Not just models but also celebrities and TV personalities got together to strut their stuff on the catwalk at Cube night club on Queen Street West to showcase the Diesel 2012 Fall/Winter men’s and women’s collection in an international charity event for ONEXONE, benefitting children in need around the world including Canada, Haiti and the US. Glen Baxter, Canadian TV personality and host of CTV’s In Fashion, hosted the evening at Cube where guests enjoyed drinks, hors d’oeurves and mingled with celebrities, all for a great cause. The $30,000 raised at this event will go towards the ONEXONE Pediatric Wing at the Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti. Celebrities in attendance included: STACEY MCKENZIE JACQUI SKEETE JULLY BLACK HELENE JOY NATALIE BROWN GLEN BAXTER DAVID ROCCO DANIEL JOHNSON ROBB CHALIFOUX WILDER WEIR LUKE BILYK LYRIQ BENT KARDINAL OFFISHALL CLÉ BENNETT RAY ABLACK HERIETH PAUL ELENA SEMIKINA MONIKA MARCZYK GABRIELLE MILLER NARO LOKURUKA SANGITA PATEL SUZANNE ROGERS JOSIE DYE DAVID DIXON and more ABOUT ONEXONE ONEXONE is a non-profit foundation committed to improving the lives of children in Canada, the United States, Haiti, and around the world. Founded in 2005, ONEXONE was created on the principles that every life is infinitely precious and that each person can make a profound difference in someone else’s life one by one. ONEXONE’S mission is to help the most vulnerable members of society: children in need. ABOUT DIESEL’S FALL/WINTER 2012-2013 COLLECTION Diesel’s Fall/Winter 2012 men’s collection This collection follows the season from the first signs of autumn to the harshest winter months with clothes that aren’t afraid to be who they are. The Fall offer sees colours such as tobacco, burgundy and different shades of indigo predominate, later joined by grey and green, all giving the garments a touch of the Great Outdoors. For more information visit www.diesel.com/male. Diesel’s Fall/Winter 2012 women’s collection A natural progression from the Fall/Winter Preview offer, this collection establishes a complete wardrobe of seasonal looks to meet the new Diesel woman’s need, desire and whim, through a study of contrasts between the chic and the relaxed, and between different materials and textures. For more information visit www.diesel.com/female. ABOUT ONEUP OneUP is the young professional arm of ONEXONE. OneUP encourages youth to one up their game in support of ONEXONE and humanity as a whole. For more information visit http://www.onexone.org To help support ONEXONE’s efforts across to help children across the world click here to donate. [print_gllr id=2629]
Hundreds came out to try the latest gourmet street food. Inspired by food driven entertainment, Food Dudes – the Toronto based catering company has brought their culinary art to the street level at 99 Sudbury. Showcasing their passion for quality food, the Food Dudes introduced three main categories to their truck food menu: Snacks, Boxes and Sambos. Snacks Mac and cheese arancini on top of spicy tomato sauce: the perfect combination of crunchy, spicy, and cheesy. And did I mention it was all in one bite? Boxes Chopped watermelon salad with goat cheese, tempura, mojito, vinaigrette Bangkok Slaw with triple seared steak and crispy calamari Sambos Braised veal meatball, lemon dressed arugula, basil steam bun, grana padano, crispy leaks Captain crunch cod, homemade tortilla, spicy guacamole, lime spiked slaw, smoked sour cream. This was a taco that had all the flavours: sweet, sour, and spicy. 24 hour braised brisket, cheddar jalapeno biscuit, south wheat slaw, smoked garlic aioli In addition to the food on the menu, there were bite sized desserts passing around the entire night. This one was my favourite: Red bean risotto cake topped with basil leaf sauce. I appreciated the richness in flavour of the red bean as it complemented well with the fluffy basil whipped cream. What a delightful dessert snack! Meanwhile at the Stolichnaya vodka bar, the bartender showed off his skills in juggling and entertained a thirsty crowd: In addition to the tasty treats, there were a plenty of activities to do at the party: from an ice sculpture photo booth to a kissing booth, flip cup to Tattoo stations, connect 4 and inflatable twister. Make sure to check out the gallery below for more foods, games, and entertainment. Overall, the food was superb and the staffs were friendly. This food truck block party marks the beginning of the good street food on wheels in Toronto. Where can you try out Food Dudes menu? Look for their food truck at the EX for CNE from Aug. 24 to 26, 2012. Editor’s Note We’ve had the opportunity to attend many Food Dudes events around Toronto and when we found out they were launching their brand new Food Truck we knew this would be a must-attend event. Our first experience with them was at the BMW Downtown 3 series launch earlier this year where we were blown away with their visually appealing platters setting them apart from the rest by delighting not only our tastebuds but also our eyes as well. Food Dudes events we’ve been to include: BMW Downtown 3 Series Launch “Be Your Own T” at GAP Bluebird: A Food and Art Thing Andrew Richards Design party Mt Sinai Soiree For more information visit www.thefooddudes.com http://www.facebook.com/fooddudesTO http://www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Dudes-Food-Truck/334739756614577
Celebrating Jamaica’s 50th Year of Independence, the Jamaica 50 Gala was a well-attended event held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre featuring Master of Ceremonies Dwight Drummond and Anne-Marie Mediwake and guest speakers including Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (who arrived to much fan-fare). The “1962 reception” featured DJ Eugene Chang and about 4 tables of Appleton Estate each with their own variety of Jamaican rum cocktail and each table had a ballot to vote for our favourite Appleton Estate bartender. Clearly we favoured the cocktail with the pouring of liquid flame! What a beautiful sight! The evening was jam-packed with speeches and music performances including Miss Jamaica Universe 2012 and Canadian-Jamaican pop and R&B music artist Kreesha Turner. There was also a silent auction and an energetic live auction on stage. At the 2012 Summer Olympics with Jamaica winning the 1st, 2nd and 3rd and also breaking the world-record for the men’s 100m relay with Usain Bolt, there was much to celebrate at the Jamaica’s 50th year of independence and we give them much congratulations on having such grand gala and throwing a whirlwind of Jamaica 50 celebrations this year. Great job to Sandra Whiting and the rest of the committee! See also, our Jamaica Rhythms post where Sandra Whiting tells us about the Jamaica 50 Celebration Committee. For more information visit http://jamaica50.ca/the-gala/ [print_gllr id=2474]
The highly-anticipated Diner en Blanc secret dinner party came to Toronto for the first time on Aug 9, 2012. It originated in Paris over 20 years ago and now assembles nearly 15,000 people every year in various sites of prestige including the Pont des Arts, the Effel Tower site, the Louvre Pyramid, the Trocadéro Esplanade, Place Vendôme, Château de Versailles, the Esplanade de Notre-Dame, the Esplanade des Invalides, the periphery of the Place de l’Étoile, the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde and last year: The Carousel du Louvre. Despite the rain and gloominess above, the 1,400 guests in white elegance came together to a secret location. We would be told that only at 6:00pm, and not any earlier, we would be notified of the standby location, and to arrive there at 6:30 since the actual event venue would be a 10 minute walk. At 6:30pm, the highly-efficient organizers of Diner En Blanc Toronto notified us by email and phone of the real event location. The stand-by location turned out to be the Thompson Hotel and we were pleasantly surprised to get the calls and emails, in fact, earlier than scheduled, that the actual event venue would be at Fort York, which was indeed a lovely outdoor space that was quite perfect for this special occasion. It was interesting to be told that media must wear white from head to toe otherwise we wouldn’t be permitted entry. Some major media outlets disregarded those rules but I suppose they can get away with that! The evening started with some rain and we watched guests arrived by the busload (900 by coach and 500 by foot) in a sea of white with umbrellas, white folding chairs, tables, tablecloths, centerpieces, and glassware. Guests organized themselves into their designated sections while being sereneded by performances by Against the Grain Opera Company. White helium balloons were distributed and after everyone was settled and seated, guests waved their white napkins in the air to signal the beginning of the dinner festivities. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful home-made centerpieces some people brought. At about 9:30pm guests lit their sparklers to kick off the dancing part of the night with DJ Vinny Gruvhunter. To make things even better the rain let up mid-dinner and helped to raise the excitement for the dancing. It was a such a beautiful photogenic scene! At the end of the night guests packed up their belongings and collectively cleaned up and left the way they came. It’s no easy feat to be able to organize a large-scale elegant, sophisticated pop-up dining experience. Diner en Blanc turned out to be one of the best and unique events we’ve been to! Everyone was having such a great time and the celebratory vibe was contagious. Diner en Blanc should definitely be continued in Toronto next year! If you get the chance to attend, you should For more information please visit http://toronto.dinerenblanc.info [print_gllr id=2311]
Kestin Cornwall’s “Jezebel” is a varied collection of original mixed media paintings and screen prints with influences from American Street Art, Asian, Egyptian and Sri Lankan culture. The exhibition also showcases local model Tania Z. The collection will be on display from August 2nd to August 23rd at the Goodfellas Gallery at 1266 Queen West. ABOUT KESTIN CORNWALL Over the past ten years Kestin Cornwall has been featured in countless group shows and projects such as the Tribute To John Michel Basquiat show at Revival in 2004 and the T.O.P Tour Life Styles Edition in 2006 at Montreal based Yves Laroche Gallery. More recently he’s shown at Lee’s Gallery in Los Angeles, Toronto’s INDEXG Gallery and SMASH located in Toronto. However, this exhibition will be the first time his work will be displayed on such a grand scale with large, small and medium sized work available. ABOUT GOODFELLAS GALLERY Goodfellas is a commercially driven gallery focused on giving Toronto’s urban living a facelift. The owners took what was formally known as “Ushers Groceries” and converted the space into the pinnacle for exhibiting commercial and collector’s art in the Parkdale area. Already dealing in high end real estate and commercial design, they felt it was time to open a space that focused entirely on rejuvenating art in commercial spaces and joining some of the other inspiring local businesses in bringing awareness to the potential of the neighborhood. For more information visit: kestincornwall.com twitter.com/wearekestin goodfellasgallery.com [print_gllr id=2111]
The weather was great at the Toronto Festival of Beer as we had tons of fun in the sun with beer, girls, food trucks and good tunes. This must be the most highly-anticipated and well-attended annual beer celebration in Toronto. Indicative of the demand is the speed at which it sells out. Attending this beer event on the Friday or Saturday requires your commitment months in advance as it sells out quickly. Our favourites, which we rarely get into trying, include Paulaner, Erdinger, Shocktop, Flying Monkey’s Hoptical Illusion, and some of our usual go-to favourites include Mill Street’s Tankhouse Ale and Heineken. Endless varieties of beer are the main attraction but with all that beer consumption we were glad to find one of our favourite food pastimes, Smoke’s Poutinerie. Another surprise which offered great value was Melt Grilled Cheese where we opted for the 3-cheese variety. It was obvious it was good and others could tell as there were multiple inquiries as to where we got this square of delicious cheesy-grillness. Other yummy food choices include Fidel Gastro’s (who recently announced their TV show) and the new pop-up The Feasting Room. For Sunday the main attraction for us was Big Wreck, a classic band that brought back the good ol’ days that didn’t seem so long ago. It was a solid performance that was definitely a great highlight to end the 3-day event. ABOUT Toronto Festival of Beer Toronto’s Festival of Beer is a celebration of Canada’s rich brewing history, hosted by experts of the brewing craft from around the world. Featuring 200+ brands onsite, this is Canada’s premier celebration of the golden beverage! http://www.beerfestival.ca [print_gllr id=1987]
We had such a great time at Evergreen Brick Works with Lifford Wine Agency celebrating everything that men enjoy including fine scotch, cognac, great bbq (ribs, pulled pork), Callaway had a driving range. Audi showed their top cars including an R8 and TT-S. There was some flare for fashion with the help of Harry Rosen with an array of suits and Sharp Magazine. For our first Lifford Boys Night Out, it was surprising to us that there was a lack of beer or cocktails at this event. But for an event held by a wine agency I suppose that’s forgiveable considering everything else that was thrown in for the grand Boys Night Out experience. Our only complaint was that the event didn’t last longer! We enjoyed the Sharp magazines, popcorn and the Crew products to keep us styling and well-groomed. With the majority of events out there focused on women, it is refreshing to have an event focused on what men really want. We look forward to future opportunities to attend Boys Night Out. [print_gllr id=1929]
For those in the know, Powerball at The Power Plant is a highly anticipated annual celebration. For the gallery’s 25th anniversary, Power Ball’s “Quarter Life Crisis” was a well-attended evening with 1,700 guests. Those in attendance read like a who’s-who of Canadian and Toronto socialite fame including Melissa Grelo, Mary Kitchen, Jian Ghomeshi, Tanya Kim, Rick Mercer. We spotted our own personal favourite musician, Clara Venice, who performed at our recent Local Artist event at ING. Looking forward to her next performance at Drake Hotel! Dragonette performed for the VIP portion to kick off the night and DJ’s Alex Merrell and Diego Armand kept everyone dancing late into the night. Many guests were dressed in fashionably provocative attire, Perrier cocktails and Kronenbourg 1664 beer were available at many bar stations (albeit with lineups at each due to the massive turnout), and Chef Marc Thuet of Petite Thuet kept us well-fed with a bison sandwiches from a 400 pound bison roast and BBQ corn. It was good to see #PowerBallTO trending worldwide and the reasons were obvious! Looking forward to Powerball again next year! About Power Ball: Power Ball is the gallery’s largest annual fundraiser. From its inception in 1999, Power Ball has set the standard as the most influential, vibrant and original contemporary art party. Attracting a sophisticated “who’s who” crowd of artists, fashionistas, celebrities, and financiers from the world of film, advertising, music, design, and art, this is one sensational party providing vital funds to the exhibition and public programs at The Power Plant. About The Power Plant: The Power Plant is Canada’s leading public gallery devoted exclusively to contemporary visual art. It is a vital forum for the advanced artistic culture of our time that offers an exceptional facility and professional support to diverse living artists while engaging equally diverse audiences in their work. The Power Plant pursues its activities though exhibitions, publications and public programming. It fulfills its mandate by generating: exhibitions that represent the range of advanced practice in visual arts; publications that increase knowledge of contemporary art; lectures and symposia that encourage debate and further understanding; interpretative tools that invite visitors to question, explore and reflect upon their experiences; programming that incorporates other areas of culture when they intersect with visual art. For more information, please visit the The Power Plant website.
SummerWorks Performance Festival is hosting a VIP dinner, Thursday July 5th, as a fundraiser for the upcoming 2012 festival and we would like to extend an invitation to you. Hosted by award-winning playwright and actor Michael Healey, the elegant three-course dinner features the culinary combination of Toronto top chef and owner of Cow Bell Restaurant, Mark Cutrara and Brockton General chef Alexandra Feswick. Providing you the opportunity to have a first taste of Cutrara and Feswick’s new restaurant Samuel J Moore, opening on the main floor of the Great Hall in July. This dinner is an opportunity for you to experience Samuel J Moore before the general public does when it opens. Tickets are limited for this exclusive fundraiser. Come rub elbows with arts patrons, theatre lovers and foodies. As this is a charitable donation TAX RECEIPTS will be available for $75. Tickets can be purchased online for $100 at: http://www.eventbrite.ca/org/1121096121 Cocktails will be served at 6pm, followed by dinner service at 7pm. The Great Hall – 1087 Queen Street West For more information visit summerworks.ca
Young professionals gathered at Maro for the Mount Sinai Soiree for a night of black-tie chic, fashion and opulence. The Sinai Soiree showcased lingerie from Italian fashion house Cosabella and luxury shapewear line, ResultWear. Models from Scene Queen and Nuvo Burlesque delivered tantalizing performances. Ben Mulroney, anchor of ETalk on CTV, opened the elegant black-tie evening with his own personal reflections on the importance of fundraising for women’s health and cancer research at Mount Sinai Hospital. Knowing that Food Dudes were going to be there, we knew it would be a great night. The liquid nitrogen chocolate truffles were an interesting indulgence that we hadn’t seen from them before. Future Sinai (@futuresinai on Twitter), a division of the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, is a group of young professionals who work to advance, promote and fundraise for Mount Sinai Hospital. For this year, Future Sinai collaborated with Leadership Sinai (demographic of professionals aged 30 to 45). The event raised $67,296 for Mount Sinai Hospital with more than 400 guests in attendance. About the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary The Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary was founded in 1953 to assist Mount Sinai Hospital with raising funds and community awareness to provide the best patient care. Through special events and fundraising programs, the Auxiliary is one of the largest single donors to Mount Sinai Hospital. About Mount Sinai Hospital Mount Sinai Hospital is an internationally recognized, 472-bed acute care academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. It is known for excellence in the provision of compassionate patient care, innovative education, and leading-edge research. Mount Sinai’s Centres of Excellence include: Daryl A. Katz Centre for Urgent & Critical Care; Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women’s & Infants’ Health; Christopher Sharp Centre for Surgical Oncology; Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Centre for Musculoskeletal Disease and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute. For more information about Mount Sinai Hospital, please visit www.mountsinai.ca
We had an opportunity to interview Sandra Whiting, the co-Chair of the Gala and Performing Arts for the “Jamaica 50” celebration. The Jamaica 50 organization itself is 2 years old and started with the goal of celebrating Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence (1962 to 2012). Funds raised will help to pay tribute to Jamaica. Sandra Whiting says that Jamaicans have been in Canada since the 1700s with the Maroons followed by waves in the 50s and 60s. Jamaicans love Toronto for its diversity, and acceptance of people form many parts of the world allowing them to share their culture and who they are. Sandra came to Toronto for adventure and wants to share what Jamaica has given to the world with others. When we asked Whiting what Torontonians love about Jamaica she replied that Torontonians love that Jamaica has the warmest, welcoming people, the reggae music, rum, and cool vibe. It’s an “irie” place where you feel like you’re part of the “sinting”. We can’t disagree with that. What’s next for Jamaica 50 after the series of festivities? Money raised will help charities in Jamaican and Canadian charities. We look forward to the celebrations at the Jamaican Rhythms Gala at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on June 28th starting at 7:30pm! The evening will feature Roots, Rock and Reggae: ‘60s: Iconic Fab 5 Band – paying tribute to SKA ‘70s: Classic John Holt ‘80s: Magnificent Marcia Griffiths ‘90s: Fantastic Yellow Man 2000: Grammy Winner Maxi Priest 2010: King of the Dancehall, Grammy Award Winner Beenie Man CAN CON: 2012 JUNO NOMINEES: Jay Douglas, Steele, Exco Levi backed by Mountain Edge. For more information and to get tickets click below or call 647-799-6546 http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10004873F9E1A1E4?artistid=1710446&brand=sony&camefrom=cfc_sony_centre_sonyweb_Jamaican
To warm up for the MMVAs we were invited to the The Field’s MMVA Pre-Party at Tryst Nightclub, a star-studded event. DJ Heather Van Viper, Diva Girl Fitness, Classified and These Kids Wear Crowns were among those in attendance. Also, Karl Wolf chatted with us about his new album, Finally Free, which will be released on July 10, 2012. Bacardi cocktails were served, Corona was being handed out. Hypnotiq had tasty drinks as well. A little bit of rain didn’t deter us from having a great time on the Tryst patio. Inside the club, there was a ton of stuff to do as well including cupcakes, the Kiss FM 92.5 booth, jewellery from Madame NiNoN, and great swag bags. Congrats on the Field for snatching 20 MMVA nominations including 3 awards! www.thefield.ca [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20GJ8GMJU9U]
Meet Kovak, voted Critic’s Choice at last year’s NXNE Festival by NOW Magazine: “Brighton, UK-based electro pop outfit Kovak played a dynamite set of smokin’ dance rock that just kept gathering steam with every song.” says Susan Cole, Now Magazine. We interviewed them today in the middle of a whirlwind 3-gig, 2-day NXNE tour, playing at 627 Studio and El Mocambo yesterday while getting ready for their performance tonight at The Mod Club opening for Platinum Blonde! We hope this lovely and fun trio return soon! Toronto loves you! Perhaps 2013 NXNE if not sooner! Check out the interview and also check out their new video, Killer Boots. [print_gllr id=1810] To see more Kovak visit http://www.kovak.co.uk/ http://www.myspace.com/kovakuk
The 2012 Memories of Versailles Gala, Mirage, was set in the uniquely beautiful Evergreen Brick Works hosted by Jeanne Beker. The elegant evening began with a cocktail reception with hors d’oeurves, a high-end silent auction as well as a live auction and a stunning $22,000 raffle piece from Tiffany & Co. Dinner was hosted by Chef Neal Noble of Noble Culinary fame featuring Moroccan seared beef tenderloin accompanied by a multitude of mouth-watering delights. The dining experience was enhanced by performances from the stars of Armide, Colin Ainsworth and Peggy Kriha Dye. About Evergreen Brick Works Evergreen Brick Works was named by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 10 geotourism destinations in 2010. This heritage destination, where nature meets cultural hot-spot, features long tunnel kilns that at one point produced over 25 million bricks per year during peak production. About Opera Atelier Opera Atelier is a theatre community producing opera, ballet and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries with attention to period-performance detail in drawing up the aesthetics and ideals of the periods, elaborate stage decor and exquisite costumes. For more information visit www.operaatelier.com [print_gllr id=1725]
At the Toronto harbour, Epic Cruises had a launch party for their newly-renovated River Gambler ship with special guest Kelly Gruber, of former Toronto Blue Jays fame. The lower level “Silver Lounge” seats up to 160 guests in one room, but the main feature is the Skyline Deck which Epic Cruises boasts is the largest open deck dance floor in the Toronto harbour. Appetizers that night included tomato with cheese, beef and red pepper skewers, shrimp skewers, chicken breast curry skewers. Dinner included the following choices: Paella – Spanish rice with chicken, mussels, shrimp & calamari Bouillabaisse – Salmon, shrimp, calamari, clams, and mussels simmered in a tomato broth. Beet & Pineapple salad with raspberry vinaigrette Roasted pork shoulder marinated with rosemary, thyme, garlic and paprika served over roasted potatoes. Oven roasted Mediterranean chicken marinated with white wine, fresh rosemary and paprika served on roasted vegetables. The River Gambler party boat is a great idea for those party-goers who literally want a change of scenery from the usual party venues. The food is good, the upcoming themed-events are varied and interesting (watch for the Burlesque Cruise on August 10th!). Check out the schedule for more information about Epic Cruises www.epiccruises.ca
Bluebird held their 3rd annual “Food and Art Thing” at The Burroughes on Queen West on June 2, 2012. It’s an event showing that food can be edible art and vice-versa. All the art exhibits at each booth had a food-themed element. The Food Dudes did a great job of catering the event and using their food-driven entertainment to continue the theme and also keep the guests well-fed with many visually appealing pieces of edible hors-d’oeurves art. When we first experienced the Food Dudes at BMW Downtown Toronto for the new 3-series launch event, it was delightful. So what we’ve learned is that wherever Food Dudes are, we must be there as well! The event was well-attended and entertainment was found in many forms. It was our first time at Bluebird and we look forward to seeing Bluebird again next year! About Bluebird: Founded by Devan Rajkumar in 2009, the event showcases unique & interesting expressions that vividly showcase and demonstrate the interrelationship between food & art, while supporting local artists and giving back to those in need. For more information visit www.bluebirdto.com BlueBirdTO.com
On May 6, 2012, the Children’s Aid Foundation hosted the SPARK gala at the Carlu. Proceeds from for the fundraiser went to support the Ignite the Spark Fund which provides life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth living in the child welfare system. These opportunities allow them to explore their interests in sports, arts and cultural activities which are crucial to their personal growth and development. The event successfully raised $400,000 and allows for a life-changing three-year commitment to support each youth in their chosen field. It was well-attended with Anne Mroczkowski and Leslie Roberts as co-hosts as well as Randy Bachman, Lisa Ray, Patrick Chan, Bernadette Morra and Jackie Richardson. Martin Lim was also a featured fashion designer in attendance. ABOUT THE IGNITE THE SPARK FUND One out of every 25 children in Canada are at risk and need our help. Many have suffered in poverty and are victims of abuse or neglect. As a result, 300,000 of these children and youth have a social worker, while a staggering 76,000 are Crown wards who live in foster care or residential programs. For these vulnerable children and youth, there are often significant gaps in funding that prevent them from enrolling in hockey, taking dance or learning to play a musical instrument. However, these very experiences can be the catalyst to restoring self-esteem, developing interpersonal and coping skills and finding the inner strength to build successful lives. Inspired by their adopted daughter, Mark Daniels and Andrea Weissman-Daniels founded the Ignite the Spark Fund – a unique initiative to fund “enrichment” programs. Spark is unlike any other fund because it helps children who have no access to, or can’t afford to have new experiences in sports, arts and recreation. The Fund is also unique because it allows children to enrol in any program of their choice within their own communities and provides a commitment over multiple years. It also covers the costs of related clothing and equipment and gives them a level playing field with their peers. The Ignite the Spark fund not only supports children and youth involved with child welfare organizations in Toronto, (such as: Jewish Family and Child; Native Child and Family Services of Toronto; and Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto) it also supports children under the watch of child welfare services across Canada. Click here to watch the Spark Gala video highlights. Didn’t attend this year? You can still support the Ignite the Spark Fund Photos courtesy of Children’s Aid Foundation [print_gllr id=1607]
On May 7, 2012, The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund (DCMF) hosted a fundraising gala with a silent auction at the Liberty Grand. The annual event aims to promote awareness of the potentially deadly skin cancer. Heartfelt speeches were given and David Cornfield’s legacy was remembered. Also it was a celebration of their successfully viral video “Dear 16 Year Old Me” copied below (please take a few minutes to watch and share). A $10,000 cheque was presented from DCMF to the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. About 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. 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. The DCMF Mission To reduce the incidence, via prevention and early self-detection of melanoma as well as, improve the prognosis of melanoma via education and research into the disease. For more information visit www.dcmf.ca [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM] [print_gllr id=1882]
MyEventSuite.com hosted a launch party for 350+ event planners and media to introduce their new website which aims to be the go-to, all-in-one resource for busy event planners to get the job done all from one, comprehensive website. The launch party at Corus Quay, 25 Dockside Drive featured watermelon-tequila splashers in test tubes, steak and ahi tuna, unique cocktails with edible flowers, Snapz photo booth, creating your own music videos, a mechanical bull, ice cream truck, cotton candy machine and more. As described on the MyEventSuite.com website: My EventSuite is a fresh, dynamic web service that is committed to providing the most comprehensive and trustworthy event planning service available anywhere. Use My EventSuite to get quotes from the most recommended professionals in Toronto, and to keep all your research and decisions organized in one place. Our budget tools and comprehensive calendar will help keep your event organized, while our resourceful blog will provide you with creative inspiration and sound event planning advice. Your FREE My EventSuite account also lets you create a personalized website for your event. Being that the account is free, it might be worth trying My EventSuite for preparing you create your next event or wedding whether big or small. For more information visit www.myeventsuite.com [print_gllr id=1852]
Guess celebrated 30 Sexy Years with the help of FLARE Magazine and chose Claudia Schiffer as the marquee ambassador. Also the limited edition 30th Anniversary Collection was released to celebrate the sexy, stylish heritage. The Guess 30th anniversary celebrations in Toronto were held at the store on Queen West followed by an after party at Cube. The Queen West store celebrated with cocktails, flipbooks, gifts such as $30 Guess gift cards and more. The after party at Cube featured Guess-branded cocktails served by beautiful ladies in Guess 30th anniversary retro t-shirts, Snapz photo booth and more. Looking forward to more celebrations with Guess for years to come. To quote Guess CEO Paul Marciano, “Guess is timeless and sensual.” For more information visit www.guess1981.com 30th Anniversary Collection www.lotusleaf.ca
On May 1st, 2012 Oliver & Bonacini pulled out all the stops to host a grand, highly-anticipated open house gala at the Arcadian, located on the 8th floor of the Simpson Tower at Queen and Bay. The re-opening event featured Snapz Photo Booth, an oyster bar, a stunning dessert table, great live music and so much more. The Arcadian Court and Arcadian loft were restored and modernized from top to bottom. Talking with the guests, it was unanimous that it was a refreshing change. It was an incredible experience for the 2,000 guests who registered to attend. If you ever get a chance to attend an event at the Arcadian, be sure to make it a priority! This newly re-launched event space boasts historic charm and modern sophistication in two distinct venues – the revitalized Arcadian Court and the new Arcadian Loft – and is already one of Toronto’s most sought after venues. The grand Arcadian Court has been restored to its art deco glory featuring modern new amenities, while a flexible contemporary space has also been created in Arcadian Loft. Together, these two spaces form a unique complex which will meet the needs of any event or occasion. Arcadian’s maximum seated capacity is 800 and its standing capacity is 1500. http://events.oliverbonacini.com/Venues/Arcadian.aspx [print_gllr id=1675]
Last week: Mixing fashion, photography, film and visual arts under one roof, 213 Sterling Rd, the first of four days of Arts & Fashion Week included the following exhibits for the Runway Show: Cosmetic Green by Karey Shinn Fashion on Film: The Gardener, by Katja Hentschel B.E. Shields – Isolated Incidents Jade Sullivan-Vallentyne Pat McDonagh Couture & The Consortium: Maria Manceva, Dolly Sophie, Patricia Kowalski, Albert Yuen Fashion on Film: A Ballardian Collection by Camille Marceaux and Nicolas Davenel MITRA Ghavamian Belinda Visag Armour by Seema Angela Sum Asphyxia Little White Dress Chic Edge Fashion STudio Mackenzie Jones featuring Danielle Cameron For more information visit http://fashionarttoronto.ca/
Chivas is declaring June 14th to be the scotch event of the year. Be sure to mark your calendars and register to “get past the velvet rope”. Check the website for other Chivas events. The next Chivas event “Sip, Shower, & Shave” is May 1st at Mankind at 221 Eglinton Ave. Hosted by Bruce Croxon (the co-founder of Lavalife) on June 14, 2012, you can have a chance to immerse yourself in the Chivas lifestyle at 1801. It’s the scotch event of the year, celebrating style, innovation and the finer things in life. Socialize with the who’s who of Toronto at our exclusive downtown location as we raise a glass of our famous Chivas 25 Year Old. Celebrity appearances include Wendel Clark, The Young Empires, and more. For more information visit chivas1801.com
Fans of Kim Kardashian will get their chance to see her live and in person as she introduces her spring collection of her line of jewellery, BELLE NOEL, to the Bay.
Come to Abode Public Residence at 128 Peter St. on Thursday, April 26th for a Glenlivet Complimentary Tasting event. RSVP to suhaib@abodebar.com
lFATl FASHIONmarket POP-UP Designer Shop Takes place this Saturday, April 28 (this is the last day of FAT!) From 11AM to Midnight Free and Open to the public The DRAKE Lab space is on 1142 Queen Street West (near to the Drake Hotel) The POP-UP Shop will have designs from the FAT runway, including: WallacePlayford Chicedge Fashion Studio Human Nature Raji Aujla Belinda Visag Pedram Karimi Natasha Sakhuja Rachel Sin Mackenzie Jones + MORE For more information visit: http://fashionarttoronto.ca/2012-schedule/day-5/
FAT kicked off the exciting week of alternative Fashion and Arts in Toronto at the Drake Lab with exhibitions by artists such as Andrew Owen. Drake Lab is a small cozy venue which quickly got packed with fans of FAT until the after party at the trendy, new bar, Church Apertivo. For more information visit: fashionarttoronto.ca/ twitter.com/fatoronto
Last night was the kick-off of the series of Friday Nights Live @ROM (The Royal Ontario Museum, of course) with a different theme each week featuring DJs, pop-up food and bars. The opening event was as-advertised and as good as it sounded, with the most appealing aspect being the beautiful, unique venue for those who are tired of the same bar/clubbing/lounge scene. The only way it could be better is if it was open until 2am. However, closing the bars at 10:30pm means it’s not an alternative to the club scene, rather just an alternative to pre-drinking for those who are active in the club scene. On the opening night we were glad to see our friends at Fidel Gastro and we were lucky enough to snag one of their last famous gourmet sandwiches before they sold out that night. The entertainment was solid as provided by Simon Jain featuring DJ Wayne Wunder. Be sure to check out the upcoming Friday nights at the ROM. It’s definitely worth a visit! See you at the next one! http://www.rom.on.ca/fridays/ “Friday Night Live @ROM is an opportunity for Toronto’s young adults to experience the Museum in a way that speaks to them,” says Janet Carding, Director and CEO, Royal Ontario Museum. “Modeled after similar events in museums and galleries across the United States and Europe, we look forward to providing a new and exciting way to be a part of the ROM.”
Elle Canada and Intermix store at 130 Bloor Street West hosted a fun shopping event with Editor-in-Chief Noreen Flanagan. The large variety of desserts were deliciously decadent. The aromachology booth was really fun allowing you to create your own personalized scent to take home. Thanks Elle and Intermix for hosting a fun shopping event!