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Extra, Extra: Strombo on CNN, Ford on the Ropes, and Ties on the Floor
Every weekday’s end, we collect just about everything you ought to care about or ought not miss. George Stroumboulopoulos is starting a summer gig with CNN on June 9th. He’ll be doing ten weeks of a show called, simply, Stroumboulopoulos. The network says his guests will include noted fellow-Canadian Ellen Page, and also Robert Kirkman, [...]
Parks44 Wants to Bring Parks Advocacy to Every Corner of Toronto
The leaders of a new initiative hope to start parks advocacy groups in each of Toronto's 44 wards. With the warmth of summer finally here, Torontonians are coming out of hibernation and making use of the many City parks at their disposal. Show More Summary
Mark Towhey Out as Rob Ford’s Chief of Staff
Reasons for dismissal not yet clear. For reasons that are not yet clear, Rob Ford has fired one of his closest advisors, chief of staff Mark Towhey. Reporters who were standing outside the mayor’s office at City Hall this afternoon were surprised to see Towhey departing unexpectedly, escorted by security. As he left he he spoke very briefly, saying “I am [...]
Off Key Comedy Aims to Fuse Stand-Up and Song
A musical-comedy showcase tries to shake the genre's lame reputation. Even with the success of acts like Lonely Island and Flight of the Conchords, people still tend to view musical comedy with some suspicion, and not without reason....Show More Summary
Determined to Satirize the Suburbs, Yolk Region gets Cracking
An Onion-style parody site takes aim at news and politics in York Region. Aside from our brief flirtation with the likes of RebelMayor, the 416 just hasn’t had any ongoing political satire of note (arguably it hasn’t needed it lately, but let’s put that aside for now). Show More Summary
I Want Your Job: Dan Riskin, Scientist on Screen
The co-host of Discovery Canada's Daily Planet spills on bats, celebrity encounters, and the beauty of science. I Want Your Job finds Torontonians who make a living doing exactly what they love to do, in any field, and for any salary, and asks them how they did it. Show More Summary
Of a Monstrous Child is Caught in a Complex Romance with Lady Gaga
Alistair Newton's new play dives into the history of performance art to explain our cultural fascination with the House of Gaga. Despite the fact that the last show in Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s 2012/2013 season is titled Of a Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical, Lady Gaga herself takes a secondary role. Show More Summary
Toronto Urban Legends: Naming the City
No, Toronto does not mean "meeting place." The truth behind the tales people tell about Toronto. Hogtown, TO, The T-dot, Muddy York, regular York. This city we live in has been called a lot of things. But where does its real name come from? To this day the most commonly known theory is that Toronto is derived from a Huron word for [...]
Newsstand: May 23, 2013
Ah, Thursday. There's nothing quite like it—by which we mean just end it already. In the news: a casino could spring up in the suburbs, a new arrest in the Tim Bosma case, the figures are in for the Grey Cup, and something terrible happened yesterday morning. Show More Summary
Urban Planner: May 23, 2013
In today's Urban Planner: learn about The Esplanade with a couple of former mayors, take in some photography by Norman Wong, or see some stand-up comedy. Talks: Curious to learn more about the history of The Esplanade? Now you can, in...Show More Summary
Photoist: May 23, 2013
Fire Escapes on Niagara
Extra, Extra: Metal Monsters, Video Mayors, and New Parks
Every weekday’s end, we collect just about everything you ought to care about or ought not miss. Remember Koilos? The scary, Lovecraftian steel sculpture that was suddenly removed from its spot in the Distillery District last week? The artist, Michael Christian, now tells us that its new home is “on a large dock off an [...]
Mayor Rob Ford Has Been Fired From His High School Football Team
The mayor's time with the Don Bosco Eagles appears to be at an end. Earlier this afternoon, the Toronto Catholic District School Board announced that Mayor Rob Ford has been fired from his other job: his gig as a part-time volunteer football coach for Don Bosco high school. Show More Summary
Doug Ford on Allegations Rob Ford Smoked Crack: “Never Has a Canadian Politician Been Targeted by the Media This Way”
In a bizarre speech focused mostly on economic accomplishments, mayor's brother refuses to tackle allegations that Rob Ford smoked crack cocaine in detail. On Wednesday afternoon, six days after news first broke that two separate publications...Show More Summary
Sound Advice: Cowards by Careers in Science
These local punk-rock funnymen show serious artistic growth on their newest release. One of the great things about local punk band Careers in Science is its sense of humour. The band does an amazing job of writing songs that are funny, but not zany or wacky. Show More Summary
Urban Planner: May 22, 2013
In today's Urban Planner: the COC celebrates Wagner's 200th birthday, the ROM gives a tour of Cabbagetown, and a Lady Gaga musical continues. Music: The COC Orchestra wants to celebrate Wagner’s 200th birthday the best way they knowShow More Summary
A Group is Trying to Cajole John Tory Into Running for Mayor
A few supporters are hoping disaffected refugees from Ford Nation will flock to John Tory. With all the craziness surrounding Mayor Rob Ford in recent days—did he smoke crack or didn’t he?—it’s not a stretch to imagine that some of Toronto’s...Show More Summary
Twin Showcases at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Herald Student Filmmakers
TIFF presents a night of films by directors who are still in high school or university. It’s entirely possible that an early work by the next Atom Egoyan or David Cronenberg will screen on Wednesday night at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. With...Show More Summary
Community Group Challenges Toronto’s Star‘s Reporting About “Somali Drug Dealers”
Canadian Somali Congress argues paper focused unduly on nationality in its reporting of Rob Ford's alleged crack smoking. Members of the Canadian Somali Congress have condemned the Toronto Star for repeated references to “Somali drug dealers” in its initial story about mayor Rob Ford’s alleged drug use. Show More Summary
Mayor Rob Ford Makes The Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live
U.S. late-night hosts mock Mayor Rob Ford's drug allegations. American late-night hosts who first discovered Rob Ford as a result of some of his more innocent blunders are falling in love with Toronto all over again thanks to the latest allegations against our mayor. Last night, both the The Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live had lengthy segments about Ford, and the video that [...]
