1

Toward a new fustiness: acquiring the elegance of men in old photographs.

2

Piercing: so ’95.

3

The shaving soap I use is remarkably hip, timelessly stylish, and wildly popular with wealthy gay men.

4

Fresh pundits, please!

5

I am invited to several parties and media events. While this is important enough to write about, I’m having difficulty marshalling enthusiasm.

6

Publicists: pathos behind the permanent smile.

7

My friend produces spectacularly cool websites/artwork/music/poetry. He or she is not getting adequate media buzz, and that is not right.

8

Mark Kingwell said something clever.

9

I am comped large numbers of books from publishers, some of which are silly.

10

Going to the movies is a different experience than it once was.

11

The appalling Regis Philbin has licensed his name to a line of clothing of a style people like myself stopped wearing years ago.

12

Remarkable, the things PR agencies do.

13

Oh, the timeless allure of rail travel.

14

An issue of a magazine has arrived, heralding a resurgence of interest in something. I have thoughts.

15

It is amusing to read press releases, for a variety of reasons.

16

An unnamed writer and I recently enjoyed a spectacular meal. Things were said that will tug at your awareness of the personal lives of those in the media.

17

Something you’ve never heard of has a remarkably broad fan base among people in their early twenties.

18

Someone is again popular. The Internet helped.

19

Things I write in email are interpreted differently than the things I say over the phone, signifying a global shift in communication.

20

Toronto neighbourhoods in which it is no longer fashionable to reside.

21

The perils of satirizing the only things for which you are known.

22

The play I saw was produced for one night only, will never be produced again, and that is the point.

23

It’s important to note who is visible in the background when speaking to a Bravo! camera at a cultural event.

24

Declaring sexual preference: sometimes good, sometimes not.

25

Writing in another paper, someone has assumed an authoritative voice on the matter of a recent trend, which is of course intolerable.

26

My friend is eccentric and obscenely talented, but you knew that, which makes the following anecdote all the more delightful.

27

Cigarettes simply go with certain outfits. Those who would legislate the air don’t understand.

28

I am informed there are those who store their neckties on metal hangers or flung over bedroom mirrors.

29

Hangovers: the columnist’s goldmine.

30

A trip to the West Coast will confirm what is said at dinner parties.

31

On the occasional usefulness of naked vulnerability.

32

Artists of different generations differ in habits and styles.

33

The next hot demographic is apparently the people I run into every day.

34

I have yet to lunch with Jan Wong.

35

A costume party offers no reason to abandon your innate sense of style.

36

More on the catering of media events.

37

It’s unsettling to be called a bitch by a teenage girl.

38

A memory from the age of 19, not failing to mention the cultural commodities consumed at the time, some charmingly embarrassing, some betraying pioneering awareness of the now classic.

39

On dining lavishly and having to pay.

40

Radio doesn’t provide what I require.

41

The adorable shortcomings of those I met on my book tour.

42

On slipping out of a desirable demographic.

43

Young, beautiful people are doing delicious things late at night in large, dark rooms while you sleep your boring sleep.

44

On the unquestionable beauty of the sort of women to whom I am attracted.

45

Canadian animation: still cool?

46

On the parallels between the untethered fabulousness described in “Wallpaper” and the deregulated movement of global money.

47

The amount of time I spend in front of flat, glowing screens is still alarming.

48

I never owned the product you have grown to hate.

49

Evidence of a late ’90s revival is everywhere and unimpeachable.

50

On doing things right, unlike the hordes.

51

On being Photoshopped.

52

Famous acquaintances (list only).