Nice night for a book chat featuring @colsonwhitehead.com talking about his new novel Cool Machine with @davidarobertson.bsky.social at WAG-Qaumajuq, presented by @mcnallyrobinson.com. And a surprising amount of trash talking Ewoks, of all things.
Ben Sigurdson
@bensigurdson.bsky.social
Literary editor, drinks writer, Winnipeg Free Press; wine list maker, The Common. Mediocre curler, runner and drummer. Party ruiner.
This is open today! I had the privilege of visiting and the impossible task of not buying one of everything. A truly magical place! 🌈
Didi is a trans immigrant 🏳️⚧️@didichanoch.northsky.social · 3mo agoIntroducing, coming to Winnipeg this summer: Other Places Books. A bookstore specializing in science fiction and fantasy. opbooks.store
Tonight!
Ben Sigurdson@bensigurdson.bsky.social · 3d agoFor @winnipegfreepress.com I chatted with @colsonwhitehead.com about his new novel Cool Machine and bringing his Harlem trilogy to a close. He's in Winnipeg Tues. in an event presented by @mcnallyrobinson.com (link to tix in next post): www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
2026 Australian Wine Grape Crush, by Variety. Chardonnay has overtaken Shiraz as Australia's #1 crushed variety — 288,183 tons vs. 234,377 in 2026. Whites lead reds overall too: 669,445 tons vs. 596,226.
Also (switching hats again) I’ve been spending the day alternating between reading and napping. Have already blasted through half of Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party, which is outstanding. Publishes mid-September:
Also for @winnipegfreepress.com (switching hats) I wrote about our increasingly up-in-flames world and the ways in which wildfire smoke can affect wine: www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Opinion: Smoke taint new reality in wine as world burns
Summer seems to come with a familiar smell these days: the pungent aroma of smoke.
winnipegfreepress.com
For @winnipegfreepress.com I chatted with @colsonwhitehead.com about his new novel Cool Machine and bringing his Harlem trilogy to a close. He's in Winnipeg Tues. in an event presented by @mcnallyrobinson.com (link to tix in next post): www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Colson Whitehead’s trilogy capper bids farewell to criminal character
For 10 years, Colson Whitehead has lived with a small-time crook-turned-Harlem furniture store owner who moonlights as a fence (laundering stolen goods). But with Cool Machine, the third book in his H...
winnipegfreepress.com
Power out biblical storm, and our pear tree snapped in half. 😩
Power out on our street. Started a fire in the backyard and it immediately started raining. 🤷🏼♂️
Woke up from a glorious afternoon nap to find the floor drain in the laundry room backed up. Being an adult human sucks sometimes.
Grand opening announcement! Other Places Books will open on August 4! (Hopefully)
Other Places Books grand opening!
It's finally happening! (probably)
eocampaign1.com
Nine Canadian premiers agree to direct-to-consumer alcohol sales from out-of-province nationalnewswatch.com/2026/07/21/n...
Nine Canadian premiers agree to direct-to-consumer alcohol sales from…
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
"Thank you Mr President for putting retaliatory tariffs on the retaliatory tariffs to your unjustified tariffs. This will undo the severe harm you've caused."
Tao of Stieb@taoofstieb.bsky.social · 2w agoWhen the Californians assure Canadians that we’re all friends and they are on our side, won’t we please buy their wine and come back to visit.
There's been a lot of good World Cup GIFs (a lot of slow-mos of exasperated fans) but this might be my fave.
Chris Towers is Overreacting To Small Sample Sizes@cptowers.bsky.social · 3w agoLook at that, you let Mick Jagger down. I hope you're happy.
Guy who added THIS to his movie with no way to turn it off think you should embrace AI.
IGN@ign.com · 3w agoGeorge Lucas says rejecting using AI to make movies is like rejecting cars in favor of horses. https://bit.ly/4bec7UP
‘He made wine and he shared it. What more do you want?’: Sam Neill remembered by his co-stars
‘He made wine and he shared it. What more do you want?’: Sam Neill remembered by his co-stars
The actors Lindsay Duncan and Charles Dance, alongside director Peter Webber, pay tribute to a practical joker, unpretentious craftsman and ‘very cool guy’
theguardian.com
Can't wait to scroll through everyone's mid-quality bleep-blorp videos of Angine de Poitrine at folk fest later (before returning to my comfort zone, Haaland memes)
CEO Reveals How He Used AI To Build One-Person Company That's $1.3 Billion In Debt
From the Telemundo broadcast just now by the commentary team during a slow-mo replay of the goal and a shot of Haaland with his hair down: "This is a perfect goal. The ball didn't touch anything." In exaggerated, gravely, dramatic voice: "TERMINATOR"
“When one is deeply stirred, the force of beauty — of whatever kind — launches a blind search for the key and the door of memory. Everything that pierces us has been prepared beforehand, awaiting its chance to return.”
Commitment to the craft
Author George Toles on daily writing and keeping his eyes open
winnipegfreepress.com
The Ecuador coach looks like MuchMusic’s Rick the temp