THE TURN ON: With raising your own food the latest rage, community gardens are a growing craze. Vancouver’s first-ever community garden was started in Strathcona in 1985—and tomorrow Strathcona Community Garden will be open to the public along with Cottonwood Community Garden across the park.
WHAT’S THE DEAL: Free gardening workshops all day for adults and kids as well as a legendary plant sale with hundreds of annuals and perennials that the gardens are almost giving away they are so cheap.
WHY WE ARE EXCITED: Professionals and local experts will be running the FREE workshops including Keeping Backyard Chickens, Winter Gardening, Bee-Keeping, Mushroom Growing, Composting and more! Besides being interesting and informative, there will also be activities for kids that run at the same time so everyone wins on this fun and free family outing.
HOW LONG WILL THE PLEASURE LAST: One day only, tomorrow, Sunday July 11th between 10am and 2pm, but show-up early if you want to get your hands on hundreds of unique plants at bargain basement prices. The plant sale is one of this event’s main acts.
WHERE’S THE F SPOT: Both Strathcona and Cottonwood community gardens border Strathcona Park, on Prior between Raymur and Hawks Ave. For workshop schedules visit the gardens’ websites: cottonwoodcommunitygardens.ca and strathconagardens.ca
—Submitted by N. Irvine
Fashionistas & Stylistas Will Want To Act Quick
/0 Comments/in The F Spot! /by carolannruleTHE TURN ON : Frugalbits readers already know we feel the love for JNBY, the Chinese clothing label we wrote about here last Monday. We love the originality of their designs and the fact British Columbia was the first JNBY location in North America, and that we have the only JNBY stores in Canada.
WHAT’S THE DEAL: When we dropped by JNBY late last week we were excited to learn that all regularly priced merchandise (basically their summer collection) is 25 percent off, and select items are 50 to 70 percent off. This includes some interesting shoes, handbags and straps (their word for belts).
WHY WE’RE EXCITED: What can we say, it’s JNBY, good value for the quality any time. The sale is just a bonus.
HOW LONG WILL THE PLEASURE LAST: This sale lasts through the end of the month, July 31.
WHERE’S THE F SPOT: All three JNBY locations: 2201 West 4th Avenue, 2623 South Granville Street and Metropolis at Metrotown. To view the summer collection, visit www.jnbynyc.com
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Robert Fung’s Fave Gastown Haunts
/0 Comments/in CANADIAN CONTENT, My5 Finds /by carolannruleWith his eye for design and authenticity, heritage developer Robert Fung is our man on the ground in Gastown.
7 free, cheap or worth it things to see, do or buy in Gastown
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Half Price—And More Than Worth It!
/0 Comments/in The F Spot! /by carolannruleTHE TURN ON: High-style solid rosewood furniture for wholesale prices.
WHAT’S THE DEAL: The sign says Closing Out Sale but this is really a pop-up store, where the merchant keeps overhead low by taking a space on a short-term lease. Once the lease ends, the sale really will be over—at least in this location.
WHY WE ARE EXCITED: Simple, clean-lined rosewood pieces ranging from coffee tables and consoles to beds and buffets would shine in any décor; traditional Indian styles are also available. All are made in Rajasthan of Indian rosewood, aka sheesham, harvested from a plantation in the Punjab. A 39-inch-square Parsons-style coffee table is $495, a Shaker-style buffet $950.
HOW LONG WILL THE PLEASURE LAST: As long as there’s stock up to the end of August.
WHERE’S THE F SPOT: In a former car dealership at 1177 Marine Drive (between Pemberton and Lloyd) in North Vancouver. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. To check out the furniture or keep an eye out for future sales, visit www.exoticrosewood.com.
—Submitted by Rosa Woods
Brighten Up: Our Fave Under-Eye Concealers
/2 Comments/in BEAUTY, Beauty How-To, BUY THIS. MAKE THAT., Fashion & Beauty, Makeup, Stealing Beauty, View All Beauty Stories /by Editor“Help! What can I use to hide these dark circles under my eyes?”
Lucky for us, there are some excellent concealing products on the market, so regardless of our budget, we can look fresh and ready for whatever life brings. For best results, I highly recommend using eye treatments in conjunction with make-up solutions. Bright, well-rested eyes are always in style. Read more
Bagging Fashion Trophies in Portland, Oregon
/4 Comments/in Travel /by carolannruleBagging some serious fashion trophies at a Portland, Oregon, thrift shop.
Hey Urban Farmers, Here’s Something To Speed Your Plow
/0 Comments/in The F Spot! /by carolannruleTHE TURN ON: With raising your own food the latest rage, community gardens are a growing craze. Vancouver’s first-ever community garden was started in Strathcona in 1985—and tomorrow Strathcona Community Garden will be open to the public along with Cottonwood Community Garden across the park.
WHAT’S THE DEAL: Free gardening workshops all day for adults and kids as well as a legendary plant sale with hundreds of annuals and perennials that the gardens are almost giving away they are so cheap.
WHY WE ARE EXCITED: Professionals and local experts will be running the FREE workshops including Keeping Backyard Chickens, Winter Gardening, Bee-Keeping, Mushroom Growing, Composting and more! Besides being interesting and informative, there will also be activities for kids that run at the same time so everyone wins on this fun and free family outing.
HOW LONG WILL THE PLEASURE LAST: One day only, tomorrow, Sunday July 11th between 10am and 2pm, but show-up early if you want to get your hands on hundreds of unique plants at bargain basement prices. The plant sale is one of this event’s main acts.
WHERE’S THE F SPOT: Both Strathcona and Cottonwood community gardens border Strathcona Park, on Prior between Raymur and Hawks Ave. For workshop schedules visit the gardens’ websites: cottonwoodcommunitygardens.ca and strathconagardens.ca
—Submitted by N. Irvine
Eat, Read, Swim—Ms. McIntosh Does YVR
/0 Comments/in CANADIAN CONTENT, My5 Finds /by carolannruleCulinary personality Barbara-jo McIntosh shares her favourite “free, cheap or worth it” things to see, do or buy in Vancouver.
Where Loyalties Lie: Plastic That Pays You
/1 Comment/in Goods & Services /by carolannruleSome frequent-shopper cards really do make good sense to collect.
Shell Busey’s Got Home Maintenance Solutions
/1 Comment/in CANADIAN CONTENT, My5 Finds /by carolannruleWant to conserve water, obliterate ants and pesky weeds? Vancouver’s home improvement expert Shell Busey explores maintenance on the cheap side.
Going To The U.S.? Gotta Get a GoPhone
/6 Comments/in Goods & Services /by carolannruleHere’s how to radically reduce roaming charges while visiting in the U.S.