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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] I would really like to date women who are older than me in this city but have no idea where to start. So many attractive mature women here. Not to be weird, just curious if women here like people who are younger than them? —Young and Interested
[Image-1] It’s all well and good that we have a local convention that’s gaining some traction, but fuck me; the way people go on, you’d think Fan Expo moved from Toronto or something like that. The only satisfying thing about Hal-Con hype is when it ends. —Staying in Their Hole
Thank you for making my day this morning. It’s not often I get such a brazen smile from a cute stranger. I’m sorry I’m so socially inept; I should have given you my number assuming that wasn’t just a friendly smile. Either way, thank you. Red Nissan. —Trash Panda
Hey Coast, maybe check to see if an event or organization still exists before showering praise on them with your annual excuse to sell ads, how about? Want a joke? Look no further than Halifax. Why’d the local stand-up comic leave for Toronto? Because newspapers there at least gives a six about comedy. —Halloween was…
Two words that should never be spoken in polite company are now the planet’s nightmare: president Trump. Is that extreme? I hope so. Although like they say, hope for the best, plan not to visit the States for a while. At its greatest, America as a country was an inspiration for the rest of the…
Applications from professional arts organizations must now go through an extra step for municipal grants. A motion unanimously passed by council means a peer jury review will decide who will to be considered for the Interim Professional Arts Grant program. At today’s council meeting, south end councillor Waye Mason—who originally moved the motion back in…
[Image-1] The municipality’s newly elected deputy mayor is starting his term off with a bang. Steve Craig will bring forward a motion at council’s next meeting asking for a report and recommendations from the CAO’s office on changing how the mayor and councillors are paid. He’s tried this move before. In 2014, it was Craig…
[Image-1] I realize that you are probably still riding a high from your recent electoral win and keen to get to work. But I’m pretty sure that if any elected official was greeted by an enthusiastic supporter while exiting a Dartmouth shopping mall on a Saturday morning with the words “Stick it to the *****…
Thank you, Handsome Mr.Q Navy guy. I can’t remember his name, but I know it started with a “Q” and you drove a white jeep. You stopped driving in the Superstore parking lot on Young Street, and jumped out of your Jeep just to help an elderly lady put her food into her car. You…
[Image-1] What is with you students?! Groceries everyday, and you can’t figure out the reusable bags?!?!? You are all wearing backpacks and the reusable bag could be stored in there, until you get to the store—where you go ever day, which is great! You gotta eat. I’m not sure if i’m alone on this one,…
Hi guys, you may not ever see this, but thank you for coming into my life when you did. You’re beautiful on the inside and out. Can’t wait to see what the future holds at your side(s). Schlorp schlorp schlorp. —All My Love, The Littlest Goblin
[Image-1] No forest is an island; entire of itself. While the Department of Natural Resources has given the go-ahead on 94 hectares of a proposed clearcut near Kejimkujik National Park, and even though no cutting will be done in the park itself, Chris Miller warns there may still be consequences for the much-loved area. “None…
To the group of people who saw me being harassed on Barrington Street tonight: It started out okay, but he became persistent and had just started showing signs that maybe he was about to turn aggressive when you showed up. Thank you for paying attention to what was happening and coming to help me. Thank…
To those morons who drive through the flashing red lights of a stopped school bus: it means you are required by law to stop! It also means we are picking students up or dropping them off! Many of our buses have cameras, and we are catching license plate numbers, vehicle and driver descriptions and reporting…
[Image-1] Dear Hallowe’en enthusiasts, There exists a fine line between Hallowe’en spooky and absolute gore. I am not usually one to comment on others creative expression, but I have to say something this year. I appreciate that you have an enthusiasm for this holiday. I do too.. However, when you are decorating and/or planning your…
[Image-1] Tuesday afternoon will mark the first meeting of HRM Regional Council since October’s election brought six new faces to City Hall. Those rookies will have their work cut out for them sorting through a discursive agenda. Here are a few items on the docket: Stormwater right-of-way changes Halifax keeps trying to dig up out…
Wrapping up Nova Scotia Music Week—a four-day-long bacchanal of workshops, showcases, schmoozing and fun hosted by Music Nova Scotia, held this year in Truro—was the Music Nova Scotia awards ceremony. Forty-eight lucky musicians, organizations and companies were lauded with those blue cylinders—Ria Mae cleaned up with five awards, now would be a good time to…
Last Wednesday evening, Wanda Thomas Bernard’s phone rang. Justin Trudeau was on the other end. Bernard says he told her he’d reviewed her application and wanted her in the Senate. Bernard, of East Preston, is one of two Nova Scotians recently appointed as Canada’s newest senators. Working at Dalhousie University for almost three decades, Bernard…
10 Pantry by Kimberley Floyd To Nov 30 Pantry sees all the staples of your (and probably your grandma’s) diet get pop-art tinged, portrait-style treatment, complete with pops of robin egg’s blue and lime green at Argyle Fine Art. Butter never looked so chic. 9 Further Beyond Saturday November 5, 7pm What starts as a…
[Image-1] An internal review by the Dalhousie Student Union of its Sexual Assault and Harassment Phone Line project found a total of 57 calls made in the 2015-16 academic school year—17 of which were recorded as “legitimate.” The report, released under a Freedom of Information request, says there were two repeat callers in that 17.…
[Image-1] Nowadays when you watch the news, Muslims are not presented in the best light,” says Mohamed El-Attar. A 22-year-old accountant by day, El-Attar has launched a YouTube channel called That Muslim Guy—creating short, satirical videos in the hopes of countering the hate, ignorance and stereotypes he believes the mainstream media helps spread about Islam.…
[Image-1] I’m a university professor and I don’t often give trigger warnings in my classes. My decision to use them or not isn’t ideological, it’s contextual. Even though I’m the instructor and the one with the PhD, the classroom doesn’t belong only to me. Students have responsibilities to me and each other; I’m also accountable…
The University of King’s College Students’ Union is holding a public forum on racism after a popular campus bar event, Wu-Tang Clan Night, was cancelled due to concerns about white students singing along to racial slurs. An October 23 Facebook post on the event page by black King’s student Julia-Simone Rutgers quickly garnered attention from…
[Image-1] Tamara Lorincz feels Canada spends too much on the military—and she’s not alone. Lorincz is a board member with the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) and was a prominent local activist when she lived in Halifax. She’s back in the city for the first time in three years to take part in…
[Image-1] Save the red tape for Christmas decorations. City hall employees are going to be doing some hardcore process mapping (whatever that is) to cut waste and deliver a lean government service model, says HRM’s new chief administrative officer. Jacques Dubé took over as CAO six weeks ago, just in time to watch six new…
Gold Winner Neon Dreams Silver Winner Pineo & Loeb Bronze Winner Scientists of Sound Neon Dreams’ DJ Corey LeRue loves the energy that comes with the electronic genre. “There’s something about the way electronic music works with builds and with the overall vibe,” says LeRue. According to him, Neon Dreams used to be a very…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Ryszky Biz Bronze Winner Daniel Ledwell In addition to his own discography, Joel Plaskett’s producer credits include work from Mo Kenney and Séan McCann. “Producing my own music is partly what lead me to want to work with other people,” says Plaskett, who opened his New Scotland studio in…
Gold Winner Hope Blooms Silver Winner Halifolks Bronze Winner Common Roots Urban Farm More than 100 Syrian refugees moved in across the street from Hope Blooms’ community garden over the last year—the vast majority with young children and many of them farmers in their home country. Come springtime, those refugees were visiting the garden. “We…
Gold Winner Locas Billiards Silver Winner Dooly’s, Portland Street Bronze Winner Charlie’s Club Locas’ tagline is that it’s “where friends gather.” Gather to shoot some pool, most of all, we think. The famed billiards club is cueing up good times at its George Street location that features all manners of tournaments, fun leagues, happy hour…
Gold Winner Halifax Sport & Social Club Silver Winner Anchor City Rollers Bronze Winner Quebec Major Junior Hockey League “It’s recess for adults” is how the Halifax Sport & Social Club defines its success. With a focus on fun and community-building, the co-ed recreational league has something for everyone. Leagues take place all year long…
Gold Winner Spirit Spa Silver Winner ZigZag Hair Salon Bronze Winner Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Terri Lowe says the staff at Spirit Urban Spa are dedicated to education and understanding skin care—that’s what makes their mani-pedis the best. “The additions to our pedicures aren’t necessary standard in all pedicures,” says Lowe. For instance: Use…
Gold Winner Elsie’s Used Clothing Silver Winner Makenew Curated Thrift Shop Bronze Winner Brilliant Boutique A Vintage Row staple, Elsie’s consignment store radiates with quirk, charm and pizzazz. It’s like walking into a preserved living room from the 1920s, stocked with one-of-a-kind blouses, shirts, jackets, shoes and other fashion relics from the past. Owner Maureen…
Gold Winner Good Robot Brewing Company Silver Winner Gahan House Bronze Winner Rockbottom Brew Pub “We wanted to be a place like Tom’s Little Havana, which has this weird reverence, a warmth that was hard to put into words—but you felt it,” says one-third of the Good Robot co-owner/best-bud triad, Josh Counsil. With that, not-so-distant…
Gold Winner Alexis Cormier Silver Winner Véronique MacKenzie Bronze Winner Sara Coffin The Woods, currently in residence at Halifax Dance, have had a big, busy seventh year, and artistic director Alexis Cormier, your Best Choreographer, is at the core of it. Though she contains equal amounts of classic and contemporary dance knowledge within her body—as…
Gold Winner Pete’s ToGoGo, Dalhouse SUB Silver Winner The Gorsebrook Lounge Bronze Winner The Loaded Ladle Long nights at the Killam and early morning lectures are a tough combination. An overworked student brain needs brain food—frozen chicken burgers and poutines aren’t enough to fuel that 10,000 word paper that you’ve procrastinated on finishing. And starting.…
Gold Winner Garanikor Silver Winner A for Adventure Bronze Winner CBK Halifax Three wacky dudes with a passion for comedy, independent filmmaking and playing video games is how co-creator James Lewell describes the Garanikor-branded short films that he produces with friends Brady Lindsay and Alex Deveau. True, there are no shortage of Metal Gear Solid…
Destroyer w/Jon McKiel Monday, November 7, 8pm The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street sold out For over two decades, Vancouver’s Dan Bejar has been writing and performing unpredictable songs under the moniker Destroyer. His dense lyric sheets vary from lilting laments to snarling ramblings but always carry a remarkable sincerity—Bejar’s certainly one of the most…
You came, saw, tasted, listened and experienced the very best things this city threw at us this year. And now you’ve spoken. Over 12,000 of you cast votes, putting forward the names of people, places, restaurants and retailers you thought absolutely killed it this year. Turns out, Halifax loves to give props. After much tabulation,…
Gold Winner Pete’s, Dresden Row Silver Winner Booster Juice, Lacewood Drive Bronze Winner Wild Leek Alright, alright. We get it, readers. Pete’s is a well-rounded grocery store. You don’t have to rub it in other grocers’ faces with nine consecutive Best Smoothie, nine consecutive Best Salad and four Best International Grocer awards. But seriously, the…
Gold Winner Hemineglect Silver Winner Piper Curtis Bronze Winner The Brood It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it? Not really at the top of Hemineglect’s priority list. Self-described as pushing “the boundaries of what one might expect on the scene in Halifax,” your vote for Best Experimental Artist appreciate their fans…
Gold Winner 902 NonStop Records Silver Winner Sidney Enwood Bronze Winner Sonic Entertainment Group
Gold Winner Waye Mason Silver Winner Jennifer Watts Bronze Winner Gloria McCluskey It’s a clean sweep for the Halifax South Downtown councillor: Four for four for Waye Mason as Best Councillor over his first term in office. That’s a nice cherry on the post-election sundae, after he won a second term last month with 60…
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Long Lake Provincial Park Weaving in and out of trail lines that criss-cross like arteries, your sneakers digging into the gravel with a satisfying crunch, you know you’re making your best time yet. Social squirrels yammer at you as you dash by—as if cheering…
Gold Winner Cyclesmith Silver Winner The Bike Pedlar Bronze Winner Bikes by Dave Andrew Feenstra has worked at Cyclesmith since the early ’90s, longer than anyone except the company’s bookkeeper, and he still loves the job. He was there in 1995, when the founders had a falling out and sold the business to Mark Beaver…
Gold Winner Courtney Nickerson, Agricola Street Holistic Health Silver Winner Kelly Donald, Yogassage Bronze Winner Tara Patriquin, One to One Wellness If you think a massage is just a rub-down with minty-scented lotion, Courtney Nickerson is here to change your mind. She “uses a lot of direct techniques. It’s more of a therapeutic, deep-tissue style,”…
Gold Winner John David Shoes Silver Winner Courtside Sneakers Bronze Winner Biscuit General Store John David Shoes knows how to bring Haligonians shoes made for walking. Carrying luxury brands like Michael Kors, Franco Sarto, Rieker, France Mode and more, the Spring Garden gem is a go-to for fashionable, comfy and high-quality pumps/boots/loafers/whatever the heck else…
Gold Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub Silver Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub Bronze Winner Brooklyn Warehouse Another heaping portion of fried gold for the winning Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub, which once again takes home Best Pub Food. I mean, have you seen this menu? Jumbo pretzel with jalapeño beer cheese sauce, big effin’ nachos,…
Gold Winner Megan McDowell Silver Winner Bill Wood Bronze Winner Andrew Evans This is the second time you’ve declared Megan McDowell your favourite person to laugh at, and you’ve had lots of chances this year, particularly at festivals including the most recent Halifax Pop Explosion, plus Sappyfest, Gridlock, Queer Acts and the Maritime Tattoo Festival.…
Gold Winner Jonathan Torrens Silver Winner John Dunsworth Bronze Winner Taylor Olson “NO WAY?? I’ve never received this honour before. I’m absolutely delighted,” writes Jonathan Torrens, who’s been on TV as long as this newspaper has existed. This year has seen him pulling regular duty on Mr. D and in Trailer Park Boys. “This trying…
Gold Winner The Middle Spoon, Halifax Silver Winner Sweet Hereafter Cheesecakery Bronze Winner Layers Cakes “Twenty sixteen was probably our best year yet,” says The Middle Spoon’s Lacey Doherty of the restaurant’s second straight sweet win. She credits word of mouth for keeping the girls nights, date nights and treat seekers coming in for her…
Gold Winner Fireworks Gallery Silver Winner The Vault, Spring Garden Bronze Winner Touch of Gold The only BOH winner that has more experience handling gold than winning it (but just barely). Whether you’re looking to buy tasteful trinkets while staying in budget, or splurge on something extravagant for that special someone, Fireworks is the Best…
Gold Winner Mezza, Quinpool (now closed) Silver Winner Tarek’s Cafe Bronze Winner Turkish Delight “We just wanted to do our thing and had no expectation and low budget. It was a calling,” says Saronn Pov of the collaboration with her partner, chef Ray Bear, that gifted the city Studio East. Building on her already popular…
Gold Winner Wasabi House Silver Winner Alex Oh! Sushi & Rolls (now closed) Bronze Winner Suzuki Restaurant A piece of advice: Be careful how much you order when going to Wasabi House—your server will almost certainly bring you a free roll as well. This is probably a reason voters love the Quinpool sushi joint, but…
Gold Winner Mo Kenney Silver Winner Ria Mae Bronze Winner Amanda Riley Dartmouth resident, writer of heartbreakers and ripper of solos Mo Kenney has had a full year, as usual, picking up four Music Nova Scotia awards, followed by the US release of her second album In My Dreams. Last week she filled the Rebecca…
Gold Winner Like A Motorcycle Silver Winner Crossed Wires Bronze Winner Outtacontroller The wild children of Like A Motorcycle recently were running amok in Europe on tour, and it sounds like the most fun thing on this earth. “We shouldn’t be left unsupervised in a country where you can openly drink in the streets. We stayed in the…
Gold Winner Rouge Fatale Silver Winner Elle Noir Bronze Winner Eurkea Love “I can sleep when I’m dead,” says Jason Rose-Spurrell, AKA Rouge Fatale, of how the last year’s been. With the ever-growing Glamazon Army (#squadgoals) taking the drag show on the road all across the country, plus Rouge’s regular Screaming Queen Karaoke at Menz…
Gold Winner Canada Games Centre Silver Winner Long Lake Provincial Park Bronze Winner Chocolate Lake The CGC has pools for days, guys, hence why readers once again picked it as the golden god over all of the city’s bragworthy lakes and beaches. Nature be damned. Here’s why: You can brush up on your breaststroke in…
Gold Winner White Point Beach Resort Silver Winner Peggys Cove Bronze Winner Lunenburg County ocean-side cabin fire for your hometown heart hop hop hop hop hop
Gold Winner Todd’s South End Car Care Silver Winner Revolution Automotive Solutions Bronze Winner Harrington’s VW Parts and Service Todd’s has been in business for quite some time—it will be 50 years come 2017. According to manager Derrick Munro, a good mechanic is someone who can figure out what’s wrong with a car, and then…
Gold Winner Spirit Spa Silver Winner Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Bronze Winner Interlude Spa, Halifax Everyone needs a spa day once in a while, and Spirit Urban Spa can help you out. “Spirit is a place to reconnect with yourself, with your friends and with life,” says manager Terri Lowe. “It just kind of…
Gold Winner Good Robot Brewing Co. Silver Winner Garrison Brewery Company Bronze Winner Propeller Brewing Company “We wanted to be a place like Tom’s Little Havana, which has this weird reverence, a warmth that was hard to put into words—but you felt it,” says one-third of the Good Robot co-owner/best-bud triad, Josh Counsil. With that,…
Gold Winner Yuk Yuk’s Silver Winner Gus’ Pub Monday Night Comedy Bronze Winner Good Robot Brewing Company’s Just Vorlaufs Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. There’s this guy, an everyday sort of schlub who you wouldn’t think twice about if you saw him out on the street, milling about in his plain, beige…
Gold Winner Craig Flinn, Chives Canadian Bistro Silver Winner Mark Gray, Battery Park/Brooklyn Warehouse Bronze Winner Stephanie Ogilvie, Brooklyn Warehouse Craig Flinn is the proprietor of not one but three Halifax restos—Chives, Two Doors Down and Temple Bar, the youngest of the trio. The ambitious chef of 21 years has kept busy, but never lost…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame Inductee King of Donair, Halifax Silver Winner Johnny K’s Authentic Donair Bronze Winner Tony’s Donair & Pizza, Robie Street Editor’s note: With its latest Best Donair win in 2016, King of Donair was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. If there was ever a Year of…
Gold Winner Lindsay Nelson, Eat This Town Silver Winner Josh Rankin, Life of Burgers Bronze Winner Kelly Neil, kellyneil.com Halifax is bursting with restaurants, making it difficult to know the ins and outs of the city’s best grub. Luckily, we have foodie experts like Lindsay Nelson to guide our hungry bellies along. The Eat This…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame Inductee Your Father’s Moustache Silver Winner Gahan House Bronze Winner Stillwell Beergarden Editor’s note: With its latest Best Patio win in 2016, YFM was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. Look up. Wayyyyy up above Spring Garden Road and you’ll find the patio pinnacle that’s ruled…
Gold Winner Cha Baa Thai, Halifax Silver Winner Talay Thai, Halifax Bronze Winner Gingergrass It’s obvious why people flock to Cha Baa Thai for its lunch specials—they’re affordable, and they have a great variety of both meat and veggie options. One website review calls the masaman curry “heavenly,” but stir fried rib and chili cashew tofu…
Gold Winner The Barrowdowns Silver Winner Old Man Luedecke Bronze Winner Hillsburn The five-piece Barrowdowns have had a busy year, releasing an EP, hitting a slew of festivals including Evolve, Messtival and Folly Fest, with a showcase at Nova Scotia Music Week on deck this weekend. A new LP is in the works. “THANK YOU!…
Gold Winner Asia & NuGruv Silver Winner Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound Bronze Winner Reeny Smith “I’m pretty shocked, and grateful at the same time,” says Asia & Nu Gruv’s bassist Nathan Symonds. “We don’t get a lot of time to do things other than perform, it’s been a busy fall, and we’re booking…
Gold Winner Bike lanes Silver Winner Homes Not Hondas Bronze Winner The Big Lift Despite what The Dawgfather and internet commenters have to say, bike lanes are awesome and Halifax is finally seeing some action putting them in place around the downtown, including a pilot project running up and down University Avenue, and a protected…
Gold Winner Nova Scotia SPCA Silver Winner IWK Health Centre Bronze Winner Hal-Con Once again our readers have chosen the local SPCA as the Best Place to Volunteer in Halifax, and who can blame them? Nova Scotia’s SPCA is always in need of individuals looking to donate their time and love to help some little…
Gold Winner Portland Street Honda Silver Winner Colonial Honda Bronze Winner Hillcrest Volkswagon On its website, Portland Street Honda boasts of satisfied customers. Readers apparently agree. The dealership has hit the top three a few times over the years, and has managed to get the gold spot this year as well as last. “If you…
Gold Winner Duggers Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner RCHMND Duggers menswear is the perfect one-stop shop for sleek, quality designs. Suits, blazers, ties, jackets, dress shirts, pants and shoes…the gang’s all there. This perennial gold winner is a local fashion business gem, known for its customer service, and dependable brands. For world-renowned names…
The War of the Worlds Friday, November 4, 8pm The World Trade and Convention Centre, Summit Suite, 8th floor $20 You will have already heard the news by the time you read this. What began as a strange object landing on a farm in the Annapolis Valley, has, within hours, turned into a world-awide alien…
Gold Winner Two if By Sea Cafe Silver Winner Java Blend Coffee Bronze Winner Lion & Bright Cafe Wine Bar There’s something magic about Two If By Sea. Something more than mugs of Anchored Coffee and five-pound buttery croissants. The cafe’s co-owner and baker, Tara MacDonald, credits TLC for the loyal following at TIBS. “Zane…
Gold Winner Ardmore Tea Room Silver Winner The Coastal Cafe Bronze Winner Cora’s, downtown A step up from last year’s silver awards, the Ardmore is claiming some glory. This is a classic greasy spoon joint through and through, complete with paper menus, bottomless coffee, cheap eggs and thick milkshakes. Known for its hangover cure superpowers…
Gold Winner Rhys Bevan-John Silver Winner Stewart Legere Bronze Winner Jeremy Webb Rhys Bevan-John has had a jam-packed year, as usual, calling on his day off from Stones in His Pockets, on at Neptune until November 6. His roles have included Daniel MacIvor’s Here Lies Henry at Chester Playhouse, his children’s show Happy Hobo in…
Gold Winner Athens Restaurant Silver Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Bronze Winner Jim’s Family Restaurant This Quinpool Road anchor is as reliable as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. A go-to spot for students, families and everyone in between, Athens’ enormous menu offers a little bit of Greek for any palate. Going 35 years…
Gold Winner Alexandra’s Pizza, Queen Street Silver Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen Bronze Winner Jean’s Chinese Conveying cheese-enrobed foodstuffs from a hot, hot, hot oven to your greedy mouths and shameless bellies is the 21st century’s truest art form. It’s late. You? Drunk. Cupboards are bare. Money’s tight. Morning’s pressing down. A cardboard pizza box is…
Gold Winner Ristorante a Mano Silver Winner The Vines Bronze Winner La Frasca Cibi + Vini Nothing compares to scarfing down a bowl of tortellini by candlelight. At Ristorante a Mano, manager Melanie Kronbauer says, “Most people come here for the food and then realize that there’s a great ambience as well.” Speaking of food,…
Gold Winner Classified Silver Winner Quake Matthews Bronze Winner Ally Dee Classified wears many hats—the pride of Enfield is also a talented producer as well as a rapper, releasing his fifteenth album, Greatful last January. You must respect that hustle. Classified again collaborated with David Myles for “Work Away” and the video for the single…
Gold Winner 88.1 CKDU Silver Winner CBC Radio One Bronze Winner Q104 “It’s always a fun category to win, given we’re the only station to play it,” says station director Russell Gragg about CKDU’s streak as Halifax’s Best Radio Station For Local Music. Not just music, though—CKDU is pushing more content online for streaming and…
Gold Winner Halifax Jazz Festival Silver Winner Halifax International Busker Festival Bronze Winner Halifax Pop Explosion We thought Lulu Healy would never top the summer of 2014, when she brought St. Vincent to the waterfront at the height of her robotic, guitar-manipulating art-rock powers. But then came Lauryn Hill. Hill took the stage predictably late,…
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Long Lake Provincial Park When they say all dogs go to heaven they actually mean Point Pleasant Park. Wide open spaces, butts to sniff, trees to pee on, puddles to roll in—everything a furry friend could possibly need is here. Except for all those…
Gold Winner Halifax Central Library Silver Winner The Gorsebrook Lounge Bronze Winner The Wardroom What sort of book-loving nerds want to hang out in a library instead of the more convenient and beer-stocked on-campus pubs? It’s almost like they want to…learn things. Like, better themselves by studying. Yuck. Maybe it has something to do with…
Gold Winner Munden’s Moving Company Silver Winner Able Movers Bronze Winner Short Notice Movers After sitting in the silver spot last year, Munden’s Moving is seeing gold once again. “Being in the service industry, and being in an industry with so much competition, it’s just great to be recognized,” says Sheila Mont, who co-owns the…
Gold Winner MEC Silver Winner Cleve’s Source for Sports, Park Lane Mall Bronze Winner Sport Chek, Halifax Shopping Centre When the zombie apocalypse hits, here’s hoping you’re head-to-toe in MEC gear. Those people always look so prepared, ready to tell the elements—all of ’em—to go suck a lemon. The two-storey outdoor clothing and gear shop…
Gold Winner Lot Six Silver Winner Field Guide Bronze Winner Temple Bar Cocktails & Kitchen “We have a cocktail called the Cucumber Rickey,” says Best Bartender and Lot Six mixologist Shane Beehan of the gin, cucumber, lime juice and soda water concoction. “It’s a simple drink, but when we put it on the menu, suddenly…
Gold Winner Isabelle Pineau, An Oddity or Two Silver Winner Jenny Fennell, Lily Lake Knits Bronze Winner Marina Smith, Arcane Angel “I’m a mixed media collage artist who has a little bit too much imagination for my own good,” announces Isabelle Pineau’s bio. There’s stiff competition in this artisanal town, and you’ve selected Pineau as…
Gold Winner Stoo Metz Silver Winner Liam Hennessey, Applehead Studio Bronze Winner Trevor Allen “Holy crap,” says Stoo Metz on hearing about his gold for Best Photographer. “I expected bronze, maybe.” Last year’s third-place win also shocked the chronicler of Halifax’s best events, who only quit his day job and jumped full-time into photography in…
Gold Winner Noggins Corner, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Silver Winner Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Bronze Winner Getaway Farms Butcher Shop, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Bringing the best of the valley to the urban centre, Noggins Corner once again reigns supreme as Halifax’s Best Farmers’ Market Stall. The purveyors of inimitable Annapolis Valley…
Gold Winner Ol’ School Donuts Silver Winner Gecko Bus Bronze Winner Halifax Press The family that serves doughnuts out of a bright red school bus together, stays together. And it’s the Connolly family’s tight bond that makes Ol’ School a food truck fave, says owner Noah Connolly, who founded the business while he was still…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame Inductee Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria Silver Winner Mother’s Pizza Bronze Winner Morris East, Halifax Editor’s note: With its latest Best Pizza Pie win in 2016, Sal’s was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. Chris Cuddihy has been running Sal’s for 23 years, and winning Best of Halifax…
Gold Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Silver Winner Heartwood Bronze Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Branding your resto as vegan brings in a diverse crew—not just folks looking for meat-less and cheese-less dishes, but also those with dietary needs. “There’s the crowd who want local stuff, but we also have a very high number of people…
Gold Winner The Tragically Hip Silver Winner Beyonce’s Formation Tour Bronze Winner Drake Even if you weren’t a Hip fan, it was mighty hard not to get swept up in the collective national emotional outpouring that followed the announcement that beloved Hip frontman Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and the cross-country tour,…
Gold Winner The Willem Paynter Trio Silver Winner Gypsophilia Bronze Winner Zoe Leger The humble Paynter describes himself as “just a boy playing a bass” but your vote for Best Jazz Artist clearly has ambition, man. With a new record scheduled for release in late November—titled Wise Guy—Paynter has assembled a Voltron-like roster of some…
Gold Winner 902 NonStop Records Silver Winner Sonic Records Bronze Winner New Scotland Records 902 NonStop Records is all about lifting up others, which makes it fitting that fans have chosen to give a little limelight back to the upstart label. With a renovated studio in Porter’s Lake—Red Panther Studios—label co-founders Ally Dee and Ryzsky…
Gold Winner Reflections Cabaret Silver Winner Menz & Mollyz Bar Bronze Winner The Company House No labels, no rules and unstoppable dance parties are what Reflections is, and has been, about since it opened in 1996. An inclusive dance club from the get-go, Refs is host to drag shows, theme nights, banging DJs, Halifax Pop…
Gold Winner Public Gardens Silver Winner Halifax Central Library Bronze Winner Point Pleasant Park There’s no irony to the Public Gardens. For all the problematic Victorian era heritage and the hubris of a cultivated garden plonked down unnaturally into a city’s centre, the gated space really is a pristine gem to Halifax’s city life. It’s…
Gold Winner Strange Adventures, Halifax Silver Winner Cape & Cowl Comics & Collectibles Bronze Winner Giant Robot Comics Strange Adventures is a superhero of Halifax’s retail scene, a thriving business that earns kudos from around the planet. So what’s its secret power? “Customer service more than anything else,” says longtime manager Dave Howllett. “We help…
Gold Winner Long & McQuade, Halifax Silver Winner Halifax Folklore Centre Bronze Winner Fantasie Music From beginners to bass gods, Long & McQuade is the place to be for music magic. This is another win for the rock gods at L&M, who offer lessons, rentals and repairs to the city’s music scene. Pause for a…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Tailor Shop Silver Winner Daniel’s Tailor Shop Bronze Winner Sherzad’s Tailoring Shop For Mufit Halef, owner of the Mic Mac Tailor Shop, it’s about “more than just the perfect hem. We do everything here, from taking things in to leather work to altering wedding gowns.” People trusting the shop with difficult-to-work-with…
Gold Winner Java Blend Coffee Roasters Silver Winner Anchored Coffee Bronze Winner Just Us! Coffee Roasters, Spring Garden Road Halifax wouldn’t be Halifax without Java Blend: Its bustling North Street cafe, and neighbourhood-engulfing bean-roasting aromas, have long been synonymous with good mornings. And Haligonians wouldn’t be human without its coffee. For nearly 80 years, Java…
Gold Winner EDNA Silver Winner The Coastal Cafe Bronze Winner Robie Street Station “That’s a huge one for me because so many of the new restaurants have opened in the last couple of years, and there’s been a real emphasis on design,” says EDNA’s visionary Jenna Mooers of her Best Atmosphere accolade. Working with Breakhouse,…
Gold Winner Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar, Spring Garden Silver Winner Oasis Bronze Winner Halifax Alehouse Bubba Ray’s is certainly not wingin’ it when it comes to pub food. The ever-growing family of bars knows exactly how to satiate beer-slugging sports fans. Case in point—the chicken wings. If you can manage to choose from six styles,…
Gold Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Silver Winner Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner daMaurizio Fine Dining Chef proprietor Craig Flinn doesn’t exactly see Chives as a “fine dining” restaurant—the atmosphere is meant to be casual. “I call it a bistro for a reason,” says Flinn. He credits the creativity of his team, including chefs de cuisine Scott…
Gold Winner Stillwell Beer Bar Silver Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub Bronze Winner Bud the Spud “Twenty sixteen was a lot of work, and was really, really rewarding,” says Stilwell’s Chris Reynolds. Between losing the tender for its waterfront beer garden, rebuilding a new, somehow better version of it on Spring Garden Road and keeping the…
Gold Winner Sicilian Pizza, Donairs & Subs, downtown Silver Winner Tony’s Donair & Pizza, Robie Street Bronze Winner Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria There once was a packed pub, with golden pint glasses and energetic students, blowing off steam after their classes. When the evening’s end came, and the fun had been had, the snack search began,…
Gold Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner EDNA Walking into Chives, you never know what you might read on their board of “specials.” Seasonal veggies come from the farmers’ market and valley-based companies, while cheese and fish are important local staples as well. “I think that the best cooking…
Gold Winner Ria Mae Silver Winner Hillsburn Bronze Winner Adam Baldwin Pop is a broad genre, and Ria MacNutt (AKA Mae) understands that some artists dislike the term. MacNutt herself, however, has no problem with it. “To me, it just means whatever’s on the radio,” she says. “I’ve always been OK with it, ’cause I’ve…
Gold Winner Laurie the Guy at The Lion’s Head Silver Winner The Mimi Show at Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs Bronze Winner Dave Smith at Oasis “Just call me Laurie The Lucky Guy,” says Laurie Goulden upon hearing the news that he’s been crowned the city’s best karaoke host yet again. You’ll find Goulden,…
Gold Winner Rockopolis Silver Winner Church of Destruction Bronze Winner Radstorm Is your roommate or partner fed up with your band’s noisy practice time? The neighbours don’t appreciate your drum skills? Good news: You can get your garage band out of the garage. “I’m just here to give back to the music community as much…
Gold Winner Ellen Page Silver Winner Fat Apollo Bronze Winner Sidney Crosby We might have to retire this one to give someone else a legitimate shot, because so long as Page remains in Hollywood, Halifax’s unofficial ambassador to the world will continue carving out her own unique path as Best Halifmous Person. Recently, that’s meant…
Gold Winner Information Morning, CBC Radio One Silver Winner Q104 morning show Bronze Winner Heard on Air, CKDU Happy belated birthday to CBC’s Information Morning, which celebrated its 46 anniversary in 2016—the last 40 of those years featuring host Don Connolly speaking his dulcet tones and daily news copy into the still-sleepy ears of early…
Gold Winner IKEA Silver Winner Stillwell Beergarden Bronze Winner Development downtown You know it’s been a banner year when a Swedish big-box store tops the highlight reel with a fully furnished press conference featuring a slick bed set, meatballs and the mayor. Are you serious, Halifax? That’s rhetorical. You’re totally serious about the news that…
Gold Winner Dalhousie University Silver Winner Saint Mary’s University Bronze Winner Mount Saint Vincent University Oh, Dalhousie, even when we’re mad at you we can’t help but love you. You foot the $387,220 bill to send nine well-paid, wealthy AF business folk to attend some entrepreneurial accelerator program at MIT (though you promise it’ll be…
Gold Winner Rebecca O’Quinn, Heirloom Tattoo Silver Winner Helena Darling, HFX Tattoo Bronze Winner Amber Thorpe, Adept Tattoos & Body Piercing Studio Almost exactly one year ago, Rebecca O’Quinn made the decision to bet on herself. She left the tattoo studio she’d been working at—which was nice enough, but not the perfect fit—to go solo,…
Gold Winner The Bitter End Silver Winner The Fireside Bar & Restaurant Bronze Winner Lot Six For 16 years Argyle Street’s Bitter End has made a name for itself based on its shaken and stirred selection. A martini and cocktail bar first and foremost—the establishment boasts on its website that its served “well over one…
Gold Winner Halifax Crafters’ Winter Market Silver Winner Christmas At The Forum Bronze Winner Have Yourself a Gothic Little Christmas Happy Five-Year Sweep to the crafters, bakers, screenprinters, painters, leathersmiths, woodworkers, t-shirt purveyors and the sundry artisans that comprise the Halifax Crafters Winter Market. Now as much of a local holiday tradition as The Nutcracker…
Gold Winner Sickboy Silver Winner The Night Time Podcast Bronze Winner Uptalk with Sean Conohan When Jeremie Saunders started a podcast with a couple friends, Brian Stever and Taylor MacGillivary, in late 2015, he didn’t imagine it’d win awards or see him jet-setting across the country. But, it seems that his brand of irreverent humour…
Gold Winner John’s Lunch Silver Winner Fredie’s Fantastic Fish Bronze Winner Evan’s Fresh Seafoods John’s Lunch, its simple, gritty lunch counter and its platters fried of seafood, has been repeatedly dubbed not just the Best Fish & Chips in Halifax (by you, readers) but the best in Canada, too. Most recently, the Huffington Post heralded…
Gold Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet Branding your resto as vegan brings in a diverse crew—not just folks looking for meat-less and cheese-less dishes, but also those with dietary needs. “There’s the crowd who want local stuff, but we also have a very high number…
Gold Winner HFX Sports Bar & Grill Silver Winner Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar, Spring Garden Road Bronze Winner Niche Lounge Do you believe in miracles? Bubba Ray’s dynasty as Halifax’s Best Place to Watch The Game comes to a close after six years as champion. With its hand raised at the bell is HFX Sports…
Gold Winner Studio East Silver Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery Bronze Winner Highwayman “We just wanted to do our thing and had no expectation and low budget. It was a calling,” says Saronn Pov of the collaboration with her partner, chef Ray Bear, that gifted the city Studio East. Building on her already…
Gold Winner Asia & NuGruv Silver Winner Hillsburn Bronze Winner Tri City Villains “I’m pretty shocked, and grateful at the same time,” says Asia & Nu Gruv’s bassist Nathan Symonds. “We don’t get a lot of time to do things other than perform, it’s been a busy fall, and we’re booking into the new year,…
Gold Winner James Taylor Silver Winner Lauryn Hill at Halifax Jazz Festival Bronze Winner July Talk at the Backlot Bash James Taylor’s May 17 Scotiabank Centre show sold out within hours, which is not all that surprising considering he is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and has sold over 100 million records. He…
Gold Winner Electric Spoonful Silver Winner Matt Mays Bronze Winner Like A Motorcycle Your vote for Best Rock Band came from a variety of backgrounds, including metal and hardcore, but a common love of classic rock brought them together. “All of us grew up on classic rock so it’s important to us to keep the…
Gold Winner @halifaxnoise Silver Winner @chillinwithbernie Bronze Winner @dave.culligan No filters needed on this one. The inaugural Best Instagram Account goes to who else but the indomitable Kate Ross and her @halifaxnoise empire (which now includes @HalifaxNoiseVids and @HalifaxNoiseKids). Ross has turned HalifaxNoise into one of the surest stops in town to find out all…
Gold Winner Q104 Silver Winner 101.3 Virgin Radio Bronze Winner CBC Radio One To quote Staind, it’s been awhile (if ever) since the Q topped our readers’ choice list for Best Radio Station in Halifax. Not a bad way for HRM’s self-professed home of rock and roll to celebrate its 33rd birthday. Virgin Radio’s takeover…
Gold Winner Apple Store Silver Winner PC-Wizrd Bronze Winner Octopi Computers The Halifax Shopping Centre’s Apple Store opened back in 2012, making it the first Apple Store in Atlantic Canada. Since the Halifax Mac Store on Barrington closed earlier that same year, the mall is the only place Apple fanatics can get their fix on…
Gold Winner Timber Lounge Silver Winner New Scotland Yard Emporium Bronze Winner East Coast Bakery In celebration of your favourite new business—Halifax is usually many tree-rings behind the trends, whatup frozen yogurt—here’s a forest of puns: Axe anybody, hurling a blade at a target is a grain stress reliever, a good way to get a…
Gold Winner Adept Tattoos & Body Piercing Studio, Halifax Silver Winner HFX Tattoo Bronze Winner Oceanic Art If you’re going to place an image on your body permanently, you better pick the best place to do it—and that is, for its fifth year running, Adept Tattoos. Its flagship location on Quinpool Road—there’s also one on…
Gold Winner Darrell’s Restaurant Silver Winner The Chickenburger, Bedford Bronze Winner Krave Burger “It doesn’t surprise me that it happened, and I’m really happy that it’s happened,” says Darrell’s owner Dan Joseph, as his burger reclaims its gold status after four years of silver and bronze awards. Even better is that the win comes just…
Gold Winner Mocean Dance Silver Winner The Woods Bronze Winner Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Mocean Dance’s win comes in its 15th year as one of the city’s leading dance companies. “We’re glad our friends recognize the hard work and perseverance,” says co-artistic director Sara Coffin, who’s also celebrating the return of the Best Dance…
Gold Winner Esquire Restaurant Silver Winner Gahan House Bronze Winner 2 Doors Down “Well, it’s the best!” says Gerard Avery, laughing when he’s asked what makes the Esquire’s creamy bowls of seafood chowder the best around. For the Bedford Highway diner, the best means making it fresh, daily and keeping its quality consistent—simple as that.…
Gold Winner The Flower Shop Silver Winner My Mother’s Bloomers Bronze Winner Props Floral Design The Flower Shop’s charming shop in amongst the artsy cobblestones of Granville Square offers a pleasing, fragrant selection of seasonal flowers in finely detailed arrangements for your birthday, Valentine’s, gift-giving and just-because needs. But if you can’t make it downtown,…
Gold Winner Athens Restaurant Silver Winner The Blue Olive Bronze Winner Ela!, Bayers Lake This Quinpool Road anchor is as reliable as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. A go-to spot for students, families and everyone in between, Athens’ enormous menu offers a little bit of Greek for any palate. Going 35 years strong, the…
Gold Winner Willy’s Fresh Cut Fries & Burgers Silver Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside Bronze Winner Smoke’s Poutinerie, Blowers Street Five times is the charm for Willy’s Fresh Cut, the fry-cutting, gravy-slathering, curd-crumbling Pizza Corner resident that continues to lure in hungry folks in droves. Whether night-time, lunchtime or any old Tuesday,…
Andrea Arnold is British, but American Honey is very much a movie about the United States, lovingly constructed in the storied independent style of that country. Not only does it feature a singalong to the Lady Antebellum song it’s named after (“Nothin’ sweeter than summertime/and American honey”), it also has Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis…
Gold Winner Asia & NuGruv Silver Winner Dub Kartel Bronze Winner The Mellotones “I’m pretty shocked, and grateful at the same time,” says Asia & Nu Gruv’s bassist Nathan Symonds. “We don’t get a lot of time to do things other than perform, it’s been a busy fall, and we’re booking into the new year,…
Gold Winner The Carleton Bar & Grill Silver Winner The Seahorse Tavern Bronze Winner The Company House “That’s ironic as hell,” says Mike Campbell, laughing, after learning that The Carleton had earned the Live Music Venue crown. Maybe because the actual purpose of the call was to discuss the potential sale of his bar, bankruptcy…
Gold Winner Like A Motorcycle Silver Winner Town Heroes Bronze Winner Neon Dreams The wild children of Like A Motorcycle recently were running amok in Europe on tour, and it sounds like the most fun thing on this earth. “We shouldn’t be left unsupervised in a country where you can openly drink in the streets. We stayed…
Gold Winner Halifax Central Library Silver Winner Keshen Goodman Public Library Bronze Winner Halifax North Memorial Public Library What sort of book-loving nerds want to hang out in a library instead of the more convenient and beer-stocked on-campus pubs? It’s almost like they want to…learn things. Like, better themselves by studying. Yuck. Maybe it has…
Q I’m a 41-year-old male who looks like the tall, strong, professional, alpha-male type on the outside. On the inside, though, I would like to find a strong, confident woman who wants a cuckolding relationship—she sleeps with other men, while I am faithful and submissive to her. There must be women out there who would…
Gold Winner Jubilee Junction Convenience and Takeout Silver Winner Atlantic News Bronze Winner Triple A Convenience & Pizzeria Topping a listicle of The Things Only Dal/King’s Students Know should really be the institution of Jubilee Junction—the unofficial, off-campus gathering grounds for anything—we mean anything—you could want a corner store to have. Convenient, sure. But it’s…
Gold Winner Transit Silver Winner Affordable housing Bronze Winner Homes Not Hondas Halifax Transit’s Moving Forward Together road map was supposed to blow up the confusing overlap of routes plaguing bus riders and start fresh, but what finally came before city council was a whole lot of what’s come before. That didn’t stop council from…
Gold Winner Mitch Benvie, Evolve Fitness Silver Winner Bobby Pedersen, 360fit Bronze Winner Devin Sherrington, 360fit “Really, it’s about a sense of community,” Matt Benvie, owner of Evolve Fitness, explains in the gym’s well-lit waiting room. “We add value to people’s life and they add value to ours.” He adds that he’s often emailing recipes…
Gold Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery Silver Winner Stillwell Beergarden Bronze Winner Highwayman “I think that we are really coming into our own as the local pub and that is a really amazing relationship we’re developing with that market there,” says George Christakos of Battery Park, a multi-winner in this year’s Best of…
Gold Winner Darrell’s Restaurant Silver Winner Ace Burger Co. Bronze Winner Krave Burger “It doesn’t surprise me that it happened, and I’m really happy that it’s happened,” says Darrell’s owner Dan Joseph, as his burger reclaims its gold status after four years of silver and bronze awards. Even better is that the win comes just…
Gold Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen Silver Winner Tako Sushi & Ramen Bronze Winner 9 + Nine Chinese Cuisine When one door closes, many more open. That’s kind of how it’s working for Mezza Lebanese Kitchen this year. The recent closure of the more formal Quinpool location (your Best Middle Eastern / Persian pick) made room…
Gold Winner Attica Furnishings Silver Winner Kew, Halifax Bronze Winner Leon’s Furniture It’s exciting times for the perpetually winning Attica Furnishings—not only another slam-dunk for Best Furniture and Best Home Decor, but a big move across town from its multi-tiered Barrington Street abode to a flatter flat at Robie and Young. “Four floors was fun…
Gold Winner Gio Silver Winner Tempo Food + Drink Bronze Winner elements on hollis The elegant Prince George has a lot to offer not just visitors but locals too, and you’ve rewarded it with gold. “It’s absolutely awesome. We pride ourselves on being part of the city,” says general manager Scott Travis. “You typically won’t…
Gold Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub Silver Winner Henry House Bronze Winner Your Father’s Moustache Another heaping portion of fried gold for the winning Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub, which once again takes home Best Pub Food. I mean, have you seen this menu? Jumbo pretzel with jalapeño beer cheese sauce, big effin’ nachos,…
Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones premiered in Belfast in 1996, had a successful West End run, and won a slew of awards. Audiences of Neptune Theatre’s production of the Irish hit may be baffled by its previous success. What has potential to be a playful and biting satire about Hollywood culture encroaching with…
Gold Winner Ostrea Lake Silver Winner Quiet Parade Bronze Winner Andrew Frelick Ostrea Lake makes the kind of music that make you want to lay on a dock, stare at the sky and think about every single one of your feelings, and decisions, and whether they’re the right ones. The Halifax band, which has perfectly…
Gold Winner Ally Dee Silver Winner Classified Bronze Winner Ghettosocks Ally Dee may be the city’s most humble MC. He doesn’t want to talk about this own art, choosing instead to credit the rap community for inspiration and motivation. With a weekly radio show on CKDU—Heard On Air—with 902 NonStop Records co-founder Ryzsky Biz, Dee’s…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Mo Kenney Bronze Winner Adam Baldwin For Joel Plaskett, it’s hard to say how his songwriting has changed over the years. “I’m too close to it,” he says. At the same time, Plaskett feels the subject matter of his work has expanded. “I think being a parent has changed…
Gold Winner Fat Apollo Silver Winner Theodore Tugboat Bronze Winner Rouge Fatale With his mom Gloria’s retirement from council, Fat Apollo might now be the most famous McCluskey in Halifax HRM, especially given his continual domination of this category every year. “This Fat Apollo thing was a slow burn,” says Michael McCluskey. “As my mom…
Gold Winner Katherine Hanlon Silver Winner Saskia Roch, Saskia Roch Aesthetics Bronze Winner Lindsay Wilson, Remedy Facial Bar & Spa This is a really big week for Katherine Hanlon. Not only is she being crowned with her sixth consecutive gold win for Best Aesthetician, she’s starting a new professional chapter at north end Halifax’s Dime…
Gold Winner Jollytails Inc. Silver Winner Oodles of Poodles Bronze Winner All 4 Paws Pet Services The world of dog grooming is a lot like the world of human grooming. The best spots are booked three weeks in advance, getting nails done is often part of the service and it’s especially busy around the holidays.…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame Inductee Ocean Optometry Silver Winner Gaudet Optical Bronze Winner Lang Optometry Editor’s note: With its latest Best Optical Store win in 2015, Ocean was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. “They should complement someone, be part of the personality not a dominating feature,” says Dr. Euan…
Gold Winner Sweet Pea Boutique Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner Alexa Pope Celebrations are in order for Sweet Pea—the business reaches its first major milestone in May. Johanna Galipeau opened the boutique nearly 10 years ago, an ambitious endeavour for her at the age of 19. This landmark is a chance to look…
Gold Winner Java Blend Coffee Roasters Silver Winner Two If By Sea, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Steve-O-Reno’s Cappuccino, Brunswick Street Halifax wouldn’t be Halifax without Java Blend: Its bustling North Street cafe, and neighbourhood-engulfing bean-roasting aromas, have long been synonymous with good mornings. And Haligonians wouldn’t be human without their coffee. For nearly 80 years, Java…
Gold Winner Katrina Tuttle Silver Winner Lisa Drader-Murphy Bronze Winner Maggie J. MacCormick Lace, chiffon and tulle—these are fabrics Katrina Tuttle knows well. Almost two years ago, the fashion designer shifted her full-time attention to bridal gowns. With a new by-appointment boutique on Spring Garden offering custom, handmade designs, Tuttle certainly has a full schedule.“It’s…
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee The Great Wall Silver Winner Jean’s Chinese Bronze Winner Fan’s Chinese Restaurant Editor’s note: With its latest Best Chinese win in 2016, Great Wall was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. Why have Haligonians voted Great Wall the Best Chinese in the city for nearly…
Gold Winner Evolve Fitness Silver Winner ProEdge Sports Conditioning Bronze Winner Cyclone Group Fitness “Really, it’s about a sense of community,” Matt Benvie, owner of Evolve Fitness, explains in the gym’s well-lit waiting room. “We add value to people’s life and they add value to ours.” He adds that he’s often emailing recipes and fitness…
Gold Winner Dee Dee’s Ice Cream Silver Winner Humani-T Cafe, South Park Street Bronze Winner Cows Ice Cream Sure, the perfect location (near the Common) and an old-fashioned school house look (right down to the stained glass and wooden shingles) help underscore Dee Dee’s Ice Cream’s charm, but really, what makes it the best scoop…
Gold Winner EDNA Silver Winner Brooklyn Warehouse Bronze Winner 2 Doors Down “That’s a huge one for me because so many of the new restaurants have opened in the last couple of years, and there’s been a real emphasis on design,” says EDNA’s visionary Jenna Mooers of her Best Atmosphere accolade. Working with Breakhouse, taking…
Gold Winner Dumpster Mummy Silver Winner Tri City Villains Bronze Winner Like A Motorcycle We suppose it follows that the Best Metal Band would also be Best Band To Turn Up Loud. Can’t really have one without the other. Dumpster Mummy has had plenty of practice with deafening decibels—the band just wrapped up a cross-country…
Gold Winner Dumpster Mummy Silver Winner Hitman Bronze Winner Dark Shrine We suppose it follows that the Best Metal Band would also be Best Band To Turn Up Loud. Can’t really have one without the other. Dumpster Mummy has had plenty of practice with deafening decibels—the band just wrapped up a cross-country tour this fall—and…
Gold Winner Joel Plaskett Silver Winner Adam Baldwin Bronze Winner Classified “I’m so happy,” Joel Plaskett says of his three gold Best of wins this year. Although he does a lot of work on his own, the long-time local favourite is reluctant to take all the credit. “I’m really mindful of the fact that my…
Gold Winner Andy Fillmore Silver Winner Geoff Regan Bronze Winner Darren Fisher Andy Fillmore rose to power last October during the red wave of Trudeaumania that elected Canada’s current Liberal government. He bested longtime Halifax MP Megan Leslie in that election, and fittingly takes the crown in our Best of Halifax poll as well, becoming…
Gold Winner Finer Things Antiques and Curios Silver Winner Urban Cottage Antiques & Collectibles Bronze Winner Plan B Merchants’ Co-op With its incredible collection of furnishings and doodads, Finer Things has spent more than a decade helping Haligonians turn good spaces into great ones. But this year, when its Agricola Street lease wasn’t renewed, the…
Gold Winner The Board Room Game Cafe Silver Winner Rockbottom Brew Pub Bronze Winner The T-Room Dating is a roll of the dice at the best of times, so why not literally roll some dice on that awkward first date in a place with a relaxed atmosphere and a great icebreaker. “Playing a board game…
David Romero Friday, November 4, 9pm Saturday, November 5, 1pm $15-$40 Thirty-two years ago David Romero was at home in Andalusia, located in southern Spain. His mother was in the kitchen singing along to flamenco music. Romero began dancing, and didn’t stop. Now an accomplished flamenco dancer based in Barcelona, Romero was a featured artist…
Gold Winner Estelle Thomson Silver Winner Kelly Donald, Moksha Yoga, Halifax Bronze Winner Laura Spencer, Moksha Yoga, Bedford When we reach Estelle Thomson, she sounds every bit as sage as you’d think winner of Best Yoga Instructor would. “I always think, winning doesn’t mean you’re the best but it’s more a nudge from people to…
Gold Winner World Tea House Silver Winner DAVIDsTEA, Spring Garden Road Bronze Winner Humani-T Cafe, South Park Street Coast readers didn’t have to let this decision steep too long—World Tea House is the best cuppa in town for the third time running. After six years in business, Philip Holmans’ destination for organic, fair trade, small-batch…
Gold Winner Burrito Jax, Blowers Street Silver Winner Habaneros Modern Taco Bar, Woodside Bronze Winner Dee Dee’s Ice Cream All three of these winning establishments have something important in common—they’re wrapping up burritos that are approximately the size of a dachshund. Girth matters when it comes to tortillas and their filling, and Burrito Jax scores…
Gold Winner Layers Cakes Silver Winner Scanway Bakery + Cafe Bronze Winner Susie’s Shortbreads, downtown The small storefront on lower Barrington Street beckons, its soft colouring evocative of all the mellow buttercream goodness awaiting inside. Shelves on the walls are loaded with impressive, architectural wedding cakes, but everyone knows it’s the bite-sized pleasures that really…
Gold Winner Attica Furnishings Silver Winner Kept Bronze Winner Homesense, Bayers Lake It’s exciting times for the perpetually winning Attica Furnishings—not only another slam-dunk for Best Furniture and Best Home Decor, but a big move across town from its multi-tiered Barrington Street abode to a flatter flat at Robie and Young. “Four floors was fun…
Gold Winner Dhaba Casual Fine Dining Silver Winner Curry Village Bronze Winner A Taste of India Best of Halifax voters seem to agree with the sentiment that the Junus family restaurant, Dhaba Casual Fine Dining, is the place to eat in Bayers Lake, and the city’s Best Indian food. The authentic dishes of both northern…
Gold Winner Boneheads BBQ Silver Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Bronze Winner Baton Rouge Seven years in business plus seven Best Ribs awards equals pretty flawless, by our math. The Boneheads finger-licking, bone-in ribs win with a slow and steady cook time of anywhere from five to eight hours, says Cindy Wheatley of the…
Gold Winner Garrett Mason Silver Winner Joe Murphy & Water Street Blues Band Bronze Winner Charlie A’Court Busy young ripper Garrett Mason was your no-contest pick for Best Blues Artist, again. The Truro native, Juno nominee and local music royalty—his dad was Dutch—takes the win in stride. “Wow, that makes me feel good. Thank you!…
Gold Winner Halifax Jazz Festival Silver Winner Halifax Pop Explosion Bronze Winner Gridlock Festival If it was ever a question who has stolen your festival-loving heart, this summer clinched it. Lauryn Hill controlled thunder and lightning and took every soul in the Halifax Jazz Festival tent into her hands and blew it all right open.…
Gold Winner El Jones Silver Winner Gabriel Enxuga Bronze Winner Paul Vienneau El Jones’ term as HRM’s poet laureate may be up, but she hasn’t missed a step in remaining one of Halifax’s foundational voices against social injustice. She was instrumental in bringing attention to the inhuman shackling and deportation of Fliss Cramman, held local…
Gold Winner Brendan Maguire Silver Winner Andrew Younger Bronze Winner Lenore Zann For the third straight year, Brendan Maguire takes home gold as Best Member Of The Provincial Legislature, and what a challenging year it’s been. Winding down his first term in office has afforded Maguire the chance to reflect back on policy choices. “Those…
Gold Winner Jeremy Naugler, Sailor Bup’s Barbershop Silver Winner Joel Martell, Oddfellows Barbershop Bronze Winner Jesse Resk, Noreast Barber For Jeremy Naugler, it’s more than “just a haircut—sometimes it’s a chance to escape all the stress people have in their life.” An escape, yes, but also a chance to laugh, as both Naugler and Sailor…
Gold Winner P’lovers, Dartmouth Silver Winner Sattva Boutique Bronze Winner Nurtured P’lovers was an early adopter to the eco-conscious lifestyle when it opened in Halifax 24 years ago, and has remained the go-to retail champions of environmental stewardship ever since, even while the rest of the world slowly comes around probably all too late to…
Gold Winner Jollytails Inc. Silver Winner Pet Valu, Spring Garden Bronze Winner Planet Paws Pet Essentials When Pamela Smith and Tristan Flynn opened Jollytails four years ago, the business did just two things, doggy day care and dog training. But expanding into, first, pet supplies and then grooming has proven successful. “There’s a misconception that…
Gold Winner Moksha Yoga, Halifax Silver Winner Halifax Yoga Bronze Winner RIO Joanna Thurlow’s yoga space on Dresden Row isn’t new to winning Best of Halifax, but she says it’s still emotional, just the same. “Winning the Best of Halifax is always really exciting but it’s also really humbling because it gives me this deep…
Gold Winner Obladee, A Wine Bar Silver Winner Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Heather Rankin says since her bar opened, she’s seen a major spike in people’s interest in not just wine, but what wine they’re drinking. “Six years ago people would be happy with lots of shiraz and New Zealand sauvignon blanc.…
Gold Winner Jackie Torrens Silver Winner Susan Kent Bronze Winner Lucy DeCoutere “Thanks to the kind people who voted for me and other cultural workers,” says the versatile and busy Jackie Torrens, your favourite lady to watch onscreen. “If it’s for my work in Across the Line, then I’d like to thank fellow actor Denis…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery Bronze Winner The Canteen “Business is definitely good,” says the Mic Mac’s Joel Chiasson, which—if you’ve ever eaten there—is pretty obvious. The total landmark isn’t ever not packed to the rafters. “We’re a destination point. People go out of their…
Gold Winner Bowtique Hair & Makeup Silver Winner Stanhope & Company Bronze Winner Spirit Spa Tucked away in a loft above Barrington Street is Bowtique Hair & Makeup. The space,—all exposed brick, floor-to-ceiling-windows and tufted chairs—exudes an easy chicness, just like the long bob you came in to get. Staff here are the kind to…
Gold Winner Pete’s Frootique & Fine Foods, Halifax Silver Winner Mid-East Food Centre Bronze Winner Indian Groceries, Robie Street Alright, alright. We get it, readers. Pete’s is a well-rounded grocery store. You don’t have to rub it in other grocers’ faces with nine consecutive Best Smoothie, nine consecutive Best Salad and four Best International Grocer…
Gold Winner Chef’s Menu Silver Winner Tom’s Family Restaurant Bronze Winner Freeman’s Little New York “Our customers are all always saying ’You’re the best-kept secret!’ and I’m like, ’I don’t want to be the best kept secret! I want everyone to know!’” says Chef’s Menu’s Derrick Giffin. Well, it looks like the secret’s out—at least…
Gold Winner Symphony Nova Scotia Silver Winner Bedford Brass Quintet Bronze Winner Halifax Music Co-op The 37 musicians who comprise Symphony Nova Scotia can surely jam on the classics, but they’re often called upon to play out into more contemporary waters, from the annual Halifax Pop Explosion collab (this year it was Mo Kenney), big-time…
Gold Winner “Work Away,” Classified & David Myles Silver Winner “Clothes Off,” Ria Mae Bronze Winner “Wearing It,” Walrus Classified wears many hats—the pride of Enfield is also a talented producer as well as a rapper, releasing his fifteenth album, Greatful last January. You must respect that hustle. Classified again collaborated with David Myles for…
Gold Winner Ecology Action Centre Silver Winner Solidarity Halifax Bronze Winner Stop the Violence It’s one more Best Activist Organization plaque to hang on the new walls at the Ecology Action Centre’s renovated headquarters on Fern Lane. The EAC moved back into its upgraded, even more energy-efficient saltbox location this past spring—just in time to…
Gold Winner Museum of Natural History Silver Winner Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Bronze Winner Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 The Museum of Natural History should be at the top of this category simply for housing the Best Haligonian, Gus the gopher tortoise. But there are many other reasons too—extreme affordability, the sweet…
Gold Winner Sailor Bup’s Barbershop, Halifax Silver Winner Oddfellows Barbershop Bronze Winner Saint Lou’s Gentlemen’s Barbershop For Jeremy Naugler, it’s more than “just a haircut—sometimes it’s a chance to escape all the stress people have in their life.” An escape, yes, but also a chance to laugh, as both Naugler and Sailor Bup’s owner, Mark…
Gold Winner Alan Dalton, Evolve Fitness Silver Winner Cara Bauld, Third Degree Training Bronze Winner Elana Liberman, Cyclone Group Fitness “Really, it’s about a sense of community,” Matt Benvie, owner of Evolve Fitness, explains in the gym’s well-lit waiting room. “We add value to people’s life and they add value to ours.” He adds that…
Gold Winner Tammy Buchanan, Small Jobs Plumbing Silver Winner Brian Clarke Plumbing & Heating Bronze Winner Ian Cooper Plumbing & Heating Tammy Buchanan played it safe when she decided to go into business for herself: She kept her full-time job working for another plumbing company. But just two months after she and business partner Sherri…
Gold Winner Stillwell Beer Bar Silver Winner Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub Bronze Winner Lot Six “Twenty sixteen was a lot of work, and was really, really rewarding,” says Stillwell’s Chris Reynolds. Between losing the tender for its waterfront beer garden, rebuilding a new, somehow better version of it on Spring Garden Road and keeping…
Gold Winner EDNA Silver Winner Lot Six Bronze Winner Agricola Street Brasserie “That’s a huge one for me because so many of the new restaurants have opened in the last couple of years, and there’s been a real emphasis on design,” says EDNA’s visionary Jenna Mooers of her Best Atmosphere accolade. Working with Breakhouse, taking…
Gold Winner Stephanie MacDonald Silver Winner Jackie Torrens Bronze Winner Andrea Lee Norwood It’s been another play-packed year for actor Stephanie MacDonald, who scooped this award last year too, and she used it to showcase her considerable range. She spent most of May in the harrowing drama The Weekend Healer for KAZAN Co-op, the summer…
Gold Winner Shrek The Musical, Neptune Theatre Silver Winner The Sound of Music, Broadway Atlantic Bronze Winner Creepy and Little Manson, Eastern Front Theatre “I want to thank The Coast’s readers,” says Neptune’s artistic director George Pothitos, who directed your favourite show. “It’s incredibly inspiring for us to be recognized by such a large and…
Gold Winner Andrew Quinn Chapman, AQC Beauty Salon Silver Winner Sarah Lawlor, Kara’s Urban Day Spa Bronze Winner Meg Ryan, Bowtique Hair & Makeup When Andrew Quinn Chapman got the news he’d won Best Hairstylist, he quickly called his mom. “She told me she was so proud of me,” he says. “For a time my…
Gold Winner Ristorante a Mano Silver Winner The Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner La Frasca Cibi + Vini Nothing compares to scarfing down a bowl of tortellini by candlelight. At Ristorante a Mano, manager Melanie Kronbauer says, “Most people come here for the food and then realize that there’s a great ambience as well.” Speaking of…
Gold Winner Pete’s Fine Foods, Dresden Row Silver Winner enVie—A Vegan Kitchen Bronze Winner 2 Doors Down Alright, alright. We get it, readers. Pete’s is a well-rounded grocery store. You don’t have to rub it in other grocers’ faces with nine consecutive Best Smoothie, nine consecutive Best Salad and four Best International Grocer awards. But…
Gold Winner Amanda Riley Silver Winner Samantha Power Bronze Winner Andrew Frelick Chester native Amanda Riley is chasing the big time, recording her latest EP Whiskey Kisses in Nashville—where she won Female Vocalist of the Year at the indie-country Josie Awards in September—and releasing it in August. You’ve noticed her hard work, handing her Country…
Gold Winner Brothers Silver Winner Tri City Villians Bronze Winner Century Egg A mere nine months into its band career, Brothers is thrilled to bits over this win, “blown away” as they put it. Although they’ve only been a band a short while, they’ve put together one slick website and have already started to raise…
Gold Winner Sidney Crosby Silver Winner Ellie Black Bronze Winner Mark de Jonge This city clings to Sidney Crosby’s success like the embarrassing hockey parent we are. Crosby is the local boy done good, who skates around typical hockey bro bravado to work the Tim Hortons’ drive-thru as a goof or ride the Harbour Hopper…
Gold Winner Pacifico Silver Winner The Seahorse Tavern Bronze Winner Reflections Cabaret Pacifico calls itself Halifax’s party playground, and apparently so do our readers. The Salter Street club could probably win based on its disco ball collection alone, but Student Thursdays, Hot Summer Friday Nights and Saturday Dance Parties—where the bar’s resident DJs like Pineo…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) Until 2007, Scotland’s official slogan was Scotland, The Best Small Country in the World. Deciding that wasn’t sufficiently upbeat, the government spent $187,000 on a campaign to come up with something better. Home of Golf and Home of Europe’s Fastest Growing Life Sciences Community were among the proposed phrases…
Gold Winner Rob Scanlan Silver Winner James Dwyer Bronze Winner Don Ranni For proof there’s a lot going on in Halifax real estate, just look at all the construction cranes dotting the skyline. Or scan recent results of this Best of Halifax category. The last time Robert Scanlan took home the gold for Best Real…
Gold Winner Shane Beehan, Lot Six Silver Winner Steve Cross, 2 Doors Down and Temple Bar Bronze Winner Roy Clorey, Roy’s Lounge It’s a hat trick for Shane Beehan, thrice voted the city’s best drink slinger—and he couldn’t be more honoured. “For me to do anything, I have to be inspired,” he says. “There are…
Gold Winner The Old Apothecary Silver Winner Julien’s Patisserie, Bakery & Cafe, Hydrostone Bronze Winner Two If By Sea, Dartmouth Owner Laura MacLeod downplays her business’ rookie success winning Best Bakery. “I do think it’s new kids on the block,” she says. “We’re working as hard as we can. I hope it has something to…
Gold Winner Gateway Meat Market Silver Winner Getaway Farm Butcher Shop, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Bronze Winner Chater Meat Market No, that’s not a typo. While Getaway Farm Butcher Shop has routinely taken home the gold as Halifax’s Best Butcher Shop, this year it’s the similarly-named Gateway Meat Market in Dartmouth that our readers have…
Gold Winner Jennifer Atkinson Silver Winner Estelle Thomson Bronze Winner Emma FitzGerald “This year went off with a bang as I released a month-long art show at Lion & Bright called Songs Inside My Head,” says your favourite artist, acrylic and oil painter Jennifer Atkinson. “I’m passionate in expressing myself through nature inspirations and whimsical…
Gold Winner Peak Audio Silver Winner Best Buy, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Glubes AVU Turning it up to 11 for another year is the north end speaker-heads over at Peak Audio. Come on, don’t be that dude who puts his phone in a glass when the party’s going. Get yourself correct with some new toys from…
Gold Winner Freeman’s Little New York, Quinpool Silver Winner Willy’s Fresh Cut Fries & Burgers Bronze Winner Mezza Lebanese Kitchen, Barrington There aren’t many people you can count on after 3am. We know, we know—sleep is important, but so are late-night snacks. Imperative, even. Lucky for you, Freeman’s is a total nighthawk. Its ringer won’t…
Gold Winner The Canteen Silver Winner Indochine Banh Mi Bronze Winner Pete’s Fine Foods, Dresden Row When Renée Lavallée thinks lunch, she thinks sandwiches, hence why she made the classic item her restaurant’s bread and butter (and meat and cheese). From fried chicken to fried green tomato, crobster rolls to BLT bagels—the lineups (and votes)…
Gold Winner Signal Hill Silver Winner Asia & NuGruv Bronze Winner Bruce & Jay Signal Hill has been on the grind since 1991, nearly as much of it on the road as spent performing Sundays (among other dates) as The Lower Deck’s unofficial house band/success story. “It means a lot that people would take the…
Gold Winner Danny Banfield, Freeman’s Little New York, Sackville Silver Winner Rockbottom Brew Pub Bronze Winner Rockin’ For Dollars, Reflections Cabaret Danny Banfield, the affable host of your choice for Best Open Mic Night, is grateful for the win. Usually, Banfield spends his time making others sound good—that’s what a good open mic host does,…
Gold Winner Kayla Short, Short Presents Silver Winner Colleen O’Dea, Curtains are Open Bronze Winner Halifax ReTales While a background in education might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about blogging, Kayla Short shows it isn’t as much of a leap as you might think. Trained as a teacher but…
Gold Winner The Board Room Game Cafe Silver Winner Point Pleasant Park Bronze Winner Tom’s Little Havana Dating is a roll of the dice at the best of times, so why not literally roll some dice on that awkward first date in a place with a relaxed atmosphere and a great icebreaker. “Playing a board…
Contention centre With a board of directors totally devoid of any convention and meetings experience, and without an experienced president with international presence and a high level of national credibility, the only “high-pitched howl” you are likely to hear from the Nova Centre will be from Nova Scotian taxpayers as they face a level of…
Gold Winner @evilpez4 Silver Winner @HalifaxReTales Bronze Winner @ScotiaPharmacy Andy Bowers topples @ScotiaPharmacy from its ALL-CAPS two-year reign as Halifax’s top tweeter, dropping all the way to third to make room for @evilpez4, with a second-place finish from HRM’s shopping-mall Gossip Girl store-chaser @HalifaxReTales. These people make Twitter worthwhile, Halifax (or at least mildly tolerable,…
Gold Winner Freak Lunchbox, Halifax Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner Sweet Pea Boutique When Freak Lunchbox’s headquarters on Barrington Street moved two doors down in 2015, it made a monstrous splash by hiring Montreal mural artist Jason Botkin to paint a sublime, sea-inspired scene on the side of the building, luring southbound traffic…
Gold Winner Jeremy Waterman, Dilly Dally Coffee Cafe Silver Winner Danielle Archer, The Nook on Gottingen Bronze Winner Laura Arsenault, Java Blend Coffee Roasters Mere months ago, Jeremy Waterman was hired as lead barista at Dilly Dally Cafe to help get the new coffee shop up and running. After about six years in the industry,…
Gold Winner il Mercato Silver Winner Finbar’s Irish Pub Bronze Winner Cha Baa Thai You haven’t lived until you’ve limped your way out of il Mercato with the top button of your pants undone. The Bedford member of the Bertossi Group of Italian-inspired restaurants is always full of life—the clinking glasses, jingling cutlery and hum…
Gold Winner Caley MacLennan Silver Winner Brad Sayeau Bronze Winner Stephanie Young MacLennan and his debut feature Noon Gun swept all the film categories last year, so he’s surprised to find himself winning gold again, especially in a post-tax credit world. “Local filmmakers have been hurt the most,” he says. “We were always feeding off…
Gold Winner Ardmore Tea Room Silver Winner The Armview Restaurant & Lounge Bronze Winner True North Diner A step up from last year’s silver awards, the Ardmore is claiming some glory. This is a classic greasy spoon joint through and through, complete with paper menus, bottomless coffee, cheap eggs and thick milkshakes. Known for its…
Gold Winner The Prince George Hotel Silver Winner Lord Nelson Hotel Bronze Winner The Westin Nova Scotian The elegant Prince George has a lot to offer not just visitors but locals too, and you’ve rewarded it with gold. “It’s absolutely awesome. We pride ourselves on being part of the city,” says general manager Scott Travis.…
Gold Winner Bishop’s Cellar Silver Winner Rockhead Wine + Beer Market Bronze Winner The Port by NSLC Comforting, warm and impeccably balanced is Bishop’s Cellar, the waterfront destination for wine lovers and spirited spirits fans looking for some potent potables sold with expert knowledge. The north end’s Rockhead Wine + Beer Market, meanwhile, has a…
Gold Winner John’s Lunch Silver Winner Evan’s Fresh Seafoods Bronze Winner The Five Fisherman Restaurant & Grill John’s Lunch, its simple, gritty lunch counter and its platters fried of seafood, has been repeatedly dubbed not just the Best Fish & Chips in Halifax (by you, readers) but the best in Canada, too. Most recently, the…
Gold Winner DJ IV Silver Winner Pineo & Loeb Bronze Winner Jules Bangsworth After a couple years out of the gold slot, DJ IV (AKA Brian Pelrine) has returned to claim the top spot he’s familiar with. And no wonder: “Two thousand sixteen has been an amazing and inspiring year for me,” writes Pelrine, whose…
Gold Winner Ria Mae Silver Winner Neon Dreams Bronze Winner Rich Aucoin Ria MacNutt—better known as Ria Mae—doesn’t have as much time to be in Halifax as she used to. But she’s happy she still has “cheerleaders” in her hometown. “I feel like every time I come back to Halifax, everyone’s on my team,” says…
Gold Winner Shannon Francis Silver Winner Tara Scudder Bronze Winner Jill Webb Last year, Kurt Borden upset two-time winner Darren Cobb for the gold, but neither name is found on the podium in 2016. Instead, 2015’s third-place Tara Scudder moves up to silver and newcomer Shannon Francis—who’s been driving for Halifax Transit the last five…
Gold Winner Reflections Cabaret Silver Winner Pacifico Bronze Winner Midtown-Boomers Tavern & Lounge No labels, no rules and unstoppable dance parties are what Reflections is, and has been, about since it opened in 1996. An inclusive dance club from the get-go, Refs is host to drag shows, theme nights, banging DJs, Halifax Pop Explosion showcases…
Gold Winner Halifax Shopping Centre Silver Winner Mic Mac Mall Bronze Winner Sunnyside Mall You might call the Halifax Shopping Centre an underdog of sorts—often out-shined by its giant rival, Mic Mac Mall. But this year, the dark horse prevails. Could this be due to the Shopping Centre’s fancy-ass new food court? It’s like the…
Gold Winner Taz Records, Halifax Silver Winner Obsolete Records Bronze Winner Taz Records, Dartmouth It’s a hopping time to be in the vinyl business, and you’re snapping it up in droves all over town, chiefly at Taz’s airy store on Grafton. “The big thing that sets Taz apart is the selection. We have a vast…
Gold Winner Stillwell Beer Bar Silver Winner Maxwell’s Plum Bronze Winner Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery “Twenty sixteen was a lot of work, and was really, really rewarding,” says Stillwell’s Chris Reynolds. Between losing the tender for its waterfront beer garden, rebuilding a new, somehow better version of it on Spring Garden Road and…
Gold Winner Emma FitzGerald, Hand Drawn Halifax Silver Winner Jan Sebastian LaPierre, A for Adventure Bronze Winner Natalie Corbett Sampson, It Should Have Been A #GoodDay Emma FitzGerald’s beloved illustrations of local buildings and landmarks began by accident, also known as “economic necessity,” says the artist and author of your favourite book, Hand Drawn Halifax.…
Gold Winner Argyle Fine Art Silver Winner Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Bronze Winner The Dart Gallery “We are delighted to hear such great news,” says Argyle Fine Art’s director Adriana Afford, who’s periodically had to peer through scaffolding for months at a time as a shop-owner on Barrington Street. “Construction has been tough, but…
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner Evan’s Fresh Seafoods Bronze Winner Black Sheep Restaurant “Business is definitely good,” says the Mic Mac’s Joel Chiasson, which—if you’ve ever eaten there—is pretty obvious. The total landmark isn’t ever not packed to the rafters. “We’re a destination point. People go out of their way to…
Gold Winner Bookmark Silver Winner Woozles Children’s Bookstore Bronze Winner John W. Doull Bookseller The internet was supposed to have defeated books by now, but printed literature is thriving, as evidenced by your absolute dedication to Spring Garden vet Bookmark. And it’s not just you: “Tourists who would normally come on the boats and stay…
Gold Winner Cha Baa Thai, Halifax Silver Winner Piatto Pizza + Enoteca Bronze Winner Ko Doraku, Brenton Street It’s obvious why people flock to Cha Baa Thai for its lunch specials – they’re affordable, and they have a great variety of both meat and veggie options. One website review calls the masaman curry “heavenly,” but stir…
Gold Winner Chris Haley, The Wooden Monkey, Dartmouth Silver Winner Alissa Maloney, Brooklyn Warehouse Bronze Winner Maggie Phillips, Chives Canadian Bistro “Are you kidding me?! Two years in a row? That is AMAZING!” screams Chris Haley through the phone. Last year Haley won the readers’ choice award too, but his workplace has since changed—he says…
