This Week in Saint John (June 29-July 5)

 HELLO BIRTHDAY WEEK!  Yes, UptownGirlSJ turns 26 on Canada Day!  If you are out and about on Tuesday night/Wednesday, you are sure to run into me all decked out in my Red & White!

• Canada Day Countdown with Joel Plaskett & The Emergency – as well as my fave DAVID MYLES! (Tuesday 30th, Market Square Boardwalk, 5pm-1am – FREE)
• Canada Day Festivities!! (Wednesday 1st, Market Square Boardwalk & beyond, ALL DAY – FREE)
• Saint John Idol VII (Wednesday 1st, Market Square Boardwalk, 8-11pm – Free)
• Open Mic with Brent Mason (Wednesday 1st, O’Leary’s Pub)
• Summer Reading Club – Sensational Sculpture (Thursday 2nd, Saint John Free Public Library, 6:30-7:30pm – Free)
• Country Idol (Thursday 2nd, Market Square Boardwalk, 8-11pm – Free)
• Shakin (Thursday 2nd, O’Leary’s Pub)
• Long Island Youth Chamber Orchestra (Thursday 2nd, Imperial Theatre, 7pm – $10-$20)
• DDR & RockBand for Teens (Friday 3rd, Saint John Free Public Library, 1:30-2:30 & 3-4:30 – Free)
• MARDI GRAS (Friday 3rd – Saturday 4th, Market Square Boardwalk, FREE)
• City Market Summer Music Showcase #1 of 9 (Saturday 4th, Saint John City Market, 11am-2pm, FREE)
• Tanner’s Home Inn “Walk-a-Block” (Saturday 4th, 190 King St. East, 10:45am – $10)
• Sax on the Boardwalk (Sunday 5th, Market Square Boardwalk, 4:30-7:30pm) 

Fusion Party with a Purpose – June!

Tomorrow marks the first of the two SUMMER “Parties with a Purpose” and I am totally psyched!  School is out for the summer, I have nothing to do but chill and attend as many Saint John events as possible.  I am back with a vengance, baby!

Next month’s promises to be really fun, as it will be an outdoor mixer with the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation at its core.  Fusion’s Dragon Boat Team plans to host this party with its goal to fundraise for this important cause!

But enough about July, tomorrow is just around the corner!  Tomorrow’s Party with a Purpose will take place at A Khord on 30 Water Street from 5:30-7pm.  With free munchies from Jungle Jim’s and cocktails available at the bar, how can you go wrong on a Friday?  Plus, you can hit the Moose Light Launch on the boardwalk immediately after!  And to top it all off, we will be celebrating a great addition to our city: the Saint John Multicultural & Newcomers Resource Centre.   Very cool.

So come on out, for what I promise will be a great time.  See you there!

This week in Saint John (June 22-28)

EXTREMELY LATE…  I do apologise.  In any case, what’s left of this week’s stellar line-up!

• KV Players “High School Musical” Auditions (Monday 22nd, KVHS, 7pm – FREE)
• XOCAI Healthy Chocolate Tasting (Wednesday 24th, 165 Union St.-3rd Floor-above Saigon Noodle, 7pm -FREE)
• Saint John Idol VII Kick-off (Wednesday 24th, Market Square Boardwalk, 8pm – FREE) 
• Moose Light Lime “Sneak Peek” (Wednesday 24th, O’Leary’s Pub, 9pm – FREE BEER!)
• Open Mic with Brent Mason (Wednesday 24th, O’Leary’s Pub)
• Bean Books Thursday Night Book Club (Thursday 25th, Bean Books on Germain St., 5:30-7pm – FREE)
• Shaydid (Thursday 25th-Saturday 27th, O’Leary’s Pub)
• Country Star Kick-off (Thursday 25th, Market Square Boardwalk, 8pm – FREE)
• FUSION Party with a Purpose (Friday 26th, A Khord, 5:30-7pm – FREE)
• Moose Light Lime Kick-off!  400 FREE BEER being given away (Friday 26th, Market Square Boardwalk restaurants, 6-9pm)
• Boat Cruise and Show (Friday 26th, Indiantown Warf – Main Street North, 6pm – Information: marc@sunseekerfestival.ca)
• “The tongue is the rudder of our ship” (Friday 26th, Infusion Tea Room for Third Space Gallery, 7-9pm -
• Walk for Muscular Dystrophy (Saturday 27th, Market Square Boardwalk, 1pm – Fundraiser)
• Tanners Home Inn Walk-a-Block (Saturday 27th, Tanners Home Inn – 190 King St. E., 11am – $20)
• “BE-LOVED” www.lifemusic8.com (Saturday 27th, Saint John Arts Centre, 7pm – $10-$15) 
• DANCE (Saturday 27th, Chinese Commerce Centre- 24 Coburg St, 8:30pm-12:30am – $5) 
• Solid Sessions ft. Freedom Danish, Harmsworth & [sic]adelic (Saturday 27th, A Khord – Water St., 7pm)

Curtain Call

This past Friday I attended the Saint John Theatre Company’s year-end, volunteer appreciation party.  As I left for the event, Hubby asked why I was going to a “volunteer” appreciation party…  it took him a minute, but he finally realised that although I was on stage (as opposed to part of the crew), I did actually volunteer my time to the 6-evening-a-week rehearsals.  Sheesh!

The end of year party was a great opportunity to reconnect with cast and crew members of the shows of the season.  I was excited to see some of the great people I lost touch with since the Chicago and Look of Love shows ended.  It was also an great place to learn first-hand what theatrical endeavours are in the works for the summer through the Saint John Shakespeare Festivaland SJTC’s Second Stage.  I was bummed to learn that I was living under a rock somehow and had misunderstood the rehearsal committments for Antony & Cleopatra, I could have auditioned!  Now I have Script Happens plays as part of the Theatre on the Edge Festival in early August to look forward to.  I think I might head out to the auditions on Saturday at 1pm. 

Beyond the reconnecting, over drinks and nibblies, the soiree was an opportunity to reminisce about the shows and to recognise members of the company for a job well done.  Memories were submitted by participants in all elements of the shows and read out loud for everyone’s enjoyment.  Awards were also given out.  Chelsea Cusack was awarded “Newcomer of the Year” (for which I was honored to be nominated) for her commitment to the betterment of SJTC through various areas of theatre!  Artisan awards were bestowed upon Anthony Stuart and Dan Culberson, and Bob Doherty won the Second Stage award.

A wonderful night put on by the Volunteer Support Committee of the SJTC!