Where did Zanta go? Toronto's favourite shirtless wonder hasn't been seen on the streets of this city for ages. In 2007 Zanta (David Zancai) retired to Brampton after running into trouble with local authorities and spending time both in the Don Jail and the West Detention Centre. He was described as "probably a public nuisance" by Adam Vaughan and was banned from Taste of The Danforth, Yonge-Dundas Square and the Santa Claus Parade.

"The Toronto Women's Bookstore is in crisis and we need your help!" That's the first line of an e-mail the non-profit bookstore sent to their general list-serve on Wednesday.

"We can't pay our bills," the board chair told me yesterday. Robyn Bourgeois thanks the recession and continued competition from big box book retailers for decreasing sales.

"It's a shame to see us go. We're important for people who want to think critically about the world."

On Saturday, local authors and a range of publishers gathered at The Gladstone Hotel for the Small Press of Toronto Book Fair (or SPoT for short). In its 22nd year, the bi-annual event stocked shelves with a high calibre of printed works, from glossy books, to comics and zines, to arty chapbooks, handmade crafts, and more.

Writers from around the world have swung into town for the return of The International Festival of Authors, which once again brings an impressive array of all things literary to Toronto. This year's festival -- which started yesterday and runs until November 3rd -- jumps on the rebrand-wagon with a new sobriquet in celebration of its 30th anniversary: "IFOA XXX."

...Um, I'd be careful when you google that. Pretty sure it's NSFW.

Word on the Sreet 2009 offered the perfect opportunity to prove my literacy to my library "in crowd" friends. The annual celebration of all things literary took place on Sunday at Queen's Park and featured live music, great food and, of course, book readings.

Sadly, yes -- Pages Books on Queen Street West, a Toronto institution since 1979, has closed its doors forever.

But, of course, when one door closes another opens. Rachael Glassman, the owner's daughter (and former Pages employee) is currently producing a documentary about the venerable independent bookstore.

With all of our focus on how it closed, the story of how it opened in 1979 is just as interesting.