Year: 2010

TIFF 2010 – RealTVfilms Social Media Lounge

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RealTVfilms Social Media Lounge presented by The Cutting Room was another gifting lounge I visited during the Toronto International Film Festival. It also followed the Festival and parked itself in the Abode Public Residence, close to the Bell Lightbox. Chic Little Devil, LA’s largest style house joined the lounge for their first appearance in Canada. They were on hand to dress celebrities for red carpet and parties during the festival. RealTVfilms host, Samantha Gutstadt, was on hand to interview celebs. Justin Rousseau from Brennen Demelo Studio was the lounge’s official hair stylist and Caroline Grenier was the makeup artist. Sponsors for the RealTVFilms Social Media Lounge included: TChad, Ketel One, Grazie Restaurant, Inspire Cosmetics, L’Oréal Professionnel, Dearfoams footwear, Oshun Spa, vitaminwater, Les Pieces Uniques, The FHE Group, You Rock Guitars, Winks Eyelash Boutique, Feri Designer Lines and Rowenta Beauty. The You Rock Guitars were very cool. It’s like Rockband but you play cords and there are strings. I had the chance to schedule an appointment to get my lashes done with the Winks Eyelash Boutique. …

Alessi Watches Fall Winter 2010 – 2011

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I love Alessi and in addition to quirky kitchen products they have two new watch designs for fall 2010. Space-bimba (top row) is a product of designer Miriam Mirri and retails for $163. It’s to look like an alien and I think that’s very cute. NEKO (bottom row) is designed by Pritzer prize winner, SANAA. It’s a very simple watch but I like to think those are devil horns. It retails for $173. You can get the watches at the Alessi store in Montreal(2085 Rue Crescent) or online at www.alessi-shop.com. images: courtesy of Alessi

MAC x Disney – Venomous Villains, the looks are out.

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I previously mentioned the upcoming Venomous Villains collection from MAC Cosmetics. The colour palette and product shots are now available. I’m dying over the nail polish. It’s out at all MAC stores on September 30, 2010. Prices range from $15 – $30. Sleeping Beauty got her prince, and Snow White may have been the fairest in the land, but when it comes to classic fairy tales, good girls are so cliché. What really captures our attention are the vampy devilish divas that always manage to cast a spell over everyone they meet. In the spirit of the unabashedly cunning seductress, M•A•C Cosmetics has collaborated with Disney to created four separate colour collections that pay homage to a cast of characters who aren’t shy about being very, very bad. There’s the incomparable Cruella De Vil, the infamous London heiress hell-bent on obtaining one very couture fur coat; the jealous, aging supermodel that is Snow White’s Evil Queen; Maleficent, a snubbed evil fairy whose vengeance put Sleeping Beauty to bed without supper; and the devious Dr. Facilier, …

TIFF 2010 – The IT Lounge

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NKPR Inc. returns for a fifth time to the Toronto International Film Festival with the IT Lounge. It moved south with the festival and was held at the new NKPR head office, just steps away from the Bell Lightbox. Toronto Interior Design Group partnered with NKPR to turn the office space into the IT Lounge. This year the lounge partnered with Paul Haggis’ Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) in order to raise money for Haiti. The lounge featured laptops from Rogers with mobile internet built-in. They are Internet ready because of the integration but I don’t know if I like the idea of having my machine that committed Rogers. I got a media pass that gave me access to the lounge and these computers during the festival. I could write posts or check email, etc. I was running around too much to take advantage of this. Sponsors of the IT Lounge included: Fila, RW&CO., Andrea Professionals, Ardell Lashes, Stila Cosmetics, Moroccanoil, Esprit, Goody, Sharpie, Dagmar Jewellery, Diane Lai skin care line, Kobo eReader, Baker …

TIFF 2010 – Aromachology

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I have meant to stop by Aromachology but our timing has been off. Aromachology is a personalized perfume shop that allows the customer to create their own special scent. They also have candles that make great gifts.  The idea of creating my own personal scent is very appealing and daunting. I like so many things and trying to put myself in one box is never going to work. I look at my fragrance collection and it’s all over the place, women’s, men’s, floral, oriental or musky.  Aromachology had a pop up store at the Four Seasons during  TIFF and I stopped by to check it out. Basically there are 5 base scents to choose from: Sophisticated & Sensual Floral, a Totally Edible Gourmand, an Exotic Spicy Oriental, a Clean & Fresh or a Bold & Brisk Woodsy. Then you make a choice between 15 top notes to add to the base: Creative – Juniper Berry and Carnation; Inspiring – Orange and Lemon; Spontaneous – Tuberose and Citrus; Graceful – Jasmine and Egyptian Musk; Courageous – …

TIFF 2010 – Diesel Lounge

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The coolest lounge I visited was the Diesel Lounge in the Intercontinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel.  It wasn’t a super swagged out gifting lounge like many of the others I visited.  Talent was gifted jeans and then had a portrait taken by Raphael Mazzucco.  This was the extent of the swag but the lounge itself was a nice place for people to get away, grab some food and a drink.  The Diesel Lounge had a fully stocked bar and table full of food for guests.  During the evenings they barbecued on the gorgeous balcony that overlooks the Intercontinental’s courtyard restaurant. The decor was made up of items from Diesel’s home decor/interior line.  Some of these items are available at the flagship shop in Yorkville. Monday morning, I returned to the Diesel Lounge and was treated to Champagne Brunch while we watched the web broadcast of the Diesel Black Gold Spring-Summer 2011 collection in New York. I finally was able to take advantage of the bar and food. It was a nice way to start the week, …

TIFF 2010 – Fresh Goods at The Tastemakers Lounge

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The 6th annual Tastemakers Lounge has returned to the Intercontinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel for the Toronto International Film Festival. Rock-It Promotions Inc produces this gifting suite and this year’s theme is Fresh Goods. Toronto design firm Marla Brown Events took care of the decor of the suite. Rawlicious, Toronto only raw food restaurant provided lunch boxes to guest and a super tasty Cocoon Macaroon. Sponsors of the Tastemakers Lounge included: MMCrystal, Bamjamz, Damn Heels, Guats Active. Life. Style., Indeed Laboratories Inc., Jessica Jensen, Joe Fresh Beauty, Keep Leaf, Mattel Inc., Wescan Optical and Me + You. It’s good to see the Tastemakers Lounge supporting local talent and majority of the sponsors were Canadian. It was strange to see the new Mattel games, they are so much more advanced now even Pictionary, it’s a man. The Tastemakers Lounge had talent like Edward Norton, Colin Firth, David Schwimmer, Minnie Driver, Peter Fonda, Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Josh Hartnett and Geoffrey Rush come through. Many of them signed Mattel games that will be auctioned off and a portion …

TIFF 2010 – Bask-It-Style Media Day

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Media arrived at The Fairmont Royal York’s Prime Minister’s Suite to preview the products that are available in the Bask-It-Style gift bags. They were then distributed to visiting Toronto International Film Festival talent including Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox.  Jsquared2 Public Relations produces Bask-It-Style and has returned for its second year. Media and magazine sponsors for the lounge included FrontRowMag.com and Polysh Magazine. Pink Twig Floral Boutique decorated the Prime Minister’s Suite with beautiful flowers. Gifting lounges have a standard format, you go around to each booth, talk to a rep and move on. Sometimes you get product at the booth and other times it’s all contained in a bag you leave with. The Prime Minister’s Suite is a nice but seem a bit dated compared to the newer and slicker hotel offerings out there. Sponsors in the Bask-It-Style gift bag are: Author Adrienne Kress (Scholastic Canada), CARGO, Coty Inc, DK Publishing, emerginC, ESKA Natural Spring Water, Foxy Originals, , Author Lesley Livingston (HarperCollins), Me + You, Mind, Ball and Soul by Farhan Dhalla, Mistura …

LAX Diaries – Day 4

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When I got up Monday morning I appreciated the SoCal sun. It doesn’t usually come out till after noon so you can sleep in and not feel guilty about missing the day. The weather by the ocean was overcast with clear breaks. When it’s sunny, it’s fantastic and you fall in love. Hell, when it’s overcast you fall in love; it doesn’t rain. I decided to check out the shopping at the 3rd Street Promenade. It was very close to the ocean. I first stopped at the Le Pain Quotidien and had Organic Red Quinoa salad with arugula, chickpeas and artichoke. Paul and Lauren’s original choice for breakfast/lunch was closed. This lunch put me on a quinoa kick and I’m making salad often at home using both regular and red quinoa. 3rd Street Promenade is pretty much all chain stores. That is something I noticed a lot of in my travels. I didn’t make a list of cool shops to visit before I left and I regret that. I really want to see what independent …

TIFF 2010 – Aveda Experience Centre

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Some people have an immediate positive effect on me that usual end up with me having a huge crush. They can be men and women because it’s about the energy they radiate, the knowledge they hold and most importantly their passion. Ray Civello is one of those people. He is the President of Aveda Canada and has salons, spas and stores across the country. I visited the new Aveda Experience Centre at 155 Cumberland Avenue. It carries the full range of lifestyle products, makeup, hair and skin care. Aveda is a line that is plant derived and natural. They’ve been around for 30 years and employ the top scientists in plant-based cosmetics to come up with their products. Guests are welcome to complimentary hand and scalp massages and makeup touch-ups. I had a hand massage and it was quite relaxing. “We chose Yorkville because it is the epicentre of errand-running and multi-tasking for busy urbanites; our Experience Centre provides a refuge from the hustle and bustle with an opportunity to be nurtured and revitalized.”, says …