Why the convention centre sucks, part 2
Convention centre supporters are consistently touting about the job-creation potential of the proposed convention centre. “A new convention centre could result in as many as 12,000 new jobs,” says Infrastructure minister Bill Estabrooks. “A shadow bid prepared by Deloitte…estimates the project will add $893 million to economic output, $171 million in taxes and 28,000 jobs…
To a certain friend who thinks her shit don’t stink:
So my cousin is single and he asked me if I knew anyone I could set him up with. I suggested you would be a good match for him. You’ve known him through me for about a year. He was all for it–you, not so much. You stated “he’s not right for me, and I’m…
Mary Wile gets angry
At Tuesday’s council meeting, councillor Mary Wile took exception to a new policy discouraging the use of bottled water in City Hall, because the policy includes a suggestion that people be asked to carry their own reusable coffee mugs. Listen here: Wile on coffee mugs
Hot boss
You are gorgeous. You make going to work exciting. I make sure I look cute for you. Do you notice? —Employee of the month
To the little, young blond at the downtown bank…
You were really sweet and I was kind of bitchy. I’m really sorry I took my bad day out on you. I wasn’t trying to be a bitch, I was just frustrated I couldn’t get my work cheque cashed. I know it was dated for today and not yesterday, but no one has ever caught…
I just have to say…
To the guy in the wheelchair who made his way down the stairs to The Seahorse on Tuesday night, completely unassisted, because he had to see Iron Giant: I went to see Clutch and Children of Bodom, but that was hands down the most metal thing I saw all night. —xox
Just a wee thanks
For being the first to believe in me and actually seeing something more in me than anyone else has. you’ve given me hope. It means more than you’ll ever know. —The neighbour
Early Anniversary Love
Please excuse my horrid grammar… I proposed in August and our wedding is a year from that day. Our anniversary is the 24th and I love to show it in major ways and what way better than letting everyone know? I just want her to know how much I love her and that this is…
Unlucky number 6
I swear to god if you fuck my game again tonight, I’m sliding down the alley and burning you where you refuse to fall. Do you see all those pins around you flipping and smacking around… your ‘friends’? Join in. Don’t just fucking sit there. Fall on your ass and enjoy doing it, damn it.…
Seriously? Just give it away!
I am a member of a local online freecycling site, the purpose of the site is to keep stuff that maybe still be usable to someone out of landfills. It’s great, I’ve been able to get rid of a ton of stuff there, but there seems to be an awful lot of posts lately from…
Almighty Voice and His Wife
I feel a little bad telling you about how much I enjoyed Aboriginal playwright Daniel David Moses’ Almighty Voice and His Wife. Unfortunately, as part of the jam-packed Prismatic Festival, the play only had two shows, so you won’t get to see it unless it returns to Halifax at some point. The story (which is…
Accident on Robie and West
Thank you to the Kia driving gentleman that hit my van on Robie Street yesterday. We moved the van to get out of the bus stop area to park by your car on West Street & you left. Now the police are looking for you & your car for a hit and run until you…
When on the bus….
And sitting next to a College student with more then enough bags, can you please be an adult and not kick at my feet, trying to get me to move them. A bus only has so much space, and I have to be on one for more then an hour…try to be a little nicer…
Excellent ad, wrong subject
EVERYTIME I see the add that says “matches have heads, no brain, use yours when you use them” I want to scratch out the word “matches” and write DICKS. I think it would work SO much better for a anti-pregnancy add. Just sayin. —Use your brain
A certain meterologist on local radio
The way you sign off on your weather reports is so incredibly annoying. I hear your name (and arrogance) and cringe. —Your name is not that great
CANCELLED: Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn unfortunately is canceling his Maritime tour due to a collapsed lung and pneumonia. He was scheduled to perform at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on October 20th. He’s planning to reschedule the dates. Get well soon!
Lunch time quickie
To the awesome lunchtime staff at a sandwhich shop in Fairview – keep up the speedy service. I’ve eaten at a lot of sub shops and you are by far the most efficient – you guys are great! A big thank-you from those of us who are always in a hurry on lunch break. —Steak-n-cheese
Old Drivers in Halifax!
I am getting sick and tired of all the old drivers around this city! Seriously Speed Limit is 50 not 20!!!!! Check your freaking blind spot before coming into the lane I am in, I have already had a car written off in the past month, I don’t want another one to end up the…
Find a Different Wedding Photographer
My wife and I got married in Halifax this summer and we found a photographer in town that had amazing photos. Little did we know that she would treat us like dirt the entire day of our wedding, refusing to take certain photos that we requested, pushing our guests out of the way to take…
Bed Bug Rant
I’m fortunate not to have any bed bugs in our house but I swear to God every time I turn around there’s some story in the news about bed bugs, where they’re turning up, how they’re impossible to get rid of, etc… Now everywhere I go I think I see bedbugs. We’re hearing how they’re…
I hope others start noticing too
I wish all of the other regulars that come to your place for a bite to eat would realize that you treat your employees like shit!! Your waitresses (who are always fantastic) never stay for more than a month or so, and once I paid attention to how they are treated, I stopped eating there.…
Fall in the entrance on Friday night
On Friday I saw something really strange. Something that maybe is not funny, but at least I had fun on an awful night. A girl had a “friendly-struggle” with another outside of that bar. I don´t know how it happened but she just flew up above the ribbon of the entrance. She fell in the…
Glad I found you!
Who would have thought that our first bike ride together would be the beginning of something special. You are my strength, my weakness, my everything. Thank you for being you! I love you! —Your Prickly Cactus
Dear cup of tea
You’re not my favourite brand and you were the only one that was in stock at my local corner store, but you are delicious nonetheless. Thanks for making my morning bearable right now. —Ms. T
Ladies on the bus
Just want to thank all of the lovely ladies on the #1 bus. You make the bus ride home after a long day of labs and lectures that much more welcome. So if you see any guys in Dal Engineering shirts don’t hesitate to send a smile this way! —Tired Engineer
Thank You Windows!
Just wanted to say thank-you, my cousin’s wedding was this weekend, and everything you did made it the most special night of her life!!! You are truly a great crew!!! —Window Washer
Roll Call: Clutch
And, uh, Children of Bodom, and Black Label Society, and 2 Cents. Do you have your ticket yet to see Maryland’s finest (and those other bands, I guess?) It starts at 7:30pm at the Cunard Centre and afterwards you can go see Orchid’s Curse, Iron Giant and Big Game Hunt for free at the Seahorse.…
Why the convention centre sucks, part 1
No alternative uses for the public money have been suggested, and the alternative proposals for a convention centre were discarded without public explanation. Moreover, the proposed public/private arrangement is a disservice to the public, giving us a crappy convention centre for the money, and handing a huge bill to the future.
Classy Tattoos opens
Recently opened is Classy Tattoo Company (6100 Young Street, Suite 114, 455- 5256) featuring Al and Amanda Ferrish, Josh Dobbs and Amanda Crews. They’re three experienced artists and one piercer (Amanda Ferrish), who does everything from dermals to the more personal piercings. The shop’s service is 100 percent custom tattooing: You bring a design or…
You’re just like me but with short hair….
You make Halifax so much fun… I’m so glad to be here and so happy I have met you… you make me laugh like I haven’t done in such a long time… Jeg elsker dig! xoxoxo —Euro in Halifax
Happy Birthday Poop
I hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend. I love you so much even though you drive me totally nuts! You’re the best. —Poop
Thanksgiving, literally!
A magic night where I recovered my lost passport and cellphone, the people on this bar are amazing, thanks to all of them. Plus I met a beautiful smile who took the time to say “you’re doing great” when work was stressful, you are awesome and you changed the course of the night. Hope to…
To the lady at the last market
The last market before 21 opened. I had dropped money, everyone was cramped yet you managed to grab my attention to point it out. I hope Karma has treated you well and I often think of your kindness. As a student I financially need it, as a human I should be more careful to lol.…
Bartenders underestimating their customers
I know 2 bartenders were shortchanging my friends and I all night this past Sunday. 6 dollar drinks paid with a 10 dollar bill is 4 dollars in change, assholes, not 3. I didn’t say anything, knowing if I did, I’d be kicked out because you’d call over to your bouncer buddy and claim I’d…
MacPass-Less Morons
Get a MacPass you morons! The “Mac Pass Only” lane is for drivers with the pass, not for you to go in, sit there honking because the bar doesn’t go up, and then hand over $0.75 to us staff. You end up backing up traffic and pissing off other drivers! —Mac’d with the Pass
Creepy Old Dude @ S.E. Gym
Okay, we get it….you’re gay and proud, and like to stare and drool over us younger guys at the gym. But hey, Grandpa Dust, wipe down the machines when you’re done. It’s the hygienic and polite thing to do. —Young’n’Fit
Stop trashing our recycling
To the bottle collectors of DT Halifax: when you tear open bags of recycling to find the refundables and leave the rest of the items strewn on the pavement outside of our houses you are not helping anyone. Because of this we are forced to use more plastic bags to re-bag the recyclables and have…
Dear drivers on Hwy 14:
Allow me to introduce you to a nifty feature on your car. High beams. Oh, I know you all know you have them, you just don’t seem to know when the frig to turn them off! Geez people! I know there is little common sense out there, especially when one gets behind the wheel… but…
Slow Food NS goes abroad
Happening from October 21 through 25 in Torino Italy is the fourth biennial, invitation-only Terra Madre conference, organized by the international Slow Food movement. Shoptalk has learned that 14 members of the Nova Scotia chapter have been invited. Michael Howell of Tempest in Wolfville and Chives’ Craig Flinn will lead the Nova Scotia delegation, which…
Thank You!
I just want to send a big “Thank You!” to the wonderful gentleman at a particular grocery store by Lake Banook who was kind enough to give me a 5 dollar bill so I could afford the remaining groceries for my thanksgiving dinner. I am very grateful for your kindness and am still smiling because…
Thanks!
Thank you, to the person who returned my work pass to the theatre this week. When I arrived at work, I was dismayed to find it had fallen off somewhere along my journey, and when I went back to look it was gone. Later that day, when my co-worker returned it to me after you…
To the lady I love…
The day we met, I thought you were beautiful. Our first conversation I saw your intelligence, your wit and your charm. I liked you from right off the bat. Over the years I’ve come to think the world of you. With each passing day I find you more and more attractive in every way someone…
Hug it out, love it out, dance it out.
To the chief of the tribe: happy birthday week! I am so thankful that you were born and continue to exist today. You positively impact everyone you encounter. Your smile and laugh emanate from your core and penetrate the negativity it may meet. You mean a lot to me. Thanks for BEING. Keep on keepin’…
Sending good thoughts
You were at my store today, and when I bumped into you, you were needing help with pillowcases. You soon told me that it’s because you have family staying with you as your wife is in the hospital. I wanted to cry when you then explained that your wife usually does “this sort of thing”…
Heelwalkers
Low Five to the Heelwalkers for being on the Fubar 2 soundtrack! Right On! —Fanagoodmusic
Love the Way We Love the Way We Love
Thank you to the Coast for this and to all the thoughtful people who contribute their small but meaningful brushes with love. We really do live in a good part of the world, and there really are a lot of good people here. There is a lot to love. I love Love the Way We…
I Miss You
To the one that stole my heart from the day we met. Even though we were best friends for two years before dating for the past year, I’m glad we waited. I love you so much bubba. Can’t wait to see you next. —Your best-friend/Girlfriend
Oh baby…
I’m pregnant. I’m overjoyed. I can’t wait to tell our families and friends. Mine may know right away because I won’t be smoking. I pray that we have a healthy baby and I’m so excited to be going through this together. —LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Time passes quickly
I was too afraid to tell you when you were here. I love you. I hope you find what you are looking for and when you come back, my arms will be open for you to fall into. Until then, you’ve taught me how being alone isn’t so bad. I’ll try it out for a…
Grocery Store guy saved birthday!
I would just like to thank the guy that put the Happy Birthday writing on my gf’s cake even though it wasn’t his job. He did a great job and even got a fresh batch of pink icing. He was extremely polite, cordial and did it all with a smile on his face. If there…
Exploding Kisses
I’ve never loved anyone more then you. You’re a buritto of fried best friend, partner-in-crime topping and secret lover sauce. My pocket version of you won’t fill the empty shell I’ll be when I leave. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Please don’t forget me. —”Angel”
Acting goofy makes me smile
To the staff working at a coffee shop on Barrington: I was having such a shitty day until I came in and you guys made me laugh while you all danced and sang to Total Eclipse of the Heart when I was trying to decide what I wanted (Which didn’t make it easier to choose,…
Dear tiny less than 90 lbs gymnast roommate:
How can you be so small, and apparently so light on your feet, yet make so much godawful noise just from stomping around the house in bare feet?? How is it possible? Also, why do you keep slamming your door? Is it a passive-aggressive thing or what?—150 lb twinkle toes
Dartmouth Rocks!!!
Those hideous and insulting scenic scaffolds that tried to be art, erected near the Dartmouth and Halifax ferry terminals had to go! Nobody, resident or visitor, needs to be told which way to face to admire the many facets of the jewel that is our harbour. Seems some individual(s) on the Dartmouth side hove that…
Losing my glee
I loved your show. I loved the cheesy songs and actors. Loved seeing what new songs you would do. It was an obsession. And you ruined it. Did you really have to do a religious episode? Did you really have to make it so that one atheist gets her faith back and the other atheist’s…
Pissed Off
It’s Friday morning, long weekend ahead, life is good right? Driving to work this morning saw a huge, beautiful rainbow, thought for sure it was the start of a great day. Then I get to work and realize that I am the only one showing up to work… again today! What is fucking wrong with…
To The Company That Used Me
I worked my ass off when you needed it most, and now I’m being tossed to the curb like your moldy bread. You’re not the friendly local everyone thinks you are. —Steamer
No Pay for the DJ
For the bar in Dartmouth that DIDN’T pay the DJ in full after he packed the place all night 2 weeks ago: I would just like to extend to them my middle finger! —NO $$
Swarmer Season
Since when is attempted murder welcome on our streets? Call a spade a spade- they are trying to kill. Well, there’s deer season, rabbit season etc and so why not open season? Interesting comment by the HRM Police spokesman on CBC stated that a friend who used reasonable force to protect his friend acted until…
Racism lives!
On Thursday October 7, at 10 AM, I was crossing the street at the Robie-Coburg intersection. With the pedestrian walk sign clearly on, a grey pickup truck, driven by a white male (balding, heavy-set, round face, and clean shaven) came speeding from the left, nearly hit me, and the bastard was even generous enough to…
HRM Cops Couldn’t Catch A Cold
So how long do the people of HRM have to put up with these sleazy scum-fucks that have been swarming people? Are the fucking cops too fat or too lazy to make one fucking arrest??? —Tired of Impotent Action From An Impotent Cop Shop
Lost & Found showcases north end art
Right now on exhibit at Lost & Found (2383 Agricola Street, 446-5986) is the works of more than 30 local artists, including Valerie Salez, Chris Foster, Mitchell Wiebe, Cherokee Stoddard, Bethany Riordan Butterworth and Dan Joy. The show’s purpose is to “combine, compare, contrast and enjoy the art of North End Halifax in its many…
pur alternative October sale
The local online-only company, which passed its one year anniversary at the beginning of October and made a brief stab this year at retail storefront business at the Barrington Place Shops, is offering 15 percent off everything until the end of the month. They offer a wide selection of non-toxic, natural and safe personal care…
North of America releases complete discography online
Check out these beans: http://northofamerica.bandcamp.com/ Listen. Buy something, even. They play two Halifax Pop Explosion shows: one at the Pavilion Friday Oct 22 and the other on Saturday Oct 23 at the Seahorse.
Of Montreal Are Coming
zazzle! We just got a heads-up that a delightful little Georgian psych-pop group you may have heard of called Of Montreal are playing the Halifax Forum Multipurpose Room on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011. Well peel my potatoes and call me Shifty! SEX KARMA! (featuring SOLANGE.)
Bill Estabrooks says building convention centre is “right decision”
Transportation and infrastructure minister Bill Estabrooks sent an email Wednesday to the NDP’s rank-and-file members throughout the province. It explains why “your NDP government has released the financial detail for a proposed new convention centre in Halifax.” Near the top of the message, Estabrooks clearly says the government “has not yet made a decision on…
‘Mouse vs. rottweiler’: update on Ocean vs. Economical
Update on second week of Ocean lawsuit against Economical Insurance in which Ocean continues to argue she feels threatened by the insurance company.
Big Voices present A Little Something for Everybody
The theme of A Little Something for Everybody is the plight of the “big girl”, explored in songs from Broadway musicals and original scenes and monologues. Written and performed by local acting/singing powerhouses Kristi Anderson and Ann Doyle, this short, humorous show makes some important points about the negative effects of society’s pressure on women…
Dance review: Burpee and SINS
Apple Darkest Perhaps the most striking thing about last night’s two premieres, presented by Live Art, was their differences. The minimalism of Susie Burpee’s Apple Darkness, performed by Danielle Baskerville, seemed almost pious compared to Sometimes in Nova Scotia’s over-the-top ode to greed, only emphasizing its glorious excessiveness even more. No surprise: Apple Darkness was…
The Hunt Club opens
A new business concept opened this week, just adjacent from the coming-soon new side of Bubba Ray’s upstairs in Spring Garden Place—but with its own entrance off Dresden Row—called The Hunt Club (5640 Spring Garden Road). It’s a lounge, bar and clothing store. The theory is that guys don’t tend to go out shopping for…
Lovin those Philly’s
Just wanted to send some love out to Roy Halladay for last night’s second postseason no-hitter in history during Game 1… I’m not a huge Baseball fan, but Baseball is my BF’s whole world (besides me… lol). Watching games like that make me a FAN though. Now if you could please kick the Yankees ass…
Dear LTWWBer…
I have a crush on you but I’m too shy to admit it. I love your witt, your intelligence and sense of humour. Just thought you’d like to know. Whoever you are -wink- —I’m not tellin’
Abuser Released
That child abuser has been granted bail. He will serve virtually no time after the judge called his crimes “repugnant” and saying it was important to send the message that society abhors the abuse of children. Obviously the judge doesn’t practice what he preaches. If our “system” can’t take care of this, what can? —Lock…
Tax all junkfood and save a fattie!
If the government is going to constantly raise taxes on smokes and booze, then so it should be for all fast foods and junk foods. Maybe this could prevent our city being overrun with scooters and their hippo-sized drivers. —Junk Food Is Killing You, Tubs
Why Would Anyone Adopt These Days?
A friend of mine and her husband adopted these two older kids after 15 years of waiting for a newborn. The kids they have are fucking psycho. They are violent with all kinds of ADHD issues. They have turned my loving friend into a nervous wreck because of their destructive behavior. She’s called every source,…
Pagan Intolerance
The lack of attention given to hate crimes and bullying against wiccans/pagans is starting to tick me off. I identify as pagan, and the acts of violence and emotional abuse I’ve witnessed and been a victim of myself is awful. Right now, everyone is talking about how the bullying of gay people needs to stop,…
Please and Thank You – F@#$ You Very Much
We’ve had some serious-ass bitches lately. Time for a trivial one. “Please” and “Thank You” are terrific words and not used nearly often enough. But, people who follow up a request with the phrase “Please and Thank You” are in dire need of a good old-fashioned cock punch or it’s nearest female equivalent. You say…
Not Really Fine
Life is still pretty bleak as I pick up the pieces. But I’m glad you seem to be doing better. I want you to be happy. —Me
Move Bitch!
So if I’m walking solo down the sidewalk and there’s 2 or more of you walking toward me, the get the f*** out of my way. Move. Move. Move. There’s one of me, 2 or more of you, you do the maths. It’s not like I’m walking in the middle of the sidewalk like the…
Fast Food Friend
To the lovely man working at the fast food place last weekend: Though you couldn’t meet my fast food cravings, you made me laugh, gave me some free beverages and generally made our night great. Your great sense of humour was worth not getting my onion rings. But I will be back. —Scolding Young Woman
Leave Nova Scotia!
JUST MET A GUY WHO DIDN’T KNOW STAN ROGERS’ BARRETT’S PRIVATEERS! Naturally I assaulted him.—How I wish I was in Sherbrook now
Ottawa vs Halifax convention centres
Much in this Ottawa Citizen article from last week is self-serving convention centre management tripe, which I’ll leave off for another day, but I was struck by the financing of the new Ottawa Convention Centre: The federal and provincial governments are each paying $50 million to the $170-million construction cost and the city has invested…
Khyber Doom Love Party
Typically rad posters (intended to be stuck together like a Sonic Youth “Goo” version of a Mad fold-in) by Adam OReilly. This Saturday your old buddies in Data Cave will be stopping in Halifax fresh off their Pop Montreal experience on an East Coast tour with TORSO and the insanely violent-sounding AHNA from Vancouver: “Their…
Class action
The Harper government has argued that prostitution is inherently dangerous and Canada could become a sex tourism destination were prostitution-related activities decriminalized (“Bawdy crimes,” News by Lizzy Hill, August 12). Be that as it may, our laws discriminate against the poor. High-class hookers, call girls and call boys—including some masseurs—practice their trade in safety, as…
Sharing the road
Today I was walking along Quinpool Road and witnessed a driver honk their horn, lay on the gas pedal and swerve extremely fast in front of a cyclist to make a right turn into a driveway. The cyclist had a child on the front of the bike. I got goosebumps from the whole scenario. The…
Epstein’s leak, 3
Twenty-one million dollars for a one-time sporting event like the Canada Games, the $115 million failure called “the sewage treatment plant,” the $2 to $6 million giveaway for concerts on the Common—and spending $57 million to receive 10 times that back in taxes isn’t the “smart” move? Please, don’t invest money, just sit back and…
Epstein’s leak, 2
If Howard Epstein did not lie, I would not believe him. Government requires lies to be told and lawyers are the best at it. —posted by mintus1
Epstein’s leak, 1
Howard Epstein should not have had to apologize for giving the costs the public should have in the first place (“Howard Esptein, upfront about the centre,” News by Tim Bousquet, September 30). Bill Estabrooks was saying we would be given the figures AFTER the cabinet had decided! That is not why we voted NDP—just to…
Alma matters
A recent piece took issue with the proposals in Tim O’Neill’s report on Nova Scotia universities (“Class war in class,” Editorial by Bruce Wark, September 30). It claimed that the report’s recommendations, if adopted, would unjustly reinforce the “economic class structure” and push schools closer to becoming mere degree factories. It begins with a lament…
Start your pumpkins!
“Ladies and gentlemen, start your pumpkins!” If you haven’t heard those six words that begin the Windsor-West Hants Pumpkin Regatta every year, it’s time to get out there. Vanessa Roberts, one of the event coordinators, tells us that the carved-out and decorated pumpkin boats are actually called “PVCs”—personal vegetable crafts—and each person who enters (it’s…
Lavish I Am Love
How much you enjoy I Am Love will depend on how you feel about slowly unfolding, melodramatic European soap operas. Daughter of a Russian art dealer, Emma (Tilda Swinton), married into the Recchi family, an multigenerational Italian textile dynasty rich in tradition, but isolated from reality. Many years and two children later Emma still feels…
Who hates downtown?
Who hates downtown Halifax? Certainly not the thousands of people who head to Argyle Street for post-work drinks. Most definitely not the shoppers mobbing the Spring Garden Road shopping district. And unquestioningly, without a doubt, not the crowds that flock to the boardwalk every chance they get. By all indications, regular Haligonians love downtown. And…
The Establishment falls
After eight years in the music scene, The Establishment has watched Halifax evolve in countless ways. They watched their favourite bars close and new ones open; they watched bands break up and re-assemble. They saw some neighbourhoods flourish while others began to sport empty storefronts like gaps in a rotting smile. And now, even though…
Opening the curtain on Prismatic
“Prismatic is about bringing aboriginal and culturally diverse artists to the attention of the ‘mainstream,'” says Maggie Stewart, managing director of Onelight Theatre, the company that brings Prismatic Festival to Halifax every other year. This year, Onelight partnered with Debajehmujig Storytellers to get the message out. “It has been [Onelight’s] experience that culturally diverse artists/organizations…
Go Local: Spring Garden
You know this place. It’s the busiest strip of shopping in Atlantic Canada, with plenty in the way of whatever you’re looking for. What might surprise you is in the presence of great restaurants, bars and high-end retailers, both local boutiques and national chains, there are many sales and discounts ongoing, if you know where…
Solving Case 39
It’s telling that the least implausible thing about Case 39 is the idea that a 10-year-old girl could be a demon. This is a film that presents Renee Zellweger as a tough but tender social worker Emily, a child services organization that allows Emily to temporarily adopt one of her clients and a cop who…
Logging into The Social Network
The Social Network spares us a superficial discourse on Facebook’s influence on human connection and instead immerses us in human experience: inspiration; indignation; the perils of revenge and acting on impulsive anger. This movie is so good because, to borrow a phrase from the film itself, it is “wired into” the brains of its characters…
Free Will Astrology
LIBRA(September 23-October 22) “Dear Rob: A professional astrologer who read my chart told me that I have no willpower and that there is basically nothing I can do to change that. Any suggestions? I’m feeling helpless and passive at a time when I could really benefit from standing up for myself. —Listless Libra.” Dear Libra:…
The Walkmen
With a stripped-down aesthetic, Lisbon presents a slightly cleaner, less distorted sound than earlier records, filled with laments and an ode to Lisbon, where the band spent some time being motivated to work on the record. Strong drum rhythms pervade the album, with subtle brass harmonies kicking in on some songs. Opening track “Juveniles” has…
Meet Melissa Buote
“I just love to talk about food!” Those were the parting words of a young journalist, a King’s student who I met with last week to talk about food writing. While her peers are focusing on hard news, she is interested in the candy-floss journalism of food writing. Our conversation made me think a lot…
Ryan Bingham
If Ryan Bingham’s Academy Award in any way went to this young man’s head (his song “The Weary Kind” won Best Original Song Oscar for the film Crazy Heart), it doesn’t show. There is no catering to the masses or cashing in at all on his third album. Bingham is still singing about hard-living, wayward…
Nothing left of My Soul to Take
A quarter-century after inventing Freddy Krueger and 14 years after Scream, his ironic take on the slasher genre he helped create, writer-director Wes Craven is back to carve up some more teenagers. My Soul To Take concerns a serial killer with multiple personalities who vows to slaughter the seven kids born on the night of…
Saving the worst of the worst
In bureaucratic circles, the child is known as “File #400.” In the neighbourhood, he’s known as a terror. In 2008, he’s just 11 years old, but already well on his way to a life of crime and probably future prison and early death. Between June 2005 and November 2008, he is the subject of 55…
Small Sins
Consider the colour of this album’s cover and liner for a clue to the music within. Packaged in an aquamarine that’s at once cool and warm, these two currents meet and flow together in D’Arcy’s vocals, the instrumentation and arrangements. Again working with John McEntire, who produced and engineered the recording, and getting the whole…
Life as We Know It ends with this rom-com
Of all film’s towering “how’d they do that?” mysteries, I always wonder how they get babies to emote on cue. Do they train a camera on them for hours and edit in the choice cuts, or do they just dab a little pepper paste on the sides of the baby’s mouth and under their eyes…
Welcome to Fubar country
Of the many things that separate Dave Lawrence and Paul Spence from their big-screen alter egos, one of the most obvious is patience. In the 2002 film Fubar, the duo introduced the world to Terry (Lawrence) and Dean (Spence), a pair of halfwit headbangers not exactly known for making careful, intelligent decisions. Speaking in thick…
Suck
Rob Stefaniuk is the king of Canada’s “so bad it’s almost good” cult genre. Musical Suck turns vampirism into a playful metaphor for drug addiction: Though the comedy is too earnest, it’s still way more fun to see a band happily devour a groupie than sit through more wayward rockers shooting up in sketchy washroom…
Getting Buried
Director Rodrigo Cortés milks every drop of claustrophobic panic from the buried-alive scenario in this suspense film about private-contract truck driver Paul (Ryan Reynolds), who awakens in an underground coffin in Iraq with little more than a cellphone and a Zippo lighter at his disposal. Held ransom by insurgents, Paul tries to negotiate with both…
The downtown Dartmouth shuffle
A series of real estate moves by private and public organizations will alter the downtown Dartmouth business landscape in the next year. What remains to be seen is whether these changes are more akin to a game of musical chairs or, to use a grimmer melodic analogy, Bob Marley’s “Exodus.” The reshuffling has already begun.…
Frozen
Frozen is a great example of survival horror. Instead of being pitted against a psycho killer or supernatural force, the leads have to deal with mother nature herself. Three college kids (Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers) go skiing and try to make it up the mountain for one last run. Through a series of…
Flamenco plays it local with Con Brio and Compania Azul
Six-piece ensemble Con Brio, headed by flamenco jazz artist Daniel MacNeil, fuses both flamenco and jazz on the Stayner’s stage tonight, with local flamenco company Compania Azul sharing the night’s bill. Compania Azul brings the talents of founding dancer Megan Matheson, guitarist Bob Sutherby, singer Sean Harris and percussionist Tony Tucker, making for an evening…
Halo: Reach
Halo is a lot like mac ’n’ cheese. Everybody eats it, it always tastes the same and is sure to fill. Where things get interesting is when you start throwing in new ingredients. Make it spicy: add hot Italian sausage and jalapenos. Make it romantic: add lobster, shallots and a blend of fine cheeses. This…
Swinton’s swagger
The model is immediately recognizable: slicked-back copper hair, otherworldly cutting cheekbones. Back in 2003 Tilda Swinton became the muse for Amsterdam design house Viktor & Rolf’s “One Woman Show.” Not only did she walk down the runway, dressed in a loosely open-collared white shirt and a mannish black pantsuit, but the models were styled as…
Secretariat wins by a nose
A list of Secretariat’s flaws would stretch all the way around a racetrack but, mimicking its equine subject, the movie outruns most of them through sheer force of will. The story of the horse that became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years in 1973—and its scrappy owner Penny Tweedy (Diane Lane)—is larded with…
Kate Reid tells it like it is
If you had asked Kate Reid 10 years ago if she’d be a full-time musician in 2010, she may have laughed at you. “Music wasn’t even on my radar,” Reid says, explaining that she finished her teaching degree in 2000 despite knowing the first day she stepped into teacher’s college that she didn’t want to…
7th Avenue is closing
Margaret Ann Kerr, owner of 7th Avenue Boutique (Barrington Place Shops, 1903 Barrington Street, 422-8827), isn’t closing the store because of a slowdown of business. Quite the opposite. “We’re going out on a high note as this has been a banner year for 7th Avenue.” She and her husband have plans to travel, as well…
MacLeod in motion
In this high literary season, Alexander MacLeod continues to make moves. His first book, a short story collection called Light Lifting, is shortlisted for the Giller Prize. With that recognition in mind, the book’s seven stories confront a single, dominant question: “What constitutes a significant action?” MacLeod, an assistant professor in Saint Mary’s University’s English…
Slowcoaster turns inward
Five albums into its decade-long career, Slowcoaster has found its way back to the beginning with the newest album, The Darkest of Discos. “It sounds like our early stuff,” says Steven MacDougall, the band’s lead man. “A band is like being in a marriage: things change over time, relationships change, perspectives change. This record is…
Dexter to make convention centre announcement
Premier Darrell Dexter will announce his support for the proposed new convention centre, today at 12:30. The Coast will live-blog the announcement via our Twitter account, twitter.com/twitcoast.
DaPoPo moves in
DaPoPo Theatre settled into Theatre Nova Scotia’s Living Room for a month last year, and member Andrew Chandler says it went so well that they’re doing it again. Chandler explains the Live-In as “a month-long event, with play readings, workshops and performances” with work from DaPoPo and the larger theatre community, adding that the inspiration…
Don’t spoil Catfish
Yaniv Schulman is a photographer. His brother Ariel is a filmmaker. Abby is an eight-year-old from Michigan who sends Yaniv beautiful paintings of his photos. Megan is her half-sister, with whom Yaniv strikes up a virtual, romantic relationship. Ariel films it all. As the brothers head to Michigan so that Yaniv and Megan can finally…
Making it get better
Q My husband has a cuckold fetish, which we have indulged through two drunken threesomes with two of his best friends. The first time, he really had to talk me into it. The second time, he steered me in that direction and I took the wheel. I now have had sex alone with Friend Two…
Bend Sinister goes all Canadian
On tour Bend Sinister goes all Canadian With its fourth album in tow, Bend Sinister has embarked on a month-long venture with two other Canadian bands. While Bend Sinister took shape in Vancouver, Library Voices call Regina home and Paper Lions represent Belfast, PEI. “If people are happy with the lineup, they should enjoy Library…
