The Interior Design Show kicked off their 15th annual show with an impressively large opening party taking over the entire Metro Convention Centre’s North Building. Food stations, drink and cocktail booths were scattered throughout the exhibition floor, providing an exclusive and fun way to explore the show. Artists, designers, media and interior design lovers had the opportunity to bid on 19 different Blu Dot Real Good Chairs proceeds going to the ONEXONE children’s charity. Each chair featured a unique digital design by a designer, artist, fashion designer or illustrator. Last year the IDS chair auction raised over $30,000 benefitting ONEXONE. Also, it was great meeting and hanging out with Willy Chyr, a Chicago-based artist. His intricate balloon exhibit stole the show at IDS13 and his work was featured on the front page of the Toronto Star. We were lucky to go to the after party at Thompson Hotel with him! ABOUT THE INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW For more information visit http://www.interiordesignshow.com ABOUT ONEXONE ONEXONE was founded with the philosophy that every single life is precious and that as individuals we can make profound changes in the lives of other human beings, ONE by ONE. ONEXONE’s mission is to improve the lives of children in Canada, the USA, Haiti and around the world with programs dedicated to five fundamental pillars: water, health, education, play and food. During the last six years, ONEXONE worldwide has committed over $16 million dollars to its partners and directly sponsored programs.
Pairing two Italian uber-luxury brands together in one cocktail party is no small feat. For those seeking the finest things that Toronto has to offer, an evening at the Maserati of Toronto showroom with fine cars and fine Bulgari watches should be pretty standard, if you have the dough, to say the least. The Maserati of Toronto managers, Robert Vacca, Angela Coratti alongside Bulgari Corporation of America’s Nathalie Diamantis and Heather Schneider were on hand to discuss the subtle details of the product offerings of each of the high-end brands. There were about a dozen Bulgari timepieces on display from the Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta collections but the evening’s masterpiece was the Bulgari Octo Maserati Special Edition which features a sapphire caseback bearing the Maserati trident emblem. It’s a 45mm sporty timepiece with unique intricacies including a jumping hour with the hour displayed on the window at 12 o’clock. Powering the dial is a Bulgari caliber GG 7800, made by Bulgari’s Swiss workshop in Le Sentier, famous for their watch-making heritage. Overall it’s fascinating to see what constitutes the best Kudos to Marco and Giorgio Bandiera of Bandiera Jewellers for bringing this exquisite event together. ABOUT BANDIERA JEWELLERS Jewellery is art. It is about skilled craftmanship, attention to detail and elegance. For three generations the Bandiera name has been associated with fine jewellery. Our reputation is grounded on well-forged family values and quality service that embodies the very best of Italian tradition. Bandiera Jewellers has locations in Woodbridge and Yorkville. For more information visit bandierajewellers.com ABOUT BULGARI Based in Rome, since 1884 Bulgari has been creating renowned fine jewellery. Today it is a global and diversified luxury brand with a product and services portfolio of jewels, watches, accessories, fragrances, skincare, hotels and resorts featuring exceptional quality, an innovative style and impeccable service.
On Friday, February 8th, 2,000 young professionals will gather at Muzik night club for the 12th annual motionball Toronto gala in support of Special Olympics Canada presented by AIR MILES. The theme this year is “Winter Wonderland” with an ice-rink dance floor, indoor snow-fall and icy treats. The goal is to raise $300,000 for the Special Olympics Canada foundation. Highlights make this gala special: Open bar Performance by CrashDex (you have to check out this DJ/ drummer combo) Performance by a 44-piece Symphony Orchestra DJs Skratch Bastid and Efsharp “All Things Chocolate” buffet Iceberg Vodka bar Silent auction including trips to New York and Vegas, spa packages, dinner certificates to Toronto’s top restaurants, a Cervelo bike and more Tickets are only $150 and if you get a group of 10 together you pay for only the price of 9. VIP treatment is only $350. VIP groups of 10 pay only $3,000. More details here: https://www.motionball.com/events/gala/toronto/ Pictures from last year’s 2012 Motionball Gala http://toronto.motionball.com/en/index.php/gallery/ Also, check out our coverage of the recent Special Olympics Festival gala. ABOUT MOTIONBALL motionball is a not-for-profit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation (SOCF), targeting a “next generation” of supporters – Canada’s professional crowd who are not defined by their age but rather their mind-set.
It was a packed evening on both floors of The Ballroom Bowl as the Toronto Raptors coaches, players, media got together with fans on a Sunday night to bowl and play some ping pong to support the MLSE Team Up Foundation’s basketball court revitalization at the Scarborough YMCA. The MLSE Team Up Foundation has invested $160,000 towards the removal and replacement of competition class flooring, installation of backboards, nets and rims as well as new sports lines. It was a whirlwind of activities to do for the evening and it was a great value for what Raptors fans got in return for their ticket price. Eats came in the form of passed hors d’oeurves and buffet style with various food stations, open bar and not to mention the opportunities to mingle and take pictures with the Raptors, sports media and, of course, the Dance Pak. Bowling lanes, ping pong and pool were all open. It looks like all the Raptors were there except for Kyle Lowry due to back spasm that had already limited him to the Saturday’s game. And DeMar DeRozen didn’t attend due to flu-like symptoms. Thanks to the Raptors and the Team Up Foundation for sharing our pictures on their Facebook page! Good luck, Raptors! Toronto Raptors Dance Pak ABOUT MLSE TEAM UP FOUNDATION The MLSE Team Up Foundation believes all kids should have access to sport and the opportunity to develop lasting dreams on the playing field. With the support of all four MLSE teams – the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Marlies – the Foundation funds the refurbishment of local athletic facilities, and funds charities that support kids through sports and recreational programs. Since launching in December 2009, the MLSE Team Up Foundation has invested more than $6.5 million into our community. Last season, we impacted the lives of more than 110,000 kids. For more information visit mlseteamupfoundation.org
On Friday, February 8th, get immersed in a Great Gatsby themed-affair at the Arcadian Court featuring cocktails and swanky dining followed by a class-act Monte Carlo casino. There will also be an exclusive ballet performance by the NBS’ talented students. “Because talent is the sole criterion for entry into NBS’ Professional Ballet Program, our annual fundraiser is crucial in generating awareness and securing support for our extraordinary students—of which almost 8 out of every 10 require funding.”, says Mavis Staines, NBS’ Artistic Director. “The annual gala performance highlights the determination and the artistry of our emerging young talent. Our patrons are part of a thrilling process–what better way to demonstrate appreciation than through the beauty of dance”. Tickets are $1,000 per person available at this link or by contacting Brittany McLeod at 416.9964.3780 x2146. Check out the video from last year’s National Ballet School gala. Also check out the Globe and Mail’s pictures of the young dancers audition held on Sunday, January 27th by clicking here. ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL For over 20 years the annual gala has helped NBS ensure that the most talented youth find a place at the School regardless of families’ financial circumstances. Established in 1959, Canada’s National Ballet School is a global leader with an international profile for producing the finest and most gifted dancers, both from home-grown talent and from youth recruited abroad. For more information visit www.nbs-enb.ca
It was a full house as Adelaide Club staff and members, male and female, duked it out on January 18th for the third annual Rumble with 14 well-matched matches. Yes, there was blood drawn. There were also some draws and even a knockout where heavyweight Frank Kulius knocked Trevor Biggs to the floor twice resulting in the ref calling it a match. The headlining battle featured two-time reigning champ and Adelaide Club’s general manager, Blair Lyon, versus the challenger and Adelaide Club member, Nigel Fox. It was an intense battle with Nigel Fox getting his share of points with his long reach versus Blair’s solid blocking stance. Fox seemed to take the first of 3 rounds by a tad. Blair finished studying his opponent by the middle of the second round and let loose throwing a flurry of punches. By the 3rd round it was all about exchanging punches to the head. And with dramatic pause, by split decision, the winner was announced: Blair Lyon successfully defending his title for the third time. The video of the match is on Adelaide Club’s facebook page here. Another noteworthy battle pitted Dennys Vanfleet and Adam Love together. Dennys Vanfleet, at 66 years of age, brought his large entourage of supporters with matching Dennys t-shirts. He convincingly won his bout against Adam Love. With Vanfleet’s boxing training starting only 9 years ago, it’s inspiring to see that there’s no excuses to start being more physically fit at any age. If you’re interested in boxing lessons be sure to talk to Dexter Delves aka “Body by Dex” at the Adelaide Club as he trained these members to get into boxing shape in no time. ABOUT ADELAIDE CLUB Since 1978, the Adelaide Club has been a leader in the Fitness World. State of the art equipment, world-class group exercise programming and accredited, knowledgeable staff are the backbone of our wellness service. For more information visit www.adelaideclub.com
What has been known up until last year as “Advertising Week” has now been rebranded as “FFWD: Advertising and Marketing Week” for 2013. “The underlying reason for the change in name and identity is that the designation Advertising Week no longer fully reflects all that we have come to offer,” Andrew Bruce, chief operating officer at Publicis Canada and chair of the event told Adnews. The change is very welcome, too! Last year I asked a friend to join me for Advertising Week and she replied that she works in marketing, not advertising. Like, really? There’s so much valuable learning for marketers, too! So I encourage you to check out the schedule whether you’re a communications student or CEO, advertiser, marketer, brand manager or even the manager of your own personal brand (and you are!). There’s lots of opportunities to learn at FFWD from key movers and shakers in the communications world including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! Canada, LinkedIn and so many more. Also, don’t forget about the networking opportunities! Check out the FFWD Advertising and Marketing Week 2013 full schedule here. Tickets for each session are available online. You may want to act quickly as some sessions are already sold out! Student discounts are available. Here’s a few sessions to check out: 1. “The Most Influential Brand” Study by Ipsos Reid One session that we’re looking forward to is “The Most Influential Brand” study presented by Ipsos Reid. Maybe it’s Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Visa, Walmart, or YouTube. Or do you have your own guesses? Find out on Friday Feb 1st. 2. Powerful Connections: Making Business Personal 3. Cassies In it’s 20th year, the Cassie awards give recognition to Canadian advertisers for effective performance-driven ad campaigns. 4. Ad Ball 2013 If you’re attending any FFWD sessions, be sure to also get your tickets for the big Ad Ball bash with this year’s theme of Gatsby and the roaring twenties. Check out the video from last year’s Advertising Week.
It’s hard to choose the best events in Toronto (out of the ones that we’ve covered anyway) as it looks like we’ve been to over 100 events in the past year! Not including events that weren’t photographed. So, here they are – some of our favourite events we were lucky enough to cover in no particular order. And looking ahead, we’re expecting more from 2013! Brazilian Carnival Ball The Brazilian Carnival Ball has had worldwide recognition for raising record amounts of funds for charity and for pulling out all the stops to ensure all guests have an enjoyable time as well. Sadly, after so many years, this was the last Brazilian Ball gala. But we’ll remember the large and extravagant indoor parade at the Metro Convention Centre with beautiful, colourful costumes and high energy. Scrubs in the City in support of Sick Kids This elegant gala had the most stunning decor we’ve ever seen at the Evergreen Brickworks with giant chandeliers and rose walls for photoshoots. This blew me away topping the experience the day prior at the same venue for the Opera Atelier gala (although that was an amazing evening as well). Good entertainment (aerial performances and Shawn Desman), and of course great food. Porsche 911 Carrera Launch The new Porsche 911 Launch at Brookfield Place (Pfaff Porsche followed by Downtown Porsche the next day). Catering was superbly done by Obika Mozzarella Bar (they do amazing tiramisu!) and the premium cocktail bar included 12, 15, and 18 year scotch. This was back in February before we had any camera, but I took a video of the launch with my phone. It’s a bit lengthy. BMW Downtown New 3 Series Launch Great food with our first time at an event in a car dealership, and a pretty large, bright venue at that. The drinks were flowing and the food from Food Dudes were great and in abundance. All that was missing was some entertainment but the venue itself was great with friends on a gorgeous sunny day in April. Also flattering to have BMW Downtown use pictures from my point-and-shoot camera in their e-newsletter. 50 Years of Bond Style Celebrating 50 years of James Bond is an incredible milestone that pretty much anyone with a pulse can appreciate. All 3-4 floors of the TIFF Bell Lightbox were filled with partygoers. Thanks to one of my idols, Spiro of “It’s All Style to Me”, for using our pictures on his website. Food Dudes Food Truck Launch The popular event-catering company launched their food truck this summer at 99 Sudbury and it was quite the bash including lots of drinks, beer pong and an inflatable giant Twister game and of course, great food! Eat to the Beat in support of Willow Breast Cancer Support A glorious amount of gourmet food and drinks with a female chef at each booth with 60 booths in total. The only complaint is that there wasn’t enough time to visit all the booths. Oh, and also not enough stomach space to try every 60 delicious portions. Stems of Hope Gala: Heroes Among Us at Kool Haus Superheroes in costume, plenty of food stations and drinks and old school hip hop including Naughty by Nature! What an incredible event and a bonus that it’s for a good cause, too! Mercedes-Benz B Scene Launch with Chromeo and Dirty Vegas This was just about all out fun at the Sound Academy. What else is there to say? The vibe was great! Kudos to Mercedes-Benz for just the right balance of branding without getting in the way of the fun factor! Chef’s Challenge in Support of Mount Sinai A Food Network fan’s dream come true as we got to see 5 celebrity chefs (Lynn Crawford, Mark McEwan, Chuck Hughes, David Rocco, and Michael Smith) as they battled it out for culinary glory, hosted by Guy Fieri. What an incredible action-packed night with tons of entertaining personalities! Congrats to Chef Lynn Crawford’s team for recapturing the title back from Mark McEwan! Thanks to Macleans and MasterCard for using our pictures! Arcadian Court Grand Re-opening by Oliver & Bonacini What an epic way to announce a venue is back and ready for business! Oliver & Bonacini brought out all the stops for the grand re-opening of the Arcadian. Every ballroom was open at this large, centrally located venue at Simpson Tower above the Bay. It was crowded for this open house with an incredible 2,000 guests in attendance. What an unforgettable night that set the benchmark high for high-end events! The Canadian Opera Company’s Operanation 9: Sweet Revenge Featuring star-studded entertainment at one of the most gorgeous of all downtown venues with the highlight being unique musical collaborations with the COC’s Ensemble Studio and Nelly Furtado and the Arkells. Jian Ghomeshi ignited he joined the Arkells on stage in their cover of “Psycho Killer”. It’s flattering to have Nelly Furtado follow @BestofTorontoTV on Twitter! Introducing Tesla Motors at the Yorkdale Expansion Grand Opening This gigantic Yorkdale expansion included many stores but one special store really stood out in particular and that was the Tesla Motors showroom, marking their first step on Canadian soil. What great timing as Motortrend named the Tesla Motor S the car of the year for 2013. The highly-anticipated all-electric super car is now here at your very own Yorkdale shopping mall! BestofToronto.net Local Artist Showcase at ING Direct There was tons of amazing support for the first official BestofToronto.net event showcasing incredible musical talents from Clara Venice followed by the Roncy Boys. As well we had great DJ services by our friends at CubeLogic and too many more people to thank for an amazing first event! We were lucky to hit full capacity at the unique venue without having to turn anyone away. Even the lovely Patricia Juggernauth, weather specialist from CP24 joined us! Atlantis Pavilions “Key to Atlantis” Atlantis at Ontario Place showcased all their banquet rooms, each with a different theme: Fire, Water, Earth, Air all featuring their own unique cocktail and food/dessert experience. It was a nice surprise to have Beavertails (outside of Blue Mountain resort) with your own personal choice of toppings. Guests were given a key upon arrival with the chance of unlocking great prizes in each room. A friend of a friend of ours won a Samsung Galaxy tablet that night! Amazing! Thanks to our new friends at Airmagic Special Effects who ended the evening with surprise fireworks and also to Eclectic Events for putting on a great showcase of everything Atlantis has to offer as a premier Toronto venue with gorgeous waterfront views. Seafood for Thought at the Toronto Zoo What a unique and interesting place to hold an event and what a great way to learn about sustainable seafood from the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program. Despite the torrential rain at times, the Toronto Zoo graciously gave everyone rain coats, so guests ducked from tent to tent to enjoy drinks and delicious variations of sustainable seafood including oysters, Ontario Perch, MSC Certified Salmon, Belize white shrimp and PEI Mussels. Fun activities also included the chocolate fountain, petting the baby penguins, sting ray, sharks and parrots. What a great way to visit the zoo! Toronto’s First Diner en Blanc Diner en Blanc is a worldwide tradition that started 20 years ago in Paris and in Aug 2012, arrived for the first time to Toronto at Fort York as a secret, elegant outdoor dinner party. A little bit of rain didn’t dampen the mood while tables, chairs, glassware and umbrellas were set up for dining and by the time the dancing started the rain had stopped it was a beautiful evening in a sea of white filled with 1,400 guests with sparklers. What a great, unique experience! 100th Grey Cup Gala The Grey Cup Gala at the Rogers Centre was pretty spectacular! How often do you get to enjoy a gala on the actual turf where the CFL’s 100th Grey Cup Gala takes place with the Toronto Argonauts? Congrats to the Argos for winning this monumental 100th Grey Cup as well! Despite being called a “gala”, the atmosphere was completely casual with the Argos Cheerleaders and athletic legends such as Damon Allen and Michael “Pinball” Clemons just mingling about and being so casually approachable. THANKS Thanks to the BestofToronto.net team: Flora, Sabrina and Jana! And we couldn’t have done it alone. Special thanks to our event friends who have supported us along the way including Halysha, Karine, Susan, Gillian, Jodi, Carolyn, Tys, Esther and Masha. Very special thanks to Holly who supported us since the beginning! We couldn’t have done so many great things without you! 🙂 Thanks to Sis for bringing us to the next level and thanks to Tanya for always being there! Also thanks to Sari and thanks to Nicole for all your patience and anyone else I’ve forgotten. Looking forward to working with everyone to discover the Best that Toronto has to offer this year! Much love for Toronto, big thanks to everyone! -Nick
It’s surprising how Kardinal Offishall aka Mr. International has been hosting his annual charity Christmas party, now in it’s 14th year already! It was a star-studded night with celebrities such as Michael “Pinball” Clemons, Grammy award winner, Estelle, Karl Wolf, Amon Anderson of the Toronto Raptors, CFL football players from the Toronto Argos and Calgary Stampeders, Glen Baxter from CTV’s In Fashion, Lyriq Bent, CBC’s Dwight Drummond and too many more to list. The best moment was when I was texting on my phone at the party and the one and only Kardinal Offishall taps me on the shoulder asking how I’m doing. What a great, approachable guy! Guests enjoyed festive cocktails, treats from the Waffle Bar and lots of food from The Tilted Kilt. Following that there were live performances by Karl Wolf and Estelle and dancing the night away to 5 time Stylus award-winning DJ Lissa Monet. This great Christmas party at This is London supports the SickKids Foundation’s Caribbean Paediatric Cancer and Blood Program. The Caribbean-SickKids Paediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Strategy In the Caribbean, paediatric cancers and serious blood disorders are often fatal because of a shortage of health-care professionals and resources to diagnose and treat children. Through a new outreach initiative, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is working with partners across the Caribbean to improve outcomes for children affected by these devastating childhood diseases. Unlike in Canada, countries across the Caribbean do not have a health-care system in place to support optimal management of paediatric cancer – from proactive screening to early diagnosis and fast intervention. This means that some children are not diagnosed until it is too late to save them. Those who are diagnosed when the disease is still in the early stages often have difficulty accessing the treatment they need. Six countries across the English-speaking Caribbean community – Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Trinidad & Tobago – have stepped forward to combat this children’s health issue. To learn more about the program click here
What better way to celebrate the Best of Toronto than by supporting Canadian talent! MuchFACT (which stands for A Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) does just that by funding music videos, EPK, viral video and website productions with the support of MuchMusic and MuchMore, divisions of Bell Media. Members of the Music Industry Community were in attendance at the annual MuchFACT special screening of 15 different music videos with contributions by MuchFACT spanning various genres of music. We spotted recording artists Massari, Tyler Medeiros, Mia Martina, MuchMusic’s Lauren Toyota, Degrassi’s Melinda Shankar and more. It was a crowded evening on both floors of Screen Lounge. Shout outs to our fellow blogger friends who were there as well and our friend, Chris Strikes, who directed an upcoming short film called One Night a Stranger. What a great action packed night in celebration and support of Canadian music! About MuchFACT MuchFACT (A Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent), is the groundbreaking music video, EPK, viral video and website production fund, exclusively sponsored by MuchMusic and MuchMore, divisions of Bell Media. Established in 1984 to increase the number of quality music videos produced in Canada. It was also concurrent with the launch of MuchMusic which committed a percentage of its gross annual revenues to stimulate music video production. Two years later, when MusiquePlus went on the air, it also became a sponsor when it launched in 1986, as did MuchMore when it launched in 1998. This also marked the creation of PromoFACT, an electronic press kit and website production fund for Canadian artists, independent record labels and artist management companies. Originally named VideoFACT, the organization changed its name to MuchFACT in September, 2009. Along with the name change, the PromoFACT program expanded to include viral music videos and other digital music-related content intended for digital distribution. Since 1984, MuchFACT has handed out over 64 million dollars to over 5,300 projects, helping to launch the careers of a majority of Canada’s most prominent musicians such as: Feist, Nelly Furtado, K-OS, Celine Dion, Barenaked Ladies, The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Matthew Good, Bran Van 3000, Sarah McLachlan, Gordon Lightfoot, Great Big Sea, Sloan, Bruce Cockburn and k.d. lang. For more information visit MuchFACT. [print_gllr id=6593 orderby=title]
Toronto’s own Oxford Beach hosted their 3rd annual A Toronto Christmas in support of Glassfrog International Aid Organization. Held at the Steamwhistle brewery in the heart of downtown Toronto, the evening was packed with Christmas party people. There were reindeer antlers for everyone, a candy bar, live music by Stiffler’s Mom and DJ Rouge and DJ Mike Wilson. You can also check out these photos on our Facebook album as well. ABOUT GLASSFROG International Aid Organization GlassFrog is a nonprofit organization that provides basic human needs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Their projects use on the ground resources to support sustainable economic and social benefits in the communities they assist. For more information about GlassFrog, visit http://tinyurl.com/glassfrogFB [print_gllr id=6424 orderby=title]
It was a great turnout for a fun charity event, “It’s Your Moment”, to raise awareness and funds in support of Look Good Feel Better, a program that supports women experiencing cancer. What a heartwarming night in memory of Emmy Duff, the first teen spokesperson for Look Good Feel Better, who passed away in her battle with cancer. There was Stella and Dot jewellery available for sale and a fashion show with Roushelle Green, Miss Petite Canada, as well as models who were close friends of Emmy Duff. Care Finch, president of I.R.I.S. entertainment and host of “I On Music”, was the emcee for the evening. There were many beauty stations to get pampered at including hair, makeup, hand massages and scarf tying. This was a truly local, homegrown effort with a group of Centennial College PR students who planned the event. There was a raffle and auction tables with handmade Christmas wreathes, beauty gift baskets, Niagara wine tours and much more. The event raised a net amount of $4,806.62 with support by Stella and Dot online jewellery sales continuing after the event. This money will be used by Look Good Feel Better to continue helping women who experience cancer to feel more confident through magazines, nation-wide workshops and “how-to” videos. Great efforts by these young and motivated PR students who want to make a positive change in the world! Photos by Vanessa Vandenburg from Van and Hamid Kouchak from House of Moments. ABOUT LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER Launched in 1992 by a charitable foundation of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA), Look Good Feel Better is Canada’s only cancer charity dedicated to empowering women to manage the effects that cancer and its treatment have on their appearance, and often on their morale. Over 130,000 women have been helped through our workshop. At the heart of Look Good Feel Better is a free, two-hour hands-on workshop in which women whose appearance has been affected by cancer and cancer treatment learn how to look and feel a little more like themselves again. Guided by experts through our Signature Steps, they master simple cosmetic techniques, explore hair alternatives, and learn about cosmetic hygiene, nail and skin care. Participants take home a complimentary kit of cosmetics and personal care products that are generously donated by the member companies of the CCTFA. To learn more about Look Good Feel Better visit www.lgfb.ca [print_gllr id=6391] Jess Gatens and Katherine Odlum
GIFT GIVING FOR A GOOD CAUSE Bluenotes Tee for Kids Help Phone “Buy a tee, help a kid.” Get a Bluenotes tee designed in collaboration with seven of Canada’s musical artists. 100% of the proceeds of the tee support Kids Help Phone and the fight against bullying. Artists who collaborated on the tee include Simple Plan, Lights, Hedley, Kardinal Offishall, Alyssa Reid, Walk Off the Earth, and the Gregory Brothers. The tee is inspired by pop star, Cyndia Lauper’s song “True Colors”. The featured musical artists recorded a remake the “True Colors” song which is available for purchase through iTunes with proceeds going to Kids Help Phone. The tees are only $10 and are available for a limited time at all 120 Bluenotes locations across Canada or go to bluenotes.ca to purchase online. Wildlife Adoption in support of WWF Who wouldn’t love to adopt an at-risk wildlife species in support of the World Wildlife Fund as a gift? We think the Giant Panda would be perfect. Click here to check out the WWF store and all the selection of adorable stuffed animals. Most importantly, you’ll be supporting WWF’s conservation efforts and you’ll also get an applicable tax receipt. Octaspring Pillows Traditional mattresses have used metal springs or memory foam. With metal springs pressure points can be uncomfortable. With traditional memory foam you get support but a lack of airflow leading to overheating and humidity. Octaspring features a springs made of memory foam to try to achieve the best of both springs and memory foam. Just launched in Canada, who couldn’t use a better mattress, or if that’s not a practical gift, how about starting with a pair of Octaspring pillows to try out the same comfort technology that is used in their mattresses. You can get them from SleepCountry. To learn more visit octaspring.ca Fitzroy Boutique Anchor bracelets from Fitzroy Boutique right here in downtown Toronto. Only $22. TTC Token Cufflinks Here’s something original! What’s more Torontonian than cufflinks featuring vintage TTC tokens? Check them out on Etsy (via Torontoist). Bulgari Octo Maserati Special Edition If money were no object, consider this incredibly intricate collaboration between Roman watch-and-jewelry Bulgari and Modena-based high-end sports car maker, Maserati. The Bulgari OCTO Maserati Special Edition timepiece which retails for $32,000. It features a sapphire caseback bearing the Maserati trident emblem. It’s a sporty 45 mm timepiece with several intriguing complications including a jumping hour with the hour displayed at the window at 12 o’clock. At the unorthodox 6 o’clock position is the Bulgari calibre GG 7800, a manufacture movement from the brand’s Swiss workshop in Le Sentier. The advantage of this configuration is that the hour indicator is never obscured. The calfskin strap is inspired by Maserati’s car seat upholstery. The dial resembles the Maserati radiator grille. Ask our friends at Bandiera Jewellers for a closer look at this magnificent timepiece.
Billed as the “first ever naked stand up comedy show”, 5 ladies from Naked News came out to Yuk Yuk’s downtown to attempt some stand-up comedy. It was a sold out night with 250 patrons including a group of 50 celebrating a young woman’s 26th birthday. Could the entertainment have been funnier? Absolutely. But what do you expect for $4 admission including tax? It was a pretty good bargain actually! Just the right amount of variety and for that it fit the bill nicely. What the audience may not have expected was the multitude of amateur male comedy acts before and after including 2 writers for Naked News. Surprise, you didn’t know you had to sit through and watch Yuk Yuk’s Amateur Tuesday! At least the males weren’t naked. After the Naked News ladies did their performance, a bunch of people left. The majority of us felt guilty enough to stay and endured even more amateur male stand up comedy. One was more tolerable than the other. If you’re interested, watch for more upcoming Naked News live performances including Katherine Curtis performing at Future Conin Markham on December 30th. Some tweets from the evening: Whitney St. John! Putting on a great show! #nakedstandup pic.twitter.com/1nPnLn0P — Ian V (@IanVen) December 5, 2012 @eilaadams COULD make spider squashing sexy. And funny. #NakedStandUp pic.twitter.com/wWTK2qx1 — Lauren Ferris (@SoulOfTwit) December 5, 2012 Instagram addict @NNRachelSimmons #nakedStandUp pic.twitter.com/4qeKNS7x — Lauren Ferris (@SoulOfTwit) December 5, 2012
CANFAR hosted another extravagant “Bloor Street Entertains” evening starting with a reception at the Royal Ontario Museum followed by pop-up dinners taking place in shops and boutiques across Bloor Street, also known as the “Mink Mile”, for the luxurious and upscale nature of the area. Some highly sought-after upscale dining hotspots included Hugo BOSS, Harry Rosen, Tiffany & Co., Diesel, Cartier, Pink Tartan, Roots, Mont Blanc, the ROM and more. Top local chefs delivering on the exclusive multi-course dining experience included Jamie Kennedy, Corbin Tomaszeski, Bruce Woods, Brad Long, Paul Boehmer, Rob Gentile, Trevor Wilkinson, James Olberg and more. Following the dinner there was an after party back at the ROM to dance the night away. It was an interesting night with lots to do and highly recommended for those who are looking for a unique dining experience. How often do you get to sit down to enjoy fine dining in a jewellery store or clothing store? ABOUT CANFAR The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) is Canada’s only independent charitable foundation dedicated to eliminating AIDS through research. By funding promising Canadian HIV and AIDS research and promoting prevention through educational campaigns, CANFAR is working to end AIDS globally. To learn more visit www.canfar.com
It’s back! The swanky third annual party, A Toronto Christmas, is on Saturday Dec 15th at the Steam Whistle brewery proudly supporting GlassFrog International Aid Organization! Grab a festive cocktail dress or bow tie and join Toronto’s beautiful young professional crowd for a great cause! There will be live music by Stiffler’s Mom as well as DJ Rouge and DJ Mike Wilson. Tickets for A Toronto Christmas are now on sale for a limited time at a reduced price of $40. Get your tickets here. http://tinyurl.com/TorontoXmas For more details Facebook event here Check out the video from last year’s celebration: ABOUT GLASSFROG International Aid Organization GlassFrog is a nonprofit organization that provides basic human needs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Their projects use on the ground resources to support sustainable economic and social benefits in the communities they assist. For more information about GlassFrog, visit http://tinyurl.com/glassfrogFB
The highly anticipated 3rd annual Chef’s Challenge finally arrived on Dec 1st with a turnout of 450 fundraisers and supporters of Mount Sinai. There was lots of intense pre-battle hoopla including 4 weekly Food Truck for Sinai events and culinary pre-events as well as some videos from chefs such as Mark McEwan and Chuck Hughes both declaring they were in it to win it this year. The evening at Fairmont Royal York started with a reception and silent auction. There was also a MasterCard VIP reception on the 19th floor where all the celebrity chefs were doing photoshoots with VIPs but it was also really great that chefs Lynn Crawford and Michael Smith mingled in the general reception, too. Michael Smith was so gracious and allowed for so many pictures with admirers. He’s such a great guy! Guests enjoyed Appleton Estate cocktails and hors d’oeurves like cocktail shrimp and beef carpaccio. The main event was emceed by Bob Blumer, host of the Food Network show World’w Weirdest Restaurants. When Guy Fieri came in, he lit up the room with his energy and got the crowd going throughout the whole evening. But he also said that this event to find a cure was very personal to him as his own sister, Morgan, passed away from melanoma about a year and a half ago. Fieri was quick to switch gears back into a lighter mood, too. He has incredible stage presence! Chef Mark McEwan with no-holds-barred, started the smack talk by saying that David Rocco was a model, not a chef, and claimed that Lynn Crawford was a cheater. Shocking! Lynn Crawford won the first annual Chef’s Challenge and Mark McEwan won the second, so there was quite a bit of friendly pent-up rivalry. Getting into the heat of the culinary battle, the first secret ingredient the teams had to use was sushi grade ahi tuna. Each team’s chef then had to come up with a recipe on the spot to make an appetizer. It was a flurry of activity as each chef wasn’t allowed to touch anything, instead they guided their teams to create their dishes ready for the panel of judges. The next secret ingredient was beef tenderloin followed by phyllo dough. In the end it was Chef Lynn Crawford who won back her title and her team was ecstastic. Chuck Hughes took a close 2nd and Michael Smith took 3rd place, not bad for a “rookie” to Chef’s Challenge. What an incredibly entertaining culinary competition to watch unfold in person! In what seemed like a spontaneous live auction, bids were given to shave off the “caterpillar” from Chuck Hughes face. Hilarity ensued. The bids were incredible and it was great to see it go up to $5,000. Food Network chef Corbin Tomaszeski also donated his stache for another generous winning bid of $2,500. Judges included Kris Reyes, news anchor for Global TV, Antony Robart, anchor and host of Global Toronto, Michele Henry, reporter from the Toronto Star, John Moore, Morning Show Host for Newstalk 1010 and Amy Rosen, acting food editor at Chatelaine Magazine. The featured live auction item of the night was the “Ultimate Foodie Package” featuring a set of private dinners with chefs Lynn Crawford, Chuck Hughes, Mark McEwan and David Rocco. Guy Fieri upped the stakes with dinners at his restaurants in California if a minimum of $25,000 was reached. A generous bidder obliged and the crowd cheered. Thanks very much to the kind folks at Mount Sinai Hospital who have let us cover all the exciting Chef’s Challenge pre-events. I also made the trek out to all 4 Food Trucks for Sinai events as well. It was a busy whirlwind of events but very enjoyable all the way and most importantly for a great cause. Congrats to the Chef’s Challenge team for raising $775,000 in 2012 for Mount Sinai Hospital. Keep up the great work! Stay tuned for more exciting fundraising opportunities with Mount Sinai in 2013! Some of the many tweets from the evening: @guyfieri is in the house! #chefschallenge @ChefsChallenge pic.twitter.com/0O14Neef — Yvonne T. (@th3hungrycat) December 2, 2012 Wow that's a lot of chefs on the sideline! @ChefsChallenge pic.twitter.com/JPsfwiHk — Corina Newby (@corecorina) December 2, 2012 Chef Hughes just raised $5000 to shave his Movember stach @ChefsChallenge pic.twitter.com/t9zN9F8B — Amy Rosen (@amyrrosen) December 2, 2012 We will We Will Rocco! Is being sung down the way… Oh boy… Chuck Hughes!!!!!! I am ok with the creepy mustache. @ChefsChallenge — sueriedl (@sueriedl) December 2, 2012 @ChefsChallenge someone put a credit card in their decorated cupcake. Gimme!! Winning cupcake looks like Fieri. — Michele Henry (@michelehenry) December 2, 2012 It's team @CHEF_LYNN for the win! @ChefsChallenge #chefschallenge pic.twitter.com/fpf0SoFF — MasterCard Canada (@MasterCardCA) December 2, 2012 ABOUT MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL Funds raised at this event provide sustaining funding to breast and ovarian cancer research and education at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute and Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital. With your support, scientists at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute can investigate new approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat disease, while clinicians at the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre provide priceless classes to the community on mammography and self-screening, as well as classes on health, diet and exercise for recovering breast cancer patients. More pictures below. Thanks to Macleans for using our Guy Fieri picture in their article! [print_gllr id=6107] And here are even more pictures. And also check them out on our Facebook album. [print_gllr id=6130]
So it turns out the Adelaide Club tucked away in First Canadian Place in the financial district is not only a 35-year-old mainstay in the fitness world but they also know how to throw quite a party! To celebrate this milestone with a 70’s theme, they turned squash rooms into lavish lounges decked out with bars and food, they brought in pole dancing by Flirty Girl Fitness and 70’s getups, from fros to bellbottoms to mini skirts and disco dancing. Food was served and drinks and ’70s candy were shared and it was quite turnout! It’s interesting to see a fitness club with bar service so that you can relax in the lounge with a drink with your buddies after squash. I say why not have it all? Quite different from the impersonal, cookie-cutter gyms we’re all used to. Interesting classes at the Adelaide Club include the Hot Barre, which has Ballet concepts, or Tabata, a type of interval and calisthenic training. Never resting on their laurels, the newly renovated Adelaide Club will feature an expanded Adelaide Health Clinic designed by the Design Agency early in the New Year. That’s quite the bold red! For more pictures check their own Facebook album as well, with over 200 pictures. Adelaide Club Toronto 1 First Canadian Place Toronto, Ontario M5X 1C8 ABOUT ADELAIDE CLUB Since 1978, the Adelaide Club has been a leader in the Fitness World. State of the art equipment, world-class group exercise programming and accredited, knowledgeable staff are the backbone of our wellness service. Some notable tweets from the evening: One of our cool lounges for tonight #Adelaide35 pic.twitter.com/145WUdSe — Cambridge Clubs (@CambridgeClubs) November 29, 2012 Ok the party can start now that @AmyJac @tatvictoria @Halysha have arrived!! #Adelaide35 pic.twitter.com/FnQnpOxi — Cambridge Clubs (@CambridgeClubs) November 29, 2012 It's about to go down 70s style @AdelaideClub #Adelaide35 pic.twitter.com/tjjzg6iC — Amy Burstyn Fritz (@AmyBurstynFritz) November 29, 2012 #np "body rock" these ladies know how to move #Adelaide35 pic.twitter.com/dIvMxWxm — Cambridge Clubs (@CambridgeClubs) November 30, 2012 Epic performance by the Fros making their #debut @cdelosreyesRMT @shawnbyfield @dustinpym #Adelaide35 pic.twitter.com/f4FGR9yZ — Cambridge Clubs (@CambridgeClubs) November 30, 2012
After the Special Olympics Festival breakfast earlier in the morning, the Special Olympics Festival Gala was hosted by Jennifer Hedger and Rod Black from TSN to celebrate the 30th annual Special Olympics Festival gala. The evening featured a large silent auction, a great aerial performance, a grand live auction (including a Toyota Camry Hybrid), and musical entertainment by up-and-coming Canadian recording artist, Melissa Bel. Tons of Canadian celebrity athletes were in attendance including Olympic gold medalist Rosie MacLennan, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero, Pinball Clemons, Adriano Belli (aka “The Kissing Bandit”), Mike Bradwell,, Damon Allen, Mark Tewksbury and so many more. We also spotted Aliya-Jasmine Sovani of MTV News. It was funny to hear Jennifer Hedger recap Adriano Belli’s performance leading up to the Grey Cup win including breaking the Grey Cup. He took it all in great stride saying that since he couldn’t break an arm he had to break the Grey Cup’s arm. What a day of celebrations and tons of great support for the Special Olympics! Notable tweets from the evening: Special Olympics gala with @bwelltweets & @psetherington & @jenniferhedger killin it on stage @ Sheraton Hot http://t.co/BKyMnIom — Aliya-Jasmine Sovani (@aliyajasmine) December 1, 2012 Great morning at the Special Olympics Festival in Toronto @sheratoncentre Can't wait for the Gala tonight!! @SpecialOCanada #SOF2012 — Rosie MacLennan (@RosieMacLennan) November 30, 2012 Great night at the Special Olympics Gala. #SOF2012 #Toronto pic.twitter.com/ZfOow7yT — Ricky Romero (@RickyRo24) December 1, 2012 Also, check out our pictures from the breakfast on our Facebook album. ABOUT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS FESTIVAL The Special Olympics Festival is a legendary Toronto tradition that offers sport fans an opportunity to meet some fo their heroes wile supporting Special Olympic Canada’s programs and athletes. Thirty years ago, a Toronto boardroom was the scene for a brainstorming session among brothers Brian and Bruce Etherington, and friend David Garard. Together, they created the Sports Celebrity Festival, a sports-themed breakfast with a purpose — to weave new strands of generosity and caring into the fabric of national life. Over time, the event grew in popularity and form, and became the Special Olympics Festival with events happening from coast to coast to coast. [print_gllr id=5941]
Get your 70’s clothes ready for a fun flashback to the Fab ’70s! Celebrating the Adelaide Club’s 35th Birthday, tickets are $20 each including complimentary drinks. There will be food stations and wine tastings, live entertainment, a photo booth and dancing all night long! RSVP at the front desk or with ryan@adelaideclub.com or call 416.367.9957. Adelaide Club Toronto 1 First Canadian Place Toronto, Ontario M5X 1C8 ABOUT ADELAIDE CLUB Since 1978, the Adelaide Club has been a leader in the Fitness World. State of the art equipment, world-class group exercise programming and accredited, knowledgeable staff are the backbone of our wellness service.
Although it’s been open for two weeks (officially Nov 16th), Hugo Boss kicked off the opening of their new Yorkdale store at Yorkdale with a cocktail reception followed by a trends presentation hosted by Fashion Magazine‘s Bernadette Morra and David Livingstone. Hugo Boss is located at the new west wing as part of the grand Yorkdale expansion. Also check out our Yorkdale spotlights on Diesel and Tesla Motors.
Our friends at Karyzma Agency held their first annual Player’s Lounge at Parlour hosting the CFL players before the big game that the Argos won on Sunday. What’s more spectacular than the Toronto Argonauts winning the 100th Grey Cup? Congrats to the boys in double-blue, making us all very proud Torontonians! There was lots to do at the Player’s Lounge with a Product Magazine photobooth for photo ops with the players, shoe shines provided by John Allan’s, samples of Fireball cinnamon whisky with tons of Fireball swag, and food was served by Windies Restaurant. Toronto Argos players in attendance included Joe Eppele, offensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl (offensive tackle), and Tristan Black (linebacker). There were also Montreal Alouettes players including John Bowman (defensive end), Shea Emry (middle linebacker), and also Jonathan Hood of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Marc Calixte of the Calgary Stampeders. It was the first time I’ve ever been asked what size of underwear I was for a swag bag which included Calvin Klein underwear, Osis hair products, Koncious T-shirts, and items from Karv and McDonald’s. Some tweets from the event: Giving the PRODUCT treatment in celebration of the Grey Cup with some VIPs @karinedelage #playerslounge #karyzmaagency #toronto #PRODUCT — PRODUCT | Toronto (@ProductToronto) November 24, 2012 @7Bowman showing some love @KarvFashion @vichyexpertcan thanks again for being a part of #playerslounge #karyzmaagency pic.twitter.com/OxYnkiWu — Karine Delage (@KarineDelage) November 26, 2012 Thanks for the swag #FireBall #playerslounge http://t.co/dlQVLPSo — Sarah (@sburnyay) November 25, 2012 @melindashankar doing a little photoshoot @producttoronto #KaryzmaAgency #Playerslounge pic.twitter.com/vdNj9eKg — Karine Delage (@KarineDelage) November 24, 2012 Swag like you never seen! #karyzmagency #playerslounge pic.twitter.com/Km41F0N9 — MyETVmedia (@myetvmedia) November 25, 2012 Tristan Black inside Team Karyzma's first annual Players Gift Lounge #playerslounge #karyzmaagency http://t.co/6uKQePDt — Sarah (@sburnyay) November 25, 2012 Be sure to watch out for next year’s #PlayersLounge in 2013 brought to you by Karyzma Agency [print_gllr id=5777] [print_gllr id=5796]
All in the name of sustainable seafood, 12 top local chefs from the Toronto area each had booths to serve up their own delicious chowder made from ocean-friendly seafood alongside a beer pairing that was chosen to perfectly suit the chowder’s flavour. Upon check-in, you are given a wooden spoon, a ballot and a checklist describing each of the 12 stations. Guests were able to vote for their favourite to win the People’s Choice Award while the panel of judges would determine the evening’s champion. This was the 3rd annual Chowder Chowdown and it was a huge turnout at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel barely fitting everyone in the Imperial Room. We found that table space was at a premium so it was challenging during most of the evening to grab a spot to put down the beer sampling while trying the chowder. Although it was much more comfortable than the recent annual Gourmet Food and Wine Expo’s barely-able-to-walk atmosphere. The celebrity panel of judges included Anthony Walsh (executive chef and partner of Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants), Carl Heinrich, Partner/Executive Chef at Richmond Station and winner of Top Chef Canada Season 2, Rebecca LeHeup (Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance), Jaime Kennedy of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens and Micah Donovan (The Food Jammers). People’s Choice Award was awarded to Chef Baksh with his Manilla Clam and Seafood Chowder including sturgeon! Chef Albert Ponzo of Le Select Bistro won over the judges with Chef Ponzo’s Seafood Chowder, boasting fresh fall ingredients that are at peak season. Delicious choices were all around us and it was quite a challenge to try all 12 with such generous portions of chowder and beer at each station. Definitely do not miss this event next year! Good chowder and beer sampling all-in at an amazing price with all proceeds directly supporting the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program! Also, if you love Oceanwise, have a look at our Toronto Zoo’s event from June where they held a Seafood for Thought event, also promoting sustainable seafood. Everybody wins with the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown: the chefs, the judges, the guests, and especially the oceans from which we all depend upon ecologically. Please keep up the great work, Vancouver Aquarium! Also, be sure to look for the Ocean Wise label at the grocery store or ask for it at your seafood restaurant. ABOUT OCEANWISE 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 [print_gllr id=5704]
Mercedes-Benz hosted a DJ set with Dirty Vegas and Chromeo. EDM fans were invited to register for an exclusive, free performance by these big names for those lucky enough to snag a ticket to celebrate the launch of the all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Dirty Vegas started the night with some deep trance most notably Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know and also their big Grammy Award hit “Days Go By”. The Chromeo duo kept the crowd going with hits like Bonafied Lovin’ from their album, Fancy Footwork. Guests got to take photos at the Photostar booth, grab candy bracelets and sweets from the candy table and a graffiti BScene wall for anyone to make their mark. The crowd went wild when the promo girls threw glowsticks and glasses made from glowsticks into the crowd. It was a hit with the crowd! It was great that the Mercedes-Benz branding and cars were there, making for glitzy props on the stage, but not intrusive (aka no speeches or preaching). It was a great night had by all! Check out an electronic music blogger’s detailed write-up as well from the The Heather Network. Some tweets from the night Writings on the walls #Bclass #Bscene pic.twitter.com/A76U4Dsq — Marc Piercey (@tif_marc) November 22, 2012 The party is just getting started #Bscene #Bclass @Chromeo @DirtyVegas3 http://t.co/r5pWNbIj — Richard Fabregui (@TIF_Richard) November 22, 2012 Get your scribble on! Live graffiti wall at the #bscene pic.twitter.com/gcAqv0nC — The Mint Agency (@TheMintAgency) November 22, 2012 @Chromeo is killing it #BScene http://t.co/ERQz9Bof — Dani Goddard (@Dani_Goddard) November 22, 2012 [print_gllr id=5538]
We were lucky to be invited to the media preview of the new Diesel Yorkdale store as part of the exciting Yorkdale expansion grand opening last week. “We are excited to be opening the doors of a third Diesel retail location in Canada!”, said Joey Adler, President of Diesel Canada. “Our new Yorkdale retail store is the first and only Canadian location within a shopping mall and marks our continued growth across the country. This day marks a milestone for the Diesel brand in Canada and we look forward to celebrating it with our loyal fans and customers.” As part of the opening, a contest was held where four fashion bloggers were invited to style mannequins with pieces from Diesel’s SS13 collection. They included Julio (Fashionights), Nelia (Style Blog), Sharon (The Backseat Stylers) and Jay Strut. Visitors to the store voted by tweeting their favourite styled mannequin for a chance to win a Diesel gift card. Following the Black Friday, the winning fashion blogger was announced. Congrats, Julio of Fashionights! We’re excited to see what’s next in store with this edgy men’s and women’s apparel lifestyle brand, such as the Diesel Ducati collection. For more information, here is the link to Diesel at Yorkdale [print_gllr id=5517]
It was a concert extravaganza featuring great performances by Kreesha Turner, Mia Martina, Kardinal Offishall and multiple Juno Award winner K’naan following the awards ceremony at the Telus Players Party! Great moments included when Kardinal Offishal went up to the front row and got up close and personal with fans in the middle of his performance. The crowd also went wild when the Toronto Argos Cheerleaders surprised us and danced on the stage. What a great way to celebrate 100 years of the Grey Cup! [print_gllr id=5395]
Attention media and bloggers: Sponsored by Product Magazine, there will be an on-site photo shoot with the players in attendance. Drinks include Fireball, Lemon Drop, Iceberg Vodka and Sleeman. GP8 is also providing official sports water. There will be lots of swag including Calvin Klein underwear, Calvin Klein perfume, Osis hair products, Team LTD caps, Koncious T-shirts, and Karv items and much more! I’m looking forward to getting a shoe shine from John Allan’s! If you’ve ever been to an event by Karyzma Agency, you know it will be good! See you there! 4-8pm Parlour Lounge 270 Adelaide West RSVP now with Karine Delage 416-876-3329 karine@karyzmaagency.com
Celebrating a monumental 100 years of the Grey Cup, the most appealing part of the night was that this historic event was held on the actual turf where the highly-anticipated 100th Grey Cup on Sunday will be held. It was our first time at something unique like this at the Rogers Centre. When have you ever heard of a gala where you can practice your football throwing skills enjoying hors d’oeurves, cocktails sitting on a couch with your dress shoes in official Grey Cup footall turf mingling with Argos Cheerleaders? For unique experiences this one-of-a-kind gala delivered big! Notable guests in attendance included Newstalk 1010s’s John Tory, Michael “Pinball” Clemons, football legend Damon Allen, Honourable David Onley, and Melissa DiMarco. Entertainment included Madison Kozak, Chris Willis and Emerson Drive’s Brad Mates and a dance performance by the Argos Cheerleaders. Food was provided by celebrity Chef Mark McEwan and Chef Rob Gentile of Buca Restaurant with tons of delicious food choices to choose from. PO1 Simpson and MS Desmond from@HMCS_York getting ready to escort the #GreyCup into the Grey Cup Gala @100thGreyCup pic.twitter.com/lr2ZroKB — HMCS YORK (@HMCS_York) November 22, 2012 Really great time at the Grey Cup Gala. Got the chance to meet Pinball Clemons. Great experience. pic.twitter.com/0dWI2qzs — Zach Van Kerrebroeck (@ZachVanK) November 22, 2012 Mr Clemens and Mr Allen at the Grey cup gala pic.twitter.com/509V309O — Lorne Frilegh (@LFri45) November 22, 2012 Check out the impressive setup for tonight's @100thGreyCup @Scotiabank Gala at the @Rogers_Centre. #100GC @ScotiaCFL pic.twitter.com/F4aCUcJ0 — Dome Productions (@DomeProductions) November 21, 2012 Want to find the washrooms at the @Scotiabank #100GC Gala? Just follow these cool directions… pic.twitter.com/UVmZvW41 — Grey Cup Festival (@100thGreyCup) November 21, 2012 Pre-performance pic w/ @chriswillistwit @100thGreyCup Festival's #ScotiaBank Gala! Time to rock out! #Argos #100GC pic.twitter.com/CaNt4Bq8 — Argos Cheerleaders (@ArgosCheer) November 22, 2012 It was a great night at the Scotiabank Grey Cup Gala! We heard guests raving about the attentive and friendly service. Joe Warmington from the Toronto Sun reports that the celebrities were very approachable at the gala. o read more, check out the article from the Toronto Sun. To get in on the Grey Cup festivities, including LOTS of free events for the whole family this Saturday and Sunday (right up until the big game), be sure to check out 100thgreycupfestival.ca All of Canada will be watching the Grey Cup game this Sunday! Half time show features all-Canadian talents including Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, Gordon Lightfoot and Mariana’s Trench. [print_gllr id=5350 orderby=]
The energy was still high up through the end of The Purple Party in support of Childhood Cancer Canada. The evening was hosted by former NHL enforcer and Stanley Cup champion, Brad May, and his wife Bridgette May.
The 4th annual Frocktail party featured loads of designer dresses (and also some menswear for the gents) up for auction with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). We spotted Suzanne Rogers and Greta Constantine (Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong), who donated dresses for a good cause. Besides the great selection of auction items, there was lots to do including getting nails and hair done, Purdy’s chocolates to enjoy and Oliver & Bonacini hors d’oeurves to taste. Entrance to the separate “Swag Suite” was for those who purchased a dress or for those with a black ribbon on their wrist. It was a nice lounge to grab a loot bag and fill it with gifts like nail polish, Calvin Klein underwear, and Got2B hair products. ABOUT JDRF For over 40 years, JDRF has been a global leader in the search for an end to type 1 diabetes (T1D), through both research funding and advocacy. During that time, JDRF has always talked about a cure as a singular destination: a return to normal physiology. ABOUT THE FROCKTAIL PARTY The Frocktail Party was founded in 2009 by a group of close friends (Jessica Oliver, Ali Reid, Jen Foster, Sabrina Carr, Talor Wallace, Catherine Pringle and Christina Perreault) who wanted to make a difference in support of Jessica’s sister Vanessa. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at six-years old, Vanessa has lived with daily insulin injections, finger pokes, an insulin pump and the worry of long-term complications every day for 28 years. Over the course of their relationship with the Oliver family, the girls have seen Vanessa face these challenges with courage, grace and a fierce commitment to supporting a quest for a cure. This inspired the creation of The Frocktail Party. Prior to this year’s event, the Frocktail party has donated more than $80,000 to JDRF.