Foto Friday -Italian Day!

10 Jun

ItalianFlagOne of the biggest community events in East Van happens this Sunday, Italian Day which to us is like one big street party. We love it because not only does it celebrate all things Italian, which we love, but wander down the streets and you will find a whole host of cultures and ethnicities represented along this stretch of Commercial Drive.  One of the biggest line ups each and every year is the Portuguese Club which has become known for their BBQ’d sardines and chicken.  Federico’s Supper Club always has a great patio set up which makes you feel like you are back in Italy in a piazza with all the hustle and bustle going by.  This is one of our favourite events so on this Foto Friday we leave you with some of our favourite photos of Italian Day from past years.   We hope to see you there.

 

Eat.Drink.Play. At The Firehall Arts Centre June 16th

9 Jun

EatDrinkPlayThe Firehall Arts Centre invites you to Eat.Drink.Play. being held on Thursday, June 16th from 7:00 – 10:00 pm at the Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova Street.  This annual fundraiser brings together some of East Van’s best restaurants, craft brewers, small-batch distillers and performers for an evening of sampling and sharing.  The event takes over the Firehall’s entire premises including theatre, lobby, studio, courtyard as well as the dressing rooms.  Throughout the Firehall, you will find an array of delectable treats, eclectic dance, music and performances as well as a silent auction with some great prizes. Eat.Drink.Play will feature selections of food from neighbourhood hot spots Bambudda, Bestie, Cuchillo, Sai Woo, Tacofino, and tuc Craft Kitchen. Libation samples will also be available from local brewers Big Rock, Parallel 49 and Steamworks, while a personal favourite Odd Society Spirits will be serving up samples of their signature vodka and gin. To add to the festivities of the evening, there will be short performances including an excerpt from TJ Dawe’s new show Burn This and Nicolle Nattrass will perform an excerpt from Mamahood. Also on hand will be Meghan Gardiner who will be reviving her Jessie Award-nominated performance playing the character Helen from the recent production of Dead Metaphor.  Tickets for Eat.Drink.Play are $35 and $20 for artists and are available online at Firehall Arts Centre.

Gourmet Ice Cream Tours By Off The Eaten Track

8 Jun

IceCreamConesOur friends at Off The Eaten Track Tours have a cool new foodie tour on offer for the warm summer months, a Gourmet Ice Cream Tour.  You are invited to join them on any Wednesday between now and September 31st from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm for a one hour tour.  During the tour, you will visit 4 local ice cream shops and, of course, have samples at each and every one. The tour starts at Railtown Café, 397 Railway Street and will finish at Twisted Ice Cream in Gastown which we understand has been dubbed the smallest shop in BC.  You will also make stops at Cadeaux Bakery for an ice cream sandwich as well as Soft Peaks which is the only organic gourmet soft serve in the City.  This is a perfect way to cool off on a warm day, or well it’s ice cream so any day really. Cost of the tour is $29.99 and is suitable for all ages.  To reserve your spot, visit Off The Eaten Track Tours.

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Friends With Benefits Pop Up Shop June 17-23, 2016 In Strathcona

7 Jun

WoodLotPackage

Friends With Benefits and Bronze Age are teaming up for a Pop Up Shop in Strathcona from June 17-23, 2016.  They will be located in a studio space at 478 Union Street (at Jackson) with a host of local artisans and makers. We’ve learnt that the line up includes:

Woodlot Candles
Strathcona Stockings
Maggie Boyd Ceramics
AW by Andrea Wong
Foe and Dear
Bronze Age
Folk Fortune
Lissu Linens
Editorial Mag
Explorer’s Press
The Good Spirit
Karen La
Lacar
Lucy Poskitt
Greg Papove

They will also be hosting workshops and events during the week including:

June 17 – Launch Event. Drinks, shopping and good times 5-10 pm
June 20 – Beginner’s Weaving Class, 6 pm $60 (Includes Kit)
June 22 – Pom Pom Party, 7 pm $25 (Make a pom pom garland)
June 23 – Tunes by Daniel T. and Tarot Readings by The Good Spirit from 5-9 pm

So pop in and check it out the cool space and support your local makers!  They are just down the street from a few of our favs Crackle Crème, The Pie Shoppe and The Union. So many great reasons to pop down.

Photo Credit: Woodlot Candles 

 

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A Short Play Festival About Love Takes Place At Havana Theatre June 14-18

6 Jun

AboutLoveFestivalThe Tomo Suru Players brings you 8 short plays that will be performed every night between June 14th and 18th at the Havana Theatre. And yes, it’s all about love!  And YOU the audience will get to vote on ‘Best Play’, ‘Notable Performances’ and ‘Notable Directions’.  These 8 plays have been hand picked from 198 plays that were submitted from six countries between January and March of this year.  A panel of 16 readers read each and every play that made the short list that you see below. 

Anniversary by Ronit Rubinstein – Directed by Nick Heffelfinger

A young couple celebrates their first wedding anniversary and can’t keep their hands off each other. An older couple celebrates thirty years together, and can’t keep their bickering off each other. Four lovers, major differences, but they have something in common.

Is This Seat Taken by Brad Sytsma –   Directed by Ariel Martz-Oberlander

Two people with a long history meet for what is supposed to be the last time. Perhaps this is a chance to finally lay aside their egos and their past. Where is the line between putting in the necessary effort, and forcing something to work that doesn’t? It looks like it runs right down the middle of this park bench.

Morning by Jesse Nepivoda –   Directed by Johnny Wu

Lovers caught in the midst of a struggle between staying or leaving. Man wants Woman to stay with him. Woman wants to stay but can’t. Woman has a life. A whole life of her very own and none of it is here. Man could go with her but will he?

Northern Lights by Jordan Henry – Directed by Georgia Johnson

A close encounter with death shines light on irreconcilable differences between two newlyweds-to-be.

Small Talk by David MacGregor – Directed by Shelby Bushell

In great moments it may be that success is in the small points. Sometimes we need help finding the greatness among the small.

Square Footage by Jessica Moss – Directed by John Dickinson

Space is fleeting, space is finite and, ultimately, space is what you need to love a person. Watch Maggie and Nate contend with the space for everything that needs space in Square Footage.

Standing Room Only by C.J. Ehrlich – Directed by Michael Q. Adams

What happens on a crowded ferry with a woman who is so distraught about love that she won’t give up a spare seat? Add a stranger and you have a funny, touching story that explores the human side of people’s lives.

Tell Me What You See by Richard Manley – Directed by Allie Pev

What do you make of the stranger beside you? What do you make of them when they surprise you? What do you make of yourself?

We think these short plays will provide for some interesting entertainment. Tickets are available online from Brown Paper Tickets and are on a sliding scale.  You are asked to choose the price that fits your budget. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday tickets are available at $10, $15, $20, $25, $30.  Friday and Saturday tickets are available from $15, $20, $25, $30. 

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Foto Friday – Bee Loving Flowers

3 Jun

YellowRoseBABsThe warmer weather brings an array of beautiful blooms. These days we are taking more of an interest in those flowers that attract bees such as lavender, poppies and sunflowers.  We recently did a little investigating into which flowers are most attractive to bees. Did you know it’s single petal flowers? Apparently, a single row of petals is more attractive and easier for bees to reach the pollen.  We found a simple rundown on Wikihow that sets out a great list of tips and plants including herbs, shrubs and trees. Some of the plants listed include Asters, Cosmos, Clover, Crocuses, Dahlias, Floxglove, Geraniums,  Hollyhocks, Hyacinths, Marigolds, Poppies, Roses, Snowdrops, Sunflowers and Zinnias. If you prefer herbs, there’s a long list that bees favour including mint, rosemary and sage.  For more ideas and information, check out Wikihow’s How To Attract Honey Bees. So on this week’s Foto Friday, we leave you with some photos of stunning florals we’ve captured in our neighbourhood which we’ve seen the bees buzzing around.

 

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East Van Short Film Showcase At The Rio Theatre June 5th

2 Jun

FilmMovieReelYou are invited to check out the work of some of Vancouver’s best young independent filmmakers at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, June 5th. The East Van Short Film Showcase now in its second year will be featuring a selection of short films made in and around the Lower Mainland.   The list below was narrowed down from over 100 submissions and these 5 local shorts will compete for awards in acting, cinematography and best film.  There will be a number of shorts presented which we’ve set out below:

The Showcase Showdown

Call For a Good Time – Linnea Ritland
Disappeared – Jon Silverberg
Do Not Go – Cameron Anderson
Getting There- Brendan Prost
Vehicular Romanticide – Andrew Rowe

The Music Box

Bunny – Miroslav Nicic
Fear- Gebriel Balcha
Where I’m From – Sina Nazarian

The Raincity Revue

These films include an entry from Germany, as well as a dynamic trio of BC films including a 6-time Leo nominee.

Basketball Game – Hart Snider
Singularity – Roman De Guili
Wrestlers Only – James Kingstone
Never Steady, Never Still – Kathleen Hepburn

Come check out some of the creative local talent. The East Van Short Film Showcase takes place at The Rio Theatre Sunday, June 5th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The evening will be hosted by local comedian John Cullen. Tickets are available in advance via Eventbrite for $6.00.

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Free Family Day Fun At Western Front Saturday June 18th

1 Jun

FamilyDayWesternFrontLooking for some free family fun? Well you are in luck. On Saturday, June 18th the Western Front is hosting their first ever Family Day.  Established in 1973, Western Front is one of Canada’s leading non-profit centres for contemporary art and new music, producing and presenting visual art exhibitions, new music concerts and media art residencies. Their upcoming Family Day event will feature musical performances, curated screenings as well as hands-on art and music activities for all ages. You are invited to explore their facility and get those creative juices flowing which can be through drawing scores for guest musicians that will be on hand, or hat-making, cookie-decorating or a host of other activities they will have lined up.   The Western Front’s youth music program will showcase some of their compositions from the past year which we hear will feature everyday sounds interpreted through looping, beatbox, storytelling, hip hop, electronics, video triggers and of all things, cornstarch!   The Western Front is located at 303 East 8th Avenue and the fun begins at 12:00 pm and goes till 5:00 pm and again, it’s all free.

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East Van Garden Tour Sunday June 19th

31 May

EastVanGardenTourWell there will certainly be no lack of things to do in East Van on Sunday, June 19th. There will be Car Free Day on Commercial Drive and Main Street, the Vancouver Farmers Market in Mount Pleasant and a personal favourite the East Van Garden Tour.  We have in the past taken in this tour which was through Strathcona and it was amazing to see what people were doing with their gardens.  Whether you have a home, patio garden or community garden, the East Van Garden Tour is a great source of inspiration and ideas.

This year, the East Van Garden Tour will focus on the area immediately surrounding Figaro’s Garden Centre which is located at 1896 Victoria Drive (at 3rd Avenue). If you haven’t participated in this event, it’s a great way to see how creative people get with their gardens.  You will need to purchase tickets for this event which is best done in advance. Tickets are available via Eventbrite, from Figaro’s Garden Centre, 1896 Victoria Drive or by contacting the Britannia Community Services Centre, 1661 Napier Street, in person or by phone 604-718-5800. Tickets are $15 each.

On the day of the event, show up at Figaro’s Garden Centre to check in, pick up your tour map from 10:00 am onwards and then head off to the gardens. The tour is popular and has sold out in previous years, so we recommend that you get your tickets in advance.  People who attend the tour will also get a one-time 20% discount at Figaro’s starting on the day of the tour through to July 1st (Canada Day).  Note: This is a very walkable tour, but it is not wheelchair accessible and pets are not allowed.

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Italian Day Happens Sunday June 12th On The Drive

30 May

ItalianDayEast Van is home to many great community events and June is shaping up to be a busy month. We can look forward to Car Free Day, The Italian Market, East Van Garden Tour, but one of our favourites is coming up Italian Day on Sunday, June 12th.  This is your chance to experience everything Italian from food, to music to culture.  Now in its 7th year, the Drive will basically be transformed into one large piazza where you can wander from one end of the Drive to the other. This year’s theme is Mangiamo! Let’s Eat!  As you might expect, Italian food will be showcased and they do it so well.  There will be lots of events, live music and entertainment along the Drive throughout the day.  The Britannia Community Centre will also host a special Pasta Jewellery project led by East Van artist Paula Luther. This will be a free outdoor workshop set up in the Napier Greenway for pasta lovers of any age.  It’s on a drop-in basis and all the materials are supplied. The Pasta Jewellery Project runs from Noon to 4:00 pm.  Also for the kids, there will be arts and crafts in the Little Italy Kids Zone and Funswing amusement rides in Grandview Park as well as balloon twisting and face painting.  Some other fun activities include the Whitecaps/BMO Fun Zone with kicking cage as well as the very popular Bocce Court.

On Italian Day, you will be able to walk the Drive from Broadway to Venables and find over 100 merchants and guest vendors, a line up of food trucks and carts, more than 20 restaurant patios and an array of things to see and do. Of course, we do expect to find Federico Fuoco center stage drawing a crowd as always at the 2nd Avenue Main Stage.  There is also a special feature planned to celebrate the official ‘Little Italy’ designation which pays tribute to over 50 years of Italian heritage on Commercial Drive. There have been 8 blocks officially sanctioned Little Italy by the City of Vancouver which will be christened with banners and crosswalks on June 12th. Come out and celebrate all things Italian!

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