From fashion boutiques to Asian groceries to international restos to bookstores to florists, you’ll find more shopping variety than you can shake a stylish fedora at. On one unseasonably warm Friday afternoon, Shoptalk took a stroll through the tony southern portion of downtown and we liked what we found. 50 Hats 1086 Queen Street, 482-4287 […]
Neighbourhood Shopping
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Go Local: Spring Garden
You know this place. It’s the busiest strip of shopping in Atlantic Canada, with plenty in the way of whatever you’re looking for. What might surprise you is in the presence of great restaurants, bars and high-end retailers, both local boutiques and national chains, there are many sales and discounts ongoing, if you know where […]
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Go Local: Quinpool
One of the city’s main links between downtown and the suburbs, complete with gas stations and a McD’s drive-thru, it’s very commuter. But it’s a whole lot of community, too, serving as the west end’s Main Street. You can find all kinds of local restaurants—anchored by mainstays Athens and Freeman’s Little New York—and happening boutiques […]
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Go Local: Agricola
Agricola Street is many things to many people. Cyclists love it because the traffic tends to be less hectic for a north end journey than Windsor, Robie or Gottingen. Smart drivers love it for the same reason. And pedestrians and locals love it for the plenty of shops, cafes and other diversions: antique stores, art […]
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Go Local: Halifax Waterfront
But really, even on a day sans monarchy, the waterfront is a genuine pleasure for visitors and locals. With plenty to eat, see and browse, a few hours down by the water can just fly by. Boutique Joliette 1870 Hollis Street, 405-4057 After almost a year near the corner of Hollis and Duke, proprietor Alexis […]
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Go Local: Bedford
On our second annual visit up the Bedford Highway, we discover all sorts of cool stuff that makes us wonder if the peninsula is a bit overrated. Select Sounds 1475 Bedford Highway, 835-3274 “The vinyl is selling really well,” says owner Michael James. “And catalogue CDs that [customers] can’t get anywhere else.” Worth checking out […]
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Go Local: Hydrostone
The Hydrostone is a north end oasis of classy boutiques, eateries and galleries. With a gorgeous, tree-lined parkette just across the street, it’s a springtime consumer destination unparalleled on the peninsula. It’s about to get even more popular, as monolithic coffee corporation Starbucks is just about to open a new location in the new building […]
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Go local on Barrington Street
We’ve all heard about the problems on Barrington Street, but the real story might be how longtime retailers have managed to survive and even thrive downtown, despite the closure of businesses, which recently have included CD Plus, Carsand Mosher and Peep Show Girly Boutique. And at press time, we’re receiving word that locally owned outdoor […]
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Go local in Dartmouth
Wyse Buys 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 […]
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Go local in Clayton Park
Ritual Studio480 Parkland Drive, 407-4022 Sadly, popular coffee house The Almond Cafe is now closed, but just down the plaza is the Ritual Tanning and Vibration Salon, where two lovely and bronzed ladies with startlingly white smiles, clad in black, will tan you up and whiten your teeth. Be sure to check out the T-Zone […]
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A guide to Halifax’s second-hand bookstores
Back Pages 1526 Queen Street, 423-4750 A wee bookstore on busy Queen Street, its little storefront hides a large selection of non-fiction and fiction titles. The owner was away on vacation for a good chunk of August, but the nice lady at the counter said the shop carries, in addition to its history and literature, […]
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Clothes minded
There was a time in Halifax, not so long ago, that if you wanted to dress in local designs or with the environment in mind you’d end up looking like a church-basement yoga instructor or decked out in a tartan muumuu. Well, you’re lucky, fashion-conscious students: It’s a great time to move to this city […]