2xIT
Giggity…more times than I could count. —I Made a Puddle Again
Purcells Cove water and sewage proposal delayed
A potentially vitriolic fight over extending city water and sewer mains to Purcells Cove has been delayed until fall. Many residents in the area adamantly oppose the extension, because they’ll have to pay for the pipes in front of their houses whether they want them or not, and because they fear that the proposal opens…
Another certification
I find it interesting how various professions consistently come up with new terminology to formalize practices/techniques that are supposedly new . Some professions have become well-oiled, self-preserving, machines. They create requirements for training/certification and people jump all over it—scrambling to acquire the letters—until the person with the certification becomes a commodity in the job market…
Schmidtville neighbours object to proposed new building
The tug-of-war between preservationists and developers continues after the Mary Ann site open house this week. The Mary Ann construction, planned for September, is the latest luxury-living project by WM Fares Group and BANC Group; the proposed nine-storey building will face Clyde Street between Birmingham and Queen Streets. It’ll contain 135 units, with the main…
St. Pat’s-Alexandra sale goes to court
The contested sale of the St. Pat’s-Alexandra school site was the subject of a two-day hearing in front of Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge David MacAdam this week. Tuesday, lawyer Ron Pink argued that the city’s sale of the property to Juno Developments was improper, and in fact broke the law. He wants MacAdam to…
Old man time has all the time in the world
I saw your mug appear on my computer screen and you seemed nice if a bit old. Your dating profile read you had your shit together and you were looking for a relationship. You asked me out… to the beach, then you drive me out to some desolate location and proceed to waste two hours…
Halifax police are coming to Twitter
The cops are coming to Twitter. Last year, the Halifax Regional Police Department hired Lauren Leal, a graduate of Nova Scotia Community College’s PR program, to concentrate on social media, and Leal is now helping police administrators and staff sergeants learn the ropes of Twitter and Facebook. Deputy chief Chris McNeil told me at Monday’s…
Mr. O
Glad you liked the poem—Auden was well before his time in terms of his social consciousness. The poem is not really about looking before you leap, but the opposite. That is to say that the leap must happen, regardless. The leap may be a painful but necessary detour, or it may be an inroad that…
Today, why not do something nice for someone?
In the past few months I’ve found Halifax a very angry place to be. I’ve noticed it on people’s faces everywhere. But the sun has come out, the tightness in my chest has released. I breathe deep and send loving thoughts to those who need them. Weirdly, I’ve started noticing the kind things and the…
Lemmings
While I understand your desire to live in what is at times a lovely quiet ‘burb on the edge of the city, what is it with the epidemic of power washing your driveways (and everything else in sight) already? That’s drinking water you’re wasting while you ruin your neighbour’s alfresco dinner with the din of…
Thanks for the weed
It was awesome. —Now I’m Baked
I don’t want to be part of your club!
What is wrong with Halifax advertisers? First, the slut I have to see every time I pay the bridge toll and now an ad promoting the city by saying, in all caps, “MY FIRST TIME WE DID IT ALL OVER DOWNTOWN”? Well my first time I was 15, in the back seat of a 1985…
Not OK
It is NOT OK for you to leave your pets unattended in your cars in summer weather. Not for five minutes or five seconds. If I see ANYONE doing this, I’m taking your plate numbers and I am reporting you to the Humane Society, or whatever it is that I can do to teach your…
Route #1 anti-hate
To the chick sitting at the back of the bus who backed me up when that old dude started running his mouth and throwing racial slurs, thank you. —Thwarting That Bigot
Douchebag neighbour
If you can’t afford the cost of keeping a boat in the marina for the summer then maybe you may want to think about if you can even afford the boat to begin with. Every fucking year for the past three years you have been parking your douchey speed boat in front of your house…
Cute paperboy at Mumford
You’re my dream boy, I could only hope you’re not an asshole. —North Face on My Way to Work
What a night!
So there I am catching one of my favourite bands. Even got there early enough so I could secure a spot right up front before the crowd crush started. Just as they start one of their best tunes you two losers pushed me out of the way so you could enjoy “your song” saying we’ll…
Driving van while writing in notebook
Hey, I saw you looking down writing in a notebook while driving along Sackville Street. Are you a complete idiot? You’re lucky I didn’t get your plate number because I would have phoned it in to the police! Next time I will! —Fed Up Pedestrian
How to help local entrepreneurs
We just received the following email from the folks at The Hub (1673 Barrington): Dear Friends, Tracy & I want you to join us for an adventurous and interesting TUESDAY evening that could help someone in our community get ahead with their enterprising idea. We know it is short notice but we expect you will…
Blue Monday
You called in sick on a beautiful Monday. Coincidentally, our first beautiful day in a while. Monday is my scheduled day off, but, there I was at work covering for you. I hope there is a legitimate reason why you were not at work. If so, get better soon because calling in sick on a…
You
You are so foreign to me, but I fucking want you more than I know what to do with… —Who
Midnight train
You were mine. You were my everything. I wish I had listened to my heart, I wish I had never left you and I wish I could have told you how much I love you. I know you loved me and I hope you still do. You are the only man I have ever loved…
Seventh heaven
Thanks for your message. Next time, each time, I’ll look before I leap! Didn’t last time! —Always Sincere
Wild pitch
Thanks to the superlovely at my local who assisted me in my search for my union card. Fittingly, I found it out front under a pile of old papers. —So Ya
Coast kickout
I’m getting tired of when I go to pick up a Coast and some asscake has kicked out the front of it. What is the point of this? It is a free fucking paper. There is no lock to bust to get your sweet preciouses. You are getting all the papers wet in the fog…
Bus stop bitches
I was at Mumford on my way to see my boyfriend, when you saunter over to me. You then proceed to tell me my boyfriend’s cute, and it’s a shame he’s dating a ditz like me, and if you were me you’d keep an eye on him, but oh wait, you already do. Listen bitch,…
Light brown corduroy jacket
You were clearly distraught, to the point of a few tears, and it’s never any fun being on a bus (80) feeling that way. I totally agree it’s made much worse by the idiot rambling ad infinitum at top volume near you. Good on ya for calling him out for his annoying douchebaggery volume. I’m…
Our friendship ended because you’re a jealous bitch
So last year, you and I decided we were going to save money to go out to Calgary for work and to put dents in our student loan debt. Five months ago I met this really great guy and LAST month decided he was worth staying in Halifax for. When I broke the news that…
Dead car (almost) hero
Dear boy who (almost) helped me when my car died in the middle of Quinpool yesterday: Thank you for your willingness to help a girl in distress. I yelled to you on the street and you could have ignored me while I was panicking in the middle of the street, but you leaped into action…
Out of the storm
I would like to thank the gentleman who approached me as I was relaxing in the Public Gardens and advised me the sky was about to unleash torrential downpour within the quarter hour. I am glad you felt swayed to make sure I found shelter or at least had something with me to keep from…
It’s a MERGE lane, SFB!!
To those motoring geniuses that have decided that the ramp from the Bi-Hi southbound into Bayers Lake Park is an INTERSECTION, could I take a moment to point out IT’S A MERGE LANE. Do not stop and stare mindlessly at the approaching traffic in the next lane over, fascinated by the motion and shiny metal.…
Thanking the drivers on the 103
After four months I finally have a vehicle. No more hitchhiking for me. Big big BIG thanks to all who helped me get to and from Bridgewater and Tantallon… You saved my job and my life! You all rock! —The Hitcher’s Guide to the 103
Gluten-free at Saege
Saege Bistro (5883 Spring Garden Road, 429-1882) has a mostly gluten-free summer menu, with lunch options 85 percent gluten-free, and dinner 75 percent. Many of the dishes—salads and meat entrees—wouldn’t have gluten in them in the first place, but Saege has taken the additional step of providing options for gluten-free pasta, pizza and breads, and…
Giant shame
I’m not sure what is more criminal—the theft of the giant headphones or that someone thinks it is ok to pay $12,000 for them. —Lori
You
I love you with my entire being. I would walk to you, if I wasn’t such a couch potato. You are quite possibly the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, and I will forever be your little goth ballerina. —Me
Obviously trying to sleep
Attention people who drive motorcycles: You look super cool and everything and I really hate to burst your bubble, but NOBODY wants to hear how loud your bike is at 7am. This might come as a shock to you but everybody in Halifax actually hates it. I know, crazy, right? I know in your mind…
We can hear you loud and clear
Dear fellow co-worker, I am growing very tired due to your incessant chatter. I’m trying to learn how to do my job effectively and despite the boring nature of our lengthy presentations and meetings, I do not appreciate your non-stop blither about who you happen to be humping this week. You complain about your hangovers…
Playwriting for Dummies
Listen: we know you love to hear from us, regardless of the nature of the message, but we figured that it was due time you got a real taste of, y’know, the actual premise of this blog—telling you what it takes to become a professional theatre group. Sure, it’s nice to come out here and…
AFW 2012 recap: Cut outs, coral, cuties
Having last been in Casino Nova Scotia’s Harbourfront Lounge for a depressing night where I found myself being stared down by an old boss before the night devolved into me trying to be the biggest bitch I possibly could be (pretty big), I welcomed a chance to cleanse that horrible night from my memory with…
Aperture Studios moves across the street
Aperture Studios has moved from the Roy Building, but just across the street, to 1678 Barrington Street (420-1876). As before, the new location rents studio space and photographic equipment.
Trader’s bar is closed
Trader’s Bar in the Barrington Delta has closed. The hotel is renovating the space, and it will reopen after the summer, with a new name.
Nutri-Lawn takes on Boston
Peter Budgen opened a Nutri-Lawn franchise in Dartmouth (101 Thornhill Drive, 468-8101) 22 years ago and it’s been growing strong ever since. But now he’s turning his attention to the south, looking into expanding his franchise in the Boston area. After travelling down to Boston this spring to scope out the market, Budgen says it…
Venus eclipsed
Venus Pizza (1558 Barrington Street, 425-8882), winner in The Coast’s Best of Food Shawarma and late-night Lebanese dishes categories, has been re-branded as Mezza Lebanese Kitchen. The address, phone number, employee and menu remain the same, however. This is part of a re-jigging of the Mezza operation. The Quinpool restaurant (6386 Quinpool Road, 444-3914) is…
Chalet Realty has moved
Chalet Realty has closed up shop on Barrington Street and while we’re sad to see it leave the south end, we’re happy it’s doing so well. “Although we loved, loved, loved our building and loved being in the south end, we outgrew our space, which as a company is pretty exciting,” says co-owner Anne Da…
A not-so tragic Train Wreck
Angels & Heroes’ Domestic Train Wreck is a deceptively cozy piece of performance art that explores the role of memory and mammaries in one woman’s life. The woman is Melanie Bennett, an actor/playwright who based the show on her unorthodox upbringing by a mother who was obsessed with Harlequins and Soaps. Bennett weaves together fragments…
You hit my car!
I ran into a store in Bayers Lake and came back to find a massive scratch and small dent on the front end of my car! What the hell?! Fine, you hit my car, but if you’re going to drive off like it never happened then you REALLY suck! At least have the decency to…
Swinging motel
To a certain swingers group that has thier parties at a motel please show some respect for those that are staying at the same motel you are having your swinging couples parties at. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE wants to see women in very short skirts with no undies on prancing around as…
Competition, eh?
Dear I’m Not That Cheap, and You’re Not That Good, Are you in the midst of giving that tall drink of orgasm a 2nd or possibly 3rd chance? If so, don’t. The ONLY reason he is there is because I, the “old bitch of a lover” wouldn’t commit and he is trying to teach me…
Puddle
I’m a gonna go into this period of quiet cyberspace reflection. —A Large Boy Now
Finn
You are possibly the cutest person ever. I love building sandcastles with you and making cupcakes. You are the greatest cartoon buddy and boyfriend anyone could ever ask for. Please continue to look like a kitten, and play them instruments. I love you five ever. —Princess Bubblegum
Pigeon Row asks How Did We Even Get Here?
Sometimes I like to run on the weekends. Certainly that makes up for a week of sitting on my duff, right? But despite what my “recently played” might tell you, one does not run on Waka Flocka Flame alone. Pigeon Row’s newest Select Series compilation, How Did We Even Get Here?, has enough punchy jams…
Love for the t-shirt gypsies
You have taught me a lot of patience, trust and acceptance of others. Despite the difficult circumstances which you self-admittedly put yourself through, you persevere with your vision in mind and the music festival mentality as strong in the winter as it is in the summer. You have done so much for this community and…
Cold Warps’ “Hang Up On You”
Are you watching Cold Warps’ video for “Hang Up On You” a trillion times a day yet? They’re playing here so soon, guys!
Y-Level? Because we love you!
Eyelevel Gallery is giving new kids on the art-grind a chance to shine. It’s been doing so annually for about ten years, since the Y-Level art show began. Several emerging Canadian artists—meaning they are in their last year of school or graduated two years ago—and similarly, an emerging curator, put together the installation-based show. “I…
Drifter kids
Can you imagine if everyone decided to up and travel across Canada with no money and no plan to work along the way? If everyone thought that the best way to get money is to just sit around asking for it instead of getting up and earning it? If everyone just slumped around the street…
Live Art Dance’s 30something
You know that cool feeling when you turn 30 and start to question everything in your life and have, like, a real neat sensation of panic and unease? Live Art Dance has clearly bypassed that shaky year and are instead celebrating their third decade of absolutely slaying at the contemporary dance game in Halifax with…
Smitten
I only met you this weekend, but baby, I can already tell you are crazy weird, and I LOVE it. Your standoffish creativity is incredibly attractive, and your no BS attitude along with your innocent yet mischievous demeanour is making me go crazy waiting to hear from you again. I wish we hadn’t met/went home…
Inattentive drivers
To the person driving the silver car on Spring Garden Road, Tuesday June 5, who hit me while I was in the crosswalk. PLEASE pay attention to the road! Please do not use the cellphone, text messaging or whatever you were doing, before you looked up and hit me. —Scared and Pissed Off
Primary x2 is for suckers
Thank you grade primary teacher, for deciding after six weeks of teaching my son that he should be “retained” (read: failed). So glad I found out it’s actually not your call to “retain”—but rather mine. So glad I did a little bit of research and found out the negative emotional impact of failing a student…
Thank you
You make me want to touch myself again. —Ozzy
Thank you for the smile
You were standing in the lobby of my office building with your golden-doodle puppy, and on my way out for lunch I couldn’t resist asking if you wouldn’t mind me petting her for a few minutes. You said her name was Blossom, and she jumped up at me and happily licked my face and ears.…
Clean freaks go away
Dear clean freaks, I was watching a documentary on clean freaks, and they stated that only 20 percent of the population are clean freaks, and another 20 percent are truly messy. Yet, we the people (the other 60 percent of the population) allow the clean freaks to harass and badger us. They are the tyrants…
Talk to me Goose
A pointless photo-op to announce your continued interest in an over-budget fighter aircraft? $47,000.00. The 8×10 glossy of same that you keep on your night table to lull you into fantasy land every night? Priceless. Hang on tight to that picture. It may be all there is in the end. Can you spell “cancellation”? Suck…
Dear Captain Redundancy
I was on the #1 yesterday, heading downtown to see some friends, and I was wearing my army fatigues that I picked up at a thrift store. Then you came, sat down across from me, started blabbing about your boy troubles and how you love [insert shitty pop band here] on your cellphone. When you…
Fuck the monarchy
Fuck the Queen and her whole dysfunctional and parasitic family. If I wanted to dote over a nice little old lady, with loads of money and a host of attractive but stupid children, I’d get the complete collection of The Beverly Hillbillies episodes. When is Canada going to move into the 21st century? —Nationalist Related…
Bus drivers
This is to all the bus drivers for MT, who deal with the public face to face, it’s not an easy job to safely manoeuvre a 40-60ft bus down city streets that were designed for horse and buggies. It’s not easy to deal with how irrational the people in Halifax seem to be! Keep up…
I forgive you
We experienced the best times, and the worst times. You stayed with me through my worst, and came back to me every time I felt alone. I hope that someday I will be able to love someone the way you loved me. I hope that someday I will feel that same happiness that we had…
Laptop fixers
To a certain shop that fixes computers: I brought you my laptop to fix. You told me I needed a new hard drive. I said fine, but I’d like the other one back, because my data is on it. What did you do? You lost it. I got upset, but continued to be polite. You…
These were the worst of times…
OMG! I just heard BEEP is coming back! But I’m in BC! Please someone have some with a donair for me… —Bluenoser in BC
How about not beating your wife?
To the asshole crackheads that live across from me, YES I understand that you are addicted to crack but how about when your girlfriend sells your bike for crack that you not beat her, and scream at her with all your windows and patio doors open…YES everyone can freaking hear you, you asshole! I am…
John Newcombe killed
In the early hours of June 1, John Newcombe was shot five times outside Winston’s Pub in Clayton Park. The 27-year-old had attended a live music show at the pub and was gunned down afterwards, while having a cigarette. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooter ran off down Willett Street. Police haven’t…
Fight the power
A growing movement to de-privatize Nova Scotia Power Inc. has been gaining traction, at least at the grassroots level. Over the last few months, anti-capitalist action group Solidarity Halifax has been conducting teach-ins, door-to-door campaigns and general rabble rousing in an attempt to put the issue into the public mindset. Nova Scotia Power has done…
Hail Estate Family Guilds
For some, a t-shirt could be considered a symbol of purity. Hanging on the line, made of crisp cotton, it’s an iconic symbol of the working commoner. BJ “Roses” Fougere and Keith “Relic” McLeod, designers at Estate Family Guilds, don’t entirely shatter this theory, but they do re-imagine it. Instead of the bone-weary-but-with-a-heart-of-gold working stiff…
Halifax nails
Paint up before your summer vacation, happily explaining to any curious parties what exactly a donair is. Before you know it, instant best friend! Or enemy, if you happen to be talking to someone who hates rad things. Halifax Town Clock nail tutorial Step 1: Paint a base coat of sky blue (or grey, depending…
Hair apparent
THE STYLIST: Amy Silver, owner of Vibe Salon for 12 years, stylist for 15. Long hair model: Olivia Silver got all fancy and chose an elegant “sorta” updo to showcase what’s hot for prom and wedding hair. Short hair model: Vanessa Vibe’s short look went a bit edgier, perfectly suited to their model, singer Vanessa…
Three’s company
5171 Salter Street is basically the Bermuda Triangle for restaurants in Halifax: everything that opens there tends to disappear. It’s good, then, that La Trinidade, the latest restaurant to pop up at that address—a restaurant with a name that immediately brings to mind the tropics—is actually named with a sort of reference to the three…
Merrimen’s rolling along
It’s been five years since Laura Merrimen started recording her first album Love Letters for Lonely Hunters and since then, a lot has changed. “I grew a lot since the first album and so it’s kind of exciting to see where it’s all going and the process,” says Merrimen. Her new album Midnight Roll, hitting…
Safe as Milks & Rectangles
In order to complete their debut album, Charlottetown indie rockers Milks & Rectangles had to navigate a musical long-distance relationship. Guitarist and organist Justin Uyterlinde, who grew up on a farm, was training to become a large animal veterinarian. Bassist Brandon Williams was fulfilling his dream of joining the Coast Guard, studying in Cape Breton…
Soul sister
When you listen to Jessie Brown’s rich, powerful voice, it’s hard to believe she’s new to centre stage. “I still get quite nervous, but I love that excitement,” Brown says, having eased into the spotlight. “When I lived in Moncton, I hosted karaoke nights so I could get used to performing and drunk hecklers.” The…
Prometheus
It’s debatable whether or not Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is a prequel to the Alien series—for fans, it may be close enough, while for other viewers, enjoyable as-is. Set in the 2090s, a group of scientists in Scotland (including Noomi Rapace as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw) discover cave drawings indicating life in space, or the “engineers” of…
Grin and bear it
Q Could you tell my boy to calm the heck down? Can’t seem to get him to get the difference between bestiality, necrophilia and screwin’ a bearskin rug. Emphasizing my usual sexual interests—which involve rope bondage, floggin’ and an e-stim unit—hasn’t worked. Logic isn’t helpin’ out at all. Maybe you can help? I’m a gay…
Cosmopolis
An asymmetrical movie from David Cronenberg and starring Twilight’s Robert Pattinson, Cosmopolis should be the movie you see next. Adapted from the 2003 Don DeLillo novel, Cosmopolis finds a young business tycoon’s cross-town trip for a haircut interrupted by presidential visits, sex, Occupy-esque riots, sex, madness over a devaluing yen and a potential assassin. Playing…
Cold Warps mix it up
When Halifax/Ottawa band Cold Warps released their self-titled album in 2009, they didn’t try too hard. In fact, they barely tried at all. And when they followed up with an OMG-I’m-having-so-much-fun-in-the-summer-sun pop explosion—Endless Bummer, that is—they also weren’t thinking too much about their sound. But now, after all the positive response to both albums, they…
Madagascar 3
Vibrant and colourful, this third movie in the Madagascar series could certainly be worse. After being stranded in Monaco, lion Alex (Ben Stiller), zebra Marty (Chris Rock), giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer) and hippopatamus Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) try to make their way back home to New York by joining a travelling circus of international misfits.…
Blog talkin’
Mo Handahu designer at Clutch Culture and blogger at Curvy Geekery (curvygeekery.blogspot.ca) since 2010 TREND ALERT: Bright colors, denim that tells stories, statement jewelry, quirky prints, bright lips. LOCAL LOVES: designer Sebastian Blagdon, street style blog Fashion East, shops Dress in Time and 50 Hats, Biscuit General Store and J&R Grimsmo Danna Storey, blogger at…
Not your Garden variety Party
“It’s our annual coming-of-summer fundraiser,” says the Ecology Action Centre’s Stephanie Hughes of the centre’s 15th annual outdoor brouhaha. “It’s our largest fundraiser so through this event which includes a plant sale—hence garden party—silent auction and live auction, we raise thousands of dollars for EAC projects and core expenses.” Hosted by CBC Radio’s Olga Milosevich,…
Fish House Festival pitches a tent
“The house I’m living at right now is a really beautiful property, and I’ve always pictured something like this happening there,” says Klarka Weinwurm. “Just for the fun of it, really: music outside.” She’s talking about the Fish House Festival, a day-long event in her West Dublin backyard featuring a dozen bands including Willie Stratton,…
Barry Bennett sees animals
Barry Bennett ends his stint as artist-in-residence at Veith House with a show of new paintings. This is a world away from his old life. Bennett was a chartered accountant and CEO of an insurance corporation for 10 years. He burnt out and in 2000 switched gears, attending NSCAD to study drawing and painting. In…
Alice Burdick Hollers at you
In slow-moving Mahone Bay, where bright buildings teeter on ocean rocks and tourists flock to nibble fresh fish ‘n’ chips, everyone knows everyone. It’s typical small town behaviour and Alice Burdick loves it, although she’s simply known as “The lady up the street with some kids.” Raised in Toronto, Burdick finds writing inspiration in the…
In the Clutch
Mo Handahu turns heads when she walks into the room. A symphony of colours, clashing patterns, bright red lipstick and a demure grin, Handahu’s bold personal style belies her quiet nature. At times it’s hard to hear her in the bustling cafe where we talk about her plans for the future, her style philosophy and…
Free Will Astrology
Happy Birthday! GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Do you remember what you were doing between July 2000 and June 2001? Think back. Did anything happen then that felt like a wild jumpstart, or a series of epiphanies, or a benevolent form of shock therapy? Were you forcibly dislodged from a rut by an adversary who eventually…
Utility closet
Mitchell Stuart Gilroy is a reluctant designer. His first love was architecture, something he attributes to a childhood love of Lego. “Once I actually began studying architecture, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me,” Gilroy says. “The philosophy behind the building was too far-fetched for me. I appreciated the utilitarian side of design.” From a…
Public delusions
Last week, Halifax councillors did something remarkable: they held a public conversation about a controversial topic. And you know what? Nothing terrible happened. At issue was the resolution of the bill for the concert scandal—the last $359,550 of secret loans of taxpayer money to promoter Harold MacKay that was not repaid. City solicitor Martin Ward…
Bye, Bye, Peter Kelly Goodbye
Musician Aaron Hartling, who goes by the name Heartbreak A Stranger, sends us the following recording he made, a remake of Don McLean’s Bye-Bye American Pie, with lyrics about our own Peter Kelly: Lyrics: Bye, Bye Peter Kelly, Goodbye (with apologies to Don Mclean) A long, long time ago I can still remember How the…
