At the end of summer there are usually a few choice beach cobbles rattling around in the trunk of our car. They were selected during walks on the shore, because humans are wired to search for the perfect stone out of the billions spread along our coast. … Read More

All the chaos around back to school reminded me that I've been noticing the entrances to older school buildings in Halifax. An example of what gives me joy is the robust entrance to the 1930s Oxford School. Dinosaurs get this view from their cars, waiting on North Street for the lights at Oxford. [caption id="attachment_8266"… Read More

Have you been following all the fun people are having with Halifax Transit's announcement of a new BIG ticket? Fun and outrage. The new ticket will be the size of a $20 bill. Suddenly folks are interested in ticket design, so it seems like the perfect moment to share my little collection of, and my… Read More

So are you panicking because summer is speeding past? We know the feeling and are trying to do slightly more than wave as the season burns on through. As proof of concept, here is some noticing that happened last weekend. First thing every morning I take a short stroll in our garden. As the days… Read More

Don't you love summer news (when there is little real news to report)? One of the stories that's received a lot of press locally is about a concrete chair that may (or maybe not) incorporate a piece of Halifax Explosion debris. When a picture of the chair surfaced I was surprised at how good it… Read More

When these tumultuous times feel like more than we can endure, folks with a long memory remind us there have been other bad times. Often they mention the turmoil of 1968: the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the subsequent riots, Prague Spring and the Warsaw Pact invasion, and the Vietnam War entering its bloodiest chapter. But… Read More

Summer is the time to get out and about in the province and we started with a visit to the beautiful landscapes of Lunenburg County. Our three days away were filled with all the experiences that bring us joy: friends, food, and eye candy. The fun started with lunch beside the LaHave River, entertained by our friends' new chickens.… Read More

Traditional summer tourist destinations in these parts are 18th or 19th century fortifications, like the Citadel in Halifax or, my favourite, Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal. A drive-by fortification, that you may never have stopped to enjoy, is Fort Beausejour, symbolically defending the New Brunswick border at Aulac. … Read More

Halifax likes to think of itself as a city of trees. When I survey the forest canopy from my dentist's office on North Street, I have to concur. It takes energy, desire, and resources to maintain a… Read More

Halifax is not well endowed with modernist landscapes, so it is valuable to pause and enjoy what we have. A favourite of mine is a grove of trees at the large Canada Post operation on Almon Street. Two rows of small trees are surrounded by concrete curbs topped with pea gravel. The low planters seem… Read More