Nova Scotia, my Oyster

St. Patrick's Day in Nova Scotia - Irish Pubs and Celebrations

2011-03-16T18:26:05Z

My first memory of celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Nova Scotia comes from when I was in university at St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish. I remember being in awe as some people lined up before 6:00 at the campus bar, but I soon understood why. You don't want to miss happy hour, which seems to carry on into the wee hours and there was no getting in anywhere after 8:00 PM!

And if you want to know why we celebrate with such fervor, just read fellow blogger Lauren Oostveen's post, The Irish in Nova Scotia. We come by it honestly, the Irish culture is one of our founding cultures. And of course Nova Scotians love a celebration. We celebrate with refreshment, parades, and toe-tapping music, but most importantly, we celebrate with friends!

Wondering where to go? There is live entertainment almost everywhere. In Halifax, check out The Coast's listings of St. Patrick's Day Events. In Cape Breton, check out What's Going on Cape Breton's listings for March 17 or find the community listing of an event near you! Wherever you might be, you won't be far from a pub or community centre that is celebrating.

If you are looking for an Irish pub in which to hang your green hat, check out:

Hart & Thistle - Halifax

Durty Nelly's - Halifax

Pogue Fado - Halifax

The Old Triangle Irish Ale House - Halifax

Finbars - Bedford

Jamieson's - Dartmouth

Governors Pub - Sydney

Paddy's Pub - Kentville

Now raise a glass and toast Sláinte!

Durty Nelly's

The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

WANTED: Nova Scotian Ambassadors - My Nova Scotia Contest

2011-03-08T19:56:13Z

Are you a proud and friendly Nova Scotian? Do you feel like you're a great ambassador for the beautiful province you call home? Do you love to shine in front of a camera? Well then, this is the opportunity for you!

When we ask people what they like best of Nova Scotia, it's always the PEOPLE!

They welcome our visitors as if they were family. Time and time again we're told of friendships made between visitors and locals, and of travelers that return time and time again to meet old friends and make new ones. Nothing beats some good old maritime hospitality. That's why we love to hear Nova Scotians tell their stories about what makes their home so beautiful and unique. Nova Scotians like Joanne McIntyre make you want to spend the day at the Highland Village, listening to songs and stories and learning bits of the Gaelic language and culture.

Nova Scotians tell our stories so well, that we just want to invite them all to share! Enter My Nova Scotia!

My Nova Scotia is our latest regional campaign, which could be starring YOU!

There are so many things that make Nova Scotia unique. We're looking for local people who want to share their favourite things about Nova Scotia, from great restaurants to the best places to hike and everything in between.

We'll be sending out an audition bus across Nova Scotia to a town or city near you. Or interested Nova Scotians can simply enter by submitting a 60 second video telling us their favourite things about their province to www.novascotia.com. And if you are chosen, you could be starring in your very own regional television commercial.

So get out your video camera and give us your most welcoming smile. And if you know that special someone who you think would be a great ambassador, please invite him or her to join the fun by submitting an audition video!

McLobster...yeah it's real and it's in Nova Scotia!

2011-03-04T13:33:47Z

So anybody who is on Twitter might have seen that McLobster was trending the last few days. It would seem that either people are either in complete disbelief that McDonald's would put such a decadent food on the menu, or wondering if the tasty treat will make it to their neck of the woods. The fact is the McLobster has been on the summer time menu for years in Nova Scotia! Check out this old commercial I dug up on YouTube.

And while some find this menu item a little surprising, McDonald's is not the only fast food chain. Subway has been known to offer a lobster sandwich in Atlantic Canada. It's not all that uncommon for fast food chains to cater to the regions they serve. And since we are Nova Scotia and boast the best seafood, where better to put a little lobster on the menu.

Yes, it's true you can get a little lobster on the run, but I highly recommend you also take the slow food route. Enjoy the experience at one of our fabulous restaurants, or even get it straight from a fisherman. Tuck in a bib...no one is looking. Have an old fashioned boil up on the beach and just savour the freshness. I prefer my lobster with a side of potato salad and some garlic butter because that's how I grew up with it. But anyway you have it, there is no better lobster than the lobster in Nova Scotia.

From lobster suppers in community halls to five star meals in fabulous restaurants, and from lobster pounds along our coast to buying them right form the fishermen, you are never far from a place to buy it fresh! We even have a few festivals devoted to the little crustaceans. Shelburne County Lobster Festival and Pictou Lobster Carnival are great Lobster themed events.

One more video to have you convinced. Check out A Channel's visit to Stanley's Lobster Pound in Yarmouth last year, and plan your Nova Scotia vacation today!

Of course if your still bent on trying the McLobster, I bet your still Lovin' it!

It's because of the PEOPLE!

2011-01-14T19:23:41Z

We hear it time and time again! When we ask the question, "What do you like most about Nova Scotia?", the majority of the time, the first answer is the PEOPLE. Salt of the earth, friendly kind of people. You'll meet them at our restaurants and pubs. You'll meet them at our museums (like these two gems I met at the Seal Island Lighthouse Museum in Barrington last year).

You'll meet them at our B&B's and our hotels. Occasionally, you'll even meet them on the side of the road. They come along especially when you need them!

Today is a Friday, like any Friday, the end of a hectic week. I ran out to pick up lunch and when I went to parallel park by the building a sleek black truck with some young whippersnapper pulled up beside me. (Yes, I said whippersnapper but no, people don't really talk like that anymore.) I thought, he probably is annoyed that this old bird took so long to parallel park. He's probably going to yell at me or give me the stink eye, I thought. But NO. He pulled beside me to tell me that my driver's side headlight was out. He then said he had the same car at home and was thinking he might have a spare headlight in his glove compartment. He was going to pull ahead in the parking lot and have a look. He did just that and came back with a set of lights. We popped the hood and they were the wrong fit. Key sera sera! He wasn't able to replace my light but he was able to make my day. When he was going to hand over his $60 set of headlights to this strange lady, he asked but one thing...PAY IT FORWARD. Well, what else would I do?

So Rob Burke from Chester, I am going to pay it forward in many ways, the first being this blog, I wanted to share your kindness with others on a Friday afternoon. I want to thank Rob for being one of the nice PEOPLE, that makes me realize how fortunate I am live in this beautiful place. If you know Rob, kindly share this with him. If you think what he did is nice, find a random act of kindness of your own and put it in motion this weekend.

Rob's act of kindness reminded me of one of my favourite video we featured in the iLove Nova Scotia contest. Just couple of friendly Irishmen sharing their own experience. I have linked to it many times before so some of you may have seen it. But those who haven't pass it on or pay it forward yourself.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T13:49:25Z

(Acadian Pubnico Middle West School 1912)

Discover Your Nova Scotia Roots Contest

Remembrance Day in Nova Scotia - Lest We Forget

2010-11-10T02:36:51Z

I am the daughter of a military man. As such I have moved around all my life. I have a few places I have learned to think of as home and feel very thankful to have them. I'm proud of my dad. We have made sacrifices, but no where near the sacrifices that I have seen some families make. I remember times of war growing up, watching friends whose parents were going off to the Gulf and feeling their sadness. I always felt lucky when my own father didn't have to go, and a little guilty at the same time.

Now I have cousins who are in the military...cousins who have been deployed all over the world and I fear for them. We have witnessed some horrifying events in recent years, brought on not only by war, but also by some natural disasters. Each time our soldiers are there, making sacrifices, putting themselves on the line.

I work in a job where I get to share a wonderful place like Nova Scotia everyday. I invite people to come and discover a place that is beautiful, calm, and serene. I invite them to share in our culture, our music, and our heritage. I tell them we're friendly and I invite them to explore, because we are free to do so and we are safe. But none of this would be possible without the men and women who have fought for us.

Wherever you are on November 11, stop and take a moment to appreciate the beauty around you and remember why you are free to enjoy it. There are so many war torn countries where people are not safe to enjoy the world around them.

Remembrance Day is a time for reflection and sometimes I find music helps me reflect. I am reminded of a song I heard years ago by Newfoundlander Terry Kelly "A Pittance of Time".

And

Another from Nova Scotian Jim Hanlon:

For local parades and ceremonies near you, check with a local Canadian Legion or Veteran's Affairs. Remember to buy your poppies. And remember to thank a veteran.

Fall in love with Nova Scotia - Shubie Park...even the critters are friendly!

2010-11-04T19:33:02Z

Recently my daughter Claire was tasked with a mini science project. She was to observe a local habitat and report back her findings. So off we trekked to nearby Shubie Park.

Shubie Park is a beautiful park in the city of Dartmouth. A favourite park for dog owners, runners, cyclists and walkers alike. With trails running throughout and a few off-leash areas, it seems like nature co-exists quite well with us humans who are just looking for a bit of exercise and fresh air. And for those who want to camp in the city, you can kick back and relax at Shubie Campground. And finally the best thing about Shubie is its lakeside location, where locals and campers alike can seek refuge from the summer heat on the supervised beach.

I love the contrast between all the dead stick trees (scientific name) sticking out of the water and all the fall foliage.

We are very fortunate to have the park so close. We were even more fortunate on this day when we met a friendly animal lover on the trail with a bag full of seeds.

He taught my daughter how to call the Chickadees...CHICK-A-DEE-DEE-DEE-DEE!

He even showed us how to feed the chipmunks, whose cheeks became nice and round! (Careful now, these are still wild creatures.)

We also said hello to the friendly ducks, who were not too happy when we had no food for them! It is prohibited to feed the ducks at Shubie, though we saw a few people with contraband bread crumbs.

Not us though! And as they came towards us like concert goers rushing the stage, we said goodnight without a single encore and left as twilight came upon us to the sounds of QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!

Pier 21

2010-11-03T13:20:06Z

(Photo from the Read Family Collection of the Pier 21 Society British evacuee children bound for the safety of Canada, Bayano 1940)

One million immigrants landed at Pier 21 between 1928 and 1971. Do you recognize anyone in those smiling faces?

Discover Your Nova Scotia Roots Contest: www.novascotiaroots.com

Abandoned houses...two stories or a thousand?

2010-10-29T18:54:17Z

So I couldn't resist a second post this week...all in the love of Halloween.

I love abandoned houses and the mystery that surrounds them. They hold a thousand stories from long ago. Who lived there before? Where did they go? What did they leave behind? There is something about them to me that is hauntingly beautiful. Bits of old wallpaper and furniture left behind let us peak into another era gone by. You can let your mind fill in the cracks and gaps and picture them in all their glory.

Here are a few beauties I found on a trip to Guysborough. Note: I did not go inside these houses. I wouldn't feel right. Mostly, I told myself it was because the structure wasn't safe. But in truth it's because my imagination can get a little carried away. All pictures are taken with a zoom lens from a safe distance, so I could zoom zoom myself if I needed to.

I found this house on the way to Canso.

The door was open...but I wasn't going in!

Hanging by a thread.

Peering through the glass. You can see bits of old wall paper.

I took this on the old road going towards Antigonish. Looks like a storm moving in.

Then I found this old farmhouse, half of it looked like it was imploding.

Do you know anything about these houses? I would love to hear. Do you have any stories of old abandoned houses of your own?

Haunted Halifax and Beyond...OOOOoooOOOh!

2010-10-28T13:06:32Z

It's my favourite time of year...all Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as we have come to know it. It's a time to embrace your inner ghoul, a time for goblin (preferably your favourite candy), and a time for a walk back through history.

Nova Scotia is rife with history. From the battles at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton, to the Halifax Explosion in 1917, to those lost in search of treasure at Oak Island. No matter where you are in Nova Scotia, you're always guaranteed a good tale or two. Such was the case when I took my daughter on a family ghost walk with the Boys and Girls Club this week.

Let me preface this by saying I won't tell you too many stories so as not to ruin the walk for anyone.

We met our narrator for the evening, Glenn Coolen of The Halifax Ghost Walk, on the steps of the Old Town Clock at Citadel Hill as dusk was settling in. It was the perfect setting to begin our journey.

The clock looks ominously down upon us. I hope our time is not limited!

Glenn prepares the young ones for our tour.

We started our tour at Citadel Hill, looking out over the harbour, where Glenn told us tales of a ghost who haunted Sable Island. As the story goes, a well-to-do woman washed up on the shores of the island barely alive. There she was met with a n'er do well who tried to steal a diamond ring from her swollen finger. When he couldn't remove it, he cut off her finger and threw her back into the ocean. She haunts the island to this very day waving her hand with the missing finger.

The children were transfixed!

He lead us down through the streets of Halifax recounting tales of this and that. My favourite was perhaps our most famous. The mysterious silhouette in the window of St. Paul's Anglican Church. As the story goes, a parishioner was thrown from the window of the church during the Halifax Explosion in 1917, but his silhouette remains in that same window today. They say the glass has been replaced several times, but the silhouette always returns. Since we were visiting at night, it was difficult to capture this in a photo. But I invite you to check out this flickr photo that was taken during the day.

The church itself is Canada's oldest Protestant church.

We ended our tour on the wharf on the waterfront. I can't tell you the story, but I will simply say that as the tale was spun, the children feared for Glenn who sat on the end of the dock. I offer you this caution, beware if a Halibut tries to talk to you....just walk away.

Want to add some spooky into your Halloween? Try a ghostwalk yourself, or check out some other Halloween Events on novascotia.com.

Lobsters, Lighthouses, History & Hospitality

2010-09-13T16:21:35Z

What could be better than lobster for lunch, unless it's followed by lobster for dinner too, especially when served with a lesson in history and a healthy heaping of hospitality!

Recently while on a tour of the South Shore, I had the good fortune of having my fill of lobster, twice in one day. Succulent? Yes! Delicious? Yes! Full? Definitely. While some would consider this quite rich to enjoy twice in day, I assure you in my maritime family a good "feed" of lobsters never involves eating less than two. And in that sense, spreading it out over two meals means that I was actually taking it easy!

Lunch in Barrington came first and was enjoyed in front of the Seal Island Lighthouse Museum. The museum is a 35 foot replica of the 67 foot lighthouse on Seal Island. You can climb to the top and take a close look at the light.

Lunch was served to us by women dressed as planters. The planters came from New England and settled some of the farming areas around Nova Scotia between 1759 - 1768, after the expulsion of the Acadians. (More about my trip to the Acadian village later). This year marked the 250th anniversary of their arrival in Nova Scotia. Apart from being planters, these ladies made a mean potato salad, which everyone knows is the best accompaniment for a lobster lunch.

Be sure to check out the Cape Sable Historical Society to learn more about history of this area.

Next we were off to Yarmouth where we would stay the night. After we were all checked in to the Rodd Gran Hotel, we took a drive out to Cape Forchu Lightstation where we were in for another treat.

As I have said before, as the grandaughter of a lighthouse keeper, they have a special place in my heart, and the story of this one touched me in particular. In the early 1990's this lighthouse was set to be decommissioned, when a small group of citizens gathered to keep the light alive. These citizens formed the Friends of Yarmouth Light Society and you can read more about their story here: http://www.capeforchulight.com/FriendsoftheYarmouthLightSociety.htm

We were in for a real treat here. Not only were we about to eat another lobster dinner, we were serenaded by the Yarmouth Shantymen, singing traditional working songs of the sailors from years gone by. I tried to capture some songs but I had a little camera trouble. Still I will include what I captured because we had a great time!

I took this picture from the bus. Unfortunately with the camera issues, I didn't get another picture.

The Yarmouth Shantymen. I ran into camera conked out partly through getting this clip. I conked out much later after some wine and an entertaining show at the Rodd Grand!

Whirligigs in Shelburne

2010-09-01T19:31:04Z

A few of our bloggers, Wally and Maria have written about whirligigs before me, so my curiosity was peaked when our travel group stopped in at the Dory Workshop on the harbour in Shelburne. Evidently this was the place to come. The town has festival in September dedicated to this wooden art.

What's a whirligig? According to Wikipedia, a whirligig is an object that spins or whirls, most commonly powered by wind. Just our luck, Shelburne had plenty of wind on the day of our visit, so we could test them out.

My friend Windy Cindy holds up this cute creation of a couple with dueling umbrellas!

We were lucky to meet two characters who were as colourful as the characters in their creations. Milford Buchanene is an expert dory builder and wood crafter who hosts a workshop during the festival. He can turn out a whilrligig faster than the wind!

Dale Claire is a hobbyist whirligigger, and a fine one at that. What makes a good whirligig, "just about anything" he explains. He uses everything from coat hangers to wood to bits of old siding to bring his ideas to life.

We we discovered that whirligigs are so much more than their wiki description. I would almost describe them as wind-powered cartoons, making comical whimsy come to life! Our wry smiling, whirligigger told us many of the stories behind each of his creations. Some political commentaries, like this.

Others bringing his own brand of comedy to life, showing us the only thing the binds a whirligig is creativity.

Here he tells us about O'Dell's family business. Where they had a well digging business but the father decided he would rather dig graves. So you have the son on the one side digging wells and the father on the other side digging a grave.

This one features an outhouse. The carpenters are taking the outhouse down while the gentleman inside it shakes his fists furiously. Very funny!

The Shelburne Whirligig Festival: September 18-19, 2010

Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct

2010-09-01T18:09:59Z

If you love to be at one with nature, Kejimkujik Seaside offers a beautiful place to explore for a day. With beautiful trails, a white beach awaits you and if you are lucky the seals might be waving from the rocks just off the shore.

I recently had the pleasure of a stopover there with a group of travelers. We only had a short time for a stop, so we chose the Harbour Rocks Trail, a 5.2 km hike. But those with more time...and perhaps more energy can try the Port Joli Head Trail for a 8.7 km trek.

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah! This is our crew. (Yes, that's a guy in a tie)

We were lucky enough to get a guided tour, where one of our guides Duncan told us about the Piping Plover. There is a monitoring program being conducted at Kejimkujik because this little treasure is endangered. This tiny little shorebird makes its home among the sandy beaches where they nest. So while we welcome you to enjoy our beaches, be careful where you step. The eggs are well-camouflaged and the babies are even tinier then their sweet little mammas. I wasn't lucky enough to capture a picture so I thought I would link you to this great picture of mother and baby, from our flickr group member Birds Eye Viewer.

Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct is located along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Pack your picnic, throw on some sneakers, (take off your tie) and enjoy!

As pretty as a picture, it's a Pitcher Plant.

As pretty as they are, these plants are carnivorous!

The view from the look-off

We're too far away, but these are the rocks where the seals like to play!

Halifax Pride Parade

2010-07-09T13:06:49Z

Last year was my first time attending Halifax's Pride Parade, but it won't be the last. It was just such a great time! I loved the crowd. They lined the streets, families and friends, all ages, all walks of life. I loved the energy, everyone in a great mood. The sun was shining and the vibe was fantastic.

As the parade began there was plenty of excitement to go around. Halifax Regional Municipality Police began the parade looking very proud indeed marching with flags and riding on horses.

But it was group of drummers that really kicked off the parade for me. You couldn't help but get your groove on to the beat of those drums. The crowd was already on their feet, all we needed was a reason to dance.

To me this is what the Pride parade is all about, people celebrating who they are and enjoying life. As the parade progressed, the dancing continued, with a rainbow of colourful people and floats as far as the eye could see. Community organizations, local companies, radio stations and officials joined in the festivities and one could hear "Happy Pride" echoing throughout the streets! I think my favourite part of the parade came at the end when a float with DJ Sonny D paused with just a few people on a flat bed. All of the sudden a small crowd ran up and hopped on board and the float turned into a party with more people joining further down the road.

After the parade, we headed over to Garrison grounds for some more of the festivities. There were some bouncy castles for the kids and some performances by local musicians. It was a great day.

Halifax Pride Week runs from July 18-25. Be sure to check out the events throughout the week.

White Point Beach

2010-06-23T13:57:06Z

This past week I was fortunate enough to have an excursion around the Southwest Coast, starting with a night at Nova Scotia's famed White Point Beach.

Well let me tell you why I love White Point. There is something about it it that makes me feel like I'm going to round the bend to find Johnny and Baby (think Dirty Dancing) sneaking down to the beach or over to the lake. I guess in a sense there is a certain sense of nostalgia about the place that makes you long for simpler times. And maybe that's because the company has been around for more than 75 years! It's rustic, it's charming, it's wonderful!

Now all this isn't to say that they don't have modern amenities and things to do. The resort features a Golf course, full service restaurant and bar, a pool and even a spa.

But for me, the most important thing they have to offer is that beautiful white sandy beach and those playful bunnies surrounding the property hopping here, there and everywhere. I was tempted to chase after them but I knew I didn't have time for tea with the Mad Hatter so I refrained.

As I have mentioned many times, there is something like the trance inducing state that ocean waves have on me that allows me to reconnect with myself. And if you are visiting with family, I think those waves also help you reconnect with each other. So after a good night's sleep in one of their Lakeside rooms, I got up at 6 am to enjoy the sun coming up and headed for a walk towards the beach.

The sun was glowing, the tide was gently rolling in and it was heavenly. There were only 3 of us crazy enough to pull ourselves out of bed so early, an enthusiastic girl, running laps up and down the beach and a gentlemen who was every bit as entranced as I was. As we approached each other we stopped for a cheery conversation. "This is why I live in Nova Scotia" he said. He told me he lived in Amherst now near the ocean, but had spent many years in Bedford on the outskirts of Halifax. "I love waking up to the ocean every day. Sitting out on my deck with my coffee. This is so beautiful." I completely agreed. I don't wake up to the ocean everyday but I wish I did! I like to take advantage of it when I get the chance and this was so rejuvenating!

Do they make this in a wallpaper?

After a relaxing buffet breakfast, my group headed off to the next leg of our journey but I know I will go back with my girl to spend time as a family. I asked my good friend Heather Britten who had taken her twin girls to White Point a couple of times, why she keeps going back. And while she also loves the beach and wildlife, and indoor pool (she adds), it's also the little things that make it special.

In her words "The beach is amazing. There is a constant thunderous rhythm that reels you in and I find it hard to stop looking at it -almost like a campfire. They have a marshmallow roast every night - they provide the marshmallows and sticks. Then they have milk and cookies in front of the indoor fireplace where they read the kids a bedtime story. It is wonderful."

So there you have it, the viewpoint of a group traveler and also a mother with her family. I also have a friend who is planning a romantic weekend there soon. Though I'm sure they'll plan on nestling away quietly in one of the Oceanside cottages, and taking advantage of the room service :)

A few pics from my friend Heather...enjoy!

Heather and her beautiful family!

Nothing goes better with a sandwich than a sandy beach and sandy toes!

I love White Point any time of year, as long as I have my sister!