Getting Inked in Dartmouth

Body modification has gradually made its way to the mainstream. Once associated with criminals, bawdy sailors and the yakuza, it is now common to see a bit of ink peaking out from under shirts in class, on the streets, and in the office.

Dartmouth rivals Halifax with its tattooing and piercing shops, with Scotia Tattooing being the best of the bunch. Scotia Tattooing was started eight years ago by Chris Moss, a professional tattoo artist. For five years they were located on Main Street, but made the move to a building next to scenic Lake Banook on Prince Albert Road.

Scotia Tattooing traces its beginnings to the grave, literally. “[I] started tattooing after [I] had worked in funeral services, where [I] learned about sterilizing techniques,” said Moss.

Moss employs two other artists; Andrew Graham, a tattoo artist who was apprenticed by Moss, and Tatiana Baxter, a piercer and tattoo artist who is currently apprenticing.

Although they see a variety of customers, Baxter noted that they serve a mostly females.

“We see a lot of different people, [but] our clients tend to be mostly women; they tend to be more patient. For piercing we see mostly younger girls.”

This increase of women getting tattooed may be influenced by television series, such as Inked and Miami Ink, and popular websites like SuicideGirls, a hugely popular softcore pornography website (its members are mostly women) which features pin-ups of often heavily tattooed goth, punk, indie, and emo girls.

“Having websites like SuicideGirls does help spread awareness of the tattoo culture, and seeing the top quality of tattoos that are being done these days makes people want get inked. The only problem is that people reuse and overuse other people's good ideas,” said Moss.

An example of this is SuicideGirl Amina Munster’s custom pirate-themed chestpiece that was deliberately plagiarized. Munster immediately took action, and on March 6, 2006, she had the tattoo copyrighted.

Scotia Tattooing encourages custom designs, can offer artistic advice, and guarantees their work. Stylistically, they tend to fall into the “new school” of tattooing, but always strive to meet their customer’s needs, and not restrict themselves.

In five years they hope to have Baxter tattooing full-time, giving them three full-time tattoo artists. Other plans include expanding their shop.

“As of right now we have a three week to two month waiting period to get any ink,” said Moss. “With more artists we hope to reduce the wait.”

You can contact Scotia Tattooing by phoning 462-8737. They are located at 306 Prince Albert Road, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Tattoos start at $60, while most piercings are $34.50. Their hours are Tuesday to Friday, Noon to 7 pm, and Saturdays, Noon to 5 pm.

Snakes on a Plane slithers into Dartmouth

We all love a good B movie. Plan 9 From Outer Space made Ed Wood a Hollywood legend, while more recent stars like Bruce Campbell enjoy great success because of their campy roles. B movies can create cult followings, but it is rare that such a following is achieved before the movie makes it to theatre. The movie in question is Snakes on a Plane, a film starring Samuel L. Jackson that slithered into Dartmouth this past weekend.

I was there for the opening night, not quite knowing what to expect. I had been watching the movie’s following grow since about January. This phenomena started with a blog post by screenwriter Josh Friedman that boasted the film’s prowess. Samuel L. Jackson helped the hype, but insisting that he only took the role because of the films name; and it was the film’s name, plus its leading man, that created an internet following unseen before.

Merchandise for the film went on sale in January. The popular “Snakes on a Blog” was launched. Musical tributes to the film appeared in every genre. Websites such as Something Awful, IMDB, LiveJournal, MySpace, Digg, and various social networking sites because full of Snakes on a Plane (or SOAP) fanatics.

The film is a victory for viral marketing. Instead of trying to silence all of this internet buzz, SOAP rode the wave, encouraging fan’s perceptions of the film. In March, 2006, parts of the movie were refilmed in order to meet fan’s standards, that the film’s star, Samuel L. Jackson, does not want [expletive] snakes on his [expletive] plane.

Opening night: we’ve arrived early to get good seats. I look at the people around the theatre and try to gauge their internet affiliations. I pick the World of Warcraft fans out first; they seem to be the most passionate about the film, and are sans female companions.

If you ever wanted to find a Mecca of nerds, or the nerd inclined, in Dartmouth, it would have been last Friday night. Even before the film begins, the theatre is riled up, laughing and applauding for the previews for Rocky 6 and Trailer Park Boys. That reaction pales beside the noise that fills the room when Snakes on a Plane finally begins. Someone tosses their shoe in the air in glee. It is going to be an interesting 101 minutes.

I can only describe the fan participation to the film as being akin to Rocky Horror Picture Show. Instead of doing the timewarp or yelling at Janet, there are screams of “Snakes!” at any given moment, applause virtually anytime Samuel L. Jackson does anything, laughter at the particularly gruesome parts, and general euphoria: this film has catered to its fans, and given them exactly what they wanted.

When it comes time for the film’s key line to arrive, the theatre is read. The line (Which begins with “Enough is enough…” and includes all of those “expletives“.) is delivered, and everyone is on their feet. Fake snakes are thrown through the air throughout the theatre -- for some, this has been akin to a religious experience.

Chris Fevens was lucky enough to see the film’s premier on his birthday. He attests that it was the best movie experience that he has ever had.

“People were chanting ‘Snakes on a Plane’ before it started. When Samuel Jackson appeared for the first time, everyone screamed his name. This was a great birthday present.”

For an intensely interactive movie experience, fun with friends, and above all, snakes and planes, please don’t hesitate to see Snakes on a Plane at Empire 6 in Dartmouth.

The NS Exodus: From Dartmouth to Halifax

Wanted: a lively entertainment venue in Dartmouth.
Please contact young adults aged 19 and up if found.

Dartmouth is a great place to grow up. But at some point in our youth, we are forced to make that migration across the harbour. Yes, we know there are bars in Dartmouth, and there are quite a few nice ones. We’ve gone there a few times, and we had a pretty good time. The thing is, it just doesn’t compare to sitting down in any of Halifax’s downtown bars, where you have great atmosphere, and the chance to see any number of bands that play more than Bryan Adams covers and the same old “traditional” music.

Why should this be? Isn’t Dartmouth the breeding ground for musicians, before we set them loose on the rest of Nova Scotia? Talented artists like April Wine, Joel Plaskett, and Matt Mays all hail from this side of the harbour, and have reflected as such in their music.

Matt Mays might be the most infamous Dartmouthian with his ode, “City of Lakes”, and other tunes, like “St. George’s Lane”, that reminisce about Five Corners, and other hallowed Dartmouth spots. Joel Plaskett prefers to wax on about the journey one must take back and forth across the bridge, or the harbour. In “Nowhere With You”, Joel takes “the Dartmouth ferry into the town”, while in “Love This Town” he “walks ‘cross the bridge when the Marquee shut down.”

Dartmouth’s the safe haven, the bed to come home to at the end of the night. But why? We’re a youthful city, with tons of university kids calling the City of Lakes their home. Why shouldn’t Dartmouth have the chance to produce a young, trendy nightspot to call our own?

At the moment I’m seeing Alderney Landing as an answer to this problem. This Monday will see the “Flip the Switch!” tour arriving in Dartmouth, featuring artists like NOFX, Against Me!, and Halifax favourites the Dean Malenkos.

NOFX first gained notoriety with their 1994 album Punk In Drublic, which came out about the time artists like Offspring and Green Day entered the mainstream, giving way to a new era of pop-punk.

Against Me! are part of a new musical movement called folk-punk, of which they are considered a prime example. Songs like “Baby, I’m An Anarchist”, “You Look Like I Need a Drink”, and “Sink, Florida, Sink” are catchy and melodic without losing their punk edge.

The Dean Malenkos are really funny and really talented. On their Myspace they refer to themselves as a “three-piece prog-country/western-vaudville punk.” Don’t miss them!

So there, Halifax! Dartmouth has managed to get the biggest punk show that’s come out east in a long time. With a little work and some more youth friendly venues (Thanks again, Alderney Landing!), we could see a real nightlife coming to Dartmouth.

That’s right, the Halifax kids would have to try the trip across the harbour. Don’t forget your bus change, and bring extra cash for a cab; the folks at Metro Transit seem to think life shuts down after 11:30 pm.