“We have a story to tell,” says organizer of Operation Black Lives Matter North Preston
Tomorrow, August 1, the North Preston Action Committee along with descendants of African Americans living in Nova Scotia are hosting a Black Lives Matter rally. It will take place at the Cenotaph next to the North Preston Recreation Center scheduled to begin at 2pm. The flyer for the event says it will review the $10…
Nap Eyes knows what’s new is old again
If time is a flat circle, there’s one band that has worn down its circumference, a sonic traversing turning into a deep groove filled with shimmery, dirt-speckled indie rock. If time is a flat circle, there’s one band that can pick it up on its edge and roll it down the road in a Ravi…
Where to get a locally made mask in Halifax
Are you ready? Tomorrow, July 31, is the day that masks become mandatory in indoor public spaces. What qualifies as an indoor public place? Stores, malls, places of worship or entertainment, transit terminals and bus shelters, service businesses (think nail salons or barber shops), common areas in office buildings and universities and, of course, restaurants…
The Town’s End Tavern comes to an end before it begins
The Town’s End Tavern hoped to make waves as the newest pub on Portland Street this summer, but plans have now been put on ice. The tavern was a passion project started by Doug Townsend and Renée Lavalée—owners of the Canteen and Little C, both also on Portland directly across from the proposed new location.…
Federal court rules that the US is not safe for refugees as per the Safe Third Country Act
In a federal court ruling that came down last week, the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) was found to be unconstitutional. For those of us who’ve been organizing against this agreement for years, this decision could not come soon enough. And, still, we know that much work remains. Even as the horrors of modern-day…
What you need to know about wining and dining with a mask
Last Friday, premier Stephen McNeil and doctor Strang announced that starting July 31, non-medical masks would be mandatory for most people in most indoor public places. “We cannot become complacent. COVID is a reality, we are going to have to learn to live with it,” said Premier McNeil during the announcement. This includes retail stores,…
The public inquiry announcement is only a first step
W hat if, dear Nova Scotians, we’ve been played? Bamboozled. That the whole review-not-an-inquiry announcement was a hot ploy? The government knew that no matter what it said about its plan to investigate the largest mass shooting in Canada’s history, folks would criticize and demand more. Families of murder victims bring an unquenchable moral outrage to…
Activists won’t rest until official public inquiry into shootings is called
On Monday July 27, over a hundred people gathered at Victoria Park in downtown Halifax to protest the lack of an official public inquiry into the Nova Scotia shootings that took place on April 18 and 19. Just four days before the protest, on July 23, the federal and provincial governments had announced a joint…
Afterwords Literary Festival releases 2020 lineup
Maybe the worst purchase of 2020 was a calendar, but now you officially have something to write (and highlight, and underline) in yours: Roxane Gay (yup, the author of Bad Feminist, Hunger, Difficult Women and a million tweets so biting they’re corrosive) is taking part in this year’s Afterwords Literary Festival. The fest—which debuted last…
What’s happening in Halifax from July 27-Aug 2
Monday July 27 Eyelevel’s Solidarity Bookclub The artist-run centre’s biweekly book club—held via Zoom—has three steps: Email the centre to take part (director@eyelevel.art), get a copy of the current book (the group aims to elevate works by 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC writers) and read up! July 27, 6-9pm, Zoom meeting ID 897 3435 8003, email director@eyelevel.art for more…
Protest Monday to demand official Portapique inquiry
Arally in support of an official public inquiry into the events of April 18 and 19 in Nova Scotia will take place Monday in Halifax. “A public inquiry must include independent experts in domestic violence and use a feminist lens that considers the cultural, systemic and structural issues that may have led to this mass…
Just the news on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, for the week starting July 27
NOTE: This week is now over. For the very latest news, please go here. But for an informative look back at exactly how Nova Scotia responded to COVID-19 in realtime, keep on reading. Display problems with The Coast’s Nova Scotia COVID-19 case graph? For the mobile version click here. Editor’s note: In its 28 years…
Kye Clayton keeps the beat
If 2020 belongs to anyone, a strong claim could be made on behalf of Halifax’s own Kye Clayton: He’s already dropped two EPs and several singles this year, all while growing the record label he co-founded, Let Dreams Be Noticed and becoming the valedictorian of his high school class. Furthering his case? The fact he’s…
Cape and Cowl creates a space for queer, nerdy youth to flourish
Pride comes around only once a year, but Cape & Cowl Comics & Collectibles in Lower Sackville is a safe place for all genders, all year long. “I like to wear my heart on my sleeve, I wear my activism on my sleeve, so my business is very much a social enterprise,” says owner Jay…
Coeur Clothing’s unisex designs put Pride front and centre
When Anisa Francoeur first started Coeur Clothing, it was based on a principle one of her professors told her during a short stint in NSCAD’s design program. “I had a design teacher that always told me don’t create just to create, create for something. So I feel like it’s a big responsibility as a designer…
When in doubt, wear a mask out
It’s a big day for masks in Nova Scotia. Today the rule came into effect requiring passengers and drivers to wear masks on buses, ferries and in taxis. And moments ago at their COVID-19 briefing, premier Stephen McNeil and top doc Robert Strang announced that starting next Friday, July 31, non-medical masks will be mandatory…
Apparently masks have been mandatory for servers all along
From the day it was announced restaurants could re-open, the regulations around re-opening were put not in the hands of the government, but of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia (RANS). The industry organization posted its original re-opening guidelines on May 27, giving restaurants time to plan and organize for the re-opening on June 5.…
Top ten spots in Halifax for pedestrians to get seriously injured by cars
If you’re someone who tends to bike or walk in the city—there’s some new information about pedestrian safety you might want to know. A new study led by Simon Fraser University has compiled a new top 10 list of the most dangerous areas for cyclists and pedestrians in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The researchers used…
Queer-run Outlaw Tattoo breaks the mould
Whether it was drawing, writing, or playing an instrument, Gabe “Squalor” David has been expressing herself creatively for a long time. With a passion for art spanning more than a decade, David and her art finally found a permanent place—literally—to call home at Outlaw Country Tattoo Co. in October 2018. Despite being open for less…
250 years later, the province is still trying to shirk its promises in North Preston
A decision came out of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia recently. The Downey v. Nova Scotia ruling affirms what pro bono lawyers and the grassroots movement of North Preston residents (that spurred the mobilization of those pro bono lawyers) have been telling the Department of Lands and Forestry for at least half a decade: the…
Why cheating doesn’t have to ruin a committed relationship
QIs it terrible to believe you can still have a truly monogamous and loving relationship with one partner after 20 years? Or can we walk into a relationship knowing that within those decades of being together, situations like infidelity or being attracted to another is completely unavoidable? And if we acknowledge that in some cases…
Halifax Transit fares coming back August 1, but by 2021 you should be able to pay with your phone
This week Halifax Regional Council voted in favour of a phased approach to electrifying payment on Halifax Transit’s busses. The news, which councillor Lorelei Nicoll said she’s been waiting for since 2008, will bring Halifax into the new century of transit tech 20 years after it started. Fares, which have been suspended since the COVID state…
My Black hair matters
Around the world, people have been awakened to the police’s unnecessary and incessant violence against Black people. It is inspiring seeing white and brown folks hold up placards and protest systemic racism alongside Black people. But while we’re protesting systemic racism, let’s remember something that’s often discriminated against yet often overlooked. Something so tiny, yet…
Draft email hints that Stephen McNeil still wants to open Nova Scotia up to the rest of Canada
Even when he announced the Atlantic bubble back in June, premier Stephen McNeil clearly had bigger things on his mind. “The next step after that will be opening up our province to the rest of Canada,” he said at a June 18 briefing. As for timing, he offered “the end of the second week, third…
It’s never too late to have a rebellious adolescence, Virgo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEO (July 23-August 22) “How can I communicate to wild bunnies that I am their ally?” asked a Twitter blogger named Ghost Girl. That question is a good place to start my oracle for you. In the coming weeks, I think you’ll be wise to meditate on how to enhance your relationship with…
Paintings, by the numbers: An exploration of Cliff Eyland’s Library Cards
At some point when you walk into the Halifax Central Library, you’ll feel your neck crane, as if it’s working independently of the rest of you. Your head will tilt, following suit. Your eyes will climb, eager to not be left behind. Your back might even bow under all the upward shifts, under the need…
Halifax says bye bye for good to Cornwallis statue and street name
UPDATE October 2021: Halifax Regional Municipality initiated Phase One of the two-phase project to rename Cornwallis Street—a survey to collect new street name suggestions for the street. The survey is “open to all property owners, residents and businesses on Cornwallis Street, First Nation and African Nova Scotian communities and all other residents of the municipality”…
Thanks for the memoriez, Menz & Mollyz
We’ve lost a million things since mid-March, not the least of which is our collective sense of what normal life looks like. It’s been a hard road, with sacrifices big and small, personal and communal. And while summer’s here now—and while Pride’s given us over 35 ways to celebrate the infinite shades of sex and…
Walk, Ride & Roll to Africville draws focus to lack of safe access, again
The second annual Walk, Ride & Roll to Africville will take place on Saturday, July 25, starting at 1pm. Cyclists, strollers and other wheeled forms of transportation and their operators will meet at the corner of Richmond and Barrington streets, and walkers will meet at the corner of Duffus and Barrington streets. The group will march…
Thank you, Halifax. You should feel proud.
Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder. July is pride month, a time when we usually behold the beauty and excitement of up to 120,000 Haligonians sharing in the celebration and joy that is the annual Pride Parade. Understandably not this year, so I thought this article would be my small…
What’s happening in Halifax from July 20-26
Tuesday July 21 Health & Wellness Panel Series: Safer Sex for AFAB folx (Assigned Female At Birth) Are you curious about incorporating safer sex into your sex life with other AFAB folx? Do you have questions about the risks, the perks, the gear? Join Halifax Pride online as the fest talks safer sex. Moderated by…
Friends of NSCAD mean business at Tuesday’s Online Day of Action
The Friends of NSCAD group is protesting online today to request that the NSCAD board of governors be fired—and that recently deposed Aoife Mac Namara be reinstated as the president of the institution. The event, Online Day of Action To Fire The NSCAD Board, comes after the Friends’ petition to oust the current board and…
Defunding the police is still a problem for Board of Police Commissioners
Earlier this month, Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners held a chaotic and tech-troubled virtual meeting—slated to discuss defunding the police, it was mired by a bad definition and hot tempers and only got through one item on the agenda. At the last meeting, a motion from staff outlined a suggested definition for what defunding the police…
Just the news on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, for the week starting July 20
NOTE: This week is now over. For the very latest news, please go here. But for an informative look back at exactly how Nova Scotia responded to COVID-19 in realtime, keep on reading. Display problems with The Coast’s Nova Scotia COVID-19 case graph? For the mobile version click here. Editor’s note: In its 28 years…
Dear Friend wants to get as cozy as COVID will allow
Portland Street is now home to another stylish new place to drink. Dear Friend Bar opened on July 9, with a small but curated menu of cocktails (both boozy and alcohol-free), wine and beer. Co-owners Matt Boyle and Jeff Van Horne also run Clever Barkeep, but the events and catering business had seen a downturn…
Our Artists Matter is a rallying call, not a reminder
Our Artists Matter: A Qtbipoc Pride Show July 17 Facebook Live 8-11pm Free Richard Rockhard typically gets ready for his drag performances at home. He pulls out his makeup kit and contours his face. Then, he paints his moustache area black, completing a masculine look. “The makeup takes the longest amount of time and so…
Here’s everyone who won a 2020 East Coast Music Award
This past weekend, the East Coast Music Association handed out its annual nods to some of the best and brightest local talent. (And, um, a few accolades to openly living-away artists, like Laura Roy, who’s been making her mark on the UK’s R&B scene, and longtime Ontario-based fiddle queen Natalie MacMaster.) While the statuettes were…
Gottingen Street returns to its roots with Taking Blk Gottingen
Black-owned businesses and vendors will participate in a pop-up market on Gottingen Street this weekend, hosted by the North End Business Association, Alteregos Cafe and the Khyber Center for the Arts. For two days, the highly gentrified street will return to its roots as more than 15 vendors—from clothing to food to arts and jewellery—set…
Here’s everything that’s happening at this year’s Pride festival
Thursday July 16 Noon-Hour Panel Series: Flattening the Curve of Racism for Two-Spirits: Creating Racial, Gender and Sexuality Diverse Allies in and out of the LGTBQ+ community Panellists include Geordy Marshall (Kepmitelsi), John R. Sylliboy (Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance) and El Bergeron Paul (Wolastoqyiyk of St. Mary’s First Nation). noon-1pm, halifaxpride.com Halifax Pride Flag Raising The…
Keonté Beals: A king secures his crown
Keonté Beals might have written his latest single—the newly released “King”—in 2019, but it’s a song that holds the pulse of 2020 in its soaring piano intro. Tackling themes surrounding religion, mental health, toxic masculinity and life as a young Black man, it marks a new direction for Beals, both musically and lyrically. “I think…
André Anderson is making a difference
André Anderson has a favourite spot in town: a specific bench at Fort Needham Memorial Park in the north end. It has the perfect amount of shade and sun. From it, you can see the bell towers, the harbour and people enjoying the park. It’s where he does a lot of thinking, where he comes up…
You’ve got the magic to transform a wound into a lovely asset, Leo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANCER (June 21-July 22) As a Cancerian, you have a natural propensity to study and understand what author Margaret Atwood describes as “echoes and emptiness and shadow.” I believe this aspect of your repertoire will be especially active and available to you in the coming weeks. For best results, regard your attunement to…
Unplugging for your partner
QMy wife asked me to write to you about our situation. We’ve been married for 15 years. I am 50 years old and my wife is a decade younger. We are a heterosexual couple with kids. I am a submissive male and I like to play with my ass using different-sized dildos. I enormously enjoy…
NSCAD community wants president Aoife Mac Namara reinstated
The Friends of NSCAD group is among those unhappy with the sudden dismissal of the university’s president, Aoife Mac Namara, by its board of governors. The former president, widely described as an ally to many of the institution’s marginalized students, was fired on June 26. “The Board offered no proper justification for such extreme action,…
Hop Scotch has a new home
Pop up restaurant Hop Scotch Dinner Club is taking over Chives Canadian Bistro’s 19-year-old location at 1537 Barrington St. Co-owners Stephanie Ogilvie and Brock Unger say owning a restaurant is a dream come true. “It’s been both of our dreams for a really long time to have our own restaurant,” Ogilvie says. “It’s actually really…
European Pantry gets rejuvenated with a new generation of ownership
The corner of Chebucto and Elm streets in West end Halifax is the long-time home of a local store that has changed hands a few times over the years. “In here, you can kind of tell there’s been a business here for 35 years, and I’m just the latest generation to take it on. It…
How to get started as a couple of cucking dykes
QI’m a lesbian in a long-term relationship. After much conversation with my partner we’ve decided to explore cuckolding role-play together. I’m not comfortable bringing another person into the relationship—especially right now—but I am willing to explore this as a fantasy. The thing is, I’m having a hard time figuring out how to do it. There’s…
Just the news on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, for the week starting July 13
NOTE: This week is now over. For the very latest news, please go here. But for an informative look back at exactly how Nova Scotia responded to COVID-19 in realtime, keep on reading. Display problems with The Coast’s Nova Scotia COVID-19 case graph? For the mobile version click here. Editor’s note: In its 28 years…
You have exceptional power to transform the way you feel, Pisces
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Cancerian author Mary McCarthy provides you with a challenge you’ll be wise to relish during the rest of 2020. She writes, “Everyone continues to be interested in the quest for the self, but what you feel when you’re older is that you really must make the self.” McCarthy implies that this…
The charges against Santina Rao have been dropped
A grapefruit, lettuce and two lemons. These are the supposedly concealed items mother of two Santina Rao was accused of smuggling out of the Mumford Road Walmart one Wednesday afternoon last January. A grapefruit, lettuce and two lemons, items worth altogether less than $10, a price she intended to pay but never got the chance…
Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners dips a pinky toe into the defund the police discussion
Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners got as far as discussing that it wasn’t quite ready to discuss the idea of defunding the police at its first meeting since the death of George Floyd sparked criticism of the way police operate in our communities worldwide. Technical difficulties preceded the meeting that barely made it through the…
Pandemic precautions
COVID-19 is not over. Worldwide, cases are still increasing. Due diligence helped Nova Scotia flatten the curve and we need to keep it that way. Whether you’re on a patio, at the beach or hanging out in your backyard this summer, don’t forget that COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. Wash your hands or sanitize frequently, and…
Don’t pass me by: Nova Scotia’s hidden gems
You’re planning a weekend road trip. Maybe it’s somewhere you go every summer, or maybe it’s a whole new Nova Scotian adventure you’re inspired to take because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions. This province has countless popular tourist destinations that are usually packed to the brim with come-from-aways. But they won’t come this year, so…
The best lakes to lounge at in HRM
Penhorn Beach 70 Penhorn Drive, Dartmouth Head to the City of Lakes to find this small oasis that’s great for swimming. Tired? Take a break on one of the many benches. The beach is supervised by a lifeguard and regularly tested for E. coli. Hop on the 62 Wildwood bus or the 10 Westphal to…
A beginners guide to biking to the beach in Halifax
What if we told you that you can bike from downtown Halifax to the beach? Really. Even if you haven’t biked in years and don’t remember the hand signals. It’ll be a bit sweaty and a bit stressful and you’ll curse at the lack of signage but you can do it—and it’ll be worth it.…
Paddling towards equal representation in the outdoor industry
Different Strokes Paddle Program launched in HRM in late June with the goal of getting more diverse people into kayaks and out enjoying nature. Founder Alexi Rodriguez is offering free one-hour lessons to BIPOC folks who are interested in learning how to kayak or improving the skills they already have. When Rodriguez took the Outdoor…
Seven crushable cans to fill your cooler with
Piquette Benjamin Bridge This piquette (an old style of low-alcohol wine) from the creator of Nova 7 has a hint of sea salt, and is impossibly easy to drink. (7.2% alcohol by volume) Lime Lite Propeller Brewing Company What Bud Light Lime would be like if it was made by a reputable craft brewer and…
New cone on the block
Saints Supreme Soft Serve is a new pop-up from the folks at Apartment 3 Coffee in Lower Sackville (833 Sackville Drive). Co-owners Alex and Heather Stephen had been churning over the ice cream idea for a while, but the pandemic convinced them it was finally time to make it a reality. “Because of all this…
Learn your A-B-Seas
Check out our top ocean beaches for spending a scorching summer day. Whether you’re heading for a road trip with pals, taking the dog for a dip or enjoying a long walk on the beach at sunset, there’s something for everyone. McNabs Island McNabs Cove Just a couple of kilometres from downtown Halifax, McNabs Island…
Get your fix of frozen treats
Now that you’ve indulged in the cotton-candy-coated cones at Saints Supreme Soft Serve, check out all the other cool places in town you can get brain freeze this summer. Fun & Shakes 1365 Hollis Street Head to this new spot for extra AF ice cream treats while you’re down on the waterfront. Booza Emessa 819…
Over 50 events to fill your summer
July Late Night Radio A sweet, socially distant way to take in some live theatre, thanks to the Ohio Valley’s North Barn Theatre Collective. Read more here. July 10-12, 8:30pm; July 17-19, 8:30pm; latenightradioantigonish.weebly.com for directions and tickets; Ohio Valley, Antigonish County; $25/PWYC The Art of the Solo Show: Shifting Between Distinct Characters STAGES Theatre…
Shop local swimwear, whatever your style
The hunt for the perfect suit meets its match with Simone Prisenberg’s splurge-worthy swimwear. As owner and operator of Martinique Swim, Prisenberg’s cute suits are available at several stores or directly from martiniqueswim.com. Head to the showroom in Cow Bay (by appointment only) for a personalized fitting and consultation, or pick one up at Biscuit…
Welcome to the Hot Summer Guide—now in print around Halifax
H ello and welcome to The Coast’s 25th annual Hot Summer Guide. If you are new to The Coast and/or the city—shout-out to Atlantic bubble visitors!—here’s the deal: The Coast is a small but mighty newspaper and website, and you will not find a media organization on this planet that is more passionate about Halifax…
Feed your soul at R&B Kitchen
R&B Kitchen Order via Instagram @rnbkitchen902, 760 a Main Street, Dartmouth The simple idea of “let’s sell plates” is what’s behind R&B Kitchen, a soul food restaurant in Dartmouth with just one main dish per day. “The main thing we focus on is one, that we love R&B music and two, that we love food…
Teach yourself Black Nova Scotian history this summer
Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia 10 Cherry Brook Road, Cherry Brook bccnsweb.com Black-led organizations have been working for years to fill in the gaping holes in our history left out by school curriculums. Now is a crucial time to un-learn and re-learn how we arrived at this point in history. In Cherry Brook, the…
Just roll with it
A boiled lobster on a plate can be a lot to deal with. There’s the shell, the spiky bits and all that melted butter. But eating local lobster is a fantastic way to help Nova Scotia fishers while enjoying some of the very best seafood in the world. What’s a conscientious consumer to do? Lean on…
The North American Indigenous Games bring the mawiomi home
This month, the largest sporting event the Maritimes has seen since European contact was supposed to take over the city: 5,250 athletes from 756 Indigenous nations were ready to compete in 16 sports as part of the North American Indigenous Games. And while Halifax will have to wait until 2021 for what NAIG alumni Savvy…
Shut up and drive-in
Late Night Radio North Barn Theatre Co. July 10-12 8:30pm; July 17-19 8:30pm latenightradioantigonish.weebly.com for directions and tickets; Ohio Valley, Antigonish County; $25/PWYC At a particular point on a particular field in Antigonish County’s Ohio Valley, Laura Stinson and Ian McFarlane are hosting a drive-in like no other. Late Night Radio is the first full-length…
Lifelong lifeguard sees change over the decades
Mike Melenchuk stopped being a certified lifeguard about a decade ago, but as the executive director of the Nova Scotia Lifesaving Society, he’s still keeping his feet wet. He tells The Coast that since he first started patrolling beaches like Rissers, Rainbow Haven and Aylesford Lake, drownings have decreased significantly in the province at both…
Staycation summer
A normal summer’s day in Halifax has streets throbbing with tourists from far reaches of the world. They’d pour out of cruise ships and make their way in from the airport to soak up all the good that this city has to offer. But this year, COVID-19 had other plans which means it’s high time…
Where to go when you gotta go
Public washrooms are always important, but especially so during COVID-19 when marginalized communities may have less access to retail store and coffee shop washrooms. “At the basic level, everyone in our community deserves access to hand washing and washroom facilities,” HRM public safety advisor Amy Siciliano told Coast writer Lezlie Lowe. Here’s a comprehensive list…
Thirst things first
Sourwood Cider 5576 Cornwallis Street One of the city’s newest cider joints has installed a small-but-mighty patio so you can sip and stay physically distant. As the name implies, its house-made ciders are often sour, and pair nicely with its snacky food menu. Off Track Brewing 275 Rocky Lake Drive This Bedford brewhouse has a…
Halifax Regional Council learns about the legacy of anti-Black racism in Nova Scotia
The Coast’s live-gramming of Halifax Regional Council continues with a presentation from Wanda Thomas Bernard and more. The best way to learn about what happened at council this week is to head over to The Coast’s Instagram and watch the 07/07 Council highlight on our profile. That way you can interact with the story as…
Just the news on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, for the week starting July 6
NOTE: This week is now over. For the very latest news, please go here. But for an informative look back at exactly how Nova Scotia responded to COVID-19 in realtime, keep on reading. Display problems with The Coast’s Nova Scotia COVID-19 case graph? For the mobile version click here. Editor’s note: In its 28 years…
You’re about to have a strong need to be seen for who you really are, Gemini
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANCER (June 21-July 22) Some readers wish I would write more like Cormac McCarthy or Albert Camus or Raymond Chandler: with spare simplicity. They accuse me of being too lush and exuberant in my prose. They want me to use shorter sentences and fewer adjectives. To them I say: It ain’t going to…
The missing link about kinks
QI have a question. I’m a gay man in a relationship, and we’re both really happy since we met a year ago. We’re “open” in the sense that he wants the option to be intimate with someone else if a connection happens, and in turn he said he would be supportive of me being involved…
