The Artists' Quarter Gallery and Studios is a new "concept" space where artists can rent studio…read morespace with the added benefit of a street-level gallery as part of the studio rental. The gallery can also be rented on a daily basis by anyone who is not renting a studio in the building, and there is a meeting room that can be hired out for business meetings or group events. The building is also home to a cafe and rental apartments, so its owners refer to the space as "a place for social and cultural creativity, and a new concept of affordable housing in Halifax." That all sounds like a great idea to me.

As soon as we walked into the Dart Gallery, I knew I was in for a treat. Art is covering very…read morenearly every inch of open space - including tables - and there is so much beauty in one place. And it's not just paintings, either! Ceramics, photography, textiles and pottery were just some of what we saw during our quick perusal. I think they're all local artists too - it's at least a good majority of local artists! I love looking at local art - I go to Argyle Fine Art on the Halifax side of the harbour all the time just for that - and one day I dream of covering my walls with it. One day. *wistful sigh* If you're looking for small gifts this is a good spot to check out too - they have smaller more inexpensive things like coasters, magnets and cards. And there is a little cafe/restaurant attached to it, though I haven't been there yet.

The Dart Gallery is one of my favourite art galleries! It's a welcoming space that promotes various…read moreforms of art (ceramics, painting, photography, textiles, sculpture and more) by mostly (if not all) local creators. Installations seem to last about two weeks, so there's always something new to see and the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable. The Dart Gallery is a go-to spot when I'm shopping for gifts as there seems to be something for everyone, from pop culture-inspired works to more abstract art. There are also lots of cards, magnets and practical items like mugs if you're looking to inject a little more art into your everyday life. Picnic at Dart is a great looking little restaurant that's attached to it, but I haven't had the pleasure of trying their food yet.

Psychedelic dance parties with records spinning and projected oil art dripping across the walls;…read morelive music blazing while sweaty bodies jump and bump to the solid beat; inspired local art adorning the walls while patrons peruse, chatting and poking about: This is the Khyber. Everything and anything cool as dirt and art related. The space is amazing. Climbing the stairs you feel like you could be in any city, about to embark on a secret night. You'll see smiles, wild dance moves, great style and a lot of happy people on any given night at the Khyber. It's my favorite space in this city. If you're into a scene that's a little off the grid, check it out - if nothing else, you'll admire the historic nature of the building and the amount of life that one old place can house.

The building has a few weird rooms where you can check out live shows. Weird in the sense that it…read moremay feel like you're a big empty white room. Or it may be a big white room with very strange art on the wall. There is a pretty cool group of bands that frequent the Khyber and typically they put on fun and energetic shows. There is something special about catching a secret show there at 2 a.m. If you're a Joel Plaskett fan, be sure to check the place out so you can understand the album "Down At The Khyber" a little more. Be sure to bring cash for beer. The fridge usually is stacked with local Propeller beer, my favourite beer in the city. A lot of people work hard to keep the place going and it is vital for the Halifax arts scene. Definitely a place worth visiting and spending some money to help out.

Super friendly! Awesome collection of local art and crafts . Wide price range. You will meet one of…read morethe artists as they take turns working in the gallery! Loved it!

I'm always intimidated to go into art galleries. I don't know much about art, except things that I…read morelike and don't like. I don't normally have a vast interest, but sometimes it's nice to look. I walk by this store quite frequently and one day bravely decided to go in. I was right. It was uncomfortable and I felt out of place... at first. After a while I forgot where I was and just really started enjoying all the paintings. Everything was very beautiful and unique. I was amazed at how long I spent in there. It was like I was in a mini museum. Since I'm not a connoisseur, I don't have a wild understanding of art prices. I couldn't tell you if they are high or low. What I can tell you is that the work was beautiful and being in here was an experience all in itself!

Really great for large events, the space is huge and open. Another bonus is the location, very…read morecentral and close to downtown without actually being downtown. Most recently, I attended a wedding here. With 300 guests, beautiful decor, and a live band the place was bumping. Only complaint is someone was playing in the rehearsal space in the basement when the bride was walking down the aisle, which was quite distracting. It's a great place for corporate events, crafts shows and weddings. I'd say the most important thing to keep in mind is numbers, the place is so big it would be daunting for small groups. Be prepared to be your creative hat on. The space comes empty and you'll need decor to transform the place into something special.

My first visit to the "Dirty O" was for the Halifax Crafters Spring Market. Since its nickname has…read more"Dirty" in it, I wasn't expecting much, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Much more spacious and open than I had imagined. Lots of room for vendors and customers. The sound was actually pretty good as a DJ played oldies on the stage. However it was quite warm inside, and while it may only be April, I'm not sure if this venue has air conditioning or any kind of effective ventilation system. The upper level was downright stifling. This didn't stop us from buying out the place though. :-) I'm not sure how this venue would work for concerts, but for small markets/fairs, it seems like the perfect spot. Nicer than the Forum and more personable than Exhibition Park, I hope they hold more events of interest to me here.

Love both locations of this store. I love supporting local businesses, and Made in the Maritimes…read moreallows you to support a local business ... by supporting local businesses. Yes, their wares can be pretty expensive, especially some of the beautiful wall art on display, but it reflects the effort, talent, time and money that goes in to producing handmade items on a small scale. And there are some lovely things here: jewellery, yarn, wood crafts, candles, treats, and of course the artwork. They have something for just about everyone on your gift list. Staff are friendly and helpful at both locations, and I don't think I've ever left empty-handed.

I honestly think live theatre performances can intimidate some people. They are often perceived as…read moreexpensive, lengthy and stuffy. Thankfully, we have Fringe to combat that! If you've never been to (or heard of) Fringe before, it's an annual theatre festival made up of smaller, independent and alternative plays. Some are locally works; some have toured internationally. Some are making their grand debut; others have been around for years. Many of the plays are short, they don't cost much and no one's expecting you to get all gussied up to go see them. And the topics? Range wildly. Everything from the life of sex workers to exploring someone's imagination to domestic violence to the changing nature of friendships to robot apocalypses. And they're everywhere! Fringe is hosted at a variety of venues across the city and each play has multiple performances at a weird mix of times so you'll almost definitely be able to fit it into your schedule. Seriously, get some theatre in your life, people.

Installed on an unusual corner this new brewery expands the downtown offerings a bit out of the…read morecentral core. I will have to draw customers off the usually beaten path - and they likely will. It is a small, new rebuilt space directed at the task of brewing great beer. The tastings that we did shows a great range of flavours. With four tasters and a couple of flights there something for everyone. For me the Rampant Lion NE IPA is the most complex and pleasant beer that I have tasted. It starts with the citrus, mellows into the IPA bitter and finishes with some earthiness. What a treat! But that is only my opinion. A great addition to the beer selection is the collaboration with the nearby Stones Pizza that makes this venue a great place to hang out through mealtimes;-)

We tried a couple of the craft beers and split the Caesar salad and fried chicken poutine. They…read morehave a great selection of beers and also live music which we did not hear because we were there at lunchtime. Everything was delicious!