Happy New Year! After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we have some low-key offerings for you to enjoy on the first weekend of 2014. We are continuing with our popular feature, The Record’s Top Five (or More) Things to Do This Weekend and offer the following suggestions for Jan. 3 to 5.
1. Dispose of your live Christmas tree at the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society’s annual Christmas tree chipping event, a family-friendly event that includes a barbecue, popcorn, music, face painting and fire extinguisher demonstrations. The event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Canada Games Pool parking lot at 65 East Sixth Ave. All offerings are by donation.
2. Clear out those bottles and cans that accumulated over the holidays and take them to the New Westminster Scouts’ bottle drive. It’s taking place in conjunction with the firefighters’ tree chipping event on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Canada Games Pool. Your donation of returnable cans and bottles will help local Scouts continue to bring adventure, outdoor experience and friendship to New Westminster youth.
3. Unwind from the hectic pace of the holiday season by taking a long walk along the river. Westminster Pier Park and the Quay, Sapperton Landing or the perimeter trail in Queensborough are perfect places to chill out and get moving.
4. Enjoy the first Poetic Justice event of 2014 on Sunday, Jan. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St. Presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society, Poetic Justice will feature poems from Royal City Poets Anthology 2012 and 2013, as well as an open mike session after the three featured poets.
5. Capture a New Westminster moment on your camera, and enter the New West Wins photography contest. The City of New Westminster is inviting residents to capture a moment of New Westminster as a welcome and inclusive place to live, work and have fun. The submission deadline is Jan. 24, and 20 photographers will be selected to be displayed at a Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster – A Celebration event that’s taking place in February. For contest rules, submission deadlines and prizes, visit New West Wins on Facebook or download the contest flyer at http://bit.ly/winsphoto.
Email your Top 5 ideas to [email protected] or send them to [email protected]. You can also check out our full arts and events calendar listings on our website's homepage at www.royalcityrecord.com.
Compiled by staff reporter Theresa McManus
