National
Post, January 21st, 2006. My
Toronto. p.T05
"Reclaim the City, One Party at a Time"
LORI KUFNER AND KEVIN
BRACKEN
URBAN GAMES AND TRANSIT PARTY ORGANIZERS
 Lori
Kufner and Kevin Bracken are the impetuous young imps behind
all manner of public fun in Toronto. The two 19-year-olds started
newmindspace.com less than a year ago, but already their subway
parties and Capture the Flag games have a devoted following.
Their Faerie Tale streetcar party tonight promises to be an
enchanted evening involving knights, maidens, elves and sundry
other mythical creatures. Kufner is from Markham and Bracken
is from New York.
A STREETCAR NAMED FATE
BRACKEN The first time I came to Toronto was
for a rave, a Happy Hardcore party. I was so amazed by the city,
I thought I should just live here.
KUFNER We met on the Queen streetcar on the
way to a rave.
DOWNTIME ON QUEEN WEST
KUFNER I definitely [spend a lot of time on]
Queen Street. A little west is more hippy and east is more polished.
I like either. I like to go into candy stores and find the most
unusual vegan candy that they have.
BRACKEN We shop on Queen West. I rarely venture
east of Spadina. I like to shop on Broadway in New York. We
go for coffee in the Queen and John area -- independent places
like Radical Roots.
KUFNER I don't actually like coffee. I like
juice and smoothies.
BRACKEN I really like to get breakfast at this
place on Queen Street called Shanghai Cowgirl. It's a great
diner. I like bagels in the morning, especially New York bagels.
I like walking around the Annex. I like the architecture of
the laneways. I find it uniquely Torontonian. The Financial
District is great because of the tall buildings.
KUFNER I spend a lot of money on ribbons. The
best ribbon store ever is Mokuba. It's Japanese. I wear a ribbon
every single day. I make my own clothes, but I don't use patterns.
I like making costumes because you can go all out. I've made
a lot of tutus. I love fairy wings and tiaras. I have at least
15 fairy wings that I've worn in the past year.
We have a friend who works at Spy Lab on Queen West. She's great
at helping us look for clothes. She actually assists Robin Williams
with buying his hats.
PARTY TIME
BRACKEN We go to parties -- the kind that take place
in abandoned warehouses -- more than we go to regular bars and
pubs. We like a party atmosphere that is colourful, blasting
music and all night dancing. Cherry Beach is a great spot for
an after-party in the summer. Our parties usually go to 5 or
6 in the morning.
CREATING THEIR OWN PLAYGROUND
BRACKEN There's not a lot for younger people to do
in Toronto, which was something we were plagued by. A lot of
our events grew out of our quirky dates when we first started
seeing each other. Neither of us was old enough to drink then.
KUFNER We had to come up with our own things
that were cheap and fun. We went bowling on top of the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre. We flew kites at midnight. We jumped
on trampolines. Eventually we started throwing subway parties.
Our events are always all ages and almost always free.
BRACKEN We want to show that the subway can
be glamorous, fun and interesting.
PLANNING THE SPONTANEOUS
BRACKEN We've always wanted to create art, and thought
our art could be public and urban. There is a different message
behind each of our projects. Capture the Flag has a very clear
reclaim-the-streets message.
KUFNER We spend a lot of time on the Internet
looking at what other people are doing. We read blogs like Torontoist
and Spacing daily.
BRACKEN I always feel very anxious before our
events. We don't know how legal they are. We never actually
ask for permission.
KUFNER I'm pretty negative during that time.
But that's just so I don't get disappointed. I know that it'll
be fine, I just don't want to be let down. We also don't know
if anyone will show up.
BRACKEN But now I think we're creating a culture.
A group that is willing to assemble in large numbers.
KUFNER I feel like they're our people. Like
if we sent out a time and a place like 10 hours beforehand,
people would be there.
BRACKEN Torontonians are really hungry for
adventure. They really want something cool to happen in their
backyard. As soon as we think of it, it sort of imagines itself
into existence.
KUFNER One of the reasons we started doing
this stuff is because we really wanted to be invited to this
kind of thing.
BRACKEN It seems like people are relying on
us for the next project. We'd like to rely on them. If someone
has a great idea, we'd love to be there. We'd love to help.
comments: 115. This is page 2 of 6.
 |
Rbojlxyu from YNYhsUJChLM | Posted: 07:04 am [GMT] on April 25 2009 | Very interesting tale |
|
dnegf from usa | Posted: 12:06 pm [GMT] on April 24 2009 | Good wishes! 000.html ">Download disturbed 10 nfncl |
|
Nqtnauor from NUUxkjHwfvxNbDbi | Posted: 12:02 pm [GMT] on April 14 2009 | Good crew it's cool :) |
|
blnga from usa | Posted: 09:18 pm [GMT] on March 08 2009 | Nice work! 000-disallowed.lk7vnd.us/ ">Patrick dan zimbrick memo $150 pmbea |
|
hkvex from usa | Posted: 12:56 pm [GMT] on March 07 2009 | Great work! 4 npwmz |
|
mywaf from usa | Posted: 12:43 pm [GMT] on March 07 2009 | Beautiful work! 5 fvxbz |
|
Levvftjr from BFkidLPcAaZREoGvtq | Posted: 04:09 am [GMT] on February 22 2009 | It's serious |
|
google from EYFQfibmlxtt | Posted: 12:30 pm [GMT] on January 18 2009 | Here is google. He is nice. Thanks. |
|
google from GWRhljnRMM | Posted: 12:09 pm [GMT] on January 18 2009 | Here is google. He is nice. Thanks. |
|
Filhhhub from vmrVPowZfTUptNkOM | Posted: 06:50 pm [GMT] on December 13 2008 | Thanks!, |
|
ygwnt from usa | Posted: 12:36 am [GMT] on December 09 2008 | I like your portal! 000</a> coopq |
|
Yhgnqcch from HbysiYfPK | Posted: 06:06 pm [GMT] on November 08 2008 | nice blog, |
|
rDjJbVFniUyx from jxaPwhbaxPm | Posted: 11:24 am [GMT] on December 03 2008 | 4_2forpost.txt;10;15 |
|
Yinwmqda from BJPUukDcvQP | Posted: 06:06 pm [GMT] on November 08 2008 | nice blog, |
|
Gaqzyooc from tKbdRZZl | Posted: 06:01 pm [GMT] on November 08 2008 | Nice day, |
|
Uyckdrwk from DCHlftAKu | Posted: 06:06 pm [GMT] on November 08 2008 | Hello, |
|
Dfleqemw from EmALYndR | Posted: 06:01 pm [GMT] on November 08 2008 | Nice day, |
|
Diggo from sUUOXHviw | Posted: 09:09 am [GMT] on August 08 2008 | Thanks a lot, dude :) |
|
Diggo from BLwxlSauyTaf | Posted: 09:09 am [GMT] on August 08 2008 | Thanks a lot, dude :) |
|
Diggo from fqzeHCyMdQ | Posted: 09:09 am [GMT] on August 08 2008 | Thanks a lot, dude :) |
|
 
|
