Tag Archives: Vancouver

Side Glance With Al Tee – White Pins: What They Mean For Housing In Vancouver

29 May

WhitePinAlTeeThey first appeared on the Westside. Then slowly migrated to EastVan and now they are everywhere. You’ve seen them in your neighborhood and on your street. They are the symbol of everything that is the housing debate. They are, those white surveyor pins. Harbingers of destroy and replace. That old rancher? Coming down. Faded Vancouver Special? Bulldozer bait. Hundred year old Craftsman? Just keeping the lot warm until that 3500 square foot stack of shipping containers-looking box is approved.

It is to the point that the pins go in, the house comes down, and you can’t even remember what was there. Walk through any East Van neighborhood and you can predict which house is next to sprout the white pins. The pins are like an invasive species. Nobody was paying attention, nobody took them seriously, now they can’t be stopped. There’s no natural predator or pesticide and they’re pretty much impervious to social activism. In fact they’ll be around long after all of us because of what they consume and excrete. Money.

This city, as I’ve said before, has always been about money. George Vancouver didn’t drop anchor in Burrard Inlet to further His Majesty’s geographical knowledge. The heroes of Vision ran this city for 10 years and they weren’t financed by citizens riding Mobi bikes to council meeting eithers.

But, there’s an election coming in November, and the people seeking your vote aren’t beholden to money and have a solution for the white pin proliferation. Whether it’s Burnaby MP Kennedy ‘How about I drop in and solve your problems?’ Stewart, hereditary Squamish Nation Chief Ian ‘cash in on all that white guilt’ Campbell, neophyte politician Shauna ‘what happened to being the  frontrunner?’  Sylvester, tech entrepreneur Taleeb ‘lost twice federally’  Noormohamed, or popular favorite Adrianne ‘don’t want to be the tallest weed’ Carr, they have a plan. Maybe.

What is certain, is that no matter who is in power enacting their “plan”, your rent is going to continue to go up. Moving to a larger more affordable space will continue to only be an option if that space is in Harrison Mills. The price of the faded Vancouver Special you pass by every day is not suddenly going to be reasonable, and the white pins will continue to dot the East Van landscape.

However it’s not all gloom and doom especially if you like a little schadenfreude. Watching Hector Bremner cry over the NPA rejecting his mayoralty candidacy has been pretty entertaining.  Bremner is the same guy who won his city council seat because the progressive vote was split into five but still thinks he earned it. The same guy that said after he won his council seat that Vision was done. The same guy who said he’d donate his councilor’s pay to charity. Now he alleges that he’s a victim of racism. Shocking! The poor man. Course if you believe that, I’ve got a Vancouver Special you can have for its original price. Plus it’s on a street free of those white pins.

By Contributing Writer Al Tee

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews 12 Minute Madness – rEvolver Festival

28 May

12MinuteMadnessChrisRandleThis year’s rEvolver Festival is focusing on women creators as all the mainstage shows have either been created or co-created by women. One of these shows, 12 Minute Madness, features an entirely female cast. Incredibly dark and candid, the show’s 12 performers give the audience a twisted look into the mind of a sexual abuse survivor. Earning a standing ovation on opening night, this tale is as raunchy as it is poignant – a piece that has necessarily been born out of the #MeToo movement.

The story follows a young woman, Marlena, as she recalls repressed memories of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her own grandfather. Instead of representing different players in this story in the outside world, each character in the production embodies a different part of Marlena’s psyche as she grapples with what has happened to her and questions the reliability of her own memories. There’s shame, there’s sadness, there’s anger and there’s reason (to name a few) and all contribute to complete madness inside Marlena’s head.

This production offers a glance into the mind and soul of a victim of sexual abuse and calls for audiences to realize the multi-faceted and contradictory thoughts and feelings that occur in the mind alone, before even reaching the world outside. rEvolver Festival continues at The Cultch until June 3rd.

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

Photo Credit: Chris Randle

 

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What’s On East Van: May 25th Edition

25 May

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

East Van Crusher – Maritime Labour Centre – May 25th

Vancouver Craft Beer Week kicks off with the East Van Crusher at the Maritime Labour Centre Friday, May 25th.  This action packed event features a wide array of canned beer and semi-famous local personality, Grant Lawrence, who will be opening the 10 day event.  To keep everyone entertained during the evening, there will be live music by Alex Maher and JD Hebegebe.  Tickets are $25 which includes admission and 2 beers. To get yours, visit Ticketleader.

ROVE: Mount Pleasant Art Walk – May 26th

ROVE is a free community event that takes place on Saturday, May 26th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Studios and galleries in Mount Pleasant open their doors and invite you to come check out a variety of artists. To see which spots are participating, visit ROVE’s Facebook page

Cedar Cottage Community Garden Spring Fling – Cedar Cottage May 26th

Cedar Cottage Community Garden is hosting their 10th Annual Spring Fling this Saturday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  This free community event will feature live music and garden tours.  Live plants and food will be available for sale.  Many local businesses will be participating in the event which also provides organizers the opportunity to raise some funds for special projects. Stop by and show your support. You can’t miss the community garden when driving along Victoria Drive, it’s where the Victoria Diversion starts before/after it changes to Commercial Drive.

Sing The Clash – Strange Fellows Brewing – May 26th

Strange Fellows Brewing is hosting the Impromptu Rock Choir this Saturday and they are going to be singing “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash.  Entry is free with the purchase of a beer, or $5.00 donation to the Food Bank.  Event happens between 7:00 and 9:00 pm.

Parker Art Salon – 1000 Parker Street – May 26th & 27th

Parker Art Salon now in its 4th year happens at 1000 Parker Street this Saturday and Sunday.  It is a great opportunity to see the working space and art of over 200 artists including sculptors, painters, designers, furniture builders and much more.   The building itself is pretty iconic at over 100 years old.  This is a free event open to everyone and happens from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

 

Clothing Swap – Wise Hall – May 27th

Do you have clothes that you don’t wear? Maybe they are new, maybe just gently worn, but the fit or colour wasn’t quite right.  Either way, how about revamping your wardrobe in an eco-friendly way? A Clothing Swap happens this Sunday, May 27th at the Wise Hall. Cost is $10 to participate.  You drop your clothes off between 12:30 and 1:00 pm pay your $10 and you can shop and pick up new treasures until 3:00 pm.

Zumbeer – Andina Brewing Co. –  May 27th

You are invited to stop by Andina Brewing Co. this Sunday, May 27th for a Zumba class led by Zumba Vancouver which is followed by a flight or glass of beer. Cost is $20. Fun kicks off at X time. To register, visit ZumbaVancouver.ca.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

Looking for comedy? Local comedian, Graham Clark, hosts his Laugh Gallery event Monday at Havana Theatre 9 pm.  Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market kicks off at 10:00 am till 2:00 pm at Dude Chilling Park. 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 The Only Good Indian – rEvolver Festival

24 May

OneGoodIndianPhotoGrahamIsadorPandemic Theatre’s The Only Good Indian, presented by Upintheair Theatre, is on now at the Cultch for the 2018 rEvolver Festival. Performed by several different artists throughout the run of the festival, this piece is part lecture, part meditation and part threat. In it’s West Coast premiere, Toronto’s Jivesh Parasram delivers a funny, yet disturbing and thought provoking account of his experience as an “other” in a world of purported shared human experience.

Each night of The Only Good Indian, a different performer straps themselves into a suicide vest and attempts to rationalize such an “irrational” decision. In doing so, the performer forces the audience to think about, look at, and listen to things that are uncomfortable – visiting dark corners of the human mind which are cast aside in polite conversation.

The aim of the project is to explore the idea of “pluriversality” – the belief that there are many world views and many cosmologies which comprise the whole. This concept is in direct contravention of the idea of a “common truth”, a claim that suggests there is a correct way to think, speak and act, which is so prevalent in the western world and even right here in our community. The Only Good Indian is an experiment which forces people to question their own prejudices and privileges, however “woke” they think they might be.

For tickets to this production, as part of the 2018 rEvolver Festival, visit The Cultch.

By Contributing Writer Nicole Alivojvodic

Photo Credit: Graham Isador

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rEvolver Festival May 23 – June 3, 2018 At The Cultch

23 May

RevolverFestivalUpintheair Theatre presents the rEvolver Festival at The Cultch May 23 to June 3, 2018.  , rEolver showcases a wide range of high energy contemporary theatre by new and emerging artists over 12 days. The festival will feature script based theatre, stage readings along with some in depth discussions with artists.  There is a wide range of productions which all take place at The Cultch during the Festival.  Some run short, some longer. To see the full schedule, visit their website rEvolver Festival. While checking out the schedule, we encourage you to check out a free show happening over several days. It’s only 15 minutes long, but called The Somewhere Cedar. A teen, Antigone, fights to save the oldest known red Cedar in western BC.  This production has already won a couple of awards including the Vancouver Fringe Artistic Risk Award in 2015.

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Italian Day On The Drive Sunday, June 10, 2018

22 May

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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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What’s On East Van: May 18th Edition

18 May

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

Molly Misbegotten – Havana Theatre – May 15th to 19th 

An intimate coming-of-age four act drama with a naive-adolescent named Elijah Berner who succumbs to the harsh realities of attempting to recreate a moment he lost long ago. Show happens in the Havana Theatre tucked in the back of Havana Restaurant. Tickets are $15 and available through Brown Paper Tickets.

INGITE! Youth Driven Arts Festival – The Cultch – May 15th – 19th

For one week in May, The Cultch is taken over and transformed by young people. Hundreds of youth are involved in what has grown to be Vancouver’s largest youth-driven arts festival. IGNITE! showcases music, dance, and spoken word. It will also  feature three one-act plays, a visual arts exhibit, variety shows featuring improv, drag, circus arts, and much more. The shows are created artists between the ages of 13-26. For tickets and more information, visit The Cultch.

Bakery Pop Up – les amis du fromge (East Van) – May 19th

Les amis du fromage’s East Van location, 843 East Hastings Street, is hosting another Bakery Pop Up Shop this Saturday, May 19th. This week Lakehouse Foods will be on hand from Noon to 5:00 pm or until they sell out.

Forage – Trillium North Park – May 19th

Learn to gather, use and make items from wool this Saturday, May 19th at Trillium North Park.  This is one of six free sessions featuring different local fibres. This week, learn traditional hand skills that are the foundation of many weaving techniques. Event runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It is a free event, but note registration is required as space is limited to 15. For more information, visit Forage.

Victoria Day Family Fun – Trout Lake –  May 21st

Trout Lake Community Centre is hosting some free family fun this Monday, May 21st from 10:00 am to Noon.  They will have a bouncy castle set up indoors, arts and crafts and games.  Free for all to attend, but pre-registration is requested.

Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment

Looking for comedy? Local comedian, Graham Clark, hosts his Laugh Gallery event Monday at Havana Theatre 9 pm.  Two farmer markets are happening this Saturday, Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm). To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

 

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Victim Impact At The Cultch June 8-17, 2018

17 May

VictimImpactTheatre Conspiracy brings a unique documentary to the stage at The Cultch, Victim Impact. The production features the story of former notary public, Rashida Samji who drew her family, friends and community into a vast web of deceit in her Ponzi scheme. For those unfamiliar with a Ponzi scheme, it is a “a fraudulent investing scam promising high rates of return with little risk to investors. The Ponzi scheme generates returns for older investors.”   This documentary features some of the mysterious aspects of this case from 2003 to 2012.  The show looks at the fallout of those that got sucked into the vortex of civil and criminal trials.  Over 200 people lost large sums of money in this fraud involving $110 million.   Tickets are available online at The Cultch. Note there are concession tickets for $10 for seniors, students and the unemployed/underemployed. Victim Impact runs from June 8th to June 17th.

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews Bears On Now At The Cultch Till May 12th

10 May

BearsFrom Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts and Punctuate! Theatre comes this dark comedy about the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline. Written and directed by Matthew MacKenzie, Bears strives to increase dialogue about the devastating effects economic greed is taking on the lands of our country’s First Nations peoples. Beautifully performed by a group of talented actors and dancers, the audience was brought to their feet in a standing ovation on opening night.

The story follows Floyd, the prime suspect in a workplace accident at an Alberta oil refinery, who, while being pursued by the RCMP, makes an epic westbound trek through the Rocky Mountains along the route of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline. While Floyd embarks on this journey, a chorus of contemporary dancers embody his natural surroundings – impressively bringing to life everything from strawberry bushes, to spawning salmon, to an avalanche.

For tickets to this unapologetically political production, on now until May 12 at Historic Theatre, visit The Cultch.

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

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Stone Soup Festival At Britannia Community Centre Saturday May 12th

9 May

Stone Soup 2018The Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, is hosting the 23rd Annual Stone Soup Festival on Saturday, May 12th.  This annual event is a celebration of food, art, environment and community. You can expect to find a food market, local artists, community groups, talks, seed swap, net making and Metis dance workshops, live music, children’s activities, free soup and much more. The Stone Soup Festival aims to bring awareness to the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources and eating ‘local’ and celebrating the diversity of food in our neighbourhood, the environment and its importance to the culture of our community. This is a free family friendly event that happens from Noon – 5:00 pm.

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