Tyler Colins's Blog

The autumn shuffle begins—a time to forage and gather. A flip of the hourglass. A change of perception. Release the light and embrace the dark that arrives early and lingers later.

To wax eloquent? Or recite the wonderful pluses of one season slowly shifting to the next? Maybe the latter.

Variable Weather changeable days mammoth clouds Winnie-the-Pooh days blustery breezes

Subjective Shuffles switching mindsets altering routines warmer [snuggly] garments seasonal sports

Fabulous Fun crunchy leaves galore festive hay bales and hayrides fat and frail scarecrows plump pumpkins (to carve and eat)

Delicious Drinks nummy pumpkin-spice lattes belly-warming Glühwein soothing herbal teas scrumptious broths and cocoa

Enjoyable Edibles roasted squashes and turnips sweet pumpkin pie and cranberry cobbler hearty pasta and casseroles tempting Halloween treats

A season of awe-inspiring colors and fabulous offerings, welcome the fall into autumn—a time to give thanks, unwind, gear up for the holidays … and welcome an upcoming new year.

It’s not too late to enjoy a pleasant promenade through Toronto’s Kensington Market on a car-free, Pedestrian Sunday (the last Sunday of the month, May through October). The sunshine is always favorable, but a little cloudiness won’t dampen the day in what has been touted as “a walkable bohemian neighborhood.”

Delectable Delights & Local Art

Amble through the streets and follow your cravings. There is a massive variety of delicious treats to be had. Grab a slice of hot pizza, a comforting cup of tea, or your favorite java. Indulge in a massive burrito or a savory Caribbean patty. Sample local cheeses at the neighborhood shop, which offers too many delicious varieties to count!

As you walk, you can catch tunes from local musicians situated in strategic spots. Not your thing? What about art? There are usually a few artist kiosks set up off Augusta Avenue and Denison Square featuring beautiful works across various mediums.

A Cool Slice of History

Today, Kensington Market is primarily a mix of vibrant cafes, specialty food shops, and vintage clothing stores—but it has an incredibly rich history.

It all started in 1815 when George Taylor Denison built Bellevue, a huge Georgian-style house. By the mid-19th century, the estate was split into small residential lots, becoming home to early British, Irish, and Scottish families.

By the early to mid-20th century, the area welcomed waves of Eastern European Jewish and Italian immigrants. This is where the market (more commonly known then as the “Jewish Market”) officially came into existence! Families converted the ground floors of their Victorian houses into shops while living upstairs. Kosher butchers, bakeries, and tailors quickly reshaped the neighborhood. Soon, even more diverse communities arrived—Portuguese, Caribbean, Latin American, and East Asian families, adding to the cultural tapestry.

A Blast from the Past

Back then, it was a teeming, bustling place, particularly on Saturdays. Want fresh chicken? You used to have a live one slaughtered and plucked right before your eyes (thank the heavens that’s a thing of the past!). Looking for cheap clothes and shoes? Zimmerman’s Discount was the place to visit. Need inexpensive fruit, vegetables, and bread? Augusta Fruit Market and The Imperial Bakery were the places to pop into.

The 1970s and ’80s attracted artists, activists, and musicians to the neighborhood thanks to affordable rents (sadly, something we may never see again in this century). The market even served as the backdrop for the popular CBC television show starring Al Waxman, The King of Kensington (1975–1980).

Embrace the Vibe

Enough of the history lesson—let’s bring it back to today. If you have a chance this weekend, wander the narrow streets of this eclectic neighborhood, chill out, and embrace the up-tempo vibe. Even though the year is starting to wind down, there’s still so much to do. Treat yourself to an easy-going Sunday afternoon stroll!

Into the 90s music scene? Women who rocked and set the stage for future female rock stars? Cool behind-the-scenes photos? The end of the analog era? Then head to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and catch Melissa Auf der Maur’s exhibition!

Auf der Maur’s 200+ photos showcase a time when women were taking rock-and-roll to new heights—demonstrating that they could howl, thrash, chug, and bleed with the best of their male counterparts.

Montreal-born Auf der Maur began her music career in 1993, forming Tinker with a university friend. Prior to that, however, she was DJing and heavily involved in the local music scene. A little foreshadowing: when her roommate tossed a beer bottle at Smashing Pumpkins’ singer Billy Corgan, she apologized afterward, and the two remained in touch. A little more foreshadowing: Corgan had told her that one day she’d be playing in his band. From 1994 through 1999, she played bass with Courtney Love’s band, Hole, while 1999–2000 found her touring with—yep—The Smashing Pumpkins. There are too many rock-and-roll accomplishments to cram into this post, so I highly recommend you google her!

While on the road as a bassist, Auf der Maur took countless photos onstage and backstage. Taking us right back to the 90s, they’re raw, sensual, intimate, and thought-provoking. They capture the performers she worked with, as well as the fans. These frozen moments are charged with heated energy. Unity, strength, boldness, and womanhood are exemplified in the bare breasts, smoldering cigarettes, brash glances, and defiant postures.

Self-portraits abound as well. Often taken in hotel rooms, they display a confident young woman documenting her life in a frame-by-frame documentary. The one that seemed to haunt above the others: Auf der Maur in a bathtub with a bloody nose. A sufferer of chronic nosebleeds since childhood, it was her way of confronting the “subject” head-on, facing an unpleasant issue entirely out of one’s control.

Can’t make it to the museum in person? You can still take the magic of this time capsule home with you. The exhibition’s accompanied by a gorgeous 240-page hardcover photo book, Melissa Auf der Maur: My ’90s Rock Photographs, available online and at the AGO shop. It’s a visual love letter to the last great analog decade of rock-and-roll.

Haven’t been to the Horseshoe Tavern in more years than I care to admit. It hasn’t changed much—still dim and narrow with scarred furnishings and cringe-worthy washrooms, and limited viewing vantage points in the back room because the crowd is on their feet from start to finish. Yet it’s still chocka full of frenetic and energetic folks and vibes.

The band marking my return? Bad Nerves. Hailing from Essex England, the five-piece punk band—Bobby Nerves, William Phillipson, Jonathan Poulton, Samuel Thompson, James Mattock—rocked the venue with vigor and vim.

They offered the full house (an audience ranging from college to retirement aged) their money’s worth. It’s unfortunate that some of us shorter peeps couldn’t see much save for when certain band members bounced and bopped. The only way to get a decent view was to be jammed and crammed on the small dance floor before the equally small (close to the floor) stage.

Still, the music was great—it had people cheering and dancing and that was all that mattered.

Shout-out to the openers … The Thunder Queens, a young all-girl grunge-rock band from London, Ontario. Bass-heavy, they have a really good sound going. If they could rock this well being under 20, imagine what they’ll sound like with a few more years under their belts!

Bad Nerves still have U.S. dates through mid-October, with a few shows featuring the Sex Pistols. Don’t miss them!

I’ve never been one to post about the political, the metaphysical, the philosophical, or pretty much anything else ending in “cal.” But with everything going on in the world these days, it’s getting harder to resist the urge.

It’s a genuine personal dilemma. Sharing the occasional pet peeve—venting about online scammers, AI bots, the daily struggles of being an author, or just general annoying habits—feels harmless enough. But when it comes to the broader, heavier issues, a voice inside tells me it is best to stay shtum.

After all, who needs the inevitable arguments? Who wants the aggravation, the dissing, and the online hissing? In the court of public opinion, you can rarely win, and you’ll never be universally right—except, maybe, in your own mind and heart. At best, you might be 50% correct. Then again, half right isn’t bad. It’s a lot like looking at that half-full glass.

But there’s a flipside to that coin. If we don’t speak up and stand up for what we believe in, nothing ever gets accomplished. If there’d never been protests, speeches, and rallies, would rights have ever been acknowledged? Would wars have been stopped, or unjust rules fixed? Or would society have simply stagnated, with zero progress for mankind?

So, it’s another 50/50 choice:

Take the risk and speak your truth. Avoid the conflict and remain silent.

It’s a tough call, and something a lot of us are staring down every time we go to type a post.

We’ve all been there. Who wouldn’t love for a bestselling author to notice our indie book? Who wouldn’t want to be invited to a conference or interviewed on a podcast?

The likelihood of these random messages actually being real? Next to nil.

Scammers are running rampant right now. They use real online groups, steal well-known names, or invent fake ones. Many of these emails and comments look incredibly polished and professional at first glance.

And honestly? It’s not hard to see why authors get reeled in.

They play on our vulnerabilities. They compliment our latest writing endeavor. Who doesn’t want praise for our hard (blood, sweat, and tears) work?

On Facebook, the trap usually looks like this :
“This caught our attention. We would like to connect with you about your book. Email us for the details.”

The variations are endless, but the hook is always the same. They claim they want to feature your book or invite you to a chat. You bite. And then comes the real trap: the “promotional fee.”  Ouch.

How to protect yourself:

Trust your gut: If it feels too good to be true, it is. Pause the excitement: If a comment has you over the moon, take a breath before you react. Do your due diligence: Never click the links or photos in the message. Don’t reply directly to the DM. Verify: Go directly to the official website of the organization, group, or person claiming to reach out. Find their real contact info, and ask them directly: “Did you actually send this?”

Stay safe out there, my fellow writers. Keep your eyes open and your wallets closed!

Proof? Look no further than the 16,000+ strong army of “misfits” that packed the RBC Amphitheatre for the Freaks on Parade tour. The crowd was a glorious, chaotic melting pot of people: we’re talking Birkenstocks next to combat boots, fishnets rubbing shoulders with full-blown metal regalia, and generations colliding with an age range spanning 6 to 60+. One thing for sure—a face-meltingly good time was had by all!

Kicking off the chaos was L.A.’s own Orgy. They sounded incredibly tight, even if they [lamentably] left their iconic cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday” off the setlist. The venue was still filling up, but the early birds were soaking up every single riff.

Next up: The HU. Man, these Mongolian metal super-dudes are pure, unadulterated talent—I’d drop everything to see them again in a heartbeat. They absolutely shredded using a mind-blowing arsenal of traditional instruments. My post-concert (Google) deep dive revealed they were rocking the morin khuur (a horsehead fiddle that’s pure Mongolian soul), the tovshuur (a traditional lute), the tumur khuur (a metal jaw harp), and the tsuur (an ancient flute). The result? An utterly mesmerizing, heavy-as-hell wall of sound.

Then came Marilyn Manson … and honestly, what’s left to say? The master of shock-rock was in absolute fine form—lean, mean, and arguably better than ever. Delivering a relentless barrage of MM classics, he left the crowd starving for more. With a backdrop of towering, glowing inverted crosses, a razor-sharp delivery, and an electric atmosphere, the vibe was completely off the charts.

Finally, the main man himself, Rob Zombie, took the stage and blew the roof off the place (figuratively speaking, of course, as it’s an outdoor venue ). It was a sensory-overload masterclass: blazing strobes, massive video screens blasting eerie graphics, bursts of pyrotechnics, and a parade of monstrous creatures straight out of a budget slasher flick.

The undisputed curveball of the night? Zombie strutting out in a Team Canada hockey jersey, leading 16,000 fans in an impromptu rendition of “O Canada”. But the undisputed climax of the evening was the absolute jaw-dropper of a moment when Zombie and Marilyn Manson joined forces on stage to perform The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.” Like … w-o-w. What. A. Way. To. End. A. Brilliant. Night.

Yep, the rumors are true—you are never too old to rock-n-roll!

… Been a while since I posted about the books on my blog, though those of you who follow me on FB and INSTA, know I do so frequently. But, in the event you’ve missed those, here’s one for you! 

The world of rock-n-roll holds an allure that’s hard to resist. Hard work gets you noticed—but selling your soul makes it a sure thing.

Dive into the Rock-n-Rollercoaster series today:

 Rydin’ High (Book 1)
Claw your way from dirty London dives to chart-topping success with Rydin’ High’s frontman Ryder Wolfe and his bandmates, Reine, Pepper, and Rags—where fame demands a brutal price.

Still Rydin’ High (Book 2)
The music gets louder, but the stakes get higher. Addiction, betrayal, lust, and dark obsessions threaten the band with total destruction.

 The Soul of Rock-n-Roll (Book 3)
Wild Child’s frontman Slider Wilde clashes with acclaimed author Daryn in a legal he-said-she-said battle. Egos, arrogance, licentiousness, prove constant challenges … as does a wicked ex out to smear Slider and his band.

Escape into the music and mayhem now. 

  Grab your copies on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords [and other fine platforms] today!

Toronto summers might be short, but they read like a fast-paced adventure novel—packed with action and bursting with vibrant life. If you’re ready to swap your reading nook for the great outdoors, T.O.’s spectacular network of hidden green ravines is waiting to be explored.

While the city’s bursting with secret green spaces, there’s an absolute killer route right through T.O.’s main artery. You can start off at St. Clair and Avoca, twist south along the trails toward Pottery Road, and even shoot straight down to the breezy shores of Cherry Beach.

The Ultimate Urban Stop: Evergreen Brick Works

If you take this route, you’ll stumble upon the ultimate urban playground: Evergreen Brick Works. Nestled on the traditional homelands of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishnaabek Confederacies, this former historic quarry has been remolded into a buzzing community hub.

Depending on the day you drop by, you can dive into: epic Football Watch Parties starlit outdoor movies hands-on Children’s Garden legendary Saturday Farmers Market.

The Saturday market is an absolute must-visit. It’s dangerously easy to walk away with arms full of crisp/tasty local produce, lovely hand-crafted jewelry, vibrant local art, and steaming, freshly prepped street food.

More Than Just a Pretty Space

The Brick Works is also a powerhouse for community action, hosting youth events, guided tours, and high-energy corporate team-building days. The best part? Every single dollar of profit from these events fuels eco-projects across Canada.

As a pioneering social enterprise and Canada’s very first large-scale community environmental center, they’re actively changing the green game. Their historic kiln building is tracking toward a carbon-neutral footprint, and the brilliant urban sustainability ideas tested right here are scaled up to greenify cities nationwide.

Choose Your Own Adventure Vibe

The beauty of this place is that it morphs to match your mood: The Weekday Vibe: Quiet, soul-enriching, and peaceful—perfect for a recharging stroll. The Weekend Vibe: High-energy, packed with live music, bustling vendors, smiling crowds, and a parade of happy dogs.

Whether you’re hunting for positive weekend energy at the market or escaping into the winding, shade-lined trails, this is one Toronto adventure you absolutely can’t skip.

If you want to escape the chaos of Toronto, head to a graveyard.

Specifically, Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Walking through this 200-acre oasis is one of my absolute fave things to do. It’s an idyllic, calming sanctuary filled with rich history, massive trees, and thriving wildlife.

It’s peaceful. Well, mostly.

There’s the slight issue of the aggressively loud, honkin’ big lawnmowers  and whirring weed whackers that seem to multiply out of nowhere. They don’t exactly scream “eternal rest.” But, hey, I get it—vibrant landscaping requires heavy machinery.

If you can ignore the mechanical roar, the history here’s fascinating. The cemetery opened in 1876, but the story actually begins fifty years earlier in 1826 at Toronto’s old Potter’s Field. Back then, local cemeteries barred anyone who wasn’t a church member. In response to this exclusion, officials bought a massive farm in Moore Park in 1875. They hired landscape architect Henry Adolph Engelhardt, who sprinkled his design magic to create the winding, aesthetic paths we walk today.

Those paths double as a Canadian history textbook. A leisure stroll brings you past the final resting places of music legend Glenn Gould, Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, NDP leader Jack Layton, insulin co-discoverer Sir Frederick Banting, and philanthropist Hart Massey.

But you don’t have to be a history buff to love this place. Nature lovers can marvel at the diverse trees, including my personal fave, the London Plane. Birders can easily spot Blue Jays, cardinals, hawks, and woodpeckers.

As for the ground-level wildlife? The local squirrels and chipmunks are heavily enabled by human snacks (yeah, no feeding the wildlife—but who listens?). Don’t be surprised if a brave little critter runs right up to your shoes demanding a peanut. Thanks to a massive ravine system connected to the grounds, you might also spot raccoons, skunks, possums, foxes, or even a coyote.

Whether you’re exploring the old historic side, walking the underpass to the newer section to find waterfalls, or catch a live summer concert on a Sunday afternoon, it’s the perfect escape. Just bring some earplugs or headphones for the mowers and whackers.