Your guide to Thursday’s Downtown Art Walk
Fire up the Fitbit, you’re about to clock a lot of steps this Thursday evening (5-8pm). We take you through the Downtown Art Walk gallery by gallery, shop by shop, so you can plan a full night of walkin’, lookin’ and droppin’ your Gs. I assume you’re a visual person because you enjoy things like…
Action is needed!
Ok, so all these new developments going up in downtown Halifax are including street-level retail space, which is great. Good design principles in action. But guess what? We have a ton of retail space downtown already, and lots of it is SITTING EMPTY! I’m no expert, but it seems to me that unless someone decides…
Holy Hell Sk8r Grrl!
You are the hottest thing I’ve ever seen on a deck. Your skin glowed, even on the cloudiest day, and you had the perfect mix of sex appeal and “Fuck You” attitude. If I had more balls, I would love to ask you out…I hope you travel on the 60 more often, maybe I’ll grow…
simply ravishing
I will wait for you as long as i have to. —sexiest man alive
Halifax Women – Thanks for all those wonderful summer outfits!
You guys really make our day. All those wonderful short shorts, skirts and slinky tops certainly make life more colourful! —Ryan
Robie Street Station brings all-day breakfast
Kaleigh Burns and Heman Lee are breakfast champions. The Toronto pair are the latest to land on Halifax’s food scene, and they’re currently hacking away at 2394 Robie Street—behind the mysterious brown papered windows at the former jane’s on the common—reimagining the space that will bring us all-day breakfast this September, courtesy of Robie Street…
WTF is wrong with this city? (transit rant)
Holy jumpin’ jeebus on a trampoline! Wtf is wrong with this ass-backwards city and why is there the need to change the name on the buses from Metro to Halifax transit? HRM consists of many communities (not just Halifax); the name “Metro” covers this. This is a blatant waste of taxpayers dollars and should be…
Dumb dog owners
To all of you Lovely Dog Owners who insist on bringing your dogs (big and small) into my place of employment; do not try to explain to me how hot your car is when so try to advise you that your four legged friend is not welcome in our store. I’m not the one who…
Does an oil spill help change a name
My now, the buses have a new name. Is this because of the oil spilling from Burnside down to Victoria Road? Oh yes, we are told it’s all ok. But I ask why, if a home owner has a oil tank leak of 50 to 100 gallons, is it a million-dollar insurance clean up affecting…
Body in Toronto, HEART in Halifax/Dartmouth
Had to move back, after only 16 months in the amazing place that stole my heart. HRM, you may be inaccessible as hell for those of us with multiple disabilities, but your beauty, your amazing people who care, your amazing bus drivers, the amazing places we got to explore, being able to volunteer at Blue…
Beach House, Halifax Urban Folk Festival, Halifax Celtic Festival and Nashville Pussy
Holy lord, warm up that credit card for this (wildly mixed) grab bag of concert and festival announcements. Baltimore’s dreamy Beach House hit Halifax on their Northern Exposure tour, beginning in Anchorage, Alaska and ending October 11 in Halifax at the Marquee Club. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 18 at 10am, $32.99 in…
Nurtured calls
New arrivals deserve celebration, and Agricola Street deserves to be Nurtured. After five years on the corner of Robie and Willow, the little haven for parents and wee ones alike unpacked and settled into its beautiful, bright, high-ceilinged space at 2543 Agricola Street last week. With considerable extra room, owner Jolyn Swain has expanded her…
Black Hole
I saw you as you were hiking out from Purcell’s Pond a few weeks ago. I saw that you had a sweet Charles Burns tattoo on your arm. I wanted to say “sweet tattoo,” but I missed the opportunity. —A dream girl
Desperately Seeking Suzanne…
This is a massive long-shot, but you with your sweater made of doilies and me with my bad jokes, the scintillating conversation flowed. Yet it caused a momentary lapse of reason and I neglected to get your digits. Maybe we can cross paths at a relatively similar time and location some subsequent evening and continue…
Return To Your Swamp
To the Shrek-lookin’ creature on the number one, Spring Garden — you flat out missing your own stop is not the bus driver’s fault, even if she is a “freakin’ woman.” —Disgusted Non-Ogre
What the job?
I’ve had enough! It’s been three months since I’ve been home in Halifax and I can’t find a job to save my life. I’m not looking for anything above average, just a decent job to get me through the summer. I have a balanced resume, and I’m smart, reliable, hard working. I would be a…
Dr. Bird Nerd
Thanks for the great conversation! And the added security of your carry-on, in case of the emergency water landing. 😉 And on behalf of my son, who would have been super sad without Effy, (as well as myself, not having a weepy little boy at the end of a long, long trip day ending well…
Crystal Clear
Playing tourist in our own town, we meandered for the first time into Nova Scotia Crystal, where a cheerful, intelligent, knowledgeable, engaging staffer named Sarah made it crystal clear why we moved here from B.C. Loved your energy! —Local Ladies
Brain Must Wobble
Granted, I don’t get out and about in traffic much, but I have not yet found an exception to this. Has anyone ever met a beemer owner who was *not* a pretentious asshole you yearned to smack in the chops? —Good dog miffed
Happy Birthday Regulator!
I can’t believe it’s been only two months since we met at gate 28. We’ve managed to create many amazing memories in such a short period of time! I am so happy to be spending your birthday together and I hope that you’ll like this little reminder of Halifax. Bonne fête mon cher! —the occasionally…
HPX Digital is now Collide
Halifax Pop Explosion’s annual creative technology conference, until today known as HPX Digital, has a new name and a snappy new look. In a release on Collide’s new Facebook page (natch), the conference is described as follows: “Where students and aspiring professionals COLLIDE [sic] with established creative minds to see and shape the future. Up-and-comers…
Lil Jon, Tech N9ne to headline Hopscotch
Turn down for what? How about turn up for Lil Jon and Tech N9ne at the fifth annual Halifax Hopscotch Urban Arts Festival. The Atlanta-born rapper and former Celebrity Apprentice contestant Lil Jon has had a massive hit this summer with his song “Turn Down for What,” which means you’ll see many more jokes like…
City wisely asks public for help on dog park replacement
The city of Halifax is inviting residents to share their thoughts in what’s so far been a staid, respectful debate over how best to replace the current Africville dog park. On July 23, compassionate citizens can calmly assemble at the Halifax Forum to deliberate on whether the proposed strip of land to the right of…
Outhouses gone at Crystal Crescent Beach
I first noticed the outhouses missing a few weeks ago on one of the first hot weekends of this summer (the outhouses were there when the park opened for the 2014 season and I think they disappeared in early June). I happened to be about 32-weeks pregnant at the time and of course I had…
Another helping of The Middle Spoon
Dear Sunnyside Mall, you’re on to something. This spring/summer has seen a nice string of locally-owned businesses opening in the strip, and downtown delicacy The Middle Spoon (1559 Barrington Street) is the latest to the party. Yes, your chocolate cravings and cocktail desires will soon be answered, Bedford. Taking over 2,000 square feet that was…
Driving School Fail
Funny, you don’t have the name of your driving school on your little red Toyota Echo sedan, but you had the words “Driving School” clearly attached to both sides and the rear of the car. Even funnier, you drove all the way from Coburg and Oxford out to the Rotary with your phone held to…
267
I am so charmed by you. By your smile, your enthusiasm, your doodles, your clever comments and your earnestness. So charmed, in fact, that I plan to walk right up to you and tell you so. I am putting this here in the hopes that you will see it and be kind — or so…
My Knight in Shining Armour!
I was carrying a lot (A LOT!) of sushi, and you ran after my receipt on Queen Street, despite it blowing into the traffic on Spring Garden Road. You were my hero, and between the receipt, and your smile, you made my day! Thank you so much. I would love to buy you a drink…
Showing Resistance
The Anchor Archive Zine Library is a pillar of the Halifax DIY and politically active community. An wellspring of inspiring, healing and challenging material, it’s a resource we are lucky to have such free access to. Laura Grier, summer communications and events coordinator for the Anchor Archive, is an Indigenous artist and activist from Alberta.…
Movember every month
I’m sick and tired of people telling me how to style my facial hair. If you paint me as a pervert or a pedophile because of how I shave, then you are a fucking shallow idiot and I probably don’t want to know you anyway. Last time I checked it’s MY choice if I want…
To the idiot who left a nasty note on my car at Citadel Hill
Thank you for validating the fact that I had just pulled off the most awesome parallel park job of my life. I parked in front of you Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and left less than six inches between your car and mine. There was even less room between me and the car in front. If…
Sunday Night Comedy on a Tuesday
There may be no crying in baseball, but you can find a hell of a lot in comedy. For folks who make it their business to make people laugh, comedians can have a lot of pathos and sadness bubbling just below the surface. When that raw emotion spills over on stage, the results can be…
Dear useless rent-a-cop
First off, watching two gay men kiss is creepy. Secondly, nodding at us to get moving when we noticed you was a bit insulting. We weren’t in a massively obvious location for the world to see us. We weren’t grabbing at each other. I am near certain if we had been two chicks you would…
Do you think I’m stupid?
I tell you to fuck off and not come to my shop anymore when you came around with another girl after essentially “fucking and chucking” me, as everyone puts it, and so your brilliant plan is to send girls ’round to fetch your sandwiches for you? Are you fucking thick? Do you just think I’m…
Really, I am starting to hate you
I’m a virgin. I’m a virgin. I’m a virgin! I’m not ashamed of it. Being still young, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to still be one. I just haven’t found someone with whom I’m comfortable. There’s no issue with admitting it if asked. I’ve never lied or pretended to know things I didn’t know. However,…
yeah, it does make you look fat
Don’t ask for honesty if you don’t want honesty. “Give me your honest opinion” does not translate to “tell me exactly what I want to hear,” except maybe when you’re translating from English to Douchebag. People go on and on about how they want the truth. But they do not. Perhaps it’s a narcissism thing.…
Idiots
Driving down the left lane of the road. Running a red light after having stopped five seconds for it. Going the wrong way at the roundabout. Turning so slowly that I think that it’s the wind pushing the car forward instead of the engine. Blocking the intersection of a four-lane road for no apparent reason.…
Sweet Potato
You maki me soy happy! – Al B. Wooding
It’s been an up and down ride little bear
To you, my love, my only one. The two body problem; sometimes dreary routines, and professional hardships left us a bit worse for wear. Still, thank you for four years of happiness and love. I will always cherish the time spent with you, and hope that one day we can escape together again. Next time…
Best Long Weekend Ever
Thanks to all the beautiful people who made my weekend great, candid conversations, amazing music. Thank you for accepting me for who I am, who I was, and who I want to be. – Lu Manchu
I thought these were sideWALKS
What is with the amount of cyclists that use sidewalks as bike lanes? I just had to haul myself and my dog out of the way of a speeding bike when I realised the person that yelled “ON YOUR LEFT” was a cyclist gunning it down the middle of the sidewalk behind me and apparently…
Careless cycling
To the biker in the green shirt and green helmet, Monday afternoon at the Connaught and Chebucto intersection: You didn’t seem to notice, but you cut off and narrowly missed being struck by a vehicle. The car was making its legally allowed right turn, and you were on your bike and decided to ride across…
Greedy landlord bitch
I am just so happy to be paying for your renovations to your house that I vacated based on the fact that I couldn’t prove the damages to YOUR house were already there when I moved in. BUT, thank you to the people who decide these factors in agreeing that the damage that her, and…
These are Adults?
To the men and women who swear and yell at the teenagers taking their drive-thru orders: You need to grow the F*** Up! A man in his 40s calling a 16-year-old girl a SL** because the business’ card reader is broken. Wow, you are a really big man! To the woman who ranted at the…
Determination in every stroke
Athletes at any level dream about having the chance to represent their country on the world stage, but for Ailish McNulty it’s a reality. At 18, McNulty is among the youngest heading to Szeged, Hungary with CanoeKayak Canada’s national team for the Under 23 World Championships, July 17-20. She’ll be racing in the four-woman kayak…
Herbicides in Lake Banook
The city could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars pumping herbicides into some of Halifax’s busiest freshwater lakes, all to get rid of some annoying weeds. At issue is an excessive plant growth in both Lake Banook and Lake Micmac in Dartmouth. Home to beaches, boat clubs and plenty of swimmers, the lake’s weeds have…
Animals with Sharpies
[iamge-1] Birds are racist and rejected, frogs are pathetic and rude, an anteater looks for a job, dogs are stupid and snakes need your help desperately in Dumontier and Farber’s beautifully painted and hand-lettered book. My main complaint is that it wasn’t 1,000 pages longer, I could have spent all day happily flipping and reading…
The dominant one
Q I am a straight female who was a dominatrix for a while—and out of all the jobs I’ve had, I loved it the most. Working as a secretary—one with a master’s in writing—wasn’t that hard to beat, I guess. But professional dommes aren’t immune to workplace romances, and I fell in love with a…
Bette & Wallet
[iamge-1] The duo of Mary Beth Carty and Gabriel Ouelette is back with a slight tweak–he plugged in his guitar. She traded in her accordion, for the most part, for electric bass. Occasionally, as on “Administration,” you may be lured into prog-rock reverie before Celtic lilt and Acadian clatter take over. There’s a passionate critique,…
Deer Tick talk
“We used to do ‘Cheap Sunglasses’ by ZZ Top, but it depends on the day,” says keyboardist Robert Crowell on his favourite cover to play with the rock band Deer Tick. From Providence, Rhode Island, Deer Tick returns to The Marquee on Friday for its first show here since the Halifax Pop Explosion. In 2012,…
Corb Lund
With his band, the Hurtin’ Albertans, Lund has landed on a prestigious US label. The foursome recorded a dozen of Lund’s finest songs at Sun Studios in Memphis with some extra rockin’ noise live off the floor. Since Lund began in a punk band, The Smalls, it’s not really a stretch. Lead guitarist Grant Siemens…
Mayssa’s own way
Those unfamiliar with Mayssa Karaa will likely have heard her haunting Arabic cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” featured in last year’s American Hustle, a film boasting one of the best soundtracks of 2013. This weekend she will be the special guest at the closing ceremonies of the 13th Annual Lebanese Festival in Halifax. Born…
Dave Sampson
The title song was co-written by five people, so this album has a lot of support and good will behind it. Carleton Stone, Dylan Guthro, Gordie Sampson and Mo Kenney all turn up in various roles. Sampson’s throbbing percussive piano brings to mind Coldplay, perhaps too often. Fresher is the interplay of Guthro’s mandolin and…
Letters to the editor, July 10, 2014
Bike patriotism As councillor Jennifer Watts has pointed out before, this isn’t a cars vs. bike issue (“Halifax needs protected bike lanes,” Reality Bites by Uytae Lee, July 3). Making cycling safer and encouraging people to switch would benefit those who continue to commute by car or otherwise operate a car. Namely, with more people…
Free Will Astrology
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cancer (June 21-July 22) Since 1981, Chinese law has stipulated that every healthy person between the ages of 11 and 60 should plant three to five trees per year. This would be a favourable week for Chinese Cancerians to carry out that duty. For that matter, now is an excellent time for all…
Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash Sunday, July 13, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern 1665 Argyle Street
Jon McKiel
For a six-song, 17-minute disc, quite a range of experience awaits the listener. Back east from Calgary, producer Jay Crocker (Ghostkeeper), guides the Haligonian McKiel past his pop sensibility into the wild side. The fourth track, “Twin Speaks,” wraps itself around some peculiar, memorable upper register plucking before descending into a pit of sonic chaos.…
Slate for success
It’s the same old story: Girl meets boy. Girl is accidentally impregnated. Girl has abortion on Valentine’s Day. In the scrappy, funny Obvious Child, Jenny Slate plays Donna, a New York comedian in her 20s who’s just been dumped and ends up pregnant by a one-night stand (Jake Lacy), who’s a nice, square guy. It’s…
Owen Pallett
The ace violinist-self sampler-arranger has been so busy supporting other acts, most notably Arcade Fire, anticipation has grown keen surrounding this album by the former Final Fantasy. Art-rock hero Brian Eno took note of 2010’s Heartland and volunteered some backup work on this one. With fewer exhilarating string flourishes and more synthesizer, In Conflict could…
Obvious Child
This indie sensation is some surprising/welcome summer counter-programming. It follows Donna (Jenny Slate), a mid-20s stand-up comic whose boyfriend breaks up with her after she shares too much in her act. She has a one-night stand with Max (Jake Lacy, Pete from The Office) and ends up pregnant. She schedules an abortion (for Valentine’s Day)…
RiFF RAFF
Neon Icon is the amazing second record from RiFF RAFF (AKA Jody Highroller), mixing as many genres as there are colours in the fluorescent rainbow, consistent with his almost-mocking bars about Taco Bell, snowmen, Versace pythons: I mean, what in the sweet hell is this? Short list: a Macho Man with cornrows, a slow Texan…
Tammy
Melissa McCarthy’s latest balls-out comedy firecracker suffers from the same flaws as her previous outings, The Heat and Identity Thief: The overall script is lacking, expecting its star to fill in the holes. Which would be more acceptable if McCarthy and Ben Falcone hadn’t written it. Whoops. Regardless, Tammy—about a woman who gets fired, leaves…
The Trews
As it’s the first full album in three years from this Antigonish foursome, the eponymous title implies a hope to reach many new ears. “Transcendental disarray” describes the mess awaiting the “Age of Miracles” and its mix of faith, science and faith in science. The dynamic vocals of Colin MacDonald, briefly relieved by a harmonic…
Mind the Bullock
TWO IF BY SEA Here’s a sense of what a real shitshow 1996 was: Even though Two If By Sea came out after Speed and While You Were Sleeping, when America was at peak Sweetheart re: Bullock, Denis Leary gets top billing. He also co-wrote the movie— hence its mild homophobia— which is a bad rom-com about…
Lack of rural social services affects us all
I was disappointed when I heard the news that Empire House, the youth shelter in Bridgewater, was closing. I am disturbed by the growing trend of shutting down (or replacing, rather than replenishing) much-needed services in the rural regions of the province where they are essential for promoting and maintaining cohesion within communities. Empire House…
The Lion & Bright stuff
Lion & Bright, the bar and cafe that stole the name of the children’s book I was writing about the heartwarming friendship between a white lion and an anglerfish, has its own storied roots in a pair of animals. The name pays homage to oxen: a team of two buddies hitched would often be named…
Just don’t…
Hey black civic, don’t go flashing your high beams and waving your fuckin’ finger at me “no” when I turn left out of my building. The roads were clear and you were the one speeding! I had plenty of time to get out and maybe, just maybe, if you were driving the limit you wouldn’t…
This is a bitch-love AKA a love-bitch
Halifax is an amazing entertainment town, but too many events start too late for the over-50 crowd. Giggle if you will, but once over this age it feels like every night is a school night again. Mid-lifers love entertainment but also love our sleep. Can we consider 8 p.m. a great starting time for events?…
Consider this…
You tell people you’re “sensitive,” and you get up in arms when people are not “considerate.” What you really mean is you are “sensitive” to your own needs, wants and issues. FYI — you are not in the least “sensitive” to anything going on with other people. Which also makes you incredibly inconsiderate. —F’ing Hypocrite
