My bearded barista
I love you all the many. Even if you like kale. —The girl upstairs
Must Love Little Dogs
Down at the waterfront tonight our leashes tangled as our little dogs played. I’m glad my picnic was crashed by that wedding party; if it wasn’t, we may never have crossed paths. Meeting you and your little guy made my night beautiful again. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again, and if we do I’ll find…
And Then There Was Light
Up until a few nights ago my backyard was dark enough that I could see the stars on a clear night, one of my favorite things to do. And then all of a sudden two nights ago I’m standing in my kitchen looking out the back window and realize there is a spotlight on me.…
Tongue tied
I first saw you weeks ago at the karaoke bar. You.. Gorgeous man with wavy long hair and beard. Me..short, cute brunette. I was at the bar shooting tequila and we exchanges ‘hellos.’ I saw you a second time last week checking out the produce in the west end. I was tongue tied when I…
So Called “Pro Lifers” at it again
So I just came across these assholes during my lunch hour outside the VG standing around with their signs. I might actually sympathize a little bit with their movement if they actually gave two shits about the babies after they’re born. These hypocrites only care about the kids’ life while it’s still inside the mother…
Good old family reunion
Having an uncle pull me aside and tell me he could get me pregnant was a WONDERFUL experience. — Thank fuck for good friends
Festival, schmestival
I know people love to do the annual run to local music festivals. Many amazing acts perform at them. Often, the number of acts you get to see are huge in proportion to what you pay. Often, the “admission” fee is well worth the number of acts. HOWEVER…MANY of these “local” acts are visible for…
Someone fucked up
Where the hell is my horoscope this week? Let’s just completely forget that the dates between March 20 and April 20 exist; good call. — Angered Aries
Naked Selfies
I can’t look at my boyfriend of three years anymore without picturing him staring at one of the naked selfies you sent him. I get it; you didn’t know he had a girlfriend, but seriously, there had to of been some signs, right? I mean, I can’t see how much time you could have spent…
Forget your bike?
Bicycles are once again turning up at Metro Transit’s lost and found. Was your bike stolen? Maybe it’s there. Did you forget it on the bike rack? There’s three of them there now. Maybe one of them is yours. — Good samaritan
Thanks for your patience
To the lovely female staffer, originally from the Valley, with a purple streak in her hair working in a major mall. You offered me a free hot beverage as a token of thanks after waiting patiently for the wedding shoppers to be done with their purchases. It was a lovely gesture, and the company you…
Alehouse Amour
Thanks for the dance last weekend – you gave me a little something extra to smile about all week long. —Both Taken
Wanted: Dad or Alive.
I love talking to you. We have never met, but I haven’t smiled this much at a phone in a while. I’d invite you to the party in my pants… But I don’t like wearing pants. —Tinder Loving Care
Fuck You Halifax
Fate forced me back into this goddamn shit hole of human garbage. My hatred of this place and the people here is only reaffirmed every day. None of you dumb fucks can even define the word “Ego”, “Enlightenment” or any of your other bullshit New Age hippie crap; yet you spit this shit at me…
Do yuo listen to the Signal.
No I don’t. I haven’t heard of it before now. Do you respond to email? clearly not. I work hard, and my job is really hard on the head. when i come home I want ta place to live that doesn’t involve dogs, children, TV, or meat head bros. I messaged you guys several times,…
Bike Lane – Prospect Road
Hey “Halifax” – thanks for restoring the pavement on the bike lane near the Ragged Lake Business Park. One suggestion though – maybe next time you could use contractors other than Fred and Barney with the Flintstone Mobile to roll the asphalt… it’s like a fucking logging road now. #fail #noqualityassurance —Centred
Downtown Halifax is losing it’s soul
Where have all the cool places gone? No more United Bookstore/Little Mysteries will soon be history/The Bookroom gone but not forgotten/Doulls Bookstore/The Bluenose moving to Bayers Road/Urban Cottage going maybe. What are they being replaced with? Souless corporate buildings… —gimmee the good old days
Heat meets Sesame Street in local short Foam Drive Renegades
After watching wrestling promos all Saturday morning, as is my custom, I finally checked out local short film sensation, Foam Drive Renegades, which video-hosting site Vimeo recently named a must-see Staff Pick. Written and directed by Adam DeViller, co-written by Matt Chisholm and produced by Melani Wood, Foam Drive Renegades is Heat meets Sesame Street:…
Junk & Foibles is back in the saddle
It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since Halifax’s original vintage clothing boutique Junk & Foibles closed its Barrington Street storefront. It still stings a little, doesn’t it? Big Pony (1453 Brenton Street) feels your pain, which is why starting August 16 it presents one month of pop-up shopping with Junk & Foibles, which…
Stadacona Traffic Ego
In Juno tower, on August 9th, two of the best friends I’ve ever had were married. The ceremony was beautiful. The dance between husband and wife was wonderful, and brought tears to our eyes. The staff was friendly and fun. We had a great time celebrating the love of two people we all appreciate. Then,…
I hate my job.
I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my…
Fair warning…
We love all you regular commenters and the energy you bring to Love The Way We Bitch/Love. Outright racism, sexism and anything libellous has always been deleted on sight, but criticism of the articles, lively debate and criticism of the comments (or us!) is encouraged. That said, the amount of personal attacks on other commenters…
Captain, O Captain.
This generation may be the worst of them yet, but our childhoods all had something genuinely beautiful in common. Since the start you had our attention, you had our laughs and now our cries. Up there on the big screen was the dad that every single kid wished was theirs, the inspired teacher they wished…
Pro lunch
I suppose the police would know what’s illegal and what’s not but those posters today were very graphic. If it’s ok to walk around at lunchtime on busy streets with giant billboards of aborted fetuses can we hold up posters of syphilis, rape , decapitation , uvulas? Regardless of the arguments and the “won’t somebody…
Knight in Bike Armour
On my way in to work this morning I suffered a flat tire. I managed to make my way off of Windsor and pulled over on Williams St. to change it. No stranger to a bit of grease under my nails and quite capable to do so on my own, I got to it, the…
Thanks!
A big thank you to the cute guy in the hat who told me about the adapter I would need to inflate the tire of my new bike (too bad the salesperson didn’t!). I was really frustrated when it wasn’t working and totally flattened my tire! I went on to have a great first ride.…
Nurse Practitioner at Costco Halifax
I would like to thank the nurse practitioner who came to my rescue at Costco Halifax on August 10th 2014. I was having an allergic reaction to some sardines I was giving out as samples to the public for work. After walking by the first aid room noticing that there was something wrong you immediately…
Halifax Food Truck Party—thanks for the memories
On July 31 we hosted our very first Halifax Food Truck Party at the Museum of Natural History. It was great, and we really appreciate all of your who joined us in celebrating the city’s amazing food truck scene. We’re currently working on ways to make the next one even better for, but first…we just…
City isn’t sure how many security cameras it has
[Image-1] Mysteriously, Halifax doesn’t know how many security cameras are on public property, and they wouldn’t tell you even if they did. “They’re overseen by a number of different companies contracted for security purposes,” writes city spokesperson Jennifer Stewart-Stairs in an email. “Even if we had the number though, we wouldn’t disclose that or the…
Gahan House hits Historic Properties
It’s not really surprising that prime real estate like 1869 Upper Water Street (the former Hart & Thistle Gastropub) didn’t stay dormant for long. Last week PEI household name, Gahan House, announced that it was branching out off the island and bringing its craft beers and pub eats to the Halifax waterfront this fall. “We’re…
What is your idea of authentic?
I have been reading some restaurant reviews and have noticed a lot of “authentic” being thrown around. It made wonder, what exactly is their idea of authentic? —The real deal
Bumper Bender Blues
Know what sucks? When you’re trying to parallel park down a hill- during rush hour and a bunch of construction workers r mocking you cause it’s taking you a couple extra trys to get it right. I know you boys are pro-drivers and are awesome at parking your big ass trucks everywhere but why set…
halifax, hrm, ha!if@xx, what ever your called now. shape up
please, for everything sacred. take down the yield signs on the circumfrencial and replace them with free flow signs. u did it on burnside drive, credit for that. if there is a long merging lane. put up a merge sign, no yield. logic, common sence, reason, these are not bad things. —private sector rube
Subaru Boys on Barrington, Friday at 4
You two. You completely restored my faith in humanity on Friday afternoon just after the torrential rain started. I was standing on Barrington Street with my kids, waiting for the bus. You, in your blue Subaru, pulled over and offered me an umbrella. Our bus was just behind you, so I declined, but thank you…
Cyclists, sidewalks, and safety.
My common sense keeps me safe when walking in crosswalks regardless if drivers are following the rules or not, but where it can’t protect me, is on the sidewalk, when cyclists, skateboarders and sometimes joggers come from behind without warning as I’m walking, or cross in front of me as I’m about to board, or…
Double Parked
To the city and its parking enforcement employees, Please know that I fully support your efforts in keeping the Lower Water St. congestion down during traffic hour. The signage clearly states “NO PARKING/ TOW AWAY ZONE 4-6PM), and so I applaud you for towing the vehicles of those who are absent minded enough to park…
Buying a dash cam
To the fat sweaty red faced jogger who swore at me after dashing across Quinpool without looking or pausing at the corner of Beech Sunday morning, -Yes I honked. I would have done much worse if my wife hadn’t restrained me you idiot. 15 years ago there used to be a cross walk there and…
post-mortem gift
Dear stranger, Thanks to the utility company who has a monopoly here in Nova Scotia, you will have free service for the first couple of days of your tenancy! That’s right! Because of a lack of manpower, they are unable to send someone to “take the final tally” so to speak. and when you call…
Drinking Lead
Did you know that if you live in an older home, you’re probably drinking a good amount of lead in your water? I didn’t and neither did my toddler and pregnant wife, who are most at risk. If you don’t know, check, the city has records and offers free testing. Which begs the question of…
I doubt you’ll see this…
To the guy that goes to a coffee shop on Portland Street near Superstore…. You wear glasses, drive a motorcycle, and have an anchor tattoo on your hand… Ya, this is for you… I think you are really cute, and from our brief conversations, an amazing guy. I wish I could get the nerve to…
Sorry!
To the woman who stopped my mother and I on Inglis to ask if she could borrow a cell phone: I’m sorry. After an awkward pause, I said that we were in a hurry, and we kept walking. We weren’t in that much of a hurry. I don’t know why we didn’t say yes. We…
Celebrating 10 years with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival
It’s been a decade since Nina Scott-Stoddart and Tara Scott first came up with the idea to create an annual workshop for aspiring young opera singers. Since then, Halifax audiences have been entertained by 17 fully-staged operas. This year, more than 80 performers from Canada and the U.S. are taking part in three main stage…
The 34th Atlantic Film Festival first announcement
The 34th Atlantic Film Festival announced this year’s Atlantic Gala and Atlantic Features program, to just tease you with a little film goodness before the August 20 full festival announcement. Andrea Dorfman’s Heartbeat, in its Atlantic Canadian premiere, will screen at Park Lane on Friday, September 12 as the Atlantic Canadian Gala (disclosure, I am…
Depraved Hillbillys
We just moved here from Vancouver 2 years ago. What is it with the men in Nova Scotia. All of these red necks in half ton pick ups everywhere who can’t wait for hunting season. Gross! We’ve lived all over Canada and parts of the USA and have never seen anything like this. Some of…
Handsome exec at the mailbox Tuesday morning
You got out of your car to drop letters in the box, both of us on our way to work ca. 8:30, me walking on the other side of the street about 100′ back. About to get back in your car, you paused with your hand on the door handle, and gave me a long…
Dirty Little Secret
I don’t know if you even read this. But if you do: I want my bestie to leave you. For some demented reason she won’t do it on her own. You’re bad news; you use and abuse her (not physically, but mentally and emotionally) you’re constantly trying to secure something better – while dangling her…
Puppy killers
To the person or persons that killed the puppy during a house break-in: burn in hell. Is that too strong of a reaction? —Bluenoser
Tribal Stink
def: when you make an appointment with a tattooist, they ditch it , and then keep your deposit. —Owner of a soul, missing half a day’s wages
Finally Married
To the love of my life , we are finally married.. It was the most exciting day of my life., I can’t wait to continue on with this beautiful life with you. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey , you’ll never know dear how much I…
Annual insult
In lieu of a rate increase the company I work for opted, this year, to give me a bonus. I thought that was great. I’ve been there ten years and am at the top of my pay-scale. I work hard and go above and beyond my job description on a daily basis. Today I got…
so much useless noise
dear human’s, please take the time to shut the fuck once in awhile. nothing u say is important. trust me, i’ve been around awhile. —a tree… yes, tree’s can write too
Cyber attacked daily
I’m being cyber attacked on a daily basis. Thanks everyone. A word of advice, don’t force your morals and values on someone if your morals and values are worse than theirs. —The guy you saw
to my phish head
let’s go swimming xoxoxo —yours
SUSHI
I just want to thank you so much. I left my wallet at your restaurant on Friday night and heard my doorbell ring at 11:30. I didn’t even realize I left it there and you, the owner and amazing sushi maker, personally delivered it to my house after you closed up shop for the night.…
Absence of common sense…
To all of the people who travel the floors of the Scotia Square Food Court, I can’t help but become overwhelmingly surprised each day of work in this building. How is it that you’re in such a BIG hurry to get to your McDonald’s line that you have no problem cutting off a construction worker…
Creative Editions: your monthly art subscription
Always working hard to get more people to buy more art Adriana Afford and Crystal Ross, team Argyle Fine Art (1559 Barrington Street), have launched a really great new program inspired by the Community Supported Agriculture model. But, instead of unpacking loads of cilantro from your CSA, you’ll get a fresh piece of art monthly,…
First look: Patch Halifax
A new surge (and serge) of creative energy hit the north end this week as Patch Halifax (2571 Robie Street), a part-work space, part-fabric-shop, officially opened for business. Lucky enough to be one of the first through the door, we got the grand tour from owner Christina Pasquet and started daydreaming about whipping up some…
Outsider world
“We’re ever-growing and ever-evolving. The project isn’t going to stay the same, we are going to morph and be there for other people.” Gavin Quinn is talking about future plans for Outsider Insight. It’s a peer-based support organization that helps artists with mental illness further their careers with practical resources like creating a portfolio, accounting,…
Jenny Lewis
As time provides distance it becomes clearer that the most vital representation of Jenny Lewis’ talent is 2006’s Rabbit Fur Coat. Backed by The Watson Twins’ ethereal harmonies, Lewis’ clear bell of a voice, sweet but sharp, leads the way through 12 tracks that meander through the alt of country, the indie of folk, culminating…
What we know we don’t know about fracking
The practice is called fracking. The province’s two-year moratorium on it is almost up, and all the questions lie at the feet of Dr. David Wheeler, president of Cape Breton University. Wheeler and the panel he leads—at the behest of the provincial government—are due to give their final report later this month, but Nova Scotians…
Similar sentences for similar offenders
As a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge sentenced Lyle Howe to three years in a federal prison for sexual assault last week, one of the former lawyer’s supporters called out, “It’s a sad day for justice.” Howe’s lawyer and the Crown jointly recommended the three-year sentence, and justice Joseph Kennedy agreed. Additionally Howe’s DNA will…
Voice of the City
In June of 1994 I was 19 years old and playing in my first band, Thrush Hermit. We were shooting a video for our song “French Inhale” on the third floor of the Khyber building. I met and immediately fell for the video makeup artist, Rebecca Kraatz. We were married 12 years later. By 2000,…
I’d tap that: 5 to try at Seaport Beerfest
Choosing from 275 beers and ciders is no task for the lily-livered. As with any festival, you’ll get the most out of Seaport Beerfest with a game plan. Topping my list is Stillwell’s Cask Pavillion, featuring five rotating casks per session from some of the Maritimes’ best: Boxing Rock, Garrison, Propeller, Big Spruce, Hell Bay,…
Legalized loan sharking
Thomas Gaillard’s troubles with payday loans began in 2008 when the financial meltdown on Wall Street sent Canada’s economy into deep recession. As tire sales slumped, the Michelin plant in Waterville where Gaillard worked cut its production, and workers took turns staying home for a day each week. Weekend and holiday shifts were also cancelled.…
Q&A: Phil Otto says “stop being assholes”
As senior brand strategist for Revolve, Phil Otto helped usher in Halifax’s “be bold” branding. He was one of three author’s behind a recent full-page newspaper ad imploring Heritage Trust to stop obstructing the city’s new convention centre. Otto spoke over the phone with The Coast about being “bold.” The Coast: You helped create the…
Free Will Astrology
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leo (July 23-August 22) Every 12 years, the planet Jupiter spends about a year cruising through the sign of Leo. It’s there with you now, and will be with you through early August, 2015. What can you expect? EXPANSION! That’s great, right? Yes and no. You might love to have some parts of…
Where hubby won’t go
Q I am a 38-year-old married woman. My husband of 18 years is 22 years my senior. I credit my husband for giving me a good life and helping me pursue goals. But my husband is a type A professional, and that has played out in the bedroom. He has always been disinterested in my…
Letters to the editor, August 7, 2014
FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to your redesign This issue of The Coast has been in the works for years. Two-and-a-half, maybe three. Because on top of putting out the paper each week, we’ve also been redesigning it, pecking away at an alternate-universe Coast in our office. Shorter than the old version, thanks to looming changes…
Voice of the City
[Image-1] As Halifax marks the end of another successful Pride festival, it’s important to remember the challenges LGBT people face globally. In February this year, Ugandan president Yoweri Musevni signed into law a bill legislating lifetime imprisonment for homosexuals. The legislation is a serious threat to the safety and freedoms for the estimated 500,000 LGBT…
Voice of the City
[Image-1] I am a mother. I would die for my children. I raise them to be loving, caring, compassionate human beings. I would not want to see my child go to war, even though I enlisted. I would not want my child to kill another human being, in any context. I won’t even let them…
From ashes to opportunity
Jesse MacLean stands in front of the Park Place Theatre and kicks the charred remains of a garbage can. “You can see where the fire started,” he says, pointing to the circle of ashes and gesturing up the side of the building where the flames spread into the attic storage space on the morning of…
