Every so often, writers pretend to be rock stars and go on tour. Our federal arts granting agency, Canada Council, funds the plane fare for book tours (though not much else). So, for the last ten days I gave lectures and did readings of my new-ish book Feeling Canadian: Television, Nationalism and Affect, in…

I’ve been hesitating to write about my experience at The Rusholme Park Supper Club. After all, in my last post I vowed to write only about food experiences in the east end of Toronto, where I now live. But the Scrabble Player, in her inimitably rational way said, Well. Rusholme. Park. Road. Is. East….

Sometimes, Toronto’s East End (especially around Gerrard Street) feels like East Berlin before The Wall came down. Like cool cafes have been outlawed by The Party. Like neighbourhood committees have decreed a particular shade of grey. Restaurants in this end of town rarely make it to the review pages of major or minor papers…