Shawn Micallef
@shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Local tosser
Books author (New: Stroll!)
Toronto Star column writer
Spacing Magazine co-founder
U of T instructor
Trying to do it a bit different here than the last place.
Links to books, etc:
https://linktr.ee/shawnmicallef
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🤘🏼
Books author (New: Stroll!)
Toronto Star column writer
Spacing Magazine co-founder
U of T instructor
Trying to do it a bit different here than the last place.
Links to books, etc:
https://linktr.ee/shawnmicallef
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🤘🏼
Pinned
Stroll, updated edition
THE TORONTO STAR'S "30 BOOKS WE CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS SPRING"The updated edition of a Toronto favourite meanders around some of the city’s unique neighborhoods and considers what makes a city walka...
chbooks.com
Hi new folks. Last year I rewrote my book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto. Added like 30000 more words too. My (Toronto) life's work. A very good present to give! Bookstores or direct from Coach House or...
chbooks.com/Books/S/Stro...
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Feeling ya. 😔
bsky.app/profile/cjha...
bsky.app/profile/cjha...
Accidentally ended up on Instagram today. (I'm not on IG. Must have been a Bluesky link that sent me.) Have spent the entire effing day in tears. ISTG, this is going to kill me. 😭 I have avoided everything Blue Jays/baseball - to the point of listening to "On Tyranny and On Ukraine" to distract.
I think I am finally ready to read blogs about the Blue Jays' World Series run. Please send yours if you had written one!
November 16, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Feeling ya. 😔
bsky.app/profile/cjha...
bsky.app/profile/cjha...
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Yes, a Calrec Soundfield mic!
November 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Yes, a Calrec Soundfield mic!
Recorded in Church of the Holy Trinity next to Eaton Centre w, irrc, one mic?
On this day in 1988, Cowboy Junkies released their second studio album “The Trinity Session”
The album includes a mixture of original material by the band and covers of classic folk, rock, and country songs...most notably, a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane"
The album includes a mixture of original material by the band and covers of classic folk, rock, and country songs...most notably, a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane"
November 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Recorded in Church of the Holy Trinity next to Eaton Centre w, irrc, one mic?
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Related sidebar, if he decides to sell half of Wasaga Beach, the feds should walk in and make it a national park. 🏞️
November 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Related sidebar, if he decides to sell half of Wasaga Beach, the feds should walk in and make it a national park. 🏞️
Two weeks ago tonight. Still too soon to think about.
November 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Two weeks ago tonight. Still too soon to think about.
Just passed thru Exhibition Place & it’s rammed. They’re parking people on the grass (🤦🏽). Royal winter fair. Soccer game at BMO. The notion that the Ex is used two weeks a year is false.
November 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Just passed thru Exhibition Place & it’s rammed. They’re parking people on the grass (🤦🏽). Royal winter fair. Soccer game at BMO. The notion that the Ex is used two weeks a year is false.
Watching vids of people riding the new Montreal REM transit line that opened today is Toronto-painful.
November 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Watching vids of people riding the new Montreal REM transit line that opened today is Toronto-painful.
Read @johnlorinc.bsky.social on why the store thing is bound to fail because it’s watered down to a Potemkin change in how Toronto operates.
November 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Read @johnlorinc.bsky.social on why the store thing is bound to fail because it’s watered down to a Potemkin change in how Toronto operates.
Ford has been on a conservation authority hunt for six years. It’s wonky enough that Ontario won’t care (because they seem to care about … not much when it comes to this govt) but profound negative impact. On and on.
The Doug Ford government is setting its sites on conservation authorities for the fifth time, merging the watershed protection agencies. Staff tell @fatimabsyed.bsky.social it may ‘slow approvals, create confusion’ — not to mention it's leaving them with ‘whiplash.’ thenarwhal.ca/ontario-cons...
Inside Ontario’s plan to merge 36 conservation authorities to 7 | The Narwhal
Doug Ford’s government is seeking public feedback on its plan to overhaul Ontario’s conservation authorities, reducing local agencies from 36 to 7
thenarwhal.ca
November 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Ford has been on a conservation authority hunt for six years. It’s wonky enough that Ontario won’t care (because they seem to care about … not much when it comes to this govt) but profound negative impact. On and on.
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
This nice "little tradition" is more an enduring symbol of the support that sprang up from this massive tragedy and the call that was answered by our friends and neighbours. A nice little tradition doesn't last over a hundred yrs....Something bigger does.
November 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This nice "little tradition" is more an enduring symbol of the support that sprang up from this massive tragedy and the call that was answered by our friends and neighbours. A nice little tradition doesn't last over a hundred yrs....Something bigger does.
Milwaukee has been on my (now paused) list of US cities to explore. Been to Madison & La Crosse in WI but not Milwaukee. Isaac’s feed of photos is a regular reminder that one day it will be nice to travel to the US again, maybe.
November 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Milwaukee has been on my (now paused) list of US cities to explore. Been to Madison & La Crosse in WI but not Milwaukee. Isaac’s feed of photos is a regular reminder that one day it will be nice to travel to the US again, maybe.
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
November 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
@shawnmicallef.bsky.social Thanks for this essay. You make several sensible observations. And in general thanks for the efforts you make on our collective behalfs.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... Let’s fix it: Put Toronto’s parking lots to better use
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... Let’s fix it: Put Toronto’s parking lots to better use
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
@shawnmicallef.bsky.social Thanks for this essay. You make several sensible observations. And in general thanks for the efforts you make on our collective behalfs.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... Let’s fix it: Put Toronto’s parking lots to better use
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... Let’s fix it: Put Toronto’s parking lots to better use
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Have you ever thought about a career in motivational speaking, Micallef?
November 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Have you ever thought about a career in motivational speaking, Micallef?
It’s great she went to NS. Mayors are the resistance in america but also maintaining the historic ties & friendship being destroyed by trump & co.
Is there a tariff on the tree?
Is there a tariff on the tree?
boston sent vital assistance following the 1917 halifax harbor explosion (so awful it killed 1700 people), and as thanks, nova scotia has sent us a christmas tree every year. it’s a nice little tradition. this is the first time the boston mayor visited to retrieve it in person
In Canada, Wu helps chop down Boston's Christmas tree
Mayor Michelle Wu spent three days in Nova Scotia, saying she wanted to affirm Boston's relationship with Canada amid antagonism from the Trump administration.
www.boston.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
It’s great she went to NS. Mayors are the resistance in america but also maintaining the historic ties & friendship being destroyed by trump & co.
Is there a tariff on the tree?
Is there a tariff on the tree?
Now & then sleep deficit catches up. Slept in til 1130 today. Standard practice as a teen, university days, when whole life was ahead.
As much as the extra sleep was great, I feel like I’ve just wasted a substantial chunk of the rest of my life & now much closer to death.
I am filled w despair.
As much as the extra sleep was great, I feel like I’ve just wasted a substantial chunk of the rest of my life & now much closer to death.
I am filled w despair.
November 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Now & then sleep deficit catches up. Slept in til 1130 today. Standard practice as a teen, university days, when whole life was ahead.
As much as the extra sleep was great, I feel like I’ve just wasted a substantial chunk of the rest of my life & now much closer to death.
I am filled w despair.
As much as the extra sleep was great, I feel like I’ve just wasted a substantial chunk of the rest of my life & now much closer to death.
I am filled w despair.
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
It's crazy that so much of Toronto being flat or shrinking is unremarked or actively hidden. You get Cllr Mike Colle, whose ward grew only 1.7pc, saying his constituents are "threatened" by constant change. Or residents in the Annex, which has fewer people, saying there's no space for more density
November 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It's crazy that so much of Toronto being flat or shrinking is unremarked or actively hidden. You get Cllr Mike Colle, whose ward grew only 1.7pc, saying his constituents are "threatened" by constant change. Or residents in the Annex, which has fewer people, saying there's no space for more density
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
Thanks @shawnmicallef.bsky.social for calling out the need for Toronto to find better uses for their underused parking spaces in his latest column. Housing, parks, places to socialize, you name it! #TOpoli www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Thanks @shawnmicallef.bsky.social for calling out the need for Toronto to find better uses for their underused parking spaces in his latest column. Housing, parks, places to socialize, you name it! #TOpoli www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Shawn Micallef
I was approached by a lady outside the gym today while parking my bike. She was likely in her 70s. She had such great questions about the bike and then proceeded to tell me about her ebike.
She told me that she rode over 600 miles on it last year and was so proud of herself. She was so happy.
She told me that she rode over 600 miles on it last year and was so proud of herself. She was so happy.
November 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I was approached by a lady outside the gym today while parking my bike. She was likely in her 70s. She had such great questions about the bike and then proceeded to tell me about her ebike.
She told me that she rode over 600 miles on it last year and was so proud of herself. She was so happy.
She told me that she rode over 600 miles on it last year and was so proud of herself. She was so happy.
Not Farm Boy too!
November 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Not Farm Boy too!
The high standards of the Royal York Drifters have gone downhill I guess.
www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Secret data reveals which low-scoring applicants still received millions of dollars from the Ford government’s skills fund
Secret government data obtained by the Star shows 26 applicants scoring 50 per cent or lower received $36.6 million from Premier Doug Ford's controversial Skills Development Fund earlier this year.
www.thestar.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The high standards of the Royal York Drifters have gone downhill I guess.
www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
How has any writer afforded to live in Malibu since Didion?
November 14, 2025 at 6:54 PM
How has any writer afforded to live in Malibu since Didion?
I applied to be part of the suit but Stroll didn't make the cut! I am sad!
Three of my books (my first 3 romances) are in the Anthropic suit. I feel like I've made it.
Narrator: She had not made it.
Narrator: She had not made it.
November 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I applied to be part of the suit but Stroll didn't make the cut! I am sad!