Tag Archives: Little Italy

Italian Day Returns To The Drive Sunday June 11th

22 May

After 3 years without the Italian Day Festival due to the pandemic and other gathering restrictions, Italian Day returns to The Drive Sunday, June 11th.  This 14 block vibrant street party will take place on The Drive from the Grandview Cut to Venables.  Italian Day is filled with food, entertainment, and loads of things to do, see and experience.  Grab some friends and stop at one of the many outdoor patios set up for the day, or take in one of the many food trucks lined up and down Commercial Drive.  You will certainly not go hungry while you wander and take in all the sights and sounds.

Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, we expect a Bike Valet will be set up again at 1st Avenue & Commercial, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian. Italian Day represents the largest one day cultural street festival in Vancouver. Stop by and see some of the magic of this great street festival. For more information about Italian Day, visit them online at www.italianday.ca.

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New In Town: Oh Sweet Day! At 1st Avenue & Commercial Drive

15 Jul

 

If you love cheesecake, you will want to check out this newly opened spot, Oh Sweet Day! located at 1706 East 1st Avenue just off the Drive.  The force behind this sweet space is Fanny Lam, a self-taught home baker who turned her love of baking into a blog, then a cookbook then a storefront.  Outside of running a popular blog, writing a cookbook, Fanny has been selling her cakes for 2 years at farmer markets around the Lower Mainland. Lucky for us you can now find her signature cheesecakes as well as mousse cakes, ganache drip cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, shortbread tartlets and cookies at this sweet space off The Drive. If you are looking for gluten free or vegan options, they’ve got that too.  We invite you to stop by and check out this new space. Alternatively, you can drool over the photos on her website at Visit Oh Sweet Day! online or in person. Their hours are currently Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 10-6 and Friday and Saturday 10-7 and closed Tuesday.   You can also find Oh Sweet Day! at farmer markets throughout the Lower Mainland.

Photo Credit: Oh Sweet Day!

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Italian Day Happens Sunday June 9th On The Drive

15 May

ItalianDayThe much loved Italian Day returns to Commercial Drive Sunday, June 9th.  This 14 block vibrant street party takes place on The Drive from the Grandview Cut to Venables.  The day is filled with food, entertainment, things to do and see and experience.  Grab some friends and stop at one of the many outdoor patios set up for the day for a bite and refreshment. Or take in one of the many food trucks lined up and down the stretch.  You will certainly not go hungry whilst you wander and take in all the sights and sounds.

Each year, Italian Day, hosts a theme, this year’s is community an important piece of Italian culture and heritage. This year’s festival looks to celebrate community and the common ground we all share and how together we can make a positive difference in our community.

Britannia Community Centre is again hosting a free family friendly activity. This year, local artists will help host a Friendship Bracelet Workshop from Noon to 4:00 pm in the Napier Greenway.  All materials are supplied. Everyone is welcome to stop by and participate.

Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, we expect a Bike Valet will be set up again at 1st Avenue & Commercial, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian. Italian Day represents the largest one day cultural street festival in Vancouver – and perhaps in Canada – drawing over 200,000 attendees of all cultures and ages.  Stop by and see some of the magic of this great street festival.

 

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Vancouver Brewery Tours Celebrates Italy For Dine Out With Italian Brewery & Culinary Tour

16 Jan

vbtdineout2019Vancouver Brewery Tours has put together a great experience for Dine Out 2019. They are offering you the best in Italian culture, cuisine and craft beer with their Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour. The tour features a selection of handpicked Italian owned and operated businesses. Craft beer is first on the menu with a visit to the award winning Luppolo Brewing Co. where it’s all about the beer. The next course ventures into historic and vibrant “Little Italy” on Commercial Drive to the deli legend at La Grotto del Formaggio. The main course features a masterfully handmade meal at the renowned Marcello’s Ristorante and Pizzeria. Last up, they have a sweet surprise for you at the end of the evening.

During Dine Out Vancouver guests can choose between multiple dates between January 18th and February 2nd for the Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour.  The added bonus is no driving, just sit back and enjoy the experience.  Vancouver Brewery Tours provides full transportation aboard their bus including pick up and drop off at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver. Your knowledgeable tour guides will take you on a 3 1/2 hour tour which runs from 3:45 pm to 7:30 pm. Tickets for the Italian Brewery & Culinary Tour are $99 and available through Dine Out Vancouver.

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Next Year “Skip The Clubs and Go Dance on The Drive”- Italian Day 2018 Is Now In The Books

12 Jun

ItalianDay2018Back again for its 9th consecutive year, Italian Day on The Drive delighted thousands of festival attendees with the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy. From Venables Street to Grandview Cut, Commercial Drive was transformed into a lively festa – the largest one day cultural street festival in Vancouver! Home to Little Italy, The Drive comes alive annually in green, white and red with piazza style animated zones, live music, food, patios, fashion, retail vendors, vehicles, activities, children’s zones and more.

Each year the festival is organized around a central theme and this year it was Musica! With three main stages spread throughout the 14 blocks, every few blocks you were greeted with a new performance showcasing local and national artists from Italy. Italy’s music has traditionally been considered one of the cultural markers of Italian national and ethnic identity and festival goers could be seen dancing and singing in the middle of the street all the way down The Drive. Of course the dozens of restaurants, bakeries and beer gardens were also packed with Vancouverites devouring traditional Italian delicacies! Whether you wanted to see the brilliant performances or just kick back on a Sunday with a slice of pizza and a cannoli – Italian Day 2018 was not to be missed!

 

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

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Italian Day On The Drive Sunday, June 10, 2018

22 May

ItalianFlag

One of our favourite community events is back, Italian Day which will be held on Sunday, June 10th,  This year’s theme is MUSICA.

 

Balla come se nessuno stesse guardando,
ama come se nessuno ti avesse mai ferito,
canta come se nessuno stesse ascoltando,
vivi come se il paradiso fosse sulla terra 
Dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth 

For Italian Day, Commercial Drive from Broadway to Grandview will be turned into one long piazza. Many of the restaurants will have outdoor seating areas, food trucks will be dotted along the stretch, live music will take place on several stages. As music is this year’s theme, we understand there will be a concert at Grandview Park with a 12 piece celebrity artist from Italy (yet to be named).  You can also expect Federico Fuoco, owner of Federico’s Supper Club, to put on a show to entertain the crowds as only he can.  There will be authentic Italian table food & wine samplings, European design with fashion and vehicle showcases, Little Italy Bocce court, food contests and many opportunities to experience food from a variety of countries as well as Italy.

Britannia Community Centre will be hosting an Italian Day Music Shaker Workshop in the Napier Greenway from Noon to 4:00 pm.  All materials are supplied. Everyone is welcome to stop by and participate.

Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, we expect a Bike Valet will be set up again at 1st Avenue & Commercial, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian. Italian Day represents the largest one day cultural street festival in Vancouver – and perhaps in Canada – drawing over 200,000 attendees of all cultures and ages.  Stop by and see some of the magic of this great street festival.

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Italian Day Sunday June 11, 2017

29 May

ItalianDay2017One of our favourite community events is back, Italian Day which will be held on Sunday, June 11th. This year’s theme is Amore, which means love in Italian. Organizers chose the theme because “love lies at the heart of Italian culture and its lifestyle. It is  a universal language and an exchange evoking many things: affection, romance, passion, respect, creativity, and commitment.  It is life, unity and the pursuit for an emotional connection and is shared in relationships, arts and culture, at the dinner table, in our daily work, in pursued dreams, and in community.” For Italian Day 2017, organizers wish to celebrate Amore in all aspects of life and the magical power it holds to inspire, connect and create infinite possibilities and experiences, both individually and collectively.

For Italian Day, Commercial Drive from Broadway to Grandview will be turned into one long piazza. Many of the restaurants will have outdoor seating areas, food trucks will be dotted along the stretch, live music will take place on several stages and much more. This year, we hear there will be some talent flown in from Italy to celebrate.  Danilo Ciaccia and his band ItalyAMO will be performing. As well 2 DJs from an Italian Radio Station, DJ Osso and Pippo Lorusso will be on hand at the 5th Avenue Stage mixing things up. You can also expect Federico Fuoco to entertain the crowds as will be singers from Vancouver Opera. If you stop by the Napier Greenway at the Britannia Community Centre, East Van artist Paula Luther will be hosting a free workshop ‘Little Hearts Project’. Materials are supplied and everyone is welcome to stop by and participate. This event runs from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, there will be a Bike Valet set up at the Royal Bank of Canada at 1st Avenue & Commercial. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian.

Photo Credit: Italian Day

 

 

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Italian Day Happens Sunday June 12th On The Drive

30 May

ItalianDayEast Van is home to many great community events and June is shaping up to be a busy month. We can look forward to Car Free Day, The Italian Market, East Van Garden Tour, but one of our favourites is coming up Italian Day on Sunday, June 12th.  This is your chance to experience everything Italian from food, to music to culture.  Now in its 7th year, the Drive will basically be transformed into one large piazza where you can wander from one end of the Drive to the other. This year’s theme is Mangiamo! Let’s Eat!  As you might expect, Italian food will be showcased and they do it so well.  There will be lots of events, live music and entertainment along the Drive throughout the day.  The Britannia Community Centre will also host a special Pasta Jewellery project led by East Van artist Paula Luther. This will be a free outdoor workshop set up in the Napier Greenway for pasta lovers of any age.  It’s on a drop-in basis and all the materials are supplied. The Pasta Jewellery Project runs from Noon to 4:00 pm.  Also for the kids, there will be arts and crafts in the Little Italy Kids Zone and Funswing amusement rides in Grandview Park as well as balloon twisting and face painting.  Some other fun activities include the Whitecaps/BMO Fun Zone with kicking cage as well as the very popular Bocce Court.

On Italian Day, 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 and do. Of course, we do expect to find Federico Fuoco center stage drawing a crowd as always at the 2nd Avenue Main Stage.  There is also a special feature planned to celebrate the official ‘Little Italy’ designation which pays tribute to over 50 years of Italian heritage on Commercial Drive. There have been 8 blocks officially sanctioned Little Italy by the City of Vancouver which will be christened with banners and crosswalks on June 12th. Come out and celebrate all things Italian!

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Italian Day Coming To The Drive Sunday, June 9th

3 Jun


ItalianDays2013

How would you like to be Italian for just one day? Well on Sunday, June 9th, you will get the chance to experience everything Italian from the food, to the music to the culture.  The 4th Annual Italian Day returns to the Drive with this year’s theme being Carnevale di Venezia.  The Drive which is very much alive most days of the week will be transformed into a ‘Venetian style’ which will include masks, costumes, street entertainers, music, food, fashion, contests and much more.

The day will be filled with activities including outdoor cooking demonstrations which be hosted by award-winning Chef/Instructor Romy Prasad. Cooking demonstrations will take place throughout the afternoon and are conducted by 3 different Vancouver Chefs showcasing some yummy Italian favourites! The audience even has an opportunity to sample some of these delightful treats. This is where you will find me! I heard a Twitter rumor that there will be Scroppinos available.  What is that you might ask? A Scroppino is a Venetian drink made with lemon sorbet, vodka and white wine. Bellissimo!

Some favourite contests will be returning which you can participate in including pizza tossing, grape stomping, pasta eating and watermelon eating. And, of course, there will be music. The musical lineup includes showman Federico Fuoco, international singer/songwriter Carmelina Cupo and Langley’s youth Ukulele Ensemble. Britannia Community Centre will be offering a drop-in mask-making workshop. The Italian Cultural Centre will be selling pastries and setting up a “Little Italy” Kids Zone in Grandview Park.

While on the Drive, don’t forget to purchase raffle tickets for the big draw. Prizes include:  Two tickets to Italy compliments of Columbus World Travel,  ECM Espresso Coffee Machine,  spa package for two compliments of Flaming June Day and a deluxe specialty food basket, courtesy of Renzullo Food Market.  Raffle tickets will be available at the BIA Information Booth as well as other locations along the Drive. The raffle draw date is August 15, 2013. Italian Day kicks off at Noon and goes till 8:00 p.m.  Come out and be Italian for a day! Ciao.

 

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