Planning a Party for St. Patrick

In a city with so many cultures, it is only natural that Toronto would celebrate a day of full spirited Irish traditions.  March 17th is fast approaching, and with our Irish luck this St. Patrick’s Day has landed on a Saturday!  Many will want to take advantage of the weekend and throw parties in the spirit of the leprechaun.  Here are some simple tips that will make your party the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Décor

St. Patrick’s Day is all about green.  Most importantly you must wear green attire and encourage your guests to do the same.  Then one trip to the dollar store will save you money and maybe even save you a headache.  First pick up green shamrock decorations, along with stickers, balloons and construction paper.  Then make sure you grab green plates, cups, and cutlery for your St. Patty’s snacks.  Even with a small budget, you find all of your décor needs for under $20.

Food and Beverage 

The theme of this party is simple.  Green all the way through, even in the food!  Food colouring will be your best friend and your worst enemy.  Just add a few drops into beer, soda and even some food to get the feel good green effect.  Make sure to use the dye in plastic cups to avoid staining your own glassware.  Stick with classic finger foods and a variety of Irish beers.  Everyone can enjoy some classic food with a delicious new taste of beer.

Here are some ideas for Irish Brews that can be found at varying LCBO’s…

• Guinness Irish Stout
• Harp Irish Lager
• Smithwicks Irish Amber Ale
• Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

For the ladies, try Animee Rosé Beer, an internationally known brew that has become very popular in Ireland and is available through Molson Coors.  The sweet and light taste will be splendidly refreshing this March month.

Music

Finding the right music for an event can be very tricky when trying to satisfy a variety of people.  Here are some east coast Canadian artists that you can integrate into your own personal play list to get the perfect Celtic sounds.

• Great Big Sea
• The Barra MacNeils
• Loreena McKennitt
• Natalie McMaster
• The Rankin Family
• Ashley Mac Isaac

Games

• Pot of Gold – Balloon Pop

Take a bunch of cold balloons and fill some with a chocolate coin, some with real coins, some with plastic shamrocks and keep a handful empty.  Each guest has the chance to pop a balloon to find their lucky prize inside.  The excitement comes from the mystery of what is in the balloon.

• Lucky Coin Grab

Fill a pot with chocolate coins and three Canadian loonies.  Each guest will have a chance to grab.  Either they will get a chocolate coin, or they will get a real dollar.  The three who pick the dollar will win St. Patrick’s Day merchandise.  They will get to choose between a hat, t-shirt, or shamrock beads.  Your prizes can vary depending on what you have available.

So whether your tradition is as simple as sporting some green gear for the day or drinking a pint of green beer, the tradition of the Irish is easy to carry on when you follow these simple party tips.

Best of luck!

-Samantha Crimi

CityEvents Intern

 

 

The Trump

The newly opened Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto, located in the financial district, is an example in luxury and beauty.  The tower which has 261 rooms was designed to show off Toronto’s impressive skyline.  The launch in March showcased some of the chef’s specialties and full chocolate bar.

Trump is known for being glamorous and larger than life that is present in the new hotel and towers where guests can enjoy of  a 12 000 sq ft event space.

There a several options available from meeting spaces to ballrooms the Trump tower is designed to cater to a wide variety of needs. The available event space includes The Grand Salon, The Grand Ballroom, The Trump Boardroom, and Ballrooms 1-3 which can be used individually or combined, the same goes for Salons 1-3.

At the launch event the extra ballroom design was courtesy of MB Designs Inc; with flowers, candlesticks, lamps, geometric walls to add an extra touch to any event.

If you are always on the look out for great event space then why not consider the city’s newest edition into the luxury hotel market to furnish you with a space for your unforgettable experience in the making. There are many things associated with Trump Hotels including drama, beauty, opulence and glamour all of which would make your event more memorable.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is located in the heart of the financial district at 325 Bay Street. For more information on event spaces visit their website at trumptorontohotel.com or call (416) 306-5800.

Ian Sheldon – Storm Chaser Revel in the Drama of Land and Sky

Ian Sheldon
Storm Chaser
Revel in the Drama of Land and Sky

Drama is the essence of Ian’s work. His mastery is expressed with dimension, subtlet and beauty both through oil on canvas and majestic glass works. Educated as a scientist he chose to chase the visual kaleidoscope that only a storm can create, its dawn, its fury and its reprieve. A self-proclaimed “storm chaser” Ian vividely portrays the palette of nature with an emphasis on the calming effect of blue.

You can preview the new collection on Ian’s website www.iansheldon.com or
Supported by the Canada Concil for the Arts under the Alberta Creative Development Initiatvie.

Where: Gallery 1313, Gallery House Wed-Sunday 1-6 pm
1313 Queen Street West
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 23, 2012
Time: 7 – 10 pm
www.G1313.com

Tips for LinkedIn

LinkedIn is among the more popular social media platforms and it is not hard to see why; it lets users make professional connections where most social media is better for making personal ones. LinkedIn has the benefit of influencing what comes up when doing searches like Google.  Instead of seeing potential embarrassing photos users are met with your professional profile.

 

Social Media for the Enterprise Presented by LinkedIn for Social Media Week emphasized some key points about using LinkedIn that we have shared below.

Develop A Brand

You are going to want to distinguish yourself and promote your positive attributes.

 

Showcase The Person Behind The Brand

People are going to want to know what makes you and your brand different so don’t be afraid to show your interests; just make sure that they don’t hurt your professional image.

 

Monitor Your Profile

Have relevant an up to date information. This will give people viewing your profile the right tools to effectively communicate to and about you. Help them understand what benefits you can provide by keeping information accurate and up to date.

 

Participate

LinkedIn has groups for nearly every profession, so join one and contribute.  This is all about visibility, by being an active participant you can show your expertise and raise your profile within your profession.

 

Make Connections Through Connections

Social media is about relationships and engagement; having a strong network is dependent on you making the effort; your connections are resource base and they can help you by providing new contacts.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/cityevents

Exceptional Distillery District Hospitality Locations

I want to highlight for you one of this cities most talked about regions, The Distillery District. It has a lot of history for the city; filled with Victorian Industrial Architecture its past is very much present in the local businesses that currently occupy it. It is a chic location perfect for having fun among friends.

Many places in this city do Italian food but, Archeo Trattoria does it well.  The spacious environment lends itself well to hosting events; it can fit up to 200 people. Archeo also has a patio perfect for the summer. If you find yourself in the Distillery District don’t hesitate to try it out.

If you’ve ever had to choose between a great environment and great food you can appreciate Tappo Wine Bar and Restaurant as it has both. With their extensive menu and culinary skill it has a lot going for it. Specializing in classic Mediterranean and Italian food and extensive wine list; Tappo knows how to create an enjoyable meal. Its patio features two stainless steel fire pits.

The Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill has a comfortable, dare I say cozy environment. The menu is where the real fun begins which includes oyster, but also fish, pork, duck and steak frites.

For those of you that are more adventurous there is the Stirling Room.  It is a progressive and sophisticated lounge and bar for the young urban professional.  With weekly events this lounge is a great place to meet new people or connect with friends.  The décor is impressive with quartz counter tops and a baby grand piano that has been converted into a DJ booth.

The Distillery District is extensive so I have only highlighted a few locations that I think stand out, but I want to know what in the Distillery District you enjoyed so please leave a comment in the section below.  These are just some of the restaurants and lounges in the Distillery there is also a number of event venues to be found at: www.fermentingcellar.ca

 

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