Wow…I had no idea
So… I had the pleasure of getting a tour of a certain food bank in Halifax and I was absolutely floored by the amount of work that goes into such a place. The staff along with the volunteers are the most amazing people in the world. I will be certain to do my part in…
In the Dead of Winter line-up announced
i crave avery Another reason to look forward to 2011: the ever-intriguing In the Dead of Winter lineup, now in its sixth year. I have missed C.R. Avery the last few times he’s been in Halifax but luckily he’s being brought back for another round. The festival also features Rae Spoon, Oh Susanna, Mary Gauthier,…
Lovers Loving Love Just Like these Lovers All Loving Love In Love
Give in to my love. I know you don’t get much from very many other places, so just give in and accept mine. I have so much to give to you. I know that you know I love you and that you’re the most important thing to me, but you have to be willing to…
Catching the Bus – Sometimes a Small Marathon
To the guy running to catch his bus on Tuesday around lunch: My coworker watched from her desk as you careened past. “MY BUS!” you must have thought as you started to pick up speed. She watched you sprint from a ways up, cutting through a parking lot, and finally making your bus! We’re glad…
J
I miss you, your love, it’s been hard to forget that. I wish you hadn’t made such a mess of things. —Huh
Telemarketing bastards
To who ever the fuck called at 11:30 last night while my girlfriend and I were peacefully sleeping only to hang up when we answered, fuck you. Maybe 11:30pm isn’t crazy late, but we have to get up at 5am. And anyway, it’s certainly later than you are allowed to be telemarketing (I assume that’s…
Too bad my dog didn’t hear you earlier
To the one who broke into my house… you’re a real son-of-a-bitch! Not only do you take off with my father’s work equipment, but the brand new iPod he got me for Christmas, too. I’m really glad my dog eventually woke up (yeah, my rottie) and heard you. I mean, she must’ve when you were…
Hairy Situations
Since when did the prepubescent, no-hair look become a normal preference for guys??? Sometime in the past decade I imagine. It takes SO MUCH DAMN MAINTENANCE. Keeping it waxed costs a fortune, and men don’t always return the favour. Now of course, bushes need to be kept neat, I hate the feeling down there otherwise.…
If you are terrified of dogs, why do you live in a dog friendly apartment building?
Please answer this question for me.. if you are terrified of dogs WHY do you live in a DOG FRIENDLY building?? Its not like the rent here is cheap, I know you can find other places to live… even places in the area. You have NO RIGHT to ask me to get off the elevator…
Whiny Lovers
I really get sick of all those whiners who write to the Love the Way We Love column, sighing about “the cute bus driver” or “the sweetie on the ferry” or whatever. But what I really hate is when they say “next time I’ll say hi” or something like that. Just say hi for gods…
To the “non-churchy” messages??
Driving my usual route the past few weeks has been a bummer and albiet, a laugh. A certain “church” has decided to post “inspirational” messages to all those who have the opportunity to drive by. For example this week’s message is, “when you think your life couldn’t be any worse” and then we had last…
Bus Stop Buddies
To everyone who was stuck waiting in the pouring rain for somewhere close to two hours Friday evening waiting for the 52, you rock! Despite the crappy conditions, and the fact that the 52 is by and far the WORST route in HRM you guys were able to keep laughing. Thank you for the company…
Ode to the Moustache
It took a month to grow your greasy locks, my girlfriend is not impressed. But for a good cause did I put up with your fussy presence on my face. You’ve been called dirty, disgraceful, disgusting, dear moustache, but it was interesting to see you grow. Thanks to you I will forever be known as…
Fucked and chucked for bullshit reasons!
I met this guy at a party. We hit it off really well and began dating. On our 6th date, we had sex. It was okay, not amazing, but it was our first time together– of course it’s not going to be mind blowing. We used to text every day, but then he stopped messaging…
FIRST!
Dear friends and family from out of town, Please don’t come visit me from December 15th until March 15th. I have a parking spot at my work, but my car is in it, and there will be nowhere for you to park. Fecking HRM Parking BAN!!! I hate you. —Down with Winter Parking Ban!!
Internet websites and the “ultimate” bargain
We have all seen those websites offering a “faux” leather chair for $50 saying its in mint condition then when you email or talk to them oh there is a paint stain on the back! FUCK. Why can’t you people just be honest in your fucking ad on the net when posting and oh please…
A big fat fuck you…
…goes out to the person who just farted in my office. Could you not excuse yourself first and fart in the hall? Everyone farts, I get that, but could you be a bit more considerate about it and NOT fart in such an enclosed space? I had to throw my half eaten apple away and…
Neo Nazis alive and well in HRM
On Saturday I was geocaching with my GPS in a wooded area. I randomly came across an improvised “camp”. It was a two-level affair, wooden framing, ladder, tarps for protection. Not bad. I checked it out and to my utter disgust I discovered the following: “I’m a Jew Hater” spray painted on the tarp walls…
Dear fellow high school students,
Yes, I realize classes are an hour long and sometimes your friends aren’t in the same class as you. You see them in the hall and you want to talk to them. That’s fine. But please, don’t stand right in the middle of the hallway while people are rushing around on all sides heading to…
The only thing you value is money
You market yourselves as a company with values and morals. I understand that with any company the bottom line is making money but your sanctimonious, holier than thou crap is getting tired. I hope you have a great Christmas season, undoubtedly your busiest time of the year with all of the untrained newbies running the…
Let ’em grow!
I wanted to send some love to HRM for the tree planting they’ve been doing along my dreary industrial walk to work every day. For a few days, there were new street trees popping up. They look faaaabulous. I love to see a bit of urban forest renewal taking place. Here’s hoping that our kids…
Bus Bitch
People who take ten freaking minutes once they get on the bus to fish out their change/wallet. What did you think you were going to need once you got on the bus idiots? When you see the bus coming get that shit ready, and that way you don’t have to waste everyone else’s time. —Tired…
Inhale…Exhale…
Take some of your own fucking advice about being all calm and zen! I’m exhausted from you always getting overly-excited about the small insignificant things and starting arguments, just relax for God’s sake, or Buddha’s, or whoever it is that you worship. I don’t know weather to laugh about your ironic nature or to explode…
Recently Engaged: Desiree & Chris
Chris and I met in 1993 when we were in Junior High. We were friends throughout school and even dated one summer, though we quickly grew apart. I graduated, went to University, and moved on with my life. Chris made random appearances at mom’s house probably every six months or so to check in and…
I love me some mail
For my mailman. You always come in the morning before I leave the house. I never have to worry that my mail is stashed somewhere under your front porch and I like the result of having something in my mail box (up to and including my bills). Thanks for being rad! —Old school!
Rock of Ages
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Rock Garden jam space closing its doors permanently, much to the chagrin of many in the Halifax music community. Well, good news, everyone – a new practice space is being put together in the same Hunter Street location. The other day I got ahold of Pete…
parking in halifax is a nightmare
Parking is tight in Halifax, I know that. So I rent a parking space in a parking garage. I come to get my car on Saturday only to find a large amount of water flowing down from the ceiling above it. Turns out the bathroom above it overflowed. The rental company isn’t responsible for the…
Statement launches the Highland Collection
Long known as a destination for those sourcing modern furniture with cool and sexy designs, Statement (2534 Agricola Street, 455-0442) is now offering its own brands. The Highland Collection of bedroom furniture is the result of a collaboration with Ontario designers Speke Klein, made of solid beech wood and is customizable to the wishes of…
AGNS gets a new cafe
Shoptalk has learned that the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (1741 Hollis Street, 424-7542) has awarded the tender for their cafe space—previously filled by Scanway and their Cheapside Cafe—to the fine folks at the Armview Grill cvompany, owners of the Armview Restaurant and Lounge. The new cafe, estimated to open in February 2011, is going…
Waiting for LvL 7
I love our differences, how you make me smile, how you hold me in the cold and kiss my forehead. I love how when either one of us just smiles and nods after the other is finished talking, we know it means whatever was just said was not understood – and we can laugh about…
Ice cream intervention
I’m really overdoing it at work these days, and no one is stepping in to save me from myself. But wait… today my fabulous friend steps in with an ice-cream intervention, steals me away from the office from 30min, treats me to Dee Dee’s, and fills my head with positive vibes and you-can-do-it-ness. Uber-thanks, Special…
Good Samaritans on the 61!
I want to thank the kind person who handed in my cell phone to the bus driver. Thank you so much! As well, I like to send some love to the bus driver of the 61 who went out of his way to call my work number and let me know that he has my…
good lesson!
Starting the day at 7 in the morning with the best attitude and then finding out that your debit card is blocked because it is foreign doesn’t sound like the best experience, but it was when you paid for my coffee and reminded me that accepting something without feeling guilty is not always easy. It’s…
Public Washrooms
I hate public washrooms. Call it a phobia of mine. I just can’t fucking stand them. I literally gag when I walk into one but what can you do when you have no other option. Correct me if I am wrong but can’t we expect a degree of privacy even when using a public washroom?…
Seriously?
Nothing’s more disappointing than showing up to my packed Calc class, seeing one empty seat in a sea of people, then just when I’m about to park myself in that beautiful seat, the person next to it says it’s saved! Sorry? Come again? You’re not kidding? This isn’t some weird kind of humour you’re using…
Holiday Lights
Thanks so much to HRM for the great tree lighting ceremony the other night! The tree was awesome and the fireworks were fantastic! Thanks as well to a great crowd who took it all in! It’s really beginning to feel like holiday spirit here! —Loving the lights
Ode to the Donair Eggroll
I love P.M’s donair eggroll I wish that they would lower the price toll In order to make me buy more I simply adore P.M’s donair eggroll —T.R.I.C.
Beret at the Khyber
We met once before on an epic party night, you came up to me and reintroduced yourself and boldly invited me to leave the show and come to a party with you. I was looking for you later but couldn’t find you, you were so beautiful! Thanks for being not-so-shy to this oh-so-very-shy guy. —Khyber…
Asshole Trying To Start His Motorcycle
I must say, you look really cool after spending 2 hours on a Saturday morning while we’re trying to sleep or a weekday evening while we’re trying to have a nice meal, starting and stalling your shitty motorcycle. Yeah, REALLY cool with your leather jacket, helmet and after all that you end up walking it…
Bah Humbug
To the hotel who is laying people who have over 10 years of service off at this time of the year: here’s hoping you get Scrooge and not Santa visiting your house this year… shame on you. —anon
Holiday stress bites the bag
Every year it’s the same old, same old. You get pushed, shoved, traffic, no seats on the bus, seeing people who can’t afford the materialistic side of the holiday and those who simply can’t pay their bills. Crapmas has become a big money making scheme. I had a friend the other year who had to…
You’re Amazing
I love you and I know that you’ll never see this but I’m very sorry. I miss you more and more everyday. I Love you. —your hunnybun
SNOW-JOB!
Why haven’t the swarmers swarmed the snowmachine jerk who scrapes the streets EVERY FRICKING NIGHT into the early AMs, no matter how much snow has actually accumulated? I’m pretty sure he has a light, now go ask him for it, I need some sleep. —puffy eyed and sleepless in halifax
Oh Danny Boy!
Thank you for everything you’ve done. I am going to miss you immensely. Although I haven’t lived at home in years, I appreciate everything you’ve done for us. Your passion for our province and people is incredible. Good luck with everything. —A proud Newfoundlander
Seriously, jerkbag?
To the bus driver of the 20 at the mall: The two had just gotten in and you were still sitting there for almost another full minute, but you shook your head at the poor guy sprinting to catch you and refused to open the door because you’d already closed it. It was cold out…
Shut up, shut up, please shut up
Long time reader, first time bitcher. Wow do I hate my upstairs neighbour. I didn’t want to live on a lower floor, but at the time there wasn’t much choice for somewhat affordable (not sure what “affordable” means anymore) apartments within a 15 minute bike ride to the university. Coming from Toronto it was kind…
Recently Engaged: Kathryn & Phillip
When my (not yet) fiance Phil and I were finishing our degrees to become teachers, we decided that we wanted to explore the world a little bit, and began applying for jobs to teach in England for a year. We had been trying for about 4 months with little success, when suddenly one morning we…
You…
…were on the #61/14 bus on Friday morning; dirty blonde and slim, with a curious little smile and absolutely gorgeous. You were reading the paper. Was that your BF with you? He got off before you. He’s a lucky boy if so. Maybe it was my sleep deprived brain playing tricks on me (oh, nightshift)…
another jerk on four wheels
To the driver of the white car on Gottingen who honked loudly at the cyclist directly ahead of them for no reason other than to obviously startle them: FUCK YOU! You nearly veered into the cyclist and let your horn go. Immediately after you turned left onto Falkland & the cyclist in their yellow reflective…
Cop That Love
To the off duty police officer who stuck around when some sketchy guy was hanging out at my work. Usually when creeps are about, customers can’t wait to get out of there and I have to deal wtih the situation myself. Being a young woman who works the graveyard shift on her own all night,…
Don’t throw the chicken out with the cardboard
To the resident of my building who likes to eat half a roast chicken and then toss it in the cardboard bin in the basement. I have some questions: 1) Why do you never eat the whole chicken? (You can buy half a chicken you know). 2) Why not toss them into the green organic…
Hey Tough Guy
You are the kindest, warmest, most loving man I have ever known. You make me laugh ’til my belly hurts. I cant wait to go to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning for the rest of our lives. Thank you for having the patience I need when I am…
Newcombe’s Ink opens
The Utility Gallery is now a denizen of Quinpool Road, those looking to get a new tattoo in the downtown area need not fear, Newcombe’s Ink is here. Located at 5187 Sackville Street (405-7080), across from Reflections, the shop is a stylish joint up a flight of stairs, offering the services of three talented artists,…
The Obedients at The Sex Festival
Life conspired against me so that I didn’t get to see The Obedients until near the end of its very short run, but I wish I’d had time to sing its praises loud and long. It is a very clever adaptation by local playwright Lee-Anne Poole of Jean Genet’s The Maids. Poole has set Genet’s…
360fit opens
Co-owned by multiple-winner of the Coast’s Best of Halifax readers’ poll award for Best Fitness Instructor Devin Sherrington, 360fit (900 Windmill Road, Suite 107, 407-2525) is a new fitness studio “offering the best group fitness classes and personal training in HRM,” says Sherrington. “You won’t find a better workout anywhere!” Inquire about their free pass…
Litter Queen is here
Here’s something for Shoptalk readers who are also fans of our furry feline friends. Clara Fassett, owner of Molly’s Best Dog and Cat Treats of Tantallon, has a new venture: an all-natural kitty litter called Litter Queen. It has no chemical additives or scents with odour absorbing pellets that biodegrade and is safely flushable. It…
The Last Potini
Things are changing at popular hotel bar and restaurant Season’s Bistro, found at the corner of Robie and Quinpool in the Atlantica Hotel (1980 Robie Street, 490-3331). For years on Friday evenings they’d offer a gratis potato bar with their drink specials, which consisted of mashed potatoes served in a martini glass along with garnishes…
Dickin’ Around at the Oasis
Those still reeling from the explosive Kylesa show at Pop Explosion (namely, me) might get a kick out of the Johnny Dick Project, who — based on a cursory Myspace spin — create a similar atmosphere of melodic and pervasive doom. We particularly like Heather Doran’s powerful vocals, which give us a hint of Skunk…
Thesis Stealer
I would like to thank the individual who stole my briefcase/purse combo tonight, complete with my laptop AND external drive that I had JUST backed up my thesis on. I no longer have a purse, ID, laptop, money, graded assignments, or half my thesis. I had finished the very last edits on my thesis an…
Dish Duty
Dear Roomates: Things are going great so far. I like that we’re all pretty different but get along so well. I like that everyone has all the rent and bill money in on time without being harassed and I like that we divide up the house work and a have a pretty clean apartment for…
You don’t make the rules and you can’t make a new lane
Once or twice a week I see some asshole pass the line of bumper to bumper traffic coming from Bedford and drive on the shoulder of the road to get into the bumper to bumper traffic heading to Burnside. The shoulder of the road is not a lane. You don’t get to pass the 15…
The Rag
The dishcloth: you use it to wash the dishes. Post-dishes, you wipe sink/stove/counter/visible food messes left behind with it. Then rinse the dish cloth, ring out excess water, and hang on faucet (or hook etc) to dry. (If you don’t ring it out, or leave it at the bottom of the sink, it doesn’t dry…
Over-educated and Under-employed.
I wish people would stop telling me that it might take me 6 to 12 months to find a job but “it will be okay.” I have exactly enough money to last me 3 months before I lose my apartment and have to move home with mom, and nobody wants that. —Save your kind words…
Teeth Sucker
I’m sitting at Alderney Landing using the wifi and listening to an asshole sucking food out of his teeth. Go buy a fucking tooth brush. —Pobody’s Nerfect
Recently Engaged: Sarah & David
I’m a little slow on the uptake when it comes to romantic gestures. The first time that David asked me out, I didn’t know it was a date until after it was over! I hadn’t dated much, and my friend Laura had to analyse the evening for me. Did he look nervous? “Kind of?” was…
Hit & Run Coward
To the ‘dark pickup truck’ who smashed into the front of my parked car, Wednesday Nov 24 at 9:30pm in the North End of Halifax: Thank you for the $3000-4000 dollars in damages to my vehicle, and not having the balls to own up to it. I hope you and your family have a VERY…
Bone to pick
Thanks, Southenders for leaving chicken and pork chop bones all over the place. Do you not realize that you could potentially kill someone’s dog by your stupidity? Seriously, the bones can splinter in the intestines of a dog and literally rip the intestines to shreds. This is an incredibly painful way to die. Stop it…
Bubba’s gets bigger
American Thanksgiving football drew the fans in droves on Thursday night, and many were surprised by what they found at popular sports and wings destination Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar (5650 Spring Garden Road, 405-4344). As Shoptalk reported recently was in the works, Bubba’s has busted through the wall separating its original space from the former…
Neighbourly love?
To the residents of Victoria St: Parking in this city is a bitch. Two hour parking in residential areas means that when I don’t get called into work, I have to move my car throughout the day. Usually, I have no problem with that and gladly drive around, wasting gas until I can find a…
Soccer Stop opens
The Soccer Stop (5551 Clyde Street, 406-1368) is the soccer enthusiast’s one stop retail destination, offering “anything soccer you can think of” says store manager Ranga Rankaduwa. You’ll find clothes and equipment for individuals, but Soccer Stop also supplies clubs and teams with everything they need, too, including duds for the goalkeepers, referees, coaches and…
Stop Your Littering
Every time I see your car at Burger King you are stuffing garbage under it. It not just Burger King garbage either, it is all the debris you can gather from your vehicle. Where do you think it goes when your drive away? The parking lot isn’t a trash can! —Oh Dear What A Mess
Learn the difference between “friend” and “acquaintance”!
To the girl who’s just not taking a hint: We’re not friends, we haven’t been for a while. No we didn’t have a fight, but we just grew apart from one other over the years. We’re merely acquaintances now, but yet you seem to think we’re good friends. To be honest, I don’t even like…
Recently Engaged: Amy & Peter
We got engaged on a wonderfully sunny day in a park. We were walking our dogs along the trail when Peter said “I know there is a geocache here, let’s have a look.” We had geocached on our first date in the public gardens and around downtown Halifax so this seemed like just another adventure.…
Asshole at the show
I’m tired of paying money to see a great sit down show and have it ruined by toolbags like you who love to hear the sound of their own voice. Its a tiny venue with people obviously there to listen to music, before you got there you could have heard a pin drop, it was…
You little fucking pisshead that was bullying your mother and sister
I was waiting for the bus. I noticed a boy about 11 or 12 really getting into his mom’s face because his sister had to pee! His sister being 6 and it fucking cold out! Then the little fucking asshole let loose about their family troubles etc. I stepped in and told the little fucker…
Another reason yoga tights are not pants
To all those girls and women who are walking around town in black yoga tights like they’re pants: it probably isn’t apparent to you when you’re standing still and checking yourself out in the mirror before you leave the house, but that cellulite dimple (sometimes multiple) on your ass is clearly defined through the black…
Canada Games = No School for YOU!
Here’s my question/bitch. Why are we being forced to pull our kids out of school for two weeks, for the ‘Canada Games Break’. Yes, that’s what it’s listed as in the school calendar, ‘Canada Games Break’. Is the Canada Games committee going to pay for those two weeks of childcare for me? Or are they…
Melissa Etheridge is Coming
Melissa Etheridge is to play the Metro Centre March 2nd with the excellent Serena Ryder opening. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9am through ticketatlantic.com. Well holy shit, March is like my Women in Song CD come to life. Who’s next – Alannah Myles?
You are rude!
To all of you who don’t respond to e-mails and phone messages from your friends, co-workers, families etc. We know you are RUDE! Stop hiding behind your answering machines/computers. If you can’t organize your life enough to reply, disconnect it and save us the time of thinking of you and leaving a message. When you…
Righting Wrongs is Good Karma
Miss-Take: Sadly, even the awesome power of words cannot undo the harm I’’ve done, or even (I suspect) convince you of my sincerity, but I ask that you believe me when I tell you how truly, profoundly and thoroughly sorry I am and ashamed to have caused you such grief. Not a day goes by…
Dates are Dutch?
Are you kidding me?????? I suppose chivalry and old fashioned manners are a thing of the past then? Honestly, if you asked me out and then asked me to pay I would just think you are rude and have no manners at all! And… —please don’t ever call me again!! EVER!! Thank you.
Nasty!
I know it’s November now, but every now and then I like to have my window open and let some fresh air into my apartment. One afternoon, while laying down to take a nap, I hear moaning in a nearby apartment. Ok, a couple is getting it on, don’t want to hear that. So I…
Inter-provincial love
Thank you to all my friends in Halifax! Your love and support have helped me a lot through this shitty experience. I’d be very lost without all of you sending me massive amounts of love. See you all in a week. —Ontario
Ooops I did it again
ahhhh baby don’t be mad. You know you are my soul cake! —GG
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Sorry to disappoint any men who think girls are pretty little powdery cupcakes with this bitch but here goes… Please armpits…stop sweating so much. It’s winter for gods sake and I just want to wear cute little grey tops without worrying that I’m going to look like I’ve been wrestling for 10 rounds. I wear…
My Hero
So we cannot be together for obvious reasons (and my crush might even be one sided) but you’re awesome and whenever I get a message from you I smile like a fool. I’m glad that we’re friends and seeing you the other night was excellent. You might be perfect for me and possibly someday it’ll…
I pray I dont end up like YOU
This is to the creepy wierd balding man who resembles The Penguin in one of those batman movies, who lives in the South End. Go get a life and stop making a point to make eye contact with me and everyone else who walks by. You and your creepy pet crow are SICK. I see…
Schon Babe…
Ich Liebe dich auch! —your italian princess
Uncontrollable
It’s terrible when people make mistakes. It’s terrible when mistakes lead to uncontrollable angst. Angst is sometimes uncontrollable passion. It’s terrible when our hearts hurt and our heads aren’t used. The heart takes over and our heads we sometimes lose. Now I look back and I feel like a fool. It got me nowhere and…
My little princess!
I don’t care if you cannot read! But I haven’t seen you for over two weeks, and I miss you terribly! I always hope you remember that you’re the best little poochie ever! And I love you, and will do anything for you! Thanks for being so sweet, and lovely. It makes me happy when…
Me again…
‘Stache boy: We’re too old to be mushy and all of that… just want to say: You make me all tingly… a feeling that I thought was gone forever! Thank you! I feel like a human being again thanks to you. I dig the most how you actually worry about me and my safety. A…
Irritated WOMAN
K, it’s spelled womAN, not women, when you’re speaking about one person. I can’t understand why soooo many people (mainly on facebook, shocker) can’t seem to distinguish between the two. It is such an annoyance! Learn how to fucking spell you idiots. —Ticked off Tuesday
Corrie guys
For some television watchers, it’s The Simpsons at 10pm. For others, it’s staying up late to catch Stephen Colbert’s Republican-eating grin. But many Canadians set their DVRs nightly for 6:30pm, or get up early Sunday mornings at 7:30, to catch the British soap Coronation Street on CBC-TV. It’s clear from the royal wave of hoopla…
Grand parade
Wang’s Grand scores with the duck, complimented by more subtle offerings. Melissa Buote discovers Hali’s golden age of Chinese food. I’m waiting for my friends Ron and Kristina in the dining room at Wang’s Grand Chinese. Quiet easy-listening music floats through the warm air. An electric fireplace glows with golden light nearby. Metal chopsticks gleam…
Halifax gets connected
“It’s freaking me out,” Steve Bedard says. “It’s too much of a shock to the system.” Bedard is on the board of the Halifax Cycling Coalition and he’s talking about two big wins for cyclists. In the same week, cyclists learned that Nova Scotia has become the first province to initiate a one-metre safety rule—motorists…
Thursday night live
The Christmas party season will soon be upon us. Sometimes these occasions with fellow employees feel forced, the small talk painfully shrunken. But other times, these events can lead to something of a festive glow. The lights went on at a work party in 2008 for Jeremy Lutes. He prefers to keep details of the…
Foot-fetish guy does not like sex
Q I’m a 23-year-old female college student whose life consists of going to class and going to the gym. I got hurt in my last relationship, so I’ve been staying away from dating for a while. I’m attractive and I notice guys checking me out—making the gym a second home does have benefits!—but I’m afraid…
Buy Local Profile: Cadence Macmichael
A couple months back, Macmichael took her clothing boutique with its feminine, vintage-inspired fashions from her north end location on Cunard—where when five people were in the shop it felt busy—to Blowers Street, the former location of Pro Girl, a much bigger store. “We so outgrew the other space,” says Macmichael. “We wanted to be…
Kanye West
Kanye West has always been the David Bowie of mainstream hip-hop, constantly changing his sound and getting into trouble in the media for his controversial persona. But Taylor Swift interruption and public breakdown aside, West has produced a record to shut all the haters up with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Originally titled Good Ass…
Free Will Astrology
SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) It’s Experiment with Your Self-Image Week—a time when it would be invigorating to shift and play with your identity. During this reinvention phase, you might find you can change yourself on the inside simply by rearranging yourself on the outside. So have fun wearing new clothes. Entertain yourself with a new…
Burlesque brings a little deja vu
Christina Aguilera’s small town girl Ali takes a job at Cher’s aging burlesque club in downtown LA, naturally promoting herself to centre stage. Burlesque doesn’t deviate at all from the tropes of show-biz success pictures and while its pleasures are reliable, its predictability tarnishes its star-shine. TV’s Glee has simultaneously pushed song-and-dance exuberance into mainstream…
Frederick Squire
The essential warmth of Frederick Squire’s guitar chords and of his vocal chords is almost overwhelming. If you have a dog and your dog looks warily out the window, hearing thunder and looking for thunderclouds, go comfort your four-legged friend (same goes for the two-legged). This is an album of comfort, giving and receiving. From…
The Convention Centre Tower Play
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, Nova Scotia conquered Wall Street. That morning a chartered plane left Halifax International for New York City. On board were eight passengers—premier Rodney MacDonald, chief of staff Bob Chisholm, communications director Wade Keller and minister of economic development Angus MacIsaac. From Nova Scotia Business Inc., the province’s economic development agency,…
Sex sells Love and Other Drugs
There are lots of different movies swimming around inside the latest cinematic offering from director Edward Zwick (Glory, thirtysomething). Love and Other Drugs is part disease drama, part commentary on the greed of Big Pharma, part Apatowian dick-joke comedy and part sex-charged romance. This last element is the only one that really works, but it’s…
Jenocide’s in knee deep
A great year calls for another great show in Halifax. Jen Clarke, AKA Jenocide, will be letting loose Monday night for her first performance at Menz Bar. “This year has definitely been all about keeping it hater-free and surrounding myself with positive people like Willow Bell, who co-produced my EP,” says Clarke. Knee Deep defines…
Love Ranch
Helen Mirren is a versatile actor, adept at assuming the form and character of very different women, but viewers are dropped into the lives and work of her character, Grace, and husband Charlie Bontempo (Joe Pesci). The couple run a legalized brothel in Reno, Nevada. The film could’ve and should’ve started with its ending, with…
Faster isn’t always better
Dwayne Johnson may have finally dropped his old wrestling nickname, but the slab of muscle formerly known as The Rock still performs like he’s in the squared circle. He’s all glowering eyes and bulging biceps as a man who finishes a 10-year prison bid and instantly sets about gunning down the scuzzbuckets who killed his…
Jim Bryson & the Weakerthans
Despite a double billing with one of Canada’s most darling indie bands, the wonderful Falcon Lake Incident is a Jim Bryson record through and through, with his signature wit, wisdom and melodic phrasing shining brightly above all. But after a few listens, the collaborations eke out, such as the few louder, rockier passages (notably “Up…
Home for a rest
Backstage at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, David Myles buzzes with adrenaline and can you blame the guy? It’s his first time in Scotland, he’s playing in a venue three times the size of the Cohn and the night before he played his first arena show to a crowd of nearly 6,000. “I keep thinking that at some…
Eastbound and down
Innes Wilson and his Opposition have some pretty fond memories of Halifax. “The last time we played Gus’, we destroyed our set and smashed our amps…and there were as many people watching the slot machines as there were watching us,” reminisces Opposition bassist Adam Sturgeon. Crediting the Maritimes for much of their music influence, the…
Construction & Destruction
Switching off drums, guitars, keys and bass, the duo of David Trenaman and Colleen Collins conveys clearly place and headspace here. They live in an old house in Port Greville on the Parrsboro shore, where they recorded these eight excellent tracks. (“Nightshade” and “Public Square” are exceptionally strong.) Songs of location, being grounded in a…
James Franco
Oh James Franco and your big ambitious eyes and your sly smile. You had to fail sometime, right? No one can cut their own arm off (alright, that’s in your movie, 127 Hours, but who else would we pay to watch do that?), make visual art, write plays and screenplays, while pursuing three MFAs from…
Hot type
It’s a familiar Hollywood scene: Someone clambers up into an attic, dusts off a rusty trunk and discovers a stack of yellowed letters addressed to a relative. They untie a mouse-eaten ribbon and unfold tales of romance and intrigue. But scenarios like that are becoming obsolete, as love letters give way to smutty emails and…
Rememberer
A strong contender for a locally produced holiday gift, Rememberer is not your typical dayplanner. In fact, despite the random empty calendar pages that appear throughout, this book is more of a place to keep memories than things to do. YoRodeo’s amusing activity pages (empty comics to fill in, movies to see, mazes to navigate)…
The Fantasticks lives up to its name
The theatre gods were certainly smiling down on Dartmouth Players when they assembled the fantastic cast of The Fantasticks. To a man (and woman), they are remarkable actors and singers who would not be out of place on any stage in the city. As the story’s love-struck young couple, Justin Gavel and Tamara Fifield are…
Fair Game gets political
Fair Game doesn’t require much more than the plain facts to be an effective political drama. The real-life story played out a few years ago, after Bush administration officials outed undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame in retaliation for an op-ed written by her husband denouncing the government’s bogus Iraq WMD evidence. Plamegate and its aftermath…
A mystery worth solving
It’s the whodunit of art shows. Almost 100 pieces for $100 each, but there’s a very interesting catch: You won’t know the artist behind the piece until you buy it. It’s Adsum Association for Women and Children’s third year piquing the curiousity of art lovers in the name of fundraising. The collection of five-by-seven works…
The plot darkens for Harry Potter
The heroes of Hogwarts are all grown up in the penultimate installment of the wizard series. A good thing, too, since Dumbledore’s dead, Voldemort’s on a terror spree and Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run in the countryside. This is the first of the Potter movies not to use the school year as…
The Khyber bares its Seoul
When Natalie Slater and Chloe Anderson met, it was a match made in Korea. Slater had been drooling over Seoul’s night markets via the blog world, Anderson had just returned from a year of teaching there and they were both dreaming up Halifax’s first Night Flea Market. So, the two partnered to plan an evening of…
The Next Three Days is seriously unsatisfying
Paul Haggis directs Russell Crowe in this jail-break movie of stifling seriousness. Elizabeth Banks, Crowe’s glam wife and mother to their moppet son, is accused and convicted of a co-worker’s murder. She chafes under the pressures of prison life and the separation from her family. (Also, her hair goes to shit.) Is she innocent or…
Disney unravels Tangled
Though it doesn’t belong in Disney’s canon of classics, this animated update of the Rapunzel fairytale does offer better-than-average family entertainment. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has been locked up in a tower for 18 years by a vain old woman who uses the girl’s long blonde mane for its magical anti-aging properties. When cocky thief Flynn…
The matter of Invisible Atom
It’s been a wild ride for 2b theatre since Invisible Atom first premiered in Halifax in 2006. The one-man show, written by and starring 2b’s co-artistic director Anthony Black, has touched down in cities across Canada, as well as in New York and Cork, Ireland. It recently returned from a run at the Edinburgh Fringe…
Fat Pig at Plutonium Playhouse
The way I figure it, there’s an unwritten law that says people can only date people who are within a couple of points of them on the attractiveness scale. A seven can date a six or even a five, but never a four. (The exception being that power, money or a British accent allows men…
