Arts and Culture : Featured Stories

What is Toronto's great idea? According to author Edward Keenan, it's diversity. The former innovation and jobs editor at Yonge Street sat down with Bert Archer to discuss his new book Some Great Idea, YSM's influence, and why Toronto's "messiness" makes it strong. 

Guillaume Côté's portrayal of the troubled ballet legend Nijinsky contributed to a 10-minute standing ovation at this weekend's premiere. Yonge Street chats with the principal dancer about the dark role and how innovation is changing perspectives on ballet. 

Sage Paul's wearable art transcends the line between what's synthetic and real, combining aboriginal regalia with cutting-edge fashion that challenges the mainstream.

Condos are turning into canvases as property developers look to local and international artists to create original art and public installations in an effort to attract new condo buyers. As a result, properties are becoming art galleries, attracting known artists and creative-minded residents alike. 

Tazeen Qayyum’s evocative painting ranges from sly political commentary to the personal stories of the unheard. The Oakville contemporary miniature artist makes a big statement with the tiniest of brushes, pursuing an art she learned in her native Pakistan.

Award-winning editor Patricia Bebia-Mawa is known for telling Africa's stories locally and around the world. Here in Toronto, she hopes to honour more African-Canadians by launching a new publication and expanding her company's prestigious Planet Africa Awards.

It's not too late for a Valentine's Day skate. With more than 100 skating rinks in Toronto and the GTA, we narrow down our top five outdoor picks for winter romance under the stars. Hot cocoa anyone?

Gaming platforms such as the App Store and Steam have made it easier than ever for developers to release independent games onto the market. Yet financing these games is a different story. A new generation of small Toronto game development companies are raising money on their own.

Roncesvalles has seen many changes in recent years, but the charming west-end locale remains alive and bustling. From doggie boutiques to hip new eateries, its diversity makes it a model for how Toronto neighbourhoods can integrate various communities. 

At the Yonge Street Speaker Series talk on the power of play, panelists explored ways to strengthen communities through play and games. As it turns out, our city's current efforts harken back to the social movement that created playgrounds, according to a social historian who attended the event.

Toronto's National Film Board has become a leader in digital documentaries, a new trend which adds trailblazing interactive elements and lets viewers customize content. Next, producers of the award-winning Highrise project are planning to create content for mobile devices.

At our January 17 Yonge Talks panel, Ajooni Sethi will share some of the secret ingredients that made a giant hopscotch course click with Detroit residents.

Just like the CN Tower and Maple Leaf Gardens, our current fleet of streetcars define the city. Will the sleek new ones become as iconic?

After years of producing film and television, the CaribbeanTales founder realized the biggest obstacle to reaching a global audience was in the distribution.

With this year's focus on music, Canadian Stage's annual Festival of Ideas and Creation offered a glimpse of how sound, words and performances can pack a punch when combined with artistry. Yonge Street's managing photographer Tanja-Tiziana Burdi caught some of the magic on and off stage.