Month: August 2009

Restaurant Aug 14, 2009 The Waffle 5 Comments Pizza corner is an institution in Halifax.  Located at the intersection of Blowers and Grafton Streets, it got its name because there are inexpensive pizza places on three of the four corners, the fourth one being occupied by the Presbytarian Church of Saint David. You go there for the pizza, mostly late at night after enjoying many frosty beverages.  It is also a great spot to try out a donair, if your stomach is solid and you are going home alone. Wikitravel claims that the area can descend into anarchy when the bars let out, and the restaurants often lock their bathrooms, even to customers!!  But it wasn’t the case this Thursday Night, when Rick and I went there after “French Kiss” the party organised by the Quebec section of the NDP the night before the Convention kick-off. When you get to Pizza Corner,…

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Restaurant Aug 13, 2009 The Waffle 4 Comments As we ran around all morning from interview to interview, we soon realized that no lunch time had been scheduled.  Well, that’s always a problem for me when they do that.  And you may not believe me, but they do it quite often. Anyway, the next interview was scheduled with the Globe and Mail in a coffee shop on  Upper Water Street.  Well, that’s always a problem for me when they do that. I do not drink coffee. Thankfully, the Leader and his assistant Tammy were also hungry, and they happily accepted my suggestion of stopping at O’Carroll’s when we walked by.  A quick phone call to the Globe and Mail reporter to change the location, and we were all set. O’Carroll’s is an Irish Pub with a big emphasis on seafood.  There is a dining room, which is quite nice, but…

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General, Politics Aug 11, 2009 The Waffle No Comments Sometimes, when you are on tour, people are quite happy to see you or have you as guest. Not always. But it was the case in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. As I checked into my room at the Days Inn and Conference Centre, I was surprised to find a huge fruit basket waiting for me, along with a nice letter from the assistant manager. Here are some excerpts: “We are pleased to have you and Mr. Layton as our guests this evening. We have just celebrated our first year with this new franchise and are looking forward to experiencing continued growth for this business. We look forward to sharing our hospitality with you. We are especially looking forward to the changes that will be brought about by the New Democratic Party.” Next time I am in Bridgewater, guess where I am going…

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Politics Aug 10, 2009 The Waffle 1 Comment We boarded the Sea Mist II as the sun was starting to go down on Chester‘s Harbour. This was after some mainstreeting near the docks, talking to local folks about the issues they care about. NDP Leader Jack Layton along with NDP MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse were joining a group of local supporters for a tour of the harbour and maybe some mackerel fishing. Apparently mackerel is a big thing in Chester. A big thing. So we set off, touring the harbour and admiring the scenery. Notably, Heisler’s Marina, constructed in 1924, the Swinehamer House, circa 1800, the Old Baptist Burial Grounds, with its oldest stone dated 1761. There Champlain Robertson House, overlooking the Back Harbour, was once owned by a descendant of Chief Powhaten, father of Pocahontas. Everything was quite striking, but we finally set out for the sea. The weather was perfect.  We were enjoying…

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