Lowes Toronto Christmas Market at The Distillery District

December 12, 2012 by  
Filed under Ontario, Past Events, Toronto

The Christmas Market 2012 was a blast! The lights, the festiveness, the little shops and everything else, was something that you must experience. Despite the cold, everybody enjoyed themselves.
The Distillery District helped create this great atmosphere, where you can breathe Christmas.  It made you feel as if you were in a European town at a Christmas market.

We’re very much looking forward to the 2013 market!

 

For more information on this event visit: http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/

2012 Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District

December 4, 2012 by  
Filed under Contest, Toronto

Christmas is in the air above the red brick cobblestones and inside each of the many Victorian era heritage buildings in the Distillery District until Dec 16th 2012; there’s a wide selection of hard-to-find goods and services associated with the season at the third annual Toronto Christmas Market.

Toronto Christmas Market, front gate by Jamie leigh TO

The 2012 Toronto Christmas Market is distilled from the old school European – style festive organization that brings together culturally rich family entertainment including musicians, carolers and children’s choirs. These markets originated in Germany, beginning in the early 1400?s, and are now being held in many countries all over the world, and this is arguably Canada’s biggest and best example. You can follow the Toronto Christmas Market on Twitter @TOChristmasMkt

This is a world class shopping destination. The stuff sold here is very rare and special as merchants must apply and are selected by jury for the right to sell unique products all along the different streets. The Distillery District is playing host, for the third year in a row to this festive extravaganza that is expected to bring three hundred thousand people to the compound.

thumbnail pictures of the submissions to 2011 Toronto christmas market photo contest

Lowe’s 2012 Toronto Christmas Market has a photo contest and you could win $250 cash or dinner in any of three world class Distillery District Restaurants!

Check the 2012 Toronto Christmas Market Photo Contest on Lenzr, or visit the Toronto Christmas Market website.

Toronto .com logo

Sponsored by Toronto.com, this photo contest allows attendees to compare notes. Last year this same call-to-action collected over 300 pictures, which in turn accrued over seven thousand votes as folks laboured to get their pics up into the Top Ten to be eligible for the grand prize.

Prizes for the 2012 competition are as follows,

Lowe's TCM logoWinner will receive a $250.00 cash prize,

2nd place will receive a $150.00 Distillery Restaurant gift certificate

3rd place will receive a $100.00 Distillery Restaurant gift certificate.

RULES

Upload original photos now and until December 25th

Voting begins December 15th and ends midnight Dec 25th

Top ten images advance to judges. *Sponsor is Judge, Here is a link to the Term of Use page unique to this contest. Winner announced on Lenzr blog Jan 1st 2013. Lowe’s 2012 Toronto Christmas Market event runs from Friday Nov 30th to Sunday December 16th, 2012 at The Distillery District, Must Be 13yrs older to enter – gift certificates and cash prizes will be mailed anywhere in Canada only. Good luck!

2013 Crashed Ice Party In Niagara Falls

November 24, 2012 by  
Filed under Ontario

On December 1st 2012 Niagara Falls will play host to a unique downhill race on skates sporting event called ‘Crashed Ice’, and this city on the USA Canada border is the first stop of the 2013 Red Bull Crashed Ice Tour.

This sport is also called Ice Cross Downhill and it started life as just another winter extreme sport in 2000 – but then Red Bull got involved and the sport took on a life of its own.  The rules are the same today and the rules are simple; four racers on skates hurl themselves down five hundred meters of frozen ice and ramps in an urban environment. The first competitor to cross the finish line wins the race!

This sport is brand new because we’ve never had the refrigeration technology or equipment like this to be able to make the course so affordable before this modern age. The biggest cost for such an event is the construction of the frozen track itself. The sport is popular because it offers another chance to hockey players whose NHL dreams are unfulfilled. Now they can use their skating skills for something totally unique. Read more about Crashed Ice on this Niagara Falls blog. Below is the course that has been set up for Dec 1st event which is the start of the 2013 Crashed Ice Season.

Niagara falls Canada, Crashed Ice course from above

2013 race calendar will start with the opening event in Niagara Falls, then continue through the United States, Russia, Switzerland, and end with the big finale in Quebec City. Although this extreme event attraction gets a lot of international attention and has a wide audience in Europe and Asia, its a very Canadian creation and we’re proud of the fact that current World Champion Kyle Croxall, is from Mississauga, Ontario. He will be defending his title.  You can see Kyle and his brother Scott in this video,


Check the official tour website for more information. Book a hotel in Niagara Falls online now or check out our list of dining and accommodation packages to make the most of your visit. There’s lots of capacity in Coco’s bar and if you went early enough you could most likely get a table on the patio terrace which should offer a wicked view.

The photo below is from 2008 when fans had unprecedented access to the competitors – the track side seats could literally reach out and touch players as they sped past. That level of access is rare in professional sports and really rare for extreme sports.

2008 race in Europe saw racing fans very close to competitors

The racers look like hockey players and wear similar helmets and padding. There has been some speculation that ice hockey could evolve ramps and speedier sloping corners because of the success of this sport.

Not only has Red Bull sponsored the event, but they helped create it and raise it up to the popularity it enjoys today. Hockey players love this new skate racing sport and there’s some good discussions about Crashed Ice on Canadian sports forum and more about Crashed Ice in Niagara Falls on this NHL hockey forum because they have nothing else to rant about except the NHL strike.

Although this is a free outdoor event for thousands of spectators, there is also a VIP premium indoor viewing area. The Red Bull sponsored ‘Crashed Fan Zone’ will open its doors at 6:00 pm and provide ticket holding spectators with an unparalleled view of the proceedings, and an insider experience. DJs will be setting the tone for the evening and they will be the first to toast the victory of race winners, probably just before 11pm.

Helping to Build Humanity

November 13, 2012 by  
Filed under Past Events, Toronto

Living in Canada, many take for granted how seamlessly our rights and freedoms have been woven into our constitution. For many people around the world the idea of having such a charter would be a luxury.However, The Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (FCMHR) have set out to help build a foundation to celebrate human rights worldwide. Thus, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) has set out to achieve this very goal.

Being built in Winnipeg, Manitoba; upon its completion, it will be the national symbol for the cultivated paths that citizens and organizations have taken to ensure rights and freedoms for all. The CMHR will also serve as a reminder to constantly bring forth positive changes in order to eliminate intolerance, prejudice and injustice from existence.

On Oct 4th, Toronto did its part by holding “Always a Winnipegger & Friends Event”; a fundraiser for the CMHR, held at the Mayberry Fine Art Gallery. Several art lovers were present, along with those who simply wanted to make a difference. Many of the guests also happened to be Winnipeggers and ex-Winnipeggers. Among them were CMHR CEO Stuart Murray, National Campaign Chair, Gail Asper and M.P.P. Glen Murray. Alongside them, renowned Canadian singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and Winnipegger artist, Rand Heidinger.

The evening brought sounds of clinking wine glasses, live music, tasty hors d’oeuvres and sights of lovely works of art. The event showcased pieces from famed Canadian artists, such as Charles Pachter, Rand Heidinger and Tara Sawchuk; whose works were all up for bidding during the event’s silent auction. Pachters prints of impulsively juxtaposed iconic Canadian symbols and Sawchuk’s modern yet classic stained glass piece captivated the eyes of all guests.

Cheers and laughter filled the gallery however a moment was given to special guests, to take to the mic and share their emotional personal stories. Some talked of poverty while others on gaining basic human rights. Nevertheless, their anecdotes all shared the idea of Canada as a strong example for rights and freedoms on a global scale.

The night although eventful, felt short-lived and guests did not want to leave. But after celebrating humanity’s triumphs and progression many knew upon leaving, that the future did not seem brighter but is brighter.

To view pictures from this event, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/

For info on The Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, visit http://www.friendsofcmhr.com/splash.cfm

For info on The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, visit http://humanrightsmuseum.ca/home

Author:  Habiba Ahmad

A Royal Showcase

November 8, 2012 by  
Filed under Event Venues, Ontario, Past Events, Toronto

I had the honour of attending Event Showcase Night at The Royal Conservatory’s Telus Centre. It was an evening specifically for Event Planners to showcase the glorious hall and various reception rooms. The Telus Centre has an exclusive list of suppliers that commanded our presence that evening. My Uber black car pulled up to 273 Bloor Street West. I walked down a long aisle to be greeted by polite and professional wait staff carrying warm up drinks of some pomegranate coloured, sweet and sour with a splash of sparkling bubbles. I continued down a long hallway (regrettably in my stilettos, albeit it was a walk that entwined both romance and modern art that made the walk oh so spectacular. One wall was composed of a brick wall and a glass enclosure on the other, humbly overlooking the atrium, home to the b’espresso bar, where you will see students mingling amongst classical repertoires.

There was a long bar that seemed to run forever outside Koerner HallHall. The bar was built without fridges! Apparently the architects decided that a set of buzzing fridges and noisy ice makers would conflict with the orchestral acoustics in the hall. How brilliant! Libations are kept in buckets of ice that must be refilled regularly.

 A group of exclusive, yet diverse vendors were lined up on the circumference of the main lobby. Behind each vendor, their company name was discreetly but creatively

displayed in white font, and appeared to be floating, on the glass window behind them. How tasteful.  Only the finest samplings were provided. It was not your usual chicken on a stick or spring roll offering. There was melt in your mouth, fork tender beef ribs carved in the creamiest polenta ever. There was fois gras stuffed cornish hen. Clearly no expense was spared. But wait, there were also lobster rolls stuffed in those bite size half moon, mini white bread concoctions.

 A beautiful jazz trio, dressed in tuxedos played in the corner of the glass enclosed hall. Could the evening be any more perfect?

 You can rent one of the three floors but why would you? Go big or go home and rent the entire venue. It’s a must for your special occasion. Except, all in, it starts at about $50, 000 as you must rent each individual floor and bring in caterers and décor and tables and chairs. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

 If you’re looking for a gorgeous venue and your budget has lots of room for incidentals, consider the breathtaking Telus Centre. And put me on your guest list.

For Rental information:  email rentals@rcmusic.ca or visit rcmusic.ca
The Royal Conservatory, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning
273 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M5S 1W2

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