For the Grid, I spent a day at Metro East, the city’s second busiest courthouse, found in a Scarborough strip mall. There’s so much human drama in just one day at court, getting a chance to capture it was gratifying.
I also found a bunch of decent houses for sale in Fairbank.
I haaaaaate shopping at Loblaws and was totally ready to write a complete rant. Why is it that a huge, multimillion dollar chain charges more for my preferred eco dish soap than the Kensington one-off Essence of Life? Prioritizing relationships with big suppliers over customers, that’s why. But when I was thinking about why Kensington is resisting Loblaws so strongly while Winnipeg is practically begging for one, a rep from FoodShare convinced me to broaden my point of view. I like when that happens.
On the Globe site: When big supermarkets come downtown, fear not for the local cheesemonger.
I’m extremely pleased with this week’s cover story in The Grid on 10 young Toronto scientists. Thanks to The Grid for having the guts to run with a slightly offbeat pitch.
In the Globe: Toronto’s membership-based maker spaces (like Site 3, Hacklab, Interaccess and the new Tool Library) give people access to tools, drill presses, 3D printers, laser cutters and community.
In the Grid, an exhaustive and (I hope) helpful guide for first-time home buyers.
Another stellar turnout at the Ethnic Aisle: this issue, we’re all about booze. From Asian clubs and Greek metaxa to Hennessy, enemies and a rant about St. Patrick’s Day, you can check it all out here.
In the Grid, some thoughts on the latest batch of over here/over there plays, which are funny, thought-provoking and packing the theatres (including Pomme is French for Apple, pictured at right and starting a run at the Young Centre tonight, February 28).
There’s lots of condos, and way less buyers. In the Grid, a roundup of units that might just go for a lowball (you know, an offer under the asking price).
Probably I should settle down and come up with an editorial specialty, but then I wouldn’t get to do fun one-offs like this. In the Grid, a roundup of makeup made by Toronto-based companies.
My time slot on Metro Morning seems to be moving later and later, which I’m going to take as a compliment. This morning, I discussed multiculturalism with Matt Galloway and Doug Saunders, kicked off by Doug’s column on whether children-of-immigrants find the term or concept outdated.