🕺 You bring the dance moves, we’ll bring the events.

Good morning St. John’s. This is St. John’s Living - the local newsletter that pairs well with leftover Easter chocolate.

In this week’s St. John’s Living:

• Book your summer campsite starting April 23 ⛺

• Free swim times this summer 🏊‍♀️

• More housing for Lemarchant…maybe 🏠

Let’s get into it…

Digest

⛺ Set a Reminder - ParksNL Opens Tomorrow at 7am

Do you have a favourite provincial park you like to camp at in the summer? If you want your pick of weekends and locations, you’ll want to set a reminder to get up early tomorrow. The ParksNL camping reservation system opens for 2025 bookings on April 23 at 7:00am.

🏊‍♀️ Free Swimming This Summer

The City of St. John’s has received funding to offer free swimming sessions at the Paul Reynolds Community Centre and the Mews Centre on certain weeks this summer. Check out the city’s website for details.

🏠 99 Micro Units Coming to Lemarchant?

There is a proposal put to council to allow the rezoning of the Extended Stay hotel (currently used by NL Health Services) to convert from a hotel to long term rentals. The plan calls for 96 micro units and 3 one-bedroom units. 

Local Business

• Boreal Cafe opening in the former Starbucks location on Water Street but no date set. Their coffee will be from Gros Morne Coffee Roasters with food from Gingerly Bakery and Yes Thai! Kitchen.

• Glendenning Golf opens on April 30th with a members-only day.

• Peter Lewis Gallery is closed until June 9.

• DYK: The Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club has prepared meal plans a la Factor? All you have to do is pick your meals and then heat & eat. Prepared locally and delivered to you.

What’s Happening This Week

Wednesday

🎶 Experience a vibrant fusion of global sounds at The Rooms with award-winning musicians Jing Xia, Persio Dominguez, and Andrew Kagumba in a dynamic workshop, performance, and hands-on drum circle exploring intercultural music-making.

☕ Join adult crafters at the A.C. Hunter Library this month to make your own woven mug rug.

🤣 Kick back, laugh, and enjoy a midweek break with Last Minute Comedy @ The Peter Easton Pub.

Thursday

🎉 Celebrate Bengali New Year at Boishakhi Mela 2025 with live music, dancing, delicious food, and family fun at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market—free and open to all!

🎶 Join Heidi Burns for a night of jazz at Theatre Hill Cafe. The house band will play a short house set, and then the stage will be opened up to jammers!

🏆 Join TJ and Maddy for Trivia in the Loft @ Landwash Brewery. Free to play and you could win gift cards and Johnny & Mae combos.

Friday

🕺 Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday in 70s style at Perchance Theatre’s groovy fundraiser, featuring dinner, dancing, and live music—all in support of their 2025 season!

🎷 Enjoy a lovely night out at Slainte with The Tide Quartet performing new jazz standards and more. 

🎶 Skip the noise and soak up the vibes—head to Postmaster’s at Rawlins Cross for a cozy night of live music, laughs, and throwback tunes with Brazen Charmerz.

🎪 Curious about aerial arts? Try Cirque’letics' beginner-friendly aerial hammock pop-up class and get a taste of their gentle spring series—no experience needed!

🎶 Atlantic Jazz Nights returns with Grammy-featured vocalist Aubrey Johnson and an all-star ensemble for an unforgettable evening of contemporary vocal jazz, bold rhythms, and mesmerizing melodies.

🎶 Sing your heart out to all your favourite Tragically Hip hits with Bobcaygeon, the ultimate tribute band, bringing the sound and spirit of Gord and the gang to life at the Majestic Theatre!

Saturday

🎉 Get ready to dance, sparkle, and snack at the Kidz Rave at Bella Vista—featuring a Glow Station, selfie area, snack table, and surprise guests!

🎶 Brothers in Stereo bring the full band back to the Ship following their appearance at The Last Waltz Celebration concert at Jag Soundhouse.

🤣 Comedy legend Kevin Blackmore joins Good Yarn at Erin’s Pub for a night of storytelling and side-splitting improv, as local comedians spin his tales into hilarious scenes—one night only!

🕺 Get ready to relive your glory days at the Bella Vista’s ultimate 90s & 00s Video Dance Party—where the hits are throwbacks and the vibes are pure nostalgia!

🧵 Patch it, stitch it, save it—join Quidi Vidi Artisan Studio for Mend in Public Day for a free morning of repairs, conversation, and community from 10am to 1pm!

🎷 Join Greg Bruce and Sundar Subramanian for Amplified Explorations—a night of genre-blending instrumental music and live electronics, capped off with a collaborative jam session for the sonically curious.

Sunday

🏃 Kick off the 2025 NLAA racing season with the BP Flat Out 5K—a fast, fun course with a post-race celebration at Boston Pizza!

🛍️ Shop local at Etsy Spring Market featuring Etsy makers, vintage finds, and your favourite farm and food vendors from SJFM—free admission and family-friendly!

💃 Feel the rhythm and learn the roots of salsa at this free, family-friendly concert and dance class with De La Paz Latin Band at Quidi Vidi Brewery, presented by Lawnya Vawnya!

🍿 Heart and Sole: The Dylan Kalambay Story is a powerful documentary screening at The Majestic Theatre, following a young athlete’s inspiring journey from heart failure to transplant and back to the court—featuring a post-film panel and Q&A presented by Canadian Blood Services.

Monday

💕 Speed Dating (50-65) at the Post Taphouse. Meet potential matches with 5 minute dates and get notified of mutual connections afterwards, without using apps!

🧑‍🎨 Hey Swifties! Join the Clay Cafe for a dreamy night of pottery and Taylor Swift hits—paint your own Taylor-inspired piece while singing along to all your faves!

Tuesday

🎻 Celebrate Poetry Month with Violins & Verses at the A.C. Hunter Library—an evening of stirring strings and powerful poetry featuring NSO violinists and some of the city’s most captivating voices, hosted by poet laureate Mark Callanan.

🍎 Interested in growing fruit in your own backyard? Learn which fruit trees and shrubs thrive in our climate—and how to help them flourish—at this practical workshop from the MUN Botanical Garden.

🍿 $5 movies at Cineplex are back!...briefly. What will you go see? Minecraft? Sinners?

Municipal News

City Council Meeting

On the agenda for today’s regular council meeting:

• Extended Stay to 99 micro unit rentals? 13 micro units for Casey St?

• Road closures for Battle of the Atlantic Parade.

• See full agenda.

The meeting is at 3pm, 4th floor City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.

Thanks!

Thanks for reading St. John’s Living today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who can parallel park on Water Street without crying…show offs.