Whenever I think of little things that make Halifax what it is I never think of Citadel Hill or the Water Front or all the universities or donairs at 3 am.
Know what I always think of ? That little neon outline of a molar in the window of that dentist office on Spring garden road just before you hit Robie. I can remember that being there as long as I have lived in this city – shine on little light. I love that thing!
—Phil
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2009.
What I always remembered as a kid in that area was the Electric Cow on the corner of Spring Garden and Robie, currently a Subway. It was basically just a cow statue wrapped in white Christmas lights. I think it’s down at Cow’s Ice Cream on the waterfront now.
I also always remembered the bright lights of the Hogie’s Steakhouse sign on Quinpool (currently where the new Athens is). Ahh the memories (I’m feeling old).
Finally, there’s the (freshly painted) candy-striped smokestacks of the Tuft’s Cove power station in Dartmouth, perfect landmark if you’re lost… kind of like the north star.
Yeah the Hogie’s Steakhouse sign (the old one) was quite memorable. It was unique, and then they replaced it with some more generic. And now it’s just Athens. But I kind of liked Athens in the old location more, the new one makes it feel too fancy and stiff. 🙁
Who can remember a Dartmouth sign that went:
E………….S………….S………….O………….
ESSO………….ESSO………….ESSO
E………….S………….S………….O………….
Not Smee.
Can’t remember that Esso sign (where in Dartmouth?), but that does remind me of the big red neon SPEEDY PRINT sign at the end of the Bedford Highway heading into Halifax. It helped me learn how to spell growing up.
S… P… E… E… D… Y… P… R… I… N… T…
SPEEDY PRINT
(Blank)…
SPEEDY PRINT
Repeat…
i loved that speedy print sign!!!
qpmzwonx, you “quoted” that Speedy Print sign very well – takes me right back to that intersection, hee hee! 🙂
I adore that little tooth. It’s one of the first things I noticed when I moved here.