In case you hadn’t heard, The Eastside Flea Spring Markets are in full swing every weekend until March 23, 204. They are in their new space at 1101 Union Street with 50+ vendors, food trucks, photo booth, patio seating. They will have lots of vintage along side handmade items. You can also expect find local craft brews, Spring cocktails & non-alcoholic beverages. Admission is $5.00. Market runs from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Liberty Merchant Company presents the 9th Annual East Side Beer Fest tasting event on Wednesday, March 15th at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street. After 3 long years the East Side Beer Fest is back to feature craft beers from local BC producers as well as producers from around the world. This event is a fundraiser for the Great Vancouver Food Bank Society which helps provides some 25,000 people in need each week. All ticket sales and draw prizes directly support the Great Vancouver Food Bank Society. Early bird tickets are $24.99 until February 15th after which they are $29.99. Tickets are available at all Liberty Wine Merchant locations. In East Vancouver, visit them at 1622 Commercial Drive or call them at 604.633.1922. The event gets under way at 7:00 pm and goes till 9:00 pm.
The Yeast Van Brewery District Cooperative invites you to their first ever Patio Block Party at Container Brewing, 1216 Franklin Street, happening Saturday, August 17th. Tickets for the event are $20 and include 2 drink tickets. Extra drink tickets are available for $5.00 each. Big Day BBQ will be on hand with eats and Dr. Alex will be spinning vinyl. Lots of great local breweries will be participating in this event including Bomber Brewing, Luppolo, East Van, Off The Rail, Callister, Container, Strathcona, Hastings Mill, Postmark, Coal Harbour, Storm, Parallel 49, Odd Society Spirits, Resurrection Spirits, Andina, Powell, Strange Fellows and Superflux. So grab a ticket now, or at the door. To grab your ticket in advance, visit Eventbrite.
This Sunday you are invited to participate in the 4th Annual Art, Bike & Beer Crawl. This is a fundraiser for the Eastside Culture Crawl in which you explore East Van’s craft breweries while at the same time supporting local art. Guests will be taken to 3 of the 9 participating breweries after which there will be a wrap tour at Strange Fellows Brewing with tastings, of course. Tickets are $60 each or 2 for $100. To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Kicking off on the last weekend of May every year, Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) is a 10-day celebration of craft beer, culminating at the historic PNE fairgrounds for a massive festival. Now celebrating its 10th year, VCBW festival saw thousands of craft beer and cider enthusiasts from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond this past weekend. This is a huge leap from the first festival, which started at a small venue hosting about 100 beer aficionados and 15 breweries. Over the past 9 years, it has evolved from Canada’s first-ever craft beer week into a multi award-winning cultural engine that showcases music, food, art, and craft beer at events across the city.
Not a beer drinker? You might want to consider becoming one. With brews like Fuggles & Warlock’s “The Last Mango Witbier” and the “Wide Mouth Watermelon Wheat Ale” courtesy of Foamers’ Folly (my two personal favourites) you might as well be drinking boozy fruit juice while lounging on the grass listening to live music. Beer connoisseur? Choose from more than 300 brews from 100+ breweries and cideries. With so much choice, you’re sure to find something new. And let’s not forget about the food. There were more than 15 food trucks throughout the festival grounds ready to satisfy any craving, be it mac n’ cheese, Triple O’s, or traditional pierogies. I have to say I was nearly as excited about getting a Bandidas burrito as I was to taste the beers.
If you haven’t yet attended the Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival, mark you calendars for next year because this is the perfect way to kick off summer in Vancouver.
By Contributing Writer Nicole Alivojvodic
Love craft beer? If the answer is yes, you might want to make your way to the 10th Annual Vancouver Craft Beer Festival happening this Saturday and Sunday at the PNE Fairgrounds. This event which started in 2010 hosting just 100 beer lovers and 15 craft breweries has grown exponentially. This weekend you can expect over 300 beers and ciders for tasting. In case you missed that, if you are not a beer lover, there will also be 10 cideries on hand to mix things up. There will be local offerings of craft beer and cider as well as a number from across the border as well as 10 independent craft berries from the BC Ale Trail. If you get hungry, there will be a good selection of food trucks on hand for the festival. The Craft Beer Week Festival runs this Saturday, June 8th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Sunday, June 9th from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Tickets are $39 for one day, or you can purchase a weekend pass for $65. Tickets are available through Ticketleader. Note: You must be 19+ to attend the Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival and 2 pieces of ID are required for entry.
We had the pleasure of popping in to check out the new Finfolk restaurant in East Van during their recent soft opening. This is a unique space that we expect will be a happening spot in East Van’s Craft Beer District. Finfolk has a Nordic inspired menu which was created by Jeff Bobyk, his father Karey Bobyk and their partner and Executive Chef Darren Brown. If you are unfamiliar with the name, you will remember the food. Chef Darren Brown has worked in a variety of kitchens including CinCin, Horizon’s and Whistler’s Quattro. So you can expect some unique high quality food but in a casual relaxed setting.
The menu is simple and straight forward, but will be evolving over the coming weeks as they get ready for the official opening in early May. Right now the menu includes pizza, one of which is named Hildaland which comes with lamb, potatoes, truffle cream and rosemary (pictured below). They will also be serving fresh Fanny Bay Oysters which will be delivered every Friday along with fresh organic produce from North Arm Farms in Pemberton. If you wish to nibble, they will have some truly Nordic inspired grazing plates. Finfolk brines and smokes all their own meats and pickles their own vegetables. As they do it all in-house, you can expect a bit bigger portions than you might find on your average charcuterie plates around town.
Last but not least, the beer! Here they are doing something a little different we like. There are many more craft breweries popping up in other parts of the Lower Mainland making a name for themselves including the stretch in Port Moody and Four Winds in Delta. Finfolk will be bring a variety of different beers on top from other breweries to East Van. So you don’t have to travel to Port Moody to try Twin Sails beer, you can try it right here in East Van. We understand the selection will be rotating, so expect it to change. This is definitely a spot worth checking out. We will be keeping an eye out on their evolving menu as they gear up for their official opening. In the meantime, stop by Friday, Saturday or Sunday 11:00 am to 11:0 pm. They are located at 1600 East Franklin Street, just 1 block North of East Hastings. To check for updates on their update, new menu features, follow them on Instagram.
The ninth annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival (VCBW) at the PNE Fairgrounds attracted thousands of craft beer and cider enthusiasts this past weekend. The two day beer fest capped off a 10-day citywide celebration of craft beer culture and community. But it’s about so much more than beer! VCBW is outdoor entertainment at it’s finest – live music, games, food trucks and over 100 craft breweries and cideries. Nine years in and VCBW has evolved from Canada’s first-ever craft beer week to become the most anticipated craft beer and cider festival in Western Canada.
For those who have attended a beer festival in the past, you’ll know that it’s difficult to keep track of which brews you’ve tasted, which you liked and which you didn’t – and the more you drink, the more challenging it gets. With more than 300 beers and ciders to try, VCBW offered festival goers an easy way to keep track on their website! On the participating breweries page, each brewery is listed, showing its location on the festival map, the 2-4 brews being poured, as well as giving users the ability to “favourite” a brewery. This meant that you could go through beforehand, choose all the ones you wanted to try and systematically work your way through the festival. If you’re like me and prefer a more spontaneous experience, you could have the webpage open on your phone, “favourite” as you go, and check back later to see which 6-packs you’ll be picking up for your next summer BBQ.
The festival had something for everyone, with extra beer tokens available for purchase and plenty of grassy areas to lounge with your crew, you could kick back with your kombucha infused blonde ale, lime and agave cider, sublime pineapple hefeweizen or beet juice pale ale and revel in the beginning of summer in Vancouver. And not to miss was the “crafts with Craft” tent where you could string pretzels on a string to wear as a necklace – providing endless snackage all while keeping your hands free to hold your beer.
By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic
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.
Yeast Van’s Hop Circuit – Eat Van Craft Breweries – April 22nd
Love tasting beer and meeting other beer loves? You may wish to check out Yeast Van’s Hop Circuit happening this Sunday, April 22nd from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. East Van craft breweries and distilleries are hosting an open house. Stop by and sample beer, get a tour of what happens behind the scenes. Food trucks will be dotted throughout East Vancouver at the various breweries/distilleries. Our friends at Vancouver Brewery Tour have aptly called it the “Super Bowl of craft beer events”. Expect line ups, especially if the weather is good.
Make It! Vancouver – PNE Forum – April 20 to 22, 2018
Make It! Vancouver is at the PNE Forum this weekend with 180 makers. The show will feature a host of items including accessories, home décor, delectable items to eat and drink, art, jewellery, leather goods, baby clothes and toys, accessories for your dogs. There will be food trucks and a beer garden to help sustain you while you wander and shop. Make It! Vancouver kicks off Friday, April 20th at 11:00 and goes till 9:00 pm that day and continues Saturday (10-6) and Sunday (11-5). Admission is $6 at the door, or buy your tickets for $3.00 in advance online. To purchase your tickets, visit Make It! Vancouver.
Earth Day Parade & Festival – The Drive/Grandview Park – April 21st
8th Annual Earth Day Parade & Festival take place this Saturday, April 21st. Parade starts at 1:00 pm at Commercial & Broadway and makes its way to Grandview Park. The festival begins in Grandview Park at 1:45 pm and goes till 3:00 pm. Lots of family friendly activities.
Park Earth Day Celebration – Everett Crowley – April 21st
Volunteers are back at Everett Crowley Park this Saturday, April 21st planting trees, native shrubs and pollinating insects. Organizers have partnered with the Vancouver Park Board and Wildcoast Ecological Society and will be leading a salmon berry planting along the banks of Kinross Creek. The Environmental Youth Alliance will be giving away native plants. There will be interpretative walks along with fresh refreshments. This is an all ages family event and happens from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
2nd Annual Earth Day Fundraiser & Student Art Show – Bandidas Taqueria – April 22nd
This Sunday, April 22nd, Bandidas Taqueria will be hosting a community fundraiser, student art show and sidewalk festival in support of RAVEN Trust’s Heiltsuk campaign. This is an all day affair that starts at 9:00 am and goes till midnight. Bandidas Taqueria will be featuring regular brunch inside as well as a sidewalk festival outside. They have partnered with Victory Gardens who will be on hand with seeds and seedlings for sale, Earnest Ice Cream’s truck will be parked out front will ALL proceeds going to RAVEN Trust. 100% of the profits from the sale of food and drink on April 22nd will be donated to RAVEN Trust.
Documentary ‘Directly Affected’ – Rio Theatre – April 22nd
A compelling new documentary DIRECTLY AFFECTED, takes an in-depth look at the issues surrounding the Kinder Morgan pipeline. Zack will also be in attendance and will participate in a post-screening Q&A, as will some other special guests. Movie kicks off at 4:15 pm.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
In case you hadn’t heard, Havana Restaurant is back up and running which also means the theatre in the back is as well which means late night comedy and much more. To see what’s on, check out Havana Events. Love words and language, Verses Festival of Words is on now at various venues until April 29th. The Winter Farmer Markets continue this weekend with Saturday’s market at Nat Bailey Stadium being the last of the season. Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market continues this weekend and next from 10 am to 2 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
The Strathcona Business Improvement Association (BIA) has created some new events for their Walk Strathcona Summer Series which aim is to encourage a vibrant pedestrian destination. The Strathcona BIA geographic covers the area from Clark Drive in the East to Gore Avenue in the West, and from Railway Street in the North to Venables Street in the South. There is quite an array of businesses situated within this neighbourhood which is one of the older established neighbourhoods in Vancouver. This year, the Strathcona BIA is hosting a few events which help you get familiar with what this area has to offer. First up is the Strathcona Street Party happening June 24th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. They’ve invited the Vancouver Mural Fest to join the party. You will have the opportunity to watch 9 large scale murals go live on Cordova Street along with live music, craft beer and pizza. To learn more about the event, visit the Facebook page for Strathcona Street Party. On Saturday, June 24th, they will be hosting walking tours at 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm. You will get a sense of some of the history of this hear, the diverse business community and uncover some gems. The tour will take you to a Pop Up Shop where you can learn more about their Most Walkable Street initiative and their upcoming events which continue to July 16th. All the events are free to attend. We’ve participated in Made in Strathcona tours in the past and we have say, this is a vibrant community with much to offer. If you haven’t checked it out recently, you may wish to go for a wander. Some favourites we love in this area include les amis du Fromage, Homestead Junction, The Heatley and newcomer Stratchona Beer.
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