On Thursday, October 17, 2013, at the EGLINTON GRAND, chocolate lovers will assemble to experience one of the most elegant and lavish events held in Toronto set to benefit Prostate and Breast Cancer Initiatives. Imagine the distinct aroma of chocolate emanating from every direction once you walk through the doors of the luxuriously appointed EGLINTON GRAND.

Start off the evening with a visit the Silent Auction gallery followed by chocolate tastings.  The first to tempt your taste buds are savoury sampling food stations, presented and catered by some of Toronto’s top chefs and restaurants. Here you will experience sampling sizes of various chocolate-infused savoury foods.

Once you have sampled and digested the savoury fare, treat yourself to decadent chocolate creations – from bars to truffles – available at several Chocolate Stations positioned throughout the venue.

Next, take a break and work off some of the calories by strolling over to the Silent Auction tables, followed by shuffling onto the dance floor. Cocoa Grande, “a celebration of movies, music and dance”,  is the theme of this year’s Chocolate Ball and there will be no shortage of music for dancing. In between sets, prepare to be entertained by our signature floor shows, contests and prize draws.

So come dressed in Hollywood Glam and ready to celebrate an evening of entertainment – powered by Chocolate.  Help make a difference by being part of this unique Toronto event set to benefit our Prostate and Breast Cancer Initiatives Fund.

When: October 17, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Eglinton Grand, 400 Eglinton Avenue West

Tickets and information: http://www.thechocolateball.com/

https://twitter.com/TOChocolateFest

The 50 Going On 15 photo contest is downright absurd, and so is the prize.

The 50 Going On 15 photo contest on Lenzr will reward the member that uploaded the highest rated photo with over 50 lbs of dark chocolate as a prize!

This challenge is sponsored by an emerging baby boomer magazine for people over 50 in Toronto. The content is written by and for fifty year old people living in this great city.

Winning this contest might be more of a curse than a blessing esp if you are a woman over 50 and trying to lose weight.  You can read more about this over 50 magazine sponsor and prize on the Lenzr blog.

Crowded Places might just give people a new reason to appreciate traffic jams.

A highly respectable Toronto web developer is generously offering a Blackberry curve phone as prize in the crowded places photo contest on Lenzr.

The contest asks crowd photographers and budding anthropologists to submit shots of large gatherings of people, and use the caption to tell stories.  A Lenzr photo contest can be decided by the quality of the story hook in the caption, as often as the quality of the photography itself, which tends to be wonderfully amateur, raw and inspired.

The Portable Luxury contest is also kinda weird. The theme asks for images of the handiest conveniences you can take with you on the run. The Portable Luxury photo contest on Lenzr is looking for exceptional storyfull pictures that highlight things you could stuff in a knapsack that would make you feel more at home wherever you end up in the world – basically how do you move your comfort zone?

The theme is certain to glimpse hand-held conveniences and inventions that nicely define the differences between humans from animals. Beautiful expensive jewellery will no doubt be popular, but also advanced tech gadgets. And a thermos full of expensive coffee, anyone?

The prize is a Las Vegas vacation for two people courtesy of the contest sponsor, a portable toilet rentals company that’s arranged to provide airfare and hotel accommodation for two people for three days and two nights in Las Vegas.

Lenzr admin hopes the winner will be generous with photos and stories of the adventure in Las Vegas, for the Lenzr blog.

Must be over 18 to enter and win this contest, and you must be Canadian and unfortunately Lenzr photo contests are still not translated into French language and therefore still not available in Quebec.

What happened last month? There is a full chronology of who won what contests on Lenzr? last month written up in the Lenzr blog on site.

Backyard Party Events was a rather queer web challenge because the actual photo contest sponsor won, and yes… that’s allowed. Or at least there is no rule against it. But don’t go thinking it was deliberate or that it was a mistake because it wasn’t… It wasn’t a mistake because his photo was really terrific.

John Kenyon the marketing director at Absolute Tent and Event Services actually won his own company’s Lenzr photo contest. But of course he yielded to second place, because the last thing he needs is another $500 gift certificate or a 10×10 pop up tent. And he admits, that he yielded because of the strength of the second place submission, which was his personal favourite picture uploaded to the entire online event.

But Instead of hogging the company’s generous prize for himself, John gave it to a member named ‘Sausma’, (2nd place photographer) for a picture she submitted called ‘He Really Nailed That Pig’.

Here’s Sandra Ausma the 2nd place contestant standing beside John Kenyon in front of the loading dock at Absolute Tent and Event Services at 185 Eastern avenue in Toronto.

Sandra’s photo was excellent; she totally deserves the 10×10 pop-up tent, and the $500 gift certificate to be spent on anything and everything this unique Toronto party rentals warehouse stocks.

Thanks everyone who participated in this Lenzr photo contest.

Deb Lewis & Kendra Court host FastLane in May

On May 26, 2009 we invite you to join us at Blu Ristorante for a unique networking event that features wine and chocolate tasting. Fastlane gives attendees the resources and opportunities to meet other young professionals and build relationships.

You’ll have the opportunity to taste a variety of wines from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio to Chardonnay, paired with the flavours of international food appetizers.

Meet principals and winemakers, get introduced to the world of fine chocolate, learn wine education, and entice your palette with amazing wine pairings. Impress your friends and family with your new found wine and chocolate knowledge or bring them with you!

This is your chance to meet young professionals, build relationships and fulfill your career, community, lifestyle and social goals. Join us in May at Blu, a stylish lounge and restaurant, for great food, ambiance and company.

Date: Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm
Location: Blu Ristorante – 17 Yorkville Avenue
http://www.bluristorante.com

Tickets: On-line Advance $25 or $35 at the Door
Drink & appetizers, Gift bags, and Door prizes!

http://secure.gettickets.ca/?event=14849

Remember to buy your tickets soon, as space is limited.

Hosted by: www.torontocityevents.ca and www.GatheringsEventPlanning.com

Join the FastLane Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?id=512176686&gv=12#/group.php?gid=24694800824
76686&gv=12#/group.php?gid=24694800824

Here are some photos of the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157619208388133/