So crows are an ever present part of life in East Van. Do you ever wonder where they go at dusk? On Saturday, February 25th, the Still Moon Arts Society invites you to ride along with them and the crows for the annual Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride. They will follow the crows on the Central Valley Greenway towards Burnaby which is approximately 5 km round trip. To ensure safety, organizers ask that you have lights and/or reflectors for the ride home. This is a free family friendly event. Everyone is welcome. Come ride with the crows! NOTE: This is a rescheduled date from the February 18th proposed date, but due to rain was rescheduled to February 25th. Let’s hope for better weather this weekend. The ride gets underway at approximately 4:45 pm at Renfrew Skytrain Station.
Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride February 25th
8 Feb
Valentine’s Day … This Year We Could All Use Some Love
6 Feb
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we know that a number of people are opposed to the day itself in principal because really for those you love and care about, you shouldn’t need a reminder one day of the year to express yourself. But this year, to be honest, I think we could all use a little love. With world news being what it is these days, it’s rather disheartening, whether you are talking travel bans, or the recent events in Quebec and France. We could go on, but won’t. Instead, we’d prefer to focus on the positive and what you can do to make someone feel just a little bit better. It could mean buying or making something small for someone, or just taking some time out to spend with someone. It could be a dinner for two with your partner in life, or your best friend or maybe a new friend. It could be as simple as a sweet treat and a card, a single flower or plant, a coffee/tea/cocktail or dog walk in the park, or doing something kind for a stranger. No matter the what, it is the action in doing and saying I value you and honestly, we think we could all use a bit of these days. So we’ve set out just a few ideas and some local businesses you can support while at the same time making someone feel special.
If you are looking for a romantic dinner out for two, no one quite does it like the French, we love Les Faux Bourgeois in Mount Pleasant and their Valentine’s Day menu is up on their site. Also, Bistro Wagon Rogue on Powell Street has a great menu, but note it is a small venue. If you are thinking Italian, Federico’s Supper Club is offering a ‘full evening of love to share’ with a special Valentine’s Dinner for $80 per person which includes a 4 course meal, live music and dancing. Of course, Campagnola Roma is another great option as is Ask For Luigi.
Of course, there is always the option to eat in in which case, there are many great spots that can provide some help even if you are not the best cook. Gourmet Warehouse has a freezer section with some pre-made items as does Les Amis du Fromage on East Hastings plus great cheese to start or finish off the evening. For dessert, we have so many favourites, but a few that come to mind include Fratelli Bakery on Commercial Drive, Batard Bakery and Breka Bakery on Fraser Street. Of course, Batard is situated nicely steps away from Earnest Ice Cream which we think is pretty perfect.
Looking for flowers, we have so many great florist shops in East Vancouver and red roses can be a little cliché for some and not to mention overpriced on Valentine’s Day. There are so many other flowers to choose from and great florists in East Van who will be happy to help you with some alternatives to roses. Check out Flower Factory on Main Street, The Flower Box on Commercial Drive and Full Bloom Flowers tucked behind Uprising Breads which incidently is now stocking some beautiful handmade jewellery from local artisans. If you know someone how loves nature, then we invite you to check out East Van artist, June Hunter, who is having a Valentine’s Studio Sale this weekend February 11th & 12th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at her studio on 2785 Parker Street.
If you are looking for a special gift for Valentine’s Day, there are an array of choices in East Van. Our recommendation is to think personal. If it’s sexy you want, Womyns’ Ware on Commercial Drive is your spot. Now if that’s too adventurous, Second Nature Home has some amazing soy candles that double as massage oil/body wax once melted by Earth To Body. They come in two sizes, minis for $5 and $21 for a jar, no breaking the bank here. If it’s jewellery you are after, we see that local maker Devi Arts also has a nice selection of jewellery at Second Nature Home. The Little Mountain Pop Up Shop on Main Street is having a Pop Up Shop For Lovers February 4th – 14th with lots of great gifts by local makers. If chocolate is on your list, Lisa Lou’s Chocolate Bar and Beta 5 Chocolates will have something special for those wishing to give something sweet.
It’s not how much money you spend, it is all about making a small effort to make someone feel valued. It will make them feel better and we are pretty sure, it will make you feel better as well. Show some love this Valentine’s Day. 
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For The Love Of Craft Beer Tour is Back For Valentine’s Day
3 Feb
Do you love beer? Have a partner that loves beer? Not yet made plans for Valentine’s Day? The good folks at Vancouver Brewery Tours have a fun event for you. Their popular For The Love of Craft Beer Tour is back for Valentine’s Day which in case you missed it falls on a weekday this year, Tuesday, February 14th. One of their knowledgeable guides will tour you to 3 breweries starting with Brassneck Brewery. Next up you will head over to Storm Brewing where we hear they have some special Valentine’s Day-themed brainstorm beers. After that, your guide will take you to Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery for beer tasting and dinner. The tour guides are filled with fun facts about the Vancouver beer scene, so bring any questions and your thirst. This tour runs from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Cost is $89.99 per person. If you are not a beer lover, or don’t drink alcohol, but wish to go with someone that does, ticket cost for you is $70.00. To book your spot, visit Vancouver Brewery Tours. There is limited seating so book quick if you want to share a fun experience on Valentine’s Day.
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ELLE At The Firehall Arts Centre February 8-18
1 Feb
You are invited to check out ELLE at the Firehall Arts Centre. This play is the story of Marguerite de Roberval, a French noblewoman who sets out to sail in 1542 for Canada with her uncle, Jacques Cartier to colonize new found territory. She finds herself abandoned on a deserted ‘Isle of Demons’ located off the coast of Newfoundland as punishment for taking a lover during the voyage. Marguerite finds herself in the company of spirit bears real and imagined and not only does ELLE survive, but she thrives. J. Kelly Nestruck of The Globe & Mail likens the play to the Oscar nominated movie The Revenant by Alejandro Iñárritu. We are hearing that ELLE reinvents the beginnings of this country’s national narrative. ELLE runs February 8 – 18 with tickets from $23 and available online at Firehall Arts Centre.
What people are saying about ELLE:
“Thompson holds the audience’s attention in a vice grip with her precision, depth, and hilarity. Her script is beautifully poetic, and is a master of delivery.”
Mooney on Theatre
“…a performance that weaves feminism, survival instincts, colonialism
and magic realism together.”
The Toronto Star
“Elle is occasionally tense, but frequently funny.”
Globe and Mail
Photo Credit: Severn Thompson
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Snowed In Comedy Tour At The York Theatre February 11th
30 Jan
Looking for a bit of humour? The Snowed In Comedy Tour is happening February 11th at the York Theatre it might just be what the doctor ordered. This is a Canadian comedy tour which liken themselves to the Tragically Hip touring across Canada. The show features comedians Dan Quinn, Craig Campbell, Paul Myrehaug a recent winner of the $25,000 Great Canadian Laugh Off and Pete Zelacher. They are billing this comedy tour as the “Better Than The Just For Laughs Tour”, but they do boast some standing ovations so there might be something to their gloating. Tickets for the show are $35 and available online via The Cultch. Note, this event is for audiences 19+.
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Bodegas Lustau Sherry Tasting Experience At Cabrito Tapas February 28th
27 Jan
Do you love sherry? Granted this libation isn’t for everyone, or maybe it’s just the ones you’ve tried. Either way, if you would like to learn a bit more about sherry, than Cabrito Tapas on The Drive has an event for you. If you don’t know Cabrito Tapas, well you are missing out, it is a delish spot on the Drive serving Spanish tapas. On February 28th, they will be hosting their first ever Sherry Experience. They will be featuring 7 different sherries from Bodegas Lustau in Spain. Not only will you get to experience the sherries, but Chef Alex will be pairing them with tapas to highlight both the food and the sherries. Cost of this event is $75 which includes tax and tip. To register, visit Cabrito Tapas.
Photo Credit: Cabrito Tapas
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Portraits In Motion At The Cultch February 24-26, 2017
25 Jan
A very unique show, Portraits In Motion, is back by popular demand. If you love photography, this is the show to see. Volker Gerling is a photographer and animator that uses flipbook to show you intimacy in motion. His work consists of rapidly taken photos of people which he projects onto a screen to create a moving image while recounting stories behind the images. His aim is to show you a glimpse of the human persona. It can be an awkward embrace, the end or beginning of a smile, something sad or you may see a recognition of something that’s happened in your own life. Volker Gerling has walked over 3,500 miles of Germany, showing his “thumb cinema” to people and gathering new portraits for it. Portraits in Motion has toured internationally. Portraits In Motion is on now at The Cultch with a post-show talkback this evening. Show runs for 65 minutes, no intermission. Tickets are available online from The Cultch.
What people are saying about Portraits in Motion.
“In Volker Gerling’s tiny flipbooks, great things emerge from small candid portraits of strangers that offer fascinating glimpses into the human soul” –
Broadway Baby
“Uniquely heart-warming” – The Times
Photo Credit: Franz Ritschel
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The Uncommon Café Offers Sweet Classes This February
23 Jan
With Valentine’s Day approaching, our friends at The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, are hosting a few delicious classes this February and if location is an issue, we see one of their upcoming classes, Eclairs and Cream Puffs, will be held at the Trout Lake Community Centre on a Sunday afternoon. Valentine Kitamura owner of Tartine Maple will be leading the various classes they have lined up which include learning how to make eclairs and cream puffs, the secrets of working with chocolate or making that perfect Valentine’s Dinner. We invite you to check out their upcoming classes.
Eclairs and Cream Puff: Choux Pastry Basics – Sunday, February 5, 2017
Valentine will teach you the basics of the new pastry craze from France, Choux pastry pronounced “shoo.” If unfamiliar with the term, they are a family of dessert, big and small puffs, all made with the same dough base. In this class, you will learn to make:
- Profiteroles filled with vanilla whipped cream and covered with warm chocolate sauce
- Chouquettes with are a simple little puff simply covered with crunchy sugar bits
- Eclairs – the long version of the choux, filled with cream
Bring a container(s) so you can take some of your creations home. If you don’t have baking experience, no worries, it is not required. They assure us no fancy equipment is required either and you can easily make the items yourself at home. This class runs Sunday afternoon at Trout Lake Community Centre from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Chocolate Lovers Class – Wednesday, February 8, 2017
If you love chocolate and want to learn how to make easy decadent desserts, than this class is for you. Whether you wish to impress guests, or that special someone this Valentine’s Day. What you will learn to make in this class is:
- Chocolate Mousse
- Lava Cake
- Chocolate Truffles
- Chocolate Sauce to Drizzle
This is a demonstration cooking class after which you will get to enjoy your Lava Cake along with a glass of sparking wine. The rest of the goodies you get to take home with you.
Valentine’s Couple Cooking Demo & Dinner – February 10, 2017 SOLD OUT
This class is designed for pairs, so whether that be a romantic couple, or maybe you want to bring someone on a first date, or you bring your mom or best friend, the field is wide open. During this demonstration class, Valentine will show you how to make some delish French dishes which we’ve set out below. After the demonstration, you get to sit down and enjoy the prepared meal in their restaurant with a glass of wine with candlelight if you wish. What you will learn to make includes:
Tarte flambée: Thin flatbread made right before your eyes, covered in onions, bacon and cream and cooked really high for extra crispiness. Served with green salad.
Aumoniere de Saumon: Salmon wrapped in purse shape phyllo dough served with a traditional white wine sauce
Lava cake: The ultimate dark chocolate indulgence served with vanilla ice cream.
Now if you like the idea of this class, but your prefer a different date, they are offering another class on February 14th, with a bit different menu. Price for the demonstration cooking classes are $75 per person. Keep an eye out for early registration offers which reduce the price by $10. To register, click on link above which takes you to the Eventbrite page for each class. Bon appetit.
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Let’s Do Brunch On The Drive
20 Jan
We are often asked where is a good place to go for brunch, coffee, dinner, live music or drinks in East Van. We started our brunch series with setting out some of our favourite spots in the Hastings Sunrise area. Next up we’d like to feature some very delish spots along Commercial Drive, some we’ve tried and some we’ve heard great things about through our grape vine.
Bandidas Taqueria, 2781 Commercial Drive
Brunch 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
We confess we have not tried this spot. We have noticed that it is a rare occasion that this spot is not busy, no matter the time of day or night. Bandidas Taqueria serves brunch daily from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm as well as breakfast all day. Most of their items are gluten free and we like that they get their gluten free bread from local fav spot, East Village Bakery. Eggs, beans and guacamole are featured heavily on their brunch menu, but we have our eye on the Cornbread Muffin Tops with honey butter. Bandidas Taqueria will make any breakfast vegan. This spot is certainly on our list to try not only because of the food, but their focus on minimal impact to the environment and their of support local smaller distributors. Bandidas Taqueria is located just North of 12th Avenue on Commercial Drive. Just a 5 minute walk from the Broadway Skytrain Station if you are travelling from elsewhere in the City.
Café Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive
Breakfast 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Weekdays + 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Weekends
You can’t miss this spot for the colourful mural outside. Cafe Deux Soleils is a long standing business on The Drive having been there for over 20 years. Here you will find eggs, but you won’t find meat if that’s what you are looking for. You will though find Veggie Ham or Veggie Sausage and lots of other great items as well as a kids menu. It’s a popular spot day and night as this spot includes a stage where you will find many local performers whether comedy, music, poetry and much more.
Havana is a great spot for many reasons, people watching from their patio is certainly one of them. It’s always a busy hopping spot that offers modern Latin fare and Caribbean cocktails. It is another long standing business that has been on The Drive for 20 years now. Havana serves breakfast 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm with some great offerings including a Pulled Pork Breakfast Taco. Another thing we love about Havana Restaurant, is they are a great supporter of local arts. They have a small gallery in the back next which is situated next to a small theatre which features some great local theatre groups. It’s a great intimate space if you haven’t checked it out already. We recommend it.
Biercraft Tap & Tapas, 1191 Commercial Drive
Brunch Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
On the Drive since 2005, Biercraft Tap & Tapas is another long standing business on the Drive. Everyone has their own unique spin on brunch on the Drive, as does Biercraft with Bangers and Mash, and Stovreji Hash browns topped with Belgian beef stew, blue cheese crumble and two poached eggs for those with a hearty appetite, but we like the Eggs on Cornbread and for those coming with kids, they have a kids breakfast menu for $6.00.
La Mezcaleria, 1622 Commercial Drive
Brunch Wednesday to Sunday Until 3:00 pm
This is a fun lively spot at any time serving delish Mexican fare including breakfast as well as a great selection of mescal and tequila should you wish to go there. They have some creative dishes, but what we have a hankering for is the Pan Frances which is Brioche French Toast topped with bananas, dark rum, salted caramel sauce, candied pecans, strawberries and gooseberries. If that doesn’t sound like a bite of heaven, we don’t know what does.
Tangent Café, 2095 Commercial Drive
Breakfast 8:00 – 3:00 Saturday – Tuesday & 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Wednesday to Friday
Although this spot is home to great live jazz music on Thursday and Sunday evenings, they also have a good breakfast menu. If you are a meat lover, you will find several options here, but if looking for vegan options, they have that too including a Malaysian Vegan Scramble.
The Dime, 1565 Commercial Drive
This is not a spot we’ve tried, but local historian Jak King and long time resident of The Drive swears by this spot. He says “it is nothing much more than a bar with background music, TVs on most walls, heavily tattooed staff (giving great service), and good cheap food.” Seems they offer a breakfast menu during week and a brunch menu on the weekends we couldn’t locate the latter, but Jack tells us Chorizo Hash Skillett is a good way to go. “It is a good plateful of potatoes and onions and peppers, a fried egg, with enough chorizo to give it a kick, and served with a form of hollandaise that is to die for.” Kicker is all dishes on the menu are $5.95.
Prado Café, 1938 Commercial Drive
As of Monday, June 19th the purveyors of kick ass coffee, have launched a full brunch menu at their Commercial Drive location. We’ve seen some pics on social media and have to say the dishes look great. If you head one block up the street North, you can also check out their sister restaurant Spade at the corner of 3rd Avenue. They have a small breakfast menu but are open at 8:00 am daily.
While you are in this part of East Van, there is so much else to see, do and taste while on The Drive. Whether it’s coffee, gelato, pasta, art, bookstores, cheese, licorice or chocolate. If it’s cheese you are after, La Grotta Del Fromaggio is our go to spot. We recommend one of their sandwiches to go, or if you’ve built up an appetite wandering, they are delish. If you love licorice, a stop at the Licorice Parlour is a must. If you aren’t a licorice fan, they also have handmade chocolates. If you are looking for beer after a wander, Biercraft offers quite the range of Belgian beers. If it’s whiskey, then a stop at Fets Whiskey Kitchen would be in order and side note they do serve brunch as well.
For coffee, well we can’t just pick one, there are so many places offering great coffee, you can’t go wrong whether it’s Continental Cafe, Joe’s Café, Moja’s, The Drive Coffee Bar (you will find Cartem donuts here though) or any other café. If it’s a muffin and coffee you are after, JJ Bean at 6th Avenue. Their muffins are legendary. Gelato, there are a few offerings which you can’t miss if you are walking The Drive, but if are looking for pastries, our personal favourite is Fratelli Bakery which an amazing selection of sweet treats. And more recently, there are so new delish offerings including The Bench Bakehouse in the Il Mercato and Livia Sweets at Kitchener Street. If you find you’ve done a fair bit of walking on the Drive and want a light bite such as pizza, take your pick, Famoso Pizzeria, Lombardo’s, Marcello’s or a quick wander over to Via Tevere on Victoria Drive. Of course, if you wish to pick up some pasta to cook later at home (fresh or frozen), we recommend Bosa Foods just off Commercial Drive at 562 Victoria Drive. We could keep going as this area has so much to offer from Venables to 12th Avenue and a bit beyond on either side of that. If we missed your favourite brunch spot that you think should be included, drop up us a line ILiveInEastVan@gmail.com and tell us why it should be included.
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Fireweed – Art Show & Fundraiser At Bandidas Taqueria On January 20, 2017
18 Jan
No 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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