Food & Drink

Hammond River Brewing: The Power of Small

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There is a river that winds its way under covered bridges and through green woodlands, passing next to farmer’s hayfields, tumbling over polished rocks and sandy bottoms. It runs with trout and salmon, while fly-fishermen cast in view of curious cows and deer alike. A morning mist rises off the water’s surface, and long creeping shadows are set on its banks by a golden afternoon sun. Paradise, right? Now imagine that this is the setting for your world, where you wake up every morning with the satisfaction that you get to spend your days exploring your passion. That world exists for Shane Steeves, as he is truly living his dream. For those who don’t know Shane by name, you may know him by his beer: he is the mastermind behind Hammond River Brewing Company, the brand-new ‘nano’ brewery located along its namesake, the Hammond River, near the town of Quispamsis, New Brunswick. Continue reading Hammond River Brewing: The Power of Small →

Paint, Photography

Amy Ash And The Photos Of Your Long Lost Cousins

Amy Ash may have left New Brunswick two years ago for the bustle of London, but the Hampton born artist took a part of the province with her. Her work has been comprised of paint, and thread, and old bits of paper; a magpie’s collage spread across all manner of mediums, but central to much of her recent work has been the people of New Brunswick in the form of their lost and discarded photographs. “I have such a soft spot for [photo albums]. They took up a large part of my luggage to London. It’s ridiculous, but I now have all these New Brunswick faces of people I don’t even know. I know it’s weird, but I can’t help myself. I’ve kind of displaced them along with myself.” Continue reading Amy Ash And The Photos Of Your Long Lost Cousins →

Food & Drink

Port City Royal: Culinary Comforts

I’ve spent more than a few lunch hours over the past four months walking up or down Grannan Street to catch a small glimpse of the construction work at the old Patterson building. Working just a block away, it was hard not to be curious as to what was going into the side of the building and how that space was likely to change. Locals may know the location as the former home of the Sunstar Lounge, a sketchy dive bar that many have visited, while also being fully aware that they probably shouldn’t have. The building has an interesting history to be certain, but it has since gone through a thorough revitalization. What was once uninviting and uncomfortable now boasts one of the most comfortably familiar atmospheres in all of Saint John. The food’s pretty great too. Continue reading Port City Royal: Culinary Comforts →

Food & Drink

The Whisky Lassie: The Alter-Ego Of Johanne McInnis

It’s 2:00pm, the appointed time to meet with our next interview subject, and my photographer is not at all where I’ve left him. He does this sometimes: wandering off after shiny objects; the glint of a window pane, or a strong silhouette can leave him helpless to his more artistic urges. His cell phone rings again, and again. Finally, he picks up on the third attempt. “Where are you?” I ask.

“We’re here!” he answers through fits of laughter.
“Here?” I ask.
“Here.”
It was the most shocking answers he could have given me; as surprising as if he had announced a decision to spend the rest of his days as a post box. I’ve known John for three years now, and the exact coinciding of him being in both the correct place, concurrently with the correct time, means I am missing something good. I sprint the last two blocks to Prince William Street’s Bourbon Quarter to find John already drinking his second beer amidst a mirthful crowd, and at the center of it: Johanne McInnis.

“You have to try this; it’s delicious,” she says, already signalling the waitress. This is why Johanne McInnis is so dangerous. Continue reading The Whisky Lassie: The Alter-Ego Of Johanne McInnis →