Rock Bottom Brewery
Halifax’s taste buds are expanding from the usual local hops and bar owner John O’Hearn and his son Shaun O’Hearn have noticed. Owners of Your Father’s Moustache (5686 Spring Garden) have plans to convert their downstairs pool joint Dooly’s into a new microbrewery, Rock Bottom Brewery (5686 Spring Garden). The O’Hearn team hopes to start…
Organic Clothing Label
Local designer Laura Chenoweth launches her organic cotton clothing label on September 27 at 1313 Hollis (1313 Hollis) from noon to 5:00PM. “My emerging business consists of clothes locally designed here in Halifax,” says Chenoweth. “The tailoring production is being done by a group of artisans in India. All of the clothing is made with…
Welcome to Brussels
Those folks at Hamachi are at it again –the latest restaurant endeavour includes a little taste of Europe, Brussels Restaurant and Brasserie (1873 Granville). Owned and operated by Boris Mirtchev and Ken Greer, Brussels opened its doors just under two weeks ago. Inspired by the central point of European culture, the restaurant features an extensive…
Thanks DAL for encouraging me not to be green
On a recent visit to Dalhousie Campus, I parked my motorcycle near metered parking, four inches from the curb on a non roadway, non foot path, area of wasted pavement. I was impeding no passage, nor was I blocking in any other vehicles. I return five minutes later to find a ticket on my motorcycle.…
Bloc Party
Bloc PartyMonday, September 15, 12:12am, at The MarqueePhoto Scott Blackburn
Election signs on public property.
Remarks: “Candidates are reminded that campaign signs should be restricted to private property,” the city warns on its website. Does that mean politicians can’t put signs on public property? Well, sort of, but nobody seems to care. Signs on public dead space probably aren’t an issue, but can everyone agree that staking a political sign…
Can i pick my own canadidate please…
Dear Coast, It appears that your Steve Kinber and your other clowns writing the articles have your minds made up as to who we should elect. Can you try fucking off about who you would like and try to post shit about ALL parties and try to be somewhat equal and unbiased? WE ALL KNOW…
Free zine tables
This year, the Halifax Zine and Record Fair, a fave part of the Halifax Pop Explosion, is offering free vendor tables to show off your DIY zines, comics, indie records, CDs, cassettes, books, posters, printed matter and crafts. Maybe you’ll make some cash too. Email zineexplosion@gmail.com to get a table registration form, and fill it…
Capital cartooning
This weekend, our nation’s capital is going be animated with something other than politicians’ promises. The Ottawa International Animation Festival is the largest in North America, with over 2,000 animated films submitted from 70 countries. Halifax filmmaker Heather Harkins, who won the Linda Joy Media Arts Society’s Helen Hill Animated Award last December, was chosen…
Bus Bump
To the girl on the Spring Garden #1 this morning that got bumped by my ample hips as I tried to squeeze by. I want to apologize, I was trying to move to the back of the bus and I said excuse me, but I’m not sure you heard me. I also said sorry as…
Bruce LaBruce memories
Here’s my favourite Bruce LaBruce story. On the day of 9-11, before anyone knew what had really happened, my boyfriend (now husband) and I decided to ignore the chaos and go to an art gallery instead. We went to Bruce Bailey’s little gallery on Spadina in Toronto to see Bruce LaBruce’s first photo exhibition. (Bailey,…
HEY ARSEPICK!
When I’m slowing down on a 50 km road to turn into my fucking driveway, I don’t expect the idiot in the car behind me to throw up their hands in frustration and start screaming at me. I swear to God if you ever do this to me again, I will not only chase you…
Todays Economy
You wanna see how our government is so great? Today, oil is being sold at less than $100 a barrel. Where’s the government that’s supposed to step in and regulate the gas prices. the governnment used the oil prices to jack up the gas, and now they’re saying there’s no relation between the 2? Harper…
thanks ever so much
thanks oh coworker, for filling the very small office with the long lasting tang of your fishy lunch. just what I wanted wafting around, the pungent aroma of salmon or whatever-the-fuck you just microwaved. our office is small and open concept; have some curtesy and leave your stinkable-foods at home! needs to find some smelly…
The Hardest Thing About Blogging…
Another three-movie day. I can’t complain. Stone of Destiny was enjoyable, if only for the accents and the 50’s period costumes, for which I am a sucker. About four Scottish students who attempt to steal Scotland’s Stone of Destiny out from under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abby, it rigidly follows a caper-movie formula –…
calm down old ladies!
Ok so I randomly went to play bingo with some friends and we were having a good time and quietly laughing and talking, I noticed a couple of old ladies were giving us dirty looks. Then one of them turned around and said “Shut up, girls!” . Not only that a few minutes later she…
Quitting means I’m done
dear company: I quit. a week and a half ago. I gave my notice, it was pleasant and breezy, you wished me luck, no hard feelings. but oh wait what’s this? suddenly, you want me to stay LONGER than when I said I was done? oh and you want me available after the fact, just…
Kathleen Edwards review
Kathleen Edwards stepped onto the Seahorse stage alone and without fanfare, picked up a worn acoustic guitar and slipped into the simple chords of “Away,” the eighth and best song from Back to Me. The delicate tone was marred by a barful of mostly older patrons screaming at the dance floor standers to “Sit dowwwwnnnn!…
To the Fuckwad who stole the plate off my car
Your fucking time on the road is coming to an end, Asshole! The cops are looking for you, and if I were you, I’d be very afraid! I hope they throw the book at you and put you in fucking jail where you belong! You are a totally worthless piece of shit! BitchFan
The 10 Commandments (or they should be) of riding the bus
Published September 13, 2008. The 10 Commandments (or they should be) of riding the bus Thou shalt not bunch at the front of thy bus when thy bus is overcrowdeth. Thou shalt give up thine seat if thou art a young/healthy person to those who needeth the seat such as the elderly and the infirm.…
short leash now………
short leash now……… Congratulations to bubbles. on your Engagement ……. your on a short leash now i just wished it was me,,,,,,,,, vans pans saddened,,,,
Speed Kills!!!
Dude, STOP driving down Herring Cove road the way you are every day on your motorcycle like a ruptured duck!!! Im tired of your noise !!! Next time you do this it will be recorded and uploaded to u tube for the whole world to see how you plan on getting yourself killed. The dude…
Capers
So, Rossif Sutherland is Donald-tall, not Kiefer-tall. Wouldn’t have known from Poor Boy’s Game, but he towered in the Park Lane hallway this afternoon when he strolled out of a juried screening. Apparently he’s one of those smug bastards who’s been delaying screenings for the rest of us. (Just kidding Rossif… I’ve seen you fight,…
Everything
Grammar/Words Ignorant=lacking in knowledge It’s= it is Its = the poessessive form of it Politics Harper= Not dictator Stalin= Dictator Schools Cell phones= not in them please Teachers= Hell of a job Price of gas Low= Last year Medium= This year High= Next year Higher= The year after University Students Bad=Piss off people Good= Loads…
“Everyone in Halifax is a cheap skank”…
I wonder why not many people give to panhandlers! I walked down the road where this same homeless guy hangs out, begging, this evening. He’s always in the same spot, and I’ve walked past him a few times without giving him anything because I had no change. However, this time I had my purse and…
kinda… bland…
>why is it that in large bags of chips there seems to be less ketchup flavoring then in a small bag?.. i want flavor people!!! plain with a hint of ketchup
40 y.o virgin
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the 40 year old birthday boy at a certain large drinking establishement, for turning me off to going out and having fun with my friends… forever. This being the last of several encounters with older men in a bar…. Listen up…we think it’s sad you…
Who pissed in your cereals?
To the librarian working at the Kellogg library, learn how to be fuckin’ respectful of other people and get over the fact that people might ask you questions once in a while. Isn’t it your job to help people? You are useless at what you do and treated me like I was a pain in…
The Production of Reality
Had coffee today with fellow blogger Carsten and Coast film critic Mark Palermo. We sat and commiserated on the trials and tribulations of being a media person at the fest, which, if anyone was listening in, must have sounded like a quorum meeting of Halifax’s biggest cry-babies; boo-hoo, the media screenings often start late; wah-wah,…
FUCKING BULLY
TO MY SONS FORMER TEACHER,MY SON DID NOT MAKE ANY THREATS TO YOU ON FACEBOOK.YOU BULLIED MY SON WHEN HE HAD YOU FOR A FUCKING TEACHER,AND THEN FAILED HIM AFTER HE REPORTED YOU TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND NOW THREE YEARS LATER YOU CLAIM WITHOUT PROOF THAT HE THREATENED YOU ON FACEBOOK. STOP BEING SUCH…
CBC Radio Information Morning
I’ll be on CBC Radio One’s Information Morning, Thursday in the 7am to 8am hour. This is the the second of what I hope will be a semi-regular gig with CBC’s Pam Berman, discussing the municipal election.
Pissed at the SPCA
My boyfriend and I just bought a house, we had always lived in an apartment and already have two cats. We finally had the space for a dog. We’ve got a huge yard, and very close to parks. We don’t want a fucking puppy, we wanted a dog. Short story, we find an American Staffordshire…
Nice job getting Lucy fired.
Maybe next time your reporter might think about how what she is writing is going to affect the person she’s writing about. Lucy is amazing. The piece on her was terrible. I heard That Frank magazine is hiring, maybe Holly Gordon wants to apply. annoyed with the coast for being sensationalist
Con men and singers and soldiers, oh my
The delay earlier in the day in *dum dum* PARK LANE 3 carried over into the afternoon, so my fellow blogger Hillary Titley and Coast film reviewer (and director in his own right) Mark Palermo and I went for a coffee in advance of Of All The Things. It was good to catch up and…
Lost my appetite
As a hospital worker I am so sick of seeing the huge whales that come in and are going for knee replacements and other orthotic replacement! WTF?! You get another knee to have grinded away by your enormous size, that will cost taxpayers $30 000?! If not more?! Ugh…sometimes I think we should start euthanizing…
T-dot on film
Having lived in Toronto for 12 years, I feel like I’m in a good position to review Toronto Stories, four interconnected stories told in the same vein as Paris je t’aime and New York Stories. But I can’t find my darn sheet with the review restrictions, so I’ll keep my opinion to myself for now.…
Don’t be a sheep
Sometimes trendy can be a good thing, but sometimes people fall victim to stupid trends that annoy the shit out of me. One such trend is the too-big-for-my-face sunglasses. I remember wearing these in a play when I was a kid, and all of a sudden they are the hottest fashion accessory. I can’t help…
All Ages Shows
I’ve been realizing lately that a lot of the good bands that play in Halifax only play 19+ shows, which is total bullshit. I’m not nineteen so my only option is to break the law to see my favourite bands play. Now, I don’t have a huge problem with that and I know it isn’t…
Dirty photos
Photos from Down to the Dirt screening on Sunday night. AFF director Gregor Ash musically shows love to his home province of Newfoundland. If the film thing doesn’t work out, dude has a future as a singer. Exec producer Jennice Ripley, writer/actor/bad-ass in velvet Joel Thomas Hynes and actor Mylène Savoie. Lovely Mylène Savoie after…
Bloc Party will start on time
Last night’s show started at 10 sharp, one of the few times ever in this town, so go on time!
Same Sh*T diffrent day
why is it that I can come in on time everyday to my job and my co workers come most of the time at least 30 minutes late but when I need to leave 15 minutes early I’m the one being told that I need to make sure i’m here during the working hours. While…
So No One Can Dance in Halifax?
Currently watching the joke of an audition episode featuring 1 1/2 hours for Vancouver and a pathetic 1/2 hour for Halifax, and I can’t help but wonder: WHERE ARE ALL OF THE TALENTED DANCERS THAT (I KNOW) HALIFAX HAS? Meta Tarsal
Acadamy Brats
Published September 15, 2008. Acadamy Brats To those acadamy brats learb to clean up after your guys and and learn the fucking word thank you. and the same for those swim team bastards and bitches learn some fucking manors when you have practice at the SSS you guys reallllly burn my ass. ME
willow tree heart attack
Did I ask you to wash my windshield? Did I make some kind of signal? No I did not. I never caught your eye, never beckoned you over, nothing. Why? Because I could not see you. I could not see you until you slammed your squeegee onto my driver side window from behind. I thought…
Faceless day
So apparently today is Faceless day, where arts supporters are supposed to remove their Facebook profile photo to protest the federal government’s funding cuts. (On that note, a Telefilm representative at an AFF screening cleared up rumours that the New Media fund had been cut, but they haven’t heard anything about this. Yet.) Why you…
Oxford St. car thief
To you my dear sweet criminal. I hope you fucking choke on all the cd’s and money and whatever else you got.. not to mention the half pack of gum. I heard you in my half sleep, but now I’m ready.. come on fucker try it again. Cameras.. on! Bad Karma will come your way,…
Crabby Monday morning
OK, so, three (count ’em) industry screenings I’ve missed due to some fuck-up down at the Park Lane. The first was Blindness on Wednesday, which, fine, was due to the print not arriving on time. Not much to be done about that. But then Down to The Dirt on Thursday didn’t start on time because…
You’re not fucking funny.
To the group of immature losers at a certain Thursday night trivia contest: just because you are desperate for attention and your parents didn’t love you enough, doesn’t give you the right to make fun of the 9/11 attacks ON 9/11. I am all for freedom of speech and intelligant dialogue, but when you are…
Dig the dirt
A few brief things I took with me from the review embargoed Down To The Dirt. 1) The writer of the novel (Joel Thomas Hynes) plays his lead character in the film. And he does it well. It makes you kinda sick, that kind of switch-hitting talent. 2) We got some filmmaking grit goin’ on…
Pitches man!
This afternoon I took in the Inspired Scripts Pitch Match at the Delta Halifax where four writers, after months of training in the ways and means of pitching, are given five minutes to flaunt their screenplay wares. In this case, Rhonda Buckley, Scott Simpson, Walter Forsyth, and Chris Cuthbertson hawked three comedies and one thriller…
We love to hate our students
I can’t be the ONLY one who’s noticed what a bad rap students seem to get. I’ll admit, there are a more than a fair number of fuckheads and vapid sluts among their numbers, but not every student is a stumbling, binge drinking bag of puke on legs. They’re kids who are without parental supervision…
learn the f*cking rules!
hey you, yeah you, the douche who kept honking his horn at me and then continued to cuss at me profusely when I, on my bike, happened to be in the left-turning lane on the oxford-coburg intersection. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO. what, do you expect me to keep to the right, to the…
Black Crown Vic on Harvard
Your are the biggest jerk off driver I ever saw. So buddy on his bicycle was infront of you and it was not busy or anything and he was over to the side like he was suppose to and you start honking your horn and screaming obcenities then you go around him and then slam…
I already paid enough
Screw you, Windows. I shouldn’t have to pay more money to get specific tech support just because Vista is so freaking finicky. If anyone can tell me why not a single PDF file works even though I have AcroReader9, it would be greatly appreciated. Frustrated with a demo computer
Is it the Atlantic Party Festival?
So why is it the parties are so well organized and the screenings so poor. Fucked up sound, bad focus, general confusion. WTF Must love films.
Peace Officer? Peace of S%!T
I am SO glad that we have so many great police officers in the city of Halifax. It just makes me feel so safe knowing that the cops are out there catching the REAL criminals! Like… jaywalkers, stoners, speeders… I cant wait till the next time an officer has me cuffed on the ground with…
Useless Cops
To the cop who told me to “Go to the library and look it up” when I asked him to explain section 87 (1) of the Liquor Control Act when I was handed a fine for public intoxication: Why don’t you go look up a treadmill, you fat, useless fuck. Seriously though, you must really…
Our children today
>So, I’m sitting on the 68 on the way home from a grueling night shift, and these two kids behind me are talking loudly with every third word being a vulgarity. “This f***ing guy was f***ing with my girl and so I f***ed his ass up” etc. The last thing I need after working all…
Cheap Customers!
To the table of four I served the other night: I was friendly, I refilled your drinks, I checked up on how you were doing while you were eating, I got you extra napkins, I gave a sincere apology when I told you we had no nachos and suggested many other appetizers, I boxed your…
To much of one thing
Why the hell are people so ignorant? the other day while I was working an older women approached me complaining there was too much milk in a jug than later complained there was to many garbage bags in one box and that she only needed a little bit of each. What the fuck is your…
It’s a sidewalk, not a track
Dear group of 50+ Dalhousie athletes who ran on the sidewalk of South Street on Monday night: my face still hurts from when no less than three of you smacked directly into me. Your coaches should look into more appropriate routes when running in such a large pack, or else coach you further on how…
Obsessively anal, and movies about dogs, etc.
Sunday morning found me at CKDU, doing the AFF special edition of my show. (Shameless plug here: CKDU 88.1 FM, every Sunday morning at 11. I talk about the mooveez.) The city seems so quiet today, and the greyness is a blanket… perfect for spending more hours in the dark. Grabbed a screening copy of…
A double-feature you’ll never see again…
So, I’m sure that the Canadian arty pohleease are going to kill me for saying this, but I am not an Atom Egoyan fan. I thought I liked <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109759/" target="_blank"Exotica, but then I watched part of it again a couple weeks ago, and it felt very heavy-handed. I did like The Sweet Hereafter, but…
Just recovered from Saturday…
I concur with Sue that Clark Johnson’s ACTRA Studio talk did not disappoint. Mr. Johnson covered the span of his lifetime. This guy has had enough experiences and stories for two lifetimes. He was a frustrated college and pro-football player in Canada and the U.S. before working as a special effects guy on David Cornenberg’s…
get a job
To the gangster-esque want to be thugs who come into my mall store numerous times a week to attempt to steal hats, ALL OF OUR HATS NOW HAVE ALARM TAGS!! Your pathetic attempt to look casual while scooping out the staff even caused alarm in my brand new seasonal that has never worked in a…
Wine by the glass/er was that half a bottle
What happened to half litres of reasonably priced reasonably good wines? Do I have to buy a 9 dollar plus glass with a seven dollar starter?Check it out-restaurants start their-rather small-glasses of vino tinto at 8.50 and go way up to 12. or more. That’s about a 500 %mark up-and sometimes the red is still…
“What goes up must come down, or does it?”
Dear Exhaulted Seeker of the Truth and Exposer of all that is Filth, Go to http://www. halifaxgasprices.com/ retail_price_chart.aspx (see attached figures) and add oil prices to the chart. Compare the one month and six month view. For the past two weeks, the price of oil has dropped dramatically. Gas was lock step with oil prices…
No More Friendly Service
Do you honestly believe that getting your ugly ass boyfriend to intimidate you into giving you free crap….you must feel proud to have a man try to intimidate a woman hunh….BITCH….since I’m here venting here’s another one – if a organization has rules or is short staffed and you have a problem with it…..don’t take…
Gus Haynes!
That name will probably only mean something to fans of The Wire as it was Clark Johnson’s news editor character on season five. It appeared as if Hillary & I were among the only Wire junkies when Johnson filled in for Leslie Nielsen (who’s 82!) today at the ACTRA Studio event. Nielson’s brother, politician Erik…
Use your Common Sense!
The park next to Inglis St. Elementry is NOT a dog park. You are NOT aloud to bring your dog there. It is fucking moronic to bring you dog there during lunch hour and let it off it’s leash. There are about a hundred kids there! Point Pleasent is five minutes away, go there. Idiots.…
Rossmoor Manor Puke
To whom ever puked in the alleyway to Rossmoor manor, thanks for puking on ALL the stuff people left there from moving in the other day. It may have been garbage (not mine) but I was going to move anyway because it makes everyone who lives there look like a fucking slob. So thanks a…
Not giving it away!
So I’m trying to sell my car. should be easy right? It’s only a couple of years old, great condition, not to many kms on it….WRONG!! I posted it on Kijiji. I posted it on Facebook. I even posted it on freaking dalhousie by and sell on the off cahnce some student has money. and…
Laughing with Orwell
Every once in awhile at festivals you see a film that would never get a theatrical release, like evah, something that might show up on DVD, a single copy at your local emporium that vanishes quickly because it’s just too weird for a mainstream audience. Sometimes, though, a small but fanatic cult can grab a…
Calling All ‘Wire’ Fans…
The ACTRA Studio discussion, originally scheduled to be with Leslie Nielsen, is now featuring Clark (The Wire) Johnson. Mr. Johnson is an actor and a director, working on shows such as Homicide: Life on the Streets, The Shield, and the Colin Farrell flick, S.W.A.T, but, most famously, has worked on HBO’s The Wire in both…
You lost my business!
Okay, so the other night, I realized I was out of toilet paper. I don’t live walking distance to any place that sells toilet paper, and it was too late, buses stopped running. I was hungry, and I ordered pizza for delivery. Then I had this idea: Buy a roll from the pizza place. So…
Cycling is impossible….
So last night, I’m out for a ride on my bike, going down the hill towards Sobeys when some kid decides to cross the street. He looks right at me, and appears to be ready to stop in the middle of the street so I can go by, but instead continues on because there’s a…
This shit is Bananaz
I’m feeling less than animated after two films tonight, but that’s to be expected after an animated double-header. First, Bill Plympton’s good vs evil Idiots and Angels, about an evil man who kills a butterfly and then wakes up with angel wings that force him to feel empathy and do good deeds. There is no…
Slow Start
Whew! A busy Friday is almost over and done with, save for dinner and another movie at 9:30, the double-header of Lucky Blue and Were the World Mine. Both, judging from the write-ups in the Guide, are more coming-of-age stories, which I am getting tired of quickly. My first two flicks of the fest told…
pedestrians are people too
Published September 12, 2008. pedestrians are people too To the guy who almost ran me down on the cross walk yesterday, thanks. I really enjoy almost being killed when i have a green light to cross the street. Two steps more and i would probably be dead. You know that ad on tv that goes…
Friday afternoon
So, Ariel Nasr’s Outside Afghanistan aka Good Morning Kandahar is a thoughtful, solemn look into the relationship Afghan Canadians have with their home country. The filmmaker did visit and shoot some interviews there, but the 50 minute doc spends much more time here in Canada. The part I found most interesting was a visit with…
Rodney’s idols
So our premier couldn’t make it to the opening gala of the Atlantic FIlm Festival last night, but he did find time to give a shout-out to Canadian Idol runner up, Mitch MacDonald. “Even though Mitch placed second in last night’s contest, the cheers coming from Port Hood could probably be heard in Toronto for…
For the love of film
“Happy September 11th,” said one theatre manager to another as I cruised through the press entrance yesterday morning. Too soon, right? Still? The city is noticeably less festival-crazed now—the newspapers have bumped pictures of stars from the front page in favour of federal election coverage and high-profile murders (a two-year-old! A dude shot then dumped…
Is that a tree in your pocket, or are you going to kill me?
I took in the the industry screening for the Atlantic Shorts Gala (scheduled for Tuesday, 7pm, Oxford) because I think it might already be sold out. I’m not going to say anything about these yet, other than I realized that the real fun of the shorts program is being in a theatre filled with proud…
zip it
miracle whip is not mayonnaise. if i wanted whipped dressing, i’d ask for it. i want mayo
Airport screw-up
Talk about putting lipstick on a pig… this is a press release from the airport: Two Parking Facility Precast Columns being replacedNo significant construction delays expectedHalifax, N.S. – Two of the recently-erected precast concrete columns at Halifax Stanfield International Airport’s new 23-hundred space parking facility are being replaced. No significant delays are expected in the…
Blindness/Schmoozathon 2008
Blindness is dark, intense and pretty damn good. I gather the director, the awesome Fernando City of God, The Constant Gardener Meirelles has recut the film again since it screened at TIFF, though since this is my first time seeing it, I can’t say what’s been changed. Shot in Guelph Ontario and Sao Paulo, Brazil…
Slick Stevie
Yo Adams! Where’s the fireproof wall you promised or are we to believe that all politicians are just full of expensive gas? Just Say NO to politicians.
Late Night Picture Show
If you’re allergic to long political talks, save the sparkly dress and avoid gala screenings. Speeches at last night’s Blindness gala ran from the passionate–AFF board chair Jennifer Gillivan received a well-deserved standing ovation for what was the most compelling “Arts are important” speeches I’ve heard (run for office, please)–to lame-o–there were gentle snorts and…
Young council candidates
I don’t have any problem with young people running for council—there are a heck of a lot of young people in this city that need representation, and the older crowd isn’t much taking them into account, so why not? What I have a problem with is young people running for council who merely mouth the…
political blowhards at movie premiers
I have to say I slunk in my seat embarrassed when Bill Dooks took the time to be disinterest and loud at the same time in public at the opening of the Atlantic Film Festival. The appropriate thing to do at an event full of people crazy about the arts is have someone speak who…
Cyclists & 4 Way Stops
Here’s a big FUCK YOU to the guy who almost ran into my car this morning (8am Sept. 11) at the intersection of Queen and Morris. It’s a 4 way fucking stop asshole! That means you STOP, the other vehicles go and then you proceed. Just because you are on a bike doesn’t mean you…
Live Shot o’ the Week
Check out Pete Samples on Friday, Sept. 5, 10:44pm, at The Marquee. Photo by Richard Lann.
Death trap crosswalk, Queen at Green Street.
Remarks: Truly, you could not design a worse crosswalk: It’s heavily used by slow-moving people lugging groceries home from Sobey’s, but sits at the bottom of a hill motorists fly down; the paint is faded out of existence and the sign alerting motorists to the crossing is obscured by a tree. Reashor says the paint…
My Opinion On Biking
I am sick of hearing or reading peoples bitches about cyclists on the road. You don’t want us to bike on the road and you don’t want us on the sidewalk either , doesn’t leave many options does it? You know what, I say go to hell to anyone who has any complaints about people…
Stray Thoughts
Hey everyone, I am back, safe-and-sound, from the opening night party on Argyle Street. I am simultaneously receiving a foot-rub, drinking a big, detoxifying mug of Fujian green tea and slouching in front of the trusty iBook in clothes that no longer bind me. (I still have markings from the tight pants I wore out.)…
Before the festival
Was just down at the Park Lane for another of those essential daytime screenings, this time it was to be Justin Simms’s Down to the Dirt, from the Joel Thomas Hynes book, with Hynes performing in the film as well. Since the print of Blindness was delayed yesterday and I didn’t see that—happy to have…
It’s probably symbolic
Q: How do you know you’ve had enough of TIFF?A: You walk into a plate glass window. The Varsity theatre is in a building called the Manulife Centre at Bloor and Yonge. Its entrance has a revolving door on either side and a set of automatic doors in the centre. After my first screening of…
Fast food joints
Am I the only one that gets ticker off by that place with the “golden archers”? I worked at a fast food place in my younger years, and although it’s not quite as easy as some people think, it’s not rocket science either. Even when they “ring it in” correctly, the kitchen just makes the…
Frustrating Frosh
I’m a 5th year university student here in Halifax and normally I’m loving September – back to school, seeing old friends, great parties, etc, etc. However, this year I find I’m just pissed and frustrated- specifically at frosh. Who do these barely adult, hollister wearing, braces and pimpled brats think they are?! For example -…
“Road crew” on Lacewood Dr
I was driving my pals to work this morning, through Bayer’s Lake, Lacewood Dr and then to Bedford. There were NO road work signs ANYWHERE coming from Chainlake Dr to Fairfax. But then when I get to the intersection at Lacewood and Fairfax, lo and behold, there’s I think 5 or so “ashphalt sweepers” running…
The Big Lie from Citizens for Halifax
Sure, everyone tries to spin events to their best effect, but this statement: Malcolm Fraser, chairman of an area community group that’s been publicly critical of city hall, said his organization was hoping to see “more candidates, or more options, for the citizens of the city to have for (regional) council, the school board and…
District 1 (Eastern Shore – Musquodoboit Valley)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 13,655 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007) Draft…
District 2(Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 18,547 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} Source: HRM. HRM Note: Amounts exclude Low Income…
District 3(Preston – Lawrencetown – Chezzetcook)
Preston-Lawrencetown-Chezzetcook District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 19,657 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} Source: HRM. HRM Note: Amounts exclude Low Income…
District 4(Cole Harbour)
District Profile Cole Harbour is a car-based, suburban community. 86 percent of commuters drive, and only 10 percent use transit, according to the 2001 census. Its population grew by 15 percent between 1991 and 2001, and by 2006, the population was 19,096. Cole Harbour’s bus service ends past Ashgrove Avenue, and other major roads are…
District 5(Dartmouth Centre)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,764 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 6(East Dartmouth – The Lakes)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 16,642 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 7(Portland – East Woodlawn)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 17,448 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 8(Woodside – Eastern Passage)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 17,523 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} Source: HRM. HRM Note: Amounts exclude Low Income…
District 9(Albro Lake – Harbourview)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 15,829 This is one on the poorest areas of Halifax. Its average household income of $35,732 is in the bottom 25 percent of average incomes in Nova Scotia, and is the lowest in the Halifax Regional Municipality in 2001.It’s an aging district—the number of school aged children decreased by…
District 10 (Clayton Park West)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,829 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 11 (Halifax North End)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,893 The north end is a balanced neighbourhood in most respects. From age to education or income we see diversity, although one group of people solidly dominate the scene: this is solidly a native Nova Scotian district. 56.8% are non-movers (natives) and a full 28% of the people who…
District 12 (Halifax Downtown)
District Profile Total Population (2006 Census) 14,420. Compared to other more rural or suburban parts of the HRM, the numbers for downtown Halifax reflect an urban population. More new Haligonians arrived here from other parts of the world (70%), while only half (50.7%) of downtown denizens were born in Halifax. There are more singletons (64.9%)…
District 13(Northwest Arm – South End)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,867 Ah, the Arm and the South End. Is it as tony as legend makes it out to be? As it would like to be? Let’s cut to the chase and look at income stats. The average income in this district is $75,999; the median income is $53,204. Comparing…
District 14 (Connaught – Quinpool)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 13,845 A big chunk of Halifax’s middle class lives in this district. Most people here are employed, (68.2%) and there’s a low unemployment rate of 6.1%. It’s one of the wealthier suburbs, with a median income of $44,471 and an average (mean) income of $55,341. 89% of people are…
District 15 (Fairview – Clayton Park)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 13,382 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 16 (Rockingham – Wentworth)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,202 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
Kathleen Edward’s Garden state
Kathleen Edwards hasn’t spent much time in her garden this past summer. She’s been on the road since February with her latest, Asking for Flowers. She’ll plead for a few stemmed-petals at The Seahorse Tavern, with her special guest Jim Bryson, on September 15. “I’m a bit of a gardening freak,” says Edwards, calling from…
And the correct answer is…
Question number one. “Stephen Harper has been prime minister for almost three years. Under his strong and focused leadership, do you think Canada is on the right track?” “Yes.” “No.” Uh … Question number two. “Stephane Dion has been leader of the Liberal party since December 2006. Some people say Mr. Dion is a weak…
The NDP’s party
There’s something comfortably old-shoe about attendingan NDP gathering in Halifax. You’re almost certain to run into someone you know. The neighbour down the street you saw mowing his lawn in the rain last week, the young couple with the toddler who just bought the fixer-upper on the next block, the sales clerk from the drug…
Outside the Charmed Circle
Did you know that the first week of Stephane Dion’s federal election campaign went so “poorly… several senior Liberals have expressed serious concern that (it) could be the sign of an electoral disaster to come?” You’d certainly know that if you’d read the front page of Monday morning’s Globe and Mail. Or its strange-bedfellow matching…
Ann Verrall’s angel
In the spectrum of the teen genre, you’ve got your John Hughes and magic pants and stoners and schmoes and pies, and with many of those—save the pants, really—you’ve got more than a few erections. But none of them has ever belonged to an angel before. “I was just kinda playing that around in my…
Raekwon w/Miles Jones, Joe Buck and Quake
While his albums haven’t sold huge numbers like fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Raekwon has still earned major kudos within the hip-hop community. He was featured prominently on the Wu’s undisputed masterpiece, 1993’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), taking memorable verses on “Bring Da’ Ruckus,” “Shame On A…
Blindness
The thought of blindness reduces the world most know to a bunch of constantly changing sounds, smells and shapes. In his book, Blindness, author Jose Saramago has a character suggest: “Blind people need no names.” And in the film adaptation that opens on Thursday, September 11, at the Atlantic Film Festival, you’ll find characters identified…
Altantic Film Festival Picks
Idiots and AngelsFriday, September 12, Park Lane, 7pm, $10Cult animator Bill Plympton puts pencil on paper for his new full-length feature about a boorish man who discovers angel wings growing out of his back, and spends the rest of the film trying to get rid of them. During the creation of the hand-drawn film, Plympton…
Michael Melski’s no dope
Writer-director Michael Melski’s Growing Op may be a first feature but it’s the product of a veteran filmmaker with plenty of time behind the camera. Melski started writing plays as an English major in the late ’80s at the University of King’s College, while taking theatre courses at Dalhousie. That led to a production at…
Cubers’ rubrick
Richard LeBlanc, in a sense, knows not of what he speaks. The writer, co-director and co-producer of Cubers, a doc about elite Rubik’s Cube solvers premiering at the AtlanticFilm Festival, has yet to conquer thepuzzle himself. “I’m definitely an outsider,” LeBlanc says, “and these Cubers let me into their community and into their lives. It…
The Scavengers
There’s a dead mermaid in Anne Pickard’s home studio. Headless, she’s on a stand, propped in a chair, her tail cascading onto the floor. Behind her is a head—or at least hair—matted black and stringy, with bits of seaweed and beach debris tangled in its locks. The carcass is at the centre of Cory Bowles’…
G-Unit
G-UnitTOS (Terminate on Sight) (Interscope) T.O.S. is the sophomore effort from 50 Cent’s entourage G-Unit, and while they’ve influenced the next wave of lil’ gangsters, their focus has been more on their beefs and other endeavours than releasing an album worthy of their status. On their debut album Beg For Mercy, the beats were massive…
Facing the music
As far as comebacks go, Dennis Lambert’s was more unusual and unheralded than most.The New York native made his name in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s as a versatile producer and songwriter, penning hits for The Four Tops (“Ain’t No Woman Like the One I’ve Got”), Glen Campbell (“Rhinestone Cowboy”) and The Commodores (“Nightshift”). He…
Teddy Thompson
Teddy ThompsonA Piece of What You Need(Verve)Teddy Thompson’s fourth release follows his country covers album, Up Front And Down Low, but this LP shows a sound and style that he can call his own. The best examples of Teddy’s own sound are “Don’t Know What I Was Thinking” and “In My Arms,” which combines a…
The case of the silent blogger
So who did the dirty on Megan Leslie? Keith Torrie claims it wasn’t him but, beyond that, he ain’t talking. And he certainly isn’t answering questions. On Monday, someone identifying herself as Jess MacDonald and claiming to be a disgruntled New Democrat created a Facebook group called “We Made the WRONG Choice: the RADICAL Megan…
Bruce LaBruce’s gay zombie heaven
Bruce LaBruce’s day begins with the sound of oven buttons being pushed, a conversation about zombies and a plan to catch two films (an Austrian movie about revenge and the latest, Tokyo Sonata, by Akira Kurosawa) at the Toronto International Film Festival. “I’m seeing about two films a day, and then I have business meetings…
Human Highway
Human HighwayMoody Motorcycle (Secret City Records)The harmonies on this collaboration by Jim Guthrie (solo, ex-Royal City) and Nick Thorburn (Islands, ex-Unicorns) are exquisite. The duo sings together like an updated version of The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel or Travelling Wilburys, where two voices stitch together seamlessly. Elsewhere contrast is high and powerful: Thorburn delivers…
No whining about wine
The long-awaited boom in the Nova Scotia wine industry is finally happening. Some would say it has already happened and it would be hard to argue based on the industry’s Fall Festival kick-off party last week. Myself and a bunch of more important wine people, including NSLC execs and Winery Association of Nova Scotia representatives,…
James Hunter
James Hunter The Hard Way(Hear/Go) The former guitarist for Van Morrison has selected a remarkably specific genre to grant new life. The coiled sensuality of Sam Cooke, The Impressions, Clyde McPhatter and Jimmy Smith tends to be overlooked as a key component of soul, overshadowed by sweat, grit and dance moves. As on 2006’s People…
Black Kids
Black KidsPartie TraumaticThe latest rush of new wave-inspired electro-pop seems engineered specifically for 30-somethings. Born in the ’70s, these kids muddled their way through puberty with help from the emotional, moody soundtrack of bands like Depeche Mode or The Cure. They then went on to find themselves through the gritty energy of grunge and noise.These…
Dan Savage
Q: I’m a middle-aged guy. My boyfriend has just left his teens. We originally got to know each other because I like to tie up muscular young guys and he’s a muscular young guy who likes getting tied up. But he’s a smart, funny kid and after a few months we started actually liking each…
District 17(Purcell’s Cove – Armdale)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 14,527 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
No sleep ’till bedtime
Sleep tight. Or, at least, Todd Palin will. Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News in May, said her hubby, Todd, “can go on just an hour or two of sleep a night. He says, ‘I can sleep when I die.'” Mr. Sarah Barracuda isn’t the only one…
Misadventures on the campaign trail
It seemed like a good idea at the time. According to various news reports, Halifax Liberals planned to gather Wednesday evening (Sept 10) to officially crown Catherine Meade as their candidate in Halifax. I should go, I thought. I first checked out the Liberal party’s provincial and national websites, but there was no information on…
Farmers’ Market money maniacs
On Friday, with the ink still wet on the paperwork and just hours before governor general Michaelle Jean called an election, thus suspending any further federal spending, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency approved $2 million in funding for the ambitious Seaport Farmers’ Market project on the Halifax waterfront. “We were narrowing in on this daily,…
38 reasons (and counting) not to vote for Harper
Thirty-eight reasons not to vote for Stephen Harper… one for every day of the campaign. Feel free to add your own: 1. The Accountability Act that isn’t 2. Negative advertising (puffin poopers unite) 3. Afghanistan… Do you trust the man who unfixed his own fixed-date election legislation to bring the troops home in 2011? 4.…
Since then: September 11, 2001
Every time you buy a movie ticket, pump a few litres of gas or earn a paycheque, your taxes are contributing to the $50 million or so we’ve been spending each month in Afghanistan. Since October 2001, when Canada first promised to send warships, planes and troops to join Operation Apollo, the cost of our…
Poll pellets
The pollster who once claimed Haligonians were eager to have the 2014 Commonwealth Games now wants us to believe Nova Scotians want to elect more Stephen Harper’s Tories. Don Mills of Halifax-based Corporate Research Associates told Halifax’s Metro newspaper that his company’s latest public opinion poll showed “a big positive change” for the ruling Tories…
District 18(Spryfield – Herring Cove)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 15,165 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 19(Middle and Upper Sackville-Lucasville)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 17,657 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 20(Lower Sackville)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 16,126 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 21 (Bedford)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 16,780 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 22(Timberlea – Prospect)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 19,377 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
District 23(Hammonds Plains – St. Margarets)
District Profile Total Population, 2006 Census: 19,627 Issue: Tax Reform Average municipal tax comparison for single family homes table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} District Average Property 2009 (taxable) Current Tax (2007)…
