Tag Archives: Britannia Community Centre

Stone Soup Festival May 7th At The Britannia Community Centre/Napier Greenway

13 Apr

Stone Soup 2016 Postcard Front ecardBritannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, is hosting the 21st Annual Stone Soup Festival on Saturday, May 7th. This annual event is a celebration of food, art, environment and community. You can expect to find a food market, local artists, community groups, talks and workshops, live music, tea leaf reading, children’s activities, free soup and much more. The Stone Soup Festival aims to bring awareness to the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources and eating ‘local’ and celebrating the diversity of food in our neighbourhood, the environment and its importance to the culture of our community.  Some of the highlights from this year’s festival include:

Urban Foraging & Medicine Making with Lori Snyder
Free Drop-In Workshop & Walkabout
Family Activity Room 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The Greenhorn Community Music Project
Performance 1:00 pm West Kid’s Area

Children’s Interactive Music with George Rahi (from Gamelan Bike Bike)
West Kid’s Area 2:00 pm

“Saving Our Wild Salmon” Slide Show & Talk by Eddie Gardner
Britannia Library  3:00 pm

There will be live music on the Commercial Drive Stage starting at Noon with the Carnival Band kicking things off, then at 1:00 pm Backspin takes the stage followed by the Tim Sars Duo at 2:00 pm. After that The Vancouver Fiddle Club keep things moving about 3:00 pm which are followed by Rio Samaya at 4:00 p.m. The Stone Soup Festival kicks off at Noon and runs till 5:00 pm. This is a family friendly event with lots of activities for the kids including face painting, storytelling and a kids activity area.  For more information, contact the Britannia Community Centre at T: 604.718.5800.

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Family Day On The Drive February 8 With Free Skate, Lion Dance & More

27 Jan

FamilyDay2016The Commercial Drive Business Society is hosting ‘Family Day On The Drive’ on Monday, February 8th.  This is a free community event with a number of activities lined up for the afternoon at the Britannia Community Centre.  The events kick off with a Lion Dance Performance at 2:00 pm. From 2:00 to 4:00 pm, you will find face painting, balloon twister and a caricature artist on hand.  There will be a free skate planned at the Britannia Ice Rink from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For those that prefer something warmer, there will also be a free Public Swim from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Britannia Community Pool.  As an added bonus, many of the merchants on The Drive will be offering special deals for Family Day, so keep an eye out or visit The Drive’s website for more details.

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Halloween Events In East Vancouver 2015

21 Oct

halloween-night2Lots of fun events coming to East Vancouver for Halloween for the big kids and the wee ones.  We have set out a sampling of some of the events. Of course, if you are staying in to hand out Halloween candy to the wee ones, Black Dog Video on Commercial Drive has you covered for Halloween movies. If you have an event, you’d like to see included on the list, feel free drop us a line at IliveInEastVan@gmail.com

Parade of Lost Souls. This popular East Van tradition takes place on October 31st. The exact location will be announced at midnight on October 30th on the Dusty Flowerpot website. You can expect a parade of wild costumes, giant puppets, live music by East Van’s own Carnival Band among others, a Thriller Flash Mob and performance art created by local community members. The Parade of Lost Souls will take place in East Vancouver on October 31st 7:00 – 10:00 pm. This event is free and for all ages. Costumes are encouraged. For those wishing to carry on after the parade, there is an After Party at The Hall on Venables Street. The after party will feature performances by The Tailor, Sweet Anomaly, Orkestar Slivovica, Bone Rattle Burlesque and much more.  Tickets are available in advance and at the information booth the night of the parade.

Fright Nights. Playland is hosting 7 haunted houses, 15 rides, a fire show, Monsters of Schlock and the Radiant Heat Show. Fright Nights is now on until November 1st (enter E. Hastings & Windermere) tickets are available online at FrightNights.ca.

Rio Theatre. On Saturday, October 31st, the Rio Theatre has you covered for scary movies.  They are starting the night with Jack Nicholson in The Shining at 6:15 pm, then Halloween at 9:15 pm and ending with From Dusk Till Dawn at 11:30 pm.  Advance tickets are available online.

7 Deadly Sins At The Waldorf. 7 Deadly Sins is happening at The Waldorf.  This is a multi room affair featuring DJs, dancing and much more. The event gets underway at 8:00 pm and tickets are $35 and going quick.

Dogwood Brewing – Costume Kegger. The fine folks at Dogwood Brewing in SE Vancouver are throwing a Costume Kegger this Halloween. As the name depicts, costumes are encouraged.  Tickets are $30 and includes meal ticket for Disco Cheetah, beer tickets, a DJ, games and shuttle transportation to and from Cambie/Marine Skytrain Station.  The event kicks off at 8:00 pm and will go till 1:30 am.  Tickets are available online at Eventbrite.

Halloween Drive-In Movie Night. You are invited to check out a Halloween Drive-In movie series which will be held this weekend and next at River District in SE Vancouver.  Load up the car with your family and/or friends for the early movie which is family friendly at 7:00 pm on October 24th which is showing Hocus Pocus OR you can opt for the later scary movie for the adults at 9:00 pm which features The Thing.  On Friday, October 30th, they will be doing it all over again. On this Freaky Friday they will be showing The Nightmare Before Christmas at 7:00 pm and for the adult scary movie it will be The Lost Boys at 9:30 pm. The drive-in theatre is located at Boundary Road and East Kent Avenue North. Cost is $20 per car load plus taxes.  Free popcorn for the early movie and 4 food trucks and a snack bar will be on site. You can purchase tickets in advance online.

Halloween On The Drive – The Commercial Drive Business Society invites you and your family down for a FREE family event on Saturday, October 31st. From 12:30 to 4:30 pm, kids under the age of 12 can stop by Famoso Pizzeria on Commercial Drive for a free Margherita Pizzetta. From 4:30 to 6:30 pm, there will be ‘trick or treating’ along The Drive from Venables Street to 13th Avenue.  Participating merchants will have a “TREATS HERE” sign in their windows. Stop by the Southwest corner of Grandview Park between 6:00 and 7:30 pm for a chance to win a prize pack from local merchants.  And to top things off, there will be a fireworks finale at Grandview Park between 7:30 and 8:00 pm.

COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR THE WEE ONES:

Trout Lake Community Centre: Halloween Celebration – Saturday, October 31st 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.  You are invited to come jump in the bouncy castle, play Halloween games, and make some pumpkin crafts. Lots more surprises planned for the wee ones. There is a cost of $4.00 per child.

Britannia Community Centre: Halloween Howl – Saturday, October 31st (1–8 years). You are invited to a FREE spooky community event with entertainment and ghostly games and, of course, tricks and treats.  Event takes place in Gym D from Noon to 2:00 pm. Treats for the first 100 kids.

Britannia Community Centre – The Ghost Caravan – Kids Theatre Show – Sunday, October 25th 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Local children are invited to come out and be a part of The Kids Theatre Show at the Parade of Lost Souls.  They ask that you imagine two ghostly figures riding two white bicycles.  Behind them, like a horse drawn carriage, there is a portable theatre from which costumed characters emerge which will be played by local children.  To learn more, stop by the Cafeteria at Britannia Community Centre and check out what’s happening.

Sunset Community Centre: Haunted Halloween – Friday, October 30th  6:30 to 9:00 pm.  Come check out their spooky haunted houses, crafts and trick or treating. This is a free event for all ages.

Sunset Community Centre: Halloween Skate – Thursday, October 29th 3:00 to 4:15 pm. Dress up in your Halloween costume and skate this spooktacular event. Regular admission and rental fees apply.

Happy Halloween

 

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Parade of Lost Souls October 31st

19 Oct

ParadeofLostSoulsWe are pleased as punch that this much loved East Van tradition is continuing again this year. For those not familiar with this event, The Parade of Lost Souls is a community-driven event celebrating  Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead). The event includes a parade in East Van as well as performance art, live music, interactive art installations and YOU lost souls. The Day of the Dead is a time for celebration, for ceremony, for reflection and renewal. This parade is for YOU and by YOU, all the lost souls of the world. Bring your past and your present for a celebration of life and death. We may all be lost, but at least we can all be lost together.

This year’s parade will be held on Saturday, October 31st from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. The location will be revealed at midnight on October 30th on the Dusty Flowerpot website as well as the Dusty Flowerpot Facebook page. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Parade of Lost Souls, we invite you to check out all the great workshops taking place at the Britannia Community Center leading up to the event.  The Parade of Lost Souls was conceptualized and produced by the beloved Public Dreams Society for over 25 years. The parade now carries on under the direction of The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret. As the Parade of Lost Souls is a community driven event, it can only exist through donations from the community.  It costs over $20,000 to put on this parade each year, so we invite you to consider donating online to ensure this parade continues. Whether you participate in this event, or just come out and take in the spectacle, it really is something to see. Will we see you?

Following the Parade, for all of those souls that want to keep the party going, the Lost Souls After-Party will be taking place at The Hall (Astorino’s), 1739 Venables Street from 9:00 pm – 2:00 am. The party will feature performances by The Tailor, Sweet Anomaly, Orkestar Slivovica and Bone Rattle Burlesque. Early bird tickets are available online for $15 per person until October 25th.  From October 26th – 30th, tickets will be $20 per person. Tickets will be available on October 31st at the parade’s information booths only. Tickets will not be available at the door.s can

Photo Credit: Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret ParadeAfterParty

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In Anticipation Of The Parade of Lost Souls Coming October 31st

16 Oct

DayoftheDeadDollsThe Parade of Lost Souls is coming on October 31st. This is a community-driven parade inspired by Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead). This is ultimately one of our favourite events in East Van. The parade has travelled around various parts of East Vancouver featuring performance art, interactive art installations and YOU lost souls. The Britannia Community Centre is a big part of the creative process for this event and is featuring some great workshops leading up to the big event.  We have set a few of the upcoming workshops below, but we invite you to check out Britannia Community Centre’s website which has a full listing of workshops leading up to the parade and how you can participate.  Whether you play an instrument and want to participate in the Carnival Band or make costumes/masks or be part of a Thriller Flashmob, there are lots of options to be part of the Parade of Lost Souls.

Thriller Flashmob – October 17, 20, 24 & 27

Back again by popular a Thriller Flashmob workshop will be hosted by Kat Single-Dain. You will learn the original choreography of Michael Jackson’s record breaking hit Thriller. You are asked to come to at least two of these rehearsals times set out below, but if you can make it to all of them, even better.  This workshop is by donation minimum $5-10 suggested.

Saturday October 17 & 24, 12-2pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre
Tuesday October 20 & 27, 7-9pm, Auditorium, Britannia Community Centre

The Ghost Caravan – Kids Theatre Show – October 18 & 25

You are invited to “imagine two ghostly figures riding two white bicycles. Behind them, like a horse drawn carriage is a magnificent portable theatre. Costumed characters emerge, played by local children and the lucky passersby are treated to short magical, musical stories and vignettes!”   On October 25th, Chris Ross, writer and director with Project Limelight, will lead a theatre workshop which will work towards a group performance at the Parade of Lost Souls.

Sunday October 18 & 25, 2-4pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre

Parade of Lost Souls – Carnival Band – October 19 & 26

You are invited to join the Carnival Band for one big night during the Parade of Lost Souls. You are asked to dust off that flute from Grade 9 or come and learn the tuba. Why not?  If you are musically inclined, come on out and practice with the Carnival Band and be part of the big night.   Drop in rehearsals will be happing on:

Monday October 19 & 26, 7-9pm, AML, Britannia Community Centre

The Sounders Costume Making – October 22 & 29

Nayana Filekov will be hosting a costume & mask making and performance workshop on October 22nd and 29th. The Sounders are other worldly masked creatures that create beautiful music together. This workshop is equal parts visual art and sound.  This is a two part workshop in which participants will make wonderful take home masks made out of paper-mache. If you wish, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a group performance at this year’s Parade of Lost Souls.  There is a suggestion donation of $5-10 for this workshop and pre-registration is encouraged for this workshop. Contact the Britannia Community Centre directly to register.

Thursday October 22 & 29, 7-9pm, Cafeteria, Britannia Community Centre

Again, these are just a few of the workshops taking place over the next couple of weeks prior to the big parade on October 31st. A full listing of workshops can be found at Britannia Community Centre. Whether you participate or just come and watch, we encourage you to check out this fun community driven event.

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Artful Sundays Return To The Napier Greenway August 9-30

22 Jul

Artful Sundays 2015 Poster 2Artful Sundays return to the Britannia Community Centre this summer. This is an outdoor visual arts market that begins Sunday, August 9th and will run every consecutive Sunday until August 30th. This event now in its 15th year will feature local artists, special events, artist demonstrations, workshops and more. There will also be lots of live music on hand and we’ve set out below who will be on hand for each Sunday. The event will take place in the Napier Greenway at Napier Street & Commercial Drive from Noon – 5:00 p.m.

August 9
East Van Letter Writing Club – Resurrecting The Lost Art of Letter Writing
Live Music With Backspin Band Noon – 2:30 pm &
Russell Shumsky & Bud Kurz 2:30 – 5:00 pm

August 16

Workshop with Magpie’s Nest Community Art Space –
Making flowers from recycled plastic bottles
Live Music with Doug Thordarson Noon – 2:30 pm &
Rio Samaya 2:30 – 5:00 pm

August 23

Workshop with Avenue for/des Arts (AVA) Community Arts Table
Live Music with Lindy & the Crows Nest Noon – 2:30 pm
Katheryn Petersen  3:00 – 4:00 pm
Caitlan Read 4:00 – 5:00 pm

August 30

Workshop with Helen Spaxman & Diane Wood
Mixed Media Button Making Workshop
Live Music with Tim Sars Duo Noon – 2:30 pm &
Cosmic Wink 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Come out and support the local artists, musicians and workshops.

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East FEAST: A Micro Funding Event For Artists At Britannia Community Centre June 28

24 Jun

EastFEASTEast FEAST  (Funding Emerging Artists through Sustainable Tactics) is a micro-funding event that supports artists living and working in the neighbourhoods of Grandview-Woodland and Strathcona. East FEAST is hosting a Feast on Sunday June 28th at the Britannia Community Centre from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. During the course of the event, you will have the opportunity to meet and listen to 3 artists, each of whom will make a 5-7 minute presentation.  At the end of the FEAST, attendees will vote on which artist they would like to see funded.  The chosen artist will receive a grant from the funds raised by the event ticket sales of up to $1000.  Tickets for the event are $20.00 per person and available in person at Britannia Info Centre, 1661 Napier Street or by phone at 604.718.5800 (1). Come out and support the local arts.

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Italian Day Returns To Commercial Drive Sunday June 14

11 Jun

ItalianDay2015ArtIn East Van, we are fortunate to be home to some great community events. One of our favourites happens this Sunday, Italian Day.  This is your chance to experience everything Italian from the food, to the music to the culture. The 5th Annual Italian Day returns to the Drive with this year’s theme being ART.  So you can expect to find Italian art showcased or you can make your own. The Britannia Community Centre will be hosting an interactive photo-art project between Noon and 3:00 pm in the Britannia Courtyard. As well, I’m Impressed Paper Arts Ltd. will have supplies available so you can create your own art.

The Drive which is very much alive most days of the week will be transformed for Italian Day where 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 from Italian honey bees to classic cars and motorcycles. The Italian Cultural Centre will be hosting live opera at the Grant Street music stage as well as jazz with Cory Weeds.  Of course, you can expect to find Federico Fuoco center stage drawing a crowd as always at the 2nd Avenue Main Stage along with Carmelina Cupo.

For the kids, there will be lots to see and do including arts and crafts in the Little Italy Kids Zone and Funswing amusement rides in Grandview Park as well as balloon twisting and face painting. Other street activities also include the Whitecaps/BMO Fun Zone with kicking cage as well as the Car2Go sponsored Bocce Court. Some new additions to this year’s festivities include a new third stage at Grandview Park which will showcase Italian martial arts demonstrations by Blood and Iron as well as improv by Theatre Temp from Templeton Secondary School and Marionette Puppet Shows by Carnival Sized Cinnamon Hearts. Opening Ceremonies kick off the event at Noon on the Main Stage at Second Avenue and festivities run till 8:00 pm.  There will certainly be something for everyone here. Come out and celebrate all things Italian!

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20th Annual Stone Soup Festival At Britannia Community Centre May 9

16 Apr

StoneSoupFestivalBritannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, is hosting the 20th Anniversary of the Stone Soup Festival on Saturday, May 9th. This annual event is a celebration of food, art, environment and community. You can expect to find a food market, local artists, community groups, talks and workshops, live music, tea leaf reading, children’s activities, free soup and much more. The Stone Soup Festival aims to bring awareness to the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources and eating ‘local’ and celebrating the diversity of food in our neighbourhood, the environment and its importance to the culture of our community.

Some of the highlights from this year’s festival include:

The Food Connection: Spice Blending Demonstration/Workshop
12:00 pm
Family Activity Room

Hives For Humanity: A Bee Behavior Workshop
2:00 pm
Family Activity Room

Re-indigenizing The Land & Food System: Talk by Dawn Morrison, Secwepemc First Nation
3:30 pm
Britannia Library

There will be live music on the Commercial Drive Stage starting at Noon with the Carnival Band kicking things off, then at 1:00 pm Backspin takes the stage followed by the Tim Sars Duo at 2:00 pm. After that Russell Shumsky and Bud Kurz keep things moving about 3:00 pm and they are followed by Rio Samaya at 4:00 p.m. The Stone Soup Festival kicks off at Noon and runs till 5:00 pm. This is a family friendly event with lots of activities for the kids including face painting, storytelling and a kids activity area.  For more information, contact the Britannia Community Centre at T: 604.718.5800.

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Artful Sundays Return to Britannia Community Centre August 10th

19 Jul

ArtfulSundays2014

Artful Sundays return to the Britannia Community Centre this summer. This  is an outdoor visual arts market that begins Sunday, August 10th and will run every consecutive Sunday until August 31st.  This event features local artists, live music, special events, artist demonstrations, workshops and more. Sara Chandler, the Sidewalk Cellist, will be on hand to provide some live music. The event will be held in the Napier Greenway at Napier Street & Commercial Drive from Noon – 5:00 p.m. Special events lined up for Artful Sundays include:

August 10
Vancouver Cooperative Radio: Books and Records Fundraiser

August 17
Pom Pom Making Workshop with Helen Spaxman

August 24
Stitching With Purpose: Workshop with Laura Bucci

August 31
Mixed Media Woven Baskets: Magpie’s Nest Community Art Space

Come out and support the local artists, musicians and workshops.

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