Tag Archives: East Vancouver

A World Without Us At The Cultch April 17 – 29, 2018

4 Apr

WorldWithoutUsThe Cultch is bringing an interesting production to the stage,  one which features an eco-disaster.   World Without Us is a new production about the end of humanity and what comes after it. Think about it … no more mortgage, no more long lines at the bank, no coffee shops, no honey in glass jars, no Skytrain, no buses, animals running wild, no more towers being built, no exercise class, no swimming pools.  Ontroerend Goed, creators of Fight Night, ask the question would it ever get this far?  Would we find a solution? Read the news any given day, some days you think it might just come to this. So what would a world without us be like? To find out, check out this poignant production coming April 17th to 29th at The Cultch.

What people are saying about World With Us:

A poignant premonition of eco-disaster” — The Guardian

As ever, it is the clarity, simplicity and brilliance of the form found in order to express specific content that dazzles when it comes to Ontroerend Goed’s work” — exeunt magazine

The story is compelling, inventively written and implacably delivered” — The Stage

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An Evening Of Storytelling At The Cottage Bistro April 10th

3 Apr

StorySlamApril10Vancouver Story Slam is back at the Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street on Tuesday, April 10th for an evening of storytelling.  These monthly gatherings are organized by Susan Cormier and hosted by Bryant Ross. Ten storytellers will take the stage and share their original stories with you. Those participating this April include Alix Born, Chris Cannon, Katharine Moore, Lalo Espejo, Maia Brundage, Michele Luchs, Mike Funergy, Naomi Steinberg, Trish Irvin, and Zach Allan. The event will open with a guest story from special guest storyteller T.J. Mair. The event is $5 at the door which gets you a ballot giving you the opportunity to vote on your favourite story.  There are cash prizes awarded to the winners.   If you wish to learn more about this event or participate in an upcoming event, email them directly at Vancouverstoryslam@yahoo.com. If you can’t make this one, future dates are posted on their Facebook page. Note, space is limited at this venue. So if you don’t want to miss it, best to get their early.

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Little Conversations An Evening Of Music & Words With Blue Dirt Girl At The Cultch April 6th

28 Mar

LittleConversationsReal. Honest. Sad. Funny. Whether they’re in-depth talks or brief exchanges on the street, conversations are how we connect with the world.  Through her music, blue dirt girl unearths, unbuttons and examines all of her conversations—from her working and writing sessions with her bandmates to the regular Friday morning discussions with the women behind Thinking Ship poems, and Sob Stories podcasts to the spontaneous chats she has with the people she meets throughout the day. Out of these little conversations come inspiration and collaboration.

On April 6th you have the rare opportunity to listen in on the conversation between the music of blue dirt girl and the poems of Thinking Ship; take a moment to engage with Sob Stories who will be collecting conversations for the podcast in the Founders’ Lounge at The Cultch.  A performance follows at 8:00 pm in the Historic Theatre. Tickets are $25 and available online from The Cultch.

If you aren’t familiar with Blue Dirt Girl, it is Kathryn Sutherland on lead vocals and electric guitar, AlbertKlassen on stand up and electric bass and vocals, and Jason Overy on drums and percussion. After collaborating on and off for 17 years, the trio formed blue dirt girl in 2016 and recorded their first album, Crazy Beautiful in 2017. With a sound that moves from swing to pop and back again, blue dirt girl pulls it all together with a jazzy vibe and Kathryn’s soulful vocals.

Start a conversation, more than likely, it will change your day.

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Delish Cooking Classes At Gourmet Warehouse This Spring

27 Mar

PaellaPartyThe Gourmet Warehouse has another round of delicious cooking classes lined up this Spring. These classes are a great way to spend an afternoon and meet some like-minded food lovers. Personally, we also like the shopping after the cooking class as participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. We have set out a couple of their upcoming classes that caught our eye.  For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes.

Paella Party – Saturday, April 28, 2018

Chef Cindy Low invites you to a taste of Spain.  Spain is the home of paella and endless tapas. Come learn the secrets to making a great paella and delish tapas. Some of the dishes you will learn to make include:

  • Chicken and Chorizo Paella with Spanish Rice, Saffron and Vegetables
  • Prawns With Garlic
  • Tapas Platter
  • Salad with romaine, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, olives and sherry vinaigrette
  • Blood Orange Ice Cream

You will be able to eat the dishes that are made after class, so bring your appetite. Cost of this class if $75. To register, visit Gourmet Warehouse.

Modern Thai Kitchen – Saturday,  June 16, 2018 

In this demonstration class, Chef Cindy Low will teach you how to make some delicious Thai food. She’ll also pass on some tips on how to buy, use and store the ingredients. You will learn how to make the following dishes:

  • Thai Salad with ripe papaya, apples, organic greens, fresh Asian herbs, chili lime dressingThaiHomeCookingGW
  • Grilled chicken skewers, spicy peanut dippinig sauce
  • Chiang Mai Noodle Bowl – egg noodles in a light coconut curry broth with prawns, vegetables and Asian herbs
  • Pineapple fried rice with chorizo, egg, fresh pineapple & Thai basil
  • Lychee ice cream

Come hungry, you will get to eat everything that is made the day of the class. After class, everyone has the opportunity to shop in store with a 10% discount on items purchased the day of your class. Cost of the class is $75. To register, visit Gourmet Warehouse.

Bon appetit!

Photo Credit: Gourmet Warehouse

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Side Glance With Al Tee – Honest Nat’s Department Store – History On Fraser Street

26 Mar

HonestNat'sDept.StoreSometimes travelling around East Van, it feels like being part of something on National Geographic or History Channel. One of those programs about lost civilizations. Worlds that no longer exist and what fragments remain.

There’s an old radio jingle that’s an example of the lost world of East Van. The ad was for Honest Nat’s Department Store and if you’ve lived here long enough you know what three words follow the store’s name.

But beyond the jingle there’s no history of a department store that once was an anchor on the principal commercial ribbon of East Vancouver. Located at 6394 Fraser, Honest Nat’s was the brainchild of Nathan Lacterman. A prairie orphan who escaped Winnipeg and came West, Lacterman made several unsuccessful stabs at the retail business in Vancouver.  Then a chance visit to Toronto lead him to stumble across the famed discount store Honest Ed’s at Bloor and Bathhurst. Inspired, Honest Nat’s was born.

Honest Nat’s department store would last at 48th and Fraser for 40 plus years. Supporting the community, sponsoring teams, doling out balloons to customer’s kids, Honest Nat Lacterman acted as the unofficial mayor of Fraser Street. Eventually Honest Nat fell ill and his daughter took over. But Fraser Street started to change. A Superstore came in at the bottom of Fraser along Marine Drive. When Nat’s daughter started hearing patrons tell her that they’d looked all over town for an item they couldn’t find, but knew Honest Nat’s would have it, she saw the writing on the wall. Why weren’t they coming straight to Honest Nat’s in the first place?  Honest Nat’s Department Store closed in 1989 and the building was sold. Shortly afterwards, it was destroyed by fire.

All that remains now of Honest Nat’s Department store is this artifact, the jingle.

By Contributing Writer: Al Tee

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What’s On East Van: March 23rd Edition

23 Mar

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out lots more 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.

Butcher – The Cultch – Till March 31st

Not for the light of heart, this stage thriller is on now at The Cultch till March 31st. If you missed our contributing writer’s review Nicole Alivojvodic check out Butcher to see what this psychological crime thriller is about.

Blackbird – Backspace – March 21st to April 1st

A play dealing with some poignant subject matter is happening at Backspace, 1318 Grant Street.  The production touches on the relationship of Una, a 12 year old girl, and Ray a 40 year old male. The two had a sexual relationship for which Ray served a sentence, changed his name and began a new file, but Una tracked him down and confronted him, but the question is what does she want?  The play features a great line up of local talent including local musician Rodney DeCroo.  Tickets are $15 and available through Eventbrite.

Made On Salt Spring – Heritage Hall – March 23rd to 25th

This weekend over 40 artisans from Salt Spring Island will be at the Heritage Hall with a wide variety of offerings including pottery, jewellery, food, woodwork and much more.  The event kicks off Friday afternoon from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm and continues Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and again Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets are $5 at the door, kids under 12 are free.  For the early birds, swag bags for the first 25 people through the door each day. To learn more, visit Made On Salt Spring.

Vancouver Gem & Mineral Show – PNE Forum – March 23rd to 25th 

Vancouver Gem & Mineral Show is happening at the PNE Forum this weekend. There will be a wide array of offerings including crystals, gems, minerals, gems, Native art, hand carved stone and much more. To learn more, check out Vancouver Gem & Mineral Show.

Greyhaven Bird Sanctuary Open House – March 24th

Greyhaven Bird Sanctuary is hosting their last Open House at this location before they need to move. You are invited to stop by and meet a variety of exotic birds including macaws, amazons and cockatoos.  These exotic birds are available for adoption, so if you might be interested, this is a great opportunity to check things out. This is a free event happening from Noon to 4:00 pm, but registration is requested through Eventbrite.

History Walk With James Johnstone March 24th

Last weekend to catch historian James Johnstone who will another history walk in East Vancouver this Saturday, March 24th. To learn more or reserve your spot, visit History Walks In Vancouver.

Zumba & Beer – Andina Brewing – March 25th

If you love Zumba and beer, you best get over to Andina Brewing this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Andina Brewing will be hosting in collaboration with Zumba Vancouver a high energy Zumba class followed by a flight or glass of beer. Cost is $20. To register, visit Zumba Vancouver.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

If it’s burlesque you are looking for, the Rio Theatre has you covered. The Geekenders are hosting a show Friday and Saturday night. Love listening to live jazz? Tangent Cafe on Commercial Drive has the Elliot Freedman Group playing this Sunday starting at 6 pm. The Winter Farmer Markets continue this weekend with Saturday’s being held at Nat Bailey Stadium from 10 am to 2 pm and Sunday at Hastings Parking 10 am to 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews Butcher On Now At The Cultch Till March 31st

22 Mar

TheButcherPhotoByTimMathesonNot for the light of heart, this stage thriller is brought to The Cultch by Prime Cuts Collective, a company formed exclusively for the purpose of producing Butcher in Vancouver. Written by Nicolas Billon, this play is a dark and suspenseful exploration of the nature of justice and revenge, earning a standing ovation on opening night. Starring Peter Anderson, Lindsey Angell, Noel Johansen, and Daryl Shuttleworth, Butcher’s all-star cast keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

While the story is inspired by very real historical atrocities, the play is set in Toronto and centers on the history and politics of the fictional Eastern European country “Lavinia”. Impressively, an entire language, “Lavinian”, was created for the purpose of this play and learned by the cast. The language has Slavic roots and can actually be understood quite well by anyone familiar with a Slavic language.

Butcher brilliantly captures themes relevant to recent and ancient history at the same time. While the main plot draws on real civil conflicts that occurred less than 30 years ago in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda, the themes of penance and blood vengeance point back to the writings of Aeschylus and explicitly draw on the tropes of classical Greek tragedy. Billon takes these seemingly archaic concepts and shows how truly prevalent they are in the modern world. Further, while Butcher speaks to atrocities far from home it maintains a distinctly Canadian voice, alerting us to our place in these global histories.

For tickets to this clever and powerful play, on now until March 31st at Historic Theatre, visit The Cultch. 

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic
Photo Credit: Tim Matheson

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A Crime Thriller The Butcher Comes To The Cultch March 20th to 31st

20 Mar

TheButcherThe Cultch and Prime Cuts Collective invite you to take a ride on a philosophical crime thriller, The Butcher.  Who is the Butcher? At a police station a mysterious old man is found wearing a foreign military uniform and a Santa hat. A butcher’s hook hangs around his neck, and gouged on the end is a business card with the words, “Arrest me,” scrawled on it. As a lawyer, a police officer, and a translator struggle to unravel the truth, they uncover a past that won’t stay buried, and a decades-old quest for justice that must be served.  Dark secrets come to light. A past that won’t stay buried. A decades-old quest for justice that must be served.  The production we hear is not what you might expect and will have you guessing the entire time.   The Butcher takes place in the Historic Theatre at The Cultch March 20th to March 31st. Tickets start from $22 and are available online at The Cultch.

What others are saying about The Butcher:

 “Can a play about torture be too entertaining?”
The Globe and Mail

“A devilishly clever piece of work”
National Post

“A live entertainment game changer”
Toronto Stage

“[A] funny, horrifying, serpentine stage thriller” 
CBC Arts

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What’s On East Van: March 16th Edition

16 Mar

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out lots more 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.

Out At The Inn – Russian Hall – March 13th to 17th

Everything falls apart in this hilarious comedy about a lesbian couple who try to make their dreams come true of running a bed and breakfast out in the country.  They live with unusual neighbours, serve unconventional guests, and receive the help they desperately need from the unlikeliest sources.  Tickets are $20 and available online from Leaping Thespians.

Rocky Horror Picture Show – Rio Theatre – March 16th

If you love the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Rio Theatre is hosting another showing for their late movie this Friday night. Doors at 11:00 pm, show gets under way at 11:30 pm.

The After After Party – The Cultch – Until March 17th 

If you are looking for a shameless night of fun with the girls, we hear this is the show to see.  It’s wild, it’s outrageous but at the heart is the essence of female friendship.  This is the last weekend to catch The After After Party at The Cultch. For tickets, visit The Cultch.

History Walk With James Johnstone March 17th

Historian James Johnstone will lead another history walk in East Vancouver this Saturday, March 17th.   This one focuses on the Working/Wild Side of Vancouver’s East Side and begins at 10:00 am. To learn more or reserve your spot, visit History Walks In Vancouver.

Gem & Mineral Show – Hastings Community Centre – March 17th & 18th

If you love rocks, gems and want to learn more about them, you have a great opportunity to do just that at the Rock & Mineral Show happening this weekend. The event happens at the Hastings Community Centre, 3086 East Hastings Street from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm this Saturday and Sunday. Admission is by donation.

First Pick Handmade YVR – Heritage Hall – March 17th and 18th

Over 30 designers from across Canada will be featuring some unique items at First Pick Handmade YVR happening at the Heritage Hall this Saturday and Sunday.  Happens Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is $3.00.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

Looking for some fun and humour, The Dirty Betty Show happens at Café Deux Soleils this Friday at 8:30 pm. Don’t forget Tangent Café hosts live jazz music every Sunday evening at 6:00 pm. This week it’s Braveheart & Cole Schmidt. The Winter Farmer Markets continue with Saturday’s being held at Nat Bailey Stadium from 10 am to 2 pm and Sunday at Hastings Parking 10 am to 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter 

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Aleph Eatery Where East Meets West

14 Mar

AlephEateryWe recently stopped in to check out a new spot Aleph Eatery located at 1889 Powell Street. Aleph Eatery features Middle Eastern cuisine in a bright modern space that is at the same cozy.  All the food on the menu is designed for sharing and items come in the order listed on the menu.  We were a group of 4 so tried a variety of items starting with a sampler called Silk Road which included eggplant, labneh, hummus, zaatar and honey. It was served with an amazing flatbread filled with herbs, onion and oil called chimichurri saj. Our group will likely return for just this dish alone, the labneh which is a yogurt cheese was a big hit.  Next up was a flavourful Fattoush Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, croutons and a pomegranate vinaigrette.  After that we tried the Halloumi Grilled Cheese Sandwich with fig jam and served with some of the best tomato soup any of us have ever had.  This course was followed by Turmeric Cauliflower served with tahini and sliced almonds. This dish will have you wanting to eat your vegetables if you don’t already. Next up was the Ultra Crispy Potatoes served with tahini dressing, Aleppo and roasted red peppers. Last but not least, another big hit, the Coconut Chocolate Tart which was light, rich not overly sweet, but packed with flavor.   Aleph Eatery offers a few unique cocktails and a wine menu comprising mostly of wines from Lebanon and Israel.  The menu is vegetarian, but even if you aren’t vegetarian, you will walk away satisfied.  We recommend stopping by and checking out this sweet spot.  Aleph Eatery serves lunch, brunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday.   Aleph Eatery does not take reservations unless you are a group of 8 or more. If you encounter a longer than expected wait, local distiller Odd Society Spirits is just the street for a pre-dinner cocktail as is the Trans Am Restaurant just a couple of doors down. To meet the creators behind this concept, check out this cool feature on Novus TV.

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