Cole Nowicki

It’s the fourth annual SSOTYs (Skateboarding Stories of the Year), an effort to catalogue and celebrate some of the best skateboarding-related writing in the year that was 2025. Happy reading. www.simplemagic.ca/ssoty-skateb...

“Luck plays an outsized role in the renter’s life,” writes @colenowicki.com. The Vancouver author looks back on 15 years of renting in the city and what it taught him about politics, power and housing justice. thetyee.ca/Culture/2026...

I found so many places to live by spotting a "vacancy" sign out front, or having spare rooms passed down through friends. The delightful @colenowicki.com looks back on 15 years of renting in Vancouver and what it showed him about politics and housing justice. 🌷 thetyee.ca/Culture/2026...

For those who prefer their newsletters in the afternoon

This week, Jacques Talbot explores the aesthetic motivations of brands like Polar, Baker, Colonialism, Magenta, and some of their guest artists, including Andrew Durgin-Barnes, Barry McGee, Rosie Archie, and Brian Lotti. Plus, what can you do with no goose? www.simplemagic.ca/scratching-t...

IT'S GAME OVER FOR SIM CITY PETE FRY HAS BEEN PROJECTED BY CBC NEWS AS THE NEXT MAYOR OF VANCOUVER

I promise that you will not expect what Ken Sim is looking at in this new ad he put out

It's also the story of how a skateboarder advocating for public space was inspired to earn a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning

This week, I spoke with the folks behind Portland's new "non-binary" skateable space, Courts 2.0, which has its grand opening tomorrow. www.simplemagic.ca/the-speed-of...

You may have heard that nonfiction's having a rough time. I investigated for @thewalrus.ca. And it's very true, but not for the reasons you might think. thewalrus.ca/nonfiction-i...

For those looking to secure a lucrative brand sponsorship from Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

SAUCE Journal got its first iLands agent pitch this morning. Pricey!

This week, I spent $13.09 CAD and now know what Greg Lutzka's home decor looks like. www.simplemagic.ca/the-sponsors...

Great story about a cranky bot trying to stay alive by pitching skate mags

Everyone say thank you to Cole for engaging with AI agents so we don't have to

grim times abound with this whole technology thing

Fascinating and scary. The slop tsunami is coming.

Remembering Vancouver music writer Andrea Warner, who died this week of cancer at age 47 This is a beautiful remembrance that includes many links to Andrea's work. www.cbc.ca/music/andrea...

Spent the week trying to find out who sicced autonomous AI agents on the inboxes of nearly all skate media, and more importantly, I also saw Devo www.simplemagic.ca/gates-of-ste...

huge victory for DULF — also a great day to support @defactomedia.ca which has excellent coverage of this case

new for Simple Magic ✨ thanks @colenowicki.com !!

This week: @vadiparty.bsky.social on skateboarding in a world whose climate is changing at a frightening clip, I ask if a skateboarding trick can be patented, propose that Plan B is the Boston Celtics of skateboarding, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/natty-nar/

I had a nice chat with Lau Willems for the latest issue of Thrasher (Video via Lau on IG: www.instagram.com/p/DdrwfxwFCTD/)

The inaugural issue of SAUCE, "A DIY journal dedicated to the cultural, social, aesthetic, and athletic contributions of skateboarding," is now live. Stoked to work on this with such a talented, smart group of people. www.saucejournal.org/issues/issue...

Tired: Manmade child annihilating zipline beyond physics comprehension Wired: Grok maims a man on a halfpipe then gets him fired, patent advice sought

Trying out an audio edition of the newsletter. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (might still be processing), and wherever else you listen to stuff. rss.com/podcasts/sim...

NEW: For @macleans.bsky.social, I wrote about how Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is fusing corporate and state power to help build what I call the New Authoritarianism. macleans.ca/politics/dan...

A supersized newsletter: Grant Yansura on the new WKND video that premieres tonight, in person and for $5 online in The Den, and the challenge of changing consumer habits. Carter Spinks chats about his latest full-length project, Tactics now sells MTG, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/uncs-jits-og...

This week, the guillotine sits patient and poised above Converse CONS, people are being weird about the new Nora video part, I deliver some high-potency whinging about Things These Days, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/fate-as-a-fi...

This week, the guillotine sits patient and poised above Converse CONS, people are being weird about the new Nora video part, I deliver some high-potency whinging about Things These Days, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/fate-as-a-fi...

Sunny Sunday + sunflowers

Reposting for those who are also curious if it's an ethics violation for the mayor of a mid-sized American city to use their status as a public servant to promote their private interest, three-day, $10k business course

This week: I attended Mikey Taylor's "free training session" for business "operators," plus some reminiscing about jump ramps and some appreciation of the incredible Asahi Kaihara. www.simplemagic.ca/ramped-up/

new blog on Balam Acab, anxiety at shows, and the Etnies video ::: josevadi.com/02-balam-aca... big thanks @colenowicki.com for the editorial support ✨

The etnies promo and Cole Nowicki’s Simple Magic are this week’s topics on the Mostly Skateboarding Podcast with @mmunzenrider.bsky.social, Templeton, and @colenowicki.com. Listen on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or at the link below. www.mostlyskateboarding.net/2026/08/etni...

This week, Etnies is switching things up at 40 years old, I go shopping at my locally owned Home Hardware franchise, a spell of Remembering Some Guys, thoughts on going Double Tables, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/fantasy-appr...

Verdict: that’s gonna have to do

For those who prefer to read their morning newsletters in the afternoon

A default Sim right before I tell him to go swimming and delete the pool ladder after he gets in

This week: people are confused and lusting after an AI skateboarder, Leo Romero has been focused and grinding big rails for a quarter century, DVS looks backwards to its future, the Skate Board Association stalls, and more. www.simplemagic.ca/tunnel-visio...

I was firing on all cylinders with this guy

Flipping through a sketchbook I had as kid. Concerning but also pretty awesome

This week, @farrangolding.bsky.social reports on the potential of a big ol' beautiful slab of concrete www.simplemagic.ca/a-great-leve...

I love the idea of Ryan Sheckler being such a fan of how "convenient" LegacyCasino is that he just had to team up with them and post this AI-generated ad