Street Piano Launch Party Pics plus full Video Playlist

 We had a wonderful Monday evening of music and community harmony amid the sounds of buses, car horns and people hurrying home after a busy day on transit. 

The  street piano, generously donated by Sean Pacey and Pacey's Piano is now a fixture at the Newton  Exchange between Coast Capital and the Wave Pool. 

It's yours to play!

  A few images from Monday's launch. Stay tuned for news on the painting portion of this fun, engaging placemaking project in the heart of Newton, Midtown Surrey

Keeper of the Grove David in action

Members of Make Music Vancouver and the Piano Teachers Federation

Vladislava Mars performed her own Philip Glass inspired compositions.

A little sparkle in the trees

Children are born to play music!

Taking a break from snapping photos to soak in the tunes.

Neighbours came out to enjoy the twilight concert

These two met on Tuesday and just started jamming

A few videos of performances from Monday's kick-off.

Pianos On the Streets comes to Newton!

 The Grove in Newton has a piano for everyone to enjoy. It will be in place until September 10. 

Tonight at 6 o'clock join Friends of The Grove, as we make beautiful music together with Make Music Vancouver and the Piano Teachers Federation.

 The piano has only been onsite for a few hours and already it's a big hit. Just wait until you see it painted next week!

 We hope everyone will take pride and ownership of the ''People's Piano". 

It's yours, play it.

Update: Last night's Launch Party was a  resounding (pun intended) success! Will post full report later this week with some wonderful heartwarming photos.  Thank you to those who came out to play and those who made up our audience. The event was originally planned for 6-7:30  but at 9 we were still making music. A very special evening in the heart of the city.

What is my favourite part of Surrey? This!

When I'm asked what I like about Surrey and why I choose to  live here, and it is a choice, without dropping a beat I  shout out, the people!  Forever curious, I love to find out all about people, especially those that were not born and raised here. Maybe it's the fact that both my parents have fascinating and in my father's case heartbreaking immigrant stories.

The multi-cultural  Fusion Festival  is probably my favourite weekend in the city. 

A little global village right here at home.

    A few images and moments from yesterday 

                                  at Surrey Fusion Festival.

Hey Ocean! performed. Love this band!

I talked to a few women from Nigeria yesterday.
 So full of life and the colour.... oh my, I want to dress like this! The one on  the right? Sooo beautiful!

Ran into two of Surrey's best community minded citizens.

Happy to see Newton 's
art/craft/ home decor store DeSerres helping kids paint a big mosaic wall.

The sun came out!

More vibrant colour.
Seriously, I think I need a trip to Africa,  for the fabric alone.
Not sure if I could pull off this look but I love it!

This juggler was a crowd pleaser- have seen him several times at Granville Island and he's always a big hit. 

At the end of the show he puts the torches out with his mouth. Ya, okay then...  

Crowd loved the juggler guy

Get out there and take in Day 2 of this fun event.

 Eat, dance, shop,  listen to some cool tunes and talk to people from literally all over the world. 

Enjoy! 

Full event information  here

Newton. Why We Stay.

Just wanted to share a little bit more about what makes our neighbourhood special.  Some people  seem to have a great deal of trouble understanding why we stay in Newton.
Newton is full of parks and creeks, most of them salmon spawning streams.   When my son was little our daily walk to school was not along a busy street  but through this park and over two foot bridges. It was idyllic, and remains one of my most treasured memories of those days.

Our cul de sac is a little United Nations of cultures. Best part? Seeing the kids all playing together. Second best? The food we regularly share !  

 You want variety? Check out the Filipino grocery store on 137th, Greco's Mediterranean  and several  Vietnamese restaurants.

Prabu Sweets is a favourite for samosas and Indian sweets.

The community is looking forward to food trucks coming this summer to the Wave Pool  area near The Grove.

 DeSerres Art and Craft supply store has been open for about a year and has everything to soothe your creative soul. Gorgeous store. Check it out near 76th and King George.

My neighbours are the  best.  Everyone pitches in to take care of our neighbourhood.

Brainstorming session at the Grove prior to the inaugural event on May 3rd which was a resounding success.

Little ballerinas at work

Eyes on the Street!

Friends of The Grove Love-In for Newton 

Children don't care what colour their friends are or where they were born, they just want to play.

The Grove is a perfect venue for impromptu  jam sessions. You just might be seeing a piano there one day soon....

We'll keep you updated with upcoming events at the Grove and other spots in the hood. Check back often or better yet subscribe so you won't miss out!

What's in a Name? Meet Me in Midtown.

 Over the past few weeks some of us have been brainstorming around creative ways to revitalize our downtown Newton  centre. As one person so eloquently put it, 'the neighbourhood has some scars, but we're resilient and the will to see positive things happen here has never been greater". So, it got us thinking about the name Newton.  Has the time come to rebrand the Newton Town Centre , (whose boundaries are now set with the newly formed  Newton BIA ) in much the  same way  Downtown Whalley has been renamed City Centre? We think there's a very strong case to do so. Like Whalley,to some people the name Newton doesn't conjure feelings of excitement and respect and it's not doing our  business community any favours.  

Since Newton is the geographic centre i.e. middle of the city of Surrey why not call it that?

Midtown. 

Anyone who has spent time in Manhattan has no doubt wandered the busy Midtown area. It's vibrant but retains its grittiness, keeping it real and authentic. 

 I've maintained that Newton can take that same feel and make its edginess  work to  advantage.

So let's talk about 137th St, also known as Festival Street in the City of Surrey's plans for the town centre. 

Newton Town Centre Plans for Festival Street  (137th St.) during an event.
City of Surrey
 Everyone's asking....When will the plans be implemented?

The  commercial space above is perfect for an artsy edgy gallery/live space

Business owners and the community  all agree- the Pay Parking HAS to go!
*Update Oct. , thanks to  efforts of Cllr. Judy Villeneuve, we now have 2 hr. free parking :)

Festival Street-  Plans for Everyday Use, but when will the city get moving and make this happen? 

There are many office and retail spaces currently for lease in the vicinity.
Let's fill them with creativity and connection.

How awesome would it be to create a  unique to Surrey  funky art, music &  cafe scene here?    You know what I'm talking about.  Old or at least old-looking brick walls, great coffee, and a place to meet up with friends. 

Your ' third place" 

What about a global crafts marketplace in these vacant spaces?   Think: studios, coffee houses, music venues. Somewhere our young Surrey musicians and creative types can get together and showcase their talents?

  

 And let's not forget   about  FOOD!

  

As Retrofitting Suburbia author Ellen Dunham-Jones says

"Never Underestimate the Power of Food to Turn a Place around and make it a destination"

  Here's what one city is doing   Midtown Global Market

 So, think about the many possibilities for the  Newton Town Centre.
We have so much untapped potential in this area. Let's take the vision and make it happen. We have many strengths  and a growing  number of  citizens taking charge of their own community. 
Are you going to be one of them?

   Still reading?
 Leave your comments or if you prefer, send me a message.
 hey-jude@telus.net