Archive | Uncategorized RSS feed for this section

Upcoming All Candidates Meetings Parks Board – East Van Votes

24 Sep

EastVanVotes2018
Green and community spaces are important components in our City for the physical well being and mental health of all residents.  Thus, why we encourage you to attend one of the upcoming all candidate meetings being held at our local community centres. You are invited to stop by and chat with those running for Parks Board who represent you, your wishes and concerns.  Have your say as to what’s important to you in your community. We’ve set out below some of the upcoming sessions we are aware of.  We’ve included a poster created by Britannia Community Centre which features some other upcoming sessions with school board candidates as well as mayoral and council candidates for those interested in attending those sessions.

Saturday, September 29th– 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 7:00 pm
Trout Lake Community 3360 Victoria Drive

Friday, October 12, 2018 – 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer Street 


Be engaged, get out and vote.
Early voting starts October 10th.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Make It! 10 Year Anniversary Market At The Croatian Cultural Centre September 21st and 22nd

19 Sep

MakeItSeptember2018Make It! has been part of the handmade revolution for the last 10 years in Vancouver.  As such, they are celebrating with a throwback style Make It! at the Croatian Cultural Centre this Friday & Saturday.   You can expect to find many local makers including a few of our favourites: Beth & Olivia, Sarah Mulder Jewellery, The Lemon Square, The Branch and Vine and East Van’s Sriracha Revolver. As this event kicks off on Friday night, you will also find a bar with $5 drinks, music and food trucks for a fun shopping experience.  Also on hand, will be a charity silent auction with items donated by various participating Makies. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Union Gospel Mission. This Make It! Market happens Friday, September 21st from 5:00 to 9:00 pm and Saturday, September 22nd from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Tickets for admission are $3.00 for advance purchase on Eventbrite or $5 at the door. Children under 12 get in free.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

June Hunter Studio Sale September 21 & 22, 2018

18 Sep

JuneHunter September_studio_sale_2018_LEAVES_grande

East Van artist, June Hunter, is hosting a Studio Sale this weekend. If you follow us regularly, you know we are big fans of her work. Nature features prominently in June’s work as do some iconic East Van landmarks. Crows and other feathered friends make appearances in many of the pieces she creates as you will see from the photos we’ve included. In part, because June is very quick with the camera capturing those that come to visit her idyllic backyard which houses her working studio.  June has had a busy summer working on new designs which include beautiful cushion covers, scarves, iPad cases, totes, carry alls and more. Her working studio will again be transformed to showcase all her creative works which also include jewellery, small prints, large scale wall art, tiles and more. If you are lucky, her rescue dog Geordie will again be on hand as ambassador to greet you. June Hunter’s Studio is located at 2785 Parker Street (one block west of Renfrew – between Hastings St. and First Avenue). The Studio Sale takes place Friday, September 21st from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 22nd from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We’ve heard some wine and/or sangria will be hand to make it an even better shopping experience.

If you are not able to attend this weekend’s Studio Sale, we invite you check out her online shop which is open 24/7.  You can also find some of June’s pieces at Doctor Vigari Gallery, 1816 Commercial Drive and Bird on A Wire Creations, 2535 Main Street in East Van as well as the Vancouver Art Gallery store downtown.

Photo Credit: June Hunter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Weekly Stories Are Back At The Drive Coffee Bar Starting September 19th

17 Sep

WeeklySTories2018If you love storytelling, whether watching or listening to them in an intimate setting, then you may wish to check out Weekly Stories at The Drive Coffee Bar, 1670 Commercial Drive located near 1st Avenue.  This 1 hour storytelling show which took a hiatus over the summer is now back weekly starting Wednesday, September 19th.  Weekly Stories is hosted by storyteller and organizer extraordinaire Jo Dworschak of Story Story Lie and Coop Radio’s Fruit Salad.  You will hear tales from some seasoned storytellers, but each week they do try and get a new face up to take a turn.  The venue is a favourite of ours for the great coffee, selection of Cartem Donuts and some of the best sandwiches in the City by La Grotta del Fromaggio plus they also serve wine and beer.  Event runs from 7:00 pm every Wednesday night.  Admission is by donation. If you have a story to share, stop by and sign up or email Jo in advance at e: storystoryshows@gmail.com.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

What’s On East Van: September 14th Edition

14 Sep

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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 Fringe Festival – Various Venues Until 16th 

The Vancouver Fringe Festival continues this weekend at various venues in the City including The Cultch, The Havana Theatre in Havana Restaurant and Your Open Closet on Commercial Drive to name a few.  Reminder, Havana Theatre IS OPEN for the Vancouver Fringe Festival. The Theatre has a separate entrance on Commercial Drive and Fringe Volunteers are out front to help you find your way.  To see the full line up, visit Vancouver Fringe Festival.

11th Annual Accordion Noir Festival – Wise Hall Sept. 14th – 16th

Lots of live music and dancing this weekend at the Wise Hall, not like there isn’t usually, but the 11th Annual Noir Festival happens Friday to Sunday at the Wise Hall. Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets.

James Johnstone East End History Walk – September 15th

If you want to learn about the fascinating history of East Vancouver James Johnstone is your man. He has a wealth of knowledge of about the many faces and places of East Van from days long ago. This Saturday James will be hosting a walking history tour that starts at The Heatley, 696 East Hastings St. in Strathcona at 10:00 am. Cost is $20. We believe this is his last tour for the season.

Free Drive-In Movie – River District – September 15th

River District is hosting free drive-in movies this Saturday, September 15th.  The double feature this weekend will feature Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom at 7:15 pm and Jurassic Park 1 at 9:30 pm. Gates open at 6:30 pm.  This event is first come first serve as to space.

Westward Music Festival – Rio Theatre – September 15th

Westward Music Festival presents Jordan Klassen & Special Guests Luca Fogale and Abraham at the Rio Theatre this Saturday. Tickets are $15 and available via Westward FesWestward Fest. Note, the Festival also takes place Friday night at the Rio with a different line up of talent.

First Pick Handmade – Heritage Hall – Sept. 15th & 16th

First Pick Handmade happens at the Heritage Hall this weekend at which you will find 30 Canadian fashion and accessory designers. Whether it’s to browse or shop, stop by and see what our Canadian designers are working on.  First Pick Handmade happens 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3.00.

Meet & Greet The Candidates – Commercial Street Café Sept. 15th & 16th 

This weekend Commercial Street Café, 3599 Commercial Street, continues their series hosting meet and greets for those running for Mayor of Vancouver. This Saturday, come chat with Hector Bremner from 10:00 am to Noon. On Sunday, Ken Sim will be hand also from 10:00 am to Noon.

Free Movie ‘Maudie’ – Britannia Community Centre – September 16th

Britannia Community Centre is hosting another free movie Sunday night 6:00 pm. This week they are featuring Maudie along with free popcorn.

West Side Story Sing-A-Long – Rio Theatre – September 16th

As part of the world-wide celebration the legendary composer, Leonard Bernstein, the Rio Theatre is hosting a celebratory Sing-A-Long screening of his restored masterpiece West Side Story this Sunday at 6:00 pm. This is an all ages show. 

Free Yoga – Eastside Fitness – September 17th

Did you know Eastside Fitness at 5788 Fraser Street hosts free yoga every Monday from 8:15 – 9:15 am between now and December.  Want more information or to register, visit Eastside Fitness.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

Looking for live music this weekend? Café Deux Soleils has live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights and this week Natasha D’Agastino takes the stage from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. If you are looking for jazz in the afternoon, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday from 3-7 pm, no cover.

Three Farmer Markets 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 in Dude Chilling Park from 10 am – 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 16th Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival Happens September 22, 2018

11 Sep

MOON-FESTIVAL-POSTER-2018The 16th Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival happens Saturday, September 22, 2018.  This family friendly event celebrates the full moon, harvest abundance and diverse cultural traditions. The festival highlights the arts, community and the environment. It is always held on the Saturday closest to the 8th full moon of the year, the harvest moon.  The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival started in 2003 under artistic director, Carmen Rosen and now continues every year as a co-production between the Still Moon Arts Society and Renfrew Park Community Association. If you have not attended this event previously, it is an amazing display of creativity, colour, light and music.  We encourage you to check it out.

The festivities begin in the afternoon with the Harvest Fair which kicks off at 4:00 pm and goes till 7:00 pm at Slocan Park. This event is a pre-cursor to the parade that happens at dusk.  During the Harvest Fair, there will be games, crafts, musicians, last minute lantern making, community competitions and more. As the moon rises and the sun sets, the Giant Moon Lantern along with dancers and musicians make their way to guide a twilight lantern parade through the Renfrew Ravine to Renfrew Park.  Once you arrive at Renfrew Park at about 7:30 pm, you descend into a transformed world of the stream, Still Creek. The entire area around the creek is lined with lights, floating lantern art and ethereal music. It is quite something to see.  Time slows seems to slow down as you walk through the paths and absorb the beauty of candlelight, exquisite lanterns and the shimmering stream. Once you pass through the walkway, you come upon Renfrew Park Field which is where you will find musicians playing on the main stage and a Tea Garden with food service. The evening finale features youth performers showcasing dance, stilting and fire spinning to live music. Then the big finale is a display of fireworks around 9:00 pm.

If you are looking to make a lantern, note there are a couple of workshops this week, September 11th and 12th, a Salmon Lantern Workshop and a Bird Lantern Workshop, both held at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. For more information, visit Moon Festival Workshops.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Free Drive-In Movies At River District September 15th – October 13th

10 Sep

DriveInMovieDrive-In Movies are back at River District on the Fraser River in SE Vancouver. Wesgroup Properties and River District are hosting double feature films starting Saturday, September 15th that will be running weekly until October 27th and guess what, they are FREE! The Drive-In is located at 3650 E. Kent Avenue South which is located 1/2 a block south of Marine Way at Boundary Road.  Gates open at 6:30 pm and the movie gets under way at 7:15 pm with the second show getting under way at 9:30 pm (approximate times).  River District will provide you with the FM station for audio, so you need a working FM station to partake. This event is first come first serve, so best to arrive early to claim your spot. We’ve set out the schedule below as we know it today.  Note, these are subject to change without notice. Therefore, please visit River District to confirm what’s playing.  To get your FREE ticket, visit PICATIC.

September 22, 2018

Ant Man & The Wasp
Solo: A Star Wars Movie

September 29, 2018

Incredibles 2
Deadpool 2

October 13, 2018

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
Dirty Dancing

October 20, 2018

Hotel Transylvania 3
The Strangers

October 27, 2018
Frankenweenie
IT

 

RiverDistrictMovieMap

Tags: , , , , , , ,

What’s On East Van: September 7th Edition

7 Sep

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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.

Plant Club With Wine – Figaro’s Garden Centre – September 7th

The first Friday of the month, Figaro’s Garden Centre, 1896 Victoria Drive, hosts Plant Club with wine.  You are invited to come hang out between 3:30 – 5:30 pm and talk plants while enjoying a glass of mind with other plant lovers.

Vancouver Fringe Festival – Various Venues – September 6th – 16th 

The Vancouver Fringe Festival is now under way until September 16th at various venues in the City including The Cultch, The Havana Theatre in Havana Restaurant and Your Open Closet on Commercial Drive to name a few.  Some may know that Havana Restaurant recently had a kitchen fire, but they’ve put out a note saying while the restaurant is still currently closed, the theatre IS OPEN for the Vancouver Fringe Festival line up.  To see the full line up, visit Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Quiz Show With Graham Clark – Fox Cabaret – September 7th

Looking for some good laughs at the end of the week? This Friday night, local comedian Graham Clark puts on a comedy show which features segments of various TV game shows. They are presented to you in one bizarre comedic event. Graham will be joined by comedians, Emmett Hall, Aaron Read, Katie Ellen Humphries and Christine Bortolin for this Friday’s show. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

River District – Savour Summer Series – September 8th 

You are invited to River District for an afternoon of free fun this Saturday.  The Savour Summer Festival happens in River District’s new Town Centre Plaza between the new Starbucks and Everything Wine. There will be free live music, entertainment, giveaways, a photo booth, local food trucks and more.  Some of the entertainment includes Raincity Blue,  Bobs & Lolo and Wooden Horsemen.  Activities get under way at 2:00 pm and go till 8:00 pm.  For those that wish to come early, note the first 200 people will receive a Savour Summer hat and a popsicle.

4th Annual Burlesque Marathon – Rio Theatre – September 8th

The 4th Annual Burlesque Marathon happens this Saturday at the Rio Theatre. There is a long line talent of burlesque talent set for this event. Doors open at 8:00 pm, festivities get under way at 9:00 pm.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Meet & Greet The Candidates – Commercial Street Café Sept. 8th & 9th

This weekend Commercial Street Café, 3599 Commercial Street, hosts the beginning of a series of meet and greets for those running for Mayor of Vancouver. This Saturday, come chat with independent candidate, Shauna Sylvester from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. On Sunday, another independent candidate, Kennedy Stewart will be on hand from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm to chat and answer questions about his platform.

Free Movie ‘Lady Bird’ – Britannia Community Centre – September 9th

Britannia Community Centre shows free movies on Sunday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. This week they are showing Lady Bird. All are welcome to enjoy the movie along with the free popcorn.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

Looking to liven things up this weekend?  Breaking Boundaries is back at Café Deux Soleils this Saturday night. Doors at 8:30 pm, music gets under way at 9:00 pm. Cover is $10. Libra Room regularly hosts live music every night of the week. If it’s jazz your after, Sunday nights the Tangent Café regularly hosts live jazz music.  If you haven’t yet caught the documentary ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbour’ about the life of Mr. Rogers, it’s showing this weekend at the Rio Theatre Saturday at 1:15 pm and Sunday at 4:15 pm. Reviews we’ve heard it’s good, bit of a tear jerker, but good.

Three Farmer Markets 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 in Dude Chilling Park from 10 am – 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Side Glance With Al Tee – Why You Should Vote For Stuart For Parks Board

5 Sep

StuartMackinnonI am one of those cynical types who harbors deep skepticism towards politicians. I have never voted for a major political party’s candidate and often vote Communist or Marxist-Leninist as form of protest. Civically I generally mark an X on my ballot for the fringe and the extreme, be it Jamie Lee Hamilton or Cowboy Bob Ellis. I am telling you this so you’ll know I’m not easily swayed, and therefore genuine when I say you should vote for Stuart Mackinnon for Parks Board.

Mackinnon is a two term Parks Board Commissioner and current Board Chair who is seeking to continue to advance his belief that Vancouver’s parks pitches and pools should be places where citizens play, relax and explore. Places that allow people and nature to exist in balance. Now sure, you could argue that every candidate for Parks Board says that. But not every candidate is:

  • Still a fan of the Canadian Football League.
  • Follows Everton in the English Premier League.
  • Spent seven years teaching at the indigenous community of Nemaska in James Bay, Quebec.
  • Fought off the Vision-ista plans to close the Bloedel Conservatory in 2009.
  • Believes that the city’s parks and community centres gave him a magical childhood that everyone else’s kid should have too.
  • Has close to three decades in teaching, two of those decades as a Vancouver High School teacher. (surely a testament to one’s patience when working with groups).
  • Grew up in a conservative household – his grandfather was an MP in the 40’s and his mother once worked for House Speaker John Fraser – and came away from it with an ability to appreciate while not necessarily agreeing with the other guy’s point of view.
  • Is not out to change the name of Stanley Park or any other park in the city. His Colonial Audit merely seeks to identify places that originally had indigenous names and then let the public decide.
  • Has, unlike many Parks Commissioners before him, no political ambitions. (former Parks Commissioners have gone on to be 4 city councilors, 3 provincial cabinet ministers, 1 city mayor and one Federal MP).
  • Wears a kilt on special occasions.

This Fall’s civic election will feature a lot of first timers (including the mayor) and possibly a lot of one termers (including the mayor). Doesn’t it make sense to retain an experienced commissioner on the Parks Board?  One who not only has the political experience, but also the experience of a true Vancouverite. I’m talking swimming outdoors at public pools like New Brighton, picnicking at beaches like Spanish Banks, and walking the sidelines of pitches like Clinton Park on dreary rainy Saturday mornings. I’m talking Stuart Mackinnon for Parks.

Contributing Writer: Al Tee

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →