Memoir Writing Workshop with Allegra Huston

Our pricing of CAD $2,399 includes the five-day workshop fee, a welcome event on Tuesday, May 31 (the evening before the workshop begins), and a farewell dinner on Sunday, June 5, (the evening of our last full day together). Both will be hosted at the Bluenose Lodge, which will also be the venue for our workshop sessions. Check out for the Bluenose Lodge would be Monday, October 5.

Workshop participants will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements, including transportation and accommodations, but will be able to book rooms at the Bluenose Lodge for the duration of the retreat at special rates.

After securing your spot in the retreat, book your accommodation by emailing reservations@bluenoselodge.ca or by calling +1 902-634-8851 or +1 800-565-8851. Be sure to mention that you are attending the memoir writing workshop with Allegra Huston and provide your dates. The rooms will be marked as Sold Out on traditional booking sites, as they’ve been set aside for our retreat!

Remember on the last night of the retreat there is a group dinner, so book your hotel check-out for the morning of October 5.

Please note that all transportation has been affected by COVID-19 restrictions and information will be updated as things open up.

Lunenburg is a quick 92 km (57 mi) southwest of the provincial capital, Halifax.

The Halifax International Airport provides full commercial and passenger air services. A network of 25,800 km (16,000 mi) of roads and ferry operations in Nova Scotia ensures easy access to the United States and other provinces in Canada. Lunenburg has easy access to Halifax and South Shore markets, links with the Annapolis Valley, the New England states, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

There is a daily bus service available from Halifax International Airport to Lunenburg. Car rentals are available at Halifax International Airport as well. (https://halifaxstanfield.ca/transportation/car-rentals/)

Nova Scotia is also serviced by ferries from the US, PEI and New Brunswick. (https://www.ferries.ca/)

Our retreat will kick off on Tuesday evening with a welcome event at the Bluenose Lodge, so you should plan on arriving that afternoon and leaving after our farewell dinner, on Sunday evening. Unless, of course, you decide to stay on for a little post-workshop holiday!

The historic Bluenose Lodge is located in the UNESCO World Heritage designated town of Lunenburg, on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. It’s just steps from the beautiful centre of town and a five-minute walk from the harbour, where its renowned namesake, the Bluenose II schooner, is moored. There are twelve beautifully appointed rooms and an excellent on-site restaurant, as well as a private room where our retreats will take place. It is a short walk to shops, restaurants, art galleries, and hiking trails.

HISTORY

In 1863, William Morash built a gracious home at 10 Falkland Street in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. It was the height of current fashion: a Victorian Gothic building with a central tower, gables, peaked windows, and the first home in town to have a “widow’s walk”. Twenty-three years later, in 1886, William sold the home to Charles Morash, a prominent merchant and builder who owned the home and lived here with his family. Captain Carl Kohler purchased the home in 1921, prior to becoming a member of the Bluenose racing crew in the 1930s.

Following World War II, pleasure travel resumed, was encouraged, and expected to grow. Lunenburg had little to offer in the way of overnight accommodation. The provincial government ran newspaper ads suggesting that individuals open their homes to tourists. In 1946, the same year that its namesake sunk off the coast of Haiti, the Kohler family sold the property to Claude Vincent, a Halifax tailor, who added the kitchen and dining room, and the Bluenose Lodge was born.

Now under new ownership, the Bluenose Lodge is celebrating 75 years of providing exceptional hospitality.

RESERVATIONS

Participants in the retreat will be able make reservations directly with Bluenose Lodge for the duration of the workshop at a special rate.

After securing your spot in the retreat, book your accommodation by emailing reservations@bluenoselodge.ca or by calling +1 902-634-8851 or +1 800-565-8851. Be sure to mention that you are attending the memoir writing workshop with Allegra Huston and provide your dates.

The rooms will be marked as Sold Out on traditional booking sites, as they’ve been set aside for our retreat! Please note that on the final workshop day, we wrap up with a group dinner, so check out would be Monday morning, October 12.

Our prices include a welcome event on the evening of October 6, the day before our first full day of work, and a farewell dinner on the evening of October 11, our last full day together. Breakfasts will also be included for participants who choose to stay at the Bluenose Lodge.

For every other meal, Lunenburg has an abundance of great restaurants, both dine-in and take out, as well as pubs, a distillery and fabulous seafood. You’ll have ample time to take advantage of the delicious fare this town has to offer.

RESTAURANTS

• AnnieJ Bakeries — Artisan baked goods at the Cafe at the Smuggler’s Cove Inn
• Bluenose Lodge – Delicious food at our venue in the most beautiful dining room in Lunenburg
• Bar Salvador — An intimate 22 seat restaurant serving Spanish style tapas and great cocktails.
• Beach Pea — Great food in cosy elegance. Book a table because it is popular.
• Salt Shaker — Busy, bustling and fun. Worth the inevitable wait as there are no reservations. Excellent appetizers.
• Grand Banker — A Lunenburg classic with a classic South Shore menu. Get a table by a window for an excellent view of Bluenose II or a cozy booth to soak up the atmosphere.
• The Half Shell Oyster Bar — Maybe the best seafood in town. Sit outdoors and enjoy the fabulous view of the harbor. Divine scallops.
• J3 Pizza — Pizza galore, as well as falafels, Lebanese specialties and Donairs.
• The Knot Pub — It’s where the locals go. Lively pub atmosphere. Great pub fare, with some local twists, like the Lunenburger. If you are lucky, they will have the carrot cake.
• Lamprai & Spice Cafe — This store front take-out establishment offers authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and divine cakes, created by one talented chef, Suni!
• Lightship Brewery — Located on the water’s edge, on Tannery Road, with great bites, great brew, live music, and one of the best views of Lunenburg.
• Lincoln Street Food — A coastal kitchen serving up market fresh local food.
• Dory Mates – Family Run Seafood Shop with a cafe serving breakfast and lunch, in a very cosy space 
• Scotia Curry – Just up the hill from the Lodge is an excellent restaurant serving Indian and Thai cuisine
• Rum Runner — Classic seafood and a lot more, served up with a fantastic view.
• Savvy Sailor — THE place in town for breakfast. Great view of Lunenburg Bay.
• Shipwright Brewing Company — This addition to Montague Street is brand spanking new, with fantastic views and a great menu.
• Smoke Pitt — A relative newcomer on the Lunenburg dining scene, this BBQ joint gets rave reviews. Go for the brisket and the best corn bread you’ll eat.
• South Shore Fish Shack — No table service as you order from the always fun staff and then sit outside and enjoy the sea air while waiting for your beeper to ring. Everything is fried while you wait and served in generous portions. Deep fried scallops and fries!
• Sushi by the Cove — Delicious sushi on the very popular Montague Street.

• Bluenose II — Canada’s most famous boat, so beloved that is on our dime.
• Lunenburg Harbour Tours — See Lunenburg and the coastline from the sea!
• Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic — Everything you need to know about the history of fishing in this part of the world, from before the Europeans arrived until now.
• St. John’s Church — This stunningly beautiful wooden church was immaculately restored after a disastrous fire twenty years ago. Second oldest existing Protestant church in Canada. There are also other lovely churches in the Historic District.
• Historic District — These wonderful old wooden structures are why Luneburg is a UNESCO heritage site. St. John’s sits in the middle of the town’s main square, surrounded by classic houses. Walk up and down any of the nearby streets to see more of these architectural gems from the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Lunenburg Academy — It’s that place on the top of the hill that you can’t miss when you come into town. Originally a school, it now houses the town’s library and a music performance center.
• Knaut-Rhuland House — See how they lived back in the day.
• Ironworks Distillery — Built in what was once a genuine ironworks that served the fishing industry. Full of atmosphere and great spirits.
• Shipwright Brewing Company — Smack in the middle of town, a home-grown brewery.
• Seaweed Tours — A whimsically painted bus takes you on scenic storytelling tours of Lunenburg and nearby fishing villages, with the insider knowledge of a long-time resident.
• Back Harbour Hiking Trail — Formerly a railway, this well-maintained trail does a 4 km loop from the far side of town, with views of Back Bay, culminating near The Knot, where you can reward yourself for your effort.

And, of course, you must visit Lunenburg’s three bookstores. Bibliophilic bliss in unique independent shops that are close to each other on Montague Street:

• Lunenburg Bound offers an excellent selection of new books, as well as used books in excellent (and sometimes unread) condition.
• Elizabeth’s Books is a classic eclectic used bookstore where you can rummage for hours.
• Block Shop Books sells new books and specializes in children’s books.

A BIT OUT OF TOWN

• Railway Museum — A few miles out of town. While there isn’t much in terms of actual classic trains, the museum is a nirvana for railroad buffs and model train lovers.
• Blue Rocks and Stonehurst — You might hear people compare Blue Rocks to Peggy’s Cove, although Blue Rocks is not inundated by tourists and buses. Even better, if you drive past Blue Rocks, you reach the rustic fishing village of Stonehurst, with a seascape/landscape that is like nowhere else in the world.
• Drive the LaHave — There are scenic driving routes on both sides of this wide, picturesque river. Close to the river’s mouth, there is a unique cable ferry that crosses the river every fifteen minutes. Departs from East LaHave on the hour and half-hour, and from LaHave at quarter past and quarter to the hour.
• LaHave Bakery and LaHave Bookstore — On the other side of the river, not far from the ferry, you’ll find this South Shore institution. Brilliant baked goods, riverside seating, and books!
• Crescent Beach — A 2 km beach that is flat and easy to walk. Especially wide when the tide is out. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a whale.
• Risser’s Beach — This tree-lined gem extends from the rocky shore near the campground to the sandy mouth of the Petite Rivière (named by Champlain). There is also an elevated boardwalk in a tidal marsh. Parking is across the highway.
• Green Bay — The first place Champlain anchored on his 1604 voyage of discovery. Old fashioned cottages in an idyllic locale close to Risser’s Beach.
• Mahone Bay — In a postcard setting with a picture-perfect harbor. The Barn Café and Social House has great coffee and pastries in a laidback setting that offers plush sofas and large tables that are perfect for writing.
• Chester — Nova Scotia’s Newport. Lots of fabulous homes overlooking the harbor and the sea. Cute shops and restaurants.
• Sommerville Beach — About an hour southwest of Lunenburg is another wonderful walking and suntanning beach. Afterwards, have lunch on the deck of the Quarterdeck Restaurant and watch the waves roll in.
• Liverpool — This charming town is on the way to Sommerville and White Point. It prides itself on its privateer past, and is the home of the Hank Snow Country Music Museum.
• Brooklyn — About 45 minutes away from Lunenburg lies Brooklyn, NS, where world-famous organist Xavér Varnus bought a church and an organ and is planning on making the place a global hub for organ music. We’ll keep you posted.

FURTHER AWAY BUT DOABLE IN A DAY

• Halifax — Lovely waterfront. Nice restaurants. Historic downtown core.
• Annapolis Royal — Where Canada began. Historic fort and gardens. Beautiful views and a fabulous Saturday Market.
• Digby — A bit on the rustic side but an authentic fishing port. Colourful boats are always heading out to sea, or returning laden with scallops and other seafood bounty. Nearby, Point Prim Lighthouse offers a panoramic overlook of the Bay of Fundy that is worth the scenic 10-minute drive from town.
• Wolfville – Home of Acadia University. The Bay of Fundy and its world-famous tides. Evangeline Beach is a great place to walk on the ocean floor when the tide is out. From there, you can see the red cliffs on the New Brunswick side.
• Cape Split – Two hours from Lunenburg for a breathtaking hike.
• Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site — Highway 8 is easy to reach from Lunenburg and takes you to Annapolis Royal. On the way, you will pass this gorgeous national park. Plenty of amazing scenery. Noted as one of the best places in the world to view the night sky.

Annapolis Royal, Digby, and Wolfville are all easily accessible via three different roads that take you up and over the spine of the province. Once you’re on the other side, you can drive from Wolfville to Annapolis Royal through the bucolic Annapolis Valley. Mostly agricultural with some lovely old towns and the serene Annapolis River weaving its way to the Annapolis Basin.