Montreal, Schiaparelli, Prada, and 21st Century gurus...

Reading material for the weekend...

Fast Company (content partner of C2-MTL) has dedicated a special advertising section to Montreal in their April 2012 issue.  The graphics are playful and right on; It's clear that the 18-page spread (pgs.73-91) was crafted with enthusiasm.  I highly recommend you pick up a copy. 

To compliment Safian's cool biz updates, I also bought the latest issue of The New Yorker. That Maira Kalman cover is so irresistible. I'm looking forward to reading the Jonah Lehrer (speaking at C2-MTL) article, "ROYAL FLUSH, How Roger Thomas redesigned Vegas" and the piece, "Radical Chic" about the upcoming MET exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. I missed the McQueen exhibit, but this one, is a definite must!

As for the mountain of books below, I would like to take this time to thank the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, it always caters to my literary needs.  Do I really plan to read them all?. . . A little here, a little there...it's R&D for C2-MTL.

The list of books displayed above (in no particular order):  

Whatever You think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden  

Poke the Box by Seth Godin  

Linchpin by Seth Godin  

The Mind edited by John Brockman  

How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer  

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink  

Conversational Capital, How to Create Stuff People Love to Talk About by Bertrand Cesvet

Other books of interest not illustrated in shot above:
Imagine, How Creativity Works, by Jonah Lehrer (2012)
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt 
It's Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be, by Paul Arden.

I'm also currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Recommendations are welcomed!

Topic No.1: Innovative Conferences, Cosmo THIS! 

KINFOLK...a group of people related by blood.

I'm completely enamored with the recently launched (July 2011) quarterly magazine, KINFOLK. I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of their first two issues, the local magazines stands don't carry it, but I've been exploring its website nonstop. It fosters a collaborative editorial team which creates beautiful narrative videos and photographs of everyday life that are just enviable. Check out their recent video below from their Dinner Series, location: Brooklyn, NY.  Kinfolk team, please come to Montreal!


Side Note: I swear, I'm strongly considering opening a "curated magazine stand" here in Montreal because there are so many international magazines that I just cannot get my hands on.  And the magazine shop keepers here don't seem to care.  I've tried requesting various periodicals but so far, they have not been very forthcoming...hmmm...

apartamento...

I don't understand why it's impossible to get a copy of apartamento in Montreal...anyway, it's a fabulous periodical and the quote below from the magazine's website inspired me to take a snapshot of the mini library next to my side of the bed. . .What's next to yours?

Breakfast anyone?

There should be an entire blog dedicated to breakfasts from around the world, honoring  cultural richness with appetizing photographs like the ones shot below by Angus Fergusson for enRoute Air Canada magazine.  Let's all dream together and pretend we're having brunch in . . . 
(from top to bottom) St. John’s, Newfoundland * Frankfurt, Germany * São Paulo, Brazil or Beijing, China. . .bon appétit!


Images borrowed from enRoute, Air Canada.

Saturday MILK...Call Me Red!

I stumbled upon MILK magazine (le magazine de mode enfantine) today during my routine weekend-bookstore-excursion.  It is a magazine published in France & Japan for "contemporary" mothers.  It covers furniture design, fashion, healthy culinary info etc.  I had to resist from buying it...it is a gem.  While gleefully perusing it, I came across the work of photographer/fashion designer/illustrator...Barbara Berrada.  
(Yes, a true interdisciplinary entrepreneur). The pictures below reflect her handmade (limited edition) 1930's country inspired collection: Les Zigouis: Spring/Summer 2011...more here.  
Photographs and styling by Barbara Berrada.


. . .long pause. . .I wonder if I am ready?. . .are you?  These pics are just too adorable.

Viktor & Rolf inspired makeup? Spring /Summer 2009 Collection: Behind the scenes with model, Shalom Harlow borrowed from here.

my second favorite. . .Brûlé (e)

A few weeks ago, I stopped by my favorite mag shop here in Montreal, MULTIMAGS on Mt. Royal Ave, and the cover of Monocle's February Issue stood out.  MONOCLE?  Where did this come from? The glossy cover immediately brought to mind the fabulous Wallpaper magazine (the good years, 1996-2002).  Well my curiosity lingered and I googled "Monocle and Wallpaper" when I got home, not really expecting a connection.  To my surprise, my instincts were right...the connection is the dandy fellow below...the CANADIAN born and founder of both Wallpaper + MONOCLE, Tyler Brûlé.  (I feel like I've arrived late to a fabulous party).


In case you are in the dark like I was about this creative entrepreneur, here are a few fast facts based on online finds...


1. Born to French-Canadian + Estonian parents. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1968.
2. His career started as a BBC reporter.
3. He launched Wallpaper in 1996.
4. He founded the creative agency, Winkreative in 1998.
5. He left Wallpaper in 2002.
6. He launched his second publication in 2007, MONOCLE (Headquartered in London, with offices in Tokyo, Zürich and New York.)

...

Images above: Tyler Brûlé portrait (photographer unknown) * Tyler Brûlé in the Monocle Weekly (photographer unknown) * logo of Monocle * the magazines shot is mine...my old Wallpapers with my first Monocle issue...


I think I want to make a poster of these 7 points (from cover above of issue 40. volume 4) 

HOW TO CHART A STEADY COURSE: 

1. KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT LIES OVER THE HORIZON 

2. DON'T BE DISTRACTED BY TRENDS OR FADS   

3. KNOW WHAT YOUR BRAND STANDS FOR  

4. MAINTAIN A DIVERSE TALENT MIX   

5. INVEST IN SEEING THE WORLD  

6. BE TYRANNICAL WHEN IT COMES TO DETAILS  

7. CHANGE TACK THE MOMENT ITS NO LONGER FUN

. . . . . .

Monocle is not like Wallpaper, but it has similar characteristics and well Brûlé.  It is divided in five sections: affairs, business, culture, design and edit...read about them here. It is perfect for someone who likes a smart/worldly read with pictures, designed diagrams, unique ads that inspire (probably from sister company, Winkreative) and nice paper (for collages). I am all about the printed word with glamour.  NOTE: This will not replace my New Yorker, I just found it a handsome playmate.

It is a dense but brilliant read. My brain is now aware of the following thanks to the February Issue: 

1) Marisol Valles Garcia, the 20-year-old criminology student that is currently Praxedis G. Guerrero, México's chief of police (An extremely dangerous town).

2. About the film/TV dubbing industry in places like India, Italy and Germany...(hysterical)

3. Alberto Giacometti's 'Walking Man l' became the priciest sculpture and most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in Feb 2010.

I am still going through it...

Little White Lies...

Do any of you subscribe to this independent "movie" magazine from the UK, Little White Lies?  
I stumbled upon their YouTube video this morning and have been going through their website for a few hours now.  I am hooked.  Another amazing creation from the British...hmm.  The craft put into each issue is admirable.  Check out their FREE digital copies HERE.


prublished by: THE CHURCH OF LONDON, fascinating company.


A few of my favorite covers...

I am nothing of a builder...

...But here I dreamt I was an architect. The Decemberists
I think this is my new favorite quote. I love that the architecture magazine, MARK chose to use this quote on the cover of their current issue.  
The quote is part of a song titled, "Here I dreamt I was an architect" from the 2003 album, Castaways and Cutouts. For those of you who are not familiar with The Decemberists, they are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon. This quote is soooo wrong yet so right...it can have many interpretations.  Any thoughts? 

art and visual culture...

From the makers of FRAME and MARK...

Elephant is a new publication ... which focus is on art and visual culture. The magazine is divided into five parts: meetings, research, studio visits, economies and cities...read more  

I purchased ELEPHANT's first issue last month and I am very impressed so far! 

I will review it once I finish going through all of the articles.

MARK...another architecture

From the creators of FRAME...

I fall in and out of love with arch mags like Architecture Record and Metropolis... The abundant advertising and subscription cards in between the "architecture" really turn me off. (One of the reasons why I don't subscribe!)  MARK is a great read, the content is fresh and the imagery is always stunning!  I can't believe I just discovered this magazine a couple of months ago.  The first issue was released Winter of 2005!  MARK has become my favorite architecture magazine.  I strongly recommend it!


Here are a few examples of MARK's covers, starting with the current Feb/Mar 2010 issue.

MAD MEN, Vanity Fair & Annie Leibovitz

AMC : MAD MEN  Read Vanity Fair article HERE

Gorgeous magazine from London!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

selvedge is a gorgeous squared-shaped magazine that illustrates ethnographic photography, fashion, textiles, international artists...and related topics. The articles are smart and globally conscious. It elevates fashion and craft to an eloquent level. It is hard to find in the US and it is about $25.00/issue but is is absolutely worth it. It is better to just subscribe. Here are a few examples of their beautiful covers...CLICK LARGE SQUARE & PHOTOSTREAM! or...check out my FLICKR page!