aka La Métropole, La Belle Ville
How did we ever survive without the internet? I can’t imagine life without it. The thin sliver of metal weighing 5.5 pounds that is my Macbook Pro performs all of the functions traditionally associated with a dictionary, encyclopedia, cookbook, radio, CD player, television, typewriter, and a host of other now-archaic devices. It’s incredible how one machine paired with a single entity can render all of these gadgets obsolete in the blink of an eye. Read More
Robag Wruhme is a mysterious German man who has been haunting my record box for nearly a decade. I always wondered what it would be like to be named Robag. There were other times when I wondered if such a man could even exist. His music sounds like it’s from outer space. Formerly one half of the infamous Wignohmy Brothers and currently opting to fly solo, the man, the myth, and the legend performed at Igloofest this year and despite the fact that it was -25 with wind chill, I bundled up and voyaged onward ho to catch some of his mind-bending musical meanderings.
There are some times when it’s fun to go to a show with no real expectations, about what the performer will likely play and/or do, or even what the venue itself will be like. A subtle blend of anxiety, excitement and curiosity can spark some incredible moments. Read More
Winter in Montreal is not for the faint of heart. In January and February, the coldest months of the year, despite the city’s reputation as a mecca of style, there are times when sheer necessity dictates one must cover up at all costs or risk turning into a human ice statue. The classy solution to this problem: shell out $700 or so and buy a Canada-Goose down jacket. Read More
My favorite winter fashion accessory du jour is fur: real or faux, displayed on trim on bomber hats, scarves, on hoods, as trim on the ends of the sleeves and bottom edges of winter coats, on the brims of winter boots, or worn as a puff style hat, fur is a trend that is both fashionable and functional. Read More
I’m going to let you in on a little secret when it comes to music: almost everybody loves the funk. Luckily, 2009 was a fantastic year for music and in the funk department, artists like Trus’me, Rick Wade, Chateau Flight, and Holgar Zilske have been dishing out some seriously tasty beats. Read More
When I am craving mental escape, I go to the movies. A well-told well-acted story on the big screen with a bag of popcorn may be even be more effective than a hot bath for warming up a frosty spirit. Especially if there is comedy involved. Read More
There is just something about the French that is undeniably sexy – a certain ‘je ne sais quoi?’ Perhaps its the way they perch their lips as they inhale a drag of their cigarette, or the fact that the women are simultaneously elusive and aggressive, but forever-playful. It could also be due to the way they elegantly sip their wine on a lovely summer afternoon, their flirtatious nature, or their inherently poetic stance on life and love.
For me, movies serve a dual function. They are both entertainment and education. So when it came to my attention that it was time to brush up on my French, naturally, I turned to the cinema. Read More
The Post-Boxing-Day Sales are a budget shopper’s paradise, and this holiday season I was lucky enough to touch down in three different Canadian cities for a little shop around the block: Vancouver, Edmonton, and of course, Montreal.
Edmonton, my hometown, is special because they have very little tax. It is also special because it is home to what is, in my opinion, the original incarnation of the most fabulous shoe store in the world: Gravity Pope. Read More
Montreal is not a place known for its relaxing lifestyle. Quite the contrary, in fact; after work, going home and curling up in front of the TV set is the last thing people do. Instead, after a long day’s work the protocol is to get cleaned up, text a friend, and see where everyone is heading for dinner, drinks, and musique.
With the mercury dipping below zero, cozy spots are first on the list. Dieze Onze is one of my favs. Read More
One of the best nights I have had in a long time started with a band concert by Little Dragon at Il Motore, followed by a Berlin club DJ set by Cassy at Salon Daome. Both acts blew me away, which is a rare and unexpected treat. Read More
Winter is the season of both hard work and procrastination, and the world wide web offers a plethora of excuses to waste just a little more time doing nothing particularly important, but amusing nonetheless. Over the holidays, my inbox was flooded with various sorts of online Christmas paraphernalia – personalized Christmas songs and dances from my friends or other notorious persons made using Elf Yourself, and cheeky e-cards from Some-e-cards.com.
We live in a society where information overload is a common problem: media is flying at us from all angles all the time. On TV, at the Cinema, on the streets, in the malls, at the club, restaurant, gym, and even at the ski resort we are bombarded by advertising. Sounds and images are flying at us everywhere: on screens, billboards, through massive bass bins, printed on our pint glasses, on the papery edges of magazines. Read More
I do not know why, but it seems that some trends simply will not die. The trend I am referring to here is Ugg boots. They look awful, they aren’t waterproof or good for your feet, yet people will not stop wearing them everywhere, with everything, in distasteful colours all over the place. The ultimate fashion faux pas is the ugg boot worn in combination with the latest in horrific varieties of the spandex pant–the ‘jegging’ worn skin tight (of course) and painted with delicate faux denim detailing. Read More