Photo by ariehsinger from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. Strike days like this make us wonder how difficult it'd be to run our own transportation service in Toronto. Of course, you couldn't actually open your own transit company—the City of Toronto Act says the only people who can run public transit are the TTC—but there are currently hundreds of kilometres of vacant rail on the street and underground, just waiting to carry millions of people......

With temperatures finally floating above zero, tonight's the tonight to dance and drink away the dregs of winter. And tomorrow morning? Head to the Gladstone Hotel for hangover brunch at noon... then start the party all over again with Shameless Magazine. The glossy for "girls who get it" is fêting the launch of the latest issue at the Gladstone Ballroom from 1—4 p.m. Saturday, March 15, with a something-for-everyone celebration. Star performers include Emma......

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset. In February of this year, a double-disc compilation titled Friends in Bellwoods was released by those who have made......

When thrashy experimental punks Quebexico called it a day earlier this year, angry, drunken, often-bearded fans across the country had a good reason to get more angry, more drunk, and grow larger beards. Thankfully, the band's offspring is hitting the same musical highs in the same aggressively DIY manner. TEENANGER, comprised of the 3/4ths of Quebexico that lived in Toronto (Ottawa-based guitarist Davey now plays in the also-awesome Million Dollar Marxists), is a little......

When New York punks Leftover Crack were denied entry into the country last week (something to do with criminal records), East Vancouver's The Rebel Spell opted not to give up and salvaged the tour, making their way across this fine land in true DIY punk fashion. This weekend finds the band in Toronto, trading a show at all ages mega-complex The Reverb for the way punker Siesta Neveaux. Located at 15 Lower Sherbourne, there......

If you've ever fantasized about designing your own skateboard deck—and really, who hasn't—the best day of your life may rapidly be approaching. DIY skateboard company Roarockit is opening its first boardmaking program in Toronto. After almost four years as a web-based business selling make-your-own-board kits, Roarockit is opening a school where aspiring boardmakers can attend seminars on how to create their own decks, ranging from basic street decks all the way up to highly personalized......

Toronto’s DIY fashionistas, independent designers, eclectic personalities and thrift store scavengers get a chance to flaunt the city’s indie fashion credentials this Wednesday at the Cadillac Lounge. The latest issue of Broken Pencil, dedicated to the aesthetics, culture and history of indie chic (and haircuts!), just arrived in stores. To mark the launch, the arts magazine will be hosting an all out celebration of indie style, including its first ever Indie Style Fashion Contest. Party-goers......

They say that the media is for the people, so who ya gonna call when in crisis? Certainly suspender-wearing hero Kevin Frankish, host of CityTV's Breakfast Television! At about 6:30 this morning, early-rising DIY-afficionado Lori Darosa of Oakville began painting an upper room in her house, when—oh, the humanity—she locked herself into the room while her husband Ned slept out of earshot elsewhere in the home. Devoid of doorknobs or lavatory facilities but in possession......

“What’s going on this week in cinema, Torontoist?” you might be asking, as you normally would when faced with another Film Friday column. “Well,” we'll respond, “If you want to know what is hot, you only have to look at a couple of earlier posts this week.” We refer of course to our posts The Picture of Dorian's Gay (a great title for a post, if we don't say so ourselves) and DIY, Lo-Fi,......

Among book collectors, zines are what's known as ephemera -- written matter meant to circulate and serve a purpose, but not to last. They tend to wind up in recycling bins instead of libraries, and so there's a danger that the entire history of zine-making over the last two or three decades could simply vanish. A few avid collectors have formed the Toronto Zine Library -- collected hundreds of zines, and organized them by......

Carnival enthusiasts unite this evening at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for The High Fashion Show, touted as a "runway cabaret" with the spirit of an antiquated midway. Part fashion show, part indie rock concert and part charity gala, all proceeds go to Camp Ten Oaks, a one-week summer camp for children with LGBTQ parents. Admission to this big top is $7, or $5 with the donation of warm hats and scarves for youths in......

Okay Adbusters, we get that it's Buy Nothing Day, but what's the harm in supporting some local designers and craftistas who make their own merchandise from the comfort of their hip Cabbagetown apartments? This evening from 7-10 PM, Six Shooter Gallery is hosting the launch of Twitch Design's winter line. Designer Sarah Doucet isn't just sister to alt-country rocker Luke Doucet, but a jewelry maven whose creations are best described as "handcrafted art pieces-de-resistance". And......

DIY novelist, Hamish MacDonald is launching his third novel, Idea in Stone - a magical realist tale that stretches from Canada to Scotland, at It's Not a Deli (986 Queen Street West) tonight (7:30pm). There will be two short readings from the book along with fun tunes played by some talented local musicians. And there will be a draw for a copy of the novel and some handmade hardcover journals. The books are individually......

Does coke have hate-on for the GTA? First there was their secretive attempt to foist Blak on Yorkville and us. Now, is the soft drink giant also ripping off suburban DIY collective the Winking Circle? The Uxbridge collective celebrates eccentricity and creativity by building custom bikes, riding in critical masses, building skateboard parks in their sleepy town and more. They've also made a little video manifesto/documentary which may or may not have been ripped off......

As of late, Torontoist has become slightly obsessed with the talents of others. I think it may have to do with the fact that we're not crafty-at all. And finding ways in which to showcase and sell your crafty ways may prove a bit difficult, unless laying out your wares on the sidewalks of Queen Street is more up your alley. Saying that, we must get the word out to fellow Torontonians about this site......

The Adam Brown, lynchpin of the Montreal independent music scene, played to an ever-rackety crowd at the regular Sunday night Wavelength show at Sneaky D(is)ees. Evidence of this racketiness were the numerous crowd-surfers, stage-joiners, and sold-out The Adam Brown CDs. The group, becoming something of a sensation around Toronto, had ran out of copies of their Even the Skies are Blue before even taking the stage - a bit of a rarity at Wavelength.......

Obviously not pleased with the TTC's in-subway poetry, a few DIY, vigilante poets have taken to throwing up poems in the ad panels of subway cars. The grass-roots movement, if we may call it such, accepts submissions through email, at PoetryWhereYouAre@hotmail.com. The above poem, as graceful as it might be to some, just reminds us of the famous Sanford and Son comedian Red Foxx, and his own poetic ramblings: I smoke and drink. A......

Fresh Collective is a hive of intrepid DIY and independent fashion from over 15 designing women. Tonight, the Queen West boutique celebrates its second anniversary with a free party, designers in attendance, 20% off everything in the store, and sweet deal racks, from childrens clothing and bunting bags to kicky skirts and accessories like charm bracelets festooned with vintage Canadian provincial charms. From 7pm to 10pm.......

A column in yesterday's Sun brings home the fact that you'll be bringing home less in the new year. But such is life. In Canada. Still, when you read Sun reporter Maryanna Lewyckyj's litany of rising taxes and receding services, you start to hurt for your wallet, be it a duct tape DIY, or of the finest leathers that money can buy. This year marks the inauguration of McGuinty's much-maligned health levy, and if you're......