Recently covered by a fresh coat of asphalt, Quinpool Road is about to celebrate with Quinfest Family Fun day on Saturday, September 17, from 11am to 3pm. It’ll be a chance to check out what Quinpool has to offer, its broad selection of merchant wares. From Greece to China, Korea to the Middle East, Quinpool is also a destination for international food, and an essential resource for the residential district surrounding, from Dalhousie University to the north end.
Attitude Jewelry
6082 Quinpool, 403-1230, sharing space with Beads "R" Us
This business offers Metal Clay Workshops with owner-operator Pam Feindel. The clay when wet is pliable, allowing for it to be shaped, textured and cut into different sizes, generating silver jewellery and other lovely work. The workshops are designed to offer a beginner a chance to get your hands dirty during weekend events and evening classes. Visit attitude-jewelry.com or drop by for more information.
Video Difference
6086 Quinpool Road, 425-3029
With the recent announcement of the closure of all Blockbuster locations in Canada---goodbye to the blue-and-yellow chain that censored mainstream movies and wouldn't stock The Last Temptation of Christ---VD is one of the last soldiers standing---along with Mumford Video and a few other independents. And more power to them: The 24 hour DVD emporium has three levels of entertainment, Blu-rays, box sets and snacks. And when you join the first two rentals are free.
Freeman's Little New York
6092 Quinpool Road, 429-0241
There are plenty of places to get a great brunch on Quinpool Road---The Ardmore Tea Room, Athens, Greek Village or Louly's Restaurant to name but four---but keep in mind Freeman's, best known for its late-night eats, as a place that serves an all-day breakfast, starting at 10am weekdays and 9am weekends. Try the eggs, ham, bacon, fish cakes, eggs benny and more.
Cyclesmith
6112 Quinpool Road, 425-1756
The end-of-summer sales are going on through September at Cyclesmith, with all Specialized (that's a brand) bikes marked down 15 percent or more, as well as savings on other two-wheeled transportation. Also consider the
helmets, shoes, clothing and accessories. Four members of the staff are away in Montreal right now at Expo Cycle, to find out what's new and cool come 2012, so be sure to inquire in-store next week for the scoop.
Sweet Hereafter Cheesecakery
6148 Quinpool Road, 404-8001
Open this week at the former location of Key Lime Pie Salon Spa (which we understand has moved to 1662 Granville Street) is a new dessert option: Sweet Hereafter offers artisanal cheesecake, Sweetie Cakes cupcakes from Juanice McQueen, Laughing Whale coffee and organic tea, and Pop Shoppe Soda, with seats for 24, all run by Colin and Joanne MacDougall. Hours are noon-10pm Monday through Saturday.
Bramoso Gourmet Pizzeria
6169 Quinpool Road, 425-2222
Bramoso has just opened a late-summer deck. About 16 people can sit and enjoy the great pizza for as long as the weather will allow---vegan, gluten-free and dairy free options, as well as three-cheese (asiago, parmesan and gorgonzola) delights---with a glass of
local wine or beer from Propeller, Garrison and AMB.
The Trail Shop
6210 Quinpool Road, 423-8736
A lot of the excitement at TTS right now has to do with the sister store, Maritime Summit Shop on Barrington, offering North Face outdoor wear and having its grand opening this weekend. But were you to stop in at The Trail Shop right now, you'd find all the newest Canada Goose wear, those super-cozy Made-In-Canada jackets for winter, which, let's face it, is right around the corner.
Zephyr Home
6232 Quinpool Road, 446-4622
If you stop by the stylish furniture and home accessory outlet right now you'll pay no HST on all regular-priced in-stock merchandise.
Mezza
6386 Quinpool Road, 444-3913
Tony Nahas of this stellar Mediterranean eatery is one of the business owners who's been challenging the draconian Quinpool zoning laws, which say that you can't serve a drink without accompanying food. But "I gave up," he says with a sigh. He says he'd have to rezone the entire property before applying for a lounge licence, which required the involvement of engineers, shadow studies and traffic studies. "I'm not ready to spend $10,000 for a study we don't really need," says Nahas. Now a customer gets a complimentary appetizer when they stop in for a drink, "and they always order something extra," says Nahas.
The Oxford Theatre
6408 Quinpool Road, 422-2022
The Oxford has a new face and sign. We understand the work being done on the cinema's exterior is to bring it in line with the look of all of Empire Theatres' locations around town, and just in time for the Atlantic Film Festival. Makes branding sense, but we miss the Miami Pink, just sayin'.
Clay Cafe
6413 Quinpool Road, 429-2994
It's always been a great date idea: Take your sweetheart to Clay Cafe and paint some pottery, no experience necessary and no reservations required. There's one set price, located on the bottom of the pieces on the shelves, from a small doodad going for a couple of bucks to a $45 pig. You can take as much time as you'd like to paint it and at the end it will be yours. If you go Friday until midnight or Saturday until 10pm, there's live music to accompany your endeavours.
Bib 'n Tucker
6423 Quinpool Road, 423-6474
Right now the kids' clothing outlet is offering 40 percent off select end-
of-summer inventory items. And look in store for new arrivals of Bogs all-
weather footwear.
Various Storefronts now available!
Attention new businesses and entrepreneurs: A few excellent storefronts have come available on Quinpool Road. Consider 6024 Quinpool, the former location of Blockbuster Video. It's available immediately and has parking. (Call Jeff Webber at 482-3160 for more information). As we announced at
thecoast.ca, the coffee shop Perks (6100 Quinpool Road) is definitely closed. Hard to believe a coffee shop wouldn't thrive in that spot at Vernon. Or what about 6238 Quinpool, former location of the Maritime Campus Store? Or consider 6290 Quinpool, which once was home to Aqua Creations. Lots of opportunity to join the buzzing retail community on one of Halifax's busiest streets.
Other Key Quinpool Businesses
SHOPS AND GALLERIES
Halifax Cycle Gallery, 6112 Quinpool Road
Pro Skateboards and Snowboards/b>, 6451 Quinpool Road
Secord Gallery/b>, 6301 Quinpool Road
Trinity Jewellers/b>, 6226 Quinpool Road
SERVICES
Adept Tattoos, 6267 Quinpool Road
Define Hair Studio, 6382 Quinpool Road
Flower Trends Florists, 6241 Quinpool Road
Gaudet Optical, 6465 Quinpool Road
House of Dogs, 6448 Quinpool Road, 492-3647
The Pamela Kennedy Project, 6224 Quinpool Road
Passport Photos, 6414 Quinpool Road
Quinpool Shoe Repair, 6224 Quinpool Road
Utility Gallery, 6070 Quinpool Road
Vina’s Jewellers, 6281 Quinpool Road
FOOD AND DRINKS
The B-Well Sushi and Cafe, 6184 Quinpool Road
Cafe Sospeso Plus, 6214 Quinpool Road
It’s All Greek To Me, 6196 Quinpool Road
Heartwood, 6250 Quinpool Road
Ireland 32, 6220 Quinpool Road
JiXiang Chinese Restaurant, 6311 Quinpool Road
King Wah Chinese Restaurant, 6430 Quinpool
King’s Palace Restaurant, 6140 Quinpool Road
Leicester’s Deli & Cheese Emporium, 6253 Quinpool Road
Phil’s Seafood, 6285 Quinpool Rd
Rock Island Bistro, 6293 Quinpool Road
Rich Forest Cafe, 6300 Quinpool Road
Seasons by Atlantica, 1980 Robie Street
Song’s Korean Restaurant, 6249 Quinpool Road
King of Donair, 6422 Quinpool Road