Thin ice
To Lezlie Lowe, I have just read, belatedly, your November 15 column “Divas on ice,” and I must say as a person who has lived in Halifax for more than eight decades and still enjoys a skate, I think it’s a mistake to have a skating facility on the Grand Parade. In recent years, the…
Winning with twinning
To the editor, I just finished reading Tim Bousquet’s November 22 column, “Dual nature,” which was as spittle-throwingly over the top as usual. No matter where we stand on the environment, Tim’s comments on the widening and improvement of major highways were inappropriate and misguided. Perhaps twinning the 104 through Antigonish, or the 101 through…
Where there’s a Willow’s…, continued
Dear editor, I cannot believe the article you published that slammed Willow’s and Kyra Foster. This was hate mail from someone that is obviously disturbed. As editor, isn’t it your job and responsibility to give both sides of a story and let the public make up their mind? Otherwise you may as well be editor…
Where there’s a Willow’s…
To the editor, To the petulant woman who complained in last week’s letters that Willow’s Pet Place was undeserving of its Best of Halifax award: Shame on you for trying to smear this inspiring, pet-centric store. Spend one minute with Willow’s owner Kyra Foster, and you will see that she’s a generous, altruistic and caring…
More Willow reaction
To the editor, I’m sorry this mail is unlikely to make it in time for your edition this week – but I’ve only just come across Joan Sinden’s attack on Willow’s, and am compelled to respond as someone who voted for the store in your readers’ poll. I’m inclined to simply dismiss Ms. Sinden’s mail…
A Wonderful Web
Families looking for an alternative to the standard theatre holiday fare should check out A Spider’s Tale, the first-ever collaboration between the Dalhousie Theater School and Symphony Nova Scotia. While not strictly Christmasy, it does have the element of magic (think talking insects, rodents and arachnids) that lights up little ones’ imaginations. The Dalhousie Costume…
“I can type this all out…”
The Screen Actors Guild and George “Factory Girl” Hickenlooper have teamed up to create a series of shorts in support of the striking Writers’ Guild of America. Being hosted at deadlinehollywood.com, they feature an impressive line-up of actors including Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sean Penn and a few too many Desperate Housewives. Go HERE for…
Blowhard & Public Art Forum
This ain’t your mama’s lido deck. On Wednesday November 28, Blowhard Presents: Tales from the Fuck Cruise: sordid tales of sex, truth and hope at The Space (2353 Agricola). Could be freaky, furry erotica. Maybe a film or two (not that kind!) But with storytellers Tara Doyle, Michael Best, Jane Kansas, Sue Goyette, Tara Thorne,…
Enrique Ferreol’s Video Performance
About a month ago we wrote about a wonderful Symphony Nova Scotia fundraiser that put busted instruments into the transformative hands of artists. One of those artists, Enrique Ferreol, turned the experience into a video performance, to be screened at the AGNS Windsor Theatre on Thursday, November 22 (6:30pm, 1723 Hollis, $5). “I realized the…
Krapp’s Last Tape & Not I
Consider the Samuel Beckett double-bill of Krapp’s Last Tape and Not I at The BusStop Theatre (2203 Gottingen) as Tim Leary’s homecoming. Leary, former head of the sorely missed Nova Scotia Arts Council, left the professional stage in the1970s but continued as a producer and a consultant. “It’s new all over again. It’s like riding…
In the Dead of Winter Festival
In the Dead of Winter Festival (Jan 29-Feb 2) announces their 2008 lineup on November 24 at FRED (2606 Agricola, 8pm, free show!). I wish I could disclose some of the top-secret artists who will be announced, but access has not been granted. Heather Gibson, festival coordinator, keeps her cards close: “All I can tell…
Rotting Christ Concert
There is still time to book your place at the front of the stage to thrash to Rotting Christ (Grecian metal overlords) at the Pavilion on November 30 (6pm, $16 advance/$20 door). Rotting Christ is playing with Sordid, Burning Moon and Janus, and, although there may not be enough time to grow your hair down…
The Medium Mood
The Medium Mood (described as “hardcore for bookworms”) release their CD this Friday, November 23 at the Marquee with Tomcat Combat, Play Guitar and i see rowboats. They are performing the whole show in surround sound, which sounds equally difficult and awesome. “We like speakers. We like big sounds. We have unnecessarily big amps that…
The Songwriters Association of Canada
The Songwriters Association of Canada is throwing two songwriting bonanzas on November 24, Bluebird North and Songposium. This year’s Bluebird North concert features songwriter Christopher Ward (who’s written for everyone from Hilary Duff to Alannah Myles), Jason Collett, Halifax native Jordan Croucher and Catherine MacLellan (8pm, The Music Room, 6181 Lady Hammond, $20/$25, ticketweb.ca). Ward…
Correction on Blue Rodeo
In today’s issue of The Coast—the paper version being picked up right now across the city—the music listings promise a Blue Rodeo/Cuff the Duke concert tomorrow night, Nov 23, at the Metro Centre. But of course the Rainmen are playing a game tomorrow night. And Blue Rodeo plays FEBRUARY 23. You can understand the mistake.…
Cargo & James Tea, ViewPoint Gallery, re clothing, Mia’s Pizza & Milano’s
A new sign has appeared in a ground-level storefront in the new apartment complex at 1239 Barrington, to announce the yet-to-be-determined opening of a branch of tea chain Cargo & James Tea. The sign also makes a sound point: “Halifax, it’s definitely time for tea!” Well played, Cargo & James…Across the street, the former home…
Best Buy and Danish home store JYSK
Dartmouth Crossing update: electronics emporium Best Buy and Danish home- supply heaven JYSK (No, it’s not Ikea. But it is Ikea-ish!) have both officially opened their Dartmouth Crossing locations. Best Buy opened up this past weekend, and JYSK rolled out the red carpet at the beginning of November. Shop it up, big-box lovers!
Music World Bankruptcy
Canada-owned chain Music World has filed for bankruptcy protection, and its 72 stores are set to liquidate their wares and close their doors by early next year. Managers at all three of the HRM’s Music World locations-—in the Halifax Shopping Centre, in the Mic Mac Mall and at the Sunnyside Mall in Bedford—confirm their branches…
Mediterraneo Restaurant Closure
It’s sad and official: The closing of the Mediterraneo Restaurant (formerly of 1571 Barrington) is no passing phase. It’s closed for good. (That means no more Coast-award-winning turkey sandwiches, and no more shawarmas.) After 11 years of running the restaurant, owner Edward Daniel decided it was time to close up shop. “People weren’t coming in…
Aliant Store Opening
Having trouble communicating? Head to Spring Garden—the new Aliant Store is officially open (at 5475 Spring Garden, in the former home of Timothy’s World Coffee), and ready to hook you up with cellphones, high-speed internet and PC products. The store opened last Thursday, and is planning a grand opening in early December. “We’re so thrilled…
Satisfaction Feast Move
After 26 years of serving up vegetarian-friendly eats at 1581 Grafton, Satisfaction Feast has packed up shop and headed north. The restaurant’s been open at its new home, 3559 Robie (the former home of Alvin’s Pizza, behind the Cousin’s Restaurant parking lot) for about three weeks. Owner Sarita Earp found out a few years back…
Celine Dion’s cancelled Halifax show
Oh, the things we say when on the phone with Rene Angelil. We found ourselves asking strange questions of Celine Dion’s husband/manager; unfamiliar questions; questions that sounded, even as they passed our lips, utterly foreign to us; righteous, indignant questions, like, “Isn’t this an unfair punishment for Celine Dion’s loyal fans in Halifax?” Who is…
Shanks’s pony
To the editor, Walking is a great form of physical activity. It’s good for the heart and for the environment. Best of all, it’s free and easy to do. Changing the way we think about walking and how often we do it—as a form of active transportation or as social activity with friends—will help us…
Driving them crazy
To the editor, I must object to the abuse being hurled at the drivers of Metro Transit (i.e. last week’s Bitch). These people put up with a lot of shit. There are numerous accounts of bus drivers being assaulted physically and I am sure there are at least 10 times as many verbal assaults being…
The last meow, in verse
To the editor, Thou shall not ramble, Slink, wander, roam. STAY INDOORS; Where creatures belong! Roared A-300. Street lamps won’t cast the shadows Of Fluffy tonight. By Adam Myatt
The last meow
To the editor, The article about the new cat bylaw (Lezlie Lowe’s “Claw enforcement,” November 1) was great. For any of us who have outdoor cats it is common sense. I have two cats: One, Oreo, is as dumb as a bag of hammers. She stays inside, always has and always will. Tasche is NOT…
A bone to pick
To the editor, OK, maybe the world is all right and I’m all wrong, but as far as I’m concerned, Willow’s Pet Place is one of the WORST pet stores in the city. How did it get voted in as the BEST pet store? It must be because the store purchased ad space with you.…
Beowulf
Movie buffs can be like sports fans supporting their favourite teams through losing streaks. They get very protective of the filmmakers they like. This makes some sense. If you love David Cronenberg, you’re aligned to his sensibility and probably have more insight into what works in Eastern Promises than a casual moviegoer does. But it’s…
Wintersleep back in Halifax
There are many things that can bring down spirits while on tour, even for a successful rock band like Wintersleep. Homesickness, cancelled gigs and inner band tensions all are par for the course while the band promotes their new record, Welcome to the Night Sky. Despite an overwhelmingly positive reception while on the road out…
NSLC Cuts Their Mark-up on Locally Grown Wines
The Nova Scotia wine industry gets a shot in the arm from the most unlikely of source.
Graphic Novel Zombies Calling Debuts
On the drawing table, amid the inking brushes, pencils and sketches of zombies about to be diced to pieces by a machete-wielding young girl, is a pink and black Power Puff Girls pencil case. A self-proclaimed action/urban adventure geek, local comic artist Faith Erin Hicks isn’t much into typically girly things. But she says her…
Alternative Astrology
Undertake a massive display of fertility, Leo, says Rob Brezsny.
NS Funded Short-film, The Motorcycle Succeeds
When I first met Tarek Abouamin, he was filming a man throwing a sink through the roof of a $100 Lincoln in the back lot of a KOD near the Macdonald Bridge. That was 2002. I was a journalism student and he was director of photography on a film called Mr. Pirc. Five years later,…
The Xtube video
Q I love my wife. We’ve been married 10 years: Young punk-rock love turned into adult debt-ridden love. She’s been there for me, helps me achieve my goals, all that. But she’s let herself go, while I’ve gotten myself into better shape. I pride myself on being100 percent faithful, I clean, I tell her I…
On Patrol
What’s wrong? This section of sidewalk on Trollope Street near Citadel High has been chewed up by some unknown vehicle, turning it into a leafy, muddy, watery mess.
DVD Reviews
Sweet Mud, Directed by Dror Shaul & searchable archives
CD Reviews
A little bit country, a little bit hip-hop with Andre 3000, Blue Rodeo, Christine Fellows, Cuff the Duke and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
Book Reviews
Alberto Manguel, The City of Words & searchable archives
Restaurant review
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Revisited
Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. That’s three lovelies for 2b Theatre’s Revisited. One is for the story, a tale of life and love that manages to be both specific and universal at the same time. One is for the acting. Neither Steven McCarthy in his multiple roles, including the neurotic piano teacher, the female town busy-body and…
Not I, Krapp’s Last Tape
Samuel Beckett’s Not I and Krapp’s Last Tape are both difficult and demanding plays. The first is the story of an elderly woman who has suffered from a life-long mental illness that rendered her almost mute. Now seemingly trapped in a paralyzed body, her mouth (the only thing visible in the darkened theatre) spews forth…
Fighting words
“I know something about crime,” said judge Joseph Kennedy in a low, gravelly voice. “I have seen the situation change in Halifax in the last 10 to 20 years.” Kennedy was addressing the Mayor’s Roundtable on Violence last week at City Hall. There was dead silence in the council chamber as he spoke of “mindless,…
Live Music Photos
Shotgun Jimmie CD release & searchable archives
Halifax Fails in Garbage Source Separation
This summer, the city finally brought its solid waste strategy to the streets of Halifax. Although residents have been using green carts to separate their organics from regular waste since 1998, those of us out and about downtown streets have had only one choice for discarding our apple cores and empty coffee cups. That is,…
Chebucto Road Widening Gets the Green Light
When city council voted against a pause in progress on the Chebucto Road widening scheme, Steve Bedard was one of the most solemn-faced citizens leaving city hall—and he doesn’t even live on Chebucto Road. The ongoing battle between residents of Chebucto Road and the city sparked Bedard’s interest just a few months ago, eventually leading…
Dual nature
To call our political leaders “schizophrenic” risks insulting mostly decent people struggling as best they can with tough issues. And I have far too much respect for schizophrenics to do that. But what’s the word to describe city and provincial pols who spew out a bunch of feel-good nonsense about caring for the environment while…
Behind The NeoCraft Conference
“If you’re going to be a feminist, you’re going to pee right here with the rest of us. Standing up,” one taunting co-worker told Sandra Alfoldy. It was the dead of winter in the interior of British Columbia. She was the only woman among a group of eight men working for the Minister of Agriculture,…
Allyson Mitchell Does Triple Duty at the Khyber, NeoCraft Conference and FemFest
It’s Friday afternoon, a week before her installation at the Khyber Institute of Contemporary Art is supposed to open, and some of Allyson Mitchell’s luggage from Toronto has gone AWOL. Imagine what those helpful WestJet employees must think when they find a bag filled with staple and glue guns, and lightening-bolt costumes embellished with pink…
NeoCraft Exhibits
Mary E. Black Gallery (1061/1096 Marginal) Start the day at the south end of the waterfront with The New Cartography of Craft: Charting a Course from Regional to Global. Immerse in every imaginable craft practice in one room. Sally Ravindra’s rounded pottered forms (vases and other vessels), Maria Rakel’s clothing shot through and shaped with…
