🍔 Randy's favourite Hali cheeseburger + this week's events

Halifavourites

Randy’s Halifax: Pat Roach’s favourite spots

Pat Roach has been playing one of Canada's most iconic television characters for over 25 years. Best known as Randy from Trailer Park Boys, Pat is also now branching out into roles outside of the TPB world, and touring his Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic around the globe. We asked him for his go-to spots.

The place he loves taking visitors: the John Dunsworth mural.
“It means more than I can explain when I see my best buddy immortalized on a wall in the city that he loved. I always take visitors to see it because it’s so special to me.” (It’s on Quinpool Road, painted by Jeks One for the Halifax Mural Festival.)

His favourite band right now: Esdaile.
“I finally got to see them live recently and they absolutely blew me away… it feels like these guys are only getting started.” (The Dartmouth band just dropped their new EP, Many Miles, on July 17 - see below!)

His favourite East Coast creator: Jax Irwin (@jaxonair).
“She’s not only so funny, she is one of the genuinely kindest people I’ve ever met. I love how she shows the world how lovely Maritimers are with her phone calls.”

His current favourite burger: Side Hustle Snack Bar.
“I’ve eaten my fair share of burgers over the years, so I feel pretty confident saying Side Hustle makes one of the best smash burgers I’ve had in a long time. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been back on numerous occasions.”

His favourite spot for a picnic: The Dingle.
“I love to visit the Dingle — it reminds me of my parents. Back when they were dating, my dad would take my mom there for picnics, and now I like to take my wife there as well.” 

See all 11 of Pat’s picks  →On Instagram  →

A new Nova Scotia true-crime podcast just dropped: Dark Harbour

If you’re a true crime junkie, this new podcast is a must-listen. Dark Harbour, produced by our pals at the Afternoon Pint, digs into Nova Scotia’s unsolved murders, cold cases and missing-person mysteries.

Season One opens with the unsolved murder of Shelley Connors in Spryfield and they are publishing new episodes bi-weekly.

Listen on Spotify

Also on YouTube · Instagram

Would you trade your car for a year of downtown rent?

Agency Art Lofts just launched a fun Halifax moving incentive: sell an eligible car to its dealership partner at the appraised market value, put enough of the sale toward up to six months of rent, and the building matches it with up to six more months of rent credit.

The building has four private workout rooms, a private sauna, movie screening room, and a podcast studio. We'd be tempted if we didn't just make Richmond Yards the new Halifamous HQ.

Bike lanes are cool, but this seems like the type of program that could actually help move the needle on getting people to ditch their cars.

SEE HOW RENT FOR RIDES WORKS →

Quick Hits

A few things worth knowing around town this week.

🎸 Good Dear Good leads the Nova Scotia Music Week nominations. The Halifax indie pop-rock band pulled four nods, including Pop Recording of the Year for last September’s EP sook. One of our absolute favourite local bands of the last few years!

🌮 Taco Bell wants a prime corner of Spring Garden Road. Plans are moving to open the area’s first free-standing location at Spring Garden and South Park, in the old Eastlink store. This seems wildly overdue.

🍷 Valley wineries swept the Lieutenant-Governor’s Wine Awards. Lightfoot & Wolfville took three; Benjamin Bridge and Avondale Sky were also honoured at Government House. We aren't sure if these awards mean anything, but Mike Savage seems like a guy who knows something about wine.

🏒 Kori Cheverie brought the Walter Cup home to New Glasgow. Hundreds packed the Pictou County Wellness Centre on July 17 to welcome the PWHL-champion head coach of the Montreal Victoire — “she’s a Nova Scotian icon.” Can we just get a franchise already??

🏳️‍🌈 Bobbin’s End is bringing queer-owned business to small-town Nova Scotia. Raymond McCabe grew up rural, feeling like one of the only queer kids around — now he and husband Alex take their handmade fibre art to markets beyond Halifax so others know they’re not alone. I'll be purchasing a felt frog next time I'm at the market.

🛒 Weekend Markets

15 markets across the region — July 25 + 26.

Saturday

8 AM — Truro · Alderney Landing · Brewery Market · Seaport · Halifax Forum · Hubbards · Novalea

8:30 AM — Wolfville Farmers' Market

9 AM — Sackville Farmers' Market

Sunday

9 AM — The Funky Flea · Halifax Forum Flea · Musquodoboit Harbour

10 AM — Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

11 AM — Alderney Sunday Artisan Market

Noon — Spryfield Farmers' Market