An escape guide for Americans
How far can your US passport take you? Here are your options for a temporary or permanent escape.
How to learn a new language when you’re too old to learn a new language
There’s a popular idea that it’s easy to learn a language as a child and after a certain age it’s just not possible. When you look beyond the headlines, there’s not a lot of support for this theory. It’s no surprise that there’s...
I Want Out: How to go abroad during COVID-19
Despite all the rhetoric that we need to #stayhome, there’s no requirement that you literally stay home. Those whirlwind tours of 14 cities in 14 days are verboten, but it’s easy to travel while following all restrictions and guidelines for staying safe...
The best books I read in 2019
To celebrate releasing the fourth edition of Moving to Canada and my 2019 Cross Border Tax Guide, here are the books I’ve found fascinating recently: Understanding Canada A History of Canada in Ten Maps It’s a challenge to find books on the history of...
Cat lady world tour
I wish I could have the tour start in San Francisco’s nascent cat museum, but alas, the fledgling museum and it’s pop-up shows seem to have fizzled out. Who’s ready to revive the project? Instead, let’s begin in Ohio. Feline Historical Museum,...
Gated communities and the legacy of the kollektivhus
I grew up as the kind of person who scoffed at country clubs and gated communities. Scoffing is actually a generously polite description of my feelings on the matter. I viewed the type of people who are members of country clubs as part of the problem. When I thought...
Washington DC: A digital nomad’s guide
Sure, any tourist knows what to see for a weekend in DC. But what about those of us who aren’t just any tourist? As a nomad we have time to explore, but we’re there for a lot longer than the typical tourist. While I’m free to spend an afternoon in a...
Dog friendly bars in Toronto
Toronto has a lot of things going for it as a place to live, but one of the things that is a source of constant heartache is just how not dog friendly it is! Sure, there are plenty of restaurants where you can clip your pup to the patio railing and they can look at...
A CouchSurfer’s Guide to New York City
Sometimes the big, obvious choices are must-sees. Other times you’re better off skipping the crowds and going someplace totally weird. As a Brooklyn CouchSurfing Ambassador, I would get asked for recommendations all the time. Here are my top recommendations for what...
Ottawa’s best places to work remotely (that aren’t a coffee shop)
Can’t drink another latte? Here’s where to get some work done on your laptop in Ottawa that isn’t just a list of coffee shops.
The best of Toronto
Now that I’ve been living in Toronto for a while, people ask me for recommendations all the time. Here are my favorite spots in Toronto: Art Museum: Ryerson Imaging Center The exhibitions here are always fantastic. Not only are they well curated, but...
Books that explain Canada
Canada doesn’t seem so different from the US at first glance, but the differences soon become glaring. These are the books you need to read to understand Canadian culture and how it’s different from the US.
The ultimate guide to getting into museums for free
Forget free museum nights, go for free on your own schedule If you’re a nerd like me, museum admission fees can add up quickly. Sure, many museums have free nights. I’m sure they’re a lot of fun in some cities, but in places like New York or Toronto...
5 NYC tourist attractions you will never visit
Every time some article promises to share some hidden NYC attraction my ears perk up. And it’s just about always somewhere that requires some serious connections (or spy skills) to access. Let’s agree to stop pretending these are places tourists can go....
City Place, Toronto: What it’s really like to live there
Curious about what it’s really like to live in City Place? Here’s what Toronto’s waterfront neighborhood is like.
Leslieville, Toronto: What it’s really like to live there
Leslieville has all the charm of Cabbagetown’s adorable houses and tree lined streets, mixed with the diversity Toronto is famous for.
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn: What it’s like to actually live there
What it’s really like to live in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn New York, USA A small town in a big city The first time I stepped off the subway and walked into Ditmas Park…I was so confused. Where was I? Where had the city gone? I had no idea that Brooklyn had...
Do you love where you live?
You want to know what it’s really like to live in a city, but hardly anyone has lived in enough places to compare. I’ll be providing information you can’t get anywhere else — what it’s really like to live in Toronto, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, Chicago, Kingston, Raleigh, and other places I’ve gotten to (temporarily) call home.
Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn: What it’s like to actually live there
What it’s really like to live in Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn New York, USA Family friendly neighborhoods in the city These two neighborhoods are both literally and metaphorically half way between Park Slope and Ditmas Park. It feels less like the...
NYC’s best places to work remotely (that aren’t a coffee shop)
I’m always on the lookout for spaces that are friendly to remote workers that aren’t just another coffee shop. In New York especially, it seems like every time I’m back another coffee shop has disabled their wifi to discourage squatters. It can be...
Leaving Canada doesn’t mean you’re not still a resident
Going on a trip, however long it lasts, doesn’t mean you’re not a resident of Canada. You have to file taxes with the CRA until you prove that you’ve left Canada for good.
United Shades of North America
W. Kamau Bell visits Canada in United Shades of America. Is Canada really a utopia? What’s the story with healthcare? What about the experience of visible minorities? I help Kamau figure out if moving to Canada is even an option. You can take the quiz yourself....
Chicago’s North Side: A digital nomad’s guide
Chicago is one of those cities I’ve been to dozens of time, but didn’t feel like I really knew at all until this past trip. I’d been there for conferences and road trips, but each time it was too short to get a real feel for the city. I spent two...
Halifax: A digital nomad’s guide
Sometimes I wonder if I could love living in a small city. A smaller, less expensive city. Where I would know my neighbors. Be able to have a meaningful impact in local politics. Buy a building with a storefront downstairs, live my main street retirement dreams. Maybe...
