We have a quick note about today … Our last seating is at 6:30pm and our doors close at 7:00pm to get ready for tonight’s function: an evening with local photographer Beaver Smith and Uptown Saint John captured through his lens.
We still have tickets available and they can be purchased at the door. We’re looking forward to an amazing night!
Our weekend is pretty full with good “stuff.” It starts with tomorrow night as we host local photograph Beaver Smith and his photos.
We had a pretty interesting back and forth (an interview) with Beaver earlier in the week about photography and Saint John.
Then on Sunday afternoon, we’ve got Bob McVicar (Chef Bob) coming in to present a cooking class with the subject being Creole jambalaya. When we spoke to Bob the other day, he was sounding pretty pumped about it — as are we!
In both cases, tickets are limited but you can get yours simply by calling us here at the Urban Deli at 652.3354 or, put another way, 652.DELI.
Of course, you can also join us tomorrow morning for our regular Urban Deli breakfast (9:00 am to noon).
That should cover all the bases … Oh yes, one last thing. For those who have signed up to our newsletter, we are giving away tickets from the Saint John Theatre Company to their November 25th show: The Importance of Being Earnest. If you haven’t signed up yet, you still can subscribe and have a chance at winning. Just visit our newsletter page and subscribe.
Now it’s back to work and getting ready for the weekend …
Coming up on Sunday we have another cooking class with Bob McVicar (aka Chef Bob). If you would like to join us, give us a call at the Urban Deli: 652.3354. If you would like to know more, have a look at our post, Creole jambalaya. Or you can just let Bob tell you about it himself:
One last thing: For those who have signed up to our newsletter, we are giving away tickets from the Saint John Theatre Company to their November 25th show: The Importance of Being Earnest. If you haven’t signed up yet, you still can subscribe and have a chance at winning. Just visit our newsletter page and subscribe.
“Photography can be a very personal experience. The reality is that there are no “terrible” images – ever.” — Beaver Smith
On Saturday evening, the Urban Deli hosts Uptown Saint John Captured Through the Lens of Beaver Smith. He’s a good friend of the Deli as well as the talent behind bigdayfoto, wedding photographers.
Beaver is a man with a great eye for incredible shots so we decided to conduct an “email interview” with him to learn a bit more about photography and the photographer. We discussed quite a few things, specifically Saint John, the Uptown, and photos. When taking a picture, what does he look for? Beaver told us, “There is a lot of color, texture and character to Uptown Saint John.
“You can see it with your eye if you stop, look, and think about it – actually look at what you are seeing. The trick is to capture it in an image worthy of printing. In several of my images, the colors have been boosted or saturated. To me, that is what I see when I really look. Some have been turned black and white.”
That immediately had us thinking about technology and some of the tools photographers now use to create the photos the rest of us wish we could get.
“PS (Photoshop) and all the other tools are just that — tools! Like a chef in a kitchen full of “tools,” they may not use every tool in the kitchen to prepare a certain dish …
“Have you ever taken a picture of a beautiful sunset or a gorgeous panoramic view of some mountain valley only to be terribly disappointed in the out come? Well, it’s not you! It’s the limitations of the camera. Today’s photographers learn to work with the limitations. PS is one of many primary tools used.”
Saint John and finding the lightHere in Saint John, we’re partly known for our Fundy fog. Most of us, when we hear people talking about photography, find people talking about light. So how does a city like ours treat photographers as far as light goes? Beaver tells us, “For starters, as a photographer you have to understand/work with light (where it’s coming from and it’s “quality”).
“… Depending on what you are trying to achieve, Saint John fog can be a blessing. Too much contrast in an image [can be a problem] — think bright sunny day mid afternoon high sun and a bride in a beautiful pure white wedding gown.
“Most photographers in this situation are looking to get out of the sun (find a big old tree) and would welcome a little fog. In the same situation with fog, there is less contrast, the quality of the light is much more flattering to the subject. Can I take a nice picture of a bride in bright sun? You bet, but I would rather the fog!”
There is a great deal more to our back and forth with Beaver. For the full interview, visit this page.
What does the future hold for him and bigdayfoto? He tells us, “Now in our 6th year, I am looking to take my wedding photography business bigdayfoto to be the premier wedding photography studio in Atlantic Canada. With that lofty goal comes the requirement for a lot more personal development.”
We think he’ll reach his goal and likely a good deal more!
We have a big night coming up at the Urban Deli: Uptown Saint John Captured Through the Lens of Beaver Smith.
A great friend of the Deli, Beaver Smith is the talent behind bigdayfoto, wedding photographers, a man with a great eye for incredible shots.
He’s recently had that creative eye set on our own Uptown and the Urban Deli is going to host an exhibition of his work. You haven’t see Uptown Saint John until you’ve seen it through Beaver’s eye! We think you’ll find the pictures fascinating.
Prints taken by Beaver will be unveiled at the Urban Deli the night of Saturday, November 20th. They’ll be available for viewing and purchasing and the event will include a variety of complimentary (and savoury!) hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a cash bar.
The Details:
We have the event posted here on Facebook. As for getting tickets? They’re available at the Urban Deli or give us a call at 506.652.DELI (3354).
Join us for a variety of Deli-styled Italian dishes which will be available for customers from November 1st to November 6th. Please call us at 506.652.3354 to make reservations for this event.
During our lunch hour, we will be presenting an Italian pasta special ($12 plus tax) with the option of bruschetta or soup as an appetizer. Customers have the choice of a traditional Italian bolognese sauce or a creamy parmesan sauce which consists of pesto, sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers and spinach.
For the evening Chop Chop foodies, reservations can be made for a three course dinner for two ($30 plus tax). The three course dinner consists of bruschetta or soup to start and is followed by the pasta special. This will be finished off with a home-made dulce de leche meringa con gelato e cioccolato (ice-cream meringue topped with dulce de leche and chocolate sauce) dessert for sharing.
We look forward to seeing you during this eventful week!
Chef Andrew Brewer
Click HERE for the Chop Chop Chef Profile on Andrew Brewer
We’re looking for some volunteers for Sunday, October 10th (a week from tomorrow) in order to help serve a Thanksgiving dinner to inner-city families in support of the Salvation Army.
This is “no charge” meal for the families and we are planning to have two seatings (4pm and 5:30pm).
Can you lend a hand? Here’s what we’re looking for help with:
We think it’s going to be a great day with food and people and families. If you can lend a hand, please contact us at 506.652.3354 (DELI). Just leave us your name and contact number. (You can also contact us using our contact page.)
Thank you!
