Uptown Live!

Meh....I would like better if it was in Queens Park or even Hume Park

Amazing event and it featured a number of local vendors. Loved it! Looking forward to next year.

To be fair, I love this event and think it's a great contribution to the New Westminster community show casing local artists, food and vendors. The event itself is fantastic, so why the poor rating simply put, because of Douglas Smith, the event director. He demonstrated that he is not only unprofessional but behaved in a manner not conducive of such a community event. Long story short I was with my great dane and prior to entering the beer garden I asked event volunteers and even the security at the entrance if it was OK to bring my dog in and was given the ok. Hardly 2 minutes in I was swarmed by nice people who wished to pet and say hello to my dog, when I was approached by a man now known to me as Douglas. His first words with no introduction or reasoning were "you need to get out, get out of here with that dog, it's scaring people." This at a time when hoards of people were crowding to pet my dog. My immediate statement was "excuse me, but who are you?" and he goes "I'm the event director you have to leave now." I stated to Doug that no one I know speaks to me in that disrespectful manner and I'd be dammed if I'd be spoken to in that manner by you. I pointed out that there was several other dogs there and that I checked with event staff before entering. He then proceeded to get in my personal space as if to intimidate me into leaving and grabbed my arm. Had I not had the fortitude to tell him to take my hands off me, and that it was shameful that a director of such a community event would conduct himself in that manner and then people in the crowd started to notice what I call for lack of a better word altercation. Doug proceeded to put his hands on my shoulder and quickly apologized after noticing that people were witnessing his behavior and tone and then he left immediately going behind one of the trucks that was parked beside the alcohol serving tents. Had he introduced himself and explained his concerns courteously I would have been much more receptive, albeit he'd have a tough case to present given how well behaved my dog was, and if it was scaring people I wouldn't have expected people requesting photos and asking to pet him. What's even more unprofessional is that he was obviously partaking in the consumption of alcohol as could be smelled on his breath. A formal complaint to the city will certainly be made as there is no place for this degree of unprofessionalism and rude behavior. I hope the organizers of this event take heed and action this. I'd like to thank the lady at the tent located just outside the beer garden that directed me to make this post and for her apology for the negative interaction.

This is a lot of fun and happening right now today. Wrestling was awesome. live music and food trucks. Free movie coupons.