Tip: NOW Magazine is strictly digital these days…read more During my teenage years, I read NOW Magazine practically religiously. It was a printed alternative weekly newspaper. I loved checking out the movie and concert listings. It also let me know what was going on in the city. I remember reading an article about Madonna. The author slammed everything about her. I was a huge Madonna fan and wrote a letter responding to the article, sharing my side of the coin. I'm pretty sure that I wrote the letter by hand. I said that she was a savvy businesswoman and worked hard to make ends meet. My letter got published in the following week's newspaper. It was a happy moment for me. I remember saving the newspaper clipping. I need to see if I still have it. I just learned that NOW Magazine stopped printing physical publications in August 2022. It's strictly digital these days and continues to be free. You can subscribe to its newspaper. You get content about local events and more sent to your inbox. I don't know how often it gets sent. Maybe I should subscribe! NOW Magazine brings back a lot of fond memories. I used to pick up my free copy at the Van Houtte Cafe on the same block where my parents and I lived. That cafe has changed over the years. It was a Starbucks before it became Pizzaiolo. I do like the articles. It's nice to reconnect with newspapers that I used to read. I get to do it digitally these days, which saves a tree or more. (88)

Hard to explain today how important NOW magazine was in the 80s…read more A go to for concert listings. Movie news, city happenings. Eventually a key player in providing a safe place and forum for sex industry escorts. Basically the online world was NOW's demise. The papers circulation has disappeared. For many today, it's unknown. It had its time for sure. It's a bit similar to vinyl, cassettes or rotary phones.. the world outgrew it.

Tip: Sing Tao has a digital version of its newspaper. The printed version ceased in August 2022…read more I looked at this listing for Sing Tao Canada. It doesn't look right. Its physical location was never in Corktown. Ever. Sing Tao used to print its newspaper daily in traditional Chinese. It started in Canada in 1978 and was Hong Kong-owned back then. My parents bought a copy of Sing Tao whenever they were in Chinatown. I grew up learning Cantonese. Back then, it printed traditional Chinese from right to left. Over the years, things changed. The online version has conformed to western left-to-right placement of traditional Chinese characters. The newspaper ceased printing in August 2022. To get your news requires going online to Sing Tao's site. For many years, Sing Tao was located on Dundas Street West, on the south side, between Beverley and Huron streets. Its headquarters are now in Markham, on the northeast corner of Warden and 14th avenues. It's tucked away from the Markham intersection. I didn't know that it existed in Markham until I did a Google Maps search. I took grade 10 Cantonese in the summertime years ago. One of our field trips was to Sing Tao to learn about modern printing. Looking back, I'm so glad that I visited the Dundas Street West location before it shuttered for good. I got to see how the newspaper was printed. I saw metal characters aligned in a rectangular frame that made up a page. It was cool seeing the entire printing process. The man who was showing us everything was so patient. It's sad that the print version of this newspaper isn't available. My parents are not savvy with technology. They have since switched to a different Chinese print newspaper, but prefer watching Fairchild TV and getting the Cantonese version of news there. It's nice that Sing Tao endures. I'll need to drop by the headquarters and take a look at its exterior. It's in my neighbourhood. I might as well check it out. (85)

Sing Tao is one of the most successful and popular Chinese Language Newspaper in Canada…read more It has been around for ages... as long as I remember. Sing Tao as an ethnic newspaper published everyday with the most up to date news from National and Overseas (Hong Kong, China and Taiwan). I think most of the people, like myself and my family would go to the classified ad if you looking for a plumber, electrician, lawyer, accountant, car dealership.... all kind of services and business have their ads in Sing Tao. Talking about Classified Ad, Sing Tao has the most explicit escort ad I read on a main stream newspaper as they should all be classified as XXX.... The complimentary insert magazines is also the reason a lot of people are reading the newspaper, which are all nicely printed that has a different theme: cooking/food, gossip, home deco.... Sing Tao's web site is also really nicely layout and full with great information! More ads from local business, coupon from restaurants..... I always check if the restaurant I going has coupons before I dine! Since you never know!!!!

The Epoch Times is just amazing for a free "newspaper"!…read more Not only it is printed in 19 languages in 35 countries, they also have regional and ethnic specific versions! It is published weekly both online and in print! There are a lot of advertisements but I kind of expected from free publications but the articles can be quite informative too. Great read while waiting for my food when I am eating alone in a restaurant as it is always readily available at the places I visit!

Tip: This paper gets delivered to you for free if you live in the Beaches…read more I grew up in the Beaches, in the east end of Toronto. It has its own newspaper. In the past, it used to be called Ward 9 News. The Beaches was known as Ward 9, a riding in the city. The name change happened while I was in high school from Ward 9 News to Beach Metro Community News. The riding boundaries had changed, so the name change made sense. These days, it has been shortened to Beach Metro. It's a free newspaper. It gets delivered by volunteers. I lived in an apartment, so there would be a stack of them sitting on the ledge in front of the mailboxes. You can get copies of the paper at the library and local businesses. I liked reading it growing up in the area. The newspaper is published every two weeks. In the summertime, it's scaled back to a publication each in July and August. It was cool reading stories about folks in the paper whom I knew in the area. It was cool thinking that they were famous... haha! Beach Metro Community News was a fixture on Kingston Road for decades. It was near my high school. These days, it is located on Gerrard Street East, just west of Main Street. Although I don't live in the area anymore, I go online to the Beach Metro site to read articles. It's nice to read what's going on in my old neighbourhood online. You can also subscribe to its newsletter, and have news and stories come to your inbox. The newspaper does accept donations. You won't get a tax receipt because it's not a charity. However, this newspaper has been alive and kicking since 1972. I certainly want it to thrive for many years to come. (84)

I am moving back to the beaches and one of the things I anticipate is delivery of the Ward 9 News…read more I am hoping that this is still happening! I have been living out of the area and in a few short weeks will be by the lake. Can't wait!! I plan on getting a paper newspaper again as well. I am praying that mail delivery does not get cancelled, though it seems likely. It is not that I don't use technology, but that the homey things are delightful for me, a senior.

This magazine is the highest quality genre mag on earth. I've been reading it for close to a…read moredecade, and it never fails to astonish me. How they haven't managed to run out of content or in ways to discuss horror films, art, music, and culture is commendable. Since they've started, they've branched out to a great radio show/podcast, films, the Festival of Fear and Halloween parties, and now they sponsor film festivals and events. Their tentacles reach far and wide and horror lovers are all they better for it. May your decrepit, reanimated corpse shuffle along forever.

A while back, I attended a small, intimate concert at Glenn Gould Studio, which is a part of the…read moreCanadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) Centre. I went to see Melanie Doane perform. She was performing most of her songs. She and her husband at the time, Ted Dykstra, also performed a few songs together. I knew what to expect seeing Melanie, who is a talented singer, and plays a number of instruments, including the violin, mandolin, and ukelele. I had attended a few shows of hers before this one. Ted had a rich voice that I had never heard before until this show. He also played the piano during this evening. I took a friend to see them. I parked at a lot nearby and we walked over. We had no problems finding the studio, which is on Front Street West. We presented out tickets and were let in. Staff were super helpful pointing us to where we were seated. The acoustics were decent. We both had a great time listening to them and sharing a bit of themselves with us. The seats were comfortable. We were there for 2.5 hours. It was an enjoyable night out. You do get to see a Glenn Gould sculpture out front. He is sitting on a bench. It's the perfect opportunity to take a photo with him. I grew up learning about Glenn Gould. I attended the same high school that he did, so I got that fact reinforced a lot throughout my teen years! I recommend dropping by Glenn Gould Studio and checking out a concert here. It's a beautify concert space. (478)

When I was offered a free ticket to see Sounds of the Season live, the annual daily bread…read morefundraiser which is a concert based around the top rated morning radio show in the city, Metro Morning on CBC Radio One 99.1, I jumped at the opportunity. I had heard the show many times as part of the radio show cast, but had no idea what it was like to be there. And I had never been to the Glenn Gould Studio either, and I was looking forward to that as well, being a fan of the namesake, as a fan of Canadianna in general. I was envisioning the show was in a large lobby, as a casual affair where the public could wander in and out, sipping their free hot chocolate. But no, this is on Eventbrite for tickets, which are free, but in limited supply, and a seated performance in a beautiful concert theatre, perfect! It's located on Front street and was easy to find as I walked east from Spadina on Front and watched for the big 250 sign, which is the address. Out front is a bench sculpture, with Glenn Gould sitting on the bench. The interior design of the galley lobby is striking with nice indirect lighting and items and images dedicated to one of the most famous and celebrated pianists of the 20th century, Glenn Gould. Love the music staff and notation motif wrapped around the concrete support poles, very cool. And they have one of GG's original pianos there on display, although the barrier in front of it appeared to be hanging down, without being able to keep the public away, which was disrespectful to something with obvious historical value. Inside the theatre the enchanting Christmas scene was breathtaking! There was a smoke machine adding some haze and atmosphere, and Christmas Poinsettias lined the complete stage creating a beautiful red base embellishing the scene wonderfully. Giant sparkling-bright snow-flake icons adorned the backdrop. The chairs were very comfortable! There was no lobby service with the typical glass of wine or other drinks at this morning show, which started at 5:30 am and ended at 8:30 am, so there wasn't a reason to get out of our seats, aside from using the washroom. There was a small break on the hour when the news was on, instead of commentary, provided by the inimitable Ismaila Alfa, or the glorious music with the live performances by various artists, so I got up and walked to the lobby and back to my seat. In spite of that I ended up staying for the entire 3 hours, thoroughly enjoying the entire show, even though I thought I would likely leave at one of the breaks, not a chance with that sound, omg such beautiful acoustics in there, along with obviously quality audio gear that I felt Aqyila (yes that Aqyila Vibe for Me (Bob for Me) (or was it maybe an angel lol) was crooning into my ear on the couch beside me singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" absolutely an unforgettable experience that will remain with me forever.

Didja hear? No? Well ya should.. so listen up!…read more Hidden amidst the buildings of Port Credit there is a little radio station doing big things! TheHazeFM is a great online radio station that is doing things in internet radio that have yet to be done in southern Ontario (dare I say Ontario or even Canada). Station owner Peter Whitaker and his staff are putting an A+ in Adult Contemporary in Mississauga. However unlike other regional radio stations, with the HazeFM you don't need to be from Mississauga to enjoy. Whether sitting at you computer in Newmarket OR walking the streets of Unionville (Markham) all you need do is open their website up on your browser and the sweet sounds of the HAZE surround you! However, Adult Contemporary isn't for everyone (this I know). Not to worry, with an array of different Disc Jockeys on staff, each show can and does have a different sound to it - take for example their SugarNSpice show hosted by Stephanie McKenzie (@Steviejoxo on twitter). No matter your flavour TheHazeFM certainly has become "The Voice of Mississauga," and I plan on tuning in more often to help support local radio - I recommend you do the same!

It was such an amazing indie radio station years ago. Now it just another generic station with poor…read morecontent.

I discovered Indie88 last summer driving on King Street. I've forgotten my iPod at home, and I…read morewasn't in the mood for either Jazz or Classical. I scanned the tuners for something fresh and unfamiliar (a long shot for Toronto), and I found two stations that were blasting tunes I never heard before. One was Pride FM, and the other was Indie88. By the time I've arrived at my destination, I concluded that the music on Indie88 was of a more easy listening nature. I never heard of any of the bands they named, and did not recognize a single song. This was a fresh experience for me, as I have been accustomed to settling with the least annoying station in the past, when no other mediums of music was available while behind the steering wheel of my truck. Overtime, I was able to name the songs that repeated throughout the day, and even name a few band or two. This is when I noticed that all encompassing Canadian formatting which all radio stations in Ontario were somehow subjected to. I once looked up a song on their website, and noticed while scrolling through the list that they too subscribed to the top 40 ideal. It may not have been the top 40 in mainstream media, but it was certainly the top 40 of what was mainstream in their genre of music, which is actually even more foul of a crime, as there should be so much more unknown bands that deserve a play on the air, simply due to this station's philosophy. "Giving great music a home." Or did that mean giving the most popular songs a residency until something newer comes along? It's undeniably similar to what any other radio stations are doing. There is the voting to keep or rid of the lesser known music, more affectionately known in Toronto as 'Pump It Or Dump It." A morning show that plays music I suppose that is commuter friendly? "The Morning After", which I don't really understand the theme of, as it doesn't seem to appeal to any specific demographic or purpose, and "Your First Listen" hosted by a DJ personality whom I may or may not have attended the same Junior High School with. I do really enjoy a segment called Crackle & Pop, where someone who is referred to as 'Bookie' plays songs from his vinyl collection. Often, I have no idea what is being played, but it's pretty groovy. There is also a segment called "Black Box Sessions", which is collective of singer/bands that have visited the Indie88 studio to record in a alleged dark recording studio. The music is hit or miss at times, but it certainly is unique, and an excellent platform for local artist to display their talent. One thing you will hear over and over on Indie88 is their constant reminder of the entire project is broadcasted from a house in Liberty Village; a severely gentrified neighborhood in Toronto that takes price in destroying some of the city's most historic buildings simply because they look old and unappealing, and replaced it with condos, fast foods disguised under euphemisms such as 'craft', and 'hair studio'. It is the ideal neighbourhood for hipsters to hangout. This certainly would be where all the hipsters in Toronto lived if hipsters had jobs, and understood the concept of money. The station occupies a (as of date) half-assed renovated house that supposedly has no hot water for showers. This constant reminder serves no credit to the radio station's 'localness', because the truth is, it already feels bloody local already. The local vibe of Indie88 is undeniable. I enjoy this radio station so much, I now prefer it to my iPod. My iPod is a collective of music that only I like, so that's saying a hell of a lot. They often give a little back story to the artist/band right before playing their music, which is super cool and informational for music nerds, and the musicians themselves. Indie88 does a good job in keeping things interesting. There are of course, a few egregious things that this station needs to cut it the fuck out of their programing. Raina seems to exude a lot of her personality on air, which is cool, but she also exude much of her personal bias, which sometimes becomes super annoying. I don't know why so many radio stations must dabble in local politics and news, perhaps it is an requirement for Canadian radio, but when Raina does it, she just gets it wrong. She shits on Toronto's old mayor, despite a good demographic of the station's listeners are supports of him, and I remember her even scoffing at a Mens rights advocacy group. WTF dude?! That actually takes the cake as the most offensive thing I've ever heard on the radio. Seriously sexist stuff. This radio station wields their influence over a demographic that currently dominates the mainstream media, and subsequently; how many people think. Indie88 is anything from obscure, and their sponsors are similar to the other stations. Lay off the politics and controversial trends and just concentrate on good music will ya? Don't be presumptuous and patronize or alienate your listeners. Good contests though...