Journalism

FRIENDSHIP STARTED WITH A SIMPLE TWEET (The Montreal Gazette)

“The strangest part about Roger Ebert dying is the fact that I won’t be able to send him an email anymore. Much less get one of his responses, usually leading up to a punchline. We’re not always surprised when someone dies, but we’re certainly never prepared for them not being at the other end anymore.” Read more

URBAN VILLAGES: HOCHELAGA-MAISONNEUVE, FRIENDLY WITH SMALL-TOWN FEEL (The Montreal Gazette)

“’HoMa,’ as some call it now, is slowly evolving past that image, but it’s not completely transformed. Some of its small businesses look a little worn, which happens when you’ve been around for 20 years or more. Still, they’re meeting a fairly high demand. Local fast-food joints like La Pataterie and cozy diner Gerry’s Delicatessen serve comfort classics like hamburgers, poutine and smoked meat sandwiches, and they’re as popular now as they were when they opened decades ago. A place like Bar Davidson, a dive bar known for inexpensive drinks, has been around since the 1930s. Back then, it was a tavern and wouldn’t serve women. Now it refuses no one. Not the student looking for cheap beer; not the leather-covered biker dude; not the scantily clad lady.” Read more

URBAN VILLAGES: ST-HENRI ECCENTRIC, ARTSY (The Montreal Gazette)

“St-Henri is the Un-Plateau. It’s quiet, it doesn’t have much of a nightlife, it borders the water, it has the Atwater Market. It does have a cachet that is Plateau-like in certain residential areas, but the neighbourhood tends to be more industrial thanks to its old factories, remnants of the many manufacturers once headquartered here.” Read more

URBAN VILLAGES: OLD MONTREAL – CHIC & CENTRAL (The Montreal Gazette)

“Today, Old Montreal couldn’t be more different. There are almost too many restaurants to choose from, new bars and clubs are 5 à 7-ready, and quite a few designer boutiques have set up shop along ‘Gallery Alley,’ St. Paul’s nickname for the many art galleries that once dominated the street. More importantly, the area is attracting more Montrealers than visitors.” Read more

URBAN VILLAGES: THE VILLAGE, BEYOND PARTYING (The Montreal Gazette)

“’There weren’t that many places in the Village where you could enjoy fine dining,’ says Bernard Beauchemin, a consultant for Bistro 1272, which focuses on progressive cuisine. Lallouz kebabery owner Zohar Bardai agrees, adding: ‘People in this neighbourhood … are willing to try new ethnic foods and appreciate it for what it is.’” Read more

URBAN VILLAGES: TWO KINDS OF GENTRIFICATION (The Montreal Gazette)

“When people notice gentrification, it’s often after it’s already happened. That’s because it progresses in a few phases, and since the first doesn’t have anything to do with money, it isn’t as obvious.” Read more 

RADIO EVERYWHERE: HOW RADIO SURVIVED THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION (sparksheet.com)

“Radio is in the midst of an exciting renaissance – and all renaissance movements are marked by versatility and big ideas.” Read more

QUEBEC CINEMA: TINY BUDGETS, BIG IDEAS (rogerebert.com)

“If there’s anything that characterizes Quebec cinema, it’s chutzpah despite limited means. The government grants that fund Quebec filmmakers’ projects add up to small salaries, but that doesn’t restrict their artistic vision.” Read more

FIVE GREAT MOMENTS OF DRAMATIC IRONY IN MAD MEN (indiewire.com/pressplay)

Before postmodernist self-reference, there was dramatic irony: a little wink from the writer that acknowledges the audience. It’s not just that we know something the characters don’t. It’s that the writer knows we know. Read more

A RENDEZVOUS WITH THE BEST OF QUEBEC CINEMA (spectator.co.uk/arts-and-culture)

“That’s Quebec cinema in a nutshell: inventive despite its paltry petty cash. It’s also a collision of forces: French and English; auteur and mainstream; Denys Arcand and everyone else.” Read more

SHORT FILM: UMBRA (spectator.co.uk/arts-and-culture)

“Despite his surreal landscapes, Sutherland’s themes remain relatable. Well, as relatable as travelling through the galaxy in a spaceship shaped like a Mayan god can be.” Read more

VILLAGE LIFE (urbanexpressions.ca)

“As Montreal’s unofficial party central, the Gay Village hasn’t always been known for great eateries and a charming neighbourhood life. But it’s getting there.” Read more

COLLEGE MEDIA CONVENTION INTERVIEWS (spacial.com)

At the National College Media Convention in 2011, I interviewed several key players to ask them about the issues facing campus radio today. Client: Spacial. Production & Editing: Olivia Collette.

AUDIO SLIDESHOW FEATURING DJ BONES (spacial.com)

To showcase the stories of some of its users, I interviewed several radio DJs. In this piece, I turned a Skype interview into an audio slideshow, since DJ Bones had so many photos to contribute. Client: Spacial. Directing: Olivia Collette. Editing: Tarek Gharzouzi.

SPEAKING THROUGH THE WEB: Q & A WITH ROGER EBERT, PART 1 (sparksheet.com)

“I’ve never watched an in-flight movie. I take a novel, magazines and newspapers.” Read more

SPEAKING THROUGH THE WEB: Q & A WITH ROGER EBERT, PART 2 (sparksheet.com)

“Branding for me is like the practice of calling a city a ‘market.’ I write, people read.” Read more

THE SIMPLE LIFE (enRoute.aircanada.com)

“The log cabin was built in 1998, the labour of love of professional adventurer John Langford. It’s entirely constructed out of red pine, a scent that seeps into every space. For added rustic authenticity, there’s also a gas stove and no electricity. But with palate-pleasing homemade meals and a constant fire heating up the place from the stone hearth, we’re hardly roughing it à la Susanna Moodie.” Read more

ENCORE, LAS VEGAS (enRoute.aircanada.com)

“With the Encore spa, designer Roger Thomas moves out of the minimalist Zen garden and into the ornate boudoir. In a city where more is more, the frill fits in nicely.” Read more

INEXPENSIVE HOTELS IN EUROPE (eHow.com)

“Europe isn’t known for all-inclusive accommodations, but that doesn’t mean you have to hostel-hop to save on costs.” Read more

EUROPEAN TOURS FROM SPAIN (eHow.com)

“[Andalusia] is home to some of the things we tend to associate with Spain: gazpacho, bullfighting and frilly, fervent Flamenco.” Read more

LAS VEGAS ALTERNATIVE VACATIONS (eHow.com)

“If you don’t particularly care for the “tourist” thing, you’ll be happy to know there’s plenty to do in Sin City other than gamble, see Elvis tributes and elope. Some of it doesn’t even glitter.” Read more