Highway to holes
To the editor, I recently brought a car up from the States—a nice clean and tidy car—and at the border I got fleeced. I paid six percent duty, then seven percent GST, then on to Access Nova Scotia to pay a further seven percent for the PST. On a $5,000 car…well, you add it up.…
Sprytown shakedown
To the editor, I am deeply disturbed by the HRM police response to the recent surge in violence in the Spryfield area. It seems like everyone is ignorant to the problems we face in the area and these preconceived notions are evident in the actions of the police. Almost every incident that has occurred in…
Drummer-friendly
To the editor, I take offence to the recent letter to the editor from Barry Roode (“Un-friendly,” February 15), in which he lumps drummers in with dogs and other animals. As a friend of several drummers I can state that they are, in fact, human beings with all the same feelings and rhythm as any…
Dealing with it
To the editor, Two weeks ago, the “Love the Way We Bitch” column featured a university graduate snubbing his nose at current students struggling with their finances (“Deal with it,” February 15). I felt offended when I read it, not by the author (there is no limit to the amount of mean-spirited garbage people will…
Grand Parade, the ex parking lot
Moving the cars off Grand Parade is a dream that just took a big step towards reality. At a Committee of the Whole meeting this afternoon, Metro’s councillors voted to turn their parking lot back into a public square by September 1, 2007. Although this deadline is considerably later than the April 1 no parking…
I’ve nearly got an eye on you
Today’s news about the shitty police cameras at Pizza Corner doesn’t come as much of a surprise. (Nor is it a surprise that the local dailies gave huge play to the wire story, written by Keith Doucette of the Canadian Press, without adding any reporting of their own. The Herald put it on the front…
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
2007 is going to be an awesome TV year: Parker Posey to star in pilot from ‘Gilmore’ creator! And ABC to launch ‘Grey’s’ spin-off! Related: Tara professes her love for Addison Shepherd (last item)!
Letters to the Editor
This is my little rant, about the Daily News, which up until fairly recently has been a pretty good alternative to the “Chronically Horrible” and usually more “green” at least in its reporting. However, for the past many weeks, each Friday a little blob of garbage lands on my driveway, and all my neighbours’ driveways…
R.I.P Ryan Larkin…
It’s a little late, but I was really saddened to hear about his death of lung cancer. A talented Oscar-nominated animation artist who suffered from years of alcohol and drug abuse, Larkin spent most of his life in homeless shelters. He was brought back into the spotlight with Chris Landreth’s Oscar-winning short Ryan, and was…
Horror show
Sure, Hollywood churns out a new horror film every week. And by “new” we of course mean “remake of a Japanese or classic 1970s film starring hot young stars from The CW.” So skip the multiplex this week and on Wednesday, February 28 head out to Ginger’s Tavern (1662 Barrington) for Night of the Killer…
East coast adds up
Consistent with enduring east coast character, the wealth was spread around at the East Coast Music Awards on February 18. A pair of artists, and an additional couple of bands, attended various post-ceremony festivities having garnered three trophies apiece. Country favourite George Canyon was the highest earning representative of the Scotia diaspora, being honored with…
Sam’s town, no longer
Sam the Record Man, the hallowed music store at 1656 Barrington, shined a spotlight on many a local artist for more than 20 years. That was until last week—Sam’s closed its doors on Tuesday with little warning, to the surprise of many. The owner, Bobby Sniderman, says he and his brother (and co-owner) Jason are…
Up with downtown
Soooooo, what’s the deal with Barrington these days? The big news came this past week when venerable music dealer Sam the Record Man unexpectedly closed its doors on Tuesday (see “Shop Talk” for more info). Sam’s was famous for promoting and selling local recordings—as news of Sam’s demise spread across the city, musicians everywhere could…
ECM-Nays
To the editor, I just read your music writers’ predictions about the ECMAs in the February 15 issue of The Coast (“Safety Dance” by Mark Black, Johnston Farrow, Chris McCluskey, Tara Thorne and Shannon Webb-Campbell). I cringed to read the apparent bitterness some of them expressed about the fact that Joel Plaskett allowed one of…
ECM-Yays
Dear Carsten Knox, Thanks for taking the time to review the DVD (C’est What by Chuck and Albert, “Bands on Film,” February 15). We’re always up for feedback and appreciate your compliments on the music and dance portions of our DVD and your suggestions on how to make the DVD and our live show stronger.…
ECM-Yays
To the editor, I just read the article “As Seen on TV” because it was mentioned on an INXS fan forum. I enjoyed this article very much as it is well written and full of new information. We’d probably like to hear more of what JD is up to because it sounds interesting! Thanks. By…
ECM-Yays
To the editor, I’m writing to say how much I enjoyed reading Shayla Howell’s feature on the Pictou County music scene (“As Seen on TV,” February 15). I’m a huge INXS fan, so it was wonderful to hear a little of what JD has been up to in his time off from touring. It was…
Pyramid scheme
Sitting on the corner of a building that also houses the Bluenose Laundromat, and downstairs from the now-defunct Cafe Vienna, the Pyramid Cafe is a cheery, sunny space. The interior decor might be described as minimalist eclectic, but it’s comfortable, relaxed and familiar. Most of the clientele seem to know each other—indicating the place has…
Tiga bomb
Sometimes it really is tough being the world’s top electro DJ. A native of Montreal, Tiga Sontag—simply known as Tiga—plays to packed audiences around the globe, and is considered by many to be one of the most influential electronic artists this country has produced. Attaining that status often leads to interesting and surreal experiences, such…
Daddy’s Little Girls
The sentiment of Tyler Perry’s movies (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion) only seems atypical because of the delivery. Most romantic comedies express traditional values, but because Perry’s love stories aren’t concerned with being funny, the earnestness is front and centre. His improvement as a director in Daddy’s Little Girls makes the…
SAVAGE LOVE
Dan Savage supplies more happy endings. No, not like that.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Take a walk on the wild side, Cancer, says Rob Brezsny.
Savage love wextra
I was at a science-fiction convention, wandering between a free-cappuccino booth and a free-hard-cider booth, a little drunk and a little buzzed, when an amazingly HOT man wandered into my blurry field of vision. My first thought was, “Wow, his boyfriend is lucky!” Built, 6’ 3” and furry as a walking carpet—just my type! He…
ECMA report
Johnston Farrow reports on all the shiz from the festiviz.
Strike victims
For about half an hour on Friday, the strike was called off. And then Hollywood put the brakes on. Since the beginning of the year, the Alliance of Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the national union representing 21,000 Canadian performers, had been on strike in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. The union called a…
Trial by error
The controversy over terrorism and torture as depicted on the Fox show 24 calls to mind the quotation: “I wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There’s a knob called ‘brightness,’ but that doesn’t work.” 24 stars Kiefer Sutherland as a hard-boiled US anti-terrorism agent who routinely tortures bad…
The $25m question
Since opening in 1975, The Grad House on University Avenue has stood in contrast to its neighbour, the four-storey box that is Dalhousie’s Student Union Building. Where the SUB is practical, institutional and unfeeling, the olive-green Grad House is like a friend’s place—a friend with well-worn furniture and a fully stocked bar. Now, the friend…
Fussy eater
No doubt you’ve heard this before: “I’ve been living fast-fast-fast, rush-rush-rush, go-go-go. And it’s not getting me anywhere.” What you likely haven’t heard before is Mike McGlone’s antidote to his problem. He’s eating nothing but food from the Halifax Farmers’ Market for one year. McGlone, who market regulars will know as Mike the Fish Guy—gregarious,…
Elementary
George Steeves calls his house the photo bunker. It’s well hidden, deep on a looping crescent in an old Clayton Park neighbourhood—it was the end of town when Steeves moved there in 1973—where bungalows protectively stretch out like arms linking in solidarity. The photo bunker is built on angles and soft watery colours. It’s tidy,…
