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Photos from the Toronto Maple Leafs gala “Night with Blue and White”

November 16, 2013
Nick Lee
charity, gala, sports
Comments Off on Photos from the Toronto Maple Leafs gala “Night with Blue and White”

On November 4, 2013 the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted a one-of-a-kind cocktail reception and dinner at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens). Guests got to mingle and take photos with some of their favourite hockey players, get autographs, and bid on silent auction items. Along with all the Leafs such as Tyler Bozak and even the retired Doug Gilmour, the Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf and actress Elisha Cuthbert were a notable couple in attendance.

Dion Phaneuf, Elisha Cuthbert

All proceeds support the MLSE Foundation and in particular the MLSE Foundation’s Regent Park Athletic Grounds project. This project will provide 2,810 youth to be able to participate in sports including hockey, soccer, cricket and basketball. Also, this project will give the Regent Park community the opportunity to be trained as coaches by the Leafs’ own sports clinicians and participate in the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey in the Neighbourhood program.

The Regent Park Athletic Grounds are scheduled to be ready for use in early 2015.

For more information visit mlseteamupfoundation.org

Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple Leafs centre

The Toronto Maple Leafs host a dinner on the floor of a hockey rink at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens)

: Silent auction items

: Silent auction board

: Silent auction items

: Tim Horton

: Silent auction items

: The Toronto Maple Leafs host a dinner on the floor of a hockey rink at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens)

: Troy Brodie, right wing

: Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple Leafs centre

: Dion Phaneuf, Elisha Cuthbert

: Silent auction items

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

Nice pic RT @BestOfTorontoTV: Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert @MapleLeafs @MLSEFoundation #tmltalk pic.twitter.com/gQP9PTctsz

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 5, 2013

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In Food Stories: Touro Brazilian Steakhouse, The Kitchen Canada, Savouring the City with Lincoln and more

November 15, 2013
Nick Lee
food, Restaurant
Comments Off on In Food Stories: Touro Brazilian Steakhouse, The Kitchen Canada, Savouring the City with Lincoln and more

This week in food news, we checked out Touro Brazilian Steakhouse in Richmond Hill, contending to be the best Brazilian Rodizio experience for meatlovers in the GTA. The Kitchen Canada launches it’s professional kitchen with a molecular gastronomic dinner. And Lincoln’s new 2014 MKZ vehicle took foodies out for fine dining.

Touro Brazilian Steakhouse offers a premium dining experience worth repeat visits

The Kitchen Canada opening with Chef John Placko

The city was savoured in the new 2014 Lincoln MKZ

enRoute Magazine awards Canada’s Best New Restaurants

The taste of Pukka

Canadian Opera Company’s rising stars to compete at the new Centre Stage gala

November 14, 2013
Nick Lee
awards, culture, gala
Comments Off on Canadian Opera Company’s rising stars to compete at the new Centre Stage gala

Hosted by Rufus Wainwright, the Canadian Opera Company will be hosting it’s first “Centre Stage” gala on November 26, 2013 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The focus of this inaugural gala will be on the 3rd annual Ensemble Studio Competition where the talent from rising stars will shine.

Out of a pool of 155 young aspiring artists, the 9 finalists will be competing for cash prizes from $1,500 to $5,000.

The 9 young finalists featured in the 2013 vocal competition are:

soprano Karine Boucher (Quebec City, QC)
mezzo-sopranoEmma Char (Kitchener, Ont.)
mezzo-soprano Francesca Corrado (Vancouver, B.C.)
tenor Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure(Kitchener, Ont.)
bass-baritone Nathan Keoughan (Charlottetown, P.E.I.)
bass-baritone Iain MacNeil (Brockville, Ont.)
tenor Jean-Michel Richer (Montreal, QC)
soprano Lara Secord-Haid(Winnipeg, Man.)
mezzo-soprano Rachel Wood (London, Ont.)

While staying true to the history of opera, It’s great to see the COC staying modern and adapting to changing times from the rock-opera hybrids at the annual Operanation gala and now to the Canadian Idol theme of cultivating and showcasing talent at the new Centre Stage gala.

Tickets to see the competition are $100 for orchestra seating only. For more info visit the COC’s Centre Stage website here.

Ambur Braid, Sam Roberts

At Captain Morgan’s “Rock the Boat” party with Classified

November 13, 2013
Nick Lee
concerts, Entertainment, party
Comments Off on At Captain Morgan’s “Rock the Boat” party with Classified

Captain Morgan and Classified

Captain Morgan hosted the Toronto leg of their “Rock the Boat” tour at the Phoenix Concert Theatre featuring Nova Scotia’s Juno award-winning artist, Classified. The evening started off with a DJ, Captain Morgan cocktail samples and photoshoots with Captain Morgan himself. The live entertainment included a lively fire show followed by what the packed house came out to see. The crowd was jumping on their feet as Classified performed and the mosh pit went wild for Captain Morgan as he crowd surfed. Classified also found a fan that came up on stage and rapped beside him. It was pretty impressive how she kept up without breaking a sweat.

Silver and soda was my favourite Captain Morgan drink. Thanks Captain Morgan for a great night!

Check out drink recipes and more info at www.captainmorgan.com

A fire show to start things off

A crowd surfing Captain Morgan

Knowing all the lyrics, she went on stage to rap with Classified

Check out our ad-hoc exclusive backstage interview with Classified with the help of our friend, Joallore Alon (@clickflickca)

Full photo gallery here:

: Huge lineup outside before the concert starts

: A fire show to start things off

: Captain Morgan and Classified

: A crowd surfing Captain Morgan

: Knowing all the lyrics, she went on stage to rap with Classified

: Joallore Alon, Classified

: Canadian88, Classified

: Joallore Alon, Lindsay Taylor, Canadian88

At the Panda Ball with Chris Hadfield in support of WWF Canada

November 10, 2013
Nick Lee
charity, gala
Comments Off on At the Panda Ball with Chris Hadfield in support of WWF Canada

Commander Chris Hadfield | Photo: George Pimentel

On October 18, 2013, the 3rd annual Panda Ball was held at the Four Seasons Hotel starting with an elegant reception with 350 special guests including Commander Chris Hadfield, Steven Page, Kevin O’Leary and Ziya Tong. The former Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, was in attendance as well as he became CEO and President of WWF Canada recently in September 2013.

“It is incredibly gratifying to have community leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and great business minds all come together for WWF to create a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”, says David Miller, President and CEO, WWF Canada. “This year’s recipient of our environmental leader award, Michael de Pencier, embodies the passion and generosity that is critical to the success of WWF.”

As the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Steven Page pointed out how lucky we as Canadians are to be rich in wild life and wild places, so it is our responsibility to take care of them with pride.

Canada’s own highly-revered astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield, took to the podium as well and described how he saw Earth from outer space calling for everyone to do more to protect the planet. Guests at the evening also got to hear him sing and play guitar.

WWF Canada highlighted the importance of the Last Ice Area project, which aims to protect this important ice habitat for polar bears and other Arctic species.

Young singing sensation, Carly Rose Sonenclar, filled the room with emotion and Steven Page and his band ended the evening with a bang.

The evening exceeded the goal of raising $500,000 for WWF Canada in support of their important conservation work that affects us all.

ABOUT WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is Canada’s largest international conservation organization with the active support of more than 150,000 Canadians. We connect the power of a strong global network to on-the-ground conservation efforts across Canada, with offices in Vancouver, Prince Rupert,Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, St. John’s, and a growing presence in the Arctic. For more information visit wwf.ca