T-Junction

Standing halfway up the stairs leading over the railway tracks to the Quay, looking northward-ish up 8th Street from the junction with Columbia Street. The short buildings at left and right are soon to be demolished and replaced with up to 8-storey structures of...who knows what. The green-roof at left is the platform for SkyTrain. Douglas College off to the right. Hot dog vendor under the umbrellas. Man eating hot dog near the circular stage. Just another typical sunny weekend day in New West (taken last weekend, when there was no rain or snow, that is).

Piled up

Another one of those weekends where what was snow 12 hours ago is now a slushy mess in the rain. One can only hope it doesn't dip below freezing tonight or else the roads will be even bigger nightmares in the morning. Hills and ice just do not mix.

Quaint

Heading eastward at the New West Quay. The small building at left is the ticket office for paddlewheel boat cruises on the river. The two bridges in the distance are for SkyTrain and commuters (the red one), linking New Westminster and Surrey.

Drive-thru

If you don't have much time for dropping things off for charity, this is the solution: the drive-thru charity donation box. This one's for books, but there are also locations where there are two or three of these for different things: clothes, shoes to name a couple. However, I shudder to think what happens to books when they are dropped in there, and then others pile on top!

Overhang

Some amazing trees grow around here, something about living in temperate rainforest methinks! Anyone under 180cm in height can walk along the sidewalk under this tree without ducking.

Rex

At the top of the steep bi-level hill of yesterday's post is this rather retro looking corner shop. You can see just off to the right how steep the hill is heading down the other direction. This is sort of the "corner" of the steep hill, if you catch my drift.

Bi-level

Yes, it's steep. That hill is about 12% grade! It's always amused me that one side is steeper than the other.

Old Skool

Sometimes, what you find parked curbside is a little unexpected.

Saintly Sunday

Just a few of the amazing windows at First Presbyterian Church ad 7th Street and 4th Avenue.

Mascot

Giant fish-eating frog lording over the fry cooks at the Cockney Kings' fish and chips shop.

Cheeky Chappie

Supper tonight just had to be salmon and chips from Cockney Kings, my favourite chip shop. This little guy has greeted the clientele for as long as I can remember.

Bug-eyed

View from the SKyTrain doors at Columbia Station.

57 Below

The bar below the SkyTrain station. View over the intersection of 8th Street and Carnarvon. Behind the green building that houses, among other things, a cheap slice pizza joint, is Douglas College.

Plain

Bow-wow

The other half of the kitty and fishie mural is this, the big blue dog head. It decorates the side wall of the SPCA Thrift Shop. There is a Valentine's Day theme in here...can you spot it?

Mayor

Going back to New Westminster's annual Santa Claus Parade, here's a photo of the mayor, Wayne Wright.

(I did the best I could to tweak this, but my camera and editing skills are not up to snuff!)

Report

This sign is found outside all schools in New Westminster. I often wonder if parents heed this advice or just wander over to the door leading to their child's classroom, since most of these classroom doors open to the outside (see previous post for photo).

Missing

Quiet schoolyard.

Tattoo You

Wall outside tattoo parlour, and another utility box in a complementary skin.

P2

On my way to Safeway, I caught a glimpse of this lonely corner of the parkade at Royal City Centre.

Dragonfly

Another common local thing is for schools and other organizations to paint wooden animals / flowers / insects and then attach them to chain link fences. Certainly makes them look a lot more welcoming when they're covered with cheery chappies such as these.

Say What?

Curious instructions on a sign outside Moody Park Pool.

Perspective

For Friday's shot of the construction site, I was standing on the SkyTrain platform which is the highest platform with the green roof. The lower platform is the first level up from the street where the ticket machines are.

Layers

There are so many interesting homes that I wonder sometimes if this should become an architecture blog!

Dozer

Construction outside New Westminster SkyTrain station. This used to be a through road. Now it seems it is being usurped to construct the mammoth shopping and cinema complex.

Hop

Brings back memories.

Gonna Getcha, Little Fishie!

Painted on the side of the SPCA thrift shop is the trippiest cat and fish mural I've ever seen. Love the appropriately placed dumpster.

Lonely

It saddens me to see abandoned and boarded up houses such as this one. Imagine the character of this place!