A success story for heritage advocacy and adaptive reuse: the Long and Bisby, the at-risk Sanatorium building that I wrote about in August, will be restored by the owners. Developer Valery Homes plans to refurbish the 1920 nurses’ residence for use as its company headquarters. Spectator print edition: “Long and Bisby building gets a new…
Going to bat for Old Cathedral
Old Cathedral is front-page news today in The Hamilton Spectator. I spoke with Teviah Moro for his story about the former Cathedral Boys’ School, which is owned by the Diocese of Hamilton. Designed in 1928 by local architects Hutton & Souter, the neo-Gothic high school building was expanded in 1951 with the addition of the…
Little Fires Everywhere
My op-ed about fires during quarantine, the Long and Bisby building on Hamilton’s west Mountain, and how city council’s delays threaten Hamilton’s built heritage. With thanks to James Charlton, Diane Dent, Hamilton Fire Department Assistant Deputy Chief Carla MacDonald, and Const. Lorraine Edwards. The Hamilton Spectator (est. 1846) is published by Metroland Media Group, a…
Guest of Honour: Interview with Atom Egoyan
Front page of the weekend Spectator: I interviewed Atom Egoyan about his latest film, Guest of Honour, starring David Thewlis as a Hamilton food inspector. With many thanks to Atom Egoyan, Marcy Gerstein, Ankixa Risk, Jacob Tutt, Kim Adrovez, Nathan Fleet, Kate Parkes, Olivia Nasner, Jeff Day, and Aviva Boxer. David Thewlis’ comments thanks to…
Mashups
I wrote a short review of Megen de Bruin-Molé’s Gothic Remixed: Monster Mashups and Frankenfictions in 21st-Century Culture for the TLS. Thanks to Michael Caines and Rozalind Dineen. Book cover design: Eleanor Rose Founded in 1902 as The Times Literary Supplement, the TLS is a weekly literary review published by News UK, a subsidiary of…
Gothic Revival Meets Urban Decay
My op-ed about Claremont Lodge, the Auchmar gatehouse. With thanks to Paul Wilson, Candy Venning, and Robin Gleadall. The Hamilton Spectator (est. 1846) is published by Metroland Media Group, a division of Torstar. Photos: Candy Venning (2020) and Scott Gardner (2015). The Hamilton Spectator | read online | read in print
Maison McCall
I had the pleasure of writing about McCall’s interwar couture patterns for the upcoming Heritage issue of Selvedge Magazine. With thanks to Cécile Lambert and Elizabeth Randolph, Collections Manager of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Founded in 2004, Selvedge is a bimonthly that explores the history, future, politics, and…
Hanrahan’s in the News
Hanrahan’s owner Konrad Sit led a media tour for The Hamilton Spectator and CBC Hamilton last week. Cathie Coward and Samantha Craggs report. Spectator print edition: “Behind the curtain at Hanrahan’s” (Feb. 28, 2020, A6) | CBC Hamilton: “Take a look at the spooky underground vault of the former Hotel Hanrahan” (Feb. 29, 2020) Scot…
Historic Hanrahan’s Hotel Saved from Demolition
Hanrahan’s has a new lease on life — and it’s front page news this weekend. Read Matthew Van Dongen’s article in the long weekend edition of The Hamilton Spectator. Print: “Hamilton’s last strip club saved from demolition” (Feb. 15, 2020, A1–2) | online: “What a tease: Hamilton’s last strip club saved from the wrecking ball”…
Restored Hanrahan’s Part of Barton Renaissance
My opinion piece in The Hamilton Spectator: “Restored Hanrahan’s part of Barton renaissance.” With thanks to Konrad Sit, Bill Curran, Paul Wilson, Laura Hanrahan and Peter Duffus, Diane Gower Dent, Janice Brown, Carol Priamo, Tim Ritchie, Howard Elliott, Hamilton Public Library, and Local History & Archives. The Hamilton Spectator (est. 1846) is published by Metroland…
Cadence Machry Nominated for WOD Award
Congratulations to Cadence Machry on being nominated for a YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Award! I was pleased to nominate Machry in the Arts | Culture | Design category. Launched in 1975 as the Status of Women committee’s Woman of the Year Awards, the YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards celebrate the achievements of Hamilton…
A New Life for the Old Hanrahan’s Hotel
My op-ed in the weekend edition of The Hamilton Spectator: “There should be a new life for the old Hanrahan’s Hotel.” With thanks to Diane Gower Dent, Bill Curran, Paul Wilson, Janice Brown, Carol Priamo, Laura Hanrahan, Peter Duffus, Jane Brennan Baker, Patrick Brode, Jason Schubert, Peter Mokrycke, Howard Elliott and Aviva Boxer of The…
