July 10th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release What a weekend ! Everyone basting themselves at the beach - I saw an oil slick of Coppertone off Freda's on Saturday. Everyone looked liked cooked lobsters. Speaking of lobsters, I was telling a European guest about buying Clearwater lobsters at the airport to ship home. He wasn't sold on the idea of having his next meal languishing in the cargo hold on a long transatlantic flight. I said "fine, buy him a seat, feed him some champagne, give him a headset and he will be happy as a clam before you stick him in a pot of boiling water, because he has to get there somehow and he ain't walking to your dinner table." He did get the irony of the scenario.

This Week in Chester Why not stop in at Flowers Flowers Flowers on Pleasant Street and pick up a bouquet for your better half. Robin has some fabulous stems in her fridge awaiting your call. 275-5707 In keeping with the flower theme, on Thursday there is a children's garden/flower arranging workshop at the Chester Legion. Email cynthia@spraggs.ca for info. Thursday night is half price appetizers from 5-8pm at the Rope Loft. Picture your good self in one of those lovely deck chairs all propped up with a cocktail and your grazing goodies laid out before you while the yachts race in the bay. No finer place to be. Thursday is also the beginning of the weekend run for dinners at the Kiwi café on Pleasant Street. Friday is market day. Get up to the Train Station between 10 and 2 pm to get your veggies, meat, fish, pies, soaps and ohh so much more. Load up for the week. Friday evening Shelley Mitchell is showcasing her new works at Amicus Gallery at 6 pm. Be prompt or you'll miss out on the goods and I am told there is wine at these events.... Friday night is prime rib night at the Rope Loft. Belly up to the bar for a sneaky martini and settle in. Also on Friday night SWIG is onstage at the the Fo'c'sle Pub at 9pm. Always a house favourite at the pub, so get there early with your dancing shoes. Saturday there is a boating scavenger hunt and BBQ at the Chester Yacht Club for "Our Health Centre." It is open to all comers and registration is from 8.30 - 9.30 am at CYC Saturday morning. The Mackerel Snappers Picnic is at Graves Island Park from noon - 6 pm. Raindate: Sunday, July 14.  Get your mackerel fix here. For more info call Jenny @ 275-4070.  Saturday evening Ian Campbell will be playing for your entertainment at the Rope Loft from 5-8 pm. Saturday night is also the big Chester Playhouse - no holds barred - Galapalooza from 5-8 pm. An annual fundraiser for the Playhouse, this promises to be an evening of decadence and merriment. Entertainment will be provided by The Mike Cowie trio, food by celebrity chefs Michael Howell and our own Peggy Wilson, accompanied by a fine array of beverages from Bishop's Cellar. One of the many auction items include a one week's stay at an ocean front villa in Nevis. Shuttle service is available from Chester Yacht Club. For info/tickets, call the Playhouse @ 275-3933. More music awaits you at the Fo'c'sle Pub. The George Carter Trio take the stage at 9 pm. Sunday evening at 7 pm the bandstand lights up with the Chester Basin Street Dixieland Band. Dust off your CBC kazoo and join in.

In other breaking flower news, the Chester Garden Club will meet at St. Stephen's Hall Monday night @ 6:30 for 7 pm. March your green thumb over there and learn how to prepare your blue ribbon entry for the upcoming Flower Show.New members welcome. Art Centre News: Sally Warren returns with "Figure Drawing with Flare" July 15 and 16. A wide range of exercises, techniques and knowledge of human body structure that will help you bring the people in your art work to life. Suitable for beginners and more experienced artists like yourself. 10am - 3pm. Pack a lunch. The NSLC sell those nice little mini 'pichets' of wine by the checkout for an occasion just like this. Stock up and stick one in your Snoopy lunch pail. Heather Sayeau is at the Art Centre July 17 &18. "Create Dynamic Art with Simple Techniques"  will help you explore acrylic colour, underpainting, composition, scale and various tools used with brushes. 9am - 4pm. Restock Snoopy as above. When a woman says "What" it's not that she didn't hear you, but that she is giving you the opportunity to change what you said. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group