195 Wyse Road, 464-0010
Long known for having some of the best quality used furniture around (which can be delivered to your door), Wyse Buys is also getting into new chesterfields, beds and table sets too, "Comparable to what's available at Leons or The Brick," says manager Steve Richardson. You can also find refurbished appliances at Wyse Buys, including fridges, stoves, freezers, washing machines and dryers. Take them away with a 90-day warrantee.
Morrigan Le Fay's Mystical Gifts79 Alderney Drive, 444-8267
The shop crammed with lacy black fashions, gothic accoutrements and other items of interest to those who see the world through ethereal eyes is also a gallery, at the moment featuring work by painter and illustrator Kerry Swinamer. You'll also find leatherware and pottery by local artists, and even chainmail from Eternal Elf Creations out of New Glasgow, and a nice selection of edged weapons: swords, blades and Gil Hibben throwing knives. If you are a fangbanger---True Blood fans will know what that is---you should inquire about their supply of Melotte's and Fangtasia t-shirts as well as genuine "Tru Blood," which goes for $10.95 a bottle. (It tastes a little like Hawaiian Punch.) And be sure to say hello to Boris, the Chilean Rosy Tarantula, crawling about in a case at the back of the shop. Owner Rhonda Haley-McKinnon is an arachnophobe; Boris is her therapy.
Seaside Book & Stamp23 Alderny Drive, 423-8254
Though closed during the weekdays, Shoptalk was able to find someone in the store on a quiet Thursday, so we guess you just never know. The used science fiction/fantasy bookstore, owned by Jerry Tucker has a room stuffed with paperbacks for those looking for reasonably priced reads, as well as a section on stamps for collectors and a sideline in Lego. The official hours are Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday 11am-6pm, and for more info and to check out the stock, visit the helpful website at seasidebs.com.
Body in Balance Therapy Centre33 Ochterloney Street, 469-3214
A Body in Balance is a consortium of therapists, scientists and educators offering treatment for a variety of debilitating physical complaints, emphasizing craniosacral therapy. Staff members provide a variety of skills; Susan Hirshberg is also an animal behaviorist who works with wild and domestic animals and creates custom programs for children and the elderly while Janice Webber brings a Tai Chi practice, exercise classes, and acupuncture to what the centre has to offer. Give them a call or visit abodyinbalance.ca for more information.
Interlude Spa58 Ochterloney Street, 469-2700
The first spa in Dartmouth opened 37 years ago, offering a full service spa in a gorgeously renovated building, just adjacent to that Nectar Social House, which is owned by the same family. The aesthetics services run from everything to do with hair to microdermabration, laser treatments to massage, make-up for brides to anti-gravity yoga to pilates to zumba latin dance. Nectar can provide lunch to be enjoyed in a room on site and you can take away a host of Aveda products, available in the lobby for sale.
Two If By Sea66 Ochterloney Street, 469-0721
When Shoptalk strolls into the bright, comfortable coffee shop in the Founders Corner building, we are greeted by tunes by Phoenix and Santogold, perfect sunny day music to go with enormous, wonderful croissants. And how is business in the Dartmouth hotspot? "Exceptional," reports co-owner Zane Kelsall, a former manager at Steve-O-Renos. "This is by far the busiest place I've ever worked in... it was meant to be." The business also offers catering as one of its services, offers a Video Difference movie return box, and starting April 11 the cafe will be open Sundays.
YogaheartChrist Church Parish Hall, 61 Dundas Street, 229-9642
Mandee LaBelle has been offering yoga in downtown Dartmouth for over six years. She offers an ongoing 6pm class on Tuesdays and Thursdays called the Yoga Empower Hour for a $7 drop-in fee. There's also a "Yoga with Meditation" class on Tuesdays between 7:05pm and 8:45pm for $12 drop-in or $50 to register for five weeks. She also is starting a class called Love: A Yoga Class on Thursdays, and will sometimes offer Saturday morning workshops on specialty topics such as conscious eating and nutrition, breathing, chakra yoga and meditation. For more info, visit LaBelle's website yohaheart.ca or listen to CKDU on Wednesdays between 1:30pm and 3:30pm for Yogaheart Radio to get a sense of her philosophy.
Core Essentials50 Queen Street, 407-3338
The personal training/nutrition specialists are expanding this week into the space directly below where they currently reside, adding 3,000 square feet to their business, including showers and changing rooms, and just starting full time is new trainer Craig Guthrie, who co-owner Laurissa Manning calls an Olympic-level coach. "The results he gets with his clients are amazing." You can visit them at coressentials.ca for more information, or drop by to try one of their stationary bikes... they lean!
Fisher's Stationary122 Portland Street, 469-6926
Gloria Fisher has operated her business on Dartmouth's main drag since 1959, and has seen the neighbourhood through its changes. "It's a dead street here now," she says. Back in the day, she says "you could do all your Christmas shopping on Portland Street." Though once she had a number of employees, the store specializing in art supplies, gift cards, paper, envelopes is run at the moment only by Fisher and her son. "I wish the Salvation Army was still here," she says. "That gave people a reason to come down here. There's no parking, that's the big thing." But what about the prospect of the development at King's Wharf bringing people into the downtown? "They've been talking about that for five years and nothing's happened. I'm not going to be around to see it."
Carousel Rubber Stamps380 Pleasant Street, 464-9474
A recent departure from downtown is this business, now located in Woodside, currently a bustling area thanks to the new NSCC campus and a Value Village having moved in nearby. "The response has been overwhelming... everybody is really enjoying it," says owner Dejah Cote on her move, mentioning the free parking makes customers happy. She offers wedding invitations, cards, stickers, new crafts from the UK and Switzerland and everything and anything to do with scrapbooking, including classes and workshops on the subject. The website to visit is carouselrubberstamps.com.
Pilot's Pub10 Atlantic Street, 461-4300
"The best ribs in town," boasts a friendly staff member, adding that the popular wing night happens Wednesdays. For 13 years at this location, the family-owned Pilot's Pub is certainly benefiting from the increased Woodside bustle, especially now that the weather is improving and a licensed patio will be opening soon, with maybe the best view anywhere of downtown Halifax. They also have a party room available for wedding banquets and the like, which holds 25 people.
