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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] Rented a car for one day at the airport. Charges on my card are now more than double the quote. Now starts the battle to get my money back. Not coming to Halifax again —al
Never have I agreed more with the granola eating tree hugger crowd than at Christmas time. It’s like the twenty minutes you wait to get to a register and buy the latest hunk of plastic crap with your dwindling bank funds is designed to make a man want to run off into the woods Thoreau…
Thank you for not caring about your jobs enough to bother checking my senior/child/whatever isn’t full-price ticket I bought from the kiosks. I think you get more money from snacks anyways? I’ll make sure to keep buying the popcorn. —Broke ass movie buff
[Image-1] You’re going to be out in Toronto for work for a while, so maybe you should start making new friends. You claim that all the friends you need are back here in NS, but you’re literally out there by yourself and spend your weekends alone, and blowing up mine and your friends’ phones, complaining…
I can’t help but notice along wit everyone that has a pulse the amount of coverage “bullying” is getting. I feel so absolutley terrible for the victims as well as the parents that have to watch what their go through. Sadly though these kids are learning how to be a bully from us, the adults.…
I look forward to reading the coast, including SL, but this week, not only is it not posted… the title is for the week befores article. Get it together over there, will ya! —Who’s reviewing the Updates?
Continuing in the spirit of our Buy Local Pledge, and in the spirit of giving wonderful, locally-made gifts (even if they are to yourself) here’s another instalment of our holiday pop-up round up! 1. Let’s start with TOMORROW, shall we? FRED. (2606 Agricola Street) hosts an evening of merriment from 7-9pm. Enjoy a cash bar…
“Residual waste; garbage, that is.” —councillor Reg Rankin “I’m sick and tired of plans. Sick and tired of it, silly master plan.” —councillor Barry Dalrymple “I drove by a Santa Claus today—it looked great—on a car dealership.” —Dave O’Connor, president of Glow Parties THROW AWAYS Yesterday was Halifax Regional Council’s last meeting of 2014, and…
The gutted shell of what was once home to Raceway Auto Centre’s seven bay garage (2019 Gottingen Street, next to Propeller Brewing Co.) will soon be the north end’s newest source of entertainment, and exercise—Seven Bays Bouldering is set to open this spring. The idea for an east coast spin-off of Montreal’s Allez Up came…
Givin’ all my love to furry little babies. The bulldog in the store who’s always drooling. The daschund on my block that jumps up and down when he sees me. The big dumb lab next door who eats garbage. You’re all great and you should never change. —Wish my apartment wasn’t pet free
ATTN everyone who gets absolutely enraged when the person ahead of them goes into full panic stop mode – usually flashing their lights manically in a GO AHEAD I’M NOT CRAZY kind of morse code – and holds up an entire column of traffic at best or causing multiple accidents at worst. I have an…
Why do so many houses in Halifax paint/re-side the front of their home and not the sides?? I just don’t understand! Do you think no one will notice? Aren’t you aware of the tacky-factor? I need an explanation. —Flimsy Facades
[Image-1] To the crazy guy who was punching the glass at the highfield bus terminal and saying he was going to punch the bus driver in the head. I wish I could have said something. You scared me, and the three elderly people who were there and I dont think you needed to worry about…
[Image-1] As if everyone wasn’t already sickeningly in love with the new Halifax Central Library, they’ve gone and announced that for the rest of December any outstanding fines from overdue items will be cleared. Starting this Saturday, December 13, anyone with a library card can visit any public library and erase their debt. It’s part…
[Image-1] A Halifax councillor has spent $25,000 of the municipality’s money on a talking Christmas tree. Brad Johns, councillor for Middle/Upper Sackville-Beaver Bank-Lucasville, is eagerly awaiting his new tree as it’s shipped from the States. He says it will help Sackville compete with neighbouring districts. “Spryfield’s got the Santa parade, downtown has their tree lighting.…
[Image-1] UPDATE: City staff have instead recommended moving forward with leasing the old Library lands to Volta Labs. “Everybody loves Volta,” I’m told. One expects a provincial announcement with more details on the partnership is likely soon to be released. As the Halifax Central Library finally gets set to open its doors this weekend, the…
[Image-1] It’s an early Christmas gift to The Youth Project from Raymond Taavel. Yesterday, Taavel’s partner Darren Lewis presented a cheque for $3,113 to the local non-profit which offers support services around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity to those under 25. [Image-2] As we reported a few months ago, the funds are from…
On your boss’ desk? I still think of that hot Friday night and smile. —Let’s have another “meeting”
I and others who were waiting for the 52 bus going downtown give a thumbs down!! Didn’t you see people waiting, I even waved when I thought you seemed to be going too fast for a stop.THANKS for my missed appointment!!! —A thumbs down to the driver of the 52 bus at 10:58 on Thursday…
That’s not stupid. It’s not like the environment is already on its last legs. Theres a proud tradition of coal mining in cape breton after all. A great career where no one gets hurt and safety conditions are always superb. —I’d prefer fracking
The north end’s newest gang of motorcycle outlaws is all digital, as Orpheus Interactive and Silverback Games gets ready to launch Sons of Anarchy: The Prospect. The interactive, episodic video game spins-off of the popular FX series, which is wrapping up this month after seven violent, hard-boiled seasons. It’s the first major release from Orpheus,…
While the temperature dropped below freezing, and snowflakes danced atop Citadel Hill, a nearly sold out crowd gathered to warm their cockles at Spatz Theatre for The Halifax Jazz Festival presentation of Tales of A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring the Jerry Granelli Trio and the Vivace Children’s Choir Sunday afternoon and evening. As the only…
[Image-1] Last week Halifax Regional Council made a token gesture to welcome newcomers by letting permanent residents vote in municipal elections. Naturally, the topic elicited the usual xenophobia from radio callers and Internet commenters. The public seemed worried planeloads of new immigrants would invade our city, flex their democratic muscle and change all our blue…
[Image-1] An elderly, wheelchair-bound woman had to wait 15 minutes to be able to get out of her car because you were too lazy to walk a few feet. You were parked illegally and then you fucking laughed at her when she confronted you. I hope you slip, crack an ankle and have to spend…
It would be great to write off the disgusting events in New York and Ferguson as the usual American racist police state in action. But then Halifax police need to go order new sniper rifles and the RCMP need to buy a tank to patrol New Glasgow. For what, buddy cheating on his scratch and…
[Image-1] I know your job’s terrible. You don’t feel like you’re making any progress in the career you want. And the man you love is so, so far away. You’re so talented, strong, a gorgeous person. Tomorrow things will be better and you’ll get everything you rightfully deserve soon enough. Until then, I’ll bring the…
Picture this like Sliding Doors, you pick one option, meet the person of your dreams, start your own PR firm. You pick another and you’re headed out to San Francisco on your own, something that didn’t happen in the film Sliding Doors but maybe should have? Option 1: Matthew Samways, Unreal Thought, DJ Brett Wagg…
Last night Jenn Grant outshone the moon with her constellation of songs. After a long cross-country album release tour, and her third sold-out show in a row at The Carleton, her latest, Compostela, positions Grant amongst the brightest map of stars in the night sky. Warming the hour with their sturdy Cape Breton hearts, Villages—a…
Tonight night brings the second installment of Shopping Under The Stars on Spring Garden Road, where special sales and carolers sweeten the holiday shopping from 5-10pm. Adding to the festivities, Fresh Goods (1491 South Park Street) will debut its collaboration t-shirt with the Quarrelsome Yeti AKA Geordan Moore. This hand-dyed, cotton Stanfield’s shirt—screenprinted with a…
“Gothic might be a bit of a misnomer,” says Marina Smith of the annual Have Yourself a Gothic Little Christmas crafter fair, which takes place this weekend. “It’s based in a fairytale realm where there’s light and dark.” This year a wide range of Halifax’s most unique creations will gather at the Halifax Forum (2901…
[Image-1] The good news is we all have an extra year to buy our convention centre-warming gifts, now that the Nova Centre isn’t going to be what we asked for, when we asked for it. A week ago the news broke that the Ivany tower dream project which is the Nova Centre is delayed nearly…
Halifax’s newest breakfast joint, Robie Street Station (2394 Robie Street) has decided to put the grocery-store-bought, cardboard-tasting gingerbread house kits to shame. In the spirit of the season the diner’s hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest in which it’ll provide an assembled, and homemade house, two freshly baked gingerbread people, handmade frosting, assorted candy and…
In the spirit of ice-cold toes and all of the giving that goes on during this month, Barb Mulrooney—a friendly face you might recognize from Julien’s Bakery’s stall at the Seaport Farmers‘ Market (1209 Marginal Road)—is holding her second annual sock drive for Shelter Nova Scotia and the Mobile Outreach Street Health program this Saturday,…
[Image-1] UPDATE: This story is about Rehtaeh Parsons. Two men have pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in a case that made international headlines and changed the law in Nova Scotia. It’s the case of a teenage girl The Coast can’t identify due to a publication ban, but trust us—you know her name. Her story…
[Image-1] This story’s kept changing. At first, 20 newsroom employees at the Chronicle Herald were to be victims of cost-cutting layoffs. Then the number started to drop, as some employees left for early retirement and others took buyouts. This past weekend, the Halifax Typographical Union voted in favour of concessions that dropped the layoff list…
CAM SMITH This is going to sound so corny but when I was in high school I documented every day of December in a notebook and gave it to my then-girlfriend. Here comes the icing on top of the cake—I left Christmas Day blank and included a pen so we could fill it in together.…
Ice crystals, better known as snowflakes, make for a whimsical winter tale—but this is one fable founded in cold hard fact. Apart from perpetuating Canadianisms and a subconscious love of holiday commercialism, snow is complicated, close to home and, of course, icy cool. “It’s a story of many facets,” says snowflake specialist Kenneth Libbrecht, professor…
Egg nog is a weird and wonderful thing. Basically a drinkable custard, the milk-sugar-egg mixture—which, in carton form, contains a serious lack of eggs—traditionally exists mostly as a way to make drinking spiced rum at all hours of the day acceptable, and more recently to transform the traditional latte into a religious experience. But it’s…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) With both symbolic and practical actions, Sagittarius-born Pope Francis has tried to reframe the message of the Catholic church. He’s having public showers installed for the homeless in Vatican City. He has made moves to dismantle the church’s bigotry toward gays. He regularly criticizes growing economic inequality, and keeps…
1 Xmas Hamper Edition of Grab That Dough Don’t be a holiday drag, celebrate the season with everyone’s favourite queen, Mz. Vicki! Come out to the festive edition of Grab That Dough at Menz Bar (2182 Gottigen Street). This gay old time features a silent auction, X-mas gift giveaway and variety show. Performers entertain the…
Shooting from the lip James Shakey, your “Let us forget Movember” is a disgusting article that should never have been published (Voice of the City, November 27). When you say that “Movember is the idea that by collecting money to literally do absolutely nothing it will cure prostate cancer,” you’re basically just broadcasting your ignorance.…
1 The BFF The rad, and radical, creations of Taylor Made come from the hands of Anna Taylor, who aims to “empower, encourage and softly redefine norms” with her work. She freehand embroiders great things like Not Sorry, Feel No Shame and Fuck This Shit onto hand-dyed fabrics, and you can find her work at…
[Image-1] Thomas Murray is the co-founder and co-owner of Punk Bucket Productions. The 18-year-old puts together all-ages metal and punk shows in Halifax, with proceeds headed towards local charities like Shelter Nova Scotia. The team is in the process of hosting their third event at the Bus Stop Theatre, coming up on December 20. Murray…
For a friend If you’re buying for a buddy, you should just cut the crap and give some good quality candy. Don’t buy a bracelet they’ll secretly hate or try to pick a sweater for them. Buying people things they don’t want is what families are for. There was a time when you might have…
STUPID CHRISTMAS (For Jerks) Saturday, December 6 to Sunday, December 14 The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street Tickets at shakespearebythesea.ca Just in case you can’t tell by its name, the folks at Shakespeare by the Sea want you to know that Tom Smith’s STUPID CHRISTMAS (For Jerks) is not meant as all-ages entertainment. “The…
Sleigh-fulls of Christmas albums have been released since the capitalization of the holiday in the 1950s, which has resulted in some truly terrible records. Like in 2012, Scientologist John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John put out a creepy X-mas cringe-fest, and this year, Hootie (Darius Rucker) came Home for The Holidays with pure country Christmas crap.…
For more info on how to contribute to the library, visit thehmc.ca. In 1872, Irish conductor Patrick Gilmore led a mammoth ensemble of 2000 instrumentalists to commemorate the end of the Franco-Prussian war, a spectacle that was at that time the largest gathering of musicians in recorded history. In a cavernous basketball court-turned-concert hall on…
Q I have been insecure about the way my vagina looks for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I would fantasize about the day I would grow pubic hair long enough to cover its unsightliness. That day never came, and I was left with an enormous insecurity about it. My labia…
Sad X-Mas :(emotionally unavailable holidays) To December 7 Opening Friday December 5, 7:30-9pm BSide Gallery, 2180 Gottingen Street It could be the 4:30pm sunset, it could be the inevitable high expectations, but for many of us, something about the holidays often results in an impromtu crying jag. If you identify with this, you’re not the…
Fleeing the basement and running back home for his Wings reruns on channel 051, Myles catches the clamour of a bottle cart behind him and looks back to make sure no one caught him hopping out of the window. He views two careworn and emaciated bottle collectors mowing towards him sharing the cart, and he…
Cellar To January 4 Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Janice Wright Cheney’s Cellar is not for the squeamish. Exiting the elevator on the fourth floor of the AGNS, the viewer is confronted with two extremely realistic looking Norway rats conferring with each other in the corner. You can almost hear the squeaks. Further inside the…
Office party Biscuit General Store, 1661 Argyle Street If you want to wear a holiday colour, it’s best to keep the other pieces as neutral as possible. You want a look that says, “I am acknowledging this holiday” as opposed to, “I watched Elf before dressing today.” Pair your best black boot with a simple…
Local writer Steven Laffoley’s seventh book, and first novel, focuses on the days leading up to the disaster and gruesome events that followed the Halifax Explosion. The bulk of the book focuses on the damages caused by the explosion, including an unnecessarily lengthy 80-plus-page section describing the bloodshed and destruction in gory detail. Most of…
As impressive as the debut EP Humble Beginnings Make for Good Night Life was, Soho Ghetto clearly had more to say. Marc-Antoine Robertson launches this album’s opener, “One at a Time,” in falsetto back and forth with a choir which leads to throbbing piano as he echoes Cutting Crew in 1985 with “I could die…
Eddie Redmayne’s got one of those faces you either love or don’t, and we’re firmly in the don’t category, especially since the last time we saw his comically oversized features they were quivering every time he sang a note, tying Russell Crowe for The Worst Thing About the Les Mis Remake, Which Is Saying A…
[Image-1] I trace my lust for breaking rules on my bike to my elementary school principal. When I was nine or 10 my parents invited my school principal over for dinner. She showed up on her bike and she wasn’t wearing her helmet. My mom, half-joking, scorned her for it. She told my mom she…
Apparently Quinpool mainstay Greek Village (formerly 6253 Quinpool Road) has the whole catlike, nine lives thing going on. When it suddenly announced its closure, again, earlier this fall we wondered if it was (hoped it wasn’t) indeed a permanent thing. Though we haven’t been able to reach owner Stefanos Kalogeras, the restaurant posted to its…
In the face of the upcoming construction at 6112 Quinpool Road, Noble Grape has followed Cyclesmith’s lead and moved its winemaking wonders to a new home. The longtime Quinpool resident didn’t stray too far, taking over (and making over) the long-neglected 2100 Oxford Street. The new shop is 50 percent bigger than the former Noble…
