Welcome to The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture. Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to this newsletter.

On the weekend I was downtown to talk with striking postal workers at a rally in Diana Krall Plaza (more on that later this week). After the rally, I walked up Commercial Street and popped into the Noise Agony Mayhem alternative, punk and metal record store that opened just over a year ago.

While there, I had a long conversation with co-owner Dave Read about the struggles his family business is facing with the street in front of his store being fenced off due to construction for the Design Commercial project.

Read told me they were able to get the city to hold off on ripping up the sidewalk in front of his business until January, allowing access to crucial walk-by traffic during the busy holiday shopping season.

With the strike at Canada Post still dragging on, I think people should consider switching from online retailers and shopping locally, and I can’t think of a better place to spend your money than the local downtown businesses that really need your support this holiday season. I was able to score a copy of Sonic Youth’s classic 1990 album, “Goo” at Noise Agony Mayhem, which I am listening to as I write this week’s newsletter. 

While the closure of part of Commercial Street to vehicles does make it a little less convenient, there is still plenty of parking downtown including two-hour free parking on levels two and three of the Bastion Street Parkade or you can choose the underground parking lot under the Port Theatre for a mere $0.75.

Thursday evenings are a great time to go downtown as local businesses will be open until 9 p.m. as part of Winterfest, which features food trucks, live music and a visit from Santa Claus in Diana Krall Plaza.  

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

The Ticks (above) will play with New Driver at The Terminal on Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

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🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, Dec. 12, 9 p.m.: Jazz night with Angela Verbrugge, Nick Peck and Graham Villette at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Friday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m.: Michael Patrick's Annual Christmas Benefit for the Nanaimo Association for Community Living features The South Island Rhythm Kings, Mark Crissinger Band, Jerod & Sara, The Michael Patrick Blues Explosion with special guest Jona Kristinsson, Thor and The Thundercats and Sunset Strip at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20. 

Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.: Steve Lebitschnig, owner of record store Fascinating Rhythm, narrates a Christmas concert performed by a seven-piece ensemble at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $49.50

Friday, Dec. 13, 10 p.m.: New Driver and The Ticks will play The Terminal. Tickets cost $10. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m.: Join flutist duo Marg and Adrianne for some beautiful Christmas music at the Gabriola Island Library. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 3:30 p.m.: Winter Harp will play harp, flutes and rare medieval instruments to celebrate winter and Christmas at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $64 or $34 for students. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.: David Gogo will play a solo show with Duane Watson at Extension Hall. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.: Jamaican roots reggae legend Clinton Fearon will play a solo acoustic concert at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $27.

Saturday, Dec. 14, 7p.m.: Pookie Fest, a mixed-genre 19+ show to celebrate Lucas Kimber’s birthday, will feature Last Year’s Wishes, ghxstmint, Gorilla Flip, Lemieux, and SmashTV at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m.: Castle, Under the Mountain and Hexenbane will play at The Terminal Bar. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 p.m.: Ryan Brio, Federal Glass and Bereaved will play at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Sunday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Vancouver jazz group Van Django and vocalist LJ Mounteney will play a benefit concert for Theatre One at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $49 or $40 for students.

Sunday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m.: Dead Bob (John Wright from NOMEANSNO) will play with Victim’s Family and Invasives at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $25, or $30 at the door.

🎭 View 🖼️

Saturday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.: Queer Men’s Monthly Cinema Night will screen Brief Encounter (1945) at AVI Health and Community Services, 55 Victoria Road. 

Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo Theatre Group presents a preview of Mother Goose at The Bailey Studio with all proceeds going to the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation. Tickets cost $20.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m.: Community Indigenous drum circle led by Stz’uminus and Penelakut Knowledge Keeper Patrick Aleck Jr. at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. 

Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Clippers will take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $20.  

Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.:  Live storytelling on stage by Around Town Tellers at the Unitarian Hall. Tickets cost $10 at the door. 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Clippers will take on the Victoria Grizzlies at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $20.

🎄 Holiday markets 🧑‍🎄

Thursday, Dec. 12, 5 p.m. to. 8 p.m.:  Winterfest brings late-night shopping to downtown Nanaimo with food trucks and live music in Diana Krall Plaza and local stores staying open until 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 15, (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.): Ay Lelum’s Christmas shopping event with Unleashed Hot Dogs, Yamelst Designs Jewelry, Heather Nightengale artistry pamper sessions at Ay Lelum, 1380b Raines Road.  

Saturday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: The Merry Little Christmas on the Farm market and Walk of Lights at Arbutus Meadows includes local vendors, live music and delicious food. 

Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday Dec. 15, mall hours: The Mom Market will be at the Nanaimo North Town Centre with a lineup of local vendors.

See you around town,

— Mick and The Discourse team

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