Shoptalk

The uncertainty’s over: The fire in the former City Pizza/Topcutsspace (5688 Spring Garden) was caused by “an electrical malfunction in what is called branch-circuit wiring, which is simple electrical wiring that was located in a concealed space between the second and third floor,” says Dave Meldrum,public information officer for Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service. […]

It’s a proud weekend: A lot of folks’ favourite sex shop is growing up. Venus Envy(1598 Barrington) celebrates its 10th birthday this Saturday with super-cool sales and a kickin’ party. The store spent a year down on Inglis and the last nine in its current digs. ” we opened up…we had about two kinds of […]

Confused by the Clay Cafe‘s (6413 Quinpool) recent “grand re-opening” events? That’s fair: the cafe was never closed. However, the shop has been under new ownership since February and has undergone a whole pile of fancy changes, too. And let’s face it—“grand unveiling of new owners and fancy new changes” lacks pizzazz. The new owners […]

Friends, the most wonderful of all days is upon us. No, I’m not talking about Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (sadly, we already missed that puppy). Instead, I bring you news of the seventh annual Free Comic Book Day, which is taking place this Saturday in participating comic shops across North America. The day’s aimed at […]

The management switch at Bob & Lori’s Food Emporium (2179 Gottingen) became official Thursday and the popular joint’s also got a new name.New managers Stephen Fowler, Paul Rogers, Carole LeBlanc and Eric Gunnels are calling the eatery The Good Food Emporium. (It reminds me of Putnam’s Prairie Emporium, the show with the talking moose head.) There won’t be any talking moose at TGFE, there will be something almost as good: Starting this weekend, the restaurant will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm for weekend brunch. “The menu hasn’t been determined yet, but it should be much more extensive

It’s been more than a week since fire struck the building housing City Pizza and Topcuts (5688 Spring Garden) and both businesses are still very, very closed. As of press time, a cause for the blaze had yet to be found. “Our investigators are working in there. We’ve had to do some work in the […]

This sad news just in: The building housing my favourite pizza place, City Pizza (5688 Spring Garden) caught fire yesterday. No word yet on the extent ofthe damage.

On April 19, Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar (5650 Spring Garden) finally opened—more than a month after Shoptalk first told you about its “six types of wings, with 50 different sauces” and promised the pub would be opening “tomorrow.” Looks like its liquor licence came through…Café Istanbul (5986 Spring Garden) is open now, too…Cycle-powered godsend the […]

A heads-up to frequenters of the city’s Blockbuster locations: The stores are currently in the middle of a revolution—new rental DVDs now come with cover art. The stores are also in the process of switching rental inventory to reflect this system. This means that after training yourself not to bring the case with the cover […]

Are you an admirer of Polish composers? (Who isn’t?) Or maybe you just love a good brunch. (Who doesn’t?) Luckily, the downtown area now boasts a restaurant sure to please classical-music lovers and brunch enthusiasts alike: the niftily named Chopin Bistro (5171 Salter, former home of Atlantis Steak and Lobster). And yes, that restaurant name […]

Last week, we passed along the tantalizing rumour that much-loved restaurant jane’s on the common (2394 Robie) now has takeout. Happily, the rumour’s true—the new takeaway counter’s called jane’s next door and, as its name suggests, it’s serving up its eats in the storefront right beside the original jane’s (at 2398 Robie, once the Wilkie’s […]

The Hallmark store on Spring Garden (5507 Spring Garden) is toast—a sign on the door says it’s closed…There’s word that jane’s on the common is now serving take-out: fancy eats to go at 2394 Robie…Steamys (6300 Quinpool) is now open for business and ready to serve you Montreal-style steamed hot dogs and milfies…The Foggy Goggle […]