As supporters of the Open City weekend, we invited award-winning singer-songwriter Christina Martin to perform on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon here at Bishop’s Landing. Her performances, which also featured her talented husband Dale Murray, filled the Piazza with music and many visitors stopped to sit along the wharf and listen.

We were met with gorgeous weather and our shops had their doors open in participation, offering everything from giveaways and samples to demonstrations and exclusive specials.

Bedazzled hosted a trunk show for one of their most popular jewelry lines, Bejewel, on Saturday and gave away a gorgeous door prize from the Bejewel Sticks & Stones line.

Bishop’s Cellar hosted a tasting of Nova 7 with winemaker Jean Benoit of Benjamin Bridge, pairing the delicious samplings with local cheeses and smoked salmon.

One Stop Wood Shop / Coal Wynd Gallery offered refreshments and giveaways and hosted artist Lisa Fraser who held a painting demonstration right outside their doors. They also sampled goodies from their newest line, Granny McNabs Scottish Kitchen.

The Hamachi Steakhouse patio was a popular waterfront stop and their special “side door takeout,” a Sumo Burger with fries or salad, was a tremendous hit.

Maples Gallery offered samples of maple syrup, salmon, brittles and other maple products and held a draw for a wonderful Maples Mother’s Day basket.

Rum Runners Rum Cake Factory featured live music and 25% off all clothing and glassware, and neighbour and sister company Sugah! held chocolate-making demonstrations and offered half price ice cream all weekend.

Thank you to everyone that came out to listen to our live music, took advantage of some of the fantastic sales and offerings and supported our independent, locally-owned businesses. We can’t wait to see you all again soon!

To hear more about what Haligonians had to say about Open City and some of the goings-on at Bishop’s Landing, check out today’s cover article in the Chronicle Herald here.

Vintage Chic by L Carr Designs, for example, is crafted from vintage silver-plated dishes, some dating back to the early 1900’s. In their former lives, these pieces were serving trays and bowls, candy dishes, pot lids and bread plates. Now they sparkle at Bedazzled as gorgeous earrings, pendants, bracelets, belts, rings and brooches.

Artist Lynda Carr first discovered beauty in silver-plated vintage pieces when she came across an old butter dish lid at a local antique shop. She became inspired to take pieces that were forgotten and no longer used and transform them into one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Combining of-the-moment looks with a nostalgic tie to the past, her line of individually handcrafted jewelry is both charming and elegant.

Another stunning line that incorporates antique items in its jewelry is Halifax’s Arcane Angel. Vintage mechanisms and time pieces dating from 1815 to 1940 are embedded in every Victorian-inspired, retro-futuristic design.

Each piece of jewelry, from cuff to necklace, is handmade by artist Marina Smith and includes the exposed inner gears and ornate scripts of vintage clocks. Many of the pressed pieces used are still stamped from the original molds.

To find your own piece of handmade history to wear, visit Bedazzled and check out the gorgeous selection of pieces by Vintage Chic by L Carr Designs and Arcane Angel.

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Can’t get enough of the beautiful things at Bedazzled? Don’t miss their Bejewel trunk show on May 12th and a chance to win a “sticks and stones” cuff or earrings in sterling silver and bronze!

A century after the tragedy, our province retains a strong connection to the Titanic. Home to gravestones of victims, memorial monuments, preserved fragments of the vessel, original photographs and documents, Nova Scotia continues to be influenced by the Titanic’s legacy and Nova Scotians remain respectful keepers of the vessel’s memory.

This unique collection of jewelry, locally handmade by Brenda Reichel and available exclusively at Maples Gallery, is no exception. The Tears of Glass “Titanic Collection” is inspired by the Victorian Era and is composed of pieces intertwined with sea glass found on the shores of Atlantic Canada.

Brenda Reichel is the founder of Tears of Glass, a jewelry studio and gallery that specializes in creating unique one of a kind jewelry pieces using local, hand combed beach glass. Based in Inverness, Cape Breton, Brenda is constantly inspired by her community and local beaches. She prides herself in using 100% original, un-modified or tumbled beach glass, combined with top quality metals and materials.

She loves wire wrapping sea glass in sterling silver of all different gauges, adding gemstones, crystals and Czech glass to produce gorgeous jewelry such as that in the Titanic Collection. To learn more about Tears of Glass, click here, and for more information about other Canadian-made lines available at Maples Gallery, “Like” them on Facebook.

To learn more about Halifax’s connection to the Centennial Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, click here. Commemorative events across the province have been planned and details can be found at Tourism Nova Scotia and Destination Halifax.

At The Unicorn, there’s a flattering shade for everyone from mandarin, tangerine and peach to burnt orange. Incorporate one of their orange scarves with an otherwise neutral outfit, or pick up bright tones from a floral dress with a patent orange heel (featured above).

Turbine by Lisa Drader-Murphy can help you stand out in one of its boutique’s gorgeous orange dresses. Looking to make a bold Spring statement? Pair one of these bright beauties with a clutch or pumps in a contrasting colour, like cobalt blue or violet.

At Maples Gallery, you can add a whimsical punch of juice-pop orange to any outfit with a Michique handbag.

Effortlessly dress up a white t-shirt and jeans combination with a statement necklace like the gorgeous one from Frida’s Caribou Collection. This piece would work equally well to individualize a strapless, neutral dress or with a blazer/blouse combination.

Looking for some sparkle and a pop of colour? Frida also offers exquisite rings featuring orange sapphires. Contrary to popular belief, sapphires come in a range of colours other than blue, and the orange sapphires featured here are naturally occurring.

Feeling inspired? Visit the shops at Bishop’s Landing for more great outfit ideas and own orange this spring!

Also in Hair Factory news this week:

“We are happy to announce that several of our Halifax stylists have been named as finalists for the Canadian Hairdresser Mirror Awards. Cam Patey is a finalist for Texture Stylist of the Year and Cam Patey, Judy MacDonald, and Meaghan McIntyre are finalists for Atlantic Salon Team of the Year. The awards will be held in Toronto on March 31st, 2012. We wish them the best of luck!!!”

To book your next appointment call 902-492-5343.

It’s that time of year again! The TURBINE 2-DAY SALE is this weekend, Sat, Feb 25 (10-6) & Sun, Feb 26 (12-5)! We are clearing seconds, samples, overstock, fabric, remnants, leather pieces, jewellery, stone beads… at up to 90% off. First come, first served; no holds. If you’ve been to this sale before, you know what to expect! Please SHARE this with anyone you think will be interested. See you at the Turbine Ranch this coming weekend!

The most recent arrival to the gallery is her rendition of Bluenose II. The sails are a collage of press articles throughout time of the Bluenose II.

For more information visit www.coalwyndgallery.com, email info@coalwyndgallery.com or call Jason 902 209 2731.

Congratulations! 

For more info call 902 405 7050

Nova Scotia is one of the few places in the world that has the optimal growing conditions to produce ice wine. After several days of -8C the frozen grapes are picked and carefully pressed to release the sweet nectar that remains.

As part of the Annual Nova Scotia Ice Wine Festival we will be hosting a tasting displaying some of Nova Scotia’s finest. To accompany these scrumptious dessert wines we will have Chef Mark Rogers prepare some delicious treats. Tickets are $15 at the door. Please RSVP via telephone (490-2675) or email.

Five years ago we created the Tantric Tablet Collection and every year we bring it back just for Valentine’s Day! 7 unique chocolate bars, 7 unique Tantric Sex positions, 1 full week of chocolate and carnal exploration.

For the less adventurous, be sure to check out our Five Flights Wine & Chocolate Pairing. And for the first time ever, this year you can get your wines of Nova Scotia and our chocolates direct from us. We’ve partnered with some of Nova Scotia’s greatest winemakers to bring you a truly unique Taste of Nova Scotia.

Lots of ways for you to get our great chocolates:
- shop online and we’ll deliver anywhere in Canada or the US
- visit us on the Boardwalk Fridays & Saturdays only
- or you can get our full collection at Uncommon Grounds 1030 South Park St., or 1235 Barrington St. (Tantric Tablet collections will be in store later this week).