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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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Rodney DeCroo Performs At The Cultch Wednesday, May 31st

24 May

LRodney-DeCroo_Cultch_May-31_WEB.pngocal boy, Rodney DeCroo will be bringing some new music and poetry to The Cultch on Wednesday, May 31st.  Rodney has made East Van his home and will be showcasing songs from his new album Old Tenement Man produced by Tonic Records, now his 8th album.  He will also be featuring work from his third poetry book, Next Door To The Butcher Shop published by Nightwood Editions which explores the permeability of memory and uncovers heart-wrenching beauty from shadowy grit.  The Georgia Straight recently featured their Top 50 albums for each year the paper has been published for their 50th Anniversary. Rodney’s album Campfires On The Moon was featured for the year 2015 in which he’s affectionately referred to as the dark prince of East Van.  It takes courage for artists to showcase their dark side and lay it bare for all to hear. We suspect his performance at The Cultch with some special guests will be a memorable evening. .Along with his new album, Rodney will be featuring a new book of poetry entitled Next Door to the Butcher Shop which we understand offers a rare, sharp, first-hand perspective of life around the edges, with dark comedy dispersed throughout.

An excerpt from Next Door To The Butcher Shop

How quickly age
descends on us. Our memories are maps
to places that don’t exist. I was an emperor
on a green lawn wearing a white sheet
and a paper crown. The birds sang my praises
from the hedges and the trees 

The evening will also feature the talents of Geoff Berner and Fraser Mackenzie who join Rodney on stage.   Tickets are $20 and available in advance at The Cultch OR by phone at Telephone: 604-251-1363, or you can purchase tickets at the door $25.

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East Van Extravaganza Saturday May 20, 2017 At The Rio Theatre

17 May

AffordableConcertSeriesIf you are looking for a fun night out, maybe listen to some live music and dance, you may wish to check out this East Van Extravaganza happening Saturday at the Rio Theatre. They are hosting the Affordable Concert Series which consists of a line up of 4 bands, being Disco Funeral with an energetic and electric vibe, then there’s Hard Rock Miners with Hillbilly Party Punk, next up is Rio Samaya with their South American Latin fusion and The Walkins which we hear will get you grinding and grooving.  As this is East Van, this event is come as you are whether it’s your Daytons, Blundstones, Berkinstocks or anything in between, you are invited to come down and get into the groove.  Tickets are a very reasonable $20 in advance or $25 at the door.  If you are organized and plan to go with a group of friends, you can purchase a group pack of 10 tickets for $150.  Note, this event has bar service thus not suitable for minors. Must be 19+. Come get your groove on. To get your tickets in advance, visit Rio Theatre.

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Children Of God At The York Theatre May 17 – June 3, 2017

12 May

ChildrenOfGodThe Cultch, in collaboration with Urban Ink Productions, National Arts Centre English Theatre and Raven Theatre is presenting the world premiere of a powerful new musical Children of God. The show features the children of an Oji-Cree family that are sent to a residential school in Northern Ontario. This is a story of redemption for a mother who was never let past the school’s gate, and her kids, who never knew she came. Children of God offers a blend of ancient traditions and contemporary realities. They will be pulling musical inspiration from Indigenous traditions as well as Broadway hits. This musical is a timely piece that tells the heartbreaking story of the residential schools through the eyes of one Oji-Cree family. Children of God celebrates resilience and the power of the Indigenous cultural spirit. Note this performance does contain swearing and sexual content. Due to the content of the performance, Emotional Support Workers will be available to provide support to audience members who may require it.  The performance takes place at The York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive with previews taking place May 17th and 18th. Opening night is May 19th with the show running until June 3rd. Tickets are available online from The Cultch.

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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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The Berlin Waltz Comes To The Havana Theatre One Night Only April 20th

12 Apr

DevonMoreIf you missed this amazing show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival or more recently at The Cultch, you will have one chance to catch it Thursday, April 20th at The Havana Theatre.  The Berlin Waltz is a one-woman show created by Devon More. She will share with you her tales from a 100 mile pilgrimage through the former border zone of the infamous Berlin Wall. You will hear Devon recount stories told over many glasses of beer and schnapps. Her story will touch on the ripple effects of the Cold War.  The evening includes humour, satire, sock puppets, paranoia, propaganda, slam poetry and live music.  This is not your average history lesson and with all the talk of a ‘wall’ south of the border, this history lesson couldn’t come at a better time.  The show begins at 8:00 pm in the Havana Theatre located in the Havana Restaurant, great spot for a bite before or after the show.  Cost of the show is Pay What You Can.

 What people are saying about the Berlin Waltz:

 “More’s Berlin Waltz stands as a love letter to a city, an intimate encounter between biography and history, and also, a call for action.”
joyfulmagpies.com

 “Devon brings the history of the Cold War to life. … you’ll exit the performance to ruminate on the show’s poignant message about achieving the impossible through the power of people and art.”
Vue Weekly Edmonton 2016

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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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Main Street Vinyl Record Fair XIV At The Heritage Hall November 12 & 13

9 Nov

mainstreetrecordfairLove vinyl? Then you will want to check out the Main Street Vinyl Record Fair happening this weekend. It will be taking place November 12th and 13th at the Heritage Hall from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or trade new and/or used vinyl records, this is certainly the place to be. They will have LPs, 45s, 78s, turntables, vintage audio gear, record storage, over 100 independent vendors which translates to over 100,000 vinyl records available for purchase. They will also have a listening station set up by Thorens Phonograph Company  and of course a DJ spinning the tunes. If you are looking to discover rare records and/or stock up on bargain classics, you just might want to stop by. Admission for this event is $4.00 for adults, kids under 16 years of age are free.

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What It Is! CD Release Party November 11th At Notional Space

8 Nov

WhatItIs!PhotoIf you have not listened to the very talented sound of East Van’s What It Is!, then you are truly missing out. If you don’t know this group, it consists of four amazing East Van ladies, being Mebrat “Mimi” Beyene, Cass King, Patti Powell and Carol Wiedemann.  Together they are a powerhouse of a cappella soul. Their sound is steeped in the soulful sounds of such greats as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Etta James.  These ladies bring heart to their East Van Soul and this Friday, you are invited to their CD Release Party which takes place at Notional Space, 1523 East Pender Street.  Tickets for the event are $15 or $25 if you wish to purchase a copy of their new CD.   Tickets are available online through Eventbrite. Doors open at 7:30 pm and show begins at 8:00 pm. 

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The Elephant Wrestler Comes To The Cultch November 1 – 5

26 Oct

elephantwrestlerlantern-robertcattoThe Cultch and Diwali Fest present the Canadian premiere of the award-winning  Elephant Wrestler at the Historic Theatre at The Cultch. The show has been earning rave reviews in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the U.S.  Indian Ink Theatre Company will be displaying their theatrical muscle in a tale bristling with mischief, mayhem, and the maddening magic of India. The story is inspired by a traditional Indian fairy tale in which The Elephant Wrestler follows a poor ‘chai-wallah’ (tea-seller) as he attempts to solve the interwoven mysteries of true love, tragedy and joy.  Kutisar is a dubious spiritual guide that is also a buck-toothed chameleon, channeling seventeen characters and leaping to multiple locations.  You can expect a romantic thriller which will dispense a unique brand of mystical wisdom add in some absurdity.  Expect to laugh, cry and be entertained as we hear the live soundtrack provided by his mute sidekick, Dave, is pretty amazing.  The show runs from November 1st to November 5th. Tickets are available online from The Cultch and start from $20.

What people are saying about The Elephant Wrestler:

“Rajan’s performance is a mesmerizing blend of showmanship and
charisma…impressive is the show’s bittersweet humour…
special mention must go to David Ward’s musical accompaniment” –
New Zealand Herald

 “Flawless…cleverly constructed, full of melodramatic
twists and humourous asides”
Sydney Morning Herald

“Sheer brilliance…a joy to behold”
Dominion Post

“Nothing short of genius” 
Time Out Singapore

Photo Credit: Robert Catto

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