street. It’s easy to miss by the smells of the bakery next door like will like you draw you to them, but do stop into Plenty + Spare. The have an array of beautiful handmade bath and beauty products along with other gift items brought in for the holiday season.
Giving Gifts is a very cool space located at 4570 Main Street. The store tucked between 30th & 29th Avenue is made of up 5 rooms packed with items from 100 local as well as fair trade artists from around the world. It is a gift giving boutique so you will easily be able to pick up a few gifts for just about any age.
Jackson’s General Store located at 1490 Kingsway (at Dumfries) near Knight Street. This space is the epitome of cool with a distinct retro vibe. Store owner, Mike Jackson, has created an eclectic mix of unique items in store which features clothing, gourmet food, books and if you are looking for a candy fix that is a blast from the past, this is your spot.
The Coast Goods is a sweet shop nestled away in the heart of the residential area at 1302 Victoria Drive. This is great neighbourhood shop that focuses on ethically sourced home decor and giftware again supporting our local independent artisans. Be sure to check them out and give them a follow on Instagram.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention this beautiful shop located at 4391 Main Street. They have an amazing array of home decor items and lots of great things on hand for gift giving. They feature local as well as international artists.
Why it’s important to shop local: For every $100 you spend with a local business, $46 is re-circulated back into the BC economy (vs $18 for multi nationals). Small business re-circulates 2.6 times more revenue in the local economy as do chains.
If you didn’t get a chance to hit the Eastside Culture Crawl this past November, don’t fret! This coming Saturday there’s a chance to ditch the heavy crowds from last month and hit the Mergatroid Open House. When it comes to East Vancouver’s art scene many think of the iconic Parker Street building. However, the Mergatroid building across the street also hosts a variety of local talent, from ceramicists to glassblowers and now here’s your (second) chance to see their open studios and do some of last-minute Christmas shopping. With the amount of artisans opening up their studio spaces this weekend, there is bound to be a gift for everyone still on your list. We’ve set out below which studios will be open to visitors this Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Mergatroid, 975 Vernon Drive.
Glassware:
Glassblowers make up the heart of the Mergatroid building. Attached to Terminal City Glass Coop, this building houses a variety of different glassblowers, all having unique techniques and skillsets. Find Dougherty Glassworks, Maria Ida Designs, Scott Mcdougall and Felicia Vandenboogaard in #259 where they’ll be hosting their iconic “seconds sale” – a great chance to find those unique gifts that no one else has, at a discounted price.
Ceramics:
Who doesn’t love receiving pottery as a gift? Find Eikam Ceramics, a Vancouver favourite when it comes to ceramic décor and tableware. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind ceramic piece, visit Firebelly Clayworks at #230 for unique but functional sculptural bowls, teapots and mugs.
Textiles & Fashion:
Are you looking gift for that trendsetter in your life? Check out Bronsino’s handcrafted and bespoke leather bags and accessories. Find their workshop at #225 in the Mergatroid Building. For gifts for someone that loves the West Coast, visit Bettina Matzkuhn at #235 for her embroidered landscapes and cartography inspired pieces.
We are excited to share a new and rather unique collaboration for all the dog lovers. Are you crafty with the sewing machine, or want to learn how to be? ILiveInEastVan is collaborating with ScouterWear, Our Social Fabric and Pets & Friends to provide you with the opportunity to create your own custom dog coats featuring the new reflective LiveInEastVan patch.
If you are a dog lover and have tried to purchase a dog coat off the shelf, you will often find that the fit isn’t quite right. It’s a bit like goldilocks and the 3 bears, this one is too big, this one is too small, but we have solution for a fit that’s just right.
Jill Bartlett, the founder of ScouterWear, has been creating custom dog coats for over 5 years now. Jill soon realized the demand for her custom fit dog coats was high. She put her extensive design and eLearning background to work and launched SewReady Maker Kits. These kits include everything you need to make your own custom fitting dog coat. This gives you the satisfaction of creating something special with your own hands for your furry best friend. Add to that, it’s also a perfectly custom-fit coat that can be worn for years to come.
ILiveInEastVan is providing new custom reflective patches for the ILiveInEastVan SewReady Maker Kits. Our Social Fabric, a local non profit fabric stores that sells donated fabrics to keep out of the landfill, has offered generous discounts on the fabrics for the SewReady Maker Kits. Then we have the amazing organization Pets & Friends which is a local non profit that promotes the healing comfort and companionship of animals through therapy visits in hospitals, care facilities and universities since 1982. Pets & Friends will be receiving 10% of the sale proceeds of all ILiveInEastVan SewReady Maker Kits.
If you already have a dog coat and wish to purchase only the new reflective ILiveInEastVan patch to iron on, or sew on, you can purchase them online in our Etsy Shop – ILiveInEastVan. Are you ready to purchase your ILiveInEastVan SewReady Maker Kit for yourself, or a friend? We invite you to visit ScouterWear to make your online purchase.
Shopping local has taken on greater meaning during the pandemic for a number reasons and people are embracing it wholeheartedly which is great to see. There are so many great opportunities to support local with gift giving this holiday season. We are highlighting below some of our great local finds under $75 which are perfect for gift giving this holiday season.
Swiss Bakery, 143 East 3rd Avenue, is a beloved Mount Pleasant destination and long standing business in the community. This year they are offering a Santa Stops Here Gift Box that includes:
1 Stollen (without marzipan) 2 Gingerbread Man and Woman 1 Just Tea Tin 1 Christmas Cookies Pack
Attending Christmas dinner where someone else is doing all the cooking? What a perfect hostess gift to bring. Visit Swiss Bakery to order online. Curbside pick up and delivery is available.
If you are looking for a unique sustainable gift that will last for years to come, consider these wooden lit stars handcrafted by Johnny Defazio of Roman & Ash Design. This star pictured is $60 with lights included. Should you wish a different design or shape say a Christmas tree, Johnny does custom work as well. Feel free to contact him directly via Instagram @johnny_defazio.
Local distiller Odd Society Spirits is offering a number of delectable cocktail kits perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Some of the selection includes Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit for $50 using their Commodore Single Malt Whiskey, or there’s the Thornton Park Cocktail Kit using their Wallflower Gin and Crème de Cassis for $58 as well as the Modern Hound Kit using their East Van Vodka for $34. These are just a few, to see all the cocktail kits, visit them at Odd Society Spirits. Curbside pick up is available.
Have a cheese lover in your life? If so, check out the Classic Cheesemonger Gift Box from les amis du FROMAGE which includes 3 pieces of cheese, a Divina Orange Fig preserve and Carr’s crackers. You have the option to add more cheese and characuterie if you wish. Visit them only to place your order to see all the delish options.
We would be remiss if we didn’t include our ILiveInEastVan totes in the mix. Available online for delivery or curbside pick up. Prices range from $30 – $35. You can visit our Etsy Shop online and while there, check out the new ILiveInEastVan reflective patches that can be sewn on or ironed on to whatever you choose for $12.50. They make a great stocking stuffer.
We love East Van Jam anytime of the year for their more love, less sugar frame of mind. We are also big fans of edible gifts and what a perfect hostess or holiday gift this season than a mini set of delish spreads with a variety of flavours and unique names. Made locally with BC produce, how much more local can you get? This set is available online from a favourite gift shop, Plenty + Spare in Hastings Sunrise.
The 7th Annual City Crow Calendar 2022 Edition by June Hunter is now available for sale online for $25. Not only does one get the crow photographs, but also 12 months of crow stories, crow facts and smaller crow photos tucked in among spaces between dates in the calendar. Each month reveals new little crow surprises. Heads up this does sell out every year, so if interested in picking this item up, best be quick.
We recently had the pleasure of coming across a delish new business Two Brothers Toffee that landed in East Van this past September. Not only do they make some amazing toffee with a range of delicious flavours, the story behind it is inspirational.
Two Brothers Toffee was created by 3 partners Nicholas, The Inventor, Dominic – The Innovator and Nastasia – The Taste Tester. In 2005, Nicholas Genova created his first batch of classic almond toffee which he worked on perfecting and selling over the next 15 years while also donating proceeds to charity. This was all while working in law enforcement which he still does to this day.
Dominic and Nastasia Genova left the hustle and bustle of corporate jobs after Nastasia went through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. They wanted more balance in their life and made the decision to create a family company. In 2019, Dominic worked with Nicholas’s classic almond toffee to create new possibilities and flavours. With no formal training, Dominic learned the craft and created truly unique flavours including White Cranberry Toffee and Chai Toffee. Some other flavours that caught our attention were Espresso Toffee, Cherry Toffee, Fireball Toffee which is in a class by itself. A must try! For those seeking vegan options, those are available as well, so there’s something for everyone.
Not only does Two Brothers Toffee make some absolutely delicious toffee, they are very focused on making a positive impact in their community and giving back to those in need. They do this by supporting a number of local organizations, but also by providing their toffee just to brighten someone’s day who is struggling through a challenging time. Two Brothers Toffee does not have a storefront at this time, but all of their products are available online and they are fulfilling orders quickly for the holiday season. If you happen to be making your way to the North Shore to see any of the local sights or lights, they will be Ambleside Holiday Market in West Vancouver on Saturday, December 4, 11, 18, 2021 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. If you wish to purchase in person, you can find some of their products at Vegan Supply and if you wish to do some holiday baking, check out their recipe for OOEY GOOEY SMORES SQUARES TOFFEE. We bet this will soon become a family favourite.
This holiday season, you can satisfy your sweet tooth while at the same time giving back. We invite you to visit Two Brothers Toffee online to see their full selection and join us in supporting local business.
ILiveInEastVan.com 