We had a great time exploring Halifax from the markets to the Hydrostone, from Barrington to Spring Garden. For those of you that put in the long hours to try and squeeze it all in, you probably failed – there was just so much to do, see & taste. The great news is those museums,shops & restaurants are here every day of the year & you can make our own Open City day any time you please.

But you were unequivocally successful in proving that Halifax still has what it takes to be a fun, exciting city with new things for you to discover all the time. We hope that you got to try something new yesterday, that you met up with old friends and perhaps made some new ones.

We’ll do it all again next year & hope that you all can join us again -

Thanks

Here you go!

Click on the above link to download all 55 questions in our massive Open City Local Trivia contest. When you’re out exploring on May 11, simply take this with you and fill in the answers as you discover them. At the end of the day, simply drop off your sheets with as many answers as you can find. We’ll choose a winner and you could win prizes from all 55 participating businesses valued at over $1,000.

Please note that this is not the exhaustive list of participants in Open City – for that, please see the list of 100+ participants at our home page.

Open City 2013

Last year we said “We have a great city, but how often do we explore it? When friends & family come to visit, are you at a loss to tell them the must see stops? How long has it been since you’ve visited the Citadel?”

Well, we know that last May you explored Halifax in a way you hadn’t before.  You came with a sense of exploration and of discovery.  You came with an open mind – and an empty belly.

To be quite honest, we were blown away by the sense of community that we experienced on that beautiful weekend in May.

This year, we want it to be just as awesome – dare we say it, even more awesome!

& that’s where you come in.

If you’re a business owner, we need you to think about what it is you can do to animate your business, your sidewalk, your block.  Then we need you to tell us about it so that we can promote it.

If you’re a museum, charity or other organization, same thing.  How will you take to the streets to spread your message, who will you partner with in your community to make something happen, how will you show Halifax how important you are to all of us.

If you’re just an awesome Haligonian – well it’s easier for you.  All you have to do is book the day off – Saturday, May 11 – we suggest fasting the day before.   In the meantime you can help us spread the word – tell your friends about Open City, talk about it on twitter and tag it with #OpenCity, like our I Love Local HFX page on FB and tell us you’re coming to the event and finally, talk to your favourite local business and encourage them to get involved.

Now, in case you have no idea what we’re talking about – here’s a little primer on what Open City is and some of the things that happened last year.

We want you to get out of your comfort zone, to try something new and to learn more about this great city of ours & then we want you to share what you find. Tweet it, post it to facebook, tell your friends and family who are living abroad to come visit.

If you’re a musician, or know one, introduce yourself to a shopkeeper and arrange to play in their shop or play on your front step, in a park, on the Boardwalk.

If you’re a crafter of products, arrange to open your studio to the public, or do a demonstration in a store that sells your wares.

If you run a museum or gallery, do something special, or interactive for the weekend, consider offering free admission for the weekend.

If you’re a shop owner, do a little something extra – serve cupcakes, grab a keg of local beer, or just offer a special for the weekend.

If you’re a chef, take part in our Back Door Take Out – high end food, to eat on the go, & sold out the back (or front) of your otherwise formal dining room.

Watch this space, we’ll be posting things as they come in – if you have an event or special offer that you want to see posted here, please click on the contact us button. Any independent business or restaurant, gallery, museum, or attraction on the peninsula is encouraged to take part.

Last year we had over 90 different businesses and organizations take part  - new businesses were started, new friendships made and a new sense of what is possible in Halifax was born.

Includes Stories on:
Local Love Notes
Open City Coming Back for 2013
Brooklyn Warehouse Crowdfunding
Biscuit General to Launch their own Clothing Line
P’lovers supports Hope For Wildlife
Boutique Joliette featuring Jewellery from the Golden Globes
CarShare HFX Celebrates it’s 4th Anniversary

One of the ways that we think we can make Halifax, and Nova Scotia, stronger is by shifting 10% of your consumption to locally produced products, or to locally owned companies.  The evidence strongly shows that when money you spend locally, the money re-circulates in your community and everyone benefits.

This Christmas, please think before you shop.  When you find something local that you love, take a picture, share it on twitter or instagram and tag it with #Shift10 – we’ll pass your finds along and you could win one of 20+ daily prizes.

Also, when you visit one of the participating local businesses, you’ll get a ballot to enter to win a great I Love Local HFX shopping spree valued at over $1,500.  It’s just our little way of saying thank you – thank you for shopping locally, and thank you for playing a role in strengthening our community.