Commercial Drive - Vancouver - page 268

The kind of place you'd happily stay into the wee hours (they'll probably kick you
out around 1am), the Libra Room is one of the Drive's most popular live venues. Con-
sider dropping by on Tuesday for the $11 burger and beer night.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM PERFORMING ARTS
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
( www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com ; Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Dr; 8pm Mon;
Commercial-Broadway) If you thought poetry was a tweedy, soporific experience, check
out the events organized by the Vancouver Poetry House at Cafe Deux Soleils for a
taste of high-speed, high-stakes slamming. The expert performers will blow your socks
off with their verbal dexterity, which often bears more than a passing resemblance to
rap. Every fourth Monday is also Youth Slam.
The venue itself offers vegetarian eats and local craft beers (down some Storm Brew-
ing ales and you'll soon be considering your own on-stage appearance).
THE DRIVE'S BEST FESTS
In addition to the Pacific National Exhibition ( Click here ) a few blocks away, con-
sider celebrating Commercial Drive's rich Italian heritage at the annual Italian
Day ( www.italianday.ca ) festival, a street party of music, bocce ball and plenty of
food. Expect to see generations of Italian families flocking to the neighborhood to
hold court at sidewalk cafes during this day-long event, mingling with street
vendors and fostering a festive atmosphere that welcomes all. Check the website
for dates and information.
June's family-friendly Car Free Day ( www.carfreevancouver.org ) sees the street
closed to traffic and turned into a huge fiesta of food, music, face-painting and
stands selling or demonstrating artsy creations. In August, feel free to support or
join in the annual Dyke March ( www.vancouverdykemarch.com ) , which has been a East
Van tradition for years.
Also look out for the city's fave Halloween happening if you're here at that time
of year: staged by Vancouver's Public Dreams Society, the Parade of Lost Souls
( www.publicdreams.org ) invites locals to dress up in their most alluringly ghoulish at-
tire, stroll en massewith lanterns along a route that usually includes Commercial
Dr and congregate (often in Grandview Park) for a spot of flaming shrine building.
It's as much fun as any self-respecting zombie-wannabe could ever hope for.