Up for Best Restaurant 2nd year running – Live Life Awards

The Uptown is buzzing today with the Live Life Awards nominations. We were thrilled to find ourselves nominated in the Best Restaurant of the Year category — but the competition is stiff! We’re in there with two of the Uptown’s best: Thandi’s and Saint John Ale House. (Congrats to both!)

Having enjoyed time at both, we can attest to the fact that both are very deserving — we love the food at both! Uptown is the place to be for Saint John’s best dining. Of course, we’re a bit biased on that subject. 🙂

Last year, we found ourselves in three categories, including Best Restaurant. Thandi’s was also nominated last year. As it turns out, in 2010 Opera Bistro took the top honours for Best Restaurant.

You can go over all the categories and all the nominees on the Uptown Saint John site. Or you can let Tracy tell you all about them:

Winners will be announced at the gala event on June 9th. Tickets are available at the Uptown Saint John offices at 40 King Street or by calling 633-9797.

Congratulations to all the nominees in all the categories. Let’s all celebrate by getting out and living life in Uptown Saint John!

 

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Weekend update: what to do Uptown

We’re almost through that long haul of winter without a holiday (New Year’s until Easter weekend), and you probably have some cabin fever kicking in. So, if that is correct and you’re looking to get out this weekend, let this be a guide to get you started.

The Boardwalk is always bound to have something going on and here is a sampling of what to expect:

Peter Stoddard & Shawn Horgan & their Singapore Slings - Photo by Dan Jones.SJAH (Saint John Ale House) is having their weekly Friday Night Social Club that’ll feature a cocktail competition. This week’s cocktail is Long Island Iced Tea. Come down before 10 PM and you may be lucky enough to be a guest judge. Last week’s cocktail showdown featured Singapore Slings, and co-owner Pete Stoddard won 4 votes over 2 against Shawn Horgan. (See Pete and Shawn in the accompanying picture.) @SJAH_NB

Lemongrass / Peppers Pub have their Friday After Work Special, from 3-7 PM. $5 Guinness & $4.75 Picaroons draught.

Grannans has its weekly Jazz Night featuring Kindred Brothers from 6-8 PM.

Boilerworks will have 90s drink throwback prices.

Elsewhere Uptown, don’t miss out on:

Saint John’s only brewpub, Big Tide Brewing Company, on Princess St, has an ever-changing selection of their own beer, brewed by Wendy Papadopoulos. This weekend they have Whistlepig Stout, Irish Red Ale, Hemp Pale Ale, and for the first time, Honey Brown Ale, all on tap.

Happinez Wine Bar, across the street from Big Tide, will have a wide selection, as always, of wine by the glass or bottle. Beer, by the bottle, is also available along with some spirits. Be sure to sign up early for some upcoming events. Check the website for full details.

Be sure to also hit up Thandi on Canterbury St. for Asian fusion, Saigon Noodle on Union for some Pho, Sense of Tokyo for deliciously fresh Sushi, and of course there is Opera Bistro and the Urban Deli. Be sure to plug your favourite place in the comments if I’ve missed something you think other readers will be interested in. Cheers!

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Bio: Dan Jones is a food, drink, and travel writer from Saint John. Follow him on Twitter: @danjjj

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Week long Chop Chop festival coming

Uptown Saint John Chop Chop festival, Nov. 1 to 7, 2009.In case you missed it, the Telegraph-Journal had a story this week about an upcoming food festival we’ll be taking part in: Chop, chop food fans, fun festival is coming. To quote from the article:

“The idea behind the week is to put us on the food map,” said Margret Begner, co-owner of Opera Bistro and a member of the festival organizing committee.

“It should showcase how proud we can be of the different restaurants and businesses that we do have in this area.”

During the Chop-Chop festival, foodies will have the chance to sample from 22 participating restaurants in the uptown with a set pricing menu.

So from November 1 through 7, Uptown Saint John is where you’re going to want to be to give your taste buds the time of their life. We’re very excited to be part of this! Let’s help make Saint John’s uptown one of Canada’s great food destinations!

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