Over 1,000 guests partied for a cause with the inaugural All Star Gala at the Arcadian Court on Friday, June 26th. Sports athletes including Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC and more NHL players were in attendance with TSN”s Cabbie Richards taking on emcee duties.
Sometimes rain happens. And it did happen the weekend of June 27th and 28th at Echo Beach on the Ontario Place grounds. So while everyone was disappointed that Saturday of the annual 2-day Digital Dreams music festival was completely cancelled due to safety concerns from the wind and non-stop rain on Saturday, Day 2 was slightly better weather but just enough to keep the show going.
With the Pride parade happening the same week among other celebrations in the gay community, Elton John’s partner David Furnish was in town to launch the PILL XXV, a jewellery collection by Tateossian which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
As you may have seen in ads across the city, today Sean Jones starts his residency at Casa Loma. For just the price of regular admission to the castle, every Monday is “Soul in the City” in the beautiful outdoor white pavilion with the soulful sounds of Sean accompanied by his 7 piece band as well as a cash bar and bites.
I was happy to be hired to shoot the Sean Jones album launch at Casa Loma on June 8th. His album “Waiting for Midnight” is on the with Universal Records label. Congrats, Sean!
Check out photos from the album launch below with Divine Brown.
It was perfect weather for the first official day of summer on Sunday June 21st, which was also the final day for the annual Polo for Heart 2015 games at the Toronto Polo Club, with Canada vs. Ireland. I was excited to go , not only because I’d never had the chance before, but also to take in the duchess-like ‘street’ style, and dapper men’s sartorial suits, as polo is known as “the sport of kings.”
Gardiner Museum celebrated their first Young Patrons Circle with the inaugural fundraising gala called “TENSIONS” with the help of the National Ballet School, where visual arts and performance art partnered for one special evening on Friday, June 19th, 2015.
Even before getting to the door, you could tell this event was special.
Last week Toronto’s finest gathered to fete YSL’s Black Opium fragrance as the Story’s Building played host to the beauty brand’s BLACKOUT party.
Many companies and organizations talk about empowering millennials to be creative thinkers, game changers, leaders, and adventurers rather than settle for status quo. However, if you are a GenY leader with an idea, and are looking for feedback, suggestions, and maybe even a tiny bit of funding, many companies tend to come up short. Even less common, is when a company actively sets out to inspire and empower Gen Y to get creative with their entrepreneurial ideas, educate them on how to get going AND offers to provide funding. In 2014, MEC launched a ground breaking weekend called MEC Outdoor Nation hosted in Vancouver, Montreal and most recently in Toronto that does just that. It offers to inspire, empower, educate, and potentially fund young people between 19 to 30 years old to collaborate and generate business plans that can help to get our generation active in the outdoors. Perhaps that would mean challenging ideas of the outdoors for us urbanites, or providing access to gear or creatively educating about safe physical activity.
There’s nothing quite like a dinner and a show. Or, at least that’s what it felt like. John and I went to Hy’s Steakhouse to visit their posh Toronto location in the financial district for their Tableside Service experience. There’s no extra fee for diners to request this and it’s been a staple at their restaurants all across Canada for years.
Any real beer lover knows there’s a difference between mass produced beer and craft beer. That’s just one reason why the Summer Craft Beer Fest exists. 1,200-1,500 people will be at Liberty Village for this year’s Summer Craft Beer Fest for food, music and craft beer.
Best of all, we’re giving away tickets!
If you’re still looking for something new to do on Canada Day here’s what we’ve got for you art, film, music and party lovers on your day off.
On June 18th, foodies and bike enthusiasts alike descended on Böehmer Restaurant in the hip Ossington neighbourhood for a special U-Feast Chef Concert Series dinner. On this night, a seven course, Mediterranean-style extravaganza would be enjoyed by the guests, prepared by two amazing chefs.
I was lucky to be able to be part of a day trip out to Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia. I know that by itself doesn’t sound too exciting but it’s now set to become the premier location one of the hottest and newest renovated event grounds called Burl’s Creek.
Niagara-on-the-Lake holds a special place in many hearts and minds alike. Located at the western end of Lake Ontario, it was one of the earliest regions for settlement– due in part to the War of 1812. There are many key sites which helped establish Canada as unique and separate entity from the United states– who at the time– wanted to absorb the fledgling colonies. Today, you can visit the many historic sites that played an integral part in championing Canada as an independent nation- such as Fort George, Navy Hall, and Butler’s Barracks.
Bigger than ever this year, The Stop Community Food Centre has once again brought together the city’s culinary wonders to its sold-out annual fundraiser, The Stop’s Night Market. Featuring inspiring dishes from 70 chefs, 20 beverage vendors, and over 39 one-of-a-kind food carts by local designers, this two-night extravaganza last week displayed the very best of food, art, and music this city has to offer. Held at a spacious vacant lot off Sterling Road on the west end, we had the opportunity to check out one of the nights, and here are our favourite moments.
Kicking off the grand 10-day festivities known as the Luminato Festival requires a grand opening befitting of the multi-arts occasion and once again it was bigger than the year before.
A new champagne, Veuve Clicquot RICH aims to represent the fun, energetic and sociable side of life. Not only can you enjoy the champagne on its own, but it was also created with cocktails in mind – a sweeter champagne hence the name, ‘rich’ that mixes incredibly well with many ingredients. It boasts being the first of it’s kind in North America, a champagne dedicated to mixology.
On June 15, we made a trek to Toronto’s Greektown to visit Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ and checkout their new summer menu. Upon entering, we were greeted with a smoked pear mint julep, and by R2BBQ – a smoker made to like the iconic R2D2 from Star Wars. Already we knew we were in for a great night ahead.
After last year’s white party, this year’s annual Scrubs in the City charity gala took on a fun twist with a new theme. Guests were immersed in the night life of Tokyo, Japan as the Evergreen Brick Works venue was transformed for an event filled with food, fashion and entertainment.
Celebrating the silver 25th anniversary of this spectacular food event in support of Second Harvest, Toronto Taste proved once again to be a spectacular food lover’s event taking place at the beautiful lakeside Corus Quay venue on Sunday, June 7th.
2015 marks the 200th anniversary of Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch, and to celebrate, we attended a private whisky tasting at Byblos in Toronto’s entertainment district on June 11th. The honoured guest of the night was John Campbell, Laphroaig distillery manager, and the first native of Islay to be appointed as distillery manager.
The launch of Autostrada Forum Magazine was filled with spectacular exotic and classic cars, motorcycles and a helicopter.
You simply have to be there to believe it. A day at Cabana Pool Bar on a perfectly sunny Saturday revitalizes your love affair with Toronto.
On June 10th, it was a special treat to be whisked away to the heart of Kleinburg, Ontario to get a peek at the newly opened XXI Chophouse. Located on the historic grounds of The Doctor’s House, this modern steakhouse is the result of a $4 million renovation, and it shows.
The McMichael Gallery held it’s annual Moonlight Gala on and it was quite a night to be there under the stars.
If you’ve never been to the McMichael Gallery, you should definitely make a point to do so.
The McMichael Gallery has a permanent collection proudly showcasing…
On Friday, June 26 starting at 8pm, you’re going to mingle with many likeminded young spirits who are not only into having fun on a Friday night but also support one of the world’s top pediatric hospitals, SickKids. And chances are, your friends are going to this event already! The All-Star Gala’s Facebook page already has 1,200 confirmed attendees so there’s no need to wait, purchase a $125 ticket here because it’s a steal for what you get.
This past Friday and Saturday, the music festival known as Bestival arrives for the first time from the UK with a few big names including Florence and the Machine and Nas, which took place this past Friday and Saturday at Hanlan’s Point Beach on the Toronto Islands.
One of Toronto’s favourite men’s store turns 10 and boy do they know how to celebrate! The fashionable formal affair on Saturday June 6th filled the Audi Downtown dealership and turned it into party central for the night. Drinks, hors d’eouvres, a live band, a fashion show and influential guests in the fashion industry and media world made it a smashing success.
This summer there’s compelling reasons to visit Ajax for a quick and easy weekend retreat from the city.
Ajax Downs is a quarter horse racing facility and kicking off their 46th quarter horse racing season with a bigger and better experience. Check out what’s the newest features at Ajax Downs.
The Joe Carter Classic celebrity golf tournament spanned two days and ended once again with an invitation only after party last night with proceeds benefitting the Children’s Aid Foundation.