Why bucket list items defy pricing logic
We should also talk about prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Good morning everyone.
I’ve been keeping up with the organizers behind Milano Cortina 2026 for the last few months in anticipation of covering the Winter Olympic Games (maybe from my office but hopefully not) in February. And yesterday evening, the team sent over the official photos of the medals that a lot of Canadian athletes will likely bring home.
Over email, Raffaella Paniè, the director of brand, identity and look of the games said the joining halves symbolize that a victory is never the result of one person’s work but the connection between an athlete and the network supporting them. The sleek and pure aesthetic is also meant to reinforce the other design elements of these games.
Looking past the issue of defective hardware on hundreds of medals in Paris last summer, this team is following what was considered to be one of the most beautiful, thoughtful Olympic Games seen in decades. I’m very interested to see how the Italian designers show out, and would like to imagine there’s some healthy rivalry involved.
For anyone looking to make the bucket list trip (more on that below), tickets for single events start at a couple hundred euros, while a spot at the opening ceremony will run you $2,230. In Paris, ticket and hotel prices dropped as the games went on, but given the lack of inventory in the Italian Alps I wouldn’t count on that happening next year.
Starbucks has given managers three options: Seattle, Toronto, or buyout. New-ish CEO Brian Niccol brought back milk stations, written names, and cafe seating to make the company feel human again. Now he’s bringing back humans.
You can get a 50-minute, two-course lunch at the Four Seasons for $50. This “power lunch” is designed to “maximize time efficiency and fuel productivity.”
We should also talk about ticket prices for the World Cup. The economics of events like the World Cup and Olympics are similar in that once an experience is categorized as a “bucket list” item, it transcends any kind of pricing logic. FIFA started selling hospitality packages this week starting at $2,500 for a non-host nation match and between $15,975 and $37,700 to watch every game in Toronto and access varying fan areas. Last week, the Globe and Mail found that even as consumers pull back spending, the number of premium class airline bookings are growing. That tells me many people won’t think twice about adding tickets to next year’s World Cup to their carts, justifying it as a once-in-a-lifetime expense. That said, I think FIFA will now face pressure to ensure access to lower-cost seats.
Would you hire an Etsy witch to cast a spell for you? There are spells that promise love, success and revenge: I was having dinner with a friend recently who confessed to paying $25 to cast a spell on a high profile ex-partner many years ago, and you guys wouldn’t believe me if I told you what happened after.
The process involved a mailed exchange of crystals and other items used in the spell process, but my understanding is the steps can vary witch-to-witch.
What is the point of renting an Airbnb if you can’t bring in a private chef?
My piece about the business of medical tourism ran in the Globe and Mail today. Faced with rising costs for elective treatments at home, more Canadians are travelling abroad for medical procedures than ever before. One of my sources for this story is the dentist of a journalist and friend from Costa Rica: he told me that medical tourism can make up to 70% of his clientele during busier months.
GQ asked hiring experts about what men should wear to job interviews. I’m going to work with Milk Bag’s style sources to create one for women. Stay tuned.
Wonder who will buy a $23 million cottage designed by Drake’s architect. The listing is calling Muskoka the “Hamptons of Toronto” to attract international buyers (we’re going to start seeing more of this) but I think Drake should buy it.
The New York Times spoke to eight summer interns about how they’re “making it work.” This is such a great idea. If you or someone you know is a summer intern that would like to be featured in Milk Bag, send me a note here.
The Business of Fashion says the reign of leggings is over. Bad for Lulu.
Toronto city councillor Brad Bradford is on team #TikTok. The company is trying to avoid an ordered shutdown of its Canadian operations but says the federal government has not been open to discussion. TikTok has pulled out of sponsoring TIFF and the Junos, I think, in an effort to make the point that the Canadian cultural landscape will be negatively impacted if the company leaves.
Cohere is opening an office in South Korea. An objectively cool thing to do.
Neilson Jersey Milk has been pulled from shelves after 100 years. The Canadian-founded chocolate company is winding down as its current owner, Mondelez International, focuses on Toblerone and Toronto-made Cadbury.