January sales
Typically, business in the retail sector can slow to a crawl at this time of year as people take stock of the consumer frenzy of the holidays and shift under the weight of credit card bills coming in. This is why there are so many sales ongoing in downtown. We took a look on Barrington…
The Company House: A year in the life
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 was a hectic one for MaryAnn Daye and Heather Gibson. The folk music festival In The Dead of Winter was about to open that evening at their new bar The Company House (2202 Gottingen Street, 404-3050) and they spent the morning securing their liquor licence and the afternoon securing booze. “It…
Doing a double lutz for Ice Castles
Coming soon: the direct-to-DVD remake of the classic 70s skate-and-cry Ice Castles, shot in Halifax featuring Taylor Firth, Michelle Kwon and what appears to be half of city as extras.
Helen Hill film entered into the US’s National Film Registry
Every year in the United States, the National Film Registry and the librarian of Congress James H. Billington select “25 motion pictures that will be preserved as cultural, artistic and/or historical treasures for generations to come.” This year’s honourees included Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (for obvious reasons). But among the selections was a film that hits…
Thrush Hermit tickets on sale now
WOWEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! March 19 and 20 at the Paragon Theatre! The above is the best music video ever made, by the way. UPDATE: tickets go on sale Friday, January 15, 10am at ticketpro.ca or Ticketpro outlets ($21.50adv/$29 day of show).
Paul F. Tompkins makes dreams come true
So kids, here’s a story of never giving up your dreams. When Coast writer Mark Black read in Mondo that “When Toronto comedian Bob Kerr tweeted Tompkins in late July and asked him to perform here, Tompkins responded with a challenge: Kerr’s aptly named “I Wanna See Paul F. Tompkins in Toronto!” group reached 300…
NO GODDAMNED WAY! Busta cancelled!
The new date for Busta’s Cunard Centre show is Friday, January 22 at 10pm. Tickets for September 19 and December 11 will be honoured. If customers do not wish to attend the new date, they may get a refund at point of purchase. SIGH. UPDATE: Show’s cancelled. Tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.…
Bikes By Dave has a new online presence
Last summer they moved to a new location on Young Street and fresh for the new year, observe the updated website for Bikes By Dave (6191 Young Street, 455-1677). With a single click we learned that there’s no tax on inventory items through the month of January, the business considers itself Halifax’s BMX headquarters and…
GRACELAND! GRACELAND! GRACELAND!
I’m in Memphis for the first time ever! It’s amazing! Please come here, everybody! We got the Graceland Platinum tour and it was worth every penny. There was the added bonus of Elvis’ 75th birthday on January 8, so there were lots of cards and things. Want to see some of my Graceland photos? Of…
Serial Snowboard Thief
I’d like to thank the low life who is lurking around two Nova Scotia ski hills jacking people’s snowboards. My kid lost hers last week in the Valley, it was worth between $300 – $400 including the bindings which she saved up and bought herself. The board was a Christmas present from her boyfriend. I…
Why?
Why on earth do I have to listen to my 75 year old boss talk loudly on the phone about people having sex on an ironing board? Or talking about his use of Viagra, how beautiful his son’s girlfriend is, or how he can barely make it to the bathroom at night? I gotta put…
Council can change the law
The parking ban in the Halifax Regional Municipality is an outdated law which should be changed. As a former police officer, I issued many overnight parking tickets when the winter ban was in effect simply because orders came from my supervisors to do so, even when the weather was free from snowstorms. When I became…
Wizened optimism
Tim Bousquet: Yes, I do actually give a shit! Just reading your “False reflection” editorial (December 31, 2009), I do agree with you to some extent, that people in general have some difficulty coming to grips with the implications of climate change and actually doing something about it. Individually, we feel we are doing “what…
Mellotones stolen gear
GIVE IT BACK! Mellotones’ bass players Mike Farrington and Serge Samson have had a run of bad luck.
You do the crime, you do the time….
Kids these days are disrespectful MORONS!! What is is with them?? They assault, rob, shoot, stab, harrass and disrespect people and never have to do anything because of it?? No wonder there are so many of them at it. If some teenager commits an adult crime that takes planning such as the above mentioned crimes,…
RE: double-wides on the bus/all the other hating
Really? Did I really just read that? That is cruel and horrible. I thought people in Halifax were supposed to be kinder and less judgmental? Yet you all said such awful things, in the post and in the comments.This is really so upsetting…. my god. Also, I find the number of “bitch” posts so alarming…
Freedom to Read
Dear Reader of The Coast, All we wanted to do was enjoy our weekly hit of The Coast, infused with our Virgo horoscopes. But you totally ruined it for both of us. You stole our horoscope, only ours, and then put the copy on the bottom of the pile so it was the only Coast…
Bigups to God & Enron
I’d just like to give bigups to God, Enron, and whoever the fuck else it might concern. God – You apparently have powers, you’re like the ultimate X-Man. Enron – You higher-ups got rich while leaving your employees to lose everything, awesome. Everyone else can kiss my ass, and suck my dick. —The end
Douchebags of the world
Dear douchebags, Why are you everywhere? Are you a sickness? Like a zombie plague? Only a douchier more gel haired version? Why do you tan? What’s with the flexing muscles? And one upping everyone? Why do you walk on other people for no reason? Are you insecure? Is your penis that small? Why do you…
‘Clockbocked’ by a big girl
Thank you heavy set girl who ‘clockbocked’ me a week or so back at a bar. I was totally “in” with a hottie from Dartmouth. It was nice and I sure wish you wouldn’t have gotten in the way. I respect your right to speak to me, however wish you would work on your timing…
Smokers are not jokers
Dear dirtbag guy at a party. Thanks for being tougher than me. It was fun when I knew it was impossible to defend my cigarettes honour. You took it out of my mouth and crushed it below your massively hugemongous feet and flexed your arm muscles extra big. It frightened me and caused my smoke…
Fat Talk
I understand that you’re insecure about your body from time to time- most people are. But most people don’t announce it constantly. This is what I consider fishing for a compliment to shine your ego. From time to time I’ll give you one, but never when you expect it- mine are genuine. Yes, I understand…
To the dumb-fucks out on saturday night…
Why the hell did you have to beat the shit out of each other? I was at the a bar on saturday night, celebrating a friends birthday, the night was great, until we left. Myself and the birthday girl were outside waiting for our friends to get their coats so we could go home. In…
Shoes for kids: Shoefly
A new venture out of Bedford is called Shoefly (880-1870), a local online source for footwear for infants and children. A home-run business, it was started by Amanda MacKenzie Nasrallah when she struggled to find just the right shoes for her daughter Isabel, now two-years-old. After some research, she found “an entire world of fabulous…
Hillbilly Hot Dogs
Lesage, West Virginia: Home of a terrifying school bus that contains delicious hot dogs.
Just sayin’
The Scene and Heard blog has reached 420 comments. You all owe yourselves a good bout of relaxing.
Jesus of Barrington
This bitch isn’t about the fact that it’s there, it’s about the fact that it’s there with no explanation. I see the Jesus every day as I walk back and forth to work and every time my mind races trying to figure out his purpose. The inside of the doors of his home reads a…
Response to “Going Hiking,I think not!”
I am in a state of utter outrage after reading Fashion Assassin’s uncalled for attack on hiking boots in the city. Is it wrong to make an effort to keep snow away from my socks? Hiking boots are the most durable footwear available to the public. I can’t afford to constantly buy fresh ass Nikes…
Student Loan FAILURE
To Whom It May Concern: This is an open letter to student loan Nova Scotia advising them of the continuous failure they foist upon the students of Nova Scotia semester after semester, year after year. In June 2009 I applied for a student loan, and after much rhetoric, struggle and tears, I was able to…
Bus Driver Love
To the kind SMT bus driver who saw me this weekend in tears because I had lost my bank card at 6am and didn’t realize it until I went to pay for my ticket home 15 minuites before the bus left…THANK YOU! You let me get on your bus and you drove me all the…
Take a bow. You really had me fooled.
I’m not sure if this is really a “love the way we bitch” or just an after affect of a “love the way we love” post that I only ever thought. You came into my life slowly and I was hesitant to get to know you. I was always attracted to you, but not really…
Double-wides on the bus
Okay. I used to defend obese people and the still accepted derision of them….ie. name calling, etc….but I am getting to the point where I am losing sympathy and patience with them. In the last several weeks I have sat down on the bus next to people that literally take-up one and a half seats…
Kijiji People a chuckle a minute.
If anyone is bored today go to Kijiji and type in “coach” in the search, then click on the furniture category once the search results come back. It’s Hilarious how many people can’t spell COUCH. also, whats with people asking hundreds of dollars for an old 32” CRT TV? —Kijiji shopper
Stop Breeding?
I was driving behind you on quinpool yesterday and noticed the Rainbow Flag above the license plate. No big deal. Show yer out and proud and all that, its cool. But then I noticed a sticker above it on the trunk: “STOP BREEDING”. Really? Not quite sure how to take that one. —Cranky
Too Good For Metro The Bus
To the stupid twit who was on the number 10 bus coming back from Mic Mac mall Sunday evening… The same bitch who wouldn’t allow someone to sit down, giving her baggage a seat while many others were standing. The same loser who had to be told by her friends (who seemed embarrassed by her…
Pre-drinking Fail
Pre-drinking is a skill that takes little time to hone. Learn your limits, go to it, head out and hold off on ordering drinks for a few hours. You want to keep a warm buzz all night, without getting sick, and without sobering up. Pre-drinking does not mean getting so plastered you can barely leave…
LIAR LIAR YOUR HOUSE SHOULD BE ON FIRE
To the “landlord” on Robie: Yeah? Yeah? The apartment is ours? Yeah? That’s weird, I’m pretty we were on the bus. Headed to Freeman’s. To sign a lease. Waiting on you. Only to get a call, saying you change your mind, last minute. LAST SECOND. Seriously? Fifty bucks? That’s all it takes? That’s your whore…
Robo-Grandpa
I’m finding myself more and more pissed off lately by the pushy seniors on their motor scooters. Ok, so at one point, you had a disability, you at that point had the right to put yourself ahead of others, in that we should help you out, and give you the right of way, and the…
Orange you glad
You’ve been out on Spring Garden recruiting for your cult every Saturday since the summer. And every Saturday I studiously ignore you, subordinating my right to freedom of expression to your right to freedom of faith and the rights of innocent bystanders not to hear bad words. DON’T SPEAK TO ME, I’M NOT INTERESTED!. My…
College
I just got in… What the hell am I supposed to expect?—umm
To all of those idiots who don’t understand math
To all those foolish humans who think that 2010 is the last year of a decade, I hope you soon understand your problems. When a song is released in 1970, it is not thought of as a “60’s song”, it is thought of as a “70’s song”. Satellite radio backs this up (70’s on 7…
please stop calling me. Sweetheart
o.k please stop telling me I’m your sweetheart. telling me how you want me to ride you. YOUR Fat!!! Old UGLY… you have a huge gut made me touch it. your 45 years old. who cares you were a somebody from way back… no one likes a fat desperate old flirt telling all the ladies…
Perfume Bathers
I can understand using the occasional drop of perfume to accent an outfit, or a teeny spritz of cologne for a date, but too many people are entering public places absolutely reeking of the stuff, is your BO that bad? All anyone is going to think, if they can still breathe, is just what are…
Jenocide gets Riot Grrl props from Bitch
Last week Kathleen Hanna donated all of her memorabilia to NYU Library’s riot grrl’s memorabilia. Perhaps some day we’ll find Jenocide posters in the Halifax Public Library. There’s a great post on Bitch today about Jen Clarke and Jenocide, announcing her as a “feminist music newcomer.”
Fid Resto’s Slow Food Celebration
There are a whack of cool things going on at Fid (1569 Dresden Row, 422-9162) at the moment. For starters, on January 14, 15 and 16 drop in for their Slow Food meal, a special $60 menu celebrating local farmers and their produce. Also, keep in mind the Frequent Fiddler Lunch Club, where you come…
From the Girl in the HOT PINK ECHO
I would just like to quickly reply to the gentleman who decided to take ten minutes out of his pitiful mistake of a life to create some idiotic remarks about my gorgeous love mobile. In my defense, it is not my fault that you have nothing better to do than tear down people who try…
Dear Movie Action Hero
If the girl on the floor has a bullet hole between her eyes. You can skip the whole ‘checking of the pulse’ part of the program. Oh and if you are in the middle of suburbia and the cop chick you are with gets shot. You take her to the fucking hospital, Moron. You don’t…
Sick of Hype
So I’m going to throw this out there and be the first one to say it. Avatar isn’t that good. I saw this movie already, years ago when it was called Ferngully: The Last Rain Forest. The entire film was predictable from beginning to end. Don’t get me wrong, the visuals are stunning, characters somewhat…
Lesbian Love
To the wonderful woman who brought her two amazing children into my life 7 years ago, and has agreed to marry my “not-so perfect track record” ass, and has shown me that love conquers all. I love you..can’t wait to me Mrs. and Mrs. Thank you.— Lucky In Love
Shining Lights
2009 was a pretty crappy year – all in all, it was a lot like a rollercoaster. To all my friends and family that supported me through the absolutely dreadful times and made the great times even more enjoyable, thank you. You ROCK!!!—Welcome 2010
I thought doctors were healers, not drug dealers
Healthcare is just so fantastic in this city. My boyfriend was admitted by ambulance due to multiple bad falls with a pre-existing back condition. He had pain through his spine, the back of his neck, and the side of his head. He also had excruciating chest pain. He was admitted, seen by nurses and doctors,…
my viewing pleasure
ok, here’s one…why is it impossible to get Codco on DVD? that show was awesome.. And why is Tom Goes to the Mayor on so late and on some obscure channel that cable folk can’t access? ever see it? its funny as hell…(youtube) THERE, a bitch, for all those bitchin’ about the lack of bitches..—bizzleO’nizzle
That seat on the bus
Here’s some respect for that seat on some metro transit busses that is set slightly out from the others. It’s on the busses with mostly side-facing seats, near the rear door. It is set further out into the aisle and it’s kind of separated from its neighbouring seats. That particular seat made many a late-night…
To Purveyors of Arse Fluff
Why in the fuck would I wipe my bung pucker with a fluffy white kitten or, God forbid, a Labrador Retriever? Personally, I’d rather wipe my ass with Jello. Lime.—Just Sayin’ – TTFN
Halifax traffic cops: masters of the ambush
Let me begin by saying that I am not a habitual speeder; I never deliberately seek to wail through this town like the speed limit signs were written in Chinese. What my bitch is about is how some places in this damn town it feels like there’s a conspiracy going on between city hall’s speed…
Response to “baby it’s cold outside”
If your landlord doesn’t know about your problem with no heat, he can’t fix it. Instead of complaining to people in the Coast who for the most part can’t help you is a waste of energy. If he won’t help, file a freaking complaint with the Tenancy Board. That will get his attention. Think people!—A…
Walk to the side please!!
Why do some people insist on walking down the middle of the parking lot lanes? It makes it difficult for cars to drive down the lanes looking for parking spots not to mention that it could be dangerous. They make the lane wide enough that you can walk to either side without fear of being…
Cinder Blocks on Barrington Exit of MacKay Bridge
Congratulations to the thundering morons driving a garbage truck pulling a trailer full of cinder blocks over the MacKay bridge. You are my first nominee for “Idiot(s) of the Year (MacKay Bridge Edition)”. Last year’s winner was the guy who didn’t secure a fridge on the back of his truck, causing a big accident. So,…
Restaurant Manners – NOT!!!!!
To the bald asshole, with his 2 grown up dauther’s and wife who were eating on Thursday night at a downtown pub, TURN YOUR FUCKING CELL PHONE OFF AND WHILE YOU”RE AT IT, TURN YOUR VOICE DOWN AN OCTAVE WHILE SPEAKING!!!! This dick head was talking so loud, making calls and accepting calls while the…
Done!
Ive found closure in the fact that the guy you met online didn’t work out for you. I’d also like you to stop calling and texting me repeatidly, because I don’t want to hang out like “old times”. Oh yeah, the old times when you weren’t currently boning someone, which were the only times you…
Friday art moment: David Harper
Sarah Quinton, Cambridge Galleries David Harper, who left Halifax to go to grad school in Chicago’s esteemed SAIC, has continued to produce amazing works, with shows in Cambridge, On, and Dawson City, Yukon. This is detail of an installation that Harper was working on when I interviewed him almost two years ago. Keep in mind…
Halifax Anti-Prorogue Rally planned
Press release just received: In protest over Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue parliament, over 30 rallies are currently being planned across Canada – including Halifax. The Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament Rally in Halifax, Nova Scotia will be held on January 23rd at 1:00pm at Province House (1726 Hollis Street). The rally has received support from…
Slayer/Megadeth concert postponed once again
Here’s some valuable backstory: CLICK From Slayer.net: “‘Tom gave various medical treatments more than a fair shot,’ said Slayer’s manager Rick Sales, ‘but they just haven’t handled the problem, so he’s biting the bullet and is scheduled for back surgery at the end of this month.’ This difficult decision made by the band’s bassist/vocalist Tom…
My farts
Why in the hell , at the worst times , do I Fart? Like shaking someones hand when meeting them , I fart. And they smell bad . Anyone else do that , always farting ? Soon as drop my change in the bus fare box – yep – a fart . And really loud…
Cheap ass employers
Arent you all sick of the companies in Nova Scotia that post jobs on the job bank services!!! they offer you the least amount of money they can to work for them, and you know these compaines are making huge profits every year. then they wonder why the people they hire steal call in sick…
Just sayin’…
You know who you are. Always commenting, NEVER bitching. What’s the deal? It’s all very cumbersome.—Return of the prick
To the crazy cat lovers!
You’re all so adorable! You’re just as cute as the kitties themselves!!—KittyLover
Southern BBQ joint Boneheads Opens
If you’re like us, you were very sad when The Old Triangle took their excellent pulled pork sandwich off the menu recently. Well, here’s a little silver lining around that culinary dark cloud: pulled pork is one of the main menu items at Boneheads BBQ (1014 Barrington Street, near Inglis, 407-4100), opening Saturday, January 9.…
Tomorrow! Massachusetts’ own Stand By Me and Think Again
Stand By Me Stand By Me play lively pop punk with positive attitudes that do not seem affected by long trips in the van. That is a feat, people. They’re coming to town with buddies Think Again and playing an all ages show at Studio A Cafe January 8 at 7pm (with Envision, Castle Wolfenstein…
The Got To Get Got: “Gettin’ Dirty in the Afterlife”
Behold! THE GOT TO GET GOT – “Gettin’ Dirty In The Afterlife” video from THE GOT TO GET GOT on Vimeo.
The 2009 LTWWB Awards
So I was thinking that we should have awards for the Best/Worst Bitches/Bitchers of 2009. I nominate “HaliFUCK Culture Scene” as the best bitch of 2009: http://www.thecoast.ca/LovetheWayWeBitch/archives/2009/06/10/halifuck-culture-scene I nominate “Counter bitches” as the worst bitch of 2009: http://www.thecoast.ca/LovetheWayWeBitch/archives/2009/02/11/counter-bitches Most Pathetic Bitch: “Canada’s Next…?” http://www.thecoast.ca/LovetheWayWeBitch/archives/2009/03/18/canadas-next Most Entertaining Poster of 2009: TTFN Most Annoying Poster of 2009:…
Self Check-Outs = Self Explanatory
To all you idiots out there who decide to go through the self check-outs at some of the local big box stores: If you don’t know how to use them… DON’T USE THEM!! They are intended for people to get through quickly and efficiently. They are not meant for you to stand there gawking at…
Who throws a shoe?
and who steals shoe laces! When i got up this morning and wanted to put on my boots, i couldn’t because my roommates took the shoelaces out of both my boots! seriously shoe laces are like $2 max. I’m sure you can afford $2, and if you can’t i would have bought you some. but…
Jane’s Underground movement
Although it’s been over 45 years since Roe v Wade was passed, and almost 22 years since abortion was decriminalized in Canada, women still face challenges to their reproductive rights—-in particular, abortion accessibility—-according to Jane Gavin-Hebert, producer of SMU Women’s Centre’s production of Jane Abortion and the Underground. This is the play’s first international performance…
Young artists go outside in
If you threw together a stack of comics, zines and scrappy drawings from across the country, you’d find a complex web of friendships, school ties and social networks underlying it. That’s what curator Corinna Ghaznavi found when putting together the show Pulp Fiction, opening at Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery—uncovering an interconnected community of artists…
Capitalize on nothingness, libra
Capricorn (DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19) “You are what you love, not what loves you,” says the character Charlie Kaufman in the film Adaptation. (Kaufman is played by Nicolas Cage, who has three planets in Capricorn.) I urge you to work hard to make that perspective your own, Capricorn. Ideally, it will become a permanent addition to…
Take a Greek vacation at Estia
If I close my eyes tight enough, opening the door on the cold, salty curb of Spring Garden Road into the doors of Estia feels like walking into my own personal Narnia. Crossing the threshold, I step out of winter into the warmth of a summer day in Greece. The air hangs heavy, warm with…
Lowedown, the final curtain
The wait is over. I’m leaving this space as a columnist. What’s that I hear? Gasps? Sighs? The odd meh? Ahh…but there’s the din too, I am certain, of cheering. I just trolled through my email “letter” archive from 2009 and was reminded of a mere sprinkling of my journalistic sins—that I am, apparently, a…
Hall of fame: The Kids return to TV
From their early days on Toronto stages and then nationally, via a CBC show running from 1988-94, Kids in the Hall innovated and helped build Canadian comic tradition. The quintet returns to TV this Tuesday with a miniseries, Death Comes to Town, a murder-mystery send-up set in a small Ontario town. For the occasion, three…
2010 predictions: Year of Fire
As 2009, the year of the ox (solid, stolid and steady) gives way to 2010, the year of the tiger (fiery, ferocious and fearless), it’s time to review last year’s predictions, then gaze into my crystal ball once again. I hate to brag, but all of my 2009 predictions were 100 percent bang on. Remember…
Lukas Pearse goes on the record
It’s a contemporary question with deep historical roots. Is technology “better for music or does it take the soul out of the music?” asks vocalist Janice Jackson on the phone before a rehearsal of Vonda De Ville in Temporal Follies—An Electropera, a piece created for her by Lukas Pearse. The hour-long work will be performed…
The fantasy-reality line
Q I am a queer lady in my 20s. My boyfriend and I discovered we are both into BDSM. We started with some light bondage and spanking, added roleplay and are moving toward heavier stuff. I’ve spent some time reading online BDSM erotica, and here’s what’s stressing me out: I tend to gravitate toward stories…
Kelly McGuire’s midweek collaborators
Hump day is usually the day that gets you closer to the weekend, but the last Wednesday of 2009 began a new mid-week tradition—Halifax Music Club at the Paragon. The Club brings musicians and artists from different genres together to collaborate, with local blues musician Garrett Mason, Cape Breton darling Carmen Townsend and actor/dancer/jack-of-all-trades Cory…
How to Fix the City Scorecard
Each January, our first issue of the year, we offer up our annual Fix the City suggestions in the spirit of civic-mindedness; truly, we’re trying to make this a better place to live. But does anyone listen? Are we making any difference, or is this a pointless exercise in navel-gazing? Turns out, most years we…
Mushkat
Why isn’t Mushkat more talked about? Even in our tiny pond, overrun with schools of singer-songwriters, Bill Travis stands out. With a Ben Lee-like voice, Travis effortlessly moves from traditional singer-songwriter pop to perfect bossa nova, smoky cool jazz and quiet folk. The lyrics tend toward didactic, with environmental themes that can be a bit…
Our Annual Halifax Fix the City list
Create an emergency shelter When the harshest winds of winter hit the city, and the streets are buried beneath a blizzard’s weight in ice and snow, where can the homeless turn in a pinch for safe and supportive care? Nowhere, since the closure of Pendleton Place, a harm reduction centre that the Nova Scotia Department…
Forro in the Dark
Four Brazilian ex-pats filter forró (a syncopated rhythmic music originating in mainly rural northeastern Brazil) through their lives and experiences in New York. On this follow-up to its 2006 debut, Bonfires of São João, the band comes into its own. Guilherme Monteiro’s contributions come to mind as the true badge of the band at this…
Sink your teeth into Daybreakers
The directorial Spierig brothers offer a premise to sink your teeth into: In a world ruled by vampires, humans are on the verge of going extinct. A blood supplier (Sam Neill at his most deliciously evil) is developing a synthetic substitute (Tru Blood, maybe?), while a human resistance engages a befanged hematologist (Ethan Hawke) to…
Lake of Stew
The foot-stompin’, banjo-playin’, whoop-whooping train stops here. On its sophomore record, Montreal’s Lake of Stew delivers another set of solid country-folk tracks about everything from “mean shakin’ mamas” to running from the cops while painting graffiti on train bridges. Sweet as Pie sounds a little more like an old-timey jug band than the first album,…
The Sea Captain’s Wife Beth Powning (Knopf)
Beth Powning has the gift of drawing her readers into a work. The characters in The Sea Captain’s Wife are enduringly memorable. Set in the 1800s, Powning paints scenes of sea life and its pains, fears, wonders, joys and tragedies. Azuba Bradstock, a young woman from the Bay of Fundy, has recently married Nathaniel, a…
Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas reminds us of his pedigree on the opening track “Out of the Blue,” leading through the rabbit hole of his soul with Phrazes for the Young, his solo debut. Casablancas’ audio playground brings in elements of Beck, Radiohead and even ’80s ambient synth-pop, which serve to buoy the retro 1970s era garage rock,…
Members-only Bars: private drinking in Halifax.
Resolutes Club Membership is $10/year. Members get access to free pool, free darts, shuffleboard and the ultimate giveaway: occasional free drink tickets! Two members are needed to represent newbies, but don’t cause a ruckus and you can count yourself in. You can visit three times before signing up and are always sure to find a…
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Get Antichrist out of your head, Charlotte Gainsbourg’s IRM (French for MRI) is oddly disturbing in a real-world way. Inspired in part by the singer/actor’s emergency surgery after a cerebral hemorrhage, collaborator Beck takes care of most of the lyrics and songwriting, and his influence is far from subtle. Really, Beck leads this journey of…
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, Michael Pollan (Penguin)
Depending on from where you are approaching Michael Pollan’s Food Rules, the author has either finely distilled his exhaustive research on the industrial food chain and North America’s often counter-intuitive eating habits into approachable, easily digestible rules to govern food choices—or he has severely dumbed down his message. If you’ve read Pollan’s previous works, The…
Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something Darkside
After taking on the original 1977 Star Wars movie with Blue Harvest, the college wet-dream cartoon Family Guy is back with an Empire Strikes Back parody. I’ve been a Family Guy fan from the start—with no shame in it—but even I’m starting to get a little tired of the repetitive jokes and increasingly dull pop…
The Girl in the Park
A woman’s daughter is kidnapped from a playground. Her family breaks apart. She loses touch with them. Now she is back to pick up the pieces. David Auburn’s film never seems to be sure what it’s about. The mother (Sigourney Weaver) deals with the ultimate loss, certainly, but The Girl in the Park also tries…
The Burning Plain
Guillermo Arriaga is a masterful screenwriter with the rare ability to deconstruct multiple stories and then skillfully put all the pieces back together again (Amores Perros, Babel, 21 Grams). For his directorial debut, however, the style that made him a legendary Mexican storyteller is also his heavyhanded downfall. Self-mutilating Sylvia (Charlize Theron, who seems to…
Halifax cognoscenti talk about genres/bands they’re excited to see in Halifax these days
Secret Colours HOT MONEY RECORDS: Mike WrightI’ve been feeling really excited about bands from Halifax lately, there seem to be a lot of motivated people recording and releasing. Some bands I can’t wait to hear more from are Bloodhouse, Cold Warps, Bad Vibrations (Husband + Knife, Air/Fire), The Lodge, Gamma Gamma Rays, Cat Bag, Dog…
Teenanger are coming for you
The gang Toronto’s Teenanger come riding into Halifax this weekend on a wave of liquor, and you lucky people get to shoot the tube. Teen Anger keep selling out of every tape or record they make ridiculously quickly. But the good news is that they are bringing a new record with them. If you like…
