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Anthony Milton

Anthony Milton is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. He is the regular writer of Toronto Life’s culture section and also contributes Q&As, as-told-tos and other stories for both print and web. He lives in Little Portugal.

Latest from Anthony Milton

Affordable multiplexes in Etobicoke? Not if the neighbours have a say

Real Estate News

Affordable multiplexes in Etobicoke? Not if the neighbours have a say

Nothing kills the dream of budget-friendly housing faster than NIMBYism

"Toronto is my obsession": André Alexis on his new short story collection, Other Worlds

“Toronto is my obsession”: André Alexis on his new short story collection, Other Worlds

The author talks about honouring his parents through writing, the beauty of his adopted home and what it means to behave “Canadian”

Self-driving cars are taking over Toronto's streets. Are you ready?

Self-driving cars are taking over Toronto’s streets. Are you ready?

City council is more than a little concerned

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this May

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this May

Including an intimate one-woman show about scoliosis, a Latin pop star’s record-smashing tour and an illustrious ballet dancer’s fond farewell

"Success is random—all you can do is keep improving": Max Kerman of Arkells on his new memoir, Try Hard

“Success is random—all you can do is keep improving”: Max Kerman of Arkells on his new memoir, Try Hard

The indie rock frontman talks growing up downtown, the changing nature of the music business and the inspiration behind his first book

Real Weddings: Inside a Lula Lounge bash with Blue Rodeo

Real Weddings: Inside a Lula Lounge bash with Blue Rodeo

Featuring a two-day ceremony and a wedding band like no other

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this April

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this April

Including an all-Canadian coast-to-coast comedy show and a play about the dark side of foodie culture

"I knew working in fashion could be unglamorous, but I was surprised by how much": Vogue writer Christian Allaire on his new memoir

“I knew working in fashion could be unglamorous, but I was surprised by how much”: Vogue writer Christian Allaire on his new memoir

In From the Rez to the Runway, Allaire recounts his tumultuous journey from Nipissing First Nation to the world of high fashion

"I'd be ashamed to drive a Tesla": Auto expert Flavio Volpe breaks down why tariffs will bring car manufacturing to a screeching halt

“I’d be ashamed to drive a Tesla”: Auto expert Flavio Volpe breaks down why tariffs will bring car manufacturing to a screeching halt

The president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association talks ditching politeness to take on Donald Trump, why he supports Olivia Chow sticking it to Elon Musk and how to buy Canadian when it comes to cars

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this March

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this March

A groundbreaking electronic group’s retrospective, a musical tour behind the lyrics of “American Pie,” lessons in political rage from a talking crow, and more

"It's like hiring an army of sloths": Councillor Josh Matlow on the city's excruciatingly slow snow removal

“It’s like hiring an army of sloths”: Councillor Josh Matlow on the city’s excruciatingly slow snow removal

The councillor for Toronto–St. Paul’s discusses his ire over Toronto’s $1.5-billion privatized snow plows, what we could learn from Montreal and his personal shovelling saga

“There’s a good chance this will wreck my career”: Omar El Akkad on his new book about Palestine, Israel and Western hypocrisy

“There’s a good chance this will wreck my career”: Omar El Akkad on his new book about Palestine, Israel and Western hypocrisy

In One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, the author and journalist presents a scathing account of news media and governments cheering on the genocide in Gaza

“Toronto can be one of the world’s great cities”: New chief planner Jason Thorne on his grand designs

After a decade in Hamilton, Thorne has been selected as our planner in chief. With traffic in gridlock, transit ever-delayed and housing far from affordable, he’s got his work cut out for him

"Trans people are terrified": This LGBTQ immigration lawyer has been inundated with inquiries from the US since Donald Trump's election

“Trans people are terrified”: This LGBTQ immigration lawyer has been inundated with inquiries from the US since Donald Trump’s election

President Trump has launched an attack on the rights of trans people in the United States. Could Canada become a safe haven for American refugees?

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this February

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this February

Including an indie rock antidote to winter and a quirky play about the apocalypse

“People think opera is glamorous, but I've got news for them”: Soprano Kirsten LeBlanc on stepping into the lead role of La Reine-garçon

“People think opera is glamorous, but I’ve got news for them”: Soprano Kirsten LeBlanc on stepping into the lead role of La Reine-garçon

The singer talks elaborate costumes, warm-up rituals and falling in love with the history of Sweden’s gender-bending Queen Christine

“I’ve been preparing for this my whole life”: Kim’s Convenience creator Ins Choi on the show’s new theatrical production

“I’ve been preparing for this my whole life”: Kim’s Convenience creator Ins Choi on the show’s new theatrical production

Choi talks about stepping into the role of Appa, the importance of Asian representation and how corner stores foster a sense of community

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this January

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this January

Including a drama about the hazards of marriage and a memoir from a powerhouse indie icon

“I ran the world’s six biggest marathons”

“I ran the world’s six biggest marathons”

Robyn Michaud, a 53-year-old Conestoga College Indigenous studies professor from Woodstock, is seeking her next challenge after completing the World Marathon Majors: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo

“Being a supernumerary is like being handed an all-access pass to the opera”

“Being a supernumerary is like being handed an all-access pass to the opera”

For diehard opera fan Mark Garlin, a 37-year-old administrative assistant in outpatient care from Swansea, watching his favourite productions from the stage itself was a dream come true

“I fell in love with gliding over the water like Jesus”

“I fell in love with gliding over the water like Jesus”

After the death of his father, 41-year-old lip-balm company owner Eric Fallon decided to seize each day and stop putting off new experiences. Enter his latest hobby: wing foiling

“I communed with the dead via a seance at Exhibition Place”

“I communed with the dead via a seance at Exhibition Place”

Yashy Murphy, a 44-year-old travel writer from downtown, recounts her eerie encounter with spirits from the beyond—or a well-produced spooky spectacle

“I walked 200 kilometres in eight days in search of inner peace”

“I walked 200 kilometres in eight days in search of inner peace”

For Cherie Bauman, a 52-year-old cook from Guelph, the journey was more important than the destination

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this December

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this December

Including a holiday-themed circus performance, a Céline Dion–inspired musical comedy and a multimedia tribute to hip hop culture

Private School Guide

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

If Fox News seems an unlikely landing spot for a guy who got his start pumping out Platinum Blonde on MuchMusic, you probably haven’t heard his thoughts about joining the notorious network, the Canada–US relationship and what he misses most about Toronto

Trump's Loss, Toronto's Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

Trump’s Loss, Toronto’s Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

They’re coming from Big Law, the Ivy League, arts institutes and beyond, brimming with smarts and energy and united by a common cause: avoiding the carnage of Donald Trump. True tales from the brain gain

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Crews and Tangos has been enforcing the rules of the Village for more than 30 years: wear what you want, kiss who you want, but don’t forget to tip the drag queens. With a condo development looming, we asked around for tales from the iconic spot

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

Three months ago, I was a suburban mom in a monogamous relationship. Now I’m sleeping with people I meet online—with my husband’s blessing—and we’ve never been happier. Don’t judge us until you’ve read our story

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

Nadine Ahn was a high-ranking executive at the bank. Ken Mason, her subordinate, was rapidly promoted. Then someone claimed to see them canoodling at the Royal York, tipped off HR and triggered an inquisition

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward Rogers was dismissed as a meddling nepo baby—until he muscled out his siblings, acquired his competitors, cornered the telecom market and became the dominant force in Canadian sports

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

The Baroness von Sketch Show alumnae have elevated joking about women’s issues to an art. Their new show takes aim at menopause. How funny is that?

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Ashley and James Schwalm had what seemed like a fairy tale life—two wonderful children, fulfilling careers and a gorgeous home close to the private ski club where they’d fallen in love. Then Ashley’s remains turned up in a burned-out car at the bottom of a ditch, and all signs pointed to her husband

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

For years, Lamaze was the world’s top-ranked show jumper, living an enviable life filled with fancy cars, international travel and adoring fans—the kind of life a person might do anything to protect

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

A few kilometres along Bloor has become Toronto’s most contested strip of concrete, igniting fights over congestion, safety and the future of downtown

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

Barnes is shouldering the weight of an impatient, basketball-mad city, a hit-and-miss team, and his own colossal ambitions. Does he look worried?

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

A viral earworm about a breakup turned the Beaches into Toronto’s hottest export. Now, the panty-throwing, stage-diving, all-girl rock band is seducing fans around the world

"I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial"

“I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial”

How an overburdened justice system is failing survivors of intimate partner violence

Buy Canadian

"We felt disconnected from the outdoors before": What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

“We felt disconnected from the outdoors before”: What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

And what locally made and grown goods they’re selling

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Like lovely cheese plates paired with glasses of Ontario-made wine

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

And the west-end supplier is opening to the public soon

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

With Kahlúa no longer available at the LCBO, Toronto bartenders are getting creative