The Dubai World Expo Pavilion Awards (and other thoughts about past World Expos)

I grew up hearing stories about the 1967 World Expo in Montreal from my Dad, which was held during Canada’s centennial year. He was 11 years old during that summer and he has written about how he spent many days roaming the Expo grounds with his nine-year-old brother. They would get dropped off at the local mall and take a shuttle bus to the Expo, … Continue reading The Dubai World Expo Pavilion Awards (and other thoughts about past World Expos)

All Malls Lead to Dubai

There are few things I find more stressful than crowded shopping malls, and I immediately felt on edge when we entered the massive Mall of Dubai back in March. My sense of direction evaporated and trying to keep track of our location inside one of the world’s biggest malls seemed like a hopeless task.  The Dubai Mall has plenty of attractions designed to keep you … Continue reading All Malls Lead to Dubai

That time I went to the movies the same day the WHO declared a pandemic (and three other memorable cinematic experiences of 2020)

Every year I make a semi-serious New Year’s resolution to watch more movies. There are few things I enjoy more than watching films on the big screen, and even in our era of streaming dominance, I happily leave my house several times a month for public screenings.  The stay-at-home lifestyle of 2020 was good for my overall movie consumption but terrible for my in-person attendance. … Continue reading That time I went to the movies the same day the WHO declared a pandemic (and three other memorable cinematic experiences of 2020)

My Favourite Songs of 2017

When I was 11, I would wake up Saturday mornings and immediately fire up the family desktop to publish my Top 10 songs of the week list on Corel Quattro Pro. My Dad being an announcer at the local Christian radio station, my chart was inevitably filled with Christian music artists, although I liked to think I was including the most interesting artists of this … Continue reading My Favourite Songs of 2017

Why You Should Visit A Video Store This Weekend

  Last week Blockbuster announced it was closing the remaining 300 company-owned stores in the US (although 50 franchised locations will remain open). This announcement surprised no one, particularly since we have been living Blockbuster-free here in Canada since 2011. I grew up across the street from a Blockbuster. My family rented movies there often, and like everyone else, we often struggled to find something … Continue reading Why You Should Visit A Video Store This Weekend