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The Coast | News, events, restaurants, concerts and Burger Week for Halifax, Nova Scotia
Home of the Best of Halifax Reader's Choice Awards, the award-winning independent newspaper covers the Halifax news, politics, events, concerts, movies, restaurants, and nightlife scene.
It seems odd that a major U.S. government climate report released November 3 didn’t receive more media attention. But then, the main thing newsworthy about the Climate Science Special Report is that it was released at all, apparently without political interference. Although the U.S. government is required by law (enacted by President George H.W. Bush…
Neville McKay’s flower shop has put down some serious roots on Spring Garden Road. It’s been 25 years of My Mother’s Bloomers (5486 Spring Garden Road) growing with the downtown strip, but 2018 will see the business blossom in a brand new location in the north end. “It’s not like I wanted to leave the…
If a men glances once through a crack in a public men’s room bathroom stall door to check out the situation, OK…Twice, just double-checkin’, forgivable…but a third time! Gimme a fuckin’ break bruv! And hey, I got a question for y’all readin’…If and when this shit does occur does not the man who was in…
Dearest fuckwad, you are so what is wrong with humanity. We watched you walk by with your little dog—he had to poop, something dogs will do. You took out a bag and picked up the poop—YAY—then you transformed into a prime fuckwad by putting the bag into the branch of a small tree by the…
Every year I am amazed at the rampant greed that’s starts on the day after Halloween…every year I am disgusted. Your greed ruins the fakiness of the fakey, fake…fer fucksakes season. —Grinch
A post shared by Port Cities (@port_cities) on Nov 5, 2017 at 5:39pm PST Another Nova Scotia Music Week has come to a close after a wild weather weekend in Truro, where the roving annual event is in the middle of a four-year stay. Harmerrific Port Cities walked away the biggest winners, with five of…
If something happens in the world relating to gender, sexuality or race identity that you feel violates your sense of common sense, logic, reason, fairness or even plain old good manners…confront it. Don’t ever just sit back and STFU. Don’t let anybody silence you, don’t let anybody devalue your experience or viewpoint because they seek…
Kinetic Studio has opened its doors to once again showcase works-in-progress of performers from Halifax, Toronto, and Montreal. Each of the artists is participating in the Kinetic Explorations program, which supports the creation of new choreography. Dustin Harvey of Halifax’s Secret Theatre opened the evening with an excerpt from Less + More, in which he…
Have you ever stood at a controlled intersection at a cross-walk and waited for the red hand to turn to the walking signal? I have. I’ve also been narrowly missed by cars who only turn their head the opposite direction of where I’m starting to walk from. Did they not teach you in driving school…
I’m feeling pretty darn used. Like a balled up piece of trash. I’m not new to the world of polyamory but I’ve never been treated quite like this. You decided to open up your relationship. YOU suggested me and your partner spend time together and when we did you became emotionally abusive. Casting threats and…
Though this freakishly warm fall has winter feeling falsely far away, In The Dead of Winter Festival reminded us today that the snow is a-comin’—but luckily for us, so is the awesome singer-songwriter-focused festival with its folk-rock-Americana stylings. The fest quietly put tickets on sale this morning for a slew of shows, including the trademark…
Dear thoughtless dog owners, STOP LETTING YOUR DOGS PEE ON GARBAGE BAGS! You know people have to handle those things, right? Our streets don’t just magically clean themselves, people! Our garbage doesn’t just levitate into the truck without any human contact! FFS, those poor people already have a gross enough job as it is without…
Halifax’s favourite pop star Ria Mae is fresh off a gold record (and two Best of Halifax golds!) for her major-label debut, but now is no time for slowing down. Her new EP My Love drops today, featuring six songs (plus a remix of “Bend”) co-written with a slate of CanCon stars like herself. On…
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls held community hearings in Membertou First Nation this week. Journalist Maureen Googoo live-blogged the hearings each day on Twitter and shared coverage from her crowd-funded news site, Kukukwes.com, with The Coast. ——— The families of Virginia Sue Pictou-Noyes and Tanya Jean Brooks told the…
To the assholes on the bus today that had to detour around to the Mackay Bridge due to the Macdonald not opening on time. Your concerns for being late were valid but your concern for human life left me disgusted. You all assumed that the closure was due to a Jumper, yet every one of…
“We’re not going anywhere,” says Jackie Barkhouse. In January of this year, the Women’s March on Washington garnered support around the world—including a sister protest in Halifax. Barkhouse was one of the organizers and, since then, she’s helped continue the movement. The local protest was followed up in May by Nova Scotia Women Vote, an…
10 Sixth annual Harvest Hootenanny and Pumpkin Smash Saturday If your jack o’ lantern is starting to feel as done as pumpkin spice, bring it to Common Roots’ Harvest Hootenanny so it can be used for compost. Global music, apple cider, garlic planting and scavenger hunts round out the fun. 9 Author’s Stage: Ken Dryden…
Yorgos Lanthimos’ delightfully bizarre satire The Lobster—a world in which being single was a crime punishable by being turned into an animal of one’s choice—was a highlight of 2015, winning multiple awards at Cannes and pulling an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Anticipation is high for the follow-up, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which…
This is a tribute—a warm birthday greeting—to a remarkable woman. Halifax activist Betty Peterson, a social justice crusader who’s been a veteran of countless protests, rallies, vigils, anti-war demonstrations and human-rights campaigns, will soon turn 100 years old. Peterson was born during the First World War. She grew to despise all wars, march for peace…
At a Halifax Regional School board meeting last June, a motion was approved to acknowledge that HRSB schools occupy unceded Mi’kmaw territory. South Shore-Bedford board representative Jennifer Raven, who put forward the motion, also announced that the department of Education and Early Childhood Development would be introducing treaty education into the province’s education curriculum come October,…
Gold Winner Chain Yard Urban Cidery Silver Winner Vinyl Retro Dance Lounge Bronze Winner The Rooftop “We knew we wanted to be in the north end because we feel like it’s sort of the culinary, craft hub of Halifax,” says Chain Yard’s Michael Lim of the past year on Agricola Street. The cidery, bar and…
Gold Winner Jill Webb Silver Winner Brad Verge Bronze Winner Linda Cruickshank “Are you serious? I got gold? Oh, you just made my whole life.” Jill Webb is excited. And why not? After six and a half years behind the wheel of nearly every transit route in the city, she’s been voted Halifax’s Best Bus…
Gold Winner Jonathan Torrens Silver Winner Cory Bowles Bronze Winner Kate MacDonald The familiar Torrens continues to appear in films, short and long, and as Robert Cheeley on Mr.D, but he has other thoughts in respect to this year’s repeat win. “I’m so flattered to be recognized with this honour by Coast readers and would…
Gold Winner Darrell’s Restaurant Silver Winner The Chickenburger Bronze Winner Ardmore Tea Room Darrell’s milkshake brings all the gold to the yard, and it’s easy to see why. They’re great with a burger, but since they’re so thick the straw stands up in the glass, they’re basically a meal on their own. That’s acceptable, right?…
Gold Winner Signal Hill Silver Winner The Mellotones Bronze Winner Fleetwood Mac Tribute at The Marquee Ballroom Try to find a harder-working, longer-running band than Signal Hill. We’ll wait. Just kidding, it’s not possible, and this win is a quick break from business as usual. “A wicked thanks to Coast readers for voting us gold…
Gold Winner Ria Mae Silver Winner Port Cities Bronze Winner Neon Dreams Ria Mae’s pop prowess has garnered a gold record, a Juno nomination in a category with Drake and Justin Bieber and a never-ending tour schedule. (She’s currently heading cross-country with Scott Helman.) A new EP, My Love, drops November 3. And even though…
Gold Winner Evolve Fitness Silver Winner Fitness FX Bronze Winner 360fit Evolve Fitness started off as a place for private personal training eight years ago, but it evolved (ha ha) when it expanded to include bootcamp workouts four years later. “We’re not military style at all,” says owner Mathew Benvie. “We just kind of become…
Gold Winner Bud the Spud Silver Winner Stillwell Beer Bar Bronze Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub “We’re enthusiastic about our fries,” says Bud The Spud’s Jody LeBlanc, and it seems that thousands of Haligonians agree, according to our polls. The OG of the city’s food truck scene, Bud been on the road in some shape or…
Gold Winner The Bicycle Thief Silver Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub Bronze Winner Lot Six The truth of the matter is that great atmosphere takes hard work and attention to detail, and Hakan Uluer says the crew at The Bicycle Thief is all over it: “You can have great lighting and music, but if you don’t…
Gold Winner Dhaba Casual Fine Dining Silver Winner Curry Village Bronze Winner A Taste of India Things have never been busier in the Dhaba Casual Fine Dining family. Not only is the restaurant serving up a steady stream of dedicated diners, but its sibling Dhaba Sweets & Spice Shoppe is growing so rapidly that it’s…
Gold Winner Reeny Smith Silver Winner Asia & NuGruv Bronze Winner Keonte Beals If you’ve been to a big ticket event in the past year, you’ve seen Reeny Smith. Anderson .Paak at Jazz Fest. Lisa Fischer at the Cohn. deadmau5 on the Common. Government House for Halifax Pop Explosion. She played them all. “Each show…
Gold Winner Tammy Buchanan, Small Jobs Plumbing Silver Winner Bremner’s Plumbing and Heating Bronze Winner Brian Clarke Let’s face it, hiring a plumber can be a drain. Aside from the major costs for minor problems, it’s also always just a little uncomfortable inviting some stranger into your home to clink around under your sink. Tammy…
Gold Winner Best Buy, Dartmouth Crossing Silver Winner Peak Audio Bronze Winner Glubes AVU Maybe it’s the Blu-Ray selection? Or those cool-looking Dyson vacuums? Whatever the reason, the blue-and-yellow chain store of expensive warranty plans and impossible Christmas shopping has won your votes as Halifax’s Best Home Entertainment Store, knocking former first-place champion Peak Audio…
Lisa LeBlanc w/Quiet Parade Saturday November 4, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street $15 Lisa LeBlanc’s been thinking a lot about high school lately. After all, it is autumn, the season of nostalgia. Walking through curling fallen leaves back in her hometown, just last week, she found herself back in the garages of her…
Gold Winner Halifax waterfront Silver Winner The Board Room Game Cafe Bronze Winner Stillwell Beergarden Although there’s currently some construction going on, the waterfront is still pretty damn romantic, and it doesn’t cost you a dime to take a stroll along the boardwalk. It’s hard to resist spending some cash while you’re there, however. There…
Gold Winner The Seahorse Tavern Silver Winner The Lower Deck, Halifax Bronze Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub “Whether it’s live music, dance parties, comedy nights or community events, the fact that we consistently host a diverse range of entertainment means we’re catering to many different groups each and every week. There’s something for everyone,”…
Gold Winner Hope Blooms Silver Winner Common Roots Urban Farm Bronze Winner Dartmouth North Community Food Centre Hope just keeps on blooming from the inspiring hearts over at Hope Blooms. Not ones to rest on their laurels, the city’s reigning Best Community Project keeps coming up with new ways to be awesome. This past summer…
Gold Winner Rhys Bevan-John Silver Winner Stephanie MacDonald Bronze Winner Stewart Legere Rhys Bevan-John is quite blown away by his third win in this category, mostly because he’s been on stage a lot less this year as he studies somatic coaching—holistic body work—in California. But he did take over Jeremy Webb’s annual solo show A…
Gold Winner Two If By Sea Cafe Silver Winner Java Blend Coffee Roasters Bronze Winner Humani-T Cafe, downtown You can’t have good specialty coffee if you don’t have good coffee in the first place. It makes sense, then, that TIBS (which also won Best Coffee honours) takes the gold here. “Basically, we’re looking at really…
Gold Winner DJ IV Silver Winner Pineo & Loeb Bronze Winner DJ Fadzwa “Two thousand seventeen has been absolutely crazy busy for me, zero complaints,” enthuses your longtime Best DJ, IV, AKA Brian Pelrine. “I can already see 2018 being even busier than 2017 has been!” IV is never not spinning—including at this year’s Best…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Corey LaRue Bronze Winner Luke Boyd Your longtime fave Plaskett—this round he’s a four-time winner, the Big Little Lies of BOH—has had a typically action-packed year producing and playing, including releasing and touring Solidarity with his dad Bill. And that’s in addition to running his downtown Dartmouth community hub,…
Gold Winner Courtney Nickerson, Agricola Holistic Health Silver Winner Kelly Donald, East Coast Wellness Clinic Bronze Winner Tara Dawn Patriquin, One to One Wellness Centre Courtney Nickerson not only loves to make people feel better, she loves to make them move better. “My work is focused on a therapeutic approach to massage therapy, really understanding…
Gold Winner Cows Silver Winner Dee Dee’s Ice Cream Bronze Winner Humani-T Cafe, downtown Its snaking queue and wafting scent of fresh-baked waffle cones are a sure sign summer—and tourist season—has reached its peak, but this waterfront scoop spot is equally beloved by locals, taking home the gold for its decadent ice cream. “The friendly…
Gold Winner il Mercato Trattoria Silver Winner The Chickenburger Bronze Winner Finbar’s Irish Pub Clanging cutlery, moody lighting and jaunty Italian music—it’s all these little things that contribute to the unwaveringly warm atmosphere at il Mercato. A sparkling jewel in the Sunnyside Mall’s crown, the Bertossi Group restaurant upped the ante big time since its…
Gold Winner Ristorante a Mano Silver Winner The Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner il Mercato Trattoria There’s a distinctly Italian energy to Ristorante a Mano, and manager Melanie Kronbauer says that’s just as memorable for diners as the food itself: “It’s an intimate space, and it’s lively. The staff are proud to work in a restaurant…
Gold Winner Sonic Entertainment Group Silver Winner GroundSwell Music Bronze Winner Halflife Records Sonics’ Mike Greatorex is having a good-news/bad-news week. The good news: Matt Mays’ long-awaited new record, Once Upon a Hell of a Time, is finally out in the world. And Hey Rosetta! has announced an indefinite hiatus, “the only bittersweet thing about…
Gold Winner Robert Scanlan Silver Winner Rosie Porter Bronze Winner James Dwyer The best piece of advice Rob Scanlan has for families looking to buy their first home is actually to think about their second and third homes. Re-sale is king in this market. “The average is five-to-seven [years] to be in a house,” says…
Gold Winner Woozles Silver Winner Bookmark Bronze Winner John W. Doull, Bookseller The importance of a good bedtime story is not lost on Woozles’ co-manager Lisa Doucet. “We have generations of fans. Grandparents who brought their kids and now their grandkids come here. We have a unique class of regulars who live all over the…
When it comes time for your monthly uterine massacre, you bet Mary Jane has your back—and anywhere else that aches whilst surfing the crimson wave. Here are the cannabis products that my co-workers and partner can thank for not being murdered by me once every three weeks. 1. Arthritis balm from Cannalife Botanicals Ever heard…
Gold Winner Nova Scotia SPCA Silver Winner IWK Bronze Winner Feed Nova Scotia Of course the SPCA is the best place to volunteer. It’s true that there is no shortage of good causes to help out with around HRM, but who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by animals all day? To volunteer at the Dartmouth…
Gold Winner Stillwell Beergarden Silver Winner Stubborn Goat Beer Garden Bronze Winner Gahan House Hall of Fame Your Father’s Moustache Patio means a lot of different things in this town, and Stillwell’s Spring Garden beer garden redefines most of them. “I kind of like that it’s this forgotten lot and we’re allowing it to be…
Gold Winner Lindell Smith Silver Winner Waye Mason Bronze Winner Sam Austin Rookie sensation Lindell Smith takes home the gold for Halifax’s Best Councillor just over a year after his landmark campaign brought the north end resident to City Hall. Smith’s popularity hasn’t wavered in the process. He’s fought to create a living wage policy…
Gold Winner Cory Bowles Silver Winner Stephanie Clattenburg Bronze Winner Seth Smith It’s been years of work for Cory Bowles to bring Black Cop—about a police officer who goes rogue and harasses white people—to the screen, but the buzz was large enough to not just squeak in under the nomination wire, but take the whole…
Gold Winner World Tea House Silver Winner Humani-T Cafe, downtown Bronze Winner Sense and SensibiliTea “This year has been a testament to my tenacity,” says World Tea House owner Phil Holmans. He’s referring to all the construction around the Nova Centre and elsewhere on Argyle Street, which has made managing a small business in the…
Gold Winner Neon Dreams Silver Winner Scientists of Sound Bronze Winner Pineo & Loeb Neon Dreams’ steady climb continues unencumbered and fully supported by the trio’s hometown. The past year alone has seen the Dreams perform at the Junos and tour with The Chainsmokers. “I remember thinking ‘We better play well cause Bryan Adams is…
Gold Winner Gary Burrill Silver Winner Lenore Zann Bronze Winner Lisa Roberts The Nova Scotia NDP leader snuck in under the wire this year to be eligible for Best Member Of The Provincial Legislature. Burrill went all out to win his Halifax Chebucto seat during the late-spring election. Yes, it’s afforded him a seat at…
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Salt Marsh Trail Going for a run is less of a chore when you have a pretty place to do it, and for most of our readers, Point Pleasant Park is that very place. The scenery’s nice, yes, including views of the harbour—but the…
Gold Winner Cha Baa Thai Restaurant, Halifax Silver Winner Wasabi House Bronze Winner Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca You may have noticed that we live in an age where sandwiches cost $10, sans side. And as a society, people seem to be mostly OK with it. Or at the very least complacent and hungry. Queen Street’s…
Gold Winner Ardmore Tea Room Silver Winner The Coastal Cafe Bronze Winner Cora, Halifax There are only so many places people are willing to get up at five in the morning for, and one of them is the Ardmore Tea Room. Classic to say the least, the Quinpool Road diner has been helping folks start…
Gold Winner Willy’s Fresh Cut Fries & Burgers Silver Winner Freeman’s Little New York, Quinpool Bronze Winner Tony’s Donair & Pizza Texts from the morning after: Me: um, hellllllo? what happened to you last night? you disappeared! Them: hahaha don’t worry, i’m good. Me: how’d you get home? you hungover? Them: let’s just say I…
Gold Winner Matt Mays Silver Winner Adam Baldwin Bronze Winner The Town Heroes It’s a good time to be Matt Mays—two Best of Halifax wins and a brand-new record, Once Upon a Hell of a Time (released on your gold record label, Sonic). That’s where his focus has been most of the past year, which…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Tailors Silver Winner Daniels Tailor Bronze Winner Lillian’s Tailor Shop & Dry Cleaners A great tailor is a gift from the heavens. Mufit Halef and the team at Mic Mac Tailors are saviours of our dresses; enemies of rips, champions of letting it out. Their gold win is well-made. “I would…
Gold Winner Fireworks Gallery Silver Winner The Black Market Boutique Bronze Winner The Vault, Spring Garden Road Sales manager Shannon Snelgrove is hardly surprised when she receives the call that Fireworks Gallery has, once again, been crowned the city’s Best Jewellery Store. It all comes down to “our ability to provide a unique design concept…
Heritage Halifax Elmwood Hotel builder James Augustus Farquhar was my great-great grandfather (“The fall of the house of Elmwood,” cover story by Jacob Boon, October 26). He wrote an incredible autobiography detailing his adventures growing up on Sable Island, wreck diving and in business. He was a man who took calculated risks that often paid…
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Long Lake Provincial Park As long as your doggo likes other doggos, Point Pleasant Park is the best place to bring your good boy (or girl). There is plenty of space for puppers to do zoomies. Common doggos, special doggos, smol doggos and heckin’…
Gold Winner The Seahorse Tavern Silver Winner Reflections Cabaret Bronze Winner Midtown-Boomers Tavern & Lounge If you’ve never felt the ceiling of The Seahorse drip on your shoulder thanks to the condensation of hundreds of hot (literally) bodies dancing like nobody’s watching, you haven’t lived. The up-close-and-personal vibe of this cave-like bar has decades of…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Rouge Fatale Silver Winner Elle Noir Bronze Winner Contessa Editor’s note: With this 2017 Best Drag Performer win marking at least 10 golds in a row, Rouge Fatale walks the red carpet of legend into the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. “I’m a little boy from Glace…
Gold Winner Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Silver Winner Argyle Fine Art Bronze Winner The Dart Gallery When your gallery has Maud Lewis’ house in it the same year a movie about Maud Lewis is released, people are going to want to see that thing. Perhaps the Lewis abode—and two shows of collections of her…
Gold Winner Obladee, A Wine Bar Silver Winner The Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner Little Oak It’d be a little weird if Obladee didn’t do well this category, as few watering holes around town are so dedicated to and passionate about wine. It has a wide selection, including both imported and local bottles, which explains how…
Gold Winner The Brood Silver Winner Oceanic Bronze Winner Logan Hill “It’s been an exciting year for us,” reports The Brood, whose angular, throwback rock is your favourite experiment this year. “We’ve played tons of festivals, toured with TWRP and went to Europe for the first time. We just released our first full-length album, Transistor,…
Gold Winner Chain Yard Urban Cidery Silver Winner Lucky Penny Coffee Bronze Winner Weird Harbour Espresso Bar Chain Yard Urban Cidery is the apple of readers’ eyes this year, taking home not just Best New Business, but Best New Bar, too. Since opening on the corner of Agricola and North streets last spring, it’s been…
Gold Winner Rainbow Haven Beach Silver Winner Crystal Crescent Beach Bronze Winner Canada Games Centre Atlantic waters may be cold, but the majority of Coast readers agree the beach is the best place to take a dip around here. In particular, the sand-and-cobble Rainbow Haven hits the top spot. It doesn’t hurt that its name…
Gold Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside Silver Winner The Chickenburger Bronze Winner Krave Burger There is literally no such thing as a bad onion ring, so competition couldn’t be any stiffer than the race for the city’s BEST one. But as it turns out Cheese Curds, purveyor of award winning hamburgers and…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner EDNA Bronze Winner The Coastal Cafe Hit the Mic Mac Bar & Grill on a Saturday or Sunday and you’ll find a packed parking lot, and likely some hungry people patiently waiting for bottomless coffee and a bacony cure. It’s nothing fancy—no garnishes or foamed milk…
Gold Winner Tarek’s Cafe Silver Winner Turkish Delight Bronze Winner Lemon Tree Restaurant Steve Kennedy’s a seasoned veteran at Tarek’s. With 15 years of service under his belt, he knows exactly what it is that keeps the Robie Street eatery so freakin’ loved. “The staff is locked in, it’s been the same guys for a…
Gold Winner Neon Dreams Silver Winner Ria Mae Bronze Winner Like A Motorcycle When Neon Dreams started out, image was not the point. “We were trying to figure out our sound and how we were going to play,” says drummer Adrian Morris, “trying to do EDM as a band, how we were gonna do that.”…
Gold Winner Adept Tattoos & Body Piercing Studio, Halifax Silver Winner Oceanic Art Bronze Winner HFX Tattoo Company Though Kirsten Wells is newish to her management position at Adept, she knew the ranks she’d be joining. “It’s our sixth year winning—but we were a little nervous [this year] as so many new places opened,” she…
Gold Winner Long & McQuade, Halifax Silver Winner Halifax Folklore Centre Bronze Winner Long & McQuade, Dartmouth Let’s stop for a minute and really consider all that Long & McQuade has helped usher into the city’s audio atmosphere. Yes, this home of acoustic alchemy rents, repairs, teaches and sells musical instruments and audio-visual equipment from…
Gold Winner Halifax waterfront Silver Winner Halifax Central Library Bronze WinnerHalifax Public Gardens The Halifax waterfront: A bad limerick If you’re living here then you must know, the waterfront’s the best spot to go. It’s a special place, the Best Public Space. Just bundle up when winter winds blow.
Gold Winner HFX Sports Bar & Grill Silver Winner Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar Too Bronze Winner Niche Lounge The Best Place To Watch The Game is the best place to watch the game. That doesn’t mean some dusty flatscreen at the end of the bar that’s tilted towards the wall and muted so as not…
Gold Winner Bike lanes Silver Winner Argyle streetscape project Bronze Winner Waterfront construction Hey, Halifax, can we talk for a minute? Just over here, around the corner. Um, so this category was about the best effort to improve the city. I don’t know if maybe you didn’t read that clearly enough, or thought the phrasing…
Gold Winner Stoo Metz Silver Winner Trevor Allen Bronze Winner Helena Darling A versatile shooter always out on the town—we’re talking weddings, events, press photos, portraits and live music—Stoo Metz is doubly happy with this year’s Gold, since it’s his second in a row. “This past year has been one of the best years of…
Gold Winner Lisa Drader-Murphy Silver Winner Katrina Tuttle Bronze Winner Maggie MacCormick Lisa Drader-Murphy loves Halifax. The fashion bigwig sells her trademark soft silhouettes and creative prints her shop’s five different locations, including in Toronto’s fashion mecca Queen Street West. Her main spot, though, remains downtown, a proclamation of love to the town she chose…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Mo Kenney Bronze Winner Jenn Grant Your longtime fave Plaskett—this round he’s a four-time winner, the Big Little Lies of BOH—has had a typically action-packed year producing and playing, including releasing and touring Solidarity with his dad Bill. And that’s in addition to running his downtown Dartmouth community hub,…
Gold Winner Dalhousie University Silver Winner Saint Mary’s University Bronze Winner NSCC Raymond E. Ivany Campus (the renamed Waterfront Campus) Dalhousie rang in its historic 200th academic year with a riotous south end homecoming party that saw 22 arrests, accusations of racism from Indigenous students and an attempt to discipline the DSU’s academic and external…
Gold Winner Mitch Benvie, Evolve Fitness Silver Winner Cara Bauld, 3rd Degree Training Bronze Winner Devin Sherrington, 360fit For Mitch Benvie, being a trainer is hardly a job. It’s more like “hanging out with friends, but you’re making them exercise,” says Benvie, who runs Evolve Fitness with his brother Mathew. In his opinion, being a…
Gold Winner Ristorante a Mano Silver Winner The Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner il Mercato Trattoria If you’re wondering what makes these noodles stand out from the bunch, it’s all in the name, really. “A mano” literally means by hand—and that’s the secret to these gold-winning pastas. “We do make it daily by hand, we have…
Gold Winner ToGo, Dal SUB Silver Winner The Gorsebrook Lounge Bronze Winner The Loaded Ladle Reminder: you need to eat food to make your brain work. We know you’re busy, you’re stressed out and you pulled an all-nighter last night. We know you’re broke, and lazy and saving your last few dollars for power hour…
Gold Winner The Canteen Silver Winner Rinaldo’s Bronze Winner Riot Snack Bar So The Canteen technically opened in 2014, but The Canteen that re-launched last year on Portland Street is a different beast entirely. “This Canteen, as it is now, isn’t anything I ever planned on doing,” says chef Renée Lavallée, who runs the buzzing…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Mo Kenney Bronze Winner Adam Baldwin Your longtime fave Plaskett—this round he’s a four-time winner, the Big Little Lies of BOH—has had a typically action-packed year producing and playing, including releasing and touring Solidarity with his dad Bill. And that’s in addition to running his downtown Dartmouth community hub,…
Gold Winner Rebecca O’Quinn, Heirloom Tattoo Silver Winner Helena Darling, HFX Tattoo Company Bronze Winner Amber Thorpe, Adept Tattoos & Body Piercing Studio Rebecca O’Quinn’s tattoo style—softly shaded yet crisply outlined, with a penchant for romantic, tumbling florals—explains for itself why this is her second year cribbing the Best Tattoo Artist title. But O’Quinn still…
Gold Winner Pet Valu, Spring Garden Silver Winner PetSmart, Dartmouth Crossing Bronze Winner Jollytails Treats healthy and flavourful; organic and tempting. Food of all varieties; for cat, dog and any other creature that can legally be owned. Toys? Chewables. Rawhides. Squeakers and jinglies. Little fake mice and big colourful throwing discs. Balls. Balls. Balls. Clothing…
Gold Winner Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Silver Winner Axe throwing at Timber Lounge Bronze Winner Halifax Sport and Social Club The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is a bit of a misnomer, because not every team is from la belle province. A key part of the league is, of course, the Halifax Mooseheads—which was…
Gold Winner The Board Room Game Cafe Silver Winner Finbar’s Irish Pub, Bedford Bronze Winner The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse The best trivia nights consist of which of the following elements? Ridiculously punny team names that sounded a lot less embarrassing before you had to say them out loud in front of other people. Questions…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Classified Bronze Winner Steve Murphy Your longtime fave Plaskett—this round he’s a four-time winner, the Big Little Lies of BOH—has had a typically action-packed year producing and playing, including releasing and touring Solidarity with his dad Bill. And that’s in addition to running his downtown Dartmouth community hub, New…
Gold Winner Once, Neptune Theatre Silver Winner Kim’s Convenience, Neptune Theatre Bronze Winner Heathers, Whale Song Theatre “I want to thank all the readers of The Coast who voted for Once and Kim’s Convenience,” says Neptune’s artistic director George Pothitos. “What a thrill it was to hear about it. Thank you so much! It was…
Gold Winner Halifax Shopping Centre Silver Winner Mic Mac Mall Bronze Winner Sunnyside Mall All sharp lines, gleaming white and walls of windows filtering in soft, natural light, the Halifax Shopping Centre might be even more stylish that the countless clothes for sale inside it. Stop by your favourite chains for a new look, pick…
Gold Winner Ben Caplan Silver Winner Hillsburn Bronze Winner The Barrowdowns Ben Caplan is a busy beard, as always. In between runs of the 2b Theatre show Old Stock, which he co-wrote and stars in (its world premiere was at The Waiting Room in May; it goes to Off-Broadway for seven weeks in March), he’s…
Gold Winner Affordable housing Silver Winner Construction downtown Bronze Winner Transit Moving up from silver last year to take the gold for Most Important Local Issue is the city’s lack of affordable housing. Take that as a sign that the development boom and rising income inequality are pushing Halifax further towards a full-blown crisis (assuming…
Gold Winner Kelly Wadden (formerly Kelly Donald), Moksha Yoga Halifax Silver Winner Stefanie Winters, Shanti Hot Yoga Bronze Winner Laura Spencer, Moksha Yoga Bedford Kelly Wadden has been an instructor at Moksha Yoga for four years, and although she’s been in the running before, this is her first time taking gold in Best of Halifax.…
Gold Winner Morris East, Halifax Silver Winner Mother’s Pizza Bronze Winner Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca Hall of Fame Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria “We started out 10 years ago with a simple menu philosophy of sourcing the best ingredients to make not just good pizza, but great pizza with creative toppings. With every year that passes, I…
Gold Winner Jean’s Chinese Restaurant Silver Winner Look Ho Ho Restaurant Bronze Winner May Garden, Dartmouth Hall of Fame The Great Wall Last year’s retirement of The Great Wall into the Hall of Fame made way for Jean’s Chinese Restaurant—which was long on its tail—to take over the top spot in this category. And owner…
Gold Winner The Bicycle Thief Silver Winner EDNA Bronze Winner 2 Doors Down Food + Wine “Everything is made by hand, everything is from scratch and that’s the key,” says The Bicycle Thief’s co-owner Hakan Uluer, of the commitment to serving quality food. “We have a formula in our restaurants: we don’t have tons of…
Gold Winner Ed Sheeran Silver Winner Adele Bronze Winner Bruno Mars He’s on his way, but not to a battlement on Citadel Hill. FOT (Friend Of Taylor) Ed Sheeran stormed the world— but gently, like a nice Englishman— all of 2017 with his third record Divide. “Shape of You” blasted, inescapably, from bars and cars…
Gold Winner Plan B Merchants Co-op Silver Winner Finer Things Antiques & Curios Bronze Winner Urban Cottage Antiques & Collectibles One time I needed to get a last-minute birthday gift for someone and it had to be thoughtful, rare and ideally expensive. Or at least, it had to have the implied perception of expensive. Within…
Gold Winner Taz Records, Halifax Silver Winner Taz Records, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Obsolete Records “We’re all music fiends,” James Donnelly, owner/manager at Taz Records, offers as an explanation of why the shop moves so much wax readers have voted it the city’s best. “Our selection is notable, but what’s perhaps more important is our staff.…
Gold Winner Halifax Central Library Silver Winner The Board Room Game Cafe Bronze Winner Coburg Coffee House Do my eyes deceive me, or is this year’s Best Student Hang somewhere that does not serve alcohol? Could it be that the students are actually studying? Maybe, but there are plenty of things to do in the…
Gold Winner Katherine Hanlon, Dime Salon Inc. Silver Winner Angela Bishop, Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Bronze Winner Lindsay Wilson, Remedy Facial Bar & Spa “Knowing that a lot of the time when people leave here, they feel better in more ways that just how they look—if I can even do that once a day…
Gold Winner @halifaxnoise Silver Winner @halifolks Bronze Winner @dave.culligan For the second year in a row—and the second year we’ve handed out this award—Best Instagram Account goes to @halifaxnoise and the undefeated Kate Ross. The coveted second-place hashtag is awarded to the profiling powerhouses at @halifolks and their unending quest to showcase the faces and…
Gold Winner Emily Lawrence Silver Winner Jennifer Atkinson Bronze Winner Sam’gwan the Artist Fresh off a co-curatorial gig for this year’s Nocturne, the multi-disciplinary NSCAD grad steps straight into a win for Best Visual Artist. “This year, my focus has been on collaboration,” Emily Lawrence says, “and two projects that stand out as highlights were…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Duggers Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner Pro Skateboards & Snowboards Editor’s note: With its 2017 Best Men’s Clothing Store win marking at least 10 golds in a row, Duggers rises to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. In fashion as in most things, Halifax is…
Gold Winner Classified Silver Winner Quake Matthews Bronze Winner Ghettosocks It’s been nearly two years since Classified’s last album, and this year’s been more about business—writing and producing for other artists and readying his HalfLife Records to become a full record label, as opposed to a boutique for his music. So while he never stops…
Gold Winner Sweet Pea Boutique Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner Bodega Boutique “You’re gonna make me cry,” Johanna Galipeau, owner of Sweet Pea Boutique, says with audible surprise when she hears her fashion playground has been crowned Best Women’s Clothing Store. She credits her hands-on approach as part of her win, putting the…
Gold Winner Moksha Yoga Halifax Silver Winner Shanti Hot Yoga, Bedford Bronze Winner On The Mat Yoga Since 2008, Moksha Yoga has helped Haligonians warm up their bodies and chill out their minds. In those nine years the hot yoga studio has expanded from one floor to two, and has increased the offerings on its…
Gold Winner Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria Silver Winner Sicilian Pizza, Donairs & Subs, Blowers Street Bronze Winner Yeah Yeahs Pizza You can’t get rid of Sal’s that easily, Halifax. After being ushered into the Hall of Fame last year thanks to its long run as Best Pizza Pie winner, the north end pizza joint has decidedly…
Gold Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen Silver Winner The Lower Deck Bronze Winner The Anchor Dear Garlic Sauce, We just wanted to get in touch to thank you for your service. All you do for Clayton Park, and all 10 Mezza locations, has clearly made an aromatic impact. We know the falafel, souvlaki and donair get…
Gold Winner Tom’s Family Restaurant Silver Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen Bronze Winner Chef’s Menu (now closed) Nostalgia reigns supreme in Sackvegas. New faces come and go in its restaurant scene, but it’s the long-running family businesses that seem to outlast the rest. Tom’s Family Restaurant is one of them. After a short run of gold…
Gold Winner Halifax Retales Silver Winner Halifolks Bronze Winner Eat This Town Here’s the million dollar question: how does Best Blogger winner Halifax ReTales always know so much about which businesses are opening and closing? It’s downright spooky. “That is the ultimate question that I get all the time,” says mastermind Arthur Gaudreau. “It’s not…
Gold Winner Cyclesmith Silver Winner Halifax Cycles Inc. Bronze Winner Ideal Bikes Some things are just like riding an old bike—comfortable, familiar, dependable. It’s the sort of feeling Cyclesmith must get this time of year, as the pedal-powered dynamos have once again earned their seat atop the BOH as Halifax’s Best Bike Store. As for…
Gold Winner Freak Lunchbox, Halifax Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner Venus Envy A jolt of colour that sweetly sings the praises of high-fructose corn syrup with its intentional-feeling candy hues, Freak Lunchbox’s sign winks downwards at the candy emporium’s striped awning. Its orange, green and purple beckons with the promise of sweet and…
Gold Winner Dooly’s, Portland Street Silver Winner Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs Bronze Winner Freeman’s Little New York, Grafton After being usurped in 2016, Dooly’s is back on top as the Best Place To Play Pool in HRM. Specifically, it’s the Portland Street location that strikes gold this year. While Dooly’s is a chain—there…
Gold Winner Phat Luong, Phat’s Barber Shop Silver Winner Jeremy Naugler, Sailor Bup’s Barbershop, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Robyn Ingraham, Sailor Bup’s Barbershop, downtown Phat Luong is the owner of the little barber shop that could. The tiny place on Windsor Street may not look like much from the outside, but Luong keeps his loyal customers…
Gold Winner Halifax Central Library Silver Winner Alderney Gate Public Library Bronze Winner Keshen Goodman Public Library We’re going to need to build another library if we ever want the iconic jewel of the downtown to stop dominating this category. Somehow, after being open for a few glorious years and welcoming countless visitors with its…
Gold Winner Laura Arsenault, Java Blend Coffee Roasters Silver Winner Dan Weir, Weird Harbour Espresso Bar Bronze Winner Jeremy Waterman, Dilly Dally Coffee Cafe After working at Java Blend for “many a year,” Laura Arsenault has finally struck gold. “We are exceptionally fortunate that we do have an amazing, consistent clientele year after year,” she…
Gold Winner The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Strawberry Hill Silver Winner Elsie’s Used Clothing Bronze Winner Lost and Found Thrifting is an art: Finding the perfect mom jeans, slouchy ’80s leather jacket or vintage fit-and-flare dress is a combination of luck, tireless sifting and a keen eye. The perfect second-hand clothing shop, of course, makes…
Gold Winner Gypsophilia Silver Winner Erin Costelo Bronze Winner The Willem Paynter Trio After 13 years, your favourite jazz band has parted ways. Amicably, but necessarily. “It’s not the kind of band where a couple of us can work on the next record,” says guitarist Ross Burns of the seven-piece. “Things were going to start…
Gold Winner Renée Lavallée, The Canteen Silver Winner Craig Flinn, Chives Canadian Bistro Bronze Winner Stephanie Ogilvie, Brooklyn Warehouse “The reality is, I’m the captain of a sports team. An amazing team,” says Renée Lavallée, quick to shout out her two assistant captains, Kyle and Josh, and number one cheerleader, her business partner and husband,…
Gold Winner Darrell’s Restaurant Silver Winner Ace Burger Co. (now part of Battery Park Beerbar & Eatery) Bronze Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside “What’s the big deal? Can’t you just make a hamburger at home and spread peanut butter on the bun?” asks your unenlightened friend. “No! It’s not the same,” you…
Gold Winner Willy’s Fresh Cut Fries & Burgers Silver Winner Smoke’s Poutinerie Bronze Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside When you start with a fry this good, there’s really no where to go but up. Six-time Best Poutine winner, and champ in the Best Late-night Food category too, Willy’s has the potato part…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner The Canteen Bronze Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside “All of our valiant efforts pay off! I’m not responsible for any of it, but I have a team of 90-plus people who hustle day-in and day-out,” says Joël Chiasson of the news that the…
Gold Winner Wasabi House Silver Winner Sushi Nami Royale, Halifax Bronze Winner Sushi Shige Japanese Restaurant Yeah, yeah, yeah, you looooove the extra rolls. Quinpool Road’s sushi all-star, Wasabi House has won Best Sushi five times, and sure, it might have something to do with the bonus rolls diners tend to get here, but it’s…
Gold Winner Sickboy Podcast Silver Winner Geeks vs. Nerds Bronze Winner Nighttime Podcast What makes Sickboy so refreshing, says creator and host Jeremie Saunders, is that the repeat Best Podcast winner purposefully dives headfirst into challenging topics. Where others shy away, Sickboy digs in. “We’re unapologetic in our approach,” says Saunders. “For a lot of…
Gold Winner Portland Street Honda Silver Winner Hillcrest Volkswagen Bronze Winner Colonial Honda Standard for the way car dealers tend to clump together around the city, Portland Street Honda is neighbours with three other dealerships. But there’s a special feeling at PSH, a sense of understated performance and steady efficiency—just like Honda cars—made tangible in…
Gold Winner Mountain Equipment Co-op Silver Winner Sport Chek, Halifax Shopping Centre Bronze Winner Pro Skateboards & Snowboards Despite being a city mouse, even I know that the Halifax Regional Municipality is home to some amazing stretches of nature. There are gorgeous hiking trails, isolated campgrounds where you can pitch a tent under the stars…
Gold Winner Halifax Pride Silver Winner Halifax Jazz Festival Bronze Winner Halifax Busker Festival “This past year, Halifax Pride prioritized community outreach while reimagining how we run the festival,” says executive director Adam Reid. After completing its 30th annual event in the summer, Halifax Pride has won gold in this category, so they must be…
Gold Winner Sailor Bup’s Barbershop, downtown Silver Winner Scallywags Barbershop Bronze Winner Oddfellows Barbershop “It means we’re still relevant,” owner Mark Peyton says of Sailor Bup’s Barbershop’s latest gold win. In addition to being a BOH voter favourite, the shop is also home to the two runner-ups for Best Barber, Jeremy Naugler and Robyn Ingraham.…
Gold Winner Theodore Tugboat Silver Winner Trailer Park Boys’ Bubbles Bronze Winner Rouge Fatale It’s been 16 years since new episodes of Theodore Tugboat graced our airwaves, but the show’s Dickensian look at the broken lives and political struggles happening throughout Halifax’s septic dockyard still rings relevant today. Its post-modern deconstruction of neoliberal policies and…
Gold Winner Stillwell Beer Bar Silver Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery Bronze Winner The Maxwell’s Plum How very thoughtful of you, Halifax, to bestow some gold upon Stillwell just in time for its fourth birthday. Now that the beer bar’s spunky sister location (the one you voted as the Best Patio winner) has…
Gold Winner John David Shoes Silver WinnerMahone Bay Trading Co., downtown Bronze Winner Pro Skateboards & Snowboards What is it about John David Shoes that helps its clients put their best-dressed foot forward? The boutique’s assistant manager Michael Goodwin-Kelley says it comes down to “excellent customer service and an extensive collection of fashion footwear from…
Gold Winner Deadmau5 on The Common Silver Winner Wintersleep at the Marquee Bronze Winner I Love The 90s North end residents were treated to an earth-shaking soundcheck the morning of Canada Day, deep propulsive bass cutting through the pouring rain to bounce off surfaces from Citadel Hill up to the Hydrostone. By the time deadmau5…
Gold Winner Lindsay Nelson, Eat This Town Silver Winner Josh Rankin, Life of Burgers Bronze Winner Adam Rosenbaum and Colin McParland, The Starving Sailor Lindsay Nelson’s love of food knows no boundaries. This year the blogger behind Eat This Town expanded her horizons far beyond this town and tackled towns across the country to round…
Gold Winner Burrito Jax, Blowers Street Silver Winner Habaneros Modern Taco Bar Bronze Winner Dee Dee’s Ice Cream Whether you want your burrito in tortilla or bowl form, Burrito Jax has got you covered. This year marks its six years in a row of winning gold for the Blowers Street take-out joint. It might have…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner Henry House Bronze Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub “We’ve been open for over 50 some years and it was a slow gradual process from a bar to a bar and grill. Now we’re far more on the grill side,” says Mic Mac Bar & Grill’s…
Gold Winner The Armview Restaurant & Lounge Silver Winner Ardmore Tea Room Bronze Winner True North Diner The Armview’s view isn’t too shabby from the patio on a hot summer’s night, but we’re willing to bet it’s what’s going on inside this restaurant and lounge that keeps winning over readers. The family-run joint known for…
Gold Winner Cha Baa Thai Restaurant, Halifax Silver Winner Talay Thai, Halifax Bronze Winner Cha Baa Thai Restaurant, Dartmouth Cha Baa Thai is doing something very right. Many things, actually. The six-time winner of Halifax’s Best Thai dishes out consistently tasty, authentic cuisine that’s just as good whether it’s delivered to your door in the…
Gold Winner Information Morning, CBC Radio One Silver Winner Turk, Megan & Amateur Alex, 101.3 Virgin Radio Bronze Winner BJ & The Q Morning Crew, Q104 For much of the city, the sound of the day starting is Information Morning. Don Connolly and Louise Renault are the comforting voices bringing you the day’s biggest stories…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Strange Adventures, Halifax Silver Winner Cape & Cowl Comics and Collectibles Bronze Winner Strange Adventures, Dartmouth Editor’s note: With this 2017 Best Comics Store win marking at least 10 golds in a row, Strange Adventures joins the pantheon in the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. The cartoon…
Gold Winner The Prince George Hotel Silver Winner Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites Bronze Winner The Westin Nova Scotian It’s so fancy/You already know/It’s on Market Street/Downtown, not in Tokyo. OK, Iggy Azalea impression aside, The Prince George Hotel makes for a fancy little staycation in Halifax (or somewhere to suggest to your visiting relatives…
Gold Winner Spirit Spa, downtown Silver Winner Bowtique Hair & Makeup Bronze Winner Tidal Hair Lounge “I would say we do beautiful, natural hair. Healthy hair,” says Spirit Spa owner Linda Brigley, adding that the spa’s stylists do everything from big colour corrections to balayage and other colour techniques. “We do a ton of colour…
Gold Winner Andy Fillmore Silver Winner Geoff Regan Bronze Winner Darren Fisher Andy Fillmore loves his job, but he also loves it when you hate him. “Bringing the voices of our dynamic community directly to the House of Commons is the most redeeming work, and I’m able to do it effectively because I represent a…
Gold Winner Good Robot Brewing Company Silver Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery Bronze Winner Gahan House Good Robot Brewing Company is where some great beer is made and poured (see Best Craft Brewery), but it’s also a great spot to hang out. “Our followers love Just Vorlafs comedy show,” says co-owner Josh Counsil,…
Gold Winner Ria Mae Silver Winner Port Cities Bronze Winner Reeny Smith We’d argue the Haligonian born Ria Mae MacNutt has already made it big, but she’s typically humble about this nod. “All I wanted was a gold record and to tour with Tegan and Sara,” she says over the phone a few hours before…
Gold Winner The Seahorse Tavern Silver Winner The Carleton Music Bar & Grill Bronze Winner The Marquee Ballroom “We try and cater to everyone and because of that, it’s very open as to what I can book. It’s almost like the wild wild west of booking,” says Jeff Pineau, the man responsible for everything you…
Gold Winner Chris Haley Silver Winner Cora Tudor, EDNA Bronze Winner Amy Faulkner, 2 Doors Down Food + Wine Chris Haley’s third consecutive win marks a new chapter in his career and his run as Halifax’s Best Server, as he leaves his post at The Wooden Monkey to bring Grade A service to fellow Dartmouthian,…
Gold Winner Your Father’s Moustache Silver Winner Halifax Alehouse Bronze Winner Lion’s Head Tavern When it comes to the pub food Haligonians love, it ain’t no thing but a chicken wing (or 12). Back in 2011 when Your Father’s Moustache took silver in this category, the Halifax Wingman wrote on his blog: “I would have…
Gold Winner Boneheads BBQ Silver Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Bronze Winner Baton Rouge Halifax’s riff on the eats of the deep south is on the deep south side of Barrington Street. That’s where Boneheads—the now eight-time winner in the Best Ribs category—lives in a little no-frills space that lets the food (and the…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner The Armview Restaurant & Lounge Bronze Winner Athens Restaurant Large portions, reasonable prices, spot-on service and room to spare make the Mic Mac a reliable spot to push together a couple of tables and invite the whole fam jam out for dinner. Chances are your grannie…
Gold Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Silver Winner The Canteen Bronze Winner Chives Canadian Bistro The Wooden Monkey is as detail-oriented as they get. The 14-year-old restaurant has always been committed to making sure what goes into its dishes is good, in all senses of the word. And its commitment to serving local, organic food…
Gold Winner CBC Radio One, 90.5 FM Silver Winner 101.3 Virgin Radio, 101.3 FM Bronze Winner Q104, 104.3 FM So, we’re starting to get a nagging suspicion you like listening to CBC, Halifax. Every year you seem to vote Information Morning as your favourite radio show, and while last year the public broadcaster took a…
Gold Winner Apple Store Silver Winner GBS Technologies (formerly PC Medic) Bronze Winner Octopi Computers Voting for the 2017 Best of Halifax awards ended September 15, with winners announced in The Coast’s BOH issue, out in print and online November 2. In between, we at The Coast tabulate the votes to figure out the winners,…
Gold Winner Discovery Centre Silver Winner Museum of Natural History Bronze Winner Maritime Museum of the Atlantic It feels strange to even call the Discovery Centre a museum, because most museums aren’t this fucking cool. Haligonians have known this place rules since even before the new location opened, and going on a field trip there…
Gold Winner Lindsay Algee, Tidal Hair Lounge Silver Winner Robyn Touchie, One Block Barbershop Bronze Winner Melissa Dalley, Dime Salon Inc. Lindsay Algee was caught off guard by her first-ever BOH win. “I’m taken aback. I can’t believe it,” says Algee, hairstylist and co-owner of Tidal Hair Lounge. Hair colouring and bridal ’dos are among…
Gold Winner Notes from a Feminist Killjoy, Erin Wunker Silver Winner Disposable Souls, Phonse Jessome Bronze Winner Bad Things Happen, Kris Bertin “I wrote this really quickly. I think about my writing for a very, very long time and I read a lot,” says Erin Wunker, author of your favourite book Notes From a Feminist…
Gold Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub Silver Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub Bronze Winner EDNA Once upon a time, my father ordered a Caesar in the United States. The server said, “Are you from up north? Like, far north?” You won’t get that sort of response at the Stubborn Goat Gastropub. Its Caesar means business…
Gold Winner The Mellotones Silver Winner Neon Dreams Bronze Winner Roxy and The Underground Two thousand seventeen marks 20 years for The Mellotones, half that with the current lineup. “It’s tough with eight people having equal say,” says bassist Mike Farrington, “but the end result is pretty good.” The band’s extensive repertoire goes deep into…
Gold Winner Quake Matthews Silver Winner Ghettosocks Bronze Winner Ally Dee “It’s truly been a long, long road to get to the point where I am today,” says Matthew Arab, AKA Quake Matthews. “A lot of people have stuck with me from the very beginning. As with any artist it’s been hopeless and grim at…
Gold Winner The Old Apothecary Silver Winner Julien’s Patisserie, Bakery & Cafe Bronze Winner Scanway Bakery + Café The Old Apothecary is a dream for anyone with a sweet tooth and/or a love of homemade bread. Owner Laura MacLeod says the reaction to this year’s win “was a mixture of excitement and relief,” especially given…
Gold Winner The Canteen Silver Winner Esquire Restaurant Bronze Winner The Armview Restaurant & Lounge “It’s the way I’ve always liked to eat chowder,” says The Canteen’s chef (and this year’s Best Chef) Renée Lavallée of her winning recipe, which she calls more of a modern chowder. That mostly means that she’s abandoned the flour,…
Gold Winner Pete’s Fine Foods, Halifax Silver Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Bronze Winner Heartwood Salads bars haven’t got the greatest rep. Soggy lettuce, stale croutons, snotty tomatoes and Thousand Island dressing ring a bell? Where are all my veggies at? Pete’s, as it turns out. A nine-time winner in our Best of Halifax Readers’ Choice…
Gold Winner The Bicycle Thief Silver Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Bronze Winner EDNA “We don’t look at it as a restaurant, this is our home. Everyone who comes here, we open the doors with open arms to welcome them,” says Hakan Uluer, co-owner of your choice for Best Fine Dining. The Bicycle Thief’s standout food…
Gold Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner Heartwood “Winner winner tofu dinner!” is Cory Urquhart’s initial reaction to enVie topping this category yet again. And while it’s a perfect acceptance speech, he also takes a minute to credit the veg-centric eatery’s success to the dining experience (and the food,…
Gold Winner CKDU, 88.1 FM Silver Winner CBC Radio One, 90.5 FM Bronze Winner Seaside FM, 105.9 FM “In a word? Challenging.” That’s how program director Francella Fiallos describes the last year at CKDU. Financial set-backs and staff cuts aside, she says thanks to an increase in student engagement, the road ahead is looking promising…
Gold Winner Jubilee Junction Convenience and Takeout Silver Winner Atlantic News Bronze Winner Triple A Convenience & Pizzeria The best corner stores are life rafts of city living; shelves packed high with any and all items a bevy of regular customers could possibly want. They’re part diner, grocery store, pharmacy and hardware store all in…
Gold Winner Lunenburg Silver Winner White Point Beach Resort Bronze Winner Halifax waterfront It takes an entire town to dethrone White Point and its bunnies. The quaint and colourful Lunenburg scores gold with authority this year, drawing in tourists and locals in droves to its historic harbourfront, kick-ass restaurants and adorable shops. Dots and Loops,…
Gold Winner Spirit Spa, downtown Silver Winner Interlude Spa, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Life SalonSpa, Halifax Spirit Spa owner Linda Brigley says the spa focuses a lot on naturally beautiful nails, “even just a healthy nail bed and a healthy nail in general.” But that doesn’t stop the manicurists from pushing the envelope from time to…
Gold Winner Cory Bowles Silver Winner Veronique MacKenzie Bronze Winner Alexis Cormier Cory Bowles has been focusing more on film in the past year, though there are two key pieces he think snagged this win for him: A remount of Live from the Flash Pan with Mocean Dance in summer 2016 in Annapolis Royal, and…
Gold Winner Two If By Sea Cafe Silver Winner Humani-T Cafe, downtown Bronze Winner Java Blend Coffee Roasters Two If By Sea has gone through some changes in the last year, including saying two if bye to its Halifax waterfront location in Historic Properties. “It was definitely an emotional and hard decision to say, ‘OK,…
Gold Winner Rose Cousins Silver Winner Kim Harris Bronze Winner Vulva Culture “Recognition from the town that I live in is very meaningful, because I am away a lot,” says Rose Cousins, the PEI-born musician who calls Halifax home. The chill vibes in her tunes have been attracting fans for longer than since she arrived…
Gold Winner Black Moor Silver Winner Dumpster Mummy Bronze Winner Orchid’s Curse The venerable band Black Moor has been regrouping, refining and recalibrating its power, but not at the expense of its intense, energetic, dexterous metal. “It’s great to be recognized by the voters after spending the last year regaining momentum and finding our places…
Gold Winner Gateway Meat Market Silver Winner Getaway Farm Butcher Shop, Seaport Farmers’ Market Bronze Winner Getaway Farm Butcher Shop, Hydrostone This spring, Gateway Meat Market will celebrate 10 years in the butchering biz, and it’s been on a BOH winning streak for two years now. “We have certainly come a long way over 10…
Gold Winner Layers Cakes Silver Winner Two If By Sea Cafe Bronze Winner Ol’ School Donuts When Jen Harrison, owner of the petite, pastel cupcake shop Layers, gets word her bakery has once again won Best Cookie/Cupcake/Doughnut gold, her excitement tumbles though the phone call. “This is our third year winning, and it’s almost like…
Gold Winner The Canteen Silver Winner Pete’s Fine Foods, Halifax Bronze Winner The Italian Market The Canteen’s original iteration above Two If By Sea was all about the sandwich. And its sandwiches—the crobster roll, the hangover, the turkey club—were a thing of beauty, hence why it this year marks its third gold win in this…
Gold Winner Salvatore’s PIzzaiolo Trattoria Silver Winner Alexandra’s Pizza, Queen Street Bronze Winner Cha Baa Thai Restaurant, Halifax “We’re very proud of our pizza and many things we do, but I’d go on the record saying delivery isn’t our strength,” says Sal’s owner Chris Cuddihy, clearly a believer that honesty is the best policy. “I…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) In the early stages of Johnny Cash’s development as a musician, his mother hired a coach to give him singing lessons. But after a few meetings, the teacher counseled him to quit. Johnny’s style was so unique, the seasoned pro thought it better not to tamper with his natural…
Gold Winner @HalifaxRetales Silver Winner @halifaxnoise Bronze Winner @evilpez4 In the hotly contested Best Twitterer category, it’s @HalifaxReTales with the winning ratio. The head behind ReTales, Arthur Gaudreau, says it’s exciting. Well, weird might be a better word. “When all of a sudden your hobby and something you like to do gets recognized by others,…
Gold Winner Christmas At The Forum Silver Winner Halifax Crafters’ Winter Market Bronze Winner Dartmouth Makers Like Michael Keaton or Rene Russo, everyone loves to see a veteran make a comeback. Christmas At The Forum—stop reading, it’s on right now!—is the longest-running holiday craft bonanza in the Atlantic provinces, knocking on 40 years, and you’ve…
Journalism has an uneasy relationship with cliche. Near the top of the list of reporters’ rules is the admonition to avoid cliche whenever possible. Hot on its heels is the warning that some cliches are true for a reason. At the end of the day, it’s not in anyone’s interest to avoid a useful turn…
Gold Winner The Lower Deck, Halifax Silver Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub Bronze Winner Good Robot Brewing Company A three-floor bar? What more could ale-chuggin’ Haligonians want? Some east coast music, dancing and good eats, that’s what. Luckily, the waterfront’s Lower Deck has it all. The first floor is home to the pub, where…
Gold Winner Spirit Spa, downtown Silver Winner Interlude Spa, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Cascades Day Spa At 15 years old—and with a new location in the Hydrostone—Spirit Spa is just getting started. Owner Linda Brigley knows exactly who to credit for the spa’s consistent BOH success. “It will always come down to the people and the…
Gold Winner Mark Critch Silver Winner Cher Hann Bronze Winner Megan McDowell Your favourite comedian has been on This Hour Has 22 Minutes for half of its existence (it has just entered its 25th season), but he’s also a regular gala host at the Ha!ifax Comedy Festival and general delight-about-town. “A big thank you from…
Gold Winner Lot Six Silver Winner 2 Doors Down Bar + Bites Bronze Winner The Bitter End “There are plenty of attributes to being a bartender that don’t necessarily have to align with making great cocktails,” says Lot Six bartender (and your Best Bartender) Shane Beehan. “But when you balance them both, I think you…
Gold Winner Matt Mays Silver Winner Like a Motorcycle Bronze Winner Jessie Brown It’s a good time to be Matt Mays—two Best of Halifax wins and a brand-new record, Once Upon a Hell of a Time (released on your gold record label, Sonic). That’s where his focus has been most of the past year, which…
Gold Winner Halifax Jazz Festival Silver Winner Halifax Pop Explosion Bronze Winner Halifax Urban Folk Festival The Jazz Fest is on a roll thrill-wise, offering some of the most exciting shows to come through Halifax in the past couple years, including Lauryn Hill and St. Vincent. This round, it was Anderson .Paak. “HJF is totally…
Gold Winner Noggins Corner, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Silver Winner Getaway Farm Butcher Shop, Seaport Farmers’ Market Bronze Winner School House Gluten-Free Gourmet, Seaport Farmers’ Market Thanks to this market stall, you need not head out to the Annapolis Valley to get your Noggins Corner fix. Its Seaport stall won this award, but you have…
Gold Winner The Middle Spoon Desserterie & Bar, Halifax Silver Winner Sweet Hereafter Cheesecakery Bronze Winner The Old Apothecary Dessert isn’t just the end to a meal, it’s an exercise in tastebud exploration, a hit of sugar for your smarting sweet tooth and the original (and literal) way to treat yo’ self. So, pull out…
Gold Winner John’s Lunch Silver Winner The Five Fishermen Restaurant & Grill Bronze Winner McKelvie’s There’s no one who knows their way around a deep-fryer like the folks grinding it out over at mythical Dartmouth diner John’s Lunch. We could talk about the fish itself—how fresh it is, where it’s coming from and why it…
Gold Winner Ol’ School Donuts Silver Winner Gecko Bus Bronze Winner Bud the Spud Four years ago Noah Connolly was in grade 11 and his family was just launching its bright red doughnut-slinging school bus. Now he’s in university, Ol’ School has expanded its fleet and, for the cherry on the doughnut, it has won…
Q I am a pretty handsome gay (I have been told) and I am dating a gorgeous man. I am 34, and he is 31. I am bottom only, and he is top only—so it’s a good match. He seems sincerely interested in me and we are talking about being together. But here is the…
Gold Winner P’lovers, Dartmouth Silver Winner Mountain Equipment Co-op Bronze Winner Organic Earth Market Shelby Lendrum hopes that one day this category won’t be needed, that all stores will be stuffed to the sky with the good-for-you-and-the-planet items P’lovers is all about. In the meantime, her Dartmouth location is a readers’ favourite for green products.…
The Case of the Missing Men is an old-fashioned mystery in the vein of teen detective series like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. The book is seeped in nostalgia for the campy teen thrillers, but its sophisticated story and illustrations belie the simple pleasure of its premise. The book was created by real-life pals…
Gold Winner Shane Beehan, Lot Six Silver Winner Emily Orr, Field Guide Bronze Winner Steven Cross, 2 Doors Down Bar + Bites When Shane Beehan took gold for the first time, he was newish to bartending and working at Field Guide. Voters have stuck with him for four years now, and followed him through his…
Gold Winner El Jones Silver Winner Quentrel Provo Bronze Winner Rebecca Thomas Let’s just let El Jones take it from here: “I want to shout out Paul Vienneau and the really important work he does around disability,” she says. “And also to all the women, including Rebecca Thomas but also Rebecca Moore, Grizzly Mama, Suzanne…
Gold Winner Nicole McInnis, Oh Dina! Silver Winner Bethany Riordan Butterworth, Bread and Butter Pottery Bronze Winner Holly Nauss, Promise of a Pearl Oh Dina!’s Nicole McInnis is shocked to win Best Crafter. “I’ve never even gotten silver or bronze before in this area,” she says, on a break from packing up her popular DIY…
Gold Winner Two If By Sea Cafe Silver Winner Java Blend Coffee Roasters Bronze Winner Just Us! Coffeehouse, Spring Garden Two If By Sea co-owner Zane Kelsall also co-owns Anchored Coffee, which is of course served by the steaming cupful at the cafe. While voters already think it’s the best, Kelsall’s goal is to make…
Gold Winner Garrett Mason Silver Winner Charlie A’Court Bronze Winner Joe Murphy and the Water Street Blues Band The blues scion Garrett Mason keeps a low public profile, choosing to let his Tuesday residency at Bearly’s—and his guitar—do the talking. With unreal dexterity, authentic delivery and earned soul, the Juno-winning Mason offers up the blues…
Gold Winner Port Cities, “Astronaut” Silver Winner Hillsburn, “Sun Ought To Shine” Bronze Winner Century Egg, “Ki Swui Kya” “Astronaut” is a slow-burning song devoid of the usual harmonies. Breagh MacKinnon takes the lead, singing of childhood dreams about going to space that died with age: “But I had a dream when I was seven/Secret…
Gold Winner Pete’s Frootique & Fine Foods, Halifax Silver Winner The Italian Market Bronze Winner Tian Phat Yes, without a doubt, Pete’s has some fine food. You can get a world of groceries there, but underlying that amazing selection, the best reason to visit it to treat yourself. This writer highly recommends swinging by the…
Gold Winner Tony’s Donair & Pizza Silver Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen, Barrington Street Bronze Winner Johnny K’s Authentic Donairs Hall of Fame King of Donair, Quinpool Road After over 40 years in business it’s no surprise Tony’s has its donair recipe dialled. The popular family restaurant is known for its takeout business: hot pizzas, poutines…
Gold Winner Pete’s Fine Foods, Halifax Silver Winner Humani-T Cafe, north end Bronze Winner Wild Leek Food & Juice Bar Follow the sound of the blender and you’ll find Pete’s smoothie and juice bar. For the ninth year running, Haligonians who prefer to drink their meals voted these—the Cherry Bomb, the Monkey See, the Pulp…
Gold Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Silver Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Bronze Winner Heartwood The Monkey’s passion for good ingredients is what makes the restaurant stand out from the bunch, hence why it’s a repeat winner in the Best Use Of Local Ingredients category. And that passion carries over to dietary restrictions, too. While The…
WHO HE IS Justin Floyd is a chef. It’s something he has worked at, studied and now takes pride in, but it wasn’t always like that. “I’ve been cooking for a decade,” he says. “In the beginning it was just work, I didn’t see it as a career.” But moving to Halifax from Quispamsis six…
Gold Winner Jollytails Silver Winner Dapper Dogs Bronze Winner Oodles of Poodles Grooming Salon Feeling down in the dumps? Has the seasonal switch got you down? Here’s a mildly creepy way to guarantee good vibes. Pick a day, any day, and get your butt to Jollytails. Once you’ve found a comfortable position in the parking…
Gold Winner My Mother’s Bloomers Silver Winner The Flower Shop Bronze Winner Janet’s Flowers Flowers are life’s exultant punctuation marks, says My Mother’s Bloomers owner Neville McKay. “Whether it’s the first ones you ever receive to celebrate life or the last ones you ever receive after you pass.” Or, perhaps, to celebrate winning gold BOH…
You’ve outdone yourself! This year 22,000 of you took the time to cast over 800,000 individual votes for our annual readers’ choice awards, solidifying our 23rd Best of Halifax as the very best one yet. Here, we present to you the over 600 winners—all of the restaurants, small businesses, bands, public places and incredible people…
Gold Winner Yuk Yuk’s Silver Winner Just Vorlafs, Good Robot Brewing Company Bronze Winner Comedy Hour, Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs No joke: After three straight years of winning gold, Halifax is still yukking it up at Yuk Yuk’s. This Toronto-based comedy club has outlets across the country, and the Halifax location is a…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Ecology Action Centre Silver Winner The Youth Project Bronze Winner Autism Nova Scotia Editor’s note: With its 2017 Best Activist Organization win marking at least 10 golds in a row, the EAC joins the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. It’s hard to call the Ecology Action Centre…
Gold Winner Maritime Bhangra Group Silver Winner Halifax Dance Bronze Winner Serpentine Studio Five of the happiest souls you’ve ever met have made an impact on Halifax and beyond in the past year, dancing their way into your hearts (and votes). What started as a YouTube sensation has transferred into real life, seeing Hasmeet Singh…
Gold Winner Good Robot Brewing Co. Silver Winner Nine Locks Brewery Bronze Winner Garrison Brewing Company “You don’t need to be pretentious to serve a quality product,” says Good Robot co-owner Josh Counsil. “We’ve always enforced with our robots to make people feel comfortable. Craft beer is still a relatively new phenomenon for a lot…
Gold Winner Symphony Nova Scotia Silver Winner King’s Chapel Choir Bronze Winner Rhapsody Quintet It’s hard to look at a Symphony season and not find something that catches your ear—so far this season, Matt Andersen and Ria Mae have sold out the Cohn three times between them (and the orchestra), with an upcoming slate of…
Gold Winner Aquakultre Silver Winner The Drug Rugs Bronze Winner Pretty Normal Lance Sampson AKA Aquakultre has been rapping since he was a teenager—“I used to be a hardcore street rapper,” he says—and started writing songs, including “Sure” and “Safe,” in prison, where he was given a guitar. The name comes from his profession—he’s a…
Gold Winner Bishop’s Cellar Silver Winner Rockhead Wine + Beer Market Bronze Winner NSLC, Bayers Lake Ah, fuck. It’s 10pm on a Saturday and you forgot to pick up some beer for your buddy’s BYOB get-together. And now all the liquor stores are closed! Or are they? Lucky for you, Bishop’s Cellar will still be…
Gold Winner John’s Lunch Silver Winner Fredie’s Fantastic Fish House Bronze Winner Evan’s Fresh Seafoods For some reason all-caps PIZZA is the prominent menu item on the street sign for John’s Lunch, but maybe that’s because the fish and chips here is so freaking good it doesn’t need top billing. It’s been nearly 50 years…
Gold Winner Athens Restaurant Silver Winner ela! Greek Taverna, Bayers Lake Bronze Winner Blue Olive Greek Taverna Four consecutive golds are a drop in bucket for Athens Restaurant, which has been serving up food fit for the Greek gods for over 35 years. The Quinpool institution continues to stand out thanks to the pride the…
Gold Winner Sonic Entertainment Group Silver Winner GroundSwell Music Bronze Winner Josh Hogan Most of the work done by a concert promoter is unseen until the tickets go on sale, but it’s a lot of juggling behind the curtain. When Gord Downie announced his terminal illness, new record and Secret Path tour last year, time…
Gold Winner Todd’s South End Car Care Silver Winner Speedy Auto Repair Bronze Winner Mighty Auto, Burnside A rattling noise under the your car’s hood need not always be a grey-hair-giving experience. You just have to get the car into the shop. Simple, right? And as Derrick Munro, manager at Todd’s South End Car Care,…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Attica Furnishings Silver Winner Wheaton’s, Sackville Bronze Winner Project 9 Editor’s note: With its 2017 Best Furniture Store win marking at least 10 golds in a row, Attica joins the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. Suzanne Saul has a manifesto for Attica, the furniture store she started…
“Happiness annihilates time,” wrote Hugh MacLennan in his 1958 novel The Watch That Ends The Night, the namesake of Bethany and Joe Gurba’s new 80-seater restaurant and cocktail bar on the second floor of King’s Wharf in Dartmouth. “It’s the idea time can be cruel and arbitrary, but it feels amazing when it dissolves,” says…
Gold Winner Laurie the Guy, Lion’s Head Tavern & Grill Silver Winner Dave Smith, Oasis Bronze Winner The Mimi Show, Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs “When l started in 1991, l did not think that this karaoke thing would last this long, and the crowds at the Lion’s Head are showing no signs of…
Gold Winner Sidney Crosby Silver Winner Ellie Black Bronze Winner Nathan MacKinnon “We went through a long stretch there where [with] well-paid athletes the notion was: just be quiet and get your endorsements and don’t make waves,” said president Barack Obama in 2014, while commending NBA superstar LeBron James for wearing an “I Can’t Breathe”…
Gold Winner Monique Ryan Silver Winner Cavell Holland Bronze Winner Jacinte Armstrong It’s a milestone year for Serpentine Studios, the bellydance/circus company co-founded by your Best Dancer, Monique Ryan. We’re talking a solid decade, celebrated last month with a repertoire-spanning extravaganza at The Marquee. “I’m so glad that the category for Best Dancer is back…
Gold Winner The Bitter End Silver Winner Lot Six Bronze Winner The Fireside Restaurant The Bitter End boasts that it’s sold more than one million martinis. Whether you want a classic or something special to sip on, readers agree this place has you covered. Take the Pink Lady for example—it’s a mix of vodka, raspberry…
Gold Winner Makayla Lynn Silver Winner Brooklyn Blackmore Bronze Winner Amanda Riley Your favourite country artist is also the youngest winner in this poll, by a notable amount. “It has been an incredibly exciting year,” says the 16-year-old East Hants resident, calling after school. “I released a record”—On a Dare and a Prayer—“and put it…
Gold Winner $Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ Silver Winner Freeman’s Little New York, Sackville Bronze Winner Stayner’s Wharf Pub & Grill The long-running Monday night full-band open mic continues to support, incubate and nourish the scene, and its efforts continue to be noticed, even beyond the Scene Builder Award it was given by the Halifax Pop Explosion…
Gold Winner Alan Dalton, Evolve Fitness Silver Winner Cara Bauld, 3rd Degree Training Bronze Winner Sonny Wilson, Fitness FX When Mathew and Mitch Benvie’s sibling rivalry comes out at Evolve Fitness, it’s Alan Dalton to the rescue. Mathew calls him “the smart one in the group” at Evolve and says he “helps the team atmosphere.”…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner EDNA Bronze Winner Ardmore Tea Room One hundred percent pure love is the secret to the champion fish cakes (AKA Marilyn’s Fish Cakes) at the Mic Mac, simple as that. And while many of the restaurant’s wins this year can be credited to its entire team,…
Gold Winner Gio, The Prince George Hotel Silver Winner Tempo Food + Drink, Delta Barrington Bronze Winner Redwood Gril, Future Inns Halifax Every single year that we’ve had this category in the Best of Halifax readers’ poll, The Prince George Hotel’s beautiful Gio has taken home the gold. Striving to be anything but a standard…
Gold Winner Like A Motorcycle Silver Winner Sleepshaker Bronze Winner Crossed Wires It’s always a busy year for the punk quartet Like A Motorcycle, who in the past 12 months saw founding member Jillian Comeau depart and guitarist Dave Casey (Hot Dave) installed, among other highlights, including four overseas tours, a deal with GroundSwell, an…
Gold Winner Two Men and a Truck Silver Winner Munden’s Moving Company Bronze Winner Able Movers Helping friends/roommates/exes move apartments is a Halifax rite of passage: the awkward garbage bags full of clothes; the unwanted collection of broken toaster ovens and solitary spatulas left “free” on the curb to a good home; so many unanswered…
Gold Winner Attica Furnishings Silver Winner The Independent Mercantile Co. Bronze Winner Kept The relationship between home decor and furniture is the same as between clothing and accessories. “It’s like when you add jewellery to an outfit,” says Attica Furnishings co-founder Suzanne Saul. “Pillows, lamps, rugs—they really make a space shine.” Winning gold in Best…
“It’s strange, you know, thinking about this idea of ‘the first,'” says Ursula Johnson. “There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with it, but then there’s also a certain amount of ‘What the hell,’ you know?” Johnson is sitting in Java Blend on a rainy Monday. Five days ago she was in Toronto, being…
Two concerts announced this week have me planning to make 2018 the year that listening to a shit ton more music becomes my official new year’s resolution. These shows will surely help: On January 12, Bahamas celebrates his fourth effort, Earthtones, which takes D’angelo-inspired rhythms sifted through a singer-songwriter style. The result? A show at…
10 Scientists of Sound w/Slowcoaster, Elephant Skeletons, Norc Saturday Get lost in a Technicolour dreamscape as Scientists Of Sound bumps epic beats at the Marquee’s wild Halloween celebration. 9 The Extinction of Hong Kongers Thursday // Friday // Saturday As this playwriting duo sees it, Hong Kong lays in the ether, its culture sinking slowly…
