Toronto

July Monthly Music

Around this time of year, I start to crave something. Besides the usual cravings like ice cream, cold beer and not witnessing gross old men or even egotistical jocks shirtless (sup, dorks?), I yearn for some really good summer music. You know, the kind that you can blast at BBQs? The kind of music that make your steps a little more energetic while you walk to work and anthems you can sing along to. I think we all experience a form of this craving, so here are my local ideas for how to keep satisfied this July.

SCOTT PILGRIM Creator Bryan Lee O’Malley @ The Beguiling

SCOTT PILGRIM Creator Bryan Lee O’Malley in Toronto Signing and Sketching for fans @ The Beguiling! Saturday, July 9th, 2pm-4pm @ The Beguiling, 601 Markham Street, Toronto, Canada FREE TO ATTEND WWW.BEGUILING.COM Facebook Event Page TORONTO: COME ONE, COME ALL! Our very good friend Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of the international bestselling graphic novel series […]

North by Northeast 2011 Preview

Apologies; long time, no music advice, That Shelf-ers. But I have returned to these parts for the mighty occasion that is the North by Northeast festival! I’ve got a handful of acts – here, take a few – you should check out if you’re planning on perusing the festival market for the rest of the week. Here goes.

Hot Docs 2011 Review:
Superheroes

In Superheroes , director Michael Barnett introduces to a gallery of men and women who take it upon themselves to don masks and capes, lurking the streets for criminals to thwart. But in a subculture that is so much more showmanship than substance, Barnett's film begins to stumble on almost identical faults.

TCAF 2011 Interview:
Michael DeForge

Michael DeForge is a busy dude. At the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this weekend, DeForge will debut two comic books, an art book, a porn-anthology that he co-edited, and he's featured as an artist in a third anthology. DeForge has also emerged as one of Canada's most celebrated young comic book artists. He kindly agreed to chat with us this week about his new comics, TCAF, immature Hotmail addresses, cable television and Toronto's best ethnic food.

TCAF 2011 Review: Snow

Heavily embedded in the culture and locations of Queen Street West, Snow , by Benjamin Rivers, is a very Toronto-centric indie graphic novel. It's the 30-something equivalent of Brian Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim saga, but with a more culturally relevant storyline and less manga-influenced art.

Hot Docs 2011 Review: The National Parks Project

The National Parks Project documentary is about two hours long. Two things will result from this: 1) If you see it in a theatre, your ass and legs will hurt by the time it’s over; and 2) If you see it in a city, you will emerge from the film incredibly restless after seeing thirteen of this country’s prettiest places.

TCAF 2011 Review: The Next Day

In the last few years, Paul Peterson and Jason Gilmore talked to four suicide survivors, about their experiences, the lead up and the aftermath. The compilation of these talks is called The Next Day , illustrated by acclaimed artist John Porcellino, accompanied by an interactive online component co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada. So even if you can’t talk to anyone else about it, I’m sure you may be comfortable reading it.

Hot Docs 2011 Review: Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

It’s been about six months since Conan O’Brien took back the night with his talk show on TBS, but any fan of his or at least anyone still interested in what happened while he was off the air will want to see this documentary.

Star Wars Day Toronto

This is going to be the best party in the galaxy - or at the very least the city of Toronto - on Wednesday May 4th. Harth presents Intergalactic Star Wars Day!

Hot Docs 2011 Preview Part Two

This year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival kicks off today and runs through May 8. Featuring over 200 films in total, picking which films are worth seeing is a tall order for even the most seasoned fest-vet. With that in mind, allow us to present the second part of our Hot Docs coverage – A selection of documentaries that may just pique your interest.

Andrew’s Hot Docs 2011 Picks

The 2011 Hot Docs Film Festival is bigger than ever this year with over 200 movies being screened of the course of 11 days. I understand that the choices are overwhelming this year, but here I am to briefly give all you fine That Shelf readers my top five picks of the festival and five other films that are in smaller categories of competition that you shouldn't overlook.

Hot Docs 2011 Preview Part One

This year's Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through May 8. Featuring over 200 films in total, picking which films are worth seeing is a tall order for even the most seasoned fest-vet. With that in mind, allow us to present the first part of our Hot Docs coverage - A selection of documentaries that may just pique your interest.

Toronto Comic Con Interviews Part One

Last month the That Shelf crew had a chance to invade Wizard World Toronto and a fun time was had by all. I got to interview some lovely people, including Andy Belanger from Kill Shakespeare , as well as as Mike Stoklasa from Red Letter Media (largely famous as the voice of Harry Plinkett the film critic).

April Monthly Music

2011 is finally working up to something stronger this month; are we all in agreement that these first few months have been kind of slow in terms of music? Or maybe we’re just impatient. Anyways, while we’ve surely had some musical finds each month, April has definitely kicked it up a notch. In just the first week, Toronto will be visited by acclaimed international acts such as The Joy Formidable, The Raveonettes, Foster the People, The Mountain Goats, Nat Baldwin (of the Dirty Projectors), Cut Copy and Toro Y Moi.