Subscribe

City News

Writerly news

Writerly news

Two things. First, a quick reminder about a previous post : Write Aid, the fundraiser in support of Derek Finkle’s battle to...

Class Dismissed

Writing in Monday’s Ottawa Citizen , philosopher and social theorist Andrew Potter touched on an aspect of the Conrad Black...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Now that David Radler is reviewing the essentials list for his upcoming trip to summer camp, and Toad has divested himself of his...

Black Watch: The Weekend’s Top Stories

With Victoria Day just past, Canadians can be forgiven for letting Lord Black’s every squib and squiggle escape their...

Trial Style

Fashions for the penitent come down to a few options. There are the classics: the hair shirt, in bristly goat, or anything in...

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.

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

The idea that a free press is available to anyone who can afford it is one of those too- clever-by-half throwaways that sounds...

Print’s Rupert

Discovering ironies amid the life and times of Conrad Black is like finding gold in California circa 1849. The stuff’s there at...

Green with consumer envy

Green with consumer envy

Two bits of wonderful news! One: the June issue of Toronto Life —the Green Edition, featuring a catalogue of...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

David Radler is turning out to be a veritable gusher for the defence. Since Monday, his stumblings and “clarifications” have...

Rabbit season? Duck season? Trauma season!

Rabbit season? Duck season? Trauma season!

Victoria Day is coming up, which, in the intensive care units and operating rooms of hospitals across Ontario, marks the start of...

The Big Snore

It was amusing to watch the hotshot audit committee members competing with one another to see who could look more foolish on the...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Another day, another analogy to an arcane courtroom drama. This time it’s The Caine Mutiny . What with David Radler going all...

“Truth” or Consequences

Much has been made of the fact that David Radler is testifying before his own sentencing, which can have a negative impact if the...

Keep your children leashed

As an addendum to this story about unleashed dogs in parks, allow me to direct readers to the City of Toronto’s instructions on...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

The ping-ponging wisdom of the press was once described to me, sensibly I thought, as similar to that of a school of fish. Since...

For whom the road tolls

For whom the road tolls

In a worthy piece in today’s Globe , John Barber fires the latest salvo in what is fast becoming a hot-button issue: congestion...

Fell on Deaf Ears

As we near the end of Radler’s testimony, and both sides madly sow the seeds of what each hopes will, in the decisive...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

With Radler’s cross-examination set to finish today and the defence contemplating the possibility of a rebuttal from Black, we...

Performance Review

Apparently the Chicago courtroom atmosphere was laden with tension as the long-awaited star witness, David Radler, began “finger...

Courtstalker Part IV

The full content of Conrad Black’s “Summer Musings” memo from September 2002 was shown to the jury Wednesday, much to the...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

With scads of reporting this morning suggesting that the four-square solidarity among the defence attorneys is beginning to fray...

That’s My Story and I’m Sticking To It

Last posting I discussed the real legal issues and the relevant evidence. There is a school of thought that discounts the...

The Toronto Lexicon – Garbage Terminology

public trash bins (p’b’lik trash binnz) The hundreds upon hundreds of receptacles placed on sidewalks and in parks to accept...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

In case you or anyone else in this solar system were under any misconception or illusion, Eddie Greenspan made it quite clear...

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