Jo,
Fabulous idea, and If I may make a suggestion for a great watering hole with some ambiance, I would offer the Victory Arms Pub at the Lord Nelson Hotel. I'll not curl up into a fetal position and sulk if someone more local than I suggests a better spot, but it is an idea to mull over. Me and Mrs. Tank will go anywhere in the city that is chosen.
http://www.rcr.ca/restaurants/victory-arms-pub/You absolutely must take in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic while in Halifax to see their wonderful displays and bear in mind, this is the museum that EOID sceptical side debater Dan Conlin works in and is a huge part of it's success.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/index.htmlA walk along the water front is always entertaining, lots of shops and buskers, and you must go to Citadel Hill and see the fortifications and displays. This is where Charlotte Adams of Oak Island ghost story fame, mother of Peggy, saw the uniforms Peggy described to her.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/halifax/index_E.aspMany like to see the Titanic burial grounds and you can actually see the grave of Jack Dawson, lover, female heart throb and hero from the movie Titanic. Well, actually, it’s not the same guy (duh) but his name is there on a stone.
A ride on the ferry that connects Halifax to Dartmouth across the harbour from each other is a great and inexpensive tour, only $5 as it is part of the Metro Transit service. There are other tours that cost a bit more, but you get a tour guide and commentary. One of my favourites it this one,
http://www.murphysonthewater.com/harbourhopper/ Can you say ribbit, ribbit? You will after the tour.
One more place I love is the Brewery Market where you can take a highly entertaining tour of old time Halifax with animated actors and singers, very well done and I’m critical of corporate do dahs. Of ocurse, this is where my favourite beer was brewed at one time, slurp!!.
http://www.keiths.ca/k_brewery/k_brewery_index.htmTons of funky shops here and there like the Black Market and Taz Records, with any luck, a Haligonian will escort you and show you the highs and lows.