Holiday Art Markets

Toronto Christmas Market

This holiday season Toronto will once again celebrate the romance and magic of a traditional

Christmas at Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market. This free annual event captures all of the

tradition and charm of European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique

handcrafted products. There are some different kinds of entertainment such as musicians,

carolers and children’s choirs to Santa’s workshop which kids can have the chance to meet

Santa. You can get many kinds of Christmas gifts, especially traditional items such as crib

figurines, toys, wood carvings, hand-made ornaments, candles and holiday memorabilia.

Distillery Historic District (55 Mill Street),

Friday November 29 – Sunday December 15, Mon -Fri noon – 9pm & weekends 10am – 9pm.

The Artisans Gift Fair

This homegrown gift sale in The Annex has been running over from the end of November.

The Artisans’ Gift Fair hosts fine collection of affordable gift products. Vendors gather at the

Tranzac, located in the Annex at Bloor and Brunswick, displaying handcrafted gifts. Look for

handcrafted items such as garments, soaps, jewelry, journals, and everything from cupcakes

to cat toys. The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave), December 14, 15, 21, 22. 12pm – 6pm, free.

City of Craft

City of Craft is an annual craft show and exhibition in Toronto. It is also a group of people

who make other crafty things which happen throughout the year. High quality wares and

promising local crafts will be on sale, and the gifts from this sale are sure to make an

impression.

The Theatre Centre (1087 & 1095 Queen Street West),

December 14 – 15, Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm, $2 (children under 12 free).

Toronto Etsy Street Team’s 1st Annual Christmas Marketplace

The Toronto Etsy Street Team will be holding its first Christmas Marketplace.

Saint-Stephens-in-the-Fields (103 Bellevue, College St, in the Kensington Market neighbourhood)

December 14, 11am – 5:30pm

Shaken not stirred- The Art of Cocktail

Tuesday, December 3rd , Shaken not stirred- The Art of Cocktail was hosted by Allan Small, Senior Investment Advisor at Auberge du Pommier. Over 30 guests came out to learn more about how rising interest rates are affecting individuals’investement decision, but also to learn about a few cocktails from Mixologist Ed Grim from O&B. These cocktails including a winter mulled wine and the North Star Karkade.

The room at Auberge du Pommier was already decorated for Christmas with fir tree’s branches and pine cones. With the candles in the fire place and on the tables, the atmosphere was very cozy.

The first cocktail was a Winter Mulled Wine prepared with red wine, oranges and a mix of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg. The tip from Ed our celebrity Mixologist for Mulled Wine is there is no need to buy an expensive bottle as you change the taste with all the flavours.

The second cocktail was the North Star Karkade made with Hibiscus tea, Amaro Montenegro, Sweet Vermouth and Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup, with an orange twist. The guests really enjoyed that last cocktail with a bitter taste and learned that the orange twist has to be added at the last moment!

Here are the recipes of those two delicious cocktails:

Winter Mulled Wine

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Oranges
• 2 Lemon
• 2 Cinnamon Stick
• 2 Star Anise
• 8 Cloves
• 12 Black peppercorns
• 1 Nutmeg
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1 Vanilla bean

North Star Karkade

• 1.5oz Hibiscus infused Rye
• 5oz Amaro Montenegro
• 5oz Sweet Vermouth
• 75oz Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

The photos of the event can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157638353170824/

Fundraising For Haiyan Relief in the Philippines – Head Shot Day

November 22th, 2013 was a very special day for  fundraising for Haiyan Relief in the Philippines. The event was held by The Motionaries and supported by CityEvents social media divison: CitySocial at Haworth, a modern office furniture store. The aim of the event was to raise funds by offering a professional headshot at only $50. All proceeds were donated to World Vision in their initiatives to provide emergency relief to children and families affected by the calamity.

Haworth was the perfect venue for that event, with their modern furniture and a cozy atmosphere right downtown. The guests could relax on the comfortable sofas in the waiting area and enjoyed refreshments before their photo shot. More than 80 guests came to give their support and get their professional head shot. People were happy to have the chance to update and take a new head shot by the corporate photographer Donna Santos and felt it was a win win.

The fundraising was a true success as the Motionaries and supporters raised $4443.16, plus $300 in pledges to World Vision which the government has matched resulting in total of $9486 raised.

The photos of the event can be found at:

Frocktail Five

The popular Frocktail Party returned this year. Last Thursday CityEvents enjoyed the fabulous frock designs and dancing at the Arcadian Loft. We were proud to help celebrate the 5th year of compassion and fashion in support of juvenile diabetes.

We have attended every year and some years have been lucky enough to bid and win a new frock.  As someone that attends a number of events it has been a great place to pick up some great finds.  This year after a fierce bidding war and down to the last 5 seconds we won an Oscar de La Renta dress donated by Valerie Pringle…all for a few hundred dollars.

I expect this quality dress will get a lot of wear and excited for the next big function. My guy friend won a great Strellson suit for only a few hundred dollars, less than half of what it is in the store. It was great to see more at the event for the men besides being with all of the beautiful ladies.

The dresses on auction are a variety of fashionable donated frocks by a variety of local retailers and celebrities. Some of the sponsors included Hudson’s Bay, O&B, French Connection, Marciano, got2b, Peroni, Iceberg Vodka, and Hendricks Gin.  We loved the mini boutiques by celebrity donators like Suzanna Rogers and stores like Marciano.  There were more than a few finds we would have loved.

It was great to join friends who also supported the event like glam jewellry designer Shay Lowe who donated some of her bright blue earrings again this year and other keen bidders.  We look forward to next year.  To check out some of the photos check out the Frocktail website and look out for details next fall on the 6th Annual.

http://www.thefrocktailparty.com

Photo credit to Kevin Gonsalves for taking these wonderful pictures.

Earrings Photo taken by Deb Lewis.

Check us in Toronto Life Fashion: http://www.fashionmagazine.com/society/2013/12/04/frocktail-party-2013/slide/frocktail-party-2013-003/

20th Annual Disability Hall of Fame Inductees 2013

On Tuesday November 5th, 2013, 20th Annual Disability Hall of Fame Inductees was held by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP) at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Around 300 guests came out to celebrate 5 honorable inductees who made an outstanding contribution in their fields.

Here is a list of inductees who were celebrated:

- Paralympian Stephanie Dixon who was the first Canadian woman in history to win five gold medals in a single Paralympic Games winning 19 medals throughout her career.

- Ramesh Ferris, who is a global leader in the battle to end polio. He hand-cycled more than 7,000 kilometres across Canada to raise money and awareness for global polio eradication, education and rehabilitation and provide humane support and rehabilitation for the survivors.

- Jerry and Annie Johnston who introduced Canada’s first program for disabled skiers and were instrumental in the growth of the sport in Canada.

- Founder, publisher, editor and guiding spirit of Abilities magazine connecting 80,000 readers across Canada, Raymond D. Cohen (posthumously)

- This year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient is David Crombie who always has time for disability issues, beginning with his Mayor’s Task Force on the Disabled, and then, for 20 years the selection committee chair for the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame and gifted MC for every presentation.

After guests enjoyed a delicious lunch, the award-giving ceremony started with a speech provided by CFPDP Chair, Honourable Vim Kochhar. After he presented the awards, each of the inductees made a touching short speech that made guests reconsider about the importance how to view people with a disability. The hall was filled with applause due to the inductees’ amazing speeches.

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