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City News

The Third Sector

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the gala dinner of the country’s first Social Entrepreneurship Summit. It was like...

How Badly Does Tory Want to be Premier?

John Tory fans will want to take a quick peek here. It’s a cute attempt to unseat Tory as leader of the PC Party of Ontario (and...

So there

I have been told, once or twice, that I was not qualified to write about Toronto politics because I am not from here. Admittedly...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

It really was inevitable, wasn’t it? Having more or less held their fire throughout Lord Black’s season of...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

The weekend saw more fallout from Black’s rant on the BBC, a taunting swipe from an old enemy, and the usual run-up to...

Inside the Latest Issue

The July issue of Toronto Life features the monster cottages of Muskoka versus the resistance. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

Do Hospitals Kill People?

I know a few doctors, and most of those I know didn’t have a fun weekend. So far as I can tell, most of the city’s hospital...

The Scarborough Curse

The Scarborough Curse

How did boring, white-bread Scarberia become Scarlem—a mess of street gangs, firebombings and stabbings? Portrait of Toronto’s...

File Under Stintz, Karen

And also under apologies, demanded and not received .

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Whatever else one might say about Conrad Black (most of which must have been broadcast at one time or another by participants on...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Another flood of Blackanalia this morning, what with reports on the defence’s 53-page response to the PSR, the hundred-odd...

Spinal Tapped

Checking the Google News page today, I learned that Alanis Morrissette had been “tapped” for the Canadian Music Hall of...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

There was an avalanche of coverage this morning discussing the implications of his Lordship’s Pre Sentencing Report (PSR). Led...

Toronto, Antiseptic City

Yesterday’s post was an ode to cart food, and so is today’s. The humourless Royal Ontario Museum wants to shoo hot dog vendors...

The Street Food Furniture Program

Who knew Toronto’s hot dog carts were such an eyesore of non-conformity? Yesterday, Mayor Miller put the kibosh to councillor...

’Round and ’Round with Economic Indicators!

Apropos last Friday’s post about a Statscan report which noted that Canada’s rising incomes are being generated not by big...

Return of the LongPen

The mutually beneficial embrace entwining Conrad Black and the LongPen continues this Wednesday at Waterstone’s Piccadilly in...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

On several occasions on this blog, I’ve suggested that the entwined cases of Muhammad Salah and Abdelhaleem Ashqar might be...

Another Inconvenient Truth

Cities are the engines of the national economy. This is the assertion that girds every call for more money for municipalities:...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Fortune’s ebb and flow is never more apparent than at auction. Joyner Waddington’s fall sale of Canadian art last night was no...

A better reception than Stephen Harper would get

So there I was yesterday at city council, sitting at the back of the press gallery, caught up in conversation with councillor Adam...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Besides keeping an eye on a couple of his Canadian paintings up for auction at Waddington’s this evening, no doubt Lord Black is...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Recently a British composer of note described for me how the gutter instinct infects every strata of limey journalism. “The...

When a Paradigm Turns Smug

The blog entry you are about to read probably should have been posted one week ago, when its topic—diabetes in suburbia—was...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Smatterings of Conrad Black in the news today as his portrait by Andy Warhol sells at Sotheby’s for more than expected ($240,000...

Cost of Living

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“We try to maximize our rewards by using various credit cards plus PC Optimum”

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

“I love a good bargain, so I shop at No Frills”

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“Groceries are our biggest monthly expense after rent”

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

Manpreet Badyal moved from Delhi to Vancouver to Toronto in search of success

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

Business analyst and budding TikTok investment guru Chaeeun Lee hopes to visit 50 countries before she turns 30

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

“Investing in mental health is important. I have an unlimited membership at Othership in Yorkville”

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

“It was hard to accept financial aid from my parents, but it actually brought us closer together”

Urban Diplomat

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

She gets flowers, gifts and breakfast in bed; I get a lousy grill brush. Am I wrong to feel slighted?

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat , What’s the etiquette for EV charging? A few weeks ago, I finally found a spot in my neighbourhood to juice...

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I'm a hoarder, but I'm a collector

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I’m a hoarder, but I’m a collector

He’s started quoting Marie Kondo and insisting that I get rid of my “emotional support tchotchkes.” How can I get him to back off?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

They’ve asked us not to shower after 11 p.m. because of “pipe whistling.” Is this normal?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

I can’t help being embarrassed every time I sheepishly walk past the eye rollers in the regular queue

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

He’s preaching the virtues of sobriety on TikTok but still crushing six-packs every weekend, and the hypocrisy is getting on my nerves. Should I call him out?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

I actually don’t mind the return-to-office mandate, but it seems like so much working from home has caused my fellow employees’ self-awareness to atrophy