Comments Off on Concert Photos from déVah Quartet’s EP Release Party at Tattoo Rock Parlour
Last night it was all about the 4 amazing young ladies known as the déVah Quartet and rightfully so. Recently coming off the success of a Kickstarter campaign they hosted their EP release party at Tattoo Rock Parlour with an incredible high-energy performance.
Their talent with the electric strings is interesting and intense. Classically trained, contemporarily relevant. I’ve seen how far they’ve come in a few months since my first encounter with them at the ISES Toronto Steampunk Gala and the CSE Star Awards gala.
Even before Kickstarter and this EP release they’ve racked up accolades galore including the title of Yamaha Artists in 2011 and working with big names such as Kanye West, K-OS, Feist, Barbara Streisand, Peter Gabriel, Diana Krall, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and many more.
Keep an eye out for deVah Quartet and when you get the opportunity to watch a performance, make sure you seize it! Check them out at www.devahquartet.com
Here’s some of my photos. Scroll down for the full gallery from the EP release party.
Here’s a sample of their live performance last year of one of their original songs “Tell Me How You Really Feel”:
Check out the full photo gallery below from deVah Quartet’s EP Release party.
Comments Off on In Food News: Origin North, Valdez, Belly Busters, Mavrik, Seafood for Thought, Crave TO
Staying in Toronto this long weekend? Here are some new/refreshing eats to check out including Origin North at Bayview Village in North York and Valdez, Belly Buster and Mavrik Wine Bar downtown. Happy Canada Day!
NORTH YORK A preview of the tastes at Origin North
The highly acclaimed Origin North by Claudio Aprile opens at Bayview Village. We have more photos to come from the grand opening.
KING WEST
The late-night food choices at King West grow with the addition of Valdez and Belly Buster Submarines.
Valdez
In the old Cheval nightclub, check out the new Latino street fare Valdez including fresh ceviche and mojitos. Watch for the Argentinian BBQ specials they will be having on their rooftop patio.
Belly Busters Submarines
With 38 years in North York, Belly Busters opens their first expansion at King and Spadina.
QUEEN WEST Mavrik Wine Bar
Mavrik Wine Bar was established in 2011 but they’ve refreshed everything and it’s worth checking out their unique approach of pairing wine with tacos.
EVENT RECAP Seafood for Thought
One of my favourite events does it again, the Seafood for Thought event is heaven for foodies and for fans of the Ocean Wise sustainable seafood cause. If you’ve never been, it’s definitely worth every penny!
Seafood for Thought
UPCOMING FOOD EVENT Save the Date for Crave TO
You heard it here first! The second iteration of Crave TO is set for Saturday, August 17th. The official announcement will come from CraveTO next Tuesday.
Comments Off on Photos from the Luminato Festival’s Biotherm Homme Closing Party
Rufus Wainwright, Isabelle Randez, Jorn Weisbrodt
Although the Luminato Festival officially ended Sunday at the Luminato Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square on June 23rd, the official closing party was held at Andrew Richards Designs at King East on the prior Saturday night, June 22nd. Refreshments were supplied by Open Wine and Mill Street. We also had some Drambuie cocktails including their Drambuie Ginger Crusta and Rusty Nail, just like from the opening party. Highlights of the night included a Biotherm Homme commercial remake, where guests got to look in the one-way mirror and get recorded while a bunch of women used their hands to massaged the man’s (or woman’s) face. It was great fun for all seeing the results on the TV screens. On the other end of the big room at Andrew Richards Designs, there was a photoshoot set up with a surfboard. Guests tweeted for a chance to win prizes like Mike Tyson boxing gloves. The barbecue outside at ARD’s patio area was a nice touch with ribs, corn and hamburgers.
Guests in attendance included: singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, Jorn Weisbrodt (Luminato Festival’s Artistic Director), Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene), and Greta Constantine’s Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill.
Brendan Canning, Broken Social Scene
Greta Constantine: Stephen Wong, Kirk Pickersgill
Garrett Tonge, Marta Tryshak
Here’s a guy getting the Biotherm Homme treatment at the Luminato Festival closing party
Here’s the Biotherm Homme commercial I got to relive at the closing party. I wish I had the tentacle treatment, though!
Comments Off on Save the Date: The food fest CraveTO is set for August 17th
You heard it here first! Foodies who enjoyed the first CraveTO food fest or those who missed it can save the date for “#CraveTWO” on Saturday, August 17th, 2013. The official announcement of the date will be found on www.CraveTO.com
WHERE: Honest Ed’s Back Alley, 581 Bloor Street West
There will be 2 ticket options.
CraveTO Day: Noon – 5pm $14.50 per ticket
CraveTO Night: 7pm – 11pm $17.50 per ticket
Comments Off on The unique Polo for Heart experience in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation
For this unique occasion for Polo for Heart, a charity event supporting Heart & Stroke Foundation, I arrived early in the morning when the gates opened at the Toronto Polo Club in Richmond Hill. With the rows of billboards lining the side of the road heading in, it was evident that this was going to be a special experience kicking off the first of 3 days of the annual Polo for Heart charity event.
The boutique pop-up shops were a unique sight to see including the beautiful, decorated ascot hats for sale, perfect for the fancy occasion of watching polo. There was also art for sale, a Lion’s Club BBQ, and a kids play area. I headed over to the other side of the large polo field by walking across the big field (although shuttle service is available) to get to the Ritz Carlton Polo pavilion tent where there were many amazing items up for silent auction (including a table for 10 for next year’s Polo for Heart) as well as all the dining tables and bars. There was also an Upper Canada Mall photo booth with a chance to win a Michael Kors purse.
The rules of polo were explained to all guests, so it was a really accessible introductory event even for those who know nothing about the sport. The opening ceremonies started off with the parade of polo players trotting in on their horses escorted by many well-trained hound dogs from the Eglinton Hunt Club. It was quite the fanfare. Then it was time to start the polo match. It was a friendly demonstration rather than competitive for everyone’s safety due to the rain the night prior making the grass damp in some areas. It’s quite a spectacle to take it all in while enjoying the lunch buffet.
During halftime there was the traditional divot stomp where spectators gathered onto the field with a glass of bubbly while flipping over divots to help cover up the holes in the grass. However, because of the rain there weren’t many divots to flip over. But it was still fun to all gather and clink the glassware (plastic for safety, of course) with everyone on the field. This was followed by skydivers who landed on to the polo field with a Canadian flag and Heart & Stroke Foundation banner.
The fashion show featured outfits from Upper Canada Mall retail stores. It may surprise some Torontonians that this destination mall in Newmarket has well-known retailers such as Target, Apple, The Bay, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, Brandy Melville (coming soon) and more.
Basically there were so many activities going on at Polo for Heart that the day seemed to go by instantly. It was just that much fun and a day that I’ll never forget.
Special thanks to Idea Workshop and Upper Canada Mall for inviting Tanya from FashionEcstasy and myself out for this exclusive opportunity to discover this great event. Polo for Heart is definitely a must-attend experience! It’s a memorable gift idea for Father’s Day. Also, the Toronto Polo Club has team-building programs for organizations who are looking for a special team-building experience.
right: Lloyd Robertson
Skydiving by the Descenders Skydivers
Check out CTV’s Lloyd Robertson’s video from last year talking speaking about Polo for Heart and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
ABOUT POLO FOR HEART
For over 34 years, Polo for Heart has brought players from around the world to The Gormley Polo Centre in Richmond Hill to participate in the world’s oldest team sport. You can witness the power and the passion of polo at this 3-day event featuring two international polo matches each day. Your day in the country will be as equally exciting for what takes place off the polo field – boutiques, silent auction; half time entertainment, the traditional champagne divot stomp; children’s village and the perfect polo picnic and best hat contests.
Celebrating 34 years of fundraising, this event has raised more than $5 million for heart and stroke related charities. For more info visit poloforheart.org
