☀ Weather - Mainly sunny

😜 Rain Joke - Why are raindrops great at basketball?💧🏀

🗓 New West Events - Another Busy Week in New West

🔦 Business Spotlight - Dustin Ybarra At The House of Comedy

💝 You’re So Sweet - Thank you, Susan D.!

🗞 New West Local News - Moody Park Gets Upgraded + Gala Tickets On Sale

🤖 How well do you know New West?

😆 Meme of the Day

🔗 Use the links above to skip to your favorite section.

📧 Did someone forward you our New West Spotlight? You can Subscribe Here!

If you watch Ghosts, you may already recognize Dustin Ybarra as Gabe.

Next week, New West gets to see a very different side of him when the actor and stand-up comedian takes the stage at House of Comedy in downtown New Westminster for five shows over three nights.

Ybarra’s credits include The Goldbergs, Gotham, We Bought a Zoo, Us, 21 & Over, Easter Sunday and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. But live comedy is still where he feels most at home.

He traces that love of making people laugh back to childhood, when he practised Donald O’Connor’s “Make ’Em Laugh” routine from Singin’ in the Rain.

His family laughed — until, as Ybarra puts it, they eventually got tired of it.

“So then I'm like, okay, I got to find some other people to make laugh.”

By high school, he was doing open mics, eventually moving to New York and then Los Angeles as both his stand-up and acting careers grew.

What makes his live shows different is that he reads the room.

He may arrive with a set list in mind, but an audience can change everything. A comment, unexpected crowd work or something completely off-script can send the show in another direction.

“You really never know what's going to happen.”

Ybarra describes his comedy as good-hearted and says his goal is simple: give people a fun night out.

Apparently, he succeeds.

“I've had people tell me that they've laughed and peed themselves a little bit.”

Consider yourself warned. He also likes learning about the places he visits, which means New West has already given him a mission.

During our interview, I mentioned that Anny’s Dairy Bar is one of the local spots New Westies often rave about for poutine.

His response? “Boom. I'm going to Anny's. You sold me.”

So if you head to House of Comedy next week, you may get more than a night of laughs.

You might also get Dustin Ybarra’s verdict on a New Westminster favourite.

For tickets and more information contact The House of Comedy

Columbia St
New Westminster, BC

(604) 522-4500
[email protected]

💡 Want to Grow Your Business Online?
This feature was created by the team at Butterfly Networking — we help local entrepreneurs like you attract more customers through social media, SEO, and smart online marketing.
👉 Book a Free Strategy Call to find out how we can help your business shine online. https://tidycal.com/newwestspotlight/business-strategy-session

🍁 Shop Local 🍁

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: Survival on the Fraser – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🎙 Recording Session (Record a Song) Crash Course – 10:00 AM

💼 New Westminster - Women In Business Networking – 10:30 AM

👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

🎥 Midday Movie: Mid-August Lunch – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🎨 Pokémon Pin Workshop (Ages 11-18) – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 BrAVe New World - Audio Visual as the new nervous System – 4:00 PM

🀄 Mahjong Funday at Starlight Casino – 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎙 Rock Room Karaoke Nights at The Legion – 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🧘 Yoga In The Park – 5:30 PM

📚 Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🎙 Georgie's Local Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM

🎭 Howe Sound New West Bingpot! Thursday Trivia – 7:00 PM

❓ Steel & Oak Thursday Trivia Night – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎉 Transition to Kindergarten: Building Your Village – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

💃 Salsa In The Park – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎭 Bee's Knees Burlesque at The Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎙 The Terminal Pub Colossal Thursdays Karaoke – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎤 Notorious Grey Fox Open Mic Jam – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

🎨 River As A Muse at Anvil Centre

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: Survival on the Fraser – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🧒 Toddler Time (12-36 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

💑 City Love Scavenger Hunt For Couples - New West Area – 1:00 PM

🗣 English Conversation Circles – Friday Sessions – 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

🍻 Queer and Beers Pride Edition – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎉 Friday's on Front – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM

🎸 Sip n’ Strum Fridays at Mechanics of Music – 7:00 PM

🎲 Georgie’s Local Hot Bitch Rock & Roll Bingo – 7:00 PM

🎲 Howe Sound Hitmix Bingo – 7:00 PM

🎙 Howe Sound New West Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM

🍸 Cocktails and Conjuring at the Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎙 Weekly Karaoke Every Friday – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

💃 Line Dancing and Country Nights – 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

🎙 Notorious Grey Fox Karaoke Friday Nights – 9:00 PM until Close

🎨 River As A Muse at Anvil Centre

🗣 Spanish Conversation Drop-in – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

🪵 Edge Tool Sharperning for Woodworkers – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

🗣 English Conversation Circles – Saturday Sessions – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

🧶 Knitting & Crocheting Circle – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🎶 Uptown Live Summer Series – 11:30 AM to 4:15 PM

🚢 Samson V Museum – 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

🧵 Rug Tufting at Arrieta Art Studio – 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

🛍 Hyack Square Market Days – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

🎉 Royal Canadian Legion 100th Anniversary – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM

💑 City Love Scavenger Hunt For Couples - New West Area – 1:00 PM

🎨 Create Your Own Linocut Stamps! (Beginner-Friendly Art Workshop) – 3:00 PM

📚 Author Pop-Up FREECOUVER – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

🚲 Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth Ages 13 - 18 – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

🏓 Hyack Ping Pong Tournament – 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

🎆 Summer Music and Fireworks Festival – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

⚽ NWSC Girl's Pre-Season Social – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM

🎶 Live Music Saturday's with Rocky Riobo – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM

🎸 Live Music Saturday at the Legion Branch 2 – 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

🎷 Jazz Cats Socials: Company B Jazz Band! – 6:30 PM

💃 Live Polynesian Dance Shows – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🚶 Explore New West Walk – 7:30 PM

🪩 Freaky Tiki Rave – 9:00 PM

🎸 Spirit5 at the Terminal Pub – 9:00 PM

🎶 Saturday Night Live Music at The Terminal Pub – 9:00 PM

🎙 Karaoke Saturdays at Kelly & Carlos O’Bryan’s – 9:00 PM to 12:30 AM

🎶 Georgies After Dark at Georgies Local – 9:30 PM

🕺 Saturday Dance Party at Georgie's – 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM

🕹 Fighting Game Night – Phantom Alley

🎨 River As A Muse at Anvil Centre

A major recreation upgrade is underway at Moody Park, with the City of New Westminster beginning work on the park's multi-sport court.

The renewal project is expected to be completed in fall 2026 and will give residents and visitors a refreshed space for a variety of activities, including lacrosse, basketball and pickleball.

Construction will continue throughout the project, and the City is asking residents and park visitors for patience while the work is underway.

Once complete, the renewed multi-sport court will provide a new and improved space for people to get active, play sports and enjoy recreation at Moody Park.

Project information and updates are available through the City of New Westminster's website.

See updates on the project

Tickets are now available for the 2026 Fraser River Hall of Fame gala, with the annual event set to recognize an organization whose work is deeply connected to the river and British Columbia's marine industry.

The gala will take place October 20 at the D/6 Lounge at Parq Vancouver. Early-bird ticket pricing is available until August 31.

This year's inductee is SAAM Towage, a company with longstanding roots in B.C. Its history can be traced through organizations including Rivtow Marine, Tiger Tugz and Westminster Tugboats, with Rivtow itself formed through the amalgamation of several B.C. towing companies with histories dating back more than 75 years.

The Fraser River Hall of Fame was established in 1991 by the Fraser River Discovery Centre Society to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the health and sustainability of the Fraser River, as well as its culture, communities, industries and environment.

Funds raised through the gala will support the Fraser River Discovery Centre's education and public programs. Ticket holders will also receive a partial tax receipt following the event.

Tickets are available online through the Fraser River Discovery Centre's event ticketing page.

Buy tickets before early-bird ends

🤖 The Tin Man is back with a fresh mystery today.

🎁 This week’s prize (August 20 - August 26):
A $50 Gift Card for Angelina's Dutch Cafe from Kellie Vallee Realtor.

Think you know the spot?
Head to Facebook and Instagram and drop your guess.

👉 Your play guide is here.

Thanks to Dynamic Health & Fitness and Fuel Hut for sponsoring

🕵 “The First Detective on the Scene” 🕵‍♀️ prize!

🤣They always make a splash.. 💦

Brought to you by New West Spotlight Daily Digital Newsletter

What’s faster than word of mouth? New West Spotlight! It keeps you updated on what is happening locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

Want to see your local business in the spotlight?
We’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of New West Spotlight, where thousands of New West residents discover what’s new and local.

Check out our advertising options here.

Not a business owner but have a favorite local spot?

Tell us all about it - email us at [email protected]