Torontoist Environment Editor Chris Tindal is currently engaged in a federal by-election campaign. This weekly column is an attempt to offer a behind the scenes glimpse into what it's like to be that mysterious Other: a politician. Last night was our first public all-candidates debate in this campaign. Hosted by the Bay Corridor Community Association in the Sutton Place Hotel, it was extremely well attended by an engaged audience. For those of us who recognize......

This Sunday is the third annual St. James Town Festival, which begins at 10 a.m. outside of the Wellesley Community Centre at the corner of Wellesley and Sherbourne. At least, it's supposed to. But festival organizers claim that an unexpected and hefty bill from the city has left the event in jeopardy. For those of you unfamiliar with St. James Town, it's home to approximately 19,000 people living in a four-block radius, and is Canada's......

Almost 200 men auditioned to be the new faces of Harlequin romance novels at a Toronto casting house on Saturday. Studies showed that Harlequin's main readership (female in their mid-40's) were "upset when slight, young cover models clashed with the brawny, mature heroes described within [the books themselves]." Canada's Next Top Harlequin Cover Model, anyone? Hosted by Fabio? Quebec began its provincial elections this morning. Who's gonna win? Nobody knows! CSIS has decreed that "Islamic"......

When searching for a new place to live, what is the first thing you look for? Location? Lifestyle compatibility? Enticements? A blank slate to shape in your unique style? Groovy wallpaper? Judging from today's ad, the latter may have been a key condition in North York back in 1970. This was the era of "swingin' singles" apartments, promoted in areas of the city like St. James Town. Think of this ad as the late 1960s......