Author Archives: Noah Stewart

Surrey’s scarecrow stroll!

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It’s finally that time of year again, and personally this is my favorite. If you find yourself to be a fellow Vancouverite like myself, then you would know all about Vancouver and its weather. This summer, there were some bright beach or lake days, but it slowly degraded to light downfall, to pouring rain. But now that the summer is in the past, you can look ahead to the exciting season of fall. From pumpkin patches and trick or treating, to boo baskets and even a scarecrow stroll, you have to admit that it’s a pretty relaxing season

With fall officially starting up tomorrow, Sunday September 22nd, there’s many things you can look forward to, but I’m gonna get you thinking about the scarecrow stroll. The Arts Nursery Scarecrow festival begins today and there is plenty for you to do.

The name speaks for itself, so you know that you’ll be seeing plenty of scarecrows with their own dashes of creativity, you can even sponsor a scarecrow to help support and get your name out there and have your very own scarecrow made for you, as well posted on their social media with a collective following over all platforms, of 160,000. Sponsoring a scarecrow doesn’t just help the event, but all funds are directed to local charities that keep this festival on its feet. Check out what it looked like in the past!

When does it start? Good news for you, it starts today and will be ongoing up till Halloween. Where is it? You can visit Art’s Nursery and Garden at 8940 192 Street, Surrey. How much will it cost me? That’s the best part! This festival is a completely free event for all ages.

There even is a pop-up pumpkin patch, with a mini pumpkin patch for the little ones. Not only can you and your family visit, but it’s also a dog-friendly environment, meaning the WHOLE family can enjoy it. Now I know you’re thinking about those rainy days, but the good news for you is that this pumpkin patch is undercover, so no matter the weather, you can visit! Treat your palette to tons of delicious treats by visiting the abundance of food trucks around festival grounds, while also treating your ears to some melodious live music

How could you say no to all that? I can’t resist a good pumpkin patch, even if it’s just to get the cheesy family photos taken. There really is something for everyone, whether it’s enjoying some food and music, or sponsoring a scarecrow, you can’t go wrong. What’s stopping you, go get your perfect pumpkin ASAP.

The T-Birds are on a roll

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When it comes to your favourite sport, you probably enjoy it in all different types of magnitudes. For example, I love football and I mean I LOVE football but I live in Canada so there’s a roadblock. So instead of national league games, I’ll go to something that might just be even better, collegiate football.

The UBC Thunderbirds are currently on a wreckage train right now, smashing through their opponents and leaving with no mercy. Last night on Friday September 20th, UBCwent head to head with the University of Saskatchewan in a homecoming battle of the ages at Thunderbird stadium, in front of a sold out crowd of 9000 fans. The T-birds started the season slow at 0-2, but have been slowly making waves, week in and week out. 

The game started slow, as most usually do. But Isaiah Knight was a force to be reckoned with, capitalizing off a great 80 yard drive, leading to him getting the first  score of the game, setting up the T-birds nicely. Knight didn’t disappear after that, as he easily had one of the best games of his collegiate career, if not the best.

Knight had been adding history to his name all night, as he snapped his previous best for most rushing yards in a game, by just one yard, as he finished the game with 187 rushing yards, and 200+ all purpose yards. He would later on grab another touchdown, which puts an emphasis on their outstanding run game, with all touchdowns coming from the ground.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, until halftime hit and it seemed like Sasketchwen had lost any momentum that they desperately needed. UBC only let them score once in the entire second half, with the Thunderbirds rebutting with a pair of touchdowns and a field goal, as they completed the perfect homecoming, with a 38-24 win to put them at 2-2 on the season.

This was a huge statement game for UBC, showing they can clash with anyone as they limited Sasketchwans run heavy offense to 105 yards, while your Thunderbirds were able to grab over 500 yards of offense, sheesh. After having a difficult start to the season, you can only imagine that these past two games have been the exact momentum and push that the T-birds have desperately needed, as they continue to solidify themselves in the Canada West standings.

The 2024 Toronto Blue Jays, yikes

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Well, the MLB season is almost officially over with the playoff picture slowly coming to fruition, and if you’ve been living under a rock then no, the Toronto Blue Jays are not in that picture whatsoever. This season has been relatively disappointing with only a few upsides to be happy about, but what exactly went wrong this year? If you’re a Blue Jays fan like myself, then you know how gut wrenching and torturous it felt watching them play this year, at least for the most part.

Heading into the 2024 season, there was plenty of hope within the organization that this could be the year, but it slowly came to realization that we would be blessed if we were sitting in the playoff picture, but the Jays just couldn’t get into a proper groove. Coming off a wild card loss last year, while also winning the team gold glove award for the best defensive team, I can’t lie I was pretty optimistic about this year.

As of today, the Jays sit at 73-81 falling to the bottom of their division with only 8 games left in the season, hey at least they aren’t the 2024 Chicago White Sox (sorry for the stray, Chicago). It has been a relatively competitive division with the Yankees clinching a playoff spot in the past week as Aaron Judge continues his hall of fame season, and the Orioles having such a young playoff calibre team, and the Rays and Red Sox aren’t doing so hot, but they are doing enough to be considered in the playoff picture, so they have to be doing something right.

The Blue Jays have an abundance of problems, with one of them being their hitting. You know that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can swing that bat, but the rest of the team seem to enjoy grounding into double plays, as the Jays are in the top 5 teams with the most balls grounded into double plays. Hitting ain’t the only problem, as the pitching isn’t so celebratory as well. The Jays pitching squad has given up the second most home runs this year, with even the disastrous White Sox giving up less.

Now where do the Jays go from here you ask? I have no idea but I’d like to think you see something similar to the trade deadline this year, as Toronto shipped out many players, which brought in some new young talent to spice up the roster for the years to come. I don’t know about you but I say the team MUST test out the trade market with Bo Bichette, and g=bring in some more depth to the bullpen. What have you learned? The biggest takeaway you should have from this season is to never be overconfident, especially in the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bye bye Bo Bichette!

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You’ve seen this story before, the Blue Jays are hot and Bo Bichette is back, maybe we have a chance of making the playoffs! Any thought or belief of that happening has gone out the window. You’d have to think it’s due time for Bichette to be traded out of Canada, and I’m ready for it.

If you weren’t aware, the Blue Jays announced on Monday that your favourite shortstop is returning to action, and his name is Bo Bichette. He was reactivated after missing over eight weeks of the season due to a calf injury. I didn’t expect Bo to perform well in his first game back, I don’t think anyone did either. But I won’t lie, for a return game, two hits on five at-bats PLUS a run batted in? Now that is pretty solid.

That gave Jays fans like you and I hope that maybe Bichette could turn his under-par season around. I was hyped with anticipation to see the next Jays game, as I wanted to know if Bo’s first game was just a stroke of luck. But before I even knew it, Toronto announced that Bichette is back on the injured list, but it’s not what you expect. While doing traditional pre-game warmups, Bo went to field a ground ball then BAM, fractured finger. 

With only 11 games left in the season, that meant you weren’t gonna see him play again this year, terrible luck. What a terrible way to cap off an atrocious season, with his redemption arc only lasting one game. From leading the league in hitting back in 2021 and 2022 that you know and love, to having a disastrous year, easily the worst of his career. His one game return stint, may have been the final time you see him in The Six, rocking the patented blue, red, and white Jays colours.

Now what happens from here? Do the Jays just keep him around as a pretty face, hoping he can get rid of the injury riddled nickname? Well, you’d have to remember there were rumours of him being traded around the all-star break, and since that didn’t end up happening, that you’d expect to see Bichette rocking a new jersey next year. You don’t need to worry about the team finding a new shortstop, as they already have Ernie freaking Clement, who I think has unbelievable promise. Bo’s time has come, we can remember all that he has done for the team, but for now we all say in unison, bye bye Bo Bichette.

Brews at the zoo are the move!

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As a kid, did you ever go to the petting zoo and see and feel all sorts of animals? Well, I did a couple times on some school field trips, and I had an absolute blast. From hearing the roosters do their call, to seeing a peacock spread its beautifully coloured feathers. It’s just so visually appealing, you know? You get to a real taste of all the senses, you see the animals and get to feel them, you hear them make their noises while smelling some unusual scents, obviously we leave the taste sense at home as you don’t taste at petting zoo, except one time I did milk a cow and the workers came back with chocolate milk, so it’s an all around experience.

But what if I told you the zoo isn’t just for field trips for the kids, but also an 19+ after party for the adults. Can you believe the Greater Vancouver Zoo is offering a one day spectacle called Brew At The Zoo, I mean how fun does that sound. You get to relax as you sip your ice cold beer, while seeing all types of animals, now that sounds pretty trippy, but you can count me in!

https://twitter.com/DeadFrogBrewery/status/1834319077713793153

When? Saturday, September 21st from 5-8pm. Where? The Greater Vancouver Zoo. How much will it cost me? Tickets are $60-68 + fees, but you can save money if you have a membership!

Not only will you be able to hit up all the different types of brewers and see the animals, but there will be all sorts of fun activities, whether you’re there with your partner, maybe you’re there with family and friends, or hey you might be a solo attendee, either way it’s fun for all. Not only will you be hearing the squawks and growls of the animals, but you’ll be hearing live music presented by Paul Donnelly. We all know that when the beers start flowing, your stomach starts growling, so there will be plenty of food trucks and the on-site Oasis kitchen to satisfy your cravings.

You don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity, I know I won’t. Bring your friends and have some fun casual drinking, sharing some laughs, and experience this incomparable event. Never did I ever think I could have a brew at the zoo, but now I know that’s the move for Saturday!



2024 is the year of the Whitecaps

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If you haven’t gotten the chance to catch a Vancouver Whitecaps game this season live, then you are missing it, and I’m right there with ya as I need to head down to B.C. Place immediately. I’ve actually never been to a game before, as I have only been invested in the world cup and the euros when it comes to soccer, but with the historic pace the Whitecaps have been on this year, I think I would be a fool if I didn’t take the opportunity to see a game in person, and you should too. I think the majority of Vancouver has decided to see a game this year, as they average 28,000 fans per game, the most they’ve had in the arena in over a decade.

The Whitecaps have already punched their ticket to the Canadian Championship once again, as they look to take down Toronto FC, and record the three-peat of championships. But that’s not the only gold they are looking to bring back to B.C. Place, as of the way they’re playing currently, you’d be surprised if they didn’t bring home the MLS Cup.

The Whitecaps are currently sitting at 6th place in the Western Conference of the MLS, and they are only going up. With only seven games remaining in the season, the ‘Caps are chasing a record breaking season, and up their ranking in their respective conference. Currently, they sit at 13-6-8 with 45 points and are only 3 points away from second place, which is held by LAFC who have 48 points as of today. If you didn’t know, the last time Vancouver had a 50 point season was back in 2017, as they look to change that record to the year of 2024. 

Tonight, the ‘Caps will be taking on Houston Dynamo, as Vancouver has been on an absolute tear, winning their last three games all by shut out. The Dynamo are sitting just below Vancouver in the standings, leaving this as a must win game, or at least tie to maintain the high ground. The Whitecaps are in Houston tonight and they are entering as the underdogs, so don’t be surprised if the game is relatively closer than you think.

With this historic pace the ‘Caps have been on this year, it would be a shame if you missed out on being just a tiny part of history. I know I would be overthinking every night if they win the MLS Cup and I didn’t see a game, so don’t let that happen to you. There’s only five home games left in the regular season, so find a day that works and I might just see you there.

Shipyards Festival 2024

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Does the weekend ever come quicker than you anticipated and now you don’t know what to do on your Saturday or Sunday? Well, I feel like that happens to me way too often. I usually end up tossing on a football game or just any sorts I can find on cable, but sometimes I just want to get out and do something, but it’s just so difficult to choose a plan. Well, if you’re right there with me, then I have something you.

The Shipyards festival is back this year and you don’t want to miss it. When? This Saturday, September 21st from noon to 10pm. Where? You can have your fun at various locations within the Shipyards district. How much will it cost me? Guess what, it won’t cost you a penny as the event is completely free admission! See what it looked like a couple years ago here!

If you don’t know too much about the event, don’t worry, neither did I till today so let me tell you everything you need to know. The Shipyards Festival is all about entertainment, especially live music as there will be many different performers, with all different genres that will be playing across multiple stages. Here from local artists such as; Yukon Blonde, Black Pontiac, Tiger Really, and many more, there will be something there for you and everyone.

Do you enjoy a casual drink while listening to music? Now imagine having that cold beer in your hand while you watch and listen to music acts live, doesn’t that sound perfect? At the Shipyards district, there will be a site wide beer garden, so don’t worry about long lines, and you can even try some custom cocktails, you never know what you’ll find. If you’re from Vancouver, then you probably know about the Lime e-bikes that you can pay for and take out on the town. Now imagine doing that but without having to pay, the Shipyards festival makes that a reality as they will be offering free e-bike rides, to get you from festival zone to the next.

Wanna bring your kids or your young siblings? Please do, as there is a dedicated area known as the Seaspan family zone in the pipe shop, which will run from opening to 6pm, with musical guests such as Magical Kingdom and Marnie Grey Music. This event is perfect for all ages, and you wouldn’t want to miss this perfect one day event, even with the cloudy weather, it’s such a good attraction that you wouldn’t wanna spend your Saturday any other way.

Bichette’s back with the brutal Blue Jays

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So here’s the thing, you may have wondered if Bo Bichette returning to the Blue Jays last night could end up disastrous. But what if I told you that the Jays actually spoiled Bichettes comeback? Well, that in fact, is a sad reality.

If you have been living under a rock, then maybe you weren’t aware about Bichettes recent stint with the team. Bo had been struggling at the plate, with a batting average of .225 before he had suffered an injury. Bichette had suffered a right calf strain, sidelining him for 2 months which is the longest period of recovery since joining the league in 2019. With only 11 games left in this year, Bo needs to produce at a high level if he wants to remain in Toronto in the coming years.

Toronto made the team travel down to Texas to play the Rangers, and was it ever a game, not really in a good way though. Let me tell you though, Bichettes return wasn’t all negative, as he was able to rack in 2 hits on 5 at bats, even bringing in a run. Almost everyone got a hit last night too, and I would say that’s something you should celebrate, but letting the Rangers score 13, with five being in one inning.

There are some slight positives at least, as Davis Schneider has blasted three home runs in his last three games played, now you have to admit, that’s pretty impressive, especially after coming out of a batting slump. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a pretty impressive outing, landing 3 hits on 5 at bats. The only other positive from yesterday is that the Jays scored eight runs, but does that really matter if you let your opponent mop the floor with you? Yeah, pretty rough game last night.

Well, what have you learned? That no matter how much trust you have in the Jays, when it’s all said and done, it just doesn’t matter. Even if they score 8 runs and get one of their better players back in Bichette, they will never be able to hold a great lead. This team swept the Rangers earlier this year, holding them to only 11 runs across the three game series. But somehow let them ring in 13 runs in a single game, did you expect anything less? You have to remember, at the end of the day, this is the 2024 Toronto Blue Jays, and that isn’t a good thing.



Harvest fair is back

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Okay now I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a fall person. Sometimes the summer is just a bit too hot for me, and it’s not like you can just strip down to adapt to the heat, and the winter is a bit better since you can just add layers, but the fall season is just perfect. Toss on a light flannel and enjoy the cool breeze as you walk to class, but with autumn just around the corner, the Harvest Fair is the perfect event for you to ring in the new season.

The Harvest Fair will be taking place at the Historic Stewart Farm and Totest Aleng on 13723 Crescent road (Elgin Heritage Park) in Surrey, B.C. This event is going down on Saturday, September 21st, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best part, you don’t have to pay! It’s a completely free event.

The Harvest Fair at the Historic Stewart Farm is here, and there’s many things you can do, like go get some good eats with seasonal food, fun carnival games for you and family/friends, artisan vendors, live entertainment, and even a musicians corner where you can even bring your own instrument to join in on the fun! Here’s their schedule of events with their locations;

  • 12:00pm | Welcome Ceremony | Pole Barn
  • 12:15pm | Re-enactors Performance | Striped Tent
  • 12:30pm | Cedar Workshop  | Totest Aleng
  • 1:00pm | Jay Genaille, Hoop Dancing | Pole Barn
  • 1:30pm | Cedar Workshop | Totest Aleng
  • 1:45pm | Re-enactors Performance | Striped Tent 
  • 2:00pm | Heritage Demonstration | Farmhouse 
  • 2:30pm | Cedar Workshop | Totest Aleng
  • 2:45pm | ReEnactors Performance  | Striped Tent
  • 3:00pm | Lyric Tsuji, Dance & Public Participation | Pole Barn 
  • 3:30pm | Surrey Historical Society Performance | Garage 

Now you may be wondering what some of these events may be about, and I’ll fill you in. The cedar workshop is run by Semiahmoo First Nations artist Joan Williams, as she will show you the ins and outs of weaving a beautiful cedar rose. The workshop is free for all ages, but is limited to ten people maximum, so register quickly at the information table to secure your spot! She’ll be running the workshop three times throughout the day, so don’t worry if you miss one. You might not know what hoop dancing is, but the perfect instructor is waiting for you as Jay Genaille is a three time world champion hoop dancer!

There are plenty of fun events that you can get yourself into, while enjoying yourself and also learning some new info. With this event being all ages, there will be something for you there, or maybe you even try out something new and gain a new hobby, the Harvest Fair will have your back, and uplift your spirits.

Twilight drive in: The final season

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Picture in your mind, you’re ready to take your family or go with your friends to the movie theatre, and you are excited to get to recline back and relax while watching a great film, but then the most dreaded point hits. You have to swipe that debit card and drop a whole paycheck just on popcorn and drinks. In my experience, I worked at the movie theatre and I felt like an a**hole having to charge people such hefty moments for what should be relatively cheap food. Well, lucky for you, I’m here to tell ya about a wayyy cheaper method to enjoy a good movie, but it won’t be around for long.

The Twilight drive in, located at 260th street and Fraser highway, is the perfect for any movie enjoyer like yourself, it’s a pretty simple idea that you can watch the movie from the comfort of your own car, which is even better news if you’re one of those people who like to go on your phones during the movie, then you don’t need to worry about being a burden to others.

Sadly, if you haven’t been before, then you better go some time in September as this will be the final season of the Twilight drive in. I know, it sucks. The drive-in location, located in Langley, is being shut down for good as the property owner wanted a massive rent increase of 2.4x, which wasn’t financially possible for Twilight, so don’t you go blaming them that the fun is over, but blame the property owner instead.

If you’re wondering how it works and the prices, I’ll give you the details. Prices start at $25 for one vehicle with one person, and increases by $10 for each person in the car. Wanna bring your little ones that are 4 and under? That’s even better as they don’t count towards the passenger total! There is a concession stand open and it’s not just selling popcorn, candy, and drinks, but you can even get snow cones and nachos, and definitely a better bargain compared to your local Cineplex or Landmark movie theatre. 

The Twilight drive-in will be offering you a great batch of films for its final season, such as the 2024 version of Beetlejuice, Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, and Blink Twice. Be sure to go early to secure the perfect parking spot, bring some blankets and pillows, and if you can’t figure out where to take your partner on a date, then the Twilight drive-in is the perfect solution for you and your partner. With this being its final season, you won’t want to miss this spectacle, as if you blink twice, it’ll be gone before you know it.