Here + Now
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Things We, and Everyone Else on the Planet Earth, Are Talking About From Last Night’s 92nd Oscars
The Oscars are the highlight of many people’s year: movie watchers, fashion lovers, gossip bloggers. From Eminem’s surprise (and surprising!) performance and Billy Porter’s red-carpet lewk, to Natalie Portman’s statement cape, there was something for everyone at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards. Here’s our take on last night’s iconic awards ceremony! Musical Performances Janelle Monae This being the second year without a host, we were on the edge of our seats to see how the show would begin and Janelle Monae did not disappoint! With a show-stopping or rather, starting, original musical number that featured dancing Nazis, we wouldn’t have complained if the Oscars turned into a three-and-a-half hour Janelle…
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Interviews with People Living On the Danforth
Traditionally, the Danforth is considered to be a primarily Greek community, with its countless Greek restaurants, Greek street signs, and annual “Taste of the Danforth” food festival serving as indicators of the neighbourhood’s rich cultural ties. But what are the causes and effects of the Danforth’s evolutionary transformation away from its formerly exclusive Greek identity? Although this is a long, unfinished process, the Danforth is very different than it was just a few years ago due to the newer demographic of residents and visitors influencing the area. The following interviews with Danforth locals demonstrate the differences and similarities between newer and long-term residents to help personify one of Toronto’s most…
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A tech-savvy spot for kids on the Danforth: come to Little Robot Friends to code and play
The Danforth neighborhood is not only about ethnic restaurants and independent bookstores, but is also about science and education. Little Robot Friends is a passionate project of a tech-savvy duo, Ann Poochareon and Mark Argo, who have been nurturing it like a child: with huge love and not so huge expectations. It all started in 2013 on Kickstarter. Ann and Mark presented three robots: Spikey, Ghosty, and Curvy, which can sense the amount of light in a room, hear with a small integrated microphone, detect your touch, and communicate with other little robot friends using infrared light (like your TV remote). Hobbyists and electronic enthusiasts loved them. Ann and Mark raised…
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Mom’s Basement: For Nerds and Nostalgia
The rush of warm air greets customers’ rosy cheeks as they step into the bar from the winter’s chill on Danforth Avenue. The glow from the fluorescent lights and TVs playing classic ‘80s movies surround the patrons as “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus echoes through the room on the sound system. The bartender says a friendly “hello” and welcomes them to Mom’s Basement; from then on, they’re home. Derek Van Dyken and Jon Bratt worked in the service industry for years and always talked about how one day they would own their own business. All it took was “a bad day” in early 2019 for them to realize that they were…
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Next Stop: The Danforth
Whether stranded at a bus stop waiting out a delay in one of our winter storms, or stuck on the subway due to yet another signal issue, at some point we have all found ourselves cursing the TTC. But while we all like to make a good jab at Toronto’s public transit system, the fact is that it keeps people connected. In a city bursting with so many one-of-a-kind neighbourhoods, the TTC makes these places accessible to people inside and outside the community. The Danforth is a great example of one of these districts. Connected by the Bloor-Danforth subway line, the Danforth can be easily accessed through Pape, Chester, and…
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Reading through Recovery
**Content Warning: mentions of suicide attempt, abuse, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD** The first time I learned how to love, I quickly tied its meaning to manipulation and abuse. From an early age, already too familiar with the world’s indifference to suffering, I externalized the pain that was physically too much for my mind. My behaviour was outed by the very person who drove me to the edge, one pill away from fading to black. And as I sat in a white room, awaiting the psychiatrist who would misdiagnose me, I felt undeniably lost. I went on to receive treatment for months to come. But even when they got…
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Five Baked Treats to Beat the Winter Blues
In the season of icy sidewalks and soggy grey skies, there exist only two things which can instantly lift the winter damper from my frostbitten spirits: the prospect of a movie marathon in bed, and a good ol’ fashioned bakery snack. Cakes, puff pastries, cinnamon rolls and pies; I spend much of the year answering to the beckonings of zucchini and tofu blocks, but when the winter blues hit you as hard as they’ve been hitting me, I’d say it’s time to ditch the sprouts and reinvigorate yourself with a pastry or three. Luckily, the Danforth community is full of bakeries, all of which offer delightful treats at friendly prices.…
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Find Out What Your Blood Type Personality Is
While people can be complex beings, there are many personality tests created with the intention of revealing a person’s nature. One fun, predictive tool is the blood type personality test which is based off the belief that an individual’s blood type influences the dominant characteristics that they posses. Don’t know your blood type? No worries! Take this quick quiz to determine what your blood type is and what it may mean for you.
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Finding Your Best Reading Spot on the Danforth
Most of us crave a certain setting in order to truly enjoy something. This is true in all aspects of life, but I would say it is most important when we are reading. To retain information on a page, we need our focus, maybe not all of it, but I would say a good chunk of it. What fuels this focus is the real question. Every person is unique, we all have preferences and quirks that are different from others, but since we live in a society, we unintentionally pick up traits/habits of those most around us. This is most noticeable in close knit neighbourhoods. I went on a mission…
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5 Canadian Authors Who are Breaking the Boundaries of Genre Fiction
If some readers see a clear distinction between different genres of fiction, these Canadian writers are opening the door to something new. Whether they’re blending horror and satire, incorporating folklore into dystopic narratives, or using genre fiction to shine a light on mental health and LGBTQ2+ issues, here are five Canadian writers you should check out: 1. Amber Dawn Think paranormal thriller with a twist: Amber Dawn’s Sodom Road Exit (Arsenal Pulp Press) gives a ghost town a whole new meaning. Taut with queer desire, humour, and flawed characters, Amber Dawn blends literary fiction, horror, and magic realism. If you haven’t read Amber Dawn, you should get to it. More books by…