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Spring is definitely here and with it brings thoughts of redesigning, de-cluttering and making over my own home. I thought it might be inspiring to occasionally post on how various style savvy people I know choose to shape their living spaces. The more homeowners I know, the more I realize that personal style spills over into how we decorate as well. Here is a peek inside my friend Jessy’s charming little North End abode….

Nestled close to the Hydrostone, Jessy’s home is a stand-alone, one and a half storey house with a quaint backyard. It comes across as a bit cottage-esque on the exterior but what appeals to me most is the simplicity and carefully chosen accents on the interior. As a former film costume designer and current co-owner of J&R Grimsmo boutique, Jessy has a sharp eye for the finer things.

The house is an open concept space where kitchen, living and dining room all flow into one and sliding glass doors lead seamlessly out to a large back deck. I adore the hard wood floors, wood stove and abundance of natural light and these features are complemented and updated by modern furniture.

Wonderful details are peppered throughout such as a glass dining room table layered over a rustic plank and a vibrant painting with hues of green and blue by local artist Michael Lewis. Rows of Mason jars housing every grain imaginable line the open kitchen cupboards and a framed poster with a caricature of Adele (from a show on her 21rst birthday, no less) reminds the homeowner of a memorable trip to New York. You may also think that the house belongs to Twiggy, the little daschund who happily finds her bed in front of the wood stove. It seems only fitting that a collection of wiener dog shaped statuettes are featured throughout…

- Nicole

Guest blogger Ben Boudreau is the local community manager for Yelp.com, a website featuring restaurant reviews by ordinary diners. Once a week, he shares Halifax’s highlights.

Every week I get up on my little soapbox here and try to convince all of you to branch out and find new businesses to fall in love with here in Halifax. But this week, we’re doing things a bit differently. As much fun as it is to eat your way through the city, there are definitely some perks to earning coveted “regular” status at your favourite bar. Owners who know you by name, servers who know you by order, the occasional chance to feel like a star of Entourage in front of your friends—the list goes on. Here’s your chance to learn from the best on putting your commitment to your lovable local to the test.

Our first destination isn’t for beginners. Being counted among the regular crowd at Tom’s Little Havana takes a special sort of dedication reserved for long-time business owners, renowned retirees, and just about anyone who’s willing to start happy hour around 3pm. Yet, Eleanor B earned her seat at the bar: “Tom’s is definitely my special place. Steve and Gina are the NICEST people in the world. THE NICEST. They ask how you are, they recognize the regulars, they always stop to have a chat.” Catch three hours of drink specials from 5pm–8pm, “eat and drink, tip well and spread the love.”

No one has earned the right to be a regular quite like Joel K at the Foggy Goggle. If he’s “not eating a home cooked meal,” he’s “eating at the Goggle.” This fryer-free downtown pub keeps its neighbourhood feel thanks to owners Julie and Natalie who are never far and never too busy to catch up with familiar faces. Joel “can’t say enough good things about this place,” directing carnivores toward “the Goggle Burger with Foggy Spuds,” and veggies to “Vegan Bowl or the Veggie Pocket with Peanut Sauce.” Of course, he’s modestly leaving out the fact that you can order the drink named after him. Order a Judgment J—his very own boozy cider creation!

It seems like every Dartmouthian feels like a regular at “the local drinking corner —and what a corner it is.” Paul B is a regular fixture of the Celtic Corner’s “Friday after work crowd.” There’s “nothing pretentious here” as folks from all walks of life just sit “around munchin’ on nachos drinking a beer and relaxin’.” Mid-week visits are better for a quiet chat but no matter when you make it in, “every time it feels like going home.”

What good is regular status if you can’t show it off a little? Arm yourself with Yelp’s free mobile app and show your creds by earning digital regular status. You might even score some sweet deals along the way! Besides, the closest watering hole will never be more than a finger tap away. Until next time, see you on Yelp!

When I first heard about Blossoms Fresh Fruit Arrangements, I was intrigued but just a tad bewildered. I wasn’t sure exactly how to approach a “bouquet of fruit.” Are they simply showpieces for soirees or something you can dive right into? I was recently introduced to these arrangements after owners Michelle Gillard and Linda Furlought sent me my own bouquet to sample.

Blossoms Fresh Fruit Arrangements is located on Portland Street in Dartmouth and has been open since April 2010. There are Blossoms located right across Canada but the original was spearheaded by two women in Saint John, New Brunswick , one of whom is an ex-florist who was looking to spread her wings creatively. After browsing their tempting website, I realized that the imaginatively constructed bouquets are quite artful as well as tempting to the taste-buds. With Easter right around the corner and springtime looming, it seems like an ideal time to test drive a Blossoms arrangement. According to Furlought, these edible bouquets are really catching on.

“The response has been great so far. Now, it’s just a matter of letting people know that these can really enhance any occasion,” she says.

The “Eggolicious” bouquet arrives at my office in all its colourful glory. Melon, grapefruit and orange slices in the shape of petals give way to a burst of chocolate dipped strawberries and large dark and white chocolate coated pineapples cut in the shape of Easter eggs. It doesn’t take long for my colleagues to dip in and try a piece. It feels a little bit wrong to dismantle this beautiful arrangement but that certainly doesn’t stop us. The generously chocolate coated pineapples are a hit and my favourites are the humongous strawberries drizzled with white chocolate.

An edible bouquet is certainly something that I would never have dreamed up but it was surprisingly enjoyable and provided a flourish of eye candy to boot…. So, what’s the best way to approach a Blossoms bouquet, in my books? Just attack it and enjoy…

-Nicole

Maureen’s curiosity is piqued…

Monette takes a nibble…

Last week, organizers announced the 2011 Atlantic Journalism Award finalists; we’re pleased to report that Halifax Magazine is a finalist in all three magazine categories.

• Atlantic Magazine Article: “Justice delayed,” by Jon Tattrie. From May 2011, this story looks back two years at the murder of Tanya Jean Brooks, and the failure of Halifax police to find her killer. The case began with a blaze of publicity but now it seems all but forgotten; police admit “not a whole lot of progress has been made” and the Brooks family aches for justice.
• Best Profile Article: “Brain Candy,” by Jessica Burns. Government employee by day, comedian and TV personality by night, Candy Palmater is a fascinating personality. She’s also refreshingly candid, as this profile reveals: “I’m the wrong age, wrong race, wrong weight to be on television,” is one of her more memorable quotes.
•  Best Cover: “Going to the big leagues,” art direction by Jay Hiltz, photo by Aaron McKenzie Fraser. The accompanying article explored Halifax’s chances of landing a CFL team and a new sports stadium. The challenge for Hiltz was to depict the idea, without resorting to the old concept-drawing cliché. He opted for a strong, classic sports portrait.

Music blogger Megan Couture returns with a review of Dragonette’s performance at Pacifico on Wednesday night. 

Now that I’ve had a day to recover, I can more properly share my thoughts…

It was pretty wild.

I quickly learned this by (rather stupidly) thinking it would be wise for someone with crowd anxiety to stand front row, centre stage.  It was the spot to be for the opening, at least.

Opening with “Hello,” Dragonette burst onto the stage as I felt a surge of people at my back, begging to get closer. “Hello” is fast, synthy and fun and got the crowd moving, shaking, and (to my chagrin) pushing. I danced as best I could in my wee little space, snapping pics fast and frequent. I stayed up front for two more songs, but when the crowd gets to the point that they’re not reacting when I elbow their ribs as hard as possible to keep them from crushing me, it’s time for me to move.

From the side of the stage, the view was just as good and there was air! And space for dancing! So much win! Martina chatted with the crowd, apologizing for only being to Halifax twice over the past several years, and also giving a nod to the fact that Dragonette was formed while in Halifax.

Most of the material performed was from their second album, Fixin’ to Thrill, a slinky, slick dance album with both upbeat tracks (like the fierce title-track and the sassy “Liar”) and melodic, slow-down tunes (a personal favourite–the harshly honest “Easy”). Other favourite tracks: “Fire in Your New Shoes,” a straight-up jam, and “Pick up the Phone,” a romantic, oft-remixed track that I adore. But honestly, they’re all good.

The floor was lit up with people dancing, jumping, and in two cases, crowd surfing. It struck me as odd—I mean, we’re not at a rock show. But yet, two brave girls made their way up, one was successful, and one was carried part-way through the crowd, teetered, and then quickly disappeared, her body folding into a V. (Don’t worry, she was fine. I saw her up and moshing again in a matter of minutes)

Oh, the things I saw. Crowd surfing, moshing, people on each other’s shoulders, wild dancing (Wait, that was me), dresses I was confident were shirts. No judgement though, just a testament to the wide audience that Dragonette appeals to. It’s not easy to be a crossover hit, yet Dragonette has done this with precision.

The three-piece pop/dance/electronic trio is headed by the captivating Martina and backed by Dan on keyboard and Joel on the drums. What struck me most was that Dragonette sounded just as good live (and the energy was so much better live) as they did on the album. This, in my opinion, is a difficult feat for an electronic group. And, to be honest, it wasn’t something I was expecting to be as good as it was.

The only real downside was they only played for an hour, and only played one song off of their first (and just as fabulous) album, ‘Galore’. I would’ve liked to have heard a bigger mix, but we were rewarded by getting to hear a lot of new tracks. And, what’s more, we were one of the first groups to hear it! It’s always exciting for artists to debut new music, and from what I’ve heard; their next album should be wicked.

It was drummer Joel’s birthday, and as they brought a cake onstage for him, the crowd boisterously sang “Happy Birthday.” Once he blew out the candles, he happily told us (to much applause) it was the best birthday he’d had on the road.

Dragonette ended the night with “I Get Around,” a sexy ode to the one-night stand that stands out as one of the top songs of the night. It’s always good to end on a high note.

Were you at the show? Post a comment and share your review.

Guest blogger Leanne Salyzyn is an insolvency counselor, licensed restructuring professional and trustee in bankruptcy. Post a comment or contact her on Twitter with your personal-finance questions.

At the grocery store on the weekend, I got stuck behind a frazzled mom and her demanding pre-schooler. In an attempt to defuse the embarrassment of his loud whiny pleas, she caved to his desires and tossed a candy bar on the conveyor belt. Kid one; mom nothing.  I walked away pondering to myself, how difficult was it to just say “no?”

This same mentality could be used when considering our finances. Why is it so difficult for us to just say no to dinner out or shopping with friends? When colleagues ask us to join them in a post-work drink or a weekend golf game, we can’t seem to muster up those two simple letters, n-o.

All of us have limited finances.  Some just have a higher limit. While an extra golf round this week may tip the scales for some, others may be weighing if the added price tag of a new Landrover is worth it for them. We must constantly remind ourselves of our own limited capacity and accept the reality of our finances no matter what income level.

Saying no is actually liberating. It allows us to be in control instead of being controlled. It is not a sign of weakness or failure but rather frees us of contrived notions that we can afford to live well beyond our means. Saying no allows us to live within our means and stops us from treating credit as income to support our desires.

Try it sometime and see. Next invitation you don’t think you should accept due to cost, say no. Or better yet say, “I can’t afford it.”  There.  Done.  Elephants in the room. I would bet the first time you say it there will be hesitation and perhaps you will even feel embarrassed. But it will pass and soon you’ll be singing the praises of no. Your friends will catch on and may even join in on this trendy new word.  Sure there may be a little less socializing, but saying no also means no unwanted accumulating debt.

Guest blogger Ben Boudreau is the local community manager for Yelp.com, a website featuring restaurant reviews by ordinary diners. Once a week, he shares Halifax’s highlights.

Sure, going from a dose of high summer in the middle of March to the usual winter weather in the same week isn’t pretty. And no, we can’t exactly control the weather. But what we can do is hook you up with some food finds that’ll keep you warm until that sweet sunshine comes back into our lives. Ready for an introduction to Halifax’s Indian cuisine? Grab some Naan and get ready to sweat!

Central and well loved, A Taste of India in Scotia Square is a great place to kick off your Indian orientation. Buffet-style food is served up fresh and on the cheap for about $7–$10 per person and there’s plenty of bang for your buck. Eleanor B recommends the “butter chicken, curried chickpeas and saffron rice,” although if you time it right, you might just score some delicious dosa from the city’s only source.

For something a little more sit-down, look out over Dresden from the second-story Curry Village. You’ll want to pick your friends more carefully than your meals, since sharing multiple dishes lets you build your very own buffet right on your table. While servers are often happy to help with recommendations, Chris J goes for the “Beef or Lamb Vindaloo.” Better than good, “it’s all I can do to remember to breathe while I’m inhaling what’s in front of me.”

Ready to go off the beaten path? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to go far. Rani’s Curry & Roti Shop is tucked away on Green Street in the South End and boasts a serious selection! Caribbean, South Asian, and Indian food all live in perfect harmony at this hole-in-the-wall. Nick B popped in for “a great butter chicken roti” that arrived “complete with a homemade pepper sauce.” Impressive for a hidden gem. A little pricier than big-city roti, but well worth it.

Need some help planning your dining adventure? Put the power of Yelp in your pocket with the free mobile app—directions, phone numbers, photos, and of course plenty of tips and tricks from local foodies, all just a finger tap away! Until next time, see you on Yelp!

A unique opportunity called the Mercedes-Benz Start Up program is on the hunt for talented emerging fashion designers across Canada. The program is produced in association with the Fashion Design Council of Canada and connects new designers with experienced mentors and provides exposure and a bevy of professional opportunities.

With the first season just wrapping up, they are now putting the call out for new participants across Canada. Interested designers must be Canadian residents and have produced at least one collection of womenswear, menswear and/or swimwear. The deadline for Nova Scotia is coming up on April 13th with semi-final events to be held in Halifax in May. Ultimately, one winner will be chosen to conduct a runway show with professional mentoring.

Martin Lim was the recipient of the inaugural Mercedes Benz Start Up program with an impressive runway show held at the World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto. With events such as this paving the way, it will be exciting and nerve-racking (for some) to see how the upcoming season unfolds…

This is a huge national opportunity and I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for a lot of you lovely local designers… Now, get busy and good luck!

- Nicole

For full details on how to enter, go to http://www.mercedes-benzstartup.com/ or visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MBStartUp

Paying a visit to the Carbon Arc Cinema in the Khyber building has been on my list of things to do for a while now and I finally made it in this week. On a balmy and surreal March evening, my friends and I took a little sojourn to the art house cinema to watch a screening of My Week with Marilyn.

The entrance fee is a mere six dollars and the medium sized room on the third floor is painted a dark blue with raised seating. We happily paid the loonie each for a bag of freshly made popcorn with a light, delicious seasoning (I detected a subtle curry flavour). It’s also the only theatre that I know of that serves reasonably priced wine and Propeller beer. Don’t mind if I do!

Carbon Arc director, Siloen Daley, has really made strides with this little venue taking inspiration from the lost days of the art house cinema. The seats have been reclaimed from the old Wormwoods theatre and the first floor of the Khyber showcases a gallery of black and white pictures of early theatre organizers and movie aficionados.

Even though the night outside was temptingly pleasant, my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Carbon Arc. Herald columnist and Carbon Arc team member, Lauren Oostveen, was on hand to introduce the movie and (although there was a temporary technical delay) once the film began we all nestled in comfortably.

For me, it was a wonderful opportunity to see a film that I had longed to catch on the big screen but missed because it was only in the theatres here for a fleeting few days. And no, I wasn’t as excited to watch a downloaded version on somebody’s flat-screen. Watching Michelle Williams as Marilyn sashay in all her glory amidst perfectly realized vintage-inspired art direction at the quirky Carbon Arc Cinema seemed highly fitting to me.

Essentially, I loved the whole experience of taking a break from the norm and will certainly be following what’s coming up for the weekly screenings. If you’re hoping to catch more eclectic and artistic films that may not hit mainstream, I would recommend Carbon Arc as an inexpensive option with a lot of character and a personal touch.

- Nicole

Next week’s screening on Wednesday March 28th at 7 is Take Shelter

Rachael and Jessy from J&R Grimsmo are stylish movie goers…

Congratulations to Pamela Callow who wins a subscription to Halifax Magazine for her suggestion on my post A Fresh Perspective!

Truth be told, when I was younger, thoughts of tartan conjured up images of bagpipers or Highland dancers doing a lively jig. Fast forward a few years (okay, more than a few) and I’ve got a different take on it after meeting designer and entrepreneur, Veronica MacIsaac. We chatted a couple of years ago for a feature I was writing and then later at Atlantic Fashion Week. A Cape Breton girl at heart, she hails from the MacIsaac Kiltmakers but has gone on to blossom into her own.

Now, I think that tartan is very specific and kind of a patriotic look and I’m not sure if I could pull it off on a day-to-day basis. That being said, I do admire MacIsaac’s ability to surprise with striking cuts that you would never expect from this traditional fabric. I was sad to have missed her recent 2nd Annual Celtic Arts and Fashion Show held last weekend at Durty Nelly’s but I’ve been busy trying to catch up on her latest designs.

MacIsaac has added some adorable clothing for children with my favourites being the blue MacPherson dress with ribbon accent and the green Longniddry dress with pleated detailing. Both are smock style dressed that are darling but also look like they would be fun for girls to run, jump and dance in.

For ladies, there are a few stand-outs in my books. Tops would have to be the floor length MacQueen gown with a plunging back and pleated accents. This dress is simply striking. Next in line for me would be the on-trend high-waisted shorts and cigarette pants. The Nova Scotia tartan gown with a ruffled neckline is also pretty damn impressive. Normally, I would eschew ruffles but these ones aren’t overwhelming and the model looks about a mile long in a dress that would make any girl feel proud to display her Nova Scotia roots.

Next up for MacIsaac will be the annual Dressed to Kilt fashion show to be held in New York on April 2nd. Last year, she was the only Canadian designer invited to show off her tartan collection at the event organized by From Scotland with Love in honour of International Tartan Week. Some of this year’s esteemed hosts include Kiefer Sutherland and Scottish actor, Kevin McKidd. With MacIsaac acting as our fashion ambassador, I have faith that she will bring it and represent Nova Scotia with her edgy, modern and proud twist on tradition.

- Nicole

All photos taken by Brent McCombs of AlterEgo Photography