🗞️ Bring on the solar eclipse

Good morning!

Nova Scotia’s spring weather is fickle at the best of times, but it looks like we’re in for our warmest, sunniest April day yet to take in the big event this afternoon—by which, of course, I mean the total eclipse. (Burger Bash doesn’t start until Thursday.)

The last total solar eclipse in Nova Scotia was 52 years ago, on July 10, 1972. And the next total eclipse in our province won’t be until May 1, 2079. Which makes me wonder: If Nova Scotia has storm chips, do we get chips for eclipses, too?

– Martin

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 11°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 4°

Next Day: ☀️ 8°

7-day forecast

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

ECLIPSE WATCH

Don’t take a selfie with the eclipse, SMU astronomer says

When the moon passes in front of the sun this afternoon in a rare cosmic alignment that will cause a complete blackout in some parts of Canada—including the northernmost reaches of Cape Breton—and a near-total eclipse across much of Nova Scotia, don’t reach for your phone to try and save your eyes from taking it all in. Or so says SMU astronomer Robert Thacker, director of outreach for the Burke-Gaffney Observatory.

Why not? The reflections are still too strong for naked eye.

“You can actually blind yourself by using a phone. People have had eye damage reading their phones while sunbathing,” Thacker says, speaking with The Coast.

What you can do—at least, if you’re in Halifax—is watch the eclipse at SMU. The university’s Department of Astronomy and Physics is hosting a free on-campus event “for safe solar observing,” with some solar telescopes and 500 eclipse glasses available starting at 3:30pm.

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has all you need to know about this afternoon’s eclipse, along with where—and how—to watch it.

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Dynamic Works by Atlantic Dance Creators

Live Art Dance and Kinetic are thrilled to come together to co-present “Coastal Currents”, a platform that shines a light on the amazing dance talent that exists in our region!

Now in its second year, “Coastal Currents” features short works from Atlantic choreographers, bringing wonderfully rich, vibrant and nuanced work to Kjipuktuk/Halifax audiences. This year we show the work of four Atlantic choreographers – Reequal Smith (PEI), Sarah Joy Stoker (NL), Jessica Lowe (NS), and Jayden Gigliotti (NS).

With pieces ranging from mystical and ethereal to vulnerable to playful, these choreographers offer something for everything, showing the breadth of choreographic skill that we have right here in Atlantic Canada.

AT THE MOVIES

Hailey Rose a made-in-Nova Scotia tale of family, inheritance and forgiveness

Sandi Somers knows how to bring a character to the screen. Consider the opening scene in her latest feature film, the family-centred dramedy Hailey Rose: “Some people come into your life as blessings; some come in as lessons,” the family’s tough-nut matriarch, Olga, deadpans to the camera. “Blessings are worth shit all when it comes to getting through life.”

Set in rural Nova Scotia—and shot in Hubbards and Chester—the film follows an estranged family, brought back together by a derelict boat. It was bequeathed to the film’s protagonist, Hailey, by her father, Roger, after he passed away in a freak fishing incident. Roger’s death is what drove the family apart: Olga blames Hailey for not going along on the fishing trip and saving his life. Hailey, meanwhile, resents her mother’s tough-love, the-world-doesn’t-owe-you-shit approach to parenting—a marked difference from the bond she felt with her father. She flees to Calgary and cuts off any ties to her family. Until a phone call from her sister, Rose, brings her back. And suddenly, two sisters and their mother are left to figure out how to live with each other and make amends.

The coming-of-age story is out now for a limited theatre run in Halifax. And as The Coast’s Martin Bauman reports, it’s a story that Somers—born and raised in Cape Breton—has been waiting to tell for the past decade.

🗞️ In Other News

🔎 Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender is raising concerns about Nova Scotia Health’s accountability. She says an access-to-information request for the health authority’s business plan was met with a response that Nova Scotia Health was given the OK not to produce one.

🛳️ The 2,550-passenger MSC Poeisa marked the year’s first cruise ship arrival, when it berthed at the Halifax Seaport on Saturday. Last year’s cruise season brought 300,000 visitors to the HRM, according to the Port of Halifax.

🚊 Light rail could be coming to part of Nova Scotia, as the province spends $610K on a study of its feasibility in Cape Breton.

🪡 Create a better future with Crafter’s Resistance, part of Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Join the resistance at our next drop-in quilting session.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX BURGER BASH

Halifax Burger Bash

SAVE THE DATE The Coast’s 12th annual Halifax Burger Bash, presented with Garrison Brewing is April 11 - 20, 2024.

Restaurants will be serving up drool worthy burger specials supporting Feed Nova Scotia.

SPONSORED BY NORTH END BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Explore Public Art in North End Halifax

In North End Halifax, vibrant banners hang above Agricola and North Park Streets, each a canvas of community pride. Crafted by local artists, they depict tales of heritage, unity, and resilience.

Discover the Community Art Banners, and the artists behind them, with a self-guided public art tour through North End Halifax!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Red Like Fruit: Governor General Award-winning playwright Hannah Moscovitch’s newest work debuts at the Bus Stop Theatre. The play “interrogates the many contradictions and complexities of complicity, consent, patriarchy and traumatic memory in the post-#MeToo era.” | Until Apr. 21 | Showtimes vary | From $20

🗓 Imbibe: Head to the Light House Arts Centre on Wednesday, where you’ll find more than 20 of Nova Scotia’s top bartenders crafting their best cocktails with live music and snacks. | Apr. 10 | 7-9pm | $72.61

🗓 Matthew Good: The multi-platinum selling Burnaby rocker plays a show at the Bruce Guthro Theatre this Thursday. Tickets are sold out, but some resale tickets are available. | Apr. 11 | 7:30pm | $178.50

🗓 Ari Shaffir: After selling out his Thursday evening show, the New York stand-up comic and Skeptic Tank podcast host has added a second late-night show at the Light House Arts Centre. | Apr. 11 | 10pm | $35

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍔 Rinaldos on Dutch Village Road is whipping together a “Cheesy Pickle” burger for Burger Bash—with dill pickle cream cheese, cheddar sauce, onion jam, dill pickle chips, pickles and everything mayo—starting Thursday.

🍔 Portland Street’s Side Hustle Snack Bar is getting ready to unveil a “Spicy Chicken Noodle” burger, made with crispy chicken thigh, turmeric red curry sauce, citrus mayo, chili jam, crispy noodles and cilantro.

🍔 Green bun, anyone? Studio East is serving up a “Umami” burger for Burger Bash (starting Apr. 11), made with a pandan steam bun, caramelized miso onions, togarashi panko-crusted mozza, black garlic aioli, spyro slaw and chef’s shiitake oxtail sauce.

🍔 Pleasant Street’s Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie is about to premiere “The Candy Burger,” made with candied black peppercorn bacon, candied jalapeños, caramelized onions and house-made sauce on a toasted brioche bun.

👀 In Case You Missed It

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