What's missing from your city?

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by logan5

It's exactly the opposite. The left is still pushing social boundaries, like they always have. Thank god for the Left.

For sure. The right is responsible for the majority but there is definitely a contingent of the feminist left that is wary of many aspects of sex to the point where it can come across as prudish. Understandable considering that women have historically been disproportionately affected by things like sexual assault, gender-based discrimination and unplanned pregnancies. Certainly more reasonable than the right's excuses of "cas god said so" and "cas that's my concept of normal" type stuff. The left's side is probably more visible to some of us since it's newer and many of us are more exposed to the "leftosphere"

[someone123]

Originally Posted by logan5

It's exactly the opposite. The left is still pushing social boundaries, like they always have. Thank god for the Left.

What you wrote isn't the opposite of what I wrote and I am getting at something different.

My basic point is that an important modern political trend in Canada is illiberal attitudes on the self-identified leftist or progressive end of the spectrum.

For example, this covers phenomena like opposition to sex work on feminist grounds. Or forcing the use of certain names or pronouns for trans people. People who believe these things are both illiberal and in favour of social control but view themselves as progressive or left wing.

You might also come up with a liberal feminist opinion that grown-up women should be allowed to do whatever they want, including strip or have sex for money, and not all who may work in that industry are female. Or you might say that free speech is the overriding principle even if you fully support trans rights.

In recent years, this illiberal (or regressive, or conservative) self-styled leftism or progressiveness has gained a lot of steam in Canada.

Note that I've already said that I'm not sure how much this really matters with strip clubs, but maybe the political level changes have given air cover for NIMBY maneuvers. It's easy to cobble together a coalition of feminists and homeowners to politically overcome strip club lovers.

[MonkeyRonin]

I'd imagine NIMBYism is the crux of the issue here. For most of the same reasons, it's extremely difficult to open new night clubs in most cities now as well.

But of course with strip clubs in particular, aside from the usual fears around noise, crime, property values, drunk driving, and so on that come with the territory, the sex aspect just adds another layer of opposition for everyone from homeowners to families to religious conservatives to some feminists. No one is ever going to score any political points by not trying to zone them out of existence.

Originally Posted by someone123

For example, this covers phenomena like opposition to sex work on feminist grounds.

The "all sex is rape" brand of feminism has always been around, but from my perspective at least, supporting sex workers and general female sexual agency is a big pillar of contemporary feminism, at least among younger people.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by someone123

What you wrote isn't the opposite of what I wrote and I am getting at something different.

My basic point is that an important modern political trend in Canada is illiberal attitudes on the self-identified leftist or progressive end of the spectrum.

For example, this covers phenomena like opposition to sex work on feminist grounds. Or forcing the use of certain names or pronouns for trans people. People who believe these things are both illiberal and in favour of social control but view themselves as progressive or left wing.

You might also come up with a liberal feminist opinion that grown-up women should be allowed to do whatever they want, including strip or have sex for money, and not all who may work in that industry are female. Or you might say that free speech is the overriding principle even if you fully support trans rights.

In recent years, this illiberal (or regressive, or conservative) self-styled leftism or progressiveness has gained a lot of steam in Canada.

Note that I've already said that I'm not sure how much this really matters with strip clubs, but maybe the political level changes have given air cover for NIMBY maneuvers. It's easy to cobble together a coalition of feminists and homeowners to politically overcome strip club lovers.

Lots of unholy "strange bedfellows" alliances being made these days.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

I'd imagine NIMBYism is the crux of the issue here. For most of the same reasons, it's extremely difficult to open new night clubs in most cities now as well.

But of course with strip clubs in particular, aside from the usual fears around noise, crime, property values, drunk driving, and so on that come with the territory, the sex aspect just adds another layer of opposition for everyone from homeowners to families to religious conservatives to some feminists. No one is ever going to score any political points by not trying to zone them out of existence.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's it. I don't think it's our woke culture at work, or anything like that.

Also, Occam's razor suggests to me that a combination of demographic/geographical change and economics may make strip clubs increasingly unprofitable. On the demographic side, you have to contend with a new generation of men who probably don't see the appeal of paying $20 for a bottle of Labatt Blue in a tired venue. The generation who visited strip clubs in the past are not going to bars as regularly any more, simply because they are older. On the geographic/economic side, you have gentrifying inner cities where you have to pay higher commercial rents and are no longer the stomping grounds for your former blue collar clientele. Strip clubs are also big spaces - usually about the same size as a Shopper's Drug Mart - that are mostly empty throughout the day.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's it. I don't think it's our woke culture at work, or anything like that.

Also, Occam's razor suggests to me that a combination of demographic/geographical change and economics may make strip clubs increasingly unprofitable. On the demographic side, you have to contend with a new generation of men who probably don't see the appeal of paying $20 for a bottle of Labatt Blue in a tired venue. The generation who visited strip clubs in the past are not going to bars as regularly any more, simply because they are older. On the geographic/economic side, you have gentrifying inner cities where you have to pay higher commercial rents and are no longer the stomping grounds for your former blue collar clientele.

I agree.

If it was a NIMBY thing, I'd imagine a lot of these places would relocate to just outside of municipal jurisdictions.

If the money isn't there in this business, they close altogether.

I think the latter is what's happening here.

[Innsertnamehere]

If it was just a NIMBY thing you would at least see clubs pushing for licenses. Instead you just see a steady decline of clubs all across the country regardless of development pressure.

The decline is mostly demographics if you ask me. Millennials just don’t see the appeal of them in the same way as older generations do - even things like bachelor parties don’t always go to them any more.

It’s probably because of changing images of what sexuality and masculinity is, along with the much greater availability of porn. Same way porn theatres have disappeared over the last few decades, strip clubs are slowly going as well. Millennials just don’t see the value in paying for sex in the same ways that previous generations did.

Plus there seems to be just a complete lack of will to innovate in the industry to react to changing demographics. These clubs look, price, and serve the same stuff they did 30 years ago, and that’s a problem. The entertainment industry is constantly changing, and these clubs simply haven’t.

[megadude]

I'm looking at some pics from an apartment building we have the mortgage on and I see there's a nice mural on the entire side of the building. As you might have guessed, this is in Montreal, home of so many great murals.

Toronto has some, and has graffiti alley in Kensington Market, but I feel like there should be more grand murals. Not just small ones.

And I think the major suburbs should have a few. I'm sure there are small ones, but I actually can't think of any in the 'burbs that cover an entire side of a building. One that is creative and impressive enough to remember.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by megadude

Toronto has some, and has graffiti alley in Kensington Market, but I feel like there should be more grand murals. Not just small ones.

There are just as many in Toronto as in other cities. In fact over the past few years Toronto might lead the pack in terms of city funded public murals going up. Almost every underpass, blank wall and tunnel has seen or is seeing new murals and art added.



Redpath Sugar @ Doors Open Toronto 2019 by A Great Capture, on Flickr

phlegm70_july2016 by YenC, on Flickr

Gooderham Building Mural - Toronto by Mark, on Flickr

World Renowned Spanish Artist .... Okuda San Miguel .... Ignites Toronto With Giant Twenty-Three Storey Mural Celebrating Diversity, Knowledge and Nature by Greg's Southern Ontario (catching Up Slowly), on Flickr

Giant Story Book by allenhimself, on Flickr

200 Wellesley by dtstuff9, on Flickr

Toronto by Marcanadian, on Flickr

The Holiday Inn on Bloor was recently converted into Toronto’s first Kimpton property - the St. George to be exact. In the process they commissioned Toronto street artist Jerry Rugg (a.k.a. BirdO) to paint this giant owl mural too. • • • #igerstoronto #t by JasonParis, on Flickr

B-Ball and Mural by Georgette, on Flickr

[GernB]

What's missing from my city? A mayor who doesn't call to mind the name Quimby...

[TorontoDrew]

He can't be as bad as Toronto's last mayor R.I.P Robbie.

[jawagord]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

There are just as many in Toronto as in other cities. In fact over the past few years Toronto might lead the pack in terms of city funded public murals going up. Almost every underpass, blank wall and tunnel has seen or is seeing new murals and art added.

Gooderham Building Mural - Toronto by Mark, on Flickr

Gooderham is excellent, very well done.

[urbandreamer]

As a celiac, I wish Toronto and KW especially had more gluten free restaurants. I usually end up eating at the Basil Box and Bunners. In KW there's Winnie's but no proper restaurant so I can never eat out anywhere. In Toronto I wish places like Bunners were open later.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

If it was just a NIMBY thing you would at least see clubs pushing for licenses. Instead you just see a steady decline of clubs all across the country regardless of development pressure.

The decline is mostly demographics if you ask me. Millennials just don’t see the appeal of them in the same way as older generations do - even things like bachelor parties don’t always go to them any more.

It’s probably because of changing images of what sexuality and masculinity is, along with the much greater availability of porn. Same way porn theatres have disappeared over the last few decades, strip clubs are slowly going as well. Millennials just don’t see the value in paying for sex in the same ways that previous generations did.

Plus there seems to be just a complete lack of will to innovate in the industry to react to changing demographics. These clubs look, price, and serve the same stuff they did 30 years ago, and that’s a problem. The entertainment industry is constantly changing, and these clubs simply haven’t.

Getting a license is an effort in futility. NIMBYism has pushing it underground where the industry has evolved with the times.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

As a celiac, I wish Toronto and KW especially had more gluten free restaurants. I usually end up eating at the Basil Box and Bunners. In KW there's Winnie's but no proper restaurant so I can never eat out anywhere. In Toronto I wish places like Bunners were open later.

The popularity of a gluten free diet has definitely confused the allergy to gluten.

[ssiguy]

One thing that nearly every city in the country lacks is a DOWNTOWN park. All basically have inner city parks or very nice river/lake/ocean greeways but not a true downtown park right smack in the middle of everything with the noteable exception of London.

London's beautiful downtown Victoria Park is, quite literally, within a 2 minute walk of nearly every office tower where going to the park at lunch hour is a reality.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

One thing that nearly every city in the country lacks is a DOWNTOWN park. All basically have inner city parks or very nice river/lake/ocean greeways but not a true downtown park right smack in the middle of everything with the noteable exception of London.

London's beautiful downtown Victoria Park is, quite literally, within a 2 minute walk of nearly every office tower where going to the park at lunch hour is a reality.

I don’t know about that, I’d take Windsor’s downtown riverfront Park over Victoria Park any day.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by north 42

I don’t know about that, I’d take Windsor’s downtown riverfront Park over Victoria Park any day.

Kitchener's Victora Park is much larger than London's and it is also downtown, as it the smaller Firefighters Memorial Park. Although it would be a challenge to have a park "in the middle" of Kitchener's linear downtown (maybe it wouldn't be so linear if that had happened ... ).

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

One thing that nearly every city in the country lacks is a DOWNTOWN park. All basically have inner city parks or very nice river/lake/ocean greeways but not a true downtown park right smack in the middle of everything with the noteable exception of London.

London's beautiful downtown Victoria Park is, quite literally, within a 2 minute walk of nearly every office tower where going to the park at lunch hour is a reality.

Place du Canada in Montreal as well as the other park across the street (forgot the name) would qualify as a downtown parks.

[davedavedave123]

I believe in Halifax I would count the public gardens, Victoria park and the Halifax Common (maybe more downtown adjacent) as being true downtown parks. Could even count the citadel given that it is a large grassy hill that people sunbathe and lounge on in the summer.