Go To The Seahorse Tonight
We’ve already trumpeted news of this event a few times, but it bears repeating: there’s a mighty fine SXSW sendoff show going on tonight with your favorite bands – Dog Day, Duzheknew, Secret Colours and Cousins. There is a suggested $10 donation at the door to help the bands allay their travel costs, and you…
Politicians
Why do they call politicians honourable? I guess they made it up themselves, with the scandal in Halifax now in the open I hope they get jail time. The only way that they will get the trial they deserve is by a jury not a local judge. Dexter should also be charged for the cameras…
It isn’t possible, is it?
What. The. Eff. Can’t a guy and a girl JUST be friends? Am I totally stupid and naive in thinking so? Why does this always happen to me? I meet a guy, we get along, things are great, and as much as I HATE doing it, we have “The Talk” about “Just Being Friends” BUT…
And… I couldn’t
I tried watching that certain weight loss commercial, and… I couldn’t. I tried watching it again, and… I couldn’t. OMG, THE MOST ANNOYING THING EVER ON TELEVISION. And the chick is from Halifax. If you are reading this, please bow your head in shame, you’ve done a disservice. Her ’15 year old valley-girl’ cadence is…
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Four years ago when you left because you were staying home to look after your kids you acted like quite a snot. I told you you shouldn’t burn any bridges. Your response was to inform me that as a “secretary” I am not a “bridge” and I could F-off. Now, you have two kids, no…
F’n Bums!
Stop giving money to bums! This city has a bum culture because of this. This city sucks! —F OFF
Soccer Ginger
I want to thank you! About a year ago you came into my life when I needed a distraction. Even though nothing serious came out of it you still entertained me and you put a smile to my face even when I was at my worst. I want to say thank you! —I Still Want…
Not Just Any Bus Ride
To the girl who came on the #1 with your friend in a leather jacket, you are absolutely stunning. I overheard the conversation you were having and you have an amazing personality from what I can tell. You made my day which had been spent moping about an ex-girlfriend much more enjoyable, until you arrived…
The Winter Shames
I wish I could say I’m surprised at how much Nova Scotia sucks at the Winter Games but I’m really not. I know of three major sports where the top seeded athlete was not even asked to compete in the Winter Games. How can you be ranked number 1 in your sport for the province…
Sushi Shige grand opening
Just to let all of you who are sushi fans and Shoptalk readers, Sushi Shige Japanese Restaurant (1532 Granville Street) is open again, offering some of the best sushi in town. The proper opening celebration is this Friday, February 25, 6:30pm-9:30pm. Call 422-0740 for more details.
Livin’ on the edge of a broken heart
The sad truth is that I read this every day hoping that I will find a message from you telling me that you miss me… or something. I cannot come up with the words to describe how much I miss you or explain the heaviness I carry with me every day without you. I read…
HIM Boutique targets young professional men
Leo and Tony Salloum are opening HIM Boutique in the space formerly occupied by Willow’s Pet Place (1526 Dresden Row). You may know the Salloum brothers as sons of Abe Salloum, of Tony’s Pizza fame (that Tony is the grandfather). HIM will be geared towards young professional men, says Leo Salloum. “We’ll have premium style…
A Very Noyes Offer
As I write this, I am sick as hell and listening to the song “Scratches” from Dog Day’s forthcoming 7” of the same title. It’s the shiny type of song that makes you feel like you might be sticking your head out of a car window somewhere, and it’s almost June, and the light from…
Positive thinking
Honestly, living in the moment and being open to whatever passes you by will inevitably bring you happiness. Let go of your past and live the life you’re experiencing right now. Learn from your mistakes and then let go. You’ll be so happy that you did. I found myself through healthy eating, yoga, and meditation,…
If you’re gonna scream, scream with me… we’ll rock this neverland!
You rock my world! —You dont know… hopefully never will
Thank you
After years of being together, you still managed to give me the biggest surprise I’ve ever had. Your thoughtfulness and kind heart blows me away. Thank you for warming up these cold winter months with your humour and sweetness. Mostly thank you for making me feel like our relationship is brand new again. I love…
You make my heart dance
We just got back from the trip of a lifetime. You mean the world to me and knowing that you’re there when I wake up makes my head dance. Every time I kiss you it’s like the first time standing in my driveway in the spotlight from the headlights. You truly get me and we…
Keep it to yourself!
To the customer that apparently came in yesterday and told my co-worker to keep his compliments to himself, I just wanna say that I wish I could’ve been there to shake your hand. Best thing I had heard all day! —No one really cares
You Rocked
You were the best dog and buddy I could have asked for. Even though you dragged my arm off on the way to Chocolate Lake every time, I could not love you more. Sweet dreams Indy. —Sad Dad
Smoke Shelter
WTF is wrong with the two of you? No one knows where you came from, but every morning this past week you’ve been hauling your white-trash, fat asses to our bus stop, and then going inside the bus shelter and smoking. Another passenger told you not to smoke there and you ignored them. I heard…
Propeller Brewery tours amp up
I’m always looking for an excuse to plug Propeller Brewery (2011 Gottingen Street, 422-7767), and when the Twitterverse alerted me to the Brewery’s new eight-tap dispensing capabilities for brewery tours, well… I’ve gone on several of the tours, and they’re well worth the $15 price. No hassle here; just come in, sit down and drink…
Rrrrrrrridiculous marketing is here again!
Good news people! It’s that time of year when our neighbourhood coffee shop rrrrrolls out their uber-popular promotion whereby the person who can waste the most disposable cups might have a chance to win a donut! As always happens this time of year, when I stopped by my local establishment with my travel mug—as I…
Sociopathic Neighbours
So I’m in my third trimester of pregnancy and the woman who bought the townhouse next door to me just told me it’s my fault that her contractor called me a fucking cunt multiple times and threatened to kill me, within earshot of my other child, because I had politely called the contractor to tell…
Brooms are for sweeping with
To the unreasonable insomniac living downstairs, I hope you feel ridiculous as you bang on your ceiling with that broom. Do you know what I was doing just now? I was standing still and putting moisturizer on my face. Since you can’t seem to stop making complaints to the landlord about how loud I supposedly…
Not good enough?
The only thing that guys want from me is sex and to be my friend. What the hell, where are the good guys in this city? I would like to go on a date and not the back seat of my car. —Too fat? Not fat enough? Ugly? Too perfect? What’s the problem?
A/V Goes Hard in the Paint
Philip Clark, aka A/V, takes a brief respite from teaching Korean children to make a guest appearance at DJ James Reid’s hip-hop night, Hard in the Paint. The event features “crunk, dirty South, dubstep (wompwompwompwompwomp) and Gucci Mane.” And maybe some Lil’ B too, we suspect? Gus’ Pub, 10pm. $3, cheap dranks!
Barrington Street sales
The last music store still standing on Barrington Street—having witnessed the passing of Sam The Record Man and CD Plus—Random Play (1587 Barrington Street, 445-1056) is still kickin’ it with a 20 percent off on DVDs sale happening right now through February. And speaking of sales, take a stroll down Barrington Street right now and…
You’ll always have a special place in my heart
I know you read these, so this is for you. Even though you’ve sort of broken my heart, I’m glad I had you in my life, even if it only was for a moment. Out of everyone in the past, I have never felt that ‘click’ like I did with you. You made me smile…
I hate Nova Scotia
That’s right, I said it. I’m from a beautiful land of palm trees and warm weather year round. I am here for a few years and can’t wait to leave asap. I don’t know why people would want to live here? This place is fucking dreadful. Your harbour and city are dirty and ugly, which…
Tall drink of man
Saw you drinking a latte in Park Lane. Your smile made my day more than my chai! Hope we can meet someday and have a caffeine break together! Hearts. —Chai girl
Lazy Smokers
I am so sick of all the smokers who toss their butts on the ground. What is it… you think it’s okay to litter if your trash is on fire? Stop being so damn ignorant and lazy and dispose of your garbage properly. There are many ways to deal with your spent smoke other than…
Holy Shit
Counted the piles of dog turds along the Brenton St. sidewalk behind Park Victoria. In less than one block we counted 1, 2, 3… 14, 15… 78, 79, 80… 98, 99, ONE HUNDRED! Fresh, frozen and thawed—100 neat little fecal gifts from our four-legged friends. —Urban Organic Farming Enthusiast
Back off
Stay away from him. He doesn’t want you. When are you gonna realize that? You call him over and over again and if he doesn’t call you back you STILL don’t get it. My brother has a girlfriend, and he doesn’t find you attractive anyway. No matter what we try to do, it doesn’t matter,…
Silistria Drive Street Hockey!
To the teens on Silistria Drive in Cole Harbour: When you see a car coming, move your damn net! Once upon a time you used to scurry to move the net from the MIDDLE of the road when you seen cars coming. Now you all continue on with your game and look at me like…
Cold
I’m still really fucking cold, I mean… come on God or Allah or whoever the fuck is the fucking thing or lack thereof a thing get yer shit together Spring-wise please. —grlledcheezed
Sneaks
Canada needs to take a hard stance against people who try to illegally enter our country. There are processes in place to do it legally, yet these illegals decide to just jump on a ship as stowaways, throw away their identification papers, and then expect Canadians to welcome them with hugs, kisses, and a welcoming…
To all the cheap ass tippers out there
Ok, I have heard the argument over and over… you tip bad or don’t tip at all because servers already get paid. Yes, they do, but at minimum wage and I am sure as hell doing more work to make your dining experience enjoyable than other individuals in minimum wage jobs (think fast food or…
99% says you won’t read this
But 1% says you will, so here it is: Goddamn, I lost my soulmate. I miss you like I have never missed anything else, ever. No matter what I said about never coming back, I would in a second. Life is emptier now. —Waterboy
Canada Games Canada Shmames—Trademark THIS
What the fuck? Canada Games officials are actually telling people they can’t use the phrase on signs here in Halifax unless they pay a $1000 sponsorship fee. WOW that is the lowest, shittiest, fuckfaced attitude I have ever heard. Fuck them. I won’t let my kids near these events if that is how these morons…
Tipping on the leftovers
To the patrons who come in and get a free meal (because you didn’t buy that gift card for yourself): Just because $150 of your shit was free doesn’t mean that you only have to tip on the $32.98 that actually goes on your credit card! You receive the same service as everyone else and…
Hali Market Boys
ALL OF YOU: The cutie coffee slingers, oh-so-sweet vendors, long-hair/guitar toting/sexy musician/artist types, stylish hipsters, down to earth students, the ‘all business’ 9 to 5ers… you’re ALL fantastic (and gorgeous). I just adore you! My eyes lllloooooovvvveee to roam and wander. THANK YOU for sharing a smile, a laugh, a quick hello, you make my…
It’s 6pm and…
It isn’t dark out yet! Thank gawd mama nature is stretching out the daylight hours. Coooooommon Spring! —Ralmn
Still thinking of you
You probably won’t read this. If you do, you probably won’t realize it’s you. But from the moment I met you, I felt an immediate connection—enough to scare me into sabatoging it. It scared me, I dissected it too much and now, there’s no chance of exploring it. This would be in the bitch column,…
Running Inspiration
To the beautiful girl on the university running track. You were running in the opposite direction as me and every time I got a glimpse of you I couldn’t help but smile. You were so elegant, so effortlessly beautiful, totally oblivious to your own loveliness. Every time we passed each other I got a brand…
Hey there, monkey butt
You may be a left-wing liberal artsy fart, but somehow you’ve snuck your bleeding heart self into my life and I don’t want you to go. You’ve managed to stir something inside my jaded automaton self, and I find myself gushing about you like a silly fool. I’m a little crazy about you, and I…
Gardasil
The HPV vaccine costs $140-$180 a shot? A little pricy but not too bad… wait… per shot? For three shots!? So it’s $420-$540 for this dirt poor 23-just-out-of-university grad (with no parental support or health coverage) to take the preventative measures against cervical cancer recommended by her doctor. I try really hard to be responsible…
I want to actually start a fire
Your attention please, your attention please… this is… this is only another completely irrelevant, redundant, and all-engrossingly annoying fire alarm test. Repeat, this is only a test. Test. Test. The THIRD fire bell test in as many weeks. Does a fucking BELL (which turns into a loud SIREN) need a test every week? During the…
One Year
So it’s been a year since we broke up. At the time, I was so hurt, I never thought I could ever consider loving you again. As time passed in the last 12 months, I’ve done a lot of soul searching and reflecting, and now see how I could have been a better husband, and…
Caffe Sospeso Plus now open
Tarik Dugmag was looking to get into the cafe business and was considering being a franchisee for a larger brand, but as he was researching the possibilities, he changed his mind. “I decided to start on my own, to get experience.” This is how Caffe Sospeso Plus (6214 Quinpool Road) came into being. The big…
Happy Birthday Ellen Page
Wow… it’s been awhile since we posted anything on here. The last entry mentions how Page will be starring in Jane Eyre, which isn’t the case, as anyone who’s seen the trailer for the upcoming Bronte adaptation knows (it’s Mia Wasikowska). But that’s OK, since the delightful Ms Page has been busy with a little…
Week 1 Warriors
To the volunteers working at wheelchair basketball, you were simply awesome! After 12 and 14hr days I expected tired faces but you were all so happy and helpful throughout the whole week. Thanks for making a successful, sold out week. Special thanks to the table officials for your focus and fantastic attitudes! It was a…
Toxic Blossom opens
Toxic Blossom is a new shop at the Dartmouth Harbourview Market (42 Canal Street). The business specializes in Japanese street fashion and accessories, but there are tons of cool things for people who are just looking for unique clothing. The majority of product is handmade. Call 237-8300 for more information from owners Stacy Lepage and…
Simmons discontinues its Comfort Exchange Program
A recent message from Simmons Mattress Gallery (172 Chain Lake Drive, 450-0233) president Jordanna Caine gave us the heads up that her store has discontinued its “Comfort Exchange” program, where customers can return purchased mattresses within a prescribed period of time, “partially in response to the increasing number of bedbug infestations in many areas of…
Life is like a game of Mario…
Life is like one of those moving screen Mario levels. You just don’t have enough time to do everything, and once you realized you passed something good, it’s gone. By the time the screen let’s you see the opportunities and perils that are right in front of you, you have to make a quick decision…
Through the Dirty Looking Glass
How is it possible that my glasses get so GD filthy when all they do is sit on the end of my nose all day? Every morning I take them out of the case, wipe them off, put them on, and within 30 minutes, they look like I licked them and rolled them in schmutz!…
Money Matters
I am an entrepreneur that’s financially stable and I hate the fact that most people I talk to think money doesn’t matter. I’m going to tell you why my friends, my family, my co-workers, and more have ever had problems in their life: Lack of money! Get out there. Make the dollar. It’s tough, yes.…
I’ll be seeing you
I want you to know how much I resent this. Your lack of boundaries was the very start of our relationship. Yesterday morning I had the delightful problem of cookies or ice cream and now nothing. I can’t stand the fact that I have to be the one to end this. I was lonely and…
Girls in sweatpants and boots
Remember the days when girls would leave the house and actually wear clothing that didn’t look like they slept in them? Yeah, I don’t either. —Sugar Sammy Sosa
Hate the Love
“Love the way we love” fills me with rage. It undermines the meaning of “Love the way we bitch”. —Love the Hate
Where’s the Glee?
Ok, so I used to sing in a choir at university, and we were awesome! We sang Beatles tunes, Coldplay tunes, Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and on and on, and it was damn fantastic. We were huge and all I want to do is find a choir in Halifax that’s not a boy’s acapella group…
Renting Blows
Ok, renting sucks but sadly, until I can pay my student loans, and convince the banks I’m worthy I’m stuck. WTF is with rental prices? A 3 bedroom house for 1500+? 30 minutes from the city? I understand the high prices in the South End. But what gives? I see want ads all the time…
Dancing in the Dark
We met at a dance party. I was too drunk to dance (well). We danced anyway. Just got to say, you’re super cute. —The Boss
No more murals?
What are they doing at that Braemar grocery store? They are “renovating” and have primed over the nice murals that surround the outside walls. Why oh why? I love those grocery store murals, they make each one unique to its neighbourhood. Don’t people appreciate art anymore? —Babette
Anna Gilkerson’s new line
Shoptalk has learned that Anna Gilkerson, who made a big splash in Halifax and beyond with her Deux FM clothing designs, is having a trunk show tonight, Friday February 18, at Love, Me Boutique (1539 Birmingham Street, 444-3668) from 5pm to 8pm. Gilkerson’s new project is called MAKENEW, a collection of designer thrift and genuine…
Sparrow Shoe Boutique opens
Shoptalk has heard that Twisted Muse and Sweet Pea owner Johanna Galipeau’s new store, the delightfully named Sparrow Shoe Boutique, is opening today in a spot right next to Twisted Muse up above Mills at 5486 Spring Garden Road. As the name indicates, it’s a shoe store.
Buttons and sea shells
Whoever bought the headband I made, thank you. It’s this first piece of art I’ve ever sold. I’ve created many a thing, but didn’t think it would interest others. I’m glad you liked it. —Britto E
A Completely Indulgent Post About Lemmy
I just watched the Lemmy movie and got the new Motorhead album in the mail. Combined, these two things reminded me that like matter, he is everywhere, and he cannot be created or destroyed. Everything that everyone says about him is true. You can be having the worst night in the world, but then your…
Easy like Saturday morning
Eyelevel Gallery is settling into their new digs and want you to join them for Saturday morning cartoons. If you can drag yourself out of bed between 10am and noon this Saturday (the 19th), drop by 2159 Gottingen Street for a heaping bowl of cereal, bottomless coffee and your favorite funnies. That’s all, folks!
I want the top inch of my TV back
Ok, I watch NHL hockey in HD. It’s pretty much the only reason why I shell out all of those pretty pennies every month for cable service. This is fine. But what is not fine is that for the past number of months, TSN HD has been blacking out the top inch or so of…
No Gentlemen
What is it with the men in this city? There was a time when men would let women get on the bus first and women with children in tow would be given priority consideration. I ride the bus a lot and I am appalled with the males of this city who push in front of…
Dan Mangan is Coming
yes, i’ll have what he’s having. Vancouver singer-songwriter, Polaris Prize-short-lister and general all-around babe-meister Dan Mangan will be bringing his charms to the Seahorse on April 22, much to the delight of many in the Coast offices and, I suspect, many others in this city. His last show in ’09 sold out! Don’t sleep on…
Dog Fleas
Bad enough that you thought it was okay to give me a kitten that was crawling with dog fleas without telling me. But, lying about it afterwards and saying you were going to give me some product to deal with them and then not following through on your promise is unforgivable. One of the most…
N. End ‘Anarchists’
So you’re pissed off about North End gentrification (i.e. condos built 50 paces north of the commons). Is stalking around in the middle of the night (only on nights when there’s sure to be no one out) to spray paint slogans and symbols on the side of the buildings really the most productive way to…
Abusive Old Man
You, the older man with a walking stick around lunchtime. I could not believe as you got off the bus at Robie and Spring Garden using the front door, that you were plowing (and obviously to everyone on the bus) physically hitting repeatedly the younger man trying to get on the bus as you got…
Five Silly Questions with Hind Legs
Five Silly Questions with Hind LegsHind Legs are a sweet, gnarly little two-piece who have recently started playing in public. Halloway Jones (vocals, guitars) and Ben Deinstadt (drums) make crunchy music from a bygone era. Their songs would not be out of place on the Singles soundtrack, except there’d be a lot less Chris Cornell…
Hairball control, my arse!
I adopted you 3 shitrats about 4 years ago, in that time you’ve had a diet of the best food available, and God forbid I miss your 3 times daily treats and how do you repay me? Multiple piles of steaming, or baked puke, depending on how soon I discover your fucking paybacks. In the…
Words I’m Not Supposed to Say
Truly, your girlfriend is lovely. But she doesn’t play music, understand your jokes, and might have her Canadian passport revoked for not knowing the definition of a hat trick. I won’t go there. I’m not planning on luring you away (which probably isn’t even possible) I just wanted to tell you that I would probably…
You Are Wonderful
I don’t think you know this, but I like you. My heart skips a beat whenever you are near. You are everything I have ever wanted and even though you are this close, you could not feel farther away. I wish you would give me some sort of sign because I don’t have the guts…
Hey Hipster
Your humongous glasses look ridiculous. That is all. —Say NO to stupid fashion trends
Dissent and controversy enflame Halifax fire department
Halifax Fire Department management is facing several personnel issues, as a fired firefighter has won a fight for benefits, a survey of department employees finds “strong disapproval” of management and chief Bill Mosher has announced his retirement.
Bieber’s big screen bio is premature
Few artists have followed an easier path to stardom than Justin Bieber, who was snapped up by Usher and L.A. Reid based on a few YouTube performances. So it’s a bit rich that this glossy biographical and concert documentary positions him as a scrappy music biz underdog. We never find out who these people are…
Ready to Ramble
Of course a crew of alt-country, bluegrassers would be driving across the country in Matt Minglewood’s old van.”It’s quite a cool van. It’s a 15 passenger, with customized interior…oak panelling on the ceiling, very retro,” boasts Andrew Sneddon of the Ramblers’ sweet find. There’ll be a major bluegrass void in Halifax this spring as the…
Just Go With It goes where you’d expect
Adam Sandler has occasionally, in movies such as Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People, shown that he can act, or at least put a fresh spin on the volatile man-child schtick that’s made him famous. But he seems equally happy churning out Sandler-brand films comprised of kindergarten-level gags. For these half-assed efforts, he usually turns to…
Duzheknew heads South by Southwest, and then some
Duzheknew is taking off for a little bit. Next month they’ll embark on a tour that’ll cover major ground, and oh yeah, they’ll join Team Halifax at that little ditty South by Southwest in Austin. They’re pumped to see friends from other attending bands like Braids, Gobble Gobble and Diamond Rings, but Duzheknew’s Adam O’Reilly…
Family circus
His Oscar-nominated film Incendies is a wrenching portrait of war, anger and pain, but for Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, it was a project sparked by love. Villeneuve was first set ablaze by Incendies—which translates into English as Scorched—when he saw Wajdi Mouawad’s stage play in 2004. “I think I seriously bought the two last…
All rise, Odysseus is on trial
This trial’s been a long time coming. Thousands of years later, Greek hero Odysseus is about to face a wrongful death suit for the slaughter of the suitors. This clever retelling of a classic story is a fundraiser put on by law students from Dalhousie, with proceeds supporting Halifax Humanities 101. The program offers a…
Disappearing farms
A new report by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute says the nation’s agricultural sector is in serious decline and recommends we ramp up our food exports. We’ve dropped from third biggest food exporter to seventh, globally, with Brazil leapfrogging us and China and Argentina nipping our heals. The facts are there, the analysis is reasonable,…
Feast your eyes on the Falling Woman
In the crisply painted, freshly floored new home for the Eyelevel Gallery (one block north of its old location) is a huge projection screen showing a four-minute looping video of a woman falling from the sky. The reason we know she’s a woman isn’t because we can see her face—that’s covered by her long black…
Knocked out
Boxing’s on the defensive. The art of pugilism is taking a beating at the hands of mixed martial arts. Ultimate fighting has marketing clout, heavy-hitting hype. Another potential blow to the sweet science comes from the very games being played here. The 2011 Canada Games mark the 40th anniversary—and final appearance, for the foreseeable future—of…
Love for Gnomeo & Juliet
The Bard’s most pop culture-friendly creation gets its umpteenth update in this animated comedy about star-crossed lovers who happen to be garden gnomes. Blue gnome Gnomeo (James MacAvoy) and red gnome Juliet (Emily Blunt) live in adjoining backyards, combatants-by-proxy in the cold war between their owners, neighbours named Montague and Capulet. Though they meet cute,…
The collapse of The Company Men
Like Up In the Air, John Wells’ film aims to dramatize the destructive effects of the late-aughts recession on the American soul. That soul is represented here by Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones, three generations of men who’ve become ludicrously wealthy as executives at a ship-building company. When the global economy sinks,…
Something’s missing in Unknown
Liam Neeson is a towering presence in Jaume Collet-Serra’s thriller, stalking and scowling around to impressive, if occasionally ridiculous, effect. Neeson plays a biotech expert headed to a conference in Berlin when a car accident leaves him in a coma. When he awakes, his wife (January Jones) doesn’t recognize him and a posse of murdering…
Don’t lesbian it into the ground
Q I am a straight man. From high school through college and after, I loved me some women. Then I met my present girl 10 years ago. I fell head over heels for her. I still love her. But, little by little, she has become boring to me. Our sex life has cooled. Days run…
Somewhere tests our patience
More tone poem than film, Somewhere finds Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) at her most untethered and experimental. Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is untethered himself, a movie star drifting through days at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont hotel. Occasional visits from his daughter (an excellent Elle Fanning) punctuate the press conferences, random sex, trips to Italy and…
Free Will Astrology
AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) Don’t put your shoes on before you put on your socks this week, OK? Refrain from polishing off a piece of cheesecake and a bowl of ice cream before dinner and don’t say goodbye whenever you arrive at a new destination. Catch my drift, Aquarius? Do things in the proper order,…
I Am Number Four lacks character
The cash-potential of a gender-neutral Twilight at least explains the incentive to make I Am Number Four. It will help if its audience of boys and girls doesn’t ask questions. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) has the kind of history that should make him more interesting than the name he’s given. An alien from planet Lorien,…
Stadium nightmare
A lot of people in Halifax want the city to build a new stadium—but at what cost? Should we get one even if it means flirting with potential payola, kickbacks, graft and bribery? Don’t get me wrong; I haven’t made up my mind on the stadium issue. There might indeed be a case for a…
Walk a Mile captures Kenya
Mary Jefferson’s travels in Kenya weren’t just the trip of a lifetime, but the inspiration for this powerful collection of portraits that hang in the north end’s newest gallery space, 2053. The Halifax photographer ventured to Africa in 2007 and travelled a 2,000 kilometre loop that began in Nairobi and took her through many memorable…
Gleaming the cube
Paul-André Fortier’s definition of dance stretches wider than a stage. The Montreal dancer was inspired for his latest production, Cabane, while spending 30 days dancing on top of a shack in a parking lot—the National Ballet this is not. Cabane, which Fortier has been performing since 2008, crosses lines between dance, installation art, theatre, and…
Deathtrap is killer
Deathtrap is bloody good fun, with emphasis on the “bloody.” Written in 1978 by Ira Levin, author of Rosemary’s Baby and The Boys from Brazil, it is a twist-filled comedy thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Calum MacLean plays washed-up playwright Sidney Bruhl, a man who’s willing to go to any…
Rani’s rocks
The beiges, browns and bolted-down seating at Rani’s Curry & Roti Stop will never look like anything but a Tim Hortons. But if you close your eyes when you walk in, you’ll see nothing but the rich golds and copper of curry. The smell is a delight, an inviting combination of spices like cloves, allspice…
Hawksley Workman’s spectre
Hawksley Workman haunts my life. This isn’t due to some childhood trauma of watching to much MuchMusic countdown, or living in Toronto in 2002 when his album (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves was put on repeat at every good restaurant in the city. No, it is because that no matter where you turn…
Jeremy Fisher’s Flood
Jeremy Fisher is a from-the-ground-up kind of guy. His work as a musician and artist is infused with a DIY style. But with his newest release, Fisher’s foundation was a drum machine. Taking hints from Jeff Lynne’s work with the Travelling Wilburys and, surprisingly, Phil Collins, Fisher demo’d the album using a drum machine, a…
To the gentleman who I sometimes see on the bus…
I think that you’re very handsome and would love an opportunity to talk to you! I’ve never been fortunate enough to be remotely close to you on this rather packed bus to even consider mustering up the courage to say something to you, but maybe some day I will. Besides, I’m not entirely certain how…
Smelly garbage
I’m not only disgusted but ashamed every time I take my garbage out of my building to dispose of it. There are no recycling bins, there is no compost disposal, it all goes into one big smelly bin. What happened to composting and recycling in big apartment buildings? I grew up outside of HRM and…
