RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
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The Junction’s general manager Byron Cooke, hanging out in the lounge with the pub’s pelican mascot.
IT’S HAPPENING AT THE JUNCTION!
”Where The West End Meets”
From sporting events on the big TV screens, drag shows on stage, charity bingo nights, theater improv, music from favorite old-school classics to contemporary hits, The Junction Public House (aka “The Junction Pub", or just “The Junction”) has been a popular Davie Village community for almost 15 years.
If you’ve been around for awhile you will remember the venue as the nighclubs The Majestic, and later Pulse, and real old-timers will fondly remember the Fresgo Inn, an all-night cafeteria-style restaurant that offered the after-club crowd the best mushroom burgers in town.
The venue’s several iterations, from busy cafeteria through rather dingy attempts at a neighborhood drinking hole, have brought us to today’s much improved and popular hot-spot where general manager Byron Cooke presides over all of the above events and activities in a comfortable show lounge atmosphere, with a brand new and brightly appointed lounge in what was until recently a row of neighboring shops.
Their website and promotional material like to boast that “it’s where the West End meets”, and for a growing number of West Enders, that’s a fact!
The recently added lounge area looking out on the patio.
Live entertainment? On the first and third Tuesdays of each month drag artist Sienna Blaze hosts “Bao Down” with special guest performers supported by DJ Mike Cross (shows at 11:30 p.m.). Every Wednesday at 8 it’s “Queer Prov”, a fast-paced improv comedy show. Stick around after the comedy for “Drag Me To Hell” at 11 p.m. hosted by Miss Understood with guest performers. There’s a little bit of everything for fun and laughs every Thursday at 7 p.m. for the “Dandy & Phyllis Show” variety show, followed by ENBY6 at 11:30 p.m., a non-binary show featuring six entertainers. Sundays at 7 p.m. join Jaylene Time for “Legends” featuring a rotating cast of just that, some of Vancouver legendary drag performers.
If you like to be part of the action there’s “Quizzin’ with Carin” at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, with skill-testing questions, fun prizes, and cheap drinks, and the always popular Bingo for Life on Tuesdays at 7 pm., a longtime fundraiser in support of the important work of the Friends for Life Society hosted by The Unstoppable Connie Smudge.
Just one of the weekly star-powered attractions.
All that carrying on is enhanced by a large HD projector and screen, six big TVs, and an immersive lighting and laser system surrounded by a series of Funktion One speakers so you can take in the action from any corner of the room.
Is that it? Not nearly! You’ll have to check out their online event calendar here to stay on top of what’s on and what’s next.
All that fun is bound to work up an appetite and there The Junction picks up on the old Fresgo Inn’s tradition of offering a menu of great night-on-the-town food. A hearty plate of Poutine, any one of the several burgers, including the Mushroom & Swiss which, if you close your eyes, will take you right back to those early mornings at Fresgo’s! A great veggie burger and lots of salads for those of us watching our diets. And of course that’s just the highlights. You’ll find the full menu here.
The Junction is a mainstay of Davie Village, and one of those that make a neighborhood a community. See you there!
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Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca
