🎅 Your Year-End Wrap-Up: Sleigh Rides, Concerts, and an Art Heist 🖼️

Good morning, St. John’s. This is St. John’s Living —the local newsletter that’s as satisfying as closing your work email until 2025.

In this week’s St. John’s Living:

• Manuels River Interpretation Centre Gives Up Non-Profit Status 🌊

• JAG Soundhouse Sells Out First Show 🎶

• Art Heist in Downtown 🖼️

• Season Ticket Deposits Available for the Unnamed Team 🏒

Let’s get into it…

Digest

🌊 Town of CBS Takes Over Manuels River Interpretation Centre

After operating as a non-profit for over 30 years, the Manuels River Interpretation Centre has asked the town of Conception Bay South to take over ownership. Fundraising and event hosting just wasn’t enough to keep the lights on and the programming operating. The town had previously contributed $125k/year but will now step up with $300k/year to keep the community staple going. Keep an eye out for increased community programming to take place in the building in 2025.

🎶 JAG Soundhouse Sells Out With Collective Soul

The brand new concert venue, JAG Soundhouse sold out their very first announced show in less than a day. Collective Soul will be headline with Mick Davis & Thin Love in support on March  15, 2025. The venue has a capacity of 1600 and every ticket was accounted for within the first 24 hours of being on sale. We’re excited about what this new mid-sized venue will mean for the futures of concerts in the city.

🖼️ Art Heist at the Leyton Gallery

On the night of December 19th, someone broke into the Leyton Gallery on Clift’s-Baird’s Cove and stole 6 paintings from local artists. We can honestly say that we’ve never heard of this kind of smash ‘n grab in town before. The gallery has posted photos of the stolen artwork and we hope they manage to recover them. Seems like they would be difficult items to fence. What a grinch.

🏒 Mary Brown’s Centre is Now Taking QMJHL Season Ticket Deposits

The former Acadie-Bathurst Titan/yet-to-be-named St. John’s QMJHL team is now accepting deposits for season tickets. $50 per seat will get you a number in the queue. Once more information is available, someone will call you to arrange payment and seat selection. If you were a previous long-term season ticket holder you’ll get priority followed by those willing to make a 3-year commitment to the new team.

Local Business

• The Newfoundland Embassy is now accepting reservations for their inflatable pub for your 2025 birthday, wedding, or random Friday night.

• DarkNL Community Darkroom gets a new home at the Prince Phillip Drive campus of CNA. If you’re into film photography or want to get into it, this is the group for you.

• The next in a sad trend, Brewdock closed their doors on December 21st after deciding not to renew their lease at their 85 Duckworth Street location. We hate to see it go.

• Chic Celebrations will be opening their own space for get togethers and gatherings at 270 Water Street (3rd floor). We look forward to seeing what they have in store.

What’s Happening

Wednesday

🎅 MERRY CHRISTMAS! We hope Santa was very, very good to you. 🎄

Thursday

🐴 Want to feel like you’re living in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Book yourself a sleigh ride at Lester’s Farm this Boxing Day.

🪕 Looking for something different tonight? Enjoy a Merry Grass-mas at The Ship. Blue Star Juniper will kick off the night followed by the Old Contemporaries with High & Lonesome closing down the place. Tickets available at Fred’s, the Ship, and O’Brien’s.

🎸 We hope you already got your tickets to ProXing Day X - Big Shiny 90s at The Rock House tonight, because it’s sold out to the doors. It’s going to be a wicked night of 90s rock nostalgia with an all-star cast.

🎶 Looking for a rollicking good time in CBS? Check out The Navigators Boxing Day show at Shenanigans. Tickets available online until Christmas Day, or until they sell out.

Friday

🎶 Bump will be putting on their annual Bumpmas show at the Martini Bar tonight. $15 at the door.

🥏 Are you the ultimate fan of ultimate? There will be a mixed 6-on-6 tournament Friday at the Techniplex. Players of all skill levels are welcome to Huckfest.

🎶 Continue the festive spirit with a delightful holiday performance at The Rooms featuring Fergus O'Byrne and Jim Payne. Immerse yourself in the warmth of Newfoundland folk culture, including traditional Christmas Carols, rousing sea shanties and work songs, poignant ballads, comic ditties, folk tales and recitations, and toe-tapping jigs, reels and polkas on a variety of instruments.

Saturday

🤠 Put on your cowboy boots and your Canadian tuxedo and do-see-do on down to Erin’s pub for a honky tonkin’ night out.

🎁 The Dardanelles are putting on a Christmas Dance at Bella Vista tonight at 9pm with special guests Dave Penny and Daunt Lee.

🎶 Twist ‘n shout and come together at the Rock House for Beatles for Sale. It’s going to be something.

Sunday

🕎 No matter the weather, the public Chanukah Menorah Lighting will be something to see. Park in the parking lot of the Viking Building located at 136 Crosbie Rd and stay warm in your car while our volunteers bring you complimentary hot drinks, donuts and listen to the speeches via FM radio.

🏀 The Newfoundland Rogues take on the Rhode Island Kraken at the Mary Brown’s Centre at 4pm.

🚶 Take a quiet break from the hustle & bustle with a 20-minute Christmas Serenity Stroll at the Manuels River Interpretation Centre at 5:00pm. 

🎶 Hopefully this marks the beginning of an annual tradition - Night of a Thousand Songs honouring the music of Ron Hynes plays to a sold out crowd at the Delta, featuring Alan Doyle, Fortunate Ones, Barry Canning, and more.

Monday

🦖 Merry Rex-mas! Have a dino-mite time checking out the Dinosaur Park Christmas Lights Walk from 4:30pm-8pm.

Tuesday

🎉 Happy New Year’s Eve!

⛸️ Grab your skates and helmet to enjoy a skating party with holiday music, free hot chocolate and party favours in beautiful Bannerman Park from 5pm-7pm.

🎆 Fireworks will be taking place at 8pm at Quidi Vidi, while there will be a midnight countdown on the main stage on George Street with pyrotechnics to kick off the new year.

• O’Reilly’s Pub - The Masterless Men, Justin Martin Band

• Bridie Molloy’s - Judith Morrissey and the Roadside Attractions

• Bella Vista - Bic & The Ballpoints

• The Elks Club - The Wiseman Brothers

• Quidi Vidi Brewery - Masquerade Ball

• Oiche - Bollywood NYE 2025 with DJ Hammer

Municipal News

⚖️City Council Meeting

City council meetings will resume on January 14, 2025.

Thanks!

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