PAUL GREENBERG The best-selling American author, who penned the 2014 effort on seafood sustainability Four Fish, comes to Halifax to talk about the future of our oceans and our fish-eating habits. Marion McCain Building, Dalhousie University, 6135 University Avenue, Thu Sep 14, 7-9pm
PRISMATIC ARTS FESTIVAL This multi-genre festival—which includes theatre, dance and musical performances, visual arts shows, plus a host of intriguing discussions—has way too much happening to be contained in one capsule. So check out our story about Prismatic 2017 and the festival-at-a-glance collection to get the full lowdown. Sep 14-23
CELLO MASTERCLASS WITH STÉPHANE TÉTREAULT The internationally-renowned and decorated cellist Stéphane Tétreault talks about his craft at this free lecture, held in room 406. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Sep 15, 4:30-6:30pm, free
NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MULTIMEDIA IN STAGE DESIGN Shahin Sayadi hosts this lecture in room 406 of the Arts Centre, talking about the recent advancements in stage design. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Sat Sep 16, 9am-1pm
WORD ON THE STREET 2017
Get lit(-erary) at this annual celebration of the written word! From writing workshops to author talks, the Central Library promises to be buzzing all day with book and magazine fuelled fun. Stop by the library's RBC Room between 1-2pm to catch the can't-miss Hali Slam's spoken word show! Sat Sep 16, 11am-4pm, thewordonthestreet.ca/halifax
HALIFAX EXPLOSION COMMEMORATION It's been 100 years since the big bang. With the city marking the centennial in all sorts of ways, you'll need our special Explosion events guide to keep track. Sep 16-Jan, 2018
LUNCH BREAK: OPEN STUDIO VISIT WITH STEPHANIE WU Stephanie Wu opens their studio for a peek into the creative process behind the upcoming Khyber exhibit We Met Online: Finding Each Other. Blending video and sculpture, the show tackles lack of diversity in mental health discussions and queer spaces. Here, you'll see pieces in the making while chowing down on your brown-bagged lunch. Khyber Centre for the Arts, 1880 Hollis Street, Tue Sep 19, 12-2pm
TALKING ART WITH CONSERVER ANN SHAFTEL Ann Shaftel gives this illustrated talk on the stabilization of the King's and Regimental Colours of the 25th and 85th Battalions, Canadian Expeditionary Force, which are displayed at Government House. Register for the session online at lt.gov.ns.ca or by calling 902-424-7001. Government House, 1451 Barrington Street, Tue Sep 19, 7-8:30pm, free
ARTISTS AND CONVERSATION Director Ashley McKenzie (aka the creative eye behind the aching film Werewolf), author Donna Morrissey (who wrote The Deception of Livvy Higgs) and composer/Prismatic Arts Festival star Dinuk Wijeratne talk about art and creating at this panel. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street, Wed Sep 20, 6pm, free
AESTHETICS OF UNREALITY Fiona Raby, one half of the design duo Dunne & Raby, gets conceptual while talking shop at this lecture. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Thu Sep 21, 6-8pm
NEW VOICES: A MASTERCLASS FOR SINGERS Martha Guth, soprano, Tyler Duncan, baritone and Erika Switzer, piano, present a masterclass for singers in room 121 of the Arts Centre. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Thu Sep 21, 11:30am-1pm
COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION INVOLVING NON-WESTERN INFLUENCE Decorated composer, conductor and pianist Dinuk Wijeratne talks about weaving non-Western influences into your work—and one listen to his music will prove he knows his stuff. Held in room 409. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Sep 22, 9:30-11:30am
HAL-CON Atlantic Canada's biggest geek fest returns for three glorious days of cosplay, sci-fi and fantasy fun. Featured guests include James Marsters (who played Spike in Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Samuel Anderson, best known as Danny Pink on Doctor Who. World Trade and Convention Centre, 1800 Argyle Street, Sep 22-24
PERFORMANCE PRACTICE WORKSHOP: MYSTERY OF NEUMES Hendrik Vanden Abeele and Psallentes, the Belgian four-piece that specializes in singing medieval works, lead an introductory workshop on the singing of chant from original notation. Held in room 406 of the Arts Centre. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Sep 22, 5-6:30pm
THE TRANSITION FROM ACTOR TO WRITER Beverley Cooper, a writer, actor and teacher, shares snippets from her plays, offers tips for aspiring playwrights and discusses creating new work in Studio Two of the Arts Centre. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Sep 22, 1-2pm, free
UNDER THE MOON (A RECEPTION FOR WE MET ONLINE: FINDING EACH OTHER) In celebration of their upcoming video and sculpture show We Met Online: Finding Each Other, Stephanie Wu hosts this potluck and colouring party featuring hand-drawn colouring books for attendees. Bring a dish and email [email protected] with any dietary restrictions and favourite karaoke songs! Khyber Centre for the Arts, 1880 Hollis Street, Fri Sep 22, 6-9pm
ETSY MADE IN CANADA 2017 The fourth annual makers fair has become such a smashing success it had to upgrade to a bigger space! Check out the new digs—and stalls selling everything from knitwear to soap to jewellery, all made by independent artisans based right here. Cunard Event Centre, Pier 23, 961 Marginal Road, Sat Sep 23, 10am-7pm
HANNAH MOSCOVITCH'S PLAYWRITING MASTERCLASS The first Canadian playwright to win Yale's Windham Campbell Prize, Hannah Moscovitch has also penned operas and written for TV. Here, she shows you how to perfect your playwriting game. Held in room 1102 of the Arts Centre. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Tue Sep 26, 11:30am-1pm
A CULTURAL BRAIDING WORKSHOP Learn to braid and hear why braiding is an important part of Black and Mi’kmaw cultures at this workshop presented by StART Festival and the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op Trade School! Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Centre, 2158 Gottingen Street, Wed Sep 27, 6-7:30pm, free
PORNOGRAPHY: WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT'S WRONG? The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs kicks off a series of lectures called the Seven Deadly Sins with a doozy: Lust. Here, a panel discussion tackles the rights and wrongs of porn. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Wed Sep 27, 7pm, free
ERIC PETERSON AND ALEX IVANOVICI: DOCUMENTARY THEATRE IN CANADA Doc director Alex Ivanovici and actor Eric Peterson talk about the blending of documentaries and drama—and how the two collide in the play Seeds, the tale of a small farmer going up against an agricultural giant, which stars Peterson, is produced by Ivanovici and is playing at Neptune Theatre. Held in the Arts Centre's studio two. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Sep 29, 1-2:30pm
HALIFAX OYSTER FESTIVAL 2017 Get shell-shucked at The Coast's Oyster Festival, Canada's biggest shellfish fest. A premiere waterfront location, oysters from 20 producers and three three-hour, all-you-can-slurp tasting sessions make for an unforgettable foodie experience. Halifax Waterfront, Salter Block Parking Lot, Sep 29-30, $65-$130
AMY GOODMAN IN HALIFAX Adding to the list of much-loved journalists heading to Halifax this fall (Scaachi Koul and Peter Mansbridge among them), longtime Democracy Now! host and author Amy Goodman is slated to appear in town this September. Goodman’s talk, titled “Stories of Democracy, Resistance and Hope,” will focus on her experiences as a reporter and grassroots organizer. Ondaatje Hall, Marion McCain Building, Dalhousie University, 6135 University, Sat Sep 30, 8pm, $20
EXPOSÉ Dress in your creative best and get ready for a totally atypical gallery experience that sees you taking in art in a totally new way. Dessert tasting and a dance floor round out the fun. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 1723 Hollis Street, Sat Sep 30, 7:30pm-12am, $15
NSCAD INSIDE OUT NSCAD celebrates 130 trips around the sun by opening its doors to the public for this drop-in tour of all three campuses. NSCAD, 5163 Duke Street, Sat Sep 30
THE ULTIMATE SNEAKER SHOW HALIFAX The Ultimate Sneaker Show is the perfect place for shoe-heads to buy, sell, trade and display running shoes of all stripes. World Trade and Convention Centre, 1800 Argyle Street, Sat Sep 30, 12-6pm, $15-$129
ATLANTIC FASHION WEEK As AFW enters its 11th year, the little fashion week that could proves it still punches above its weight with a slew of jaw-dropping talent. Oct 2-8
TREATY EDUCATION SPACE OPENING The grand unveiling of NSCAD Port Campus' new gallery space sees poet laureate Rebecca Thomas and doctor Heidi Bohaker discuss settler and indigenous approaches to treaty. NSCAD Port Campus, 1107 Marginal Road, Mon Oct 2, 4pm
ED PIEN ARTIST TALK One of the brightest stars in Canada's contemporary art constallations, Ed Pien discusses his craft at this lecture. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Wed Oct 4, 6-8pm
CHIP COFFEY'S COFFEY TALK TOUR Get spooked as the star of A&E's Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal and Paranormal State comes to Halifax to talk about life as a psychic and conduct readings for random audience members. The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, 1515 South Park Street, Fri Oct 6, 6:30pm
A ROYAL COUPLE IN CANADA BOOK LAUNCH AND TEA PARTY Allison Lawlor shares snippets from her book documenting the many Canadian tours Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have taken during her reign. Stories from coast to coast and from the 1950s to today stuff the tome, while an on-theme tea party rounds out the experience. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Sat Oct 7, 2-3:30pm
BLUE MONDAYS: LIFE DRAWING AT THE CRAIG GALLERY If all the new Fall shows at galleries across town have you feeling inspired to pick up the pen, head to the Craig for these drop-in sessions that let you sketch models holding various-length poses. Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth, Mon Oct 9, 7-9pm; Mon Oct 30, 7-9pm; Mon Nov 27, 7-9pm, $5
IN CONVERSATION: MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN Join Canada's Juno-winning, Grammy-nominated queen of opera, the totally-fabulous Measha Brueggergosman, as she signs copies of her book Something Is Always On Fire: My Life So Far. Chapters, 188 Chain Lake Drive, Tue Oct 10, 7-8pm
TERESA HUBBARD AND ALEXANDER BIRCHLER The Berlin-based media artists—and 2017 NSCAD honorary degree recipients—talk about their craft at this lecture. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Wed Oct 11, 6-8pm
GIORA SCHMIDT: VIOLIN MASTERCLASS With a sparkling resume that features performances with prominent symphonies across the globe, it's safe to say Giora Schmidt knows a thing or two about the violin. Here, he spills some secrets about his craft in the Arts Centre's room 407. Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue, Fri Oct 13, 4:30-6:30pm
CATHERINE BANKS PLAYWRITING MASTERCLASS Award-winning playwright Catherine Banks—whose critically-acclaimed play Bone Cage is returning to the Bus Stop stage this fall—shows how to write a script that slays in room 1102 of the Marion McCain Building. Marion McCain Building, Dalhousie University, 6135 University Avenue Tue Oct 17, 11:30am-1pm
HALIFAX ZINE FAIR The Anchor Archive Zine Library and Halifax Pop Explosion pay tribute to the DIY spirit as the annual celebration of zine-makers, small press publishers, comic artists and print-makers returns. Halifax North Memorial Public Library, 2285 Gottingen Street, Sat Oct 21
PETER MANSBRIDGE IN HALIFAX Canada's grandpa kicks off his retirement from The National with a coat-to-coast tour stuffed with personal, behind-the-scenes tales he says (via press release) "tell you something about Canada, about Canadians, about journalism and yes, about me. And some may surprise you!” Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, 6101 University Avenue, Mon Oct 23, $41.50-$101.50
THE WALRUS TALKS SOCIAL IMPACT This national lecture series arrives in Halifax to discuss changing the world with visionaries, partners, and great ideas. How does systemic change work, and how can we improve society through smart philanthropy and community-driven action? Spatz Theatre, 1855 Trollope Street, Thu Oct 26, 7pm, $15
AN EVENING WITH SCAACHI KOUL The Coast's love for the witty, observant writer Scaachi Koul (author of One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter and a million lol-worthy tweets) runs deep, so naturally we're PUMPED to be bringing her to Haliwood to discuss her debut collection of alternately biting, hilarious and touching essays. Bookworms, get your tickets now—or cry forever when they inevitably sell out. Don't say we didn't warn you. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Sun Oct 29, 7:30pm
DRUM MAKING WORKSHOP WITH BRIAN KNOCKWOOD Receive teaching about drums, drum care and how we can learn a little bit about life while making a drum. The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street, Sun Oct 29, 1-4:30pm
FRANCOFEST 2017: BLAISE NDALA The Congolese-Canadian author Blaise Ndala is stealing the spotlight at this year's Francofest, bringing his latest novel Sans capote ni kalachnikov to Halifax. The tome, narrated by two ex-rebel soldiers, tells the story of a world obsessed with celebrity and rife with commodified poverty—and takes a swipe at capitalism and war. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Road, Thu Nov 2
VIRTUE OR SIN? The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs continues its series of lectures on the seven deadly sins with this hard-hitting talk about greed. Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Thu Nov 16, 7pm, free
PSYCHIC MEDIUM MICHELLE RUSSELL Experience a powerful spiritual journey with psychic Michelle Russell as she speaks to those on the other side. Comfort Hotel, 88 Chain Lake Drive, Bayers Lake Business Park, Thu Nov 23, 7-9pm, $65-$125
WE DAY World-renowned speakers, A-list performers and tens of thousands of youth will descend on the Scotiabank Centre for Atlantic Canada's celebration of WE Day, the brainchild of Canadian humanitarian unicorn Craig Kielburger. While the list of attendees is currently TBA, the rally aiming to engage the next generation in making a difference always exceeds expectations. Scotiabank Centre, 5284 Duke Street, Thu Nov 30
BOOK LAUNCH: DESIRE CHANGE: CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST ART IN CANADA Celebrate the launch of the first-ever Canadian book about feminist art! The 328-page tome features 14 essays focusing on regional histories, activist art, community engagement, Indigenous feminisms and the political role of the female body. Art Bar + Projects, 1873 Granville Street, Mon Dec 4, 7pm
