Halifax Pre-Convention Tour and Report
July 24, 2010 No CommentsSpecial report From Halifax
District 8 Deputy Governor Gary Gornik
In an attempt to better educate the membership specifically for the District 8 Kin but not JUST exclusively for, the District 8 Executive spared no expense (literally none) and dispatched Deputy Governor Gary to investigate the down town core of Halifax in advance of National Convention.
The scope was to find the best places to eat, drink and enjoy the eastern atmosphere. DG Gary was housed in the Lord Nelson for this, the host hotel. The Lord Nelson Hotel. It has undergone significant renovations lately. It was in great shape before, now it is BETTER!
The intent of this is to not rehash details that are available on the National Convention web site www.kinvention.ca but to further add value to you the membership. When you are at the Lord Nelson, where is the liquor store or Tim Horton’s? You may need groceries (mix and snacks) or simply need to get away and try 60 different beers on tap. If you get hungry late at night, where is Pizza Corner? These are the sites that DG Gary will point out and research so that you do not need to worry.
1. The Lord Nelson
The Lord Nelson host hotel is located at the corner of South Park Street and Spring Garden Road. Tim Horton’s and McDonalds is both a 2 minute walk from the Lord Nelson, (just in case). Shopper Drug Mart is 2.5 minutes away, all east of South Park Street on Spring Garden Road. Across from McDonalds is a Pub/Restaurant Your Fathers Moustache. Wednesday Specials is a rack of ribs for $13.95 and you better be hungry!! www.yourfathersmoustache.ca
If you need groceries, Pete’s Fruitique is behind the hotel on Dresden Row and has a decent variety.
The Halifax Public Gardens
Across from the Lord Nelson is the Halifax Public Gardens a jewel of a park to walk, explore and enjoy. This is a GREAT place to take pictures of the scenery as well as portraits.
2. The Liquor/Beer Store
The Liquor/beer store, Self-Explanatory. www.mynslc.com The local panhandler will be found here, he is deaf and he has been here for 20 years (give or take)!
3. Pizza Corner
Pizza Corner. Burgers and Dogs… NOT. Well there is also a burger joint.
4. Maxwell’s Plum
Maxwell’s Plum themaxwellsplum.com 60 different types of beer on tap!
5. The Economy Shoe Shop and the Seahorse
The Economy Shoe Shop www.economyshoeshop.ca One of the BEST restaurants in Halifax for the atmosphere and food. IF you are to eat out once, this should be it! The Clam Chowder is worth the visit.
The Seahorse, can be decent band entertainment.
6. The Alehouse and Bubbles Mansion
The Alehouse www.halifaxalehouse.com and Bubbles Mansion http://bubblesmansion.com The Alehouse can really rock and it is large! Two levels. Thursday to Saturday night I would check this out! Bubbles is a Trailer Park Boys theamed place. I never did stay long but worth a check IF it still is open. I was informed that the place will be closing!
7. The Split Crow
The Split Crow www.splitcrow.com Great bands, VERY busy Thursday nights. Different liquor laws then Ontario!!
The Halifax Citadal
This National Historic Park is something to see The Halifax Citadel. This site is a 5 minute walk north of the Lord Nelson to the base of the hill and the walk up the hill will get the blood pumping! The view is one of the best in Halifax. If you are into museums and war history then this is a must see. I highly recommend that you be onsite for the 12 O’clock gun because it is LOUD!!!
The Citadel Museum has one of the BEST collections of Victoria Cross Medals in Canada.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Halifax Harbour
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a 15-20 minute walk from the Lord Nelson. The walk going down Sackville Street (east of the Lord Nelson) is a lot easier going to the museum then coming back! The museum is located at the end of Sackville Street and Lower Water Street. The whole pier area around the museum is designed for the tourists with shops and boutiques. In the summer there are street performers as well you can check out Theodore Tugboat (see below)!
The Maritime Mistime has a nice balance of exhibits, my personal favorites are the Halifax explosion and Titanic artifacts. You got to check out one of the ONLY Titanic Deck chairs in existence!
Theodore Tugboat
This is simply cute. For anyone who has seen the kid shows (they were hokey) you will love to see the real macoy. You can actually go on a harbour tour. Check it out at Theadore Tugboat web site.
Point Pleasant Park
While not on my zoomed in map of the down town core of Halifax I strongly encourage everyone to make the trek down to Point Pleasant Park. You can check it out on line Point Pleasant Park or you can do yourself a favor and simply check it out it person!
To get there you can walk it in about 20 minutes, which will take you through some of the older high-end homes in Halifax. You will need to check out the home that has woodcarvings on the front lawn using the old trees that died. Very tastefully done. To get to Point Pleasant Park you simply walk out of the Lord Nelson, make the left (South Park Street) and walk. South Park Street turns into Young Street.
Pier 21
For anyone who’s ancestors immigrated to Canada 70 years ago, there is a very good chance that they came through Halifax at Pier 21. While I was not able to personally check out the museum, the walk along the harbor is enjoyable and a fantastic way to explore. You could also check out the tug boats along the way.
Pier 21 is located on the southern portion of the Halifax harbor close to Point Pleasant Park but north of the shipping dockyards were they load/unload cargo.
Halifax Hospitals
While NOT normally on everyone’s mind I do not know if my good friend Kin Brian M will be attending National Convention. IF yes then this will be important knowledge for everyone to know. Yes you can and should call 911 IF it truly is an emergency! BUT incase you simply need to visit for less then life threatening reasons you will be happy to know that there are two hospitals located close by. Each one a 10-15 minute walk north or south of the Lord Nelson.
The Victoria General Hospital is located three blocks south of the Lord Nelson on Southpark Street (west side).
The QE II is located north west of the Lord Nelson near Bell Road and Summer Street, right beside the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV building. Across the street from the hospital complex is an old cemetery which must have been convenient but lets not jump to conclusions about the quality of care that can be received there! On a serious note, a good friend is a nurse there and they are very proud of the care they provide.
