Things to Do

Find Love in your favourite Vancouver neighbourhoods

Love Your City

This February we invite you to Find Love and rediscover everything that Vancouver neighbourhoods have to offer.

16 neighbourhoods across Vancouver are bringing you the Love Your City Contest – a call to get out, explore, and find LOVE in our city.

How it works.

1. Visit any (or all!) of the participating hoods of the Love Your City contest during the month of February.
2. Look out for the Love Your City installations (giant sweetheart candies, wooden hearts, murals, love banners, umbrella installations and more.) Take a photo of the special spots, share to your instagram account feed.
3. Tag @loveyourcitycontest and the neighbourhood you are visiting (ex. #FindLoveStrathcona).
4. You’ll be entered to win incredible prizes plus the participating districts have come together to create one epic grand prize, valued at approx. $4000!

Plus, during the month of February we’ll be hiding gift cards throughout Strathcona connected to our Sweethearts, that will be placed in various Strathcona locations. We’ll be dropping clues weekly on our TikTok channel – follow along! @MadeInStrathcona. 

We invite you to find our custom Sweethearts (created by MakerLabs) hung up around Strathcona with messages of love and compliments. 

We will have 10+ hearts displayed throughout Strathcona and during February we’ll be hiding gift cards taped behind a select few. Hints will be dropped on our TikTok account. We encourage you to go out in the daytime, bring a buddy and be aware of your surroundings on your hunt. Remember to tag @loveyourcitycontest and #FindLoveStrathcona to be entered to win the grand prize, or if you find the gift card, stitch us and show us your findings!

Find Love and happy hunting!

Love You City Contest – Grand prize

Vancouver BIA neighbourhoods are coming together to offer a chance for one lucky winner to take home a grand prize valued at approximately $4,000! All you have to do is follow the steps above to enter.

Strathcona prize portion

Each neighbourhood will contribute a unique offering to the Love You City grand prize. From Strathcona, you have a chance to win the following items in the grand prize:

$100 to VV Tapas Lounge

$75 to Settlement Building / Vancouver Urban Winery

$85 to MakerLabs to take a class of your choice

More Experiences from Strathcona

Beyond the prizes, if you are looking for fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, look no further than these ideas.

Valentine’s Day at VV Tapas Lounge

On Friday February 11 and Saturday the 12, VV Tapas Lounge will be offering a delightful 5 course menu for only $55 a person, with optional wine pairings for an additional $40. On the menu you’ll find Oysters 3 Ways, Panzanella Salad, Duck Breast and more. Call ahead to make a reservation, or reserve here.

Valentine’s Day Virtual Cooking Class with Cocktails and Canapes

Share in an evening of cooking with your loved one with a virtual cooking class for two with Chef Jason Harper. Your ticket includes a 1 hour cooking class, with the ingredients delivered right to your door. Inside your box will be ready to enjoy charcuterie and a bottle of Poplar Grove 2018 Merlot to open up right away. Cook the perfect risotto, learning cooking techniques from the Chef. Finish off the night by making a Strawberry ganache! Two evening dates available here.

Perfect Pairings Cheese Tasting with Les Amis DU FROMAGE

Join host Allison Spurrell on February 13 for a live-streamed guided cheese tasting, and learn about her favourite pairings and why they work so well. You’ll be set up with a tasting package for two people that includes 8 types of cheese, crackers, accompaniments, and a tasting menu to pick up ahead of event at their East Van store. Pick up the suggested wine pairings in advance on your own. Tickets can be purchased here.

Lunar New Year, also commonly called Chinese New Year, is a New Year’s celebration that is celebrated in China and throughout various Asian countries aligning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. The celebration lasts for 15 days and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. 

Fireworks, dancing, food and family are key elements throughout the holidays, leading into the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. This is when lanterns begin to light up family homes, and traditional foods are prepared and enjoyed and loved ones gather to celebrate a new year. 

Vancouver, and more specifically Strathcona, is an area rich with Asian heritage and culture embedded into many parts of our neighborhood including our grocery stores, restaurants, and vendors. 

For this year’s Lunar New Year, which begins on Tuesday, February 1, we wanted to highlight some of the incredible creators, restaurants, recipes, and Strathcona-made products and establishments that contribute to the spectacular diversity that makes Vancouver so unique. 

Read on to discover more!

5 Color Radiance and Abundance Vegan Tofu Stir Fry 五彩金銀滿屋豆乾小炒王 with @instanomss

We teamed up with Vancouver food-blogger @instanomss to showcase a plant-based Tofu Stir Fry that is worthy of repeat meals during Lunar New Year. Using Sunrise Soya Marinated Tofu, she creates a bright and meaningful dish that symbolizes good fortune, radiance, and abundance. The colourful combination of the five key ingredients remind us of the colourful lights and fireworks that are often displayed during Lunar New Year celebrations. 

Sunrise Soya Foods was founded in 1956 by Leslie and Susan Joe after immigrating to Vancouver and recognizing a demand for tofu in Vancouver’s Chinese community. They began by making small batches of fresh tofu in the back of their grocery store, Sunrise Market, which led to them being a current staple in Canadian households in 2022. 

@instanomms is a Vancouver based creator who creates Asian inspired recipes with a focus on plant-based ingredients, healthy family, wellness, and sustainability. The Vegan Tofu Stir-fry recipe uses colourful vegetables that each have a special colour symbolism for Lunar New Year. Find the full recipe and more at Nomss.com 

Lunar New Year Dim Sum at Pink Pearl Restaurant with @nomsmag

Pink Pearl is the go-to spot in Strathcona for authentic Chinese food and when it comes to Lunar New Year, it is a must for dim sum. Noms Magazine contributors take readers through the must-order dishes from Pink Pearl for your dim sum feast including Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings), Sui Mai (Pork Shrimp Dumplings), Daan Tat, Cheung Fun (Rice Rolles), Cha Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Bun), Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf), and more! 

Find out about Noms Magazine’s experience at Pink Pearl and why this special place oozes with nostalgia on their blog or watch a video from their experience on Instagram.

Making Tangyuan from ingredients at Sunrise Market with @constellationinspiration

For a special Lunar New Year treat, we teamed up with @constellationinspiration to create Tangyuan, a sweet glutinous rice ball in hot broth that is traditionally served during the Lantern Festival on the last day of Lunar New Year. The auspicious rice balls symbolize family and togetherness. For this recipe, ingredients were sourced from Sunrise Market in Strathcona. This family-owned and operated grocery store has been operating for over six decades and continues to foster a great sense of community in the neighbourhood.  

@constellationinspiration is a Vancouver creator who develops incredible dessert and treat recipes inspired by seasonal flavours and Asian culture. She shared her Tangyuan recipe for our readers below. See a video of how they were made on her Instagram, and find more delicious recipes on her blog.

Peanut Glutinous Rice Ball Recipe by @constellationinspiration

Makes 20 – 24 rice balls

Glutinous rice balls, or tangyuan, are a popular dessert for Lunar New Year. The pronunciation of the name tangyuan sounds like tuanyuan, the Chinese word for ‘togetherness.’ Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration, with this year’s beginning on Feb 1. Tangyuan is usually consumed on the last day, which is celebrated as the Lantern Festival. The key ingredient for these tender rice balls is glutinous rice flour (don’t mix it up with regular rice flour!), which give it it’s signature chew. These rice balls are filled with peanut but black sesame is another popular filling. All ingredients for this recipe can be found at Sunrise Market in Strathcona.

FOR THE FILLING:

• 50 g (1/3 cup) roasted peanuts
• 40 g (3 tbsp) granulated sugar
• 90 g (3 tbsp) creamy peanut butter

FOR THE DOUGH:

• 175 g (1 ¼ cups) glutinous rice flour, plus more as needed 
• 160ml (2/3 cup) boiling water

GINGER SOUP

• 473ml (2 cups) water
• 100g (½ cup) rock sugar or granulated sugar
• a few slices ginger

Make the filling:

Using a food processor or by hand, finely chop roasted peanuts. Add sugar and peanut butter to the chopped peanuts. Mix until combined. 

Portion filling into 20 small balls and transfer to a plate or baking sheet. Transfer balls into the freezer to firm up while you make the wrapper. 

Make the dough:

Add glutinous rice flour to a large bowl. Slowly stream in boiling water while mixing with a rubber spatula. Mix flour and got water until smooth. Once the dough is no longer to hot to the touch, knead the dough for 3 minutes. Portion out dough evenly into 20 pieces.

Remove the filling from the freezer.

Take a piece of dough and using your fingers, press the dough until it becomes a 2-inch round disc. Place a piece of the filling into the centre and pinch seams shut and roll between palms of hands until smooth. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough.

In a large pot of boiling water, cook rice balls until they float to the top, about 8 – 10 minutes. 

Make the ginger soup:

While the rice balls are cooking in the large pot, bring water to boil in a medium size pot. Add sugar and ginger slices. Bring to a boil.

To serve:

Place cooked rice balls into a bowl. Add ginger soup and serve hot.

The Strathcona BIA wishes a Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate! May the Year of the Tiger bring you plenty of prosperity and good fortune 🐯

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season has arrived and we’re so excited to share about some of Strathcona’s upcoming holiday markets and December events.

We hope everyone is getting into the holiday spirit, ready to take in the season, and of course, do a little extra gifting and shopping from local businesses.

What’s coming up?

Whether you’re looking for a laid-back night of live music in a quaint space or a holiday market to stock up on gifts we’ve got a list of what’s going on in Strathcona this month.

Strathcona Holiday Market

December 4 – 5 from 11am to 5pm

700 & 800 Block East Hastings St. Various retail stores. 

A group of Strathcona businesses in the 700 & 800 Blocks of East Hastings are coming together to bring you a one-of-a-kind holiday market. New shops in the neighbourhood like Flourist, Flax Home and Pure Shoppe are teaming up with Strathcona favourites like Picnics and Poetry and Strathcona Beer to offer a chance to shop local brands and studio art, with a dose of festive cheer. Lots of brands will also be popping up for the weekend featuring clothing, homewares, jewelry, ceramics, baking goods and more, covering all of your holiday and personal shopping needs. Visit Flax Home on Instagram for more info.

Awen Haus Holiday Market

December 11 – 12 from 11am to 6pm

780 E. Cordova St. (MakerLabs)

There is so much to discover at Awen Haus, Strathcona’s latest collective of makers, artisans, and crafters. They are coming together to showcase their products under one roof at MakerLabs for a Holiday Market on December 11 – 12. Think unique handmade gifts, accessories, decor and more with raffles prizes and holiday drinks. A full list of retailers will be available soon. Visit awenhaus.ca for updated vendor info and more.

Live Music at VV Tapas Lounge

Various evenings from 7 – 9pm

957 E Hastings St.

Wine, tapas and live music from local musicians – what could be better! VV Tapas Lounge has started adding live music to their offerings and it’s well worth spending a night out with them. Visit @vv.tapaslounge on Instagram for upcoming events.

Luppolo Brewing Live Music Night

Wednesdays from 7 – 9pm

1123 Venables St.  

Wednesday’s at Luppolo Brewing you’re not only welcome to stop by for some of the best pizza in the neighborhood but you can also catch a variety of live musicians from 7 – 9pm. Visit Luppolo on Instagram to see what’s coming up.

Laugh’s at LanaLous

Various dates

362 Powell St.

On any given night you can find something special happening at LanaLous. A regular spot to catch night-after-night of comedy but you can also find a variety of live music and band perfomances. For more information on upcoming events visit LanaLous on Facebook.

Living Lotus Chocolate specializes in decadent bean-to-bar chocolate, made in Strathcona, Vancouver.

Living Lotus Chocolate is the maker of bean-to-bar chocolate using ethically sourced ingredients. All of their products are made from organic ingredients and are refined sugar and gluten-free. 

We spoke to Audrey, the founder of Living Lotus Chocolate about her bean-to-bar method and how her products make an impact on the chocolate industry. Read our interview below and visit livinglotus.net to learn more about her products.

Bean to bar chocolate is chocolate that is made straight from the cacao bean. We take the cacao beans that have been through the post harvest processes in their native country and crack, winnow, grind and mold them into chocolate. We use beans that have been ethically sourced, procure organic and local ingredients and use coconut sugar as a sweetener. We have three standard bars in 70% Arriba Nacional Dark, 57% Oat Milk, and Blonde (Vegan White) Chocolate. We do limited releases and over the holidays we will have a Raspberry Dark chocolate bar and Mocha chocolate bar composed of Oat milk chocolate and coffee. 

How did you begin your journey with chocolate and how did you decide to turn your craft into a business?

We are located on Cordova street between Hawks and Heatley but we don’t have a storefront. If you go South on Hawks to Keefer four blocks you’ll bump into McLean Park. My father’s family had a house on Keefer before that park was built and my grandfather had a shoe repair shop on Main Street back in the day. 

We’ve always been a vegan company, and by adding bean to bar chocolate we get to source from the farmers who take so much care and attention to the cacao trees, harvesting, and fermenting the beans. This ensures we are truly a cruelty-free company.

Where can we find your products?

Our products can be found online at www.livinglotus.net

Visit our blog for more on our Maker of the Month series.

Spooky season is upon us 🎃

We’re preparing for our second annual Halloween Hop in Strathcona. Several of our local businesses will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters in the 800 Block of East Hastings from 3pm to 5pm on October 31 Halloween Day.

This event is free to attend and all are welcome. The Strathcona Halloween Hop walking route starts at RayCam Co-operative Centre at Campbell and East Hastings. Enjoy hot apple cider and trick-or-treat at local businesses along the way. The activity zone halfway along the route will have safe and fun entertainment for the whole family. It’s the perfect event to kick off your Halloween festivities!

Awesome Sauce Designs specializes in stained glass art and workshops.

Corinne Leroux is the owner of Awesome Sauce Designs operating out of MakerLabs in Strathcona. She offers quirky, handmade art pieces (available to order on her Etsy shop) and teaches regular classes on how to make your own stained glass art. 

We stopped by her studio at 780 E Cordova St. to chat about her work and how she impacts her community – get to know Corinne below.

Tell us a little bit about your art and what you make.

I make stained glass art with a modern twist. I try and veer away from what people think of when they traditionally think of stained glass. My pieces focus on a more modern geometric style and the weird and whimsical.

How did you begin your journey with stained glass and how did you decide to turn your art into a business?

I’ve always been crafty and had many hobbies including learning to knit at the age of 6. Stained glass was one of many hobbies I tried, and I took a class at the Surrey Arts Centre in 2005, and then really loved it. I made more and more pieces and was giving them away to friends and family. I also had other things I was making – you can only have so much stained glass in your house – so I decided to combine all my hobbies into one business and start selling my work. This included things I had sewn, knit, greeting cards I designed, and stained glass, but eventually, the glass just took over all of it.

In 2015 after having lots of practice in the medium, and seeing that there were very limited places to learn this art, I started teaching stained glass classes in my studio.

Where in Strathcona are you based and what makes this neighbourhood special to you?

My studio is based out of MakerLabs. It’s a really creative space, filled with other makers, that I find inspiring just to be in. There’s always an energy here that makes me excited to work on my art. I also love all the history in this neighbourhood seeing all the colourful historic buildings as well as the newer murals that have been painted in the last few years. I think it adds to that creative energy that we have in MakerLabs.

Where can we find your products?

I sell my work mostly on my Etsy shop, but I also accept commissions for custom work as well. My products and information about classes can be found on my website and inquiries about commissions can be emailed to hello@awesomesauceart.com.

Visit our blog for more on our Maker of the Month series.

It’s that wonderful time of year – time to start thinking about your holiday meal plan.

Can you believe we’ve already made it to October? The holidays are right around the corner and before you know it it will be time to start planning your family dinner.

We understand that some years you would rather spend time with loved ones than be cooking in the kitchen all day long. Or maybe that one aunt who decided to host this year isn’t always on point with the turkey. We’ve got you covered. A few Strathcona businesses are offering classic Thanksgiving meals fully loaded with all of the holiday favourites.

You’ll find everything from turkey, to the yummiest of sides and of course, sweet treats like pumpkin pie and bread pudding. Choose to have your meal delivered and enjoy the comfort of your own home or opt to dine in and leave the dishes to someone else.

Find a few places below that we would absolutely trust to kick our holiday dinner experience up a notch.

If turkey isn’t your thing here’s a full list of Strathcona’s incredible restaurants.

@RailtownCatering

railtowncatering.ca

Thanksgiving dinner from the comfort of your own home, all you need to do is heat, serve and enjoy. Railtown Catering is taking orders for pick up from October 9th – 11th and offers packages that will feed anywhere from 5 – 10+ guests. Don’t worry about dessert, that’s included too. Visit their website to place your order.

@BelgardKitchen

belgardkitchen.com

If you’re not trying to host this year let Belgard Kitchen take care of everything. Offering family-style turkey dinner with all of the fixins for $35 per person you can dine-in at Belgard Kitchen on October 11th but space is limited so reserve your table now.

@SavouryChef

savourychef.com

For parties small and large Savoury Chef has a beautifully curated meal with all of the Thanksgiving favs. Keeping it chill for the long weekend but still want to enjoy a holiday meal at home? They are offering a traditional turkey feast for as little as 2 people. No need to get dressed up but you should bring your appetite – this feast is stacked with delicious sides, dessert and of course, turkey. Order yours here. 

Live music and events are back in Strathcona. 

We’re thrilled to see some of our neighbourhood businesses opening up for live music and events again and we want to give you an extensive list of Strathcona’s upcoming special events and live shows. 

In our diverse little community, you can find a plethora of in-person events ranging from DJs, live music, comedy and even a full-on festival this September.

While we recognize that proof of vaccination requirements will begin to take effect on September 13th, we urge readers to consult the Government of BC website for the most up-to-date information before purchasing tickets or heading out to restaurants, pubs and other live events. Make sure to follow COVID-19 health and safety precautions in place at events and establishments. 

Skip ahead to the next section to find a breakdown of some of Strathcona’s weekly live music and larger-scale events happening this month!

Lana Lou’s

lanalous.wixsite.com/lanalous

There’s a reason they call this iconic space the Rock N Roll Eatery. Lana Lou’s is no stranger to the live music scene and has hosted her fair share of local and touring artists. You can always count on Lana cooking up delicious comfort food in the kitchen and a full schedule of artists, comedians and more taking the stage on any given night. 

For an up-to-date schedule of upcoming events visit Lana Lou’s on Facebook.

Luppolo Brewing

luppolobrewing.ca

Luppolo Brewing is a staple for pizza and craft beer in Strathcona and they’ve recently announced that they have added live music back to their roster. Every Wednesday you can catch a rotation of artists from 7 – 9pm while enjoying delicious eats and drinks on their patio! It is recommended to arrive early as seats fill up quickly. 

Visit @Luppolo_brewing on Instagram for performance info and updates.

The Heatley

Heatley.ca

If you’re looking to experience the best of local live bands and DJs look no further than The Heatley. You’ll find a variety of music several times per week with a uniquely curated roster of musicians and Djs setting the vibe. Make sure to order one of their famous burgers while you’re there enjoying the atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed. 

Visit @Theheatley969 on Instagram for updates on their live music and DJ schedule.

Monstercat Compound

monstercat.com/compound

Compound is a FREE one-day outdoor block party, taking place outside Monstercat HQ in Railtown on Saturday, September 18th from 2pm to 9pm. Compound is a celebration of the local Vancouver community, providing a platform for local companies and performers alike.

Featuring two stages of music, art installations, apparel, food and drinks, beer gardens, music education, live art, gaming and more! This is an all ages event, with something for everyone to enjoy.

The dual stage lineup includes Vancouver-based headliners The Funk Hunters, Tony Romera and more.

Vancouver Mural Festival 2021

It’s one of our favourite events of the year and we’re thrilled to see the Vancouver Mural Festival back for their 2021 event. Celebrating creativity, diversity and bringing our communities together through art, VMF has over 60 new murals in the works throughout Vancouver plus live shows, tours, public talks and more. 

Adventure through 11 Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Strathcona, to see the beautiful murals come to life through personal, cultural and historical storytelling. Find daily Mural Tours, Talks and Workshops, and 40+ Live Shows at outdoor, licensed venues!  

We’re excited to welcome several new murals to the Strathcona neighbourhood, including four projects sponsored by the Strathcona BIA. These include Benjamin Stone’s new work at Container Brewing, a mural by Sitji Chou at Noble, the addition of the Black Strathcona Resurgence Project led mural by Sasha Mbabazi near Powell St. and Princess St. plus over a dozen tree-planter murals designed and ready to be painted by Zac George. Public art has the power to help strengthen the connections between all who share space here, and we are so proud to be a part of supporting more public murals for all to enjoy. 

To learn more about Vancouver Mural Festival’s community projects this year, check out: Blanketing The City IV, Black Strathcona Resurgence Project, and Punjabi Market or for an overview of the entire 2021 festival you can visit vanmuralfest.ca. Be sure to download their app for an up-to-date map of murals throughout the city. 

Here’s where you can find new Strathcona Murals.

VMF Map 

Les Amis Du Fromage (843 E Hastings alley)

Artists: Jerry Whitehead and Take5

The work is titled Remember Us. Both artists hope their work will “start community conversations about the path of reconciliation, and develop meaningful relationships in [their] communities” (as shared on this VMF blog).

Container Brewing

Artist: Benjamin Stone 

The piece is titled No Arrival.

Noble (1001 Venables St.) 

Artist: Sitji Chou 

This piece is called Ripple. The mural faces a senior’s home and was created in the hopes to bring joy to the residents who will see it most. The artist hopes the waves, lilies, and koi mingling inbetween will instill a sense of tranquility and whimsy (as shared in this VMF blog).

Black Strathcona Resurgence Project (603 Powell St.)

Photo of mural in progress.

Artist: Sasha Mbabazi