🗞️ Traffic Czar

It’s Friday Fun Day!

I have gotten in deep trouble with the very vocal minority of you that ride for King Charles and the rest of his (inbred) family. So I won’t even go there about what I think, I’ll just give you the information and let you do with it what you will.

This week, people in bright red uniforms with crests on them are plucking swans out of the River Thames to measure, inspect them and then put them back in the water. Why? I’m so glad you asked!  It’s part of the annual five-day census of swans belonging to King Charles III—known as Swan Upping.

And why does this massive responsibility belong to Charles? Obviously because one of the British monarch’s lesser-known titles is Seigneur of the Swans—Lord of the Swans—and according to ancient lore, he owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain’s open waters.

Because of course he does. The monarch thinks they own everything (sorry, I know I said I was going to stay out of this one).

I’m all for checking to make sure that all of the swans are healthy and thriving, but maybe by like…vets? I’m not—I repeat—NOT anti-swan. But one of the guys quoted was wearing a scarlet jacket and a white swan feather in his cap and bears the title of King’s Swan Marker. And I can’t take anything anyone says with that title seriously. 

The census tradition dates to the 12th century, when swans were considered an important food for royal banquets and feasts. Not sure why it’s still going on, but it’s rare to find a royal brave enough to buck tradition…we all know how that ends up.

Anyway, hope the swans are safe and so are you this weekend! 🦢

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛈️ 28°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 26°

Next Day: 🌧️ 22°

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.

FOOD + DRINK

Casa di Stefano: A slice of suburban passion

Driving into a busy strip mall on Cobequid Road in Sackville at six o’clock on a Wednesday, I admit I was puzzled. Why was the parking lot full? The answer became clear as soon as I stepped through the doors of Casa di Stefano—the space was buzzing. 

Couples leaned in over glasses of wine, families laughed around pizza-laden tables, and groups of friends lingered in animated conversation. There’s an energy here that feels rare for suburban dining, and much of it radiates from the heart of the restaurant: Stefano, the wood-fired oven that lends the restaurant its name, and the chef who commands it.

Read The Coast’s resident food and wine expert Mark DeWolf’s full review of Casa di Stefano.

🤔 Need To Know

🏛️ Tim Houston says his government will be forced to act if council moves ahead with a recent decision to make Morris Street in the downtown core a one-way street in favour of bike lanes—he has raised concern that the decision could worsen traffic congestion, create unnecessary public safety risks and potentially impact operations at the port.

🌡️ Amid a provincewide heat warning, a Halifax emergency room doctor is speaking out about the severity of heat-related illnesses—adding seniors, children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable.

🦺 Emergency repairs on a sinkhole in downtown Halifax are complete—police said they responded to a “roadway hazard” on Hollis Street around 7:40am Thursday and confirmed it was a sinkhole about an hour later.

🍻 If you know you know… The Pint is this summer’s go to.. it’s got the drinks, food, and East Coast patio vibes - this year’s hot take!*

🌞 Patio season is on in Downtown Halifax! With over 80 patios to choose from, you could dine al fresco somewhere new every day this summer.*

🚬 PROHIBITION now has two Halifax locations—Bedford and Agricola! Visit them in-store for premium smoking accessories, exclusive promos, and more. Find your nearest location today.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY PAINTED STORIES / MICHELLE DARWIN

Colour Harmonies Art Show

Michelle Darwin’s upcoming solo show features paintings of Nova Scotia homes, gardens, and coastal landscapes in evocative colour. The show starts Saturday and runs July 19-27 (LaHave Bakery Gallery, 10-4 daily). 

The gallery is a beautiful historic space overlooking the water and surrounded by wonderful artisan businesses. It’s a quick hop across the river to Lunenburg, and a short drive to the best beaches on the South Shore. A perfectly full day trip!

Choose from a large selection of original paintings, fine art prints, and cards. Stop by, meet the artist, and find the perfect piece that speaks to you!

See past work and join the Studio List.

EVENTS

Halifax comes alive: a weekend of music, pride, and summer energy

We’ve reached the time of year when Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” takes over your reel soundtrack. It’s the season of “hot summer nights, mid-July / when you and I were forever wild.” 

Halifax has fully transformed into the arts and culture hub of the Maritimes. The streets are alive with the hum of jazz saxophones echoing between historic brick buildings, Pride stickers dot shop windows, and the sidewalks are a colourful blur of festival fashion.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has you covered with what you can do for fun this weekend.

🗞️ In Other News

🚨 Police have charged a fourth person in connection to a shooting in the city’s north end last month—on June 26, at roughly 3:30pm, officers responded to multiple reports of gunfire near Buddy Daye Street and Gottingen Street but there were no reported injuries.

⛴️ Passengers were stuck on the N.S.-P.E.I. ferry for hours on Wednesday due to technical problems with the newest vessel—the company’s general manager says it was due to a problem with the locking mechanism on the door.

⚖️ Robert Edward List, 59, on Thursday pleaded guilty to child pornography and child luring charges—admitting he took at least 18,000 pornographic photos of boys, some as recent as 2023 and others dating back three decades.

🌭 A Nova Scotia food truck is raising money for two people who recently lost their home in a fire—The Beefy Weiner, an Elmsdale-based food truck, said its customers Mike and Kristine lost their home in a fire on July 11.

💸 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling on local and provincial governments to reduce commercial property tax rates for small businesses in Atlantic Canada—saying they aren’t being taxed fairly.

SPONSORED BY TASTE OF NOVA SCOTIA

Vote for your local favourites!

Nova Scotia food lovers, this is your moment. The Taste of Nova Scotia Awards celebrate the people, places, and products that make Nova Scotia such a delicious destination. Now's the time to vote for your favourite restaurants, producers, servers, culinary ambassadors, and local flavours!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Exhibition - Mazes & Brain Games at Discovery Centre: Don’t miss this engaging, family-friendly exhibition that invites visitors of all ages to lose the map and find the fun. Whether you’re navigating life-size labyrinths or outsmarting optical illusions, this immersive exhibit will keep you thinking around every corner. | May 17 - Aug 31 | 9am | $14.50 |

🗓 TD Halifax Jazz Festival: Formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, this is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada. Designated a Hallmark Event by the Halifax Regional Municipality, the festival attracts up to 65,000 visitors, involves 400 volunteers and employs over 350 local musicians. Explore the line-up. | July 15-20 | 

🗓 Mat Hughes and Sadie Skinner Live: Halifax singer-songwriter and pianist Mat Hughes along with Sadie Skinner (Sarah Roberts from Steel Cut Oats) team up for a performance at The Carleton. | July 16 | 7pm | $20 |

🗓 Queer Crafternoon and BBQ: Enjoy an afternoon BBQ, ice cream, and arts and crafts to kick off Halifax Pride! Make connections with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in St. Margaret’s Bay and beyond. All ages welcome. | July 17 | 5pm | Free |

🗓 Halifax Pride Festival: The 2025 Halifax Pride Festival is an 11-day celebration taking place throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality. This year’s festival will feature over 30 signature festival events and 100+ community organized events. | July 17-27 | 

🗓 2025 Afrifest: Afrifest showcases visual and performing arts and the culture of people of African descent. The festival features artists from many African nations and the Caribbean. Their artistic works include visual arts, drumming, jazz, hip-hop, gospel and spoken word. The festival connects African, Nova Scotian, and other Canadian groups, fostering teamwork and collaboration. | July 17-20 |

🗓 Dalhousie Art Gallery Summer Exhibitions Opening Reception: Explore two powerful new exhibitions that interrogate image-making, colour, and visual culture as tools of both disruption and expression. Wavelengths: Colour | Code | Concept, curated by gallery director/curator Pamela Edmonds, draws on the gallery’s permanent collection to investigate how colour operates as both material and message within abstraction and conceptual art. In parallel, Broad/Cast: Reclaiming Representation, curated by Geoffrey Webster as the final project of his curatorial internship at the gallery, brings together lens-based works by artists who challenge and redefine portrayals of Black identity in media and culture. | July 17 | 6pm |

🗓 The Little Fishers Club: This registered, not-for-profit organization began with a small group of parents who recognized the benefits of teaching children how to fish. Now, entering its 14th season, it has blossomed into a busy summer-long experience, bringing children and families from HRM (and beyond) together to experience the joy of fishing. | July 18 | 6pm | $5 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Splendid Ace vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Jacksonville, FL at 5:55am and  leaves for Baltimore, Maryland at 4pm.

➡️ The Zim China container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 10am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Sydney at 1pm.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and leaves for Liverpool at 11:30pm.

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

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

➡️ The MSC Rowan container ship leaves Halifax for Montreal at 6pm.

🚢 The Marianetta container ship arrives in Halifax from Mundra, India at 9:45pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍔 The wait is over! Bearly’s House of Blues has a brand new kitchen and menu that features all the greats: poutine, wings, burgers and more! 

🧁 Don’t miss the feature of the week at Layers Cupcakes: Alfajores (dulce de leche swirled vanilla cake filled with dulce de leche, piped with butter cream and topped with an alfajores—a  dulce de leche cookie).

👀 In Case You Missed It

👗 Sarah McCann, 43, a content creator, teacher, mother, laser technician and a freelance model, has spent the last few years carving a unique niche on social media, where she blends style with substance by spotlighting eco-conscious brands and speaking candidly about aging in fashion. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more with McCann about pushing back against ageism while promoting eco-conscious fashion.

🔉 While spaces for queer folks have become more common as 2SLGBTQIA+ acceptance becomes the norm, it can still be hard for certain sections of the community to find a place to belong. In particular, it can be difficult to find a space for lesbian, gender-diverse and trans people. Seeing that need in the community, local musician Jade Bennett took to organizing events under the name Dyke Night Halifax, giving sapphic people a chance to be themselves with others from their sect. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer spoke with Bennett as they prepared to launch the sapphic showcase on Friday.

That’s it!

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