Best Photographer
In the first-ever running of this category, longtime Coast cover-gal Hannah Thomson was picture perfect, as usual. That’s why she was picked to snap this issue’s cover and the accompanying inside shots you’ve been thrilling to. But you readers showed you’ve got eyes for talent beyond these pages. The race for runner-up was a photo…
Best Retail Bookstore
188 Chain Lake Drive, 450-1023 Yep, Chapters stocks 100,000 titles and hosts a Starbucks café, and there are comfy chairs and big tables to sit at—which for you seems to make up for the fact that you must have a car to get there. Runner-up: Frog Hollow Books 5640 Spring Garden Road, 429-3318
Best Fish & Chips
2603 Connolly Street, 455-5250 When it comes to fish and chips, there’s golden-brown deliciousness, and there’s golden-brown deliciousness. Then there’s Fries and Co. The aroma alone lets you know you’re in for a treat—and the tasting’s only better. Runner-up: Camille’s Four SuperCity locations
Best Tennis Court
It’s in the middle of the city, it’s got nets and it’s free, free, free! Runner-up: Waegwoltic 6549 Coburg Road 429-2822
Most Embarrassing Local Personality
If you’re turning on the television at the crack of dawn, what do you expect? Those crazy kids at Breakfast Television specialize in high-energy all-out nuttiness, and for some reason, that grates on your nerves first thing in the morning. More than half your votes singled out Scott Boyd—or “chaotic blond guy from bt”—who is…
Best Radio Jockey
jc’s days of dominance as a favourite radio voice for you may be numbered, because he recently left the mighty q. But that doesn’t mean he’s leaving the Readers’ Poll—since he took a job at the mightily embarassing Breakfast Television, he’ll likely win something in next year’s Best of. Runners-up: Don Connolly, CBC; Jane Kansas,…
Best Small Theatre Company
Plucky al-fresco theatre troupe Shakespeare by the Sea celebrates its second year as your fave Small Theatre Company. It’s been a banner year for the company, with a ground-breaking production of Henry V at Citadel Hill in September, and a reading of a newly-discovered Shakespearean play in October that may well have been a world…
Best Retail Clothing Store
Winner: Biscuit (tie) Park Lane Mall, 425-5436 Winner: Blue Heron (tie) 5475 Spring Garden Road, 423-0706 You just can’t decide which is the better place to purchase everything you need—from spiffy duds to shoes and sunglasses and other accessories—to get decked out and looking good. So you chose them both. It’s exciting, isn’t it? Runner-up:…
Best Fries
Usually parked on Spring Garden Road in front of the library. Is it the little paper bag that makes them so good? Is it eating them outside that does it? Is it the truck? Or is it just that they’re the best fries in Halifax, period? Runner-up: Fries and Co. 2603 Connolly Street, 455-5250
Best Singer
Transplanted Haligonian or not, Laura Smith is the city’s Best of Halifax survey pick for Best Singer. Her soothing tones have become a landmark in the melée that is the Atlantic Canadian music scene. Crossing the lines of celtic, jazz and folk but at home in none of those categories, the music Smith crafts with…
Most Feared Hairstylist
You know the feeling you get when you foolishly let your roommate cut your hair one night in a fit of drunken fun, and then a couple days later you run into your hairstylist and they look at you like you’re cheating on them, and they say “what the hell happened to your hair, you’d…
Best SuperCity Councillor
Mr. B’s frankness may have distinguished him from the pack this year. Remember when he went on record saying sometimes meetings go late and councillors get tired and make bad decisions? How could you forget? Runners-up: Mayor Walter Fitzgerald & Sheila Fougere (tie) Honourable mentions: Howard Epstein (unfortunately, he’s an MLA now) Yeah, right
Best Writer
The SuperCity’s premier surf poet has just released his 50th book—a novel called World Enough—to coincide with his 50th birthday. “It’s a contemporary novel, about life and death and the whole thing,” says Choyce, who was “shocked and surprised” to hear he’d been named Best Writer by The Coast’s readers. The choice Choyce will also…
Best Second-Hand Bookstore
1684 Barrington Street, 429-1652 jwd is a magical bookwormy world. The smell of the place is attic-y and good—it reeks of literacy. It’s not unusual to get there around noon on a Saturday and emerge, blinking and disoriented—in the best way—a couple of hours later. Runner-up: Attic Owl 5802 South Street, 422-2433
Best Coffee (Espresso-based)
2854 Robie Street, 484-0111 Yes, Steve-O-Reno is a little surly in a sweet kind of way when you’ve just woken up and you’re at his drive-thru shop or Farmer’s Market stand needing a fix, but then, the fix is so satisfying you just end up praising his coffee genius on the first taste. Best of…
Best Bar
1663 Argyle Street, 423-7463 For the second year running, Halifax’s “culture dome”—the cluster that includes the Shoe Shop, the Diamond and the Backstage—is our readers’ favourite place to quaff an ale. Runner-up: Velvet Olive Corner of Market and George Streets, 492-2233
Worst Corner at Which to Be a Pedestrian
Ahh…the willowtree. Yes, crossing Quinpool and Robie can be daunting. Pay attention to the signals and watch for broken brake lights.
Best View
Also should be recognized as Best Place to Escape to in Case of Tidal Wave, Most Daunting Lawn to Mow and Biggest Boulevard Divider. Runner-up: From Dartmouth Honourable mention: Of cute guys
Best Acupuncturist
Eastwind Health Associates, 2176 Windsor Street, 422-3760 Since moving to Halifax nearly a decade ago from his native Seattle—via Boulder, Colorado—Kermit has used Sticktoitiveness to build a loyal local following and become Halifax’s Best Acupuncturist. News of his wonderful touch has also spread far and wide, and he was once commissioned to lay the healing…
Best Second-Hand Clothing Store
209 Chain Lake Drive, 450-5134 Beautifully cheap second-hand clothes—even without the frequent half-price sales—and so many crazy treasures! Runner-up: Frenchy’s Bayers Road Shopping Centre, 453-1494 Related Stories
Best Patio
5686 Spring Garden Road, 423-6766 High above Spring Garden Road, you can quaff an ale or nosh on pub food outside, and no one at street-level will even know you’re up there. Runner-up: Argyle Bar and Grill 1575 Argyle Street, 492-8844
Best Barkeep
The Dome & My Apartment (1726-1740 Argyle Street, 421-1655); Velvet Olive (Corner of Market and George Streets, 492-2233) (tie) Donny’s co-workers say he’s best described as “the guy with the ponytail.” They also say that ponytail, by the way, is tweed-coloured. Donny is fast, all pizzazz: “he’s world-renowned for flippin’ a beer bottle, lighting someone’s…
Worst Dramatic Performance by a Restaurant Server
This category generated lots of different answers—and no clear winner. People tend to remember vague characteristics of questionable servers, but not their actual names. We got a lot of “girl who got flowers,” “she hates columnist Nick Zinck,””pineapple incident” and so on. Maybe servers throughout the SuperCity are keeping their drama mainly to themselves these…
Best Waiter
Libertine, 1463 Brenton Street, 429-3499 Your pick was praised by Sally’s boss and Libertine co-workers, who made this joint statement articulating what makes her the Best: “She can serve and answer all of her customers’ varied requests without being fake, a clone or robot-like.” No word on whether they share tips with her. Runner-up: Pearl…
Best Bank
24 SuperCity locations, 1-800-769-2511 There’s no end, it seems, to the complaints people have about banks—almost every respondent in the Readers’ Poll answered this question, and more than a few said there were no good banks at all, let alone a Best Bank. But of those who’ve found fiduciary satisfaction, most chose Royal. Runner-up: Credit…
Best Second-Hand Record Store
Five SuperCity Locations, 422-8946 If you’re looking to buy or sell used cds, Urban Sound Exchange is your favourite place to do it—the stuff’s cheap, the selection is wide. Runner-up: Taz 1588 Argyle Street, 422-5976
Best Pita Sandwich
Two SuperCity locations It’s a new category this year, in a city suddenly mad for anything in a pita, and Pita Boys have it all wrapped up. Runner-up: Mikey’s 5680 Spring Garden Road, 425-6453
Best Cigar Store
1573 Barrington Street, 422-4544 Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar. And when that’s all you want, you head to Sievert’s. The venerable old shop—on Barrington since 1909—offers all kinds of cigars, including the premium Trinidad. If you’re looking to celebrate with one of those babies, it’ll cost you around $41. Runner-up: MacDonald Tobacco 1903…
Worst Politician
He may be your favourite Halifax booster, but it doesn’t mean you think he can run the SuperCity. Mayor Fitzgerald beat out a host of other contestants—among them John “Senator Buke” Buchanan, John “Go to Hell” Savage and “those who speak doubletalk”—to earn your unalloyed scorn. Runner-up: Russell MacLellan
Best Gallery
Becoming the Best Gallery doesn’t happen overnight. For the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, it’s a process that started a long time ago. In fact, it was a decade ago. Exactly. This weekend the agns is having its tenth birthday, and you’re invited to help celebrate. When you go down on Saturday or Sunday, be…
Best Comics Store
5262 Sackville Street, 425-2140 You’ve got a yen for x-men. Where do you go? Strange Adventures, of course. Besides being chosen Best Comics Store by you Haligonians, Strange Adventures also bears the distinction of having actually been featured in a Superman comic book. Doesn’t it give you a little frisson? Runner-up: Wilkie’s Wonderful World 2398…
Best Veterinarian
2601 Robie Street, 455-7297 When your sweet little Sparky gets hit by a car, or just mysteriously starts puking all over the place, the kind saviours at Woodbury Animal Hospital fix him up nice and send him home to cuddle with you. Runner-up: Dr. David Hamilton 6293 Quinpool Road, 422-8595
Best Pizza Pie
5173 South Street, 425-7111 This is always a hotly contested category—two years ago it was Thomasino’s, last year Salvatore’s prevailed and this year Thomasino’s is back on top. Of course, the real winner is you, dear reader, who gets a choice of the finest pizza places on the eastern seaboard. Runner-up: Salvatore’s 5541 Young Street,…
Best Gay Bar
5184 Sackville Street, 422-2957 Reflections—with its fabulous mirrored interior, drag queens-a-go-go and a theme almost every night of the week—continues as queen of the category, three years and counting. Runner-up: Buddy’s 1537 Barrington Street, 425-4297
Worst SuperCityCouncil Decision
What you really hate is amalgamation—twice as many of you cited that as did those who cited composters as worst decision. But amalagamation, loathesome though it may be, was a bad provincial decision. Strangely, you also voted composters best SuperCityCouncil decision. Go figure. Runners-up: Garbage and Bishop’s Landing (tie)
Best Actor
What is it you love about him? Is it his boyish good looks? His snarky, sarcastic world view? His biting Newfoundland humour? Or is it his high-visibility? Mercer swept this category for the second year in a row, along with local celebrity and local television personality. Runner-up: Walter Borden
Best Cop
Today marks officer Harnish’s eighth anniversary as a Halifax Regional Police officer. And look what a nice anniversary present he’s been given. If you’re looking for officer Harnish to congratulate him, you’ll find him patrolling central division—that’s downtown Halifax to you and I. Runner-up: Larry Shortt Recently-retired constable Larry Shortt was one of the key…
Best Yoga Instructor
823-2746 Jody Myers has been teaching yoga at various locations for 19 years. Myers says her favourite yoga position is the tree. “I sleep in it! I like balance. Balance is a perspective I like to take in life, so I really like that position.” Chances are Jody will make you balanced too. Runner-up: Jody…
Best Restaurant (Established)
5475 Spring Garden Road, 422-2866 When it comes to eating out, Il Mercato—with its delicious antipasto, fantastic desserts and great daily specials—is a Halifax favourite. This year’s winner and runner-up are owned by a husband and wife team: she owns one, he owns the other, everybody wins. Runner-up: Da Maurizio 1496 Lower Water Street, 423-0859
Best Place for a Cocktail
Corner of Market and George Streets, 492-2233 A swanky atmosphere, with lush curtains and plush cushions, plus a fantastic selection of cocktails, make the Olive our readers’ favourite place to sip—or even gulp—a cocktail or two. Runner-up: Mokka Ultrabar 1588 Granville Street, 492-4036
Best Activist
These names are probably familiar to you, but they’re definitely well-known to their enemies—the forces of evil and oppression. With this crew of activists on the job, the world will be a better place for all of us, which really makes them the best. Janet Connors is famous for her ongoing fight against the tainted…
Best Architect
Nationally-celebrated architect Brian Mackay-Lyons’ snazzy little Best Architect plaque will look just so next to his Governor-General Awards. Runner-up: David Garrett
Best Dentist
5991 Spring Garden Road, 423-7333 Dr. Naugler has been practicing on Spring Garden Road since he graduated in 1976….straight into practice. His secretary has been with him since ‘77, so he must be alright. She says he’s “very fun, he really is. He loves to laugh and it sure makes everything easier.” Dr. Naugler himself…
Best All-you-can-eat
201 Chain Lake Drive, 450-1826 Serving everything from pasta to sushi, this is the place to eat if you’re big and you’re hungry. Runner-up: Mother Tucker’s 1668 Lower Water Street, 422-4436
Best New Restaurant
1579 Dresden Row, 425-8888 It’s small, its front door is tucked away down an alley and it is another sushi resto in the SuperCity’s seemingly sushi-saturated market. So how did Doraku manage to excel? It must have something to do with serving excellent food. Runner-up: Brewdebaker’s 612 Windmill Road, 468-1059
Best Place For A First Date
5244 Blowers Street, 429-3551 Its labrynthine hallways, dark caverns, smoky atmosphere and obscurely-located bathrooms give first-daters plenty to bond over while soaking up the intimate, romantic ambiance and decadent cheesecake. Runner-up: Café Mokka 1588 Granville Street, 492-4036
Best Cartoonist
It’s a strange thing about Halifax’s daily newspapers: While how bad—or good—they are is a matter of debate, clearly neither is terribly well-respected on the national newscape. (To be fair, few local papers across Canada are; the Ottawa Citizen and Toronto’s Star are exceptions.) But Metro’s two daily cartoonist are widely regarded as among the…
Best Artist
Guy-on-the-scene Mitchell Wiebe—he of last year’s 2,500 superballs and the ever-popular wicker donkey—edges out last year’s best artist Mike Lewis in a hotly-contested race. Runner-up: Mike Lewis
Best Doctor
1466 Queen Street, 420-1011 Back in 1994, Dr. Bob was one of our “94 people who make Halifax happen.” And look, here he is winning Best Doctor in the estimation of our readers. Such harmony! Anyhow, Dr. Bob’s compassion and open-mindedness are legendary in Halifax—after all, he helped establish the Nova Scotia Persons With Aids…
Best Bagel
Four SuperCity locations With a new bagel competitor popping up every month, it seems, Bagel Works runs circles around the others in our readers’ hearts—it has won Best Bagel three years in a row. Runner-up: Great Canadian Bagel Numerous SuperCity locations
Best Sushi Restaurant
1576 Argyle Street, 425-7785 Topping the honour roll are Dharma’s honourable rolls. This Argyle Street institution supplements a great sushi experience with the tastiest ginger salad dressing around, and wallet-friendly lunch specials. Runner-up: Doraku 1579 Dresden Row, 425-8888
Best Place To Dance When Trying To Get Laid
1721 Brunswick Street, 429-5959 When you’re looking for a little warm companionship, you know you’ll find some amid the flashing lights and grinding beats at the New Palace. Runner-up: The Dome 1726-1740 Argyle Street, 421-1655
Best Columnist
This category is always an interesting battle, with Dan Savage’s second crowning in three years unseating the Daily News’ page two boy, David Swick, ‘97’s Best Columnist. Maybe Dan’s exciting year—three local cops went around to businesses and encouraged them not to advertise in The Coast because of “Savage Love,” plus he journeyed east from…
Best Band
Though you also chose Sloan-related occurrences for the Most Disappointing Moment in Local Music category, the Halifax-via-Toronto foursome is still number one with you. After a tour of western Canada and a trip to Japan, they’ll be back in Halifax to play a couple shows at the end of November, if you want to express…
Best Graffiti Artist
“He’s one of these guys who has introduced grafitti to a lot of people,” says Revolution Records’ Nick Nonsense, who knows a thing or two about grafitti. “He painted the big mural on the back of the Elegant Dump on Barrington Street—he did some excellent work there. He’s very good at what he does.” Runner-up:…
Best Hairstylist
1585 Barrington Street, 423-5400 Edging out Colin Jackson in this hotly-contested category, Fred Connors tells you what’s what and does the deal on your hair in style. Runner-up: Colin Jackson 1659 Argyle Street, 421-1179
Best Burger
1463 Brenton Street, 429-3499 Sometimes, a burger is just a burger. At the Libertine, it’s high art. Juicy, savoury and a little spicy, it’s served on a toothsome toasted bun with crisp lettuce and tomato and piquant tarragon mayonnaise. Yum. Runner-up: Burger King Four SuperCity locations
Best 24-hour Place
1726 Grafton Street, 425-0500 Sometimes, you just gotta eat in the middle of the night. You say the best place to do this is the Apple Barrel, where all the portions, even those called “small,” are made for giants. Runner-up: Sobeys 13 SuperCity locations, and rapidly expanding across Canada
Best Place To Dance Without Trying To Get Laid
5184 Sackville Street, 422-2957 Presumably, if you’re gay, dancing at Reflections might be one step on the road to getting laid. But for straight readers, Reflections is the number one choice for those who just wanna dance. Or wanna just dance. Runner-up: The Marquee Club 2037 Gottingen Street, 429-3020
Best Columnist You Never Read
You probably don’t bother reading his Daily News efforts because you know he’s just going to say the same old racist, conservative claptrap. But at least he’s the Best at doing it. Runner-up: Dan Savage
Best DJ
Man-about-town and Beastie Boys pal Rich Terfry isn’t only the sweetest magazine seller around and Haligonian with the most pseudonyms, he’s the Best dj too. Runner-up: Michel Deveau
Best Indie Filmmaker
Yes, The Hanging Garden was lushly fantastic, but what has Thom Fitzgerald done for you lately? You don’t seem to mind that his latest film—Beefcake, the one with all the actra trouble—has yet to hit the screens. For you, a little international success goes a long way. Runner-up: Mike Clattenburg
Best Library
5381 Spring Garden Road, 490-5700 Yes, people eat sandwiches loudly in the magazine section and sometimes it’s a little difficult to find what you’re looking for, but urban charm has got the Main Branch library on the top of the book stack this year. Runner-up: hrl Alderney Gate Branch 60 Alderney Drive, 490-5745
Best Chinese Restaurant
6430 Quinpool Road, 423-2587 Everyone has their favourite King Wah dish, whether it’s the scrumptious pineapple shrimp, the tangy orange ginger beef or the (fill in positive adjective) (fill in nearly any item off the menu). If the Quinpool area’s really turning into our China Town, the King is the undisputed ruler. Runner-up: Cheelin Restaurant…
Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurant
1581 Grafton Street, 422-3540 For the past three years, you’ve expressed your satisfaction with Halifax’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. Runner-up: Heartwood Bakery & Café 6250 Quinpool Road, 425-2808
Best Place to Drink Alone
1663 Argyle Street, 423-7463 Of course, you’re never really alone in Halifax, are you? Especially at the Shoe Shop, where you’re bound to see someone you know. And if you really want to drink alone, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in. Runner-up: Seahorse Tavern 1659 Argyle Street, 423-7200
Best Drag Queen
Whether telling dirty jokes as a host or performing, Lu Lu makes all men wonder what they’d look like in a pair of tights and with some extra boobs. Runner-up: Dixie Landers
Best Live Music Venue
Another scene-centric Greg Clark-run venue with the added bonus of the smooshy Syperek paint effect. Well of course it won. Runner-up: The Blues Corner
Best Music Supply Store
6065 Cunard Street, 496-6900 MusicStop has got what you need to be in the next wave of Halifax bands. Runner-up: Buckley’s Music Centre 2713 Robie Street, 429-5588
Best Club Sandwich
1571 Barrington Street, 423-4403 Turkey or chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato layered between slices of wholewheat or white toast. You love club Med. And who can blame you? Runners-up: Bluenose II (1824 Hollis Street, 425-5092) & Apple Barrel (1726 Grafton Street, 425-0500) (tie)
Best Bike Store
6112 Quinpool Road 492-4236 You know the place—they had that big beautiful PeeWee Herman bike in the window for ages. The staff is friendly, helpful and accessible, too. Runner-up: Bike People 1471 Birmingham Street 420-0777
Best Place to Drink With a Crowd
Historic Properties, 425-1501 When the pipes, the pipes are calling big crowds of people together to hoist ales and yell “sociable,” this is where they go to do it. Runner-up: Economy Shoe Shop 1663 Argyle Street, 423-7463
Best Halifax Booster
Luckily for the mayor, the category asked for Halifax, not the amalgamated Regional Municipality. Runner-up: The Coast
Best Local Daily Newspaper
There was once a time when the Daily was run on a shoestring by people who were willing to work hard and sacrifice because, even without a lot of resources or an owner from a newspaper tradition, the upstart paper was at least as good as the competition. Readers could feel that scrappy energy and…
Best Newsstand / Magazine Store
5560 Morris Street, 429-5468 Mags, rags, milk and bread, and all in the same wonderful spot for 25 years. Did the News’ recent silver anniversary push it over the edge to win this hotly-raced category? Runner-up: Daily Grind 5686 Spring Garden Road, 429-6397
Best Coffee
1570 Argyle Street, 423-7100 When it comes to your morning—or afternoon, or evening—jolt, you like to get yours at Trident, a smoke-free environment where you can also pick up a good used book, and usually see a Halifax celebrity or two. Runner-up: Tim Hortons A zillion SuperCity locations
Best Golf Course
New Ashburn Waverley, 861-2978 Old Ashburn (tie) Dutch Village Road,443-8260 This place is a veritable institution…it’s been around since 1922. When it was created, it was on the edges of Halifax, but now, Halifax has grown around it, making it “an attractive natural setting in the middle of the city,” according to its general manager.…
Best Place to Get Bent
1883 Granville Street, 422-4411 When I turned 19, many years ago, I went to J.J.’s twice a week to drink vodka and limes for $2.20 a pop. I don’t know if the bar still has that special, but it was a great place to get bent then and must be the same now. Runner-up: The…
Best Local Celebrity
He’s HaliFamous! Runner-up: Cathy Jones
Best Local TV Personality
When you think television, actor or celebrity, Halifax, you think Rick Mercer. And who can blame you? He seems to become more ubiquitous with each passing day, what with his new show on cbc—that’s Made In Canada to you—and his mug plastered everywhere from Report on Business magazine to newspaper tv guides from here to…
Best Massage Therapist
1451 Brenton Street, 429-2225 Set in the awesome Santa Fe atmosphere of Mesa Therapeutics, Martha “magic fingers” Hunter knows just how to take the pain away. Runner-up: Peter Goodman Eastwind Health Associates, 2176 Windsor Street, 422-3760
Best Desserts
5244 Blowers Street, 429-3551 La Cave takes the cake for the second year in a row. Their cheesecakes are legendary, and the cozy cavernous interiour somehow makes desserts seem even sweeter. Runner-up: Dio Mio Gelato 5670 Spring Garden, 492-3467
Best Place To Skate
Ice skate: Frog Pond (Purcell’s Cove Road) Skateboard: Commons bowl Yes, we ought to have specified what we meant. But then, what did we mean? Both, I guess. Regardless, soon the Frog Pond will be ripe for the picking and the bowl, well, soon it won’t be.
Best Place to Pick Up a Breeder
1721 Brunswick Street, 429-5959 The flashing lights, the pounding dance music, the cheap shots, the exposed flesh—the whole Palatial joie de vivre, basically—combine to make this your favourite place to pick up a breeder. Runner-up: The Dome 1726-1740 Argyle Street, 421-1655
Best Place That Won’t Let You Forget You’re in Halifax
Except when Shakespeare By The Sea’s production of Henry V realistically turned the fort into both England and France. Runner-up: Halifax waterfront
Best Musician
What do you get when you put a virtuoso violinist, a salt of the earth songsmith and a cool jazz grandaddio together? Why, a three-way tie for Halifax’s Best Musician, that’s what.
Best Sex-toy Shop
5365 Inglis Street, 422-0004 Shelley Taylor at Venus Envy hits the sweet spot. She orders ‘em in and ships ‘em out to smiling women all over the SuperCity. Runner-up: Sister Sarah’s 6054 Quinpool Road, 423-0827
Best Donair
Six SuperCity locations Apparently, they don’t call him the King for nothing. When our readers want to wrap themselves in juicy donair goodness, they make their way to the monarch. Runner-up: Tony’s Five SuperCity locations
Best Pool / Gym
6260 South Street 494-3372 Bust your butt in sweaty style with aerobics and cardio machines and breathe in the lovely oxygen at Dalplex. Runner-up: ymca 1565 South Park Street 423-9622
Best Place to Pick Up a Queer
1584 Sackville Street, 422-2957 So, Reflections just installed this crazy smoke machine thingy on its ceiling. The frequent emissions add an air of mystery to the dance floor—it may well be the best place to pick up a queer, though you might be surprised when you get him or her home. Runner-up: Citadel Hill
Best Place To Feel Like You’re Not In Halifax
When you find certain places off the beaten path, away from the dog conventions and joggers, the park feels like it’s in another country. Or the country, period. Runner-up: Dartmouth Honourable mention: The secret spot
Best Open Mic Night
If you’re just getting started in music or you simply enjoy noodling around in front of an audience, an open mic venue can be your best friend. And at the Tickle Trunk, if you play an open mic night—like Rasta Gumbo or Johnny Favourite did— there’s a good chance you’ll be hired later to play…
Best Place To Buy Shoes
Mic Mac Mall, 464-1688 You’ve got to put something on your feet, and isn’t it comforting to know that you can get the same pair at an Aldo in Halifax as you’d be able to get at an Aldo in Montréal or Toronto (both cities, by the way, were popular answers to this question). Runner-up:…
Best Falafel
Scotia Square, 492-0233 When it comes to falafel, Ray’s can’t be beat—not this year, not last year, not the year before that. And when you go for a visit, don’t be put off by the long lines: Ray’s is probably the fastest falafel in the whole world, too. Runner-up: Mediteraneo 1571 Barrington Street, 423-4403
Best Spa
Park Lane Mall 423-3888 Three words—algae body wrap. You get covered in warm, green mud, packaged in plastic wrap and a duvet and you cook, cocooned, for half an hour. The wonderful atmosphere, fantastic services and service at The Summit will keep you coming back for mud, er, more. Runner-up: Interlude 58 Ochterloney Street 469-2700…
Most Disappointing Moment In Local Music
Though you laud Sloan as Halifax’s Best Band, you’ve got some problems with them—everything from them breaking up to them not breaking up, with lots of bitterness about the band moving to Toronto. You’re almost as disappointed that the Inbreds called it quits. Runner-up: Inbreds breakup
Best Professor
Sorry, there weren’t enough data points collected from the field, so this category’s results were inconclusive.
