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Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

| #MbYW 36 |
From our latest newsletter:

Winter paper season as a way to connect & reflect - Xmas cards and gratitude - Young W's 3rd annual winter gift guide

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

#ArtsAndLetters #Gratitude #Paper #YoungW

Two Christmas cards stand on a mantlepiece in a room painted in dark blue. One features a fox, the other a squirrel standing in the snow. Text on both card reads: Let it snow.

December 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

| #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.

October 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

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.

September 8, 2025 at 5:57 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

| #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.

September 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM

Reposted by Young W

Marta O'Brien

@archhistory.bsky.social

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.

August 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM

Reposted by Young W

Dylan Reid

@dylanreid.bsky.social

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

August 30, 2025 at 2:39 AM

Reposted by Young W

Dylan Reid

@dylanreid.bsky.social

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

August 30, 2025 at 2:39 AM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

#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

August 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM

Reposted by Young W

Friends of Old City Hall

@handle.invalid

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.

July 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM

Reposted by Young W

The Globe and Mail

@theglobeandmail.com

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

July 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM

Reposted by Young W

The Globe and Mail

@theglobeandmail.com

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

July 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM

Reposted by Young W

Adam Bunch

@adambunch.bsky.social

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.

July 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

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.

July 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM

Reposted by Young W

City of Toronto

@toronto.ca

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.'

July 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM

Reposted by Young W

City of Toronto

@toronto.ca

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.

July 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM

Reposted by Young W

City of Toronto

@toronto.ca

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.

July 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

| #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.

July 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

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

July 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM

Reposted by Young W

Jason Thorne

@jasonthorne.bsky.social

"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.

April 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM

Young W

@youngw.bsky.social

| #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.

April 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM

Reposted by Young W

ℳatt

@matttomic.bsky.social

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.

April 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM

Reposted by Young W

Gretchen McCulloch

@gretchenmcc.bsky.social

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.

March 25, 2025 at 11:25 PM

Reposted by Young W

The Rundown

@therundowntvo.bsky.social

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

March 31, 2025 at 8:04 PM

Reposted by Young W

Lingthusiasm

@lingthusiasm.bsky.social

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!