Dusseldorf Altbierfest

The Candian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce organized an amazing event on October 11th. The worldwide famous Altbierfest.

The setting couldn’t have been better. The Altbierfest was held at Toronto’s Bier Markt on the Esplanade and showcased an authentic German Bierfest. It was a casual, comfortable and perfect moment for networking.

TIFF Hotspots. Who is open late this TIFF?

Looking for the hottest places to visit during the Toronto International Film Festival from September 8-18th? Don’t worry. We’ve got the best locations uncovered. From the patio’s to the parties at the grand hotels, you will definitely enjoy everything these venues have to offer during TIFF. Just peeking to spot a celebrity or just having a great night. It’s possible during these exciting weeks. Most of the events or venues are open till at least 4 a.m. Take a look. Who is open late?

Brassaii 461 King St. W., 416-598-4730 www.brassaii.com
Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge is Toronto’s sophisticated cosmopolitan and culture destination.With a romantic cobblestone palazzo courtyard and charming outdoor patio, Brassaii embraces its architectural heritage, elevating your fine dining experience  to an expedition in urban archeology and design. Small select eats on the menu until 4 a.m.

Cabin 5 225 Richmond St. W., 416-979-3000 www.cabinfive.com
Cabin Five is Toronto’s party bar launched in 2009. The ambience of Cabin Five Nightclub is very welcoming, helped by the warm and inviting decor. The walls are covered in rough timber. The room is dominated by two rustic wooden bars with back bars being created out of original pine windows and lit with turn of the century coach lights. Open until 4 a.m.

Crush Wine Bar455 King St. W., 416-977-1234 www.crushwinebar.com
A wine bar with French bistro style restaurant. Offers menus, wine list, photographic tour, and details about private dining and tasting events. Special $80 menu for TIFF, featuring egg yolk ravioli, open until 4 a.m.

Fifth Grill and Terrace 225 Richmond St. W., 416-979-3005 www.thefifthgrill.com
Located on the rooftop of an old warehouse and accessible by a private elevator, The Fifth Grill & Terrace is a unique experience. The dining room with its warm eclectic décor, zinc bar, fireplace and crooning piano player is very inviting. The heated year-round rooftop terrace offers a spectacular downtown vista. Open Thurs.-Sat. Bar open till 4 a.m., last reservation for dinner 11 p.m.

Four Seasons Hotel21 Avenue Rd., 416-964-0411 www.press.fourseasons.com
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is rolling out the red carpet for TIFF from September 8 to 18, 2011. ONEXONE’s Charity Gala will be at the Four Seasons with a special performance by Harry Connick Jr.  on Sept 9th.

The team at Avenue bar at the Four Seasons have created a special TIFF Cocktail Menu, available exclusively from Thursday, September 8 to Sunday, September 18 only. Open till 4 a.m.

Also, Bellosound Outdoor TIFF Music Lounge will be at the Four Season’s York Ville Entrance with live DJ performances and special guests. Thursday, Sept 9 – Sat Sept 10 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Gansevoort Goodnight 18 Wellington St. W. www.sirencommunications.com
This is where Brad Pitt and Leighton Meester are expected to show their faces. Gansevoort Hotel Group will be hosting Goodnight Gansevoort on September 9th and 10th. Goodnight will host a select group of A-list celebrities and fashionable VIP’s for two ultra-exclusive TIFF after parties on those days.  If you want the best of culture and nightlife you should be there. Open till 4 a.m.

LA SOCIÉTÉ 131 Bloor Street West. Unit 211, 416.551.9929 www.lasociete.ca
In the heart of Yorkville, the place is very popular and also called the “people’s” canteen. This art deco Paris brasserie with zinc bar, stained glass ceiling, two patios, weather permitting is a place not to miss. Food till 2 a.m., bar open till 4 a.m.

La Terrasse AMC & Nikki Beach350 King West, 6th floor, Tiff Bell Lightbox Roof Terrasse www.nikkibeach.com
This year during TIFF La Terrasse AMC & Nikki Beach are taking over a prime-time real estate: Rooftop, outdoor terrace of the TIFF Lightbox, Malparte by O&B. Sept 8-12th, 6pm – 4a.m.

Reservations are strongly encouraged at what is sure to be the hottest spot during the festival. Make your reservation here: reservations@nikkibeachtoronto.com or by calling (800) 583-3708.

Luma and O&B Canteen TIFF Lightbox 350 King St. W., 647-288-4715 and 647-288-4710 www.oliverbonacini.com
O&B Canteen will be a 3,500 square foot casual dining space on the ground floor. With space in doors and out, Canteen will offer causal dining options including sit-down and take-away. Luma, the fine dining area of the complex, will seat 230 indoor and 50 outside with a menu of globally inspired Canadian cuisine by Chef Jason Bangerter. The restaurant will connect to a lounge. Luma at TIFF Bell Lightbox is now offering à la carte brunch on Sundays.

Park Hyatt Hotel 4 Avenue Rd., 416-925-1234 www.parktoronto.hyatt.com
Located high atop fashionable Yorkville on the 18th floor, The Roof Lounge is visited by both locals and celebrities. The Hyatt Hotel has a beautiful patio with stunning views of the vibrant city of Toronto. Enjoy the light bar menu and the view of the top.

Monday through Sunday, 12:00p.m. – 1:00a.m. (after these hours for private parties)

Ritz Carlton Hotel – TOCA 181 Wellington St., 416-585 2500 TIFF central http://www.ritzcarlton.com
Many stars will be checking in at the Ritz Carlton. Toronto’s newest luxury hotel welcomes guests to the heart of the city’s bustling financial and performing arts districts. Located across from Roy Thomson Hall and only steps from the Toronto International Film Festival Bell Lightbox.

The TOCA Bar is the perfect place for an after work drink or a pre-dinner cocktail. With its trendy ambiance, free standing bar, tapas-style menu, raw bar, sustainable caviar tasting as well as 10 sparkling and 50 still wines by the glass, TOCA Bar will satisfy even the toughest critics. The TOCA bar, Toca restaurant, DEQ restaurant, with patio are all open till 4 a.m.

Bellosound is hitting the DEQ at The Ritz-Carlton during TIFF 2011. From Sept 8- 18, 10p.m. -3 a.m.

Soho House Grey Goose11 Duncan Street www.greygoose.com
Grey Goose, the world’s favorite luxury vodka, is celebrating the silver screen with an exclusive party for the world’s film elite in Toronto. A proud sponsor of film around the world, Grey Goose is continuing its highly successful partnership with the exclusive private members’ club, Soho House, to host this pop-up event. September 9th.

The Burroughes Building 639 Queen Street West. www.theburroughes.com
The Creative Artists Agency is a key player, making their TIFF party a must attend. The CAA’s party is hosted by Amy Sacco at the Burroughes Building.

Parlour270 Adelaide Street, 416.821.0901 www.parlour270.com
Parlour is a must go for socializing and networking opportunities. It’s an intimate bar and lounge. Let the art, music, food and architecture impress you. Parlour has a cocktail/wine menu and a snack bar menu.

The Hoxton 69 Bathurst Street www.thehoxton.ca
The Hoxton will play host to the Diet Coke Stay Extraordinary Gala, transporting guests back to Old Hollywood. September 12th.

The Thompson Toronto 550 Wellington Street W 416.640.7778 www.thompsonhotels.com
Thompson Toronto’s first international addition, opened the summer of 2010 in the diverse and artistically driven King West Village, a neighborhood adjacent to the city’s financial and entertainment districts. A new addition to the Thompson and long awaited is Toronto’s 889 Yoga and Wellness Spa who are now onsite for the TH guests. The Thompson has one of the most sought after roof tops and chances are you will find local and visiting celebrities.

Lobby bar open till 4 a.m.

The Drake Hotel1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042 www.thedrakehotel.ca
The Drake Hotel Fauxbo de luxe, the place to be for global hipsters. Bar open till 4 a.m., last reservation for dinner 10: 30 p.m. TIFF ’11: Two Gallants W/The Mumlers. Drake after dark to celebrate with bands and a crazy dance floor. September 9th, 8p.m – 4a.m.

Ultra Supper Club314 Queen St West 416 263-0330 www.ultratoronto.com
Ultra Supper Club rooftop patio and urbanist wannabes slick dining area is open till 4 a.m.

Throughout TIFF ultra will be serving TIFF-themed specialty cocktails, hosting film premiere parties as well as celebrity guests and DJs. . With a reputation for cocktails, dining and networking it is almost certain that stars will be spotted here. September 8-9th, open until 4.a.m.

Victor in Le Germain Hotel30 Mercer St., 416-504-4239 www.germaintoronto.com
Social Dining, Seasonal Produce and Ethnic Diversity. Victor Restaurant and Lounge specializes in social dining, creating dishes inspired by the ethnic mosaic that is unique to Toronto. It’s your opportunity to enjoy the best seasonal produce: bold salads, roasts, vegetables, fish and game. The dishes are served “family style” letting the joys of sharing and the pleasures of the senses free.

Fresh ‘n’ local kitchen closes at midnight, drinks till 2 a.m.

Windsor Arms Hotel18 St. Thomas St., 416-921-9121 www.windsorarmshotel.com
Consecutively voted the #1 hotel in Toronto by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, the Windsor Arms Hotel is located on a quiet street ideally located just steps away from Yorkville, the heart of Toronto’s most fashionable shopping and entertainment district. The Cafe along with Twenty Two and Prime will have license extended to 4 a.m.

Chef’s Challenge for a Cure

Bobby Flay is no stranger to culinary showdowns. This November, however, he’ll be hosting a culinary challenge in the name of ovarian cancer research at Mount Sinai Hospital.

We were lucky enough to attend the press conference for the second annual Chef’s Challenge last Wednesday and boy did our stomachs thank us. Each celebrity chefs came with a special hors-d’ouevre and everything was simply delicious! Whoever end up getting to work with these chefs is in for a real treat.

Chefs present included David Rocco, host of La Dolce Vita, Massimo Capra, host of Restaurant Makeover and Mark McEwan, head judge on Top Chef Canada and host of The Heat with Mark McEwan.

Though we’re not huge chefs ourselves, the event looks so exciting and goes towards such a great cause that it had us thinking we’d want to participate too! The actual Challenge will be hosted on November 26, 2011 and will feature six (one more than last year) celebrity chefs from The Food Network who will each lead a team of 10 top fundraisers and self-proclaimed foodies to create the best-tasting five-course meal, as judged by a panel of celebrity judges. Last year, the Challenge raised $1.1 million for ovarian cancer research. This year, they plan to do even better!

Should be great! Can’t wait to see the culinary rivalry heat things up!

Ps. The Sub-Zero Wolf showroom is spectacular. It could not be more gorgeously designed. Great venue.

Celebrate Bloor

Coinciding (unintentionally?) with Father’s Day, last Sunday’s “Celebrate Bloor” was the perfect event for a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Hosted by the Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Association with sponsors like Holt Renfrew and Manulife, the event promised to transform Bloor St “Red Carpet Style” by closing down the street and rolling out the red-carpet. They sure delivered. I was pleasantly surprised by how wide the red carpet actually was and even more so by the number of attendees there. It was very busy for a first-time event. Perhaps scheduling it for Father’s Day helped!

I have to say I had a good time there. The food partners were great. For $5, you had access to a wide selection of snacks and treats, not bad for being on Bloor St. I also got to take home a bottle of free beer from Stella Artois. I don’t even know if that’s legal. Are you allowed to hand out free beer, even if it’s a festival?

I was dragged to check out Shawn Desman who I thought was great with his dancing team and the crowd tripled when he came on stage, I also saw a bit of Keshia Chanté she was great, I skipped  Platinum Blonde, just not the same as when they visited my high school…ah back to the good old days… Great event!

Here are some photos of the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157627002409908/

Three Wacky Lenzr Photo Contests END July 1st

There are three equally fascinating and wonderfully diverse photo contests on Lenzr this month. The prizes are every bit as imaginative as the themes, and voting on images is entertainment. Take a look at the serial photo contest website for amusement, if nothing else.  Lenzr is the place where the membership decides who wins the prize. Go here to marvel at the creative submissions that have already been added to the index, and the generosity of the prizes… Ask yourself, which photo will win? Which photo do I want to win?

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.

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