The next Kitsilano Family Toy and Clothing Sale is taking place on May 27, from 10am-1pm, at the Kitsilano Community Center. These sales are an excellent chance for parents to buy used toys, clothing, books and more for their rapidly growing children.
At the last sale, I picked up some excellent Melissa and Doug puzzles for $2 each and an adorable infant Patagonia vest for $15. If you have never been to the sale before I warn you that is it PACKED! While strollers are permitted, you will be very happy you left yours at home. If you are interested in selling items, tables are $17 and admission is 0.50 cents.
Kitsilano Community Center, 2690 Larch Street, 604-257-6976, Kitscc.com
Music lovers gathered at West 4th music haven Zulu Records May 16 to hear the anticipated line up for the 2012 Khatsalano Music Festival. Below is the list of bands revealed at the launch event that will headline at five stages July 21, on West 4th (from Burrard to MacDonald).
For a full listing of the 30 bands scheduled to perform, check out the Khatsalano pages on Facebook or Twitter. Event producers say to stay tuned as more headliners could still be announced as they coordinate with artists busy summer touring schedules.
By May 17, I’m betting that you’ve found the time to occupy a Kitsilano patio, despite the occasional rainy set back. Kitsilano.ca wants your opinion on the best neighbourhood bar/cafe/restaurant patio.
We’ve put together a list of Kits patios based on reader comments from previous years. Please vote for your favourite patio below. If we’re missing one of your picks, add it by commenting.
I love spending Sunday mornings browsing the neighbourhood Farmers Market with a cup of coffee. While I do find the products expensive, sometimes biting into a heirloom tomato that has never seen the inside of a refrigerator is truly priceless.
This time of year the market is filled with all kinds of greens, including kale, collard greens, salad greens, mustard greens and more. If you are lucky, turnips, cucumbers, rhubarb, radishes, apples and other seasonal produce will also be available.
Prepared food vendors will also be at the market offering baked goods, granola, jam, olives and more.
The market is open from 10am-2pm in the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Center at 2690 Larch Street (at W 10th).
The Annual Khatsalano Music Festival is kicking it up a notch this year. I started to take more notice of this event when I heard that the West 4th BIA had turned to festival production powerhouse Brand.Live to produce this years Khatsalano Festival. Brand.Live is the team behind the growing Live at Squamish festival as well countless other community and music focused events under their well-managed belts.
Unfortunately I have no inside scoop to share with you on artists committed to this event, but I have a sneaking suspicion the line up will be some well known headliners sure to draw the Kits kids and outlying communities.
If you are as curious as I am, join the West 4th BIA and Zulu Records when they host the launch party for the Khatsalano Music Festival this Wednesday, May 16t at Zulu records. There will be live performances and the line up for the July 21 festival will be announced.
Urban Outfitters (now open) renovates 2199 West 4th Avenue.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN KITS
1) Get some grassy park real estate. If the weather plays as nice as the forecast promises, now’s the time to spread a blanket or build a tent. Gather a gaggle of friends. And get grilling.
2) Be nice to mums. Brunch them, lunch them, wine and dine them, clean something, repair something, shower them with spa gift certificates, home made crafts and cards, remember to say “I love you”…. Whatever your approach, Mum’s the word, Sunday May 13.
3) Explore a neighbourhood museum. Did you know that Hastings Mill Museum (now at 1575 Alma Street) used to be the iconic “Old Mill Store” that stood at the foot of Dunlevy Street for more than 60 years? In 1931 it was barged to its current location and reopened as a Vancouver history museum by the Native Daughters of BC.
Hastings Mill Museum is easily enjoyed in 1-2 hours and is conveniently right next to a park with playground. Filled with Vancouver memorabilia (an original full-size Hansom cab, Joe Fortes’ lamp, the first Vancouver city hall table), it’s only open weekends 1-4pm, but changes to summer hours June 15.
5) Browse Vancouver’s second Urban Outfitters now open in Kits. It’s finally here. The US retailer Urban Outfitters has opened doors (2199 West 4th Avenue) in the former Le Chateau Space, which was built in 1912 and formerly housed the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
The rewards for slug prevention with pots and copper: Hosta ‘Ghostmaster’. Photo credit: Meredith Brehaut
Things are growing now with the warmer temperatures and my garden is being invaded by the season’s first line of predators: slugs.
This year plants are further along than last year when the onslaught began. That means tougher foliage and hopefully less damage. I am out there in the mornings, hunting. Some species seem more vulnerable: brunneras, hostas, polygonatum, ligularia – all of these take a hit. I can easily collect over 100 slugs an hour.
I have tried the beer trap but am not satisfied with the numbers collected. I use slug baitupon occasion – perhaps it works but if I spread too much it attracts rodents. I don’t eat enough eggs to try crushed eggshells. I prefer just picking the slugs up – immediate gratification.
Even with my vigilance, the plants that are in the ground endure some slug damage. I have only ever found one reliable solution for perfect hostas read more »
The next Kitsilano Family Toy and Clothing Sale is taking place on May 27, from 10am-1pm, at the Kitsilano Community Center. These sales are an excellent chance for parents to buy used toys, clothing, books and more for their rapidly growing children.
I love spending Sunday mornings browsing the neighbourhood Farmers Market with a cup of coffee. While I do find the products expensive, sometimes biting into a heirloom tomato that has never seen the inside of a refrigerator is truly priceless.
