Tag Archives: Brunch

Dine Out Vancouver Festival Returns January 17 to February 2, 2020

30 Dec

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Dine Out Vancouver Festival returns January 17th to February 2, 2020. This festival brings together over 300 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries and suppliers for 17 days of dining and culinary events.   This festival evolves each year and provides a little something for all tastes.    The big reveal of which restaurants are participating happens Thursday, January 9th.  Once the list is revealed, you are invited to check out the price fix menus online and make your reservation for brunch, lunch or dinner.  Price fix menus are $15, $25, $35 and $45. Beverages, tax and tip not included.

Each year a number of special culinary events take place during Dine Out and we have to say there are some pretty great ones happening this year.  We’ve highlighted a few that caught our eye, but check them out for yourself. Note, if you like what you see, we recommend booking your space, these events do sell out. Here’s, a sampling of what’s available. For the full rundown of special culinary events during Dine Out Festival Vancouver, visit Special Events.

BBQ, Fried Chicken & Brewery Tours With Vancouver Brewery Tours 

  • January 17, 2020; January 18, 2020; January 24, 2020; January 25, 2020; January 31, 2020; February 1, 2020
  • 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
  • $105.99*

Vancouver Brewery Tours invites to come and enjoy Vancouver’s best barbecue, fried chicken and craft beer. They’ve handpicked three of their favourite businesses in Vancouver for this tour. Your journey begins with some delicious free-range chicken at Juke Fried Chicken – voted #1 for Best Chicken in the Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards 2019. Next on down the line is award winning pit stop at Memphis Blues for some messy, low and slow cooked barbecue. Finally, you will visit Vancouver’s newest craft brewery Container Brewing. For tickets, visit Dine Out Vancouver Festival.

Coffee, Brunch, Donuts & Beer Tour With Vancouver Brewery Tours 

  • January 18, 2020; January 19, 2020; January 25, 2020; January 26, 2020; February 1, 2020; February 2, 2020
  • 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
  • $105.99*

You’ll want to roll out of bed early for this tour.  Vancouver Brewery Tours is hosting an epic morning of coffee, brunch, donuts and beer. You will kick off your morning at Agro Roasters coffee shop which will include a behind the scenes coffee tasting and info about bean sourcing and roasting processes.   After that, you will make your way to  the Truck Stop (at Red Truck Beer Company) for a tasty brunch. Next you will land at   Brassneck Brewery for a tour and flight of beer and mere steps away you will end your tour on a sweet note at Cartems Donuts. For tickets, visit Dine Out Vancouver Festival.

Dim Sum ChinaTown Tour – January 18 – February 2, 2020

  • 50 East Pender Street
     January 18, 2020 – February 2, 2020
  • 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
  • $94.50

Did you know Dim Sum means “Point of the Heart”. We did not, but they say it lives up to its name in Vancouver’s Chinatown. It was originally a Cantonese family tradition (sometimes called Yum Cha (drink tea)) with small, shared dishes, often served in bamboo steamers, Dim Sum has become a staple for lovers of food worldwide.  You are invited to come learn more about Chinatown’s history and visit a couple of Dim Sum restaurants for tastings as well as a tea ceremony.  This tour is provided by Canadian Craft. For tickets, visit Dine Out Vancouver Festival.

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What’s On East Van: September 6th Edition

6 Sep

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming weekend.  Beyond the weekend, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

Vancouver Fringe Festival – Various Venues – September 5th to 15th

The Vancouver Fringe Festival has kicked off for another year with a great line up of talent. Although many of the shows are playing on Granville Island, there are many shows happening at East Van venues including Havana Theatre, The Cultch, Wise Hall, What Lab and The Firehall Arts Centre.  Last year, the Fringe featured more than 700 performances by 90 artists in just over 11 days.  For a full line up, visit Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Summer Savour Festival – River District Centre – September 7th

Wesgroup Properties is hosting their last free summer event this Saturday in the River District Town Centre.  The afternoon starts off with Yeeri the Magician followed by music by Kutapira, Gina Lina and the Katherines.  Event happens between 2:00 and 6:00 pm. Lots of family friendly activities in the walkable town centre.   We recommend popping into the Everything Wine store in the heart of the Town Centre which has a great Wine Tasting Bar with free samples.

Studio Sale – AntiPod Workshop – September 7th

A few local artists are hosting an Open Studio Sale this Saturday, AntiPod Workshop, Rachael Ashe and Michelle Sirois-Silver at 201 – 1610 Clark Drive this Saturday. Stop by between 10:00 am and 5:30 pm to check out some local talent.

Come Draw With Me Alicia Tobin – Little Mountain Gallery – September 7th

Comedy show Alicia Tobin’s Come Draw With Me is back from a summer break and will be happening at the Little Mountain Gallery 8:00 pm.  Cost is $10 for advance tickets or $12 at the door (unless sold out of course). For advance tickets, visit Come Draw With Me.

Bayanihan Filipino Celebration – Trout Lake Community Centre – September 8th

You are invited to come experience a little taste of the Philippines this Sunday at Trout Lake Community Centre.   There will be music, dance, martial arts and Filipino food for sale.  The event is free to attend and happens between 11:00 and 2:00 pm.

Country Bluegrass Blues Brunch – September 8th – The Heatley

We learnt a little belated that the popular Country Bluegrass Blues Brunch that happens at The Heatley took a hiatus for the summer. For those interested in checking it out, it’s back this Sunday in Strathcona between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Loading Dock Party – Storm Crow Brewing – September 8th

Love beer floats? Maybe you’ve never tried one.  This Sunday is your chance at Storm Crow Brewing. They are celebrating their 25th Anniversary with a Loading Dock Party between 1:00 and 7:00 pm and yes, beer floats will be available.

Comedy, Music & Entertainment & More 

Do you love cartoons? Miss those Saturday morning cartoons you used to watch as a kid. Do you know Storm Crow Tavern offers cartoons Saturday morning from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm whilst you enjoy breakfast/brunch?

Also 7 days a week, you will find live music at the Libra Room on The Drive. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights  from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Saturday, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday afternoons from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, no cover.

Looking to shop and support local? Be sure to check out one of the farmer markets happening this weekend. Saturday is Riley Park Farmers Market at 30th & Ontario from 10 am – 2 pm and Trout Lake Farmers Market from 9 am – 2 pm at John Hendry Park. Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back in Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am – 2 pm. To see more of What’s On in East Vancouver,  check our Event Listing.  We also have a separate listing of Free Events for those on a budget and in Vancouver, who isn’t.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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What’s On East Van: October 5th Edition

5 Oct

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming week.  Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

Vegan Pop Market – Little Mountain Shop – October 4-8

There seems to be a few of these lately and that’s certainly not a bad thing in our view.   The Little Mountain Shop, 4386 Main Street, is hosting a Vegan Pop Up Market this weekend. Are you shopping for some vegan friends or family? We expect a good selection here.  Shop is open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.

Girls Like That – Havana Theatre – October 5th & 6th 

Sour Dog Theatre Presents: Girls Like That at Havana Theatre this Friday & Saturday night. “When a nude photograph of Scarlett goes viral in her high school, rumours spread across smartphones like wildfire and her reputation becomes toxic, threatening to shatter the fragile unity of the girls she has grown up with. Using shifts in time to interrogate when play turns into competition for young women, the play focuses on adolescent female friendship in the present day and how poisoned our perspectives can become in the face of societal and cultural pressures, and not to mention the fucking patriarchy.” If you have a daughter, niece, sister, you should show this production.  These events transform lives and shape perceptions for a very long time, sometimes forever.  Tickets are $25 and available online at Showpass.com.

Ola Volo Solo Exhibition – Settlement Building – October 5th & 6th 

Ola Volo is having her first solo exhibition this weekend at the Settlement Building. King.Queen.Lovers.Fool will feature  12 original paintings on canvas limited edition artworks as well as one Ola Volo signature-sized mural on wood panel.  We hear Doan’s Craft Beer will be on hand and  Vancouver Urban Winery will have the wine at the ready. Opening Reception is October 5 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm and an Artist Talk is set for Saturday, October 6th at 3:30 pm. For more info, visit, the event’s Facebook page.

A Vancouver Guldasta – The Cultch – Until October 21st

On now this weekend at The Cultch, A Vancouver Guldasta features a Punjabi family in the early 80s. We attended opening night and wow! For anyone that lived in the 80s, this is certainly a flashback in time. There’s history here about Vancouver, but also world politics, religion and most importantly family, which isn’t always biological.  Many people who grew in the multi cultural community that is Vancouver will resonate with the many themes in this production. We highly recommend. The show is on until October 21st. Tickets are available online at The Cultch.

Draw Draw Draw – Trout Lake Community Centre – October 6th

If you ever wanted to draw on the floors and walls, now’s your chance.  The Trout Lake Community Centre invites you to do just that. They will be experimenting with drawing to music and sounds as well. This is a free event that happens from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Centre Lobby. All are welcome, but pre-registration is requested.

Eastside Flea – 550 Malkin Avenue – October 6th & 7th

In case you missed it, Eastside Flea has moved to a new location, 550 Malkin Avenue, Eastside Studios.  50 local vendors will be on hand this Saturday and Sunday as will food trucks, music and we hear pinball and pool. Kids and dogs are welcome as well.  Admission is $3.00. The Eastside Flea runs 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Free Family Fun – Trout Lake Community Centre – October 8th

This holiday Monday, October 8th, Trout Lake Community Centre will have the gymnasium set up with a bouncy castle, arts and crafts and games for the kids from 10:00 am to Noon.  It’s a free event, but you are asked to pre-register.

Brunch This Long Weekend?

Looking to do brunch this long weekend? Reminder that Havana Restaurant is now officially back and running after a small kitchen fire.  If you are looking for more brunch ideas and where to go, don’t forget to check out our 2 features on Brunch On The Drive and Brunch In Hastings Sunrise.  Lots of great places for eats and amazing coffee.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

This weekend Kamloopa continues at The Cultch which is high energy Indigenous matriarchal story that follows two urban Indigenous sisters and a lawless trickster who face the world head-on as they come to terms with what it means to honour who they are and where they come from.

If it’s live music you are after, the Libra Room on The Drive has a regular line up of music. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights  from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Saturday, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday afternoons from 3-7 pm, no cover.

Three Farmer Markets happening this weekend – Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market in Dude Chilling Park from 10 am – 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Let’s Do Brunch On The Drive

20 Jan

ILiveInEastVanMarch302013 356We 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 Restaurant, 1212 Commercial Drive
Breakfast 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Daily

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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Dine Out East Village Brunch Crawl Saturday, January 28th

21 Dec

eastvillagebrunchcrawlvancouverfoodsterDine Out Vancouver, Canada’s largest restaurant festival gets under way January 20th and runs to February 5th. Each year the line up of delicious events gets better and better. One of many that caught our eye was Vancouver Foodster’s East Village Brunch Crawl happening Saturday, January 28th in the Hastings Sunrise area. The event will begin at The Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street, with registration which takes place between 9:30 am and 10:30 am. You will pick up your “passport” which is your guide to a number of restaurants in the Hastings Sunrise/Grandview Woodlands area. Some of the delish foods you will enjoy include fresh juices, smoothies, coffees, eggs benedict, pancakes, waffles, omelettes, brunch pizza, meats, seafood, hash browns, baked goods and a few more goodies.  Some of the stops we hear include Nonna’s Table, Gourmet Warehouse, Italia Bakery, Platform 7 Coffee and Di Oliva Tasting Bar with more to be announced soon.  Outside of your passport, we do recommend you bring your appetite. We don’t expect you will leave this event hungry. Cost for the Dine Out East Village Brunch Crawl is $52.50 and includes all food and beverage samples at each participating location.  To purchase your tickets for this Brunch Crawl, visit Tickets Tonight. The event runs from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. If you’d prefer to do a brunch crawl along Commercial Drive, that one is happening on Sunday, February 5th which kicks off at Federico’s Supper Club. For more information, visit Vancouver Foodster.

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Treat Your Mom To A Brunch Tour Saturday May 7th

28 Apr

OffTheEatenTrackWant to do something tasty and fun with your mom for Mother’s Day? Well Off The Eaten Track Tours is offering their Vancouver’s Best Brunch Tour in the heart of the East Village with a discount on Saturday, May 7th.  You are invited to join them on Saturday morning at 9:30 am to meet some local businesses and nosh your way through a progressive brunch.   On this tour, you will visit 5 culinary spots including a 35-year old Italian deli, a funky southern restaurant, a bakery, a local butcher shop and Vancouver’s smallest tea shop. There are only 10 spaces available on this tour. If you wish to get your seats, be sure to use the promo code TREATMOM to receive a 10% discount. For more information on the tour, or to purchase your spots, visit Vancouver’s Best Brunch Tour.

Photo Credit: Off The Eaten Track

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Eastside Culture Crawl November 19-22: 457 Artists + 83 Buildings

12 Nov

EastsideCultureCrawlThe Eastside Culture Crawl is back again for 4 days starting Thursday, November 20th.  This 4 day arts extravaganza really is a must see. During “the Crawl” over 400 artists in and around the heart of East Vancouver open their studios to the public. The event which grows each year now comprises some 83 buildings from Main Street to Victoria Drive and First Avenue to Powell Street. The mediums vary and include painters, jewelers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, wood carvers and photographers. There is no set schedule for this event, you go where your mood and interests take you and the array of talent is amazing. To help guide you, the Eastside Culture Crawl has a great rundown of all the artists on their website including a printable .PDF map to help you find your way. The Crawl runs November 19th and 20th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To figure out what you wish to see and when, check out the Issuu magazine online.

If you wish to mix things up and do some side trips in and around East Vancouver while on the Crawl, there are so many great stops en route. For instance, in Railtown there is Vancouver Urban Winery & Lounge which is a perfect start for brunch in the Belgard Kitchen before the Crawl or for a bit of wine or beer tasting after. There are more beer options if you head West a little ways including Parallel 49 Brewing Company, Bomber Brewing,  Powell Street Craft Brewery and a newcomer Doan’s Craft Brewing. If Belgian beer is more up your alley Biercraft on Commercial Drive which is also a good spot for brunch before the Crawl. If you are looking for the perfect cocktail, we recommend Odd Society Spirits.  Personally, we will be making a stop for brunch first before the Crawl.  There are so many options in the Hastings Sunrise area and on The Drive including amazing coffee shops. If you are looking for suggestions to eat before the Crawl, in Hastings Sunrise there is the Roundel Café, Yolk’s Breakfast and Red Wagon Café for starters. On the Drive, there is Havana Restaurant, Scandillious or for the perfect sandwhich to go (big enough to share) we recommend La Grotta del Fromaggio. While there, we suggest making the walk next door to Fratelli Bakery for something sweet. You won’t be disappointed.

During the Crawl, les amis du fromage, 843 East Hastings, is another great spot to stop in and do a bit of cheese sampling. They will also have some local vendors in store doing Pop Up Shoppes.  On Saturday, November 21st from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm they will have Mixers & Elixers. They produce small batch shrubs also known as drinking vinegar used in soda water and cocktails. Also on hand Saturday will be Grain which sources exclusively Canadian dry good products from farmers and processors they know.   On Sunday, November 21st  Noon – 4:00 pm, you will find SaltSpring Kitchen Co. in store.  Melanie Mulherin makes delicious small batch preserves in some unique flavours such as Meyer Lemon & Lavender Marmalade, Sour Cherry, Rhubarb & Rosemary Jam, Blueberry & Basil Jam and the one that caught our eye Winter Wonderjam (Strawberry, Cranberry, Orange & Bourbon).   Les amis du fromage is perfectly situated in Strathcona within walking distance of many artist studios.

For some more sweet stuff, the Licorice Parlour is a great stop with over 65 flavours on hand. If you are looking for coffee, there are many great options including the Wilder Snail in the heart of Strathcona, Pallet Roasters, 323 Semlin Drive and Platform 7, 2331 East Hastings St. Of course, there are an array of excellent choices along Commercial Drive including Continental Café, Moja’s Coffee and Prado Café to name but a few. If you find yourself in the Stratchona area, might we suggest a stop at Crackle Crème at 245 Union Street. This sweet little dessert cafe serves up artisan crème brûlée and authentic Belgian liège waffles as well as coffee. There will be many local restaurants, breweries and coffee shops at the ready to help you recharge your batteries before, during or after the Crawl.

See you on the Crawl.

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Let’s Do Brunch – Hastings Sunrise

23 Oct

orange-juice-1-1491009We are often asked where is a good place to go for brunch, coffee, dinner, live music or drinks in East Van. So in the coming months we will be featuring a list of some of our personal favourites as well as those we’ve been hearing great things about.  As East Van covers are fair of bit land mass, we will be breaking up our lists into geographic areas such as Mount Pleasant, The Drive, Fraser Street and Main Street. Today, we are starting with brunch in Hastings Sunrise and its surrounding area and wish to thank our friends over at Vancouver East Village for sharing some of their tips. So here’s some spots we recommend.

Aleph Eatery: 1889 Powell Street – Brunch Served Wed to Sun 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Aleph Eatery is a Middle Eastern restaurant that opened in December 2017. They have a simple brunch menu which is vegetarian.  One of the their brunch items includes Shakshuka a classic Middle Eastern breakfast dish with a spiced tomato sauce, organic eggs and fresh herbs. This is served with their amazing flatbread. Having been to this spot for dinner only so far, we can attest to some of the amazing flavours which explains why brunch is already a busy spot here.

Chomp Vegan Eatery – 2234 Hastings Street – Sundays 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Chomp Vegan Eatery is now serving brunch on Sundays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  This still relatively new spot serves Berry Full French Toast, Bananana Pancakes, Memphis Slow Cooked Pulled-Pork Sandwich which is BBQ’d jackfruit, Avocado Toast and more.  They use organic products whenever possible and have gluten free options available. For their full menu, visit Chomp Vegan Eatery.

Jackalope’s Dive: 2257 East Hastings Street Brunch Served Sat & Sun 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

So this is a newish spot in the Hastings Sunrise area offering Southern comfort and cold drinks. The décor we are going to describe simply as ‘eclectic’. For food, you will find corn cakes with baked beans, mac and cheese and slow cooked meal dishes along with cheesy egg bennies for brunch. As the owners are vegetarians, there are lots of veggie alternative items.

Scandillious: 25 Victoria Drive – Breakfast Served All Day

If you are looking for waffles, this is the spot. Whether it’s sweet or savoury, they have you covered with a few varieties all with a Scanadivian twist. Gluten free options are also available.  If you aren’t brunching on the weekend, keep an eye out for Toonie Tuesdays and you get a plain waffle with syrup for $2.00.  Breakfast is served all day Monday to Friday  7:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Red Wagon Café: 2296 East Hastings Street – Breakfast Served Sat & Sun 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

If you are any kind of foodie, you will know the Red Wagon Café was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and their Pulled Pork Pancakes with Jack Daniels spiked maple syrup is now legendary. Although, if you follow them on Twitter or Instagram, you will see they make some amazing meals and the term ‘diner’ and ‘café’ is a bit deceiving, as they offer some great dishes. Again, line ups are common, so be prepared. Oh and remember to bring your appetite, no small portions here, great spot for sharing with friends.

Roundel Café: 2465 East Hastings St. – Breakfast Served 7 Days A Week Mon to Fri 9-4/Sat & Sun 9-5

Roundel Cafe is a funky spot that looks like an old diner all grown up. It has “retro tables like your grandma’s, booths to cozy into, fresh and vintage tunes in the background. Park the bike and the pup right out front and on sunny days the windows opened up. Often a full house, this is one of the oldest and most popular diners in East Van.” Say our friends at Vancouver East Village. The focus here is fresh, locally sourced, grass fed meats and organic eats. The brunches we hear are outstanding. The service is casual, fun and sometimes sassy. They are licensed with a few local beers on tap and offer ‘Spiked Boozy Shakes’.

Yolk’s Breakfast: 1598 East Hastings St – Breakfast Served Daily 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Yolk’s Breakfast has truly mastered the art of the perfect egg and that is their specialty as the name infers. Mind you, there are a few other things they are known for such as their fried chicken with waffles, beignets and of course a personal favourite the Truffle Lemon Hashbrowns (pictured below). Take note, there is pretty much always a line, so expect to wait for a bit.  Having said that, we do give this spot high marks for hustling and keep things moving along. Food is great as is the service. Added bonus is they are now in new swanky digs at 1598 as of the end of November 2017, just blocks away from their former location.

While you are in this part of East Van, there is so much else to see and do. If you are looking to carry on after brunch and do a bit of wandering, you certainly don’t have to wander far. Less than a block from Yolk’s Breakfast, you can do some antiquing at the Antiques Warehouse. And mere steps from the Antiques Warehouse is one of East Van’s newer breweries, Callister Brewing.  So you can pop in for some beer tasting. If you wish to walk a bit more, a few blocks away on Powell Street, you will also find Doan’s Craft Brewing. Doan’s not only has German style beer, but one thing we truly love, an arcade game with some 80 games include Pac Man and Galatica and only .25 cents per game. Other craft beer tasting options include Parallel 49 Brewing, Storm Brewing which are all within easy walking or cycling distance.  In the same neighborhood at 1725 Powell Street is one of our favourite spots Odd Society Spirits which make East Van Vodka, Wallflower Gin, Mongrel and Crème de Cassis.  If you get a chance, be sure to check out their cool lounge which serves some amazing cocktails.  If you prefer tasting on the non-alcoholic front, there is Da Oliva Tasting Bar at 2632 East Hastings near Slocan.  They have an amazing selection of olive oils and vinegars to taste. We could keep going as this area has so much to offer, but we will let you discover that on your own.

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.

YolksTheBeastYolksHashBrowns

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East Van GoGos Benefit Concert & Brunch October 18 Trout Lake Community Centre

12 Oct

EastVanGoGoLogoThe East Van GoGos invite you to a Benefit Concert & Brunch on Sunday, October 18th at Trout Lake Community Centre.  What is a GoGo? Gogo is a Zulu word meaning “grandmother”. The Greater Van Gogos which includes chapters in various parts of the Lower Mainland are grandmothers and ‘grandmothers’ working in groups to support African grandmothers raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS. This network of grandmother groups in south western BC are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

In March 2006, Stephen Lewis, a Canadian humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, issued a call to Canadian grandmothers to bond with their African counterparts. In his travels, Lewis noticed the phenomenal grandmothers who had buried their adult children and stepped in to raise the orphans left behind. They needed money for school fees and uniforms, food and other necessities. In the Vancouver area, three women answered the call. They invited a few others and launched Greater Van Gogos in the summer of 2006 with four groups. Although grandmothers in Africa’s many countries are addressed in different ways – ja ja in Uganda, sho sho in Kenya or nyana in Zambia – the word gogo felt right. Many years later, there are 20 groups registered with approximately 600 members from Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Together they have raised more than $1 million for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The funds are distributed to community level projects supporting grandmothers and the children in their care in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.

The brunch on Sunday, October 18th is a fundraiser for the East Van GoGos which will feature a musical performance by the Soda Crackers.  The group consists of Sue Malcolm, Don Fraser and Stu MacDonald who are also members of Highrise Lonesome.  To find out what they will be playing, you’ll just have to come out and listen. It could be country, bluegrass, blues, jazz or some western swing.  Brunch will be provided along with coffee, tea and juice. Suggested donation is $25. To order your ticket contact Sharon at T: 604-254-4071 or eastvangogos@gmail.com. The brunch takes place from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Grandview Room at the Trout Lake Community Centre, 3360 Victoria Drive. The music gets under way at 12:15 pm. Come out and support these great GoGos!

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East Van GoGos 7th Annual Jazz Brunch March 22

10 Mar

EastVanGoGoLogoThe East Van GoGos invite you to their 7th Annual Jazz Brunch Sunday, March 22nd. What is a GoGo? Gogo is a Zulu word meaning “grandmother”. The Greater Van Gogos which includes chapters in various parts of the Lower Mainland are grandmothers and ‘grandothers’ working in groups to support African grandmothers raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS. This network of grandmother groups in south western BC are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

In March 2006, Stephen Lewis, a Canadian humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, issued a call to Canadian grandmothers to bond with their African counterparts. In his travels, Lewis noticed the phenomenal grandmothers who had buried their adult children and stepped in to raise the orphans left behind. They needed money for school fees and uniforms, food and other necessities. In the Vancouver area, three women answered the call. They invited a few others and launched Greater Van Gogos in the summer of 2006 with four groups. Although grandmothers in Africa’s many countries are addressed in different ways – ja ja in Uganda, sho sho in Kenya or nyana in Zambia – the word gogo felt right. Many years later, there are 20 groups registered with approximately 600 members from Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Together they have raised more than $1 million for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The funds are distributed to community level projects supporting grandmothers and the children in their care in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.

The brunch on Sunday, March 22nd is a fundraiser for the East Van GoGos which will feature a musical performance by What It Is! The group consists of Mimi Beyene, Cass King, Patti Powell and Carol Wiedemann. We hear that these four unique voices are quite the powerhouse and have a captivating sound with a cappella soul. Their distinct arrangements are steeped in the soulful sounds of such greats as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles,  Etta James, and Laura Mvula. They will be bringing East Van Soul to a whole new level.

Brunch will be provided along with coffee, tea and juice. Suggested donation is $25. To order your ticket contact Sharon at T: 604-254-4071 or eastvangogos@gmail.com. The brunch takes place from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm in the Grandview Room at the Trout Lake Community Centre, 3360 Victoria Drive. The music gets under way at 12:15 pm. Come out and support these great GoGos!

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