3rd Annual New West Doc Fest - Oct 23,24,25

The third annual New West Doc Fest is this week! There will be films, short films, comedy, live music, theatre, film makers and guest speakers!

A new venue, the Landmark Cinema 10 New Westminster, and a Free after Party at the Spud Shack Fry 

Company all adds up to New Westminster event not to be missed!

Buy your tickets now online! 

For more information visit the website NewWestDocFest

Santa Shops Sapperton 2011

Summer at the Farmers Market is back!

It's official!

In true New Westminster fashion, Thursday kicked off summer season
of The Royal City Farmers Market!

After a long winter and spring it was great to see some fresh vegetables again!

The famous popcorn was also there and we had to buy some of that. Besides tomatoes I also bought potatoes, eggs, peppers(see how many you can fit in a bag for $4), honey, coffee and two plants for my garden.
At the honey booth I was sold on some chocolate hazelnut butter - so good!

I bought a tie pin for my husband made of fused glass from a local artist with a company called DINGOLAY, check out the website! We also had to buy a few sweet treats from the vegan baker! Delicious chocolate chip cupcakes and Nanaimo bars!

The farmers market is held every Thursday from 3-7 pm, beside city hall on 4th street near Tipperary Park and friendship garden (a true hidden gem in the city).

As promised I am looking for art in New Westminster. Just what constitutes art is entirely up to me, or anyone, that's what's fun about art. No wrong answers.

I love this gate and the majestic staircase that leads to the old penitentiary.

Here is what it looked like during construction in 1877.

Today all that remains is one building.

And another gate at the plaza in Sapperton beside Knox Church.

One thing I love about the west coast are the Monkey Puzzle Trees!

Art in nature.

New Year - more blogging!

I have been neglecting this blog for quite some time, to say I have been busy is no exaggeration! My family and I love living here in New Westminster and now find our way around the city quite well. We have enjoyed a lot of fun events in the city. We just took our tree to be chipped at the Canada Games Pool, the New Westminster Fire Fighters host the event annually. We bought that tree at the Shop Sapperton event again this year. We were able to use our wagon to collect and dispose of the tree. Living in New Westminster car free is challenging sometimes. We have learned the bus and sky-train schedules, and have found walking in New West is great!

As a New Years resolution I will try and blog more often! I plan on continuing my "exposes" on the parks of New Westminster. I would like to seek out more art in the city this year too. When I lived in Vancouver I noticed a lot of art galleries, both independent ones and the beautiful VAG. Public art, large installations or sculptures are inspiring. I think they need to be in every city and add so much to public space! I would like to see what I find when I look for more art this year. I hear some exciting things are in the works!

This post made me think of the mosaic in Hume Park in front of the playground. This park is a beautiful retreat. I saw a double rainbow here the day after we moved in. I love it!

Farmers Market Spring Fling!

Last weekend I attended the final winter Farmers Market, I say final "winter" market because it is finally Spring! The theme of the market was Spring Fling! Spring has certainly arrived here on the west coast. We have had flowers on all our fruit trees for weeks, most of them have fallen in a snow like frenzy a week or so ago and have been replaced with shiny new leaves for the growing season!

I was also volunteering this weekend at the New West Environmental Partners table, to promote the cause as well as raise awareness about the plans for the community gardens in New Westminster.

(here is another volunteer Rebecca hiding behind the information sign:)

I also found some time to do a little shopping. I was happy to find a few types of kale as I have a recent obsession with making Kale chips- Yummy!
I bought some local honey, walnuts, garlic, kettle popped popcorn, eggs and potatoes! I also got a few samples of teas form a local fair trade company called Black and Green they sell tea out of their yoga studio called Bamboo Yoga

I was also pleased to see Louie Sella with Quality Oak Accents
cutting boards- (604)941-3406

I bought one of these last year at the west end farmers market when I lived down town. These boards are not only practical but also beautiful works of art. I went over to say hello and talk to Louie about how my board is holding up after a year of heavy use (wonderfully) I also told him how I religiously follow his instructions, which he includes with each purchase and highly emphasises! "Do not submerge in water, put in dishwasher, or wipe with bleach! Wipe with soapy hot water and dry board immediately! " With proper care the board will never split and last decades! You can see my board in the picture with my market treasures above!

As it is almost planting season I couldn't resist a few things for my garden as well! Herbs including two types of sage, dill, chives, rosemary and mint! I also bought some succulents called hen and chicks! These little plants are so lovely and will perfect in my rock garden!

Hume Park

Hume Park is one of the best parks for the whole family! Located on East Columbia just north of Braid this park features so many great things I have to be careful not to miss any of them.

This park is located below the busy street where no traffic runs at all! During the warm weather it boasts an outdoor swimming pool, that also has ping pong tables and many lawn chairs for stretching out and relaxing.

It also has a water spray park if the pool is too crowded or you just want to splash.

There is a little snack shop for sweet treats

Hume park features a soccer field and two baseball diamonds, and a paved roller hockey court. Four tennis courts, an off leash dog park, and no less then 14 picnic tables spread out among beautiful trees. A playground for little ones as well as some great adventure playgrounds for older kids.

There is also an entrance to walking trails and a ravine to explore. There are some historical placards and a totem pole. There are wash room facilities and a small school also shares this beautiful park.

This park is a true treasure in Sapperton. The first week we moved here we saw a double rainbow at this park!

Sapperton is home of many double rainbows!

Hume Park