By Torontoist

Torontoist is one of thirteen cities in the worldwide Gothamist network. Each Sunday, the editors of every site—from LAist to Londonist—choose their most interesting article, a list that is compiled into the network-wide feature Elsewhere In The Ist-a-Verse.

Photo by Gothamist reader Wayne.

• Gothamist was struck by this photograph of a rat stuck while trying to emerge from under a sidewalk. And Gothamist readers let their imaginations go wild, offering various scenarios for the rat.
• Phillyist watched MLB.com call it too soon before celebrating the Phillies’ second consecutive trip to the World Series. Sorry, LAist—but at least you still have one hometown team in contention.
• Bostonist interviewed John Hodgman about his role in the Boston Book Festival.
• Shanghaiist found out that a lot of people in China have a lot of trouble defining what “communism” means.
• Chicagoist was a little surprised when an atheist billboard went up near downtown and nobody seemed to notice.
• Seattlest heard and was saved by the Gospel of Jay-Z.
• LAist went from the sublime to the ridiculous: They went day trippin’ to the gorgeous Channel Islands National Park and found a five-star Yelp review for Top Chef Fabio Viviani’s not-even-open-yet restaurant.
• SFist was sad to see a second dead blue whale wash ashore in two weeks.
• Londonist celebrated its fifth birthday with copious cupcakes and general revelry.
• DCist followed the ongoing controversy of the Bloomingdale neighbourhood’s “Boxer Girl” mural, which neighbours either seem to love or hate.