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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.
[Image-1] I saw this girl with white hair and whitish legging so was so cute, you stood across me for a while we saw each other. We were both listening to music on iphone. Then you sat right behind me. It was evening around later in 6 pm. I am the brown guy with glasses…
[Image-1] It pisses me off that the cost of most/all groceries are going up fast and at the local food stores in my area, they are continuing to ask for donations at the checkout (which the stores then claim as their own, such great corporate citizens are they) and they are also not bagging groceries…
[Image-1] You walked into the MicMac Mall NSLC. That was March 25. We glanced at each other at the checkout. There was a smile from you and I was captivated. I should have said something. You are a bleach blonde brunette. You bought white whine and drove away in a red Sunfire. —Guy smiley
[Image-1] So no more flavoured tobacco products as of May 31st in Nova Scotia. Laaaaammmmeee sauce. I get that you’re trying to keep kids from picking up smoking but I don’t think this will help much. These same products exist in other places with lower rates of smoking. The reason we have a lot of…
[Image-1] You talk about how pathetic it is for rappers around here over the age of 30 to be still trying to make it yet you sell Mary Jane out of your shitty little apartment, with your shitty no furniture and your shitty attitude at almost 35 years of age. You say you’re an honest…
Thanks planning department of Halifax, for only consulting with the city legal team and high level staff RE a 10 year old parking rule that was never enforced until just this year. A rule no one has heard of until just now and suddenly “80 tickets in 3 hours” are being written by Parking Enforcement…
Dear Red, I just want you to know that even though we haven’t talked in a while I still think about you. This is a weird phase for us right now, but weird isn’t always bad. Things will pan out, trust me. Just know I loved you then, and I love you now. —Blue Thunder
I found a box of letters from you under my bed the other day, and regardless of how dated they maybe and how much feelings have changed between then and now I want to thankyou for your abundance of care. Thankyou for writing out entire books to me about your heart. I will never forget…
To the person who took my iPod classic, It may not have been the best time to take it, considering the only person in that room was you. You know, being staff members, I thought it would be okay to hang up my coat and put my bag away without suspicion that you would go…
For all of us trying to get the must-complete errands done like putting gas in our car, Thursdays are often a busy time a the gas station … especially if price is going to jump up again. So it would be really nice if you didn’t go ahead and cut off those of us that…
Compare the furor and hatred directed towards nurses who went on strike leading to the cancellation of 100 surgeries. There were daily updates through the media, the CEO going on news shows. And of that 100, several were cancelled in areas where nurses had said they would not go on strike, but they cancelled them…
It seems that no matter what happens to us—be it strikes, tax hikes, the constant raising of gas prices to suit our present government—most Nova Scotians love to bitch about the high prices we pay for this and that. But when it comes to doing anything about our constantly getting screwed over by whoever in…
I can still hear your cheerful voice saying “Hi!” as we would playfully greet each other while we cuddled and kissed. The love we shared was the best I have known and I am grateful to you. I wish we had been open about our needs years back. Yes, I can still hear your voice teasing me as…
To the person that I saw in a restaurant sitting at a booth. I am glad we both shared a double take, even though the initial purpose of the glance in the window was to scope out my own appearance. I am happy you looked out. —Blonde in a Black Jacket
Thank you for being such a wonderful human being. Thank you for serving as a reminder that men can exist and have literally every trait that I value. I love hearing about your family—especially about how you met and fell in love with your wife. There was never a chance in hell for us (due…
Living here in Fairview, we don’t have much to love. But each morning there is a very friendly person who waves at me through my basement apartment window. He wears some sort of uniform (not sure what kind), but he is always there right after my friends leave after our daily game of bridge. Thanks…
Ok Hali-men. You need to step it up. We Hali-gals…we want moxie. If you don’t know what that means, Google it and get back to us. No more lukewarm, shy, reclusive fucking wallflower man. No more of that. Only balls. That is not to say we want the kind of balls that dangle off the back…
To the asshole(s) who tag “SNES & OTELI:” if you don’t stop putting throw-ups on the side of the super-cool, family-owned corner store business in my hood, this normal graf lover, enthusiast and aficionado will personally help the family track you down and get the cops after you. You’ve put this family through enough clean-up…
[Image-1] We get a lot of press releases during our day. Some of them are useful, others not so much. Presented without judgment or context, this past month’s weirdest releases. Cat-chella Festival: Meow Mix’s Kitty Girl Group Releases Hit Song! “The new song combines three of the world’s most powerful artistic forces: Girl Power, Beyonce-style…
Let’s get literal! The Atlantic Book Awards Society (ABAS) has released the schedule for a week chock full of scholarly celebration (aka the Atlantic Book Awards and Festival). Starting May 7 and continuing until May 14, events will take place across all our salty sweet Maritime cities. After a week of bookish bliss, the finale…
Halifax-based, internationally-visited online shop Alexa Pope is all about girl power. As a trio of businesswomen with backgrounds in fashion, business and photography, these style mavens believe in following your dreams, finding your passion in life and seeing your vision come alive. Marianne Thompson, Melissa Marchand and Lauren Wambolt of Alexa Pope will be hosting…
Directed by Nobu Adilman, who got his film start in NS, this snappy short demonstrates why there’s no substitute for Nova Scotia. Go on, laugh to keep from crying.
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia recently announced the 2015 shortlist for this year’s East Coast Literary Awards, and if you’re looking for summer reading, you’d do well to start here. The nominees were heavily vetted by the WFNS jury, who sifted through 62 submitted titles from four Atlantic provinces to come up with these…
I like meat. I like meals with meat. I like meat on meat wrapped in meat. Yes, I know some animals go through super shitty treatment before it ends up on someone’s plate. Yes, I know your hippy-dippy, organic, gluten free cucumber and bean sprout burger may taste fine to you, but I’m happy just…
[Image-1] You observant and charming person. Thank you for such a thoughtful compliment; I am sorry I was flustered and shy. Even so, I am grateful to have shared that moment with you, considerate stranger. —Brown Eyes
I have just seen a government contractor pick up and dump green bins into the garbage truck -whats up with that – hypocrisy. —jaws
Thank you for getting bylaw enforcement to ticket a vehicle parked in front of a “driveway” that looks remarkably like a lawn. Karma is a bitch. —P & I
[Image-1] My two young children & I waited to cross the road around 9am (near uniacke) as 2 cars drove past us. The next car stopped to let us cross.. I grabbed both of their hands & told them ok now it is safe to cross. Your stupid ass took it upon yourself to take…
But tip your f**king servers! Especially when you can see that a single person is running the whole restaurant. If you take your family for a $100+ meal and praise me for my hard work, thank me for the delicious food, tell me that your kids love my place then don’t you think $0.50 or…
[Image-1] So my roommate works at a gas station and one of the only ones that has two gas pumpers on shift together. I guess him and a buddy were smoking a joint at about 11:30 taking turns in his car. Some assfuck in the building behind them actually makes a video on his cell…
Sit down and be quiet while listening to the comedians during their act. It’s simple. Why would you open your mouth and flap your gums at a comedy show? You wouldn’t do it in a theatre, or in a live performance. To the two drunk obese people who got kicked out of Yuk Yuks last…
Sorry I made fun of your shirts so much and may have rubbed up on you a bit more than I should have (I know I shouldn’t have at all). I don’t want to be petty and I’m sorry that I was. Seeing you is always a lottery feeling wise and that night happened to…
To the patient motorists who cheered while a male mallard duck ushered his mate across Cole Harbour Road…keep it up! Next time, there will be ducklings in tow. —Seth
Two back to back weekends of seasoned players performing rap music, both at the Marquee. What cool thing did you do to deserve this? May 29 brings Fat Joe and June 6 brings Bow Wow with JRDN and R$ $mooth. Click the dates for ticket info and prepare yourself with some videos.
I recently purchased a pre-packaged sushi lunch from a grocery store in Hali and was shocked when the clerk refused to give me more than two additional packets of soya sauce to accompany my 8-piece lunch. Her boss instructed her to provide NO MORE than three packets per customer. I called her boss and asked…
Doctor: Are you sexually active? Me: Laughs hysterically, makes pterodactyl noise, transforms into a potato and rolls out the door into the sunset. —Can I just haz sick note?
[Image-1] I didn’t know that it meant nothing, but i will always have a crush on you. —……..
To the twit driving the silver Sunfire: you were going 75 on the circ. Stick to small non-100 series roads. I got stuck behind you for over 10 minutes putt-putting along until I got a break in the other lane to pass you! If you’re too scared to drive normal on the big boy highways…
[Image-1] To get it out of the way, I don’t believe the film tax credit cut was a good idea or handled well. I do, however, think it underlines a bigger problem affecting Nova Scotia. In recent news alone we’ve seen Target, Ben’s Bakery, Future Shop and countless mom-and-pop shops around town close up shop…
[Image-1] Feast your eyes on the swank new multimillion dollar pavilion set to rise up beside the Oval next winter. Approved by city council earlier this week, the building is part of phase two of the Oval’s construction on the North Common. Once complete, it will house equipment, staff offices, washrooms and skate rental and…
[Image-1] This week’s print copy of our newspaper is a milestone: the 1,000th issue of The Coast. And whether you are a longtime reader or a newbie, you are part of this accomplishment. So thanks, and congratulations. Feel free to raise your voice in song to welcome The Coast’s millennium. One thousand issues ago, The…
Tonight is the release of Régénération Musicale, a reimagination of classic Acadian songs by La Fédération culturelle acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE). What began as mere curiosity has matured into a collab between 13 up-and-coming artists who hail as far as Antigonish and Baie Ste-Marie. Their diverse backgrounds, whether it be their homes, age, or jobs–the…
[Image-1] I am one of the poor who will never be able to afford a computer/laptop/Internet service. I was born into poverty during a majority federal Conservative government in power, who made my single mother and me live on a monthly cheque which they would not increase with cost of living, price of groceries going…
[Image-1] “The original point was to get pussy-high.” This is the column I don’t want my grandma to read. That’s right, folks—this week we’re talking about weed lube. This winter, when storms were slamming Halifax and we were all hibernating, two people I know decided to get creative. My friend and his girlfriend (let’s call…
[Image-1] If you’re a political junkie living in any of the three electoral districts in Nova Scotia that will see a trio of elections between now and the autumn of 2016, you’re going to get your fix in a big way. Should you not be looking forward to sales pitches from political candidates, or casting…
[Image-1] “Who else is helping them?” Stephen Ayer asks. He pauses briefly before answering his own question with a quiet intensity. “No one. We are. That’s why we have value.” Ayer is executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, one of many groups to have their grant budgets slashed this year. He’s referring…
It’s been almost four years since Xara Choral Theatre presented a version of Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s children’s book, Fatty Legs, at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Halifax. Anyone who saw it then can attest to its beauty and power. “The reception Fatty Legs got in 2011 was overwhelming,” recalls Xara’s co-artistic…
SCARF Insung Choi hand-knits all her scarves and hats for her online shop Ichoiknitz out of pure enjoyment. A light wool infinity scarf takes you from parkas to jean jackets. Tri-colour scarf ($40) is available at etsy.com/shop/ichoiknitz. Fellow Earthlings are a Haligonian husband and PEI wife creating custom made-to-order sunglasses, designed and handmade in Guernsey…
It’s been 24 years since setar player Kiya Tabassian, famous for his skill on the Persian instrument, met his world-renowned mentor: master of the spiked-fiddle, the kamancheh, Kayhan Kalhor. Their training would only last one year, but “He always stayed as a master for me, as a model for me,” says Tabassian. Now, he’ll have…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) eBay is a multi-billion-dollar e-commerce business that has been around for almost 20 years. But it had an inauspicious beginning. The first item ever sold on the service was a broken laser pointer. Even though the laser pointer didn’t work, and the seller informed the buyer it didn’t work,…
Cassandra Burell of CassBurr Designs had a gift for fashion from the early age of six. She began sewing during her after-school program, but it wasn’t until 14 that she realized a career as a fashion designer was a viable option. Her focus is on creating an aesthetic that appeals to everyone, from women in…
For most of us, homesickness tends to manifest in the form of late-night binges on air mailed delicacies from home or a good cry into a glass of wine. Jing Jin, however, channelled her longing for her home of Changsha, China into her craft. “Because I’m a foreigner, sometimes I feel lonely,” she says. “I…
I am planning on a tight budget, and don’t have the money to go all out with decor. What would you say are the top three things I should not skimp on? Being faced with this question often, I always strongly suggest these three things: don’t skimp on quality linens, flowers or lighting. To save…
Durable khaki, identity and culture are creatively stitched together in Lee Dekel’s 2015 collections. While completing a degree in the history of science at King’s, Dekel took a year off in 2012 to travel to her birthplace, Israel, which changed her perception of clothing. During her time there, Dekel (who grew up in Toronto) became…
Why is it important for couples to consider buying local flowers? There is a lot to love about locally grown flowers: They are exceptionally beautiful, fresh and affordable. They use far less transportation and packaging than conventional blooms, contribute to our local economy and provide a much-needed connection to the seasons. Our greatest strength is…
Q My partner is 31 years older than I am. He’ll be 60 when I’m 29. But that isn’t the problem. The issue is he’s been a lifelong bachelor and never been monogamous. He’s fucked hundreds of women and is close friends with a lot of his former fuck buddies. Because of our four-year friendship…
When Ashley Forshner was struggling to find the look that she wanted for her hubby-to-be and his groomsmen, she didn’t just shrug her shoulders and give into a backup plan—she got creative. “I wanted mismatched bow ties. It was a picnic lunch—less formal, more fun. So I learned how to make them myself,” she says.…
Thanh Phung and Jon Johannsson’s worlds collided when they were still teenagers. After he moved to her small town from Iceland, the pair—then high school seniors—got to know each through the school musical they were both involved in. Thanh ended up in the hospital later that year, and was touched by how much Jon was…
From left to right: Demi by Maggie Sottero Allure Bridals, Flora by Maggie Sottero Both lines available at Chester & Felicity (1479 Dresden Row) and Always & Forever Bridal (145 Main Street) Related Stories
Theresa Lee Capell’s work is all about beauty found in nature. Capell (AKA Miss Foxine) grew up with a strong sense of adventure and a keen desire to create magical things. Influenced by “fairytales and whimsicality and the magic of the world around us—things that people seem to forget,” Capell’s business took off when people…
We need this. Really. Take a look at our entire Spring Fashion Feature, right here, and don’t forget to follow our Instagram this weekend as designer, blogger and all around rad lady Mo Handahu takes over and shows us her version of a fashionable Halifax weekend. Freshly styled: On our cover Nova Fashion Incubator is…
A building rooftop in Delhi is about as far away from Halifax as you can get. But it’s where designer Maggie MacCormick is trying to find a decent phone signal. Our initial interview had to be rescheduled, by no fault of her own, because she was “trapped in a fabric bazaar” and couldn’t find her…
Jamie Randell and Matt Kallio found love online in 2007. At the time, Jamie was living St. John’s and Matthew in Wolfville, but after two years of chatting long-distance, they finally met in 2009, relocating to Halifax soon after. “As cliche as it sounds,” says Jamie, “I knew from that moment, he was the one…
Spring Cleaning Pop Up used clothing sale Saturday, May 9 Nova Fashion Incubator, 1531 Grafton Street suite 301 Want to be the next Alexander Wang? Well don’t pack your bags for New York yet—there’s a place in Halifax to help you thread those duds and get them on the racks, and they’ll teach you how…
“When the big day finally came, we had experienced a lot of things together, and every moment just appeared in my mind like a movie,” says Rongze Xu. Her real-life romance flick goes like this: Girl meets boy—Jiapeng Sun—six years ago through mutual friends when they’re both studying Saint Mary’s University. Boy pops the question…
Lifelong poverty I am one of the poor who will never be able to afford a computer/laptop/internet service. I was born into poverty during a majority federal Conservative government in power, who made my single mother and me live on a monthly cheque which they would not increase with the cost of living, the price…
When you lay out the facts of The Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively (no) as a woman who dies for two minutes via drowning until she is struck by lightning (buh), which renders her ageless for decades, with a daughter played by Ellen Burstyn (um) and an ex-love by Harrison Ford (barf), it makes…
Photographer Meghan Tansey Whitton conceived our cover idea and assembled the team—including stylist Carole Rankin—to erase all trace of gross, lingering snowbank piles with this colour-saturated cover. IT’S SPRING, GODDAMNIT! Amie Cunningham of Thief&Bandit’s new trapeze-style dress in cactus print was made specifically for this shoot and screenprinted on organic stretch jersey in their Bedford…
Sukhpal Kaur and Tim Villermet met on an airplane, where she was a flight attendant and he was a passenger. There is certainly something magical about their story, meeting tens of thousands of feet in the air. Following their conversation about spirituality on the aircraft, Tim took Sukhpal out for her first Montreal bagel and…
They say good things come to those who wait, but gorgeous weddings come to them, too. After nearly 14 years together, Paul Smith and Zelda Carter tied the knot last fall on a day that was both a DIYer’s dream and a Halloween-lover’s fantasy. They’d only been dating a year or so when Paul popped…
A few years ago, a couple of local horror filmmakers entered a Quentin Tarantino contest with a fake grindhouse-inspired trailer. The entry ended up winning, and that honour scored financing and development for one of Halifax’s most well-known film productions, 2011’s Hobo with a Shotgun. This year, a couple of local horror filmmakers entered the…
[Image-1] Update: The posters may already be taken down. Stroink’s office called The Coast to let us know they couldn’t see any up when workers went out looking this afternoon. Well, somebody had a busy Tuesday night. Residents in the Halifax Chebucto riding were greeted today to posters demanding the capture of Liberal MLA Joachim…
