All posts filed under: Events

Opera Atelier presents Acis and Galatea, October 30 – November 7, 2010

There were a lot of kids at the dress rehearsal of Opera Atelier’s Acis and Galatea. Through the magic of twitter I found myself with two tickets to the event. I like opera so I accepted the invitation to check it out. I can’t resist Greek tragedy and Handel together. It’s my intellectual crack. Acis and Galatea, Handel’s ravishing pastorale, depicts Ovid’s tale of the water nymph Galatea and her doomed love for the Arcadian shepherd Acis. The opera weaves together a story of startling sensuality and tragedy blended with an ironic sense of humour – told through some of Handel’s most sublime music. My knowledge of Opera Atelier was very little before the show. I knew of their existence and that was about it. We were warned that this was a dress rehearsal and that if necessary the actors will stop mid performance, etc. It was exciting to get this behind the scenes look at what happens in the days before a premier. I learned that the kids were from their education program. They …

Sequins & Stilettos – October 15, 2010

Put on a little black dress and a fierce pair of stilettos and join us on Friday, Oct. 15 at Nyood (1096 Queen St. West, Queen W/Dovercourt) for Sequins & Stilettos: Designers vs DJs,  the launch of the Fashion Collective! Celebrate designers Flor Serrano, Ildiko Rostas and Erin Summer of Coco Boudoir (winner of FFW’s Cheap Is The New Chic design contest). Each designer has teamed with a DJ to create a stylish, musical collaboration based on their collections! The FC: Fashion Collective – in partnership with Frugal Fashion Week (FFW) - celebrates local, emerging designers and works with designers to present runway events, installations and FFW’s new Trunk & Eat series. The Fashion Collective plays an active role in supporting and promoting Canada’s design talent! Doors open at 7pm for a Cupcake & Cocktail reception. The show begins at 8pm. A Designer Reception will follow. Guests receive a gift upon arrival!

Hudson Collection Social

The Hudson COLLECTION launched at Holt Renfrew with a Social that included a DJ, mocktails and models. Hudson reps were on hand to talk about this exclusive to Holt Renfrew collection with customers and help them discover the perfect pair. It was my first time seeing the collection in person and I’m a fan. I even purchased a great tank top with an asymmetrical tail on it. It reminds me of coattails and I can’t wait to bust it out. I’m thinking a pre-LGFW debut or perhaps during LGFW. My favourite pieces of the collection were the D.I.Y style denim that incorporated leather into waistbands and hems. Of course these were the most expensive denim pieces, ha. My eyes and hands are drawn to expensive. There are lots of skinny leg options in the collection. The tops were versatile. The cowl neck long sleeved top and the tank can be worn in many different ways. I live for stuff like that. I loved the jackets, in particular the wool jacket with the large cowl that …

Kinect for Xbox 360 Experience Centre

I raved about the Kinect for Xbox 360 when I played it at the X’10 Canada: Xbox 360 Holiday Preview Event. Now the public can experience the Kinect at the new Kinect for Xbox 360 Experience Centre on Yonge Street. I was invited to the private launch party where I got to drink beers and play Kinect for 4 hours. IT WAS AMAZING! I really can’t think of a better way to spend an evening. I predict lots of drinking and Dance Central parties once I get my hands on the Kinect for my place. I brought my friend Mark Rabo ( who runs Gamercamp with Jaime Woo) along. I think we played pretty much every game available to us. We were sweating like crazy as the Kinect isn’t a passive gaming experience. You are moving around and if you are crazy like me you’re flaying around too. Thank god for the beer. I love the Volleyball game. It brought back memories of big air and spikes on the high school volleyball team. Le Sigh. …

ECCO Styled – October 2010

During October ECCO will have a traveling installation called “ECCO styled” that will stop at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Sherway Gardens and the Toronto Eaton Centre. You can look at it like a little dress up installation. There will be a a wall of ECCO shoes and wardrobe options. Stylists will provide personal consultations utilizing the Fall 2010 ECCO line. You can get hair and make-up touch-ups so that you look great for the photographer that is there to capture the moment. I’ve been asked to participate in this installation and I’ll be at the Eaton Centre on October 15, 2010. You can join in on the fun on twitter by using the #ECCOStyled hashtag. Post your ECCOStyled self. In the spring I attended the Fall 2010 preview for Ecco and I was very, very skeptical.  I didn’t think there would be anything I liked.  At this point I hadn’t ever seen a shoe at this store I liked during the rare and random times I stepped foot in the store.  I was wrong and ECCO …

Holt Renfrew x Marc by Marc Jacobs x VisionSpring Launch Party

Holt Renfrew and Marc by Marc Jacobs have teamed up to design a limited edition tote bag.  A portion of the cost of this Holt Renfrew exclusive will be donated to VisionSpring, a charity that provides low-cost eyeglasses to workers and artisans in the developing work to see. I attended the launch party and learned that this tote raised $80,000 dollars for VisionSpring. The program exceeded everyone’s expectations. People who reserved can pick up their tote bags at Holt Renfrew’s across the country. You can purchase the $48 tote at Holt Renfrew locations from September 30, 2010 on a first come first serve basis. Who knows if they are sold out at this point in time. The visuals team really went to town with the tote theme. I decided to try out the Blackberry Torch’s camera and all the photos you see here are from it. I received a evaluation Torch from RIM two weeks ago almost. I’m loving it.  The photos are much better than my Curve 8330 since it’s a 5MP camera.  It’s …

The Last Magazine 5th Issue Launch via People’s Revolution

I got my first email from People’s Revolution during the TIFF madness. I was shocked.  I’ve pretty much neglected NYFW because of TIFF but I just had to post about my first contact with this famous company. Thankfully, they sent me pictures of pretty fashion people who were at the fifth issue launch for The Last Magazine. Last night, the fashion elite sought shelter at The Bunker for the launch of The Last Magazine fifth issue with Kanon Organic Vodka. Designers, editors and VIPs sipped on custom Kanon cocktails while enjoying music by DJs Jon Paul Phillips and James Penfold . Notable guest include; The Last Magazine creators Magnus Berger and Tenzin Wild, Phillip Lim, Richard Chai, Dree Hemingway, Alexander Wang, Alexis Bledel, Chelsea Leyland, Johan Lindeberg, Vanessa Traina, Joseph Altuzarra, Chad Muska, Anja Rubik and many others. It’s definitely weird getting an email from Stefanie after watching her on Kell on Earth.

El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa – October 2, 2010 – January 2, 2011

El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa The exhibition is a 40-year career retrospective of Ghanaian visual artist El Anatsui and will be his first solo exhibition in Canada. El Anatsui is the centrepiece of the Museum’s upcoming Season of Africa, an offering of exhibitions, new permanent installations, and a series of public programs and events inspired by African art and culture. El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa will be on display in the Roloff Beny Gallery on Level 4 of the ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal from October 2, 2010 to January 2, 2011. El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa is a career retrospective of the internationally renowned artist. Best known for monumental wall sculptures made from discarded bottle tops, Ghanaian-born artist El Anatsui, has transformed often-overlooked and discarded materials into monumental visual statements that reference global, local and personal histories, as well as traditional Ghanaian beliefs. “The ICC is thrilled to present the striking work of world-renowned artist El Anatsui and to offer …

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project with Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker

I’m sure the generators dying as the lead singer from USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) started to play his guitar wasn’t part of the plan. I stood there in shock.  The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project concert with USS isn’t starting off on the right foot. I felt terrible for the band but being professionals he sat down on the edge of the stage, gathered everyone closer and began an acoustic set. It seems he was just pulling songs out of the air to keep the crowd entertained. It was great to see them making the most out of a horrible situation. I felt bad for the band but I got a kick out of the Techs freaking the hell out. This type of thing can’t be good for business. They were running around doing their best to get things started again. After five minutes of darkness I wondered if they would be able to get things going again. It wasn’t looking good until the 20 minute mark when the roar of the generator filled the quiet …

TIFF 2010 – DPA Gifting Lounge

The InterContinental Toronto Centre on Front Street welcomed the Dubois, Pelin and Associates (DPA) Gifting Lounge during the Toronto International Film Festival. The Presidential Suite, which has this amazing wrap around terrace and fantastic views, was the location. Sponsors for the DPA Gifting Lounge included: MICALLA, FeenieBeadie, ANZIE, Ruby Wow!, Royal Blush, Glass Harp Gallery and Susan Hood designs, Michique, Roots, LouLou Bell, SwissTEC, Imperfect Indulgence, RevitaLash, Sula Beauty, Bathing Belle Swimwear, Snoflake, Barbara Bela, Sodaliscious, Turbine, Eva Varro, Pearl Resorts & Spa, Jumeirah Hotels and Resort Kusmi Teas, FUZE, The Berry Company, Galloping Cows, Ridiculous by Jilli, Manitobah Mukluks, Marchon Eyewear, AMC, Author Ann Kaplan and Lomography. There were a lot of great Canadian brands at the lounge, too many to talk about individually. It was great to see Canadian content getting pushed to the celebs. ANZIE jewellery initially invited me to the DPA Gifting Lounge so I could get a look at the collection. I was familiar with the brand as I’ve seen them at Holt Renfrew before. I didn’t know that they …