Living

A trio of store openings brings incentive to clean closets for spring fashions. J.Crew has opened on Robson Street. The bright and open two-level space near Thurlow Street is the first of three new Canadian stores J.Crew is opening this year.

G.I.F.T.S. Scholarship Contest: North Shore teens ages 13-19 are invited to create a short (two minutes or less) talking-head-style video about what the North Vancouver City Library means to them for a possible scholarship worth $890.

TRANSFORM the plainest of herb gardens into something pretty with a variety of homemade herb markers. There are plenty of garden markers on retail shelves at the moment, but sometimes it's nice to custom-make your own.

SUMMER IS AROUND THE CORNER. Everyone is smiling and contemplating the lovely warm days coming for the next few months. Everyone, that is, except for students who are facing final exams.

SUMMER in this city is spectacular - with no shortage of beachfront to lie on, views to admire, and leafy trails to take shade in.

GREAT plant combinations develop through trial and error, by adapting someone else's design or by accident and the partnering of differing textures or colours makes the sum of the combination greater than the individual plants.

QUESTION: Recently I was on the upper levels, between the Capilano and Westlynn exits, a two-lane-each-way section, and traffic was backed up.

GardenSmart Workshop - Patio Veggies: Learn how to grow great food in containers Wednesday, May 23, 7-8: 30 p.m. at John Braithwaite Community Centre, 145 West First St., North Vancouver. Admission: $5. Registration: 604-990-3755. Info: www.

- Spring Sprint, a 2.5-or five-kilometre walk or fun run in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Sunday, May 27 at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, 3760 Sperling Ave. Registration: 10 a.m. Start: 11 a.m. Info: www.braintumour.

NORTH Shore seniors are fortunate to have a variety of recreation options.