Image by ♥ he@rt ♥ via Flickr

This is a guest post by Mojgan Fay, who waxes rhapsodic about pie, chocolate and all things sweet. You can find her on Twitter posting as @somethinglemon. As you will see from the post below, she’s also a fan of the citrus!
This leading citrus assembly offers more than an appealing colour, odour, and flavour. It is a staple of summertime picnics and intimate wintertime gatherings. The cool brightly yellow lemon filling with the soft sugary meringue goodness is a perfect compliment to your afternoon …

 The Urban Wildlife Series will take a look at wildlife we share our city with. This is the second in a series. You can view the others, as they are added, by clicking here.
I should subtitle this post “Rats With a Good Public Relations Team and Bushy Tails” because really, squirrels are just that. I have to admit I actually really like squirrels and when I saw this guy in a movie a while back, I really truly did laugh out loud because they really captured that insane caffeine …

Tenth to the Fraser regular reader and commenter, John Ashdown, from the Village Coffee Lounge (free wi-fi! Good food! Support local!) is a busy guy. Among other things,  he is also is on the board for the Royal City Farmer’s Market and is the newly elected president of the 12th Street Merchants’ Association. He has also graciously found time to agree to host a tasting party for little old me, and my fledgling tiny company-in-the-making, Chai By Night.  
On Saturday, February 28th, from 12PM to 2PM (or while supplies last), I’m inviting …

I popped by a Public Information Session a few weekends ago at the Admiral Anson Bed and Breakfast. I’ve never stayed at the Admiral Anson, but it’s a pleasant member of my neighbourhood with a well kept yard. As a fan of B&B’s, I think I’d like it and although I’ve not slept there, I do recommend it frequently to family and friends and have heard no complaints. According to the website, rooms are offered at $45 – $75 a night – which is incredibly reasonable – beyond reasonable, to …

New Westminster isn’t known for its parks. They tend to be smallish, city-like green spaces, criss-crossed with asphalt paths and dotted with picnic tables, baseball diamonds and commemorative plaques. So it’s interesting to come across something a bit wilder, like Glenbrook Ravine.
In fact, it’s probably a park by default, being a ravine, but has potential to be a pleasant area for a stroll. There is a level gravel path, but it stops suddenly at the north end when it runs out of room.
This is where I’ve come in, off Glenbrooke …

I’m attending the Northern Voice blogging conference this weekend along with a few of New Westminster’s Twitterati: @ruthseeley, @duckbeaver, @themarina, @somethinglemon (and maybe a few more who I haven’t seen yet). As I mentioned on this blog last month, I’m speaking tomorrow on hyperlocal blogging at 11:30 a.m. My talk is called “Passionately Local” and I’ll be sharing my experience launching and co-authoring Tenth To The Fraser, and describing the community response and personal impact of this site.
I first began blogging in 2003 as “breebop” (though that blog is long …

The Urban Wildlife Series will take a look at wildlife we share our city with. This is the first in a series. You can view the others, as they are added, by clicking here. 
 I have a skunk who lives in my neighbour’s yard, under an old garden shed. I’m told by another neighbour that “Suzy”and her family have lived in the area for almost ten years. Whether it’s the original Suzy or not, I doubt – their lifespan is about 6 years.  But a skunk makes her way around our …

One of the more fun events to come across my inbox these days is the 7th Annual Ratstravaganza! 
You can’t make this stuff up. Seriously. 
My friend Simone heads a group called Little Mischief Rescue, an animal rescue and advocacy group dedicated to pet rats and ferrets in need. LMR doesn’t have a shelter -they have a province-wide small network of dedicated volunteers and foster homes. I’ve done a bit of help for Simone here and there – transporting ratties and what not – but Simone’s commitment to championing the rat as a …

New Westminster loves not only a parade, but events in general. Today’s ‘royal’ tea at Century House was no exception. The place was packed and the event sold out, with Mayor Wayne Wright and New West city councilors, MP Dawn Black, Poet Laureate Emeritus Edna Anderson, Salvation Army Captain Dave MacPherson, and Qayqayt First Nation Chief Rhonda Larabeeall in attendance. After being piped in, the pipers were paid and Master of Ceremonies Don Andrews introduced the mayor, who welcomed the crowd to the kickoff event for a year of celebration …

I have to admit I am a little late getting this on the old blog. John, of the Village Coffee Lounge, told me about this event a few weeks ago and while I was waiting for the newly elected 12th Street Merchants Association president to get all the details sorted out and send me the blurb,  it completely slipped my mind until I was looking at my calendar and wondering what to do to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my husband. 
Take Your Sweet to 12th Street is an excellent way to …

This is a guest post by Brad Howard of Clever Mink’s, a quirky little gift shop at 711 Carnarvon. Brad’s offering 20% off anything in store until the end of February for Tenth To The Fraser readers who mention having read this piece. – Briana
I’m not taking a tropical vacation this winter and, who knows, maybe you’re not either. There’s a lot of that going around these days. So in my own little mind I’ve made Sanity Island my go-to spot for this winter. It’s located between St. Kitt’s and …

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As I was walking my dog in the West end this evening, I crossed the 14th street side entrance of St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church. Besides being painfully hard to spell, St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church is
well known as a center for early childhood development. Indeed, the portico of the West entrance to the basement of the church is festooned with resources and contacts for public nursing, language arts, and general infant health. I thought I could work in the word entablature there somewhere but that will have to wait …

The Festival of Volunteers took place this past Saturday at Royal City Centre and the anachronistic thrills my co-author Briana referred to here did not disappoint. 
There is something about bagpipe music that just makes me smile -I have no idea what it is. So when I finished my shift at the booth I was volunteering for, it was perfect timing to grab a cup of chai from the Beverage Station in the centre court of the mall and grab a seat and listen to a procession being piped in by …