🗞️ Summer weekend round-up

Happy Friday Halifax,

Guys, we gotta get it together and demand that HRM come up with a plan for cleaning up the spaces where our children play. As a former addict, this comes so far from a place of judgement, but having little kids step on drug paraphernalia at public splash pads and playgrounds is not the look for Halifax.

One Halifax woman won’t be taking her niece and nephew to a splash pad in Dartmouth anymore after her little one stepped on a crack pipe. Thankfully, she wasn’t injured. 

Councillor Sam Austin says that he is concerned and that the city has security installed in the area for the most famously popular time for drug addicts to hang out and use in public—10am-2pm. He also said that HRM has contracted Mainline Needle Exchange to sweep the park.

This is giving big “band-aid on bullet hole” energy to me.

Lack of access to addiction services combined with a lack of housing means that people are forced to continue to live—and use—outside, many times in encampments close to family-centric attractions, like playgrounds, parks and splash pads. 

We are all human beings here and nobody matters more than others. But there is a huge contrast in the ways that these humans are living. We can’t ask parents to confront drug users in public spaces. It’s not fair. We also can’t ask drug users to stop using in public spaces when they have nowhere else to go. Also not fair.

Security needs to be extended and sweeps should be done early in the mornings—religiously—to make sure these places are safe for everyone involved. In the meantime, owners of little people unfortunately need to stay vigilant.

As a side note: Speaking of cleaning up the city reminds me of this time I saw a whole street  team—I think hired by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission (I think) to clean up garbage in the downtown core—just hiding in the shade behind the casino, sleeping in their little hats and uniforms. Just a pile of sleeping teens looking like a pack of sea lions with brooms. 

That’s the energy I encourage you to all bring into the weekend:

@blueyedmontereyboy

Sea lions at San Carlos beach in Monterey, Ca. Sea lion season in Monterey typically runs between August and September when they come to f... See more

Love and light!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛅️ 22°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 24°

Next Day: ☀️ 24°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

CITY

Halifax's weekend lineup spans drag brunches to historical hikes

Halifax has come alive this summer, and it's not just the sunshine and sea breeze. Across the city, a diverse arts and lifestyle scene is flourishing—from music festivals and drag brunches to fake Indian weddings and historical hikes. It’s a creative energy that’s impossible to ignore, but one that relies on the continued support of the community to keep growing.

These events aren’t just about fun (though there’s plenty of that); they bring people together and spotlight the beautiful diversity that makes Halifax. Diversity in interests, backgrounds, cultures, and ways of connecting through summertime experiences. Whether you’re dancing under the stars, laughing in a courtyard, or exploring history by the water, you’re part of something bigger.

Before fall rolls in, here are some of the events bringing Halifax to life this weekend.

🤔 Need To Know

🌁 There’s another closure scheduled for the MacKay Bridge this weekend for what Halifax Harbour Bridges calls critical maintenance work—the construction will begin on Friday at 8pm and will stop by Monday at 5:30am.

🚧 Construction delays mean the current phase of work along Dutch Village Road and nearby streets is being extended—HRM says the current phase has been extended until mid-September due to unmarked underground utility infrastructure.

👀 Halifax police are asking for the public’s help to solve a murder that happened 25 years ago—Donald David Snelgrove, 41, was found dead in the living room of his apartment and HRP is looking to speak to anyone that saw Snelgrove’s 1988 grey Plymouth Reliant in the area during the time of the assault.

🍻 If you know, you know. The Pint is Halifax’s summer HQ—epic eats, ice-cold drinks, and patio vibes that go full East Coast. Hot take? This is it.*

🎭 Don’t miss the ultimate feel-good musical of the summer! Mamma Mia! at Neptune Theatre is extended until September 14. Book your tickets today.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY SPRING GARDEN AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

11th Annual Children's Festival

Get ready for family fun at the Spring Garden Area Business Association’s 11th Annual Children’s Festival, happening Saturday, August 30, from 11 AM to 2 PM!

This beloved community event returns with even more excitement, offering a full day of entertainment, games, crafts, food, and live performances for kids of all ages. Held in the heart of the Spring Garden neighborhood, the festival celebrates local businesses and families coming together in a safe, vibrant environment.

Don’t miss face painting, bouncy castles, and surprises around every corner. Mark your calendar and bring the whole family for an unforgettable day of fun!

FOOD

The Pint Public House: More than I expected

I’ll admit it: I didn’t expect to be at Argyle Street’s The Pint Public House. Perhaps I’m stuck in decades gone by, but it’s hard for me to get past visions of beer-filled evenings in my early 20s at The Argyle Street Bar & Grill, which long occupied the large space The Pint now calls home.       

The last time I stepped into The Pint was back in 2021. A group of us had made a last-minute booking for a pre-Neptune bite. The meal was unremarkable, the room felt tired, and the restaurant bore the wear and tear of neglect. I didn’t think much of it after that.      

Fast forward a few years. Last week, at the behest of a colleague, I walked back in for a lunch meeting and was met with something unexpected: noticeably better food and a clear commitment to the space that went beyond beer taps and flat screens.

Read all about The Coast’s Mark DeWolf’s surprisingly positive experience at The Pint Public House on Argyle Street.

🗞️ In Other News

💰 The HRM has ordered a financial feasibility assessment on the redevelopment of the Wanderers Block, a swath of downtown land that houses a pop-up soccer stadium and a horse riding school, among other facilities.

🚪 Souls Harbour Rescue Mission opened a new affordable supportive home for men in Dartmouth on Thursday—the home features six bedrooms, common living spaces and a caretaker apartment.

🚜 Wells, streams, and crops are drying up across Nova Scotia, prompting the province to provide farmers with additional support to increase their water supply—a $475K investment will be used to fund water projects on farms, including wells and ponds.

🤖 Halifax Stanfield International Airport is piloting a new project to help travellers navigate their way through the airport—with the help of robots.

🚨 A former Nova Scotia physician who now practices in New Brunswick has been charged with sexual assault after allegedly assaulting a patient during an emergency room assessment at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in January. 

🦢 This summer's hot, dry weather has seen water levels drop dramatically across Nova Scotia—but what does that mean for the geese that call Sullivans Pond home?

🛩️ Manitoba is joining the wildfire fight in Nova Scotia— two CL415s and a Bird Dog aircraft with an air attack officer left Tuesday to help douse flames in the province.

SPONSORED BY CRAFT NOVA SCOTIA

Two craft exhibitions you can’t miss

The Centre for Craft Nova Scotia presents two compelling exhibitions: Grace Han’s Fragments and the group show ELBOWS UP! Together, they spotlight the power of craft to navigate identity, culture, and national unity. Explore these bold works on the Halifax waterfront. Free admission. Find all the exhibition details here.

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 12am.

➡️ The Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin bulk carrier leaves Halifax for Burlington at 4am.

🚢➡️ The APL Sentosa container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 5:45am and leaves for New York at 11pm.

➡️ The Treasure vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for New York at 6am.

🚢➡️ The Siem Aristotle vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Emden at 10:55am and leaves for Jacksonville, FL at 10pm.

🚢 The MSC Helena container ship arrives in Halifax from Le Havre at 3:45pm.

➡️ The Algoma Verity bulk carrier leaves Halifax for Tampa at 4pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 4:30pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🌶️ Spice up your boring old chicken sandwich with The El Paso from CHKN Chop: fried chicken, jalapeno salsa, tomato, onion, lettuce, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, nacho cheese sauce. 

🍑 Grab summer in a salad at Bar Kismet: butter lettuce, peach, manchego and turmeric dressing.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🪕 The Halifax Urban Folk Festival is coming up quickly, and their artistic director has one message to push to anyone interested in attending. “If you’re sitting on your hands, thinking I’ll just pick up tickets at the last minute, you might want to think twice about that approach.” This is set to be one of the best lineups yet for HUFF, which started back in 2010.  Brendyn Creamer breaks down the line-up for Atlantic Canada’s premiere folk festival.

🐶 Puppy snuggles meet yoga at a special event on Aug. 30, as Halifax Puppy Yoga teams up with FlyWithMe Animal Rescue to host two charity puppy yoga sessions aimed at helping rescue puppies find their forever homes. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more with the founder of the Halifax studio that’s partnering with FlyWithMe Animal Rescue to help motherless puppies find families through yoga classes.

That’s it!

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: