🥯 Hole Lotta Love

Author

SJ Today
November 14, 2025

Good morning Saint John! Today is National Pickle Day…a celebration of cucumbers in a jar. Today’s your excuse to relish life… or at least your sandwich. 🥒

Here’s the dill-io for the day:

  • Uptown Fridge Movement doing the heavy lifting 🧊

  • Let’s get some bagels, people 🥯

  • Rock your reindeer on down to Rhoda’s 🦌

Have a great weekend!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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NEWS NOTES

🥫 Man, That’s a Heavy Fridge

Spotted in Simms Corner a couple of weeks ago: a guy walking around with a mini fridge strapped to his back. Not a moving job, not a new fitness trend…just Jesse Wright, Saint John’s most mobile food security advocate.

Jesse started the Uptown Fridge Movement to highlight the weight of food insecurity, literally and figuratively. In just a few weeks he’s walked 140 km, raised $1,800, and partnered with local groups like P.U.L.S.E. to make sure donations go straight to snacks and food programs. His motto is No family should bear the weight of an empty fridge so he’s doing it for them.

🏆 Top clicks of the week
It was a short week, but you made the most of it. Here’s what had you tapping out. 

💬 The Results: When You Deck the Halls

We asked when you start decking the halls, and your responses proved Saint John knows how to bring the tinsel, but we all have our own ways of doing things, that’s for sure!

Here’s how your holiday timing breaks down:

🎄 Already done – just waiting on Santa — 14%
💡 This weekend, around the Santa Claus Parade — 46%
⛄ Early December – Uptown Sparkles is always a good reminder — 56%
❄️ Mid-December, after my first hot chocolate and holiday movie — 13%
🎁 Last-Minute Larry, night before Christmas Eve — 8%
🤔 Other — tell us your festive timing secrets — 7%

Early December led the pack, with the Santa Claus Parade weekend close behind. But the best part? Your stories. From family traditions to must-do check lists leading up to holiday celebrations, thank you for sharing! Clearly, the season is about lights, music, and a little personal tradition.

“Mid to late November, we start outside decorations and then pick a fresh tree the last week of November…family tradition for 50+ years.”
“I usually cave and start listening to Christmas music the week before Uptown Sparkles.”
“1st weekend in Dec. So warm and comfy. Love the sparkly lights!”
“Put up the lights on a warm day in November, but don’t turn them on until dark December!”
“Early December used to be our tradition, but the city lights going up this week already made me smile.”

*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.

LOCAL BUSINESS
FOODIE FRIDAY

🥯 You Knead to Try This Bagel

Ever wonder what makes a bagel worth writing home about? Meet Angeli Barbosa, the woman behind Bagel Artist on Rothesay Avenue. Originally from Brazil, Angeli moved to Saint John two years ago with her husband and young son. When she arrived, she landed her first job at the Bagel Artist and quickly fell in love with the craft of making bagels by hand.

Bagel Artist started out as a little stall at the Queen Square Farmers Market, dreamed up by a family from Toronto who noticed Saint John didn’t have a spot for homemade bagels. They eventually opened a shop on Rothesay Avenue, and over time Angeli had the chance to take over, delighting regulars with fresh, hand-crafted bagels ever since.

This week Angeli announced a small move from their current location to a ground-level spot in the same building. “Moving to street level will make it easier for more people to enjoy our bagels and allow us to be accessible to everyone,” she says.

Meanwhile, work will soon begin on their second location at the Saint John City Market, aiming to open early next year. “We’re very excited about opening a second Bagel Artist at the Saint John City Market! Bringing our bagels to uptown Saint John makes me so happy,” Angeli says.

If you’ve never been and want to know where to start, Angeli says it’s hard to pick just one, but their signature Everything Bagel is a safe bet. Whether you love specialty cream cheeses like Rosemary Garlic, Jalapeño, Double Onion, or Cranberry, or prefer a hearty breakfast sandwich, you really can’t go wrong. Not to mention the gourmet and specialty coffee selections. All the bagels are 100% vegan, preservative-free and full of flavour. 

This month Bagel Artist is celebrating their birthday and offering a frozen bagel special: ½ dozen for $8, a dozen for $15, available Tuesday through Thursday. Stock up and enjoy Bagel Artist any time at home.

“November is a very special month for us,” Angeli says. “I’m incredibly grateful to our wonderful customers who have supported us throughout this journey. Every day, we work hard to bring fresh, delicious, and lovingly made bagels to their tables because we truly believe that good food brings people together.”

🍺 Foghorn brings home some gold

Some local breweries brought home three medals from the 2025 Canada Beer Cup. Foghorn Brewing Company’s Tabula Rasa Hazy IPA earned Gold in Hazy Pale Ale, Long Bay Brewery snagged Bronze for Bantam (Contemporary Pale Ale) and the super nice folks down at Saint Andrews Brewing Co. picked up Silver for Companionship (Golden Ale) and Cookhouse (Spice, Herb & Veg).

Judged by beer pros from across Canada and beyond, the competition celebrates creativity, quality, and innovation in craft brewing. Cheers to our local brewers raising a glass for NB!

*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.

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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’

What we’re doing this weekend

Rhoda's Christmas Festival | November 14–16
Get into the holiday spirit at Rhoda’s Christmas Festival, held this year at the Irving Oil Field House. Enjoy three days of festive sights, sounds, and smells with vendors from across the Atlantic provinces. Kids will love the blow-ups, carousel, and snow globes, and Santa makes an appearance on Sunday. Take a festive photo for your Christmas card and enjoy hourly door prizes. Weekend passes are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and free for kids under 12.

Little Hats for Cats Fundraiser | November 15
Get into the holiday spirit and support a good cause with “Little Hats for Cats.” Christmas tree ornaments with tiny hats are $2 each, with all proceeds going to the Saint John SPCA. Available while supplies last starting November 15 at Julius Pizza on Charlotte Street. By the way…have you gotten a Julius Pizza hat yet? Get two hats this weekend.

Saint John Beer Fest | November 15
Get ready for a day of brews, games, and good times at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre. Sample beers, ciders, seltzers, and other tasty creations while supporting Housing Alternatives, a local charity. VIP ticket holders get an extra hour to sip and play, and VIP tables keep your crew’s spot safe all day. It’s all the fun of a festival with a community twist, pouring back into Saint John.

Saint John Santa Claus Parade | November 15
Kick off the holiday season with magic and cheer at the 72nd Saint John Santa Claus Parade. This year’s theme is Animated Christmas, and the parade starts at the Cruise Ship Terminals on Water Street, travels along Saint Patrick Street, and continues across the Viaduct to Main Street North and Lansdowne Avenue. Fun for all ages, the festivities run from 6pm to 8pm.

The Rothesay Yule | November 16
Get in the holiday spirit at the Rothesay Yule, a festive fundraising event for the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. Enjoy a cozy marketplace with local vendors, live music, magic shows, a petting zoo, face painting, holiday crafts, complimentary treats, and a special family photo with Santa. Individual tickets are $25 for adults, kids get in free. The event runs 11:30am to 4pm at Rothesay Netherwood School.

Outdoor Photos with Santa | November 16
Santa is coming to River Valley Middle School for a Home & School fundraiser! From 9am to 3pm, families can have outdoor photo sessions with Santa, booked in 5-minute increments online. Each session is $15, with all proceeds supporting school enrichment programs. Rain or shine, photos will be taken, and a digital link will be shared so you can download your pictures. Bring the whole family and capture some holiday magic.

Got an Event to Share?

*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.

LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸

📍 On Wednesday we shared a pic we thought everyone would assume was just a tree, but one sharp eye knew better. Shout out to Edgar D. for spotting it’s actually the dewlap on the iconic moose statue outside Moosehead Small Batch on the west side. The man knows the city…

Tag @sjtoday.ca to get your photos featured!

SIDE NOTES

Today’s Tides 🌊 

Low Tide

1:00 AM(Fri 14 November)

1.61 m(5.28 ft)

High Tide

7:13 AM(Fri 14 November)

7.09 m(23.26 ft)

Low Tide

1:31 PM(Fri 14 November)

1.82 m(5.97 ft)

High Tide

7:40 PM(Fri 14 November)

7.11 m(23.34 ft)

This Day in History
November 14, 1895 – Saint John officially became Canada’s Winter Port when the Beaver Line Steamship Company announced a fortnightly service to Liverpool. Trade and travel got a boost, and the city sailed into a new era of connection across the Atlantic.

Thanks!

Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’s cool as a cucumber…😎

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher

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