🗞️ Life is a dive bar

Good morning Halifax,

Have you heard the saying “don’t meet your idols?” It actually derives from a French saying, which translates to “don't touch your idols: a little gold always rubs off.” 

The idea is that you don’t want to meet the people you look up to most because they will ultimately let you down—don’t even get me started on the time Scottie Pippen refused to sign my teeny Chicago Bulls hat in the early 90s. It still stings.

But that certainly wasn’t the case for this Halifax woman who got to hang out with one of hers. After seeing the great Scottish actor Alan Cumming perform his cabaret show “Och & Oy!” with Ari Shapiro, she decided to slide into his DMs and invite him to come hang out at Charlie’s Bar in the north end.

And then…he did! 

He walked into the bar, told her that he saw her message and thanked her. Then he and Shapiro sang songs, played pool, drank and even took photos at the end of the night. This is a truly iconic Halifax cameo. Almost as good as the time I saw Fergie being carried out of The Palace by security in short shorts.

We all know Cumming from the kinky and crazy revival of the Broadway musical Cabaret, but true stans will remember him as the quirky documentary producer in Spice World—one of the great films of the 20th century.

Have a wonderful day!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 4°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 7°

Next Day: ☁️ 0°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS + OPINION

Uniting for Action: Preventing Gender-Based Violence in Nova Scotia

We are in the midst of an emergency.

The second annual Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Summit, hosted by the Leeside Society and Be the Peace Institute, sold out in record time—because people know we are at a breaking point. But selling out a summit is not a victory. The real measure of progress is lives saved, harm prevented, and systems changed. And right now, we are failing.

In September, the province officially declared intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic through Bill 482. Yet since that declaration, seven women in Nova Scotia have been killed by their intimate partners. Seven lives stolen. Families shattered. Communities grieving. The structures that allow this violence to continue remain intact, and for marginalized communities, the risks are even greater.

This is not a future problem—it is a crisis happening now. We can no longer wait.

Gender-based violence advocate and activist Liz LeClair has more on the crisis, the summit and what you can do to help.

🤔 Need To Know

🎁 Halifax police made sure a suspicious package in the area of Grand Parade this morning was not a risk to the public, but it was meant to be a threat—officials say in the package was a “hoax improvised explosive device.”

🏳️‍🌈 Nova Scotia’s education minister said Tuesday he will make it clear to schools on the province’s South Shore that they are expected to resume flying flags representing diverse communities.

🏛️ With the Nova Scotia legislature adjourning yesterday, a political scientist says the winter sitting was marked by government moves aimed at increasing cabinet’s authority and shrinking the legislature’s ability to provide oversight.

🌔 Don't forget to apply! Nocturne’s annual call for submissions for Beacon and Low Sensory projects closes on April 7th!*

🍔 CALLING ALL BURGER FANS - Lets patty April 3 - 12.*

🎻 Cecilia Concerts presents Canadian Concertmasters: Four top violinists from Toronto, Montréal, Edmonton, and Calgary symphonies unite onstage, blending expertise and passion in a captivating performance. March 29 | 7:30pm | $18-$42.*

🍺 Friday After-Work Tip – Sitting in traffic or $4.50 draught and half-price apps with your crew? Easy call. See you at The Pint, 4-6pm.*

*Sponsored Post

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NEWS

Calling all Black writers in Nova Scotia

There’s a new mentorship program for writers and it’s accepting submissions until April 8.

If you’re an emerging Black writer in Nova Scotia working on a project but aren’t sure how to publish it, or want to talk to writers who have been there and get advice on what comes next, then the Ink Collective is likely for you. 

With bi-monthly sessions from spring until fall, the program aims to uplift Black writers through workshops that will build community, develop writing techniques and create pathways to publishing opportunities in all forms. 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips sat down with award-winning author and Ink Collective creator, Andre Fenton, to talk through the program’s details and why mentorship is so important in writing.

🗞️ In Other News

👀 Nova Scotia’s police watchdog says it will not lay charges against a Halifax Regional Police officer after a man was injured during an arrest in Dartmouth last year.

🎵 The East Coast Music Association says it now has an action plan—two weeks after its awards show frontrunner, Jeremy Dutcher, dropped all eight of his nominations amid growing calls for transparency from the non-profit.

☑️ Nova Scotia premier says he won’t be actively campaigning for any of the federal party leaders during the election campaign, but says MLAs are free to campaign if they choose to.

🩺 The Health Support Council of Unions has filed for conciliation, saying negotiations for workers at the IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health have hit a brick wall—the union represents about 4,600 health support workers in Nova Scotia.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Beethoven & Daniel Bolshoy's Guitar: Daniel Bolshoy returns to join forces with Symphony Nova Scotia for two virtuoso guitar showpieces. An Israeli-Canadian guitarist and educator, he has performed as a soloist with more than 60 orchestras internationally. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 is a delightful departure from his early works, with its cheerful and energetic mood that is sure to lift your spirits. Its four movements offer a diverse range of melodies and rhythms to keep you engaged and entertained while pulling at your heartstrings. | March 27 | 7:30pm | From $31 |

🗓 What's Up! Improv Show: What's Up! will pitch their next great film—without a script, without limits, and with absolutely no idea what’s coming next! Each film pitch is completely made up on the spot, with outrageous plots, and scenes that could only exist in the realm of improv. | March 27 | 7:30pm | $15 |

🗓 Health and Wellness Expo: This fabulous mini market will showcase 20 incredible local health and wellness businesses, all focused on promoting self-care, relaxation, and overall well-being. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. | March 29-30 | Free |

🗓 The Curio Collective Spring Vintage Show: Join over 30 of the region’s top vintage & antiques sellers at the Spring Vintage Show, this time in downtown Dartmouth. The space will be packed with highly curated vintage and antiques from some of the best dealers from across the Maritimes and you can expect to see everything from clothing, decor, jewelry, housewares, vinyl, collectibles, lighting and streetwear. | March 29-30 | 10:00am | $5 |

🗓 Julie Kim Doing Too Much Tour: Over the past decade, Julie has performed at all the major Canadian comedy festivals including Just for Laughs Vancouver, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and Halifax Comedy Festival. She tours internationally and made her debut at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Julie has also been regularly featured on CBC’s The Debaters. | March 29 | 7:00pm | $44.50 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The One Eagle container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3am.

🚢➡️ The Vivienne Sheri D container ship arrives in Halifax from Partland, ME at 8:15am and leaves for Argentia at 4pm.

🚢 The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 8:15am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Sydney at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦪 The Pan Seared Scallops at The Canteen is always a crowd pleaser: seared scallops, risotto pearl of couscous, feta, herbs, romesco sauce, toasted almonds, wilted spinach. 

🥓 The croissant of the week at Two If By Sea is Maple Bacon: cinnamon sugar croissant, maple glaze, candied bacon, with even more bacon tucked inside.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💕 Spring has sprung and romance is in the air, which means you’re probably searching for the perfect date ideas. Look no further. Figuring out what the best things to do, eat and see in Halifax is easy! We have taken the guess work out of it with our annual Best of Halifax readers choice awards. So we’re using that intel to put together a date day itinerary that is sure to be a hit. Let Halifax be the third wheel on your budding romance. Read on for the perfect itinerary to sweep anyone off their feet all based on our Best of Halifax winners. 

🌞 Look (safely) to the east this Saturday at sunrise for a sight that captured hearts and minds last April: a partial solar eclipse. Yes, the celestial bodies are at it again. Just as the sun is rising on Saturday, March 29, the moon will pass between the sun and earth, turning the sun into a tiny glowing crescent shape that will grow into a larger crescent as the moon moves across it. The Coast’s Lauren Phillips spoke with Tiffany Fields, the technician at the Burke Gaffney Observatory at Saint Mary’s University, about what to expect and how to gaze safely.

✏️ Editor’s Note

There will no daily newsletter this Friday, March 28. Coast INSIDERS, you will see your newsletter on Saturday, March 30 as usual.

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