Ray’s Haus European Cafe and Bistro grand opening
Music, magic and a movie, Halifax’s newest European style cafe, Ray’s Haus European Cafe and Bistro (5599 Fenwick Street, 405-8303) is opening their türen with a “meet your neighbours” block party on Sunday, May 15. Ray’s is aiming to become one of the better all-ages venues for local artists of any background. Poets, musicians, actors…
Initial Artist Announcements for Halifax Jazz Fest
The first few artist profiles have squeaked onto the Halifax Jazz Festival’s website, and it looks like 90s pioneers Digable Planets will be bringing their sublime blend of hip-hop and jazz to the Festival Tent on July 16th. Laiiiiiid back!You can buy tickets here. The lineup list so far also includes the Preservation Hall Jazz…
NSCAD grads get rad
[image-1] This Thursday, May 5 at 7pm, come bask in the warming glow of the Starfish Student Art Awards finalists for 2011, Veronika Horlik, Alexander Forbes, Rob P. Blair, Clair Hipditch, Amanda Memme, Ambera Wellman, Eliot Wright, Heath Simpson, Ted Higney and Alissa Kloet. The winners will be announced at that evening’s gala reception at…
The Beach
It’s been 9 months since you gave birth to our first child, and I thought you would have been able to get back to your pre-pregnant weight by now. When we were on vacation last month in Mexico, I was a bit embarrassed to be with you. Our friends’ wives all lost the weight quickly…
Halifax is Dying
Don’t you see it? The dilapidated buildings; the empty/vacant stores; the divide between each other based on race and income; the drugs being spread around so greedily; all that hate and jealousy… Don’t think I do not see you. Powder keg. While I know that some of us are trying to keep everything in order,…
Novalea Cat Killer
We saw you: Saturday evening, April 30, corner of Stanley Place and Novalea. You in your vehicle with the “handicapped” sticker. Yes, you! The little cat had started to cross the street, saw you and stopped. You slowed down, honked… and hit the gas! You deliberately ran over the cat and like the low-life, pond…
Your Poetic Justice
To all of you blood bank bitches: You picked and picked and picked at me until I couldn’t take it anymore. You got together and took my position and married it up to one you couldn’t give away. You jealously made mountains out of molehills in order that I might lose my marbles and break…
Over-Worked
I was having the most irritating morning. Arrived to work and not a single thing was working or going right, the phone was ringing off the hook. I felt like I was going to have an ulcer or a brain aneurysm I was so irritated! Then you walked by and offered me an extra coffee…
Cat Killer
To the bottom-dwelling moron who, at 8:30 in the evening on Sat, April 30, thought it sporting to take a run at a cat with your blue minivan (handicap plate). You succeeded. The cat died almost instantly. We can only hope that when the shoe is on the other foot that your violent death takes…
Sneaky Higher-up
So, you think you can ask to see up someone’s dress and then black ball them from getting another job where they aren’t even around you? What kind of a vindictive piece of shit are you anyway? All I wanted was a job so I could pay for my kids needs and continue on in…
Brown Nosing Employees
To the fat bag of shit that let me go from my job: You and your brown nosing employee buddies don’t have the God given sense that a common dog has. Dogs use barking more frequently over actual biting. You spy on people’s conversations and take everything out of context and twist the meanings. You…
AAARRRGGGHHH!
You give in because you don’t want to argue. It drives me nuts. I don’t want to win, I want to communicate. It’s good to have a difference of opinion, opposition can be interesting. Don’t just roll over and say “OK”. I can take being wrong. I can’t take a cop out. You say it…
You Found My Book
To the cute girl who helped me get my book (even though it wasn’t out until the 3rd), and who also pointed me towards a book of awesomeness featuring dolphin-punching, thank you. —I saw this book on TV and it had, you know, a cover?
Enough Already!
Ok, I am so goddamned sick and tired of certain groups of individuals resisting and protesting each and every new development in Halifax. In case you are unaware, we live in a city, where growth and development should be encouraged, instead of fighting it every step of the way. So, perhaps a new highrise will…
Four Way Stops
Being an immigrant to Haligonia of about a year now, I have come to love the charm and the friendly atmosphere that is endemic in this province. However there is one thing that drives me mad and that is four way stops here. People, stop being nice and follow the rules as per your driving…
Singer in the Kitchen
Eating at a Quinpool tea room, when the guy making my food in the kitchen is singing his heart out with the music, makes my day! What a great attitude to have at work! —Breakfast Special with White Toast
Dirty Blood
I don’t have HIV or AIDS. If you don’t believe me, test the blood I want to donate, which you do to all donated blood anyway, I’d assume. I committed the unthinkable crime of choosing a bisexual partner, and now my blood is just as filthy and contaminated as his. How is this fair to…
Okay Young People, Show us the Love
Wanna know your power? Wanna shake up the country? Get out and vote! Every time you don’t vote or you spoil your ballot, you’re giving up—you’re saying I don’t care. Ever heard the old saying “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote”? —TJ
Sweet Strangers
To all of the kindly, lovely ladies who gave me compliments out of the blue about my braided hair: You all have made my dark days a little brighter. I am suffering in a terrible situation right now and those kind words from a stranger are giving me reasons to believe that maybe NOT ALL…
Lobster Man
To all the guys out there selling their lobster on the side of the road, you work hard to get the lobster then drive into town to sell to us. I had a wonderful meal last night thanks to your hard work. Let’s do it again next week! —Butter ‘n Lobster Lover
Hot Sneaks
Mmmm Halifax guys with your hot kicks; Hi-tops, shox, skate shoes… While lots of straight guys love their girl’s stilettos, lots of gay guys love hot kicks on a guy and tight jeans and tats. Thanks to all you stylish guys and your sexy sneaks. —Marco
Wicked Cab Driver
To the cab driver Sunday night who picked me up downtown, stopped twice for me to barf, got out and picked me up off the ground after falling straight on my ass landing in my own barf, and then listened to my sobbing ass all the way home… Thanks for not leaving me on the…
Politics is Sexy
No matter what happens in the Halifax riding on Monday, Michael DeWar, you win the sexy candidate vote! —Two Lusty Lefties
Online Enterpainment
Catching up on my online TV watching and I have noticed more commercials slipping in to the videos now. Quite frankly I’m getting sick of them, I’m sick of watching Youtube videos and having advertisements before them, sick of watching any news clip and having to watch an advertisement before that, sick of google reading…
Thanks to the Sackville link bus driver
I would like to say thanks to the bus driver on the 185 link to Halifax on Thursday, April 28. I was having a meltdown on the bus from a family crisis and had to get off. He was very helpful and gave me a transfer with extended time on it so I wouldn’t have…
Kelsey Thompson, Aram Kouyoumdjian to document Zac Crouse’s paddle tour
Zac Crouse, singer in Caledonia and a solo artist with his recent record You Plan To Do Nothing, is touring by Kayak from Ottawa to Halifax starting today, May 1. He expects to arrive here at the end of July, playing gigs along the way. The tour is in memory of his friend Corey Morris,…
Dancers! You may be eligible for money!
Attention all dancers! The Nova Scotia Talent Trust wants to give you $1100 at the annual NSTT Special Awards ceremony in December. The Robert George Jackson Special Award was created to award dancers who show “exceptional commitment and potential in dance.” Jackson’s estate donated $25,000 to create the new award to support emerging artists and…
Elizabeth Bishop inspires film screening
[image-1] Tonight at 7pm, the EB Society is proud to present, EB Projected: Short Films about Elizabeth Bishop, at the Music Room (6181 Lady Hammond Road, 429-9467). Linda Rae Dornan and Sandra Barry will host and present new and old films about the beloved poet. Regarded as a force in American literature, poet Elizabeth Bishop…
Network with the Dopplers
Networking is a lot easier said than done. Where do you go? Who do you talk to? What do you say? How many drinks should you have (or be seen with)? Well, here’s your chance to test out the waters. The first of the The Network Series of fundraisers, brought to us by The Doppler…
Ghettosocks Gets on the Vote-Train
Ghettosocks has had a pretty good year, what with his Juno nomination and that ECMA he just received for Rap Single of the Year. Now the bespectacled one has taken to Youtube to urge people to go out and vote. Overall this has been one of the most celebrity-laden elections I can remember, with pro-voting…
Thanks Stranger
To the blue haired pharmacy worker, thanks for the compliment on my hair. I was having a wickedly bad day and you made me smile when I felt like crying. —GHD
Roller Derby All The Way!
So much love to all my teammates and fresh meat who are part of Halifax Roller Derby. I know we are a new group in Halifax, and the city isn’t all that accommodating for a bunch of kickass chicks, but our board and coaches are all AWESOME, and all our skaters are rockin’ it. When…
Apology to Dr. Stan Kutcher
[image-1] On April 28th, The Coast published an article online and in print, regarding Dr. Stan Kutcher. In that article, The Coast referenced, without limitation or criticism, statements to the effect that, Dr. Kutcher, being one of the authors of a research paper, distorted the outcome measures and essentially lied. The Coast retracts those statements…
Stick Up His Ass
To the asshole on the #1 bus Thursday night. I get that drunk people can be annoying but there is no reason to be a complete ass about it and ruin someone’s evening. Just because people are laughing about their drunk friend, even though she may have commented about your food (which you aren’t even…
On the boardwalk
Registration is now open for Boardwalk Artists at Alderney Landing happening Friday, July 1. Celebrate Canada Day by presenting your work out on the boardwalk. Canada Day means party time on the Dartmouth Waterfront, guaranteeing a crowd. Participating artists are encouraged not only to set up shop, but to also display their talents by creating…
Bard meeting
[image-1] The Shakespeare by the Sea season opens in a refurbished home with a playful (yet respectful) take on the Bard. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is the perfect piece for showcasing the virtuosity of the actors of Shakespeare by the Sea, says the show’s co-director Jesse MacLean. “Imagine fitting 37 plays into…
Too Fat to Serve in Your Establishment
I have almost 10 years of experience in waiting tables. I’ve been doing it since I was 18. My experience was clearly stated in my resume, and this prompted you to call me for an interview. Great. You asked me a few questions on the phone about my availability, my experience, etc. Then you wanted…
Gingers, Get Laid
I’m tired of other gingers getting their knickers in a knot about their hair colour. Stop asking people to stop pointing, staring, laughing at your hair… Get over yourself… they’re probably not laughing at your hair colour, ten bucks says it’s your personality. I am a ginger and I don’t give a rat’s… so just…
PDAs
To the guy who stuck his tongue down his chick’s throat for thirty minutes in a Bedford restaurant: First, when you don’t buy something you will be asked to leave. I wanted your seat, so next time don’t be such a loser and freak out on the waitress. Second, no one wants to see you…
I Wish this was a Love
I would like to sincerely thank the individual who decided it would be a really smart idea to steal not only my jacket (that happens to have a great deal of meaning) but also my sweater from a bar in Halifax on Saturday. Furthermore, thank you for forcing me to go out in the rain…
In a Box
You’re probably the reason I got a new phone. I didn’t actually need one; I could have handled not having one, but then you show up and want to call me and text me all the time. You show up and ruin everything, ruin the fact that I had a good thing going. I was…
Introducing the Stop Idling Buses Project
[image-1] We’ve all seen them, and it’s extremely frustrating. I’m talking about idling buses, of course. Many of us ride the bus because we are worried about the environmental effects of our commute, so to then see buses idling makes us feel like our efforts are wasted. I’ve discussed this issue with Metro Transit management.…
The Fed Pennies Enjoy an ECMA Cocktail
Last week the Fed Pennies took home Best Loud Recording at the 2011 ECMAs for their debut album Brain Disaster, beating out Orchid’s Curse, Last Call Chernobyl and Obsydian. For the band, it’s a career highlight (closely followed, we imagine, by opening for Ozzy Osbourne at the Metro Centre in 2008.) Lead singer Jake Smith…
Conservative cuts affect local health providers
[image-1] Saskatchewan’s Conservative candidate Brad Trost said last week that he felt “proud” of denying funding to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an organization promoting safe access to abortion worldwide. Prime minister Stephen Harper denies that any decision has been made about Planned Parenthood funding, but in the wake of Trost’s comments, local pro-choice advocates…
To My Sexy Neighbour
You live across the street from me and we sometimes catch the bus together. You work in security and drive a Jeep. I don’t know your name but we always have cute chats with each other when we are waiting for the bus. I never have the nerve to continue those conversations during the bus…
Meow Meow Meow
Your boyfriend gave you a kitten for Valentine’s Day. Everyday you had a new picture of your kitten on your Facebook and MSN, All you talked about was “my kitty” and “oh it was so cute, she…” Jump ahead 2 months, your boyfriend dumped you, and you’re still going on about your damn cat and…
HRM Budget detail
As I’m just receiving this two days into the budget debate, I don’t have time to go through it myself presently, so I thought I’d throw it out to readers for peruse themselves. Read the budget details here.
Don’t Be a Boob
Dear middle aged, 45ish to 50ish lady at work, for the love of God wear a bra EVERY DAMN DAY. Do us all a favour and consider the bra a mandatory part of the work uniform, like shoes or pants. I’m sure in your hey day you were somewhat of a looker… well it ain’t…
People
This is a bitch for every person out there. Well that is every person that calls into any service centre and treats that person like shit. I am sorry your life sucks and your spouse is leaving you because you are a complete bitch/asshole. Just remember, the people that you are treating this way have…
Snoop Dogg
Hip-hop albums are big, of course, on guests and cameos. With an institution like Snoop Dogg, it’s getting to be like the freakin’ Bob Hope Christmas Special. Willie Nelson strums and trades verses on “Superman,” about learning your limitations. A clip from Snoop’s interview with Larry King turns up on “Gangbang Rookie.” R. Kelly, Kanye…
Slow food revolutions
“The first day of this conference was unbelievably overwhelming,” says Brooklyn Warehouse’s George Christakos of his trip to Turin, Italy for the 2010 Terra Madre Conference. “I just didn’t understand how to approach it. I felt like I was drowning in this wealth of information.” Slow food is a complex subject. Speaking with Christakos on…
Needle play: It’s fair to ask her…
Q I’m a young heteroflexible guy who has been a “sugar baby” for a handful of wealthy older guys. I love it! I get money, I have fun being with them and the guys seem to like having me around. The problem is that I just got with a new guy who is really great…
Kev Corbett’s musical birthday bash
Halifax road dog Kev Corbett isn’t around much. And when he is, it’s his birthday. For the second consecutive year Corbett’s spent most of his days touring the country. He’s back in town to play and record what’s becoming an annual birthday gig at The Company House on Saturday evening. Corbett’s a folk singer, a…
Green university
Two years ago Claire Campbell was a professor working in the Department of History at Dalhousie University. That is, until Dal’s College of Sustainability opened in September of 2009. “I always knew I wanted to do something about the environment,” says Campbell, now splitting her time between the history department and the new college to…
Tower wars
Three years after HRM By Design was adopted to standardize development in the downtown, the war over building height rages on. Fronts are forming around the Roy and Discovery Centre buildings on Barrington, and CBC and YMCA buildings at Sackville and South Park. Proposals for the Roy and Discovery Centre will undergo public hearings May…
Go Local: Main Street Dartmouth
With people rushing in and out of grocery stores, fast food joints and gas stations, it may be difficult to notice all the local goodness happening in the area. But from exotic pets to office-building yoga, we found lots of unique shops and services to love among the chains. Always and Forever 145 Main Street,…
Foo Fighters
Their most rockin’ release since 1997’s The Colour and the Shape, the Foos’ latest record is refreshingly ambitious. Boasting a nice mix of heavy face-melters and classic Foo Fighters pop-rock, Wasting Light is consistent throughout. The album’s opener, “Bridge Burning,” and track four, “White Limo,” are two of the best and heaviest tunes. Many who have…
Veganism, raw food and the environment
A study at the University of Chicago in 2006 found that adopting a vegan diet has a greater impact in the fight against global warming than switching to a hybrid car. In a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, it was estimated that 18 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions come…
The truth about True Story
Four years of comic strips, and all Mike Holmes got was a local and worldwide following, friendships with big-name comedians, a new appreciation for narrative, and, this week, his second book with Invisible Publishing. The True Story book compiles the strips that have been illustrating Haligonians’ stories to Coast readers and online audiences since 2007.…
Ook Chung reads between the lines
Ziyan Yang, Irène Chassaing and Alexandra Tsedryk are bringing together students from Canada, France and North Africa to talk about words, and the spaces between them, in French. The three graduate students in Dalhousie’s French program have organized an international conference entitled Silence and Word (or, le silence et le verbe). This weekend welcomes presentations…
Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa is riding high on a wave of hype thanks in part to his Pittsburgh Steelers theme song “Black and Yellow” and his recent Rolling Stone cover. Rolling Papers is the hotly anticipated third studio effort to be released by the young MC, but unfortunately the album doesn’t support the hype. The disc as a whole…
Feed-In Tariff troubles
In terms of electricity generation, Nova Scotia is one of the dirtiest, most polluting jurisdictions in North America. We now produce about 85 percent of our electricity by burning fossil fuels—mostly in four gigantic, greenhouse gas-belching, coal-fired power plants in the northern reaches of the province. The provincial government has set a firm target for…
Moda promotes mental health campaign
Moda Urban Dining (1518 Dresden Row, 405-3480) co-owner and chef Matthew Pridham is teaming up with Premiere Suites to help promote their “Mental Health Above All” campaign in support of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. Premiere Suites seeks out local artists to participate in their yearly fundraiser and gives them free-range to paint…
Take flight with the Halifax Crafters
Still need a gift for Mom? Or maybe you just need to pick up something for yourself? (Spring cleaning can lead to spring shopping, you know.) Either way, it’s time to check out the latest offerings of Halifax’s top-notch crafters. The Halifax Crafters Society, which boasts at least 70 members, is holding Spring Flight, a…
Bill Callahan
Always the same, always different. Whether as Smog or under his birth name, Bill Callahan has been churning out quality music for over two decades. An artist of such integrity and so many dimensions, everyone seems to have a different favourite record. On Apocalypse, Callahan continues to dig deeper into his own peculiar Americana, sounding…
Catch of the day
Last year saw the beginning of a new opportunity for people who want to support sustainable and small-scale fishing in Nova Scotia: Off the Hook, Atlantic Canada’s first community supported fishery. On June 26, 2010 fishers and interested seafood lovers enjoyed a barbecue on the Halifax Waterfront, giving a chance for the consumer and the…
Power Ballot
“I don’t know what difference it will make. I feel like I don’t know shit,” says a young man on a skateboard in Millefiore Clarkes’ film, Democracy Needs You. By the end of the four-minute clip, the same young man, sporting sunglasses and a green cap, says, grinning, “I probably will vote after this just…
Under The Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush
Kate Bush is one of the great enigmas of modern pop music. The British singer released five records between ages 20 and 27 and only three from 27 to 52, becoming a virtual recluse in the meantime. Thomson’s academic approach is impeccably researched and annotated, a wealth of information unearthed by his interviews with hundreds…
Fast Five dumb, fun
The fifth installment of the cars-go-vroom series takes the action to Rio de Janeiro, where the gang led by Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster try to pull off One Last Job. That job involves making off with a crime kingpin’s millions while evading his militia and a U.S. agent (Dwayne Johnson) determined to…
Timely tales in An Enemy of the People
It seems very appropriate that Theatre Arts Guild is staging An Enemy of the People, Ibsen’s tirade against the dangers of the conservative majority, during election time. The play centres on Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Michael Chandler, who does a memorable turn as the idealistic firebrand), a man who has put a small Norwegian town on…
Middle Eastern flavour
As we pull into the parking lot atPersepolis, we get a filmy view of the restaurant through the warped plastic that covers the windows into the dining room. A giant chalkboard overlooks the parking lot, singing the praises of the grilled meats and stews. Walking into the market, it smells fantastic. Like spices and nuts.…
Halifax abuzz with urban gardening
The downtown core of any large Canadian city can be a drab, dreary affair. Aside from the odd weed poking its hopeful head through a crack in the pavement, you could go blocks without seeing anything green. Office towers and parking lots dominate the landscape. But to a growing number of forward-thinking urban growers, every…
Green roofs in Halifax
Green roofs are not new. They’ve proven to be a huge hit in Germany, where an entire industry has shot up around the environmental and economic benefits of covering your roof with living plants. Beyond the extra insulation providing energy savings to the home or office it grows above, a green roof limits storm water…
Summer school
Instead of ditching class for a few bevvies in your campus pub, it’s time to start ditching your summer job. Here’s a look at what’s on tap for university bars this summer. The Grad House Seasonal hours are 2-10pm (Mon-Tue) and noon-1am (Wed-Fri). Watch out for power hours 1-4pm and again at 7-10pm. If you’re…
Free Will Astrology
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Many artists want “to aim for the biggest, most obvious target, and hit it smack in the bull’s eye,” says Brian Eno, a Taurus genius renowned for his innovative music. He prefers a different approach. He’d rather “shoot his arrow” wherever his creative spirit feels called to shoot it, then paint…
Eco-friendly commuting in the HRM
Every day thousands of Haligonians take their cars to work, all by themselves. The cars they drive can usually seat at least three others comfortably. Yet this lonely form of commuting remains the standard way to get from point A to point B. This inefficient form of transportation comes at a high cost for many…
portal 2
With some interesting additions and a far more compelling story, Portal 2 makes the original Portal look like a small taste of what Valve actually wanted. Doing away with sterile white walls, Portal 2 takes place in a vibrant world with overgrown vegetation, decrepit facilities and much more “behind-the-scenes” areas of the Aperture Laboratories. Despite…
Electric avenue
When it launches later this year, the Nissan Leaf will be the first automobile in Nova Scotia to not require an internal combustion engine. Even fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles—the Toyota Prius and GM’s Chevrolet Volt—require at least some gasoline to run. The Leaf, however, is completely electric. From the motor, to the air conditioning and the…
Is This Real Love?
Listening to the sparrows chirping in the wee hours of the morning; is this real love? Or is real love listening to the roar of the early morning buses echoing outside of my front windows? Or is real love peeking out of my window and seeing a very special early morning bus driver every day?…
Ridge Racer 3D
The launch of new hardware often brings with it some compelling software as developers try to capture a new audience, but there are also some awful cash grabs, which are meant to exploit consumers. Once again, Ridge Racer finds itself in the latter category. Ridge Racer 3D is an arcade racer with a multitude of fictional…
Pavia Gallery to open this summer
If you’re looking for a fresh place for your caffeine kick, Pavia Gallery (995 Herring Cove Road) is a brand new espresso bar that’s coming to Herring Cove. On top of authentic Italian espresso straight out of Florence, the cafe will offer up biscuits, baked treats and delicious paninis. Plus, the cafe will double as…
Charlie Zone reveals Halifax dark side
Michael Melski knows a little something about the duality of Halifax, how its mini-ecosystems churn alongside each other. He’s witnessed the city’s “culture of white privilege and wealth,” but has lived in tougher neighbourhoods in Spryfield, Dartmouth and Halifax’s north end. Melski’s seen pretty and he’s seen gritty, and finds cinematic inspiration in the latter. “You…
City digging
It’s not every day a high school gets turned into a farm. But that’s what’s going on at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street, where Queen Elizabeth High School once stood. Partners for Care, a registered not-for-profit charity that ventures to raise money for the city’s hospitals, had the idea to reclaim the…
Recycling your clunker
If you’re still driving in a vehicle that was made in 1995 or earlier, guess what? It’s probably issuing 19 times more emissions than a vehicle made after 2004. Yep, that old Tercel that works “just fine” is actually one of the worst polluters on the road. Probably time to recycle it. It’s important to…
Hoodwinked Too unhappily ever after
The sequel to Hoodwinked is a fairytale mishmash, spy-noir-western with too many characters to make it a compelling story. At “Sister Hood” training camp, Red (Hayden Panettiere) and the Sisters discover their chocolate truffle recipe (that makes its eater unstoppable) is missing. The Happily Ever After Agency dispatches Red and a “not so Big Bad…
A Summer in Genoa
A mother of two girls (Hope Davis) dies in a car accident. The father (Colin Firth) gets an academic position at a university in Italy and takes his daughters along. That’s the sum of the plot. The rest of the picture is a dreamy travelogue of sandy beaches, labyrinthine streets and brief encounters with the…
The biofuel question
Back in 2004, Metro Transit was touting its use of biodiesel as making a new era of sustainability for the city of Halifax. The fuel was made up of 20 percent fish oil and 80 percent diesel. “Moving to biodiesel has allowed HRM to replace 1,550,000 litres of non-renewable diesel fuel with a source that…
Royal in Waiting
Modern-day balladeer Royal Wood may perform like a traditionalist, but outside of music he doesn’t seem to have any inclination toward the traditions of the past. “We won’t get into the religious discussion, but Easter to me is just chocolate bunnies,” he says during a phone call on Good Friday while taking a break from…
The burden of biosolids
Sludge is a great example of onomatopoeia, a word that sounds like the thing it is. Sludge is that sloppy sediment that that contains all of a city’s sewer slurry. It’s not a solid. And while there are still water particles trapped in it, sludge isn’t really a liquid either. It’s sludge. And with the…
You don’t have to go to Prom
A narrator offers these wise words: “High school, it happens to everyone.” Fortunately, Joe Nussbaum’s Prom doesn’t have to happen to everyone. When the Starry Night Prom set accidentally gets burned to a crisp, the school principal assigns badass Jesse Richter (Thomas McDonell) to help the ambitious Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden) rebuild it in three…
Halifax’s chicken warriors
Animal Bylaw A-300 allows for residents of the Halifax peninsula to keep rabbits, fish, lizards, birds, cats, dogs, snakes, spiders, and a veritable Noah’s ark of other creatures, great and small, as pets. But allus gallus domesticus, otherwise known as the common chicken, is species non-grata on the peninsula, and that has feathers flying among…
Harper: anti-women
Harper’s male bomb When you head to the polls on Monday, remember how the Conservatives have repeatedly cut funding for groups that help women. I was glad to see the Conservatives stepping into some well-earned shit last week over women’s reproductive rights. When Saskatchewan Conservative MP Brad Trost bragged that the Harper government had cut off…
Eco-wear
1. Aigle 5507 Spring Garden Road, 406-7495 Aigle Parcours rubber boots $169 French company Aigle prides itself on thinking green, with textile collections that utilize organic fabrics and recycled materials. There boots are handmade with 100 percent natural rubber, built for hiking. 2. Aerobics First 6166 Quinpool Road, 423-1470 Brooks Green Silence $110 A racing…
Hospital visit
Genital Hospital’s garage-punk gems are about as finely honed as you can get. But they’ve had lots of practice. Despite being a relatively new band, most of the members have clocked in countless hours on the road with other projects, making Genital Hospital a hardened beast of a band. Brian Hildebrand and Stefan Pez played…
Rent Control Please?
Why the hell is it so expensive to rent in Halifax? Why do complete dives cost an arm and a leg, and why are landlords allowed to keep raising rent? The argument is, people will pay it, so we charge it. But people HAVE to pay it because there is no where else to live!…
Green clean
1. P’Lovers Park Lane Mall, 5657 Spring Garden Road Citra Solv Concentrate $12.95/$9.95 A versatile citrus cleaner with a “a sweet, juicy and delightfully effervescent scent” that you can dilute for all-purpose cleaning or use at full-strength for the tough stains around the house. A 256ml bottle is $12.95, or a pre-diluted spray bottle is…
John K. Samson turns it down
Weakerthans frontman John K. Samson will be passing through Halifax this Thursday, and he’s bringing his acoustic guitar. He’ll be strumming alongside his long-time “musical comrade” Jim Bryson in the serene setting of The Carleton. Samson says the unplugged session will feature some new tunes from both artists, but there will be plenty of Weakerthans…
My big fat green wedding
FLOWERS Flowers can set the tone and theme for an entire wedding, and they are often a large portion of the budget. As flowers are direct from the earth and part of a surprisingly pesticide-dependent industry, if you’re looking for a more ecologically sensitive choice you’ll need to search. “‘Fair flowers’ is sort of a…
To the Girl on the 60
You get on the bus on Melrose at 7am everyday. You are drop dead gorgeous everyday whether it’s in a pair of jeans or dress pants with those high heels—it’s a wow everyday. I’ve started taking the bus more just to have my day brightened. Your auburn/reddish hair and glasses complete the look. —Riding the…
Is King’s College Chapel in Halifax available for weddings? Who should I contact?
My fiancée is an alumni of Dalhousie and would like to be married in the chapel at King’s College. —Michael K
