Tag Archives: Vancouver

The Daisy Theatre Returns To The Cultch March 21st to April 9th, 2017

10 Mar

DaisyTheatreAlejandroSantiagoThe Daisy Theatre returns to The Cultch on March 21st until April 9th. What is the Daisy Theatre? Well it’s a puppet show by the one and only Bonnie Burkett and this is NOT any puppet show.  If you think you might not be interested in seeing puppets, you will likely be wrong. The Daisy Theatre is unlike anything you have ever seen. Ronnie Burkett, puppeteer provocateur and his company of over 40 marionettes, will not only entertain you, but will be sure to have you riding a wave of emotion as he brings his puppets to life. The energy he brings to his puppetry is rather awe inspiring and how he seamlessly transitions between all the characters on his stage. Did we mention it’s funny?  Side splitting funny, Ronnie Burkett brings a sharp wit to his characters when he needs to, but he can be as soft as kitten when playing the character Schnitzel who usually begins and finishes his show. But having said that, each show is different so you don’t always know who is coming on stage to perform. We can say each performance is different, daring, ridiculous and honestly dam funny. It’s just not us saying it though,  The Georgia Straight has previously called it “one of the best shows you’ll ever see”.  Tickets start at $20 and are available online at The Cultch.  Note, due to the mature content this is a 19+ show.

Photo Credit: Alejandro Santiago

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Refuge Comes To The Firehall Arts Centre March 18 – April 1, 2017

6 Mar

As many know, immigration and refugees is front of mind in the news almost daily which makes this new play by Mary Vingoe rather timely.  The Firehall Arts Centre presents a new play Refuge based on the award-winning CBC Radio documentary “Habtom’s Path”. Refuge tells the emotionally riveting story of Eritrean army deserter, Ayinom Zerisenai, who has landed in Nova Scotia, where his mother already has refugee status.  But even as Ayinom’s plight wins the support of an immigration lawyer, Saul Ackman, questions about his past actions and his current behavior begin to haunt Pamela who has taken him into her home.  Could she and her husband be harbouring a legitimate refugee or a terrorist?  Refuge as you might guess is a provocative and poignant story of the pitfalls of seeking sanctuary in today’s suspicious world.  The play is directed by the very talented Donna Spencer.  Refuge runs from March 18 to April 1st at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets are available from the Firehall Arts Centre from $23. If you are interested in a Post Show Talkback discussion, you can participate in those on March 23rd and March 30th. For those on a budget, check out the Pay What You Can Performances March 22nd and 29th at 1:00 pm.

Photo Credit: Emily Cooper

 

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Neighbourbood Small Grants Back For 2017 – Celebrate Community!

27 Feb

NeighbourhoodSmallGrants2014In case you hadn’t heard, it’s Canada’s 150th birthday this year.  Why not celebrate it within your own community?  Or maybe there is something small you can do to make your community a better place? We encourage you to consider applying for a Neighbourhood Small Grant. If you have not heard about this program, it is worth looking into. Speaking from experience this program is a great way to get to know your neighbours and build community. You can apply for grants of up to $500 for projects in your community. The aim of the program, which is funded by the Vancouver Foundation, is to connect and engage people within the community in which they live. Neighbours can get together and make an application for a variety of events. Some examples of past events include neighbourhood block parties, clean up campaigns, ethnic cooking classes, emergency preparedness plans, community gardens or an outdoor movie night. This is not for adults only, kids are welcome to get into the act.  The ideas are only limited by your imagination. Once your application is submitted, it is reviewed by a Resident Advisory Committee made up of residents in your neighbourhood. Applicants are advised in late May/early June if they receive funding and are asked to have their projects completed by November 30, 2017. To apply for a grant, visit Neighbourhood Small Grant.  Note, the site is available in several different languages. Application deadline is Monday, April 4, 2017 and open to residents in the following areas:

  • Carnegie – Strathcona – Ray Cam
  • Cedar Cottage – Hastings Sunrise – Renfrew
  • Mount Pleasant – Little Mountain
  • South Vancouver – Collingwood

If you prefer to make the City a greener space, there is also an opportunity to apply for a Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant. Again residents can apply for grants of up to $500 with the stipulation that the projects contribute to the City’s Greenest City Action Plan Targets.   Grants are given to projects that meet the following goals:

Mitigating climate change – Examples: A “Neighbour Challenge” to track sustainable behaviours i.e. measuring of household waste, food waste, green transportation trips.

Promoting greener forms of transportation – Examples: A “bike repair 101” session providing participants with knowledge and some basic tools (e.g. patch kit, tire levels, allen keys); a “walking school bus” or “bike train,” with prizes/incentives for participation; a community map where people can draw their bicycle route to work and link up with new buddies to ride together; promote walking through an organized tour about local history of neighbourhoods; a public art installation.

Creating zero waste – Examples: neighbourhood composting; building a community share sheds for tools, toys, or appliances.

Improving access to nature and planting trees – Examples: a workshop on the benefits and care of trees providing a small tree for each participant; building a community pollinator garden; a workshop on building nesting boxes for barn swallows with basic materials.

Breathing clean air – Examples: an awareness workshop about the use of renewable energy or carbon footprinting.

Making businesses greener – Examples: Working with a local green grocer business to use unsold food for an event to educate neighbours on reducing food waste; create a resource-sharing space for local businesses (for example, a small business book exchange or tool shed; a green business trade school event; or common marketing tool for local green businesses).

Clean Water – Examples: a workshop on rain gardens for boulevards; installing rain barrels on garden sheds in community gardens; a workshop on water-wise gardening practices; replacing an area of pavement with porous natural materials.

Green Buildings – Examples: hosting a “DIY home energy retrofit” workshop providing participants with starter materials (e.g. window insulation kit, door draft stopper, weatherstrip tape); a neighbourhood information session on incentives available to reduce energy use in the home, using available City of Vancouver brochures and other resources.

Lighter Footprint – Examples: a clothing and stuff swap; a school supplies swap; a repair café/fix-it fair event; a program for sharing in your neighbourhood

Growing and eating local food – Examples: develop a plan to pick neighbours’ unused/unwanted fruit and process this as a group (e.g. make jam, fruit leather, etc.); build a beehive and host a beehive workshop.

Residents in the following communities can apply for this grant:

  • Carnegie – Strathcona – Ray Cam
  • Cedar Cottage – Hastings Sunrise – Renfrew
  • South Vancouver – Collingwood

You can apply for both of the grants online. Please see their online application for more information.  The deadline to apply for the Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant is also Monday, April 4, 2017.

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Almost A Stepmom At Havana Theatre March 14 – 18, 2017

22 Feb

almostastepmomHave you ever been a step parent? Thought about being a step parent? Maybe you are one. Having had the personal experience, it is not for the faint of heart. Thick skin and patience are two pre-requisites for this role, but like all paths in life, there are the challenges but also the rewards. This March, Standing Room Theatre Only brings you a one woman show Almost A Stepmom. It is the true story of Keara Barnes who moves to Ireland and becomes a stepmom, well almost.  This dark comedy shows you first hand the ups and downs of being a stepmom and brings you multiple characters including an attempted murder in this one woman show. Almost A Stepmom has received rave reviews at various festivals throughout Western Canada, most recently winning the Emerging Artist Award at the 2016 Calgary Fringe Festival. You catch the show at Havana Theatre on Commercial Drive between March 14 and 18. Tickets are $18 and available online from Brown Paper Tickets.

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Elbow Room Café: The Musical At The York Theatre March 1-12, 2017

17 Feb

elbowroomcafeemilycooperYou are invited to take a peak inside one of Vancouver’s iconic eateries, the Elbow Room Café. The café is located in downtown Vancouver and is owned and operated by partners in life and in business,  Patrice and Bryan, who have been running the café since 1983. The restaurant is known for its eclectic breakfast and brunch menu that serves up sarcasm along with your food.  If you are lucky and you time it just right, you may also find a celebrity sighting or two.  The Elbow Room Café – The Musical features local actors Dave Deveau and Anton Lipovetsky who we hear sink their teeth into the roles of owners, Patrice and Bryan. Together they explore the reality of aging in a Technicolour world which is complete with campy misfits, drag queens and the perpetually hung over.  Elbow Room Café – The Musical runs March 1 to 12 at the York Theatre with artist talkback shows on March 3rd, 5th and 7th.  Tickets are available online from The Cultch and start from $20. Expect a loud, colourful and  unpredictable evening that’s full of heart.

Photo Credit: Emily Cooper

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Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride February 25th

8 Feb

crowroostrideSo crows are an ever present part of life in East Van. Do you ever wonder where they go at dusk? On Saturday, February 25th, the Still Moon Arts Society invites you to ride along with them and the crows for the annual Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride.  They will follow the crows on the Central Valley Greenway towards Burnaby which is approximately 5 km round trip. To ensure safety, organizers ask that you have lights and/or reflectors for the ride home.  This is a free family friendly event. Everyone is welcome. Come ride with the crows! NOTE: This is a rescheduled date from the February 18th proposed date, but due to rain was rescheduled to February 25th. Let’s hope for better weather this weekend.  The ride gets underway at approximately 4:45 pm at Renfrew Skytrain Station.

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ELLE At The Firehall Arts Centre February 8-18

1 Feb

elle-severnthompsonYou are invited to check out ELLE at the Firehall Arts Centre. This play is the story of Marguerite de Roberval, a French noblewoman who sets out to sail in 1542 for Canada with her uncle, Jacques Cartier to colonize new found territory.  She finds herself abandoned on a deserted ‘Isle of Demons’ located off the coast of Newfoundland as punishment for taking a lover during the voyage.  Marguerite finds herself in the company of spirit bears real and imagined and not only does ELLE survive, but she thrives. J. Kelly Nestruck of The Globe & Mail likens the play to the Oscar nominated movie The Revenant by Alejandro Iñárritu.  We are hearing that ELLE reinvents the beginnings of this country’s national narrative.  ELLE runs February 8 – 18 with tickets from $23 and available online at Firehall Arts Centre.

What people are saying about ELLE:

“Thompson holds the audience’s attention in a vice grip with her precision, depth, and hilarity. Her script is beautifully poetic, and is a master of delivery.”
 Mooney on Theatre  

“…a performance that weaves feminism, survival instincts, colonialism
and magic realism together.”
 The Toronto Star

“Elle is occasionally tense, but frequently funny.”
Globe and Mail

Photo Credit: Severn Thompson

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Bodegas Lustau Sherry Tasting Experience At Cabrito Tapas February 28th

27 Jan

sherryexperiencecabritotapasDo you love sherry? Granted this libation isn’t for everyone, or maybe it’s just the ones you’ve tried. Either way, if you would like to learn a bit more about sherry, than Cabrito Tapas on The Drive has an event for you.  If you don’t know Cabrito Tapas, well you are missing out, it is a delish spot on the Drive serving Spanish tapas.  On February 28th, they will be hosting their first ever Sherry Experience. They will be featuring 7 different sherries from Bodegas Lustau in Spain. Not only will you get to experience the sherries, but Chef Alex will be pairing them with tapas to highlight both the food and the sherries.  Cost of this event is $75 which includes tax and tip. To register, visit Cabrito Tapas.

Photo Credit: Cabrito Tapas

 

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The Uncommon Café Offers Sweet Classes This February

23 Jan

 

eclairscreampuffsfebruary52017With Valentine’s Day approaching, our friends at The Uncommon Café, 477 Powell Street, are hosting a few delicious classes this February and if location is an issue, we see one of their upcoming classes, Eclairs and Cream Puffs, will be held at the Trout Lake Community Centre on a Sunday afternoon.  Valentine Kitamura owner of Tartine Maple will be leading the various classes they have lined up which include learning how to make eclairs and cream puffs, the secrets of working with chocolate or making that perfect Valentine’s Dinner. We invite you to check out their upcoming classes.

Eclairs and Cream Puff: Choux Pastry Basics –  Sunday, February 5, 2017

Valentine will teach you the basics of the new pastry craze from France, Choux pastry  pronounced “shoo.” If unfamiliar with the term, they are a family of dessert, big and small puffs, all made with the same dough base. In this class, you will learn to make:

  • Profiteroles filled with vanilla whipped cream and covered with warm chocolate sauce
  • Chouquettes with are a simple little puff simply covered with crunchy sugar bits
  • Eclairs – the long version of the choux, filled with cream

Bring a container(s) so you can take some of your creations home.  If you don’t have  baking experience, no worries, it is not required. They assure us no fancy equipment is required either and you can easily make the items yourself at home.  This class runs Sunday afternoon at Trout Lake Community Centre from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Chocolate Lovers Class – Wednesday, February 8, 2017 

If you love chocolate and want to learn how to make easy decadent desserts, than this class is for you. Whether you wish to impress guests, or that special someone this Valentine’s Day. What you will learn to make in this class is:chocolateloversclass

  • Chocolate Mousse
  • Lava Cake
  • Chocolate Truffles
  • Chocolate Sauce to Drizzle

This is a demonstration cooking class after which you will get to enjoy your Lava Cake along with a glass of sparking wine. The rest of the goodies you get to take home with you.


Valentine’s Couple Cooking Demo & Dinner – February 10, 2017 SOLD OUT

This class is designed for pairs, so whether that be a romantic couple, or maybe you want to bring someone on a first date, or you bring your mom or best friend, the field is wide open. During this demonstration class, Valentine will show you how to make some delish French dishes which we’ve set out below. After the demonstration, you get to sit down and enjoy the prepared meal in their restaurant with a glass of wine with candlelight if you wish.  What you will learn to make includes:

Tarte flambée: Thin flatbread made right before your eyes, covered in onions, bacon and cream and cooked really high for extra crispiness. Served with green salad.

Aumoniere de Saumon: Salmon wrapped in purse shape phyllo dough served with a  traditional white wine sauce

Lava cake: The ultimate dark chocolate indulgence served with vanilla ice cream.

Now if you like the idea of this class, but your prefer a different date, they are offering another class on February 14th, with a bit different menu. Price for the demonstration cooking classes are $75 per person.  Keep an eye out for early registration offers which reduce the price by $10. To register, click on link above which takes you to the Eventbrite page for each class. Bon appetit.

february10dinner

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Mouthpiece At The Cultch January 31 – February 5, 2017

16 Jan

mouthpiece-joel-cliftonAn interesting show that has our attention is coming to The Cultch January 31st. It’s called Mouthpiece. The show features what goes through a woman’s mind during the course of one day.  Here you will see the push and pull, the past and present, the progress and regression along with all the inner conflict that exists within a woman’s head. Interwoven within the show is a cappella harmony, text and movement.  Mouthpiece is a ‘harrowing, humourous and heart-wrenching journey into the female psyche’.  The show hails from Toronto where it had a sold-out run. It comes to The Cultch on a national tour and is presented with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.  The show opens January 31st at 8:00 pm and runs till February 5, 2017. If you are interested in an Artist Talkback evening, that will be held February 1st.   Tickets are available online at The Cultch.

Photo Credit: Joel Clifton

What people are saying about Mouthpiece:

“It’s an engrossing and virtuosic performance, layered with meaning…”
 Toronto Star

“Mouthpiece holds you transfixed until the very end”
Scene Changes

★★★★ (out of four)
The Globe and Mail

“…a sophisticated, nuanced, complex portrait of the woman’s voice. It offers an incisive, humorous, thoughtful, afflictive telling of a narrative that is undeniably true, yet criminally underrepresented”
Espace Musique

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