🗞️ Knock, knock!

Good morning Halifax,

Well, it’s official. Oxford University Press has announced the word of the year and it’s … 🥁🥁🥁… brain rot. Which I must have really bad because I’m pretty sure that’s two words.

The term is defined as a deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state—especially as a result from overconsumption of material considered to be “trivial or unchallenging.” 

Incidentally, I just crawled out of a giant rabbit hole of conspiracy theory that suggests JonBenet Ramsay is actually Katy Perry, which is both stupid and offensive, but makes me uniquely qualified to talk about brain rot today.

According to its data, Oxford says the term increased in usage by 230% last year—noting brain rot gained “new prominence” for capturing concerns about the impact of people consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media.

The other word that was up for consideration was “demure”—made popular by TikTok user Jools Lebron in reference to her clothing and makeup choices—which means being mindful, cutesy and not doing too much. Literally, the dream.

You should also know (in case you’re a late adopter) that 2023’s word of the year—rizz—is now over and embarrassing, so don’t even bother.

Have a great day and enjoy!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌨️ -1°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 7°

Next Day: ☁️ -1°

7-day forecast

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

MUSIC

 Tim Baker brings Full Rainbow of Light tour to Halifax

Tim Baker wasn’t planning to write a Christmas album. It just kind of happened that way, he tells The Coast.

“I have a fair bit of free time around the holidays, and I like to sit at the piano and write,” the former Hey Rosetta! frontman says.

We’re glad he did. The 12-track Full Rainbow of Light—the St. John’s singer-songwriter’s first release since 2023’s Along the Mountain Road EP—arrived late November like a fresh layer of snow: Both familiar and, at the same time, refreshingly new. There are fiddles and organs. Uilleann pipes and glockenspiels. The mood swings from piano-backed love ballads (“It’s Tonight”) to foot-stomping holiday anthems (“Light the Light”).

Baker arrives in Halifax tomorrow as part of a month-long tour to promote the album. He spoke with The Coast’s Martin Bauman about tapping into the emotions of the season and the record he “never really set out” to write.

🤔 Need To Know

🗳️ There will be judicial recounts in two Nova Scotia ridings after last week’s provincial election—including the Yarmouth district narrowly lost by Liberal leader Zach Churchill.

🛍️ It's the season of shopping local! Need help? Find over 100 local gift ideas in the Downtown Halifax Holiday Gift Guide.*

💜 This Friday, Dec 6 marks the 30th annual National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women and is also the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre—activist groups are holding events across the city Friday in remembrance of the 14 women who were killed that day.

🖼️ Shop local this holiday season at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s Gallery Shop. All proceeds directly support AGNS exhibitions, programs and community initiatives.*

🥬 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for Taylor Farms’ Sweet Kale Chopped Kit due to potential salmonella contamination.

🎄 Visit Spring Garden Road on Friday, December 6 from 1-9pm for a Holiday Market hosted by Neighbourly Markets.*

⛺ A motion to remove Halifax’s controversial designated locations list for homeless encampments was narrowly defeated in council chambers on Tuesday after a heated debate—newly elected mayor Andy Fillmore brought forward the motion on Nov 12.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY ROCK THE HARBOUR

Rock the Harbour returns in 2025!

Downtown Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing is gearing up for the third annual Rock the Harbour—Atlantic Canada’s premier outdoor classic rock festival. Known for bringing legendary acts like Tom Cochrane, Lee Aaron and Nazareth to the stage, this event has become a must-attend for music fans across the region. With harbourside sunsets, electric performances and a crowd united by their love of timeless rock, Rock the Harbour promises another unforgettable weekend of music and memories. Fans can expect a lineup announcement in the coming weeks. Give the gift of ROCK this holiday season. 🎅🎸 Ticket details coming soon!

ARTS + CULTURE

Knock Knock art show celebrates the handmade

Get to the Anna Leonowens Gallery on Granville Street to catch a group exhibition from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design students. Knock Knock is a collective show of the work of all 22 students in the Masters of Fine Arts program at NSCAD, and it’s on now until Dec 14 in all three galleries of the Anna. 

This show, a survey of the artists and works being made within the two-year MFA program, happens around this time every year. Kate Walchuk is the exhibitions coordinator of the Anna Leonowens Gallery Systems and has helped with several MFA group shows over the years.

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips spoke with Walchuck about the wide range of art forms represented at the group exhibition.

🗞️ In Other News

🚒 John Cunningham—the executive director of the embattled Nova Scotia Firefighters School—is rejecting calls for his resignation from his peers and the family of a firefighter who died at the training facility in Waverley five years ago.

⚡ Nova Scotia Power customers will see rates go up next year by about 1.4% to pay for the utility's cost of dealing with storms in 2023, after getting the green light to charge ratepayers $24M starting in January through a mechanism called the storm cost-recovery rider.

🏥 A Halifax women is frustrated after waiting more than three years for an MRI that showed a benign brain tumour—and she's worried others are suffering because of an inefficient system.

🍾 For the second financial quarter in a row, alcohol and cannabis sales are up at the NSLC—sales totals increased 1.5% from July 1 to Sep 29, reaching $245.8M.

🎅🏻 Canada Post says it has removed the deadline for its Santa Claus letter program amid an ongoing national workers' strike—it says once operations resume, it will ensure that all letters make it to the North Pole and receive a reply, but it cannot guarantee delivery dates.

💙 Former residents and descendants of Africville in Halifax are finally receiving global recognition for their significant contribution to Canadian history—Africville has become Canada’s first UNESCO Place of History and Memory linked to enslavement and the slave trade.

🥀 A support agency for homeless people is holding a memorial service on Dec 11 for a man found dead last week at the site of an ice fishing tent where he lived in Windsor.

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

Neptune Theatre invites you to Experience the Extraordinary

From magnificent musicals and lively comedies, to timeless classics and modern masterpieces, experience stories that are witty, moving and captivating.

Save up to 15% off with a Pick 3 or a Pick 5 pack.

• Disney's Frozen

• Controlled Damage

• The New Canadian Curling Club

• Casey & Diana

• Little Shop of Horrors

Book today.

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Chantal Baudouin, Les Nœuds de Gustav

Les Nœuds de Gustav is a multidisciplinary work where dance is finely interwoven with music, narrative and interactive scenography.

The dance solo follows the character Abbacus, who tries to build, rebuild and construct themselves, navigating through doubt and adversity.  

December 6 & 7, Sir James Dunn Theatre, 8pm.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 3-Bean Salad—The Music Room Chamber Players Series: Ingredients: super-creative composer and violinist Matthias McIntire; Symphony Nova Scotia principal violist Carolyn Farnand; and multi-faceted cellist India Gailey. Method: mix, in various combinations. Result: Fresh, locally grown performances! | Dec 4 | 7:30pm | $35

🗓 Annual Hydrostone Tree Lighting: Don’t miss this highly anticipated annual community tree lighting event! There will be free treats, entertainment, tickets on sale for an amazing neighbourhood donated gift basket and, of course, a visit from Santa! Come cheer on the season. | Dec 6 | 6:30pm

🗓 South End Vintage Market: Whether you are a student in need of a well-deserved study break or a Haligonian looking to support local small businesses this holiday season, our Festive Market has something for everyone. Come explore 40+ unique vendors, featuring everything from vintage clothing and accessories to home goods, collectibles and stunning handmade crafts. | Dec 7 | 10am | $2

🗓 TD Dartmouth Christmas Tree Lighting: Come on down to Sullivan’s Pond for the big tree lighting event and celebrate with live performances, treats, a chance to visit Santa and more. | Dec 7 | 4:30pm | 

🗓Snow Folk Shuffle Holiday 5K Fun Run: This fun run combines the magic of the Holidays with community spirit and getting active. Join in the fun and festivities, running, walking or rolling to spread joy all while raising funds to support FEED Nova Scotia. | Dec 7 | 10am | $25

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The One Hawk container ship leaves Halifax for Singapore at 2:30am.

➡️ The Volga Maersk container ship leaves Halifax for Bremerhaven at 3:30am.

➡️ The Box Endurance container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston at 3:30am.

🛳️➡️ The Tannhauser vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Zeebrugge at 5:55am and leaves for New York at 8pm.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 10:20am and leaves for New York at 9pm.

🛳️➡️ The One Millau container ship arrives in Halifax from Singapore at 5:45am and leaves for New York at 11:45pm.

🛳️ The MSC Veracruz container ship arrives in Halifax from Le Havre at 4:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍺🇮🇹 2 Crows 2 Italy! On Dec 5, 2 Crows Brewing Co is hosting a 4-course, made-from-scratch, Italian dining experience at the taproom. There will be pasta, a focaccia flight, tiramisu and other delicious dishes, paired with a complimentary glass of Italian wine or a pint of their crisp Italian pilsner.

🐟 A little bite of flaky heaven is the Salmon Wellington at Water Polo: red wine gastrique, flaky pastry and perfectly cooked salmon.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏆 Make that seven Best of Halifax Gold Awards for Spring Garden Road’s Bookmark. Bookmark’s victory—its first Gold since 2016—is just one of the many stories you’ll find in this year’s crop of BOH winners, which saw titles defended (Cedric Dechamp, Malyssa Burns and Demetrius Ferguson each picked up their third straight Gold Awards, for Best Barber, Best Hairstylist and Best Fitness Instructor, respectively), dominant reigns continue (a sixth-straight Gold in Best Clothing Store for Sweet Pea Boutique) and new winners emerge (a first Gold for Lucky Cat Barbershop). The Coast’s Martin Bauman has you covered with all the Shopping + Services winners. 

🎤 Ten-time Juno winner Avril Lavigne is coming to the Scotiabank Centre in the New Year. Twenty-two years after the Napanee, Ont. singer broke onto the radio airwaves with “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi,” Lavigne has announced she’ll be extending her “Greatest Hits” tour into 2025, with a pair of dates in Moncton and Halifax. The Coast has all the details—including when tickets are available.

⚖️ A Nova Scotia lawyer has lost his appeal of a suspension following an alleged courtroom struggle earlier this year that saw him restrained by deputy sheriffs.

That’s it!

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