Author | Lightnews

Young W @youngw.bsky.social · 7d

| #MbYW 34 |
Coming up in our next newsletter:

Gaining perspective - Stepping off the minutiae treadmill - The fog of history.

Want to read it in our archive later? Become a print subscriber: www.youngw.ca/sign-up-for-...

#ArtsAndLetters #History #Archives #Newspapers

The components of the analog lifestyle kit on a wooden table: they include a stack of printed cards, a notepad, and a bundle tied together with a ribbon.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Sep 8

Wed, Sep 10 - Sun, Sep 14, 2025
in Toronto, ON at #RedSandcastleTheatre

Parry Riposte celebrates the 10th anniversary of @margo-thespian.bsky.social’s award-winning, sold-out hit solo show #TheElephantGirls.

Tickets: parryriposte.ca

#theaTO

Margo MacDonald in Black fedora, white dress shirt open at the neck, red necktie undone, black vest, arms crossed over her chest, she grimaces menacingly at the camera. Text reads: The Elephant Girls. Written and Performed by Margo MacDonald. The Elephant Girls. Elephant symbol. 2015 - 2025. 10th anniversary.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Sep 8

| #MbYW 33 |
From our latest newsletter:

Forgotten love letters - A history-and-folliness mix - Time machine substitutes.

Want to read it in our archive? Become a print subscriber: www.youngw.ca/sign-up-for-...

#ArtsAndLetters #History #Folliness #Paper

Several miniature letters with heart and pigeon symbols on a brown table.

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Marta O'Brien @archhistory.bsky.social · Aug 15

My next evening course starts Sept 16: "Inside Toronto's Architectural Treasures." You'll see >700 photos of 14 significant buildings not seen by most people to explore architectural features & well-crafted ornament. In-person, U of T's downtown campus. Details: learn.utoronto.ca/programs-cou...

Elaborate octagonal coffered ceiling; dark gold geometric outlines on muted dark red background. Colourful stained glass dome in centre.

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Dylan Reid @dylanreid.bsky.social · Aug 30

Here is Adam's delightful version (updated in 2023 in conjunction with the publication of The Big Book of Spacing). spacing.ca/toronto/2012...

The Toronto Circus Riot of 1855 — the day the clowns picked the wrong Toronto brothel - Spacing Toronto

EDITOR: This is the second post of a new collaboration with the Toronto Dreams project by Adam Bunch (see the first here). The project is a series of postcards hidden around the city for people to ran...

spacing.ca

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Dylan Reid @dylanreid.bsky.social · Aug 30

Everyone's favourite Toronto History story. On @spacing.bsky.social , the 2012 story about it by @adambunch.bsky.social has been in the top 10 viewed pages *every single week since then*! Yes, for 13 years.

Kevin McLaughlin @voilakevin.bsky.social · Aug 29

My son's favourite story from Toronto History

www.thestar.com/news/gta/for...

Forgotten Toronto: Inside the great ‘clown riots’ of 1855 — and the coverup that changed the city’s policing forever

How a normal circus visit turned into a vicious battle between clowns, firefighters and the powers that ran Toronto.

www.thestar.com

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Aug 3

#Folliness!

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Aug 3

The biggest and quirkiest roadside attractions to see on your next Canadian road trip, according to readers

From a dinosaur in the Prairies to the ‘world’s largest axe’ in New Brunswick, you told us which monuments are worth more than a pit stop

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Friends of Old City Hall @handle.invalid · Jul 23

Do you have a piece of Toronto’s history tucked away? Now’s your chance to share its story with a museum expert and learn how to preserve it for generations to come. Take part in Toronto Treasures, Saturday July 26 at Old City Hall.

Registration is required for these one-on-one sessions.

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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Jul 16

What’s your favourite roadside attraction in Canada? Share your photos with The Globe

Whether it’s the towering Tyrannosaurus in Drumheller or the giant nickel in Sudbury, we want to hear about your favourite roadside attraction in Canada

www.theglobeandmail.com

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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Jul 16

How Australia fell in love with supersized roadside attractions

Once dismissed as kitschy, Big Things have become a beloved feature of Australiana, with many recognized as works of folk art

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Adam Bunch @adambunch.bsky.social · Jul 13

The Toronto Circus Riot broke out on this day 170 years ago — sparked by a brawl between angry clowns and firefighters at a Victorian brothel.

Here's my annual thread about one of the strangest stories in Canadian history...

A collage of four Victorian circus performers standing in front of a circus tent, with flames rising up in the foreground.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Jul 11

Incredible experience seeing #OldCityHall for the first time ever. Thanks so much @toronto.ca for the amazing lecture about the architecture and history of this important building! #Toronto

A hallway with a door at the end at Old City Hall.

Ornate ceilings and columns at Old City Hall

A staircase with an iron railing and an old elevator.

A grand staircase with a large stained glass building at Old City Hall.

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City of Toronto @toronto.ca · Jul 9

City of Toronto announces 2025 Toronto Book Awards longlist with enhanced prizes

News Release www.toronto.ca/news/city-of...

A colorful assortment of diverse book covers arranged diagonally, featuring titles like 'Story of Your Mother,' 'All the Parts We Exile,' and 'Other Worlds.'

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City of Toronto @toronto.ca · Jul 9

Discover Toronto’s music scene with Music Compass!

Scan sidewalk QR codes to uncover nearby music venues, cozy listening lounges and trendy retailers celebrating local music talent.

Learn more: destinationtoronto.com/music-compass 🎵

Musician playing acoustic guitar on a small stage with purple lighting and string lights overhead in an intimate venue.

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City of Toronto @toronto.ca · Jul 10

This summer, Old City Hall reopens with pop-up events every Friday! Starting July 11, discover Toronto's unique stories, explore history, or relax in the courtyard.

Browse the program: toronto.ca/explore-enjo...

Historic Old City Hall building in Toronto with ornate stone arches and a sign reading '60 Queen West'.

Grand staircase inside a historic building with ornate railings and a large stained glass window depicting people and flags above a memorial plaque.

View looking up inside a historic yellow brick building courtyard with arched windows and a clock tower in the background.

Angel with blue wings holding a trumpet and banner reading 'Fame Their Names and Deeds' above a stone archway in a classical building.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Jul 10

| #MbYW 32 |
From our latest newsletter:

Appreciating your city, but how? - YW’s pear-shaped dreams of folliness - How @shawnmicallef.bsky.social's writing inspired us.

Want to read it in our archive later? Become a print subscriber: www.youngw.ca/sign-up-for-...

#ArtsAndLetters #History #Cities

The black roof of an apartment building featuring ornate windows.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Jul 9

Young W will be there too.

Come visit our table this Saturday, July 12, from 10 AM - 4 PM at 260 Adelaide Street East in Toronto and check out our selection of greeting cards, notebooks, letter writing sets, bookmarks & more.

#Toronto #TheAnalogLifestyle

A grid of 4 images, 3 photos and 1 box of text. Text reads: Come visit us! Jul 12th. Pop-up shop at Toronto's First Post Office. A detail of a bookmark featuring blue marbled paper in the shape of birds with gold decorations. A dark blue notebook featuring wild flowers and plants. Text on top of the notebook reads: Notebook. Clap Clap. A detail of a white bookmark featuring lace-like paper and blue paper flowers.

A grid of 4 images, 3 photos and 1 box of text. Text reads: Pop-up paper fair. Sat, July 12th, 2025. Three small plaid notebooks in bright red, light green with brown and dark green. A pink notebook with a dark green spine. It has a silver hologram sticker on the cover. A small plastic fountain fountain pen filled with blue ink lies on top. The third image shows a small paper envelope with a red heart, unreadable text and old postmark stamps.

Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Jul 9

Event of the Week!

Jul. 12 & Aug. 9

Toronto’s First Post Office presents a Pop-up Paper Fair. Browse a fantastic selection of whimsical & fun cards, notebooks, stickers, prints & more – there's something for everyone!

#Paper #Stationery #YWEotW

www.youngw.ca/event/toront...

Poster image featuring text and illustration. A cloudy light blue sky with red and white hot air balloons to the left and bottom right, with a pigeon carrying a letter at the top right. Town of York | Toronto's First Post Office Pop-up Paper Fair. First show: July 12th 2025. Second show: August 9th 2025. Whimsical & fun cards, notebooks, stickers, pins, patches, prints, keychains and many more! Free admission! 10AM - 4PM @ Toronto's First Post Office. 260 Adelaide St East

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Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · Apr 19

"Careful Infrastructures" public art installation by Lisa Hirmer on the Toronto Waterfront … exploring the concept of "soft infrastructure" and how our thoughts and perspectives on a place also influence how we live there.

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Young W @youngw.bsky.social · Apr 16

| #MbYW #31 |
Coming up in tomorrows's newsletter:

Looking up in the city - Noticing traces of history - Craving time travel.

Want to read it in our archive later? Become a print subscriber: www.youngw.ca/sign-up-for-...

#ArtsAndLetters #History #Cities

The arm of the Statue of Liberty holding up its torch towards a blue sky.

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ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · Apr 5

Checked out the new MEM (Montreal museum of Montrealais history/culture) and really enjoyed it. I love a museum that's interactive and tactile and information-dense like this.

Every city should have its own local civic history museum, they rock

At the MEM (Musée des memoires Montrealaises) I'm sitting looking out a big window at the corner of St Catherine and St Denis. A narrated audioguide tells me the history of the streets I'm looking at out the window. I look very cool but that's neither here nor there.

At the MEM, an exhibit that looks like you're looking into windows of Montreal tells the story of Montreal history in a charming way. My wife, Kristie, reads a panel in a charming way.

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Gretchen McCulloch @gretchenmcc.bsky.social · Mar 25

This is super neat and as a bilingual Canadian I'm excited to check out this program!

Finally, a bilingual show for a bilingual country

Canada has two official languages, but you’d never know it by watching TV or listening to the radio. We did something about that
www.tvo.org/article/fina...

But I was that proverbial dog with a bone. I beseeched The Agenda’s executive producer, Stacey Dunseath: “We can do this. We are the only two channels in the country that can undertake this because unlike elsewhere, we don’t have multiple levels of bureaucracy to gum up the works.”

“What do you have in mind?” Stacey asked.

I described a show in which I would be the English-speaking host and a TFO anchor would be the French-speaking host. We’d then book four perfectly bilingual guests who could answer questions in both official languages, and we’d seamlessly switch between French and English. We’d tape the program and put subtitles in after, translating whatever language was being spoken. “Say yes and then let’s get your counterpart at TFO to say yes,” I begged.

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The Rundown | TVO Today @tvotoday.bsky.social · Mar 31

Donald Trump isn’t the first person to want Canada to join the U.S. Annexation calls go back before Confederation, including from unlikely quarters, explains @adambunch.bsky.social, tonight at 8/11pm with @dominiquemarshall.bsky.social (@cuhistory.bsky.social) and @spaikin.bsky.social #cdnpoli

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Lingthusiasm @lingthusiasm.bsky.social · Apr 4

Ever wondered if there are famous people who lead a hidden double life as a linguist?

Musicians, athletes, politicians, and more people better known for tother accomplishments who nonetheless have studied anywhere from one linguistics class to a PhD, we'll claim 'em all!

Bonus 98: Linguistics Celebrities | Lingthusiasm

Get more from Lingthusiasm on Patreon

www.patreon.com

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Istvan Dugalin @istvandugalin.bsky.social · Mar 18

𝙄𝙨𝙩𝙫𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 ➤
𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗔𝗟
presented by Alumnae Theatre Company

#IstvanReviews #theaTO

istvandugalin.com/2025/03/18/a...

Istvan Reviews ➤ AGE OF AROUSAL ⏤ Alumnae Theatre

Istvan Dugalin's review of the Alumnae Theatre Company's production of Linda Griffith's AGE OF AROUSAL, a comic melodrama.

istvandugalin.com

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