Year around, but particularly during the windy wintry months of the years, Halifax folk prefer to meet along its sheltered "main street" , that portion of Spring Garden Road between The Public Gardens and the historical St Mary's Basilica / Old Burying Grounds district.
Yes , Haligonians (as Halifax residents are called) buy things at suburban malls , just like the rest of us.
But they much prefer to shop (and dine, stroll, dance, meet and gossip) on a street that retains much of the feel of an old fashioned small town main street and yet is located in the busy heart of a regional metropolis.
That main street is those few blocks of Spring Garden Road and the half dozen short streets that run perpendicular to it.
That the Public Gardens at its head and the Basilica and Old Burying Grounds at its feet are must sees for tourists makes visiting 'Spring Garden' a no-brainer.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Halifax Citadel Army Museum
Four hundred years of army history associated with Nova Scotia brought to life by 70,00 historical artifacts and many life-like tableau.
No bullets fly and no one dies in this museum centred around Nova Scotia role in many past wars.
However, as but one example , something of the dank , dark , claustrophobic feel of life in WWI trenches one hundred years ago is really brought home to every visitor , whatever their knowledge before hand about the Western Front.
No bullets fly and no one dies in this museum centred around Nova Scotia role in many past wars.
However, as but one example , something of the dank , dark , claustrophobic feel of life in WWI trenches one hundred years ago is really brought home to every visitor , whatever their knowledge before hand about the Western Front.
Wanderers Grounds
Today this fenced-in field mostly sees amateur teams compete in games of softball and hardball (baseball) under the lights, but typical of early Halifax's British character, it once was home to rugby, cricket and lawn-bowling.
It still features games of Gaelic or Irish football , a not-for-the-faint-hearted sport that combines the more physical aspects of American football, rugby and soccer....
It still features games of Gaelic or Irish football , a not-for-the-faint-hearted sport that combines the more physical aspects of American football, rugby and soccer....
Halifax Public Gardens - gateway into the Victorian mind
The Halifax Public Gardens , in the centre of the Halifax Commons , is perhaps the best single way for visitors today to enter into the mindset of the citizens of the British Empire at its very height.
The gardens have no admission fee and can be conveniently entered through gates off Spring Garden Road, South Park Street or Summer Street.
They provides many park benches to relieve the feet and a view that offers a sheltered shaded respite from summer heat and traffic noise.
Washrooms and refreshments are here too.
On Sunday afternoons, brass bands play relaxing music from the grand bandstand.
Later , as you stroll through the immense garden, try to imagine yourself as a prosperous citizen of the still British garrison city of Halifax from one hundred and ten years ago.
You are here mostly to admire the botanical booty of imperialism (plants taken from all over the newly expanded empire), because Victorians had a fascination about flora and fauna almost totally lost to us.
But you are also here to meditate on all the monuments erected to the brave men, often from right here in Halifax, who had secured this vast empire for God and Queen , by force of sword and pen.
A year later, in 1905, the British garrison was handed over to Canada and a fifteen years after that, the certitudes of the biggest empire the world has yet seen seemed much less secure.
But, inside the Gardens and forever, the Empire is still alright with the world !
The gardens have no admission fee and can be conveniently entered through gates off Spring Garden Road, South Park Street or Summer Street.
They provides many park benches to relieve the feet and a view that offers a sheltered shaded respite from summer heat and traffic noise.
Washrooms and refreshments are here too.
On Sunday afternoons, brass bands play relaxing music from the grand bandstand.
Later , as you stroll through the immense garden, try to imagine yourself as a prosperous citizen of the still British garrison city of Halifax from one hundred and ten years ago.
You are here mostly to admire the botanical booty of imperialism (plants taken from all over the newly expanded empire), because Victorians had a fascination about flora and fauna almost totally lost to us.
But you are also here to meditate on all the monuments erected to the brave men, often from right here in Halifax, who had secured this vast empire for God and Queen , by force of sword and pen.
A year later, in 1905, the British garrison was handed over to Canada and a fifteen years after that, the certitudes of the biggest empire the world has yet seen seemed much less secure.
But, inside the Gardens and forever, the Empire is still alright with the world !
Monday, April 7, 2014
Live Music Suggestions
Classical
The Maritimes Conservatory of Performing Arts , located on 6199 Chebucto Road, is just 100 metres west of the Halifax Commons , above its Robie and Cunard Streets intersection.
April 13 : the latest in the ongoing St Cecilia Concerts features soprano Allison Angelo, cellist Shimon Walt and pianist Simon Docking in "Moon Loves Its Light".
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The Commons area : the WALKABLE part of Halifax
A walk through the green and historic Commons is a foot-friendly alternative to the steep slopes of Halifax's waterfront areas :
As any tourist with tired legs can quickly tell you , it is far far easier to walk the long length of peninsular Halifax than it is to walk the seemingly shorter width.
The waterfront of the peninsula of Halifax rises (or plunges - depends on your point of view !) precipitously to the water on all four sides.
The view from these slopes are wonderful , but going up and down those slopes is hard on the legs.
However the very top of long and narrow peninsular Halifax is nice and level and this is why Halifax's public space - its Commons area - is laid out long and narrow across that top.
The Commons area itself is only about half a square mile in size (two city blocks by twelve city blocks) but the land to the immediate south of it ( the famous Point Pleasant Park) and to the immediate north of it (the historic Hydrostone District) are both within easy (level) walking distance ....
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Summer Street is the 'Main Street' running the length of the Halifax Commons
One can easily walk - though not drive - through the entire longways length of the Halifax Commons , from Cunard Street to South Street , along Summer Street and its walkable extensions.
The roughly one half square mile of the Halifax Commons is only two blocks wide but ten blocks long - its long and narrow shape accurately reflecting the long and narrow shape of Halifax peninsula itself.
Beginning at Cunard and June Streets, one walks due east along a paved path across the North and Central Commons grasslands until one come to the beginning of the Commons' own 'Main Street', the always sunny Summer Street.
Summer Street ends (as a car roadway) at the entrance to the QE II complex at University and Summer, but one can walk through that entrance to the end of the Commons at South Street.
No , the Main Street of the emotional heart of our city is certainly not signposted as such and nor are the street- boundaries of the Halifax Commons indicated by signposts.
Why not ?
Many people believe this is because, sadly , we live in a self-centred age, where everything that is private is exalted and everything that is publicly shared - what the human family holds in common- is denigrated.
In the case of the Halifax Commons , I have always found this particularly odd because it contains institutions that we all must pass through as human beings --- regardless of our wealth, race or gender.
We all are born , we all must die : The Halifax Commons holds our region's only maternity hospital, our biggest general hospital , a palliative care hospice and finally a large number of cemeteries.
I entertain hopes that our HRM Council might, someday , signpost this emotional core of our city --- and signpost the walk-only extensions of Summer Street at Cunard and at South ....
The roughly one half square mile of the Halifax Commons is only two blocks wide but ten blocks long - its long and narrow shape accurately reflecting the long and narrow shape of Halifax peninsula itself.
Beginning at Cunard and June Streets, one walks due east along a paved path across the North and Central Commons grasslands until one come to the beginning of the Commons' own 'Main Street', the always sunny Summer Street.
Summer Street ends (as a car roadway) at the entrance to the QE II complex at University and Summer, but one can walk through that entrance to the end of the Commons at South Street.
No , the Main Street of the emotional heart of our city is certainly not signposted as such and nor are the street- boundaries of the Halifax Commons indicated by signposts.
Why not ?
Many people believe this is because, sadly , we live in a self-centred age, where everything that is private is exalted and everything that is publicly shared - what the human family holds in common- is denigrated.
In the case of the Halifax Commons , I have always found this particularly odd because it contains institutions that we all must pass through as human beings --- regardless of our wealth, race or gender.
We all are born , we all must die : The Halifax Commons holds our region's only maternity hospital, our biggest general hospital , a palliative care hospice and finally a large number of cemeteries.
I entertain hopes that our HRM Council might, someday , signpost this emotional core of our city --- and signpost the walk-only extensions of Summer Street at Cunard and at South ....
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