Many events happen at the beautiful Evergreen Brick Works but none have pulled it off as well as SickKids “Scrubs in the City” in terms of grand decor, great food, amazing drink selection and overall fun factor. The evening promises to be full of surprises including live musical and dance performances, a dance party with DJ Danny Floh Back, a premier photo wall and an amazing silent auction and raffle you won’t want to miss. So now is your chance to attend by winning a pair of tickets valued at $350. Contest closes on June 3, 2013. Best of all it’s for a great cause! All proceeds from Scrubs in the City will support the ‘new kid on the block’, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, a new world-class tower that will rock the Discovery District at Bay and Elm street and change the game in children’s health. To date the Scrubs in the City events have raised more than $2 million for SickKids. Scrubs in the City presents BLOCK PARTY June 6, 2013 Evergreen Brick Works Click here to go to the contest registration page on Facebook You can also be a good Samaritan and purchase tickets at $175 each. For more information about the event including ticket purchases, please visit skscrubs.com Good luck and hope to see you all there! -Nick About Scrubs in the City In its 12th year, Scrubs in the City draws some of the city’s most influential movers and shakers to a fabulous night out. Scrubs in the City Presents BLOCK PARTY will take place at the Evergreen Brick Works on Thursday, June 6, 2013. The event has raised more than $2 million to date in support of some of the most critical needs at SickKids. This year, neighborhoods will unite in the open air and help support Toronto’s newest member to the community – The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. Helping Build a New Icon for the Community Final stages of construction are underway for the 21-storey, 750,000 square ft., world-class facility scheduled to open September 2013 – and we need your help to make it happen. The tower will bring together over 2,000 SickKids scientists, trainees and child health research staff. The state-of-the-art laboratory and learning facilities will encourage research collaboration among scientific and clinical perspectives to accelerate discoveries and foster new knowledge. The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning will be an international game changer for child health. For more photos from last year click here.
The Daily Bread Food Bank hosted their second annual “Ultimate Food Challenge” featuring a culinary competition with 3 chefs: Devan Rajkumar of The Food Dudes, Alexandra Feswick of The Samuel J Moore at The Great Hall and Jason Parsons of Peller Estates Winery. The event brought 250 food loving philanthropists out to the gorgeous Corus Quay on the waterfront who got to sample wine from Peller Estates, beer from Beau’s and, of course, try some great food. My favourite was the ceviche with popped corn and pickled pablano pepper made by Daily Bread’s own Catering Kitchen. It got nabbed up quickly. The main host for the evening was Howard Glassman (aka Humble from the Humble & Fred radio show) who provided his sense of humour like when he joked about the credibility of the celebrity judges in judging food. Basically only Chef Suman Roy from CP 24 had food credentials to his name, winning a Gourmand Cookbook Food Award in 2010. But it’s all for a good cause anyway! Suman Roy is also the Executive Chef of Campbell’s Canada. Josie Dye (102.1 The Edge) and Preet Banerjee (Oprah Winfrey Network Canada’s Million Dollar Neighbourhood) were also hosts. On the judging panel we had Arlene Dickinson (star of CBC’s Dragon’s Den fame and also The Big Decision), Melissa Grelo, Suman Roy (Co-host of CP24 Breakfast and News Anchor), Leslie Roberts (Global TV news anchor), Erin Davis (Co-host 98.1 CHFI’s Morning Show). The challenge given to the chefs was to use ingredients commonly found in a food hamper box including canned food. Each chef had 30 minutes to complete a dish that was judged on originality/creativity, presentation, texture, and taste. Devan Rajkumar was awarded the most votes by the audience to win the Fan Favourite award with his vegetarian slider consisting of pita bread, cheese and canned pineapple. But it was Alexandra Feswick who won over the judges with her Western Falafel using chick peas, spiced yogurt and lentils. Live auction items included Two night stay for two at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park (value $1,000) Westin Hotels Signature Heavenly Queen-Sized Bed provided by Simmons Hospitality Bedding The event raised $90,000 to support Daily Bread’s food bank to serve low-income children and adults at more than 100 community agencies in neighbourhoods all across Toronto. For more information visit about the Daily Bread Food Bank including how to help, visit dailybread.ca Also, check out Chef’s Challenge in support of Mount Sinai for more celebrity chef showdown action. Some tweets from the evening The crowd supporting @dailybreadto event raising funds for the food bank. Go TO citizens Go! Showing care matters pic.twitter.com/Vss6MTCb2H — Arlene Dickinson (@ArleneDickinson) May 8, 2013 @CHFIerin my co-judge at @DailyBreadTO Ultimate Food Challenge! pic.twitter.com/Wn28RlLfcd — Leslie Roberts (@lrobertsglobal) May 9, 2013 @ChefDevan – Congrats on winning Fan Fav @DailyBreadTO #UltimateFoodChallenge – your mom was so proud! pic.twitter.com/v1VzS5sP2r — Fat Girl Food Squad (@FatGrlFoodSquad) May 9, 2013
The 2nd annual Right to Play Charity Ball brought in a ton of celebrities in support of “Right to Play”, dubbed one of Canada’s fastest growing international humanitarian organizations. The Right to Play Ball was founded by Glen Baxter, fashion television journalist, host of CTV’s In Fashion, and just an all-round nice guy. It was an incredible success at last year’s gala where $80,000 was raised for the Right to Play charity. Any event at the Shangri-La Hotel is great and this charity gala was definitely no exception. Featuring music by DJ Tony Okungbowa from the Ellen Degeneres Show and DJ Jojo Flores and Lapelle Music. It was raining that evening so it was nice that the large terrace was covered with a tent and swanky outdoor furniture. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeurves and drinks by Peroni, Belvedere Vodka, Hennessy, Ardberg whiskey. VIP guests got to enjoy the VIP reception hour and also received a gift card from Mastercard, the official sponsor of the event. Silent auction items included a Hamilton watch valued at $2,200 as well as a 7 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa at Grand Isle Resort in Exhuma, Bahamas ($7,000 value). It was also Kardinal Offishall’s birthday after midnight, so it was great to be able to wish him happy birthday in person. Cupcakes were passed around to celebrate “Mr. International’s” birthday. It really turned into a dancing party when DJ Tony Okungbowa got going and then it got even wilder when supermodel Stacy McKenzie got up to dance with him. What an incredible night! Here’s some notable tweets from the Right to Play Ball The one and only @Glen_Baxter getting styled for #RightToPlayBall charity event http://t.co/c0MBxmpZxP… http://t.co/mAIiFXAsDV — GOTSTYLE (@gotstyle) April 25, 2013 Our main men have arrived- @Glen_Baxter @TONYOK @JohannKoss at the #RightToPlayBall pic.twitter.com/hIDfTFEGIL — Right To Play (@RightToPlayCAN) May 11, 2013 Can't miss the #Leafs game? Have no fear, we're watching it at #RightToPlayBall's @samsungcanada listening station: pic.twitter.com/wDlXje6iQz — Right To Play (@RightToPlayCAN) May 10, 2013 A big thank you to @djjojoflores and @TONYOK for a successful #RightToPlayBall @ShangriLaTO pic.twitter.com/j0ngCKMobe — Glen Baxter (@GlenBaxterTO) May 11, 2013 Happy Birthday @KardinalO ! @RightToPlayCAN #enjoythecupcakes pic.twitter.com/azADPGnopR — Brill Communications (@brillcomm) May 11, 2013 Happy Birthday @KardinalO! Cupcakes all around at the #RightToPlayBall pic.twitter.com/a4lkp5wr4r — Right To Play (@RightToPlayCAN) May 11, 2013 #righttoplay yup, that's Stacey Mackenzie behind the DJ booth https://t.co/1eJ1WxXEIo — Gabrielle Totesau (@GabbyTotesau) May 11, 2013 Check out the video to learn more about one of Canada’s fastest growing international humanitarian organization: ABOUT RIGHT TO PLAY Is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. It was founded in 2000 by Johann Olav Koss, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur. Through sports and games, we help children build essential life skills and better futures, while driving social change in their communities with lasting impact. For more information visit www.righttoplay.com Photos below and also on the Facebook photo album here.
At TFI’s New Labels 2013 award gala which aims to launch the careers of new fashion design entrepreneurs, it came down to four finalists showing their Fall/Winter 2013 collections in a fashion show down in front of a well-attended gathering of 700 fashion media, buyers, and celebrities. The evening at The Carlu was hosted by Breakfast Television’s Dina Pugliese and other notable guests in attendance included Stacey McKenzie, Sylvia Mantella, Simona Shnaider, Brian Gluckstrein, Gabrielle Miller, Georgina Reilly, Glen Baxter, Anne Marie Mediwake and many more. The TFI New Labels panel of judges included Arie Assaraf (TNT Boutique), Elisha Ballantyne (Target), David Dixon (fashion designer), John Morioka (Target), Miranda Purves (FLARE editor), Suzanne Rogers (fashion philanthropist). After the fashion shows, the judges took a few moments to come back and announce the winner was Sarah Stevenson. It’s a pretty hefty prize as Stevenson gets to take home the grand prize of $25,000 cash donated by Suzanne Rogers. Stevenson also gets to launch an exclusive collection for Target sold across Canada in 2014 and also a full-page editorial feature in FLARE magazine. Congrats to her as the reds, blacks, whites and originally-designed and laser-cut prints really stood out with exotic beauty inspired by Dutch still life paintings from the Baroque period. “I am so thankful to the Toronto Fashion Incubator for organizing this competition for emerging Canadian design, and for providing myself and my three fellow designers with this incredible opportunity,” said Sarah Stevenson. “The competition was a thrilling experience and I am so excited to work with Target and see what happens next.” “We were overwhelmed by the talent on the runway last night and are beyond proud of the four finalists who gave it their all,” said Susan Langdon, Executive Director, Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI). “We would like to thank Suzanne Rogers and our amazing event sponsors: Target, P&G Beauty & Grooming, FLARE Magazine, Mantella Corporation and the City of Toronto. It is because of their leadership and support of the TFI that we can organize this competition and nurture Canada’s next generation of design talent year after year.” Notable tweets @faulhabercomm @TorontoFashion VERY EXCITED for 1 lucky #NewLabels designer who will win a LIFE CHANGING prize from @target_ca @FLAREfashion — Susan Langdon (@SusanAtTFI) April 30, 2013 Dress by #newlabels winner @sarahAstevenson @marquis_fashion http://t.co/X0RLUClJFV — Georgina Reilly (@georginareilly) May 3, 2013 Sarah for the win! Congrats @SarahAStevenson. #onetowatch #NewLabels pic.twitter.com/ttByuw3ajn — Leesa Butler (@theFList) May 1, 2013 Thank you so much for all of the lovely messages & well wishes! I am so excited to have won @TorontoFashion #TFINewLabels competition!!! — Sarah Stevenson (@SarahAStevenson) May 1, 2013 Thank-you @daviddixoninc for the beautiful dress loan and @FLAREfashion …Flare was there! #TFI http://t.co/8RKhqkeVyQ — Dina Pugliese (@DinaPugliese) April 30, 2013 Check out Sarah Stevenson’s video interview here by The Canadian Press at mysask.com ABOUT THE TORONTO FASHION INCUBATOR The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) is an innovative, award-winning non-profit organization that plays an essential role in the growth and promotion of Canada’s fashion community. TFI helps budding fashion entrepreneurs develop the creative and professional capacity they need to succeed and evolve in the challenging fashion industry. As the world’s first fashion incubator, the TFI has fostered many of Canada’s most celebrated talents for 26 years including David Dixon, Pina Ferlisi, Todd Lynn, Arthur Mendonça and 2012 New Labels winner Sid Neigum.
In one of Toronto’s most anticipated events of this year, the 10th anniversary of the Carlu pulled out all the stops to deliver on it’s own hype that had everyone in Toronto talking. It definitely exceeded expectations in terms of the vast amounts of gourmet food, amazing people and entertainment which adds up to tons of fun. Upon arrival at the Grand Foyer guests were greeted by models wearing Swarovski serving drinks. Other interesting highlights included the conveyor belt serving a variety of dishes and the salmon in ice hanging from the ceiling by L-eat Catering (dubbed “fish chandeliers”). Notable eats included the delicious steak tartare topped with a quail egg served in-shell by Daniel et Daniel and the liquid nitrogen avocado ice cream topped with trout roe by L-eat Catering. The 10th anniversary party was supported in 3 categories: TASTE, DRINK, LOOK. TASTE Catering included 10tation Event Catering, Daniel et Daniel Event Creation & Catering, L-eat Catering, The McEwan Group, Neptuno Oysters DRINK Drinks were provided by Bacardi, Mill Street Brewery, Cave Spring Cellar, Mark Anthony Brands LOOK Decor was provided by McNabb Roick Events, Signature Rentals, Contemporary Furniture Rentals, Westbury National, San Remo Floral Design Studio, HIGGINS EVENT RENTALS, Farley Chatto Designs, Northern Valet Inc., The Butler Did It Inc., National Sign & Design, Reznick & Partners Carpet Entertainment included Daniel from Bellosound and great live performances that kept guests dancing in the Auditorium. Guests in attendance who came out to celebrate included Shinan Govani, Natalie Deane, Kenny Hotz, Mike Chalut, David Dixon, Glenn Dixon, Glen Baxter, Elena Semikina, Rosey Edeh and many more. It was great to see many other familiar faces as well and it was an honour to be a part of the grand celebrations. It’s quite clear that The Carlu hosts many of the best events in Toronto. Largely this has to do with the efforts of the innovative event visionaries, Mark Robert and Jeffry Roick who, after $8 million in restorations, opened up the historic 1930s venue 10 years ago on May 1st, 2003. It was renamed after the famous French architect Jacques Carlu (1890-1976) and is considered one of the world’s best examples of Art Modern architecture remaining in existence. The Carlu launched with much fanfare as the venue was chosen to host the royals, Prince Charles and Camilla. “One of the reasons The Carlu was chosen to host the Royals was because of Charles’ love for heritage buildings,” recalls Mark Robert. “When he turned to me and said ‘we need more people like you’ I realized that we had likely received the biggest confirmation that we’d done a great job on the restoration let alone saving the space from potential demolition.” Some facts about The Carlu after 10 years: Hosting more than 1,650 events including 190 Weddings, 135 charity functions, 160 award dinners, 25 Bar/Bat mitzvahs 2004 Architectural Excellence Award – Ontario Architectural Association Scrolls of Recognition – City of Toronto and many more accolades The Auditorium is 8,500 square feet in total with a capacity for 1,200 theatre-style seats including balcony seating for 460 The Round Room has dining for up to 300 guests The Grand Foyer is 10,000 square feet in total allowing 700 for dinner or more than 1,500 guests for cocktail-style receptions There are also the Clipper and Sky Rooms for additional space or smaller functions You can bet that The Carlu will continue hosting many of the best events in Toronto. Check out www.thecarlu.com Notable tweets @TheCarlu A memorable party 10 yrs in the making #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/rnhootOUtz — Glen Baxter (@GlenBaxterTO) May 4, 2013 Sparkling in @swarovski @TheCarlu #carlu10 @CAMI_cooks @supertwiNN pic.twitter.com/eDPSf4fsAX — Farley Chatto (@FarleyChatto) May 4, 2013 Always hotness @thecarlu white is the new green @CAMI_cooks #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/o40Ad9CBZ5 — dj morgan shim (@djmorganshim) May 4, 2013 Blown away by @thecarlu tonight. Happy 10th #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/p0YdqJizMo — Erin Strulovitch (@erinstrulz) May 4, 2013 it's all about #decadence @TheCarlu #carlu10 xo pic.twitter.com/EV7EZERCSt — that PR thing inc. (@DanielleIversen) May 4, 2013 @TheCarlu a little #Steak tartar w/ an #egg on top – #sunnysideup 😉 just the way I like it!! #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/GTHmaB87r1 — that PR thing inc. (@DanielleIversen) May 4, 2013 @leatcatering #Carlu10 Amazing frozen fish chandeliers, genius! http://t.co/h6MLxbovD7 — CANDICEandALISON.com (@CANDICE_ALISON) May 4, 2013 Rhubarb soup shooters with mint Fior di Latte Foam #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/yVzojCQagF — Chef Christopher (@TheFoodFella) May 4, 2013 Liquid nitrogen savoury avocado ice cream, with trout roe, must try! #carlu10 pic.twitter.com/ziFoHbhxeZ — L-eat Catering (@LeatCatering) May 4, 2013 DLT (with duck prosciutto on gougere) at #carlu10 http://t.co/NwKXw4fvKz — Daniel et Daniel (@danieletdaniel) May 3, 2013 @TheCarlu hands down the best #event of #2013 congrats #boys everything was #perfection #Carlu10 — Mike Chalut (@mikechalut) May 4, 2013 Fun times with #MissUniverseCanada thecarlu #Carlu10 @elenasemikina and Mariana Valente http://t.co/Tej8D7kSGF — Natalie Deane (@natalie_deane) May 4, 2013 Gallery below and also on Facebook here.
To start off Melanoma Awareness month in May, the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund held their annual event on May 1st, 2013. This year it was at the Six Degrees Event Centre in midtown Toronto. It was a cozier, more intimate space than last year’s event at Liberty Grand – a welcome, refreshing change of scenery. Guests wore black, the colour of Melanoma Awareness month, and enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeurves, and fine food stations catered by Encore Catering and mystical entertainment with a magician. There was also caricature drawings, henna tattoos and a silent auction. We watched a heartfelt video and heard a tear-jerking speech from David Cornfield’s widow, Sari Cornfield. At only 29 years old, David was diagnosed with the common and serious skin cancer called melanoma. He fought an incredible battle with the disease including removing a brain tumour and also making partner at a top accounting firm. He died at the young age of 32. Read the full, touching story of David here. The evening featured a cheque awarded to the The Princess Margaret Hospital for $15,000. Check out the touching and award-winning viral video that is still a classic: “Dear 16-year-old Me”. The video now has over 6 million views. Wishing all the best success to the DCMF in their continued efforts to spread awareness of the dangers of melanoma. ABOUT THE DCMF The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund was established in 2007 and is devoted to saving lives from melanoma by promoting awareness of this potentially deadly disease. We were thrilled to officially launch the Fund and its new logo at our Friends and Family Event on June 16th 2008. Melanoma is a common and serious skin cancer which, if not treated early, is usually fatal. The good news is that the risk of melanoma can be significantly decreased by reducing exposure to UV radiation, and that the prognosis for melanoma patients can be improved by early detection. The bad news is that despite increasing public awareness of the dangers of UV radiation, many people still do not understand the seriousness of the damage caused by exposure to UV radiation, particularly damage caused during early years. Further, not enough people are aware of the early signs of melanoma, or the importance of self detection. As a result, melanoma is often ignored until it’s too late. However, we believe that through David’s story, we can bring change. Promote awareness of melanoma and the importance of prevention and early self-detection Provide funding and support for education and research into the causes, controls, and cure of melanoma and melanoma related disease Support melanoma patients and their families during their battle with melanoma by providing access to information and other resources For more information or to make a donation to the DCMF please visit dcmf.ca
The Airship 37 venue in the Distillery District as I knew it was turned into a country hoedown with party-goers in cowboy hats, plaid, and cowboy boots dancing to country music. The Jim Beam booth featured Jim Beam girls doing a blind Taste Challenge versus Jack Daniels. Other drinks included Iceberg Vodka and Amsterdam beer and there was plenty of cupcakes available for the taking from Bite Me Bakery. It turned out to be a fun, rowdy country party right in the city. Check out the video from the evening If you aren’t already, be sure to keep up with Oxford Beach for many of the most well-attended events in Toronto such as the recent POGO gala after party and the largest St. Patrick’s Day St. Party’s Day. Some tweets from the evening at Saddle Towne @BestOfTorontoTV Have you heard about our event tomorrow? Gonna be a HONKY TONK pic.twitter.com/OZ0jOmxsM4 — Saddle Towne (@SaddleTowne) April 25, 2013 Come see the #jimbeam girlies @SaddleTowne at #Airship37 tonight! #toronto @OxfordBeach @brandmomentum pic.twitter.com/c8Zr0hdfFw — Jessica Lynch (@LynchJessica) April 27, 2013 Friday night #HoDown #SaddleTowne #Country #PlaidLove http://t.co/mlbrnzGJ9V — Kaitlyn Leeb (@kaitdubz) April 28, 2013 @jimbeamofficial thanks for the hotties you brought tonight. #jimbeamtastechallenge @OxfordBeach pic.twitter.com/fVRGjXgq7D — Saddle Towne (@SaddleTowne) April 27, 2013 Cupcakes from #biteme bakery. Mmmmmm thank you pic.twitter.com/dg4J2Q8SpI — Saddle Towne (@SaddleTowne) April 27, 2013 Last nights party!!!! #saddletowne http://t.co/0qITaDXzzk — Kaitlyn Leeb (@kaitdubz) April 27, 2013 More photos below and also on the Facebook album here
On an unusually hot evening in April, we got invited to attend the Cutco Foodie Forever Event. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the friendly ladies from Cutco. We took no hesitation of trying the hors d’oeuvres as we mixed and mingled with food bloggers. The main event of the evening included cooking a healthy dinner along with simple knife lessons from Cutco. Everyone was grouped into small teams and taken into the kitchen. For dinner we tossed up some kale citrus salad, savoury quinoa, and a baguette with hummus. It was light and healthy, however not filling for a regular meat eater like myself. As we settled down around the table, two different white wines were being served – 2011 Sauvignon Blanc and Aligote. Of course, this was the most exciting part of the evening. Sauvignon was my personal favourite of the two as it was refreshing and complemented well with the salads on the table. As for the dessert we made tangy poppy seed fruit salad. Cutting these fruits were quick and simple using Cutco knives. Just place the tip of the butcher’s knife on the melon and push along the edge. Tonight’s guest speaker was Lorraine Thornhill – Lifestyle and Personal Development Coach who shared her experience of switching to a gluten free diet. Lorraine carries an “eat to live” attitude when it comes to making food choices. Her number one rule to live by is to pay attention to details on the nutrition labels. Most foods are based on the first two ingredients on the list and the rest mainly contribute to longevity of shelf life. The evening concluded with a raffle. There were a lot of great prizes and a lot of winners. One lucky blogger walked away with a Google Nexus 7 Tablet. Cutco: www.CookingWithCUTCO.ca Chateau des Charmes: www.chateaudescharmes.com Lorraine Thornhill: www.lorrainethornhill.com Photos by Sabrina Zh
For over 25 years, the AWHL (Assaulted Women’s Helpline) has strived to provide completely free 24/7 support to women who have been assaulted. This is available in up to 154 languages, and is completely anonymous and confidential. 49,000 women call the helpline every year in the Greater Toronto Area. So the goal of this annual gala is to raise funds for the helpline and awareness. At this year’s 10th annual gala, CBC News anchor Anne-Marie Mediwake was the host. The evening started with a cocktail reception and viewing of the silent auction items. Then there was a 3 course dinner, live auction and entertainment provided by “The Intentions”. All proceeds of the AWHL gala go directly back to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline. Some tweets from the evening The tables are set and we're ready to go! #helpline13 pic.twitter.com/pdijOln2oN — AssaultWomenHelpLine (@AWHL) April 19, 2013 Each yr 49K women use #AssaultedWomensHelpline.Supporting GTA "sisters" w/ my sis Naomi @CBCToronto @CBC_TOCommunity pic.twitter.com/PxbhYdZQSa — Anne-Marie Mediwake (@AnneMarieCBC) April 20, 2013 @AWHL @annemariecbc Anne-Marie was wonderful + funny! "My h/b is home w/kids. He's not babysitting. He's parenting!" pic.twitter.com/0YYjMNoyIq — Lisa Barnoff (@LBB2002) April 20, 2013 @AWHL UR most welcome, TY for providing 24/7 care for GTA women in crisis in 150 languages. #helpline13 @CBCToronto @CBC_TOCommunity — Anne-Marie Mediwake (@AnneMarieCBC) April 20, 2013 Check out the great video from Kardinal Offishall and Shawn Hook “A Way Out” made for the Assaulted Women’s Helpline. For more information including how donating just $25 can save a life, visit awhl.org
The annual POGO Gala held in support of children with cancer was held on April 20th, 2013 at the Liberty Grand. Last year I was lucky to have won tickets to attend, so being able to come again this year brought back some nostalgia as one of the first galas that @FashionEcstasyT and I went to together. It’s always a well-attended gala for a great cause. The after party featured a DJ, dancing, a host bar and stunningly colourful decor. But no great party is complete without great food and treats, so the maple bacon donuts were a welcome, sweet treat. There was a raffle featuring 2 separate prizes of Rolex Watches courtesy of Royal de Versailles. Among the many silent auction items, there was also an exclusive pair of tickets to the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show & After Party, coveted as the most anticipated fashion event of the year. It was another great, memorable POGO gala. Be sure to stay tuned next year to support this great cause or go to pogo.ca to see how you can help now. Some tweets Super Exclusive #POGOGALA #Auction! Tics to the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show&After Party—most anticipated fashion event of the year!! — POGO (@POGO4kids) April 17, 2013 Andre B. had cancer 3 times b4 he was 16. Hear his inspiring story @ the #POGOGala. http://t.co/cV8UJ9LCz9 and stay tuned for the video! — POGO (@POGO4kids) April 12, 2013 @peterneal1 looking forward to our silent auction win at the #POGOGala– a Neal Brothers gift basket! Excited for the nummy goodness within! — Farley Chatto (@FarleyChatto) April 26, 2013 Some generous people who have tonight @ #POGOgala! Esp. the two who gave back to Andre, he's one lucky guy! cc @mikechalut — Farley Chatto (@FarleyChatto) April 21, 2013 ABOUT POGO The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) was founded in 1983 by a group of pediatric oncologists to champion childhood cancer care and control. As the representative voice of the childhood cancer community, POGO works to ensure that all of Ontario’s children have equal access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and required ancillary services. We also aim to make certain that Ontario’s children have the greatest prospects for survival with an optimal quality of life. POGO’s mission is to continually drive improvements across the continuum of children’s cancer care in Ontario by: ensuring access to and availability of the absolute best cancer care providing essential support for children, survivors and families conducting childhood cancer research providing ongoing professional development opportunities For more information visit pogo.ca To see how POGO helps check out Andre B.’s story, diagnosed with cancer 3 times before he was 16.
Samsung held a preview party to celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone, their newest flagship (launching on major Canadian carriers on May 3rd in limited quantities). The S4 party was held on the same evening on April 25th across 3 cities: Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Feist was hyped up to play all 3 cities simultaneously as a 3D hologram. Walk Off the Earth rocked the Kool Haus that evening playing 2 lively sets. Samsung also held a casting call to showcase one local artist in each of the 3 cities. Toronto got a performance from this handsome guy, Milan Boronell. Overall it was a great as expected and free tickets quickly sold-out as usual. Other great Samsung launches I’ve been lucky to attend include the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 launch (with Psy performing “Gangnam Style”) and the Galaxy S3 launch with Cobra Starship. Stay up to date with Samsung Mobile Canada on twitter to keep up with all the activity they have going on. Awesome Gotye cover by @WalkOffTheEarth at @SamsungMobileCA #GS4Canada http://t.co/AyDHLjGbxd — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) April 26, 2013 Some other tweets from the evening: …….A Commotion…… Live from Vancouver, Toronto, & Montreal simultaneously… http://t.co/t4BCjm9Kvb #gs4canada @samsungcanada — Feist (@FeistMusic) April 27, 2013 Can't believe we saw @FeistMusic get #hologrammed by @SamsungMobileCA at the #GS4 Canada Infinite Possibilities in #Toronto. Great night! — Walk off the Earth (@WalkOffTheEarth) April 26, 2013 And massive congrats to our #S4CastingCalls winners @GioLevyMusic, @TheeMilanB, & @BossMoscovitch & Williston who rocked #GS4Canada parties. — Samsung Mobile CAN (@SamsungMobileCA) April 26, 2013 Check out our live video of Walk off the Earth’s “Somebody That I used to Know”. Here is Feist’s live video performing “A Commotion”. Behind the scenes video of the making of the Feist holographic concert Walk Off the Earth’s set lists: FIRST SET Revo Magic Corner Speeches Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” Sometimes Summer Vibe SECOND SET Red Hands Trouble No Ulterior Shake Little Boxes Money Tree Man Down Gang of Rhythm More info about the Samsung Galaxy S4 including specs are here here. Photos below and also on the Facebook album here.
On April 18th, my friends and I were lucky to have highly-coveted golden tickets for this sold-out party of the year that was worth its weight in GOLD! The AGO illuminated a warm glow on the corner of Dundas and St. George with the Massive Party GOLD. 1,800 party-goers sprawled throughout multiple floors of the AGO, enjoying installations and performances by artists who have been inspired by all things Gold including Thrush Holmes, Tibi Tibi Neuspiel & Geoffrey Pugen, Mango Peeler, Mahmood Popal and Jade Rude. The AGO’s artistic director, Justin Broadbent, created exclusive pieces for the evening’s gold showcase including the 3D waterfalls in the Vine below. DJ Mensa, Felix & Gani (milk.), Your Boy Brian and a live performance by Maylee Todd got the party started. Dazzling guests were dressed head-to-toe in gold as camera flashes lit up their outfits. Things I liked about the AGO’s 2013 Massive gala: open bar tons of people live art/performers the art installations and decor yummy hors d’oeuvres people dressed up, decked out in gold the photo booth Funds raised through the Massive Party will help the Art Gallery of Ontario continue to deliver their education and exhibition programs. Some tweets from the evening #agomassive vine part one https://t.co/ESuJPtmgwL — randi bergman (@randibergman) April 19, 2013 Don't leave me alone. Ever. #AGOmassive #massiveparty pic.twitter.com/UANNn12skS — Chenessa (@MissChenessa) April 19, 2013 You know it's a #MassiveParty when Mr. T is in the house… #AGOmassive #MassiveParty http://t.co/6SXxuuLc0L — Chenessa (@MissChenessa) April 19, 2013 Justin Broadbent's 'Don't Go Chasing 3D Waterfalls' #AGOMassive #whooaaaa https://t.co/zyVWoTILWU — MASSIVE 10 (@MassiveParty) April 19, 2013 https://twitter.com/briarg/status/325364945439059968 Nice to see you tonight @rosieprata #AGOMassive pic.twitter.com/zv8a4X2Kon — Clint Roenisch (@clintroenisch) April 19, 2013 And then she came into my life… sarahmaytaylor AGO Massive party! <3 #duckface http://t.co/yvH9xwhQ6h — Liz Trinnear (@liztrinnear) April 19, 2013 #AGOMassive with 1800 people here! @agotoronto pic.twitter.com/6HdVaqLyEy — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) April 19, 2013 Here’s a few of my pics For more information on Massive Party GOLD, visit MassiveParty.ca Some photos from AGO
Sharp Magazine held their Spring Summer 2013 Book for Men party celebrating the best in men’s fashion and lifestyle at Trump Tower. Guests included Jeanne Beker, Shinan Govani, Aliya-Jasmine Sovani, Mike Bradwell, David and Glenn Dixon, Pay Chen, Gail McInnes, and many more. Check out Sharp: Canada’s Magazine for Men www.sharpformen.com Some tweets from the evening Looking forward to a Sharp night out! #BFM2013 @CANDICE_ALISON — Glen Baxter (@GlenBaxterTO) April 18, 2013 Counting down until tonight's Book for Men Bash #BFM2013 See you there! — Jeremy Freed (@MrJeremyFreed) April 18, 2013 @sharpmagazine #BFM2013 starts now http://t.co/HDhjUfE2u8 — Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) April 18, 2013 We love seeing @AliyaJasmine at tonight's @SharpMagazine party. #BFM2013 http://t.co/M9leXV1z0Z — Trump Toronto (@TrumpTO) April 19, 2013 Host & Editor @Jeanne_Beker looking stylish at the @SharpMagazine #BFM2013 launch party. http://t.co/7Jm1DzVGjD — Trump Toronto (@TrumpTO) April 19, 2013 At the #BFM2013 party with @CAITLINPOWER_HQ and @stylebylao. http://t.co/DdNS0tAkWc — Trump Toronto (@TrumpTO) April 19, 2013 A pleasure to see @FASHIONCanada's Karen Cleveland (@SchoolFinishing) & Anita Clarke of @geekigirl at #BFM2013 http://t.co/MhClxxhHIN — Trump Toronto (@TrumpTO) April 19, 2013 Gallery below and also on our Facebook album here.
It was great to be in the company of top chefs, food writers and other hospitality industry people enjoying an intimate Sunday evening reception to kick off the 7th annual Terroir Hospitality Industry Symposium at Momofuku in the Shangri La Hotel www.terroirsymposium.com Photos below and also check them out on the Facebook album here. Terroir Hospitality Industry Symposium Terroir is a hospitality symposium that brings together the innovative and creative influencers of Canada’s hospitality industry including chefs, food writers, wine and food experts and business leaders. Our symposium attracts people who are serious about the business of hospitality and who are looking to constantly develop and refine their careers. Terroir is a non-for-profit committee of industry professional that put on an annual symposium that is about education, networking, sharing collective resources and building a community that helps to strengthen our industry. The mission of the symposium is: “To share information with hospitality industry professionals, encourage community, culture, provide educational opportunities and enhanced relationships; to recognize and appreciate members of our industry, products, ideas and inspiration; to invest and support each other and thereby strengthen the hospitality industry.”
We rated last year’s Operanation 9: “Sweet Revenge” as one of last year’s top events of 2012, so you should be marking the 10th iteration of Operanation as a must-attend. It’s a major fundraising event of grandiose celebrations for Toronto’s performing arts that brings over a thousand guests to fill three floors of the Four Season’s Centre for the Performing Arts, raising funds for the COC’s Ensemble Studio, the training program for aspiring young opera professionals. This year the Operanation theme is inspired by the upcoming COC 2013/2014 production of Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte. It also incorporates the animal of 2013, the snake, into the photo shoot with the Canadian Opera Company’s soprano, Ambur Braid. She is a recent alumni of the Ensemble Studio program. This will be a sold out affair so be sure to stay tuned and mark your calendars for Operanation 10 on October 24, 2013. Below are a few of our photos from last year’s Operanation 9: Sweet Revenge. ABOUT THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The COC enjoys a loyal audience support-base and one of the highest attendance and subscription rates in North America. Under its leadership team of General Director Alexander Neef and Music Director Johannes Debus, the COC is increasingly capturing the opera world’s attention. The COC maintains its international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation by creating new productions within its diverse repertoire, collaborating with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracting the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. Designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects, the Four Seasons Centre opened in 2006, and is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada. For more information on the Canadian Opera Company, please visit its award-winning website, coc.ca.
The Gala of Light is a fundraiser held in support of homeless women in downtown Toronto via a multi-program agency called Street Haven at the Crossroads that has been around 1965. The 2nd annual gala for Street Haven was held on April 4, 2013 at The Fifth Social featuring Juno award-winning singer Divine Brown. She was also joined on stage by the Toronto Choral Society. Even though she’s “Canada’s own certified diva” (as quoted from her twitter acct), Divine Brown was an approachable diva who was gracious enough to allow for photo opportunities with guests. The evening was hosted by CP24’s Melissa Grelo (and I had just formally met her the day before at the Open Wines party!). Toronto’s own singer-songwriter, Jesse Labelle, was also in attendance. There was a silent auction and also a live auction with items from Canadian fashion designers, luxury gifts, sports tickets, culinary opportunities, and unique travel destinations. After Divine Brown’s house-rocking performance the night ended with catching up with friends, meeting new friends and dancing. It was a fun night for a great charity that helps marginalized women in need right here in downtown Toronto. See below for our photos and also here on our Facebook album. Some tweets from the 2013 Gala of Light Looking forward to hosting @StreetHaven's #GalaofLight tonight, raising money to shelter marginalized and abused women in Toronto. — Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo) April 4, 2013 @divinamarrom performing at the #galaoflight in support of @streethaven – amazing performance! Cc @MacIntyreCom pic.twitter.com/nZY6D8dXL3 — élana camille (@elanacamille) April 5, 2013 #GalaofLight in support of @StreetHaven performance shot from @divinamarrom ! pic.twitter.com/XIpVIvKMQa — Andres (@andres_tequila) April 5, 2013 TCS sings with Divine Brown for Street Haven! @StreetHaven @divinamarrom #GalaOfLight http://t.co/13ZddHsInX — TorontoChoralSociety (@TOChoralSociety) April 10, 2013 @Divinamarrom sound checking for tonight's #GalaofLight in Support @StreetHaven at the Crossroads… http://t.co/zsnYUg7VMA — Ellian Bell (@EllianBell) April 4, 2013 Humbled. TY! RT @GreedyGiver: @melissagrelo is hosting tonight the @StreetHaven fundraiser! She's looking gorgeous as always!! #galaoflight — Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo) April 5, 2013 Raised $1900 for a #mexicanfiesta for #charity . #GalaofLight amazing cause @StreetHaven — Andres (@andres_tequila) April 5, 2013 ABOUT STREET HAVEN EMERGENCY SHELTER Nestled in a beautiful heritage house in the heart of downtown, this 38 bed shelter serves single women. We provide basic living needs: shelter, safety, meals, clothing, hot showers, medical and other necessary resources and supports for a variety of challenges ranging from mental health issues to experiences of violence, substance abuse issues, physical illness, women fleeing from domestic violence, and in all cases, extreme poverty and trauma. Our Housing Services assist women in searching, finding and securing permanent housing as well as offering support where possible to ensure successful ongoing housing. ADDICTION SERVICES A continuum of services for women experiencing substance abuse issues begins with an intensive 6 month 10 bed residential, abstinence based, treatment program that focuses on profound change of lifestyle and behaviour. An outreach program is available for women leaving the residential program and to other women living in the community who require support, resources, counselling and help in life planning. The community program is harm reduction based and available to women for a period of two years. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING We provide supportive housing for 32 women in three different locations in downtown Toronto. Women learn to live independently after recovering from massive trauma, mental health issues and/or substance abuse issues. With varying degrees of support in our separate locations, staff support women to become members in their communities, encouraging each woman to set and work towards her own goals. LEARNING CENTRE A place for women to access a basic literacy class, private tutoring, a computer lab and support for job readiness, Located in the Adelaide Women’s Resource Centre, this program supports women to continue their education and accomplish personal goals. For more information visit streethaven.com and to make a donation visit www.streethaven.com/donations/
It was a fun charity party in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation at the classic venue Capitol Theatre. I’ve only been there once before for a corporate Christmas party and it was a memorable evening. This was another memorable evening as well being my 2nd time at the annual Pink Party (last year’s pics here), so of course I knew it would be fun! And it got even better when actress, Elisha Cuthbert, was announced as a co-host! There was complimentary Iceberg Vodka, Barefoot Wine and Amsterdam beer, and Red Bull served the whole night. It was great to see so many bars throughout the venue which meant short line ups for drinks. There was also a plethora of delicious Bite Me Bakery desserts including macarons, cupcakes, and take-home candies. Activites included picking up paper fish on the floor with a fishing rod for prizes. There was also a Bra Bandit game where you unhook 4 bras off mannequins as fast as you can with one hand. The fastest was 11 seconds by a guy. I finally got to shake hands with my fellow Canadian Special Events award winner, DJ Ef Sharp, Sam Fleming, Favourite DJ of the year. DJ Efsharp has been entertaining the biggest events in Toronto including Fashion Week, iYellow Wine Club and more and he does it with vinyl. The Sam Roberts Band performed back when it started in 2010 in Paul Etherington’s backyard with 80 friends. Last night there were 650 people. Paul Etherington has also raised millions of dollars for the Special Olympics as co-founder and chairman of the annual Motionball gala. So the Juno award-winning Sam Roberts Band returned to rock out to a full house. The night ended with DJs Pump & Hedspin. There was also a raffle for a 50″ TV, a $500 Shell gas gift card and round trip flights for 2 anywhere in Canada. There was also a silent auction with 40 items to choose from. I was lucky that my bid won a silent auction item for $500 at The Brant House! Some tweets from the evening #thepinkpartyCA is SOLD OUT! — Paul Etherington (@PSEtherington) April 12, 2013 Elisha Cuthbert introduces the entertainment for the night, Sam Roberts Band. #pink2013 http://t.co/wD7GFHEsBR — ELLE Canada (@ElleCanada) April 13, 2013 Sam Roberts Band at #pink2013 https://t.co/GpBM7T2emW — Noah Lehava (@noahleh) April 13, 2013 Pretty in pink w @melissagrelo @shaylowejewelry @AmandaAquino78 @triciasoltys @KellieSmith #Pink2013 pic.twitter.com/1VMo25wgm0 — Amanda Alvaro (@amandaalvaro) April 13, 2013 Inaide #pinkparty2013 @ThePinkPartyCa w @samrobertsband burning it down @PSEtherington @MarynMcGill @BestOfTorontoTV pic.twitter.com/HnWuCIZvG4 — Deejay Efsharp (@DJEfsharp) April 13, 2013 More photos below or also here on our facebook album. Check out our photos of last year’s 2012 Pink Party “Glitz & Glamour” About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Since 1986, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has been at the forefront of a nation-wide movement to raise awareness and mobilize action on breast cancer. Today, the Foundation is the leading organization in Canada dedicated to creating a future without breast cancer. Visit www.cbcf.org and click here to donate to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation directly.
On Tuesday, April 2, TIFF Bell Lightbox hosted the JUNOS for a special showcase celebrating Canadian music on film. Hosted by MuchMore’s Matt Wells, The JUNOS at TIFF highlighted the creative connections between music and film. The JUNOS at TIFF showcased the 2013 nominees for “Video of the Year” and “Music DVD of the Year”. The evening featured clips from the nominated films and videos followed by conversations and Q&A’s with their directors. The directors shared their behind-the-scenes stories about life in the director’s chair, and how they turned their creative visions into a reality. The nominees included: Director X, Video of the Year nominee for Drake’s “HYFR” and renowned video guru for Usher, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rihanna and many more; Andy Keen, Music DVD of the Year nominee for The Tragically Hip’s documentary “Bobcaygeon”; Ben Knechtel, Music DVD of the Year nominee for Ten Second Epic’s “Better Off”; Margaret Malandruccolo, Video of the Year nominee for Alan Doyle’s “Testify” and Johnny Reid’s “Fire It Up”; Pierre and Francois Lamoureux, Music DVD of the Year nominees for “The Orchestration Project: Pat Metheny”; Sean Wainsteim, Video of the Year nominee for Walk Off The Earth’s “Little Boxes”; and Tim Martin, Music DVD of the Year nominee for Michael Kaeshammer’s concert DVD release, Kaeshammerlive! So if you’re in Regina, Saskatoon then you’re in luck because the winners will be announced at the 2013 JUNOS on April 21, 2013 at the Brandt Centre. This year’s JUNO Awards are hosted by Michael Bublé and you can get your tickets at ticketmaster.ca Editor: When someone from the audience asked if Director X had to enjoy the music to direct, he said he didn’t need to. He said if someone cared enough to come to him with money it must be good enough to somebody. A few other Juno nominees on stage laughed. Francois Lamoureux agreed and gave his example of working with Slipknot which wasn’t his type of music at first but the more he got into it, the more he appreciated it. Kudos to him! I liked a lot of Slipknot back in the day. Francois Lamoureux’s story about the video with Pat Metheny’s “The Orchestrion Project” video was interesting. Metheny controls an entire orchestra with just his guitar. So Lamoureux and his crew had 3 days booked in a New York Church but the camera crew was stuck at the border so they ended up having only 1.5 days left yet somehow made it all work. Watch the highlights of the footage here: Director X revealed that he is currently working with Ciara next and that working with her is interesting because, as with all women, she’s very detail oriented. Alan Doyle’s “Testify” written with Russell Crowe, who’s also a priest in this video. Check out Director X’s video with Drake “HYFR”. Director X said that the partying was unscripted and it got even crazier but they ran out of tape. And just left the rest of what happened to our imagination. For more information visit tiff.net ABOUT MUSICOUNTS A portion of the ticket proceeds went to MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS which helps keep music alive in schools across the country. For more information visit musiccounts.ca
I was lucky to be allowed the opportunity to be at the Open Wines party at the new venue above SPIN at King West called 2nd Floor. Activities at the Open Wines party included playing with NFC bracelets and NFC wine glasses (which to my geeky delight, triggered an automatic tweet personalized to your twitter handle via the “Bird Box”), ping pong, choosing temporary tattoos from Tattly (Brooklyn, NY), as well as Chef John Placko’s donuts topped with whipped cream, dipped in liquid nitrogen and then sprayed with citrus which popped and turned into yellow spheres of icy cold goodness. By the way, you can come get involved with John Placko for a good cause at livebelowtheline.ca! I’m partial to red wines so I really enjoyed the merlot. Thanks again for allowing me to be there! Some notable tweets from the evening Sneak peek at tonight's #BeOPENparty. Can't wait to see you, beautiful people. @ 2nd Floor Event Space http://t.co/HVLVpuR4i7 — OPEN Wines (@OPEN_Wines) April 3, 2013 Starting the soirée with with Sociable Sparkling. #BeOpenParty @NarrativePR http://t.co/aZMaAC23Q3 — Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo) April 3, 2013 How many temporary tattoos is too many? Becca & Lisa find out at #BeOPENparty party w/ @Tattly booth pic.twitter.com/XOdNcMXKSC — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) April 4, 2013 Thanks @OPEN_Wines for an awesome time last night! @erinkmckay & I clearly enjoyed ourselves at the #BeOpenParty pic.twitter.com/pGouXOb9zB — Nicola Peragine (@nicperagine) April 4, 2013 @emmabmiller great shot from the #beOPENparty last night of the two of us http://t.co/imVTfkVrbU — Garrett Tonge (@GTONGE1) April 4, 2013 Also check out our coverage of Bloor Street Entertains which also included fun with Open Wines. ABOUT OPEN WINES OPEN wines is an invitation to being open to whatever might come your way and connecting with people who share the same view on life. #BEOPEN For more information visit openwines.ca All of our photos here
It was a red-carpet affair at Victoria Park and Danforth of all places, formerly a Zellers department store, in a plaza called Shoppers World. After a few Target soft openings, this marked the official opening of 24 Target stores across Ontario as the red carpet was laid out with notable celebrities including Blake Lively, Elisha Cuthbert, Kardinal Offishall, Karl Wolf, and Adam van Koeverden. Another surprise special guest was revealed to be Sarah Jessica Parker. The opening party event had tons of fun booths throughout the whole department store available for exploration: Cold drinks from the Starbucks store inside Target Grilled cheese sandwiches grilled with household irons Oysters opened with a power drill Hors d’oeurves and wine served from Target shopping carts and a bathtub Food, dessert and drink stations Cake pops with chocolate fondue and other toppings Manicures and hand writing analysis Wii Dance on a big screen Photostar photo booth opportunities with Bullseye, Target’s official bull terrier mascot (he behaves so well for photo ops!) This Target store is one of 24 now open in Ontario and is located at: Shoppers World Danforth 3003 Danforth Ave. Open Monday – Saturday from 8 am – 10 pm Open Sunday from 8 am – 9 pm Check here for all the Target store locations open in Canada. http://www.target.ca/en/locations/ Here’s Target’s video from the opening event: Our own instagram shots from the evening Some notable tweets Had a great time at the first #targetcanada2013. What a dream, chatting and hanging with the #1&Only @SJP, thank you @target_ca — Elisha Cuthbert (@HappyElishas) March 28, 2013 All the fabulous ladies love @target_ca. @iam_blakelively and @SJP at our opening celebration. #targetcanada2013 pic.twitter.com/g1gZI6zX6x — Dustee T. Jenkins (@DusteeJenkins) March 27, 2013 Shoe conveyor belt @target_ca launch. Amaze. #shopping pic.twitter.com/ThOF3SrJ7N — Ingrid Moe (@Ms_iMoe) March 28, 2013 More official photos:
The Annual Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gives recognition to the pioneers and builders of the Canadian music and broadcast industry. In the 31st annual awards event , a Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award was given to the band, A Simple Plan. This award gives recognition of Simple Plan’s global fundraising efforts and dedication to youth welfare, both individually and through the Simple Plan Foundation. Aware of the problems and struggles faced by teenagers, both through the connection to their fans and personal experiences, they believed the power of music could work as a tool in recovery, coping and helping to find a passion in life. Since its auspicious beginning, the Simple Plan Foundation has assisted both young people in need and children facing life-threatening illness, raising and donating over $1 million to various youth-focused charities in Canada and around the world. Other performances that evening at the Guvernment included The Watchmen, Colin James, and The Pursuit of Happiness. Congrats to the latest inductees: Colin James – 2013 Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Inductee Ralph James – 2013 Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Inductee John Donabie – 2013 Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame Inductee & Allan Waters Broadcast Lifetime Achievement Award Graham Henderson – 2013 Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Inductee For more details of the 2013 Winners and Nominees please visit http://cmw.net/awards/music-and-broadcast-industry-awards/ Mark your calendars for the 2014 Canadian Music Week, moving to May for warmer weather May 6 to May 10, 2014. So next year’s Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East). Here are some of our other photos from the CMW Radio and Broadcast Awards
The 16th annual Star Awards Gala produced by Eclectic Events to close the Canadian Special Events Expo was a night that gave recognition to event planners who work so hard to create the fun events guests get to enjoy without a care in the world. Meanwhile it is well known behind the scenes that event planning is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. So it’s only fitting that special event planners get recognition for the magic that they create. Great job by POP Kollaborative to present the special guest for the evening, Chantal Kreviazuk, who gave an intimate performance over the piano. The whole event was streamed live over the web by Eventstream.ca Other entertainment throughout the night included Mysterion the Mind Reader, Great Canadian Burlesque, Chaos Devine, deVah Quartet, Tyler Yarema and Suzie McNeil. It was amazing to see how many of the special events we’ve covered in Toronto that were recognized at the Star Awards gala. In fact, BestofToronto.net has covered almost all the Star-Award winning special events in Toronto! It’s great to be part of the magic! Crystal Ball – Best Event Produced for a High Profile Charitable Organization – Reach for the Rainbow Steampunk – Yesterday’s Future – Best Event Produced by an Association, Board or Committee – Eclectic Events Intl Diner en Blanc Toronto – Best Media Event – The Mint Agency Book Lover’s Ball – Most Outstanding Event $100-$300K – Hala Events & Communications 100th Grey Cup Gala – Most Outstanding Event over $300K – POP Kollaborative Inc Special thanks to Eclectic Events for supporting BestofToronto.net from the beginning and also producing incredible events such as this one: planning events that entertain other event professionals. Here’s the full list of Star Award winners. Well deserved, everyone! Congrats! Best Achievement in Technical Support canfitpro, Toronto, ON canfitpro International Fitness and Club Business Conference and Trade Show Best Buffet Table Design Embassy Grand Convention Centre, Brampton, ON Stayin Alive Disco Gala Best Conference aNd Logistix Inc. Toronto, ON Mortgage Forum 2012 Best Corporate Team Building Event POP Kollaborative Inc. Calgary, AB & Toronto, ON Tag You’re It Best Cultural Event Pride Toronto, Toronto, ON Pride Week 2012 Best Entertainment Production POP Kollaborative Inc. Calgary AB, Toronto, ON MOMENTS – Scotiabank 100th Grey Cup Gala Best Event Catering (it’s a TIE!) Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth’s RE Le Traiteur, Montreal, QC Bal du Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal Presidential Gourmet Fine Catering, Toronto, ON The Night that Never Ends 2012 Friends of Tiff Inaugural Gala Best Event Produced by an Assoc, Board or Committee Eclectic Events International, Inc, Toronto, ON AND ISES Toronto Steampunk – Yesterday’s Future Best Event Produced for a Charitable Organization (Community Based) Cava Rose, Montreal, QC Vintage Circus themed Valentine’s Day Ball Best Event Produced for a High Profile Charitable Organization Reach for the Rainbow, Toronto, ON 26th Annual Crystal Ball Best Event Produced for a Corporation (by a 3rd party independent planner) Mina Martini Inc., Montreal, Quebec Le Bal en Black Best Event Produced for a Corporation (by an in house team or planner) WestJet Airlines, Calgary, AB A Cirque-Tacular Christmas Best Festival brand.LIVE Group, Vancouver, BC Honda Celebration of Light Best Fund Raising Event (includes fundraising) (it’s a TIE!) BC Cancer Foundation, Vancouver, BC BC Cancer Foundation’s 2012 Inspiration Gala Solutions with Impact, Toronto, ON Rally for Kids with Cancer Best Media Event The Mint Agency, Toronto, ON Diner en Blanc Toronto Best Opening Event Krista Slack + Aylett Grand Opening of the National Urban Park in Downsview Park Best Public Entertainment Event John Donnelly & Associates and City of Surrey Surrey Canada Day Best Sporting Event Solutions with Impact, Toronto, ON Strike Out Cancer Best Table Center Social Butterfly Event Design, Toronto, ON Christmas at Tiffany’s Best Theme Decor Under $25,000 (it’s a TIE!) Karma Design Studio, Toronto, ON Phantom of the Opera OneWest Events Inc. Calgary AB A Night in Manhattan Best Theme Decor $25,000-$40,000 The Display Connection Inc, Toronto, ON Wharf at York Best Theme Decor $40,000 -$75,000 Gaps Prop Shop / Spoilt Red Productions, Calgary, AB YYC to NYC, Bright Nights, Big City Best Theme Decor Over $75,000 to $100,000 Decor & More Inc, Oakville, ON Daffodil Ball Best Theme Decor Over $100,000 e=mc² events, Calgary, AB and Decor and More Inc. Oakville, ON Black and White Christmas in the City Best Trade Show Ontario Hospital Association, Toronto, ON HealthAchieve Best Trade Show Booth or Pavilion Black Chalk Marketing, Toronto, ON “Hook Me Up” Tour Best Wedding Over 75K Lynn Fletcher Weddings Inc. Calgary AB Bling Exponential Best Wedding Under 75K LAVISH Events Inc./ OneWest Events Inc. Calgary AB Butler-Bott Wedding Most Outstanding Logistical Achievement e=mc² events Calgary AB TIFF Inaugural Gala – The Night That Never Ends Entertainer of the Year A2D2 Inc Toronto ON Most Outstanding Event Under $100K 5th Element Events Toronto ON Canadian Hospitality Foundation’s Scholarship Dinner & Gala Most Outstanding Event $100-300k Hala Events & Communications Inc. Toronto ON Book Lover’s Ball Most Outstanding Event Over $300 POP Kollaborative Calgary AB, & Toronto ON MOMENTS – Scotiabank 100th Grey Cup Gala Event Professional of the Year Lynn Fletcher – Lynn Fletcher Weddings For more information visit http://canadianspecialevents.com Also be sure to check out our coverage of the opening night party for the CSE Expo Opening Night Party: “Unexpected”. Photos below and also on Facebook here
The evening at the sold-out Memory Ball on Saturday, March 23, 2013 started off with a wine reception and Feature Foods’ herring and vodka pairing with ambience created by the Toronto Clarinet Choir. There was a great selection of silent auction items to peruse as lots of delicious and hot hors d’oeurves were provided by Toben Foods by Design. The evening continued with hand massages by Aveda spa, colorful cupcakes, a photobooth by Infinity Photobooth and full open bar. Local Toronto DJ’s Marly Marl of Enforcas and DJ Pat Trivedi who was sponsored by Memory Mats. Memory Ball was a great charity gala with a fun-focused vibe filled with over 430 party-going philanthropists and Andrew Richard Designs is a dynamic open-concept loft-style venue to host any upscale event. In only their 2nd annual Memory Ball, Friends for a Benefit (FFAB), was started by a group of young friends who were united for a cause after 2 of their mothers were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, currently under the care of their daughters. It was shocking to learn that early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can be diagnosed in individuals as early as 19 years old. FFAB hopes that through it’s year-long activities and communication pieces it is able to improve the understanding of the disease, especially in it’s early-onset form. Scroll down below for their video included below “Every 4 Seconds”. Great to hear that plans are already underway for Memory Ball 2014! UPDATE: Memory Ball raised $35,000 this year for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto! To date, Friends for a Benefit and Memory Ball have raised over $55,000 in just two years!. Congratulations! Every 4 seconds someone around the globe is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As it stands today, more than 500,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and approximately 71,000 of them are under the age of 65. (50,000 are under the age of 50). Video by Memory Ball. About Friends for a Benefit and Memory Ball In 2011, Friends for a Benefit (FFAB) was established to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s disease among a young demographic. Each member of FFAB has been personally touched by Alzheimer’s disease. The group is passionate about increasing awareness for Alzheimer’s disease as both Ms. Poirier’s and Ms. Fudurich’s mothers were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. In its inaugural year, Memory Ball hosted 350 guests and raised $21,203 for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and aims to exceed that amount in 2013. To learn more about the organization and sponsorship opportunities, please visit memoryball.org. About the Alzheimer Society of Toronto The Alzheimer Society of Toronto is the leading health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Society offers support, information and education to people with dementia, their families and their caregivers, while increasing public awareness of dementia related illness. The Alzheimer Society of Toronto promotes research and advocates for services that respect the dignity of the individual. For more information, please visit alzheimertoronto.org. Check out our photos below. To see them on Facebook, click here.
The ‘One Of A Kind Spring Show’ is in town right now from March 27-31 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. At the centre of the massive exhibit hall is a feature display boasting fresh, bold designs using products that are all made in Canada. This year’s special feature includes the “One of a Kind Bunny Rabbit Competition”, where exhibitors create a piece along this theme using their own medium. Best of all, guests can vote for their favourite bunny at the People’s Choice Award! Now everyone LOVES Etsy (ca.etsy.com) where you can buy and sell all things handmade or vintage online – and this year’s show featured an entire section dedicated to talented Etsy sellers including CandiWare, Love at First Blush, Organic Quilt Company, Sugar Soul Studio and many, many more artisans. To read more about the One of a Kind Show, click here www.oneofakindshow.com 2013 ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW AND SALE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013 Weekdays & Saturday 10am–9pm Open Good Friday 10am–9pm Open Easter Sunday 10am–6pm Check out some of the finds in the gallery below:
I was lucky to be invited along with celebrities, fashion industry insiders, media and fashion bloggers to attend the private unveiling of the Baileys glass dress and the high-end couture Lucian Matis fashion show. While some shows were happening on the last day of fashion week at David Pecaut Square, it was a special treat to be part of an alternative closing to Toronto’s fashion week. The evening at One King West started with a reception featuring 3 types of unique Bailey’s cocktails and rich desserts passed around. It was a nice touch to be greeted with Lucian Matis-branded swag bags on each seat. So the reception ended and show started with the one-of-a-kind dress as the first onto the runway with no introduction needed. It was just there and the glass was shimmering beautifully. It is composed primarily of pieces of glass from the new Bailey’s Irish Cream bottles as well as other flat glass and multi-faceted beads. Since the shards of glass are flat, we were assured that no models were injured by the dress (thanks, Chris!). It took over 125 hours and a team of three skilled workers to create. The work-of-art takes inspiration from the new silhouette of the Bailey’s Irish Cream bottle and the iconic ‘Double B’ logo was prevalent for the top half of the dress. Similarly, the redesigned Bailey’s bottle is taller with lifted shoulders and gives the logo greater prominence. “This season I wanted to focus on the simplicity of the silhouette rather than the details,” explains Matis. “Working with a monochromatic theme, I could emphasis the shape of the garments from an architectural methodology with boxy geometric shapes.” Those in attendance included David Sutcliffe from CBC’s Gilmore Girls, Erin Karpluk from CBC’s Being Erica, Gabrielle Miller, Natalie Brown (Being Human / Cracked) and Rosey Edeh (Global News). Here are our own photos from the reception: Check out photos from the fashion show entitled a “Monochromatic Fantasy” consisting of black, white and ivory using fur, felts, wool and silk. Also check out our photos from the MATIS by Lucian Matis collection for Fall / Winter 2013 earlier during fashion week. A shuttle was provided for those who wanted to return to David Pecaut Square to get back in time for the next fashion shows there. Watch the behind the scenes video on the making of the glass dress. Here is some video footage from the exclusive fashion show Baileys® Canada Fashion Week | Lucian Matis from Baileys Canada on Vimeo. Baileys® Canada: Lucian Matis | Behind the Scenes from Baileys Canada on Vimeo. ABOUT LUCIAN MATIS Romanian-born, Toronto-based fashion designer Lucian Matis began designing at a very early age. Prior to moving to Canada in 1999, Matis studied art at the Sibiu Art Institute in Transylvania. Matis graduated in 2003 from Ryerson University’s esteemed Fashion Design Program where he received multiple awards. His first professional collection was presented at L’Oreal Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2007. Matis gained national attention and a vast fan base through his participation on the first season of Slice Network’s Project Runway Canada. He has since been featured in several in-depth profiles on Fashion Television, eTalk, ET Canada, Breakfast Television, CityLine, Marilyn Dennis, Global News, CBC, and more. His work has graced the pages and covers of numerous national and international publications, including FASHION, FLARE, ELLE Canada, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, and Women’s Wear Daily. His designs have been worn by numerous internationally renowned celebrities, including Nelly Furtado, Sarah Gadon, Andrea Martin, Mia Martina, Coco Rocha, Petra Nemkova, just to name a few. Lucian Matis is available through custom orders through www.lucianmatis.com. About BAILEYS® Irish Cream BAILEYS Irish Cream launched in Ireland in 1974. It is now available in 180 markets worldwide and is the number one selling liqueur in the world. BAILEYS Irish Cream is currently ranked 7th among all distilled spirits sold worldwide and enjoys 70 percent share of the total Irish Cream Liqueur Market around the world. Owned by Diageo plc, BAILEYS Irish Cream contents are a blend of Irish whiskey, fresh double cream and other fine ingredients. For more information on BAILEYS Irish Cream, please visit us at www.BAILEYS.com.