Vegetarianism doc Forks Over Knives persuasive
An infomercial for the whole grain, plant-based diet, Lee Fulkerson’s documentary plugs it as the solution to America’s degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. For all its evidence to support this miracle cure —from large-scale studies, to personal examples, to disturbing statistics—a few loose ends remain. Fish isn’t discussed save for in passing,…
Midnight In Paris nostalgic joy
Writer-director Woody Allen continues to make a movie every year, and his 2011 effort is a winner. Owen Wilson is Californian screenwriter and frustrated novelist Gil, visiting the City of Light with his fiance Inez (Rachel McAdams). Enraptured by the city, one night Gil goes for a stroll and gets into a car with Scott…
Cell 213 dull like solitary confinement
Part psychological thriller, part religious horror and part Shawshank Redemption redux, Cell 213 is a wholly amateurish effort that’s neither thoughtful or frightening. Eric Balfour stars as unscrupulous lawyer Michael Grey, who’s falsely convicted of the murder of a mentally unstable client and gets locked away in the very same cell that housed his alleged…
Two-Wheeled Ass Hats
One meter, are you kidding me? Right, good luck with that one. A lot of streets in HRM allow (for some stupid reason) parking on both sides, combine that with traffic moving both ways. Now you’re telling me we need to add 2 meters to the road if there’s a biker on either side? Get…
Dog Parks
A waterfront dog park here in HRM is a great place to go if you have a dog… usually. However, people need to reevaluate whether or not they really belong at the dog park. My biggest pet peeve is little kids. I’m talking 3 year olds just wandering around the park because: 1. You don’t…
Fast Food? Really?
To the fast food franchise on SGR, yeah you know your service sucks! I know that management has the last word on how many people are on a shift at any given time but seriously, you all could try a little harder to serve your customers quickly and with a smile and keep the place…
You Can Go Now, Mum
My mother, in her late 90s, once a vibrant ‘larger than life’ powerhouse who couldn’t quit is ready to go to the Land of Muffinkind. She outlived 3 doctors who told her that her weight would kill by age 60. She defied all the rules and lived to tell the tale. Bless you, Mum, for…
Keep it Classy, Vancouver Fans!
Thanks to the idiot who stole my husband’s Boston Bruins car flag from the Halifax Shopping Centre parking lot while I was at the dentist. I know you must have been upset about last night’s 8-1 loss to the Bruins, but no need to steal the flag my kids bought him as a gift. Now…
How much does it cost to hire a good band for the reception?
I was thinking of the Mellotones but haven’t decided… —DT
Boy Down the Street
Dearest boy down the street, spending time with you is like a dream. I find you sexy, confident to the core, introspective, kind, passionate, sensitive, considerate, expressive, and so much more. I think I was destined to move out here for some young love, destined to face trial after trial, to stumble around in the…
Bright Blue Sneakers
You are tall and tanned and were wearing bright blue sneakers, black board shorts, a black t-shirt and black hat all with some colourful designs on them. I was in the reddish car and I could not help but check you out… you caught me, wish I could have given you my #. —Girl with…
Parking Lot Guy
To the guy in the grocery store parking lot with the blue shirt, jeans and black shoes, you kept looking back at me, and I wasn’t sure if I should say anything. I was gonna leave my number on your truck but you walked out so I kept driving off. If you were interested please…
Concert report slams Peter Kelly, Wayne Anstey, Fred MacGillivray and Scott Ferguson
Halifax auditor general Larry Munroe released his report on the concert loan scandal Tuesday. Mayor Peter Kelly, the city’s former chief bureaucrat Wayne Anstey and former and current Trade Centre Limited presidents Fred MacGillivray and Scott Ferguson are particularly implicated. The report names names, assigns blame and provides explosive new details about how city and…
Judith & Charles opens in Mills
Montreal-based designers Judith & Charles formerly known as Teenflo who’ve been selling their clothes at Mills (5486 Spring Garden Road, 429-9600) for years now have their own corner of the store on the first floor. The clothes are women’s contemporary business wear and athletic wear, a mix of classic and trendy styles, all made in…
Dhaba Express and Coles Neighbourhood Restaurant taking over from Indian Buffet Palace
Two new restaurants are about to open, each taking over a location where Indian Buffet Palace closed earlier in the year. Look for Coles Neighbourhood Restaurant to be up and running first: After several weeks of renovations in the former Buffet Palace space at 972 Cole Harbour Road, Coles is due to be serving customers…
The Arcade Fire Is Coming
On the same day as the concert scandal report comes out, there’s this announcement that the Arcade Fire will be playing Alderney Landing on July 28. CLEVER GIRL. If I was better at Photoshop, I would have turned that raptor into the face of the ginger guy from the Arcade Fire who always plays the…
Stanfest Lineup
The Stan Rogers Folk Festival has released its lineup for this year (the Fest runs July 1 – 3) and headliners include Judy Collins, who is a contemporary of Joan Baez (and one of me dear ma’s favorites) along with artists like Jason Collett (backed by the mighty Zeus, we hope!) the Crash Test Dummies…
Marking Your Territory?
I have to join the people who’ve been bitching about taggers because yesterday I was sad to see a man and his son having to spend a beautiful, sunny afternoon painting over the mess taggers had made of their small shop, yet again. Taggers, seriously, who do you think you are? Do you think you’re…
Hire Me Already
Halifax, can you seriously please, please, pretty please, hire me? Anywhere? I love you, but right now you’re a little frustrating. I can’t enjoy you if I don’t have the money to stay here! —Tired of Keeping a Smile on My Face While Being Rejected
Chris
Chris has just moved back to Halifax from New York City. Strangely, I have stopped several New Yorkers in my Youlookfiiine hunts, what fun! I have come to learn that stopping a New Yorker is gonna turn into a pretty fun five minutes. Chris is in software marketing and is about to indulge his dreams…
Pet Valu a value for pets
A franchise of Pet Valu (5686 Spring Garden Road, 490-9900) with stores across Canada and the United States, is now open in the former Daily Grind location on Spring Garden. They have a bunch of stuff for dogs, cats and other small critters, filling the niche left vacant by the closing of Willow’s Pet Place…
The Agronimist shows at Carbon Arc
Instead of the usual Thursday night fare, indie cinema series Carbon Arc is hosting this week’s film on Wednesday night, June 8, at The Khyber (1588 Barrington Street). On the slate is The Agronomist, Jonathan Demme’s excellent 2003 documentary on Jean Dominique, the Haitian activist and broadcaster who was assassinated in 2000. Screening time is…
Halifax lawyer calls for “catastrophic” auto insurance
Halifax personal injury lawyer calls for a change in auto insurance to allow higher benefits for those who suffer “catastrophic” injuries in car accidents.
Laura Chenoweth’s summer sale
Expert in organic apparel and fabrics, Laura Chenoweth will be having her Summer Sale, Friday June 10 and Saturday June 11 from 11am to 6pm upstairs 2526 Agricola Street at Charles (405-8881). Expect printed sundresses, short skirts, white tunics, men’s casual short sleeve tops, obi belts, chiffon scarves, bags and unique samples. Check out her…
Urban Home tax free and free delivery
Recently opened furniture store Urban Home (5689 Cunard Street, 463-1400) is offering through the month of June no tax on its furniture and no fee for delivery. Co-owner Jim Kennedy also informs Shoptalk that the store has recently received a shipment of “funky, new” product, which should make a visit to Cunard Street even more…
Lazy Leech
You are the laziest, sneakiest money-sucking bitch I have ever known. You took me to court AGAIN for the eighteenth time and the judge had your number before you opened your mouth. This judge saw you for your true colors finally and did not award you one single thing you demanded. She also backed it…
Wishful Thinking
We’re on vacation, and as we’re old fuckers we did a bus tour, we’ve been to Dublin and several towns in Ireland, Northern Ireland (shithole), Glasgow, Edinburgh and several towns and cities in Scotland, and we’re finishing it off in England. Here’s my wishful thinking; even though these places are supposedly in a recession and…
Concert loan scandal report out tomorrow
As expected, the city’s auditor general’s report on the concert loan scandal has been agendized for Tuesday, soon after the 10am start of city council’s meeting (item 9.3.1). In public session, with reporters and TV cameras present, auditor general Larry Munroe will make what will likely be a lengthy presentation to council; immediately afterwards paper…
Didn’t Get the Job Because of You
You were, without a doubt, the worst manager I have ever worked for, which led to my hunt for better jobs. I got an interview for a great job. I nailed the interview, then they asked for my references. Basically, I was told I had the job if they got good remarks from my references.…
Ice Cream Headache
Pint of Häagen-Dazs in USA: $3 (way more flavours available); Canada: $8+tax. Worth switching countries for? —Glum & Raisin
End of the Line Eh?
To the driver of the #18 bus yesterday, thanks. Thank you so much for your “It’s the end of the line,” goodbye. It was pretty obvious I had no idea that this bus does not make a loop like a normal run. Forgive me for thinking that the bus I took to someplace would also…
Welcome to Halifax
To the douchebag who broke into my car last night, did you know I only moved to NS 4 days ago? Did you have to steal my ID from my locked car (where everything was hidden and out of sight) along with everything else? Is this how Nova Scotians act? Are you all like this?…
Job Seekers
I read the “Spell Check Yourself” bitch from Thursday and was reminded that I wanted to submit a bitch in a similar vein. When you are handing out resumes, don’t come in at our busiest time and stand there asking a bunch of questions about the job and wanting to speak to the manager, and…
Blessed are the Creatures
This is for the kind and professional staff at the animal hospital in Burnside. Your superb care and gentle empathy in dealing with one asthmatic cat and her two very worried owners made an unexpected Sunday crisis a whole lot easier for everyone involved. Thank you all so very much and major love to your…
Masturbator
I see you each time you park there, you pull it out for all the girls to see and although I really enjoy watching you and you see me watching you, all you do is explode and go. You must stop this as someone else will see you and you will get in trouble. So…
Breakfast Artist
You work in Scotia Square and make my breakfast sandwiches in the mornings. I just wanted to say thanks for always having a smile when I come in to your store. It doesn’t matter the time of day, you’re always very pleasant. I just wanted to say I appreciate your kindness. Keep it up! You…
Give it Back
To whoever stole our purses Friday night at a Granville St. club, please give mine back! My very important notebook was in my big back purse along with ALL the tax info I have EVER had and other silly things completely unimportant to whoever took it. My friend’s purse was also stolen with all of…
Rooftop Idiot
This is to the fuckhead who threw a chair off of our rooftop Friday night: That was beyond idiotic and dangerous. I don’t know what you were doing up there in the first place, as you certainly don’t live here. You could have killed someone with that stunt, although I doubt you have the capacity…
North Street Garden
I always get rather excited to walk down North Street, just between the grocery store and that half green building that hasn’t been used in ages. There is a beautiful front garden that always makes me smile when I walk past, it also makes me wonder how amazing the backyard must be. Thank you, kind…
Scarlet Red
C: Met you on Spring Garden Road, you had an amazing red cord jacket on. A commie hat. Your tiny ruby earrings twinkled like your dark eyes. I want to be your lover. I wanted to tell you all this, but I hardly know you. I hope I see you again. —Olive Drab
Bigots in Dartmouth
I was a customer at a fast food restaurant in Woodside. I eat there often because I work at the hospital. I was waiting for someone to serve me and it took forever, this is not why I am never going back. I am never going back because I overheard a fight and the word…
Go Back to Chester
Seriously, what in the blue hell is the problem with these Chester folk?! I understand that you think you’re shit don’t stink, but you could jump in a rose bush & come out smelling like a hot steaming pile of monkey feces! GO HOME! No, no, no… just GO AWAY! Have you ever wondered why…
Spring Garden Boy
To the beautiful boy in the hat on Spring Garden on Tuesday around 7:30, May 31: I couldn’t help but turn around to take a double look at you when I turned onto Brenton Street, to my shock I saw you turn around to look at me. Wish I wasn’t so shy or else I…
Thank You
Thank you Coast writers, Bike Week and EAC organizers and activists. You give me hope. You do excellent work to push for change in Halifax. You inspire me to voice my opinion to city council, the media, my MLA and MP. You are so progressive and your analysis and activism is so needed. As one…
Mana
Mana. Student by day, heartbreaker by night (how could she not be?). There was no WAY I was letting Mana walk by without asking her to stop for Youlookfiiine. With style like that, I knew she’d be into it. I thought Mana was wearing awesome pants, but once she unzipped her jacket—I learned she was…
Afghan Luke to premiere at Chinese film festival
Trailer Park Boys head honcho Mike Clattenburg’s new feature film, Afghan Luke, is having its world premiere as part of Focus Canada, Telefilm’s raft of 10 Canadian films aimed at bringing attention to our national industry at the Shanghai Film Festival. The films, which include recent Canadian critical hits Incendies and Barney’s Version, will be…
Halifax Record Fair
Halifax hasn’t had a record fair since 2004. That seems crazy, considering the number of people in this city who are freaks for vinyl, but it’s true. Childhood friends and record collectors Kevin Beal and Phil McDonald are seeking to rectify this by launching the Halifax Record Fair this Saturday from 8am to 5pm at…
Street Gardens
Thanks to all of you who are making Halifax a nicer more beautiful place by planting gardens streetside. You make me smile. And a particular nod to the crew on Bland St. You were one of the leaders in this movement and your street is truly amazing. —Beverly
We Don’t Hit
What kind of message do you think you’re sending to your kid by not at least saying, “Don’t smack people,” when your stupid kid attempted to whack me on the bus yesterday? If that kid was 14 and he smacked someone he’d end up in jail for assault. Do you think it’s ok or somehow…
Thank You Online Dating
For allowing me to: 1. Practice awkward, oft-dehumanizing social banter—a very good skill for work. 2. Meet at times very interesting, weird, lovely people—some that have become friends. 3. Know exactly what I don’t want in a relationship. 4. Wake up to what I did want when she slapped me in face (not literally) offline…
Smelly People
It’s summertime everyone. This means you sweat more, which also means you need to shower more and/or use some form of deodorant. I almost threw up when these two smelly oogles came into my work to purchase a baked good and proceeded to stink the place up to the point I needed to open the…
Shitty Kids
To the disrespectful bitch of a kid on the #2 yesterday afternoon: The only thing keeping anyone on that bus from slapping you in your time-wasting mouth was the legal mess that would come with it. No one is ever in the mood for a bratty tween attempting to intimidate and provoke complete strangers on…
The Corridor screens in Los Angeles
Screenwriter Josh MacDonald with director Evan Kelly and producer Mike Masters are all headed to LA this weekend with, The Corridor, their wintry horror picture that showed at the Atlantic Film Festival last September and has since been on the festival circuit. This screening (Tuesday, June 7 at 9:30pm, $12 US at Laemmie’s Sunset 5,…
Why Did the Dumb Girl Cross the Road?
This is a shout out to the ignorant dolt who took it upon herself to stop traffic right beside a busy intersection with her body so that her friend could back out of their driveway; WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Do you know even understand how close you came to getting hit and causing several…
Listen to Three Sheet on Background Noise
Before you head out to the Elephant and Castle tonight to see Three Sheet drop their second album Sheet Music, you should head over to Background Noise and listen to last night’s just-uploaded interview, which features delightfully crass hosts Derreck Ord, Luke James, Devin Deuville and Jon Sangster talking trash with four of the five…
You’re Not Cool
You buy the cheapest car on the market, black out the windows, and put in a loud annoying aftermarket exhaust and you think you’re cool? You have to be kidding me! How on earth can you not know you’re a loser? —Tired of Losers
Basic Driving Skills
In the spirit of bike week this is dedicated to the stupid bitch who decided to turn right on University Ave without signalling or looking and almost hit me on my bike: FUCK YOU, you dumb shit! Learn how to drive and be more careful. It’s a fucking hospital zone that has heavy bike traffic…
Shawna
Sometimes you just know people are into fashion—leather shorts?—and I wasn’t wrong when I stopped Shawna (as if there was any doubt). Visiting Halifax from Newfoundland, Shawna just graduated from St. Francis Xavier. She spends her time reading fashion blogs, and is considering starting her own. I’m sure Newfoundland could use a little fashion injection—what…
NS car insurance review recommends timid changes
Auto insurance review recommends higher accident benefits and quicker access to treatment for “minor” injuries
Vida Simon presents “An Unusual Pincushion”
Vida Simon is a multi-media artist and storyteller who splits her time between Montreal and Fogo Island, Newfoundland. She will be presenting An Unusual Pincushion in the Carbon Arc Space at the Khyber ICA (1588 Barrington) on Sunday, June 5 at 7pm. Simon has projected her drawings in and on storefronts, hotel rooms, rooftops and…
Mother Nature
Thank you Mother Nature for that beautiful lightning storm last night. “You light up my Life” with your own special song. —Rattale
Great video from last night’s lightning storm
Over on the YouTube, one Shawn Hirtle captured this super look at the electrical storm that rattled windows and took down power for nearly 50,000 of Nova Scotia Power’s valued customers last night. And since a customer is a home or business, that figure probably translates to 10 percent of Nova Scotians had no electricity.…
Get a Grip
This morning I logged onto Facebook and saw so many “I was hiding under my bed last night” type status updates I was shocked, ok the thunder was pretty loud a couple times but Jesus, anxiety attacks? Being afraid for your life? Please, you are ADULTS not 5 year olds the only time you should…
Wipe Your Feet
Hey, I get it. You’re busy. Can’t let shit get in your way for one second. Always on the go. Unfortunately, my car was in the way of your midnight bravado, because apparently you thought it’d be rad as shit to walk up on the hood, roof, and over my entire car. Still, I get…
Responsibility of the Modern Consumer
As a student, I am particularly interested with all things renewable and green. These to me seem like logical incentives for sustainable consumer lifestyle and producer practices. The thing that I don’t understand is the three R’s which have been forced down my throat since high school and after. I should clarify, I only have…
You’re Making Yourself Look Bad
Over the past few months I have seen you lie to me time and time again. I wasn’t born yesterday. Not only have you become such sneaky liar, you’re starting to actually believe your lies. I’ve helped you, mentored you and built up your self confidence. I just wish you would listen to me on…
Spell Check Yourself
Dear prospective employees, here is a short list of things potential employers look for. If you never get a call back from those “bazillion jobs” you’ve been applying for, perhaps one (or more) of the reasons why is below: 1) Manners: Don’t walk into any potential work place walk up to the counter and say,…
Grammar Glitches Become My Bitches
Before you say, “Who cares?” let me say, “I know no one cares.” (about the English language except a few of us) but couldn’t people, especially those who are spokespeople or journalists, just clean up on a couple of things to start with: Do “amount of people” and “less people” really have to sneak in…
Thanks for Being There
We dated years ago, I didn’t take it seriously. Our lives weren’t in the same place, I was looking for something different or so I thought. When we don’t chat, I miss you. I want to spend so much time with you, but I can’t. You were there when I needed someone and helped me…
Soundmarket Moves to Almon Street
Soundmarket Studios — formerly located on Quinpool Road beneath the Buckley’s music store — has now moved north to new digs at 6050 Almon St. The studio’s team of engineers have chosen to unveil their shiny n’ pretty new studio in a rather interesting fashion: They’re hosting a series of free workshops on Saturday and…
Motoscooters for Morons
Ok, enough bitching about bikes. Y’know what grinds my gears? Asshats on those electric scooter/Vespa-wannabees. They aren’t licensed but people drive them in traffic like legit motorized vehicles… when it’s convenient. At least with licensed motorized fare you have to pass a test. I just watched some moron pull all the way through an intersection…
I Heart Paddling
A humongous shout out to the organizers of the free paddling session for cyclists. Not only was it a rare, perfect, sunny day and the kayak lessons were great but not too detailed/lame, but your staff was super chill, really friendly, funny, smokin’ hot, AND there were free cookies. Can it get any better?!? I’ll…
Thanks for the Additional Cup
To the small coffee shop in Scotia Square the recently closed, I will miss you terribly. I’ve worked in the area for 8 years and you and your staff (you know who you are) were my favorite part of a work day. I’m pouring out a cup of the burnt, over priced coffee across the…
The Sheepdogs
Learn and Burn is the latest release from Saskatoon four-piece The Sheepdogs, and it is a slice of pure nostalgia that harkens back to ’60s and ’70s-era AM rock radio. Some bands try to achieve the same retro aesthetic and it feels forced and pretentious, but from the moment the play button has been pressed, The…
Sweet Street
Let’s face it: Halifax isn’t exactly renowned for its street food. Vancouver’s streets are lined with exciting fare such as tandoori burgers and gourmet duck salads, while New Yorkers can snag anything from street-side arepas to dosas. I hit the streets with some friends to sample the few items we do have. Not all our…
X-Men: First Class a relaunch for mutant franchise
The fifth X-Men movie feels like a fresh start for the franchise, and not just because it’s a prequel that chronicles the origin of the mutant superhero team in the JFK era. From the early introductions of the cocky but good-hearted scientist Charles Xavier (James MacAvoy) and the vengeance-driven Holocaust survivor Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender),…
Living With Lions
Thanks to its (very stupid) title and booklet art—poop Jesus, get it?—this latest album from Vancouver punks Living With Lions managed to raise the ire of James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage. In response, the band volunteered to recall the album so it can be reissued sans government logos, also returning $13,000 in FACTOR funding.…
Once Upon A Theatre Collective presents On The Verge
Travel is both internal and external. Once Upon A Theatre Collective presents On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning), a play of imagination, wit and time travel written by Eric Overmeyer, at the Bus Stop Theatre June 7 to 11. “The play begins in 1888 with three lady travellers who normally travel alone, but…
Prey
It’s likely you’ve never seen a horror film quite like Prey. Set in France’s remote countryside, four hunters set out to investigate the bizarre murders of various animals on their family’s estate. What they uncover is a biological disaster that has transformed a group of wild boars into flesh-eating monsters, turning the hunters into prey…
Cleaning up for company
Dear Federation of Canadian Municipalities delegates: Welcome to Halifax! We’ll certainly roll out the red carpet for you. Heck, to prove just how much we like you, our fair city has already spent $500,000 for the privilege of hosting the 2,000 of you this weekend—$250 per delegate. (Go ahead, order another drink, it’s on us.)…
Funding film the alternative way
Laura Dawe—-local filmmaker and artist—-scurries between tables at a north end cafe where she’s a server. Multi-tasking is as automatic as breathing for Dawe, who always has a few projects on the go. Last fall her first feature film, Light is the Day, debuted at the Atlantic Film Festival, and she’s about to head to…
Breagh Potter releases Hey There July
It is pretty hard to get a hold of Breagh Potter. The Cape Breton- born singer-songwriter now lives in Halifax, but that doesn’t mean she’s here all that often. “This was pretty much everybody’s last free weekend to practice,” she says. “We’re a really spread-out band, which makes things very interesting.” Although Potter has been…
CKDU hosts National Campus and Community Radio Conference
What better way for a band to get their album on the radio than to slip their CDs directly into program directors’ hands? Local acts will have opportunities to do just that from June 6 to 10 as CKDU hosts this year’s National Campus and Community Radio Conference (NCRC). Halifax welcomes radio practitioners from across…
Tongan Death Grip release Chula Vista on Germany’s P Trash Records
The way Craig Hamlin tells it, the story of how Tongan Death Grip hooked up with Germany’s P Trash Records isn’t particularly dramatic. It doesn’t exactly fit any of those band-makes-good cliches. It’s not an underdog story, or a fairytale come true. It is notable, however, in that it’s a nice old-fashioned happy music story,…
Sandra
Sandra, 28, works in Halifax as a massage therapist and likes to sport a laid back, casual style. I liked the simplicity of Sandra’s get up. A simple sundress—the ultimate summer outfit—is perfect for downtown strolling. Her number one accessory is her pup, an Italian greyhound named Yesterday. Sandra likes to shop all over the…
The darker side of the city
Painter Jonathan Johnson goes for the abstract aesthetic in his latest exhibition titled New Paintings. The Halifax-based artist, known for his landscape drawings on canvas, deals with colour, movement and space in a new way. His usual full and colourful landscapes are replaced with deep black strokes and spots of colour. Most of the pieces…
Surf’s up at The Seahorse
Every year One Life women’s surf school celebrates the start of summer with a glorious dance party, and now that the sun has finally shown its face, the sixth annual shindig seems pretty timely. Of course the dancing will be in full force with a lineup like this one, but that’s not all that’s on…
Miesha & The Spanks are back for more
Miesha Louie calls her fourth release Gods of Love, “a picture of everything that can happen when you’re in love.” The full-length snapshot captures a “love saga” of hers, from one-night stand, to relationship, to heartbreak and all the way back again. And she’s travelling east with that saga for what will be her fifth…
KABOOM
Gregg Araki has two modes: fun (Smiley Face) and artiste (Mysterious Skin, shudder). The sci-fi teen sex romp is the former, a ridiculous, funny coming-of-age starring the dreamy-eyed Thomas Dekker as Smith, who heads to college with his best friend Stella (Haley Bennett, an edgy Emily VanCamp). He’s got a hot surfer bro roommate and…
Dan For Mayor
Dan for Mayor has that guy from Corner Gas—Fred Ewanuick—bumbling around trying to figure out why he ran for mayor in the first place. Poor Dan feels like nobody takes him seriously in the town of Wessex. Might have something to do with spending all of his time in the local pub exchanging unfunny dialogue…
Free Will Astrology
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) In the far northern reaches of Ilulissat, a town in Greenland, the sun sets for good on November 29 every year and doesn’t rise again until January 13. Or at least that was the case until 2011. This year, to the shock of locals, sunlight broke over the horizon on January…
Austra
In some ways Katie Stelmanis’ music hasn’t changed much from her solo project, but with a shift in image and more understated synthesizers, she’s suddenly poised to take over the world. The more mysterious-sounding Austra (“dawn” in Latvian) works Stelmanis’ solo material into something more developed. Feel it Break is an elegantly crafted darkwave album.…
Plants vs. Zombies
It’s the zombie apocalypse! What are we going to do? The last thing a person would probably suggest is to line up a bunch of plants to protect yourself, but that’s exactly your goal in this entertaining tower defense game. Plants vs. Zombies is painfully addictive as you defend your home from progressively more aggressive…
Oland Brewery open house
Head up to The Oland Brewery (3055 Agricola Street) in the north end today between 4pm and 8pm for a tour of the brewery and a barbeque. Tours go every hour. Besides getting a better sense of what happens at a working brewery, the company is also planning to focus on its environmental initiatives, from…
tUnE-yArDs
Whokill, the latest from Merrill Garbus, the New Hampshire-based multi-instrumentalist otherwise known as tUnE-yArDs, is probably as polarizing a release as anything in recent memory. Her music is not just an acquired taste—either you appreciate it or you don’t—it’s a collage of influences (world beat, jazz, electronica) colliding in a tangle of rhythms, blips, honks and…
Cheating shit, or leaving shit?
Q My husband and I recently realized that in order for us to remain happily married, we need to fuck other people. Enter the boyfriend. This 20-year-old hunk has opened the sexual floodgates. He’s gorgeous and athletic and enthusiastic, he gets me off at least twice every time we get together and tales of our…
Solid Goldstein
Radio wasn’t necessarily a field Jonathan Goldstein sought out in the beginning of his career. As a freelance writer on a mission to get published, it turned out writing essays for radio worked for him. Without realizing it, his conversational narrative-style writing, with cleverly placed jokes, leant itself to being read on air. “Initially I…
I’m Listening to…
That song that reminds me of you. I’m so hung up on you it isn’t even funny. I’m not sure if you’d have me even if you didn’t have a girlfriend, but goddamn I wish you would and that you didn’t. I just want to kiss your gorgeous face and make love to your gorgeous…
Bubba
I saw you the other day. I was wondering if I’d ever even see you again… It’s been months, and I’ve been terrified of bumping into you. You were driving into the off leash dog park in Dartmouth Monday afternoon in your new black car as my friend and I pulled out. I wonder if…
Animal Love
Everyday is an experience when I’m around you (goose). Your smile, your laugh, the way you snuggle into my shoulder. You mean the world to me, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. From the nerves shaken the first time we met to the ones shot in the car, you are and will always be…
Cheesecake
Big love to The Cheesecake Wizard. —Yummy as Always
Two-year wait for concert contracts
The letter below is from me to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office, and is pretty much self-explanatory. It relates to my freedom of information request to the city for all of the city’s contracts with Power Promotional Events, the company that put on the concerts on the Common and which…
Drive Thru
I cannot believe the number of drive thrus in HRM. To make matters worse, they are ALWAYS lined up. Cars idling, time wasted, waist-lines expanding. Do people here not understand carbon-emissions? Do you forget how to walk? Doesn’t anyone make coffee at home anymore? Park your car, get off your ass, and go inside. Better…
You Killed My Cat
Thanks to the asshole who hit my cat on Windmill Road yesterday. You ALMOST managed to kill him. We had to take him to the vet to put the poor guy out of his obvious suffering. At least many other fine folks were nice enough to stop and try to help my poor Rocky when…
Do Your Bit
Now that you two-wheeled tossers have us keeping one metre away from you on the road, how about you lot keep off the sidewalks and stop riding across pedestrian crossings? Especially at red traffic lights. In other words, start behaving responsibly and OBEY THE LAW! —Four Wheeler
You’re the Only Heckler Around
First, I want to start off by saying that after I walked away from the situation I regretted not confronting the people I am about to bitch about to their face. Ever see that show What Would You Do? I felt like I had just failed their social test. My partner and I were out…
Local surfers object to O’Neill Cold Water Classic
Halifax council last week voted unanimously to give $145,000 to O’Neill, a Santa Cruz, California-based surfwear company that sponsors a “Cold Water Classic” surfing competition, to be held this September in Cow Bay. (See here and here for more on this issue.) Council approved the expenditure even though the local surfing community is largely opposed…
