Dresses and bags and shoes (Oh my!) Spring Fling

I was thrilled to find a weekend assignment this last Sunday when the Xchange Collective put together Spring Fling. While it was most definitely not feeling very spring like that day, I giddily headed down to St-Laurent for the promise of a clothing swap and exhibition for vintage shops like Citizen Vintage and jewellery designers like Genevieve Savard.

Sounds of Spain and The Rainbow Connection

There are a few things that I learned about myself at Canadian Music Week: 1) I wish I was a Muppet 2) Spanish rockabilly is officially my new favourite kind of music. 3) Life would be way cooler if I could use a press pass to breeze through any tough situation or long line ups in life. Sigh…

Beers, Buds, and Your Favorite Dancing Shoes: Canadian Music Fest

As I made my way into the packed Horseshoe tavern on Friday night, a giant smile was plastered across my face. Not only do some of my favorite people live here, but after reporting on the film fest portion of Canadian Music Week last year I’ve been eagerly looking forward to returning to Toronto to covering the main attraction: music! glorious music!

Canadian Music Week 2012 Preview

We here at Forget the Box had an amazing, sleep deprived experience at the 2011 CMW. So in early January, when we began to sketch out ideas of what festivals and events we wanted to cover over 2012, going back to Toronto for another CMW was an obvious choice. Now without further ado, here’s a preview of some of the acts Forget the Box is excited to catch at this year’s festival…

Penguins and Postcards: Nuit Blanche 2012

This year I was very excited to be taking part in my first ever Nuit Blanche celebrations. I know I’m more than a little late to the game, but better late then never right? Of course we all know when you’re with a large group of people, especially a group with an anarchist spirit like Forget the Box, plans of where and what you’re going to do never quite works out the way you wanted it to. But I had a lovely evening none the less, and who’s to say we don’t all need a little more spontaneity in our lives?

FTB Profile: Jason Levine

Being the shameless blogger that I am, I immediately introduced myself to Montreal artist Jason Levine after the show and hounded him for an interview, which he generously agreed to. Over chai tea recently we talked about the evolution of his work, his trip to India and what the future has in store for him…

A Night Not to be Missed: Nuit Blanche 2012 Preview

So that’s why this Saturday FTBers will be out in full force all night long (which honestly isn’t that much of a stretch for most of us) reporting on the annual Nuit Blanche, aka the closing night of the Montreal en Lumiere festival. Beginning in Paris in 1984 the idea of turning a city into an all night art gallery has since spread to 34 cities, Montreal being one of three in Canada…

FTB Profile: Eric Santerre

Last Thursday I got a chance to meet Eric Santerre, a very sweet and humble man who is on the verge of exploding on the international art scene. Eric invited me to see his work, which is currently on display at the Apollo loft in the Old Port. While there, we chatted about his new book, life in the Montreal art scene and what the future holds…

Play me that song: The art of being a great cover band

Our conversation got me thinking. Not only how it would be nice to write about music that people whose social lives don’t revolve around the Plateau might have actually heard about for a change, but also before that night I’d never really thought about just how hard it is to be a cover band. When I think cover band, my mind immediately goes to sketchy/bored looking musicians at a wedding or some seedy dive bar on a Tuesday night…

CinemaSpace: A haven for Montreal cinephiles

Running from January until May, CinemaSpace is a screening venue dedicated to showcasing independent film and video. Co-directed by Daichi Saito and Malena Szlam, the emphasis of the programming at CinemaSpace is experimental and avant-guard in an intimate theatre at the SegalCenter. By listening to them eagerly share the 2012 CinemaSpace line up, experimental film is clearly a deep passion for both Saito and Szlam…

There’s nothing common about this show: Common Space at Bouge d’ici

Thankfully, living in Montreal means there’s always interesting opportunities to expand your horizons. Beginning as a way for dancers to connect and evolving into a full blown festival, Bouge d’ici is now in its third year. The festival not only serves as a way for new and established Montreal dancers and choreographers to collaborate and showcase their work, but allows newcomers like this arts writer a fun and accessible way to learn about the world of dance…

Just Dance! Confabulation at Bouge d’ici

What is Confabulation you ask? Created and hosted by Uncalled For’s Matt Goldberg, it’s a monthly event (inspired by New York City’s The Moth) in which storytellers share true life stories without the help of any props. Even with Matt off in Toronto and a snow storm raging outside, folks gathered at the Mainline to hear stories from an all female lineup that included former tango dancer Lucianna Gravotta, Dance Animal founder/choreographer Robin Henderson and Montreal Fringe Festival director Amy Blackmore…

2011 Year in Review: Arts

From infringing on corporate culture in Montreal and Buffalo, venue hoping in Toronto during Canadian Music Week, catching experimental music in Brooklyn and hanging with bonafide rock stars at Osheaga, 2011 proved to be yet another exciting year for the arts section at Forget the Box…

Cults, death and poop jokes: 2011 in Film

Recently I had dinner with my friend Alex and as we were enjoying some Korean BBQ the conversation turned, as it often does with Alex and I, to film.

“So, you gonna do a best of the year review for your column?” Alex asked.

“I always do,” I replied, watching with childish glee as my salmon cooked on the grill in front of me.

“So what’s on your best of list for 2011?” Alex responded in between bites of his bibm bahb…

There’s nothing sexier than rock ‘n roll: The Triple Gangers, Hut and Moves at The Bovine Sex Club

When The Triple Gangers asked me to cover their show at The Bovine Sex Club on December 15th along with fellow Toronto bands Hut and Moves, I had two words in response: Hell! Yeah! I …

Reality Bites? More like Reality Rocks

As I get older, certain films remain just as meaningful to me as when I first saw them. Others, well, not so much. I always find it fascinating…