It’s that time of year when gift giving is front of mind for the holiday season. We love to receive thoughtful gifts over the holiday season, but with more people downsizing and living in condos, space becomes an issue. Thus, over the years we have been fans of giving the gift of experience. Not only is it fun, but you are also creating memories, not just for the few minutes you are opening your gift, but for the many hours while the recipient enjoys the gifted experience. In East Vancouver, there are some great options for gifting an experience. We have set out below a sampling of ideas that speak to us.
Founded in 2013, Vancouver Brewery Tours offers behind the scences excursions to craft breweries.. Vancouver Brewery Tours offers walking tours as well as ones in their comfortable vans that take you to various breweries for some VIP treatment. From first hand experience, we can attest that tour guides are knowledgeable about beer, the brewing process and the collaborative community behind the making of beer. They offer a variety of tours on different days of the weekend and/or weekends. To see what’s offered, visit Vancouver Brewery Tours.
Federico’s Supper Club – Dinner & Dancing
What about a gift certificate for an evening of dinner and dancing? Federico’s Supper Club offers amazing Italian food, wine and impeccable service. You will regularly find owner, Federico Fuoco, belting out tunes but they regularly bring in lots of local talent to mix things up including nights featuring ABBA music, 80s and R&B.
Les Amis Du Fromage – Wine & Cheese Tasting
If you know someone that loves cheese, you may wish to consider purchasing a ticket(s) to one of Les Amis Du Fromage’s upcoming wine & cheese tasting classes in 2018. They have some delicious classes lined up for the New Year.
The Gourmet Warehouse – Cooking Classes
Have a foodie in your life that loves cooking? Or someone that wishes to kick up their cooking skills a notch to impress that special someone? The Gourmet Warehouse offers some delicious and fun cooking classes. In the New Year they are offering the art of cheesemaking and these ones tend to sell out. Most classes are demonstration vs. hands on, but certainly informative.
The Cultch – Live Theatre
This is a favourite spot of ours. The Cultch has an amazing array of talent that graces their stages whether drama, comedy, musical, historical, they cover all the bases. In the New Year, first on our list is Hot Honey Brown, but there are many other great productions already lined up.
Off The Eaten Track Walking Tours
The ladies behind Off The Eaten Track Walking Tours provide some delicious walking tours in which you get to taste your way around the City. Every tour offers something a little different, but always tasty. It’s a fun way to spend some time with friends. To see what tours are offered, visit Off The Eaten Track Tours.
The gift of experience is a gift that keeps on giving, the memories will stay with them for many years to come. Add to that, it’s eco-friendly and supports local. Win win all around as we see it.
Finished your Christmas shopping? If not, the countdown is on. We recommend skipping the craziness that is the malls. Why not stop into one of these great local businesses that will a) not only appreciate the business, but b) offer some truly great service. We’ve set out a few of our favourite spots we think are great for gift giving. Note, many of the stores have extended hours this week to help you with your Christmas shopping.
This January, 
ks at 
the cat lovers, or those looking for a fun gift for the cat lover. 2 Fork Designs has created this fun whimsical design called Nip In The Butt. This cool catnip cat toy is made with 4 layers of felt and comes in a host of different colours all for $10. To purchase your Nip In The Butt, check out their 
Pack by local East Van business, 
Know a special woman that deserves something unique and pretty? We are sure you do and we bet she might like these freshwater pearls wrapped with pure Argentium sterling silver wire. They give the impression of small rose buds in bloom. They are made by local jewellery designers,
n credit/debit card holders designed by Jeremy Lee of Konisa Studios hold up to 6 cards. As you might imagine, the wood does keep the cards from bending or breaking. This is cool gift that will last and at $30 we think a steal. You can find the Carrall Credit/Debit Wallet in person at 
uite in love with the concrete planters created by Nadia M’Seffar of 
15
compelled to include. Check out this East Van Mule Kit by the good folks at Odd Society Spirits which comes with a Moscow Mule Cup, Rootside Provisions Ginger Beer Mix, a bottle of their East Van Vodka and a few fresh limes. To order your East Van Mule Kit, contact 
Oh Man! is coming to Havana Theatre this Friday and Saturday. Jo Dworschak, creator and producer of Story Story Lie, has put together a multimedia monologue about a mom trying to overcome her fear of men before having one. With some assistance from TJ Dawe, a respected playwright, actor and director, Jo Dworschak has put together this autobiographical production which features some problematic relationships with men in her family life, to learn she’s pregnant and having a boy. The production won Best Solo Show at the Montana Fringe Festival and this week’s show will be the first showing in Vancouver and possibly the last. Jo bills this show as “humorous, heart warming and the perfect night out for the parent”. You can catch her show Friday, December 8th and Saturday, December 9th at Havana Theatre. Tickets are $10 and available through 
We recently stopped in to check out another new addition on Commercial Drive recently, 
The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius might give you a lot to talk about the next day, but from chatting to a few audience members afterwards, I’d say we were all pretty much speechless as our initial reaction.
ILiveInEastVan.com 