Look who's back, back again
Issue 9 Volume 1
After a brief hiatus, a well-deserved vacation, and a mental health break for the staff of the Fredericton Word we are back. Thanks to all those who reached out or commented that we were missed. We’re back baby!!!
FOMO: Summer is back (the quarterly Downtown edition)
Summer is back!! Not officially, but here in NB you take every liberty you can to act like it’s summer. Summer means patio season, outdoor events, picnics, and bridge construction.
The Patios Have Risen
Like the tulips and dandelions, patios are popping up. May 1st marked the first-day on-street patios could open. Once all patios are officially open The Fredericton Word will do a comprehensive Patio edition with reviews of every(?) significant patio in town. For now, here is a list of downtown + brewery patios that are now open:
Downtown
O’Hickeys Irish Pub (snag the sofa!)
Naru Japanese Restaurant (with heaters!)
Dos Toros (small but mighty now open for lunch)
540 Kitchen and Bar (Queen St’s finest food and drinks)
The Front Yard (patio-like beer garden, DJ on the weekends)
Gahan House Riverside (back patio is open and front patio has been built)
Monks and Jonesies Downtown (new downtown location)
The Cap (all the music + watch for pop up food vendors!)
Dolan’s Pub (world-famous Happy Hour on Fridays 4-6pm)
King West Brewing and Rustico (great place to watch people sitting in traffic while you order another round)
St. Louis Bar and Grill (watch the game outside)
Graystone Brewing Taphouse (the fire table is so nice on the chilly May evenings)
The Joyce Pub (keep an eye on your MLA while enjoying local beer)
Chess Piece Pâtisserie & Cafe (first Cafe patio to open for the summer)
A special shout out to The Lunar Rogue Pub and their patio. The Rogue is celebrating 35 years as a Fredericton institution, pub, scotch bar and gathering for friends, neighbors, and bureaucrats alike. (Editor’s note: Bring back samosa night!). We wish them another 35 years of fueling Fredericton
Other Breweries
Picaroons Roundhouse (walk the bridge avoid the traffic)
Trailway Brewing (partially covered for the rainy days!))
Half Cut (my Northside home)
York County Cider (easy access to PJs Wings for food)
Maybee Brewing (appears to be the favourite brewery for dogs)
What’s New Downtown
One of the biggest changes this summer is the updates Cruze Scooters have made. In previous summers you would walk into their location, rent an electric scooter for a few hours and return it to the same location. Now, thanks to a new smartphone app (Cruze XP), you can pick up and return a scooter to any of its expanding list of partner locations (there is no actual brick-and-mortar location to walk into to talk to someone). Just scan the scooter with the app and away you go.
Locations for pick up/drop off include:
Our friends at O’Hickeys Irish Pub have removed their VLTs in the back room and opened it up for more seating, darts (the kind you throw), and a second bar when the place is rocking and the front bar is busy. Check it out and tell them we sent you.
You will no longer need to buy your downtown weed and edibles from the roof of a parking garage! Cannabis NB has opened a discreet location at 334 Queen Street with its usual offerings.
More Sushi! Sakura Sushi is a new downtown offering at 343 Queen St. They offer sit-down and take-out options (delivery is offered through the usual apps). Currently, they have no presence on social media so you are going to have to trust me this exists.
A new look for the interior of Fredericton’s only gaming cafe. Unplugged has completed some updates and has reopened but expect a few more changes to one of Fredericton’s best date night locations.
Fizzology Craft Soda has moved out of its brick-and-mortar location downtown and will be going mobile. Watch for them at events near you.
Coming Soon
Mill Town Roasters is expanding and adding space next door. The additional seating (and other surprises?) is a welcome addition to The Fredericton Word’s favourite cafe.
Queen Street Creamery will move its popular ice cream shed from Picaroons Roundhouse yard to a new Northside location. Watch their socials for updates. The Creamery truck can still be found at 796 Queen Street across the street from the southside green.
Speaking of cool summer treats PopCycle, the mobile frozen treat bicycle will be back out on the trails and events this summer. For those of you unfamiliar think back to the 1980’s Dickie Dee Bikes.
Hot Tea
There is an exciting rumour that one of the Fredericton area distilleries will be opening a second location. A tap room is looking to open downtown (this summer?) and they are currently exploring the empty location in the St. Louis Wings building.
Issue Sponsor:
Thanks to the CRSC for the support!
Brews News
What is happening at the amazing local breweries and distilleries around the area
Note: Always check the brewery/tap room socials for hours and any last-minute changes.
Featured below: First Light Distillery, Grimross Brewing Co, Maybee Brewing, Picaroons, The Cap, York County Cider, Off Grid Ales
Real News Real Local
Fredericton’s first and foremost Substack newsletter is your go-to source for local independent news in Fredericton.
The Fredericton Independent is an online newsletter delving into current events in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and surrounding communities. This is the work of one journalist - Don MacPherson - with more than two decades specializing in court and crime reporting. Check it out and make sure to subscribe.
Sportsball
The Fredericton Freeze women’s basketball team play in the Maritime Women’s basketball league (MWBA) and is currently the only game in town to watch. The games are worth the price of admission, $7 for adults is a steal (they should be charging more but don’t tell Brad). A mix of current and former University and College basketball stars face off against rival teams from NB and NS. At this year’s home opener attendance topped 500. Great basketball, great role models, great atmosphere. I encourage everyone to check them out. The next home game is Sunday June 2nd, at 1pm at the LB gym on the UNB Campus.
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