Happy Friday Halifax!

You know, sometimes I stumble upon a study that makes me giggle because people actually spent time and money on it. I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that today is one of those days.

According to a revolutionary new study published by my dream future employer—The Journal of Leisure Research—doing spontaneous little things that you enjoy everyday will make you feel better.

I know, right?! A new study out of Dalhousie shows that taking even a brief moment in your everyday life to do something enjoyable can be beneficial—and we can reap those rewards by intentionally doing those things more often.

To be clear, moments of leisure are not organized activities like playing in a chess tournament, going to Cross Fit (for you Todd) or day drinking. Rather, they can occur spontaneously anywhere and at any time—walking along a street, riding the bus or even just sitting around in your own backyard.

Participants spoke of watching the sunrise, blowing dandelion fluffs, taking photos, playing with a Rubik’s cube, making a coffee or chatting briefly with a co-worker. These moments gave them a sense of joy, accomplishment, connection to nature or people, or the pure sensory pleasure of things like feeling the sun on their skin or savouring a piece of chocolate.

Blowing dandelion fluffs sounds fun…for my 10-month-old. But I do enjoy taking a moment to pat my cat Marley backwards so that her hair stands up like quills in manner of porcupine 🦔. That’s a spontaneous moment of leisure I think? You now what else is more fun than I remember? Bubbles.They still slap.

Here’s where it gets confusing to me: they suggest that you prepare yourself for these moments of spontaneous leisure. You read that correctly. As an example: pack your pockets full of nuts in case you stumble upon a squirrel. I did not make that up.

Have an amazing weekend and make sure to schedule some spontaneous leisure. Watch a crab move sideways or something. That always makes me smile.

Love, light and leisure! 🦀

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: 🌤️ 32°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 29°

Next Day: 🌦️ 28°

7-day forecast

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

🛴 Nova Scotia's Public Works Minister Fred Tilley says the province plans to ban children under 14 from riding electric scooters and bikes this fall—the age restriction is part of a slate of changes that will be made to the province's Traffic Safety Act.

⛽ Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said there are other things that keep him up at night—but giving a second extensions for a major oil and gas company to pay its financial deposit isn’t one of them.

🏥 A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road in Dartmouth on Wednesday—it happened around 3:25pm in the 20-30 block of Nantucket Avenue.

🧚‍♂️ Adventures Fairies – August 16, 10am (FREE): Five young fairies on an acrobatic adventure of, friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery through aerial silks, and magical quests.*

🌳 Comfort Tree – August 16, 2pm: An immersive journey featuring dance, puppetry, and painting, inviting families into a magical forest of connection, comfort, and imagination.*

🚙 Dinner. Drinks. Maybe a few more stops. Lyft gets you wherever you’re going, and you’ll get 50% off your first five rides. Max $10 off per ride. Terms apply. Sign up.*

🏡 Seniors and their families are thinking ahead about a home’s long-term fit for aging in place. This free screening guide helps with the process.*

*Sponsored Post

🌙 North by Night Market 🌙

Come by August, from 7-10pm at The Local's back patio (2037 Gottingen Street) for an evening of local shopping, music, and community.

Browse a variety of vendors featuring handmade goods, art, vintage finds, and unique creations from local makers. Enjoy the lively atmosphere, connect with neighbours, and discover something new as the patio comes alive after dark.

Whether you're looking for a special find or simply a fun night out, North by Night Market is the perfect place to spend a summer evening. Hope to see you there!

For Amir Rajaei and Samira Danesh, art has always been more than a career. It is something that has shaped their relationship, their family and, now, their life in Canada.

The Iranian-born couple are both artists and designers with their own creative practices and businesses. Yet, their work often intersects, with each challenging, supporting and collaborating with the other.

The couple’s story is part of a broader picture of immigration and the arts in Canada.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva chats with Rajaei and Danesh about their respective mediums and where their creative interest intersect.

🤫 Municipal workers in Halifax have removed an unauthorized sign that asked those visiting a local park to make sure their children “use their indoor voices.”

⚖️ Nova Scotia’s justice minister says the province will investigate the circumstances that led to Brandon Klayme spending 18 months in jail for crimes he didn’t commit.

📄 An independent report released on Thursday finds Nova Scotia is "far behind" on a number of timelines included in its remedy plan to support people with disabilities.

🐳 Staff at the federal Fisheries Department are worried the United States government is about to adopt legislation jeopardizing the survival of the North Atlantic right whale—according to an internal government memo.

⚖️ A suspended Nova Scotia RCMP officer has been found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault—Const. William McNutt was charged in December 2024 with sexual assault in connection with an incident in July 2019.

🇨🇦 Canada’s top trade officials are headed back to the negotiating table Thursday—a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extolled his tariff regime and lobbed insults at Canada, calling Canada “nasty”.

Opening this September, Nelson Residences features 78 brand-new studio to three-bedroom apartments at Spring Garden Road and South Park Street.🪻

Experience contemporary living with premium amenities in Halifax's most connected neighbourhood.

Contact Kuldeep today to book your tour or learn more: 📞 (902) 801-3557

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

🗓 Maritime Jazz Collective - Big Band debut show: This collective will unleash a 17-piece jazz orchestra for the first time. It’s a killer lineup, playing heavy hitting jazz from Thad Jones, Rob McConnell, Phil Nimmons, Buddy Rich, Carla Bley, and more. | Aug 8 | 7:30pm | $20 or pwyc | 

🗓 Northern Lights Lantern Festival: Connect with friends old and new for a fun, free event with the whole family.The festival is a celebration of the vibrancy and diversity of Halifax’s North End. It’s a community festival in the truest sense where everyone is welcome. | Aug 8 | 5pm | FREE | 

🗓 Wings & Wheels: Check out the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and experience an event that includes an Antique Car Show, games for kids of all ages, a BBQ, cotton candy, an open-house for our Boeing 737 Flight Simulator, and a raffle. | Aug 8 | 10am | $10 or donation |

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

➡️ The Atlantic Sea container vessel departed Halifax for Liverpool at 1:30am.

🚢➡️ The ZIM Iberia container vessel arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 5:20am and departs for New York at 6pm.

➡️ The Algoscotia tanker departs Halifax for Sydney (Cape Breton) at 7am.

➡️ The Algoma East Coast tanker departs Halifax for Saint John at 7am.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 5pm.

🚢 The Slotergracht general cargo vessel arrives in Halifax from Belfast at 12:30pm.

➡️ The Morning Lynn vehicle carrier departs Halifax for Ulsan at 3:30pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container vessel departs Halifax for Argentia at 4:30pm.

➡️ Th Ardmore Cherokee tanker departs Halifax for the United States at 5pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🍺 Gluten, meet your maker. Good Robot has gluten-reduced beers on tap and in-store at Robie, Commons, and Elmsdale. Full list here.

🐐 Sip, savour, and support! Enjoy our August food and drink features at The Stubborn Goat while helping make a difference for the IWK.*

🌅 Skip the line and head straight to the flavour. Order Salt + Sol online, pick up your favourites, and enjoy them on the Halifax waterfront.

*sponsored

🫐 If you talk to most Nova Scotians about our food and drink superstars, products such as crab, scallops, lobster, salmon, apples and wine naturally get mentioned. Then there is the wild blueberry. It is our official provincial berry and one of our most important agricultural exports. Consider that the wild blueberry industry contributes an estimated $150 million annually to Nova Scotia’s economy. The Coast’s Mark DeWolf has more on the agricultural star we don’t talk about nearly enough—the blueberry.

🏗️ Plans for a nearly 12-hectare development in Halifax were released Wednesday during a public engagement session—two developers have submitted proposals for up to 4,615 new residential units, as well as commercial and office spaces on an area between Windsor, Young, Robie and Almon streets.

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: