It’s Friday and if all goes well, one day soon we will be able to attend the PNE in person and enjoy live events again. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, we’d like to share this cool drone aerial video taken over PNE/Hastings Park by Eye Spy. They invite you to try and Find The Hidden Objects which truth be told we found a bit hard to see. But we will say the aerial view, along with the relaxing music, provides for a moment to just enjoy the view and forget about everything else going on in the world.
We recently had the opportunity to connect with Mary Fowles, a local photographer, who although originally from Salt Spring Island has made her home in East Van. We recently caught sight of a deal she’s offering for her photography services. We’ll get to that shortly, but first we learnt Mary has quite a back story.
Not only does Mary take some unique photos, she’s an award winning documentary storyteller. When Mary graduated with her degree in journalism in 2004, she turned to documentary filmmaking and founded her own company Safran Films Inc. in 2008. The documentary that followed is called Taxi Casablanca and features the story of the first female taxi driver in Casblanca, Morocco. As an artist, her mission is, in her words, “to shed light on dark corners, lend strength to quiet voices and illuminate beauty”.
In Mary’s view, so many stories don’t see the light of day and are over powered by conventional stories. She wanted to share those untold lesser known stories. Although Mary is not currently making films, she continues to tell stories with her photography and she’s a little obsessed with street photography which is what drew us in. Mary has a distinct visual style and is currently offering a great deal if you are looking for a headshot portrait for your LinkedIn profile or website bio for $125. Note this offer is open only till the end of May. If you are looking for other packages, Mary also offers branding sessions for businesses and also loves to do engagement and family shoots. We have included a few of her photos here, but invite you to check out more of her photos at Vancouver Portrait and Style, or give her a follow on Instagram.
East Van Yoga and Container Brewing, 1216 Franklin Street, have teamed up to bring you Yoga On Tap this summer. Starting June 5th, come join them for a guided 60 minute gentle Hatha style class followed by a post class glass of beer. This is a weekly Saturday morning event that starts at 10:45 am on the outdoor patio of Container Brewing. Tickets are $25 and available online from East Van Yoga. The Saturday morning sessions will continue until August 28th should the interest be there. Note, social distancing protocols will be in place and any Public Health Orders will be followed. To register, visit East Van Yoga.
This past February, we featured Jenn Franzen’s pandemic pivot from the travel industry to an online store, Loved and Local. The evolution continues as Jenn moves Loved & Local to a small storefront in Hastings Sunrise within the Hastings Ticket Centre located at 2463 East Hastings Street. Coincidently, it’s right next to one of our favourite brunch spots, the Roundel Cafe.
If you aren’t familiar with Loved & Local, it is an online store that features gently used clothing and accessories for women, men and children. Loved & Local also carries items from local artisans including Oona Clothing, Mosaic Earrings, beeswax food wraps by Etta & Olive and candles by Grain & Honey. Jenn is regularly adding new pieces by artisans including artwork by Calvin Sketches and dog beds, standing desks and wine/beer crates by Greenwood Box Co.
Loved & Local carries a wide range of items and yes they deliver! They offer free delivery on orders over $20 within a 10 km radius of Loved & Local which is located in Hastings Sunrise. If you are interested in trying on a specific item, feel free to reach out to them directly.
We invite you to visit Loved & Local online or in store to check out some of their 1,200 items! Shopping in person is available Monday to Thursday from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. Deliveries are made Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:0 am. The online store is, of course, open for shopping 24/7. Stop by and support this local shop that is working hard to support other small businesses.
The Firehall Arts Centre is hosting the world premiere of yellow objects, an exhibition created by Derek Chan, from Tuesday, May 11 to Saturday, May 22, 2021. The exhibition will take place outdoors in the Firehall Arts Centre’s courtyard and is limited to 10 patrons per showing. There will be no live performers – only objects, voice recordings, and projections. Over the 12 day exhibition, there will be a total of 50 showings, each 40 minutes in length. yellow objects invites us to question our responsibility to future generations by stepping into a Hong Kong of two eras – 2019 and 2050. “This piece is a collection of what was, what has been, what is, and what could be,” says Chan. “It’s a rally for the ones who are still risking their lives out there; written in remembrance of those who cannot be there anymore; a lament of families broken and loves lost.” The production is. inspired by the ongoing pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and the Chinese government’s oppressive enforcement of the National Security Law in July 2020. Individuals can step into the world of yellow objects through the shoes of protagonists ‘Sandra Wong’ and ‘Uncle Chan’.
Prior to visiting the exhibition at the Firehall Arts Centre’s courtyard, patrons can take part in a series of short digital narrative adventures, which will be available on April 19, April 26, and May 3 via Rice and Beans Theatre. This digital component is an introduction and portal into the exhibition piece.
Through the exhibition piece, taking place May 11-22, patrons can witness the rest of ‘Sandra’ and ‘Uncle Chan’s’ journey to Hong Kong from 2019 to 2050 – with a walk through the Chinese underworld and beyond – culminating in a final act of political defiance against tyranny.
The Firehall Arts Centre’s Artistic Producer Donna Spencer says, “It is exciting to showcase this very pertinent and challenging exhibition at a time when the world’s eyes are on Hong Kong and the dismantling of the democratic movement there. Derek and his collaborators have found a way to share this important information in a COVID-safe exhibition that is dramatically compelling.”
COVID protocols: Between each showing, the venue will be sanitized as per COVID-19 protocols. Patrons will be required to wear a mask and follow the two-metre social distancing rule. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Ticket prices range from $15 to $25. To purchase your ticket, visit the Firehall Arts Centre.
If you are looking for a great deal, we invite you to check out the Sample Sale being hosted by Skout & Y Brands between April 14 and April 16, 2021. Note shopping is by appointment only between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm to ensure COVID protocols are being followed. To book your appointment to shop for Skout products, email “hello@skout.ca” and for Y Brands, email kathy@ybrands.ca. Cash and credit cards are accepted. Location is 1355 Parker Street, Vancouver.
If you are interested in learning about the best practices for removing common invasive weeds, Free The Fern invites you to a free Zoom session on Wednesday, April 28th 7:00 – 8:30 pm. You will learn the skills to remove invasive plants like Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy and others from your garden or other green space. Free the Fern is a new local organization based in SE Vancouver that was founded in January 2021. It is a group of 14 community members and environmental stewards living within Champlain Heights. They, like many others, realize invasive plants have already spread throughout our local parks and green spaces. Free the Fern was created to decrease the spread of invasives along the Champlain Heights Trail with a mission to replace the invasive species with native plants. If you are interested in participating in the Zoom session, pre-registration is required email them directly to register at freethefern@gmail.com.
Free The Fern is also hosting a fundraiser to raise money for adding new native plants to the Champlain Heights Trail. Hand painted canvases by Christine (Kiki) Nombrado featuring local birds and plants are available for sale for $15 each (5″ x 7”) or 3 for $40. 100% of the proceeds will go to fund native planting on the Champlain Heights Trail this Fall. To purchase the art work, we invite you to reach out to freethefern@gmail.com. To follow along on Instagram, visit them at FreeTheFern.
Have some free time on your hands and wish to get involved in your local community? Still Moon Arts Society is hosting a spring clean up in Renfrew Ravine Park April 11th from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to give something back to a local park. On April 11th a group of volunteers will be picking up trash and doing a bit of weed maintenance, specifically culling a few invasive species like English Ivy. All ages are welcome to participate. Meeting location is 3958 Renfrew Street. For more information on what you should bring (outside of your mask), visit Still Moon Arts Society or email adrian@stillmoonarts.ca.
This past year certainly feels like a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. So many local businesses and organizations are struggling during this pandemic. We’ve already seen a number of restaurants shut their doors permanently. Just the other day, we learnt a long-standing Greek restaurant in SE Vancouver shut their doors on March 5th. We expect there will be more to come, but of course we hope not. With the most recent Provincial Health Orders, we have learnt there is a temporary hold on indoor dining until April 19th and possibly beyond. It is now take-out and delivery for restaurants save for those that have an outdoor patio.
We know the rapid changes in Provincial Health Orders has made it difficult for many businesses to pivot on a dime leaving them holding inventory, cutting staff, etc. We appreciate not everyone is in a position to support local restaurants due to their own personal circumstances. For those that can, we encourage you to support local where and when you can. Whether it’s take out, delivery or patio dining. There are so many great spaces around the City and some hidden gems. Did you know a personal favourite Via Tevere Pizzeria on Victoria Drive has an outdoor patio in the back of the restaurant? Add to that, they have a great online ordering system. If it’s great coffee you seek, did you know Platform 7 Coffee on East Hastings has an outdoor space behind their restaurant? There are a also number of areas along Commercial Drive that have carved out sections for outdoor patios and, of course, some have always had them like Havana Restaurant. Main Street and Fraser Street have also created many outdoor spaces for patio dining. We hope you will join us in supporting our local restaurants and #takeoutBC when and where you can.
The Cultch and Soft Cedar bring The Essentials to the stage for three online performances incorporating live and pre-recorded elements, for a unique concert experience, April 16-18, 2021.
For three days only, live from The Cultch’s York Theatre, renowned Vancouver musician, Khari Wendell McClelland is joined on stage virtually by local and international musicians, scholars, and poets in a multidisciplinary performance exploring the question: What is essential and needed in these times? With the help of award-winning poets as well as acclaimed scholars, Khari and the musicians joining him each night, probe the pressing questions facing us today as we encounter unprecedented societal, environmental, and public health challenges.
While the full allotment of poets and scholars will be a part of each performance, along with sound bath artist Faye Mallet, other musical guests will be different each night. Friday, April 16 sees Wendell McClelland joined by the gospel trio The Sojourners, Kwakiutl Hereditary Chief Henry Seaweed, the St. James Music Academy, as well as the folk duo, Twin Bandit. Saturday, April 17 brings another night of incredible performance with JUNO award-winning oud/guitarist, Gordon Grdina, as well as Soul/R&B heavy hitter, Tanika Charles. Sunday, April 18 will be Inuit style throat singing duo, PIQSIQ, and Vancouver’s favourite high energy dance band, Queer As Funk.
If you wish to check out this unforgettable performance that aims to bring people together in this time of isolation, visit The Cultch for tickets.
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