🎸 Open trails, busy stages, and events worth leaving the house for.

Good morning St. John’s, This is St. John’s Living - the newsletter that’s like opening the mailbox and finding a postcard from a friend.

In this week’s St. John’s Living:

• Applause Awards handed out 🏆

• North Head Trail is now open 🚶

• East Coast Music is about to be celebrated 🎸

Let’s get into it…

Digest

🏆 A Round of Applause

This past week, the City of St. John’s hosted a gala to present the 2025 Applause Awards. The awards celebrate outstanding community contributions and include Senior, Youth, Volunteer, and Athlete of the Year among others. Winners included our friends at St. John’s Walking Tours, who took home the Tourism Excellence Award for their downtown walking tours. Congrats to all!

🚶 A Sure Sign That Summer’s On the Way

After a fairly mild winter, the North Head Trail is now officially open for the season. So are the trails around Cape Spear (and Postmaster’s Bakery is opening their cafe on May 31st). The Parks Canada teams have covered every kilometer of trail at these sites to perform their pre-season trail opening safety and condition checks, and any necessary repairs have been completed. Reminder that visitor facilities (like washrooms) don’t open until June 1st. Happy hiking!

🎸The 2025 ECMAs Kick Off

Beyond the award show that’s happening on May 8th, ECMA week will be full of showcases, workshops, and fan events. The All-Star Charity Basketball game is happening on Saturday (free to attend,) and there’ll be a Fan Fest on George Street on Sunday. Check out the full schedule to plan your week.

Local Business

• Posie Row is hosting their 30th birthday party on May 10th & 11th with cake, snacks, giveaways, loot bags, scavenger hunts, and more!

• Local singer Jenny Gear is now also a vendor at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market. Jenny’s Fish Cakes will be selling fish cakes and quinoa salad.

• SpiceX: Blackmarsh Superette is having a try-before-you-buy event tomorrow. If you’re curious about what they’re cooking up, whether it's cod bites or biryani, drop by from 10:30 am to try a sample.

What’s Happening This Week

Wednesday

💼 Thinking about getting a business on the go? Why not attend the Business Fundamentals workshop at the A.C. Hunter Library this week and have some questions answered?

🎭 There’s Nothing You Can Do debuts at the LSPU Hall - a darkly funny, dance-fuelled exploration of millennial burnout and existential crisis.

🏠 Need some help navigating the world of real estate and buying your first home? The First Time Home Buyers Workshop at Landwash is just for you!

Thursday

🎭 Mount Pearl Senior High presents Cinderella at Holy Heart Theatre—a magical, family-friendly musical full of classic songs, stunning costumes, and a fresh, witty twist on the beloved fairy tale.

🐐 You’ve got to be kidding us… painting pottery and playing with goats? What could be better! Clay Cafe knows how to get our attention.

🍿 Celebrate the art of fly fishing and filmmaking at the 7th Annual IF4 Film Festival & Fundraiser - an unforgettable night of inspiring films, community, and conservation.

Friday

📚 Connect with fellow book enthusiasts to discuss your favourite books and recommendations at the book social at Marjorie Mews Library.

🕺 Break out the neon and big hair for the Totally 80s Fundraiser at Bella Vista—a fun-filled night of live music, retro vibes, and nostalgia, all for a great cause!

🎹 Measha Brueggergosman-Lee presents Zombie Blizzard, her collaboration with jazz composer Aaron Davis and the iconic Margaret Atwood, at Bannerman Brewing tonight.

🎲 Join in the free board game night at Postmaster’s Bakery, complete with happy hour food and beverages.

🧶 Need a creative break? Bring your latest project, and drop by the Centre for Newfoundland Studies in the QEII Library every Friday from 1-2 PM for the Livyer’s Loops Knitting Circle.

Saturday

🧘 Experience deep relaxation at a special Yin yoga class at Modo Yoga with live ambient music by Rezound, happening as part of the ECMAs—open to both delegates and the public!

🎻 Join the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for Au Revoir, a special farewell concert celebrating Marc David’s incredible 30-year career as principal conductor and music director.

🥏 Curious about disc golf? Join Avalon Disc Golfers for a fun-filled day at Confederation Hill Disc Golf Course, where you can learn the ins and outs of disc golf.

🕺 Dance, sing, and switch up your vibe at Bodhi’s first-ever Silent Disco Party—60 minutes of high-energy fun with three music channels and a Black Out theme!

🎣 Join artist Kelsey Dawn Pearson at St. Michael’s Printshop for Femme & Fisherfolk: An Afternoon of Storytelling, an informal gathering where women and LGBTQIA2S+ folks are invited to share personal and ancestral fishing stories, enjoy snacks, and connect through culture and conversation.

Sunday

🎸 Experience the magic of the Beatles live with Beatlemania Revisited at the Majestic Theatre, a high-energy, family-friendly tribute show that recreates the Fab Four’s iconic performances with authentic costumes and vintage instruments.

🪴 Paint a Plant Pot with Mama is a sweet tea-time workshop at Chic Socials where moms and kids can bond over painting, snacks, and planting keepsake pots together—fingerprints and all!

🎶 Treat mom to a heartwarming hour of music, stories, and views with Jackie Sullivan and Crystal McCarthy at The Rooms, complete with tea, scones, gallery admission, and a special take-home treat.

Monday

💕 Speed Dating (38-50) at the Post Taphouse. Meet potential matches with 5-minute dates and get notified of mutual connections afterwards, without using apps!

🦉 An Evening of Owls - learn all about Newfoundland’s owls and how to help with local research at this free Science on the Rock talk at Quidi Vidi Brewery — perfect for bird lovers and curious minds alike!

Tuesday

🤣 NL Sketch Fest returns May 13–18 with six nights of gut-busting live comedy from 27 sketch troupes at the LSPU Hall—don’t miss Canada’s newest and funniest comedy festival!

🎸 Catch a killer double bill at The Black Sheep with Stones cover band Silver Train and Labrador’s own Silver Wolf Band for a night of rock and roots you won’t forget.

☕ Learn how to properly steam, texture milk, and make your espresso drinks not only taste great but look fabulous as well with the latte art barista class at The Battery Cafe.

Municipal News

City Council Meeting

On the agenda for today’s regular City Council  meeting:

• $1.6 million for three new dump trucks

• $800k for two new garbage trucks

• Parklet fees to be reduced this summer

• See full agenda

The meeting is at 3 pm, 4th floor,r 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 you think should win an ECMA.