February 2nd, 2010

015: Safe streets, buildings on the brink, and urban exploration

Spacing Radio

In this podcast we tackle the obstacles facing pedestrians and explore the forgotten, abandoned places in our midst. We begin with Spacing Magazine senior editor and co-chair of Toronto’s Pedestrian Committee Dylan Reid, who joins host David Michael Lamb in conversation. The pair take to a busy downtown street corner to discuss the recent spate of pedestrian deaths in and around Toronto and the ways we can make the streets safer for all. Next, we get a quick primer on the life and would-be death of the old military hangers at Toronto’s Downsview Airport, before DML takes us into the underground world of urban exploration. He is joined by musician Jamie Thompson, from the Urban Flute Project, and long-time urban explorer Martin Reis as they chat about the attraction of a city’s abandoned spaces. And finally, Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson introduces us to Boyd Hipfner. Boyd takes Mieke for a stroll and we learn about the added trials and tribulations some pedestrians face in the winter.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 015

• Pedestrian safety: Spacing blog posts by Dylan Reid on jaywalking, and the shell shock of two weeks of pedestrian deaths
• Downsview: Spacing blog post about the hangers, and David Michael Lamb’s photography
• Urban Exploration: Urban Flute Project, Martin Reis’ website, and a forum dedicated to urban exploration

photo by David Michael Lamb

 

 Spacing Radio 015 [32:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

January 19th, 2010

014: Atom Egoyan, Will Alsop, and honey bees

Spacing Radio

Welcome to Season Three of Spacing Radio! Kicking things off this week is Marc Glassman’s interview with critically acclaimed filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who discusses his decision to cast the oft-overlooked Toronto as itself in his latest film, Chloe. Will Alsop, the renowned British architect whose work (including the Ontario College of Art and Design’s Sharp Centre for Design) dots urban landscapes the world over, speaks with Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson about the role architecture plays in shaping public space. Next, we visit Montreal where a movement is afoot to reclaim unused advertising space along transit lines and on city streets for the purpose of displaying art. Adam Bemma talks with Manuel Bujold, co-founder of the organization Make Art Public, about the group’s efforts to bring art to the masses in new and unexpected ways. And finally Sarah Bridge visits the Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s rooftop garden where a partnership between the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative and the hotel’s chefs is producing sweet returns. This week’s music is brought to you by spirited Toronto indie-rockers Boys Who Say No.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 014

• Atom Egoyan: official web site and a Toronto Star article about Chloe
• Will Alsop: Alsop Architects web site, Wikipedia profile and the Sharp Centre for Design
• Make Art Public: official web site, blog and Spacing Montreal’s blog post
• Honey Bees: the Fairmont Royal York Hotel web site, the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative web site and an article about urban beekeeping
• Boys Who Say No: on mySpace and Facebook

photo by Matthew Blackett

 

 Spacing Radio 014 [32:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

December 7th, 2009

013: Albino Squirrels, Paul Goldberger, and Transit Investment

Spacing Radio

To coincide with the release of Spacing magazine’s new issue on urban animals, Spacing Radio sent our producer Mieke Anderson on a quest to find Toronto’s elusive albino squirrel (who is also the star of the magazine’s cover) with Jane Farrow (an albino squirrel know-it-all). Spacing’s contributing editor John Lorinc sat down with noted architecture critic Paul Goldberger to discuss the outlook on building cities in a difficult economic climate. We also sent our new contributor Sarah Bridge to an international transit conference to find out the different ways in which public transit literally shapes our cities. This episode features music from the Super Furry Animals (“Golden Retriever“) and De La Soul (“Tread Water“).

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 013

• Albino Squirrel: Mike Werner’s photo collection
• Paul Goldberger: personal web site and John Lorinc’s Goldberger blog post
• Music: De La Soul on mySpace and Super Furry Animals web site

photo by Michael Werner

 

 Albino Squirrels, Paul Goldberger, and Transit Investment [26:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

November 23rd, 2009

012: Food, Ghosts, Bikes, and Ottawa

Spacing Radio

This episode of Spacing Radio takes our listeners on a trip of North American cities: learn about how food has shaped the history of Toronto; discover ghosts on a tour of Halifax; and understand why Portland, Oregon has become the continent’s leader city on cycling issues. We also sit down with Evan Thornton, the editor of Spacing’s newest blog, Spacing Ottawa. This week’s musical guest is The Balconies.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 012

• Food in Toronto: Victory Gardens and Chris Hardwicke’s Urbanism.org
• Halifax: Tattle Tour’s Ghost Walks
• Portland: City of Portland’s cycling web page
• Ottawa: Spacing’s newest blog, Spacing Ottawa
• The Balconies: Facebook fan page and mySpace

 

 Food, Ghosts, Bikes and Ottawa [33:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

November 9th, 2009

011: Thinking differently about public spaces

Spacing Radio

This episode of Spacing Radio challenges listeners to think about public spaces in a different light. The first place we want you to reconsider is under your feet and under the roads – the sewer system. Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson goes exploring underground in Montreal. At the 4 Days conference in Halifax, the Spacing Atlantic crew got to chat with John Thackara, the former director of the Netherlands Design Institute and a globe-trotting booster of social innovation. And we discuss a unique project in Vancouver that converts roundabouts and curbside boulevards into blooming gardens. The musical guest is the glorious Montreal band Malajube.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 011

• Under Montreal: Web site and Andrew Emond’s posts on Spacing Montreal
• 4 Days in Halifax: Conference web site and John Thackara’s web site
• Greenways Vancouver: Green Streets and Blooming Boulevards web pages
• Malajube: Band’s web site, mySpace page and Wikipedia profile

photo by Andrew Emond

 

 Thinking differently about pubic spaces [24:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

October 26th, 2009

010: Walking, ‘Burbs, and East Coast Canada

Spacing Radio

Spacing Radio’s 10th episode takes listeners into the suburbs of Toronto and across the east coast of North America. Host David Michael Lamb discusses the recent Walk21 pedestrian conference in New York City with Spacing’s publisher Matthew Blackett. Spacing Radio’s newest correspondent, Monika Warzecha, sits down with the editors of Spacing’s newest blog, Spacing Atlantic (which officially launches October 28th in Halifax). Producer Mieke Anderson wanders the Toronto suburb of Willowdale where an amazing art installation on Leona Drive is challenging local residents to think critically about the neighbourhood’s disappearing bungalows. And John Sewell, former mayor of Toronto (1978-1980), provides us with a nuanced critique of Liberty Village, a re-development of a former industrial site west of Toronto’s downtown core.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 010

• Walk21: Conference web site and video re-cap
• Spacing Atlantic: blog and launch announcement
• Leona Drive: artists’ web site and Spacing Toronto blog post
• Liberty Village: Wikipedia profile and John Sewell’s new book

 

 Spacing Radio 010: Walking, 'Burbs, and East Coast Canada [34:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

October 13th, 2009

009: City election outlook 2010

Spacing Radio

The 2010 city election — only one year away — will have a tremendous impact on the future of Toronto. Mayor David Miller recently announced he won’t face the electorate again, so who will replace him? Spacing Radio host David Michael Lamb sat down with Glen Murray, one of the outsiders who many believe is already assembling a campaign team. DML also hosts a roundtable with Ed Keenan of Eye Weekly, Rob Granatstein of the Toronto Sun (editorial page editor) and Spacing publisher Matthew Blackett to discuss potential mayoral candidates from the left, centre and right of the political spectrum. The panel also discusses which issues will be on the top of voters minds. Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson profiles Dave Meslin and his Better Ballots initiative which aims to improve the process of how we elect Toronto’s government. This episode’s musical guest is Ohbijou, a band that can’t help but sing about Toronto.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 009

• Glen Murray: The Canadian Urban Institute & Wikipedia profile
• Roundtable: Ed Keenan, Rob Granatstein, Matthew Blackett
• Better Ballots: Twitter & Toronto Star article
• Ohbijou: web site & mySpace

 

 Spacing 009: 2010 Election Outlook [36:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

September 28th, 2009

008: The haphazard city

Spacing Radio

Episode 008 of Spacing Radio examines the idea of haphazardness in a city. Spacing magazine contributing editor Amy Lavender Harris takes producer Mieke Anderson and listeners on a literary tour of Toronto’s Kensington Market that explores the neighbourhood’s unique character. Spacing’s Todd Harrison sits down with Davy Rothbart, the creator of Found magazine and books, to discuss the world of lost objects found in the public realm of our cities. And we eavesdrop on urban designer Joe Berridge during a recent panel discussion at the IPAC conference here in Toronto. The music of The D’Urburvilles can be found throughout the episode (songs “Dragnet” and “Hot Tips”).

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 008

• Kensington literary tour: Amy Lavender Harris’ Imagining Toronto web site
• Davy Rothbart: Found magazine and his new book
• Joe Berridge: biography
• The D’Urburvilles: web site and mySpace

photo by Rannie Turingan

 

 Spacing Radio 008: The haphazard city [18:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

September 14th, 2009

007: Season 2 kicks off with Richard Florida

Spacing Radio

Spacing Radio is back for Season 2! Host David Michael Lamb and the cast of Spacing Radio have emerged from a summer slumber to bring you another season of bi-weekly podcasts.

This episode takes it’s inspiration from topics examined in Spacing’s current issue of the magazine (get it on newsstands or subscribe). Listen to Spacing’s Edward Keenan discuss creative city issues with acclaimed urbanist Richard Florida (read the full interview in the magazine). Our new producer, Mieke Anderson, talks to Jane Farrow (Executive Director of the Centre for City Ecology and Jane’s Walk) and Spacing senior editors Shawn Micallef and Dylan Reid about how suburban planning has affected Toronto’s downtown and older neighbourhoods.  And we say goodbye to one of the city’s best bookstores, Pages, which acted as Spacing’s defacto retail HQ for the last five years. Music for this episode is provided by the Hidden Cameras.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 007

• Richard Florida: the Creative Class web site and Twitter feed
• Toronto Suburbs: John Sewell’s new book on the history of our local ‘burbs
• Pages Books & Magazines: web site and still-active reading series
• Hidden Cameras: web site and music/videos

 

 Spacing Radio 007: Season 2 begins! [35:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

May 11th, 2009

006: Jane’s Walk

Jane's WalkPedestrian

NOTE: This edition of Spacing Radio represents the finale of our first season. We’re going to take a bit of a break. Look for another podcast in a couple of months.

Join us as we listen in on a handful of the 117 walks Torontonians led and attended as part of this year’s Jane’s Walk.

In this podcast, we’ll travel to Bloor and Lansdowne, Kipling and Steeles, the Lower Don Lands, and the Geary Avenue hydro corridor. Also, host David Michael Lamb talks to organizer Jane Farrow about how this year’s Jane’s Walk events played their part in documenting and celebrating what Jane Jacobs (for whom Jane’s Walk is named) famously called “the complexity of the sidewalk ballet.”

Plus, we’ll hear music by local independent band Hooded Fang.

Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 006

• Jane’s Walk: the website, and the list of Toronto walks
• Jane Jacobs: her Project for Public Spaces bio and Wikipedia entry
• Mayor’s Tower Renewal: the project’s official site
• Lower Don Lands: redevelopment details on the WaterfronToronto website
• Hooded Fang: the band’s MySpace page, CBC Radio 3 page, and Zunior.com catalog entry

 

 006: Jane's Walk: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download