● An Off-Season Guide to Halifax for the Reading Week Traveler

Ariana Mah Editor in Chief

Today, in cloudy, slightly overcast Halifax, we’re seeing 15° weather with a chance of rain. As your tour guide, I’ll be taking you on a unique and fun-filled day through the streets of the “City of Trees,” a wonderful place full of lovely people and even more lovely landscapes. A little disclaimer: if you’re in the city for a few days, all the better! You can spread these places out over the course of your visit, and take your time at each one. With that said, bring along your raincoat, and let’s get going! We’re starting the day off at the Halifax Waterfront, with a scenic walk along the water. Make sure that your pace has slowed to a meander, in order to make the most of the gorgeous water that seemingly stretches on for miles; the early morning light will cast an otherworldly glow over the view, and your camera roll will thank you! The Last Steps Memorial is a must-see for a bit of Halifax history, as well as the “we love nova scotia” mural on the side of the Waterfront Warehouse, facing a parking lot. While there’s plenty to eat and drink in the area, I’m going to have you walk five minutes via Prince and Hollis Streets, to the Bluenose II Restaurant, located at 1824 Hollis Street. Here, you’ll find one of the best lobster rolls in the city, perfect for your first meal of the day, or a mid-morning snack. Take a seat at one of the many booths inside and people-watch as you eat, or grab it to-go and wander the streets as the city begins to wake up. It’s time for our first adventure of the day; we’re going to the Africville Museum, found at 5795 Africville Road. Here, you’ll find informative exhibits on the former 1860s African-Canadian town, as well as artifacts of great historical importance, all housed in a replica Africville church. Take a walk around and view the detailed history, accompanying photos, audio recordings of interviews with former residents, and objects from a time not too distant ago. Educational and a crucial piece of the true Haligonian identity, you won’t regret the visit! Outside the museum, you’ll find the Africville Park, a dog-friendly park with a great view and plenty of lush grounds to wander. Please note that the museum is best accessed by car, though an alternative route involves a rough 20-minute hike on the side of the road, followed by a short bus journey back to the city centre. Having worked up a healthy appetite, you’re going to head to The Stubborn Goat Gastropub at 1579 Grafton Street for a lunch of epic proportions. If you’re visiting on a Monday, you’re in luck; there’s classic mac and cheese on offer for only $9 a shot! Rich and gooey, this dish will be any cheese-lover’s dream, and offers a welcome, warm respite from the rainy Halifax chill. There are multiple versions, including French Onion or Smoked Meatloaf, but the Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese comes highly recommended! And if that’s not your thing, you’ll never go wrong with their Fish & Chips, which comes on a platter piled high with crispy, golden-brown haddock and a veritable mountain of fries. Either way, you’re sure to leave The Stubborn Goat stuffed and happy! Now, with a full belly and a cheery disposition, you’re going to make your way to the coolest comic shop ever, packed to the brim with comics, graphic novels, manga, anime paraphernalia, and everything in between. Strange Adventure Comics & Curiosities, located at 5110 Prince Street, easily lives up to its name, with countless priceless treasures to be found within. Can’t decide between the first volume of Heartstopper, the classic Archie Comics, or a copy of one of many Inuyasha books? Why not get them all? While you’re at it, pick out some figurines to decorate your apartment or dorm room, and grab a free local publication on the way out the door. Our next stop had us back for more; we were so in love! Located at 1729 Barrington Street, Freak Lunchbox is a shop with the coolest name, and even cooler wares. You’ll find weird, wacky, and just plain fantastic confectionaries inside, in all shapes and sizes; Arizona Tea-flavoured gummies, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Fruity Pebbles candy bars, and just about every Hi-Chew flavour one could imagine. Of course, this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the trio of self-scoop candy walls, priced per 100 g, and with fun options like Sour Grapes, Gummy LEGO, and Crème Caramels. And the best part? The selection changes daily, so you’ll never feel bored; you might leave the city with a few more cavities than you arrived with, but such is the sacrifice one makes for sweets! One other location of Freak Lunchbox can be found in Halifax, as well as one in Saint John, New Brunswick. At this point, you’ve probably worked up an appetite, though that might depend on whether or not you gorged yourself on your collection of sweets beforehand. But this next spot is too good to miss, so you’ll have to find space in your belly anyways! Young Pocha Korean BBQ Restaurant, with its unassuming exterior and nondescript waiting area, is a real treat, found at 5650 Spring Garden Road. Tons of Korean classics line the menu, including jjajangmyeon (짜장면, black bean noodles), fried chicken, and large pots of gyeran-jjim (계란찜, steamed eggs). Regular table service is supplemented by cute tray-holding robots, who move around delivering dishes and taking empty plates. Looking for a good time with friends? You can also partake in shots of soju accompanied by karaoke; if you drop by closer to the weekend, the restaurant has a wide selection of bingsu (빙수, shaved ice dessert) on offer for the perfectly sweet and creamy end to your meal! And that brings us to the end of this guide. Make the most of your trip, and don’t take any itinerary too seriously, even this one! Remember: the longer your trip, the better. You’ll be able to spread out these activities over the course of multiple days, and go back for any souvenirs that catch your eye. My only warning is this: the longer you stay, the harder it will be to leave. I’m already dreaming of my next trip to the Maritimes, and I’ve only just returned! Happy and safe travels, Glendon!

Photo par Ariana Mah