Photo credit: lumierefl from Flickr
Tonight I’ll be heading out to a launch party at Pipa for a fun venture put on by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission.
The Big Day Downtown program is meant to highlight downtown Halifax as a destination for shopping, dining, doing business, working and living. Participating bloggers, columnists, journalists and media personalities will be tasked with answering the question: “How would you spend $100 in downtown Halifax?”
Our little city is home to a compact, walkable downtown that’s pretty easy to fill a day with. Unfortunately, with lots of talk about the death of Barrington Street, a recent article in the Toronto Star remarked that “Halifax tends to look shabby and under-populated.”
I’ll be setting out into the streets of downtown Halifax to find out how far $100 goes and report back here with my findings. Before I do though, I’m going to look for some pre-game tips. What are some of your fave gems in downtown Halifax? Where do you think I should I go? I’m looking forward to showcasing what this fair city has to offer in our downtown core.
(Note, that according to the breakdown of business districts, the visit will not include Spring Garden Road which has its own association. Here’s a map of the district that is downtown Halifax.)
Kimberly Walsh is a publishing label executive at Fierce Ink Press. You can follow her on Twitter @AliasGrace.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
My favourite places to spend money are JDW (I think) books, sitting in a pub and sampling a pint from one the city’s microbreweries, and perhaps the shops and services along the waterfront.
Sounds like a great project!
I agree that Barrington Street has seen better days, but I bet that douche who wrote “Halifax tends to look shabby and under-populated” has never actually BEEN to the downtown, esp on a nice summer day
Not to be a tard here, but, well, Christopher Hume (the T.O. Star columnist who wrote the article) is renowned for his pieces on architecture, urban living, and urban design. I’ve never seen a columnist who is as much an advocate for a Jane Jacobs style of living as I have with him.
I think the point of the article is: “look what is happening to all cities, look how halifax is hanging on in spite of it, and imagine what more could be done.”
– Another transplant to NS who is also “east coast by choice.”
AuroraLee: We really do have some fine microbreweries here in the city, and a few within the downtown region so I’m pretty sure one of them will be a stop on my adventure.
Kim: When I look at some of the pictures from NS Archives of the way Barrington used to look, it does make me nostalgic for a time I never knew. It would be nice to see more pedestrian traffic there but I think some changes need to be made for that to happen. That said, downtown Halifax has a lot to offer and is a great way to spend an afternoon. I intend to prove it with this excursion.
Bronwyn: I hate to be the one to tell you this but Bud the Spud retired..!
Ashley: Pipa is lovely and the caipirinha is part of the reason why.
The Atrium there is gorgeous and the food so delicious. I actually forgot that we had a Yuk Yuk’s in the city so thanks for reminding me!
L-A: It’s true that the article wasn’t hateful of Halifax but I think we both agree that some streets have seen better days. Hopefully part of this great initiative by the DHBC will showcase the stores that are making downtown a destination and in turn help to revitalize the rest of the area. I have to admit I haven’t been to Attica in a while so I may have to check it out along the way.
mitchellirons: I think the reaction we’ve seen to The Star piece just shows the fierce pride East Coasters have of their cities and towns. Nobody wants to think of their home as shabby even if we’re making due with what we’ve got. I do dream of a time when we’ll see more pedestrian areas and less trucks downtown but I think that can only happen by bringing this conversation to the people who can make the changes.
This is sort of tacky, but as a kid I LOVED the Bud the Spud truck in front of the library. I also used to love taking the ferry across the harbour just for the heck of it, great way to see the city.
Go back to Pipa and try a caiprinha! It;s a Portugese drink and they are to die for! It;s a Brazilian tequila type alcohol with limes, sugar, and ice! And it’s strong too
Forgot to mention Yuk Yuk’s in the Westin hotel. I went there recently and it was great!
The Toronto Star article really wasn’t that harsh on Halifax. I had to look to find the insult that everyone is talking about as it seems to be taken out of context. He also said that we have “retained a vital urban core” and that “All things considered, however, Halifax has much to feel good about.” His point was that there is a lot of empty storefronts downtown and the trucks aren’t helping. All true.
However, despite agreeing with some of what he had to say, I still love downtown Halifax and see the good that’s there and the potential.
I’m hoping a blogger visits Attica – since it’s a fantastic downtown business. I’m also a fan of United Booksellers for books and DVDs. We’ve already hit Biscuit and Boutique Joliette, so I might try Foreign Affair and Renaissance.