OVAL!
I love it! I can’t skate worth shit, but everybody’s been really nice about skating around me and giving me room. Thank you for being understanding fellow Haligonians! Also, I had one of the best dates ever at the oval…..love you snuggle bunny! —The Glider and Arm Flailer
Skate or die
I love you OVAL! If I wasn’t so afraid of being skated into a million pieces, I would lay down and kiss your icy lips. Fuck all the haters, this year, you’ll be my valentine. I’ll bring the cocoa, you bring that sweet icy goodness. I’ll backflip-triple axel-open stroke the shit out of you… right…
The Oval
I find it very tiring skating in the same direction continuously (counter clockwise). I suggest a change of direction every half hour that way we all get a workout on both sides of the body hence more balanced and happier. The afternoon week days the music is either non-existent or at very low volume. It…
Nothing says winter like you
It’s such a joy to watch all the heads bobbing along, people hand in hand, out in the open air. So many of us who haven’t laced up a pair of skates since we were kids, now trying not to fall, grinning like idiots. We don’t care what they want us to call you, nothing…
The Commons industrial Park and the robot revolution of the future/ or why I hate the commons
First of all, I’d like to say, I like skating and I like free public places. Having said that I really hate the oval, I hate it worse than a three year old hates broccoli, but for opposite reasons. Unlike a piece of broccoli, the oval is not yucky because its green. The oval is…
No one hates The Oval!
No one actually hates the oval they just have low self esteem because they don’t know how to skate and know they are missing out on the best thing in Halifax. Can we get help for those adults that want to learn and missed out as kids so that they can come and skate with…
More a request than a bitch
I would like the giant zillion-megawatt krieg lights turned off during nighttime public skating periods. A string of light bulbs (compact fluorescents, of course) around the periphery of the ice and/or in the adjacent trees would be adequate lighting and make for a much more pleasant atmosphere. —Western Girl
The best cash spent by the city
THE OVAL!!!! As a naysayers most of the time, I have grown to love what the oval has come to stand for about halifax… Skate police giving individual attention to people that have never skated before is a grand thing. More kudos to those that go out there and want to learn. No concert will…
I don’t hate The Oval
Listen, I think the 100 grand the city paid for that fine piece of ice was a deal but let’s be frank here: We have got to step our game when it comes to winter style entertainment because that oval is like nascar on ice, boring as shit, all left turns and only momentarily fun…
London Loft opens February 3
Haligonian Roberta Munden had been away from home for 23 years and working in the furniture market in Toronto for the past decade. “I was looking for a way to come back” to Atlantic Canada, she says. A visit to Upcountry in Toronto introduced her to “The Halo Collection,” furniture from designer Timothy Oulton, who…
Chris Foster’s collage life
There’s still time to catch Chris Foster’s (www.chrisfoster.ca) New Civilizations exhibit in the Corridor Gallery (1113 Marginal Road) before it is shuffled away from prying eyes and bound in a self-published book. Foster’s works are like picture postcards of impossible dreamscapes, collages made from found images. “I produced New Civilizations over the period of two…
Manchester, England
It’s been 4 years already, which is pretty crazy. We’ve weathered some pretty serious storms, and continue to go forward. Not quite as clear of sailing as we’d initially thought, but I’m sure we’ll be fine as long as we’re both on board. We’ve been around the world and continue to make tracks. I love…
Heartless in Halifax
To the poor sod who lost his student ID and bus pass on the #61 this morning, was allowed to reboard the bus to look for it, but came up empty and was then refused a transfer to get to class – please know that not all Haligonians are without compassion for the Average Joe…
Made fro loving
To the fuzzy haired lady with the great ass who walks up Quinpool Road almost every day – you make me smile every morning. I don’t know if it’s your impeccable sense of style or your strut that says: “I’m hot and I know it”. Rock on, silver fox. Rock on. —Quinpool Creeper
Retail workers are people too
We work endless, backbreaking hours for you. We have endless demeaning chores that we need to do daily despite what you may think our innocent job titles entail. We force a smile and a cheery “Hi, How can help you?” though the majority of us are having a rough go of things. Many of us…
Hear Gloria McCluskey say non-profit managers are “not real business people”
Yesterday, during Halifax council’s debate over what to do with the St. Pat’s-Alexandra school, councillor Gloria McCluskey suggested that the north end community groups lack business acumen and are “not real business people.” Listen to her comments here: The reality is that the North End Community Health Clinic and Mi’kmaq Friendship Centre have a long…
No longer in love with bitching
I always loved reading Love The Way We Bitch in the paper. Just recently I started reading the posts here on the site. After a couple posts myself and reading other people’s I realize that I really hate the people in this city. It’s not the OP and their bitches. We all have bad encounters…
Facebook status
Not that I’m your biggest fan, or give a shit about your life. But when you bombard my newsfeed every time I log in and I see 7 status of how you’re eating a cookie, and how you just drank juice, and how you took a shit or brushed your teeth… and they all end…
Do they make ear sanitizer?
Was forced to use a payphone today. Cellphone useless and miles away, plugged in to the charger. Have not used a payphone in years due to a disturbing incident witnessed while waiting for a bus in front of a downtown shopping mall. The incident involved seeing an asshole teenager shoving the payphone receiver down his…
Snow removal
I’d like to thank mother nature for raining yesterday so the fuckin snow and ice could finally be gone! God knows the snow removal dept couldnt do it, I drove around from Friday ’til Monday and didn’t see one fuckin plow or salt truck out! Real good you fuckin idiots! —Pavement Lover
Club soda, not seals
I am embarrassed to associate myself with the human race, particularly Ryan Cleary, Stephen Harper and the rest of you NDP federal fucks who support the seal hunt and are not taking any action on ending it. What the FUCK has this world turned in to? Is this really what Canada has come to? I…
Ahh fat girls…
Seriously fat girls, what is with the recent self-loathing posts and comments? Maybe you are being rejected because you reek of insecurity/desperation/sadness/self-hatred. Before I continue, let me say, I am FAT. I am a size 20. I weigh over the 200 on the scale. I have a boyfriend. He is attractive. I am attractive. We…
Orphanage joins Indie Boutik Collective
Kim Munson’s local label Orphanage Clothing (orphanage.com) will be joining the Indie Boutik Collective (1542B Queen Street, above Sweet Pea, 431-7771) as of February 1. IBC is a group of local and Canadian designers sharing a shop, including Katherine Munroe’s Dakini Silks & Things, Laura Chenoweth Organic Apparel, Anna Gilkerson’s MakeNew Vintage, Blue Ladybug Design…
Anonymity not enough for you?
Is the anonymity of an internet forum where you use a fake name not enough security for you to ball up and disagree or agree with someone’s comment? Are you afraid that you won’t be taken seriously at the next “summit” if your opinion differs from that of self proclaimed “council of elders”? Just hitting…
Mark Little laff of the day
Check it out, before you get shot in the body. Related Stories
Sneakers
To the handsome bearded guy who owns a certain sneaker store, you make me swoon. —Just Browsing
The friendly neighbourhood crossing guard
To the crossing guards at North and Dublin and also at Chebucto and Harvard. I’m 20 and don’t really need to be helped across the street but it is still nice to have someone stop traffic for me once in a while. Like today in the rain when you stopped the cars and we had…
To the 1, 81, 80, whatever your number
Sending some love to all the bus drivers of the Metro Transit. So many people depend on the bus every day to get them to work, school, downtown, or a friend’s house and I feel we don’t give the bus drivers enough credit. Sure you may be late sometimes, you might stall in snow storms,…
You are the one, you are my one
Before I met you I didn’t believe there was one for me out there. I didn’t believe in love or soulmates. to meet someone who understands me and to meet someone I understand… it’s the best gift life could give me. Life is new and fresh, full of happiness and pleasure. I will hold onto…
Thank you
I was having a horrible day. You know, the day you wake up late, don’t have time for breakfast, miss your bus, your hair’s a mess and you’re late for wok (and that’s just the first hour). We all get those days. My day was getting seemingly worse. But on to 2 separate occasions 2…
To the Garcon Bitcher
I’m glad my last love has inspired so much debate. The identity of the bitcher and the garcon still remains my dirty little secret that will only be revealed if garcon guesses both I.D.s. I don’t think we would be good serious daters or casual daters but I think we would rock it between the…
2012 Academy Award nominations announced
The Academy Award nominations were announced earlier today in Los Angeles, and if you care about movies and are on some kind of social network, you’ve noticed people are talking about this. If you haven’t yet seen the complete list of nods, go here, then come on back. On the acting front, my thoughts are…
Watch where you step
If you cant play racquet sports without suing when you stumble mayhap you’d be better off sticking to golf, you do realize there are 18 holes on the course so mind your step! Disgraceful… —Some Sticky Tape
Thanks for setting the example
MKK, I remain in awe of your love, compassion, beauty and inner strength–all of which have been put to use in recent months. What a privilege to have you as my life partner. —Juan
Student “taxi-driver” on Coburg Rd Friday night of storm…
This is a sincere thanks to the kind, young student? who drove home 2 senior ladies to Dartmouth that were trying so hard to get a cab Friday night (snowstorm)… you took them from Coburg Rd all the way to Dartmouth in the crappy weather when they waited sooooo long to try and get a…
RIP Jackass
I don’t care who you are, if an immediate family member dies, you tell other immediate family members IN PERSON. If in person isn’t possible because of distance, you call. If you can’t call for some reason, you text a “please call me asap”. If that’s not possible, you email a “please call me asap”.…
To people who care
To the folks who organized, made donations to and/or attended a benefit auction at a little place on the waterfront on Saturday night… what an amazing night for a family and little man dealing with challenges that they could not control. I am not part of the family but, as a mama, it made my…
Geez
When did musicians forget about the live show? You may not have the best vocals, or hell, even be able to play more than 3 chords on the guitar but at least be entertaining… If you’re not the best musician become an entertainer and entertain me. Some obscure Tmblr visual on a poster board and…
Brown eyed beauty
To the redhead on the bus who has impeccable taste in music, you are the kind of girl I need to know. The few minutes we talked brightened up my day. Nice to know there are still some wonderful people out there. —Subterranean Homesick Blues
You made me want to read more…
To the extremely handsome young man working at the bookstore a couple weeks ago, what can I say other then “wow!”. You were friendly, helpful and I couldn’t take my eyes off you! You made my shopping experience a pleasant one. Thanks! —The Mom with the Graphic Novels
What the Fuck?!
I just heard about the impending bus strike and am PISSED!! Yes, they deserve whatever they are striking for but for fuck sakes! I , like many others, travel from Dartmouth to Hali and back and am going to have to dish $40 fucking dollars a day in cabs because I most definitely DO NOT…
While we are on the topic of a little extra:
I wish there was radar or indicator you could use to gauge whether or not someone is going to reject you because you are fat. Since I never get told straight up if the real reason why I get rejected is because I am fat and whoever I let my feelings known to is turned…
Time for a change
So the Amalgamated Transit Union, who collects dues diligently from all of its employees yet doesn’t pay taxes and doesn’t have the customer’s best interests in mind, is threatening a strike. They think holding 100,000 people in this city – who have no alternative – hostage, is the best way to get what they want?…
Get off the road!
To the moronic cyclist on Quinpool Road Friday afternoon during rush hour traffic and that snow storm. Are you just plain stupid? Did you think it would be smart to bike on the streets under those road conditions? Even cars found it challenging to drive in that mess, and the snow-ice makes it hard for…
Just another rant
I fucking hate the weather in this city. I hate how much everything costs. I hate how I want everything and nothing at the same time. I hate pretending I am happy. I hate the fact that my love life is non-existent. I hate the fact that I cannot for the life of me find…
Racist idiot driver
Dear racist idiot driver, you cut me off on an icy road nearly pushing me into oncoming traffic, and you were smart enough to do so with your business name and phone number on your truck. When I called you to ask why you did that you told me to fuck off ni@@er! YOu racist…
Who made you the king of anything?
Let me ask you a question. Who the f*ck made you the king of anything. You don’t like me? Oh good for you, don’t want a cookie now? I should stop complaining about my life publicly online… who forced you to read them? I should stop displacing my blame on the rest of the world……
Electronic cigarette
You’re not as good or satisfying as a real cigarette. Every time I inhale your vapors, I crave the raw strength that is Canadian tobacco. I long to walk into a store and re-unite with my old love. But alas, medical personnel and my financial advisers will not allow it. E-cigarette, you’re like a poorly…
Mister nice guy
So I started seeing this guy. He was real sweet. One of those nice guys… you know, not all that attractive. I usually only date guys I’m attracted to, but those guys always turn out to be assholes. And well, I’ve been hearing so much about those “nice guys” and how they always finish last.…
Pawn shop or con shop?
The engagement’s off. So naturally, I figured I’d hock the ring. I took this $1700.00 one carat rock around to all the pawn shops in town. Each shop was run by some old miser of a man. Each equally-crochety old bastard spends 10 minutes hmmming and haaaaing, testing the stones, reading the papers, and asks,…
Manners anyone?
It’s one of the first lessons you learn as a toddler: the magic word PLEASE. If my three year old can (mostly) remember to say please and thank you, why is it so difficult for most adults? Please is a small word that has great power. When you say please, I am happy to do…
Quit shoving your diet in my face!
Seriously, shut up about your diet. Yes, you are overweight and should be making conscious food and lifestyle choices, but it’s been 2 years and it’s all you talk about. Ever. I would love to sit and enjoy my meal without hearing you whine about how hungry you are, how many calories you have/have not…
cultoftwo
2012 is the year we will make a lifetime commitment to our cult, and transcend through true love… —Bunny
Best bus drivers ever
Twice yesterday I almost missed my bus, and twice the drivers re-stopped when they saw me & let me on! Thank you for being so kind, even when it would have been completely my fault if I’d been stuck out in the cold. You made my day! —30 Seconds Behind
Kate Beaton on How Was Your Week?
The cartoonist we all love to love, Hark, A Vagrant’s Kate Beaton, was on the January 13 episode of my favourite podcast, How Was Your Week? with Julie Klausner. It is very funny and they make fun of the Maritimes a bit. I am on this a bit late, I know. But it doesn’t change…
It might be Chekhov, adapted
If it is as he said I, too, must be in love, for I do nothing but question it. You are a brilliant fellow: everything you have said is true. Us, together? I almost asked you that very question once, but I was afraid of the answer. I am afraid of a lot of things…
Nom Nom
To all of the staff at a great place, you are extremely wonderful. The food is great and affordable for students and there are always so many options. Love the vegan/vegetarian 3 for $10. I crave your garlic home fries in my dreams and would love to be buried in a vat of garlic sauce.…
To all the gentlemen in Halifax…
Thank you for holding open doors, letting me get on the bus/elevator/escalator first…your kindness and chivalry are very much appreciated by this young lady! —Chivalry is Not Dead
Govn’t Rant
We have only had snow like what? 3-4 times this winter and the municipality can’t get it cleaned up right. The snow stopped at 6pm and I work out off the hwy (102) and the road was barely drivable at 11pm. Then I came back to work for 7am and the roads were even worse.…
Royal Flush
I don’t know what full grown girls have against flushing the damn toilet after taking a shit, but ya’ll need to get the fuck over it. I only have 15 minutes before class, I already spend 10 of them waiting for you motherfuckers to get out of the bathroom, and fight through a sea of…
Goobs mcgee
Sometimes I like to think I came all the way from California just to find your cloth-throwing-food-crunching-bang-washing-animating-genius little self. —Moody Brooder
Girls, seriously
I am so tired of seeing girls squeezed into clothes that clearly don’t fit them. It’s not just “big” girls either. I see some quite small ones that have the love handles going too. All I can picture is you laying on the bed sucking in and forcing the jeans to do up and the…
Are You Kidding?
So, you asked if I wanted to go to a movie with you last weekend. I said sure! You asked if your boyfriend could come, I said sure, I quite like him so that’s no issue. You said you didn’t want me to feel like the third wheel so if I didn’t want him there…
More creative bitches!
Can I just say that the Coast’s printed Bitch section this week is quality! Ma Curves be Kickin’ and PMS: Baby, we get what choo throwin’ down. Werk it, gurl. If I was a man or lady into ladies, I’d be all up in the labia (but not durin’ that 5-7). —XD
Storming the Castle
A group of friends, along with myself, had a reservation to your obviously very high class restaurant (sarcasm). I happened to show up 10 – 15 minutes early, so I strolled in with my brother and approached the hostess. Before I could even open my mouth to speak she had looked me up and down,…
“Are you eating THAT?”
If you mean, “Am I eating that?” as in am I eating that, am I seriously eating that, as in you’re outwardly voicing strong disapproval for my order, the answer is unless I’m S’ing your D on a regular basis, don’t worry about what’s going in and out of my mouth. And if you’re asking,…
The bottom end of Young Street
Dear Short cutters, I appreciate that you are in a hurry to get home. I understand you want to find a sneaky way to beat the crowd. However: Young street between Windsor was blocked off to stop you from cutting through young to get to connaught. (which did help a little). Between Windsor and Connaught…
Really Halifax, Really?!?!
I was told people from the East Coast were the nicest most friendliest of peoples in Canada. After Friday, (and many other times too) dealing with you morons driving; letting some people go ahead of me and some people not stopping at a 4 way stop and not give, you know some sort of appreciation,…
Whadda smokin’ city
Halifax! You are FULL of babes! Keep on Babein’ Halifax. —In Loooove with the View
Gaaaaaaaah!!
What is it with people and their stupid sarcastic smart ass comments. No, I don’t mean people. I mean YOU. Whenever I make a lightly negative comment about anything, and I mean ANYTHING such as “brr it’s cold” or “omg lattes are expensive these days” or “gah I’m so busy” you have to turn this…
Stand up
Attention all you little shits who are so engrossed in your iphone bird games whilst sitting in the seats that are RESERVED for handicapped and elderly people at the front of the bus: put down your iphone and stand the FUCK up when an older person gets on a crowded bus. I saw you little…
Shout out!
I was busy this week so didn’t get around to this until now, but I want to say a big thank you to the man driving the #20 bus last Friday night around 9:30pm at Barrington and Spring Garden. A lady was getting on the bus when the wind whipped her bus pass, ID, bank…
You’re &%^ing CRAZY!
If I say we can’t be ready for a deadline 4 weeks from now, WHY the &$^% would you ask if we can be ready if you push the deadline up by 2 weeks? If I can’t do it in 4 weeks, HOW the Hell could I do it in 2? —Calm the %#^$ Down…
Public transportation mess!!
Alright, since we can use proper names I’ll give ya a hint…they’re big square boxes on wheels that hundreds of people ride on everyday and one rider in particular uses the phone numbers quite regularly to check when the next public transportation vehicle is to arrive. However, this one particular individual is getting kinda pissed!…
Transit workers overwhelmingly reject city contract offer
Halifax transit workers have overwhelming rejected a contract offer from the city, and could therefore go on strike February 2. The contract vote was unambiguous. About 700 of the 763 transit workers cast ballots, with 98.4 voting against—fewer than 10 people voted to accept the city’s offer, says Ken Wilson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union…
Your ballot could win the grand prize in our 11th annual Best of Music readers’ survey
Four lucky winners have already won our weekly prizes of Grado headphones courtesy of Peak Audio—Rock Johnson, Troy Corbin, Hannah McLaren and Greg Farnell—but there is still time to enter your ballot to win the grand prize of a Pro-ject Debut III turntable, also from those nice folks at Peak Audio. Click here and vote…
False framing of the St. Pat’s-Alexandra sale
The north end community was rightly incensed by city council’s December 13 decision to sell the former St. Pat’s-Alexandra school site to developer Joe Metlege without first offering the school to neighbourhood community groups, as required by council policy. In the face of that anger, council reversed the sale on January 10, and directed staff…
Striking a smart pose does not make you smart
Dear girl in my class who strikes a lot of smart poses, You may have fooled the rest of our classmates, but I know you. Your trendy little blazer and ironic T-shirt combo; trendy, ostentatious language; and faux-thoughtful lip-pursing head-nodding expressions do not make you smart. You think that spouting out one “brilliant” statement per…
The whole package plus a little extra
I am fed up with people judging and stereotyping me because of my appearance. I am educated, well travelled, intelligent, funny and kind. I am hard working, confident and constantly try to better myself. At my age (mid-twenties) I have done more than most people who are in their 40s (personally and professionally). I have…
Get over it!
I have listened to you cry, bitch and whine for the last 2 years. So you told him you like him and he didn’t reciprocate – it is time to MOVE THE FUCK ON. Not only does your constant bitching about everything he does (or doesn’t do) make all your mutual friends feel awkward and…
We want Detention
An inspiration to all of us frustrated screenwriters and filmmakers, Mark Palermo—who for a decade was The Coast film reviewer—co-wrote and co-produced with Hollywood director Joseph Kahn a feature film called Detention. It’s getting a release elsewhere in the world soon, and Mr Palermo would like your help to bring it here. Check out this…
Empowerful screens second film
On Tuesday, January 24 at 7pm, the public is invited to the see the second video in the “Empowerful” series project, produced by local company Pink Dog. The first screened last winter, where African-Canadian youth from North and East Preston worked with members of their communities to make a video on their first hero, Sinclair…
It’s All Greek To Me closes, in both locations
Both locations of It’s All Greek To Me, 6196 Quinpool Road and 250 Baker Drive, Dartmouth, have closed. This week Openfile reported that one of the line cooks is owed a paycheque and has been having trouble getting it. More information to come as we have it.
Atlantica creates Dream Suite
Atlantica Hotel Halifax (1980 Robie Street, 490-3339) is, for the next six months, offering the Atlantica Dream Suite, a specially designed luxury room where 50 percent off the nightly room revenue will be donated to Ronald McDonald House. RMH is dedicated to helping seriously ill or disabled children, providing them and their families a residence…
Election
So now we have a clusterfuck of morons saying they’re going to run for Mayor this year. First we have our current incompetent Mayor seeking to be re-elected…..let us not forget where that has gotten Halifax thus far (no where). Now we have a political failure with rumors he’ll run…..just because he likely wants a…
Just friends?
What is it with some people? It hit me like a ton of bricks the other day when we talked about our time as a couple, and I realized we only were together for about a year, maybe 18 months. This surprised me because that was a couple years ago now and it just seems…
Soft targets
Pedestrians, I would like to point out one thing and this may hurt. You do have the right of way at designated cross walks but when you step out in the middle of a street with your bloody phone to your ear and nearly get run over, then it is your problem. Yes vehicles need…
Bribery
If I win the lottery, I will be standing in the women’s washroom at the university handing out twenty dollar bills to women who are able to use the toilets without urinating all over the seats AND can flush when they are finished. I empathize with the lives of busy university students: I understand that…
Power to the people
I was always able to keep my head above water in terms of paying bills and keeping on top of my student debt. But my paycheque hasn’t increased for years and my bills, specifically in the power department, get larger all the time – despite my sincere efforts to conserve energy. And when I think…
My love
I don’t know why our lives have ended up the way they are. I am hopelessly in love with you, but things are just so friggin hard. I wish we could run away to a magical place where only we existed. We could spend all day in each others arms, just listening to the sound…
In this cold-cold winter – we’re a hot-hot-hot girl on girl toddy
That’s right, and I’m a lovin’ it something fierce. Coming home to you every night is bliss, wherever you are that’ll always be my home, little bear. —Big Bear
Love
Love is the single most important thing on this earth. You can have all the money in the world, 84 designer bags in your closet, five foreign cars in your driveway, and see the most exotic places in the world, and still feel lonely. Trust me, I’ve been there. I thought money could solve everything.…
WHY WHY WHY
Why cannot you get a fresh made to order hamburger with the proper ingredients on it. I have tried all the fast food hamburger joints out and NONE OF THEM CAN GET IT RIGHT. The hamburger is not freshly made but barely warm. You ask for onions and you do not get the onions. You…
More Silicon Hali
A couple of weeks ago The Coast ran a story called Silicon Hali, offering profiles od a number of the digital software designers here in Nova Scotia. Of course, there were plenty of others that we might have mentioned given a little more space. Who else is out there? Well, consider TeamSpace (teamspace.ca), a Bedford-based…
Fred Connors is running for mayor
Fred Connors was an honoured guest at tonight’s Courage to Give Back awards, where he was receiving the Family SOS Ambassador Award. But instead of just basking in glory, he used his turn at the podium to show what courageous giving back is all about by announcing he’s running for mayor in the October 20…
The Office featured In-Flight Safety songs
In-Flight Safety’s John Mullane proudly announced today that tonight’s (Thu, Jan 19) episode of The Office will feature not one, but two, In-Flight songs: “Big White Elephant” and “Model Homes” (from 2009’s We Are an Empire, My Dear). With Danny Ledwell’s appearance on Letterman this week, I could almost consider this a streak for the…
Eat em and smile…
Hey you smokers….yeah you with the smug looks and the yellow fingers. Stop throwing butts all over the place. You fuckers disgust me! Smoke your brains out for all I care, but suck in that smoke and swallow your butts. —Now I Play the Waiting Game
TO THE LOVERS
Thanks to The Coast and all of the wonderful people posting about their good experiences in Halifax. Reading Love The Way We Love brightens my day even on the worst. —BUCK
Walkin on sunshine
To My Sausage Man. When I am cranky you make everything better with a hug and “everything will be alright”. I’m so thankful to have you in my life! You keep me from going insane sometimes. Can’t wait for Cuba with my Papi!!! —Your Lover xo
Health care hullabaloo
Dear Alberta, Do you REALLY feel that $810 million is entitled to your health care programs because you have more people? Seriously? Seriously… SERIOUSLY!?! Yeah, Canada has kind of given you the short end of the stick in the past with the whole National Energy Program and Kyoto (though I TOTALLY don’t agree with your…
Idiots on the roads and sidewalks
I was on my way to work in the afternoon waiting at a crosswalk that requires drivers to stop and of course no one was. As if that wasn’t bad enough some idiot comes flying down the sidewalk at me on a bicycle so I move out the way quickly dodging his idiocy and moving…
Express is not for more than 10 items
This is for all the people who go in the express line up with more than 10 items. Just because its express does not give you the right to use that cashier. Next time you go in the store to get stuff and got more than 10 items , just go in the proper line…
Incompetent little child
First of all, you greet us with “Is there anything I can get for you to drink?” No ‘Hi, my name is ______ and I will be your server today’. Not very professional, in my books. I thought this would be the only thing you’d fuck up on, but I would of soon learned I…
Broadway geek
You are the best. Thanks for 3 great years. —Backshift Zombie
TMI
All you talk about is how often you have sex with your loser boyfriend and how off-the-hook it is. You do it 3 times a day, every day? Doubt it. You just love sex so much, you say, well I say, no one fucking cares! Now you brought your intimate details to a whole new…
Stanzas in the Stacks is late night library fun
I can’t be the only one who would be stoked to be locked in the library after close and have to spend a night wandering, reading and napping. Friday, January 20 from 8-10pm will provide you with all of that mystery and romance (except maybe the napping… and the locked in part) at the Spring…
Seriously people
Here are some things that annoyed me today: 1. I had to wait in the grocery store line 10 minutes longer than I needed to because this stupid bitch took forever to get out her debit card! I mean, have your card/money out beforehand, twit! 2. I held a door open for this cuntlet and…
Soup the cat
I love you. We all do. Since you’ve come into our lives, the house seems a little more welcoming when we come home. Your overly-aggressive morning cuddles are what get me out of bed happy. Watching you stalk after your cat-fishing-rod gives us hours of entertainment. I don’t think I’d trade you for any cat,…
Nurses rock!
Thank you to the 2 nurses at the Oval during the 6pm public skate on Jan 17th. As soon as you saw that my mother had fallen on the ice, you immediately stopped, identified yourselves as nurses and proceeded to help her and help ease her pain. You took the time needed to help get…
Haligonian driving or at least attempting to
Haligonians WAKE THE HELL UP. Your lousy casual driving is what causes traffic jams not the volume. A drive that should have taken 6 minutes was extended by slow reaction times, people reading a magazine and blocking an intersection, cell phone use, improper left and right hand turns, “being nice” and not going on your…
Incompetent emergency staffer
To the complete idiot working last night who was calling out the patients to move them from the general waiting room, to another waiting area right outside of the Emergency rooms. You suck at your job!!!!!! You called my mothers name with 4 other people, and all but sprinted down the hall to deposit the…
Bicycle courier
Dear young bicycle courier, I was getting off the elevator on the same floor as you. You were behind me yet attempted to wedge yourself in between myself and the door. THEN, when I got off the elevator, after you so rudely squiggled in front of me, you slammed into me after tossing your package…
A Message from Trinity Jewellers
Shoptalk received this message today from Trinity Jewellers (6226 Quinpool Road, 431-7900): “We are writing to advise Shoptalk that despite ongoing rumours, Trinity Jewellers is not opening another shop in the new Trillium Building on South Park Street. We are happy with our Quinpool Rd. store location.”
King of Donair exiting Pizza Corner
The CBC is reporting that King of Donair (1560 Grafton Street, 422-4040) is leaving it’s popular late-night location as one of the stars of Pizza Corner. According to the Ceeb, owner Sam Nahas has been in conflict with his landlord and the lease, up at the end of May, will not be renewed. Nahas will…
I didn’t realize being a pedestrian was that hard!
Walking to the grocery store last eve, I was nearly hit twice in crosswalks a mere 3 minutes apart! 1) waiting patiently to cross, big ol’ Jeep driver sees me at last minute and stops, I proceed to cross and then notice the telltale glow in her face of a cell phone – texting away…
Anti-development council
This is to you Gloria McCluskey. Thank you so much, from all the tax payers, for being the personification of another nail in the coffin for growth in this city. Since you saw fit to ensure there was no democratic process in regards to the proposed development on the Corner of Prince Albert Road and…
(Updated) Property sales secrecy leads to fraud
Nova Scotia is the last province in Canada, and the only jurisdiction in North America, to not make property sales information publicly available. As a result, there is untold fraud related to mortgages, inefficiencies in the appraisal industry and a lack of information for taxpayers to successfully challenge their assessments. That’s the case laid out…
New fire chief Doug Trussler takes the reins
Incoming Fire Chief Doug Trussler is following suit with mayor’s proclamation of an Era of Openess, saying the key to working through the department’s challenges is in good communication. The keen and cheery 55-year-old has served as a firefighter for 26 years, starting out in Toronto in 1985. Trussler retired as North Vancouver’s fire chief…
Kathryn Calder
Immaculate Machine may be done and New Pornographers are taking a break. The good news is keyboardist/singer Kathryn Calder has blossomed with two albums in just over a year. Any observant listener cannot be surprised that the Victoria-based performer has got it going on. Particularly fond of ’80s synthesizers and the echo chamber, she still…
10 places to get fit in Halifax
360fit 900 Windmill Road, Suite 107, 407-2525 360online.ca Personal training is a religion at 360fit, led by Best of Halifax-winning trainer Devin Sherrington. You can try the all-over fitness of the Boot Camp, the Fried Legs (not a chicken dish) and Abs, Total Body workout, or maybe you need to channel your aggression into a…
Weekend Dads
A bit of a Maritime pop-punk supergroup featuring members of The Varsity Weirdos, The Hemingways and The Fat Stupids, Weekend Dads deliver four anthems whose seeming bravado and energy belie their middle-aged melancholia. How else can you describe a band that shouts lyrics like “Why don’t we all throw in the towel?” I don’t want…
Tell us your secret cheap eats!
Like last year’s call for your must-try 7 under $7 deals in the city, we are again on the hunt for affordable ways to chow down for our February 23rd Cheap Eats issue. Tell us your top picks when you are low on funds and high on hunger. Are there any weekly specials (under $7…
The Well Being Guide 2012
The Well Being Guide is a reminder to you (and us) that winter doesn’t have to be about cocooning and sloth (not that there’s anything wrong with those two things). People are creating their own skating rinks—in their backyards! People are taking dance classes, joining dodgeball leagues, running, yoga-ing, jumping up and down and going…
Rory MacDonald records the past and the present
Rory MacDonald’s Chalkworks takes the art form of chalk off of the sidewalk and onto the ceramic surface. His works explore the relationship between images over form. There is beautiful simplicity in his monochrome black semi-porcelain; the various black silhouette drawings showcase the gorgeous shapes of porcelain contained in a fixed position. MacDonald’s erasure piece…
Red Tails goes down in flames
Word has it George Lucas, as producer, has been working on this WWII flick (directed by Anthony Hemingway) since the late ’80s. You’d think a couple of decades would be time enough to concoct fully developed characters and credible dialogue. As it is, this tribute to a group of black pilots in the Tuskegee program,…
The ball mighty dodge
Blue Ballers. Ball Busters. Dirty Ballers. Balls Deep. Dodgystyle. No, you’re not in that curtained-off adult section at the video store. This is dodgeball. And while there’s never a shortage of clever, witty team names, don’t be fooled. The game that had us squealing in terror in gym class, that Ben Stiller mocked on the…
Birthday beers with B.A. Johnston
It’s that time of the year when we’re all reminded how shitty our birthday parties are compared to B.A. Johnston’s annual celebratory, weekend-long brouhaha. If you aren’t drawn in on the promise of an endless cheezie bar alone (like some of us) perhaps the following lineups will entice you. Bad Vibrations, Quaker Parents, Old &…
Underword: Awakening, Franchise: Repetition
There’s little point in stepping in for the 4th edition of the Underworld vampire fantasy series if you’re not already a fan. “Death dealer” Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire, awakes from 12 years in cryogenically frozen captivity, right where she left off: fighting the Lycans (a werewolf species). And, surprise, she has a daughter now!…
Cold Clear Morning: New Revised Edition
A writer’s craft is always evolving—even for an author who has penned over 50 books. Ten years after publishing Cold Clear Morning, Lesley Choyce re-immersed himself into the manuscript to release a new revised edition. “It was a series of setbacks in my own life that suggested there may be more to Taylor’s story,” said…
Life in a Day
Life in a Day is a documentary filmed in a single day—July 24, 2010 to be exact—by people all around the world. The film explores the general themes that bind global societies such as love, death, birth, fear and our all-around attempts at survival in our daily life. As the film was made in partnership…
All the new movie reviews
All the new movie reviews are here, from January 20 and January 13 release dates. (Click on the title for the review.) A Dangerous Method Joyful Noise Contraband The Iron Lady Carnage Haywire The Artist Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Red Tails Underworld: Awakening
Free Will Astrology
Happy Birthday! AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) Here’s one of my favourite quotes from American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you think.” The current astrological omens suggest that this is an excellent message for you to heed. It’s crucial for you to know your own mind and speak your own thoughts.…
Haywire kicks ass
The last time Steven Soderbergh coloured outside the lines with his casting of a female lead was in The Girlfriend Experience, when he unleashed the vacant stare of petite porn star Sasha Grey. Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano is an entirely different specimen and produces much better results as the star of Haywire, playing…
Shawn of the Dead
I’m not surprised,” says Shawn Colvin when she hears about this week’s cold snap. The three-time Grammy-winning folk singer is on the phone from her home in Austin, where it’s “very warm,” the day before a three-night stand at Yoshi’s, the San Francisco club in which she recorded her eighth release, Shawn Colvin Live. She…
Nova Scotian backyard rinks
Hilary Rankin’s rink on Williams Street Rankin and her family created their first rink eight years ago. “I was pregnant with my fourth child and I needed somewhere for my children to go in the middle of winter,” explains Rankin. “My daughter just started ringette this year. We have lots of hockey-playing neighbours now…but nothing…
All aboard the S.S. Khandalla
I didn’t know Khandalla meant ‘resting place of god,'” says guitarist Ryan Langdon. “That’s funny. We named the band after an old steamship luggage trunk.” S.S. Khandalla’s relationship to baggage from a 1930s passenger vessel is a fair description of their newest release, The Monkey Brother EP. The indie-alternative-rock band offers four tracks that unpack…
Mocean Dance’s blank canvas
Just in time for Mocean Dance to enter their second decade of bringing innovative, contemporary dance to the stage comes Canvas 5 x 5, a world premiere presented by Live Art. The Tedd Robinson-choreographed piece features four Halifax-based dancers using not just the stage as their blank canvas, but an actual blank canvas as a…
My teen is gay. Now what?
Q My 13-year-old son came out to us this morning. He plans to tell his brothers in the next few days. We love and accept our son, and this news isn’t surprising (but when will the stereotypical neatness kick in?), but we do have some concerns. He has, apparently, already made the news public at…
Lilah Kemp’s public speaking
It has been said that writers write and writers read. On Halifax’s literary scene this has never been more true. Writers are writing. They are writing a lot and so they’ve got a lot of reading to do. The Lilah Kemp Reading Series provides a cozy yet collegial forum for writers to do just that:…
Something Good does something great
What’s in a name? A whole lot if you’re Halifax hip-hop party band Something Good. That good part isn’t just about the music. “The band has a mission statement that includes trying to do good things and be good people. It’s about doing good things, and being good people too,” says Alex Meade. “It also…
La Cucina’s happy endings
Italian food is a pretty great concept for a restaurant: the food is simple, the flavours are easy and the ingredients are accessible. But there is a huge gulf between the idea and the reality of a great Italian restaurant. And there are easily more restaurants adrift in that gulf of mediocrity than there are…
Delaying tactics
The future of our city is at risk. Back in 2006, city council adopted the regional plan, a blueprint for how the city is supposed to develop over the next 25 years. It’s not a bad document, which is to say it set out reasonable—albeit not great—targets for less suburban sprawl, for densification of the…
Going to the movies versus home entertainment
Let us take a moment to recognize the heroes of movie-watching in Halifax: the Carbon Arcs, the Atlantic Film Festivals and the Video Differences of our city. Let’s remark upon their variety, their expertise and their dedication and resolve to not take their benefits in vain, nor their deficits too personally. Let’s meditate on them…
We the Animals: A novel
Any number of reasons can make a book impossible to put down—perhaps poignant characters who breathe between the letters, or climax-per-page narratives—but for Justin Torres’ We The Animals, it’s the torrid, heart-grappling pace. Revolving around a young Brooklyn family stitched together by nothing more than their rawest kind of love, it’s told from the three…
Blabber Blabber Blabber
Arguments against the supremacy of digital readers begins and ends with Lynda Barry books. No e-reader captures the same textural flow of images side by side or the thrill of initial glimpses as a page turns over. And with Barry, each new page is like going through a door to even greater landscape. More than a collections…
The Weeknd
The Weeknd’s first two mixtapes were full-bodied marvels of highly sexualized understatement. And while Echoes of Silence doesn’t share House of Balloons’ out-of-nowhere punch, or the pervasive doom in “Thursday,” it boldly shouts that, after 27 songs in just 10 months, possibility’s still possible for Toronto’s Abel Tesfaye. If you thought he was getting comfortable in his new-Prince…
Lights up
Even over a crackly speakerphone, Lights sounds exactly like you might imagine: she’s peppy and perky, with a sprite-like voice you might recognize from her tinkling synth-pop hit “Drive My Soul” cheerily extolling her affection for comic books, her Xbox 360 and the video game Skyrim. She giggles about her fortune, about “Drive My Soul”…
Atlas Sound
Parallax is the third album by Deerhunter Bradford Cox’s solo outfit Atlas Sound, and if you’ve heard his previous releases, you know what to expect. The guitars are more toned down than in his work with Deerhunter and there are more synthesizers, but Parallax separates itself from his other releases due to the eclectic songwriting.…
