Fort 91原创 is transforming before my very eyes, and I鈥檓 not just talking about new construction.

Have any of you heard about this new initiative called the Fort Feast.

For the month of February, there are a handful of restaurants in Fort 91原创 that are participating in what they call a 鈥渃ommunity culinary event.鈥�

It is a month-long dine out event profiling the relatively new Rail and River Bistro (which opened last November), Mangia e Scappa Italian Foods and Trading Post Brewing (which have been in the village for more than two years each), plus the long-time villagers Eighteen 27 and Fort Pub & Grill.

Fort Feast appears to be an unofficial or friendly competition, if you will.

Each of these participating restaurants were asked to establish a few feature items for the month.

Now, customers are invited to sample the cuisine and, then go onto Fort Feast鈥檚 Facebook page and vote for their favourite dishes. Don鈥檛 see any prizes or awards being promised, hence my reference to an unofficial contest. But I鈥檒l be interested to see the feedback.

鈥淐ome rediscover Fort 91原创, the Birthplace of B.C鈥�. Finally all grown up. Five restaurants, 10 Fort Feast features, highlighting the best cuisine Fort 91原创 has to offer,鈥� said event promoter Trevor Friesen.

鈥淭his is a great opportunity to attract people to Fort 91原创 and show off how much we have grown,鈥� said Mangia founder Giulia Carbone.

鈥淩unning for the entire month of February 2018, you鈥檒l have time to visit them all,鈥� she added.

And in a little segue, let me change gears to talk about another up-and-coming Fort 91原创 restaurant.

While The Rustic Gourmet Bistro (under construction on Mavis Avenue) wasn鈥檛 open in time for this year鈥檚 feast, you might expect it on the billboard come next February.

In the meantime, however, please stay tuned to the 91原创 Advance for more about this new little bistro and its owners prior to their official opening March 2.

.

Village transformation

Speaking of the village growing up, it鈥檚 hard to miss the massive construction underway around what used to be the Birthplace of B.C. Gallery 鈥� on the corners of Glover Road, Francis Avenue, and Church Street in Fort 91原创.

Lanstone Homes is preparing to open its presentation centre in a few weeks and commence sales by mid-March for a 24-resident, luxury condo development called Lily Terrace.

As second-generation home builders, 鈥渨e鈥檝e been a part of Fort 91原创鈥檚 evolution into what many are calling 鈥榯he Kerrisdale of the Fraser Valley鈥� with its high-end custom homes, boutique shops, and trendy cafes,鈥� said Lanson Foster, founder and president of Lanstone Homes.

鈥淔ort 91原创 has long been a popular tourist destination for its 1840s-era national historic site but it鈥檚 also become a highly desirable residential neighbourhood,鈥� Foster added.

鈥淥ver the past decade, Fort 91原创 has experienced a population increase resulting from several new residential developments,鈥� he said. Honestly, I haven鈥檛 seen anything this big in impact since the introduction of Bedford Landing more than a decade ago 鈥� although Foster also noted the more recent addition of Lanstones鈥� McBride Station.

For sure, the location and design of this project is going to continue to transform this small, quaint 3,800-resident village.

If the artist鈥檚 rendering is accurate to the finished product, it seems like it will embrace a little sense of Fort 91原创鈥檚 heritage, but also caputre some of the more contemporary design we鈥檝e seen implemented in both Bedford, and some of the more recent commercial structures along Glover Road.

Foster predicts that 鈥淟ily Terrace will complement the community and appeal to a growing number of young professionals and downsizers with discerning tastes for a low maintenance, premium lifestyle in the heart of the region鈥檚 most coveted neighbourhood.鈥�

Time will tell, but it鈥檚 definitely going to be a prominent new addition.

.

For RV aficionados

While 91原创 was once a hub for RV sales and service, the numbers of related businesses have whittled down through the years 鈥� many moving further east, where larger chunks of land to display the mammoth vehicles could be had for a more 鈥渞easonable鈥� price.

So, in anticipation of next week鈥檚 Earlybird RV Show at Tradex in Abbotsford, I scanned the vendor list and could only find one business that jumps as being from 91原创.

If you鈥檙e heading to the show, which runs Feb. 15 to 18, then make sure to say hi to the local folks at Traveland RV.

This event typically showcases travel seminars, the latest in RV trends and products, including the latest models of motorhomes and fifth wheelers.

This year鈥檚 program is also expected to include a number of featured exhibitors, including Okanagan College which will be highlighting information about its program for RV service technicians.