BY: REEGS. M By stereotypical terms you would never expect that I am a marijuana fanatic just by looking at me; some might even say that I have “the girl next door” look. But you should never judge a book by…
Best places to see graffiti in Toronto
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Growing up in Toronto, I’ve never thought much about graffiti. It was always something within the backdrop of my visual experience. Bold, intricate — sometimes simplistic — artwork amid the city’s contemporary and historical landscape is a…
Why you should always adopt pets from animal shelters
BY RHIANN MOORE It’s a fairly indisputable fact that animals are amazing and deserve to be protected at all costs. Tragically there are many people who decide they are ready for a cat or dog and opt to buy from…
Open Doors Toronto sees a collaboration between government and local businesses
Toronto – a city of roughly 6 million people (metro). It’s one of the largest cities in North America and an internationally acclaimed one at that. Naturally, due to its size and diverse amount of cultures there’s a lot to…
Rooftopping photographer captures incredible unseen views of Toronto’s cityscape (photos)
BY: JAEDYIN BARNES All photos by Sxifty. Rooftopping – a worldwide phenomenon that has recently attracted thousands of thrillseekers and adventurers around the world. Their goal is scaling the tallest building in the highest profile cities. There is much controversy surrounding…
O Noir lets you dine in complete darkness while being served by a blind staff
BY: QUENTIN STUCKEY Wanting to celebrate the day you came into existence doesn’t make you a narcissist, on the contrary it demonstrates a level of confidence and self respect that we could all benefit from. To be getting older is to…
This artist created a stunning view of Toronto’s future and we can’t look away
BY: MIROSLAV TOMOSKI There are few words that can truly capture the beauty of Mathew Borrett’s vivid imagination and perhaps that’s why it’s best depicted by the hyper-detailed images he brings to life. As an artist and resident of Toronto,…
Fully-nude body positivity workshops helped me get over my body insecurities (NSFW)
BY: JESSICA BEUKER “Everybody get naked.” I glance around the room as nine women—nine strangers—start to take off their clothes. I apprehensively do the same. Heads are bowed towards the floor as we all silently lift our shirts. I glance…
This Toronto photographer captures the tortured routine of a loveless marriage (photos)
BY: QUENTIN STUCKEY All photos from Insipid, courtesy of Tessla Stuckey Photography When we hear the word “marriage” nowadays, we tend to bypass that idealistic, perfect image of a husband and wife being totally immersed in each other like something out…
The ultimate life hack for dealing with your annoying family this holiday season
BY: QUENTIN STUCKEY You come home from a long day of work, feeling physically sluggish and emotionally worn out. You start to think about doing it all over again tomorrow. Of course, you do your best to ignore this sinking…
This is what it’s really like to be a sugar baby
BY: JESSICA BEUKER Sugar dating: In return for a “mutually beneficial arrangement” (fun, friendship, gifts, money, travel and possibly sex), a young woman, known as the Sugar Baby provides “the girlfriend experience” to a wealthy, generous older man, the Sugar…
Tales of Migration: From Istanbul to Toronto
BY: AISHA ILYAD Mustafa was born in Afghanistan, but continued his studies in Istanbul, Turkey. When he was offered to continue his higher studies in the Toronto branch of his university, Mustafa was not sure whether he wanted to travel to…
Tales of migration: Chasing after the North American dream
BY: AISHA ILYAD Toronto, a city with a population of more than 2 million people and home to 6 million people in The Greater Toronto Area, is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and is ranked as the…
These 5 cities have the coolest green initiatives
By: Jocelyn Schwalm With just about everyone starting to feel the effects of global warming, sustainability is becoming more and more of a popular concept to incorporate into the structural integrity of cities around the world. Enormous efforts have already…
Rock Steady Boxing helps Parkinson’s patients battle their disease
BY: CAROLINE ROLF Linda Porter, a 72-year-old grandmother, shows up at the gym to continue her training. She punches the bag with determination and precision, switching left to right, building her stamina and strength. Porter is training for a very…
How a city monk taught me to silence the outside world and listen to myself
By: Adrian Smith Photos by: Eric Zdancewicz Those who want can now use meditation apps on their smartphones to help them meditate at home or in the office. Apps like Headspace, Meditation Time and Breathe guide users through mindfulness techniques,…
Looking back on Toronto’s largest riot between Nazi supporters and Jewish baseball players
BY: ROB HOFFMAN Follow Rob on Instagram Canada was not a friendly environment for a Jewish person in the 1930s and 1940s. When my zayde was young, he recalled, he had to plan his route home from school carefully. Certain…
This Toronto bar lets you play with Legos while you drink
BY TREVOR HEWITT I’m hunched over in a corner of the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar taking deep sips out of my copper beverage. I’m desperately pulling a thin piece of Lego from a thicker brick, but they’re not separating. “You…
The spiritual teachings of a part-time hotdog vendor and full-time wizard
BY: AIDAN MACNAB Photos © Eric Zdancewicz & Aidan Macnab / The Plaid Zebra “Before you talk to me,” he says. “Forget everything you know.” I’m not sure how to do that. An empty mind is conducive to awareness of…
VICE is stepping up their game in the maple-syrup heartland of counterculture
BY: EDITORS There comes a time when you need to hang up your leather jacket and Converse lest you become that middle-aged youth-parasite crashing college freshman house parties. And while some publications have lamented the death of VICE’s brand of…