The original Ray’s Lebanese restaurant is closing after 42 years

FALAFEL KING

The original Ray’s Lebanese restaurant is closing after 42 years

Beyond the glass door that leads into Ray’s Lebanese in Dartmouth’s Burnside neighbourhood, restaurant owner Raymond Khattar is bent into a plastic-backed chair and thinking about all the years that came before, along with what still lies ahead. After 42 years of serving Haligonians his signature falafel wraps—a run that cemented the 64-year-old Khattar as Halifax’s “falafel king”—he’s less than a week away from the end: On May 31, he’ll don his black button-up shirt one last time and open that door to his customers for a farewell.

Read Martin Bauman’s interview with Khattar at The Coast.

Need to know

☀️ Today's weather: Cloudy with a high of 14C, a low of 5C and a 30% chance of showers overnight. A UV index of 7.

🚧 Upcoming road closures:

• Watt Street from Walnut to Lemarchant Streets will be closed today between 10am and 1pm.

• Duke Street from Hollis to Granville Streets and from Granville to Barrington Streets will be closed May 27 from 8am-5pm.

• Granville Street from Sackville to Prince Streets and Prince Street from Hollis to Barrington Streets will be closed starting May 28 at 7am until May 29 at 4pm.

🌀 America’s National Hurricane Centre has released the outlook for the Atlantic’s upcoming hurricane season. Find out what they had to say here.

🌁 The MacKay Bridge will be closed this Saturday and Sunday between 7:30 am and 7:30pm.

⚠️ Scam alert! Halifax Regional Police is warning of a group of men who are reportedly knocking on the homes of residents and offering repair work. They are requiring deposits but then are not returning to finish the job. Read more here.

🎭 Let’s Dance! The Musical is a fun rock and roll musical for the whole family. Coming to Neptune Theatre Jul. 27-30, get your tickets now!*

💉 The province has opened eligibility for more Nova Scotians to receive the meningococcal B vaccine. Find out who’s eligible here.

🌲 Artists in Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s latest exhibition Arctic/Amazon embody resistance, resurgence, and ways of knowing and relation to the lands that inspire their creativity.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY MAYWORKS KJIPUKTUK/HALIFAX

Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax Festival of Working People in the Arts celebrating 15 years

It’s time to get physical with this year’s programming centered around movement, the body, and dance. In a year with historic wins for unions, and ongoing strikes, there’s never been a better chance to engage with the labour movement at the ground level. Mayworks is all about the intersection of art and the labour movement and art making as a form of labour.

There’s always something for everyone at Mayworks—this year bringing to Kjipuktuk/Halifax workshops, community art, film screenings, historic walking tours, performance art, and more, presented in partnership with nearly a dozen local arts organizations.

For a full list of events, ticket links, and more, visit MayworksKjipuktukHFX.ca

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY SCOTIA FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Scotia Festival of Music 2023 kicks off May 29

Scotia Festival of Music is a legendary showcase for world-class musicians from across North America, with diverse, engaging, and innovative programming. Two action-packed weeks of chamber music await audiences, with daily mainstage concerts running from May 29 until Jun. 11 in the stunning new Joseph Strug Concert Hall at Dalhousie University.

Click here to get your tickets today!

In other news

🍒 Some Nova Scotia fruit crops are feeling the chill of the polar vortex that hit the province earlier this year and aren’t growing. Andrew Bishop of Noggins Farm spoke to CTV about what this means for local produce.

💸 A new Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report found that among the G7 countries Canada has the highest household debt. 75% of that debt? Mortgages.

⛪️ Despite vigorous fundraising efforts to save the historic St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church, the campaign is falling short of the cost needed to purchase and repair the building.

💳 Following the news that the government will be lowering interchange fees for businesses when a customer uses a credit card to pay, CBC uncovers what small businesses in Nova Scotia think of the change.

🩺 The government has announced it’s piloting a program that will financially assist lower-income patients who need to travel within Nova Scotia for medical procedures.

🚨 A youth is facing robbery charges after stealing electronics during a Marketplace exchange in Dartmouth.

🦞 CBC explores how Chinese businesses being large consumers of live lobster can impact the industry.

🧑‍⚖️ An employee of Nova Scotia Sheriff Services is facing charges after revealing personal information about the teen accused of the stabbing that took place at Charles P. Allen High back in March.

COURT DATE

Police, protestor clash at trial over events of August 2021 shelter evictions

In the days, weeks and months to come, Nova Scotia’s provincial courts have a weighty decision to make. At issue: What to make of Halifax’s peninsula-wide encampment evictions on Aug. 18, 2021 that sparked violent police clashes with protestors, ended in mass arrests and brought tempers in a city facing a severe housing crisis to a boil. On Thursday, May 25, that dilemma resurfaced in the Spring Garden Road courthouse—one sprinkled with supporters of the 24 demonstrators Halifax Regional Police arrested that August day. Provincial court judge Kelly Serbu heard the opening testimonies in the second of four criminal trials stemming from those arrests.

Read The Coast’s coverage of the trial here. 

Sure things

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

🗓 Pre-happy Hour Yoga: Every second Tuesday starting June 6 The Brasserie will be offering a rooftop yoga class taught by Shannon Lee for people of all levels. The fee will include the class and a happy hour beverage of your choice. Remember to bring your yoga mat! | June 6 onward | 2:30pm-3:30pm | $20.

🗓 Community meal & Seedling Sale: Common Roots Urban Farm is having its first community meal of the season at Common Roots BiHi as well as a seedling sale run by Veith House Urban Farm | May 31 | 4pm-8pm | Free.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

Shop talk

🎉 2 Doors Down Halifax is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new lunch and dinner menu that will focus on ingredients grown or made in Nova Scotia.

🍻 Have you heard? Good Robot is opening a new beer garden next to the Halifax Common.

Eat this

🍳 Looking for a new favourite brunch dish? Try Almonak’s featured Ham and Swiss Frittata–ham, swiss cheese, creme fraîche, chives–served with a side of salad.

🍗 Try CHKNCHOP’s special of the week, The Shawarma, on its newly opened patio. Available until May 27.

🍓 The dairy bar has a new featured ice cream available this weekend, the Pinkalicious sundae: strawberry soft serve and sprinkle shortbread topped with strawberry sauce.

Read this

📸 Darren Calabrese’s new Atlantic Canada photography book, Leaving Good Things Behind, is on sale now at the King’s Co-op Bookstore or online here.

Save the date

⭐️ The first North by Night Market is happening on June 9 from 7-10pm at The Local (2037 Gottingen Street).

Deals

🚲 Hey bike community! Long Alley Bike is having major spring sales on bikes and accessories until June 10.

Have a local special we should feature? Reply back and let us know!