The Globe and Mail's Robert Everett-Green writes about how the conjunction of two anniversaries, Montréal's 375th and Canada's 150th, is set to give Montrealers a memorable year.

On May 18, 1642, a few dozen religious fanatics from France arrived at an island in the St. Lawrence River, held a celebratory mass and declared themselves home. Their ( Read more... )

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The Globe and Mail's Ingrid Peritz describes controversy in Montréal over the cost of celebrating the 375th anniversary of the city's founding. I'm for the idea: Why not celebrate an anniversary of some note? Everyone loves a party.

Montrealers do not need much of an excuse to party, but some are wondering why they are supposed to celebrate when ( Read more... )

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CBC News' Taylor Simmons notes that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Kwanzaa.

Zakiya Tafari remembers celebrating his first Kwanzaa over 20 years ago ( Read more... )

The Toronto Star's Azzura Lalani notes the expected huge throngs of shoppers even now crowding Yorkdale.

Toronto shoppers arrived early, armed with game plans and strategies to snag the best Boxing Day deals at the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale Shopping Centre ( Read more... )

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Among other things, I think I may venture out to Pacific Mall. Why not? It's been years since I've been.

What about you? What do you have planned for tomorrow?

The Toronto Star shares Shawn Micallef's timely article about humble overlooked Christmas trees. This does matter, perhaps particularly tonight, when my Instagram feed is still fresh with photos of the great showy trees of the Eaton Centre and City Hall. Less showy things also matter.

The hardest-working Christmas tree in Toronto is in Cumberland ( Read more... )

• blogTO notes that the Toronto real estate market is now the most unaffordable of any in Canada.
• The Big Picture shares photos of melting Antarctica.
• Crooked Timber considers the economic benefits of open borders, and the costs.
• Dangerous Minds shares photos of posters from Paris in 1968.
• Lawyers, Guns and Money considers the problems of legal education ( Read more... )