When NOW featured Crystal Castles as their cover story two months ago, implicit in the whole article were three little words that get tossed around again and again when people talk about the band: next big thing. The details of the buzz band's rise are astonishing and fascinating—the mic check discovered by a label in 2005; the 7" records released in the following two years selling out fast; the insane live shows filling up......

Gas prices in Toronto are at $1.09 or more a litre today, reflecting all-time record oil prices of over US$108 per barrel. For all our driving readers, it might cheer you up to consider that it's still cheaper to fill up your car with gas than say, orange juice or Diet Pepsi. By the way, if you do decide to go with orange juice, remember that the pulp-free kind is less likely to gum up......

Dundas Square gets a lot of flak for being a cold and soulless expanse of commercial neon and grey granite, and in a new music video for local singer-songwriter-producer Colin Munroe, it still is! But in this case, it's appropriate for his fantastic cover of Kanye West's mediocre "Flashing Lights" track. Directed by Toronto-based street artist, musician, and director Philip Sportel, the super-low-budget video effectively dulls the square down into a generic, industrial, underpopulated......

On September 4, the The Misshapes released their style book, and the trio of trend-setting, New Wave rock-producing New Yorkers are hitting Toronto on Thursday, September 6 in celebration of its release. Who are The Misshapes? Known for their weekly Saturday night parties—the "best in hipster Manhattan" since February 2004—these musicians (and cutting-edge fashion influences) have established themselves as "an intersection of music, art, and fashion." The Misshapes are Greg Krelenstein, Leigh Lezark, and......

A pair of anorexic nuns cross a neon pink crucifix to air their laundry—so begins The Ecstatics. Sisters Marguerite and Abegail are the last standing pair of nuns from a convent bent on self-perfection through eating disorders. The premise has promise, to be sure, but an inconsistent, overlong script keeps The Ecstatics from being as brilliant as it could so easily be. Still, Ruth Madoc-Jones and Erika Hennebury must be praised for penning something that......

Happy Holidays from the Ist-A-Verse! Austinist is in good holiday spirits, and so is their interview, Andy Roddick. They know what CDs they want in their stockings, but more than that, they know that the greatest gift you can give them is making fun of a famous Austinite on national television. Torontoist isn't really feeling the Christmas spirit, though: unfortunately, there's still no snow in Toronto. Maybe if somebody were to put a big Christmas......

Tonight, in All Hallow's Eve tradition, Church Street will be blocked off from 5pm to 11pm, Alexander to Wellesley so that aspiring and professional Drag Queens can drag. The blocked traffic usually runs later because the tourists that come to view the aforementioned drag queens inevitably keep it closed until the bars let out. Church Street fills up with the best outfits ranging from clever (The Sock Monkey/Sea Monkey couple always amaze me with......

When comedian Richard Ryder ("Dick!" he loudly tells his audience) gets on stage to do a set, he does so with a commanding presence: tall, bald, goatee, eyes like lasers. He’s looks like a biker ready to take down the bar. Until he opens his mouth. When he speaks, Richard speeds through whatever comes out of his head in a voice that makes fag hags stand up and take notice. He's the guy your......

If the dining options across from University of Toronto on College Street were a representation of the student body, U of T would be the most generic school in the country world universe. From Beverly to McCaul, the blandness ranges from Subway sandwichs to Pita Pit - which essentially tastes, costs and digests the same. For this reason, the two-week (and still going?) grand opening of the the Steak & Cheese Factory, Quick Pita and......

Madonna's new promo push, as discussed in today's Star and by Paved.ca's star blogger, has spun out of the groove locally. The mass-marketing of the underwear-wearing 40-something has garnered lots of talk, and lots of dissmissals, from just about everywhere. It's not that the promotional flavour is overly sour (40 is the new 60, and Ms Ritchie looks good in leotard), but it might be too strong a taste even for her. This stretch-limo idea......

1. Papa Ceo's Pizza (654 Spadina) Any given chunk of pizza pie might have all the makings for a good pizza experience. Any given chunk might also have the potential to soothe your pizza soul on a rainy Friday. And let's face facts - any given chunk of pizza is the most popular given chunk. Papa Ceo’s is not just any chunk. Located near U of T and the Annex, Ceo’s is probably most famous......

There's more air-kissing than usual in Yorkville today, with big traffic-stopping smooches for the first-ever Hugs & Kisses street party (sponsored by CoverGirl). From noon to 8pm today, you can help kiss cancer goodbye by making a $5 donation to the Lip Imprint Campaign, in and around handbag maven Jeanne Lottie’s subterranean Yorkville Avenue boutique. (That’s also where the Molson Indy Sports Model contestants will be hanging out.) Inside, grab a Kiss martini or glass......