🗞️ Big city dining in Halifax

Good morning!

Remember when we introduced our first food column from Mark DeWolf two Fridays ago? Well it’s that time again. Mark is back with another restaurant profile, this time on Pazzo Ristorante.

You made it loud and clear that you loved the first column on Mystic. It got tons of clicks in this newsletter and was the best performing story on our website. We get it, you like food, you like Mark, you like restaurants—who doesn’t?

And if you’re still looking for somewhere to take mom on Sunday for Mother’s Day, there are still some dinner reservations open at Pazzo—you’re welcome.

And to all of our readers who emailed in asking where in the world is Julie, she is taking some time off and the rest of the Coast team is filling in. We know you miss her, we miss her too, but we promise the newsletter is still filled with lots of good stuff!

Have a great weekend!

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️17°

Tomorrow:  🌦️11°

Next Day: ☀️ 16°

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

FOOD

Pazzo Ristorante: Big city dining in the heart of Halifax

There’s something undeniably metropolitan about Pazzo. Tucked into a historic building on Barrington Street, the space doesn’t whisper “Italy” so much as it channels the buzzy energy of a modern New York eatery. Exposed brick, old-growth beams, and high ceilings form the backbone of a room that feels equally suited to date nights and downtown power dinners. It’s Italian, yes—but with some North American swagger.

The Coast’s food writer Mark DeWolf revisits Pazzo a year after he last dined at the restaurant and takes us through the experience, through every course and of course the wine selection, too. Here’s how it all went down. 

🤔 Need To Know

🔥 About a dozen homes were destroyed as wildfires rage in Newfoundland. These wildfires are along the western shore of Conception Bay; about 45 kilometres northwest of St. John’s.

🚒 Firefighters responded to an overturned cement truck at the Duke Street roundabout in Lower Sackville. They rescued one person from the site.

💉 Public Health is now offering drop-in measles vaccines. A free measles vaccine clinic has been promised by Public Health on Thursday, following one of the province’s top doctors announcing a case in the Halifax area.

🍻 Leafs, Bush, Beers. Start your Friday with 1/2 price apps + $4.50 draught from 4 - 6pm. Food & Drinks before puck drop or pre-show - The Pint has you covered.*

🎉 Get ready! Tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, local businesses around the Halifax peninsula and downtown Dartmouth will be rolling out their welcome mats for Open City.*

✂️ This Nakba Day, join artists Sarah Mosher & Hannah Genosko for a quilted-banner making workshop. Come learn how to creatively display your solidarity, May 15 @ Wonder'neath.*

🎻 Cecilia Concerts presents violinist Irain Quirós: The Cuban musician makes his highly-anticipated Halifax recital debut performing Ysaÿe, Fauré, and Bruch with pianist Ria Kim. May 10 | 7:30pm | Pay-By-Donation*

🛍️ Open City Halifax is back this weekend! Explore local shops, taste amazing eats, and discover hidden gems. It’s a citywide celebration—don’t miss the fun!*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY COMPASS DISTILLERS

Celebrate Spring with a Tiki Daiquiri

Compass Distillers is celebrating the release of their Tiki Daiquiri canned cocktail in select NSLC locations.  This truly local cocktail is a unique blend of guava, lime, and a dark rum that was distilled right here in Halifax.  The perfect summer cocktail for a hot sunny day. Globally inspired, locally crafted.

Compass will be celebrating at the distillery / bar on Saturday 4-8pm with live music, food available from La Casita Kitchen, specials, prizes, and more!  The distillery and bar are located at 2533 Agricola Street in the round tower building.

Tiki Daiquiri is now available in 17 NSLC locations throughout Nova Scotia.

FEATURE

Motherhood is a calling

With Mother’s Day on Sunday, it is the perfect time to celebrate moms and motherhood in general. In this feature we chat with local author Moashella Shortte about her book titled Mirror. 

Shortte wrote the book for her daughter Siena and says the title is inspired by the notion that as a parent, you have to lead by example. “Kids mirror what they see,” she says.

The Coast’s new summer intern Warren D’Silva sat down with Shortte to talk about the book, her life, her approach to motherhood, and so much more, ahead of Mother’s Day. Read it here. 

🗞️ In Other News

🎵 Music Nova Scotia and the Dawn Fund Bursary program announced a new joint bursary program for transgender, Two-Spirit, and non-binary musicians. It is the first of its kind in Canada.

🐕️ The province has asked Dalhousie University to consider starting a doctor of veterinary medicine program at the school’s Truro campus. The suggestion was made in the school’s new funding agreement and notes the increasing need for large animal veterinarians.

⚽ The Halifax Wanderers were defeated by Forge FC 3-1 in the Canadian Championship on Wednesday night. Forge FC will go on to play CF Montreal in the quarterfinals. 

🩺 Nova Scotia Health updated the Need a Family Practice Registry stating that since April 1, 2,208 people were attached to a provider or removed as a result of ongoing validation. The next update is expected in early June. There are still 91,474 Nova Scotians on the registry, about 8.6% of the population.

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Free access to new exhibition - May 10th

Be among the first to experience opening of a new exhibition, eat make share: a taste of immigration at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and share your feedback! Open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. 

🗓️ Things To Do

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 The East Pointers: JUNO Award-winning PEI folk band The East Pointers are musical trailblazers, known for their energetic, eclectic blend of traditional Celtic music with modern folk, pop, and dance. Now, they make their orchestral debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in an innovative fusion of rich vocal harmonies, furious energy and groundbreaking orchestral arrangements. | May 9 and 10 | 7:30pm | From $74 |

🗓 Fabric Of Our DNA: Runway show put on by Soli Productions celebrating “Black Dandyism" and the impact on the global fashion industry. Black Dandyism pays homage to the contribution of Black communities and creatives towards the fashion industry. This show features local designers and models at The Doyle Shops. May 10 | 7:15pm | $28 |

🗓 Italian Canadian Cultural Association of Nova Scotia- Mothers Day Dinner: Make mothers day special for your mum or a mother figure in your life. Share a three course Italian dinner paired with hassock or chicken and the option to add a dessert. Sip on the house feature cocktail or the Italian Bellini with peach and prosecco. May 10 | $35 and up |

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

SPONSORED BY UNIVERSAL REALTY GROUP

🌷 Elegant Living Across the Gardens

Live in style at The Paramount. Choose from spacious one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites with modern flooring, in-suite laundry, and oversized windows overlooking the Public Gardens. Enjoy 24-hour concierge service, a fitness centre, and lounge. Steps to shopping, dining, and Halifax’s universities.

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Eagle II container ship is expected to arrive from Rotterdam Maasvlakte, Netherlands at 2:30pm

🚢➡️ The Jacqueline C cargo ship is arriving from Saint George, Burmuda at 6pm. 

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🐠 Craving the viral red bean or custard filled Bungeoppang? Visit Seoa's Chicken on Bedford Highway or order online and feast on these delicious sweet and savoury treats. 

🇮🇳 Are your tastebuds yearning for traditional Indian food? Mirch Tandoor’s Lamb Vindaloo will hit the spot for you. You could pair it with Naan and wash it down with a fresh glass of Lassi or Masala Chai. You could ask for a less spicy version, but the question is, can you handle the spice? 

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎶 The East Coast Music Awards are now underway. From May 7-11, artists from all over Atlantic Canada will meet in St. John’s, N.L., for a weekend of workshops, performances, and of course, an awards ceremony celebrating the best and brightest in the East Coast music scene. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer put together a list of every local artist that is nominated for an ECMA from Classified to Jah’Mila, Neon Dreams, and so many more. 

✏️ Editor’s Note

There will be no Coast Daily newsletter on Monday, May 12.

And for our Coast Insiders, while Julie is away, we’re going to hit pause on the Saturday Insiders edition, just for a couple weeks!

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Haligonian.

And before you go, let us know: