The Firehall Arts Centre invites you to Eat.Drink.Play. being held on Thursday, June 22nd 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. Eat.Drink.Play will feature selections of food from neighbourhood hot spots The Diamond, Deacon’s Corner, Clough Club, Tuc Craft Kitchen, Kofta Meatball Kitchen, Save On Meats, The Pint and Cadeaux Bakery. Libation samples will also be available from local brewers Powell Brewery, Big Rock Brewery, Andina Brewing Company, Strange Fellows Brewing, Strathcona Beer Company and Steamworks. Also on hand will be local craft distiller, Odd Society Spirits, returning to serve up samples of their signature vodka and gin. You can expect a smorgasbord of delectable treats and enjoyable performances as you roam through the heritage building sampling food, enjoying libations, and bidding on some amazing silent auction items. The cast of the Firehall’s recent hit Circle Game: Reimagining of the Music of Joni Mitchell will be on hand to provide some great tunes. The Firehall Arts Centre has been producing performing arts for 35 years in this beautiful heritage building at the corner of Cordova and Gore. We invite you to lend your support for our City’s vibrant and innovative arts community. Tickets for Eat.Drink.Play are $38 and $22 for artists and are available online at Firehall Arts Centre.
Eat.Drink.Play. At The Firehall Arts Centre Thursday June 22, 2017
5 Jun
What’s On East Van: June 2, 2017
2 Jun
There are so many great events happening in East Van, we are adding a new feature What’s On summarizing weekly or bi-weekly some upcoming events and general happenings in East Van. Most events featured here will be for the upcoming week or a bit beyond. To see beyond that, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and lists events for the month and beyond.
National Doughnut Day – June 2, 2017
June 2nd is National Day and well we think it’s a great day to show some locals like Cartems Donuts, Duffin’s Donuts and Lucky’s Doughnuts some East Van love. If you are looking for gluten free doughnuts, we suggest you try the Gluten Free Epicurean in Mount Pleasant.
Vancouver Craft Beer Festival – June 3-4, 2017
This weekend the PNE Fairgrounds plays host to the 8th Annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival June 3-4, 2017. This year’s festival, outside of great craft beer, includes a long line up of local musical talent including Alex Maher, Mark Woodyard, Railtown Prophets as well as DJs spinning tunes. Tickets for the event are $39.00 and include 2 drink tokens along with a 4 oz souvenir taster mug. Note, more drink tickets can be purchased on site.
Farmer Markets – June 3 & 4, 2017
This weekend you have the benefit of 3 farmer markets. Saturday you have Vancouver Farmers Market which hosts a one of the larger markets at Trout Lake from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Another option is the River District Farmers Market from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm located on the Fraser River at the foot of Kerr Street (at East Kent Avenue). If Sunday’s a better day for you, stop by the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market at Dude Chilling Park which happens from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
15th Annual Heritage House Tour (Strathcona) – June 4, 2017
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts the 15th Annual Heritage House Tour on Sunday, June 4th. This year, they will be visiting homes in Strathcona to see the completed renovation of Places That Matter site which is the Walter and Mary Chan House. It is significant for its connection to SPOTA and a fight to save Strathcona from freeway development in the 1960s. This is just one of many homes on the tour. Tickets are $40 or $30 for students and are available online.
Entertainment: Arts, Theatre, Comedy & Live Music
This weekend, lots happening at The Cultch. June 3rd is your last opportunity to catch the powerful show Children of God. rEvolver Festival continues through to June 4th with a number of great shows at The Cultch including Vampires in Barcelona and Spawn. rEvovler Festival is also showcasing a new kind of game show All The Way at the Russian Hall. If it’s comedy you are after, Instant Theatre hosts sketch comedy at the theatre in Havana Restaurant Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 pm.
Emergency Preparedness Workshop – June 6, 2017
The City of Vancouver hosts a free Emergency Preparedness Workshop at Britannia Community Centre from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. There are currently 23 spots open. We’d like to see this fill up. We recently attended one of these workshops and highly recommend them. Great information, it’s free and it is only 1 hour and 30 minutes of your time. Well worth the time investment for you, your family and pets. To reserve your space visit City of Vancouver. (POSTPONED)
Live Music With Les Is More – June 7, 2017
Local R&B, funk and blues band, Lesismore will be bringing their sound to Federico’s Supper Club on June 7th. Stop by for a great evening of live music, dinner and dancing.
Grandview-Woodland Plaza Exploration – Thursday, June 8, 2017
“The City of Vancouver has been approached by the development team about a potential redevelopment of the Safeway site located at 1780 East Broadway, at Commercial Drive. The Grandview-Woodland Community Plan provides guidance about how this site should redevelop and sets a requirement to provide a new at- grade public plaza on the site. The development team is proposing that the plaza be located at an alternative location nearby. While this is a variation from the approved Community Plan, the City wants to work with the community to give this new idea its due consideration. To introduce and explore the idea of an alternative plaza location, the City is hosting an event. The primary purpose of the event is to assess the degree of community support for the new plaza idea.” This is a free event, but advance registration is required. If you are interested in hearing what’s planned, this is your opportunity to hear information and provide your feedback. To register, visit Eventbrite.
Photo Credit: pixaio.blogspot.com
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The Uncommon Café Hosts Delish Workshops This June
31 May
Our friends at The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, have another great line up of classes this Spring. Whether you wish to brush up on your baking skills, canning skills or need a little help with that summer party, they’ve got you covered. Classes are led by Valentine Kitamura owner of Tartine Maple. Valentine was born and raised in France and is a chef that has worked in hotels in Paris, Singapore, New Orleans and Toronto. She now works with The Uncommon Café, a commissary and café and regularly hosts classes. We’ve set out below their next series of classes which we expect will be delicious and fun.
Cooking Class: Brioche Making – June 7th 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Valentine will teach you how to make Brioche. Once you have the basic dough mastered, she will teach you how to make a Basic Brioche Loaf, Braided Brioche, Brioche Cinnamon Rolls and Brioche BBQ Pork Buns. What I love best about their classes, you get to enjoy a class of wine while brushing up on your kitchen skills. You can book your spot online through Eventbrite.
Preserve The Summer Bounty – June 11th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Valentine will demonstrate the basics of canning and will teach you how to make Strawberry Jam, Pickled Beets & Carrots, Preserved Lemons and Rhubarb Sauce. While the demonstration happens, you get to sip on a glass of wine and you get to go home with items made in class. Again, registration is through Eventbrite.
Plan A Summer Party – Wednesday, June 21st 6:00 pm– 9:00 pm
This class will get you ready to host your next summer party. Recipes chosen are easy and perfect for a crowd. Some of the items you will be learning to make include:
o Gazpacho: Spanish cold tomato soup served with all the trimming; timeless and refreshing
o Focaccia: Italian flatbread; top it with anything and add to the side of all your party tables
o Beef Kofta Kebabs: Lebanese inspired dish pack with flavor! Served with Pitta bread and Tzatziki.
o Season’s Fruits Pana Cotta:
Once the food has been prepared, you will get to sit back and enjoy what’s been prepared with a glass of wine. To register, visit Eventbrite.
It just happens that they are currently offering 20% off all classes. Not sure how long that will last, but if you wish to take advantage of it while it’s offered, use the code SAVE20 when registering.
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Italian Day Sunday June 11, 2017
29 May
One 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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East Van Garden Tour Sunday June 18th
26 May
There will be lots of great events happening in East Van this summer. One of them is the East Van Garden Tour which takes place on Sunday, June 18th. This is a self-guided tour which you can do at your leisure and see as much or as little as you’d like. It is great opportunity to see other people’s gardens and what’s behind the fence and the creative way in which people use the space they have. Whether you have a home, patio garden or a community garden, The East Van Garden Tour is a great source of inspiration and ideas. If you haven’t participated in this event, previously, you purchase your tickets in advance. On June 18th, you show up at Figaro’s Garden Centre to obtain your map from 10:00 am onwards after which you head off to tour the gardens until 4:00 pm. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, there are a few ways to do so, including Eventbrite, 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. 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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Rodney DeCroo Performs At The Cultch Wednesday, May 31st
24 MayL
ocal 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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rEvolver Festival Presents All The Way At The Russian Hall May 31- June 3, 2017
22 May
There is a new game show in town as part of the rEolver Festival happening May 24 to June 4, 2017 presented by Up In The Air Theatre. This show is being billed as a “hypnagogic game show straddling the worlds of a haunted house and The Price is Right. This partially-immersive, pop-cult, horror-flick-obsessed puzzle invites audience members to dive into a hero’s journey… to emerge thrilled and victorious. All The Way rewards the competitor, soothes the dreamer, and delights in the deliciously unconventional.” Personally we love unconventional, so our bet is this will be an interesting show. We hear there are prizes to be won and if you are a fan of Sudoku and have watched a lot of television, especially Buffy, you will do quite well. All The Way runs May 31st to June 3rd at The Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Street in the heart of Strathcona. Tickets are $20 each and available online from The Cultch. If you are not familiar with the rEvolver Festival, it brings new works by emerging theatre companies and artists to the stage each May. We invite you to check out some of the shows they will be presenting this May during the rEvolver Festival.
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The East Van Bazaar At The Hall Saturday May 27, 2017
19 May
The East Van Bazaar is back on Saturday, May 27th at The Hall which is located at 1739 Venables Street (at the corner of Commercial Drive). The organizers have put together another great mix of local makers, artisans and collectors of vintage. Some of the vendors you can expect to see include artisanal wine by Waterside Winery, delish pie and sweet treats from Rose & June’s Bakeshop, beautiful teas by Tea Lani, jewellery by Meraki Escential Love, The One & Only and Rish Jewellery. If you happen to be looking for vintage items, you may wish to stop by and check out She Wolf Paper & Vintage which will be on hand with retro clothing, books and more. For a full rundown of vendors, visit East Van Bazaar. They are updating their site as new vendors are added. The event kicks off at 11:00 am and runs till 5:00 pm. Admission is a suggested $2 donation. We invite you to pop down and check out all the local talent which of course is a hop skip and jump from some great spots on The Drive. Although, we do recommend stopping in at Uprising Breads just one block down the street. We are rather addicted to their Ginger Cookies.
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East Van Extravaganza Saturday May 20, 2017 At The Rio Theatre
17 May
If 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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Great Grandview Garage Sale Returns June 17, 2017
15 May
For all you bargain and vintage hunters, it is time to once again mark your calendars for the Great Grandview Garage Sale which is back on Saturday, June 17th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. This multi-family garage sale now in its 4th year draws a crowd even in the rain which we hear put a bit of a damper on things last year. This event takes place throughout the Grandview-Woodlands area of East Vancouver. Specifically from Broadway to the Burrard Inlet and from Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street. If you live in the area, you are invited to participate and it is FREE to sign up. Note though, for organizers there is some effort to put it all together and get signs printed. This year you will see a ‘Donate’ button on their main page. Organizers are asking for a small donation of $2-5 to cover the cots of signs and for a $10 donation they will thrown in a sign for you. Having done a fair bit of organizing in our day, we think this is more than fair. Whether you live in a home, walk up apartment building, co-operative housing, no matter, everyone is welcome to participate. If you are the one looking for those bargains or vintage finds, think of it as one big treasure hunt. Who knows what you might come across in your travels. The Great Grandview Garage Sale will go ahead rain or shine. To sign up or see a map of the current locations, visit Great Grandview Garage Sale. Remember, the old adage “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure”. And for the wee ones or teens, there will be many thirsty shoppers in the area, so a lemonade stand or something similar, certainly wouldn’t be out of place. If you have a budding entrepreneur in your home, time to get them organized.
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