Car Insurance
I knew it was bad in NS, but not how much until I got to Saskatchewan. Its a points system here, everybody pays the same insurance, just 790 bucks for basic needs (you can pay more for extras like theft of good from your car.) Get in and accident? Depending if your at fault, you…
Tonight! Locals cover locals at the Seahorse
SOBAMA! puts on a cover show of host Rebekah Higgs’ favourite local bands covering their favourite local bands. It’s a right love-in! Featuring Windom Earle as Sharp Like Knives, Jon Mckiel as Thrush Hermit, The Friendly Dimension as Donner Party Reunion, Meat Tree as Sloan and members of Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees and…
Happy Birthday businesses!
Speaking of anniversary celebrations, which we have been in this column/blog, drop by Aigle (5507 Spring Garden, 406-7495) this week and give the staff big hugs for their first year in Halifax, while browsing for French fall fashions. And if you are feeling like it’s time to give your health a bit more consideration in…
Two bands from America that I am digging at this very moment
GG King, Atlanta dudes, ex-Carbonas. Listen to “Drug Zoo.”Burning Yellows, Portland dreamcatchers.
Masterworks shortlist announced
Garry Neill Kennedy, The Colours of Citizen Arar, 2007, installation view Last week the shortlist for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award was announced. Selected by an arms-length jury of artists from across Nova Scotia, the creators of the winning work receive $25,000, which, by the way, is more than the median…
Picker on Queen
To the attractive (or so I thought) woman sitting in her parked car on Queen Street on Wednesday Sept 30…have you no shame? You stuck half your finger up your nose, got a big booger out, looked at it and then wiped it on your seat. You’re gross. —picker hater
Thanks hali
Once again i travel to calgary to work – second year away again -I miss ya halifax – Miss all you have and all your people!!!! I’ll always be back – no matter what – you can be anywhere in the world – but halifax is home – see you again next spring !!!!!!!!!! PS…
Renting in HRM
Ok, so up until the end of August, I was paying a reasonable amount of rent for a reasonably well sized apartment in the North end with my two roommates. When the time came to decide whether or not to continue our lease, we decided to go separate ways, and notified our landlord the standard…
Thanks for ruining my morning
To the rude biotch who stepped on my toes as you were getting off the #9 bus this morning (September 30th) at Mumford: Thanks a lot. There’s no way you didn’t realize you were stepping on my toes with your ugly ass high heels. You were crowding me as I was stepping off the bus,…
Wind Power
say it isn’t so… according a to a report on CBC, our illustrious Mayor is shooting his yap off about a study on wind power. Please don’t bring the same level of expertise to this project as you did to the harbour solutions or it’s Tsunamai time in HRM —Basil Fawlty
Bad Publicity.
If you are the owner of a business you should think about how you treat people. If you go out to a restaurant and receive impeccable service – then tip well. If you bring your staff meeting to a restaurant and tie up a table that otherwise could have been turned over twice – then…
Thank you!
Thank you to the employee at Telus on Barrington a few weeks ago who calmly handled the ignorant/rude man who was in line behind me, standing far too close, and kept interrupting her while she was waiting on me. While he berrated her and bitched at her for his cell phone not working, she offered…
Killing animals in general is wrong.
How it is possible that we are going to allow a mink farm in Nova Scotia? How is it possible that we still kill animals for their fur? Holy fuck. —Killing them for fashion is disgusting.
Hour of hell
So a day was good, until my hour of hell yesterday. Where after I made it home I realized that I had left my wallet on the 59 Colby, so off I ran to try and catch the bus on its return. So there I waited for the bus, when I hear a nice thud.…
Defunct Train tracks on Dutch Village Road
Why haven’t the defunct train tracks crossing Dutch Village Road been paved over? The same tracks, a few meters away at the entry to Ashburn Golf Club, were paved over and now provide a smooth surface for cars. Thousands of drivers use this intersection every day and their cars take a beating from these defunct…
Swine Flu Sham-u
With all the media hype about the swine flu and the impending vaccine I am shocked and amazed that mainstream media is taking such a reckless and bias approach to informing the public about the real and potentially lethal effects of the vaccine itself! There has been no mention of the fact that in 1976…
fuck HRM
dear workers on the corner of south and south park, GO FUCK YOURSELF! this bitch is not for complaining about the amount of noise you make, the lack of work you do, or how much you sit outside my front window bitching about your relentless bullshit on your coffee break. theres a hose coming through…
Different Brands Of Justice For The Wee People
I‚m trying to figure out what‚s so different between justice for Jacob Noonan and justice for Cpl. Kevin Megeney. Both were killed by adult individuals licensed and trained to wield the deadly weapons used to take the lives of their victims. The courts see fit to let Jacob‚s killer off with $169 fine but Kevin‚s…
Flowers for Beer
West End Flower Power Provider, How very lovely of you to put out pretty flower arrangements for passers-by. The gesture certainly wasn’t lost on me; put a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I thoroughly enjoyed their beauty before giving them another, that evening. I am saying thank you here, for…
ode to haggard
i love my dog so much, he is the funniest little bugger on the planet, i wake up everyday thinking how lucky i am to have this dog, im gonna spend our life together spoiling him rotten, seriously, this dog will be indulged to his every puppy whim, its gonna be great, heres to you…
animal cruelty hanging over my head
so the people who live in my building have a 6 year old pitbull they are starving to death, it is nothing but a skeleton with some very sick skin streached over her brittle frame, they refuse to let her outside or get any fresh air in fear someone will see and try to help…
It’s the great Pumpkin Ale
Many of us are happy to trade summer’s humidity for a bracing shot of autumn air. With leaves crunching under our favourite boots and hand-knit wool scarves wrapped around our necks, we march down Gottingen Street towards Propeller Brewery, in anticipation of their annual Pumpkin Ale. Brewed using Dill’s famous Atlantic Giant Pumpkins and a…
CKDU’s Rock Lottery means 25 musicians, 24 hours and some fun
The real lottery winner is you, the lucky audience member CKDU’s funding fest kicks off this week with 10 days of amazing shows, parties and events that will make you want to open your wallets and cough over the cash for the good of the airwaves. Friday’s Rock Lottery at the Paragon Theatre (9pm, $8…
What’s this live-blogging thing all about?
Sadly, this is an irony impaired world, so I find it necessary to explain what this Twitter live-blogging of council meetings is all about. First, any direct quotes are in quotation marks: ” ” Everything else is paraphrased, my interpretation of what’s going on. It’s generally pretty much right on the mark, although sometimes exaggerated,…
Spring Garden Jazz Man
With your impeccable suits, awesome shoes, and solid standards, you made me happy every time I walked past you. You’re probably heading inside for the winter now, but I look forward to seeing you in the spring. Thanks for bringing back the sax! —make it nice, play it clean
Blow it out your ass!
To the big stupid cruise ship blowing its big stupid horn this morning: Fuck you, and fuck your industry! No-one needs to hear you trying to herd your old, obese American passengers back onto the ship all day, no-one needs to see you blocking up the waterfront, and no-one needs you dumping your shit and…
Morris East Happy Hour
Jennie Dobbs has seen the happy hour promised land. In a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, home of excellent local food movements and thriving restaurants, the Morris East owner was struck by “their happy hour revolution,” which she says “contributes to the vibrancy of downtown” by keeping people staying in the core after work. As…
Jumping on a land mark
To those flippin’ “jumpers” that hop and bounce all over the stairway to the Citadel Hill. Piss off!! you are defacing a national historic site. Its not there to use as a jungle gym. I work in a downtown hotel and have had many tourists complain about you being there and making people want to…
Wow traffic – you don’t say!!!
Ok that’s it! I have had enough of you ignorant arrogant arseholes in this city!! Today’s edition of the Chronically Horrid ran a front page story about how it now takes an hour and a half to get home and the poor baby isn’t getting home in time to watch the soap operas. Fuck off!!!!!!!…
Thank you!!
YOU: found my blackberry outside the Alderney Landing bus stop, and turned it in to security. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU You saved me a pile of money I would have had to spend on a new phone, and you reminded me that there are still honest people left in Halifax. You rock. —Eternally Grateful
bus driver
To the bus driver: Your cuteness took me by surprise when I stepped on the bus. I love your beard, it is hot! Plus, you have a super smile. Thanks for the pick me up at the end of a crappy day. P.S. You should have hit that biker. (kidding) :p —sitting on your bus…
Cops not doing their work – again….
This morning (Sept. 28) I merged into the Circumferential Highway from Bayer’s Lake, traveling towards Halifax. As I reached 100 km/h in the right lane, a car was next to me in the left lane, also traveling at 100 km/h, and behind him an RCMP car. After driving side by side for about a minute,…
big cars for little people
Jeez ,you live in a small city that’s easy to get around on foot. Why do you think you need a big honking, ugly, gas sucking, smog producing four wheel drive mini tank. You don’t even haul anything or get off a paved street…it’s not like you need it to get your little girl (your…
Tegan and Sara at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium January 27
Straight from Press Release HQ: “After two sold-out shows in 2007, Tegan and Sara return to Halifax to perform in support of their upcoming album Sainthood at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Wednesday, January 27 at 8pm. Special guest is An Horse. The sisters have turned their attention to the literary world as well, and…
Crater on the corner…
What is up with the huge hole on the corner of Agricola and Almon st? Its been there for like two weeks now. What is taking so long to fix it? —Road crews where are you ?
Chef Ray Bear: Tabah threatened my life
Last Monday, I broke the news on The Coast’s web site that chef Ray Bear had abruptly left town, leaving the future of BEAR Restaurant in limbo. Friday, Ray Bear himself left the following comment on that story: I WORKED MY ASS IF THAT PLACE FOR A YEAR WITH MOST OF THE TIME NO MANAGER,…
Thieving asshole
Oh, you little fucking asshole. Decided to try to jet after scooping every bill out of the store. Said you were going for a smoke break… All I wanna know is if you even still have a penny left from that $480 that you stole. Probably Not. You god damned moron. You don’t rob the…
I tell every one about you
To the Ladies of Bark & Fitz Thank you so much for your generosity today. You have no idea how much I (and my cats) love you right now. Your customer service is always amazing and you know your product inside out. You really stand out, and this is why I keep coming back to…
Kids These Days..
To the group of kids on Hawthorne St. on Saturday night trying to light a tree on fire outside of the elementary school: you are all fucking idiots. Grow the fuck up and have some respect for your community. I’m glad we scared the shit out of you. —Dissapointed Dartmouthian
Dear Mr. Edmonton
Not only were you my Fiance, you were my best friend. You moved home to be with me and plan our wedding and then one day as I made us dinner I realized you were late, I realized you weren’t coming.You ignored my calls and I never heard from you again. Your clothes have been…
Lofty space
Local home furnishing folks Backyard & Veranda (Park Lane, 5657 Spring Garden, 425-9273) have a new plan for their downtown location: LOFT, a new lifestyle concept retail store. “Not only will we be featuring modern furnishings for apartments, lofts and condos, but great finds in such categories as fashion, handbags and things any young urban…
“YEAH, I’M BIPOLAR LOL!”
I cannot stand you. We met in first year and I thought you were annoying. Then you stop going to classes, fail them, and now your back. Back telling anyone who’ll listen that you’re bipolar. I must have heard you loudly tell at least seven people already. So you’re an attention whore. Fine, whatever. Then…
What is right about you…is that you are alright.
You are on disability. THey found you eligible because you can’t stand the smell of things like smoke and scents. You can ride your bike, go to clubs, go to all kinds of events, date, eat in restaurants, live in the heart of the city, have sex, complain, work on your website, drive your own…
Not into that kind of folk dance
Dear Creeper, I get that we were on the dance floor at the Jenocide release party, and for Gus’s the floor was PACKED. But I had only met 2 hours prior to this transaction, and was made entirely uncomfortable. All the other strangers on the dance floor didnt feel the need to follow by your…
TAXI SERVICE
I had the pleasure of waiting a half hour for a cab on saturday night, and when he finally arrived I tried to be cordial and make conversation about the weather. He told me I had the smell of beer on me, in a none to friendly tone.I love being judged by people who stink…
Ordering Coffee
When you order coffee, especially when you know what you want in it, stop standing there waiting for me to beat it out of you. Its alot easier and faster for both of u to just say “large double double” than to have me have to ask what size, what do you want in it,…
shoppers lady
ometimes i just get cravings, lady- but i realize pickles, gatorade and mr. noodles is an especially weird combo.- maybe Manson does that to you, who knows. thanks for being friggin chill tho “are u preggers?” hahahhahhahaha. i could hear u making the ppl in front of me laugh too. 11:30 on a friday night…
Think twice before purchasing…
So, we ordered 3 donairs tonight from an unnamed pizza place … and the dude got the order wrong. Can’t eat cheese, so ordered 2 with cheese and 1 without… of course, they all came with cheese. Phoned them to say that we’d gotten the order and that all 3 had cheese, expecting that he’d…
sweet sounds.
To the dude who plays the ukulele at the Farmer’s Market, You are adorable and your song choices are the best. I get a big dumb smile on my face each time I walk by you. Listening to your giant voice and sweet strummings is the highlight of my Saturday. Thanks for being you. ps.…
Boston to Hali Going BROKE
OK, why in the hell is it so darned expensive to get to Halifax?? I flew from Boston MA to Sydney AU *ROUND TRIP* for $800 dollars. Air Canada customer service keeps telling me that it’s 800 bucks just to get to Hali *ROUND TRIP* from BOSTON. Give me a break!! For such a motherfucking…
Lock your fucking doors?
To all the dumb bitches shook up by this night watcher, I know you watched the news about that shit, why the fuck do you insist to leave the door unlocked!? Maybe you were asking for it? —StupidPeopleEh?
AFF Awards
The Linda Joy Awards: The Joy Award – Connie Littlefield, Ann and Sasha The Helen Hill Animation Award – Colleen MacIssac, Collectables The Joy Post Award – Cory Bowles, Righteous The Newfoundland Joy – Jordan Canning, Not Over Easy The CBC Script Development Award – Jennifer Tilley, Freaks of Tatamagouche Craft Awards Art Direction -…
!@#
How many people out there are letting these fucking rapist pricks get away with this!? Recently hung out with a few ladies I knew from High School and it turns out many of them have been victims of sexual abuse or “date rape”.. Really makes me sad, disgusted and not alone anymore. —Disgusted with guys
Whats that smell?
You know what really disgusts me the most? People being unthoughtful and just smelling like B.O. Especially when you are standing in line at Tim’s to order a relaxing fix, then all of a sudden you get a whiff of someone standing next to you that smells like one day old kebab with extra onions…
Bus Stop!
Moved into the Ocean Towers because there was supposed to be a bus stop right in front of it. It turns out that the bus stop is actually across the street with no crosswalk to get onto the right side of the road. I was nearly hit by a car yesterday coming home from job…
Why People Hate Cyclists in HRM pt. 123456789
Yesterday evening on Spring Garden Road I witnessed a society of cyclists enjoying an evening ride on a cool, fall day. The cyclists came up from Queen Street and turned left onto SGR heading west towards Coburg. As the cyclists get to the traffic lights at the corner of SGR and Dresden, the light is…
Construction Lineup Jumpers on the 102
A new interchange to Larry Uteck Blvd is being built on the 102 just past the Kearney Lake exit. There is blasting and lots of heavy equipment, so they close down the right lane outbound. There are plenty of cones and signs indicating that you must merge into the left lane. However, you are not…
To Neighbours Who ‘Borrow”
WTF! Do you all go down the grocery aisles thinking, Nope, I got better things to do with my money…I’ll just borrow this stuff from the neighbour. I mean, I can understand running out of something and being in a bind, but I swear you plan to shop at my place. Milk, eggs, butter, sugar,…
Loud ass runners in the early morn
I just wanted to send out a huge thank you to the walkers/runners/joggers that were running down the road out in Lakeside, at 7:20 this morning. Thank you for having total disregard for the people whose homes you are going by. Thank you for screaming and hooting and hollering so loud when you came by…
Clampitts of the dating scene
OK, so I am single mom and I don’t mind being single, but it would also be nice to meet a great man. But it seems they are in short supply around here. I tried the online scene, and most of the men seem like hillbillies: they look like they need a shower and shave,…
No Justice For Jacob
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1144484.html I‚m usually the first to say we can‚t go creating laws over a single incident but when Nova Scotian prosecutors walk away from a challenge not allowing the „spirit of the law‰ to prevail in this part of Canada I‚m left to conclude there‚s something SERIOUSLY WRONG in Nova Scotia. I‚m beginning to understand…
Downtown Pizza Joint
So I live in Dartmouth(downtown). I ordered a Pizza from this Downtown Pizza Place up by the Dartmouth Shopping Center. I waited an hour for a Pizza that was suppose to be here in 45mins. I was working a 14hour day, looking forward to my Bacon Double CheeseBurger Pizza for 13.49. Easy Cheese, add Mushroom.…
Nearly There
We’re nearly there at the end of the AFF’09. I thought I would share with you some of the highlights and bore you with my observations and thank yous. Tomorrow will be a quick post from me with the winners and prizes from tomorrow’s award ceremony and then that’s it for another year. Film highlights:…
attempted hit and run
To the driver of the red Nissan Altima turning left out of Allan Street on Friday evening – I saw you almost hit that man on the bicycle. You should be ashamed of yourself. Also, if one more car speeds ahead of me to make a right turn and cut me off, I’m going to…
I Assume He Dates You for a Reason
This is to all of the girls out there who when out walking with their boyfriends feel the need to grab his hand/nuzzle on to him/wrap your arms around him when another girl (me) is walking by. You look like an insecure baby. It’s fine to show affection when out in public, but when it…
close call on Quinpool
To the fucker I almost hit with my car on Quinpool…. What the hell was going your head when you ran into friday’s rush hour traffic on Quinpool????? When the light says do not walk…. that doesn’t mean “run out from behind a SUV when you can’t see what’s coming on the other side”!!! You…
Welcome to the Maritimes…
A friend is visiting from Montreal tonight, I’m taking her to the new Trailer Park Boy movie and out for donairs.. not that I’m complaining, but that really is all we have going for us. —Haligirl…..
Saturday AFF Preview: Jacob Tierney’s The Trotsky
People headed to the Atlantic Film Festival closing night screening of a new film from Montreal writer/director Jacob Tierney are in for a treat. In this, only his second feature, the filmmaker has managed to accomplish what so many Hollywood efforts have failed to do: make an affecting (and funny) teen movie, with an added…
Please stop that.
Words or phrases that really bother me: Arse methinks All of the sudden Panties Begs the question If I do say so myself the letter H pronounced hay-sh Coolio Laters Epic fail when your is spelt yer Chillax i c Etc. —Frustrated ears
Wander with Eryn Foster this Sunday
Eryn Foster is the first artist taking part in HRM’s new artist-in-residence program. From now until mid-December, Foster will be working out of Point Pleasant Park Lodge, the old stone building near the entrance to the park (just at the end of Young Ave). This Sunday Foster will be conducting her first of many Wanders…
Kids these Days
Don’t worry, you little cocksuckers. Neither you nor your parents are going to have to pay for the damage. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9013365.html –cranky
David Lee Roth Friday
I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times, but it still satisfies. If I worked in an office, I can imagine this creating hours of fun and annoyances for co-workers. Right now it’s just me bugging the cats.
Fuck Nihilists
I’ve had enough of your depressomatic-nothing-matters attitude, especially in Philosophy class. I’m living, godamnit, whether I exist or not! –Therefore I Am
Martin Sexton at St. Matthew’s October 21
New York’s blue eyed-soul artist Martin Sexton makes the trip to Halifax on October 21 at St. Matthew’s Church (8pm, all ages, tickets on sale right now. $30 advance and $35 at the door. Tickets on sale at Ticketpro outlets, 1-888-311-9090 or online at www.ticketpro.ca)
stupid travelling bus boys
I sat there listening to you act like a know it all jerk with your friends tonight on the bus – you were loud annoying and wrong – for your information – the reason the public gardens ask people not to feed the ducks is because it interfers with their migration patterns, as well people…
little high school gangsters
Hey you noisy bastards that were screaming and making weird chanting in the park and using profanity at 11:30 pm… Shut up! Isn’t it past your bedtime? You were all loud and cocky with your friends until the cops showed up, then you all ran away like a bunch of pansies and jumped over a…
No Coast at The Coast
Several times recently, I’ve walked by The Coast’s building on Thursday evening to pick up a copy of the paper from the box outside, and found it very low or empty. On Thursday evening! There are plenty of copies elsewhere – the ones at Sobeys seem to sit there all week. You’d think The Coast…
Short stuff
I love that there are nine programs of Atlantic Shorts. (I saw the eighth.) I love that there are so many people taking a shot at being filmmakers, even though it’s so difficult to make a living doing it. But I also love that new, affordable digital cameras are making it easier to make films…
Pro Girl is having a SAAAAAAYYYYLE!
Pro Skates and Pro Girl are having a sale this weekend, starting today (Friday) and going through Sunday. 20 percent off almost everything in the shops, including t-shirts, hoodies, sunglasses, jewellery, dresses, shoes and more. Lookie here and here for more info. Peace out!
What’s the bike signal for straight.
I guess that pretty much sums it up. —Signal!!!
I’m so sorry
This is to the guy I watched get punched in the face for apparently no reason. I’m so sorry. I should’ve done something other than stand there and watch, but I was scared. I go to school with those guys, I see them in the halls, and they probably know my name. But that doesn’t…
GGGYYYAAAARRRRHHHH!!!!
It perplexes me that we got on the topic of toilets more than once, but for the love of God, it’s pronounced ‘toy-let’ , not ‘tah-lut’. I’m developing a tick from flinching everytime I hear or think of you saying it.. —A
Council notes: sewage update
As I mentioned in today’s paper, Halifax Water manager Carl Yates provided an update on the repairs to the sewage plant at Tuesday’s council meeting. Councillor Steve Streatch used the occasion of Yates’ appearance to lambast the media generally for making the plant failure into a bad news story. At that point, councillor David Hendsbee…
Atlantic Shorts Gala repeat-screening tonight
Tonight, replacing the White Stripes doc, is an encore screening of the Atlantic Shorts Gala, always one of the festival’s highlights. Show starts at 9:30pm at the Oxford. Support a local filmmaker, make a mom proud.
it makes me so sad that you stole my bike
you came with big scissors you took it away forever 🙁 i wish i could trust others —a lonely wanderer
LMFAO on October 24 at the Forum
DEETS: LMFAO, Saturday, October 24, 9pm, Halifax Forum Multi-Purpose Centre, all ages. Tickets are $33.50 in advance or $54.50 for the VIP which includes front viewing (sounds dirty), no line up for entry and possibly a meet and greet (possibly?). Said tickets are available at the Halifax Forum, Ticketpro outlets, Ticketpro Call Centre (1-888-311-9090), online…
Smile Cookie
To the guy who bought me a smile cookie the other day at SGR TH…thanks…it did make me smile. I would have been in stitches had you actually did the limbo under the railing though. Hope you Have a great day!! —Taken..but flattered
For the last time, I am NOT gay
This to my best friend: no i am not gay! just because I am not eating the pussies of all the girls I hang out with does not make me gay!!!!!!!!! just because I hate sports and do my hair in the morning? WTF Now I must be gay??? Ok then, morron!!! I thought it…
wtrf, is hulu?
Cardinal rule for writing… anything: If you’re referring to a title of something that is not self-explanitory or obvious, please explain the title. For example: “Halo, an online Role Playing Game (RPG) recently released a new …” Note the explination of what “Halo” is – becuase by definition of the word you would have your…
driving kids to school
Why do we feel we have to drive our kids to school when they live within a 5-10 walk? It really bugs me!!! Not only is it not good for them, think of the harmful effects on the environment? This morning as i drove my handicap daughter to school because I HAD too, I was…
Fucked Up Polaris Prize winners, Metric sore losers, Globe and Mail is cool
My favourite for the Polaris Prize, Toronto’s Fucked Up won the big bucks at the Polaris Prize gala on Monday night and here are some internet tidbits to keep you puttering around on the computer: Metric’s classy reactionGlobe and Mail writes a nice piece and doesn’t blank out the name like a foolWhat Fucked Up…
Council notes: “tax reform” dead in the water
[Note: Tuesday’s 10-hour council meeting covered a lot of ground. I wrote about much of it, here and here, but should probably add a few notes. This post is about the tax reform issue; I’ll follow it up with a post further exploring the sewage issue.] “Tax reform” Council spent fully two hours debating whether…
Trailer Park Boys no longer an escapist pleasure
Trailer Park Boys came of age before the economic doomsday clock chimed midnight, so its disregard for the trappings of legit success and the characters’ loyalty to their wayward community was as rebellious and enviable as the show was fresh and satisfying. Those elements are in Liquor Day—where the Boys war against their inebriated nemesis…
Don’t deny sexuality
I must respond to Jean Macle’s letter “Bill Forbes’ obit humiliating” (Letters, September 17). I hope that even though Ms. Macle is only an occasional Coast reader, one of her friends will bring it to her attention. The fact that Bill Forbes (“Farwell to Forbes” by Alison Lang, July 30) was gay is not an…
Secrecy, detailed
Former Halifax councillor Harry McInroy was arguably one of the worst councillors in the history of HRM—his repeated meeting absences became something of a running joke, and when he did bother to appear, he was ill-prepared and mumbled inane comments. His Cole Harbour constituency no doubt sighed in relief when McInroy, who opted not to…
Hey Ricky Gervais, your pants are on fire!
One of the most anticipated comedies of the year comes from Ricky Gervais, whose impact on the entire culture of western comedic entertainment can be favourably compared to Woody Allen, Carl Reiner or Jerry Seinfeld. Gervais has done movies before, such as last fall’s Ghost Town (which critics seem to be falling over themselves to…
The Hub Project: A wonderful idea
It was with great hope that I read about The Hub project—30 or so young professionals and entrepreneurs of one sort or another, located in one of the historic buildings in Halifax’s core (1673 Barrington Street). I think this was initiated by a young visionary, without the benefit of planners and large developers. It would…
Migration Songs, Anna Quon (Invisible Publishing)
Anna Quon’s debut novel Migration Songs is a hopeful sign for Atlantic Canadian literature moving beyond the traditional rural stories and recognizing that we don’t all share the same history. Though Quon’s Halifax is a blur—this is really a story about the interior life and struggles of Joan, a jobless 30-year-old loner, who feels out…
New Fame isn’t going to live forever
Pitching Fame as a kid’s movie makes sense. I watched the TV series when I was in grade school, and though today’s kids know the franchise only by name, the popularity of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance? make it a logical cash-in. But the new Fame’s adherence to those shows’ careerist…
Patterson’s past
There’s something weird going on in Canadian art, easily evidenced by this year’s crop of Sobey Art Award nominees. Fantastic, dark, playful and pop-culture influenced, nominees David Altmejd, Shary Boyle, Marcel Dzama, Luanne Martineau and Graeme Patterson all share similar sensibilities and themes, making the award exhibition at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia one…
Share in the stars
A visit to an astrologer helped birth Share’s latest and fourth release, Slumping in Your Murals, according to the band’s songwriter, singer and guitarist, Andrew Sisk. “It was an opening to a new understanding,” he says. Sisk received a “proper” astrological reading, which required details beyond day, month and year, such as the hour of…
Everywhere’s a sign
Local artist Scott Saunders was walking down a street in Halifax when he passed a man with a sign that read “Will accept verbal abuse for spare change.” Saunders did his best to ignore the man and kept walking. “When I got 15 feet down the street I thought, ‘What a curious thing that was.’…
Cleaning up Die Mannequin
It’s no secret that Die Mannequin’s lead singer and guitarist Care Failure has had a rocky life. The band’s press bio—newly updated to coincide with the release of its first full-length album Fino + Bleed—spreads the story bare: Failure wrestled with a friend’s suicide, ran away from home and fell into heavy drug use and…
The rise of fall arts: visual arts
Nocturne October 17 at various locations, dusk-midnight, free, artgalleryofnovascotia.ca Last year’s inaugural Nocturne festival brought 5,000 people out to local streets and galleries from dusk to midnight. Following up on that success, this year’s after-dark art festival will feature 32 gallery spaces opening their doors and more than 30 artists setting up installations and performances…
Jenocide’s girl talk
On tour with new-wave synth-pop outfit Windom Earle last week, Jen Clarke left her alter-ego, Jenocide, back in Halifax. As the lone female in all-dude bands for almost five years, she knows some things can’t be addressed playing with guys. But her bottled-up feminism explodes 10-fold when assuming the exaggerated electro-synth-fuelled Jenocide persona, first felt…
The rise of fall arts: performing arts
THEATRE A Beautiful View October 13-31 at Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, $15-$35, 429-7070, neptunetheatre.com Love without labels. That’s what actor-writer-producer Jackie Torrens feels the two women in Daniel MacIvor’s A Beautiful View have spent 20 years working towards. “As humans, there seems to be a need for us to define something, to label it,”…
Two worlds for Tulku
When Gesar Mukpo walks into a room, he towers over most people in stature, and the sound of the filmmaker’s deep, booming laughter bounces from wall to wall. What strikes you most, however, is Mukpo’s gentle, unassuming nature. He speaks slowly and carefully, as you would expect of someone the Tibetan community sees as the…
The rise of fall arts: books, film, fashion
Word on the Street Sunday, September 27, 11am-5pm, Cunard Centre, free, thewordonthestreet.ca The annual lit festival happens this Sunday at the Cunard Centre. This year’s highlights include a special appearance by Margaret Atwood’s illustrious LongPen, the remote book-signing device she invented so she can sign your copy of her new novel The Year of the…
Finishing up the film fest
Chloe Thursday, September 24, 7pm at the Oxford, $15 A remake of a 2003 French film Nathalie… that starred Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart and Gérard Depardieu. Atom Egoyan transposes the French tale of marital infidelity to high-falutin’ locales in downtown Toronto (the AGO, the ROM, Little Italy and Yorkville all feature prominently), where gynecologist Catherine…
The Toe Tactic
After a period of mourning and anger, a young woman reconciles herself to her father’s death and the sale of her family’s home. That’s the plot as a whole, but a few non-linear subplots arise as well, such as the protagonist Mona’s mysterious temp work. Character, action, scene and animation are collaged in The Toe…
Alright Aleppo
I’ve passed by Aleppo on Quinpool Road dozens of times—always on the way to another restaurant. But today, Middle Eastern cuisine is the name of the game, so my friend and I stop in for dinner. Aleppo is a small, simple restaurant with an equally simple menu. Though the atmosphere is somewhat stark, the server’s…
Two Hours Traffic
To the quartet’s credit, they don’t drive directly at the power-pop that made their previous records stand out. The hooks and upbeat tempo can be found (the opening and title tracks and “Lost Boys”), but overall, the band’s clearly concerned with songwriting’s other internal mechanisms: the almost-off-balance pitch of the keys and syncopated rhythm of…
Purrr-fect research
Vicky Vaughan can’t begin to count the number of times Oprah has seemingly singled her out (in her living room) and told her to follow her passion. But it wasn’t until four years ago, when she was “bagged out on the couch” watching an episode of Beverly Hills Vet, that Vaughan decided to take Oprah’s…
Julian Plenti
While Interpol’s music is predictable and somewhat formulaic in its reliance on a specific 1980s aesthetic, this debut from lead singer Paul Banks is anything but. Complex, richly textured and varied, the songs range from intimate instrumental interludes to layered, spacey indie-rockers. There are few, if any, weak moments here, and Plenti solo is a…
I’m not saying I did, but…
Q You are known as an arbiter of all aspects of sex and especially definitions, and we are seeking your definitive opinion. My wife and I were recently regaling each other with anecdotes from our past, and she easily had the most interesting story: It seems that when she was a young woman in college,…
Jenocide
The pounding distorted bass and fuzzy synth shrieks opening Jenocide’s Machines To Make Us Wet recall the sweaty genius of her first EP. But three tracks in Nine Inch Nails-like staccato drum beats introduce Jen Clarke’s haunting, subdued vocals, setting it apart from your standard electronic dance album. From there, Clarke navigates vocal history with…
Wining and gazing
Here are three venues known to be star haunts—ones where you may still get a glimpse of the lovely Jessica Paré (pictured above), if you hurry. Economy Shoe Shop “The Diamond was the rock ‘n’ roll schmooze room,” says Dave Page, the Shoe Shop’s manager. While the dynamics of the Shop and connecting spaces have…
Statues
Consistently infectious, Statues team up with P Trash and House Party Records, releasing yet another single that would make you hate yourself if you missed it. It’s damn near impossible for Statues to write a bad song. The real standout on this latest single is the first song on the b-side, “To the Top.” That’s…
Dédé, à travers les brumes
André (Dédé) Fortin founded and fronted Montreal band Les Colocs through the ’90s. He fought both external—bandmates, Quebec’s robust music business, his province’s independence—and internal—depression, lust for women—battles. Despite some uneven use of animation, the film shows how the battle lines in Dédé’s life cross; how the personal, professional and political fronts feed each other.…
Funny Misshapen Body: A Memoir, Jeffrey Brown (Touchstone)
With The Incredible Change-Bots, 2007’s hilarious take on transforming robots, Jeffrey Brown dispelled any notion that he was a one-trick pony. Funny Misshapen Body serves as a memoir, detailing his growth as an artist, struggle with Crohn’s disease and the release of his first work, Clumsy. Brown deftly demonstrates his abilities as an illustrator and…
Mille, “Crysteena”
Justice? Pfft. Crookers? Pfft. Give me some Mille! This song’s like a dance club playing videogame music. And it makes you wish that club existed. So bad. The cascading, fantastical synth riffs and super-duper-compressed drums leave you stranded on the peak of a snowy, digital mountain. Or dancing alone in your socks, in my case.
Joy Is So Exhausting, Susan Holbrook (Coach House)
This collection’s title, a nod to Marian Engel’s Bear, is both a playful observation and hilarious declaration. Holbrook provides a great reminder that poetry is supposed to be fun and fun to read—a professor of literature and creative writing at University of Windsor, she sends up her occupation in “Textbook Case: Questions to Consider Regarding…
City diner
>Jen Stotland plucks a loose, lovely light purple petal from a bed in the Public Gardens. “Mallow,” she says, placing it quickly in my open palm. Eat it? Yup. The whole thing? Just pop it in your mouth. You can eat the leaf too. I do. “It’s a little bit slimy,” she says. “It’s really…
Returning home
Afternoon sunlight shines through the large front windows of Onelight Theatre’s office, a floor above Argyle Street’s busy restaurant row. It casts a warm glow, almost like a stage set, bouncing off painted-red walls and wood floors, maquettes from previous shows, well-worn books on the full shelves. It’s the day after their play The Veil…
Musical Phones
This bitch is to anyone who decides that it is okay to play music out of their cellphones for all to hear. There is a headphone jack in those contraptions. Please use it. I have heard it while standing in line in the hospital, while at work, and on the bus, and you MUST know…
Fisher wins East Dartmouth
Darren Fisher convincingly won last week’s council byelection for District 6, East Dartmouth. In a field of seven candidates, Fisher took 45 percent of the vote. He received 1,994 votes, while the next closest challenger, Brian Warshick, who held the seat from 2000 to 2004, received just 856 votes. The new councillor is cousin to…
Sewage gets rearranged
Halifax Water manager Carl Yates used Tuesday’s council meeting to give a rare public update on the state of repairs on the failed sewage treatment plant. The short story is that work is progressing as well as can be expected, in exactly the manner first publicly outlined by The Coast (see “How the sewage plant…
Catfights resume
Halifax council decided Tuesday to revisit the potentially absurd cat issue, and held a contentious, if brief, debate on pesticides. Two years ago, councillors brought much public scorn and derision upon themselves by spending dozens of hours first debating, then implementing, a cat registration system, only to reverse themselves when it was discovered that expanding…
Little goes big
Last May, Halifax comedian Mark Little won $25,000 and the judges’ hearts at the Yuk Yuk’s Great Canadian Laugh Off, beating out 64 other contestants. See the magic for yourself on Saturday night (11pm), when The Comedy Network broadcasts the final show. Witness Little taking down eight competitors to bring home the gold, after a…
No pedestrian crossing light, Alderney Drive and Portland Street.
What’s wrong? No pedestrian crossing light, Alderney Drive and Portland Street. Who’s responsible? Ken Reashor, god of traffic, 490-6637. REMARKS City policy has moved from forcing pedestrians to push a button to activate a crossing light, to not giving them a crossing light at all. This Dartmouth intersection, with a painted crosswalk but no light,…
This is why we protest.
To the cab driver who took the time out of his day on Saturday to stop and help the anti-Scientology protesters on Dutch Village Road. Thank you so much for sticking up for us. Calling the cops and giving your statement when my fellow protester was punched in the face was inspiring. We were devastated…
Grocery saver
Thanks so much to the guy who got out of his car while waiting at a red light and ran over to give me a new grocery bag. I didn’t even realize one of my bags was breaking until you said something. If it wasn’t for you, it would have broken as I crossed the…
David Clark’s net.art: a spacy trip
If you haven’t been exposed to David Clark yet, you’re in for a treat. The Halifax artist and teacher makes “feature-length” net.art, and his new website, 88constellations.net, is another stunning example of how the internet can be used for more than just kitten videos (not that there’s anything wrong with that). 88 Constellations for Wittgenstein…
Vicious Cycle promises not to shove boring things in your ears
Hardcore heroes Vicious Cycle’s unhappiness with Sudbury, Ontario apparently fueled their epic album, Pale Blue Dot. “Our main driving force for writing a song is our strong sense of discontent for our hometown,” says Frank (bass). “We aspire to do something new in the often cookie-cutter genre of hardcore punk. We want to bring our…
