The Cultch Presents Beautiful Man February 24 – March 5

20 Feb

The Cultch presents Beautiful Man, from Pi Theatre, at the Historic Theatre, February 24 – March 5, 2022.

Governor General Award-winning playwright Erin Shields’ Beautiful Man examines traditional gender roles as they are portrayed in popular media, and turns them on their head. In this satirical play, three women chat about the Hollywood movies they have been watching. Only, in the world of Beautiful Man, men are the objects, while women are the subjects. From genre to genre—everything from cop shows to greek tragedies—the absurdity of traditional conventions are brought to the surface. Beautiful Man not only mocks the media’s representation of women, it exposes the underlying violence of objectification with a sharp wit.

Vancouver’s Pi Theatre has made a reputation producing plays that are “intellectually alive and emotionally charged.” In business since 1984, and under the leadership of Richard Wolfe since 2008, they have produced over 100 shows, and been awarded 34 Jessie Awards. “I chose to produce Beautiful Man here in ‘Hollywood North’,” says Wolfe, “because I feel Erin Shields’ relevant play takes an incisive look at how capitalism packages bodies, most often women’s bodies, and sells them as mere objects of entertainment.” Chosen specifically for the task of directing, Keltie Forsyth feels that rage is a powerful tool. “I have shared that rage many times in my life. As has every femme person I know,” she says “… In this piece, Shields finds a way to channel her rage and use it to target the ways the media feeds and upholds patriarchal structures.” Part of The Cultch’s fifth annual Femme Festival, Beautiful Man brings a powerful feminist perspective. Here’s what people are saying about Beautiful Man:

“Erin Shields’s Beautiful Man is a razor-sharp satire that hilariously skewers the tropes of female characters in film and TV.”
Samantha Edwards, Now Toronto

“Shields is a very talented, intelligent, and funny writer with a powerful message”
Ilana Lucas, Mooney on Theatre

“Beautiful Man is a deeply insightful criticism of gender roles enforced by society through the media we consume…”
Isabella Perrone, Broadway World review 

“[Shields is] still writing directly in dialogue with contemporary culture, getting inside it, wrestling with it, taking the royal piss and then throwing it down.”
The Star

This is an in person production with Covid-19 protocols in place. To purchase your tickets, visit The Cultch.

Photo Credit: Emily Cooper

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Gourmet Warehouse Lines Up More Cooking Classes

7 Feb

If you are ready for in person events, Gourmet Warehouse has added more cooking classes to their Spring schedule. 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. We also like shopping after the cooking class as 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.

A Taste Of The Mediterranean – March 31, 2022

Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu returns to teach a cooking class that explores the incredible tastes of the Mediterranean. Chef Deniz draws from his own background to guide you through these vibrant, healthy dishes. These versatile recipes are perfect for everyday meal, entertaining or picnics.

MENU

• Crispy kale & feta pie with dill and best tzatziki
• Spicy lamb dumplings with merguez sausage, roasted garlic yogurt, and harissa
• Chicken souvlaki with lemon roasted potatoes and Greek salad with feta
• Walnut baklava with cream

Sprouted: Spring Vegetables Re-Imagined – April 6, 2022

Chef Brian Luptak and Shira Blustein of critically acclaimed Vancouver restaurant Acorn will teach you chef-perfected techniques to elevate your vegetables to the next level. Note the menu that will be prepared is vegetarian not vegan.

MENU

• Hop shoot salad with browned hazelnut butter and pickled hop shoots
• Rosemary roasted cabbage with Bavarian mustard cream and pickled vegetables
• Puff pastry tart with vanilla caramelized whey ricotta & red flowering currant jelly

Cuckoo For Keto – April 21, 2022

Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu will also lead this demonstration cooking class which invites you to think outside the box when preparing low carb food that’s tasty. He will help you level up your weekly meal plan with crispy halloumi. chorizo skewer, flavour-packed chicken and peanut lettuce wraps.

MENU

• Crispy halloumi and chorizo skewer with cauliflower tabbouleh
• Spicy chicken and peanut lettuce wraps with marinated vegetable slaw
• Baked spaghetti squash with keto sausage ragu and provolone
• Keto brownies

To see all the classes being offered and or to register, we invite you to visit GourmetWarehouse.ca.

Photo Credit: Gourmet Warehouse

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Find Out What’s At The Bottom Of The Ocean In Sea Sick Coming To The Cultch Feb. 9-19

5 Feb

The Cultch brings you Alanna Mitchell’s production Sea Sick to The Cultch February 9-19, 2022.

Based on Mitchell’s international bestselling book, Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis (2009), Sea Sick is a critically acclaimed production about climate change, and the state of the global ocean. This production has toured Canada and the world including two previous sold out runs in Vancouver (2015 & 2019). Mitchell’s non-fiction play uses science and delicate wit to tell us about her journey to the bottom of the ocean, the demons she discovered there, and her hope for the future.

An award-winning Canadian journalist and author (New York Times, CBC’s Quirks & Quarks, Globe and Mail, and more), Alanna Mitchell writes about science and social trends specializing in investigative reporting. Before writing Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis she set out on a three year quest to find out information from top scientists all around the world. Over the course of 13 journeys, from Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico, to Zanzibar, and even to the very depth of the ocean in a submersible, Mitchell sought the answers to her questions. Her book, and later her play—commissioned by The Theatre Centre, with directions from Franco Boni and Ravi Jain—would open many people’s eyes to the perilous state we find ourselves in if we do not pay attention to our oceans. What people are saying about Sea Sick:

“Almost like a glacier, Sea Sick steadily and robustly ploughs through the vast ecosystem  that is the current discourse on climate change, and indelibly transforms the  landscape which came before.”
Exeunt Magazine

“This isn’t a lecture about the catastrophic repercussions of burning fossil fuels, or a guilt trip about how we’re to blame for the state of the Great Barrier Reef. Instead, it’s an unravelling – an unveiling – of a crisis; a clear-eyed pathway toward comprehension and a knitting together of the important, largely siloed work of marine biologists across the world.”
The Guardian

“80 minutes flies by because of Mitchell’s inspired storytelling… Terrifying, laugh-out-loud funny, and ultimately hopeful, Mitchell’s Sea Sick is a must-see”
Vancouver Observer

This is an in person production with all Covid protocols in place and 50% seating capacity. To purchase tickets, visit The Cultch.

Photo Credit: Alejandro Santiago

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In Honour of Betty White’s 100th Birthday

17 Jan

As most people know, Betty White was an American actress and comedian who passed away on December 31, 2021. She passed just weeks before her 100th birthday which would be today, January 17, 2022. Betty White was a pioneer of early television with an amazing career spanning over 8 decades. Add to that she was also one of the first women to work both in front of and behind the camera. But what we admired most about Betty was her tireless advocacy for animals and speaking for those that couldn’t speak for themselves. In honour of what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday, people around the world are participating in the #BettyWhiteChallenge. This is simply donating $5 to an animal charity that is near and dear to them. We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to honour someone who has given so much of herself to animal advocacy.

There are so many organizations locally that are worthy to donate to, we couldn’t possibly list them all. If you are in position to donate $5, we’ve set out some of our favourite animal rescue organizations that we think are worthy of consideration. Every $1 helps.

Vancouver BC SPCA

Wildlife Rescue Association

VOKRA – Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue

SAINTS Rescue

Happy Herd Sanctuary

Thank Dog I’m Out

Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary

OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society

Critter Care Wildlife Society

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World Premiere Of Do You Mind If I Sit Here? At The Russian Hall January 26-29

14 Jan

Theatre Replacement announces the world premiere of their latest work: Do you mind if I sit here? which will be performed at the Russian Hall January 26 – 29, 2022.  This production is part of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. Do you mind if I sit here? is about 3 social planners that visit the Russian Hall 30 years from now. They intend to repurpose the space for common use, but discover a squatter that has been living there through decades of an environmental catastrophe. The performance is eclectic in style with a metaphorical narrative. They will dare you to imagine the future in terms of our most important hopes, fears and beliefs. This is an in person event with Covid-safety protocols in place which include 50% seating capacity. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.

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The Firehall Arts Centre Opens Their 2022 Season With John January 12 – 15

8 Jan

The Firehall Arts Centre opens their 2022 season with Helen Walkley’s powerful dance/theatre piece, John. The production takes place from Wednesday, January 12 to Saturday, January 15, 2022.

“John is a memoir of my oldest brother who disappeared from Vancouver in May of 1969, never to be heard from again. I sourced from an archive of family letters dating from 1959–2010, which document the years leading up to his disappearance, his medical history, and the subsequent tracking my parents did of his disappearance. He was twenty-three at the time and I was thirteen.” – Helen Walkley.

“John is such a powerful, intimate piece that you are left feeling like you know this mysterious person,” says Artistic Producer Donna Spencer. “The performers, Josh Martin and Billy Marchenski, work together and apart in a manner that captures the inner feelings and outer conflicts of this young man. The work takes you on a journey of hope and loss with gentleness and frustration – it is a wonderful and memorable night of dance theatre.” – Helen Walkley

The production is choreographed by Helen Walkley and performed by Josh Martin and Billy Marchenski, John premiered and wowed audiences during its sold-out run at the 2019 Dancing on the Edge Festival.

Performances at the Firehall Arts Centre are continuing live at 50% capacity, masks and proof of vaccination will be required. To purchase tickets for the live performance, visit Firehall Arts Centre.

Photo Credit: Chris Randle

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New Year New You? We’ve Got Something Better

6 Jan

We have never been one for making resolutions going into the New Year. Self-improvement is a year round activity in our minds. The phrase New Year New You has been touted around, but after a turbulent 2 years instead of focusing on you, how about doing something to help others this year?  

Heading into the New Year, we thought we’d highlight a few places where, if you have some time on your hand, you can help out. It could be volunteering on an ongoing basis, or as your time permits.  We are going to start with an easy one, Vancouver Food Runners. This is a Vancouver non-profit that was launched in March of 2020. Since its inception they have redistributed over 800,000 pounds of food which would otherwise have gone to waste.   To make things really easy to volunteer, Vancouver Food Runners has a simple app. All you need to do is download the app, sign up and you will receive alerts in your area about food that needs to be delivered to a community partner, usually only a short distance from your location.   You can sign up by the time of day that’s best for you ie. days, afternoons, evenings, weekdays or evenings. It’s that easy. Their app allows you to sign up for regular weekly pick ups or, as you have time.

Vancouver Food Runners is currently operating in the Vancouver only at this time, but they hope to expand to other areas soon. In order to do that, they need more community partners to donate food and available volunteers to rescue/pick up food and deliver it. Want to learn more?  Visit Vancouver Food Runners, download the app, or give them a follow on Facebook.

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Bring Your Own Bag Now In Effect In Vancouver

2 Jan

In case you missed the memo, a ban on plastic and compostable plastic shopping bags went into effect January 1, 2022. With this also comes fees on paper and new reusable shopping bags, a minimum of $0.15 for paper bags and $1.00 for reusable bags. These fees are scheduled to increase in 2023 to $0.25 for paper bags and $2.00 per reusable shopping bag.  

Why the ban? In case you hadn’t heard waste from plastic bags pose a serious environmental danger to human and animal health.   Did you know in 2018, 89 million plastic shopping bags and 4 million paper shopping bags were thrown away in the garbage in Vancouver. According to the Great Canadian Shore Cleanup, plastics bags with the 6th most common type of litter found on the shorelines in 2019.

For more information on the City’s new by-laws and some exemptions that apply to facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies and community care facilities, visit the City of Vancouver.

If you need to stock up on some styling reusable sturdy totes, visit ILiveInEastVan online for a selection of canvas and nylon totes.

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Happy New Year East Van!

31 Dec

2021 has certainly been a year for the history books. Although there were many positives, it was a challenging year for so many. We truly hope 2022 is a brighter year that brings peace, joy and a little love.

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Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Frohe Weihnachten East Vancouver

24 Dec

Merry Christmas

Frohe Weihnachten

Buon Natale

Joyeux Noël

Feliz Navidad

Feliz Natal

Maligayang PaskoSretan Božić

Vrolijk kerstfeest

Wesołych Świąt

Καλά Χριστούγεννα

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