As anyone who has been there knows, the Saint John City Market is a feast for the senses, chock-full of interesting things to see and hear and smell.

As a thank-you for all of the support and attention that this blog has received in the last two months (including Uptown Saint John and the Telegraph-Journal, who have really helped to spread the word), I have decided to hold a contest!

The contest (the first of many to come, I hope) is a scavenger hunt of sorts.  To play, please download this worksheet which features twelve photos that were taken in the City Market.  Then the fun begins!  On your next visit to the Saint John City Market, find the object in each photo and take good notes on the specific location of where that item was found.  For example, this little lady bug is located at Planet Pusher in the centre aisle.  (And no — that’s not one of the questions! )

Once you have found the location of all twelve photos, please send me an email listing the locations of each photo, from 1 to 12.  All correct entries received by September 15 at 11:59 PM local time will be placed in a draw, with the winner being notified the next day with instructions on how to receive his or her prize!

What is the prize? A twenty-five dollar ($25) Saint John City Market gift certificate, kindly donated by the Market itself.

Please note: This contest is not available to people who work in the Saint John City Market.  You’re welcome to play along, but since you know the building better than the average Saint Johner, it wouldn’t be fair to allow you to compete for the prize.

Ready?  Set … GO!

Like all good things, summer must come to an end, and along with that comes the last performance of the Summer Music Showcase.

This coming Saturday, August 28, will feature Dann Downes and the Migrant Workers.  Described as Canadiana, Blues and Roots, and “spooky cool,” this performance is sure to end the series on a high note!

From Downes’ official page at MySpace:

Dann Downes is a musician, broadcaster and academic who was part of the new country movement in Toronto during the 1980s as a lead guitarist and singer-songwriter in bands such as Company Town and Conditioned Response.

His influences include guitarists Scotty Moore, Doc Watson, and George Harrison. His writing influences include Johnny Cash, Fred Eaglesmith, Steve Earle, John Fogerty and Lucinda Williams. For over twenty years Dann has written and performed in the roots/alt. country tradition.

Since 2001 he has lived in Saint John, New Brunswick where he has played with singer-songwriter Grant Heckman in The Shaggy Dogs and as roots duo Heckman Downes. The duo have played with many of the country’s best roots and folk musicians, including: Stephen Fearing, Jay Semko, Matt Anderson, Rose Cousins and Ron Hynes.

As a sideman, Dann has played guitar, banjo, and mandolin on tour and recordings with Jay Semko, Matt Anderson, Babette Hayward, and Brent Mason. Dann has played from Newfoundland to Ontario and has appeared in festivals such as the Acoustic Music Festival in NS, and the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton, NB.

Poking around the Internet like the mouse potato I am, I also found Dann Downes’ Facebook and ReverbNation pages, and I couldn’t resist listening to some of the tunes I found there.  (My favourite, in case you’re wondering, was “A Shot in the Dark.”)  If you’re not a fan of country (and I’ll be honest –  it’s not my usual genre of choice), don’t let that word scare you.   “Country” is not the first word that came to mind — there’s not a single twang to be found!

Dann Downes and the Migrant Workers will be playing in the Saint John City Market on Saturday, August 28, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  You won’t want to miss it!

The View From the Market will be on hiatus this week.  Commitments at home (read: bathroom renos) will make it impossible for me to visit my favourite spot uptown — and I actually write the blog as I sit in the Market (to better capture the spirit of the place).

So, since I can’t go, I’m asking that you visit the Market this week for me, and leave a comment about your experience.  Tell me what treasures and tastes you found!

See you soon!