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

 

 

A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER NIGHT IN LIBERTY VILLAGE

With a tagline promising “5 Thursdays, 5 Locations, 1 Community,” Liberty Social Hour: Le Bel Été kicked off on July 7, 2011. Held at Barista Espresso Bar on East Liberty St., a cozy café with a distinctly European feel, guests were treated to free appetizers, $5 beers and an evening spent rubbing shoulders with fellow Liberty Villagers.

Hoping to do its part in fostering community relations, the inaugural event did not disappoint. The neighbourly welcome began at the door and carried its way inside, where, akin to a party held at a friend’s house, introductions and co-mingling were plentiful. Even one-time mayoral candidate, Sarah Thomson, CEO of Women’s Post and current Liberal candidate for October’s election, stopped by to say hi!

After an evening spent making new friends, a gift bag featuring information and deals from various businesses located in Liberty Village was given out, placing a metaphorical cherry on the top of the night. With one Thursday down and four more to go, the next Liberty Social Hour is taking place on July 14 at Merci Mon Ami, on their 3rd year anniversary and a portion of sales will be donated to ovarian cancer. Attending Liberty Social Hour definitely reminded me why living in Liberty Village truly means a beautiful summer is ahead.

For more pictures go to: Link

The Beer Boutique in Liberty Village – Now Open!

With the red carpet, DJ Bello Sound, Toronto media, an abundance of beer and carefully-paired hors d’oeuvres, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were at the opening of the latest hotspot in Downtown Toronto. This Monday, CityEvents organized the launch party for The Beer Store to celebrate the opening of The Beer Boutique’s flagship store in Liberty Village.  This is one of a few locations planned in growing areas.

True to its concept, the party drew in a host of beer connoisseurs and aficionados. From industry insiders and Toronto socialites to food and drink bloggers and magazine journalists, everyone present  had a great time at the launch. Guests were able to browse through the shelves and socialize as they sipped on drinks provided by the knowledgeable servers and bartenders. A taste of what is to come, The Beer Boutique promises a self-serve location complemented by knowledgeable staff (everyone is Prud’homme certified!) who will help you learn about and select the right taste of beer for every occasion!

The atmosphere was definitely chic and upscale but at the same time, familiar, and reminiscent of summer cottage days when all you wanted was to lay out and have a cold one with your friends. Special thanks to our partners and sponsors for it happen! And thank you to everyone who came out and supported the launch of The Beer Boutique!

Get ready, beer lovers. This is the beginning of an incredible concept for all of you who love beer.

For more pictures, click here.

Here are some photos of the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157626835569599/

For beer lovers everywhere! Introducing The Beer Boutique!

Introducing a new way to love beer: The Beer Boutique!

Brought to you by Canada’s very own, The Beer Store is launching its newest retail venture in Liberty Village later in the month of June. Not only will patrons have the same wide range of beer to choose from, but they’ll also be able to purchase beer in smaller packs, and even mix and match with custom cardboard carriers.

And if that isn’t reason enough to check it out, The Beer Boutique will feature regular tasting and pairing events. We all know that food and drink go together, and The Beer Boutique will let you discover new brands and match great foods with each one. And because the store is all self-serve, you’ll have the opportunity to browse to your heart’s content.

The entire objective of this great new concept store is to be a beer lover’s dream, to enhance a greater beer experience, and to learn more about the brews everyone loves so much.

Beer lovers: get excited. Just in time for summer, The Beer Boutique promises to be an incredible experience.

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