Although the Luminato Festival officially ended Sunday at the Luminato Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square on June 23rd, the official closing party was held at Andrew Richards Designs at King East on the prior Saturday night, June 22nd. Refreshments were supplied by Open Wine and Mill Street. We also had some Drambuie cocktails including their Drambuie Ginger Crusta and Rusty Nail, just like from the opening party. Highlights of the night included a Biotherm Homme commercial remake, where guests got to look in the one-way mirror and get recorded while a bunch of women used their hands to massaged the man’s (or woman’s) face. It was great fun for all seeing the results on the TV screens. On the other end of the big room at Andrew Richards Designs, there was a photoshoot set up with a surfboard. Guests tweeted for a chance to win prizes like Mike Tyson boxing gloves. The barbecue outside at ARD’s patio area was a nice touch with ribs, corn and hamburgers. Guests in attendance included: singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, Jorn Weisbrodt (Luminato Festival’s Artistic Director), Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene), and Greta Constantine’s Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill. Here’s the Biotherm Homme commercial I got to relive at the closing party. I wish I had the tentacle treatment, though! Some tweets from the evening Checking out the #biothermhomme closing party for @Luminato @BiothermCanada @ARD_Furniture pic.twitter.com/aMsrdo62Jx — Garrett Tonge (@GTONGE1) June 23, 2013 Highlight of my night so far–watching shotbyphil on #BiothermHomme #Luminato cam…over and over http://t.co/VKrx3ac2o7 — Tatiana Read (@tatvictoria) June 23, 2013 Packed Closing Party! #BiothermHomme #Luminato pic.twitter.com/LmwtYWAirk — Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 23, 2013 Serving up the Drambouie at Luminato closer #biothermhomme @BiothermCanada great night pic.twitter.com/6p78qER8eA — Erin McKay (@erinkmckay) June 23, 2013 More photos here Also check our our other Luminato Festival opening party photos. 1) Preview of the Luminato Festival’s Viktor & Rolf Dolls 2) Luminato Festival Big Bang Bash 3) Luminato Preview Future Tastes of Toronto 4) Luminato Festival and Yves Saint Laurent Opening night party
You heard it here first! Foodies who enjoyed the first CraveTO food fest or those who missed it can save the date for “#CraveTWO” on Saturday, August 17th, 2013. The official announcement of the date will be found on www.CraveTO.com WHERE: Honest Ed’s Back Alley, 581 Bloor Street West There will be 2 ticket options. CraveTO Day: Noon – 5pm $14.50 per ticket CraveTO Night: 7pm – 11pm $17.50 per ticket For more information visit www.craveto.com
For this unique occasion for Polo for Heart, a charity event supporting Heart & Stroke Foundation, I arrived early in the morning when the gates opened at the Toronto Polo Club in Richmond Hill. With the rows of billboards lining the side of the road heading in, it was evident that this was going to be a special experience kicking off the first of 3 days of the annual Polo for Heart charity event. The boutique pop-up shops were a unique sight to see including the beautiful, decorated ascot hats for sale, perfect for the fancy occasion of watching polo. There was also art for sale, a Lion’s Club BBQ, and a kids play area. I headed over to the other side of the large polo field by walking across the big field (although shuttle service is available) to get to the Ritz Carlton Polo pavilion tent where there were many amazing items up for silent auction (including a table for 10 for next year’s Polo for Heart) as well as all the dining tables and bars. There was also an Upper Canada Mall photo booth with a chance to win a Michael Kors purse. The rules of polo were explained to all guests, so it was a really accessible introductory event even for those who know nothing about the sport. The opening ceremonies started off with the parade of polo players trotting in on their horses escorted by many well-trained hound dogs from the Eglinton Hunt Club. It was quite the fanfare. Then it was time to start the polo match. It was a friendly demonstration rather than competitive for everyone’s safety due to the rain the night prior making the grass damp in some areas. It’s quite a spectacle to take it all in while enjoying the lunch buffet. During halftime there was the traditional divot stomp where spectators gathered onto the field with a glass of bubbly while flipping over divots to help cover up the holes in the grass. However, because of the rain there weren’t many divots to flip over. But it was still fun to all gather and clink the glassware (plastic for safety, of course) with everyone on the field. This was followed by skydivers who landed on to the polo field with a Canadian flag and Heart & Stroke Foundation banner. The fashion show featured outfits from Upper Canada Mall retail stores. It may surprise some Torontonians that this destination mall in Newmarket has well-known retailers such as Target, Apple, The Bay, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, Brandy Melville (coming soon) and more. Basically there were so many activities going on at Polo for Heart that the day seemed to go by instantly. It was just that much fun and a day that I’ll never forget. Special thanks to Idea Workshop and Upper Canada Mall for inviting Tanya from FashionEcstasy and myself out for this exclusive opportunity to discover this great event. Polo for Heart is definitely a must-attend experience! It’s a memorable gift idea for Father’s Day. Also, the Toronto Polo Club has team-building programs for organizations who are looking for a special team-building experience. Check out CTV’s Lloyd Robertson’s video from last year talking speaking about Polo for Heart and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. ABOUT POLO FOR HEART For over 34 years, Polo for Heart has brought players from around the world to The Gormley Polo Centre in Richmond Hill to participate in the world’s oldest team sport. You can witness the power and the passion of polo at this 3-day event featuring two international polo matches each day. Your day in the country will be as equally exciting for what takes place off the polo field – boutiques, silent auction; half time entertainment, the traditional champagne divot stomp; children’s village and the perfect polo picnic and best hat contests. Celebrating 34 years of fundraising, this event has raised more than $5 million for heart and stroke related charities. For more info visit poloforheart.org More photos below.
Once again, it’s already obvious that the Seafood for Thought event at the Toronto Zoo is one of the best events in Toronto of the year. It always brings out the top talent of Toronto’s culinary scene with each station serving recipes using the best sustainable seafood while at the fun environment of the Toronto Zoo. At last year’s Seafood for Thought there was a baby penguin posing on the grass to everyone’s delight. Photo opportunities were welcome. Petting the sting rays and meeting the colourful parrots were also a nice touch. But unlike last year where we were treated to a downpour of heavy rain, the weather cooperated this year to give us a perfect sunny evening at the new “Giant Panda Experience” area of the Toronto Zoo. It was very befitting since the pair of Giant Pandas have just recently arrived from Chengdu, China. We wrote all about the Giant Pandas and their arrival via Fed Ex’s “Panda Express” to the Toronto Zoo in March here. They’ll be at the Toronto Zoo for 5 years followed by another 5 years at the Calgary Zoo before they return to Chengdu, China. We were greeted at the first entrance by the giant panda mascots, followed by the second entrance with the adorable donkey. Inside, the event was packed with guests. 12 top chefs including Jason Bangerter (O&B Canteen and Luma), Trista Sheen (Crush Wine Bar), Lora Kirk (Ruby Watchco), David Friedman (Red Fish), Giacomo Pasquini (Vertical Restaurant). Other booths included Drake Hotel and Shangri-La Hotel. PORT restaurant‘s table was a main attraction with long line-ups for their Lake Superior Trout with mango and celeriac puree, Canadian barley risotto, apple & fennel and tip choy slaw. A nice touch was that wooden food trays with built-in drink holders were available for guests to use to free up a hand. More food-centric events need this! So if you’re an animal lover, a foodie, or even an environmentalist and you haven’t been to Seafood for Thought, you must put this annual event on your calendar. The goal of the Seafood for Thought events is to raise about the importance of choosing sustainable fish and seafood products so that we all ensure a environmentally-responsible future with an abundant and healthy aquatic ecosystem. Seafood for Thought is an event that young (19+) and old can appreciate while learning about smart and delicious seafood choices. Tickets were an incredible deal at only $85 each or $150 for 2 tickets, all inclusive of food and drinks, entertainment and zoo attractions. Even the $10 parking is included. No matter how old you are, going to the zoo makes you feel like a kid again. And what better setting to do so while having delicious sustainable seafood and drinks with your friends and family. Check out Toronto Zoo’s official video from the 2010 Seafood for Thought event. As amazing as my first time at Seafood for Thought was last year, this year was even better when combined with the viewing of the pandas. Watch for this as we put together our list of favourite events of 2013! Visit the Ocean Wise for guides on making sustainable seafood choices at www.oceanwise.ca ABOUT OCEAN WISE The Ocean Wise symbol next to a seafood item is the Vancouver Aquarium’s assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice. With over 3,100 Ocean Wise partner locations across Canada, Ocean Wise makes it easy for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices that ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come. To learn more, please visit www.oceanwise.ca Scroll down for more photos and also check out our photos from last year’s Seafood for Thought 2012.
This year the annual Luminato Festival’s and Yves Saint Laurent opening night party took place at the Allen Lambert Galleria within the unique, architecturally fascinating Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto’s financial district on June 14, 2013.
There have been a lot of Great Gatsby inspired events in Toronto this year (could it have anything to do with the new Leonardo Di Caprio movie, perhaps?) but the historic Casa Loma is clearly one of the perfect settings in Toronto for such a fittingly-themed 1920s soiree. Inside, the classic chandeliers and ceiling details inspire intrigue and elegance. The feathery decor and mood lighting added for the evening was great. For those guests who arrived but forgot to theme it up, a boutique pop-up shop was on site, making dazzling, Gatsby-inspired accessories readily available at reasonable prices. The evening started with a VIP hour as guests were greeted with a jazz band and sparkling wine. Lots of great food was passed around to keep pace with the open bar. It’s impressive how the bar was fully open including a wide variety of liquor such as tequila and Jagermeister. Toronto’s own DJ M Kutz did a great job keeping the party going the whole night getting everyone dancing to the beats including the bar staff. Most guests congregated outside on the beautiful warm evening. The gorgeous, large terrace with the castle all lit up in the background is quite an amazing scenic backdrop. We’re proud to have been the official media sponsor for the Sinai Soiree and proud to continue supporting their fundraising activities. The evening was a great success! Stayed tuned with us for updates as we celebrate with a gala for the 60th anniversary of Mount Sinai in autumn at the Ritz Carlton hotel! Words and Photos: Nick Lee Some tweets about the Sinai Soiree that evening looking forward to hitting up the sold out #sinaisoiree2013 ce soir. #sinaisoiree @CasaLomaToronto @FutureSinai @MountSinai #TheGreatGatsby — Jen Kirsch (@jen_kirsch) June 21, 2013 looking forward to hitting up the sold out #sinaisoiree2013 ce soir. ladies, feathers & red lipstick. #greatgatsby @FutureSinai @MountSinai — Marsha Doucette (@marshadoucette) June 21, 2013 I love working at the gentlemen's shoppe. I'll pin you good with a boutonniere! If you forgot a piece, we'll gussy you up! #sinaisoiree2013 — Deeanna Charrion (@dcharriontop) June 21, 2013 Great night at #sinaisoiree @MountSinai pic.twitter.com/Nz3mBsUz1X — Brad McCabe (@bmick_ca) June 21, 2013 #Gatsby night for #MountSinai #sinaisoiree2013 @jenkirsch #futuresinai #CasaLoma pic.twitter.com/kVoaMCzTjC — Natalie Deane (@natalie_deane) June 21, 2013
It’s time to get out to King West for some good Nuevo Latino eats that are already making big waves. Inspired by the Latin street vibe, the highly anticipated restaurant by Chef Steve Gonzalez (former Chef de Cuisine, Origin and fan favourite on The Food Network’s Top Chef Canada) is now open at 606 King West, taking over the former nightclub space that used to be Cheval. Great menu items include fresh ceviche made available as a flight of five different taste-sized portions or as a more generous portion for sharing. “These dishes reflect what’s going on in South America right now, where traditional dishes are evolving as various immigrants contribute to the Latino melting pots,” says Steve Gonzalez. “It is my desire to introduce the people of Toronto to classic Latino dishes prepared with the freshest of ingredients provided at very reasonable costs.” The fresh ingredients and colourful presentation were unreal! Check out all the dishes in our photos below. It’s making me hungry right now. So why not check out the hustle and bustle of King West life from above on the rooftop patio while sipping on refreshing cocktails and Latino street fare. Go check it out! Check out what some people are saying about Valdez Sneak peak !! #latinostreet @thevaldezTO pic.twitter.com/OFI4QMgFwj — Matty Tsoumaris (@matty_uniq) May 31, 2013 @culinaryadvco @latino5spice @TOFoodTourGuy @thevaldezTO mmm… sounds yummy! — Yvonne T. (@th3hungrycat) June 5, 2013 @thevaldezTO – Incredible food, fun lively space, rooftop patio. Super nice staff! Go now!!!! #justopened #kingwest #topchef #valdez — Gillian (@gilliansusan) June 8, 2013 Looking forward to sipping a mojito Valdez on the rooftop patio @thevaldezto this summer. @ Valdez http://t.co/LJHXRMssIz — Karen Kwan (@HealthSwellness) June 12, 2013
June 13th marked the 9th edition of Serve!Stock – a very cool and casual fundraising event in support of Serve. For twenty years, Serve has been supporting programs that have helped over 1,000 disadvantaged youth gain opportunities by helping them to acquire skills through involvement in their communities. The fundraising included raffle tickets for a luxurious trip to New Orleans and various items for live and silent auction: from a gourmet dinner for your closest friends to tickets to some of the biggest upcoming concerts this summer. The backyard BBQ party theme included seemingly endless amounts of food and drink. What could possibly be better than this? Being entertained by the Canadian music talent likes of Emma-Lee, The Strumbellas, Suzie McNeil, and K-Os! Erika Ehm and James Cybulski were the perfect emcees of the evening. The rain could not damper the energy of the entertainers, organizers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees of this event. What an awesome way to spend an evening! Editor’s Note: Suzie McNeil delivered incredible energy with her amazing stage presence. K-Os continued with that energy and didn’t let go with his songs like Stairway to Heaven Only Knows, his rendition of the Led Zeppelin song. The food was plentiful, the lychee martinis were great and the vibe was exciting. Amazing live music from top-notch Canadian talent for a unique backyard charity BBQ! All the best to Serve! Words by John Tan Photos by Nick Lee Some tweets from the evening Today is the day! Rain or shine. Little rain doesn't hurt anybody, & if we yell & cheer and sing-along, we'll reach our goals!! #servestock — Servestock (@ServeStock) June 13, 2013 Photo: Goddamn I love these guys. @thestrumbellas at @servestock #servestock #fb http://t.co/wFeKI2SZX0 — Lisa Lagace (@lisa_TTRO) June 14, 2013 Live auctions items going on now! #servestock Trip to Paris, Pre-screening of Hunger Games & our annual signed guitar from all our artist. — Servestock (@ServeStock) June 14, 2013 @sweetsammies served delicious O Canada and Stout ice cream sandwiches at #servestock tonight! pic.twitter.com/Nokbmw1bjq — John Tan (@iam_johntan) June 14, 2013 Had a blast working with @yummymummyclub aka Erica Ehm tonight at #servestock pic.twitter.com/GA5yYPkxVI — James Cybulski (@JamesCybulski) June 14, 2013 Photo of @kosinception on stage @servestock 2013. #servestock pic.twitter.com/iElGnDSJs3 — Servestock (@ServeStock) June 15, 2013 ABOUT SERVE Serve’s experiential education programs help diverse youth with barriers from the inner city connect with the community. Aged 13 – 24, they often face personal, economic, and social obstacles that have made achieving success difficult. Our programs are designed to help them overcome those obstacles and transform their lives by developing leadership and teamwork skills. And our volunteering initiatives make them active community members. For more info visit www.servestock.ca. Check out Serve’s video from 2012 More photos below
“Mad Hot Ballet: Dangerous Love,” the theme behind 2013’s annual fundraising gala hosted by the National Ballet of Canada, promised an evening of “Mad Hot” sizzle and drama on-and-off the stage… and the heat was certainly delivered. The evening was hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, kicking off in the amphitheatre with an incredible selection of one-night only short works hand-picked by the National Ballet’s Artistic Director, Karen Kain. This hour long performance featured a guest appearance by Svetlana Lunkina, former principal dancer of the renowned Boshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia.
We got to preview the exciting dining experience at the brand new, highly-anticipated Origin North restaurant fitting in nicely at the premium boutique shopping mall, Bayview Village. This is the 3rd Origin location by internationally acclaimed chef and owner, Claudio Aprile: the first being at King and St James and the second being at Liberty Village. So those of you who are Origin fans in the midtown area can rejoice! While this new location at Bayview Village did not have their liquor license quite just at the time-of-dining, we enjoyed sipping our non-alcoholic Origin Crush cocktails while waiting to see what was in store for us. The restaurant is 12,000 square feet and has over 300 seats. Origin North is nicely decorated, sophisticated and warm: its kitchen is open concept, allowing guests to observe as the food is being prepared; the golden glow of the Edison light bulbs creating a nice evening mood. The details and presentation that went into the dishes was phenomenal. The truffle popcorn was delicious; drizzled in butter and parmesan cheese. The Ocean Tour provided a variety of seafood to taste: lobster, mussels, shrimp, tuna, scallop ceviche. As for the bufala pear, a delicious combo of bufala, pear, pine nut, and honey. Everything worked well together: the mozzarella was soft and fresh, while the pear and honey work together to add an interesting sweetness to the dish. The chinois duck wrap. The beet salad. A colourful dish with large beet with goat cheese, pickled red onion, sherry dressing, yogurt and walnuts. Crispy calamari, nicely battered calamari drizzled with caramelized peanut sauce. It was such an amazing time that evening. The food was delicious, the service and atmosphere were all wonderful. Be sure to check it out as well! Here’s a complete list of everything we ate that night! Warm soft pretzel Truffle popcorn Masa chips Ocean tour Devilled eggs Fiore eggplant Fiore de latte Bufala pear Bufala tomato Beet salad Serrano ham Sparta salad Curried shrimp Calamari with peanut brittle Chinois duck wrap Miso cod NY strip Tapioca pudding Crunch bar Second rush Words and cell phone photos by Flora Tran. Other photos by Nick Lee. “I’m honored and very excited to introduce Origin North to the vibrant community of Bayview Village. With every new restaurant I open we have something new to reveal,” says Claudio Aprile, head chef and owner, Orderfire. “Origin North will have many new signature dishes that will be exclusive to Bayview Village and as well the dishes that we have become so well known for. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there!” 2901 Bayview Ave, Suite 300 Bayview Village Toronto, ON www.originnorth.com @rachelwalters128 I AM SPARTAA!! pic.twitter.com/3YnSHNZXr9 — Origin North (@originnorth) June 13, 2013 The ocean tour @originnorth @BVShops pic.twitter.com/0m1IW5TvRu — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) June 12, 2013 This is happening tonight @originnorth. #oceantour. pic.twitter.com/4osvNxR3qW — Origin North (@originnorth) June 14, 2013 And for those wondering about the liquor license… It's official! We have booze for you. — Origin North (@originnorth) June 18, 2013 New photos from Nick Lee
The Luminato Festival held an inaugural “Big Bang Bash” gala featuring the unveiling of the Dolls exhibition by celebrated fashion designers, Viktor&Rolf, at the Royal Ontario Museum’s Thorsell Spirit House. The eerie and fascinating exhibit is free from June 9th to June 30th as part of the Luminato Festival celebrations. Check out our previous feature on the dolls here. So on the evening of the Big Bang Bash, the theme was pink with a pink carpet greeting guests at the ROM’s entrance and inside there was a gigantic pink dress in honour of Viktor&Rolf with a pink leash around the neck of the gigantic dinosaur exhibit, the Futalognkosaurus, in the main lobby. What a nice touch! Guests were encouraged to stick their hand into the giant dress and, to the shock of some guests, their hands came out with bracelets. There was a cocktail reception to preview the new Dolls exhibition followed by a seated gala dinner with a live auction followed by an after party with a special kick-off performance by Martha Wash “The Original Weather Girl” and of course she did the Weather Girls song “It’s Raining Men” to the delight of the dancing audience. Other attractions of the night included conveyor belts of delicious foods, special cocktails “The Bomb” and “The V&R”, a piano made into a bar, artists sketching portraits of guests, and Luminato Festival’s charismatic Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt wearing glittering gold pants! Some tweets from the evening .@JPriceLuminato and her husband on the pink carpet! #BBBash pic.twitter.com/9S8RCPYZFj — Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 8, 2013 Excited to be at the #bbbash! Did I just see #WillemDafoe? pic.twitter.com/NrLX3LN4XK — Tracy Van Kalsbeek (@TVanKalsbeek) June 8, 2013 @Luminato when at #BBBash stop by my big doll to get a gift!! @Viktor_and_Rolf @mcnabbroick @jeffryroick pic.twitter.com/YrRQMp6LYE — Farley Chatto (@FarleyChatto) June 8, 2013 OH on the pink carpet: "Jorn, those pants!" – Willem Dafoe #BBBash #Luminato — Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 8, 2013 #Luminato's Jorn Weisbrodt and @JPriceLuminato at the #BBBash gala, sketched by @finalfashion! #latergram http://t.co/N2yqdfmN5r — Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 10, 2013 "Do we have any forecasters in the house tonight?!" Martha Wash #ItsRainingMen #BBBash #Luminato — Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 9, 2013 Captivated by these eyes & ruffles. "Hate" Black Light Collection Spring/Summer 1999 Collection. #BBbash pic.twitter.com/dsixLBsrxN — Karen Kelar (@KarenKelar) June 9, 2013 #BBBash piano bar..literally, a piano bar. #luminato pic.twitter.com/ppzbp6iCAd — Natasha U (@nudo2) June 9, 2013 ABOUT VIKTOR&ROLF Viktor&Rolf are widely recognized and respected for their conceptual glamour and provocative creations. Viktor&Rolf have staged their signature collections at spectacular shows in Paris for over twenty years while their fashion label has grown worldwide. Grounded in Womenswear since their first couture collection in Spring/Summer 1998, Viktor&Rolf have a meticulous dedication to their craft always playing with scale and proportion. Their first Menswear show in Autumn/Winter 2003 marked their successful expansion into the Menswear arena with their sophisticated yet ironic Monsieur collections. Viktor&Rolf offer complimentary lifestyle products such as luxurious accessories, Viktor&Rolf Vision and a catalogue of fragrances including FLOWERBOMB and SPICEBOMB. At their core, is the undying vision to create spectacular beauty and unexpected elegance. Visit viktor-rolf.com. ABOUT LUMINATO FESTIVAL Luminato Festival is the international multi-arts festival for people open to having art change their outlook on the world. For ten days each June, the Luminato Festival transforms theatres, parks and public spaces across the city and creates a home for artists to come play, share and create. When the unexpected meets the transformative, that’s a Luminato moment. Luminato gratefully acknowledges the generous support and vision of its Founding Luminaries, SuperNova donors, and Patron Circle Members. The Festival would not be possible without the support of our Partner in Creativity, L’Oréal Canada. Luminato also proudly acknowledges the support of its Founding Government Partner the Province of Ontario, as well as the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Arts Council. Visit luminato.com.
Get set for another one of our favourite charity events that deliver huge on energy and fun! The highly anticipated Sinai Soiree happening at the one and only Casa Loma, Toronto’s historic castle. The 1920’s themed fete will be packed with young professional charitable party-goers with cocktails flowing, open bar, and gourmet canapes with glitz, glamour and elegance in the style of the Great Gatsby era. Get set for a VIP cocktail party with a live jazz band at 8pm followed by 9pm general admission. More info and tickets are available at www.thesinaisoiree.com. LAST YEAR’S SINAI SOIREE Young professionals gathered for the Mount Sinai Soiree for a night of black-tie chic, fashion and opulence. The Sinai Soiree showcased lingerie from Italian fashion house Cosabella and luxury shapewear line, ResultWear. Models from Scene Queen and Nuvo Burlesque delivered tantalizing performances. The event raised $67,296 for Mount Sinai Hospital with more than 400 guests in attendance. Here are some of our photos from last year’s Sinai Soiree and video by Corbin Visual. Video by Corbin Visual ABOUT FUTURE SINAI Future Sinai is a division of the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, a group of young professionals who work to advance, promote and fundraise for Mount Sinai Hospital. The mantra is that it is never too early to give back. Through fundraising events and initiatives, like the Sinai Soiree, Future Sinai will support the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary’s $4.5- million women’s health campaign. Not only will it be a forum for meeting other inspiring people who believe in philanthropy, it will also be a place to meet young professionals and new friends within the community. For more information on how you can become a member and support Future Sinai, visit www.futuresinai.ca About Mount Sinai Hospital Mount Sinai Hospital is an internationally recognized, 472-bed acute care academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. It is known for excellence in the provision of compassionate patient care, innovative education, and leading-edge research. Mount Sinai’s Centres of Excellence include: Daryl A. Katz Centre for Urgent & Critical Care; Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women’s & Infants’ Health; Christopher Sharp Centre for Surgical Oncology; Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Centre for Musculoskeletal Disease and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute. For more information about Mount Sinai Hospital, please visit www.mountsinai.ca
It was a great night at the Harry Rosen store in Yorkville with wine tastings from Le Clos Jordanne, a Canadian boutique Burgundian-style winery, that also held a tasting last year at the menswear store. But this year was even better with the addition of the fashion show inspired by Father’s Day entitled “Top of the Pops”. It was probably the quickest fashion show I’ve ever witnessed at what seemed like a whirlwind of 5 minutes. These guys are all about efficiency. But it was a fun-filled evening with mingling and activities including “man-icures” by Bode Spa, shoe shines by EF Walter, and appetizers by Eatertainment. Then guests got excited when Kirk Pickersgill from Greta Constantine arrived with Dan and Dean Caten, the celebrity Canadian designing duo, DSquared. Photo ops all around! The men from the fashion show included: David Rocco, Celebrity Chef Robert Herjavec, High-Tech Entrepreneur, Dragon’s Den Andrew Richmond, La Carnita Klaus Nienkamper, Interior Design Star Gabe Gonda, Arts and Life Editor, The Globe and Mail Del Rollo, Director of Hospitality, Constellation Brands Adrion Smith, Argonauts Alumni Mohit Rajhans, Film Critic, CityNews/Omni TV Some tweets from the evening Studly! #lcjxharry MT @mohitsmovies: @delrollo @narrativepr @davidroccosvita @globearts @la_carnita @robertherjavec pic.twitter.com/oFHXFdTQC8” — Narrative PR (@NarrativePR) June 11, 2013 Dean and Dan of DSQUARED2 at Harry Rosen Bloor St. For #lcjxharry http://t.co/gTUf4zMPoz — Harry Rosen Menswear (@harryroseninc) June 12, 2013 Cheering on super MOH-del and super dad @mohitsmovies with @natalie_deane @MyCityMuseApp @PayChen at #LCJxHarry pic.twitter.com/33yEYqSGMD — Veronica Chail (@veronicachail) June 12, 2013 For more info about the wine visit www.leclosjordanne.com
Created to give recognition to outstanding achievements in Canadian fashion design, the inaugural Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) awards gala will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto. The CAFA gala agenda includes a VIP cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, the awards presentation and an after party. Tables of 10 and individual tickets will be available for this inaugural awards gala. The opening festivities were held at the Ritz Carlton in Toronto on June 3rd, 2013. There’s a lot of support at the foundation for CAFA backed by many high-profile Canadian names such as Suzanne Rogers, Jennifer Bassett (Bassett Events), Elena Semikina (philanthropist, Miss Universe Canada 2010), Glen Baxter (CTV’s In Fashion), Glenn Dixon (designer), Dr. Sara Diamond (President of OCAD University) and partnerships starting with OCAD University. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Check out cafawards.ca and stay tuned with us for more info! CAFA Award Categories The Womenswear Designer of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian womenswear designer who has made a significant creative impact in the Canadian fashion industry. The Menswear Designer of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian menswear designer who has made a significant creative impact in the Canadian fashion industry. The Emerging Talent Award will be presented to an innovative Canadian designer who is emerging as a true creative force in Canadian fashion. The Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to celebrate the exceptional career of an established Canadian fashion designer. The Accessory Designer of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian fashion accessory designer who has made a significant creative impact in the Canadian fashion industry. The Canadian Style Award will be presented to a Canadian who embodies the spirit of Canada and acts as an unofficial ambassador for Canadian fashion and culture. The Image Maker Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian fashion photographer or filmmaker who has made a significant impact within the Canadian fashion industry. The International Canadian Designer of the Year Award will be presented to a Canadian designer who has achieved International success and brought attention to Canadian talent on the world stage. The Stylist of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian fashion stylist who has made a significant impact within the Canadian fashion industry. The Model of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding Canadian model who has made a significant impact within the Canadian fashion industry. More photos from the opening festivities
It’s already that time of year! The 2013 Luminato Festival starts this weekend and the Future Tastes of Toronto is one of the highlights taking place on June 15th and 16th in the Distillery District. As one of Luminato’s Education and Outreach projects, Future Tastes has connected with chefs, artists, communities and youths by coordinating workshops, chef-in-the-school visits, rehearsals and training sessions. All of this preparation ahead of the big ten-day festival. So the Kids’ Table at Luminato’s opening weekend will be a communal eating space where these children will interact with festival-goers, acting as young chef ambassadors to assist the 25 chefs involved this year. Once again, each dish is still priced at only five dollars encouraging a sampling of a variety of tastes. I got to watch this preparation in action as enthusiastic, aspiring future chefs in the form of Grade 7 and 8 students from the Gregory Peck Public School visited the President’s Choice cooking school for some interactive hands-on learning with chef Joshna Maharaj. And Chef Tom Filipou, Executive Chef of President’s Choice, got the excited kids even more excited by getting them involved in cooking. At the end of the cooking, eating and mingling, they performed their songs for Chef Tom with a dancing line and everyone in the cooking school cheered. So be sure to check out the Future Tastes of Toronto: At the Kids’ Table this weekend in the Distillery District and have fun exploring a wide variety of foods and meet some future foodies and chefs. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS (6 classes from 5 schools) Rose Avenue Junior Public School Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School Dovercourt Junior Public School Duke of Connaught Public School George Peck Public School PARTICIPATING CHEFS 1. Hemant Bhagwani, Amaya Restaurant* 2. Andrea Mut, Andrea’s Gerrard St. Bakery 3. Carol Belmonte, Belmonte Raw 4. John Sloan, Cafe Uno* 5. John Lee, Chippy’s Fish and Chips 6. Chrystal Porter and Michael Sacco, Chocosol 7. Doug McNish, Doug McNish Raw Food 8. Jose Haddad, Frida and Mad Mexican 9. Monte Wan, Khao San Road 10. Lesia Kohut, LPK’s Culinary Groove 11. Rod Bowers, Hey Meatball 12. Arturo Anhalt, Milagro Restaurant 13. Sam Gelman, Momofuku 14. Bashir Munye, My Little Dumpling 15. Tallis Voakes, Paintbox Bistro 16. Jose Arato, Pimenton 17. Fred & Nick Laliberte, Poutini’s House of Poutine 18. Tom Filippou, Executive Chef President’s Choice Cooking Schools 19. Tim Miles, Pure Spirit* 20. Armando, Tappo* 21. Cory Vitiello, The Harbord Room 22. Michelle Edgar, The Sweet Escape Patisserie 23. Seema Pabari, Tiffinday 24. Giacomo Pasquini, Vertical Restaurant 25. John Chetti, Queen Margherita Pizza *Indicates chefs who did not participate in workshop process but will be at Future Tastes of Toronto Also, as part of the Luminato Festival, be sure to check out the Viktor & Rolf Dolls Exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum FREE from June 9th to June 30th. Other Luminato highlights include Serena Ryder and K-OS, Sarah Harmer, and the Yves St. Laurent opening night party. For more info visit www.luminatofestival.com
It was an extraordinary 12th annual chic charity gala hosted by the Scrubs in the City committee. At the entrance of the Evergreen Brickworks, the charismatic Yosvani Castañeda, setting the mood with his violin. The inside of Evergreen was pretty fabulous as usual as I’ve come to expect from Scrubs since I was lucky to attend last year’s “Secret Garden”. Although it was a drizzly evening, that didn’t stop over 800 guests from coming out to the Evergreen Brickworks to enjoy entertainment, top-notch food and cocktails. Nothing spells fun like having your cocktail glass lined with pop rocks! Silent auction and raffle items included purses by Alexander McQueen, Marchesa, and Salvatore Ferragamo as well as Mark Lash jewelry, vacations and unique experiential opportunities. There were tons of various musical and dance performance acts that lit up the block party including a special SickKids patient, Amanda Raya, a visually impaired 14-year-old singer/songwriter as well as 14-year-old rapper, Jake Zeldin, aka Lil JaXe. There was also the energetic performance by the incredible dance group, Sole Power, who I’ve been lucky to see before at a corporate party. They’re a must-see! Guests danced the night away with DJ Danny Floh Back and bubbles filling up the entire venue. The proceeds from the Scrubs in the City will go to support the “new kid on the block”, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, a new state-of-the-art building in downtown Toronto at Bay and Elm focusing on children’s health and research. Congrats on the committee for raising more than $400,000 for this new building. To date, Scrubs in the City has raised nearly $2.5 million for SickKids. “We were thrilled with the turn out of this year’s Scrubs in the City event, and we want to thank all of our guests and sponsors who made the evening truly memorable,” said Amy Milne, Director, Events, SickKids Foundation. “All of the funds raised make an important difference for the thousands of families whose lives are deeply impacted by the research and discoveries that happen at SickKids.” Scrubs in the City is made possible by a dedicated Committee including Molly Fitzpatrick (Co-Chair), Lucinda Kogan (Co-Chair), Suzanne Rogers, Sylvia Mantella, Jacqueline Johnson, Julia Mordini, Caroline Newall, Caroline Cohen, Amy Milne, Kirsten van der Griend, Lauren Habib, and Stephanie Lewis. Next year’s Scrubs in the City party is already locked in! Save the date for June 12, 2014! Some tweets from the evening Spud doing his thing. #SKScrubs @sickkids graffiti is rad. pic.twitter.com/j5waR6jVOv — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) June 7, 2013 Bollywood meets Block Party at #skscrubs! https://t.co/bzncgB4MzE — Claire Kerr (@snotforprofit) June 7, 2013 To date, Scrubs in the City annual party has raised over 2 million for @sickids! Way to go! #SKScrubs pic.twitter.com/gk59TU34Ge — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) June 7, 2013 I have never been sandwiched between two more stylish men! #skscrubs http://t.co/wwQvZHuDJD — Claire Kerr (@snotforprofit) June 7, 2013 SOUL POWER break dancers at #skscrubs! https://t.co/l01pxP5vjQ — Claire Kerr (@snotforprofit) June 7, 2013 Woohoo! #SKScrubs was SO FUN! Going through pics from last night, reliving the magic. BUBBLE DANCING! @sickkids pic.twitter.com/68swL0Xoqo — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) June 7, 2013 Dance floor & bubbles!! @sickkids #skscrubs #goodtimes pic.twitter.com/I0asI6VQ47 — David Chiu (@stardchiu) June 7, 2013 Congrats @sickkids #SKScrubs was so fun. You had it all – great music, disco balls, graffiti & my fav lemon @maditaliangelat. #WellDone — Karen Kelar (@KarenKelar) June 7, 2013
On June 4th, 2013, a fresh springtime evening at the Berkeley Church on Queen Street East in Toronto was brimming with philanthropically infused energy and several hundred elegant patrons as the 42nd President of the United States of America, William Jefferson Clinton, graced the stage for an inspirational and thought provoking talk about the great challenges facing our generation and threatening our survival in the 21st Century and beyond. The historic Berkeley Church provided the perfect eclectic setting for this unique occasion, providing at once an air of intimacy and grandeur. The event kicked off with a Clinton Millennium Foundation video showcasing some of the wonderful philanthropic causes that it is supporting around the world, helping children, families and communities that are facing struggles in the areas of health, inequality and basic social needs among others. Celebrated Canadian actress Rachel McAdams kicked off the evening’s ceremonies as honourary ambassador with a heartfelt introduction for Bill Clinton as well as for the evening’s musical guests, Tegan and Sara. Rachel even encouraged the president to play a bit of saxophone along with Tegan and Sara. President Clinton was greeted to the stage with a roaring ovation from the packed audience. A seasoned and well versed public speaker, Mr. Clinton was very charming and charismatic in his talk. The President focused his speech on the importance and the urgency of key global issues facing our society and our planet. He spoke of the challenges facing humanity due to climate change and the melting of the polar ice, he addressed the issues of inequality, racism and intolerance and rallied the crowd to look past our differences and focus on the 99.5% that is identical in all people around the world. President Clinton went on to further stress that while we may not be able to tackle every problem, we should not give up on tackling the problems that are within our reach. He commented that philanthropy is not just for Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and other billionaire philanthropists. Everyone is able to make a contribution, within their means and their world to help humanity and their fellow human beings. During his presidency, Bill Clinton visited Canada five times, the most of any American president in history. Since his retirement, he has visited Canada 33 times, supporting the Clinton Millennium Foundation and its philanthropic efforts. After Bill Clinton’s inspirational speech, Tegan and Sara took to the stage for a very entertaining acoustic five song set. The evening was rounded out by an open bar cocktail mixer allowing the event guests to mingle and discuss the evening thoughts and ideas. The Clinton Millennium Foundation Gala at the Berkeley Church sparkled with inspiration, celebrities and great entertainment. All in all a very memorable evening that raised funds and awareness for a very important cause for our world and all the people who live in it. Written by Roy Rodriguez, special contributor to BestofToronto.net. Some tweets from the evening Dance music, open bar & Toronto's finest folk in attendance tonight to see @billclinton speak tonight. #mntoronto pic.twitter.com/s4XiVDcWYe — gregkureluk (@gregkureluk) June 4, 2013 Rachel McAdams jokes that Bill should join Tegan and Sara on stage with his saxophone. #mntoronto @billclinton — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) June 5, 2013 So this happened tonight: #RachelMcAdams, @billclinton, & (acoustic) @teganandsara! Thanks @accenture_ca! #mntoronto pic.twitter.com/I8A02Chzf8 — Terence (@DaiTee) June 5, 2013 Where does the good go? @teganandsara #MNToronto pic.twitter.com/VK9YIAErim — VIVEK SHRAYA (@vivekshraya) June 5, 2013 "I want you to enjoy your life but remember you are no different than people who still live in conflict areas," @clintonfdn #mntoronto — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) June 5, 2013 Clinton decries those who "peddle the lie that our differences are greater than our collective humanity." #mntoronto — Alison Loat (@AlisonLoat) June 5, 2013 Here’s a Clinton Foundation video from 2011 ‘A Decade of Difference’ ABOUT THE CLINTON FOUNDATION The Clinton Foundation works to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results. For more information, visit clintonfoundation.org, read the blog at clintonfoundation.org/upclose, and follow us on Twitter @ClintonFdn and Facebook at Facebook.com/BillClinton.
It was a drizzly night but that didn’t stop over 1,500 guests from gathering at the The Power Plant Gallery for the highly-anticipated annual Power Ball art party. I was lucky to attend last year’s Powerball: Quarter Life Crisis which was quite the riot so this year was definitely worth marking on the calendar. The theme this year was inspired by Andy Warhol citing his famous quote, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes”. Gourmet LA-themed food was supplied by Chef Marc Thuet once again including tasty ribs, corn dogs, pulled pork sliders, giant skinny burgers. Oysters are always a welcome addition, too. There were many specialized drink stations, including Chateau des Charmes Bosc Family’s newest winery, Earth & Sky. Liquor booths included Ketel One, Grand Marnier, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Don Julio tequila and Perrier. Beer was provided by Kronenbourg 1664. Exhibits included wall projections from Ryan Trecartin, Alexis O’Hara, KTL & Sybil and Zeesy Powers (who told brave participants exactly what she thought of them so that everyone could hear). The main gallery featured sexy models around Thunder Horse Video’s motorcycle. DJs contributing to the entertainment included NYC’s Physical Therapy and Toronto’s Deko-ze. The party certainly lived up to it’s well-known reputation as being one of the best parties and if it supports local artists in Toronto, that’s a bonus as well. “Power Ball is the largest annual fundraising event for The Power Plant, providing the necessary financial support for the exhibitions and public programming the gallery offers all year,” said Director of The Power Plant, Gaëtane Verna. Some notable tweets from the evening: @ThePowerPlantTO here's hoping the rain will have had its #15minutes and be over with by the time the party starts!!! #PowerBallTO !!! — Marc Thuet (@ChefThuet) June 6, 2013 It was getting “hot in here,” so one guest removed all her clothes (except for her great shoes and clutch). So that’s not full nudity then, right? Best #PowerBallTO look! "I just didn't have anything to wear … and I'm only staying for 15 mins." #teamjesse pic.twitter.com/6BQGb52BUi — ARTINFOCanada (@ARTINFOCanada) June 7, 2013 Performing artists @kaitlinsphone & @nightcoregirl #PowerBallTO pic.twitter.com/yZSi0xTHRJ — The Power Plant (@ThePowerPlantTO) June 7, 2013 For those of you looking for tequila, find it in the tent on the south terrace #PowerBallTO @donjulioofficial pic.twitter.com/g88BCRDcYp — The Power Plant (@ThePowerPlantTO) June 7, 2013 At the ball @thepowerplantto with @jeremylaing The Warhol theme has given the plae a Studio 54 vibe! pic.twitter.com/A6RTyzGgXP — Jeanne Beker (@Jeanne_Beker) June 7, 2013 Find @RyanTrecartin's projection of http://t.co/7zUmFEONrD next to @johnniewalkerus bar! #PowerBallTO pic.twitter.com/Ir0g0pB6HG — The Power Plant (@ThePowerPlantTO) June 7, 2013 Artist @Seazzy is telling this partygoer exactly what she thinks of her. Sign up at the front lobby! #PowerBallTO pic.twitter.com/Vvytmst9Lb — The Power Plant (@ThePowerPlantTO) June 7, 2013 Another fantastic #powerballTO party under way, and the debut of a new Niagara wine. “Earth & Sky” Riesling and pinot pic.twitter.com/5FPOkCz4Rc — Suresh Doss (@spotlightcity) June 7, 2013 DJ @fysicaltherapy and @THUNDER_HORSE in the house #PowerBallTO pic.twitter.com/Hv5VF893Zf — The Power Plant (@ThePowerPlantTO) June 7, 2013 We are at Toronto's #powerballto party! #iceboy #powerball15 #icesculpture #ice pic.twitter.com/aY22kDAzcJ — Ice Boy (@IceBoy_Toronto) June 7, 2013 @JohnnieWalkerUS bar at @ThePowerPlantTO for #PowerBallTO is SO hot. pic.twitter.com/nqAVFoBGXR — Daniel Desforges (@dothedaniel) June 7, 2013 About The Power Plant The Power Plant is Canada’s leading public gallery devoted exclusively to contemporary visual art. It is a vital forum for the advanced artistic culture of our time that offers an exceptional facility and professional support to diverse living artists while engaging equally diverse audiences in their work. The Power Plant pursues its activities though exhibitions, publications and public programming. It fulfills its mandate by generating: exhibitions that represent the range of advanced practice in visual arts; publications that increase knowledge of contemporary art; lectures and symposia that encourage debate and further understanding; interpretative tools that invite visitors to question, explore and reflect upon their experiences; programming that incorporates other areas of culture when they intersect with visual art. For more information visit www.thepowerplant.org
Eerie and fascinating. Internationally recognized fashion house Viktor&Rolf gathered an unconventional archive of their provocative fashion designs throughout the years. They created their archive in the form of Victorian-inspired dolls with porcelain painted faces and make up. You will notice attention to details were given for styling of the eyes, hair and makeup. Also the textiles, fashion and accessories on each doll are precisely scaled-down versions of those found on the Viktor & Rolf catwalks from 1993 to 2011. It’s an interesting idea since it turns the fast decay of the fashion world into timeless, conceptual art objects. This North American premiere exhibition can be viewed by the public for FREE at the Royal Ontario Museum’s Thorsell Spirit House in Toronto starting on June 9th until June 30th, 2013. It is commissioned and produced by the Luminato Festival and presented in collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum. Luminato’s Artistic Director, Jorn Weisbrodt, was in attendance at the media preview at the ROM. “What I love about Viktor&Rolf’s dolls is that they work on so many levels,” says Weisbrodt. “They are absolutely stunning to look at and amaze everyone from four to 104 years old. The dolls cross the border between fashion and art, which fits well with my ideal of mixing the art forms, sophisticated to accessible. I have always admired the Viktor&Rolf approach to fashion that is conceptual and absolutely glamorous at the same time. It is a great honor and pleasure to work with Viktor&Rolf, and Studio Job, on a unique presentation of the catwalk for Toronto. The city will fall in love with these dolls.” I look forward to attending Luminato’s Big Bang Bash gala tonight for the exclusive premiere of the Viktor&Rolf dolls. Photos to come! ABOUT VIKTOR&ROLF Viktor&Rolf are widely recognized and respected for their conceptual glamour and provocative creations. Viktor&Rolf have staged their signature collections at spectacular shows in Paris for over twenty years while their fashion label has grown worldwide. Grounded in Womenswear since their first couture collection in Spring/Summer 1998, Viktor&Rolf have a meticulous dedication to their craft always playing with scale and proportion. Their first Menswear show in Autumn/Winter 2003 marked their successful expansion into the Menswear arena with their sophisticated yet ironic Monsieur collections. Viktor&Rolf offer complimentary lifestyle products such as luxurious accessories, Viktor&Rolf Vision and a catalogue of fragrances including FLOWERBOMB and SPICEBOMB. At their core, is the undying vision to create spectacular beauty and unexpected elegance. Visit viktor-rolf.com.
Founded in 2005 by Justin Timberlake and best friend, Trace Ayala, the William Rast clothing brand finally enters the Canadian Market which will be available at all 91 of Hudson’s Bay stores nation wide along with premium boutique and jean stores. We got a sneak preview of the F/W 2013 collection. The offerings include a wide range of denim, jackets, wovens, knits and T-shirts with features such as leather accents, zipper detailing, wide lapels exuding an overall laid-back rocker style. William Rast is being designed, produced and distributed in Canada by Canadian jean company, FDJ French Dressing Jeans, Inc. with continual design contributions from the brand’s founders. The look is all about southern style meeting Canadian cool. A little southern charm meets biker rebel. More facts: The name “William Rast” is a combination of Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala’s grandfathers. Mens and ladies jeans priced from $59.99 Vegan leather motorcycle jackets for men and women priced from $129.99 The collection has an array of trendy tops starting at $40.00 In 2010 William Rast won an award from America Apparel & Footwear Association for Brand of the Year Won an American Image Award in 2011 for Brand of the Year. “We are thrilled to tie up with William Rast and it’s founders, Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala. The launch of William Rast in Canada only gains momentum with the release of Justin Timberlake’s two albums and three movies in the same year. Our look is modern and edgy, the clothes are sexy and exciting, and we anticipate a highly successful venture into the Canadian marketplace. The Canadian fashion consumer will love these looks.” – Noah Stern, CEO, French Dressing Jeans, Inc. The William Rast brand has also partnered with ADDITION ELLE which will be launched this fall, in September 2013, for curvaceous women aiming for unique cuts to flatter the full spectrum of body types. ABOUT WILLIAM RAST William Rast, the ‘New America’ denim culture brand, was conceptualized and founded by business partners Trace Ayala and Justin Timberlake in 2005. Originally comprised of only denim, the brand has expanded into a complete lifestyle collection. Grounded in the iconography of American denim heritage and biker culture, yet re-packaged and presented in a contemporary context, William Rast has found its place on the floors of top-tier department stores and boutiques across the globe, and has become a staple for denim fans worldwide. For more information visit www.williamrast.com
Oolagen is a mental health organization in Toronto helping youth and their families with mental health issues. The incredible part about Oolagen is that they operate on a very lean structure with administration costs at less than 10%, well below the industry norm. Hosted by comedians Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath, the evening at Ritz Carlton for the 3rd annual Oolagen gala “Night of Light” started with a reception and dinner followed by live auction. We watched a video with Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath where Colin tried to pronounce “Oolagen”. We heard from a young girl, Nicole, who talked about how she overcame her mental health issues with the help of Oolagen. The honourary gala chair was former Canadian Ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor. He is well known for risking his own life to help save the lives of six American hostages during the Iran crisis. He’s a recipient of the Order of Canada and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Following a speech by Michael “Pinball” Clemons, the Oolagen gala awarded Michael Landsberg, the host of TSN’s Off the Record, with a 2013 Oolagen Award for bravely speaking publicly about his 14 year battle with depression. Michael Landsberg’s humble speech was incredibly passionate, heartfelt and also made everyone in the ballroom laugh to the point of tears. ABOUT OOLAGEN Oolagen is an accredited mental health centre helping Toronto youth and their families. Highly-respected for the work it does, Oolagen serves as a University of Toronto teaching facility and is long-term partners with the Toronto District School Board, the Children’s Aid Society, Catholic Children’s Aid, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, as well as other children’s mental health agencies and community groups. For more information visit www.oolagen.org
In 1922, four community-minded women united together to raise funds to purchase 100 Yorkville Avenue, the first home of Mount Sinai Hospital. Then in 1953, 60 years ago, Rose Torno formally founded the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary and to this day the Auxiliary remains dedicated to philanthropic efforts to address the needs of the hospital. So Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary kicked off their 60 years festivities on May 27, 2013 with Champagne Tea at the Teatro Verde store in Yorkville. It’s interesting that Teatro Verde is the site of the first Mount Sinai Hospital. So how appropriate to kick off the celebrations there sipping some fine Veuve Clicquot champagne (or tea) and have a few treats from Pickle Barrel. “Celebrate 60” is about the commitment to rebuild Mount Sinai Hospital’s Labour and Delivery facility and provide sustaining funding for research and education in womens’ and infants’ health at Mount Sinai Hospital. The theme of “Celebrate 60” will culminate into a cosmopolitan fête of a Birthday Bash in the era when it first started — in the 1950s. So mark your calendars for Sunday, September 22, 2013 at the Ritz Carlton as Matt Dusk and his orchestra croons the Auxiliary’s supporters. Besides being a great Canadian jazz musician, Matt Dusk was also recently named one of Hello Canada’s 50 Most Beautiful People. Stay tuned as we announce more details of the grand Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary’s Birthday Bash including availability of tickets for sale. Also, I’m proud that BestofToronto.net is an Official Media Sponsor for the Sinai Soiree on June 20, 2013, a charity party in support of women’s health and cancer research. Last year, we got to experience the great vibes at Maro (now Cinema) and we’re looking forward to this year at Toronto’s historic Casa Loma with a 1920’s Great Gatsby theme. I highly recommend attending this fun charity soiree! For more info and to buy tickets for the Sinai Soiree visit www.thesinaisoiree.com
An all night dance-a-thon was held on May 3rd, 2013 where top law firms in Toronto competed to shimmy and shake to raise the most funds in their teams all in support of Variety Village. Taking place at Stratus Restaurant inside the Toronto Athletic Club in the financial district of downtown Toronto. The special guest host of the evening was comedian and actress Carla Collins. She’s dubbed as “Canada’s Tina Fey”, and she was quite a hoot. There were lots of fun dancing demos ranging from Zumba, Salsa, Hip Hop and Belly Dancing. Congrats to the Cambridge Group of Clubs and all those who participated in Dare 2 Dance for raising $60,000 for Variety Village! Be sure to keep up with all the action at the Cambridge Group of Clubs. Check out this video to learn more about what Variety Village is all about: ABOUT VARIETY VILLAGE Variety Village is a 168,000 square foot sports and fitness facility in the heart southwest Scarborough. With a primary focus on children’s programming, we are a world recognized authority providing integrated sports, fitness, life skills and learning programs that impact lives and strengthen communities. Variety empowers individuals of all ages and abilities by providing accessible, safe, inclusive, and adapted fitness and sports through facilitation, skills transfer, and training. Our impact extends well beyond the walls of the Village. Through our outreach programs, we provide opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the province and across Canada to participate in fitness, sports, education and recreational activities. For more information visit www.varietyvillage.ca ABOUT CAMBRIDGE GROUP OF CLUBS The Cambridge Group of Clubs is a collection of unique, luxurious health and fitness clubs, serving an exclusive membership of leaders, executives and professionals. For more information visit www.cambridgegroupofclubs.com Tweets from the evening Getting ready to get my dance on for the kids. Stratus Restaurant 2nite. #dare2dance — Carla Collins (@Carla_Collins) May 3, 2013 It all comes down to this #whoneedsthemirrorballtrophy #dare2dance #stratus pic.twitter.com/HAnCTCfgyr — TorontoAthleticClub (@TAC_ClubAbove) May 4, 2013 What's #zumba without a few kicks #dare2dance pic.twitter.com/REn9N5AWlW — TorontoAthleticClub (@TAC_ClubAbove) May 4, 2013 Salsa dance demo for #dare2dance for @varietyvillage at @tac_clubabove https://t.co/Icg065CI1v — Halysha Maloni (@Halysha) May 3, 2013 thanks to everyone who supported @VarietyVillage at #stratus' #dare2dance – and the final total is: http://t.co/B0CgTb7ewi — TorontoAthleticClub (@TAC_ClubAbove) May 22, 2013 A wonderful nite chez the Athletic Club's Stratus restaurant. My dogs are barkin' from non-stop dancing in heels. #dare2dance — Carla Collins (@Carla_Collins) May 4, 2013 Photo Credit: Casey Patrick
Here’s a few photos from the tweets of last night’s Bud Light Sensation. With over 10 years making it’s waves across the world, Sensation finally arrived on Canadian shores on June 1st, 2013 at the Rogers Centre here in Toronto. I was lucky to snag one of the sold-out deluxe tickets but it was more fun just being on the floor with friends. It was visually spectacular with giant jellyfish hanging from the ceiling, incredible laser displays using water, jellyfish dancers and fireworks. There’s lots of talk about next year’s Sensation in Toronto and there’s clearly a demand for it! Hopefully partnering with another sponsor so that we get better beer. The DJ Lineup included Sensation’s own Mr. White, followed by 2000 and one, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Fedde le Grand, Eric Prydz and Otto Knows. The Rogers Centre was packed up until closing at 3am. Keep up to date at www.sensation.com RT @MDPcoyotes Counting down the hours.@sensation pic.twitter.com/HIbK60bovg — Fedde Le Grand (@feddelegrand) June 1, 2013 Tonight is gonna be epic @sensation @feddelegrand @ericprydz @RyanMarciano @SunneryJames @OttoKnows #allwhite #rave pic.twitter.com/p5Od02pqQz — Schaaper (@SchaapJosh) June 1, 2013 @sensation all aboard the SS. BLACKOUT #shipwrecked #blackout @laura_ruddock @sam_may11 @jackson_snell @agordo12 pic.twitter.com/yguRV9R32C — Emma Louise (@shhmemma) June 2, 2013 @sensation Canada on a totally different level tonight that was one of the most incredible productions I've seen. A+ pic.twitter.com/ZzbjN4SeJv — BillyRich (@Richarwj190) June 2, 2013 @SENSATION WHITE TORONTO !!!! BEST NIGHT EVER !! pic.twitter.com/hI5DS3fVJU — Gipsy (@ITSMEGIPSY) June 2, 2013 sensation angels!! @ladyashis @sensation @RT_Sensation @TorontoRC @edmtoronto #BudLightSensation #sensationwhite pic.twitter.com/6PP1VEMG2f — Kellz (@kellz_kellz) June 2, 2013 Well, @Sensation looks unreal. pic.twitter.com/iSVqIGgE4D — Craig Hunter (@craighunter_) June 2, 2013 Danny SC Tseng @DanShaoc whatever @sensation #sensation #budlightsensation #edm pic.twitter.com/FOba6s031t — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) June 2, 2013 One of the most spectacular visual displays this city has ever seen for an #EDM event #Toronto #budlightsensation pic.twitter.com/tvWNbtQw0y — EDMTOR (@EDM_TOR) June 2, 2013 MASSIVE!!! #budlightsensation #EDM #edmTOR pic.twitter.com/9LCVqA6PdZ — EDMTOR (@EDM_TOR) June 2, 2013 @sensation #budlightsensation #sensation @sensationcanada #toronto #edm @rogers_centre pic.twitter.com/oKSU6vqhO5 — TORO Magazine (@toromagazine) June 2, 2013 Here’s the Official post-event movie of Bud Light Sensation Canada in Toronto Check out the official mini-documentary
Taking a stand for children’s mental health, this fun charity party was hosted by David Sutcliffe (CBC TV’s Cracked and Gilmore Girls) and Natalie Brown (also from CBC TV’s Cracked) at the Burroughes. It was also great to hang out with Mike Chalut from Proud FM, as he really elevates any event into a party. Natalie Brown, as beautiful as she is, is so down to earth and approachable. She even asked me to take photos of her and her friend with her phone. Like Mike Chalut, she also brought out the energy, setting the tone on the dance floor. Celebrity House DJ k-os helped contribute to the fun, of course, allowing for frequent photo ops with adoring fans. The open bar was served by friendly bar staff who also offered to make makeshift sangrias off the menu. Usually the appetizers at events that start after dinner are forgettable (this charity party started at 8pm) but the watermelon cubes topped with cheese, pulled pork sliders, poutine and rich ice cream with cherry were all top notch. The silent auction items were great including a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, a Blackbery Z10, wine packages and much more. Professional hair and make-up touch-ups were also provided. Also, 2 professional photo studios were available courtesy of celebrity photographers, Dustin Rabin and Arthur Mola. Interesting way to get one-stop professional portraits right on the spot. Such great party vibes all around that night! Proceeds from the event support vital children’s mental health programs including prevention, early intervention, training and research activities. Be sure to watch out for this fun annual One Night Stand charity party next year! Thanks to my friend, Tanya for spotting Lauren Hammersley, actress from the TV show, CBC’s Mr. D. Tweets from the evening The girls of @thelofttoronto beautifying our #OneNightStand guests for their portraits pic.twitter.com/qxC0lAezqX — Hincks-Dellcrest (@HincksDellcrest) May 24, 2013 Hosts @SutcliffeDavid & Natalie Brown kick off #OneNightStand in support of @HincksDellcrest & kids' mental health pic.twitter.com/v9iZch2THL — Your CBC TV (@YourCBCtv) May 24, 2013 Get the ultimate profile pic tomorrow night at #OneNightStand, with celeb photogs @arthurmolaphoto and @dustinrabin. http://t.co/S8MILy5EL6 — One Night Stand Com. (@1_Night_Stand) May 22, 2013 k-os @kosinception has the crowd hitting the dance floor at the @hincksdellcrest #OneNightStand right now! — Iceberg Vodka (@iceberg) May 24, 2013 Last night with Lauren Hammersley @le_hammer #onenightstand @hincksdellcrest 1_night_stand burroughes http://t.co/UYaT6SRc9P — Fashion Ecstasy (@FashionEcstasyT) May 24, 2013 @erin_richards GREAT event last night #OneNightStand I had a fantastic evening and absolutely LOVED the ol school hiphop @kosinception spun — Sarah N. Hansolo (@SarahHansolo) May 24, 2013 So many gorgeous ladies last night incl. Natalie Brown @erin_richards @SarahHansolo @1_Night_Stand @Burroughes #OneNightStand — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) May 24, 2013 Thx to all who made #OneNightStand a success, including @kosinception @arthurmolaphoto @dustinrabin @sutcliffedavid Natalie Brown @canningb! — One Night Stand Com. (@1_Night_Stand) May 24, 2013 Epic Toronto times last night with @LABconsignment & @juniorpande curated by @coralosborne for @HincksDellcrest #OneNightStand — k-os (@kosinception) May 24, 2013 About The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre is a children’s mental health treatment, research, and teaching centre located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Each year, we help more than more than 8,000 children and families through a combination of prevention, treatment, research, and education activities. Hincks-Dellcrest is a community affiliate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine (Department of Psychiatry) and Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Our vision is to bring hope, optimism, and possibilities to the children and families we serve. For more information visit www.hincksdellcrest.org Photos below and also on Facebook here.
Since 1894, Havergal has been educating young women as an independent university day and boarding school for girls. Alumni (“Old Girls”), parents and friends of the school gathered to raise funds at their 2013 fundraising gala entitled “Urban Elegance” for Havergal’s new Outdoor Learning Space in the Junior School, a state-of-the-art Aquatic Centre timing system and upgrades to the Learning Support and Science Lab spaces in the Upper School. The evening was emceed by Pauline Chan, CTV News, who is also a Havergal “Old Girl” circa 1983. Gourmet food was provided by Chef Mark McEwan, entertainment was provided by Eleanor McCain and Juno-award winning Sean Jones. Live auction was provided by Hal Hannaford. Interesting live auction items included a Facebook Fantasy, which included a week-long internship with the largest social media company in the world, Facebook, including a lunch with Managing Director of Facebook Canada, Jordan Banks. Another interesting one was the trip to London including a black-tie charity gala inside Buckingham Palace with the Duke of Edinburgh in attendance. There was also a large silent auction including a Blackberry Z10 and more internship opportunities in the fields of media (including Pauline Chan), Business, Culinary, Medical, Architecture, Fashion, PR and more. Raffle prizes included a Harry Winston diamond ring and 2013-2014 tuition to Havergal. Check out Havergal College’s latest video about music at Havergal For more information visit www.havergal.on.ca More photos by George Pimentel Photography
After the Beaujolais Wine and BBQ luncheon, Nick and I headed to the Shangri-La Hotel for the media launch and preview of the 2nd annual Kampai Toronto Sake Festival being tomorrow on May 30th at the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District. “Kampai” which stands for cheers in English, is the largest sake festival in Canada. The event is hosted by The Sake Institute of Ontario which is a non-profit organization that brings together sake distributors and producers in Ontario and promotes awareness of sake. There will be over 100 sakes to sample and appetizers to try from 12 of Toronto’s top restaurants. If you were lucky to snag a ticket to this highly-anticipated sold out affair, here are some notes from the seminar by the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert, John Gauntner, to help you get ready for the sake tasting: • Sake is brewed (and not distilled) from rice, and rice alone • The alcohol content is usually about 16%, watered down from the naturally occurring 20%. • The existence of sake has been dated about 2,000 years ago, but some sake on the market today, like ginjo sake has been around for only 40 years. • The three factors that affect the quality of sake are rice, milling, and labour. • The grade of sake is legally defined by how much the rice has been milled. The more rice is milled, the higher the grade. • Unlike wine, sake is meant to be consumed young, it will begin to change after about a year. • Most premium sake should be consumed slightly chilled. Restaurants participating include: Blowfish on Bay Don Don Izakaya EDO Sushi Guu Izakaya Hapa Izakaya Indian Rice Factory Izakaya Ju Ki Modern Japanese + Bar Kingyo Toronto Momofuku Toronto Mye Restaurant Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill Ryoji Ramen & Izakaya Here’s the trailer for the Festival of Sake! For more information visit www.kampaitoronto.com. Even if you weren’t able to get a ticket, the Sake Institute of Ontario also hosts various tasting events and seminars throughout the year. So keep an eye out for updates by the SIO on twitter and facebook. About the Sake Institute of Ontario (SIO) Not-for-profit trade association formed in February of 2012. Principle mandate of increasing the awareness, availability, promotion, and education of Sake in the Ontario market. Kampai Toronto is SIO’s flagship annual Tasting Festival; and also hosts satellite Tasting Events / Seminars throughout the year. Built on the foundation of collaborative cooperation to grow and nurture the Sake category. Principle Members include 9 Sake Importers and 1 Sake Manufacturer; Associate Members include Restaurants, Chefs & Sake/Lifestyle Promoters.
On a beautiful, warm Wednesday afternoon, Nick and I attended the Acadia Restaurant in little Italy for Beaujolais Wine Council’s wine tasting and luncheon. We tasted 12 different wines paired with a five course meal courtesy of Acadia Restaurant. We started with the white wine – Château des Jacques, Beaujolais, Grand Clos de Loyse, 2010(#1). It was fruity and delicate with a dry finish. I enjoyed drinking it on its own. First course: Creole Shrimp on top of Anson Mills Grits Wines: Georges Dubceuf FUN Beaujolais (#1), 2009 and Louis Jadot (#2), Beaujolais-Villages Commbe aux Jacques, 2011(#3). This classic creamy and savoury New Orleans BBQ dish was best paired with the fresh and fruity Beaujolais-Villages Combe aux Jacques (#3). Second course: Piri Piri Chicken Leg and Yogurt Wines: Bouchard Aîné& Fils, Beaujolais Supérieur, 2011 (#4), Jacques Dépagneux, Morgon, Côte du Py, 2011 (#5), and Joseph Burrier, Saint-Amour, Côte de besset, 2009 (#6). Tender chicken with yogurt? I raised my eye brow in a good way because as strange as the name sounds, it tasted absolutely delicious. Dry, fruity and velvety tannins of the Jacques Dépagneux, Morgon, Côte du Py (#5) balanced out the juicy chicken and creamy yogurt. As if it was match made in heaven! Third course: Grilled Eggplant Peanut with Coconut & Curry Condiment Wines: Château de Pierreux, Brouilly, 2011 (#7), Villa Ponciago, Fleurie La Réserve, 2011 (#8), Georges Duboeuf, Beaujolais-Villages, 2010 (#9) Although the eggplant was plain, the curry gave this dish a punch of flavour. The best wine to complement this dish was Château de Pierreux (#7) because it was floral and soft on the palate. Fourth course: Korean Short Rib Crispy rice, Sesame & Chili Wines: Domaine Manoir Du Carra, Juliénas, 2010 (#10), Domain du Carra, Juliénas, 2010 (#11), Domaine Piron-Lameloise, Chénas, Quartz, 2009 (#12) The meat was so tender that I barely used a knife. It was savoury which matched nicely with the Les Trois Roches (#11). The wine has a velvety and suave texture and ends with spicy vanilla notes. As for the dessert, the presentation was elegant and pretty. The dark chocolate ganache was so sweet on the tongue that I was gulping down water so I just ended up eating only the Chantilly cream which I thought was delicious. Last but not least, I would like to thank Anthony Collet, Chef Patrick Kriss and all the staff at the Acadia Restaurant for this exclusive experience. The food tasted great, the wines were fabulous, the sunshine and warm breeze could not be more perfect for this amazing spring luncheon. ABOUT BEAUJOLAIS The French wines of the Beaujolais region are made from handpicked Gamay grapes. The region is best known for its light red wines, which taste great chilled and offer a refreshing flavor profile. A small amount of French white wine and pink rosé is also made in the Beaujolais region. Try the best tasting light red wines this summer – any Beaujolais wine makes an ideal warm weather vintage! discoverbeaujolais.com/ ABOUT ACADIA RESTAURANT acadiarestaurant.com
This year’s 4th annual Pants off Party had the theme of Golf & Country Club with people looking stylish in their country club clothes and no pants. It took some adjusting to walk into the Berkeley Church where you’re the only one wearing pants at a pants-off party. So I found the coat check where they politely check in your pants. This is when supermodel Stacey McKenzie said hi to me. So I awkwardly took my pants off in front of her and handed them in for check-in (no looks of disgust at all!) and went on my way. Bright and colourful boxers and snazzy, argyle socks were available for sale at coat check. Such a great idea.
More than 1,000 VIP guests gathered for a gala right on the field of the Rogers Centre for the well-attended annual Curve Ball, up from 800 in the previous year. This year the theme was “denim and diamonds”. The large field had upscale silent auction items in glass displays as well as a baseball bat gallery with one-of-a-kind baseball bats signed by the corresponding Blue Jays players available for bidding as well. There was a lot of demand for customizing Blue Jays New Era baseball caps. The youth from the Toronto Community Housing Rookie Leaguers got to walk onto the field alongside the Toronto Blue Jays and also got their Blue Jays jerseys signed. The evening was emceed by Sportsnet’s Evanka Osmak and Jamie Campbell. Entertainment was provided by Soular entertaining guests with top 40 hits. An Acura Home Run Draw featured a raffle prize of an SUV, a 2013 Acura RDX. Besides the Blue Jays, other notable guests included John Tory, Carrie-Lynn Neales (Seed TV), Tracy Moore (Cityline), and Randal Edwards (Package Deal star). “It’s a tremendous fundraiser, one of our biggest events,” Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “The Jays Care Foundation does a lot of great events, but as far as a night out, the players really enjoy it as well. They get to relax and interact with the fans at more of a laid-back pace and it’s done really, really well.” Congrats for raising $950,000 in support of the Jays Care Foundation! Some tweets from Curve Ball Had a great time at the #curveball because of my new friend @carrielynndor. Wow – you crack me up! cc:@Seed_tv pic.twitter.com/G1eXecnT21 — Tracy Moore (@tracycityline) May 14, 2013 .@jparencibia9 posing with his "YOGI!" @GCbatco bat at the #CurveBall! pic.twitter.com/IYN1wtWR53 — Jays Care Foundation (@JaysCare) May 13, 2013 Great night, with great people, for an even greater cause! @jayscare @jcfyoungpros #CurveBall pic.twitter.com/1WXgLrvvQJ — Ally Carlson (@AllyCarlson02) May 14, 2013 .@CarrieLynndor & @randal_edwards from @city_tv's @Seed_tv & @PackageDeal_TV together @ the Rogers Centre #CurveBall pic.twitter.com/ThMxY9f2fR — City PR (@Citytv_PR) May 13, 2013 Stealing second. Think you're safe. @randal_edwards pic.twitter.com/LnAoPmQf8P — Carrie-Lynn Neales (@CarrieLynndor) May 14, 2013 We are thrilled to announce that, with your help, the #Curveball raised $950,000!!! #MillionDollarThankYou pic.twitter.com/7qwccmKxJJ — Jays Care Foundation (@JaysCare) May 17, 2013 Check out one of the bats featured at the Curve Ball created by Jon Shaw. The bat features imagery based on Blue Jays Melky Cabrera (#53)’s interests, signed by Cabrera himself and sold at the silent auction with funds raised going to the Jays Cares Foundation. ABOUT CURVE BALL AND THE JAYS CARE FOUNDATION The Curve Ball is one of many charitable events the Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation hold each year to pump money and resources back into communities across the country. Provincial-wide, underprivileged youth have been able to participate in baseball programs in properly equipped facilities and get instruction from their favourite Blue Jays players. The dedicated efforts of the Jays Care Foundation led to the Blue Jays being named the 2012 recipient of the MLB Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence. The Jays Care Foundation has invested more than $7.5 million in Canada’s children and communities. For more information visit http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/community/ Also check out our coverage of the 100th Grey Cup gala which also took over the Rogers Centre. So if you love baseball and get the opportunity, you should definitely get tickets and join the annual Curve Ball gala.