Friday, July 14
AND THEY’RE OFF!
More than 200 amateur and professional cyclists will blaze through downtown Port Coquitlam for the second annual PoCo Grand Prix, sponsored by Dominion Lending Centres and The Tri-City News, among others. The BC Superweek competition starts at 1:30 p.m. with the Elite Women’s CAT 3/4 pro race followed by the Elite Men’s CAT 3/4 pro race at 2:15 p.m. The corporate challenge — including a Tri-City mayors’ team — is at 3:15 p.m. while the kids’ loops begin at 5:15 p.m. At 6 p.m. is the Youth Race. Finally, don’t miss the pro women’s races are at 6:45 p.m. and the pro men’s races at 7:50 p.m. when Justin Williams of Los Angeles and Kendelle Hodges of Melbourne will defend their PoCo Grand Prix titles. Be sure to check out the entertainment at the Leigh Square bandshell and other activities inside the 1.3-km circuit during the day. Admission is free. Visit pocograndprix.ca.
RUNNING, JUMPING
Track and field athletes will land in Percy Perry Stadium at Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) for the weekend-long BC Athletics Championships Jamboree. The event, which starts tonight at 5:30 p.m., is hosted by the Coquitlam Cheetahs Track and Field Club. Visit coquitlamcheetahs.org.
OUTSIDE SHOPPING
Walk from Moody Centre SkyTrain station to the Port Moody Station Museum (2734 Murray St.), where the parking lot will be filled with vendors for The Market at Brewers Row, from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is free. Visit marketatbrewersrow.com.
GYPSY NIGHT
The Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., Port Moody) hosts a Romani Rarti Gypsy Night, with a dinner at 7 p.m. and concert at 8 p.m. Call 604-937-0998 or visit gallerybistroportmoody.com.
COVERS, COUNTRY
The Joe Fernandes Band will open the inaugural Summer Concert Series — sponsored by Envision Financial — at Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza (1299 Pinetree Way), starting at 7 p.m. Country singer Megan Twist headlines at 8:15 p.m. A food truck will be on site. Visit coquitlam.ca/summerconcerts.
MOVIE TIME
The Port Moody Film Society screens the USA documentary/history flick Tim’s Vermeer in the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door (annual membership is $5). Visit pmfilm.ca.
Saturday, July 15
PLANT CONTROL
The Friends of the DeBoville Slough will pull Japanese Knotweed with Coquitlam city crews, from 9 a.m. to noon at DeBoville Slough (corner of Cedar and Victoria drives). Tools will be supplied but more are welcome. And don’t forget to wear sturdy footwear, sunscreen, a hat and gloves, and bring water. Email [email protected].
HOLLY BE GONE!
Search for holly at Coquitlam’s Minnekhada regional park and remove the invasive species from the forest. The pull is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Quarry Road parking lot. To volunteer, go to meetup.com/regional-parks-connect-metro-vancouver. The round-trip hike is 4.5 km; snacks and drinks will be provided. Visit minnekhada.ca.
SO MULTICULTURAL
See Korean drummers, Bhangra and line dancers, Chinese opera singers and taekwondo demonstrators at a free family summer fair at Glen Pine Pavilion (1200 Glen Pine Crt., Coquitlam) from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 604-927-6940 or visit coquitlam.ca.
FOOD BANK OPEN
As Share Family and Community Services ramps up its July campaign for the food bank, it’s also opening its doors to the public. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., food bank staff and volunteers will lead tours through the Port Moody facility (2615 Clarke St.). Joey Coquitlam will fire up the barbecue for the family event, with food by donation to support the non-profit organization; Share Bear will also be on hand. Visit sharesociety.ca.
LAST CRAFT DAY
Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) presents its last Westminster Savings Family Day of the season, with a free “Frottage” drop-in activity from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
NAMASTE
Dr. Suman Kollipara will share tips to create positive emotions and relationships, at Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd., Port Coquitlam) from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register for the free wellness event by calling 604-927-7999 or via fvrl.ca.
LIVE MUSIC
The Vancouver “metafolk” band Illiteratty — made up of musicians Earle Peach, Albert Klassen, Kirsten Daub, Mark Bender, Simon Kendall and Todd Biffard — will perform at Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., Port Moody) at 8 p.m. after a meal. The cost at $25 includes dinner. To reserve, call 604-937-0998 or visit gallerybistroportmoody.com.
SALSA DANCING
Slip your dancing shoes on for the salsa and Latin party in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The bash runs from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and includes a lesson in the first hour. Parking is free or take SkyTrain to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station. Admission is $10. Call 604-725-4654 or visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
Sunday, July 16
FRESH HAUL
The west end of the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam) will be full of vendors and entertainers for the weekly Poirier Street Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.
DOUBLE HEADER
Summer Sundays at Rocky Point Park (2800 Murray St., Port Moody) starts at 2 p.m. with Mr. Boogie Woogie, a Dutch-based piano player, and continues at 4 p.m. with Incognito & Friends, a Vancouver rock ‘n soul party bands. Donations accepted to the Crossroads Hospice Society. Visit summersundays.ca.
LEIGH TUNES
Karen Fowlie and Copper Cove Road take to the Leigh Square Community Arts Village bandshell (beside PoCo city hall) at 2 p.m. for the city’s Music in the Square. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
