Author Archives: Peter Carter

Just found a letter I wrote to my son Michel earlier this year, a few weeks before his son, Mateus, was born. I asked Michel’s permission to use it for this week’s blog. He assented. 3Ms: Me, Mateus and Michel March 29, 2016 Hi Michel. It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting at my office thinkingContinue reading “What I Do When I Should Be Working”

Turns out I am not going to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, after all. The lead story in today’s Toronto Star was about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointing six new senators from Ontario.  PUNCHING BELOW MY WEIGHT: Insert gratuitous shot of J.T. here.  I read it twice, just to make sure but turns outContinue reading “You'll Find No Sober Second Thoughts In These Parts”

Here’s what kind of good friend I am. I am going to tell you about an adventure a few pals and I had in a strip joint but I’m not going to name names.   TALK ABOUT YOUR YONGE STREET STRIP  Except for the name of the strip joint: Starvin’ Marvin’s. It was on whatContinue reading “Strippers and Smokes and Secrets: A Day At The Racies”

About 35 years ago, when I was just starting to work as a professional journalist, a friend gave me a beautiful gift: A matted, framed and magnificently illuminated print of The Lord’s Prayer as it appeared in the Gutenberg Bible, which was produced in 1450. It was the first book ever printed using moveable type.Continue reading “A Print Guy's Thanksgiving Prayer”

An old friend just gave me a gift unlike any I’ve ever received. The friend’s name:  Boris Hrybinsky. He died in late August and yesterday, my wife Helena and long-time pal Rick Mayoh attended a memorial service in Toronto.  WRITERS IN ARMS: I know I’ll learn from Adrian    Boris, Rick and I lived together forContinue reading “Today's Special: Hope For The Kids in the Cellar”

Just for fun, I once wrote and posted on Youtube a song called “All of My Good Friends Are Dead.” In it, I name a bunch of real guys. A few people have asked me why I chose the ones I did.  Here’s the answer: The song starts with “All of my good friends areContinue reading “Sing Out Your Dead!”

Here’s what my friend Alfy Meyer generously suggested last week: “You really should start compiling all your various short stories, anecdotes, observations, etc., for a book titled ‘Pete’s Blog and Grille.”  I really like his idea. Some other Canadian journalists have pulled it off. A copy of the late Peter Gzowski’s “This Country in TheContinue reading “The Carter Sisters’ Kook Book”

My 25-year-old daughter Ria and I attended the week-long Burning Man arts and culture event in Nevada two weeks ago. THE FRAUDSTER WAS IN: I sure looked like I knew what I was talking about.  Because of its awe-inspiring desert location;  the devil-could-care-less dress code; the mind-tingling array of artistry and talent, and finally, theContinue reading “My Last Burning Man Blog. Maybe.”

YOU COULDN’T SEE US FOR DUST: Ria and I take our leave of the week-long event. My 25-year-old daughter Ria and I just returned home to Toronto from the week-long Burning Man Arts Festival held annually in the Nevada Desert. It was her second and my first “Burn.” Many people have asked me my favouriteContinue reading “The Hands-Down Best Part of Burning Man”

 The slender dark haired woman who stepped out from behind the lost-and-found notice board looked to be between 20 and 30 years old, she had long brown hair that fell past her shoulders and the only thing she was wearing was sunglasses. Otherwise?   RIA-UNITED: Spoiler alert. We found each other. Nothing. She asked me ifContinue reading “All For Naught Without My Daughter”