About Michael Kaminer
Since starting my second career as a writer and editor, I’ve contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine‘s NYMag.com, The Forward, Vegetarian Times, All You, OutTraveler, Where, Atlanta Magazine, InNewYork, The Jewish Week, Advocate.com, Portfolio.com, Jewish Living, and others.
I’m also curating an exhibit of comic and cartoon art based on a story I wrote for the Forward. Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women will open June 7 in Washington, DC at the JCC’s Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery after successful runs in NYC, Toronto, and San Francisco. More cities are planned for 2012-13.
In NYC, the show ran at Yeshiva University Museum to great reviews. In TO, the exhibit ran at Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel galleries, where it was presented by the Koffler Centre of the Arts‘ Koffler Gallery Off-Site program. Graphic Details premiered at San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum in October 2010. The Forward is sponsor of the exhibit, and has published a phenomenal catalog. McFarland will publish a related book in 2013.
I’m privileged to serve on the boards of AIDS Service Center NYC and Futures and Options, and to advise Yeshiva University Museum and progressive/Jewish organizations.
About my previous life:
I founded the public-relations agency MKPR in 1992. To focus on writing full-time, I sold the firm in 2006. It’s now called PKPR.
Out magazine, which had yet to launch, became my first client in March 1992. I worked alone, at home. Out became one of the decade’s most successful, highest-profile magazine launches.
By the late ’90s, MKPR had 11 employees and clients like Bloomberg, Time Warner, and many more media companies and properties.
We were one of the first agencies to represent lesbian and gay businesses to general media. Same with online-media companies; back in 1994, we became one of the first PR companies to promote web businesses to consumers.
The agency’s mission involved doing good while doing well, and doing it all with integrity Clients also included A & E, The New York Times, PlanetOut, The Advocate, PETA, Environmental Defense, and many more.
I’ve also written or co-written a few books; they’re on the home page.
I live near Union Square. My constant companion, Chico, a border collie-shepherd mix, lived with me from August 1999 until his sudden passing on Thursday, October 21, 2010 (PS – That’s not him in the picture. Chloe’s the resident canine at a clothing store on Queen W. in Toronto).
1.
Maria Arbulu | August 5, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Dear Mr. Kaminer,
Since you are writer I imagine you have an idea how you can have such an affect on people. POSITIVE of Course, Regarding your article published in the NY Times, July 5th on THE JUNCTION area here in Toronto, was so great. Just having our neighborhood recognized in the New York Times made us feel so proud. I passed it on to several of the local businesses that have just moved into the area, such as Mi Vida Coffee Shop, Fit2 Dance. I am an ex-Patriot from Michigan and have been living in the area for almost 20 years. It is so wonderful to see the neighborhood change gradually and I believe in a compassion and positive way (my husband being from Chelsea, NYC as seen neighborhoods change before his eyes sometimes, ruthlessly with disregard of its original citizens) Simply, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MERCI, MERCI, GRACIAS, GRACIAS. YOu made a group of us feel so proud of what we are contributing to the community but contributing to its growth either in larger or smaller ways. Yours truly, Maria A. Arbulu
2.
Darnell Lattal | August 29, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Intersting update on your life. and your willingess to give voice to things needed to be said–and voices needing to be heard. Keep it up.
Patrick is doing great work for us, by the way.. Hope you are well.
3.
Helen Loveki n | October 23, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Dear Michael: Loved your NYT article about the Junction!
Hope to see you in NYC on the 29th at Four Seasons
HL
Ontario Tourism
4.
Mitch | November 25, 2009 at 2:09 am
Mike,
Congrats on your success! You appear to be enjoying the life up in the busiest city in world!
All the best for continued prosperity!
Mitchell K
(Pikesville ’84)
5.
Offgrid | July 12, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Hey Mike,
I liked your article on Ottawa. My wife and I lived in Georgetown for 5 years and were very happy to return to Ottawa in 2000. The Glebe also reminds us of Georgetown but we decided to live near the village of Manotick where we can walk our kayaks over to the Rideau River and have bon fires. I think the Rideau River (kayaking and skating) and the proximity to the ski hills in winter are the biggest draw for us now. Make sure your bring your skates if you come back for Winterlude in February.
6.
GDJ | July 17, 2010 at 1:06 am
Great article on Ottawa – anyone who has lived there and abroad knows what a great city it is to live in. Those with a less diverse experience don’t get it, but not everyone needs to get it. Ottawa had an inferiority complex that is quickly fading away – great town and while we are now in the U.S. I am proud to call it my hometown. If it could sprout some larger hills it would be an incredible host to the Winter Olympics.