Foto Friday– 14th Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival

23 Sep

lantern20166In case you missed it, last Saturday was the 14th Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival which was put on by the Still Moon Arts Society and over 200 volunteers. The event kicked off with a Harvest Fair from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. After that, a Twilight Walk took place over to Renfrew Park with lanterns dotted along the path as well as the labyrinth with an array of candles laid out on the ground and a choir on hand.  Once you arrived at Renfrew Park, there was an amazing array of lanterns throughout the ravine. All paths and walkways were lit with candles and/or lanterns of varying sizes and lanterns, salmon of course being a big theme.  We were lucky to catch a few songs by the Vancouver Youth Choir in the ravine which was surrounded by candles and lanterns. It was quite something to experience.  Once outside of the ravine, you were treated to live music, a final performance which included fire dancing, stilt walking and fireworks. Although we didn’t capture pictures of everything, we did manage to capture photos of many of the lanterns and a few other things.  We hope you enjoy them and keep an eye out for next year’s event. 

The Twelfth Night Comes To The York Theatre For Diwali Fest October 11-22, 2016

21 Sep

piyaThe Cultch in partnership with Diwali Fest brings you The Twelfth Night.  The Company Theatre which is one of Mumbai’s most innovative theatre groups has created a very fun show. Think Bollywood meets Shakespeare.  The show is a musical adaption of the Twelfth Night.  The production features Olivia who is being woo’d by two, one is the lovesick Lord Orsino the other the pompous Malvolio. The show features a series of bittersweet events and has been a runaway success around the world. You are invited to check out this unique production at The York Theatre from October 11th to 22nd. Tickets for the show begin at $25 and are available from The Cultch.

Special East Van Event At The Cultch September 24th Music Video Launch-Rodney DeCroo

20 Sep

stupidboyinanuglytownYou are invited to a unique evening this Saturday at The Cultch. Rodney DeCroo will be screening the music video for his song “Stupid Boy in an Ugly Town”. Before we tell you about this Saturday, a little back story first.  Earlier this year, East Vancouver folk singer-songwriter Rodney DeCroo and the Templeton Secondary School After School Film Program teamed up to raise $10,000 from a Kickstarter campaign. The aim was raise funds to make a music video to DeCroo’s song “Stupid Boy in an Ugly Town“. The campaign was a success and raised a total of $11,437 with the support of 155 backers. Templeton High School’s drama teacher, Jim Crescenzo, had approached DeCroo to do something with the students at Templeton. DeCroo was curious to see how a group of students from East Van would interpret the song through the lens of their own experiences. Rodney went into this wanting to teach and reinforce how art creation is transformative and a powerful vehicle for self-expression. It turned out, the students taught DeCroo a few things. DeCroo stated that he  “was deeply impressed by how much they (the students) respected and trusted each other. They showed me that art is about connection, relationships, trust, intuition, authenticity, engagement and that it isn’t something that they need us to teach them. It’s always in us which isn’t to say it’s always easily in reach. But they’re artists. They may or may not have benefited from my being there, but I was reminded watching them to trust my instincts.”

As with many art endeavours, this music video is a collaborative effort with Flick Harrison as filmmaker, Rebecca Blissett doing the photography and acting as videographer, DeCroo’s label Tonic Records, The Cultch for providing their space. We invite you to take the opportunity to check out this unique all ages event. Doors open at 7:00 pm, curtain will be at 8:30 pm. Admission is free, but you need to reserve your ticket(s) at www.rodneydecroo.com. After screening of the music video, there will be a talk back portion with the creators of the video followed by a concert from Rodney DeCroo and The Wise Blood.

Great Line Up of Delish Pop Up Shops at Former Pie Shoppe Gore Street Location

19 Sep

heydumplingsThe French sisters, proprietors of The Pie Shoppe, who are known for making fabulous pie have moved their pie making expertise to their new larger location at 1875 Powell Street. This means their former location on Gore Street in Chinatown will be home to some food inspired Pop Up Shops over the coming months. We’ve learnt what some of those delish edibles will be and set them out below.  We invite you to stop by and support these budding entrepreneurs.

September 17 – 23, 2016

Hey, Dumplings! with Chef Heather Johnston. She will be making fresh handmade sweet and savoury dumplings from 11:00 am each day until they sell out. You are welcome to eat-in (although a very tiny space, or take out). Cost is $12 a bowl.  If you wish to follow Chef Heather, you can check her out on Instagram at @heydumplings. Or if you wish to learn how to make your own delicious dumplings, Chef Heather is offering workshops this week.  Check out her website at HeyDumplings! for dates and times.

September 24 – October 2, 2016

ULAM with Chef Josie Heyland. Chef Josie will be making French inspired Filipino meat and veggie bowls with local and fresh ingredients. Prices range from $5 – $15. 

October 11 – 31, 2016

Melt Confections with Pastry Chef Kate Mathewson. She will be making delicious chocolates and other confectionaries from $3 a piece.

November 2 –  April 30, 2016

Sweet Boy Cream Puffs with Chams. These we heard were being sold by way of tricycle and we hear are absolutely delicious. Chams will be making seasonally inspired cream puffs and confectionaries. He will be also be serving coffee and a selection of some of his favourite things. Prices will start at $4. You can follow him on Instagram at @sweetboycreampuffs to see what’s new or where you might find him before November.

Smash Hit Motherload Returns To The Cultch October 4-15, 2016

15 Sep

motherloadThe smash hit Motherload returns to The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, from October 4th to 15th.   This show is an intimate account of parenting in the modern age.  Four prominent Canadian theatre artists share their personal stories of motherhood.  They will be drawing on personal experiences such as playground conversations, coffee shop confessions and the issue of isolation that many moms feel while some get into ‘competitive mommying’.   By sharing their real life stories of parenthood, they hope to’ lighten the collective load’.  Motherload kicks off October 4th with a preview show, opening night is October 5th and the show runs until October 15th. For those wishing to check out a matinee show, there will be two performances at 2:00 pm on October 9th and 15th. Tickets are available online at The Cultch starting from $20.  What people are saying about the show:

Reminds you that you are not alone. I can’t recommend it enough; go with your
partner for a date night or bring your best friends for a girl’s night out or most
importantly – take your mother!”
Urban Baby and Toddler Magazine

“Motherload will charm, delight and touch you”
Vancouver Presents

Upgrade Your Thanksgiving: Learn To Make Brioche & Galette With The Uncommon Café September 28th

14 Sep

tartinemaplebriocheOur friends at The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, have lined up another delish class this month. This one we guarantee will help you impress your guests this Thanksgiving. You are invited to learn how to make brioche and a beautiful galette to serve your guests. The class will be 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 works with The Uncommon Café, a commissary and café located in the heart of Strathcona and we can personally attest to Valentine’s baking skills. You won’t be disappointed.  On the evening of September 28th,  Valentine will teach you the basics of brioche so you can make the best ever dinner rolls and a beautiful apple galette. It’s easier than pie honestly and tastes amazing.  The class runs from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and costs $50 per person (save $5 if you register one week early). If you decide to come with a small group, you can receive a discount of 20% off for groups of 3 or more.  To register, visit Eventbrite.

Sunday School Returns To Vancouver Urban Winery September 18th

13 Sep

ILiveInEastVanMarch2013 284Starting this Sunday, September 18th, Vancouver Urban Winery’s Sunday School is back with some fun wine education classes. You are invited to join the hosts David Stansfield and Lisa Cook, both sommeliers, for an engaging  wine seminar.  It doesn’t matter how much or how little you know about wines, there will be something to learn for everyone.  This weekend’s class is “BC Wines v. The World VIII” and will feature an interactive, brown bag, blind tasting.  Each round squares off a local wine against a global challenger in the Rocky III of wine tastings. Sunday School classes take place from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Vancouver Urban Winery, 55 Dunlevy, in the heart of Strathcona. The cost is $40 per person and tickets are available via Eventbrite. If you miss this week’s Sunday School, they have two more sessions lined up in October and December. We’ve set out their upcoming classes below.

Oct. 16:   Sommelier Smackdown VIII – 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Equal parts ‘Bloodsport’ and ‘Sideways,’ this seminar sees the sommeliers, Dave and Lisa, pit their favourite wines against each other in a vicious street fight for wine geek supremacy. You get to act as the judge and jury over five rounds of tasting.

Dec. 11: True Lies – 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Everything you know about wine is wrong. Or is it? Join them for this myth busting seminar that puts wine’s biggest (mis)conceptions to the test as you drink your way to the truth.

If you haven’t already checked out this great spot in Strathcona, we recommend you do. Belgard Kitchen is on site should you wish to stay for a bite to eat after class.

Story Story Lie Is Back At Café Deux Soleils September 28th

12 Sep

 

storystorylieAre you good at reading people? Do you think you can spot a liar a mile away? Well now you can find out, in a rather fun way. Story Story Lie is back by popular demand. It’s a new monthly show taking place  Café Deux Soleils that is part storytelling and part game show.  You will hear four stories and one lie. If you can spot the liar, you will win a prize.  Storytellers include TJ Dawe, Andy Cañete, Riel Hahn, Justin Ö’Hearn and Maia Gibb. The evening will be hosted by Jo Dworschak.  The show gets under way at 8:00 pm and cover is a very reasonable $5. Come out and see if you can spot the liar.  Note, this show is being recorded for a podcast.

East Van Artist June Hunter End of Summer Studio Sale September 10 & 11

8 Sep

sept sale fb ad.jpg

One of our favourite East Van artists June Hunter is having her End of Summer Studio Sale this weekend. For those that aren’t familiar with June’s work, she has a way with nature that shows in all her pieces. Her work has been featured in Style at Home House and Home and Where Vancouver as well as on CBC’s Living Vancouver.

During this weekend’s End of Summer Studio Sale, you can expect to find sale prices on art, cards, jewellery, tiles, magnets and one of a kind mixed media miniatures. June has been working on many new designs including crowbars and jewellery featuring symbols of Vancouver which include some bold colourful pieces.  June Hunter’s Studio is located at 2785 Parker Street (one block west of Renfrew – between Hastings St. and First Avenue). The Studio Sale runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, September 11th.

If you are not able to make the Studio Sale, you can also visit her Shop Online or find some of her work at Doctor Vigari Gallery, 1816 Commercial Drive as well as Bird on A Wire Creations at 2535 Main Street.

Photos Courtesy of June Hunter Images

Vancouver Fringe Presents The Berlin Waltz At The Cultch September 8–18, 2016

7 Sep

berlinwaltzSo if you haven’t guessed it already, we are big fans of the Vancouver Fringe Festival and all the great talent that gets showcased during this event. We’ve come across another interesting show that has won Best Creative Concept nominee by the Calgary Theatric Critics’ Awards. The show is the Berlin Waltz which is part of the Vancouver Fringe line up at The Cultch. In this production, you are invited on a journey with Devon More as she shares her tales from a 100 mile pilgrimage through the former border zone of the infamous wall. You will hear her recount stories told over many glasses of beer and schnapps. Her story will touch on the ripple effects of the Cold War.  In this one-woman show, Devon More, will entertain you with humour, satire, paranoia, propaganda and song.  Tickets for this show are available through Vancouver Fringe.com for $14 plus the $5 membership.

Here are some of the things people are saying about the Berlin Waltz:

 “More’s Berlin Waltz stands as a love letter to a city, an intimate encounter between biography and history, and also, a call for action.”
joyfulmagpies.com

 “Devon brings the history of the Cold War to life. … you’ll exit the performance to ruminate on the show’s poignant message about achieving the impossible through the power of people and art.”
Vue Weekly Edmonton 2016