Dec 31, 2009 - Jan 6, 2010

News + Opinion

• City

  2009: the year the system went to shit

  It started with a sewage plant collapsing, then the Herald cut staff, Dexter got in (good) but keeps playing safe (bad), but the people kept on fighting.

  By Tim Bousquet

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Shoptalk

  Ice capading at Sportswheels

  Full-service and sporting equipment shop has blades for everyone.

  By Sue Carter Flinn

  Jan 6, 2010

  
• Shoptalk

  Morris East gets ready for winter

  Local pizzeria to focus on charcuterie, brunch and summery house-made liquers in the winter months

  By Carsten Knox

  Jan 5, 2010

  
• Shoptalk

  The Grad House returns

  By Carsten Knox

  Jan 6, 2010
• Shoptalk

  Jenine Dowden photo portraits special for Valentine’s Day

  Blue Vine Photography run by local photog Jenine Dowden offers a special one on one photoshoot special for Valentine's Day.

  By Carsten Knox

  Jan 7, 2010

  
• Opinion

  Climate change 2010: time to get our shit together

  How we respond to climate change will demonstrate what kind of people we really are.

  By Tim Bousquet

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Opinion

  Many happy returns policies

  Those horribly un-stylish Christmas gifts you received have to go somewhere, and Denise McDonald will be forgiving.

  By Lezlie Lowe

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Opinion

  Free parking is not your right

  One reader who supports the winter parking ban on Halifax streets.

  By Letters editor

  Dec 29, 2009
• Opinion

  That name again is Mr. Plow

  By Letters editor

  Dec 29, 2009

Arts + Music

• Arts & Culture

  Decade in review: Palermo on Palermo

  For over a decade you’ve loved him, screamed at him, totally agreed with his opinions and wrote nasty letters about his reviews. Mark Palermo reminisces about life as Halifax’s longest-standing film critic.

  By Mark Palermo

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Up in the Air worth the trip

  George Clooney and Jason Reitman aim high for this one.

  By Sue Carter Flinn

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Thrillema returns...

  The horror film series crawls out of the grave to Dartmouth Crossing.

  By Sue Carter Flinn

  Jan 6, 2010

  
• Arts & Culture

  Decade in review: Theatre outta space

  Despite a sorry lack of permanent performance venues, Halifax’s independent theatre companies have risen to centre stage.

  By Tara Thorne

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  AGNS' portrait of problems

  No thanks to floods and economic crises, 2009 was a tough year for the underfunded and understaffed Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

  By Sean Flinn

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Year in Review: 2009 Theatre picks

  Two hundred words...too many terrific plays to mention. But here are a few highlights from 2009.

  By Kate Watson

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Decade in review: movie stars witnessed

  Keep Hollywood zipcodes for the coked-up former teen stars: these five local bright lights defined their own star systems this decade.

  By Tara Thorne

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Podcast: Titley and Palermo review 2009

  Listen to Coast film reviewers Hilary Titley and Mark Palermo discuss their favourite movies of the year.

  By Team Coast

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  It's Complicated falls flat

  Nancy Myers' mature rom-com suffers from a lack of ambition.

  By Hillary Titley

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Arts & Culture

  Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus a visual treat

  Gilliam's movie is a little lopsided, but still great to watch. If only he and Heath Ledger had more time to collaborate.

  By Hillary Titley

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Music

  Superstar shortlist: The arts decade in review

  The last decade in the Halifax arts scene won’t be marked by dazzle. Instead we give props to the pluckiest and the survivalists, those who made us think and cry.

  By Sue Carter Flinn

  Dec 29, 2009

  
• Music

  Free Canadian hip hop right here. Get it while it's hot!

  Brockway Entertainment's 23 favourite Canadian rap tracks of 2009

  By Stephanie Johns

  Dec 30, 2009

  
• Music

  Jennie Philpott's punk portraits

  NSCAD student's portrait series pays tribute to underground female musicians.

  By Sue Carter Flinn

  Jan 6, 2010

  
• Music

  January 9: Goodbye Dunce Club, but hello fun night of punk shows!

  Teenage rebels with bad attitudes

  By Stephanie Johns

  Jan 5, 2010

  
• Music

  Decade in review: music scene, not a machine

  While major labels spent the decade playing catch-up with the evil internet, the tight-knit Halifax music community kept a steady beat, coming out stronger and louder than ever.

  By Stephanie Johns

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Music

  Andrea Somers’ Brave heart

  Andrea Somers’ album took four years, but it’s a genuine reflection of her relationship to music.

  By Shannon Webb-Campbell

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Comics

  Unlife December 31, 1945

  By Faith Erin Hicks

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Comics

  True Story by Jordan Beth Roberts

  By Mike Holmes

  Dec 31, 2009

  

Food + Drink

• Food

  Creating sparkling duos with champagne

  Lobster, chocolates and even Fritos can be paired with the right champagne.

  By Melissa Buote

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Food

  New Years' bubbly drinks checklist

  From Dom Perignon to sparkling Annapolis Valley cider, you have plenty to choose from for a last-minute New Year's Eve gathering.

  By Jonathan Linds

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Restaurant Reviews

  2009: The year in new restaurants

  So many new places over the last year. How many did you try? Have you left a review yet -- tell us about your best meal of 2009.

  By Team Coast

  Dec 31, 2009

  

Lifestyle

• Free Will Astrology

  Renew your connections, Sagittarius

  Capricorn friends, send us your birthdays to [email protected].

  By Rob Brezsny

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Savage Love

  The tears of a prude

  Your wife kissed a gay dude---dial back the divorce talk already! Also, Savage Lovecast #167 with Doctor Barak

  By Dan Savage

  Dec 31, 2009

  
• Buy Local

  Complete guide to New Year's Eve

  Where to go, from Gala to Downtown to Neighbourhood shows, how to get home and where to get some hair of the dog the next day.

  By Holly Gordon

  Dec 31, 2009