January/February 2015 A calendar of free and low cost community leisure and recreation opportunities…. SUNDAYS 01) Running & Walking Clubs 02) Flea Market MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS SATURDAYS 26) Farmers’ Markets 19) Art Gallery of Nova Scotia 23) Knitters Circle 27) Swimming 15) Scrabble 24) Hot Yoga 28) Learn to Speed Skate 11) Open Mic Night 16) Women’s Group 20) Try a gym 25) Singing 29) Contra Dance 12) Cooking class 17) Line Dancing 21) Healthy Thursdays 06) Pickleball! 10) Maritime Museum of the Atlantic 04) Chanting FRIDAYS 22) Badminton 09) Crochet 08) Family Play Group THURSDAYS 18) Aqua Zumba 05) Meditation 07) Board Game Café 03) Walk on an Indoor Track     TUESDAYS 14) Museum of Natural History 13) Neptune Theatre Please note…. Need Bus or Ferry Information? These programs are offered by various groups and organizations throughout HRM Programs are open to everyone in the community (as indicated) All programs are subject to change by the organization providing the opportunity Use the contact information provided to confirm details prior to attending Call HRM at 311 or visit them online: www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/Schedules See Reverse for Details  New Year’s Fitness Goals? What’s happening at your local library? Other Free and Low Cost Ideas! Ask your local gym for a free trial pass and/ or facility tour! Get up and Go! YMCA (Membership assistance available if needed) Dartmouth: 21 Woodlawn Rd., 469-9622 Halifax: 2269 Gottingen St. 422-9622 www.ymcahrm.ca *YMCA Park Street is now closed, new facility will open in 2017. Festivals & Events! Other Ideas! 30) Hiking Club 33) ScotiaBank Hockey Day 36) Movie matinee 31) Explore a Trail 34) Valentines Cards and Crafts 37) Community Choir 32) Skating 35) Knitting the Night Away 38) Book club 39) Symphony Nova Scotia . Under 30 Pass HRM libraries host a wide variety of free classes and events! General Inquires 902-490-5753 Pick up a copy of the library guide or visit www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca Get Connected to Rec! Take a look at the HRM Recreation Program Catalogue located at your local community recreation centre. For information call 460-6666 or visit www.halifax.ca/rec 01) Running & Walking. Please bring water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. New to exercise or running? Let the leader know! Running Room: For runners and walkers! Free! Wed 6pm & Sun 8:30am. Two locations: Bedford (Sunnyside Mall, 902-832-5240) & Halifax (5514 Spring Garden Rd, 902-420-0774). Sign-up online: www.runningroom.com Mountain Equipment Co-Op: Run 5 or 10km. Open to all! Mon at 5:30 p.m. (Wave on the Waterfront). Women only on Sat 8:30 am. at Seaport Market. For more info: 902-421-2667 http://www.events.mec.ca/ 02) Flea Market. Halifax Forum, 2901 Windsor St. $1.50. Sun, 9am-2pm. Info at www.halifaxforum.ca 03) Walk or run on an indoor track. Canada games Centre $3 between 12- 3 pm to walk on the indoor track. Call 490-2400 for more information or visit http://canadagamescentre.ca for more info. Dartmouth Sportsplex $3 to run or walk on the indoor track. Times vary – call 464-2600 or visit https://dartmouthsportsplex.com/ for details. 04) Chanting. Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi - Atlantic Region, 2029 North Park St, Halifax. Phone: 902-422-8142, Email: [email protected]. Every Sunday morning 9 am - 10 am. Everyone is welcome. 05) Meditation. Shambhala Centre (1084 Tower Rd, Halifax). Introductory Meditation: Wed, 6pm ($5) – light dinner followed by instruction, meditation practice and discussion. Meditation: Sun 9am-noon, Mon - Fri, 7-8am, 9-10am & 5-6pm. Free! Questions? Visit www.halifax.shambhala.org/, or call 4201118.Alderney Gate Library – Mondays 7p.m. (begins Jan. 13) Everyone welcome. See Library Guide (p. 16). 06) Pickleball. $6. A unique low impact fun sport combining Badminton, Tennis & Racket Ball. Equipment provided. All Welcome! East Dartmouth Community Centre Mon 12pm2:30pm, Wed, 9-11:30am, Thurs 8am-11:30am and Sun 10:30am-1pm. PH: 902-435-6211 or info at www.edcc.ca 07) Board Room Game Café. Open gaming night that provides an opportunity to meet new people and play great games at the same time! Open Gaming: Mondays 6pm- midnight, $5. 1256 Barrington St., Halifax 902423-7545, or visit http://www.boardroomgames.ca/ 08) Family Play Group There is snack time, reading circle, rhymes, games, crafts and more. Mondays, 9:30-11:30am, Fairview United Church, 3524 Dutch Village Road (lower level), Halifax. No cost! For more information call 443-9569 ext.1. Or www.ffc.ns.ca 09) Crochet Club. Dartmouth North Library. New to crochet or a seasoned pro? All are welcome! Tuesday, th th Jan 13 at 7pm, Tuesday Feb. 10 at 7pm. 10) Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (1675 Lower Water St, Halifax) Free admission (or donation) Tuesday 5-8pm; or $5 during regular hours. For more info visit http://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/ or call 902-424-7490. 11) Open Mic Nights. Free for all to enjoy! Humani-t Café: Tuesdays, 8 pm – 11 pm, 1451 South Park St. & Fridays, 8 pm - 11 pm, 5755 Young St., Halifax. 22) Badminton: $6. Everyone welcome. East Dartmouth Community Centre (50 Caledonia Road). Wed 9am-11:30am and Fri, 4-6pm. 12) Cooking Class. Expand your skills and recipe ideas! Superstore: Sign up at the customer service desk for ‘What’s for Dinner,’ a weekly cooking class. $10 (receive a $10 gift card at the end of the class!). More info at your local Superstore or online at www.pccookingschool.ca Sobeys: Sobeys offers Healthy Cooking classes ($15) and Taste and Learn (Free) where you learn and sample new recipes. Contact your local Sobeys for details. 23) Knitters Circle. Fridays/10:00 am, begins Jan.9 Knitters from all over the world make new friends, share stories and knitting tips. Keshen Goodman Library (330 Lacewood Drive, Halifax). 13) Neptune Theatre. Neptune offers Pay What You Can on the first Tuesday night of every show. Admission is by donation, cash only, and there is no advance ticketing. Numbers are distributed to patrons waiting in line to ensure fairness (max two numbers per person. Numbers do not guarantee entry.) Doors open at 7 pm for 7:30pm performance start. There is no assigned seating. Jan 20: Hitchcock Meets Hilarity – The 39 Steps; Jan 27: What a Young Wife Ought to Know. 14) Museum of Natural History. 1747 Summer St., Hfx. Free! Wed from 5-8p.m. $6.25 during regular hours. Current Exhibit: is Dinosaurs Unearthed. Questions? Call 902-4247353 or visit: http://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/ 15) Scrabble. Free. Bring your friends and join in for a fun afternoon around a Scrabble board. J. D. SHATFORD library, Wednesdays/2 p.m. Visit the Library Guide for other times and locations; www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca. 16) Women’s Group. Free. A weekly program of activities and discussion. HALIFAX NORTH library, Wed/10:30 a.m. 17) Edgett Social Dance Studio – Line Dancing th Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Starts Jan. 14 $10 drop in fee. No partner needed! Open to all levels. 36 Brookshire Crt, Bedford, 455-1924 for more information. 18) Aqua Zumba. Zumba + aqua fitness! Thurs 7pm, $4. Captain William Spry Wave Pool. Call 420-7946 for more info. 19) Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. 1723 Hollis St, Halifax. Free on Thursday nights from 5:00-9:00pm. Questions? Call 902424- 5280 or visit www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca 20) Try a gym. At the Captain William Spry Community Centre, 16 Sussex St., buy a day pass for $5 and use the facilities. Mon- Fri 6:30am - 9:00pm, Sat 8:30am - 8:00pm, Sun 8:30am- 8:30pm. *The centre is open to members and punch card holders only from 6:30am to 8:30am. Call 902-477-7665 for more info. 21) Healthy Thursdays A weekly focus on the most importantthing on your check list—your health. Alderney Landing Library, No cost! Jan: 22, 29, Feb: 5,12,19,26. At 2pm. Visit www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca for more information, or check out the Library Guide. 24) Hot Yoga. Halifax Yoga: Sunday 6:30 – 7:30 January: 4, 11, 18; Feb: 1. Classes are $5. 406-9642 or www.halifaxyoga.com for more information. Breathing Space Yoga (6389 Coburg Road) Saturdays. 10:00 a.m. $5. 446-9642 Shanti Dartmouth: 114 Woodlawn Road (Friday, 8:30pm). Shanti Bedford: 620 Nine Mile Drive (Friday, 7pm). More info : visit www.shantihotyoga.ca or call 902-835-6415 (Bedford) or 902-435-1155 (Dartmouth) 25) Singing – Lunch Bunch. Free. This 20-25 voice group meets Fridays 12:15-1:15 in the Sanctuary at St. Matthews Church, 1479 Barrington Street. This choir is comprised mainly of singers working in the downtown area who gather each week for the sheer joy of singing and to shake off work-week stress. All welcome. 26) Farmers Markets. A fantastic spot for local treats. Alderney Landing: Dartmouth waterfront next to the Ferry Terminal. Sat 8am-1pm & Sun 11am-3pm). More info at http://www.alderneylanding.com/market/ Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market: 1209 Marginal Rd. Tues - Fri 10am - 5pm; Sat. 7am – 3pm; Sun 9am - 3pm. More info at http://halifaxfarmersmarket.com/ 27) Swimming! Spryfield Wave Pool: $4 Lane Swims: Mon, Thurs 8pm-9pm, Wave swims: Tues 7pm-8:00pm FREE, Sat/Sun 2pm-3:00pm $4.00 Family Wave Swim: Sat/ Sun 3:00-4:00pm $4.00/$2.25 Canada Games Centre: $3. 26 Thomas Raddall Dr Tues & Sat 8-10pm, Friday 8-10am, Sun (women only) 78:15pm, and Sun (men only) 8:30-9:45pm. More info at www.canadagamescentre.ca Or call 902-490-2400 Needham Pool: re-opening in February! Centennial Pool: $4 lane swims. Every week day 7:45-2:00 Monday 3:330-8pm; Tuesday 3:30 -5:15, 6:15-7:30, 8:30-9:30, Wed 3:30 – 7; Thurs. 3:30-7:30, 8:30 – 9:30, Fri. 3:30 – 4:30, 69pm; Sat. Women’s only swim from 6:45-7:45. More info at http://www.centennialpool.ca/swim-schedule/ or 490-7219 28) Learn to Speed Skate. At the Oval, $10. Saturdays in January: 10, 17, 24; February: 7, 21, 28. Participants should be comfortable on skates, with good balance and directional control. Helmet mandatory (they can be rented with valid photo ID). Call RecConnect at 490-6666 to register. 29) Contra Dance Live Music! All dances taught, no experience necessary, and no need to come with a partner. $8-$10. All Nations Church, 2535 Robie Street, Halifax, 8:00-11:00 pm, but come at 7:30 for beginner's orientation. 30) Hiking Club. Chebucto Hiking Club! Events are 10kms + with a designated walk leader and "ender" familiar with the trail. Walks usually take a little over 2 hours. No need to pre-register. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Free! For info call 902-432-1458 or visit http://chc.chebucto.org/index.htm 31) Explore a Trail! Explore HRM’s beautiful parks & trails. Visit www.halifax.ca/trails or ask about HRM’s walking kit at your local library (including bus routes & safety tips) 32) Skating. FREE. Emera Oval. Skates and protective gear available with Photo ID. For a schedule of skate times 490-2347 or http://www.halifax.ca/SkateHRM/calendar/index.php Dartmouth Sportsplex. Drop in for skating, $5. Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sun. at 10:15. Call 902-464-2600 for info 33) Scotiabank Hockey Day: Live from the Emera Oval with Ron Maclean Saturday, February 14, 2015 FREE event includes shinny hockey tournament, NHL alumni hockey clinics for youth, Valentine’s Day jersey skate, LED screens showing live NHL game4s, ice and snow sculptors, the Stanley Cup, free food. Scarves and toques provided by Scotiabank while supplies last. 34) Valentine’s Day Cards and Crafts. Library Social in th Cole Harbour. February 13 . Relax and enjoy yourself at this welcoming and warm social event. 35) Knitting the Night Away. Enjoy knitting and friendly conversation – supplies and help available for beginners. Captain William Spry – Wednesdays 7:15pm (Jan: 14, 28; Feb: 11, 25). Dartmouth North Tuesday Jan. 20 and Feb 24 at 7pm. Registration required, call 490-5840. 36) Movie Matinees. Missed seeing that great film in the theatres? Now is your chance to catch some on the big screen. Library Matinees. Free. Visit the library guide (p.39) for exact dates or go to http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca for the online guide. 37) You Gotta Sing! A non-auditioned, all ages community choir welcoming everyone, no singing experience necessary! Visitors welcome! New members can join anytime! Classes just under $10 per week (sliding scale and bursaries available). North Halifax or Birch Cove/Bedford. More info at 902-8187702 or visit www.yougottasing.ca 38) Book Club. Free. Discover new authors, meet new people, and share insights. Visit pg. 11 of the guide or www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca for a book club near you. 39) Symphony Nova Scotia Under 30 Pass Under 30? Attend any of their classical concerts for only $15, tax included. Visit http://www.symphonynovascotia.ca/ or call 4943820 for concert listings.