Messenger Bags

In May of last year, during my first ever trip to New York, I bought a new messenger bag from J Crew. I really like it and I've pretty much used it everyday since then. Unfortunately, it's now starting to come apart at the seams - actually it's got three fair sized tears.

So I've been looking for a new bag and I have to say, it hasn't been an easy. At first, it seemed like there just weren't too many out there that had what I was looking for- which is a simple messenger bag with good looks and in leather for durability - but then Shira, and her amazing surfing skills, came to the search and rescue. Here are my favorites...

First off we have two fine looking bags from J Crew. The first one is awesome. It's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for and its price at $225 is the most reasonable.
The second entry from J Crew is in the running as my favorite however, it's also $795. But just look at it...
The next bag is from APC and it's $420. I think this is my least favorite of the group. I'm not sure why...maybe it looks a little too pursey. Still, it made the list.



This one is from Reiss. Unfortunately they've decided to not give the price on the website. Lame. The bag looks fucking great though.



Next up is this fine little number by Ferragamo. I like the simplicity of it. It's cool and crisp. It's also called the Toronto Messenger Bag, so there's that. It's $750.

Marc Jacobs has following two offerings for us. The first is $387 and it's got a great vintage look to it, although I'm not wild about the handle at the top. The second is up mainly cause of the awesome green/gray colour it comes in, but again it's starting to look a little on the pursey side and you have to watch out for that. Unfortunately no price was listed on the site.





Roots has their Urban Editor's bag and it's pretty stylish and the many pockets give it camera bag feel. It's also the only one selected without a cover flap. Not sure what that means, but there it is. It's a cool $298

And lastly we have my favorite. This gorgeous bag comes to us from John Varvatos and it's quite something. It's also $895.


If I had my way I'd have the Varvatos, but I'll gladly settle for the first J Crew bag - they're actually quite similar.

I just want to note that this search has been strictly for messenger bags, but there are also some damn fine satchels out there that are worth checking out. Personally I find once you get a laptop and an umbrella in a satchel that's pretty much it - they're packed - and I need to lug more stuff.

Hidden Cameras

Last week while walking to and from work I started to notice a few hidden cameras being set up in and around the Yonge and College area. It took me a couple of moments to realize that it wasn't Big Brother going from watching to full on gawking but a very elaborate film set up. I'm not sure what's being filmed but my theory is that this is an action shot and they want to cover multiple angles without the other cameras getting in the shots. After checking the City of Toronto's website for current productions filming in Toronto the only possible option would be Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. I'll try to ask one of the people in the fluorescent vests who guard the cameras to confirm.

They're subtle and the props/set people have done a damn fine job of camouflaging them.

This one gets hidden inside a corner notice board.

This one's on Alexander Street and made to look like a nest.

Another gets hidden in the helmet case of a scooter. I also saw three cameras placed in the rear of a Volvo.

It seems to be a night shoot and during the day the cameras are put to rest and the opening simply covered over.

I also saw cameras hidden in air conditioner units, blue garbage bins, and fake newspaper boxes. That's a whole lot of cameras. They've been set up for almost a week now. I'd love to watch the shot actually getting filmed just to see how elaborate it actually is. In my head it's a massive thing. It'll be interesting to see the final film and see if I can spot any cameras.

A different era

We went away to a lovely B&B this past weekend for a much needed break. Shira brought her toy camera which had some black and white film in it. The look this combo gives is really cool. I look like I'm from the 40's...

And the trees have a German expressionist feel...

Here's what they look like with my basic digital, along with what Shira looks like while taking the pictures...


This last one wasn't taken with the toy camera but I think it fits.

What's the buzz?

A couple of years ago Progress Lab in Vancouver (a coalition of 11 theatre companies) produced Hive, a collaborative theatre event featuring 11 intimate performances for audiences ranging from one to twenty. The performances at Hive were site specific and occurred all over The Chapel, a former funeral home that is now a venue and an art gallery. The event was incredibly successful, and was re-imagined/re-produced for this year's Magnetic North Theatre Festival as Hive2.

Well, Brampton's Rose Theatre is giving the idea a go with B-Hive and The Ministry is going to be apart if it. Our piece, The Machine, follows two scientists as they unveil their latest invention for the first time. It's still early days right now, and the piece is very much in the initial stages of creation but we're pretty excited about it. I'll keep you posted.