Stay Current with W4W Toronto and Friends…
W4W Toronto will now be posting to Twitter only.
Staying current and relevant cannot happen when one is tied to a laptop, or home computer. We have our iPhones, Blackberry’s and Palm Pre’s and we have been Twittering fools!
So bye bye to our W4W Toronto blog(s), but you can still check out our many wonderful previous posts right here. We are now exclusive. If you fit the criteria, ask to follow us on Twitter @ msjag. Otherwise, find out about the juicy side of Toronto by following our friends @ urbantoronto, or the yummy side of T.O. @ chowhoundgta. Nurses please follow agencynurse_rn for the 411 in the GTA. They will also retweet some of our best posts.
W4WT, getting into the mix of things, and talking about it while it’s happening.
W4W Toronto
LG Fashion Week in Toronto – Fall 2009
Review:
Show Love was the theme, and the gathering had, fashionistas, designers, models, and style enthusiasts going wild.
See all the videos here , thanks to the U of Toronto students, Chris and Jessica of “Istoica “.
W4W Toronto highlights:
Lucian Matis , offered up a very commercial, but wearable collection that was whimsically a bit over the top. Also, interesting debut for Jamaican menswear designer Carlton Brown, dancehall music subbed out in the video for copyright reasons. Linda Lundstrom has come all the way back with a lovely collection.
SHOW LOVE! ~ LG Fashion Week Toronto ~ Fall 2009
March 16th to 21st, 2009
- The Project Runway Final – live inside the tent on Thursday. As you may or may not know, W4W Toronto has not really been feeling the uncouth tent set-up at Nathan Phillips Square these past few seasons.
However, with runway shows costing designers up to $20,000 to produce, some labels are looking for more inexpensive ways of showing their collection during this economic crisis. Hence a few labels are opting to show in nightclubs . Brant House, Cheval, and Maro are the usual locations, with more scheduled on the way.
At The Bay – a free 8-piece gift with any Estée Lauder purchase of $32 or more…
The Bay is offering a free 8-piece gift with any Estée Lauder purchase of $32 or more (worth “over $70″).
Choose your repair serum you want: a 7-day supply of Perfectionist (CP+) wrinkle lifting serum or
Idealist Pore minimizing skin refinisher. Choose your lip and eye shades.
Plus get all 3 cosmetics bags!
Make your free gift even bigger by adding three full-size Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipsticks
with accessory cases with any Estée Lauder purchase of $75 or more.
You’ll also get a $20 Nygård collection coupon with your Estée Lauder gift, and receive 5 x HBC
Rewards points on any Estée Lauder purchase of $50 or more (before taxes).
Offer ends Sunday, March 22, 2009. In store only.
Sears Elizabeth Arden Gift with purchase of $38 or more…
…get a 9 piece gift set. A “$140 value”. Online only. This is an annual promotion between Liz and Sears.
A Valentine’s Getaway
“An Oasis of Tranquility in Toronto’s Backyard”
Millcroft Inn & Spa
- 55 John St.
- Alton
- 519-941-8111 • 800-383-3976
Call now, this romantic winter retreat is sure to be sold out because VD is on a Saturday this year.
Less than an hour Northwest of Downtown Toronto, the historic Millcroft Inn & Spa is a refreshing blend of rural serenity and sophisticated hospitality. This former wool knitting mill is one of the most congenial getaways in southern Ontario, thanks to its historic ambiance, rural setting and dining room (under chef Roberto Fracchioni). There are 12 kilometres of trails winding through 100 acres of wooded grounds, millponds and gardens. The two-storey croft suites feature wood-burning fireplaces and patios. The ample spa offers 17 treatment areas, including the Ofuro room, with its Japanese soaking tub, and a couple’s room with a double tub. An indoor pool, whirlpool, and cross country skis, snowshoes are all available as well.
Valentine’s Package:
To accommodate busy schedules, the inn offers two Valentine’s week getaway packages, one for a single night (available February 11 to 15), the other for two nights (February 9 to 18). Both packages offer a Valentine’s tasting menu in the main room—featuring seared sea scallops, port-poached beef tenderloin, and mascarpone and cherry empanadas—as well as a bottle of bubbly, breakfast the next morning and a $200 spa credit. One-night package starts at $337.50 per person; two nights from $238 per person, per night.
Feel like partying on Xmas Eve (tonight)?
The ladies of W4W Toronto have just the party for you…
| Music: House, Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, | |
| Cover: GUEST LIST ONLY (tell them W4W Toronto sent you) | |
| Dress Code: FASHIONABLE ATTIRE | |
| Notes: @ LOBBY – 192 BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO - ARRIVE BEFORE 11:30PM |
 Wednesday Dec. 17, 2008 |
 Wednesday Dec. 10, 2008 |
 Ed Hardy Icing Launch Party Dec. 3, 2008 |
 Wednesday Nov. 26, 2008 |
LOBBY PRESENTS-BOUTIQUE 09 ~ NYE EVE CELEBRATION
Wednesday December 31st, 2008
BOUTIQUE 09 ~ NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION ONE OF W4W TORONTO’S FAVORITE PARTY DESTINATIONS, YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A GLAMOROUS CELEBRATION OF DINNER & DANCE AT LOBBY.
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF DJ JC (TEAM LA ROQUE) HOUSE – R&B – CLASSICS
PARTY TICKET
$30.00
INCLUDES:
GENERAL ADMISSION
COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE TOAST
COMPLIMENTARY PARTY FAVOURS
DINNER PARTY TICKET
$100.00
TAXES AND GRATUITY FOR DINNER NOT INCLUDED.
INCLUDES:
GENERAL ADMISSION
3 COURSE DINNER
COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE TOAST
COMPLIMENTARY PARTY FAVOURS
PARTY BEGINS AT 9:00PM | DINNER SEATING AT 9:30PM
NEW YEARS EVE DINNER
STARTERS
WILD MUSHROOM SOUP, GRANISHED WITH MOREL CHIPS & TRUFFLE ESSENCE
OR
BABY ARUGULA SALAD WITH FROSTED WALNUTS, DRIED CHERRIES, APPLE CRISP, AND CIDER VINAIGRETTE
MAIN COURSE
SQUASH & ROASTED GARLIC GNOCCHI WITH BROWN BUTTER & SAGE
OR
RACK OF LAMB WITH BALSAMIC GLAZED SWEET POTATO & ROSEMARY JUS
OR
ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME WITH PEARL ONIONS, DOUBLE SMOKED BACKON AND CREAMY TARAGON SAUCE
OR
CHILEAN SEA BASS WITH SEARED SCALLOPS, MARINATED FRENCH BEANS, CILANTRO PESTO POTATO PUREE & CITRUS BUTTER
DESERT
CRÈME BRULE FLAVOURED WITH LAVENDER AND HONEY
OR
MILK CHOCOLATE & BAILEY’S TART WITH MINT BAILEY’S ICE CREAM
DOORS FROM 9:00PM – 4:00AM
FOR BOTTLE SERVICE AND DINNER RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL 416.929.7169
40% to 70% OFF – Boxing Day to Dec 28th 2008
Clothing Sample Sale That You Should Go To:
The Art of Todd White Fits the Fashionable
Todd White is taking the world by storm. His instantly recognizable work has been snapped up by Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas, Larry King, Hugh Hefner, Vin Diesel, Drew Carey and Eric McCormack to name a few.
White began as a painter under the watchful eyes of his mother and grandmother, both accomplished artists in Texas. His first paying job as an artist, however, was at Warner Bros studios on the popular series Tiny Toons. White soon after became the character designer for the internationally renowned cartoon, Sponge Bob Square Pants.
The impact is apparent in his paintings; White’s “Rat-pack meets Picasso” style results, in part, from his desire to reveal his characters innermost thoughts and emotions on their faces. His scenes of Nightlife, Hollywood, and Women indeed bring to life each character’s essence.
The artist was at the Liss Gallery in Toronto earlier this year, and now he has really picked up some steam in the fashion world. Let’s hope you can get your hands on an original before his works sell for astronomical prices.
A Mackage Coat Fits The Fashion Forward Woman
Mackage is a Quebec, Canada success story. Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy are the design duo behind this label. Having started their fashion careers at the young age of 20, their talent, eye for trend- setting looks, and attention to fit and detail, continues to impress all.
The Mackage line is well-known to fashionistas in Canada and US for its durability (you do get what you pay for) as outerwear and for fantastically cut leathers. Mackage has no age. It is made for the fashion-forward, svelte woman. The line is renowned for creating silhouettes that are sexy, sleek and highly sought after.
We at W4W Toronto own several jackets and coats by Mackage, and as they get more loved up every year, they look and feel even better. They are a Canadian label that oozes style. An edgy, yet classy alternative to the oh so staid winter coat and the superior tayloring and fit make a Mackage purchase worth every penny.
Check out all their gorgeous outerwear on their website.
Buy: If you can get to Montreal you’ll save up to 50% off after Christmas up until June. Otherwise wait for Holt Renfrew and Aritzia to have their January sell-offs on Mackage items.
Chanel’s Toronto Fashion Show Helped a Great Cause
Chanel presented the Karl Lagerfeld cruise collection with a fashion show that replicated an event held in Miami in May. It marked the designer’s first major Canadian runway show in 10 years, and served to benefit the SickKids Foundation.
More than 600 guests attended the Chanel fashion show at the Direct Energy Centre’s Heritage Court on November 30th to benefit HealthyKids International, a new initiative by the SickKids Foundation at the Hospital for Sick Children, dedicated to improving children’s health around the world . Mafalda Caruso, CTV’s executive director of special events, worked with the luxury retailer to replicate the presentation of Karl Lagerfeld’s 2008-09 Chanel resort collection, which was held poolside at Miami’s Raleigh Hotel in May.
There was a live auction for Chanel vintage items, of which the highest bidder reportedly paid $40,000 for a 1955 Chanel purse! The show included 35 models, six of which were local, and what looked like the entirety of Chanel’s 2008/2009 cruise collection. A runway-length pool of blue, six inches deep, was erected in the middle of the dining hall, and topped with a meandering black path similar to the one in Miami. Projected blue ripples floated across enormous screens on the walls to give that watery, poolside “Miami” feeling.
The models wore knitted beach cover-ups with curved sleeves, pastel-striped swimwear, pink tie-dye logo T-shirts, jackets pairing vinyl and tweed, and one stunning white dress that had the midsection material removed to revealing a bed of red roses. Just watch the show on Chanel’s site and you’ll get the idea.
Pictures from BizBash
SALVAGE CLOTHING SALE – 50% OFF TRENDY SWAG
| CONTACT INFO: | ||||||||||
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Save up to 80% off Bench, MEXX, and more – Nov 29th & 30th
Start your Christmas shopping for the discerning people on you list at this Slavin sale. Quality, fit, comfort, and classic styles are the buzz words. We love Bench sporty, and trendy clothing – great fit, well made, and now on sale at ridiculously low prices. Pick up Mexx designs on the cheap for office, and holiday party wear.
Take a friend, arrive on the first day…early!
Fashion Cares Now Coincides With Halloween
Fashion sCares, the Halloween Edition 2008.
The 22nd annual gala (in support of the AIDS Committee of Toronto) Fashion Cares, aptly called Fashion sCares is set for Saturday, November 1, 2008. It will be a Halloween-themed extravaganza “imagine Haute Couture meets Halloween meets Paris is Burning and you’ve got an idea of where we’re going,” says Michael King, the 2008 Chair.
Fashion Cares is a mecca for the cross-dressing, ambi-sexual, freakazoid. To be a straight married person in this context, one would wonder if you somehow go yourselves lost.
This years show promises a marked difference from the one that took place in May 2008 at the ill-equipped Distillery District, and left many in attendance dissatisfied, chilly, and confused.
The event returns to the Metro Convention Centre and the $125.00/person tickets can be obtained here.
- Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction starting at 8PM
- Show (Starts at 10PM)
- After Party at Metro Toronto Convention Centre
- Access to the After Party at Circa at a discounted rate
Fashion sCares After Party at Circa
Update: PARTY PICTURES and VIDEO1, VIDEO2
Looking forward to Muzik’s Halloween Party Nov 1, 2008.
Muzik by twilight.
W4W Toronto is no stranger to Muzik nightclub. We have continued to enjoyed the ambiance, energy, and aura of exclusivity, month after month at this surprisingly busy venue. We are looking forward to spending a VIPish Halloween at this massive complex, and bringing you an update (or at least pictures).
Juzd Collection at Rockwood – October 23th, 2008
Venue: Rockwood Club, 31 Mercer St. Toronto
Date & Time: Thursday October 23rd 2008
Photoshoot: 9PM-11PM
Party: 9PM – 3AM
Back from LA Fashion Week, hot t-shirt design company JUZD will be showcasing its current collection. Experience a live photoshoot from 9pm-11pm with 8 hot JUZD models.
Magazine sponsor Cream World will be giving away it’s latest issue.
Rockwood expects to have both floor open with the top floor “wood” playing Electro Progressive House with DJ Flash. The lower floor “rock” will feature DJ Aadil spinning Hip Hop, Rock, Top 40 and Reggae. Let’s hope we are impressed with Rockwood this time.
Gsus SIndustries Official Afterparty at Cheval – Oct 23, 2008
"Attitude" is the name of the game.
Afterparty featuring DJ Roxy Cotton
Tail & Host of MTV News, Johnny Hockin
Doors @ 10:00 pm
Where: Cheval, 606 King Street West
See our videos of their previous shows here and here.
Starting as a t-shirt line in Holland 15 years ago, Gsus has now grown into a complete lifestyle brand. This season Gsus brings a fresh clash of cultures by fusing the elegance & class of Saint Tropez & the vibrant lifestyle of Brazil to create the spring 2009 collection theme: Saint D’Janeiro.
W4W Toronto loves Gsus SIndustries edgy, and hip look. Wear you Gsus wear to this this afterparty at Cheval, it is going to be a wild and crazy night!
Lady Dutch at Lobby Wed Oct 22, 2008
For the very assertive woman!
Arrive early at Lobby for the Lady Dutch show! Space is limited.
RSVP here.
Official Madonna Afterparty at TIL – Sat Oct 18th, 2008
This is London (TIL)
Madonna’s DJ , DJ Enferno will be spinning. They have also confirmed that Madonna’s dancers will be there to start the party off right and quickly! Get on the guestlist and bypass the cover/waiting in line. Get there early, because the guestlist ends at 11:30pm. A strict dress code is in effect.
Email to get on the guestlist here.
Madonna's DJ - DJ Enferno
The Sticky and Sweet tour, follows Madonna’s latest album entitled Hard Candy. She plays Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on October 18. BEST BET: Go down to the Air Canada Centre 5 minutes after the show starts and buy tickets from desperate scalpers. Buying “Section: CFLR” for less than $325/ticket is a deal! The tickets are pretty much worthless to the scalper once she gets on stage anyway.
This is London is a 16,000 square foot venue divided between a main floor and a mezzanine. Set in a renovated warehouse in Toronto’s Entertainment district. Its multilevel design features several bars, VIP lounges, a seasonal outside courtyard, a fabulous ladies SPA type washroom, and the ultra cool VIP “Room 364″. On Saturdays it’s a party spot that is definitely not for little kids.
Holt Renfrew Yorkdale – Get a free Juzd bag…
JUZD (pronounced “juiced” or ‘joost”) is the planet’s first bamboo designer label, and most recently picked up by Holt Renfrew. We are talking Ed Hardy and Von Dutch meets eco-consciousness, take a good thing and make it the same but better. Torontonian Jing Liu is the creator of Juzd clothing and the lead designer for the urban streetwear line. “I just woke up one day and decided start it up and just focus on doing this”, states Liu on the origin of Juzd in April 2007. The computer programmer turned designer, came up with the idea for Juzd, after repeatedly hearing the media reports on “juiced” up baseball players who injected steroids. Although aggression is part of the brand identity of Juzd, there’s an element of nature and environmental friendliness to the line. “Organic aggression”, Liu says, is what the brand represents.
Interesting to note, Liu has no formal training in fashion or design; no work experience in the business, nor an art background, but has managed to find a niche product that a store such as Holt Renfrew is willing to back. Nice going, but the proof is in the pudding, and to touch, feel, and wear a Juzd “Tee” the customer will have the final say on if it beats the pants off an Ed Hardy “Tee”.
Jing Liu
Boobyball 7 – “UnderCover” – Review
Boobyball7
Sept 26, 2008
Liberty Market Building
171 East Liberty Street
$75.00
This annual event started in 2002 to raise the spirits of a sick friend, and in the the process raised a large amount of money for breast cancer. The Boobyball has quickly become an important event on the Toronto charitable circuit. The Boobyball, in support of Rethink Breast Cancer, has raised more than $250,000 to date.
Co-founders, Ashleigh Dempster and Amanda Blakley, along with a committee of 30 volunteers, worked to create the “Undercover” theme, inspired by the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, set for release this fall. The sold out event catered to 900 intrigued guests. The interactive components of this year’s event—titled “Boobyball 7: Undercover”—started as guests checked in at a bank of computers that generated their identities for the evening and issued passports. Attendees then had to participate in five activities throughout the night to earn stamps on their passport, which they presented to pick up their gift bags at the end of the night.
RUDSAK IN BAYVIEW VILLAGE TORONTO – 10% OFF ENTIRE COLLECTION
CLICK ON THE FLYER TO VIEW DETAILS!
This is a must go to pre-winter event for all fashionistas. Tell them you saw it on W4W Toronto & Kleen Media.
Ultra – Fri Sept 12, 2008 Event Review
This was supposed to be a party hosted by Lindsay Lohan while her very talented girlfriend, Samantha Ronson DJ’ed. Samantha showed up and ran a very hyped set for the last hour or so that Ultra remained open while Lindsay we discovered, stayed in a corner and texted on her celly. Only those in the very front row who craned their necks got to peep her.
Ultra charged everyone $25.00 – $30.00 at the door regardless of whose guestlist you were on, and even if you arrived there at 9:00pm.
Lesson learned: Beware of the hype! Here is the video.
Maro – Saturday Sept 13th, 2008 Preview
Event Name: TIFF 08 “Playboy Mansion The Grotto” with Jurgita Vault
The Playboy Swimwear Collection can be checked out here first.
Venue: Maro
TIFF Ultra AfterParty – Wed Sept 10, 2008
One of our options for tonight, but after we go see the film “Valentino” we will be heading to Lobby.
The Sport of Shopping Invite – Sept 10th, 2008
Register on the main floor of HBC (Queen Street) on the day of the event.
TIFF 2008 Style
New Tie-Ups belts have been spotted on some very chic Toronto hipsters during the first day of TIFF. Made in Italy, they are cut to fit, come in 12 colors, are washable, 100 % recyclable, “resist UV rays, saltwater, bacteria and tortion”. Did we mention that they are also pretty? Furthermore they are pretty hard to get your hands on, so if you will be visiting Italy, Greece, Spain, Australia, or Saudi Arabia in the next few weeks, buy some and sell them on eBay.
Word is, you will have to wait till December to buy them in Toronto, and then only at select stores. Email us for details.
TIFF 2008 Parties
Sept 4th – 13th, 2008
You’ve got to have have the parties after the movies. If you are not in the know and just want to enjoy the scene at some sophisticated clubs, you can’t go wrong with the Unique Lifestyles promo team. Check out their fare here.
Stay tuned for W4W Toronto’s report on all the happenings during and after TIFF.
Expert RN’s Nursing Consulting Agency
We are pleased to promote this wonderful service for all the individuals in Toronto who have ever had the shock or dismay of finding themselves in Emergency, Critical care, or Intensive Care. Knowledge is everything in situations like these, and a family member who knows how to navigate the health care system in regards to these acute areas will fare better than those lacking in information.
Should you ever need them, contact these Registered Nurses who work in Toronto’s Emergency, Critical care, and Intensive Care areas and for God sakes, get your questions answered!
July 12th – “Miami Sunset Sessions” with JoJo Flores and Mat Chrysdale
461 King Street West
Why have the CD launch party at Brassaii Resto Lounge? I suppose so that partygoers could converge and chat in the front courtyard over cigarettes and libations with the faint sound of house-music over the loudspeaker. The inside of Brassaii certainly wasn’t packed, and although there were some die hard housers on the floor, the ambiance and overall “it” factor was really lacking.
For starters the $20 cover price with a guestlist that was closed at 11:30pm was incredibly greedy for a place like this. Even Ultra does not charge this exorbitant amount, and Ultra is so much more chic and fabulous. After being corralled into the narrow confines of a line in which to pay in front of the courtyard, we were ungraciously shoved by not one, but two apparent drunken males as they exited the club. Immediately upon entering, we noticed the setup. It was hard to feel festive when most of the “in” crowd was outside. Which is why one would have to become intoxicated, or take some other type of stimulant. The “in” crowd being those individuals familiar with the Toronto party scene all seemed to be at this event along with some local TV personalities. The sound system was decent enough inside, but we got there at just after midnight and the DJ was spinning some really unfamiliar and unspectacular tunes. At 1:45am we finally heard the kind of house we came to hear, was it JoJo perhaps? Who would know, the inside of Brassaii was so dark and lackluster, it was hard to see what was going on beyond a few feet in front of you. I also had no idea where the DJ booth was. As a matter of fact we did not see any release CD’s or signage of what the night was even about.
Overall, an overpriced, unspectacular event, terrible choice of venue, and not enough of the really good recent house tunes to move the crowd from the courtyard to the inside.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 7 People – 7 Ambiance – 3 Love factor -5
NYOOD Restaurant Review *****
1096 Queen Street West
Don’t let the exterior of swank black, with the absence of a sign fool you into thinking Nyood (pronounced nude) is too ritzy for you. Dress in your casual best and you will have no trouble gaining entry…but make reservations for the best tables by the window.
Actually there is no bad seating in this beautifully decorated restaurant. The decor is a combination of old meets new, a Parisian feel with a Grecian ceiling (or is it Roman?) meets nouveau modernism touches of white bookshelves, industrial light fixtures and concrete tables. The space is 2000 square feet, and feels spacious yet cozy with a subtle warmth. The elegant, elongated bar meets a tastefully decorated open concept kitchen.
The delicious food comes as tapas. I visited twice in one week! If you like to share your food, then this is the place to come. An extremely delicious lychee shrimp cerviche was my favorite dish. But then my mates and I also gobbled down the mushroom and shrimp flatbread and whole snapper filleted. Dessert was to die for…the strawberry creme brulee, espresso brownie, and the blueberry ice cream (tasted like fried ice cream) were stand outs.
Owned by Hanif Harji, who also owns the trendy Blowfish and Kultura eating spots, and managed by the enthusiastic “Sacha”.
Nyood is definitely a place where you take your time and graze. It is the hottest restaurant in Toronto right now, so go! Take about $200.00 for a couple including a glass of wine, taxes and tip.
W4W Toronto – We are there.
Ultra – Tribute to Prince Party – May 9th, 2008
314 Queen Street
www.ultrasupperclub.com
Ultra is still happening in a big way. Not only the the place still gorgeous to be in, promoters are working with Facebook and Myspace to keep this venue fresh enough to keep the crowds coming.
This event involved a “PurpleElectricity Party” tribute to Prince releasing his first album 30 years ago. That album was called “For You” and was released on April 7, 1978, two months shy of his 20th birthday. The most memorable single off the album was “Soft and Wet”. Thankfully, DJ Doctor Baggie, and Chris LaRoque didn’t play many tunes off this debut album in the first half of the night. The projector screen of rare Prince images was a nice touch, as was the purple glow of lights.
The warm up music prior to the main event was fabulous. A whole slew of tunes I had forgotten existed. Music I was only old enough to rollerskate to from the Mary Jane Girls “Candyman” and “In My House” ” and Chaka Khan’s “I Think I Love You”. Then there was an awesome 15 minutes of Madonna with “Lucky Star” “Borderline” “Get into the Groove” and “Holiday”. Every now and then the DJ’s would throw in some Prince sound teasers, but switch back, making your adrenalin flow in a good way. I absolutely adored the vocal house set that then turned into garage house. I give kudos to the DJ’s for really knowing how to move a crowd.
The time for Prince-a-mania had arrived and the set was started off with “When Doves Cry”. By now it was almost one o’clock and we had to get going to another undisclosed venue. I am sure we missed out on some great Prince remixes, but hey…we had a great time at the other venue too.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 9 People – 71/2 Ambiance – 8 Love factor – 8
Lobby – April 12th, 2008
192 Bloor Street West
The night started off really slow at Lobby. We arrived at 2130hrs, and placed ourselves at a booth across from the bar. The four of us ordered some drinks ($9.00 for a rum and coke) from the bar and took it back to our table. We also ordered some food. After my friend was in the middle of her meal, we were told by a server that the table was reserved for bottle service and that we would have to eat at the bar. There was no reservation sign on the table when we sat down, however apparently it is Lobby’s policy to NOT to place reservation signs on tables, but to kick people out if a $$$ making bottle reservations comes along. After some diplomatic protest on our part we were allowed to finish our meals at the very last table booth in the back, where a constant stream of servers kept coming in and out of the kitchen. Regarding the food, I will say that the giant scampi of which there were three, and my garden salad were delicious, and cost $35.00.
Our mood undeterred, we left the booth after eating and went back to the main room, and hung out first by the main bar, and then by the DJ booth. This was a night of Old School (80’s) R&B, new R&B, and hip-hop. Since Lobby’s website does not advertise their weekly DJ line up, we had no idea who Mr. DJ was, but he was spinning some really good tunes. The sound system was fine for Lobby’s small, elongated environment. The crowd seemed to appear out of nowhere by 2300hrs, and the place was packed at midnight. We had to make our way past the ad hoc VIP area, to the less crowded front to dance, and to order a now $12.00 Appleton’s Premium rum and coke. Oh, well it beat waiting 10 minutes to get a drink at the now ram packed main bar. To touch on the VIP area, it can almost be missed if you are walking fast enough and don’t turn your head. Mainly attractive young, model type females, and short and/or old men in tight suits or other unsuitable clothing.
Now the washroom scene was silly. There is always a line up for the unisex stalls. Men and women converge in a line to use the esoteric facilities which are kept neat by an attendant. If you are single, it can be a great pick up spot. Otherwise it really sucks. Not only that, when you see the total waste of space in the downstairs “lounge” it makes one wonder why Lobby does not expand the inadequate lavatory set up.
We really like Lobby as just a restaurant, and we didn’t let the initial unpleasantnesses of the evening get the better of us. We also like it as a club hang out on a Wednesday with Kleen Media. However, now in a pinch a Saturday will do. Just be warned, some of the Saturday crowd needs to learn to loosen up their purse strings, come prepared to dance and socialize, and lose a few pounds if you can’t stay in your too-tight stiletto’s all night. You know who you are!
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 9 People – 71/2 Ambiance – 71/2 Love factor – 61/2
Tryst – April 5th, 2008
82 Peter Street
What do you get when you put together 3 uniquely stylish rooms and a courtyard with the music of a well known Toronto DJ? Success, in spite of the fact that Tryst is still just getting off the ground. The newest venue to the club district caters to a selective 23+ clientele, and can accommodate 800 party revelers in total.
The night started off with easy entrance past the line up, but a dent in the pocketbook when I was asked to pay $20.00 cover charge. We will see if this cover charge succeeds in keeping out the un-sexy. I met my companions in the “Havana Lounge” and they were a little luckier because they knew someone at the door who had escorted them in. The Havana Lounge was the first of Trysts three rooms. A cozy hang out spot for a rendezvous with the Tryst sign in large lettering over the bar. There was no dark rum available in this Havana however.
We proceed down some stairs and into the throbbing house sounds of the main room of Tryst. We immediately encountered DJ Joe Marella and company ensconced in his fabulous his DJ digs. from the angle we were standing at we were more than impressed with the visually stunning dance floor. What a refreshing concept, a sunken dancefloor with a dazzling display of overhead lights, and speakers thundering out sexy, pulsating beats.
We bumped into Andrew, one of the owners of Tryst, and we were given a tour. We were shown the attention to detail, which included the design panneling on the walls of the club to the the discreteness of unmarked, individual washrooms. The VIP room, called the “Vault” and closest to the DJ booth, was remarkable in the toys that accompanied the room. The decor was lush, and included a plasma TV, its own sound system, bottle service of course, the ability to close the doors to the room, and a Internet LCD screen with wireless Internet access. I would venture to say that this was the most exclusive VIP room in any Toronto night club and could accommodate up to 20 dancing people. On Saturdays this room can be obtained for a $3,000 minimum.
The main bar was just a stones thrown away from the main VIP area. A long, attractively designed, granite topped bar, facing the dance floor. However, we were tken to the other VIP areas directly across from the main bar, and also facing the fabulous dance floor. There were several areas all withing close proximity of each other, all offering bottle service, but with nice touches as Andrew pointed out. The VIP area as a whole had access to their own washrooms, each VIP setting had a mini closet to hang coats and jackets, and even drawers to keep purses! You can get your own VIP table for a 2-4 bottle minimum depending on the night. There was also a mini bar just around the way from which the servers and club guests could quickly keep the liquor flowing.
We continued on our tour, and we were shown the final room. We went up a flight of stairs and entered the Loft. A room with its own DJ who happened to be spinning some old school vibes. The Loft was a place to either chill by the bar, or sit on one of the many comfy sofas and again perhaps order bottle service. if the mood struck, you could also dance, but the sound system in this room was too ambient at the time of this writing
Finally, we were taken to the Courtyard a promising, but not quite finished entity that can hold about 200 people. Under the warmth of a heat lamp, Andrew told us that he and his team have big plans for the courtyard. It appears that it may be the outdoor, summer hang out spot of 2008. Tryst is currently open for general business Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Now back to that gorgeous dancefloor, the sweet house vibes, and the abundant eye candy.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 81/2 People – 8 Ambiance – 91/2 Love factor – 81/2
C Lounge – March 17th (Opening Party for L”Oreal Fashion Week)
456 Wellington St. @ Portland & Wellington St.
A “spa inspire bar” is what their website says. C Lounge has been around for a while now, and they are still doing well in a location that has a noise restriction after a certain time of night due to the residents living in the area. That’s what primarily annoys me about this place, the fact that I can never quite feel the music in bones, because of a shody sound system. We arrived after the Joe Fresh show at Nathan Phillips Square, and apparently missed some fashion installments that C lounge was partaking in. We were really there to see DJ Samantha Ronson, the gal pal of Lindsay Lohan, spin. She did not disappoint, and opened her set with Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” mixed with Busta Rhyme’s “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”. That set the tone and changed the whole mood of the club, which was until that point was pretty boring.
C Lounge as a venue offers nothing new. Having been there many times, it is fairly easy to get in, and the bouncers are always pleasant. The bathroom is a spa and pick up spot. You can get a massage, nails done, and so forth from the assistants that inhabit the large washroom area. Outdoors, the backyard pool vibe has turned into an ice ring for the winter. Various heaters placed at the end of beds with white furry coverings, lit up and heated up, the below zero atmosphere while smokers shivered, and huddled together to stay warm.
As for the inside of C Lounge, I really believe that it is need of a serious makeover. They are not on the level of Ultra in terms of quality furnishings and appointments. The bar counter areas, the sofas, and the dance floor, are in need of some TLC. The VIP locations are not well placed, and again that sound system, or lack of it…
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 8 People – 7 Ambiance – 5 Love factor – 6
L’Oreal Fashion Week Toronto- March 17th – 22nd, 2008
The motto? “Wear in the World“. Ugh, back at the 30,000 square foot tent at Nathan Phillips Square. We have to say that we are not really feeling this venue. A congested room full of people being herded into different, barely marked line-ups, with passes that are not fully explained, makes for an unhappy fashion mood disorder. The environment is chaos for the observer, until we are shown our proper seats (first come first serve) in the FDCC section. Perhaps the FDCC could look into obtaining the Metro Convention Centre, or Muzik as the next site of L’Oreal fashion Week. This fall expect the colours – blue and purple – in all hues to dominate wardrobes every where. Monday Mar 17th
Joe Fresh
The Joe Fresh Style label is… well.. a supermarket line. This entity is a product that pretends to be nothing else and is mass marketed with dripings of style. With Joe Mimran behind the label, it remains focused. For fall there was a British element in equestrian looks – slim jodhpur pants and fitted jackets. Throw in youthful rockers with flat-front tartan trousers accessorized with skinny bowties and toques and you got Burberry for the budget set. When Mimran came out at the end wearing a highow mix of those $49 tartan pants with expensive velvet loafers and a tuxedo blazer, he showed yes, it might be supermarket, but how you wear it makes it shows your personal sense of “swag”. Mar 18th
Lucian Matis
This Project Runway Canada runner-up has excellent dressmaking skills and is a talent that knows no limits. Inspired by his first visit to China in December of 2007, Matis made the serene sophistication of basic black the star of his first full commercial collection. The show opened with a ’40s femme fatale, noirish coat and then wafted into the ’70s disco era with a jersey dress, a full-skirted dress reminiscent of the ’50s and a flapperish dress from the ’20s. The ’80s were also accounted for with a glamourama sequinned dress. There are a few pieces in grey and white. Everything else is in black cashmere, silk, alpaca wool and novelty fabric blends. Known for his detailed work and Parisian-inspired flavour, Matis says, “I definitely experimented until I got the mood right. The clothes are simple, silent and subtle,” says Matis. “It’s all about going back to basics.” View video here. Mar 18th
NADA
The ’80s soap opera Dynasty provided the inspiration behind the Toronto-based designer’s bold fall collection. However, Nada Shepherd wisely avoided the campy high-powered styles favoured by the series’ catfighting divas Alexis Carrington and Krystle Carrington. Instead, Shepherd focused on a snappy career-woman-on-the-rise feel: jewel-toned wrap dresses, sharply tailored pinstriped pant suits and wide-belted shirt-dresses. Office-smart looks for a career girl scaling the corporate ladder, one more intent on proving herself with a serious work ethic rather than sultry schemes and boardroom back- stabbing. Power dressing, but thankfully no major shoulder pads. For play, it was more punk and disco Debbie Harry: a purple charmeuse print of smashed glass with chunky, zig-zagging leather zipper tapes and lots of short dresses. Many of the looks had a repeating elongated diamond and triangle shape, colour-blocked in black, magenta and electric blue dresses or as a panel of silver disco studs inset at the waist and shoulder. Mar 18th
BUSTLE
“It’s made beggars of many and millionaires of a few.” Opening with a sound clip from a 1954 television production of Casino Royale, Bustle’s Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow again gambled on tailoring in their Bustle collection of menswear for this fall. A casino table placed at the beginning of the show with the models coming out and taking a seat was cute, and so was Stacy Mackenzie playing the dealer. “We’re not talking about playing slots at the MGM grand,” says Hewson. “We’ve taken our inspiration from that high-pedigree lifestyle. From horse racing to skeet shooting, it’s the aspirational adventurer that makes this fall collection so cool.” Top Canadian model Andrew Stetson started the show off right in a dark satin, stripped suit. There many three-piece suits as well, with appealing fabrics, some nappy stuff in polar bear white, and bib-front shirts in checks. The women’s roomy legged dress pants with suspenders flowed much nicer that some of the rather stiff, and tight pieces the men wore. See video here. Mar 18th
Joeffer Caoc
Strong women wear Joeffer. A more somber colour palette and a random mix of textures a la velvet and satin, give this interesting collection a contemporary twist. “It’s all about mixing classic pieces with surprising elements,” says Caoc. “There’s a lot of black and lots of elements that allude to lingerie, but it’s Catherine Deneuve minus the hardcore S&M stuff.” Caoc’s signature, alluringly simple-looking origami folds, draped material, and one-shoulder looks are lovely. However, the lack of colour in this particular show leaves one feeling a bit gloomy. Mar 19th
Jeanne Beker, Bratz and Diesel Kids
Jeanne Beker, not only reported on all the style happenings at this year’s L’Oréal Fashion Week – she herself was news. She walked in the “Heart Truth Fashion Show” as part of L’Oreal fashion week and on March 19 at Diesel Kids’ premiere Toronto runway show at Nathan Philips Square, she launched her second book, “Passion for Fashion: Careers in Style”. To this end, she partnered with Bratz(TM) to bring her book to an entirely new audience of young fashionistas – the Bratz DOLL fans. The new “Bratz Fashion Reporter Doll” was inspired by Jeanne, and is packaged with a copy of Jeanne’s new book. The dolls name? “Jeanne B”, what else? The book-doll combination retails for $29.99 and is available at Toys R Us, Zellers and The Bay. Oh, and let’s not forget Jeanne celebrated her birthday on March 20th at Atelier. The debut of the Diesel Kids runway show unveiled 20 or so looks from the company’s Fall Winter 2008 collection for children. Apparently inspired by early Atari video games and the great outdoors, the clothing projected “resilience and comfort” and had a vintage and folky feel to it. The children out did the clothing with their own sense of style, and delighted the “by invitation only” audience members. View video here. Mar 19th
Comrags
Designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish continued the theme of browns, various shades of blue, and grey. What was lacking of color was made up in interesting pairings. Tweedy school matron coats and Georgette dresses accessorized with bits of twig as brooches, faux fur, and custom John Fluevog men’s shoes! The finale grouping was a humorous series of floor-sweeping black coats caked in white (salt stains?), and the rubber galoshes. Bizarre, but totally Comrags. Mar 19th
Andy Thé-Anh
I absolutely adored the neckpieces made of stand up collars, furry tails and/or beads. Andy Thé-Ahn’s shows are all about glamour, and are usually reeking of the rich and privileged life. He’s toned it down a bit this season. Sheer teal and blue blouses and dresses. Slim black satin pants with 3/4 length, belted mohair coats, and stilletos on every pair of feet. Brown dresses with accessorized add-on leather sleeves, or brown dresses with sheer blouses built right in. Plenty of form fitting satin dresses in black, grey, or teal, and all with high-belted waists. Gorgeous, sexy, and sophisticated, but not too over the top. View video here and here. Mar 19th
David Dixon
A snowy backdrop and a scene of a long walk through some woods bare of leaves. David Dixon’s collection represent “the urban woman”, the woman in search of peace of mind. His show was a balance of options. There was a belted fluttery little black dress that was all laser-cut petals, and a purple plaid shirt dress made of heavy wool. A couple of grey herringbone suits, with trousers or skirt, that looked comfortable and flexible for office wear and evening wear. Wonderfully accessorized with plenty of hats, gloves, scarves, and belts. View video here. Mar 20th
Gsus
Dutch designers, Jan Schrijver and Angelique Berkhout of Gsus SIndusties know how to put on a fun show. I am sure they instruct their models to “go out there with attitude”. The show started off with a series of gymnastic flips from one of the male “celebrity models”, a Canadian dancer whose name escapes me. Going against the grain appeared to be the theme of the show. With stripes and tights, bright printed pants, hoodies, pleather, sometimes all put together for a look that only a few in the world can pull off. View the video here and here.
L’Oreal Fashion Week Spring 2008 – October 22nd through to October 27th, 2007
The Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) will host its fourteenth season of L’Oreal Fashion Week Spring 2008 – October 22nd through to October 27th, 2007 at Nathan Phillips Square for the first time.
The motto? “Who Are You Wearing?”
REVIEWS
Paul Hardy
Calgary designer Paul Hardy didn’t think his regular ready-to-wear collection would be compelling enough for the runway so, with only 12 days and his staff already up to their necks, he conceived, cut and sewed a capsule collection himself.
Upping the drama quotient is a European tradition, and a trick more Canadians should follow. “I designed each piece with the intention of making myself smile,” Hardy said after the show.
The billowy duchess satins, a way-off-the-shoulder trapeze, shimmery jacquards, plunging Grecian goddess dresses and light-as-air knits will make Hardy fans, including actress Kate Hudson, smile too.
Tevrow + Chase
Fashion is having a love affair with the art world. Marc Jacobs collaborated with artist Richard Prince for his spring collection for Louis Vuitton and Stefano Pilati had some Jackson Pollack-like splashes of paint on dresses for YSL’s resort collection.
Here in Toronto, designer Paul Sinclaire used the colour-blocked canvases of Joe Bradley as an inspiration for his Tevrow + Chase label, shown informally in his studio and retail space on Adelaide St. W. Solid blocks of bright colours were printed on the legs of white jeans and the sleeves of white blazers. Dresses were also entirely made of grids of colours.
Other stellar collectables: Palm Beach bright cropped pants, a rubber ducky yellow coat and a sharp looking white suit piped with black trim. This severely chic, yet accessible, line is sold at Saks in the U.S. and Harvey Nichols in the UK. It would be great to see Tevrow + Chase stores around town. Our answer to J. Crew.
RUDSAK
The Montreal outerwear and accessories brand went on a safari sojourn with a palette right out of Africa — taupes, beiges and corn. Urban jungle dewellers will do well with the safari jackets and sexy short shorts, and the short jackets with trenchcoat details. And they can act out their own fantasies of soaring over the Serengeti in the awesome washed leather aviator jackets. Another outstanding item was a dress with the stiff cowl neck and collar. Obviously they are placing bestseller hopes on this item, since they sent it down the runway numerous times in every shade of the desert. With two stores in Toronto and another two on the way next month, the label continues to offer great leather bags, with styles for next spring that are a bit more structured. However, the recently launched footwear has quite a way to go to catch up with the bags in terms of quality and chic factor.
PINK TARTAN
Designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran is a supreme classicist. Not one to feverishly follow the changing winds in fashion, her spring collection for Pink Tartan, staged during a luncheon in the Avenue Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel, hit on all the classic items in a woman’s wardrobe. There was the immaculate shirt (worn with the new Pink Tartan cufflinks), the crisp shirtdress, the perfect pencil skirt and the simple shift. Some of these items were punched up with bright colours, which looked fresh and could be work-horse items for professional women on the go. But the overall ’60s flavour put the collection in an era that has been exhaustively mined in recent seasons. And the cinematic flop Factory Girl pretty much nailed the door shut on that archive.
COMMON CLOTH
Hamilton-born sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo of Common Cloth have a cool Queen St. W. store and a following to match. They do men’s and women’s wear, and a dog collection named Fetch, but it was just the women’s spring ‘08 designs that came down the runway to the raucous rock band Famous Lovers live onstage. The spring collection’s strengths are its dresses, including the floor-length mustard jersey wrap that opened the show, the simple, loungey hostess gowns, and the summery frocks that knotted between the shoulder blades like scarves. The grey jerseys also worked, in a romper, a one-shoulder gown, and quirky T-shirts. It’s such dashes of spirit that will keep Common Cloth basics like cuffed shorts and skinny jeans from looking run of the mill.
GRETA CONSTANTINE
It was an anxiety-inducing prospect, a 10 p.m. show at an extravagant new hot spot. But one of the several enclaves at Circa made a shining, convivial setting for the spring ‘08 presentation of Greta Constantine, above, a line buoyed by the sassy personalities of its designers, Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong. There were boys, too, in the latest male swimwear, which has come back to brief, as in bikini styles in colourful jersey that made clear why poet Patti Smith might once have compared men’s crotches to lilacs. The guys punctuated the procession of nervy women’s wear that included a romper suit in black, a very short dress of white jersey that was not made for getting in and out of cars – or maybe it was – and jersey gowns, in red or burnt orange. Some had twisted necklines, wrung from the fluid cloth. Others were strung so the body of the garment was suspended like draperies. There were also a couple of short, stretchy numbers in bold blocks of colour that were two of the best of the million dresses unveiled in town this week.
FRANKE
A former model and current contestant on Project Runway Canada, designer Kendra Francis staged her spring runway show for her label Franke at the Spoke Club. The lineup featured tropical-hued silk dresses, white suitings, and swimsuits in delicious, metallic colours. Speaking after the show, Francis said she was inspired by something that happened on an episode of the reality show. Without going into details – other than it involved the phrase “French Vanilla” – the designer said she started researching how the French brought the essence from Madagascar. Inspired by the native dress of the islanders, she experimented with innovative folds and pleats on her trousers and shorts, and sari-like draping on those silk dresses. But perhaps Francis should have focused her energy on those beautiful drapey dresses, which could be retail hits. Aside from a standout saffron-coloured coat, it was the dresses that really captured the exotic flavour of that sunny island in the Indian Ocean.
Andy Thé-Anh
The gleaming white Para paint used on the runway might boast to be non-scuffing but the slick look proved treacherous for the models, sending one poor thing tumbling several times. Such are the workplace pitfalls of the professional catwalker. But Montreal designer Andy Thé-Anh strides confidently. His spring collection was a showcase of the width and depth of his strong dressmaking skills – sharp tailored suits, high-waisted pencil skirts and enough eveningwear to dress an entire red carpet procession. For next season, the designer opted for a washed-out desert palette – beige, taupe, sand, putty – a departure from his usual love of bold colour. But the details were there in cascades of ruffles, tiers of frills and a bounty of rosettes. While there is never anything wrong with his collections, there are no surprises or challenges, either. He serves exactly what he knows his customers will like. And therein lies the danger. Even the most faithful will get the itch to look elsewhere for excitement.
BUSTLE
Not just horsing around, Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow, the get-around couple behind Bustle, went to the track and boldly put their money on tailoring. First out of the gate was a suit, with a double-breasted, double-vented jacket, flat-front trousers and bow tie. Of striped cotton, it was a leisurely suit that, like most of the clothes, paid off on the quinella of cloth and colour, though bets on cut were not so well-rewarded. The models’ built bodies were part of the problem. Biceps bulged in jacket sleeves like meals in a snake, making it difficult to tell deliberately shrunken looks from those that simply didn’t fit. Big uppers arms also seemed to interfere with the way jackets hung, not just relaxed but indifferent to the contours of the torso. Double-breasted pea coat styles and double-breasted vests over printed shirts were snugger and more successful.
Muzik – Oct 21st, 2006
15 Saskatchewan Road
Muzik has been built in the former Horticultural Building and boasts of new and innovative design while still retaining it’s 1907 demeanour. A venue located on the exhibition grounds that serves as a nightclub on Saturdays is an ambitious adventure. How is this space going to fare in the dead of winter? Even more of a feat is Muzik’s ability to draw so many youngish, trendy, and monied people to it’s mammoth realm.
We gained entry to Muzik after uncharacteristically standing in 9 degree Celsius weather for over 15 minutes. It was the Fashion Week closing night party, and we had arrived late. The lovely Kirstie, the “go to” girl for VIP tables, managed to guide us in after we had made her acquaintance.
The cost of admittance was $20.00. Muzik recommends that you pre-book a VIP area to have the best party experience. Once you are actually inside of the club proper, you can observe that there are many VIP areas, all with a view of the patrons who are not doing the VIP routine.
There were so many people at Muzik for this closing night party that it appeared as though it was packed to capacity. The place looked like there were at least two thousand people in there give or take a hundred. Ironically, the extremely high ceilings also gave it a look of empty expanse. The dance floor, or dance area in the middle of the room took a while to get to and that was for shuffling room only. The VIP areas in the back of the club felt like they were a different entity all together. They were exhausting to find, and then even more exhausting to try and enter one of the rooms to meet with a group of our friends. We were rejected by the goon assigned to “protect” the VIP area with the excuse that the area was” full”. Our friends pleaded with him to let us in, but to no avail.
We made our journey back to the front VIP area where we had some other friends. We got in there without a hitch. The view was also good to see those who were actually coming in the club, so that you could invite them up for a drink. Once situated, we were actually able to enjoy the fabulous garage house music emanating from the speakers. The sound system at Muzik is incredible. It would have to be for such a large space.
Later on a bouncer goon showed up to guard entry to our VIP area. A few tipsy people in our immediate area where using the club decorations for props, and the goon promptly grabbed them out of their hands. What was with the hired help? They were taking their jobs way too seriously.
We temporarily left our VIP area to check out the bar scene. Getting a drink in Muzik requires patience if you wait at one of the two well-appointed bars, it also typically requires a lot of money. As for the washroom situation for the girls, it’s not too bad with about 10 or so stalls. Nevertheless a line up persisted.
Overall, Muzik is a mature rave party experience in a more sophisticated setting. If that’s what you are looking for, then you will not be disappointed.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 8 People – 71/2 Ambiance – 8 Love factor – 7
Maro – Oct 18th & 19th, 2006
135 Liberty Street
Off the beaten path, and far away from clubland, on a road that screams of eclecticism, lies Maro, the only club/restaurant on Liberty street. We visited this recently opened place during Fashion Week and we were impressed with not only the decor, but with the turn out.
Maro is a large, well appointed large space with a lofty VIP section that allows you to see and be seen. High ceilings prevent it from feeling cozy, even with the throngs of people present, but there is a glam factor to the place. The main room was turned from a restaurant by day with table and chairs into a runway for Hibebe’s designs. We took our time inspecting the two bars that served up various concoctions, or was it three bars? We had free drink tickets but, we kept being directed to a mysterious bar at the end of the venue that we never did find.
As I have already mentioned Maro was packed with industry people and party revelers alike who were there to see Hibebe’s line of clothing. However the show was over an hour late in starting, and by that time our group had already lost interest. We had our own party going in the VIP and things were feeling much better for us than for the rest of the people who would not budge from their places near the runway. The sound system is decent enough, and so was the DJ, serving up a blend of house with hard rock as well!
Overall, the space has a lot of potential and we will have to go back again.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music - 7 People – 71/2 Ambiance – 8 Love factor - 7
Rockwood – Oct 18th, 2006
31 Mercer Street
We had gone to the opening of Rockwood (formerly Bauhaus’ 2nd floor) a few weeks before and you could still smell the paint. Not this time. Rockwood has become emboldened and mature. The place is small, yet that is part of it’s charm. Rich, hardwood floors, expensive furniture, and attention to detail is what sets the club apart and at the same time puts it in the same class as say, Ultra, Eight Below, and Lobby. The crowd, on the other hand blows the above mentioned places out of the water. The people that came to Rockwood that night came to dance, and dance they did…to the sounds of Jo Jo Flores. In case you haven’t heard Jo Jo Flores is a Canadian house music DJ that has been on the scene for quite some time and is well-loved at home and abroad.
Rockwood is the perfect venue to get your lounge on, your groove on, and your conversation on. The building that houses Rockwood is also home to the rooftop entity called Grass, and a street level club that is set to open in November of this year. Going to 31 Mercer Street will take on a whole new meaning after the renovations are finally completed.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music - 9 People – 81/2 Ambiance – 91/2 Love factor – 81/2
Andy The-Anh Spring/Summer 2007 collection Toronto Fashion Week
Wednesday Oct. 18, 2006
Andy The-Anh Spring/Summer 2007 collection – L’Oreal Toronto Fashion Week
Loved the show, loved the clothes. Celebrating sensuality, femininity and softness, Andy The-Anh’s spring/summer line did anything but disappoint. Great over-sized leather short jackets in metallic silver, sleek cut-out backs, sharply cut suits, dark drape dresses and sultry 40’s bandeau swimwear. There were also a few stunning, long satin gowns and a throwback to Gucci white suit that were all voguishly, and wearably sexy.
The collection aptly called “Andy”, started with dark pieces in line with all hues brown and black, and moved effortlessly into a bright summer with searing hot pinks, and leafy greens shades accompanying tucks and pleats. Ruffled sleeves and Edwardian-style blouses gave a feminine look to sharply cut jackets, and perfect circle clasp belts cinched the waist. Swimwear, and white one-piece dresses came up just before a parade of models in denim, sheer tops and Jacki-O sunglasses closed the show. The crowd was ecstatic as The-Anh quickly walked the runway for his bow, and he was given a standing ovation.
Cuts and trimmings aside, The-Anh’s forte is taking the colours of the season, deepening them, skewing them, playing with them, and leaving us to our own imagination about what to do with the magic he has given us.
Ms. JAG
W4W Toronto
TIFF 2006 Party Events – Sept 6th to Sept 11th, 2006
With the parties to attend to at night, and work the next day, who has time for watching movies!
Aside from Lobby on Wednesday, Ultra on Friday & Saturday, followed by Century Room until 4 in the morning here are the big parties we’ve been to so far…
Sept 7th, 2006
Director Sophie Fiennes (left) kicked off TIFF on Thursday with the North American premiere screening of her film, The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, to a packed house at the ROM on Thursday. The three-part film features the witty and insightful Slavoj Žižek discussing everything from sexuality in the works of Lynch, Kubrick and Hitchcock.
The Pervert’s Guide party was hosted by Jie Matar from Salon Jie across the street at the very modern Gardiner Museum. The red carpeted entrance was a hit, and so was the eye-catching blue woman on stilts! This place was the perfect venue for an afterparty filled with TIFF revellers. The only downfall was the awfully bright lighting inside on all three (or was it four levels) and the woefully understaffed bar. All the beautiful people seemed to be as impressed with the ceramic art work of the Gardiner as we were. Perhaps the bright lighting was to ward off thieves…hehehe. We solved the bar problem by going up to the very top level into the VIP. In the VIP room the drinks were free, but they ran out of glasses for what seemed like ages. The balcony off the VIP room was massive, and designed into an L shape that held at least a hundred people on it.
We went to star gaze, but ended up mingling in a packed room full of very important somebodies, who gave good face, and attitude. The music was also very uptempo, soulful house, and was pleasing to our ears. A big shout out to the event organizers, and the awesome DJ.
Sept 10th, 2006
We attended The One X One Party at the Carlu, $1,500-a-plate event was star-studded fundraiser for global childrens’ charities. Although we arrived at the Carlu well after performances by Chantal Kreviazuk, John Legend, and Wyclef Jean, we did manage to actually see John Legend leaving, and uhh.. the Canadian Idol judges, one of whom was the memorable Farley Flex. We also heard that during the earlier part of the night, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt were in attendance as auctioneers for the event.
The alcohol was free and flowed non-stop however, it still could not make the event less dull than it was. The Canadian artists who were left behind to entertain the crowd well past midnight, were not enough to keep us from leaving.
More pictures here.
W4W Toronto
www.w4wtoronto.com
Lobby – July 19th, 2006
192 Bloor Street West
I have been to Lobby several times, and the thing that strikes you about it right away is the South Beach, Miami feel of the place. With the stylishness of the white on white decor, and clean lines, you can’t help but think that there is a body of water near by.
Very rarely is there a cover charge, and when you take a look around at the people who like to frequent Lobby, you can see that this a venue that attracts posers, socialites, hanger-ons, the elite, wanna-be’s, and people watchers. One does not really go to Lobby to dance. They go to eat, drink, and mingle with friends and friends of friends. If you can get past the sometimes obvious pretentiousness, Lobby is one of the best places in Toronto for social networking on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.
Let’s discuss our Wednesday night visit. Lobby’s hot new Wednesday night called “Lounge Series” with DJ. Kleen serves up house, electro, and urban beats. We arrived at just after one o’clock at night and the place was packed. Everyone seemed to be in fine form and very “liquored up” or something, because they were the happiest Lobby crowd that I have ever seen. As well, DJ Kleen really knew what songs went well in succession, thus showing his skill as a DJ.
We ordered 4 mixed alcoholic beverages and our male friend who offered to pay ended up footing a $48.00 bill! A word of advice – try not to spend all your money drinking at Lobby or you will go home broke. On the other hand if you can afford to drink at Lobby, then by all means help make the various owner’s richer. Honestly though, the bartenders do offer up properly mixed drinks that do not skimp on the alcohol.
Lobby’s downstairs room always seems to be unoccupied. It is a small but cozy room, that no one ever uses to entertain themselves. Perhaps if a proper speaker system was funneled into the room, people would want to use it as a second dance floor. Around the corner are the washroom areas. My major complaint with the washrooms is that it is too dark in the stalls. As sexy as it looks in there, no one has any idea just how dirty the stalls really are, and you can actually feel creepy using the facilities. The candle lit stalls are also hypothetically moments away from going up in flames from an inebriated patron tipping over the candle into the toilet paper. Perhaps that’s why an attendant has finally been hired to keep an eye on things.
In summary, Lobby remains an impressive place that reeks of style and attracts only those who are sure enough of themselves to be found in such a place. Go on a Wednesday if you want to dance, and socialize.
Scale of 0-10 (10 being the best)
Music – 9 People – 71/2 Ambiance – 9 Love factor – 7
About
W4W Toronto
We are a collective of well-informed, stylish, professional, and trend-setting, young women working in various industries in Toronto, Canada. Social networkers, travelers, journalists, fashionistas, and professionals, there is no lack of opinions here. Check us out Twitter @ msjag, urbantoronto, chowhoundgta, or agencynurse_rn
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