Brunch is a favourite past time shared by many and should be an extraordinary experience, one that you will cherish. Vancouver has some wonderful places for brunch. Each of the places I visit is unique for what is offered along with the type of service and selection of dishes. I am on a journey around the city to find these extraordinary places and, at the same time, I will be joined by a notable personality who may be a Film Producer or Director, Musician, Arts Festival Director, Actor or other well-known individual for Brunch at restaurants in and around Vancouver.

For my Seventieth brunch in this series, I was joined by Art Factora who is an Comedian, Radio DJ, Music Director and Radio Producer over brunch at The Union, in Chinatown.

Art has been working in radio as a talk show producer since 2000 after he graduated with a Diploma in Broadcast Communications from BCIT. He was a Traffic reporter/promotions Producer at CFUN Vancouver from 2001-09; a self employed comedian/MC 2007-current; content producer/on air personality CISL Vancouver 2010-14; morning show producer CKZZ-FM Vancouver to 2014.  Art was the finalist in 2 nationwide stand up comedy competitions with Sirius-XM Satellite Radio and Bite TV.  Along with that Art recently showcased for NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity program.  Art is currently a Senior Producer and Asst Music Director at CISL 650 AM.

You can follow Art Factora on twitter @artfactora

How did you get into Comedy?

I was the youngest of 4, tried to get attention joking around with the family. I was petrified of public speaking, I did however get into radio first, I tried comedy when I was 27 years old. I knew I was funny, could tell jokes, could write jokes. I took a class at Vancouver Community College on writing & performing standup comedy, at the end of the 6 week class, the teacher hosted a show and that was my 1^st show. Since then I have been doing Open Mike’s and so on.

When did you decide radio producing would become your career?

I went to BCIT in the Broadcasting program cause I wanted to become a DJ. After graduating my first job was Assistant Producer of the Rhona at Night show on KiSS FM in 1999, that’s when I discovered talk radio. Then I moved to CFUN producing there for 8 years for a variety of shows, I then moved on to CISL.

Radio producing and Comedy are 2 very different careers, how do both interact together in your life?

I always feel like the two of them play off each other. It elevated my status in radio. The two of them respect each other and it is nice to be part of both.

Why would you decline a guest to appear on your radio show?

• Any guest we would have on the show would have to have broad appeal.
• Be tailored for the audience.
• Some people do a great job of taking a huge headline and incorporating it into their product/pitch list.
• You have to hook us in the 1st sentence not the end.

Do you miss Morning Show producing?

It was a life changer which completely changed how I organize my day (April 2014 – July 2015).

What are your favourite foods?

Filipino food – from barbq meat on rice to deep fried lumpia

Pasta

Burger

Art had the Filipino Pankaplog with two eggs, pickled papaya, curry spiced potatoes, pandesal, and sausage. Richard had the Lapu Lapu cocktail to start of brunch so refreshing with cucumber juice, coconut water, ginger, calamansi, pandan syrup that is alcohol-free! He had the Bangalore Hash with curry spiced potatoes, peas, spinach, tomatoes, chickpeas, squash, goat cheese, cauliflower purée ‘hollandaise’ and a Pandesal w/ butter. Richard then had the Cha Yen lychee black tea, star anise, cardamom, pandan syrup, coconut milk, ice that is alcohol-free, Richard and Art then shared the Pandesal French Toast made with Pandesal buns, caramelized Asian pears, and toasted coconut.

What are your favourite restaurants in Vancouver?

Hon’s

White Spot

CinCin

Miku

Trattoria

Pho Lan

What do you do in your spare time?

Ukilele

Binge tv watcher

Cooking

Gardening

What are your favourite radio shows to listen too?

Howard Stern

Pearl Jam radio on Sirius

Lithium radio on Sirius

Best of the Food and Wine Show

Who are your favourite Musicians who you admire?

Pearl Jam

Eagles

Fleetwood Mac

Springsteen

What inspires you?

Walking through a farmers market, or an ethnic grocery store.

What is next for you?

After 11 years in radio, I am now hosting my own on air show on CISL 4-8pm on Sunday’s, I am dj’ing an oldies music show.

What would you like to do in the future?

I would like to somehow incorporate cooking and media with a Filipino connection.

Also, run a radio station.

 

Style: A La Carte

Attire: Casual

Time: Saturday & Sunday 10am – 2:30pm

The Union

219 Union Street, Vancouver

Menu: http://theunionvancouver.ca/

For Reservations call (604) 568-3230

Stay tuned to my next guest Interview along with the next Brunch in and around Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak