We CKD Love U
Monday, November 18 marks day one of CKDU 88.1FM’s annual funding drive, a week packed with events and a constant (reassuring?) on-air pledge-a-thon in support of the campus community station. Why should you fork it over? Get this: CKDU is open to all, with free monthly orientations for students and community members and over 100…
Heart to Heartbeat
Filmed over five brisk fall weeks in Halifax, Emmy-nominated director Andrea Dorfman’s (Parsley Days, Love That Boy) newest film, Heartbeat wrapped last week, to be released by Mongrel Media in 2014. I had the good fortune of being a part of it—full disclosure, I play a small role as a musician in the film—and having…
Hal-Con wrap up
Long lines, dozens of Doctor Who costumed fans and one funny Billy Dee Williams. Hal-Con was a maddening convention that was the most successful in the city’s history. More than 10,000 attendees, mostly dressed in costume, stood in long lines to meet their heroes. Volunteers and staff were overwhelmed as large crowds were forced to…
The Dragons’ Den has love for Hope Blooms
It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood for the amazing crew of community farmers—and budding young entrepreneurs—over at Hope Blooms. The community project, started by North End Community Health’s Jessie Jollymore in 2008, has turned an abandoned chunk of land into a flourishing community garden and greenhouse over the last few years. It’s engaged 40-plus…
Bring in your damn cats
I work overnights near West and Agricola. Every night there are cats (with collars!) wandering around yowling to be let in. In particular I see a black one and a very small brown/white one almost every night. It is the middle of November, people. It gets cold out at night. What the hell is wrong…
Brunswick and Cornwallis Christmas Lights
You guys are so cute! Awesome window display. Happy (early) Holidays! —Hope there is more to come
Purple Carrots
To whomever took all of the beautiful plump purple carrots from our Common Roots Plot: I hope you needed them more than us. That would be all that could justify the heartbreak that is felt. —Winter Harvestless
Snow storm sorry!
It was a snowy, poor visibility night Tuesday on Gottingen and I didn’t see the stop sign until too late. Thank you for breaking. I deserved that beep and I’m so sorry! —hope everyone got home safe
To Bitchy Wheels and Her Sidekick Captain Obnoxious
To the complete ass-shat in the wheelchair on the #1 bus Tuesday morning: what the fuck was that? You’re quiet the whole ride, then immediately after scooting down the ramp at your stop you start screeching your bloody head off about the driver “harassing you”? Feel vindicated all you want with your police threats, but…
To an Irish Jew…
To the cute Newfie I brought home from the bar the other night – sorry for acting cold afterwards. I hadn’t done anything like that in a while and wasn’t sure how to approach it. We had good conversations that night and you actually seemed like a really chill, nice guy. Just wanted to apologize…
Guess it could go in your otter box…..
I work in a relatively large place, and am tired of seeing women of all ages reach into their boulder holders to get their phones out. Put it in your massive purse, your pocket or anywhere else. It is not appropriate for me to adjust my package when it shifts during transport, why is this…
Wrong Way
I am just in shock at how you decided to break the law and then have the audacity to yell at me for following the law and getting in your way. There are posted 2 signs and painted letters ALL saying DO NOT ENTER, ONE WAY and yet you get mad at me when I…
Sunflower Admirer
It was easy to see your sorrow over the decapitated sunflower. I was glad to have overheard so that I could give you the sunflower piece of mind that you needed. To ease your instant pang of utter disappointment in humanity. To stop the sinking of your heart. It was never my plan, to decapitate…
Goose
You are the most patient man I have ever known. My heart is immortally yours. You never cease to amaze or surprise me. I would spend the rest of my life playing backseat trivial pursuit with you if you’d have me (and all my crazy). I pledge to end every night with a smile or…
Random act of animal kindness
I saw you wrap your coat around a dog while you had a smoke outside the memorial. I’m sure you were cold, but you obviously have one of the warmest hearts possible. —Glad there are people like you
Fast times at Nova Scotia Music Week
As Team Coast’s official Cape Breton ambassador I stepped up to the plate to attend Nova Scotia Music Week— Music Nova Scotia’s annual week of wonderment and sleep deprivation— this weekend in Sydney, my hometown. Mostly I felt the need to make an appearance to defend against any and all burns against Cape Bretoners, and…
Warning incoming game
To the woman who made me feel fantastic at a certain nerd convention before it turned into the red wedding the day after. I felt out of place yet you randomly pulled me out of the crowd and talked to me about an amazing 90’s television show that shares the same name of a thing…
Nerd/Geek Love
I just wanted to say a big thank-you to the organizers of Hal-Con. When things went awry on Saturday you were the first ones to call yourselves out on it and try to make the best of a shitty situation. You did what you could with the mess you were faced with, immediately issuing refunds…
Ineffectual Male
You made my summer hell. Every moment I spent with you I felt sick and embarrassed. All I wanted was friendship, but your c-chasing got in the way. Your red silk shirt made some beautiful pillowcases. By the way I know it was your fault I lost my job. And also, I did steal your…
No love for Halifax stand up
I understand that the “Best Of” awards are voted on by readers. And that makes it even more sad that the winner of the Best Comedy Night in Halifax is not, in fact, even a comedy show. Nothing at all against the winner, a very entertaining show, but not stand up comedy. One of the…
It Could Have Been Me!
What does it take to get some cross-walk lights up on Dutch Village Road??? Tonight, I unfortunately witnessed the aftermath of an individual who had been hit by a car – this was at the exact cross-walk I use twice a day, every single day. Who knows – had I left work a few minutes…
House stars
What do they mean? Is it a club? A cult? A conspiracy? Does having a large metal star on your domicile increase one’s property value? Is it to get Santa’s attention? Or God’s? Do they deflect evil spirits? Or alien probes? —what about a sun? or a smiley face?
Heartbreak and Wine and All Things Devine..
If something doesn’t directly affect your life, why do you care about it? I hardly put effort into things that do concern me, much less something that concerns someone else, and has nothing to do with me at all. I overhear uproarious conversations all the time, this person’s opinion vs that person’s opinion, and all…
Ignorence is not hip
Following fashion trends is one thing, I get that. Hair trends, I get that too. Being tattooed is a trend that has been growing for years, and as a heavily tattooed person, I love seeing other people become interested in the industry, supporting local artists, and displaying a variety of styles and culture through this…
for the gzzs
shout out to the local rap scene (rappers, DJs, videographers). Keep it up. — #gbooty
Married Caper Teachers
Just wanted to say for people in charge of educating our youth….you guys set a horrible example… [deleted], did you think people didnt notice you snorting in the bathroom on your wedding night? Or that you cant go a weekend with out getting hammered…And [deleted]..what about you? Are you only with her because shes drunk…
NSLC monopoly
I’ve rarely encountered such a paternalistic out-dated indefensible-yet-invincible vampiric morass as the NSLC. Small business/entrepreneur killers, inexplicable price-fixers beyond any reasonable criteria, reliably keeping Nova Scotia in the fucking alcoholic dark ages relative to most of North America and Europe. Now you’re advertising Coors? Another immensely shitty import for the same price as a bottle…
at least he has great benefits…
You loudly name dropped your way through breakfast, and now I get sad listening to my favorite CBC radio 2 show because you said the host hates his job. —sitting at the next booth
Survival of the fattest
I hate when fat people smack their lips when eating food, it’s almost like they want people to know their eating it they can’t control it. I have to keep reminding a couple fat coworkers to please stop smacking their lips in the office it’s distracting. This is going on the second year and I’m…
Dear Metro Transit Haters
We see ‘Love the way we bitch’ posts regarding Metro Transit a fair bit sometimes and I would like to politely say enough already! I’ve had my moments when I’ve been frustrated, more often than not, it’s a smooth transit. My number one complaint about being a MT passenger when I have one, usually is…
Senate Expense Issues
Get back to work MP’s!!! You are wasting OUR TAX DOLLARS debating this “alleged” scandal. There are people jobless, homeless, and doctorless. The list goes on and on. I am sure if one were to tally up the money and time being wasted on this, it would be outrageously more than the dollar figures that…
Dog Poo Pick Up
Dog poo bags. Not compostable, but biodegradable. Somewhere in the world dog poo bag factories are mass producing plastic bags and destroying our environment with their toxic emmisions! So why do we buy these bags to pick up a natural furtilazer only to throw the whole thing into the landfill? —poo bag protester
Bus Terminal Superman
I was frantically dashing diagonally across the Dartmouth bus terminal to catch the 52 when my keys fell out of my pocket! I thought I was done for. But before I even had time to come to a full stop and turn around, you had already picked them up and were handing them to me!…
Ignorant Private School Parents
Why don’t you people learn what a no parking sign looks like?? I have never encountered such a pack of ignorant, disrespectful, inconsiderate, and lazy bunch of “adults” in my life. How about having some respect for the people who live in the neighborhood in which your school is located. I know you are all…
Please, put a bike lane on Agricola St.
Too many loading trucks, doors to dodge and angry yuppies who think the street is 4 lanes wide. —Just do it.
Facebook is not the way to get Psychiatric Help
This is for the pathetic, most annoying person I’ve met. Just stop it. You use Facebook as an outlet to spew out all these, psychotic, uncomfortable and barely articulated things. All Day. Like how you’re going to kill yourself if you don’t get a girlfriend, and how all women “neglect” you. You write paragraphs of…
Class isn’t done yet!
To all you jerks who start packing up your notebooks, laptops, and books 5-10 minutes before class is even over… STOP IT!!!!!! It’s extremely disruptive, not to mention RUDE! —J
Dear You
Today I received tough news and it has me thinking about my life to this point. We’ve gone our separate ways (and it’s for the better), but I thought I needed to make the time to say things to you that have been too long in coming. Thank you for the lessons on love, on…
Crosswalk Avenger wants city to paint lines
Devin Way wants white lines to mark every crosswalk. The man who calls himself “the Crosswalk Avenger” has been protesting at intersections across the peninsula with a sign that reads: “Mark the crosswalks so there are no more fatalities or wrongdoings by anyone. We can make a difference.” He’s gathered nearly 400 signatures in the…
JONO sues city over St. Pat’s-Alexandra
JONO Developments is taking the city to court over its mismanagement of the St. Pat’s-Alexandra ordeal. The company alleges it suffered financial damages “as a result of HRM’s negligence in failing to follow its policies and procedures.” JONO lost profits, legal fees, miscellaneous expenses and interest on a deposit for the site, lawyer David Coles…
Newcombs Ink to offer free nipple tattoos to survivors of breast cancer
While women fight a battle to stay alive, their struggle against breast cancer is often diminished in patronizing media campaigns that aim to “save the boobies.” But being sexualized is a hell of a lot different than being able to feel sexy. Which is why for many women, reconstructing their bust can be an act…
10.99 FOR FRISKIES, BITCH?
I went to the grocery store for a few groceries the other day. The fucking cashier overcharged me for not one, not two, but THREE items! Of course I realized this while glancing at my receipt on the way home stuck at a construction stop. Don’t even get me started about the 10 to 15…
Please ticket responsibly
I received a ticket tonight. It happens, maybe once a year, that I will park where I am not supposed to. I never park by fire hydrants, nor in accessible places, nor in front of garages or driveways, but sometimes, it happens, I will park where I oughtn’t. And when I get a ticket, I…
Buttface
Im sorry things have been more than a little crazy lately.. I know I`ve slowly decended into being a very shitty person. But this is where it ends. I promise you things will only get better from here on out. Just give me this chance. —Muffin Top
Floored Me!
To the woman in the Barrington Street Pedway this afternoon that could not stand waiting the 3 seconds it took me to walk through the clearly roped off area where the new flooring was being laid and instead decided to try to push her way through and stepped onto the freshly laid tile- so sorry…
Girls playing games
You suggested moving from POF to texting since your not on there that much. So when I text you, why do you take forever to write back and why am I always initiating the conversation? I expected us to be texting a lot, like many times a day, EVERYDAY, not like briefly once every second…
Hollar
Come on bus driver, you are getting paid enough to ensure the stupid people are told to move to the back of the bus. And no, I don’t care that another bus will supposedly will be there in a few minutes when there is plenty of room, if only dummies would move from the front…
Get your 2013 Best of Halifax City Awards winners here
In September, thousands of you sat hunched in front of your computer screens, scrolling through over 100 categories, painstakingly picking your favourite people, places, shops and services this town of ours has to offer. Well, aren’t you thoughtful? After triple-checking the numbers, the results are in. Want to see how your picks fared? PUBLIC LIFE…
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Gold Winner Duggers / D2 Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner RCHMND Forty years ago, Douglas “Dugger” McNeil opened Duggers, proffering high fashion and high quality men’s wear. Head downstairs and you’ll find D2, specializing in men’s casual styles and club wear. That combo is a winning formula: Duggers/D2 has topped this category since…
Hal-Con’s comic relief
For a comic book artist, the best compliment is when fans recognize them at comic book conventions. Brenda Hickey recognized one of her heroes Steven Blum at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International, the Mecca of comic book conventions. Blum is the voice for Amon, a character in the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender series.…
Best Book
Gold Winner Cornwallis: The Violent Birth of Halifax, Jon Tattrie Silver Winner Ocean, Sue Goyette Bronze Winner What Lies Across The Water, Stephen Kimber A couple of years ago Halifax was blowing up over the renaming of Cornwallis School. Half the town thought Cornwallis’ scalp decree is the wrong message to send today’s native people,…
Best Drag Performer
Gold Winner Rouge Fatale Silver Winner Eureka Love Bronze Winner Elle Noir “The makeup changes, the style changes a bit, but you always stay true to yourself,” says Jason Rose-Spurrell of the evolution of his famed alter ego Rouge Fatale. And she’s come a long way from “three sticks of makeup and a bad Value…
Best Women’s Clothing Store
Gold Winner Biscuit General Store Silver Winner Sweet Pea Boutique Bronze Winner J&R Grimsmo One glance at the epic lines of excited customers that Biscuit General Store’s sales produce should make this win a no brainer. Knowledgeable staff and amazing fashions for both home and body have kept this store on top since 1996. “I…
Best Esthetician
Gold Winner Katherine Hanlon, ZigZag Hair Studio Silver Winner Ashley Wittenberg, Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Bronze Winner Saskia Roch Aesthetics “I wasn’t a little girl going, ‘I want to be a Brazilian waxer,’” says Katherine Hanlon, laughing. Really, she wanted to work with people, and being able to boost their confidence was a bonus…
The Orenda
Once in a while a book comes along that one doesn’t believe was written, but instead emerged, fully formed, from the earth itself. The Orenda is a stunning example of the most organic of stories, its pages stitched from the flesh and the bloody ink of our ancestors, European and First Nations alike. Told from…
Best Bike Store
Gold Winner Cyclesmith Silver Winner Bikes by Dave Inc. Bronze Winner Jack Nauss Bicycle Shop Cyclesmith has proven popular once again, being voted the Best in this category for the second year running. Selling top brands like Trek, Cannondale and Shimano—and offering repairs for your current wheels—you’ll find extremely helpful advice, great service and equally…
Best Festival
Gold Winner Halifax Jazz Festival Silver Winner Halifax Pop Explosion Bronze Winner Halifax Pride Festival Is it just me or does it seem like the snowball effect has taken hold of the Jazz Festival? It manages to pick up speed every year to become a bigger, better and more diverse version of itself. Last summer…
Seasoned premiere
In Costas Halavrezos’ kitchen, his cookbooks lay on a shelf nestled beside tins of spices. The fact that these two share space could be a happy logistical accident, but considering his penchant for all things culinary and literary, it’s an apt metaphor. Halavrezos—who’s worked as a journalist, a CBC radio host and most recently as…
Best Podcast
Gold Winner Geeks versus Nerds Silver Winner It’s ON, Halifax! Bronze Winner The Potato Salad Radio Show “We’re humbled by your confidence and proud that our community comes out to support us,” says John Roy, project manager for Geeks versus Nerds. “We’re seeing big things in this next year, so keep an eye on our…
Best Athlete
Gold Winner Sidney Crosby Silver Winner Nathan MacKinnon Bronze Winner Ellie Black Good luck beating Cole Harbour pride and joy and NHL golden boy Sidney Crosby. He’s the kind of player that can miss 12 regular season games due to an injury and still win the Ted Lindsay, player of the year award. That’s because…
Best Theatre Production
Gold Winner Legally Blonde: The Musical, Neptune Theatre Silver Winner Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare by the Sea Bronze Winner Sissydude, trrrash Productions Oh. My. God. Isn’t it the BEST when they take a totally awesome book, turn it into a blockbuster movie and then transform the script into a wicked piece of musical theatre?…
Best Manicure / Pedicure
Gold Winner Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Silver Winner Spirit Urban Day Spa Bronze Winner ZigZag Hair Studio Treat yo self, people. Even though you’ll soon be wrapped snugly in gloves and thick socks, don’t neglect those cuticles, cutie. Remedy Day Spa treats those tiny little canvasses on the ends of your fingers and toes…
I Give It A Year
It’s a bad time for mainstream romantic comedies. People are so sick of the stale formula, even Hollywood isn’t making them much anymore. The twist in this tale? It starts where most of them end, at the wedding. Upwardly mobile Brits Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) have only been dating for a few…
Best Home Entertainment Store
Gold Winner Peak Audio Silver Winner Glubes AVU Bronze Winner Future Shop, Bayers Lake After last year’s silver standing, this year Peak Audio has climbed back to the top spot for its fifth gold win. Serving Halifax for the last 28 years, the family-owned alternative to big-box stores has earned a solid reputation by combining…
Best Place To Volunteer
Gold Winner Nova Scotia SPCA Silver Winner IWK Health Centre Bronze Winner Feed Nova Scotia Most volunteer hours make you feel good, by design it’s all about giving back after all, but every once in awhile you get a gig that feels so good you almost feel bad about doing it for free. Like, shouldn’t…
Whale of a time
It doesn’t matter to the Vancouver five-piece what you think of when you hear the title of its new album Hawaiii (add an extra “I”), but only that you do think, period. “It’s an evocative word and we felt the songs were fairly evocative,” says Tyler Bancroft, half of the songwriting team. “We wanted a…
Best Web Series
Gold Winner Flag on the Play Silver Winner Everyone’s Famous Bronze Winner Craigness! Fresh off a stellar Halloween special, where the Flag family made a loving tribute to Are You Afraid of the Dark—with one of Ken’s more heart-wrenching performances—Paul Doucette and Hugh Stewart are keeping humble. “We’re a show for the people.” Referencing Funny…
Best Bus Driver
Gold Winner Darren Cobb Silver Winner Jan Paynter-Parsons Bronze Winner Billy Georgakakos “I’m a people person,” says Best Bus Driver Darren Cobb. “Everyone on my bus gets a hello, and then a goodbye when they leave. That’s the way I was brought up: Say hello to everybody, say goodbye to everybody, and everybody is all…
Best Fashion Designer
Gold Winner Lisa Drader-Murphy, Turbine Silver Winner Veronica MacIsaac Bronze Winner Kim Munson, Orphanage Clothing Can someone please let me know what multivitamin Lisa Drader-Murphy is taking? Between being the president and owner of the ever popular label and shop Turbine, successfully organizing the Turbine India Project—a fund for young women in Hyderabad, India to…
Best Spa
Gold Winner Spirit Urban Day Spa Silver Winner Remedy Facial Bar & Spa Bronze Winner Life SalonSpa “This is a true honour!” says Spirit Spa’s Linda Brigley of the gold win. Spirit Spa’s a juggernaut in the pampering industry, providing salon hair care, massage services and spa treatments from Ultimate Spa Day package (including a…
Byzanium
Jordan directed the lycanthropic fable The Company of Wolves and the Anne Rice adaptation Interview With A Vampire, so this film of the Moira Buffini play is right in his sweet spot. It’s a heavily plotted yarn about an undead mother and daughter (Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan) who subsist on the avails of prostitution…
Best Independent Bookstore
Gold Winner Bookmark Silver Winner Woozles Children’s Bookstore Bronze Winner John W. Doull Bookseller Entire big box bookstore chains are closing down in the States, and every second person on the bus is reading Fifty Shades of Grey on a Kindle, thinking they’re fooling us, and yet little Bookmark remains strong and steady, a throwback…
Best Massage Therapist
Gold Winner Nathan Wessel, Spirit Urban Day Spa Silver Winner Tara Patriquin, One to One Wellness Centre Bronze Winner Tricia Elliott, Remedy Facial Bar and Spa Spirit Spa’s Nathan Wessel has in the past won the bronze and silver, but this is his first year at the top. He of course does massage therapy, but…
Buzz Feed
“There’s no better way to have a great show where you feel comfortable than going to Sydney fucking Cape Breton,” says Jason Burns. “It’s way less intimidating than London or New York or Los Angeles.” Burns, drummer for Down with the Butterfly and Mardeen who now manages Rich Aucoin and Hey Rosetta, has attended many…
Best Party Venue
Gold Winner Lower Deck, Halifax Silver Winner The Seahorse Tavern Bronze Winner Reflections Cabaret The three floors of the Lower Deck have taken a beating over the years, so many stomped feet and so many spilled beers, all in the name of a “SOCIABLE!”. But every scuff and sticky spot is evidence of a time…
Best Taxi Driver
Gold Winner Jim Currie Silver Winner Michael Tran Bronze Winner Aubrey Crouse “I’m a true blue cab driver, buddy,” says Jim Currie when we call to ask why people voted him Best. Currie’s been in the business 32 years, driving for Yellow Cab for the first 15 years, then starting his own operation, Tours by…
Best Place To Play Pool
Gold Winner Locas Billiards Silver Winner Dooly’s, Bedford Bronze Winner Oasis Pub & Eatery Locas has established itself as the destination for serious billiards players, hence why it pockets the Best of Halifax money ball yet again. This downtown members-only club has the best tables in town, hosting both casual or league play, but you…
Best Barber
Gold Winner Phat Luong, Phat’s Barber Shop Silver Winner Rob Oxner, Saint Lou’s Gentlemen’s Barber Shop Bronze Winner Michael Phillips, One Block Barbershop It’s a repeat of last year’s winners’ circle: Phat’s on top, followed by Saint Lou’s and One Block. Are Haligonians falling into habitual hair cutting, er, habits? Well, why not? Phat reliably…
The Chronos Band
This select crew of nine players found time away from backing the likes of Cyndi Cain and Garrett Mason to forge its own funk. The numbers led by bassist/composer Rhéo Rochon, like “Crabwalk” and “Galapagos,” show the influence of Antibalas and Fela Kuti, creating space for hooks and solos. Live, they’d stretch out well beyond…
Best Musical Instrument Store
Gold Winner Long & McQuade, Cunard Street Silver Winner Halifax Folklore Centre Bronze Winner Long & McQuade, Bedford Broken drumstick? Broken guitar string? Broken gig bag? First of all, take it easy, Keith Moon. Second of all, don’t worry about it—Long & McQuade has got you covered, and then some. Buy (or rent) a whole…
Best Tattoo Artist
Gold Winner Lydia K., Gem Tattoo Co. Silver Winner Amber Thorpe, Adept Tattoos Bronze Winner Andy Ferrier, Utility Lydia K’s Gem Tattoo Co. is a weird and wonderful polestar of classic tattoo art, intricate designs and general cool body markings. Located at 5926 Hillside Ave #2, Lydia’s talent has her business bustling. It’s a one-woman…
Insurrection is for the fans
Crowd-funding, especially popular in the last few years, is the best way for fans to show support because investing in a forthcoming project really puts your money where your mouth is. To finance Insurrection’s third studio album, Prototype, the Quebec-based death metal quintet turned to its fans, which ended up being a huge success for…
Best Gay Bar
Gold Winner Reflections Cabaret Silver Winner Menz & Mollyz Bar Bronze Winner The Company House Wanna dance with somebody? Wanna feel the heat of somebody? Well there’s no guarantee you’ll find somebody who loves you, but at this legendary late night fun-land we promise you’ll never be dancing on your own. With the DJs cranking…
Best Local Conspiracy Theory
Gold Winner Secret tunnels connect Citadel Hill and Georges Island Silver Winner The Holy Grail is buried in Bayers Lake Industrial Park Bronze Winner The harbour is clean Read all about Halifax’s “secret tunnels” at tbphfx.blogspot.ca, but here’s the thing: all older cities have myths of secret underground tunnels. That’s because there are old and…
Best Comedy Night
Gold Winner Geeks versus Nerds Silver Winner Thursdays at Yuk Yuk’s Bronze Winner Bill Wood Comedy Night, The Company House “We’re humbled by your confidence and proud that our community comes out to support us,” says John Roy, project manager for Geeks versus Nerds. “We’re seeing big things in this next year, so keep an…
Best Tattoo / Piercing Joint
Gold Winner Adept Tattoos Silver Winner Utility Bronze Winner Oceanic Art Custom Tattooing Fastidiousness may not immediately spring to mind as something you should look for in a tattoo studio, but trust me, you should. Owner and artist Amber Thorpe (your 2010 and 2011 choice for best tattoo artist) and the crew at Adept Tattoo…
Crosss
To plot reference points for Crosss’ pitch-black groove seems pointless. It would be like discovering a heavy boulder in the depths of the Atlantic and pointing to some far-off mountain range. This is eternal stuff–dark, moving music on a prodigious scale. Over two years in the making, the precision playing and anesthetizing aura on this…
Best Newsstand / Magazine Store
Gold Winner Atlantic News Silver Winner Blowers Street Paper Chase Newsstand & Cafe Bronze Winner Chapters, Bayers Lake Newsstands are a dying business in North America—you’ll be hard-pressed to find one at all, even in Manhattan—but Halifax’s Atlantic News, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last month, continues run strong. The secret to its success? “Halifax…
Best Fitness Instructor / Trainer
Gold Winner Devin Sherrington, 360fit Silver Winner Matt Mombourquette, One to One Wellness Centre Bronze Winner Krissy Adams-Schofield “A client said to me recently, ‘It’s like Cheers without alcohol’,” says Devin Sherrington of his gold-winning gym, 360fit, where everybody knows your name, apparently. When it comes to his award-winning fitness regiment, he attributes most of…
The monument in front of the North End Library is a horrible mess
North is Freedom is the name of the nasty monument outside the Halifax North Memorial Public Library. This summer it was absent for more than two months, carted off to Cowie Hill for storage while its base was chipped out and replaced, leaving the library plaza an ugly construction site. But now it’s back. Curses!…
Best Trivia Night
Gold Winner Rogues Roost Silver Winner T-Room Bronze Winner Rockbottom Brewpub “If he’s lucky I’ll bring him to the awards ceremony,” laughs Brian MacKay, making a playful dig at T-Room trivia’s Stan Selig, who’s been knocked from the top seat of this category after four years. MacKay’s been hosting Rogues’ jam-packed Wednesday nights since 2007,…
Best Effort To Improve Halifax
Gold Winner Soon-to-be Central Library Silver Winner Bike lanes Bronze Winner Switch Open Street Sundays The existing Memorial Library on Spring Garden Road is endearing, but with no air conditioning, cramped quarters and a failing facade, it’s time to let the institution retire already. The new Central Library is the one worthwhile outcome of the…
Best Professor
Gold Winner Randi Warne, Mount Saint Vincent University Silver Winner Roberta Barker, Dalhousie University Bronze Winner Laura Penny, University of King’s College “I played university when I was a little girl, this is an insane thing to do,” says Dr. Randi Warne, coordinator of MSVU’s Cultural Studies program and all-around brilliant woman. “I’d be stroking…
Best Travel Agency
Gold Winner Adventure Travel Company Silver Winner Flight Centre, Scotia Square Bronze Winner Maritime Travel, Barrington Place If all-inclusive resorts and cruises aren’t your bag but your rugged adventures still need a little leadership, you’ve probably followed the compass (and all the BoH voters) to Hydrostone’s Adventure Travel Company. Whether your bucket list includes trekking…
Cyndi Cain
Having paid her dues belting out the hits for tourists in the tropics, Cain delivers bona fide east coast soul on her second album. When she releases the hounds vocally on the title song, domesticity breaks into a spiritual. Cain’s chemistry with her band enriches the the atmosphere, not unlike Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.…
Best Optical Store
Gold Winner Gaudet Optical Silver Winner Lang Optometry & Eyewear Bronze Winner Eyeware Studio by Insight Haligonians have a clear vision of what they want, voting Gaudet Optical—the bright mainstay on Quinpool Road—the best optical store in Halifax for the 10th year running. Known for its practice of ordering in unique frames for customers, if…
Best Gym
Gold Winner 360fit Silver Winner South Park YMCA Bronze Winner Good Life Fitness, Park Victoria “A client said to me recently, ‘It’s like Cheers without alcohol’,” says Devin Sherrington of his gold-winning gym, 360fit, where everybody knows your name, apparently. When it comes to his award-winning fitness regiment, he attributes most of his trainee fans…
Best Member Of Parliament
Gold Winner Megan Leslie Silver Winner Peter Stoffer Bronze Winner Peter MacKay We’ve long known that Megan Leslie ably reflected Halifax values—she’s the poster child for what a Haligonian is, does and believes in. But two terms in, we also know that she is a stellar representative. Leslie has taken Ottawa by storm, and is…
Best Place To Dance
Gold Winner Reflections Cabaret Silver Winner Pacifico Bronze Winner The Seahorse Tavern Wanna dance with somebody? Wanna feel the heat of somebody? Well there’s no guarantee you’ll find somebody who loves you, but at this legendary late night fun-land we promise you’ll never be dancing on your own. With the DJs cranking everything from hip…
Best Place To Go Swimming
Gold Winner Long Lake Silver Winner Chocolate Lake Bronze Winner Canada Games Centre Long Lake is a body of water capable of converting the most staunch ocean lovers into lake swimmers. Thanks for providing a refreshment from the highest of Humidexes, for giving so many adorable pups a place to practice their doggie paddles and…
Best Sports League
Gold Winner Halifax Roller Derby Association Silver Winner Halifax Sport & Social Club Bronze Winner Halifax Soccer League After its third (and busiest) season, the Halifax Roller Derby Association is 100 strong between skaters, refs and volunteers. That’s 100 people you do not want to mess with. These ladies are hell on wheels, with a…
Best Wedding Photographer
Gold Winner Jeff Cooke, Jeff Cooke Photography Silver Winner Trevor Allen, Trevor Allen Photography Bronze Winner Liam Hennessey, Applehead Studio Photography There’s something kinda magical about Jeff Cooke. He takes ordinary couples and puts them in their very best light—and who doesn’t want that on their big day? If you want legendary wedding photos then…
Soft Serve
On this digital-only EP from Vancouver’s Soft Serve, the influence can really be “felt,” if you catch my drift. Jangly leads and gently strummed backing guitars intermingle over driving drum beats and faithful bass lines. Sopping wet vocals come in from the rain to tell you that it’s actually quite fresh outside. While the playing…
Best Pet Supply Store
Gold Winner Planet Paws Silver Winner Pet Valu, Spring Garden Road Bronze Winner Global Pet Foods, Bayers Lake First-time winner Planet Paws has only been in business for two years, but it’s already built a reputation for being a prime place to buy good food for your fur family. Rodney Habib, owner of the Dartmouth…
Best Yoga Studio
Gold Winner Bikram Yoga Halifax Silver Winner Halifax Yoga Bronze Winner Moksha Yoga, Halifax One trip to Halifax was all it took for Kristin Johnston. “It was kind of an ‘aha moment’,” she says. “It was like, this is where I want to live and I have to figure out how I can.” After discovering…
Best Craft Show
Gold Winner Halifax Crafters Winter Market Silver Winner Christmas at the Forum Bronze Winner Have Yourself a Gothic Little Christmas There aren’t many things more difficult than looking forward to winter. But just as we’re readying ourselves to surrender to hibernation, the Halifax Crafters kick into overdrive to bring us tables and tables of handmade…
Best Student Hang
Gold Winner The Wardroom Silver Winner T-Room Bronze Winner The Gorsebrook Lounge Somebody at The Wardroom did their homework because, damn, the beverage selection here rules. But apart from the Garrison, Bridge Brewing, ShipBuilders Cider et al, this pub’s chill vibe goes a long way. And the live music doesn’t hurt either. “We have lots…
Best Twitterer
Gold Winner Allison Sparling Silver Winner Lauren Oostveen Bronze Winner Kate Leth “I can’t beat Lauren!” screams Allison Sparling into the phone when we tell her she’s won the Best Twitterer category. Lauren is Lauren Oostveen, who has won the past three years, and takes the silver this year. “Lauren is a mentor,” explains Sparling.…
Best Gallery
Gold Winner Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Silver Winner Argyle Fine Art Bronze Winner Swoon Fine Art What can we say? The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is a big gun in this category, consistently placing in the top three (more often than not, taking the gold) for as long as we’ve been asking for…
Best New Business
Gold Winner Better Than Her Boutique Silver Winner Toxic Blossom Bronze Winner Bridge Brewing Company Better Than Her Boutique has a bit of a mythology going. Owner Courtney Jones spent a year in the Canadian Arctic and became taken with the female caribou. The only female of the species to grow antlers, the female caribou…
Best Antiques Store
Gold Winner Finer Things Antiques Silver Winner Urban Cottage Antiques and Collectibles Bronze Winner Plan B Merchants Co-op Once again, Finer Things has been selected by our readers as the place to go for antiques and other artifacts from a bygone age. Run by co-owners Jack Craft and Julianne MacDonald—Jack is the buyer and Julianne…
Best Record Store
Gold Winner Taz Records, Halifax Silver Winner Obsolete Records Bronze Winner CD Heaven Taz’s new location on Grafton Street hasn’t lost any of the charm of the old space—granted it’s just around the corner, but still, it goes to show that a record store is only as good as its stock and its staff. If…
Best Hotel
Gold Winner The Prince George Hotel Silver Winner The Westin Nova Scotian Bronze Winner The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites Our three winners this year have shared the podium each year since 2006, but this is the first year the Prince George has taken top honour. Credit luxurious rooms, a “pets are people too” policy…
Best Film
Gold Winner Blackbird Silver Winner The Disappeared Bronze Winner Lowlife Director Jason Buxton’s debut feature film Blackbird absolutely swept the festival circuit, and rightly so. Buxton’s powerful tale of bullying, miscommunication and the broken system of dealing with troubled teens evokes a strong response. Winning three awards at the 2012 Atlantic Film Festival, co-winner of…
Best Activist
Gold Winner Kevin Kindred Silver Winner El Jones Bronze Winner Rocky Jones “I’ve had the advantage of a lot of work done by generations before me, and so I want to honour that and in turn help make the world a better place,” explains Kevin Kindred. With a day job as labour and employment lawyer…
Best Blogger
Gold Winner Colleen Anthony, Curtains Are Open Silver Winner Krista Comeau, Melissa Dubé and Meghan Tansey Whitton, Fashion East Bronze Winner Drew Moore and Gillian Wesley, The Local Traveler NS Colleen Anthony always wanted to be a writer, but the fear of rejection kept her from trying for most of her life—until she got divorced.…
Best Library
Gold Winner Keshen Goodman Public Library Silver Winner Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library Bronze Winner Alderney Gate Public Library I think we all secretly know this category is going to be a wash next year in the epic countdown to Spring Garden Road’s glorious new facility. So we’ll give polite claps to the currently…
Best Jewellery Store
Gold Winner Fireworks Gallery Silver Winner The Vault, Spring Garden Bronze Winner Touch of Gold Fireworks is perfectly Halifax. You can walk in and buy a pair of $20 earrings on a fluke, or be wooed into spending lots of money on a more elaborate piece. But we’ve found there’s a sweet spot at the…
Best Car Dealership
Gold Winner Hillcrest Volkswagen Silver Winner Colonial Honda Bronze Winner O’Regan’s Nissan Dartmouth Mike and the crew over at Hillcrest VW are perhaps the nicest bunch of people in the universe, and it shows in the dedication of their customers. We’ve come to expect unsolicited endorsements—over-the-top, gushing endorsements—of Hillcrest from happy car buyers. Repeatedly, we’ve…
Best Retail Sign
Gold Winner Freak Lunchbox, Barrington Street Silver Winner Biscuit General Store Bronze Winner J&R Grimsmo There’s something downright sweet about Freak Lunchbox. Yes, yes, the store is full of sweet candy, but there’s also a funhouse atmosphere reminiscent of Willy Wonka fantasies and that crazy Oompa-Loompa out on the sidewalk. All this sweetness is perfectly…
Best Real Estate Agent
Gold Winner Rosie Porter, Royal LePage Atlantic Silver Winner Marco Di Quinzio, HomeLife Atlantic Real Estate Bronze Winner Robert Scanlan, Chalet Realty Rosie Porter owned the gold spot in this category from 2005 through 2010, but then in 2011 and 2012 she dipped slightly, still landing on the podium but in silver position. This year,…
Best Filmmaker
Gold Winner Mike Clattenburg Silver Winner Jason Eisner Bronze Winner Ashley McKenzie Director Mike Clattenburg is, of course, the father of our cultural goldmine, the Trailer Park Boys franchise. Any Haligonian spending any amount of time abroad can attest to its reach. It’s often the cornerstone of a budding barroom friendship—just remember to say we…
Best Activist Organization
Gold Winner Ecology Action Centre Silver Winner Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project Bronze Winner Solidarity Halifax The Ecology Action Centre is 42 years old, but the organization remains in the forefront of important environmental activism, most recently urging the newly elected McNeil government to abandon its short-sighted plan to alter funding for Efficiency Nova Scotia.…
Best Radio Station
Gold Winner CBC Radio One, 90.5 FM Silver Winner Live 105, 105.1 FM Bronze Winner CKDU, 88.1 FM We’ve long come to expect quality national programming from the Ceeb, from excellent newscasts to interesting shows that respect listeners’ intelligence. But what makes 90.5 shine is the fine local programming produced right here in Halifax. There’s…
Best Museum
Gold Winner Museum of Natural History Silver Winner Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Bronze Winner Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 If you’ve lived in this city for any length of time, you’ll have definitely heard of Gus, the 90-year-old tortoise and longtime resident of the Museum of Natural History. However, Gus is but…
Blackpool & Parrish
On the day before the end of the world, good and evil (personified in the devilish Harriet Blackpool and the saintly Richard Parrish) meet in a very private club to discuss the terms of battle. They are joined by their offspring, a pair whose natures are perversely opposite to that of their parent. The premise…
Best Computer Store
Gold Winner Apple Store Silver Winner Downtown Digital Bronze Winner Best Buy, Dartmouth Crossing When Apple first opened a store in the Halifax Shopping Centre, it had a lot of people wondering what on earth took them so long. Now, after over a year, it’s proven that wherever Apple is, devoted tech-heads are as well.…
Best Sex-toy Shop
Gold Winner and Hall of Fame inductee Venus Envy Silver Winner Night Magic Fashions Bronze Winner Indulgence Intimate Apparel Editor’s note: With its latest Best Sex-toy Shop win in 2013, Venus Envy was elevated to the Best of Halifax Hall of Fame. Best of Halifax is probably the only context in which one could describe…
Best Mechanic Shop
Gold Winner Todd’s Southend Car Care Silver Winner Tom McDonnell’s Service Centre Bronze Winner Hydrostone Auto Repair Rumour has it that after he exposed the corruption of local military officials and brought freedom of the press to Nova Scotia, Joseph Howe, ever the innovator, opened the Texaco station on Inglis Street. Well, maybe not, but…
Best Male Film / TV Actor
Gold Winner Shaun Majumder Silver Winner John Dunsworth Bronze Winner Mike Smith 22 Minutes swept both the female and male film/tv actor categories, proving that all you need to win these categories is several decades of hard work, painstakingly crafting your comedy chops to a fine point, the ability to do whatever impersonations the headlines…
Best Community Project
Gold Winner Common Roots Urban Farm Silver Winner Hope Blooms North End Community Garden Bronze Winner Bloomfield The Common Roots Urban Farm outdid itself this year, filling the one-time demo site at Robie and Bell with lush garden plots lovingly cared for by Haligonians. It’s donated hundreds and hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to…
Best Radio Show
Gold Winner Information Morning, CBC Radio One Silver Winner Live 105 Morning Show with Jeff and Floyd, Live 105 Bronze Winner Mainstreet, CBC Radio One Hosts Don Connolly and Louise Renault, sportscaster John Hancock and Guinness Book for World Records holder meteorologist Peter Coade (for his 50-year career, don’t you know) hold it down on…
Best University / College
Gold Winner Dalhousie University Silver Winner Saint Mary’s University Bronze Winner Mount Saint Vincent University The home of the Tigers, the home of the iconic Arts and Administration building (the clock one) and the home of the black and gold takes the gold in our best university category. Of course it’s all about the education…
Calendar Girls
The Bedford Players production of Calendar Girls (and the calendar that they’ve made to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada) shows how to put the “fun” in “fundraising”. It’s a fast-paced play (at least for the better-written, more engaging first half) that’s beautifully directed by Clair Henderson. The show-stopping nude photography…
Best Corner Store
Gold Winner Jubilee Junction Convenience and Takeout Silver Winner Joe’s Kwik-Way Bronze Winner Hydrostone Groceteria Ice cream dreams, chocolate chip encrusted frozen treats, giant bags of movie-style popcorn, mini bags of sugary-sour gummy candies—plus the usual convenience store fare of whatever you may need at 9:30pm on a Sunday—fill the counters and shelves at Jubilee…
Best Sporting Goods Store
Gold Winner Cleve’s Source for Sports, Park Lane Silver Winner Mountain Equipment Co-op Bronze Winner The Trail Shop Everyone knows the jingle: “Source for Sports—we know our stuff!” There have been fewer more apt mottos than this one for Cleve’s and its Spring Garden store exemplifies it (plus, man that jingle’s catchy). No matter what…
Best Tailor
Gold Winner Mic Mac Tailors Silver Winner Daniel’s Tailor Shop & Drycleaning Bronze Winner Alter Ego Tailoring MicMac took the bronze in 2011, the silver in 2012 and, this year, the gold. “I didn’t even vote for myself!” says owner Mufit Halef. Thirty-one years ago, Halef left a partnership with his brother to start the…
Best Female Film / TV Actor
Gold Winner Cathy Jones Silver Winner Molly Dunsworth Bronze Winner Andrea Lee Norwood If you could bottle the charm that This Hour Has 22 Minutes’ long-time anchor (Jones has been crackin’ ’em up at the desk for the past 21 years) Cathy Jones exudes, you’d have a licence to print money. Jones’ signature knowing smirk…
Best Councillor
Gold Winner Waye Mason Silver Winner Mike Savage Bronze Winner Jennifer Watts “As much work as being a councillor is, I love doing this job and representing you,” says Mason at a council meeting break. Before his razor-thin election victory last year, Mason was best known as the former director of the Halifax Pop Explosion.…
Worst Thing To Happen In Halifax In The Past Year
1. Bullying and suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons 2. Frosh week rape chant at Saint Mary’s University 3. Convention centre construction pit The death of any young person is profoundly sad. When that death is surrounded by allegations of gang rape and the spreading of pictures of the event via social media, coupled with a questionable…
Best Public Space
Gold Winner Public Gardens Silver Winner Point Pleasant Park Bronze Winner Halifax Common We all know why we love the Public Gardens: great Victorian-era garden, wondrous wildlife, geese, bandstand, cafe, blah, blah, blah. Here’s what we don’t know: lore has it that Griffen Pond is named after Frederick Griffen, who was wrongly executed for a…
Thor: The Dark World
Thor’s arms remain swollen in inescapable sequel Thor: The Dark World. When scientist Natalie Portman is possessed by evil cosmic blood, hunky Thor sweeps her away to Planet Viking just in time for a madcap invasion by tacky Dark Elves. Tom Hiddleston remains everything as tricky-dick Loki, imprisoned for his Marvel’s The Avengers’ antics and…
Best Crafter
Gold Winner Marina Smith, Arcane Angel Silver Winner Isabelle Pineau, An Oddity Or Two Bronze Winner Blythe Church, Sewn By Blythe It’s all about the details for Marina Smith, a Halifax-based artist who’s been making romantic creations for over 30 years. Reflecting her interest in retro-futurism and steampunk, Smith’s jewellery and metalwork (found at various…
Best Thing To Happen In Halifax In The Past Year
Gold Winner Mike Savage elected mayor Silver Winner Mooseheads winning Memorial Cup Bronze Winner Chris Brown concert cancellation Then-Liberal MP Mike Savage fell victim to the startling NDP surge in the 2011 federal election, and so was looking for a job. Fortunately for him, and for us, Halifax was growing tired of then-mayor Peter Kelly,…
Best Dog Groomer
Gold Winner Jennifer Sinclair, Down Home Dog Silver Winner Sarah Mayfair, Oodles of Poodles Bronze Winner Sarah Breen, Pet Valu, Bedford Who’s a good doggie groomer? Yes, you’re a good doggie groomer! Yes you are! You are! The best doggie groomer in all of Halifax! Do you want a treat? Sit. Oh, sorry, we were…
Best Male Theatre Actor
Gold Winner Rhys Bevan-John Silver Winner Jeremy Webb Bronze Winner Stewart Legere “Playing Hamlet was like hosting a foreign dignitary, I had to do some renovations,” says Rhys Bevan-John of his prep for the part that what was quite possibly the performance of summer. “I’ve had a lot of emotional turning points in my life,…
Best Member Of The Provincial Legislature
Gold Winner Leonard Preyra Silver Winner Darrell Dexter Bronze Winner Bill Estabrooks Coast readers votes picked Leonard Preyra as Best MLA, a distinction not shared by voters in the actual provincial election, who turfed him out. When we called to tell him the news he laughed heartily. “It’s an important constituency for me!” he says…
Best Hair Stylist
Gold Winner Heidi Rofe, Beauty Starts Hair Silver Winner Meg Ryan, Bowtique Hair & Makeup Bronze Winner Teresa Fisher, Thumpers Salon “Most of my clients have been with me for 12 to 15 years, and it’s kind of like dating,” says Heidi Rofe. “It’s like a long-term relationship—if it gets boring we all know what…
Best Place For A First Date
Gold Winner Tom’s Little Havana Cafe Silver Winner Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk Bronze Winner The Fireside Bar/Restaurant Along with collecting Best Bar honours in our Best of Food survey this year, the ever reliable Tom’s Little Havana has earned many a Best Place To Drink Alone plaques in the past. And it wins this award for…
About Time
Temporal paradoxes are the least of the problems in sci-fi rom-com-dram About Time. Upon reaching 21, ginger Tim (Domhnal Gleeson, son of Brendan) is informed by his father that he can travel back in time. It’s a trait shared by all men in the family, who over the centuries have used the ability to live…
Best Eco-conscious Store
Gold Winner P’lovers Silver Winner Mountain Equipment Co-op Bronze Winner Nurtured Everybody may have gotten bitten by the green bug recently, but P’lovers has making it happen since 1992. Now that eco-friendly products are no longer a fringe market, business is booming and readers have reflected that in their choice for best eco-conscious store in…
Best Comics Store
Gold Winner Strange Adventures Comic Bookstore, Halifax Silver Winner Quantum Frontier Games & Comics Bronze Winner Monster Comic Lounge “It’s a little stressful each time the poll is on,” says Strange Adventures owner Calum Johnston about the Best of Halifax readers’ survey. “‘Will we do well? Are people sick of us? Where do we send…
Best Yoga Instructor
Gold Winner Kristin Johnston, Bikram Yoga Halifax Silver Winner Sherry Zak, Halifax Yoga Bronze Winner Maxine Jeffrey, Therapeutic Approach Yoga Studio While Kristin Johnston won’t sugar-coat the realities of your first Bikram class—it’s going to be hot, it’s going to be hard and most likely it’ll shove you out of your comfort zone—she’s quick to…
Best Female Theatre Actor
Gold Winner Kathryn McCormack Silver Winner Andrea Norwood Bronze Winner Lee-Anne Poole “This year was essentially the year of me playing myself onstage, so this award is pretty much a sham,” writes the hilarious and modest Kathryn McCormack from the road. Before skipping town for the winter (she’s touring the US with the Mermaid Theatre…
Best Local Character
Gold Winner Fat Apollo Silver Winner Rouge Fatale Bronze Winner Jerry “The Dawgfather” Reddick “Fat Apollo is a man that emits charisma and intelligence,” says John Roy, Geeks versus Nerds’ project manager, where Fat Apollo (AKA Michael McCluskey) graces the stage on a regular basis as a charter member of the show. “People are drawn to…
Best Hair Salon
Gold Winner Thumpers Salon Silver Winner Bowtique Hair & Makeup Bronze Winner One Block Barbershop “We try to be the best, it’s not an accident,” says Thumpers’ Malcom Norton of his salon’s winning ways. “We try to put our clients first and we really try to listen…to really hear people.” Being good listeners is part…
Best Place To Go Running
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk We thought about replacing this category with Best Place to Eat Pizza in Your Underwear this year but it didn’t seem to have the same amount of traction. So exercising outside where everyone can see how healthy you are, it is.…
12 Years a Slave
The unending, inhuman brutality of America’s past is materialized in the colossal 12 Years a Slave. Adapted from his 1853 autobiography, the film follows free man Solomon Northup as he’s kidnapped from his New York home and sold into slavery for more than a decade. Working on Louisiana plantations, Northup becomes chattel to rich masters…
Best Flower Shop
Gold Winner My Mother’s Bloomers Silver Winner Props Floral Designs Bronze Winner Pilcher’s Flowers Neville MacKay himself says it best: “We try our best to offer the best in beautiful quality flowers and giftware to everyone, and this recognition means a lot to all of us here at My Mother’s Bloomers.” The My Mother’s Bloomers’…
Best Shoe Store
Gold Winner Kick Ass Shoes Silver Winner John David Shoes Bronze Winner Winsbys After nine years at Spring Garden and Queen, and seven Best of Halifax wins, Sonia Felix’s stylis Kick Ass Shoes took a step in a new direction this summer when it was acquired by the new-and-improved Mills. But footwear fanatics, there’s no…
Free Will Astrology
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Scorpio! (october 23-november 21) “Not for all the whiskey in heaven,” begins a poem by Charles Bernstein. “Not for all the flies in Vermont. Not for all the tears in the basement. Not for a million trips to Mars. Not for all the fire in hell. Not for all the blue in the…
Best Comedian
Gold Winner Candy Palmater Silver Winner Bill Wood Bronze Winner Brian MacQuarrie “Every time I think about moving to a bigger city, it’s the awesome people of this city who have supported my career that make me want to stay,” says Palmater on her win. Palmater’s The Candy Show, her talk show/variety show that will…
Best Halifamous Person
Gold Winner Ellen Page Silver Winner Fat Apollo Bronze Winner Joel Plaskett It’s not that we’re obsessed with her…OK so maybe we’re a little obsessed with her. But, it’s not every day that a talented and universally adored actress that balances indies, thrillers and blockbusters with ease calls our own city home. So we gotta…
Best Self-storage Company
Gold Winner Metro Self-Storage, Bayers Lake Silver Winner PODS Bronze Winner Premiere Self Storage In fiction, self-storage units are important plot devices: the missing documents are stored in them, the heroes live in them, the body parts are stashed in them. The other day, on the bar TV, a woman wearing latex had turned a…
Best Place To Walk Your Dog
Gold Winner Point Pleasant Park Silver Winner Shubie Park Bronze Winner Long Lake While a whole whack of you voters decided that Point Pleasant was the best place to run (or secretly avoid running behind a tree) it’s actually the best place to dog watch. This place is like a canine runway, always full of…
Letters to the editor, November 7, 2013
Slight lines I can certainly understand and sympathize with how crappy it can be to have your view ruined, but the tone of the quotes and the article comes off as, “Evil Irving! How dare they do this!” (“Ships park here,” Reality Bites by Rana Encol, October 31). The truth is, the main protection you…
Best Furniture Store
Gold Winner Attica Furnishings Silver Winner The Brick Bronze Winner Statement Oh, Attica! How can we not love this place? Its inventory of gorgeous lamps, rugs and accessories for your home will have you wanting everything in store…or just wanting to live in the store itself. And who could blame you? Attica’s been bringing you…
Best Second-hand Clothing Store
Gold Winner Crimson Clover Consignment Silver Winner Elsie’s Used Clothing Bronze Winner Dress In Time Crimson Clover doesn’t play around. You want to buy second-hand for environmental and financial reasons, but you don’t want to sacrifice a single drop of quality. Crimson Clover’s got you, girl. Selling only luxury brands and contemporary jewellery, local art…
Aging gracefully into BDSM
Q I am a kinky, youthful 72-year-old guy. I grew up in the Pleistocene era, when there was virtually no way to meet a kinky woman. I’ve had two vanilla marriages, and three months ago I ended a four-year vanilla relationship with the best woman I’ve ever met. I just couldn’t take not being a…
Best Visual Artist
Gold Winner Nick Brunt Silver Winner JJ Steeves Bronze Winner Emily Davidson There’s some pretty steep artistic competition out there in our creative town, but Nick Brunt handily took this category for the second year with his incredibly detailed illustrations and paintings and all things woodsy. Brunt is a live painter, a Coast cover artist…
Best Haliqueer
Gold Winner Rouge Fatale Silver Winner Fred Connors Bronze Winner Kevin Kindred “The makeup changes, the style changes a bit, but you always stay true to yourself,” says Jason Rose-Spurrell of the evolution of his famed alter ego Rouge Fatale. And she’s come a long way from “three sticks of makeup and a bad Value…
Best Moving Company
Gold Winner Munden’s Moving & Storage Silver Winner Short Notice Movers Bronze Winner Big Picture Moving Company With 28 years in the biz, the family owned Munden’s Moving & Storage took top honours. “With hardworking, experienced staff from our office to the crews on the trucks, our policy is to try and make your move…
Best Staycation Spot
Gold Winner Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk Silver Winner White Point Beach Resort Bronze Winner Lunenburg No matter if you’ve lived here for years or just stepped off one of the giant oceanliners filled with merry cruise-goers, the Halifax Waterfront has a knack for making you feel like it’s your first time in the city. Grab a…
You Good Thing
In this, Weir’s 11th collection of poetry, the Massachusetts-based poet refracts a multitude of selves along the cracked surfaces of 41 loose sonnets. By using a mathematical sketch by Fernando Pessoa (a Portuguese poet well-known for his many, many heteronyms) along with the caption “by the longest possible route” as an epigraph, Weir prepares the…
Best Home Decor Store
Gold Winner Attica Furnishings Silver Winner Thornbloom Bronze Winner Winners, Mic Mac Mall Oh, Attica! How can we not love this place? Its inventory of gorgeous lamps, rugs and accessories for your home will have you wanting everything in store…or just wanting to live in the store itself. And who could blame you? Attica’s been…
