Sandbox WorldMapQuest Picked a Side. Then Everybody Started Using It.
MapQuest refused to rename Lake Ontario. Then downloads exploded. What happened says something bigger about nostalgia, technology and taking a side.
Top Stories
The latest from Tony Medeiros’ publishing network.
Sandbox World
Sandbox World
The Blackwing 602: The Pencil That Takes You Back
The Blackwing 602 is more than a pencil. From John Steinbeck to Chuck Jones, here’s why this cedar-and-graphite classic still has a cult following.
Grubbits
KFC Put Oreos on a Chicken Sandwich. Seriously.
KFC China has combined fried chicken, mashed potatoes and Oreo cookies in one very strange sandwich. We have questions. Mostly, what does it taste like?
MTLRestoRap
The Black Cherry Cola Battle at Schwartz’s
For years, a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s came with one essential companion: a cold Cott’s Black Cherry Cola. Now Cott’s is gone and Fleischer’s has taken its place, giving Montrealers one more food tradition to debate.
Sandbox World
Explore travel, tech, culture and the world.
MapQuest Picked a Side. Then Everybody Started Using It.
MapQuest refused to rename Lake Ontario. Then downloads exploded. What happened says something bigger about nostalgia, technology and taking a side.
The Blackwing 602: The Pencil That Takes You Back
The Blackwing 602 is more than a pencil. From John Steinbeck to Chuck Jones, here’s why this cedar-and-graphite classic still has a cult following.
Before He Was Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen Came Into Montrealers’ Homes With the Hits
Long before Peter Cullen became the voice of Optimus Prime, he was a familiar voice on Montreal radio. Cullen began his career at CKGM before becoming one of the most recognizable voice actors in the world.
Why Can’t We Have Both? Why Physical Video Games Still Matter in a Digital World
Sony is moving toward digital-only PlayStation games, but the growing appeal of Analog Living raises a bigger question about ownership, preservation and the things we still want to hold onto.
Before She Was Miss Beadle, Charlotte Stewart Hit the Road With Jim Morrison
Long before Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte Stewart became friends with Jim Morrison and spent four unforgettable days travelling California’s coast with him.
Grubbits
Food, drinks and everything in between.
KFC Put Oreos on a Chicken Sandwich. Seriously.
KFC China has combined fried chicken, mashed potatoes and Oreo cookies in one very strange sandwich. We have questions. Mostly, what does it taste like?
Cheetos Sweet Phantom Heat Puffs: The Flavor of Fear
Cheetos Sweet Phantom Heat Puffs bring a strange Halloween adventure to your taste buds, starting sweet before sneaky heat, tingling, numbing and fizz take over.
Spaghetti Ice Cream: The Dessert That Looks Like Dinner
It looks like spaghetti, comes with “tomato sauce” and “Parmesan,” but it’s actually ice cream. Discover the strange story behind Spaghettieis and why the rest of the world still hasn’t caught up.
We’ve Gone Bananas: When Did the Banana Split Become Coffee?
Banana coffee is the latest Frankenstein creation in the beverage world. We look at why everything suddenly needs to become a latte.
Can You Rebrand a Joke Without Killing the Joke?
Hooters began as a questionable restaurant experiment and became a cultural icon. Now the brand is trying to reinvent itself without losing what made it famous.
MTLRestoRap
Montreal restaurants, reviews and local food culture.
The Black Cherry Cola Battle at Schwartz’s
For years, a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s came with one essential companion: a cold Cott’s Black Cherry Cola. Now Cott’s is gone and Fleischer’s has taken its place, giving Montrealers one more food tradition to debate.
Décarie Hot Dogs: A Montreal Classic That Endures
Décarie Hot Dogs has been part of Montreal’s food scene for generations. Revisit the steamies, poutine, student crowds and lasting appeal of this casse-croûte.
G Pizzas: NDG’s Best-Kept Secret for Roman-Style Pizza, Ribs, Meatballs and More
G Pizzas brings Roman-style pizza, ribs, meatballs and more to NDG. See why this chef-driven Montreal pizzeria is worth seeking out.
Old Montreal Staple Gibbys Retains Its Prestigious Status Among Montreal’s Dining Elite
Gibbys Montreal remains a dining institution after more than 50 years. See how this Old Montreal steakhouse continues to balance tradition with evolution.
Montreal-born Eggspectation remains a downtown favorite in Toronto
Montreal’s Eggspectation continues to impress diners at its downtown Toronto restaurant with all-day breakfast, brunch favourites and global expansion.
Tony Medeiros Stories
Stories, essays, ideas and original work.
Hey! Ho! Let’s Go… Up to the Ninth Floor
A college elevator ride with three punks, Doc Martens, Muzak and a little Blitzkrieg Bop turns into one of Tony's strangest memories.
Jerry and the Endless Jar of Quarters
Four years of video games, late homeroom excuses, bootleg rock recordings and one seemingly endless jar of quarters made Jerry unforgettable.
I Didn’t Mean to Set the World on Fire
A college radio show, 20 old records, The Ink Spots and one alarm clock led Tony to evacuate an entire college by mistake.
Oka Beach and the Great Clam Curveball
A childhood day at Oka Beach turns into a family memory involving the Montreal Expos, a dictionary, one clam and a very unlucky cousin.
Portuguese Kale, Anthony Bourdain and My Lifelong War With It
I hated my mother’s Portuguese kale soup as a kid. Then Anthony Bourdain came along and somehow made me reconsider everything.