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.
Spring is here which means lots of local products at our farmer markets in East Vancouver. Each of the markets hosted by Vancouver Farmer Markets has a lot to offer in the way of locally grown produce, handmade goods, artisan breads and baked goods, locally made jams, cheese, free range and organic eggs and of course wineries, breweries as well as spirits to name just a few. Trout Lake as many readers may know is the largest market in East Van and with Covid protocols, do expect a bit of a line up. Mount Pleasant Farmers Market which is in Dude Chilling Park is a smaller market, but we love that it’s on a Sunday. Riley Park Farmers Market is next to one of the most beautiful community gardens we’ve seen and happens year round every Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Main Street Farmers Market is currently closed due to construction. We have set out below the dates when the markets begin and end for the Spring/Summer season. We encourage you to stop by and support our local producers this season.
Trout Lake Farmers Market 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Every Saturday: May 1, 2021 to October 30, 2021 Location: Lakewood Drive & E 13th Avenue
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Every Sunday: May 23, 2021 to October 31, 2021 Location: Guelph Street between 7th & 8th Avenues (on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park/Dude Chilling Park)
Riley Park Farmers Market 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Every Saturday: All Year Round (Sumer Kick Off May 1st) Location: 30th Avenue and Ontario Street
The Cultch invites you to their first virtual fundraising party with Fluevog Shoes. On April 29th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm you will be invited to purchase shoes during this Zoom event with the one and only John Fluevog in attendance. The bonus, is that 50% of the proceeds go directly to The Cultch and supporting the arts. An RSVP is required so to grab your spot, visit The Cultch.
As an added bonus, you will also have the opportunity to purchase and enjoy a bottle of wine from Liberty Wine Merchants who have curated a selection of discounted wines exclusively for this event. A list of wines will be provided with your RSVP confirmation.
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.
Vancouver’s Punjabi Market plays host to an exciting new visual art project and collaboration featuring colourful street banners that line the area. Curated by the Indian Summer Festival, in partnership with the Punjabi Market Regenerative Collective, banners feature high calibre artwork from Musqueam (Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) artist, Debra Sparrow (θəliχʷəlʷət) and Jag Nagra, artist and Collective member. The project looked at the idea of place and placemaking in the context of the Punjabi Market being located on unceded, ancestral Musqueam territory and marking 51 years of existence as an important hub for the South Asian community.
The Indian Summer Festival asked the two accomplished artists to respond to the Punjabi Market’s call for ideas to celebrate cultural traditions in the community. The resulting street banners are installed on Main Street between 48th and 52nd streets and will adorn the neighbourhood from April 12, 2021, until 2023. The Musqueam Nation’s banners are installed on the first and last poles on the street as an ‘embrace’ of this project and the Punjabi Market.
“The two banners I designed comprise of a phulkari pattern and a peacock,” says Jag Nagra, artist and member of the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective. “Phulkari is traditional embroidery from the Punjab region of India where individual stitches create bold, colourful patterns. And much like the phulkari, what makes up a community is the weaving of individuals. Thread by individual thread is intertwined to tell a story, one that connects us all.”
Roadways in our world today Replace the rivers that were the roadways of the past Where people congregate for food and gatherings In Musqueam, the old people tell a story Of a two-headed serpent making its way through the waterways Leaving behind lilies… Over the last two centuries, the story has disappeared deep into the bottom of the river Only to reemerge in a vision by Isaiah Sparrow after the story was related to him It is an honour to have such a young man following his history Bringing back stories that are never ending and important for the places we live. The geometric designs reflect the blanket patterns woven by Musqueam women, And are as old as time… The modern designed birds are filled with Salish elements Like us, in this modern day world we adapt to. The colours are in keeping with Jag Nagra And her amazing reflection of her history, Both as ancient as time We walk together on this land
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.
Giulia Lombardo invites you to join her for a virtual cooking class this Sunday, March 28th. In this 1 hour class, Giulia will show you how to prepare a delicious English trifle dessert with an Italian twist. You will learn step-by-step how to make a trifle that’s layered with lemon curd, vanilla cake, Chantilly cream and fresh peaches. Before your virtual class, you will receive the full Trifle recipe by email with the ingredients and your shopping list. During the virtual class, Giulia will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create this delish dessert. If on the other hand you prefer to watch the video and make the trifle after at your own pace, you have that option as well. This virtual class is by donation with a suggested price of $20 per person. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. To register, visit Eventbrite. You can also visit Giulia on Instagram @justguiliaa to see what else she’s been creating these days.
If want to try another fun creative recipe over Spring Break that’s easy to make at home, check out Giulia’s recent feature on ETalk.
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