I met with Spectator columnist Paul Wilson to chat local history and the fate of Hanrahan’s, the historic railway hotel turned tavern on Barton Street. First opened in the 1870s, the former Mechanics’ Hotel / Hotel Hanrahan was the childhood home of prominent Canadian magistrate — and 1916 speed-typing champion — J. Arthur Hanrahan. As…
The Pope Does Pride
Carole Pope is the headliner for this year’s Pride Hamilton. I profiled the icon for The Hamilton Spectator. With thanks to Eric Alper and Brad Machry. The Hamilton Spectator (est. 1846) is published by Metroland Media Group, a division of Torstar. Photo: Tatijana Shoan The Hamilton Spectator | read online | read in print
Cadence Machry Nominated for a Hamilton Arts Award
Congratulations to Cadence Machry on being shortlisted for the 2019 City of Hamilton Arts Innovation Award! As the author of her Hamilton Magazine cover story, I was delighted to nominate Machry for the award. The Hamilton Arts Awards have recognized excellence in the arts since 1976. The awards presentation, which launches Hamilton Arts Week, takes…
Hurly Burly
Cover story about Cadence Machry, founder of the Hamilton Burlesque Society, and GTHA burlesque history. Feature written for the Winter issue of Hamilton Magazine. Thanks to Cadence Machry, the Archives of Ontario, Tanya Cheex, Samantha Craggs, Genie Emerald, Amanda Gaul, HPL Local History & Archives, Loretta Jean, Liz Mac and Final Girl Press, the Office…
Industrial Evolution
A heritage/development feature for the Summer issue of Hamilton Magazine. As part of HM’s 40th anniversary celebrations, I sourced vintage photos for a look at 5 classic Hamilton landmarks in the 1970s and today. Thanks to Tom Arban, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the City of Hamilton, HPL Local History & Archives, the Hamilton Spectator,…
Techno Pagans
Profile of Plastik Wrap designers Adriana Fulop and Ryan Webber, written for the first issue of Hamilton Magazine’s 40th anniversary year. Hamilton Magazine is published by Town Media, a division of Postmedia. Photo: Idan Erez Hamilton Magazine | browse issue | read article
From Colony to Incubator
I wrote about Toronto fashion history since 1867 for FORWARD Magazine, a new glossy edited by Ugyen Wangmo. For this Canada 150 sesquicentennial feature, I sourced vintage and archival images from the 19th and 20th centuries — in the process rediscovering some forgotten Karsh portraits of the couturière Madame Martha. Even in the time of…
City File: Bodega
Short commissioned piece about Bodega, a vintage boutique and pop-up space, for the Holiday issue of Hamilton Magazine. Hamilton Magazine is published by Town Media, a division of Postmedia. Photo: Matt D’Alvise at OB OBrien’s studio. Hamilton Magazine | browse issue | read article
Remembering Hervé Léger
I wrote a brief tribute to Hervé Léger, creator of the bandage dress, for FASHION magazine. Published monthly by St. Joseph Media, FASHION is one of Canada’s leading glossies. FASHION | read article
Our Chitinous Skin
chitinous \ˈkī-tᵊn-əs: of the substance making up the exoskeletons of invertebrates (from Greek chiton, tunic) I edited the comic Our Chitinous Skin, a supernatural romance that puts the love back in Lovecraft. Graphic novel chapbook by Ian Daffern; illustrated by Rachel Idzerda with lettering by Ted Rouse (2015). IanDaffern.ca
PatternVault
The PatternVault blog provides rich, illustrated posts on the history of designer fashion through DIY culture. “Pattern Vault breaks the mold again and again.” – Designer Marcy Tilton Key posts on: • Vogue patterns for Givenchy designs by Alexander McQueen and John Galliano • Rare commercial patterns for designs by Madeleine Vionnet, Yves Saint Laurent,…
Feasts for the Eyes: Visuality and Desire in the Ulster Cycle
Essay on gender and visuality in three sagas of the Ulster cycle. First presented at Kalamazoo, May 2006. Published in Constructing Gender in Medieval Ireland, ed. Sarah Sheehan and Ann Dooley (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). Illustration: Bob Pepper cover art for Evangeline Walton’s Island of the Mighty.
