Joel Plaskett has almost single-handedly educated me and many others on some of the locales of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Names like Clayton Park and the Mic Mac Mall might have remained completely foreign to me, had they not first been introduced by Plaskett through his lyrics.
Now, the only other Dartmouth landmark I can name, again thanks to Plaskett, is about to forever be known as “the former New Scotland Yard Emporium and Recording Studio.”
In recognition that Plaskett’s own New Scotland Yard Emporium and Recording Studio is very much the sum of its parts—from coffee shop to recording studio to record store and book shop—he took advantage of the Fall Equinox to announce another change: from henceforth and forthwith, 45 Portland Street would be recognized in name and title by its respective parts.
“‘Change is in the air’ would be an understatement considering the last year and a half,” says Plaskett. “As things started picking back up in 2021, I sensed a name change would bring some new energy into the building. The activity here has always been a group effort and the new names help reflect that. I worked up a musical jingle to see if I could explain what’s happening in exactly one minute and had a good laugh producing it with some amazing local musicians adding their voices.”
The jingle, featuring a star-studded cast—including Thomas Stajcer, Eric Stephen Martin, Mo Kenney, Erin Costelo, Jah’Mila, Brendan Morley, Villages, Grace Archibald, Rose Cousins, Jenn Grant, Aquakultre, Mahalia Smith, Reeny Smith, Micah Smith, Dylan Jewers, and Classified—gives us a sense of both who walks through those doors on a regular basis and what else to expect there.
The recording studio in the back of the building, which Plaskett first launched in 2013, will now be known as Fang, taking the inspiration for its name from Plaskett’s legendary earless car that he had dubbed “White Fang.”
“We’re keeping it hi-fi,” says Thomas Stajcer, who has been manager and main engineer at New Scotland Yard since 2013.
Taz Records, one of Atlantic Canada’s best-known and longstanding sources for vinyl, of course, remains Taz Records, but the front retail space it shares will be occupied by the newly rechristened coffee shop, Morley’s—named for cafe manager and barista Brendan Morley, and the recent addition of Friction Books.
“Same great coffee we’ve always served, just now my name is on the cup,” laughs Brendan Morley.
“Downtown Dartmouth has been in need of an independent book shop for a while,” says Eric Stephen Martin, manager of Friction, as well as the shop’s weekday afternoon barista. “Back in June, Joel and I were talking about books we love… the next thing you know we were setting up accounts with distributors and getting bookshelves made. We place our faith in the cosmos and Kurt Vonnegut.”
“We remain inspired by Portland Street and by our loyal clientele,” they add, collectively. “We hope these new changes and additions will contribute to keeping the neighbourhood lively and unique. Coffee, Records, Books, Recording. Spread the word!”
May 45 Portland Street, whatever you want to call it, remain a landmark in Dartmouth for many years to come.