Soup Nazi returns to New West

Any Seinfeld viewer knows the line, "No soup for you!" It could come at anytime, devastating patrons of a storied soup stand who failed to follow the correct procedure when ordering. Now you can meet the Soup Nazi in person as character actor Larry Thomas returns to New West for a fundraiser. He'll be serving soup at Green's Deli, 143 East Columbia Street, Saturday, May 19 from 10am to 3pm. All proceeds from event go toward New Westminster Junior and Intermediate A lacrosse.

New West artists exhibit at River Market

This weekend local artists exhibit their work at River Market, Westminster Quay. Over 120 works on display May 4 to 6, and all are for sale! Attend the opening reception, Friday, May 4 from 6-8:30 pm.

Join the Edmonds community clean sweep

Edmonds Business and Community Association wants volunteers to help with its annual Spring sweep, Saturday, May 5. Registration starts at 9:45 AM at Gordon Presbyterian Church, 7457 Edmonds Street. All equipment is provided, along with refreshments and a lunchtime BBQ. 

Support the BC culture crawl

It happens every year across British Columbia. Artists throw open the doors to lofts, studios and galleries, showcasing works to an enthusiastic public keen on getting an inside look at local art and creative work spaces. Tuesday, April 24 in the River Market at Westminster Quay, you can enjoy a sumptuous evening of live music, dining and wine tasting in support of the culture crawl. Naramata on the River offers an exclusive package designed to entertain, delight and surprise. Be among the first to enjoy Spring release wines from the Naramata Bench. Sample exquisitely prepared foods from local chefs. Enter to win fabulous prizes! A limited number of tickets remain for this highbrow cultural event. Email events@bcculturalcrawl.com for more info.

Lit Fest in New West celebrates literary arts

It begins Thursday, April 12 with a Slam Poetry competition at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster. Admission is $5 for an evening of poetry and entertainment starting at 7 o'clock.

Friday, April 13 is Mystery Night at New Westminster Public Library, 716 Sixth Avenue. The evening features mystery writers reading from their works, followed by a Q & A session and reception. Admission is free.

Saturday, April 14 is the main event at Douglas College, 700 Royal Avenue. The all-day affair (9 am-4pm) features writing workshops, author readings and an open marketplace. Saturday evening is a spoken word showcase with writers and musicians performing in the Laura C. Muir Theatre starting at 7 o'clock. Admission to the daytime workshops and evening entertainment showcase are free.

Share your ideas on arts and culture

As part of its plan to become a designated cultural capital of Canada, the City of New Westminster is hosting an information session Wednesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. at Massey Theatre.

Arts, cultural and community groups are invited to participate and share their thoughts about how to proceed with a successful application. It's estimated a winning bid for New Westminster could bring more than a million dollars in funding for arts and cultural programs.

Each year Heritage Canada awards as many as three Cultural Capital designations to communities across the country.

For more information about the Cultural Capitals program and application requirements, go to www.tinyurl.com/culturalcapital

More Wi-Fi please

Residents of New Westminster want more Wi-Fi access in their city. A Citypage online post reports that users of a year-long pilot project like the WiFi technology and would welcome more coverage. The city is currently exploring options to expand its Wi-Fi network and wants to hear from individuals and vendors who are interested in collaborating on the project. 


Call City Hall at 604-521-3711 or go to New West City for more info.

Westfall Mountain at Renaissance Books

Folk rock, country with an edge and original ramblin' tunes are on the menu when Bob Westfall and Mike Mountain play Renaissance Books. Enjoy fresh coffee and other beverages along the with the music of Westfall Mountain in a 2-hour acoustic set, Sunday, March 25 starting at 1 PM.

Plant a Row, Grow a Row hosts its annual Spring Garden Party on March 15th, at 6 pm at St. Thomas More. The program encourages gardeners to plant an extra row in their gardens for a harvest that can be donated to the Food Bank. Brian Minter and others will be among the experts on hand to offer useful advice to novice and experienced gardeners. While admission is free, donations of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank are encouraged and appreciated.