In our annual Hangout Handbook, Exclaim! asks some of our favourite artists to discuss the hidden gems in their hometowns. Here, the Olympic Symphonium's Nick Cobham outlines his picks for Fredericton, New Brunswick.
What's your favourite breakfast/brunch spot?
The Red Lantern Pub & Steak House (182 Main) has the best steak and eggs in the city and you can get it any time of day. If you're looking for grease, Alpine lager and a Legion-type atmosphere, this is the place.
What's your favourite coffee/daytime hangout?
The Cedar Tree (418 Queen St.) is where you can get a damn fine coffee fix of any kind. It's the only coffee that I ever really crave.
What's your favourite diner?
The Cabin (723 Woodstock Rd.) has been dishing out home cooked/comfort meals for over 50 years. They have little jukeboxes at the tables that cost a quarter a song and some great milkshakes. If I had to draw a diner it would look like the Cabin.
What's your favourite park?
Officer's Square has free concerts in the summer, an outdoor skating rink in the winter and seems to approve of people always hanging out in it. It also holds many other events throughout the year. It might not even be a park (although it does have a few trees), but it gets my vote.
What's the best place to take a date?
A stroll along the river via the city's trail system and a jaunt across the old train bridge to view the city. Or just go to the Snooty Fox (66 Regent St.) for some beers. Yeah, do that.
Where's your favourite place to have indoor activities/sports?
The Bowl-A-Drome (3013 Main St.) looks and smells like a classic bowling alley. It is a classic. I'm always worried they are going to shut down, so please come to Fredericton just to bowl there.
Where's your favourite spot for outdoor activities?
Biking along the many trails. This city is great for biking. Except for all the really bad drivers. Watch out for all those jerks.
Where's the best movie theatre?
Under the Stars Classic Film Series downtown in Barracks Square (463 Queen St). Sitting on a lawn chair or blanket on the grass while watching a movie from the '50s is my kind of movie theatre.
What's the signature annual event/festival/community gathering in your city?
Harvest Jazz & Blues would be the big one here but this town has lots of great annual events. Silver Wave Film Festival, Shivering Songs, Shifty Bits Circus and Picaroons' Brewers Bash are just a few of many awesome events to look forward to every year.
Where's your favourite stage?
You can't go wrong with the Capital (362 Queen St.). Great live music from near and far every week on that intimate stage. I love being there on or off the stage. Be prepared to sweat.
What's your favourite record store?
Backstreet Records (384 Queen St.) is small but mighty. You never know what you're going to find, as there's always new stuff filling the racks every week. And you can always ask the ever helpful Eric Hill for suggestions. I never walk out of there without a record.
What's your favourite underground/out of the way bar/drinking establishment?
Wilser's Room patio (362 Queen St.) is a great place to meet up for AWB's (after work beers) with friends. Although this might not count as it is above ground and not out of the way at all.
Where's your favourite outdoor space?
There's this swimming spot I go to out in Mactaquac just past the golf course called the Point. There's always a breeze, never a crowd there, one tree for some shade and just a great place to swim. That's all I can say about it though. It's super secret.
What favourite hometown activity of yours would surprise people if they heard about it?
I guess there's a banging swingers convention that takes place in a seedy hotel every year. That surprised me.
What's your favourite breakfast/brunch spot?
The Red Lantern Pub & Steak House (182 Main) has the best steak and eggs in the city and you can get it any time of day. If you're looking for grease, Alpine lager and a Legion-type atmosphere, this is the place.
What's your favourite coffee/daytime hangout?
The Cedar Tree (418 Queen St.) is where you can get a damn fine coffee fix of any kind. It's the only coffee that I ever really crave.
What's your favourite diner?
The Cabin (723 Woodstock Rd.) has been dishing out home cooked/comfort meals for over 50 years. They have little jukeboxes at the tables that cost a quarter a song and some great milkshakes. If I had to draw a diner it would look like the Cabin.
What's your favourite park?
Officer's Square has free concerts in the summer, an outdoor skating rink in the winter and seems to approve of people always hanging out in it. It also holds many other events throughout the year. It might not even be a park (although it does have a few trees), but it gets my vote.
What's the best place to take a date?
A stroll along the river via the city's trail system and a jaunt across the old train bridge to view the city. Or just go to the Snooty Fox (66 Regent St.) for some beers. Yeah, do that.
Where's your favourite place to have indoor activities/sports?
The Bowl-A-Drome (3013 Main St.) looks and smells like a classic bowling alley. It is a classic. I'm always worried they are going to shut down, so please come to Fredericton just to bowl there.
Where's your favourite spot for outdoor activities?
Biking along the many trails. This city is great for biking. Except for all the really bad drivers. Watch out for all those jerks.
Where's the best movie theatre?
Under the Stars Classic Film Series downtown in Barracks Square (463 Queen St). Sitting on a lawn chair or blanket on the grass while watching a movie from the '50s is my kind of movie theatre.
What's the signature annual event/festival/community gathering in your city?
Harvest Jazz & Blues would be the big one here but this town has lots of great annual events. Silver Wave Film Festival, Shivering Songs, Shifty Bits Circus and Picaroons' Brewers Bash are just a few of many awesome events to look forward to every year.
Where's your favourite stage?
You can't go wrong with the Capital (362 Queen St.). Great live music from near and far every week on that intimate stage. I love being there on or off the stage. Be prepared to sweat.
What's your favourite record store?
Backstreet Records (384 Queen St.) is small but mighty. You never know what you're going to find, as there's always new stuff filling the racks every week. And you can always ask the ever helpful Eric Hill for suggestions. I never walk out of there without a record.
What's your favourite underground/out of the way bar/drinking establishment?
Wilser's Room patio (362 Queen St.) is a great place to meet up for AWB's (after work beers) with friends. Although this might not count as it is above ground and not out of the way at all.
Where's your favourite outdoor space?
There's this swimming spot I go to out in Mactaquac just past the golf course called the Point. There's always a breeze, never a crowd there, one tree for some shade and just a great place to swim. That's all I can say about it though. It's super secret.
What favourite hometown activity of yours would surprise people if they heard about it?
I guess there's a banging swingers convention that takes place in a seedy hotel every year. That surprised me.
