Author: Michael Murray

As I am on top of all the latest trends, I just came across a series of ads featuring Jemaine Clement– one of the stars of Flight of the Conchords–that debuted during the Super Bowl in 2006. They’re for the Outback Steak House, and they’re good-natured and entirely disarming. Clement, who is all bee-stung lips…

On Sunday afternoon, I sat with the dog in a park at the corner of Spadina and Bloor. I was waiting for some food to be prepared in a restaurant across the street and was just idly watching the city. It’s probably one of the busiest corners in Toronto, and there was an awful lot…

Unfortunately, The Omen was on TV late last night. Rachelle, you should know, has been away this weekend. Every month she has a weekend out of town with Stefano, her Brazilian kickboxing instructor, for some special training, and when this happens I’m left to fend for myself. Normally it’s not a problem as Rachelle blocks…

A cool, sunny day at the end of September. Through the University of Toronto Campus, the cab drives slowly up St. George. The driver is happy, his window open, he’s looking at all the pretty girls walking by. I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston comes on the radio and he turns it up…

I recently bought something called a Neti Pot, which I was told would banish all sinus misery from my life. Essentially, it’s a little plastic teapot that looks like a child’s toy. You fill it with some warm water, salt and baking soda, and then tilt your head, stick the spout in your nostril, and…

As I was taking the dog for a walk earlier in the day, I came across a poster taped to a mailbox. A DIFFERENT KIND OF MISSING CAT POSTER Did you find a black male cat in this neighbourhood back in the fall of 2002?! Yes, I know this sounds weird, WHY am I looking…

On Saturday, the last day of the Film Festival, I was walking the dog past the Park Hyatt Hotel when I spotted two young girls standing outside of the place. They couldn’t have been more than ten years old, and each one had a big camera hanging around her neck and a pad of paper…

It happens at least a couple of times a month that I unwittingly stumble into some sort of demonstration or parade unfolding on Bloor Street. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, an ocean of people—all passionately committed to something—will wash over me before turning the corner and being swallowed up by another portion of the city.…

Whenever I go to a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival, I get excited. I’m going to see a star! I might ask one of them a question! There could be eye contact!!! However, I have to say that this point of view is pretty rare. Everybody else there looks like they’re killing…