Happy Friday, folks!

Yesterday, I asked you whether you would go to see The Black Keys of Styx this October. Both heavy-hitting acts will be playing the Scotiabank Centre, and while I personally know what my pick would be, I was very curious to see what you all had to say.

As of writing—Thursday at noon—50 percent of you have voted for The Black Keys, while 41 percent of you said you were going to see Styx. Nine percent of you chose the super not-so-secret third option: both.

While I do like The Black Keys and can play a total of one of their songs on guitar (“Weight of Love”), I have a history with Styx that is incomparable to nearly any other band out there.

In high school, my silly nerd friends and I were half-ironically listening to Styx, mainly because we found a vinyl copy of Kilroy Was Here in my buddy’s shed. I don’t like that album, but we really liked to rag on it. We also listened to some of Styx’s greatest hits: “Come Sail Away”, “Grand Illusion”, the good stuff, and gained an appreciation for the band’s output.

This culminated in us bringing up Styx wherever we could. Not really out of fandom, but as a stupid in-joke pun that never made any sense. Someone lost their drumsticks and vocalized their plight? One of us would yell, “Dude, Styx?” from across the room. It was funny to no one but us, but we still crack the joke to this day.

So while I would also choose Styx for silly nostalgia reasons, it’s great to see both of these legendary acts coming to Halifax.

Maybe get your loved one a set of tickets for Valentine’s Day?

Best,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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

The Early Stages Theatre Festival is happening this weekend at the Eastern Front Theatre in Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing, featuring a double-hitter of events to start Valentine’s Day off right.

Feb. 13 marks Galentine’s Day at the theatre with a screening of the modern classic 10 Things I Hate About You, featuring a special musical performance. Bring your Valentine, a pal, or treat yourself to a film with popcorn and snacks.

Valentine’s Day will feature a special performance: Resurrected Hearts, featuring Dartmouth songbird Stewart Legere, Halifax producer and MC Waants and some very special guests. Watch as they revisit iconic songs re-popularized by film and TV, as well as a few TikTok hits in an intimate candlelight cabaret at Alderney Landing.

This is all nestled within the Early Stages Theatre Festival, which features behind-the-scenes looks at what Halifax’s theatre community is working on, including live workshops of four works-in-progress: Irrelevant by Alison Crosby (held on Thursday), Shapeville VR Lounge by SiNS & suddenlyLISTEN (Saturday), How to Knit by Lee-Anne Poole (Saturday), and The Holy Ones by Probably Theatre Collective (Sunday).

For more on ticket pricing on schedules, check out the Early Stages Theatre Festival website.

✈️ A Porter Airlines plane slid off the tarmac as it landed at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Wednesday evening—passengers on the flight coming from Toronto had to spend an extra two-and-a-half hours on the plane, but there were no reported injuries.

🚒 No charges are being laid in the case of a firetruck colliding and killing an injured snowmobiler in Cumberland County last February—the driver, chief Jerrold Cotton, was discharged after the incident and banned from the fire department.

🗎 Nova Scotia Health is adjusting its rollout of the One Person One Record project following lessons learned from its debut at the IWK Health Centre—the president of the NSGEU, who represents administrative professionals, says the project has had a “rocky start.”

🐢 Join the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to experience Welcome to Turtle Island, a new artistic installation reimagining Canada, created by Tribal Fusion.*

🦕 Before extinction, dinosaurs fought to survive! Dinosaur Exploration 2 is a sequel to the hit 2024 exhibit, featuring some of your favourite dinosaurs.*

*Sponsored Post

World Nutella Month is in full swing at the Italian Market. For each Nutella Latte or Hot Chocolate receive a free mini jar of Nutella.  Indulge in Nutella treats including Cheesecake, Panna Cotta, Chocolate Torte and Tiramisu! Check out our social media platforms for a chance to win Nutella swag!

🚌 A school bus driver has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after the bus crashed in a ditch earlier this month with children on board near Digby—the 62-year-old man has been released from custody and will appear in provincial court on April 13.

🌊 A project to use crushed limestone in rivers to capture carbon dioxide is working as intended—this makes the Nova Scotian-based company CarbonRun the first in the world to earn carbon credits for what’s called “river liming.”

🔫 A youth was arrested for armed robbery after allegedly brandishing an imitation handgun on a Halifax Transit bus, says police—the youth is being charged with robbery, possession of a firearm contrary to order, and failure to comply with a release order, amongst others.

This unique, multi-media experience asks you what would it take for you to join a cult?

Queer, enticingly playful and unapologetically bold, 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮 is a multimedia solo show that explores the complex interplay of desire and deception, complicity and choice.

On stage until February 15 Tickets on Sale Now.

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

🗓 Jeremy Vaughan Ocean Island River Forest: Nova Scotia’s Jeremy Vaughan presents his new collection of work at the Prow Gallery. | Jan. 22-Feb. 13 |

🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents Brad Doiron and Albert Coombes: It’s a double headliner in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Newfoundland’s Albert Coombes and the always hilarious Brad Doiron take the stage, with host Jon Pickett. | Feb. 13-14 | 8PM | $25+|

🗓 Sackville Snow Days: Returning for its 12th year, this weekend-long event features 20 events across Sackville, including skating, swimming, fireworks, and bouncy castles. | Feb. 13-16 |

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads: Watch as the hometown heroes take on the Moncton Wildcats at the Scotiabank Centre | Feb. 13 | 7PM | $29.25 |

🗓 Skate for Shelter: A fundraising event for the Emergency Shelter Project. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, borrow a helmet and some skates, and have some fun for a good cause. Taking place at the Emera Oval. | Feb. 14 | 1PM |

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds: Watch as the hometown heroes take on the Buffalo Bandits at the Scotiabank Centre | Feb. 14 | 7:30PM | $31.75 |

🗓 Woodside Tavern Comedy Night: Valentine’s Day Edition: Come have a giggle with headliner and local comedy legend Steve Mackie. Featuring Chris Halef, Kyle Carpenter, and Roslyn Kennery. Hosted by Stu Anthony. | Feb. 14 | 8PM | $15 |

🗓 Helios Vocal Ensemble presents Sweet Flames: An afternoon of passionate songs from the Renaissance all the way to the 20th century, from England, France, Italy and Spain. Held at the St. George’s Round Church. | Feb. 15 | 2PM | $20 suggested donation |

🗓 The Snow Queen Ballet: Student dancers and musicians from the Maritime Conservatory present this family-friendly ballet performance based on the 1844 Hans Christian Anderson story. | Feb. 15 | 1PM & 4PM | $17+|

🗓 Taste Asia Lunar Edition: A culturally-centered celebration rooted in the Lunar calendar. Experience food, art, performances and storytelling at the Halifax Brewery Market. | Feb. 15 | 11AM |

🗓 Dine Around 2026: All of February, stop into specific restaurants across the province for special prix fixe menus for every taste and every budget. | Feb. 1-28 |

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

🚢➡️ The CMA CGM Innovation container vessel arrives in Halifax from Algeciras at 5:15am and departs for New York at 4pm.

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

🚢 The Algoscotia tanker arrives in Halifax from Corner Brook at 6:15am.

🚢➡️ The MSC Santhya container vessel arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am and departs for Malaga at 5pm.

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

🚢➡️ The EF Ava container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 1:15pm and departs for Reykjavik at 7pm.

🚢➡️ The Algoma Acadian tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 9:10pm.

🍗 Chain Yard Cider has a gluten-free special on for Dine Around! For $40, get a three-course meal including your choice of Cajun calamari with creole mustard aioli or Brother’s sausage and bell pepper hush puppies with Cajun tarter. The main course is a crispy Cajun fried chicken sandwich with Cajun remoulade, sautéed shrimp salad, jalapeño havarti, lettuce, and tomato on a cornbread waffle. Served with fries.

🍪 Maria’s Pantry has some freshly baked amaretti cookies ready for purchase. Eat them as is or dunk them in your favourite hot drink.

🎵 A double whammy of concert announcements have been made over the past couple days, with GRAMMY-award winning duo The Black Keys and the legendary seven-piece rock band Styx taking on the Scotiabank Centre in the same month.Getting ready to release their upcoming album Peaches! on May 1, The Black Keys will be stopping into Halifax on Oct. 14 for the Peaches ‘N Kream World Tour, supported by Jeremie Albino. Their new single, “You Got To Lose,” is out now.Styx is hot off the release of their 18th studio album, 2025’s Circling From Above, and is also taking a tour stop in Halifax on Oct. 21. Fans can expect new tracks along with all of the bands’ greatest hits, including “Come Sail Away.”

⚖️ Three former children who were under the province’s care at the Wood Street Centre in Truro are suing the Nova Scotia government for what they’re calling “segregation-like conditions”—this includes allegations of putting youth in a what’s called a “therapeutic quiet room” for talking back or having private conversations with other youth.

🚨 A woman was found dead in a tent on Barrington Street early Wednesday morning—police continue to investigate while the provincial medical examiner conducts an autopsy.

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