The Angry Inch rocked!
To the editor, I must commend a performance much enjoyed by all in attendance: Hedwig and the Angry Inch quite literally ROCKED. (“Giving an angry inch,” Arts, July 23.) Rarely have I been so impressed with an actor as I was with Ian Mullan. His memory, timing, vocals! That’s an obscene amount of talent in…
Historic Halifax newspaper digitized, put on line, by Google
As part of its program to digitize historic newspapers, Google has announced that it has put the June 2, 1753 edition of the Halifax Gazette on line, here. The Gazette was Canada’s first newspaper, having begun publication on March 23, 1752. In the mid-19th century it won the contract to become the official publisher of…
AFCOOP announces new director
Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative just announced that Greg Morris-Poultney is taking over as executive director of the centre. According to a press release from AFCOOP, “Morris-Poultney spent a number of years as a producer and development executive in the local film and television industry developing new projects for national television broadcasters including CBC Television, History Television,…
Soled Out gets bigger footprint
Soled Out Sneakers (1512 Dresden Row) has undergone major renovations. “Basically, the place looks completely different,” says co-owner Alex Strum. “We’ve knocked down the old displays, and put up glass shelving, opened the place up.” The redesign makes room for about five times the stock, says Strum, including new Adidas, DC Lifestyle, Pumas and more.
Breaking: Rodney quits
Former premier Rodney MacDonald is resigning his seat in the legislature.
Just Us opens espresso bar on waterfront
Just Us has opened a new espresso bar in the Historic Properties (1869 Upper Water), in the space once occupied by Timothy’s—just a hop and a skip from the ferry terminal.
Random downtown nice guys!
Last year some time (can’t remember exact date) I ended up separated from my friends as the bars closed around 3-4 am. I had to walk from cheers to Alexandra’s by myself to meet my drive. As a young female walking alone at this time of night I had been subject to the typical Friday…
Rock Fest Concert. Another Smoking Bitch!
Ok. Tell me if this makes sense? I’m at the Rock Fest Concert, which was incredible by the way, there’s a beer garden where you have to be 19 years of age to enter. So, you’re there, your having a beer, and you want to have a smoke. (Please non smokers don’t turn this into…
Gwar will cover you in buckets of blood
Last summer I ended up “interviewing” Gwar’s charming manager Sleazy P. Martini on a campus radio station in Toronto. It was a happy circumstance. I asked if he could change one thing about Gwar, what would it be? Martini said he would make them robots so they could work harder without complaining. Gwar are coming…
Retro Classics
Don’t you just love Journey —Music Lover
Being Real…
This is to all those unique and wonderful people I know who are true to themselves no matter what anyone thinks. You rock and you make me smile whenever your energy and enthusiasm comes my way. You make it mush easier to deal with everything and I thank you….. —Love to Love you Baby
bike banning
Why the hell do the meters in the port prohibit bikes being locked to them? This isin front of NSCAD for God sake! And right next to the bike friendly new Market location. Is this for security sake? If so the Terrosists have won! —pcostello
Buried Inside blast your eardrums
So neat and orderly. It’s going to be a real gong show (HA!) when Buried Inside come back to town on August 21 (at the Paragon with Minivan Halen and Slave Class). Expect amps and lots of them.
A Bitch to a bitch
Ahh…thank you for not posting my bitch! It only followed up on another bitch by a fellow poster on July 16…I totally agreed, thought it was helpful to the public- but it got off topic. — Damn it allow me to bitch
Cruise Control!
To the people on the 102 every morning: what do you prove by gunning your engine to pass me and then slowing down so I catch up and pass you a minute later? And you always do it right when I’m about to pull out and pass someone, causing me to slam on my brakes.…
UP YOURS With Your Tickets Halifax!
Shootings, stabbings, home invasions and organized crime activity is running rampant here in metro and in our outskirt communities; but, what is Halifax doing about it? I met a cruiser with two cops taking turns playing with a radar gun on my way in to Halifax during the morning rush hour. I must say, that’s…
Yo artists! Time to Go North!
The registration deadline for Go North! Studio & Gallery Tour is Friday, August 7. If you want to participate by showing your studio, creating a site-specific installation or exhibition on September 12, do it now. Registration is free and the forms are available at Eyelevel Gallery (2063 Gottingen) or on the website, gonorthhalifax.com. Also, the…
Live Twittering from City Council
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Seaview Park
Ok, so I totally understand and respect the meaning of this weeks celebration in Africville/Seaview Park. What I don’t get is that when I brought my dog there this morning there are still people camping, cars driving over the grass areas and TONS of garbage everywhere. It’s totally distusging. I pick up after my dog…
Scumbag drunk-drivers
Anyone who gets behind a while WHILE intoxed is a scumbag….lower infact than a scumbag….and if you do it and cause harm or kill someone….well you get a free pass to hell (hopefully). Live with the fact that your idiocy TOOK ANOTHER HUMAN LIFE!!!!! —drunk-drivers deserve to go to hell
smoking vs. non-smoking
you know what really pisses me off,non smokers dictating the way i should lead and live my life.here’s a thought for all today.as a smoker,i pay one fuck of a lot more taxes than a non smoker,there fore my health dollars help you out more than myself. big deal that i smoke,when i die,you non…
Long Lake shit bags
Hey you jerks who pick up your dog’s shit in bags and then leave the bags tied to the trees or littering the trails, carry your shit with you out of the park! There is a garbage can near the parking lot or take your shit bags home and dispose of them in your garbage…
Marilyn Manson in Halifax: Why the hell not?
Marilyn “Paul from the Wonder Years” Manson is coming to the Metro Centre on September 25. What’s your take on him? Mine is that he is an innocuous nerd with a good film collection.
No action from D.O.A.
Old press photo! Cute! D.O.A. will not be coming to Halifax in the fall, as previously announced. Scheduling claims to be the culprit, or maybe it’s something you did.
No Laughing Matter
To the management… No pun intended, but why can’t you guys get your act together? Not only was it a pain in the ass to dash across the Superstore parking lot to get cash from the ATM because you don’t debit or credit cards, the show was 45 minutes late starting because you wanted to…
Vets For Pets…Not in Dartmouth
Three weeks ago, the Jack Russel I had been fostering for three days challenged the pitbull next door. It was an empty threat since there was a fence between them–until the gate suddenly gave way. The pitbull simply scooped the JR up in her mouth and started shaking her. Only one bite, and only on…
Friendly Stranger
Thank you to the man, and his nice girlfriend, who offered to help me and my girlfriend carry a couch to our apartment from the salvation army!!! Very appriciated!! Your good deed will come back to ya!!! — T&G
Spellcheck
Why is it that a local paper with a bitch section has a spellcheck that tells me my Canadian spellings are wrong? How about a little Canadian identity? —poet
Fuck you, Coast!
WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO ASOFTERWORLD????!!!!!!!! I am very, very bothered by this. May stop picking one up every week. Please give it back! —sassball madness
UGH, I got out of bed for this?!
I can’t believe people actually get out of bed to watch that stupid Natal Day Parade. It’s the most BORING and LAME thing I’ve ever seen. —ugh, glad that stupid parade over with, I’m going back to BED!
Active Father- sure..
As much as I do hate you down to your core- our son adores you- try picking up the phone when we call NIGHTLY so he can tell you he loves you- I know you’ve moved on and I’m supposed to be “broken hearted” but I’m not- I’m simply trying to be a damn good…
Lake Lovers
To the hotel sitting on a lake in Halifax, I have been coming a peaceful and pretty grassy spot to enjoy the sun and the lake for at least ten years now. As your hotel can’t seem to keep a name or management, I’ve been able to use the spot because your hotel stayed empty…
Sappyfest Day Three
Sunday at Sappy had a slow start, we were pretty partied out after Saturday’s hijinx. I was pretty impressed when we spotted a group of musicians and volunteers playing baseball at 10:30; we thought about stopping by and hitting some dingers but we decided to skip out on the action and head to the performers’…
Take your aggression elsewhere asshole
After this past weeks critical mass got broken up by the oh so friendly police officers, a few of us decided to bail on the ride because it was getting out of hand and angry. What went down afterwards though, made me loose pretty much all respect for the HRM Police (but, sadly didn’t really…
stuck up
to the 2 girls in the park on friday evening with the small dog ,really did you honestly think that I would let my dog go near your tiny little purse dog with my 2 children right there ,please don’t flatter yourself was it because she had something around her mouth?it’s called a halti or…
Tall boys, short girls … why?
As a taller than average girl I find it downright nauseating when I see one of the few legitimately 6 foot guys in this city walking the streets with a 5 foot girl. What is the appeal of these midgets? Do you really want a gf you can carry around like a baby? I get…
Sappyfest Day Two
We woke on day two of Sappyfest to a pleasant surprise, the rain had passed and the sun was out in full force. We hung up our soaked sleeping bags to dry and then cruised down to Bridge St. to see what was shakin’. Saturday at Sappy features a world-class zine fair and a craft…
Natal Day means even less council info
I’ve gotten so used to this, I haven’t even commented lately on it: Another long weekend and another bigger-than-usual head start for Halifax regional council over the public. That’s because city hall watchers interested in municipal happenings at regional council on Tuesday must wait for the release of agenda documents until that day. Due to…
American Loving Canadian Tire
I just want to thank Canadian Tire on Sackville Drive for fixing my car, and to put it mildly, don’t worry, you won’t see my car again. It won’t make another trip from Illinois up here (the poor thing). Anyway, thanks for all the love and I will keep you folks in mind next time…
Oh Nova Scotia
As I leave Canada in less than 24 hours, I must bitch about a couple of things: Why is the gas tax higher and the roads shit? In many places, gas tax is half as much and the roads are much better maintained. You guys need to get on your leaders about that, because they’re…
Fast food…… YUCK
Mid after noon. August 1st. 4 other customers. The place is filthy. Floors, tables… Is it rocket science to get the cheese ON the bun? Ever thought of changing the oil in the fryer. Filling the ketchup dispensers? I hear lots of giggling in the back. Rather see some cleaning in the front. My worse…
Ticket Sellers…
To a certain well-profit seller for concert tickets… FUCK YOU!!! I logges in to see if I could purchase tickets for Marilyn Manson, and the “best seats available” are back in row R in secton 8; mind you I have NO other option to pick from for my seats, because I’ve tried to refresh the…
Critical Assholes
To those fuckers who disobey traffic laws, and don’t let people with babies cross the road, like at Queen and Spring Garden. get a life. Or take a leaf out of the book of those on the West Coast – do it with manners as they will be on their next ride. They will be…
Sappyfest Day One
After stocking up the car with weenie supplies we took the Let’s Get Baked mobile (our friends corolla) to the beautiful, Sackville New Brunswick. By 5:00pm the town was quickly becoming a dude central, old friends from across the country pitchin tents and preparing for weekend of unparalleled good vibes. Good vibes in the tent.…
Seriously?
I haven’t been able to get an appartment because I haven’t rented before. This woman finally takes a chance on me, and I take out the money to pay for the damage deposit – the only money I’ve got – and some fucking douchebag takes my wallet. From the handicap washroom in Wendys. How fucking…
Push sleeves up, pull sleeves down, wring fingers, tuck hair, repeat
To the girl in my class who flails her hands in the air when she talks, Fuck off. Your stories are irrelevant, your jokes aren’t funny and your references are lost on all of us. Surely you can make some friends at that South end pub you frequent. Please, dish your boring dribble to them,…
BIKE NO MORE
To the person or persons who stole my bike that was in my shed. I’m praying for you to break your neck so you can lay dormant for the rest of your life thinking about what you did. It was a gift and was important to me,so consider yourself cursed . (also with a broken…
Side Swipein’ Mc’Fuck’n’such
To the inconsiderate fuckhead who sideswiped my parked car a couple of days ago in you big black truck. I would love to take you aside and smash your face off your grill until you had an inverted “droF” symbol branded on your noggin. I scrape by as is, so why don’t you be a…
Sullivan’s Pond Geese
Every day I trudge to a miserable job, feeling sorry for myself. But walking past that gaggle of geese every morning really cheers me up. All they do is sleep, eat and swim about in formation. I’m so jealous, I’m moving in with them. Love you, geese! Just don’t chase me! —Ducky
Apparently Chivalry Isn’t Totally Dead
To the very sweet man exiting the YMCA yesterday morning who took it upon himself to stand in front of me and shoo away the pervy weirdo who was catcalling vulgarities at me, THANK YOU. It’s nice to see that there are still men who respect women, and are willing to help a stranger out.…
Local artists show super Super-8 films at Sappy
If you’re heading to Sappy this weekend, I don’t want to hear about your amazing times, but I do think you should check out the Super-8 screening on Saturday night at 6pm. There will be films (including a few Haligonians) by Laura Borealis, Karina Mariano, Ian Roy, Alexandra Grimanis, Steven Woloshen, Rick White, Steven James…
Two Weeks ?
What’s up with this women who got busted for downloading child porn and only received a two week sentence that she can serve on weekends? What the fuck is up with that? They said she wasn’t the kind of lady who would do that and she was supposedly downloading it for her husband. Again What…
Pedestrian Space out
To the car who could’ve hit me just now, but didn’t, thank you! I had just gotten off the bus, and for some reason, started across the crosswalk BEFORE checking both ways. Instead of barreling through, you slammed on your brakes for me. Thank you for being aware enough to prevent my space out from…
It’s a Runner’s town!
To the lady on the bus who saw me reading Runner’s World- I do plan to run this weekend at the Natal Day Race 🙂 Hopefully we have good weather and we’ll see you there! Sorry I butted in front of you to get on the bus- with my headphones in it took me a…
SPCA Overloaded
I adopted my dog from the SPCA in Dartmouth, and we couldn`t be happier with our four legged friend, he has brought much joy however, with the SPCA now indicating that they are overwhelmed with all the cats/dogs they currently house, they have asked the public to adopt which I think is a good idea.…
Little Neon Molar
Whenever I think of little things that make Halifax what it is I never think of Citadel Hill or the Water Front or all the universities or donairs at 3 am. Know what I always think of ? That little neon outline of a molar in the window of that dentist office on Spring garden…
BORING BREAK UP STORY
This will probably get a Coast Sucks tag ( which it does not by the way ) but I must object – bitch even- to the web editor being so fast on the draw with labelling any and all break up bitches as boring. I will agree while most of them are the same repetitive…
I WANNA PRETTY BITCH!
What the fuck anyway? Love the the way we hitch has a cool wedding couple pretty picture and it looks cool ‘an everything! Love the way we love has a bunch a pretty hearts and even a pair of human hands forming a heart with a red heart inside, awesome graphics and a real lovey…
Cat stealers?
So last week my cat, Maxbane, went out for his evening stroll around my garden and never came back. I’ve searched high and low, notified every service/website I can think of, and put up about 120 LOST CAT posters. I could have reasoned he was exploring Halifax, or stuck in a nearby shed. I could…
Product of the week: Carbonstok fire ant shakers
There will be plenty of happy picnic faces, thanks to One Hundred 80 Degrees’ fire ant salt and pepper shakers ($24.95). Pair them with a set of melamine “I am not a paper plate” washable plates (four for $23.95), and you have the beginnings of an al fresco meal that won’t bite your ankles or…
Off the Cuff rocks out and dresses local musicians
Winner week three: Akshay Tyagi’s reconstructed outerwear. Photo: Shaun Simpson If you haven’t made it out to an Off the Cuff fashion competition yet, strap on those gladiator sandals and go to Argyle Fine Art this Sunday at 1pm for the final elimination round before the big fashion show on September 13. This week’s theme…
you never did steal the canoe!
This is for the thousands of people who walk by the canoe every year… I think it’s so cool that no one has ever stolen it! It’s so plainly unlocked and vunerable, but there it lives year after year, in our little piece of wilderness/paradise. —canoe lover
Crying baby’s
I really wish that when a baby is screaming that the mother/father would pick him/her up and console the damn thing. When baby’s cry they are telling you something…they are either uncomfortable or hungry! The only way they can communicate is by screaming or crying. How can someone just stand there and listen to a…
What is wrong with the system?
OK honestly what is wrong with out system now days i mean i know its bad when i walk past the skate park and see over 35 people under age drinking and doing everything else while a cop stands of to the side and does piss all. also its bad when one of thoes minors…
Local Business news: shoptalk-lets
The former used-furniture store between 2157 and 2159 Gottingen has a For Rent sign attached. That’s a definite opportunity for a new business on the regenerating north end strip. Call 496-9229 to inquire. The Italian Gourmet (5431 Doyle, 423-7880) is all boarded up and no one is answering the phone. Robie Foods (3095 Robie, 454-7814),…
Pizza Pride
thank you soo much to the people at pizza corner next to mary janes. my friends and I ran all over halifax to find a radio to listen to. So we could listen to our interview concering building the youth project float for the pride parade. you gladly put up with us staying there and…
disponsible coffee cups for sit-in?!?.. c’mon
I have no problem spending 5 bucks for a coffee… I know it’s a lot and I could make it at home for a fraction of that, but I enjoy being out and sitting with friends and the coffee takes awhile to make. 5 bucks buys me 45 minutes of a relaxing time. But when…
Attica displays in Roy Building
Starfish Properties, owner of many thriving (and some vacant) storefronts on Barrington Street, is allowing one of its busy clients, Attica (1566 Barrington, 423-2557) to display its goods in a number of the windows of one of the empty spaces at the Roy Building. They’ll be using the former location of Dooly’s (1651 Barrington), presumably…
Estia, new Greek resto on Spring Garden
For the past two weeks you may have noticed a new restaurant in the Spring Garden firmament, next to The Running Room. It’s a new Greek place called Estia (5518 Spring Garden, 429-8331) in the former Deco space, with an interior decor in dark shades of blue with lighter accents reminiscent of that belated eatery.…
Yuk Yuk’s to stay on at Westin
A couple of weeks ago Shoptalk interviewed Yuk Yuk’s management about the comedy club’s then-impending move to Spring Garden, info duly relayed last week. But the move is evidently on hold, for the time being anyway. No one’s giving details or explanation, but we’re told that Yuk Yuk’s will remain at the Westin through at…
Ants that can shake a picnic
There will be plenty of happy picnic faces, thanks to One Hundred 80 Degrees fire ant salt and pepper shakers ($24.95). Pair them with a set of melamine “I am not a paper plate” washable plates (four for $23.95), and you have the beginnings of an al fresco meal that won’t bite your ankles or…
Foamy discharges from the new Dartmouth sewage plant
What’s wrong? Foamy discharges from the new Dartmouth sewage plant, stretching sometimes two-thirds across the harbour. Who’s responsible? Susheel Arora, director of waste water services, 490-4840. REMARKS Like its counterpart across the harbour, the Dartmouth plant continues to have its problems, and Halifax Water has declined to accept the plant into its system until they’re…
Scotia Square
So I am a smoker, and I can’t get over the number of people that come up to me outside Scotia Square and ask for one. It’s always the same people too, and how many times can I say no. A group of us will even smoke behind the bush and you still find us.…
Definitely not “Kool”
Has anyone noticed that a local radio station has dismissed its entire afternoon, evening and weekend staff? I think this is disgusting – I listen to radio partially for the human interaction. If I want to listen to CDs, I will and I now do! —Large Companies Suck
mean finance companies
You know who you are. You are the finance companies for the poor, the desperate, and the people who have nothing. You are not banks. You prey on people like us because you know we have no choice, and then you charge interest rates that are so high that there should be a law against…
CIBC Bank Teller
Your smile always puts a smile on my face. You are always so cheerful, full of life, and so polite. Thank you for that, it brightens my day even if it is raining. 🙂 —A Client
Drunk Idiots at the bar on Wednesdays
This bitch goes out to all you idiotic little children who spend an hour “hanging out” on the sidewalk after the bar closes. Some of us have real lives, where we get up in the morning and go to work. When the bar closes, go the fuck home. Go anywhere, just don’t hang outside my…
Turn off your lights, you will wake the dead.
Dear funeral home, Every night I look out my window from across the street and see over 60 different light bulbs, glistening in our beautiful summer rain. While I enjoy the slight twinkle, I have to question why you need so many lights on throughout the night. You are in a residential area, not a…
kudos to the cops
kudos to the cops riding around town on their bikes today. — techcafe
Horses run wild at Gus’ tonight
These are Horses. Photo by Krista Dzialoszynski Horses are a band from the east coast, who moved to Toronto and come back almost all the time. They have been called “beard-rock” and “man-rock,” so if you haven’t guessed already, they are guys. Nice guys! Q: What is next for Horses? Are you guys doing more…
Worn Fashion Journal
Feminism and traditional fashion magazines have a fists-up relationship. But smart mags like Sassy (RIP) and Bust figured out that some feminist-leaning ladies do enjoy reading about clothing beyond “10 ways to hide chubby thighs.” Still, there’s never been a like-minded magazine dedicated completely to fashion, let alone a Canadian one. Based out of Toronto,…
The Lucky Ones
Taking a different approach to the recent, mostly ignored spate of Iraq war dramas, The Lucky Ones applies the sweet road-trip formula, following three very different soldiers home from the war and sticking them in a Dodge Caravan for a few days. When it works, it’s due to the lived-in and relatable characters overcoming contrived…
Farewell to Forbes
When the cast and crew of Ivor Johnson’s Neighbours, at Ship’s Company Theatre, found out that cast member Bill Forbes had passed away in his sleep last Monday, they shut down the production for the day. The group later elected to complete the play’s run (it ended on July 26) in honour of Forbes’ memory.…
Looking for a little confidence
Q This question comes from a point of real frustration. I'm a 26-year-old straight guy. Due to my being overweight, awkward and generally unable to attract women I'm actually interested in, I have only been sexually intimate with prostitutes and women of low calibre. I have never been able to sustain an erection during intercourse.…
Review: Tick, Tick…BOOM!
I should tell you, I should tell you: This youth production at Dartmouth Players Theatre is by Jonathan Larson, of Rent fame. Larson’s Tick, Tick…BOOM! predates Rent, taking the audience on the playwright’s autobiographical journey, leading to the creation of his worldwide hit. Shane O’Regan (above, middle), a recent graduate from Cole Harbour District High…
NDP’s VLT flip-flop
Astonishing fact number one: Last year, gamblers in Nova Scotia pumped more than $708 million into Video Lottery Terminals, the equivalent of nearly $2 million a day. That info comes from the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation’s annual report released last week. It shows that in the 2008/2009 financial year which ended in March, VLT betting…
Review: Heart to Heart
Not surprisingly, love is the subject of Chester Playhouse’s summer theatre confection Heart to Heart. The hook is that it’s not one story, but five short vignettes exploring various permutations of “mature” love. It stars Canadian theatre greats Lally Cadeau and Nigel Bennett, who are clearly enjoying both the play and each other as they…
The Novaks Fall Apart
The Novaks live for rock ‘n’ roll. After an opening slot for KISS, the band returns to Halifax to celebrate its new album, Things Fall Apart, at The Seahorse on August 2. “KISS was great. I was a fanatic when I was a kid,” says vocalist-guitarist Mick Davis. “Ace Frehley was one of my heroes…
Truth be told
When Canadian filmmaker Kari Skogland adapted Fifty Dead Men Walking—Martin McGartland’s 1997 memoir of working as an informant against the Irish Republican Army—the events she choose to portray from the non-fiction book were also indicative of the battles she had to fight off-screen. The film Fifty Dead Men Walking tells the story of McGartland’s recruitment…
Hurt Locker masculine mirror
It took a female director to make an Iraq War movie a truthful examination of manhood. The Hurt Locker avoids obvious political agendas for something more primal: The mindset that values war as a daredevil flirtation with death. Legendary filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow contrasts the cocky war addiction of bomb squad Sgt. James (Jeremy Renner), with…
Ohbijou
Only Ohbijou can make Toronto romantic. On Beacons, this orchestral indie-pop six-piece recounts the quiet, exciting and sometimes melancholic moments of living in the city. “New Years” begins with anticipation, and builds like a first love. “Memorium,” about a destructive fire on Queen and Bathurst, is the area’s loveliest tribute since Lowest of Low was…
Orphan just another kid
It’s about time a movie capitalized on the paralyzing phobia of orphans. That doesn’t stop Orphan from playing as just another evil kid horror—next in line to The Bad Seed, The Omen, Mikey and The Good Son. All that elevates Orphan is the title child performance by Isabelle Fuhrman, equalling the range of evil displayed…
Discovery
Discovery’s take on The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” reinvents the song as one slowed-down jam, which aptly describes the overall sound of LP. An electronic R&B pair from New York City, Discovery relies too much on the downtempo, the slow boil, percolating synths and vocal effects; a little too much deck-shoed pseudo-awkwardness and…
Sappy comes to town
If you missed the last train to Sackville and you’re not heading to New Brunswick’s SappyFest this weekend, some of those bands are coming to you. The Gertrudes, an 11-piece roaring clan from Kingston, are playing Gus’ Pub (August 3). The band tells us they “sound like a ol’ time saloon party in deep space…experimental…
The Henrys
The Henrys’ chief asset, the ethereally eccentric Mary Margaret O’Hara, sings on just four of the 15 tracks on Is This Tomorrow. The good news is that Martina Sorbara and Becca Stevens possess similar qualities. They may not imitate the other instruments and bewildered birds, but they do ground the sonic experiments in a bit…
Gaming: Battlefield 1943
Downloaded over 600,000 times since its release on July 8, Battlefield 1943 is a slower-paced FPS that seriously shows off the power of digital distribution. For a paltry 15 bucks, you get a tight little package of four maps and three classes that doesn’t skimp on graphics or game play. If you haven’t played any…
Mos Def
Kanye, Common, Outkast and on and on, they all did it: fucked up, went way out with an album and didn’t recover (at least not fully). Mos Def came close with his last release, The New Danger, experimenting with rock (Common) and making things needlessly busy (West). But unlike Common and Kanye, Mos Def has…
Milking it
Cows are simple. There’s no other way to put it. They stare. And right now there’s a good two dozen staring at farmer Rick Rand. Staring, chewing, staring, chewing. It’s not love. At least not on the Holsteins’ part. Cows respond to being fed and being milked, which takes Rand, for his herd of about…
Empire of the Sun
If I lived in a futuristic ’80s B-movie like the duo Empire of the Sun apparently does, this would totally be the album I would seal the deal with. (I imagine by this point in the future Sade and Massive Attack will have lost favour as archaic reminders of backwards times.) I would meet you…
Africville’s racism documented
“You’ll be fighting the women off,” director Juanita Peters tells Eddie Carvery on Saturday outside his trailer along the Bedford Basin, where Africville once stood. “You’ll be famous!” Peters’ new full-length documentary, Africville: Can’t Stop Now, follows the personal stories of Eddie, his brother Irvine Carvery and their cousin, Nelson Carvery. “They were all born…
Nash talks about his move to Hart & Thistle
Several dozen beer lovers gathered in the side room of the new Hart & Thistle Gastropub at 7 pm last Wednesday to taste the first brews out of the old system that returning brewer Greg Nash used when it was called Shippey’s…in the food court. Nash was on hand to chat with his acolytes about…
Dissent in the Shambhala community
An unusually public display of dissent and controversy among the Halifax-based Shambhala community is playing out on a provocative website that questions the present leadership direction of the organization. RadioFreeShambhala.org was started about a year ago, says Mark Szpakowski, a web developer who came up the idea for the site with fellow Shambhalan Ed Michalik.…
100 Dollars’ urban legend
100 Dollars is on its way to play a small festival in an upstate New York barn when I reach them. The barn is home to some ducks and geese, and I ask if they’ll enjoy the music. “We don’t write for birds,” singer Simone Schmidt says. “But pain runs through all walks of life,…
Manners: Tourism 101
Dear Tourists, Here’s how it works: We’ve got the cultural and historic sites, the cute little tugboat and, of course, the lighthouse. That’s why you’re here. And you’ve got the dough. That’s why we welcome you. We’re going to get that dough by pulling you into Halifax’s restaurants, “the premier culinary source for food and…
Happy 114th! from the harbour
Halifax has been all about its pyrotechnic displays this year (Canada Day, McCartney, KISS, tall ships festival), so for Natal Day’s fireworks bonanza you may want to spice up your viewing platform. “I’m on a Boat” jokes aside, watching Saturday’s show from a T-Pain-free boat gives the best view of any bridge-based show. Here are…
Stuart Ross’ synaptic fireworks
To be inside Stuart Ross’s head: that would be some display of synaptic fireworks. Of course, all the oohing-and-aahing grows a little tired as, paradoxically, the unexpected and absurd becomes the expected and the accepted norm. What’s he gonna try now, one asks a few times over the course of these 23 mostly truncated stories.…
The Great Buck Howard
The Great Buck Howard–a former Tonight Show fixture and mentalist in the vein of The Amazing Kreskin–plugs away at maintaining the fading pulse of his former glory. As played by John Malkovich, Buck is the kind of showman that interprets a half-empty auditorium as half-full. Buck continues to dazzle the audience that does show up.…
Big beer news: Master brewer Greg Nash to open Halifax micro-brewery
Updated below! Local beer circles are abuzz with news that master brewer Greg Nash—who left Garrison Brewery (1149 Marginal, 453-5343) last year in over a more or less amiable difference of opinion with Garrison owner Brian Titus and accepted an offer at Moncton’s Pump House Brewery—has teamed up with Hart and Thistle (Historic Properties, 407-4278)…
Geox opens in Park Lane
When in Rome, wear Geox, apparently. On August 8, the Italian footwear company is opening its first east coast store—-designed by their in-house Italian architects—-in Park Lane’s old La Cache space, and celebrating the occasion with a huge sale. No one wants to admit their feet sweat and you won’t have to with Geox’s breathable-sole…
Elsie’s expands and Clothes Horse moves
A few weeks ago we wrote about Put Me On (upstairs, 1532 Queen), Pamela McInnis’ new clothing shop. Now, local fashion and vintage hounds will have even more reason to visit the stylish street. Clothes Horse, originally next door (1530 Queen) and upstairs from Elsie’s Used Clothing, has moved into the same building as Put…
