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/

La Société Opening

I’ve always thought that someone should open up a restaurant right on Bloor St. – they’ll be perfectly poised to scoop up all the tired shoppers shopping on Yorkville. Turns out I wasn’t alone on that intuition.

La Société opened last week on 131 Bloor St. W. and when I attended the invitation-only opening on Tuesday, I found myself quite taken with the decor. The stained-glass ceiling was gorgeous and I loved the cafe style woven chairs. I saw quite a few city philanthropists and key restaurant and club owners in Toronto. Society photographer George Pimmental photographed the event.

Great place and atmostphere – a wonderful addition to the INK Entertainment family alongside other great venues such as Ultra, Ame, Guvernment etc. I’m really looking forward to going back and trying the seafood bar and hanging out on the largest patio at Bay and Bloor!

Dolce Social Ballroom

We recently introduced you to the hottest patios in Toronto. With delectable cuisine, incredible music and the best people in Toronto, the patios we highlighted will absolutely live up to hype this summer.

One of the patios, Dolce Social Ballroom, opened recently and we were there. Located just at the corner of King St. W. and Bathurst Ave., Dolce, as it is affectionately known, opened its patio in coordination with some of the youngest and hottest promotion companies out there: Lyme Productions and NuVibe. Between the crowds each company brought and the atmosphere of the natural paneling and white booths, the patio opening was an incredible event.

And we all know that King St. W. nightlife has always been above the standard. Small enough to be intimate but with the opportunity to share a drink with some amazing people from this great city, Dolce’s patio left no room for disappointment.

On the second floor of 647 King St. W., the streets below seemed miles away. La Dolce Vita, the beautiful life that is Dolce Social Ballroom promises to be an amazing patio this summer.

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/

Fresh Healthy Salad For The Summer Time!

The summer time always makes me want to eat healthy. The heat plays a huge factor–I have cravings for salads and fruits. Because of this, I figured I would share with you some of my favorite add-ons you can use as dressing and toppings on your salad to add an extra kick in your step and make it filling. I am going to share with you my favorite ingredients to make the perfect summertime salad. Very easy to do and delicious.

Bye Bye Lettuce, Hello Spinach!

Instead of the basic base of lettuce for your salad, try spinach. When I was a child, I really disliked spinach, I think it was partly because I associated it with the gross looking canned kind you see on Popeye. Spinach is very high in iron and calcium. If you are a vegetarian then spinach should become your new best friend. Iron is usually the number one vitamin that vegetarians are lacking because it is largely found in meat. Also, calcium is very important for the health of your bones. The warm weather is also very dehydrating and tiring so it’s good to feel light and weightless. So, for your salad, add the nutritious value of spinach.

No Need for Tomatoes, Think Strawberries!

Substitute tomatoes for strawberries. Since strawberries are sweeter, I find that they complement the spinach base better. Strawberries are also a great source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is incredible for the skin because it kills its bacteria and also helps brighten and even skin tone. Its antioxidant character is also great for the body because it helps the body with its necessary enzymatic reactions. Vitamin C is also needed for the production of collagen. Lack of collagen will cause your skin to produce more visible brown spots directly connected with aging. Collagen is necessary for the anti aging properties and preservation of the body’s youth.

Walnuts on Top!

Walnuts have high levels of antioxidants. They also have been proven to increase fat oxidation and reduce carbohydrate oxidation. This means that they will help fill you up while at the same time making sure that you are digesting your food properly. Walnuts improve the use of body fat, making them a healthy and light add on to a salad. It also doesn’t hurt that they are delicious. It is best to keep the walnuts raw because roasting them takes away some of their antioxidant values.

Bonjour Brie Cheese!

Brie is made from whole or semi skimmed milk. It adds an exquisite flavor and it’s a nice change from the regular cheese you find on a salad. The French love eating this for breakfast, but I simply enjoy it any time of day. Brie is light and rich in flavor. Meaning, it doesn’t weigh down the meal but it is rich in flavor and ties the whole salad together.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing!

Best and final add-on to your salad. The mixture of olive oil and vinegar is perfect because it gives the salad the spice it needs and the benefits. Olive oil is great for the skin because of it’s strengthening values. but it is also wonderful because of it properties to displaces Omega 6 Fatty Acids. This means that olive oil has the ability to build a balanced Omega 6 fatty acid content. Olive oil is also known to lover blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

So what do you think of my choice of meal this season? I love this salad because every ingredient has its incredible benefit for the body. Summer is all about putting your best food forward, so make sure you are being taken care of, from the inside and out.

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