📚 Read Books, Win Prizes, Feel Like a Kid Again

Good afternoon St. John’s, This is St. John’s Living - the local newsletter that’s like a perfect parking spot downtown: rare, magical, and totally free.

In this week’s St. John’s Living:

• Adult Summer Reading Club at the A.C Hunter Library 📚

• 2025 Municipal Election in October 🗳️

Let’s get into it…

Digest

📚 Why should kids have all the fun?

Grown-ups can get in on the action too with the Adult Summer Reading Club at the A.C. Hunter Library, featuring fun activities like Book Bingo, a colouring contest, board game night, and more. No registration needed. Join in anytime and earn ballots for a chance to win a summer prize!

🗳️ Are you on the list?

The Voter Registration Portal is now open. Please check the voters list to ensure you're registered to vote and that your vote-by-mail kit gets sent to the correct address. 

Local Business

• High-protein ice cream cart coming to town? Protein Cravery is hoping to get a yes from the city.

• The Art Factory is hosting their 1st birthday party on Sunday from 9am-1pm

• Breakwater Books will be opening their new location later this summer at 263 Duckworth Street.

• Strawberry U-Pick is in full swing now at Lester Farms. Get out and enjoy the short but sweet season.

• Suzy Shier is making moves at the Avalon Mall, moving into the former Forever 21 location on Friday. For their Le Chateau collection, it’ll be like going home.

What’s Happening This Week

🛳️ Cruise Ships in Port

• July 19: Island Princess from 7am-5pm with 2259 passengers

Wednesday

🎷 ONSOUND IV: what is jazz? Kicks off at LSPU Hall and runs until Saturday, celebrating improvised, experimental, and original jazz – anything but the standards.

📚 Have some books you’d like to find new home for? As part of Pride week, there’s a book swap being hosted at Rocket Bakery on Water Street. No cash allowed, only swaps.

Thursday

🛍️ Saltwater Under the Stars continues its 5th summer! Enjoy a magical outdoor night market featuring 60+ local vendors under the evening sky.

🤠 Get your do-si-do on with some line dancing at Houston Country Bar at 7:30pm with Colleen leading the way.

🎭 Legally Blonde: The Musical opens at Majestic Theatre presented by the Young People’s Company.

🤣 Enjoy a little Dry Humour with an alcohol-free, accessible comedy show at the Boreal Cafe on Water Street.

Friday

🥂 Booze & Botany: Sip, sample, and stroll at this Friday night series at the MUN Botanical Garden, where you'll enjoy a botanical-themed white wine tasting followed by a guided garden walk.

🎤 Drag on George Lip Sync Battle is an epic competition among St. John’s top queens. Hosted by Trish Bish and Don-E Coady, it’s a great way to get your weekend started.

🎶 The city’s free concert series rolls along on Friday afternoon with the Liza Fagan Band at Harbourside Park from 12:30pm-1:30pm

Saturday

🔪 Hone your knife skills in this afternoon workshop while you make a delicious summer risotto. They’ll cover all the basics - proper set up, safe handling, cutting techniques, and the secrets to keeping your blades razor sharp.

🪱 Ok this is a weird one… @countrycookinbook is making and eating a big bowl of Worms & Dirt in Harbourside Park from 3pm-4pm and is inviting spectators. So if you’re up for something off the wall, this might be for you.

🎭 Love’s Labour’s Lost will be performed in the round in the Toulinguet Close on the MUN campus as part of Shakespeare by the Sea.

🍓 Celebrate all things strawberry at Lester’s Farm Market with their Berry Best Day. Find the golden strawberry in the u-pick and win a prize!

Sunday

🏳️‍🌈 The St. John’s Pride Parade takes to the streets of downtown to show the world there is no going back.

🪄 Don’t miss Mr. Smith’s Family Magic Show at LSPU Hall. It’s a fun-for-all-ages evening of jaw-dropping illusions, live music, surprise animals, and nonstop laughs!

🔮 Discover tools for your best self at the Newfoundland Holistic Healing Fair™. This free, feel-good event features wellness vendors, energy healing, workshops, psychic readings, crystals, swag bags for early birds, and loads of positive vibes!

Monday

🍿 Reel Downtown: The Italian Job. Bring your camp chair and some popcorn down to Water Street and enjoy a movie under the stars starting at dusk.

📚  Pop by the Battery Cafe for  an evening of stories and sound as Michael Boyle launches On New Turf with a book signing at 5:30pm, followed by a live jazz performance at 7pm from Patrick Boyle and Bill Brennan.

🧑‍🎨 Learn to cut, grind, foil, and solder your own shimmering stained glass Monstera leaf in a hands-on beginner workshop using the magical Tiffany-style copper foil method. Just bring your creativity!

Tuesday

🎭 Perform in front of local Directors and Casting Directors and get real feedback on your performance at an Audition Masterclass.

🥾 Join bestselling author Nicola Ross at the Battery Café for the launch of her whimsical new Illustrated Field Journal for Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail. It’s packed with quirky maps, local lore, and tips to help you hike one of the world’s top adventure destinations like a pro!

🎶 Tap your toes or sing along as celebrated folk artist Jim Payne brings Newfoundland’s rich musical heritage to life at The Rooms with a lively performance rooted in the stories and sounds of the coast.

Municipal News

City Council Meeting

On the agenda for today’s Regular Council meeting:

• Anastasia Tiller selected as muralist for Canada Games.

• Get a full list of road closures during the Canada Games

• 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 wishes we had a pool/beach club in town.