Illustration by Kyra Kendall/Torontoist. Technically, in 2002, Ireland did it before us―but, on this continent anyway, Toronto was the first to institute a fee on plastic shopping bags. Washington D.C. recently became the first U.S. jurisdiction to follow our example, when its bag fee legislation came into force last Friday, January 1. Though outwardly similar [...]

The TTC says that they plan to improve service on the 501 Queen streetcar route, which has been the object of much complaint over unpredictable service and frequent delays. The good news story here is that National Geographic recently declared the route one of the top ten streetcar trips in the world, so next time [...]

Even though the Toronto Indie Pop Festival became the Over The Top Festival a long time ago, Thursday night’s show at the Whippersnapper Gallery would have fit in easily with the former name. With three bands on the bill, it was a short blast of sweet songs that got the fest off to a good [...]

There’s a whole wide world out there, and here’s the proof: DCist revels in The University of Maryland’s basketball triumphs, marvels at Metro’s security strategy, and applauds DC local Katie Couric’s new gig. Phillyist is all about the Philadelphia Film Festival. OK, not all about — they still have time for loitering, underage sex, and [...]

Kevin Drew, the braintrust behind Canada’s premiere art-rock collective-typ band, is now trying his hand at travel writing. But instead of selling a blurb on Ft Lauderdale to Maclean’s or something of that ilk, the easy-on-the-eyes singer went to Silver Spring, Maryland to sell articles about Toronto. For Harp Magazine, a U.S. music magazine, Drew [...]