“Mad Hot Ballet: Dangerous Love,” the theme behind 2013’s annual fundraising gala hosted by the National Ballet of Canada, promised an evening of “Mad Hot” sizzle and drama on-and-off the stage… and the heat was certainly delivered. The evening was hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, kicking off in the amphitheatre with an incredible selection of one-night only short works hand-picked by the National Ballet’s Artistic Director, Karen Kain. This hour long performance featured a guest appearance by Svetlana Lunkina, former principal dancer of the renowned Boshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia.
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Corn tortillas topped with guacamole, salsa, pickled jalapenos, and pumpkin seeds
We got to preview the exciting dining experience at the brand new, highly-anticipated Origin North restaurant fitting in nicely at the premium boutique shopping mall, Bayview Village. This is the 3rd Origin location by internationally acclaimed chef and owner, Claudio Aprile: the first being at King and St James and the second being at Liberty Village. So those of you who are Origin fans in the midtown area can rejoice! While this new location at Bayview Village did not have their liquor license quite just at the time-of-dining, we enjoyed sipping our non-alcoholic Origin Crush cocktails while waiting to see what was in store for us.
The restaurant is 12,000 square feet and has over 300 seats. Origin North is nicely decorated, sophisticated and warm: its kitchen is open concept, allowing guests to observe as the food is being prepared; the golden glow of the Edison light bulbs creating a nice evening mood.
Truffled popcorn
The details and presentation that went into the dishes was phenomenal. The truffle popcorn was delicious; drizzled in butter and parmesan cheese.
The Ocean Tour provided a variety of seafood to taste: lobster, mussels, shrimp, tuna, scallop ceviche.
As for the bufala pear, a delicious combo of bufala, pear, pine nut, and honey. Everything worked well together: the mozzarella was soft and fresh, while the pear and honey work together to add an interesting sweetness to the dish.
The chinois duck wrap.
The beet salad. A colourful dish with large beet with goat cheese, pickled red onion, sherry dressing, yogurt and walnuts.
Crispy calamari, nicely battered calamari drizzled with caramelized peanut sauce.
It was such an amazing time that evening. The food was delicious, the service and atmosphere were all wonderful. Be sure to check it out as well!
Here’s a complete list of everything we ate that night!
Warm soft pretzel
Truffle popcorn
Masa chips
Ocean tour
Devilled eggs
Fiore eggplant
Fiore de latte
Bufala pear
Bufala tomato
Beet salad
Serrano ham
Sparta salad
Curried shrimp
Calamari with peanut brittle
Chinois duck wrap
Miso cod
NY strip
Tapioca pudding
Crunch bar
Second rush
Words and cell phone photos by Flora Tran. Other photos by Nick Lee.
“I’m honored and very excited to introduce Origin North to the vibrant community of Bayview Village. With every new restaurant I open we have something new to reveal,” says Claudio Aprile, head chef and owner, Orderfire. “Origin North will have many new signature dishes that will be exclusive to Bayview Village and as well the dishes that we have become so well known for. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there!”
2901 Bayview Ave, Suite 300
Bayview Village
Toronto, ON
www.originnorth.com
@rachelwalters128
I AM SPARTAA!! pic.twitter.com/3YnSHNZXr9
— Origin North (@originnorth) June 13, 2013
The ocean tour @originnorth @BVShops pic.twitter.com/0m1IW5TvRu
— Best of Toronto (@BestOfTorontoTV) June 12, 2013
This is happening tonight @originnorth. #oceantour. pic.twitter.com/4osvNxR3qW
— Origin North (@originnorth) June 14, 2013
And for those wondering about the liquor license…
It's official! We have booze for you.
— Origin North (@originnorth) June 18, 2013
New photos from Nick Lee
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- At the oyster bar
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- Oyster bar
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- Corn tortillas topped with guacamole, salsa, pickled jalapenos, and pumpkin seeds
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- Ice cream with dry ice
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- Corn tortillas topped with guacamole, salsa, pickled jalapenos, and pumpkin seeds
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- Hibiscus martini
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- Maple cotton candy with
Dinosaur on a pink leash
The Luminato Festival held an inaugural “Big Bang Bash” gala featuring the unveiling of the Dolls exhibition by celebrated fashion designers, Viktor&Rolf, at the Royal Ontario Museum’s Thorsell Spirit House. The eerie and fascinating exhibit is free from June 9th to June 30th as part of the Luminato Festival celebrations. Check out our previous feature on the dolls here.
So on the evening of the Big Bang Bash, the theme was pink with a pink carpet greeting guests at the ROM’s entrance and inside there was a gigantic pink dress in honour of Viktor&Rolf with a pink leash around the neck of the gigantic dinosaur exhibit, the Futalognkosaurus, in the main lobby. What a nice touch! Guests were encouraged to stick their hand into the giant dress and, to the shock of some guests, their hands came out with bracelets.
There was a cocktail reception to preview the new Dolls exhibition followed by a seated gala dinner with a live auction followed by an after party with a special kick-off performance by Martha Wash “The Original Weather Girl” and of course she did the Weather Girls song “It’s Raining Men” to the delight of the dancing audience.
Other attractions of the night included conveyor belts of delicious foods, special cocktails “The Bomb” and “The V&R”, a piano made into a bar, artists sketching portraits of guests, and Luminato Festival’s charismatic Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt wearing glittering gold pants!
Jeanne Beker
right: Jorn Weisbrodt
Martha Wash, “The Original Weather Girl”
Some tweets from the evening
.@JPriceLuminato and her husband on the pink carpet! #BBBash pic.twitter.com/9S8RCPYZFj
— Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 8, 2013
Excited to be at the #bbbash! Did I just see #WillemDafoe? pic.twitter.com/NrLX3LN4XK
— Tracy Van Kalsbeek (@TVanKalsbeek) June 8, 2013
@Luminato when at #BBBash stop by my big doll to get a gift!! @Viktor_and_Rolf @mcnabbroick @jeffryroick pic.twitter.com/YrRQMp6LYE
— Farley Chatto (@FarleyChatto) June 8, 2013
OH on the pink carpet: "Jorn, those pants!" – Willem Dafoe #BBBash #Luminato
— Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 8, 2013
#Luminato's Jorn Weisbrodt and @JPriceLuminato at the #BBBash gala, sketched by @finalfashion! #latergram http://t.co/N2yqdfmN5r
— Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 10, 2013
"Do we have any forecasters in the house tonight?!" Martha Wash #ItsRainingMen #BBBash #Luminato
— Luminato Festival (@Luminato) June 9, 2013
Captivated by these eyes & ruffles. "Hate" Black Light Collection Spring/Summer 1999 Collection. #BBbash pic.twitter.com/dsixLBsrxN
— Karen Kelar (@KarenKelar) June 9, 2013
#BBBash piano bar..literally, a piano bar. #luminato pic.twitter.com/ppzbp6iCAd
— Natasha U (@nudo2) June 9, 2013
ABOUT VIKTOR&ROLF
Viktor&Rolf are widely recognized and respected for their conceptual glamour and provocative creations. Viktor&Rolf have staged their signature collections at spectacular shows in Paris for over twenty years while their fashion label has grown worldwide. Grounded in Womenswear since their first couture collection in Spring/Summer 1998, Viktor&Rolf have a meticulous dedication to their craft always playing with scale and proportion. Their first Menswear show in Autumn/Winter 2003 marked their successful expansion into the Menswear arena with their sophisticated yet ironic Monsieur collections. Viktor&Rolf offer complimentary lifestyle products such as luxurious accessories, Viktor&Rolf Vision and a catalogue of fragrances including FLOWERBOMB and SPICEBOMB. At their core, is the undying vision to create spectacular beauty and unexpected elegance. Visit viktor-rolf.com.
ABOUT LUMINATO FESTIVAL
Luminato Festival is the international multi-arts festival for people open to having art change their outlook on the world. For ten days each June, the Luminato Festival transforms theatres, parks and public spaces across the city and creates a home for artists to come play, share and create. When the unexpected meets the transformative, that’s a Luminato moment. Luminato gratefully acknowledges the generous support and vision of its Founding Luminaries, SuperNova donors, and Patron Circle Members. The Festival would not be possible without the support of our Partner in Creativity, L’Oréal Canada. Luminato also proudly acknowledges the support of its Founding Government Partner the Province of Ontario, as well as the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Arts Council. Visit luminato.com.
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- Martha Wash
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- left: Jorn Weisbrodt
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- Jeanne Beker
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- right: Shinan Govani
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- Kimberly Underwood, Anthony Lacavera, CEO Wind Mobile
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- right: Jorn Weisbrodt
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- right: Jorn Weisbrodt
Get set for another one of our favourite charity events that deliver huge on energy and fun! The highly anticipated Sinai Soiree happening at the one and only Casa Loma, Toronto’s historic castle. The 1920’s themed fete will be packed with young professional charitable party-goers with cocktails flowing, open bar, and gourmet canapes with glitz, glamour and elegance in the style of the Great Gatsby era. Get set for a VIP cocktail party with a live jazz band at 8pm followed by 9pm general admission.
More info and tickets are available at www.thesinaisoiree.com.
LAST YEAR’S SINAI SOIREE
Young professionals gathered 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. The event raised $67,296 for Mount Sinai Hospital with more than 400 guests in attendance.
Here are some of our photos from last year’s Sinai Soiree and video by Corbin Visual.
Video by Corbin Visual
ABOUT FUTURE SINAI
Future Sinai is a division of the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, a group of young professionals who work to advance, promote and fundraise for Mount Sinai Hospital. The mantra is that it is never too early to give back. Through fundraising events and initiatives, like the Sinai Soiree, Future Sinai will support the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary’s $4.5- million women’s health campaign. Not only will it be a forum for meeting other inspiring people who believe in philanthropy, it will also be a place to meet young professionals and new friends within the community.
For more information on how you can become a member and support Future Sinai, visit www.futuresinai.ca
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
Gabe Gonda, Arts and Life Editor, Globe and Mail with his son
It was a great night at the Harry Rosen store in Yorkville with wine tastings from Le Clos Jordanne, a Canadian boutique Burgundian-style winery, that also held a tasting last year at the menswear store. But this year was even better with the addition of the fashion show inspired by Father’s Day entitled “Top of the Pops”. It was probably the quickest fashion show I’ve ever witnessed at what seemed like a whirlwind of 5 minutes. These guys are all about efficiency. But it was a fun-filled evening with mingling and activities including “man-icures” by Bode Spa, shoe shines by EF Walter, and appetizers by Eatertainment. Then guests got excited when Kirk Pickersgill from Greta Constantine arrived with Dan and Dean Caten, the celebrity Canadian designing duo, DSquared. Photo ops all around!
The men from the fashion show included:
David Rocco, Celebrity Chef
Robert Herjavec, High-Tech Entrepreneur, Dragon’s Den
Andrew Richmond, La Carnita
Klaus Nienkamper, Interior Design Star
Gabe Gonda, Arts and Life Editor, The Globe and Mail
Del Rollo, Director of Hospitality, Constellation Brands
Adrion Smith, Argonauts Alumni
Mohit Rajhans, Film Critic, CityNews/Omni TV
Dsquared with Kirk Pickersgill (Greta Constantine)
Pay Chen, Natalie Deane, Veronica Chail
Adrion Smith, Argonauts alumni
David Rocco, celebrity chef
Some tweets from the evening
Studly! #lcjxharry MT @mohitsmovies: @delrollo @narrativepr @davidroccosvita @globearts @la_carnita @robertherjavec pic.twitter.com/oFHXFdTQC8”
— Narrative PR (@NarrativePR) June 11, 2013
Dean and Dan of DSQUARED2 at Harry Rosen Bloor St. For #lcjxharry http://t.co/gTUf4zMPoz
— Harry Rosen Menswear (@harryroseninc) June 12, 2013
Cheering on super MOH-del and super dad @mohitsmovies with @natalie_deane @MyCityMuseApp @PayChen at #LCJxHarry pic.twitter.com/33yEYqSGMD
— Veronica Chail (@veronicachail) June 12, 2013
For more info about the wine visit www.leclosjordanne.com
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- Gabe Gonda, Arts and Life Editor, Globe and Mail with his son
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- Mohit Rajhans, Film Critic, CityNews/Omni TV
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- Adrion Smith, Argonauts alumni
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- Adrion Smith, Argonauts alumni
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- Adrion Smith, Argonauts alumni
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- Adrion Smith, Argonauts alumni
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- Andrew Richmond, La Carnita
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- Andrew Richmond, La Carnita
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- Andrew Richmond, La Carnita
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- Klaus Nienkamper, Interior Design Star
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- Del Rollo, Director of Hospitality, Constellation Brands
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- David Rocco, celebrity chef
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- David Rocco, celebrity chef
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- DJ Brains4Brkfst
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- Pay Chen, Natalie Deane, Veronica Chail
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- David Rocco getting a shoe shine
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- DSquared with Tanya
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- Kirk Pickersgill (Greta Constantine), Tanya
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- Kirk Pickersgill (Greta Constantine)
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- Kirk Pickersgill, Dsquared, Omar
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- Dsquared with Kirk Pickersgill (Greta Constantine)
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- Del Rollo
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- Del Rollo
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- Robert Herjavec
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- Veronica Chail Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Robert Herjavec Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Andrew Richmond, La Carnita Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
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- Photo: Narrative PR
