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The Coast | News, events, restaurants, concerts and Burger Week for Halifax, Nova Scotia
Home of the Best of Halifax Reader's Choice Awards, the award-winning independent newspaper covers the Halifax news, politics, events, concerts, movies, restaurants, and nightlife scene.
[Image-1] Hey Bridge Commission Shuttle Drivers, stop using the lame-assed excuse that for insurance reasons, you can’t drop off passengers closer to their destinations. You are both LICENSED and INSURED to drop people off wherever the hell you want. This excuse of yours is almost embarrassing to the whole city. Whatever happened to the friendly,…
When you drunkenly ring my doorbell and wake me up in the middle of the night then demand to be let into my building without telling me who you are or what you want, guess what the last thing I’m going to do for you is? I hope you see this and realize what a…
[Image-1] I know you’re having a hard time right now. I know you feel like you’ve been thrown into a dark and stormy ocean with no lifejacket and no direction to swim in. I know you feel like no one cares about you, but I do. And I promise that even in the face of…
While on tour with Matt Mays in Edmonton, struggling with depression and addictions, Cape Breton songwriter and legendary Rock Ranger James ‘Jay’ Smith took his own life on March 27, 2013. Musical communities across Canada collectively mourned the loss of one of Nova Scotia’s greatest rock musicians, known as the lead of Sydney’s Rock Ranger, as…
[Image-1] I was excited to take our three-year-old son to his first hockey game—the CIS championships sounded like the perfect chance to see great hockey and hang out with our middle child. The first thank you is for seeing my son and I in line and giving us two tickets (I believe your company had a…
[Image-1] Okay, I know it’s an open public place. Meandering with coffee. Sampling a muffin or some sort of pastry. Yet there seems to be this treatment that the Central Library is like a cafeteria. The wafting stench of potent caesar salad dressing in the non-fiction section. The stinky roast beef sandwich coming from a…
As a devoted vegan flower-power child, this week is a frustrating but popular event that makes me want to cut off my ears. I understand that the week of March 18-24 is one that is greatly loved and supported by restaurants and Haligonians. Sure, it’s great exposure and competition for restaurants. But constantly hearing what…
[Image-1] Just want to give a shout out to Envie for making day one of Burger Week such an awesome experience. That Whoppa was unreeeeeeeal! You are all babes. —Get In Ma Belly
Tonight on MUCH (11pm AST), a little ditty called “Watch It Grow” by Halifax psych-rockers The Everywheres will have 10 or so glorious seconds of airtime on one of the most popular comedy shows in America. Yeah, that’s right: The Everywheres will be on Broad City. The Everywheres LP by The Everywheres “This really is…
[Image-1] Dating is hard. There is no doubt about that. Online dating can be brutal, especially out here. I moved to this city seven months ago from out west and am a single woman. I have been amazed at the lack of etiquette, the rudeness, the boorishness, the plague of ghosting and the lack of…
Lately I go to the Tim’s at lacewood plaza and it’s a circus. One side of the place is women, the rest of it is men of the same nationality. Noisy, noisy noisy. About 10% of them have a beverage. One table has 8 guys playing dominos, but they slam the tile down on the…
The latest pharmacare pamphlet (in white and blue) has a letter attached advising they are including a yellow pamphlet. Is this meant to be a cruel joke for seniors with failing eyesight? —Always Hopeful
[Image-1] We met online which was weird for me. First date = super awkward. I was really nervous. You’re older than me and so worldly and experienced, and I felt a bit intimidated. I felt like I was pretending to be cooler than I am. But I quickly felt more comfortable with you, and we…
“People are looking for high quality, and they want to support local,” says Joel Kelly. He’s learned that in the last year, during which he’s been bringing beautiful things to Bedford via art, craft and handmade boutique Made in the Maritimes (Sunnyside Mall, 1595 Bedford Highway), which he runs with Mark Smith. Amidst a busy…
If you’re a fan of The Stooges, Sub Pop’s Pissed Jeans, Black Flag or any good punk music at all, then you only have two chances to see TV Freaks this week and you better take them both. From Hamilton, I’ve spied that the band is here recording music over at Fun Dog. They play tonight at Plan B (2180 Gottingen Street, 8pm,…
Stories about the power of community were front and centre at the 2016 Merritt Awards. From Two Planks’ director Ken Schwartz’s hilarious tale of the entire cast of The Tempest soldiering on through a bout of the evocatively-named “poop flu” to Emerging Theatre Artist Award-winner Colleen MacIsaac’s generous donation of her Merritt winnings to the…
[Image-1] I was trying to remain positive about the shitty experience I had with [HOLE IN THE GROUND BAR]. I used to love this bar but I won’t be going back again. After dealing with an unprofessional booking promoter who double booked the show and was unable to answer a facebook message or email for…
B** about personal safety. I am having a great time downtown Dartmouth in various restaurants and bars. I’m nervous because I live on the peninsula, and worried that I will get beat up if I let that out. Just mentioning it gets a bad reaction, like mentioning ‘Toronto” on the peninsula. Is it still ok…
[Image-1] Perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be, but I lost my cell phone on Saturday night. I had no way to contact you about meeting or not meeting on Sunday evening since we have only ever communicated over that dating app. When I cancelled the first time I really was sick, and I really…
[Image-1] Thank you again to the angelic women who (First held the door for me…) then jammed a fist full of coins into the turnstile at Alderny Landing today when the guy claimed I didn’t pay 2.50 (I did…) then admitted he had no idea how much I had paid… I was returning from my…
[Image-1] The potential lives saved by truck side guards isn’t enough of a reason to install them on municipal vehicles, says HRM staff. That’s the recommendation from a staff report going to Thursday’s meeting of the Transportation Standing Committee which recommends “no further action” be taken on the idea of side guards on all city-owned…
Have I been on vacation? walked a lot in the cold? Endless other questions as to why I am a tomato face. I’d like to answer yes, Great vacation but.. I don’t walk into your place of work and comment on your looks. hey, you’re pretty bald…. etc. Ughh Rosacea is real and isolating as…
maaaawwww… poor fella! This is how HRM unions feels every time negotiations take place. How’s it feel, without a reach around Sir! —How’s Karma treatin ya?
[Image-1] Everyone sees you walk to down the street everyday. They don’t know where you are going, or how you got there. Your heart beats in pace with the sidewalk as you clench your hands and wonder what you are in for next. Through the careful art of make up and concealer with a bright…
[Image-1] Sidewalks on the north side of Spring Garden Road and south side of Doyle Street between Brunswick and Queen are closed for the next two weeks as demolition of the Doyle block is now underway. The entire city block is coming down to make way for a seven-storey mixed-used complex including a boutique hotel,…
[Image-1] It will likely be 2018 before anyone’s down at the Khyber. A staff report coming to HRM Regional Council on Tuesday is once again recommending to sell 1588 Barrington Street, but this time under the city’s “community interest” category. That means a community group will be able to buy the property at less-than-market value,…
[Image-1] In this week’s cover story, The Coast looks at whether HRM needs a lobbyist registry to curb conflicts of interest. Municipal registries documenting when consultants and developers meet with councillors are on the rise across Canada, but there are arguments for and against one being installed in Halifax. Waye Mason, councillor for the downtown…
Today’s burger excitement has lead to our Burger Week site being a bit overwhelmed. For those having trouble accessing burgerweek.co, you can either click here for the Burger Week passport or see below for a list of every single burger you can sink your teeth into this week. 6 DOLLAR BURGERS 2 Doors Down |…
Wondering about the red-and-black propaganda-style posters that have recently papered over the windows at the former Garden of Eat’n restaurant at 6293 Quinpool Road? Us too. Turns out they’re a sign of good things to come, thanks to entrepreneurs Nicole Tufts and Sonia Gillies- da Mota. They’re working hard to bring Riot Snack Bar—what Tufts…
There is still a sheet of snow on the hills around Windsor, waiting for the brisk pull of springtime to shake it loose and blanket the countryside with lush greens, to start the cycle of life. As the road winds through the muted winter scene towards the farm, you see the green and yellow of…
Depending on how strong your Celtic spirit is, come Friday you might be needing to wash the post-St. Patrick’s Day stink off yourself. And let’s be honest, Irish Spring isn’t going to cut it. Bad Mouth Soap’s hilarious creator Sarah Armstrong crafted one of her signature soaps with your dehydrated, over-tired, breakfast-craving state in mind.…
[Image-1] Somewhere upstairs inside Halifax City Hall resides the municipality’s guest book. Its expensively heavy pages, bound in Oxford-blue leatherette, are half-filled with autographs from visiting dignitaries and VIPs who have glad-handed with mayors over the past 16 years. Anyone can view the guest book, although the commissionaires at the front desk couldn’t remember the…
[Image-1] Earlier this month premier Stephen McNeil joined other Canadian premiers on the other side of the country for the much-publicized first ministers conference in Vancouver with prime minister Justin Trudeau. Those meetings covered such environment-related topics as climate change and carbon pricing, and were meant to lay the foundation for a national climate strategy.…
[Image-1] A crosswalk-safety measure that was in the slow lane at City Hall for years has grown in popularity across many parts of the municipality. Right now there are 74 crosswalks in HRM with pedestrian-safety flags. Six months ago, the flags were only available at 36 crosswalks. Use of the flags was introduced several years…
[Image-1] These days, Natalie Doucette has been on the road more than she’s used to. With 24 years of experience working with Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services under her belt, Doucette recently became the province’s first Mi’kmaw child welfare specialist. Doucette’s work includes a regular commute between offices in Sydney and the Mi’kmaq community of…
[Image-1] What do you think? Mayor? Councillor? Or maybe you secretly long to be a school board member. If so, the following is for you. Speaking personally, it’s been a fantastic experience being a school board member. I’ve loved it. I’ve hated it. And most days I fall somewhere in between. It’s an honour and…
Mark MacDonald got the keys to his house in the west end of Halifax well knowing he’d have to put in work. The home, though endearing, was stuck in another time—cluttered and carpeted, with popcorn ceilings sheltering the space. For MacDonald, who favours a contemporary and open concept aesthetic, scrapping the closed-off, honey oak 1950s…
[Image-1] “If you think this snow is bad, you should have seen it last year!” were some of the first words I was greeted with upon landing at Halifax on December 29, 2015. Shrugging on my shiny new ski jacket (Irish weather rarely calls for such extreme attire) I joined the queue for the sprinkling…
The Roy 1650 Granville Street In the heart of downtown scaling 22 storeys above Barrington Street will be The Roy. Reminiscent of its historic neighbours, the building will be accented with contemporary finishes and polished sophistication. This condominium boasts 135 luxury one-, two- and three- bedroom units as well as penthouse suites. The units don’t start…
This Very Canadian Biopic stars Ethan Hawke as Chet Baker, who in the ’60s was womped by his drug dealer’s goons and had all his teeth knocked out. Teeth are pretty important to a trumpet player! Writer director Robert Budreau does the smart biopic take—instead of trying for a life overview, he covers a specific era, during which Baker is…
Skate shooting Um, as a responsible mother you should never drop your son off at an underground parking garage to skate (“Craig McNally wants to build Halifax an indoor skatepark,” The City, March 10). That’s private property and you’re teaching him it’s fine and dandy to do whatever he wants wherever he wants. Tut tut…
“We both come from entrepreneurial families, it was kind of only a matter of time. We have it in our genes.” The we is Erica and Devin Brook. She has a background in community design and he’s a carpenter. Together, they wanted to build something—not just a physical structure that Devin would design and construct,…
Q I’m a 27-year-old feminist, conventionally attractive, straightish, GGG woman. Over time, my tastes have changed, and now I find myself more of a kinkster. A few years ago, my desire for kinkier sex and my willingness to take a chance came together in a mutually beneficial, exciting D/s relationship. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t…
The digs: Built in 2007, this semi-detached two-storey at 59 Bridgeview Drive features three spacious bedrooms and four (count ’em) bathrooms with Palladian finishes like vaulted ceilings, large windows and Greco-style columns. The neighbourhood: Located just behind The Dingle and Sir Sanford Fleming Park, this family home is only a few minutes to Mumford Road…
Katie Kirkpatrick and her husband Mark lucked out when they bought their first house three years ago. The 50-year-old bungalow was still being lived in by its original owner, who “maintained it meticulously,” meaning even though they had plans to update it, they didn’t have to right away. “She had classic taste. It could have…
What are the most important things people should consider while selecting a paint colour? I always advise clients to not rely too much on what the trends are. Colour is a very personal choice and is affected by many things such as lighting, flooring tones, trim colours, furniture style and colour. The most important thing…
1. Consider various neighbourhoods beyond what you initially think you want. A 15- to 20-minute commute to work can save you thousands on a mortgage. 2. I can’t stress how important it is to have a buyers’ representative when you’re purchasing your first home. A professional real estate agent guides you through the process and…
What should people be looking for when they’re hiring a renovating team or contractor? Clear communication. Communication from the very first point of contact is an important part of making sure the entire renovation process goes as smoothly as possible. Look for a web presence, such as an up-to-date website, Facebook page, Twitter account, or…
What makes this room your favourite? It’s the heart of the house. The openness of the space is bathed in natural light from both sides, let in by generous windows that also provide cross-ventilation during summertime. One of its great appeals is comfort, space flexibility and the atmosphere of airiness that is further enhanced with…
Melissa Rauch, The Other Girl from The Big Bang Theory—“Not Kaley Cuoco, not Blossom, the other girl!” has crafted herself a terrific lead role in Hope Ann Greggory, a foul-mouthed, emotionally stunted former Olympic gymnast. Still living at home with her postal worker father (the great character actor Gary Cole, from Veep and The Good Wife), Hope is half-coasting through…
The space: My favourite place in Halifax is actually in a building on the corner of Oxford and Cork, where my sister has her office [Solterre Design]. It’s not actually about the room, it’s all the stuff in it. It is one of the first projects I did as manager of Renovators Resource, and it…
If practice makes perfect, it’s no wonder Monique and Kent Roberts found their little piece of heaven on Bauer Street. They’ve been mastering the art of packing up and starting over for their entire marriage, getting truckloads of practice via six (or was it seven?) moves across the country. This time was different though: The…
What makes this room your favourite? When I’m at home I spend a lot of time in my office–it’s the nature of owning your own business. We’re lucky enough to have two master bedrooms in our home so I converted this one into my home office. This is the one room in the house that…
Tucked away in the corner of the Dalhousie Art Gallery—which is also currently housing Why are we saving All these artist publications + Other Galleries stuffs?, an exhibition of artist run centre archives—is a collection of an entirely different sort of archive. Archives of the Future, organized by Centre for Art Tape’s programming committee, examines…
What makes this room your favourite? This was my husband and I’s first apartment together. We eventually moved into a condo, but truly missed the charm of this old place—it survived the Halifax Explosion!—and snapped up the hilarious opportunity to move back in when it popped up on the renters market. Now, this room is…
Hosting the Merritt Awards is a familiar gig for local actor Marty Burt, but that doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk. Burt, who returns to the podium for the fifth time for this celebration of the best in Nova Scotian theatre, says he walks a fine line. “When you’re roasting people who are your peers and…
This terrific adaptation of the beloved children’s book for adults features a passel of Hollywood voices, but they’re beside the point. When a little girl (Mackenzie Foy), overworked by her uptight single mother (Rachel McAdams), meets a kooky neighbour (Jeff Bridges) who tells her of his adventures with the Little Prince—a boy born on an asteroid searching the universe for…
WHO THEY ARE After years of touring, two albums and multiple music awards, Halifax’s alternative hip-hop group Three Sheet took time to cool off after last summer. The band—including beatboxer and vocal scratcher EMC (AKA Eric McIntyre), emcee Expedyte (AKA Matt Kliffer), vocalist Vanessa Furlong, Kevin Tilley (bass) and Ryan O’Quinn (guitar)—recently added DJ Uncle…
1. Gallery walls work best when there is a connecting element and a bit of repetition. You can link items together visually by using similar subjects, colour and frame style or size. 2. Structured or symmetrical groupings can be easier to design and add more of a formal feeling. If you decide to go for…
Halifax is small enough that gems don’t tend to stay hidden for long, but there’s been surprisingly little chatter about Beaver Sailor Diner in the past six months. The name alone deserves both a chit and a chat. While I have no clue where the inspiration for the name Beaver Sailor came from, whether it’s…
The Hunger Games, which stretched on for a movie too long as well, at least had the good sense to end each one with a cliffhanger. (Even Twilight did that.) Divergent, the Shailene Woodley-starring Games ripoff that’s on film three of four, conversely ends as would a television series on the bubble—each installment could continue on, but if for some…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Artist Steven Spasuk works exclusively with an unusual medium: soot from candles and torches. He spreads the stuff across a blank canvas, then uses various instruments to sculpt the accidental blobs into definitive forms. I’ve seen the results, and they’re both well-done and intriguing. What would be the metaphorical…
LOVELY NOVA DESIGN Metal, steel and wood dating back over 100 years get a second life via Lovely Nova’s Historic Infusion line. Jessica and Alexander Skinner’s furniture design company makes customizable coffee tables, dining tables and kitchen islands that meld Royal Canadian Navy history and rustic style. lovelynova.com RENOVATORS RESOURCE This unassuming north end shop…
Barbara Roberts has made one heck of a career in crafting. After running Bogside Weaving in Newfoundland for over 15 years, she moved to Halifax and opened her Hydrostone boutique the Bogside Gallery (5527 Young Street) in 1996. What was originally meant to be a Christmas pop-up, giving shoppers the chance to wrap up some…
