What I Am Doing

A frequently updated list of new places I have gone and new things I have done because of my experiment. (Updates at the top.)
  • Asked for hair stylist recommendations on Twitter, got several and now have a wonderful New West stylist, Sarah, at In-Style Hair Studio. She does a fantastic job on my curly hair; most stylists wants to straighten it, while Sarah works with it.
  • Started taking car to Dawson Service Ltd. instead of to dealership in North Van. Very pleased with price and service at Dawson and of course, proximity to home
  • Went to Sapperton Day Street Festival.
  • Bought my husband's birthday cake at Bella Cakes & Pastries. (Would typically buy something at Safeway.)
  • Attended Royal City Farmers Market annual fundraiser on May 26.
  • Went to the New Westminster Horticultural Society's very popular annual plant sale. Bought several lovely additions for my garden.
  • Went to Mother's Day event at River Market. Sampled crepes from Crepes Des Amis pop-up store. (They open their full store later in May.) Had a "River Market Mist" from Great Wall Tea (a vanilla Earl Grey tea latte, so yummy!). Bought a few things at Donald's Market, which some people think is too pricey. The 99 cent spaghetti I bought proves them wrong. Bought Element Botancials' About Face and Abeego wraps from Tiny Goods.
  • Bought a desk from Modern Home Furnishings on 12th St. The store is a local (B.C.) chain, the desk is going to be made from B.C. alder and it's going to be made in B.C.
  • Got a massage at Sweet Water Wellness from Jassy, who in addition to being a great registered massage therapist is also a big New West local shopping booster.
  • Did the City of New Westminster's fabulous hanging basket workshop. Learned a lot, including all the ways I was planting incorrectly.
  • Went to N.E.X.T. mixer at Pacific Breeze Winery, New Westminster's very own garage winery.
  • Bought tea at Great Wall Tea at the River Market. Very reasonably priced and delicious loose leaf tea. Fantastic store design and friendly staff.
  • Had dim sum at Kirin Restaurant (next to the Starlight Casino)
  • Bought a birthday cake at Bella Bakery. I've been to Bella before, but never made a point of buying a birthday cake there before. They have wonderful pastries and make amazing custom cakes too.
  • Did some Christmas shopping at Pedagogy Toys.
  • Did some Christmas shopping at the Fraser River Discovery Centre gift shop.
  • Ate at Indian Star restaurant on Sixth St.
  • Ate at Hi Dozo Sushi on Sixth Ave.
  • Went to Arts Council of New Westminster's Christmas Treasure Room; bought a super cute bracelet for just $10.
  • Went to New West's Santa Claus parade. May have ended up there anyway, even without the local shopping experiment, because my son is in Beavers and they're in the parade, but it's the first time I've been and I've lived in New West ten years.
  • Went to The Ensuite on Braid St. to buy a kitchen faucet.
  • Finally went to the Van Dop Gallery, a place I've been meaning to visit for some time.
  • Bought fair trade Pistol and Burnes coffee for $12/lb. at Village Coffee Lounge on 12th St. Had a tasty eggnog latte and salmon quiche too.
  • Bought discount bread at McGavin's in Sapperton. Somehow, I had no idea this store existed until recently, despite walking by it at least once or twice a week.
  • Bought a birthday present at the wonderful Pedagogy Toys on East Columbia St. A CD made in Canada – local children's performers Bobs and Lolo; puzzle made in the U.S.
  • Bought Halloween pumpkins at Yin Leong Farm in Queensborough. They were grown here, just minutes from my house. Can't get more local than that!
  • Participated in Zest of New West by going out to dinner at Taverna Greka. Had been there only once before, seven or eight years ago. Had never gone out for dinner on Columbia St. with my family in 10 years of living in New West, except once or twice to the Keg.
  • Bought a bathing suit at Just Swimwear, a swimwear store I didn't know existed in New Westminster until I started my experiment. The suit is great quality, well-priced, and made in Canada.
Updated Sept. 29, 2011