Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on December 11, 2015.

It’s cool to return to Toronto and experience The Nutcracker again.

The Nutcracker is about taking a journey around the world together, and the magic of transformation.

In the theatre this is a way of life.

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Thanks to Evan for sharing his story. See him perform as Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada.

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on November 27, 2015.

Now I am a sculptor.

I focus on the human figure.

As a student, I was always interested in people and what they were thinking, which is probably why I’m so interested in the human form as my subject.

Thanks to Peter for sharing his story. Check out his figurative sculpture portfolio at petershoebridge.ca.

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on November 13, 2015.

My friends and I would always go to Joe’s to buy candy and to Aris Place for fries and gravy.

 

We felt so grown up, eating burgers at Aris on our lunch breaks. Sometimes it was even with boys or girls we liked.

That’s what we thought adults did.

Thanks to Jess for sharing her story. Check out her podcast, The Crimson Wave, and visit her Tumblr!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on November 6, 2015.

Even though it isn’t that close to downtown, I noticed the surrounding park had a little bit of Toronto in it.

Scattered around, I saw old statues, columns, and archways. These were all salvaged from buildings that were demolished in downtown Toronto.

It was fascinating to see Toronto’s history in such an unexpected place.

Thanks to Charissa for sharing her story. Check out her blog!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on October 30, 2015.

Burlesque combines a number of arts – theatre, dance, circus, and striptease.

Burlesque performers have power over the audience, which has really helped me grow as a performer, and as a person.

Thanks to Reena for sharing her story. Check out her burlesque performances as Red Herring, or take a class at the Toronto School of Burlesque!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on October 23, 2015.

When I was in grade eight, my mom brought home the course calendar for some of the universities in Alberta that offer paleontology programs.

I saw that I would need to take calculus, chemistry, and physics.

But those were my top three worst subjects!

Thanks to Kiron for sharing his story. Check out his work as ROMKids Coordinator at the Royal Ontario Museum, and follow him on Twitter!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on October 16, 2015.

My mom was returning from Cambridge, and she told me to meet her at Union Station.

She knew that something was pressing on me, and she always wanted me to talk to her about it.

I had just quit my job.

How could I tell her that her investment in me was a waste?

Thanks to Eddie for sharing his story. Check out his web series, ‘In My Humble Opinion’.

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Ever since I was a little kid, this has been where I’ve felt at home.

I grew up just a few streets north of Yorkville, and my parents always had businesses around here. 

I have so many memories of this place.

So as a kid, I used to hang out there a lot.

When I was 16 and 17, I would try to get the servers to serve me drinks under age.

But they never did!

All my friends would get served though. They joke with me about it to this day.

When we moved to Bay street it was crucial that we maintained our visibility from Bloor.

We are Bloor Street Diner after all! I hang out there even more now.

The neighbourhood has evolved. Just like every area does. But the feeling hasn’t changed. It has always been a vibrant area, and that continues to grow.

I feel really lucky to be able to spend my time here.

Thanks to Sebastien for sharing his story. Check out Eatertainment, his hospitality and entertainment business, and visit The One Eighty and The Bloor Street Diner in the Manulife Centre! You can also watch him on The Marilyn Denis Show.

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

[Editor’s note: Sebastien’s restaurants don’t serve alcohol to people under age…]

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on September 25, 2015.

Growing up, I felt like a loner. It was tough to fit in.

But at Queen and Bathurst, it didn’t matter who you were, or where you came from.

  

Punks, rockers, and all sorts of kids hung out there. Some were homeless.

Instead of being rejected elsewhere, we made a place where we belonged.

Thanks to Frankie for sharing her story. Check out her band, Frankie Whyte and the Dead Idols!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

My formative years were in Thorncliffe Park.

As a kid, I thought that was the most inconsequential place in the universe.

I know that’s a common feeling.

I used to hang out in in the park, around the Don Valley, all the time. With my friends.

We would play Star Wars, pretend to be soldiers, go for Cub Scouts, or do whatever. 

The carefree experiences I had as a child seemed mundane to me at the time.

Then I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my animation career. I lived down there for seven years.

In LA, the it was so beautiful all the time. But sometimes I just wanted a cloudy day!

I remember one day thinking, “this looks like the Don Valley!”. And I would feel happy all of a sudden.

It was there that I realized that the joys I found in LA were only in reference to the glorious times I had being a kid back home.

The places you think are not important, actually are.

Thanks to Peter for sharing his story. Check out his short film, ‘Surly Squirrel’, and his feature film, ‘The Nut Job’!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!