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Meow of the Tiger

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Nathasha White, Staff Contributor

I’m an addict. There, I said it. If I don’t get my sports fix every weekend, I’m not a happy camper. Basketball is my drug of choice. I’m tweekin’ a little, because the Tigers travelled to the Rock this past weekend, and my mother was in town. I caught a little of the Kentucky vs. Arkansas game, but it’s just not the same. There’s nothing like live ball.
Tigers basketball is in the final stretch – only four home games to go. So grab your student ID and get down to the Dalplex this Saturday and Sunday for some free hoops as we take on the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers (UPEI) and the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Varsity Reds. And if that’s not enough to get you off, the beer’s cheap.
The women’s Saturday night game had Dal squeak past MUN 73-69.The Tigers and Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) split their last meetings in November with Dal winning by three, and then losing by five; so Sunday’s game should have been a good one.
As for the men, the Tigers have MUN’s number. MUN suffered a shellacking in November, with Dal winning by 20 and 15. And, this just in: the Dalhousie men’s basketball team defeated the Memorial Sea-Hawks Saturday night 82-62. The Tigers move into fourth place with this win; now lying only four points back of Halifax rivals St. Mary’s.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Dal, love Halifax, love the East Coast. But student attendance at these quality games is dismal, dare I say, embarrassing. More often than not, we’re outnumbered by fans from the other team at home.
It’d be one thing if we sucked. But we’re good. Both men and women teams have the talent to beat anyone in the division any given night. The ladies can easily move up three rankings to fourth position before the season’s done. And, the men are the defending AUS Champions.
Where I’m from, we take our sports seriously. We wear our team colours with pride. We cheer out loud. We’re loyal beyond comprehension, beyond reason. When I was a kid, going to the university gym to watch a game was the perfect ending to a day of playing ball. We played on the school team, and the community league team. We ate, breathed, and slept basketball. Or hockey. Or football. Sport was a religion. It was in our blood.
So, I’m at a loss, when I go to the games. Where’s the spirit? Where’s the fire? Where’s the passion? Because it sure as hell isn’t at the Dalplex.
Sorry kids, but that’s the truth. I’m what they call on PEI, a CFA: a Come From Away; so maybe I’m missing something. Maybe the lack of a professional team has robbed Haligonians of the spirit of sport. Not everyone can play at the AUS level, but anyone can get in on the action. If you only make it out for one night of basketball this season make it Feb. 3, next Wednesday against Acadia, or Feb. 13 when we take on the rivals from down the street, St. Mary’s University. Games start at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.. Cheering for your team is a serious high, win or lose; I should know. I’m from Edmonton.

OT win keeps playoff hopes alive

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Dylan Matthias, Staff Contributor

The Tigers men’s hockey team recovered from a three-goal deficit on Friday, Jan. 22, and came back to beat the visiting Acadia Axemen in overtime. Coming off a 5-4 win against St. Francis Xavier at home on Jan. 20, the Tigers were looking to hold onto a playoff spot against an Acadia team ranked second in the AUS and fourth nationally. Currently holding the sixth and final playoff spot, one point ahead of seventh-place St. Thomas, Dalhousie is looking to end a seven-year playoff drought. Jordan Berk gave the Tigers their third straight win with a blast of a shot 4:20 into the 10-minute overtime. This is the longest winning streak the Tigers have enjoyed this year.
“We showed a lot of character tonight,” said Tigers defenseman Ryan Jenner. “Josh Disher played phenomenal.”
Disher faced 46 shots, and held the Tigers comeback hopes in the third period as he made several key saves before Benjamin Breault was able to tie the game with just over a minute left.
Acadia controlled much of the first period, scoring their first at 7:26, after a bad penalty by Jenner. The Axemen needed just 18 seconds on the power play before setting up Andrew Clark for a shot that beat a screened Disher.
The first period also saw some strong physical play, with Acadia’s Jonathan LaBerge getting hit with his head down in front of the timekeeper’s box. Scott Giles responded by taking out Ben Van Lare along the boards. Giles dropped to his knees to cut out Van Lare’s legs, a dangerous play which could have seriously injured Van Lare. No penalty was called.
Berk helped Acadia’s second goal into the net, deflecting a LaBerge shot past Disher early in the second. The Axemen scored their third off a quick draw with 3:47 left in the second. Scott Tregunna snapped a quick shot past Disher off a scrambled faceoff.
Then the comeback began, thanks to a bit of luck for the Tigers.
Down two men, Breault hopped off the bench after the first penalty expired. Receiving a stretch pass from Ron Kelly, he beat Acadia goalie Kristofer Westblom five-hole. The Tigers’ second goal was a bit more comic, and perhaps even luckier. Acadia’s Beau Prokopetz, walking the offensive blueline with the puck, attempted to pass straight through Shea Kewin. Kewin took off with the puck and Benoit Gervais, with no defenders back for Acadia. Kewin passed to Gervais, who returned it to Kewin, only to see the puck hop over Kewin’s stick. He recovered quickly, though, managing to swat the puck back to Gervais, who jammed it in. Not a textbook 2-on-0 goal, but they all count.
The Tigers equalized, as is so often the case, shortly after an Acadia opportunity. The puck bounced in on Disher, who hesitated to clear it. Josh Manning swatted it away though, and Devin Stonehouse found Breault, who cut around his man and roofed a backhander over Westblom.
A late penalty in regulation forced the Tigers to start the four-on-four overtime down a man. Yet again, Disher made several key saves during a nearly-minute-long spell of pressure in the Dalhousie zone. The late (and slightly soft) holding call on Dalhousie was made up by an obvious call on LaBerge, after he hauled down Daniel Bartek. Dalhousie forced Westblom into a fine save as Kyle Raftis hit Bartek with a beautiful cross-ice backdoor pass. Westblom came sliding across and deflected the puck away with his blocker. 29 seconds later, Breault set up Berk, who unloaded a shot that beat Westblom, giving Dalhousie the win.

Penalties end three-game win streak

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Dylan Matthias, Staff Contributor

It was another SMU-Dalhousie match-up and for the second time in three weeks, the Huskies walked away with an easy two points. But they did it without Mike Danton, who has been the centre of media attention over the past week. Danton did make a cameo, appearing in the stands during the warm-up.
The Tigers started bright and early, scoring just over a minute into the game after Francois Gauthier won a puck battle down low and centred it to Benjamin Breault, who flipped home his sixth goal in four games. That was about all Tigers fans had to cheer about on Saturday. They were out-shot 47-38.
The Huskies came back, and did so quickly, scoring four and a half minutes later on the power play. It only took six seconds after Ben Van Lare went off for Marc Rancourt to make a superb cross-ice pass to Cam Fergus, who scored past a helpless Josh Disher.
It was a big night for Fergus. He scored again, less than a minute after his first, tipping an Andrew Hotham shot past a screened Disher. Again, a Tiger was in the box, with Daniel Bartek serving a 10-minute misconduct for a headshot.
“You gotta be smarter when you’re playing guys like that,” said Bartek. “They’re the best in the country and you gotta respect that.” Bartek, a former Czech national junior team member and 2009 try-out prospect for the New York Rangers, said that the standard of refereeing is tougher than he’s used to. “The referees call everything here … it’s a different style for sure.”
This time the SMU goal took seven seconds. Fergus nearly had the hat trick shortly after that, missing an open net before Disher robbed him. Disher, a third-year management student, made a stunning 121 saves in his past three starts, the backup anchoring his team’s playoff drive.
Dalhousie had their ace card, Breault, ready to go shift after shift. And he was dangerous. Late in the first, Ron Kelly broke his stick and Breault jumped on. Immediately, he stole the puck and embarrassed Hotham before skating in alone only to be denied by Neil Conway in the SMU goal. He drew a penalty for his efforts, though. Breualt’s efforts were in vain, though, as the Huskies doubled their lead fifteen seconds later as Disher gave up a juicy rebound on a Justin Munden shot, allowing Colby Pridham to sweep it home. Breault was recruited to Dalhousie in November from the ECHL’s Florida Everglades. The Tigers have won four of Breault’s seven games since joining the team. The first-year Arts student has six goals and three assists as a Tiger.
The second period didn’t seem to be any better. Jacob Johnston got beaten very easily at his own blue line nearly four minutes into the second period. He was far too soft on the puck, allowing Andrew White to skate in and beat Disher. Disher was replaced by Bobby Nadeau after the goal. Tigers coach Pete Belliveau put the switch down to fatigue for Disher, who had played the last three games.
Colby Pridham set-up the next SMU goal, dodging a big-time hit at 13:37 of the second before flinging the puck toward the goal. Nadeau gave enough of a rebound that Kyle Doucet was able to stuff it home.
The Huskies sixth was Fergus’ hat trick marker, receiving a stretch pass from Cody Thronton and beating Nadeau glove side to make it 6-1. Kewin scored for the Tigers, collecting a rebound, but this was quickly cancelled out by another goal from Fergus, his 14th of the year. SMU’s leading scorer (he has 34) took a nice drop pass on a three-on-two and beat Nadeau. The Tigers got a goal for pride with 17 seconds left, as Conway missed a 55-foot wrist shot from Devin Stonehouse.
Belliveau was upset after the game, criticising media for focussing too heavily on the loss.
“Right now, I’m just focussing on next weekend.”
The Tige rs had played three games in four nights.
“Right now we’re battling for a playoff spot … our biggest weekend is next weekend; we’re ready to go.”
Belliveau was brought in to the program last year to end Dalhousie hockey’s seven-year playoff drought.

The Tigers hold the sixth and final playoff spot in AUS rankings by one point of the St. Thomas Tommies, who they will meet on home ice Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.

Can he save the Tigers?

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Joel Tichinoff, Sports Editor

After a long period of not having an Athletics Director at all, Dalhousie University has awarded the Athletics portfolio to John J. MacDonald, former director of external relations for the Faculty of Management, where he spearheaded the development of the Ken Rowe Building. MacDonald joined the Faculty from the financial sector in 1996. He is a fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers, a Minor Hockey coach, a member of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, former Treasurer of the Dalhousie Alumni Association and president of the Society for American Wines — the Halifax chapter. On his fourth day on the job, John sat down with The Gazette.

Joel Tichinoff: What was the last Dal Tigers game you attended?
John MacDonald: I was at the at the Dal Basketball game on Sunday against St. Francis Xavier.
JT: Great game.
JM: I also went on Friday to Volleyball and Women’s hockey. Both teams are looking good.
JT: Both teams are looking forward to playoffs. Before being named Athletics Director, you were the director of external relations of the Management Faculty, do you have any previous connection been to Dal Athletics?
JM: I have been a member of Black and Gold (Dalhousie Athletics’ Alumni Support Group) for decades. I graduated from Dal in ‘82 and was a strong supporter of varsity and intramural sports when I was a student. I actually learned to skate on the old Dal Memorial Rink (which burnt down in 1978) when I was four years old. My mother graduated from here so I’m a second-generation Dalhousian.
JT: What was your role at the Faculty of Management as director of external affairs?
JM: I was involved in the fundraising for the Ken Rowe Building and other fundraising initiatives within the faculty. For about four years, I was responsible for the marketing and communications area as well, so a lot of media relations.
JT: “Straight to the Juicy”?
JM: (Shakes his head) That’s not mine. No. That was after my time.
JT: Your Dal Athletics profile states you have “a passion for advocating the advancement of university sport.” What value do you see in university sports and campus athletics programs?
JM: I see the connections to the university in three ways. One is through out academic programs; research, part-time studies, full-time studies, free programs, continuing education. I see another connection with the community through arts and culture; things like the Dal Art Gallery, the Rebecaa Cohn, concerts, the Dal Theatre Department and Music Department all interact with the community on that level. And a third connection is around athletics. It’s an opportunity for the community to come into Dalhousie, it’s a prime way to be able to recruit students; there are a range of athletic activities that are available to students both on the Varsity and intramural side which has the sport component for people who aren’t at the Varsity level. Everyone can come in and continue to play their various sports and other sports that they may never have tried. My best memories from when I was an undergrad really come out of that whole sports connection whether it was Howe Hall, intramural sports, the Commerce Society. We used to go on road trips to support the Men’s Hockey team going to Acadia or Moncton. And that’s a real value; school spirit. It’s involvement, socialization, health and wellness. These are values that come with athletics.
JT: You’re quoted saying that this position gives you the opportunity “to inspire and be inspired.” Can you elaborate on that inspiration?
JM: So I think looking from a Varsity athletics perspective it’s really setting some high goals. The President’s Strategic Focus talks about us (Dalhousie University) becoming the best. In order to be the best overall as a university, you have to excel at all the components. We need to have the best teams to represent the university within our conference and nationally. We need top three finishes. We’re going to set some of these goals and some of them have been set already. We also need to look at what we’re doing for the Dalhousie community with regards to health and wellness, recreational facilities, intramurals, those kinds of things. So in terms of value, what are we doing within the four walls. And finally we have to look at facility renewal. That is a major, major project. I see that as a mid-term kind of thing; at the end of five years my goal is that we have an addition and renovations to the facilities we have existing on campus. And not just Dalplex. There are things with Memorial Arena and things with Sexton campus. It’s not just centered on Dalplex.
JT: On the topic of Dalplex. Built in 1979 when the student population was 7,500, how much of a priority has it become?
JM: It certainly would be a focal point, but there other areas of the campus as well (in need of renewal).
JT: You mentioned the value of school-spirit and growing a sense of attachment on campus. A lot of current and prospective students cite the lack of community and pride at Dal as a weakness of the university. How do you think you can address the lack, and foster the development of, community and school pride?
JM: Well I think we need to improve communication and we have to have a better promotion around our programs. I’m not as well-versed in (the promotion at the student-level) because they really have a student focus and I’m an alumnus and a staff-member. But we need to get the students engaged with the whole varsity program in particular. I was really pleased to see a lot of students coming in over the weekend to see the basketball and volleyball. And there are other programs; soccer in the fall, and hockey. If we run a promotion it seems we start getting the students in and we have to start developing that and work with the registrar’s office and the student recruitment team to really become part of that so that the Dal story is just about academics. We have to look for the full package, whether its academics, arts and culture or athletics. Those are the three we need to look at primarily at the undergraduate level.
JT: The final question is about sustainability. This building (the Dalplex) is held up by energy, right? The roof is supported by artificial air pressure. Is there any plan for sustainable practices in the Athletics Department?
JM: I would suggest, and I’m not intimate with the plans that have been developed, but anything with regards to the redevelopment of this department certainly will take sustainability into account. We’re looking at rewiring, and remaking all of the systems that make up the whole ‘physical plant’ shall we say. Specifics-wise, if we can take the present roof off Dalplex and have it as a kind of suspension, without using ongoing mechanical systems and machinery to support the weight I think that would be the thing to look at. But we also need to look at things like all the bottled water around and move on that in campus-wide terms. So you’ve got the macro piece around physical facilities but you’ve got the less-tangible things we can do bit by bit. We sell re-usable water bottles in our sports shop and our teams use re-usable water bottles. And actually there’s currently a project happening right now to redo the lights in the arena. We’re replacing the lights to reduce the energy consumption of the rink. So the facilities element is already getting underway.

Where the vegetarians roam

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Alex Bruvels, Staff Contributor

I am the furthest one could be from a vegetarian. There is nothing I like more than sinking my carnivorous teeth into a cut of rare prime rib or a fatty piece of Brome Lake duck. As of late, however, I have noticed a shift in my appetite.
It started when I was conned into a vegetarian pizza by a hippie friend of mine. It was in a tiny family owned pizzeria in small town New York State last summer. I recall thinking: “Vegetarian pizza? What a crock!” To my surprise and delight I was presented with a delicate blend of several cheese including chevre and fresh mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant, aromatic mushrooms and a blend of spices that was enough to tantalize the taste buds of even the most cynical meat lover.
I began to question my previous meatatarian ways. Was it possible that vegetarian food wasn’t all bad? Whenever I ate out at restaurants, I began to sample the vegetarian options on the menu and found that more often than not they were superb.
Heather McGuire, a fourth-year political science student at Dalhousie has been a vegetarian for two and a half years, mainly for health and ethical reasons. Some of her favourite places include Satisfaction, Pete’s Froutique, Sushi Nami and the Wooden Monkey.
When asked how it was finding good vegetarian options at regular restaurants, she said that it was usually pretty easy to find at least one or two entrée options, and salads were usually a safe bet. Many restaurants in an effort to be somewhat vegetarian-friendly incorporate at least one or two options on their menu. The following are a few restaurants in Halifax worth checking out for their vegetarian options.

Chaba Thai (5234 Blowers St.)
Genre: Casual Thai dining.
Dish: Cashew vegetables: stir fried zucchini, peppers, green beans, snow peas, onions, carrots, in a chilli paste sauce garnished with toasted cashews.
Cost: $11

Chives Bistro (1537 Barrington St.)
Genre: Casual, extraordinary dining with an emphasis on seasonal and fresh Nova Scotian ingredients.
Dish: Stuffed portobello mushroom cap with grilled autumn vegetable salad, macaroni and three cheeses, poached garlic and greenhouse cherry tomato salad.
Cost: $19

Coastal Café (2731 Robe St.)
Genre: Café layout but to chalk up the food as anything less than exceptional is an understatement.
Dish: Mexican vegetable, bean, Spanish rice burrito with jack cheese, guacamole and salsa.
Cost: $9.50

The Carleton (1685 Argyle St.)
Genre: Casual, yet understated; a smattering of Canadian pub food and fine dining dishes brought to a more approachable level.
Dish: Grilled vegetable Napoleon: grilled layers of Portobello, zucchini, eggplant, fennel, peppers and onions, with goat cheese and balsamic drizzle. It is also served with house salad.
Cost: $13.75

The Wooden Monkey (1707 Grafton St.)
Genre: Emphasis on organic and locally grown. A strong commitment to health and a strong aversion to deep fryers (they don’t have one). Also a strong presence of vegan and vegetarian options are available.
Dish: Seitan sandwich: sliced seitan, lettuce, tomato, white cheddar, mushrooms, onions and mayo in a thin pita.
Cost: $14

Saege (5883 Spring Garden Rd.)

Genre: Bistro highlighting a wide variety of tantalizing pastas and pizzas in a crisp urban setting.
Dish: Oven roasted manicotti ricotta, goat cheese, seared asparagus, wilted rocket and cauliflower veloute.
Cost: $19

The Greek Village (6253 Quinpool Rd.)
Genre: Tiny and inviting, the food makes you feel like you’re actually back in your mom’s kitchen … if your mom is Greek.
Dish: Spanakopita: phylo pastry stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. It is also served with Greek salad, roasted potatoes and rice.
Cost: $10.45

So as much as it may pain you to tear yourself away from that same medium-rare tenderloin or slightly varying chicken dish you’ve been ordering every time you’ve dined out over the past five years – take a chance. Take a chance on vegetables and you may be pleasantly surprised; at the very least your mom will be happy.

Softcore

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Meriha Beaton, Arts Contributor

Canadian based singer/songwriter Dallas Green is on the road again, and he won’t be going home in the near future.
“I don’t have any plans to stop any time soon,” says Green. “There is nothing but touring to do.” The Juno-winning artist, who is currently touring the U.S., will be hitting up the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Feb. 1, and due to his growing popularity, a second Halifax show was added for Feb. 2.
“All of the shows have been very well attended,” says Green.
Green’s passion for music began at the age of eight, when his parents gave him his first guitar. After a few years he began to fall in love with it.
“After that it was kind of a no brainer in my head – it was music,” he says. “It was the only thing I really wanted to do – it was the only thing I really felt that I was getting good at.”
Green’s big break came in 2001, when he joined the band Alexisonfire. The band’s aggressive, punk sound was offset by Green’s smooth and powerful voice. In 2005, Alexisonfire’s second album reached platinum and the band won a Juno for New Group of the Year.
The success of the band encouraged Green to pursue a solo career. In 2005 he released his first solo record, Sometimes, under the name City and Colour. The album was a compilation of songs Green had written over the years, covering themes of heartbreak and homesickness. Sometimes was not only a crossover into a solo career for Green, it also introduced an entirely new sound.
“I am just a big music fan, that is all it is,” he explains when asked about his diverse styles. “I have always leaned towards loud aggressive music since I was a kid, but at the same time I also really dig melody and simple songs. I am just really inspired by music and end up writing different sorts of songs.”
Originally inspired by Jeff Buckley to become a musician, Green says his music is more inspired by what he doesn’t like, than what he does.
“Certain things that I love make me almost depressed in a way, where I think: ‘This is so good. Why would anyone want to listen to what I’m doing?’ Whereas things I don’t like, I’ll see on T.V. or in a magazine and I think to myself: ‘Well, that is something I really don’t want to be like. I’m going to write a song that has nothing to do with that.’”
His honest and heartfelt songs are relatable to fans, as they discuss the pain and heartbreak experienced in everyday life. The ability to write such beautifully relatable songs comes from his personal experiences.
“I can’t seem to write a song that doesn’t involve myself,” says Green. “Maybe it is because I am selfish.”
In 2008, Green released his second album with City and Colour, Bring Me Your Love. In this album he experimented with a different sound and more complex lyrics.
Having written the songs on Sometimes when he was a teenager, he says Bring Me Your Love is a more mature album that focuses on the experiences he’s had in adulthood and is reflective of who he is now.
“The first songs were much more woe is me, heartbreak and relationship type songs, because when you are younger you think it is the end of the world,” says Green. “The new one is more about me getting older, and realizing there are more things to life.”

Nature of Description

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Erica Eades, Staff Contributor

Just inside the Eyelevel Gallery entrance at 2063 Gottingen St., there is an immediate scent of fresh paint. The harsh, white walls are adorned with a series of vivid paintings, which surround a single photograph in the centre of the room. An old projector displays a silent film on the front wall, while a television screen in the back is frozen on an image of a teenage girl.
Nature of Descriptions is the latest exhibit by Halifax-based artist, Aaron Weldon MacLean. The collection was inspired by a photo found in the archives of his late father. It shows a family-planning class at Tantallon Junior High School in the early 1990s. In the photo are about 25 students, a teacher, an infant, and the infant’s mother.
With the help of a small group of local artists and performers, MacLean re-enacted the class in the form of a silent film. The film portrays a teacher instructing her students on the basics of childcare. It is set to play on a continuous loop, while being projected on the front wall of the gallery.
The exhibit also features a series of four paintings by the artist. They depict a woman holding a baby, a profile of a female student, an infant in a small tub and a class picture.
On the Eyelevel Gallery website, MacLean says of his work: “I have tended to employ different modes of painting that imply photography or collage, hiding representation with geometrical shapes and referring to disparate modes of picture-making through paint.”
True to this idea, MacLean’s paintings feature abstract images that are combined with details so precise, they could be photographs. The bodies and backgrounds blur together in a collage of vibrant colours, while the faces of the characters are frighteningly realistic.
MacLean has also painted large, light-blue boxes on the walls and floor of the gallery. While some remain blank, others have somewhat cryptic text written in them, such as “imprint”, “fruit tree” and “forgetfulness”.
MacLean, who has shown his work internationally, has a very clear vision for this exhibit. As he says on the gallery website: “My intention with this project is to use visual inheritance as a point of departure in exploring the relationship between formal aspects of images and their historical or informational content.”

The Chickenburger

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Matthew Ritchie, Assistant Arts Editor

Grade: C+

“You haven’t experienced Nova Scotia until you’ve had The Chickenburger.”
“It’s the best food in the Maritimes.”
“Delicious!”
These are the accolades I encountered upon my trip to the infamous Chickenburger. Created on March 10, 1940, by the Innes family, The Chickenburger has served up diner food to the HRM’s masses for decades. Known for being the first drive-thru in Canada, The Chickenburger garners some of the most attention when it comes to food in Nova Scotia. Next to donairs and garlic fingers, this is one of the most referenced food items when tourists and out of province students ask what to eat.
However, much like the film Avatar, this food item is overrated and contains more glitz than substance.
Upon pulling up into The Chickenburger’s parking lot on a Friday afternoon in Bedford I was greeted with bright neon lights and cars filled with teenagers. It felt exactly like the 1950s, but instead of Buddy Holly playing from Chryslers, T-Pain was playing from Civics.
Walking up the asphalt incline into the main entrance I encountered a soda shop seating area and a larger take-out area.
Walking over to the take-out section I was greeted by a young (perhaps 16-year-old) girl, surrounded by four other high school aged girls talking away. When I ordered the classic Chickenburger, I was asked whether I would like it in my hand or to go. Yes, at The Chickenburger, the main option to go is by having one of the staff place the food in your hand rather than wrap it up to go. For some this is where the kitsch factor lies. The food is apparently so good that taking it in your hand is a normal thing to do at the restaurant. I wish the reason was that by doing this you can consume the delicious food faster, but it seems more likely that this is an attempt to save money on supplies such as napkins and packaging.
I requested my burger in a bag and began to leave. Following me, an elderly gentleman ordered three Chickenburgers.
In a parked car outside the diner, I removed the Chickenburger from its packaging and began to fantasize about what lay inside. A juicy chicken breast slathered in mayonnaise and ketchup with crisp lettuce and a fresh tomato? Possibly grill marks would adorn this dirty bird, keeping all the tender flavour inside.
Instead I was faced with the Pandora’s Box of foods. In my hands were two plain hamburger buns that appeared to be from Ben’s Bakery. Inside was chunked chicken. The burger was wet. Juice dripped down my hand. I wondered: “Is this gravy?” Nay. It was too light to be traditional gravy.
I looked inside the store and noticed one worker dipping a ladel into a deep steaming pot, pulling up chunks of chicken and placing it on a customer’s bun. I walked inside and requested something to go on the sandwich. I was informed that the Chickenburger is known for being just chicken with no fixings. I was directed toward a squirt bottle of ketchup.
The Chickenburger is a truly unusual meal. What you get is bland chicken chunks that could have come from a can. And bread. It is the closest I have come to eating a meal that makes me imagine what it must have been like to eat dinner during The Great Depression.
The other big problem with the Chickenburger is that it’s not a burger at all. It is simply chicken slops. When I invite someone over for sloppy joes, I don’t say, “Why don’t you come to my place and we’ll have some burgers.” Instead I say, “How ‘bout some sloppy joes? I made them extra sloppy for you.” I would also tell them that I was drunk, as that would be the only way someone would understand the origin of this item.
The Chickenburger costs $3.50. It may be the Sham Wow of all foods.
That said, what the Chickenburger does best happens to be fish and chips. Their website says that it is made with fresh haddock, and the deep fried food may be the most pleasing item on the menu. The fries are crispy and light and make up slightly for the confusing meal I had previously consumed.
The Chickenburger is a restaurant that carries a long tradition in Nova Scotia. Eating at this location is certainly a rite of passage for many new Haligonians. But in a province with so many one-of-a-kind foods, chunks of chicken on bread seems to be a bit of a cop out. A much more logical focus would be on items such as Pictou County Pizza – perhaps the best-seasoned pizza outside of Italy. Let us not forget Darell’s Peanut Butter Burger – the best burger combination since deep fried onion rings began to top patties of meat.
The Chickenburger certainly offers a unique dining experience that caters to those who wonder what it would be like to live in the ‘50s. The service is excellent for such young workers, and the décor is fun. But next time you’re craving chicken, maybe Burger King would be a better option.

Pulp Fiction

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Samantha Chown, Arts Contributor

Before Pulp Fiction was synonymous with a Quentin Tarantino movie, it had a different meaning.  It stood for the “pulp” paperbacks that featured stories of fantasy and man’s struggle against what he can’t quite control. Its newest incarnation is the title of the current art exhibit at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery.
The artwork deals with the condition of humanity and internal struggle, wrapped up in a fantasy that pokes fun at pop culture. Curator Corinna Ghaznavi’s says the artwork can’t be pinned down to one story.
Organized and circulated by Museum London, the exhibit features artists Marc Bell, Tasha Brotherton, Mark DeLong, Barry Doupe, Shayne Ehman, Liz Garlicki, James Kirkpatrick, Amy Lockhart, Jason McLean, Jennie O’Keefe, Seth Scriver, The Lions and Peter Thompson. Each of these artists has worked together collaboratively or shown together, making their work complementary for a great exhibit.
Jason McLean and Mark DeLong use found objects such as baseballs, baseball gloves, hats and briefcases on which to paint their messages. Their pieces entice you to press your nose to the glass for a closer look.
Jennie O’Keefe’s porcelain dolls are tucked away in an alcove off the main room. Enter this room because the dolls, especially “My Job Makes My Head Hurt” and “Mr. C. Goose”, are hilarious and cheeky.
The best parts of the exhibit are Marc Bell and Peter Thompson’s ink drawings. If you know anything about the phenomenon that is J.R.R. Tolkien (one of pulp fiction’s originals), You might like Bell and Thompson’s collection of drawings entitled “The Hobbit”. These comics are laugh-out-loud funny.
The only drawback is that the whole picture is hard to take in the first time. The drawings are so incredibly detailed they demand total concentration. If their message seems as if it’s finally sinking in, another character all of a sudden pops out of the background of every drawing.
This is a typical problem for most of the artwork. There’s just not enough time to spend with each piece. One of the animations by Seth Scriver and Shayne Ehman is 40 minutes long itself.  If the exhibit is overwhelming, come back later, or make sure to purchase the short zines by the artists as a souvenir.

The Last Supper

Dalhousie Gazette Staff
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By Dalhousie Gazette Staff

For more than six years Mat Dunlap and Dave Ewenson – co-founders of local record label Just Friends – have invited you into their kitchen, and you’ve invited them into yours. Let’s Get Baked, the cooking show that welcomes you musicians, and hilarity into Dunlap’s Allan Street apartment has been a CKDU staple since 2004. Soon, much to the chagrin of local vegans who crave soup recipes, CKDU will be retiring the show.
“Time to hang up our aprons,” says Dunlap “This has been an extremely busy year for us with some of the others projects we do.”
No kidding. With signed acts such as Brent Randall, The Stance and Laura Peek, the Just Friends label is quickly becoming a local music powerhouse. Add in the fact that Ewenson drums in a fistful of bands, and Dunlap designs websites for some of Canada’s best indie acts, and you’ve got a recipe for more than just soup; you’ve got a recipe for success. But if you love Let’s Get Baked so much that your copy of The Gazette is now stained with eye-brine, relax. Mat and Dave are planning on releasing a cookbook! “We’ve been planning it out for a few years now,” says Dunlap. “Basically, we’re planning on taking all of the recipes, tips, tricks and facts that we’ve learned over the years and putting them together as a book.”
Tips and tricks they’ve picked up from the likes of Brian Borcherdt, Julie Doiron and Buck 65.
“We’ve already talked to many of our past guests, and they’re all game for contributing. We hope to make it action packed.” And what’s more: “We also want to get some talented local artists to help us make it visually mind blowing, so that you can enjoy reading it even if you don’t cook.”
But you’ll want to cook, and what you cook will be primarily vegan – and wholly delicious.
“We’ve made a lot of fun recipes over the years,” says Ewenson. “A fire cracker cookie.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: a cookie strapped to a small explosive. “A chocolate mountain fountain that spits syrup, a skull carved out of seiten that spits sweet and sour sauce. Those dishes would fall under the category of concept recipes.”
There will also be plenty of regular old dishes if your palate hates experiments. Just in case you’re illiterate and have asked your friend to read you this article, CKDU will still air LGB reruns “during the coveted 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. time slot,” Ewenson jokes. “Sorry we couldn’t do it more, but after six years we realized that volunteering is for suckers.”
If that’s not the fond farewell you’ve been looking for, Dunlap offers something a littler friendlier: “Don’t be afraid to have some fun in the kitchen and experiment a bit. And of course,” he adds, referencing a long running joke on the show: “drink more maple syrup.”

You can check out Let’s Get Baked on CKDU 88.1 FM, Thursdays at 5 p.m. Or, look up the Just Friends roster at http://www.justfriends.ca.

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