It is almost the weekend!  Are you looking forwad to it?  You should be.
Here is this weekend’s all-star lineup:

• Maximizing Your Potential – The Power of Coaching Canadian Women in Communication (Thu 24, Lily Lake Pavillion, 5-8pm – $40/$45 includes dinner)
• Mom… Dad… I want to Study Theatre in University (Thu 24, IACT Studios – 55 Bently St., 6:30-8:30pm – Free)
• T4G February Fling Fundraiser (Thu 24, The Canterbury Lounge, 6:30-10:30pm – $20)
• Multicultural Movie Night: Amreeka (Thu 24, Saint John Arts Centre, 6:30-8:30pm – Free, but food donation to food bank appreciated!)
• Shakin (Thu 24, O’Leary’s Pub, 10pm – Regular cover charge)
• Saint John Gallery Hop (Fri 25, Various uptown galleries, 4-8pm – FREE)
• Night Train Coffee House (Fri 25, Saint John Arts Centre, 6:30-9pm – Free)
• Saint John Mill Rats Basketball vs. Halifax (Fri 25, Harbour Station, 7pm – $6.75-$14.75)
• Signal Hill (Fri 25 & Sat 26, O’Leary’s Pub, 10pm – Regular cover charge)
• The Metro Housing Authority (Fri 25, The Canterbury Lounge, 10pm – $8)
• Allan Jeffries Duo (Fri 25, Peppers Pub, 10pm)
• World Curling Bonspiel for P.R.O. Kids (Sat 26, Carleton Curling Club, 9am – $100 per team of 4) Call Lena – 608-5797 or Owais- 635-2022
• NBIAA Rogers Final 8 (Sat 26, Harbour Station, 1-3pm & 6-8pm – $2-$15)
• Saint John Wine Fair in support of the Red Cross (Sat 26, Saint John Trade & Convention Centre, 7-9:30pm – $50)
• Rich Aucoin (Sat 26, Peppers Pub, 11pm – $10)
• Mike Biggar &  Andy Brown (Sat 26, The Bourbon Quarter, 9-11:45pm)
• Open Mic (Sun 27, Cougars Lounge, 10pm)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Saint John Gallery Hop, it is exactly like it sounds.  Uptown galleries are open (most with new exhibits being launched), they serve wine and snacks and the public hop from one to the next.  Below is a list of participating galleries, but before that, here are some highlights that you can look forward to as you jump from place to place!

Sarah Jones of Jones Gallery - 122 Germain St. – will be revealing a new body of work (I am looking forward to this immensely) from 5-8pm.

———————-

“Transformations“

At Handworks Gallery

Once a discarded can, now the scales on the back of a sculpted tin fish.
Once a piece of paper, now the wing of a painted bird set aloft on a wooden canvas.
Once a mound of clay, now a shimmering deity come alive with the touch of fire and shape of hand.

Fabulously stylish females, including Barb C. (www.barbbarbbarb.com), Nadine Brown (Envy), Kiera Fraser (Je Suis Prest) & many others from stores around town, will be selling their own clothes, shoes and accessories at rediculously low prices! I will also be there, although not nearly as stylish, and will be selling my goods, including some of the jewellery I have been making these days.

Definitely an opportunity not to be missed.

 1 pm – 4 pm Live DJ   Get active to the tunes of Dave Duffy all afternoon.  Ski and snowshoe rentals available at Daytripping.  1 pm – 4 pm Stonehammer Trilobite Exhibit   Stonehammer Geopark will have an interactive trilobite display, along with other replicated fossils for inspection.  Come and learn more about the billion years of history in our Stonehammer Geopark and how you can interact with our Earth!  Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre  1:30 pm Pets in the Park Winter Fashion Show   Is your dalmatian  decked out for the cold?  Does your tabby tote a tutu? Register your pet at the SPCA booth and when DJ Dave calls him to the stage, have him flaunt his finest fashion for a chance to win a $100 pet store gift certificate.   Pavilion Lower Deck | $5 pet registration fee | All proceeds benefit the SPCA Animal Rescue | Pre-register my pet now!
 2:00 pm Ice Age 2 ~ Children’s Movie   Join Manny, Sid and Diego for an historic adventure!  Don’t forget to check out our own Ice Age phenomenon at the Stonehammer interactive exhibit. Free popcorn & hot chocolate | Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre  4:30 pm – 6 pm  Free Public Swim    Canada Games Aquatic Centre.   7 pm Safari Casino & Auction
  Original oil paintings plus other great items, food, and casino money. Live and Silent Auctions, Free Draws plus a 1 in 175 chance to win a Trinity Diamond Ring valued at over $ 2,000.00 from W. Smith Jewellers Co. drawn at end of the night (must be present to win).  Proceeds benefit the Cherry Brook Zoo. | Tickets $50 | 634-1440. (Must be 19 and over.)
 Sunday, February 20th  8 am Hypothermic Half Marathon   Registration includes a Running Room tote bag and hat and brunch ticket.  Proceeds from this race benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.  Register now!   1 pm – 4 pm Stonehammer Trilobite Exhibit
  Stonehammer Geopark will have an interactive trilobite display, along with other replicated fossils for inspection.  Come and learn more about the billion years of history in our Stonehammer Geopark and how you can interact with our Earth!  Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre  1 pm – 4 pm Live DJ   Skate to the tunes of Dave Duffy all afternoon.  Ski and snowshoe rentals also available at Daytripping.  1 pm -3 pm Stonehammer Hike   Rockwood Park is one of the many sites in the newly designated Stonehammer geopark.  Experience a billion years of Earth’s history while enjoying an interpreted winter hike through the park.  Leaves from Daytripping  1 pm – 3 pm FREE Snowshoe and cross country ski rentals at Daytripping! 

 3 pm 2nd Annual Bartender Olympics   Market Square. | 658-3600.

• We Can’t Afford Poverty Anymore: Senator Eggleton (Thu 17, UNB Grand Hall – Charlotte St., 4:30-6:30pm – Free)  Organised by Vibrant Communities 
• The Saltys: Saint John Social Media Awards (Thu 17, Saint John Ale House, 5-7pm – Free)
• Multicultural Movie Night: Men of Honor (Thu 17, Saint John Arts Centre, 6:30-8:30pm – Free)
• Open Mic (Thu 17, Callahan’s Pub, 9pm – Free)
• Shakin (Thu 17, O’Leary’s Pub, 10pm – Regular cover charge)
• FUSION’s Party with a Purpose: The Saint John Mill Rats (Fri 18, Scores Grill, 5:30-7pm – Free)
• Sea Dogs vs. Val D’or (Fri 18, Harbour Station, 7:30pm – $11.50-$17)
• The Piano Men 2 – starring Jim Whitter (Fri 18, Imperial Theatre, 8pm – $32)
• EL FUEGO (Fri 18, Le Faubourg, 9pm – $10)
• Shameless (Fri 18-Sat 19, O’Leary’s Pub, 10pm – Regular cover charge)
• Saint John Heritage Extravaganza (Sat 19, Market Square, 11am-4pm – FREE!)
• Sea Dogs vs. Shawinigan (Sat 19, Harbour Station, 7pm – $11.50-$17)
• Theatre San Fil‘s The Hobbit (Sat 19, Imperial Theatre, 7pm – $20)
• Fiesta Latina! – Salsa & Merengue Dancing (Sat 19, Taco Pica – 96 Germain St., 10pm – Free)
• Tim Horton’s Jamboree (Sun 20, Harbour Station, 7am-4pm – Free)
• Meet the Artists: Suzanne Hill, Toby Grazer & Kathy Hooper (Sun 20, New Brunswick Museum, 2-3pm)
• Ben Heppner (Sun 20, Imperial Theatre, 2pm – $75)
• Magnolia Cafe’s Literary Dinner: Pride & Prejudice (Sun 20, Magnolia Cafe, 6-9pm – $40)  Limited seating, RESERVE!
• Open Mic (Sun 20, Cougars Lounge, 10pm – Free)

Ready…  Set…  GO!