WEST ENDER MARCUS WILD WILL BE AMONG THE MANY ARTISTS TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR'S WEST END ARTS MARKET, RUNNING EVERY SUNDAY AT JIM DEVA PLAZA FROM MAY 7 TO OCTOBER 29. (PHOTO COURTESY OF WEARTS)

THE RETURN OF THE WEST END ART MARKET

Here’s something special to add to a leisurely Sunday afternoon’s stroll about the neighbourhood. The West End Art Market returns after last year’s inaugural success and will happen, rain or shine, every Sunday at Jim Deva Plaza (Bute & Davie).

There will be up to 32 artists exhibiting and selling their works, accompanied by live music and other entertainments in the Plaza, The West End is home to a reported 4,000 artists, and you can count on a good representation, like West Ender Marcus Wild (pictured above) to be part of the Art Market experience. Every Sunday from May 7 to October 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information for potential participants and sponsors at www.wearts.ca.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

The West End Community Centre conducts regular fun-filled day trips to many regional attractions. Outings in May include: The Tea Farm & Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, (May 10); Melchosin and the gardens of Hatley Castle on May 15; and Galiano Island on May 16. Fees range from $111 to $149 and include lunch. Call 604.257.8333 for details and registration.

THE COMMUNITY FARMER

Is there anything better than having your own fresh herbs?

Join Community Farmer Joey for a hands-on workshop where you'll get to plant and start your own homegrown herb garden.

Along with planting your take home herbs you will also learn how to grow and harvest other common herbs.

Sunday, May 7th from 2pm - 4pm at Gordon Neighbourhood House, . Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.

Everyone is welcome, but be sure to reserve a spot to this free event here. The Community Farmer is presented by the Young Initiatives program, which you an read more about .

URBAN GARDENING

While we're on the topic of gardening, explore the possibilities for creating a new community garden and other gardening spaces in the West End with the West End Urban Gardening Club. The club also organizes food and gardening workshops, a pollinator corridor, seed saving, and other activities. Each month’s free meeting features a presentation and discussion on a food and gardening related topic tailored to West End residents needs and capacity. The topic for May is Permaculture. Sundays May 7 and June 11 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the West End Community Centre’s Barclay Room.

BIKE SAFETY DAYS

There will be complimentary snacks, free maps, and safety and rules of the road information for all at this year's Bike Safety Days, brought to you by the Vancouver City Police's Project 529 Protected initiative.

And of course the main event is having your bicycle registered for free.

Despite enforcement, and initiatives like Bait Bikes, over 2,000 bicycles are stolen in Vancouver every year. In the summer months, nine bikes are stolen every day. On the flip side, the VPD recovers roughly 2000 bicycles in a year. Unfortunately, the majority of them will never be returned to their owners, as their serial numbers have not been reported to police, making them untraceable. These bikes will end up at auction, but police would rather return them to their rightful owners.

Vancouver Police, the Vancouver Police Foundation, and the City of Vancouver Greenest City initiative have teamed up with Project 529, a bike registry app, with the goal of registering 10,000 bicycles, for free, in the city of Vancouver over the next three years.

2017 Bike Safety Days and free bike registration events take place Saturdays May 20, June 10, July 22, and August 12 at Jim Deva Plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ART IN THE CITY

This year’s Art In The City exhibition takes place May 5 to 7 at the West End Community Centre. Attend the Friday evening Vernissage from 7 - 9 p.m., mingle with the artists, and share some light refreshments. Enjoy the exhibition by up to thirty local artists and take something home to brighten your space. Open from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A FAMILY OUTING

Join author Ruby Swanson for a free public reading from her book “A Family Outing” a memoir of her then sixteen-year-old son’s coming out as gay and the ensuing journey that she takes to recover the story of a great-uncle and his life in drag. She addresses the deeply homophobic time in which baby boomers grew up, the emergence of the gay rights movement, and how the AIDS epidemic transformed the LGBT landscape. 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, at Little Sisters Book & Art Emporium (1238 Davie Street). Free admission.

LEGO MADNESS!

Joe Fortes Library (870 Denman) is holding a free Lego Block Party for kids ages six through 12. Build unique creations, take ‘em apart and put ‘em back together again, play games, and have loads of Lego fun while making new friends. Wednesdays May 24 and June 21 at the library, from 3:30 p.m. until the party’s over. Drop in only, and no admission fee.

MEN'S BREAKFAST CLUB

It’s not quite the old boys gathering ‘round the cracker barrel, but pretty close! The third Wednesday of every month the West End Seniors Network invites gentlemen (we’re all gentlemen here) to join their Men’s Breakfast Club, Enjoy convivial conversation, swap fishing stories, chew on the latest political news (or maybe avoid that altogether) and catch up with old friends and make some new ones. You pick up your own tab, unless you’re a first-timer, in which case breakfast is on the house! 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 17 at Denny’s Restaurant (1098 Davie). Drop-in, with no registration required.

FAMILY FORT NIGHT

Here’s a fun opportunity for the whole family to gather with friends and neighbours for an evening of fort-building and story-telling (by flashlight, of course!) The fun starts at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Great reading material and fort-building supplies provided. All ages, and it’s free! At the Joe Fortes Library. Call 604.665.3972 for more information.

BE-WELL DROP-IN FOR 55+

Join a free weekly drop-in program featuring, in a comfortable social atmosphere, blood pressure checks, fitness breaks, and seminars on a variety of wellness topics. Every Wednesday through June 21 from 1 - 3:30 p.m. in the West End Community Centre’s Bidwell Room. Specifics of each month’s program are available at the Centre.

ARE YOU HURTING?

Chronic pain can cause sever stress to individuals and their families. The West End Seniors Network and Self-Management BC offer a weekly workshop to help you take control of physical and emotional challenges, better manage pain, and work more effectively with health care providers. Participants receive a copy of “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain” reference book. Thursdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Barclay Manor (1447 Barclay). The workshop is free, but call 604.940.1273 to register.