2020 was a year of challenge and change for many and 2021 continues on that same vein. The pandemic has many people pivoting to earn an income from a new source. Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Franzen who did a complete 360 and created Loved & Local. Jenn was a self-employment travel agent for 15 years. As we all know, with the current travel restrictions, planning trips isn’t first and foremost on people’s mind nor will it be for some time. So Jenn pivoted and created Loved & Local.
Loved & Local 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, candles by Grain & Honey and knitted toques by Littlee Lambs Boutique to name a few.
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. They have also just added a weekly auction on Facebook and Instagram that runs from Thursday to Sunday with a starting bid of $1.00. For those wishing to give back to charity in an easy way, Loved & Local supports some local charitable endeavours including Victory House Mental Health Facility. They are currently selling Valentine’s Day cards made by residents. 100% of the sale proceeds go back to Victory House.
We invite you to visit Loved & Local online and give them a follow on Instagram where they post many of their newly acquired items. As always, support local when and where you can.
Dine Out Vancouver Festival is back this year for a longer run being 31 days vs. last year’s 17 days. Diners will have more time to safely explore more restaurants over a longer period of time. The festival brings together over 300 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries and suppliers for dining and culinary events. What’s new this year is a host of virtual tasting events. We invite you check them all out at Dine Out Vancouver Festival, but have set out a few that caught our eye.
Virtual Beer Tasting
A Virtual Beer Tastings is presented in part by Canadian Craft Tours and runs from February 5th to March 6th. This event is open to those in the Greater Vancouver Regional District and includes the delivery of your supplies for the event along with a virtually hosted event which lasts 90 minutes. Cost is $90 per person plus taxes. You can add a cheese pairing for an additional $30 per person. For more information and to book your spot, visit Canadian Craft Tours.
Dumpling Masterclass with Chinatown Tours
This Dumpling Masterclass got us excited. Having once made dumplings from scratch, they were some of the best. This is a great opportunity for some hands on experience with expert guidance. During this masterclass, they will discuss what makes a good filling, how to prep the ingredients and the best way to fold the wrappers. Cost for the event is a very reasonable $30. To book your ticket, visit Peek.com.
Virtual Coffee Tasting
If you love cold coffee, this one’s for you. The Vancouver Coffee Snob and Prototype Coffee present a virtual tour into the world of cold brew coffee. You will have the opportunity to sample cold brew coffee and learn how the different non-dairy milks affect the taste. You will also get to play some trivia and test your coffee knowledge. This event runs several times between February 6th to February 21st. Cost is $90. To book your ticket which includes delivery of your supplies, visit Canadian Craft Tours.
To see all the restaurants participating in this year’s Dine Out, visit their website. Note, for those not comfortable with dining in during this time, many restaurants are offering a Take Out option for Dine Out. Visit Dine Out Vancouver Festival for more information.
2020 was a year of change and challenge for many. With it also brought new opportunities and new ways of looking at things. We’ve seen a few creative pivots due to the pandemic we’d like to share with our readers. First up, Johnny Defazio of Roman & Ash Design.
Johnny creates handmade wooden shelf units perfect for Vancouver’s often tight living spaces. In March of 2020, Johnny lost his decade long executive job right before his second son, Ashton, was born. So pandemic hits and he’s a family man with 2 young children to support, Roman 3 ½ years old and Ashton 5 months old, what do you do?
Johnny chose quickly to pivot and ditch the suit & tie for a saw and wood. He already had a great space to work in and a passion for using tools. So last Spring he started creating some fun and unique designs in his garage. He started with small hexagon shelf units, then he started rolling out triangles and unique corner shelf units. Over the Christmas holiday season, he created white wash stars which were a big hit. Soon came the requests for custom work which requests continue to roll in.
Johnny is also now creating wooden hearts in a white wash which can be personalized to display someone’s name or a small phrase. We think that could make a unique personalized gift for someone’s birthday or maybe even Valentine’s Day. Just sayin. You’ll see we’ve included photos of a number of Johnny’s designs. We invite you to give Johnny a follow on Instagram @johnny_defazio. Of course, feel free to reach out to him directly with any custom orders to requests for information. As always, support local when and where you can.
Like many things this past year, Valentine’s Day will be a little different. Whether you believe in the ‘day’ or not, there’s no harm in showing some love to those you care about whether that’s your partner or a close friend. For us cheese, wine, chocolate and bread is just a little piece of heaven. With that in mind, we wanted to share a fun event the good folks at les amis du FROMAGE are hosting. It is a virtual Facebook Live event hosted by Allison Spurrell. Les amis du FROMAGE will set you up with a tasting kit to pick up just prior to Valentine’s Day which includes:
Cheese (8 types) Crackers Chez Christophe flutes Accompaniments Kasama Karkar Island dark chocolate bar Tasting menu
The Facebook Live event runs for one hour. Cost is $95 for your kit loaded with delish goodies which will be available for pick up from the East Vancouver store on 3 different days. Note, wine is not included but they do have some recommendations for you. Cut off for ticket purchase is February 7th. To grab your ticket, or get more information visit, les amis du FROMAGE.
Truth be told, we are not big fans of reality TV shows and even the mention of the housewives shows make our eyes glaze over. Then something caught our eye on a scroll through Instagram recently and we were hooked, East Van’s very own Housewives of Hip Hop. These ladies we can get behind. They are 6 moms brought together by their love of dance and having fun. Along their journey, they have built meaningful friendships as an added bonus.
It all started 6 years ago when the moms were dropping their kids off at Boogaloo Academy for a dance class. The ladies decided the kids were having all the fun and they wanted in on some of that. Soon after, the owner of Boogaloo Academy, Jheric Hizon, taught them some hip hop moves which they then performed at a studio year end dance and that’s where the journey took off. In 2018, they entered some dance competitions in the “adult street dance” category and next thing you know, the ladies won 2 silver medals and invites to perform at the WestCoast Women’s Show and the Victoria Women’s Show.
So who are the women behind the Housewives of Hip Hop? There are 6 women in total, Kerrie, Mirella, Alexa, Jen, Julie and Natalie. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, they have been unable to dance as a group in studio, so 3 of the East Van moms who live close to each other have been dancing in back lanes, carports and parks in various parts of East Van getting their grove on to some great tunes. For those who danced their way through the 80s and 90s, you’ll recognize a number of songs. The music takes us back to a much simpler time in life, a lot to be said for that in a pandemic.
To date, the Housewives of Hip Hop have 2.7 million views on TikTok. You can check them out there, or give them a follow on Instagram @thehousewivesofhophop to cheer them on. Most video clips are 12 -15 seconds.
The Housewives of Hip Hop also have a message they wish to share with women of all ages. Find something that brings you joy. They would like to inspire others to be true themselves, have fun and follow their passions. They have secretly found theirs.
Photos & Video: Courtesy of The Housewives Of Hip Hop
It’s days before Christmas and Santa has disappeared! Detective Bill Jingle is on the case and he searches for help from Santa’s close friends, a talented group of interesting people. Most have not heard from the jolly fella, but a few have clues. Can you solve the riddle of where Santa is before the detective and the elves do?
With magic, music and merriment a partly animated virtual adventure is perfect entertainment for the whole family. No need to worry about COVID restrictions, as all the fun can be had safely from your living room. And if Santa is found, you have the opportunity to purchase a video phone chat with him. HoHoHo. Also, added bonus is that you can watch and re-watch the show as many times as you want between December 18th and December 23rd.
Missing Santa is brought to you by Labmations and David C. Jones Production and is also a fundraiser for the West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation. The foundation creates joy and community for families tackling childhood cancer and blood disorders in British Columbia. They provide daily, practical support for all families going through this journey.
Missing Santa will be available online December 16th through to December 20th. Video calls with Santa are available December 14th through to December 20th. There is no limit to how many people can watch the show together, so you only need to buy one ticket per household. To purchase your ticket, visit Labmations.
Every once and a while something creative and unique crosses our path that makes us go, yes! Love this! Taste of Main is one of those. What is it exactly? Taste of Main is a not-for-profit run by university students currently living across the country who grew up near Main Street. They wanted to do something to give back this holiday season. They’ve pooled their talents and reached out to partner with Main Street businesses to offer locally-sourced charcuterie boards to be delivered as gifts. They have curated appetizers from a number of Main Street businesses including Swiss Bakery, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Main Street Honey Shoppe, Chef Claire’s, Jasmine Mediterranean Foods, Fine Delectables Charcuterie and Innocent Ice Cream to name a few. Their boards include pastries, breads, cheeses, dips, and spreads. It should be noted vegan and gluten free boards are available. Taste of Main has been designed to bring exposure to the local businesses they love and offer support during these difficult times. 90% of the proceeds are divided between the 10-15 businesses they have partnered with and added bonus is 10% of the funds go to the Vancouver Food Bank. Pre-orders are now available until December 17th. Deliveries and/or COVID-safe pickups will be made on December 23rd. Cost is $75. To place your order, visit Taste of Main.
With Christmas coming we thought it was time to update our Our Favourite East Van Bakeries. Although in theory, you may have some time to bake, but will you? If you haven’t mastered the art, or some say science of baking, good news, you have lots of great options to pick up baked goods in East Van. Whether you are craving an Italian pannetone, a German stollen, cheesecake or Christmas cookies, you will be sure to find it locally. We’d like to add we’ve lost a few bakeries in recent years, so we encourage you to support the ones still here and the new ones that have popped up. Now get ready, we’ve set out a long list. Enjoy!
Is a unique spot with a focus on using 100% traceable grains, beans, and freshly milled flours that support Canadian farmers. All their delish items can be delivered to your door including their flours should you wish to try your hand at baking. Added bonus, they feature quite a few recipes on their website. If you want them to bake, oh you are in for a treat. Many options to choose from including Pumpkin Pie Galette, Butter Tart Bar, Pear Custard Buns, Cinnamon Raisin Bread and so much more.
On The Drive, but tucked away every so slight in the Il Mercato building at 1st and Commercial is the Bench Bakehouse. They have a great selection of naturally leavened breads and French inspired pastries. For the holiday season, you can expect to find gingerbread men, shortbread, macaroons, biscotti, ginger almond crisp, Pfeffernusse along with Stollen and fruit cake.
This Italian bakery makes one of our favourite things, St. Honore cakes. Others may try and imitate, but personally we think theirs is hands down the best. Why accept imitation, as they say. They also carry an amazing selection of dessert items.
This sweet shop, literally and figuratively is run by the lovely Fanny Bay, who is a self taught baker and cookbook author. The shop came to the Drive in June 2019 and her loyal followers have shown lots of love over the years. Fanny is known for her signature cheesecakes, shortbread cookies and modern buttercream cakes. If you are looking for a delish gift, she is also offering Holiday Cookie Gift Boxes (as pictured above).
Livia on The Drive has a loyal following. They offer an array of delish artisan breads and other sweet treats. A definite stop if you are wandering on Commercial Drive.
This spot is just one block West of Commercial Drive and is most certainly a favourite go to spot for two things. One is Ginger Snaps and the second is pie. They generally have small and large pies on hand and on Fridays pie is 25% off which means, get their early or they will be all gone. They do have a wide range of sweet and savoury items including delish scones. This East Van staple has been a part of the community for over 40 years.
This is a favourite spot not only for their amazing bread, but something I’ve come to love financiers made from mostly almond flour. They have some amazing individual decadent desserts for taking away or having in, but their seasonal treat that has us excited is a German stollen passed down from Oma’s recipe (translation grandmother for those not up on their German) and yes for the diehard fans, with marzipan.
I grew up on just about everything from this bakery when it was called Fraser Bakery. It has many German favourites including a variety of strudels, Black Forest Cake, Christmas cookies and a Bee Sting cake or Bienenstich in German which is a white sponge cake with pastry cream in the middle and topped with honey glazed shaved almonds. Delish if you’ve never tried it. One unique thing about Breka, is that they are open 24/7 seven days a week. Don’t let that fool you though, it’s generally a busy spot so be prepared to wait a bit. In latest news, Breka Bakery is opening a new location in Hastings Sunrise at 2434 Hastings Street. It won’t be ready this year, but it will be next. Stay tuned.
Located in Mount Pleasant at the intersection of Kingsway & Fraser with great neighbours Like Matchstick Coffee and Les Faux Bourgeois. Everything here is made in house and is a 100% gluten free for celiacs and those that are gluten sensitive. They have an amazing selection of sweet and savoury ready made and frozen. Be sure to check out this quaint little spot.
Holy cannoli, this spot has a great selection of Italian sweet treats. You won’t be disappointed. They also have a great selection of cakes at the ready.
Tanya Muller is the owner and pastry chef of Le Gateau Bakeshop and we think the creator of some of the most beautiful wedding cakes we’ve ever seen. Outside of wedding cakes, they carry an array of seasonal sweets cupcakes, tarts and cookies all decadent and beautiful.
This one is recommended by our followers as a must try. They have a great selection of artisan breads, celebration cake, pastries and a whole lot more including pizza.
Tall Shadow Bakery is a new craft sourdough bakery located between Nanaimo and Kamloops Street. They have evolved from farmer markets to this new permanent location. Outside of great bread, they offer Holiday Sugar Cookie Decorating and Gingerbread House Kits and Cookie Boxes in small and large.
This sweet shop specializes in Latin desserts, cakes, pastries, empanadas and breads. If it’s cake you are looking for, the Mango Cake and Dulce De Leche Cakes are recommended.
If you’ve attended any farmer markets and craft fairs over the years, you will have found Sweet Thea Bakery with a whole lot of delish goodness. They offer decadent cookies, German stollen, plum pudding and a whole lot more. They no longer do farmer markets or craft fairs, but instead have been doing a Pop Up Shop at Main & 27th Avenue the last few years. In even better news, they are currently working on a permanent location on Main Street. If you can’t make their Pop Up Shop, you can visit them online.
Swiss Bakery, 143 East 3rd Avenue (just off Main Street)
We’ve been hearing so many great things about the Swiss Bakery and readers reached out to say, they need to be on this list. They offer an array of goodies including frissants, carmelized puff tart, stollen, Christmas cookies and Gingerbread House Kits.
Trafiq is a chic little café and has so many delish offerings it is so hard to choose. They have a Lemon Lavendar cake that’s caught our eye and is on our list to try. Their Instagram feed is drool worthy honestly. Give them a follow and do stop by if you haven’t already.
To Live For Bakery is a vegan bakery, but as one that has test tasted a number of delish options, you wouldn’t know the difference. They have an amazing selection of cakes and for Christmas, you can find Turtle cookies, rum balls, gingersnap cookies peppermint chocolate cookies, gingerbread loaf with maple glaze and Nog croissants. Of course, it’s a great spot to stop and take a break for coffee.
We hope you’ll support some of these great local businesses this holiday season.
If you love your baked goods as much we do, you’ll be excited to hear Sweet Thea Bakery is hosting a Pop Up Shop at 4305 Main Street for the upcoming holiday season. If you’ve attended any artisan markets and Christmas craft fairs around Metro Vancouver, you will no doubt seen them. But, of course, due to the pandemic we all know that many of these in person events are not happening this year. But the good news for us is that Sweet Thea Bakery is offering their delicious baked goods at their Pop Up Shop on Main Street. Some of the goodies you will find there include their delish Ginger Cookies, Chocolava Cookies, Honey Hearts, Chocolate Lebkuchen Cookies and Stollen. If that isn’t enough, they have curated some of their market favourites for their Pop Up Shop for you to purchase while picking up some baking. Some of these include maple syrup, roasted nuts, small batch bean to bar chocolate bars, honey, hot sauces, jams and mustards. Perfect gifts for the food lover or well, just you. If you can’t make it to their Pop Up Shop, we have more good news. They are offering Canada Post deliveries, or pick up at 3 different locations – Main Street Pop Up, Tsawwassen Quay Market (must be taking a BC Ferry to access) and their Langley Shop. To place your order, visit them online at Sweet Thea Bakery or stop by their Pop Up Shop at 4305 Main Street which is open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm most days, but is open till 7:00 pm on Fridays. Treat yourself and your family to some amazing baked goods while at the same time supporting a local business.
The Cultch invites you to join a cast of wild and wacky characters from the Craigslist community as they attempt to buy and sell online, all the while longing and searching for human connection. Do You Want What I’ve Got? A Craigslist Cantata revisits one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows to come out of Vancouver. The upcoming production comes with a fresh, new perspective on social isolation and is live-streamed from The Cultch’s Historic Theatre November 19- 22, 2020. What you can expect is a witty and poignant exploration of physical distancing along with original songs such as 300 Stuffed Penguins, Chili Eating Buddy and Decapitated Dolls. The production features the incredibly talented local cast including, Meaghan Chenosky, Josh Epstein, Chirag Naik, Amanda Sum, Andrew Wheeler and choreography by Amanda Testini. The production is written by the talented Veda Hille, Bill Richardson and Amiel Gladstone. Tickets start from $29 for a 1 viewer household and $58 for a 2 viewer household. To grab your ticket(s), visit The Cultch.
“Must-see theatre…one of the most unique and entertaining theatrical concoctions this town has seen in many a year” – JERRY WASSERMAN, THE PROVINCE
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