Dine Around: Flavours of Nova Scotia kicks off
Generally February is a pretty big downer. Smack in the middle winter, it can be hard to motivate yourself to do, well, anything. But usually, no matter how Eeyore-ish you’re feeling, good food has the power to perk anyone up. Luckily, the shortest month of the year is also , a month-long opportunity for local…
Three’s a crowd for Mocean Dance
Mocean Dance’s involvement with Fredericton-based choreographer Lesandra Dodson’s The Trilogy Project (presented by Live Art Dance January 17-19, 8pm, Sir James Dunn Theatre) isn’t only a world premiere, it marks the reunion of trusted collaborators. The Trilogy Project features three duets—Her blameless mystery, In two days a man can change and A leash for two…
City hall has no time for sustainable energy
Last year, city staff wanted to kill the hugely popular Solar City proposal, which has the city financing residential solar water heating systems). This year, staff is ignoring the desire of citizens and councillors to reduce city hall’s use of energy and replace coal-generated electricity with renewable power. To the surprise of several councillors, the…
Uptown off drugs
Using a successful US drug-intervention program as a model, a collection of community organizations is working with the Halifax police department to address so-called “open market drug dealing” in Uniacke Square. The program is called the Uptown Drug Market Intervention Pilot Project, and it is the first of its kind in Canada. Uptown uses a…
Strip-malling Tantallon
People in the Tantallon-St. Margaret’s Bay community say they’ve been ignored when it comes to their visions for future development of the area. At issue is city staff’s recommended approval of a development at Highway 333 and St. Margaret’s Bay Road. It’s an addition of three commercial buildings (Subway restaurant, Shoppers Drug Mart, TD Bank)…
How Epstein won’t re-offer
Howard Epstein announced Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in the next provincial election. Epstein was elected as councillor to the old city of Halifax in 1994, then to HRM in 1996. He was first elected to the legislature in 1998, and has handily won reelection in every election since. Epstein turns 64,…
Know anyone worthy of a Wave Award?
Nomination fever continues with Women Making Waves seeking worthy candidates for their third annual event. Women in Film and Television – Atlantic (WIFT-AT) takes place March 15-17 in Halifax, and honours outstanding women with The Wave Awards. Nomination deadline is Tuesday, February 5 and nominations can be submitted by emailing awards.wift.at@gmail.com. “The Wave Awards are…
The 25th annual ECMA nominees are…
The 25th annual East Coast Music Award nominees were announced today at the Casino, in a decidedly non-Tuesday morning atmosphere full of bacon-wrapped scallops, rapidly popping bottles and performances from Christina Martin and Ben Caplan. Co-founder of Sire Records and talented ear-haver Seymour Stein was confirmed as the Industry Conference keynote speaker, and Wintersleep swept…
Introducing Cempoal de la Calavera Negra
With visions of character-filled Agricola Street hangouts like Salvation, the And Cafe and One World dancing in his head—and the opportunity to rent some prime real estate—Chris Cookson made a proposition to his good friend and Zulkamoon bandmate Inti Gonzalez this summer. And a little enthusiasm in return was all it took for the mysterious…
Check it out: Games People Play
At last, the shell of what was once Random Play has been brought back to life. Games People Play (1587 Barrington Street) opened today, providing a haven for board and card game lovers in town. The hobby shop will not only sell games, collectible cards and, eventually, new video games and high end computer parts…
YOU BLEW IT
You blew it. You idiot. I am the most liberal, understanding open minded person you have ever met. I told you I was open to all and everything. Anything. I had to put my trust in you situationally and you ensured me I could. This of course was to be of great benefit to you.…
Crappy new year
Dear 2013: Re: the week and a half long migraine you decided to bestow upon me on your first day, FUCK YOU! I hope that every single alcoholic on the planet gives you several Roman showers a day for the remainder of your existence, that you receive multiple hot carls from those with lower digestive…
Lion sequel
So I looked a bit more into this precious lion situation, and an even bigger what the fuck comes to mind. These sad excuses for a predator only exist in wildlife sanctuaries that have armed guards protecting them. Holy shit, yup, kings of the fucking jungle. Do the fucking rangers change their litter boxes too?…
Grumpy senior lady
Who do you think you are? Do you think being elderly gives you the inherent right to be offensive and rude in front of my children? You are not likely reading this but for bitch sake’s, lets see if others would be offended….shall we? See it’s a Saturday at a very busy grocery store near…
Another stupid crush
I am not the author of the prior “stupid crush”. Anyways in my case I did let mine know how I felt, we did have a brief embrace. Being socially awkward and anxious I drove mine away it appears. Since I’ve never saw her again. Going from texting all day to nothing. I think you…
Q&A with Pat Thornton
Have you noticed Halifax feels different lately? It’s probably because Toronto-based comedian Pat Thornton is no longer walking our streets, drawing sweet Haligonian laughter from our citizens and shooting scenes for Andrew Bush, Walter Forsyth and Angus Swantee’s new comedy web series Everyone’s Famous. With 30 minutes left in the city, Thornton, star of Bite.ca’s…
Trivial but necessary
To a certain fairly new Halifax radio station: You are a welcome change to the same crappy few stations we’ve had here in the past, for which i am grateful. But PLEASE, for the love of EVERYTHING good in this world – stop playing that damn Muse song every 20 minutes! It’s been played to…
Jubilee jackass
To the asshole on the bicycle who felt the need to scare the shit out of me and my kids by, not only racing to cross the road right in front of us, but by breezing through the stop sign: the rules of the road apply to you too you fucking psycho! Next time you…
Caroline’s Bakery opens on Alderney Drive
Need a dose of aromatherapy? While in downtown Dartmouth you may want to follow your nose to newbie on the block Caroline’s Bakery and Patisserie (79 Alderney Lane, 466-5944) which opened last week in the former space of Hami’s Cafe & Catering. Fresh baked sweets, rolls and bread make this new gem a suitable spot…
Too many animals!
So we have two cats and now a dog. I’m the only one that changes their damn litter box every day and I’m sick of it. I didn’t even want two cats, I wanted three because kittens are awesome, but not after realizing I’d have to have two litter boxes to change. Now we feed…
Losing faith in people
This is to the rancid blonde on the 52 who cut me off as we were getting off the bus. I was walking down the aisle towards the back door when you got up out of your seat, cutting right in front of me without any acknowledgment of my existence at all. After we were…
I’ll love you always
I can’t say enough how much I loved you. I know it wasn’t a long run, and we both agreed it seemed so much longer than what it was. I will love you forever, I only hope that you do right by me, and find yourself. You can be so much, you only need to…
Do you wear your sunglasses on an overcast day?
To the woman I saw wearing sunglasses when it wasn’t even sunny, you looked ridiculous. That’s like having an umbrella over your head when it’s not raining. —Do You Wear Your Sunglasses At Night, Too?
For your entertainment?
I need to see you so very badly but, I don’t know how to get that message to you; or even if you want to see me. Over Christmas, I messaged you on Facebook and then deleted it after a few days because I became frightened of the thought that you just weren’t interested in…
Hypocrisy
As I walk by your storefront each early morning I’m struck by the number of lights on when there’s no one in the office. To me this is a very poor practice for anyone, let alone an organization dedicated, supposedly, to energy conservation. – Carbon Carl
I need your help. I need you.
I miss your dreamy blue eyes, cleft chin, broad shoulders and very nice ass. You told me once I seemed to be able to read your mind, at times…. My world is rapidly sinking uncontrollably. I don’t know where to go this time. I’m afraid of what could happen. How do I contact you? Should…
Just fuck me already
Ok so what do you do when your boyfriend doesn’t want to fuck you? We have been together for a while now and have finally worked out our kinks (good/bad), we are both super comfortable with each other, both love each other, so why no desire to fuck me? Why don’t you want to throw…
Great Pinball Store opening on Quinpool
John Greatwich is a pinball wizard. He’s got a love for the game so serious that he’s opening up a shop on Quinpool Road dedicated to the machines. Because of strange zoning restrictions surrounding arcade-style “amusement centres” (ie: “a commercially operated facility providing more than three amusement machines”) Great Pinball Store (6148 Quinpool Road, above…
Flat tire friend
On Monday I was heading north when I suddenly got a flat tire and pulled over at a bus stop. It was extremely cold out and I was on the way to take my elderly mother to a doctor’s appointment so I found myself in quite a dilemma. Being a bit of a ‘girly-girl’, I…
Imbiblical Overlords
I read with great interest a story in today’s paper regarding the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporations’ expanded police-like powers in this province. I for one feel safer knowing that our “progressive” NDP government has the resources to fund undercover NSLC officers to harass small business owners with threats of legal action. Actions I’m sure are…
To the good samaritan
You found my uncashed GST cheque on the Common, and took the time to return it to my address. I want to thank you, whoever you are, for going out of your way for a stranger. I’ll be sure to pass on the good Karma. Thanks! – Cheque Is In the Bank
First place jackass
Dear dickhole that catches the 20 downtown every morning at 6:30am. You sir, need to calm the hell down! Every day, like clockwork, you stand on the edge of the sidewalk waiting for the bus so you’ll be the first one on. You’ve even gone so far as step in front of people as they…
Should I be flattered?
I was in the mall on Thursday. I usually never go but I really wanted a pretzel, and although that pretzel and the service was pretty shit, you made me feel quite giddy. So you were working, not in the pretzel booth, but while I was walking up I caught you staring. Being a guy…
When the going gets tough
To my family/lack thereof: Before it all fell apart I thought we were good but now we are all just fucked. Thanks for teaching me that when things get hard it’s time to give up and run away. – Sick and Tired Daughter
I can’t be related to you
You talk about me like I’m losing my grip to every person you know. Then to my face you’re all sweet, and just want to be supportive. I’ve lived with your two-faced shit most of my life, listened to you talk about others, and call down your best friends behind your back, but never did…
May I have the key to my heart, please?
To the tall dark haired man who works for security in a certain hospital, thank you. Every morning when I and the rest of the housekeeping staff come down to pick up our keys, I make a little wish that you will be there. Everyone is so negative about work… The moment where you pass…
Goodbye
For years we held each other’s hand and faced the world. Life changed and we did as well. We went our separate ways, developed other interests and drifted apart. Even though our marriage is over I still care for you and will be your friend. Please be happy. You will find love again dear man.…
Ravaged again
Dear electricity provider, Why the 3% rate increase? Why are we paying 17cents per kwH? The rest of Canada averages 12cents. That’s 42% more for our power bills. Enjoy that fat bonus, assholes. This is what happens when you have a monopoly on essential services. – Ravaged Haligonian
Local filmmaker Ariel Nasr’s Buzkashi Boys up for an Oscar
While you were tweeting away and enjoying themed snacks during last night’s Golden Globes, local filmmaker Ariel Nasr was likely taking meticulous tuxedo notes in preparation for his upcoming trip to the Oscars. Nasr and Sam French’s Buzkashi Boys short film, which tells a coming of age story of friendship between two Afghan children, has…
T.J. Maguire’s plan for Barrington Street
In today’s feature story, there’s a short article on the various plans for downtown Halifax over the years. We mention that T.J. Maguire has produced an extensive study of those plans; see them here. Also, we mention that Maguire sent us a plan for downtown from 1970, which is discussed in the Atlantic Advocate magazine.…
Idle no more: Megan Leslie supports native movement
While the Idle No More movement hasn’t gained traction with the Harper government, Halifax NDP MP Megan Leslie is supportive in her political role. “It’s a completely grassroots campaign,” she says. “My engagement is to share information and ensure access to it.” She is one of several speakers addressing a teach-in this evening (Thursday, January…
Idle No Moore: Halifax gets active
Idle No More has gained international attention, and the burgeoning movement also has a strong presence in Halifax. Rebecca Moore of Pictou Landing First Nation, now residing in Halifax, is a key organizer and participant. Through her involvement with the Halifax aboriginal community, she learned of the campaign, which was started during a November teach-in…
Gangster Squad
These wiseguys are taking over Los Angeles, see? It’d take a gaggle of chiseled coppers with more balls than brains to take on that lot. Such is the tired premise of Gangster Squad. Clad in fedoras and cheap cliches, Josh Brolin “acts” as a tough-as-nails copper who’d get away from all this gunfire with his…
A feast for arts
Jesse Robson, the co-founder and managing director of Happily Ever Active, is new to the city, but that didn’t stop her from immediately giving back with a non-profit organization that encourages seniors to stay physically active through arts programs and other “non-traditional” forms of exercise, and she’s not done brainstorming yet. This Friday, Happily Ever…
Where it’s app: Remembary
If your New Year’s resolution is to keep better track of your life and all those great things you do, look no further than this locally made app. Remembary ($3.99, remembary.com) is targeted not only at you nostalgic, dedicated diary writers, but those too busy to keep track of your past. Halifax iOS developer Andrew…
Victoria Park: the park that works despite itself
One of the oddest urban spaces in Halifax is Victoria Park, which works as a park seemingly despite itself. “It’s the neglected little sister,” says Spring Garden Area Merchants Association president Nancy Tissington. “The Public Gardens gets all the attention, and Victoria Park is forgotten about.” Tissington is talking about neglect from the city, not…
The Cape
Have you read Locke and Key? You should. It’s great. Have you read The Cape? You could. It’s OK. Both comics are from the same author (Joe Hill) but while Locke and Key is one of the best series currently running, The Cape is not nearly as enjoyable. Eric is pizza delivery boy who has…
Deftones
Deftones’ brand of nü-metal has always straddled the line between genuinely exhilarating and unintentionally funny, and Koi No Yokan continues this dance. The band’s calling card is Chino Moreno’s voice, which is a sort of whisper/wail that echoes Fred Durst and Kevin Shields in equal parts. The record’s high point is “Entombed,” a synth-laced stunner…
Rayman Jungle Run
Rayman Jungle Run takes the beautiful hand-drawn art style of Rayman Origins and puts it on your phone or tablet. It’s not quite as deep as the console experience, but it’s still worth that app store gift card your aunt gave you for Christmas. Rather than moving around the environment as you please, Rayman is…
A$AP Rocky
Harlem globetrotter A$AP Rocky returns with Long.Live.A$AP, the follow-up to his critically lauded and commercially hyped Live.Love.A$AP mixtape. As far as debut albums go, the young Rakim Mayers doesn’t disappoint. Featuring the creme de la creme of hip hop’s new school of eclectic wunderkinds, A$AP gains support from the likes of Danny Brown, Kendrick Lamar…
How to fix the city: We get our urban parks and green spaces all wrong.
We have an absurd view of parks in Halifax. With some few exceptions, vending is frowned upon, and alcohol is flat out illegal. Moreover, we paint all parks with the same expectation: they are green wildernesses first, and people fit in only so far as the green wilderness is maintained. This would be a much…
Chief Keef
Could anyone really recommend 17-year-old Chief Keef’s big label debut? On one hand it typifies an exciting new generation of Chicago rap production: hybrid hard-nosed Lex Luger trap beats and weirdo melodic auto-tune anthems. On the other hand, every track is a parade of dead-eyed misogynistic boasting. Like on bonus track “Citgo”—-where Keef warbles out…
Branching out
Hannah Rittner considers herself very fortunate. The 23-year-old recent King’s College graduate has found her passion, and it’s not what she expected. Rittner pursued a degree in contemporary studies and English, but her ideas about her future changed after taking one course a couple of years ago taught by Martha Irving (actor and co-founding member…
Promised Land
Forever likely to be known as “that fracking movie,” Promised Land bubbles up a small-scale character story underneath all that rock solid cautionary environmentalism. Co-writers Matt Damon and The Office’s John Krasinski star as a morally shady energy company frontman and mysterious environmental activist, respectively. The two battle over the potentially lucrative natural gas rights…
The internet via Halifax
“The internet really is my home,” Ryan Hemsworth says over the phone. Considering his online reputation and his hometown’s obliviousness to it, he’s quite correct. Less than a week into the new year, the Halifax-born producer released a music video, was featured on Pitchfork and was awarded best mix of 2012 by FACT magazine. Not…
My plans and hopes for a better Halifax in 2013
I am delighted to have this opportunity to wish Coast readers a Happy New Year, and share some of my thoughts as we enter 2013. It is a privilege to be mayor of Halifax, and I am honoured to work with this council at this time in our history. We’ll be tested by big decisions…
The Dartmouth Common is a dangerous, underused park.
In Dartmouth rises a bluff that provides a spectacular view of the Halifax Harbour. To the south you see Georges Island, McNabs Island and, on a clear day, even the lighthouse on Devils Island, at the harbour entrance. Turning northward, you’ll see the towers of downtown Halifax, then a perfect view of the Macdonald Bridge…
My plans and hopes for a better Halifax in 2013
I am delighted to have this opportunity to wish Coast readers a Happy New Year, and share some of my thoughts as we enter 2013. It is a privilege to be mayor of Halifax, and I am honoured to work with this council at this time in our history. We’ll be tested by big decisions…
Raise the roof
Since 2004, music blog Herohill has posted hundreds of reviews and news about local indie musicians. Based in Halifax, Bryan Acker and Shane Nadeau, the folk-focused creators of the site, are also jurors for the Polaris Music Prize, SOCAN and the Junos. Not bad for a couple of music bloggers. But after years of pro…
Zero Dark Thirty
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) tells the story of the post-9/11 manhunt and killing of Osama bin Laden in a compelling way. Maya (Jessica Chastain), the young, gifted CIA agent tasked with tracking down bin Laden, begins her journey in the Middle East shortly after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in Manhattan.…
Gay panic, not necessary
Q I’m a straight male, 21 years old. I love women, I’ve always loved women, I’ve always loved having sex with women. However, in the last year, here and there, I’ve jerked off to transsexual porn. One night, after drinking with a friend and smoking some hash, I arranged a date with a trans sex…
The Oval: a round-about route to successful park building
Judging by simple daily attendance figures, the most successful park in the urban area is, hands down, The Oval—it gets upwards of 5,000 visitors a day. “The Oval was the right prescription for the North Common, because it is a regional attraction,” says the city’s park guru, Peter Bigelow. “There are 50,000 people who can…
How downtown gets planned, and then ignored
We’ve got a plan to save downtown Halifax! This plan will make downtown more pedestrian-friendly and add lots of street furniture (that’s bureaucratese for “benches”) and plenty of street trees. Once the plan is implemented, we will have a greener, prettier downtown, all the businesses will thrive and everyone will be oh so proud of…
Free Will Astrology
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPRICORN! (DECEMBER 22-JANURARY 19) What does it mean when the dwarf planet Pluto impacts a key point in your horoscope? For Capricorn gymnast Gabby Douglas, it seemed to be profoundly empowering. During the time Pluto was close to her natal sun during last year’s summer Olympics, she won two gold medals, one with…
Game
Monarchy, in the 21st century, is a game of survival. The Queen delivers her Christmas speech in 3D to stay relevant, while rapper Game, in defending his title as “King of the West,” plays chameleon and “borrows” from other rappers. For “Ali Bomaye,” featuring Rick Ross and 2 Chainz, Game recycles that same old flow…
The Impossible
The Impossible, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, follows Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons as they arrive at a Thailand resort in time for Christmas 2004, just as the disastrous tsunami hit. This isn’t a movie about the larger effects of the tsunami, but a very insular tale about beating the…
Wade into Open Waters
“It’s good way to start the year,” says the Upstream Music Association’s artistic director Paul Cram of the annual improvisation and experimental music festival that has had its fair share of hiccups throughout the years. Originally started in the ’90s, the Open Waters Festival ran for three years before it stalled and was restarted again…
Green space is wasted space
Perhaps the most pointless expression of the “green wilderness before people” sensibility is the “green space” requirement the city places on property developers. In theory, the idea makes sense: development leads to the “concrete-ization” of the city, and we’re tying to blunt the edges of that with some green here and there. In practice, however,…
Long Shots: The Maritime Teams That Played for the Stanley Cup
From 1900 to 1913, four different Maritime hockey clubs played for the Stanley Cup. Back then, it was a challenge cup. Any league champion could vie for its glory, as long as its trustees deemed them worthy contenders. “Between 1893 and 1926, sixteen different leagues produced Stanley Cup champions, and fifty-seven teams challenged for it,”…
Life’s a beach!
When we started researching this feature, we put a call out on Twitter, asking people which is their favourite urban park. The Oval was the overwhelming winner, but second place was a surprise, to us anyway: People really like Sands at Salter, the beach-themed park on the waterfront. Sands at Salter is a byproduct of…
And the Birds Rained Down
“Love, wandering, pain, the deep woods and redemption through art.” Leave it to a French-Canadian author to create a story that grinds your insides to pulp and leaves you wanting more. Nostalgic and beautifully grotesque, this novel is delightfully baroque and, although short, so striking it simply will never leave you. And the Birds Rained…
Rockin’ the felt
At first glance you might assume Sanna Rahola works in pastel or paint—a testament to the detail and movement she is able to evoke with layers of fibrous texture in merino, silk, linen and hemp. Her new work in hand-dyed and felted wool images is preoccupied with water scenes—like a close up of river rocks…
