DESIGN 路 ART 路 REAL ESTATE + EVERYTHING REGAL
3 Editor’s Letter 9 Contributors 11 Proclaimer 19-29
Local Talent: Ryan Dineen by Terence Dick Meet Your Meat: The Perfect Steak, Micro-Trend: Gourmet Burgers, Libations The List: From Alexander McQueen to Wimbledon Mr. Smith’s Good Times Guide by Russell Smith
The Ritz Puts It On 35
Five-star service and a sexy take on modernism come downtown by Alex Bozikovic
Curiosity Shop 40
Roberto Navarro’s eye candy for the design curious by Kateri Lanthier
Problem Solved 42
5 design gurus on how to bring the outdoors in
Clean Up Your Act 44 The latest looks for the loo
Diner Notes 47
David Hayes’ ode to the diner
24 Hours at The Counter 48 We came, we ate, we shot
Power to the People 51
The Power Plant’s regeneration aims to turn you on by Betty Ann Jordan
Tagged 54
Spring hits the street by Franco Deleo
A Fashion Week Diary 61
Karen von Hahn reports from the Fall 2011 runway
Knights of the Dining Table 64
How Oliver & Bonacini conquered the city’s culinary scene by Leanne Delap
Summer Entertaining 70
KW packs the perfect picnic; White wine picks by Robert Gravelle
A Round at Muskoka Bay 74
Golf columnist Lorne Rubenstein tees off and tells
On the Town 85
Nights in the ’Hood The Playing Field by Marilisa Racco Test Drive: Blowouts by Esther Garnick Word on the Street: Neighbourhood nightlife Street Style: The guys GotStyle The Deal: Jeffrey Anderson’s King West Know-How
Visionary 108
Q&A with John Steinberg
ON THE COVER MADELEINE BLOMBERG SHOT BY FRANCO DELEO STYLED BY SHAN SARWAR HAIR & MAKEUP, HEATHER FOX TOP: VIVIENNE WESTWOOD BLAZER: ELIE TAHARI TROUSERS: PINK TARTAN RING: IOSSELLIANI SHOES: OPENING CEREMONY
PUBLISHER KING WEST MEDIA LTD. PRESIDENT PETER FREED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN VON HAHN MANAGING EDITOR RONNILYN PUSTIL CREATIVE DIRECTORS CLAYTON BUDD CALLUM MACLACHLAN ART DIRECTOR CLAYTON BUDD GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MICHAEL BOZINOVSKI VISHANA LODHIA EDITORIAL ASSISTANT KATE GERTNER PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR ERIN LAU EDITORIAL INTERN GENEVA BOKOWSKI CONTRIBUTORS JANE APOR FRANCO DELEO NATASHA DIAK MARIO FIORUCCI SUSAN GOUINLOCK ROBERT GRAVELLE GEOFFREY KNOTT MANGO STUDIOS LEWIS MIRRETT ARASH MOALLEMI ADAM MOCO JOHN PAUL POTTERS MARILISA RACCO SHAN SARWAR RUSSELL SMITH CASSIE ZHEN DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AJ MANJI DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MORAD REID AFFIFI KING WEST MEDIA LTD. 552 WELLINGTON ST. W. PENTHOUSE SUITE 1500 TORONTO, ON M5V 2V5 KINGWESTMAG.CA
PHOTO: (KAREN VON HAHN) MANGO STUDIOS
S R O T I D E R E T T LE
SPRING IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO seems to arrive with an extra frisson of excitement. After the long, dark months of snow and slush, when even the most diehard downtowners start losing their determination to see and be seen at the latest hot spots, street life begins to return with the leaves. Tired, salt-crusted coats and boots are cast aside for head-turning summer looks, beautiful people who were hiding indoors suddenly stream into the streets, and life and music and colour come back to downtown sidewalks and patios and boulevards like the full-flowered blooms of an urban garden. Part of this energetic buzz here in King West is a new vitality that reflects both the neighbourhood’s growth as well as its creativity. It is no accident that many of the people who choose to make King West home work in creative industries. But now, more independentminded entrepreneurs with a cool new idea for a shop or café or gallery are choosing to take their chances here, recognizing that this part of the city is where creativity and innovation are not only valued but are key to the emerging culture. What’s amazing about this is that so much of the time when we talk about new ideas and innovation we are talking about the virtual: things happening inside smooth black boxes or somewhere undefined out there in cyberspace where communities are forming among people who’ve never met face to face. Defying this trend is King West’s real emerging sense of community, where the growth is something you can actually see around you, and the energy on the street is one that you can feel as it happens, between real people. In this issue we have tried to document this transformative moment in the new dynamic downtown by reporting on exciting architectural additions to the cityscape, such as the newly built Ritz-Carlton tower, as well as the newfound entrepreneurial energy of King Street restaurateurs—and one-time pioneers—Peter Oliver and Michael Bonacini. Since the best new ideas start small, we’ve expanded our street-friendly coverage of the neighbourhood’s just-opened storefronts and hot new restaurants. To get the full picture of what the energy is really like at the Thompson Hotel’s 24-hour Counter at 3 a.m., we stayed up all night with our cameras. And because creativity is always in fashion, we cover the latest from the runway, the city’s colour-splashed boutiques and the high street, which started to look an awful lot to us this season like graffiti art. Sorry, Mayor Ford, but it seems that the kind of un-bottled, street-born creativity of the best graffiti is the very picture of this new energy. It may indeed be a nuisance. It might not be wholly legit or have the right credentials. But as an expression of the raw need to create, connect and make something bright and beautiful, it is irrepressible.
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Two-time National Magazine Award winner Alex Bozikovic (1), who wrote about the new Ritz-Carlton in this issue, blogs about architecture in Toronto at nomeancity.net. He also writes regularly for design magazines, including Azure and Dwell, and is an editor for The Globe and Mail. When he’s not doing all of the above, in summertime he likes to “hang out in the park with my two-year-old son, my wife and some friends—ideally, under a nice shade tree with some Ontario fruit.” Arts journalist Betty Ann Jordan (2), who reported on the newly polished Power Plant in this issue, writes about Canadian art and design in Toronto for Canadian House and Home and other publications. She also offers city art and design tours through her company, Art InSite. Her perfect summer day? “After leading my regular Saturday afternoon tour on Queen West and taking a salsa dance lesson, I cycle with my husband on our tandem bike to the National Yacht Club at the foot of Bathurst to watch the sun go down over Ontario Place, tired but happy over a mojito.” Award-winning journalist, author and teacher David Hayes (3) says his ideal summer day consists of “cycling to a diner for breakfast, then cycling
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to burn off the calories from that diner breakfast.” For this issue, he had breakfast at The Counter in the Thompson Hotel and then sat down to write “Diner Notes,” his tribute to the diner. His next project is a book on legendary jazz guitarist Lenny Breau. When up-and-coming photographer Lewis Mirrett (4) wasn’t busy working on his industrial design thesis for OCAD University or shooting for FASHION magazine’s streetstyle blog, he was running around King West taking pictures for this issue. But once the weather warms up, you’ll find him riding his bike. “It’s my way of enjoying summer in the city. I love biking downtown and through the Beaches.” Avid golfer Lorne Rubenstein (5), who hit the green to review the Muskoka Bay golf course, has been writing a golf column for The Globe and Mail since 1980 and is a columnist for SCOREGolf magazine and Global Golf Post. He is currently working on a book about the late Canadian golfer Moe Norman. Rubenstein enjoys summer in the city—you guessed it—“playing golf at the Maple Downs Golf and Country Club, where I’m a member, and at many of the other fine clubs in the GTA.”
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1 2012 Fiat 500 Sport ›After 27 years as a fond memory, the classic Cinquecento (here, in giallo) is back! From $18,500. fiatcanada.com
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2 Diane von Furstenberg Sun Stripe Dinnerware ›The legendary designer behind the wrap dress brings her style home. From $80 for a set of four. Hudson’s Bay Company / thebay.com
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3 Pantone Folding Chair in Ruby Red ›The colour gurus now put their trademark chip to use on a stylish and convenient folding chair. $90. Neat / neatspace.ca 4 Hermes Kelly Picnic Bag ›Luxe goes rustic with this wicked wicker and calfskin handbag. $13,700. hermes.com
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5 Lancier by Dita Eyewear › A fave of NBA hottie LeBron James, Lancier’s racy design and Temple Release Technology are exclusive at Spectacle. From $935. spectaclelovesyou.com
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6 Stella McCartney Boxy Lemon Blouse ›Citrus takes a pop art turn with this refreshing silk boatneck top. US $935. neimanmarcus.com
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7 Wally Pocket Living Wall System ›Eco-chic designers Miguel and Rodney Nelson make going green a breeze with this clever modular green wall; each $39 pocket planter is made from recycled plastic bottles. Design Within Reach / dwr.com
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THE OUTFITTER Patagonia
Kikkerland Graffiti Cocktail Shaker $30. For those who like their cocktails shaken not stirred. Neat / neatspace.ca
500 King St. W. / 416.861.1102 / patagonia.com
THE WELLNESS DOC Dr. Stephanie at The Health Loft 47 Stewart St. / 647.346.2281 / thehealthloft.ca
Dr. Stephanie is the wellness-world equivalent of Cher: Only her first name is required. But then again, the expert chiropractor—who is also fully trained in Chinese medicine and honed her craft for several years in Manhattan before returning to open the spanking-new Health Loft—is a star in her field. In her crisp new KW townhouse digs, which she shares with a mini-SWAT team of massage therapists and naturopaths, Dr. Stephanie has created a one-stop wellness shop. Each visit begins with an extensive interview so Dr. Stephanie can build a completely customised health plan tailored around the client’s needs. For those King Westers eager to start planning a family or amp up their fitness regimen, Dr. Stephanie has designed pre-pregnancy and couture sport performance packages. Says the good doc: “This is just the perfect neighbourhood for this concept. Everybody here isn’t only into health and fitness, they are motivated to take it to the next level.”
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PHOTOS: (PATAGONIA) LEWIS MIRRETT, (SHAKER) GEOFFREY KNOTT, (DR. STEPHANIE) ZOE BRIDGMAN
Eco-emporium Patagonia has at long last landed in Toronto, setting up base camp in the landmark 1872 Gurney Stove Works building. Staying true to its tree-hugging values, the earth-friendly retailers used reclaimed lumber, recycled metal and non-VOC paint to transform the handsome red brick building’s first floor into an airy, sun-filled flagship. Offering a full range of outdoor clothing, technical performance apparel, footwear, rock-climbing gear and paddling equipment, Patagonia’s new HQ aims to be destination central for adventure seekers. With innovative initiatives like the Voice Your Choice campaign (which awards $5,000 in grant money to local eco organizations) and the garment-recycling Common Threads program, Patagonia makes good on its promise to be more than just another pretty store. —Kate Gertner
THE BIG SMOKE Frank Correnti Cigars Ltd. 606 King St. W. / 416.504.4108 / correnticigars.com
Tucked away at the end of a long alley just off King West lives a little piece of Havana. Rumoured to be a former painting studio frequented by the likes of Jackson Pollock, the factory space with original hardwood floors and exposed beams is home to the only company in North America that still rolls 100% Cuban leaf cigars by hand. The Miller family (owners and operators of Frank Correnti Cigars Ltd. since 1977) are fourth-generation importers, rollers and manufacturers, with roots dating back to the 1800s. Thanks to their century-old relationships with Cuban plantations, they have the exclusive on the crème de la crème of the cigar leaf crop. Until 2000, the original Correnti factory was a King Street landmark. After the building’s ownership changed, the Millers moved their old-school operation to the cozy alley they occupy today. Worth a visit for its atmosphere alone, Correnti’s new rolling facility and humidor/storefront offers a full range of fine handmade Cubans to satisfy even the most demanding stogie fans. —KG
PHOTOS: (CORRENTI) FRANCO DELEO, (HELMET) COURTESY OF SERPENTINE, (TIP TOP LOFTS) CLAYTON BUDD
Belvedere St. Michel Helmet $995. Inspired by Steve McQueen and science fiction, Jerome Coste has created Ruby, a safety-chic line for everyday action heroes. Ateliers Ruby / ateliersruby.com
THEN TIP TOP TAILORS, 1929
NOW
TIP TOP LOFTS 2011
Dyson Pedestal Fan $550. No blades, no buffeting, for an incredibly smooth stream of noiseless fresh air. Hudson’s Bay Company / thebay.com
637 Lakeshore Boulevard West / 21
LOCAL TALENT
THE UPSTART By Terence Dick
rowing up in Toronto’s Cabbagetown with an amateur painter mother who did illustrations for gumball machines, Ryan Dineen drew motorboats and racecars just like any kid. It wasn’t until he was 11 years old and a babysitter introduced him to graffiti that he found his creative calling. A friend’s mother—who happened to be an artist herself—encouraged the boys to go out with spray cans and make their mark. Dineen quickly got hooked on both the calligraphic beauty of graffiti lettering and the rush of seeing the results of something that took a risk to do. Even after his first arrest at 14 (for tagging his old elementary school in broad daylight), he continued to work on larger pieces under bridges in the Don Valley, at the Brick Works (where three of his works can still be found) and on freight trains at the Lakeshore yard. Ten years later, Dineen still lives in the same neighbourhood, but instead of painting on buildings, he paints pictures of the buildings that surround him. A recent canvas titled East End depicts a wide shot of the Toronto skyline that turns out to be the view from his apartment. “It’s what I see every day,” he tells me, “and so I paint it.” Dineen retains the adherence to craft that kept him working away in the middle of the night, honing his skills as a teenage graffiti artist, but nowadays he challenges himself with the scenes he chooses to reproduce. “I’m always trying to develop my sense of composition, to learn new techniques, like how to capture the reflection of light on broken ice,” he says. “I want to take more risks with each new painting, so I look for things that are technically interesting to paint.” For his piece Muerte, Dineen was inspired by a pile of rubble, wondering how he could translate that complex mass to canvas. “Even though the
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subject was boring, I liked the hits of colour that I would see if I didn’t focus—like I was blurring my eyes. I’m interested in seeing if I can accomplish an atmosphere or texture with the minimal amount of work. I like painters who seem like they don’t have to try at all. The part of my paintings I tend to like the most usually take the least amount of time.” “At This Juncture,” Dineen’s recent exhibition at Show & Tell Gallery on Dundas West, was a continuation of his previous series of urban landscapes called Cityscrapes. In both, the unique beauty of downtown Toronto in mid-winter (admittedly an acquired taste) is combined with the artist’s personal landmarks to create haunting scenes that at first glance seem to be about nowhere special. These desolate expanses of road, concrete and sky, however, are intended by the artist to be calming rather than foreboding. “They are all places I’ve passed by nearly every day for the past 20 years,” Dineen says. “There’s a rooftop I’d do graffiti on, or the bridge I’d cross on the way to school. So they’re really familiar and, I guess, nostalgic.” When I point out that they are also overcast and grey, he responds with the perspective of someone who has long accepted this city as his home: “It’s Toronto. It’s grey. So there is always the same range of undertones. And, yes, it’s a bit gloomy. But the scenes aren’t necessarily dark. Some of these places I’ve had great times at. One abandoned lot is where we went for a friend’s bachelor party, another painting is where we had a snowball fight.” Simon Cole, the director of Show & Tell Gallery, sees the particular sites that end up in Dineen’s paintings as a reflection of the artist’s years working outdoors. “They are the kind of places you wouldn’t normally
PHOTOS: (ART) COURTESY OF RYAN DINEEN, (PORTRAIT) FRANCO DELEO
N A Y R NEEN I D G
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go or you wouldn’t notice—abandoned buildings, under bridges—and that’s why they’re good places for graffiti. Ryan hides this by purposefully leaving out the graffiti in the paintings, and his wall work is totally different from his canvases, but together they provide some clue as to how he sees the city.” For an artist who established himself with something as in-your-face or upfront in its intentions as graffiti or wall murals (which Dineen also does, by commission, as a parallel career), his gallery paintings are deceptively restrained. Sometimes there is a subtle focus—a lawn chair caught in a tree or a beached boat wreck—but other times there is a gap gaping vacuum in the middle of his canvas, leaving it open to interpretation. This strangely quiet and at first glance innocuous then unexpectedly familiar vision of Toronto is intentionally left unresolved. It’s a testament to Dineen’s range that he can go from one extreme to the other. In fact, he isn’t fazed by ambiguity or lack of spectacle. “A friend said of the last exhibition that the liveliest I get is a Buffalo strip mall,” says Dineen, laughing. “The thing is, I don’t want to tell jokes or teach things in my paintings. It’s not for me to tell a story. It’s for the viewer to respond to.”
Toronto-based writer Terence Dick is the Toronto correspondent and editor of the visual art blog akimbo.ca.
Ryan Dineen is represented by Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto > showandtellgallery.com
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NEWS FOR FOODIES
With BBQ season upon us, we sat down with resident meat expert Mario Fiorucci, proprietor of The Healthy Butcher, and grilled him on the carnivore’s choice for summer.
THE DISH: CHEF NUIT THAIS ONE ON
key at the newly opened TOCA by Tom Brodi at the Ritz-Carlton, which features a chef’s table—in the kitchen… Here’s sweet news: SOMA Chocolatemaker’s artisanal treats, elixirs and microbatch bars will soon be available in the ’hood… Gusto at 101—101 Portland, that is—will be dishing up Southern Italian food al fresco, with half of the seating outside, by summertime… Finally, the rumours are true: NYC noodle man David Chang is expanding the Momofuku empire with not one but two restos set to open in 2012 next to the Shangri-La Hotel at University and Adelaide. Bring on the Compost Cookies and Crack Pie! —Carolyn Drebin
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What is the perfect steak for the BBQ? room temperature (about 15 minutes). Preheat your That’s a tough question! Several factors will impact grill—you need it hot in order to properly sear. Seaon the quality of the steak, the most important son the meat generously with good-quality sea salt being the breed of beef; what it was fed; whether and freshly cracked black pepper on all sides but do the beef was dry aged, wet aged or not aged at all; not salt far in advance, as salt will draw out juices. and the cut. A 100% grass-fed beef will taste vastly To enhance the grill marks and help prevent the different than one raised on cheap corn. A Tendermeat from sticking to the grill, thinly coat the steaks loin will provide a different experience than a Skirt with neutral oil using a pastry brush or your fingers. steak. Start by sourcing your meat from a quality (Sunflower and grapeseed oils are neutral; olive butcher—he or she will automatically take care of oil is not—it will easily burn and leave behind an the finer details. Then, experiment with a bunch unpleasant taste). Place the steak on the grill; you of cuts. Tenderloin, Strip Loin and Rib Eye are the should hear a searing sound. In about four minutes, most tender and expensive. Personally, I prefer the flip your meat with a pair of tongs. Never puncture less expensive but more flavourful (albeit less tenyour steak with a fork or press on your steak with a der) cuts like Vacio, Flat Iron and Tri-Tip steak. spatula—doing so will force juice out. After anothWhat is dry ageing? er three to four minutes, your steak might be done, It’s the process of letting the beef hang in a temdepending on its thickness. For a thicker steak (and perature and humidity-controlled environment for a criss-cross grill-mark pattern), flip once again. a period of time, usually between one and six weeks. How do you know when it’s done? During that time a lot of the water in the meat The key is to remove the steak when the internal evaporates, which has the effect of concentrating temperature reaches 110˚F. The only way to flavour, and the enzymes in the meat are denaturaccurately judge doneness is to use an instant ing, or in essence tenderizing, the meat. read thermometer—it’s the best eight bucks you’ll What’s your favourite marinade or dry rub? ever spend. At 110˚F, the meat will be in the rare A good quality steak will pack all the flavour you to medium-rare state, which maximizes juiciwant. All you need is some sea salt and freshly ness and tenderness. Removing the meat earlier cracked black pepper and you’re ready to grill. (rare or “blue”) will produce a steak with a gel-like Do you prefer a gas barbeque or charcoal? texture, with juices that haven’t yet begun to Charcoal all the way. I use a Big Green Egg—a flow. Anything beyond 120˚F will render the fat, “Kamado” style resulting in a drier steak. After ceramic cooker removing the meat from the that allows you grill, season it again with Sirloin Rib Short Loin to easily control salt and pepper; fleur de sel Round Chuck the heat of the is a nice touch. You might fire. I love it! Gas grills are also cut a small lump of Flank Fore Short Plate perfectly fine as well. butter and plop it on top Shank It’s more the technique of the steak. It will melt of grilling that’s important. fairly quickly while the So, how to grill the perfect steak? steak rests—ideally a few Start by removing the meat from minutes before serving. the fridge and let it come down to Voilà, the perfect steak! Mario Fiorucci is co-founder of The Healthy Butcher. 565 Queen St. W. / 416.703.2164 / thehealthybutcher.com
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PC Home Portable Kettle Grill $29. Toss on real charcoal and you’re good to go. Loblaws / loblaws.ca
PHOTOS: (MARIO FIORUCCI) LEWIS MIRRETT, (CHEF NUIT) SUSAN GOUINLOCK
The Perfect Steak
With buzzy new Khao San Road, acclaimed Sukhothai chef Nuit Regular brings her authentic street-style Thai food to Adelaide and Peter… A more casual extension of Lee, super-chef Susur’s new Lee Lounge offers up small, chic Chinois bites at wallet-friendly prices… The Gabardine’s casual comfort is a welcome respite for Bay Street suits. With lunchtime lineups out the door, Allison MacKenna and Katherine Rodriques’ secret gastropub weapon could very well be consulting chef Rodney Bowers (late of Citizen and Rosebud)… Canadiana is
BURGER
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2 GRINDHOUSE BURGER BAR
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M ET R U GO
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PHOTOS: (BURGER JOINTS) LEWIS MIRRETT, (COCKTAIL) JOHN PAUL POTTERS
D THE GRIND If the humble burger is having its moment in the foodie spotlight, King West is all over it. Here are three haute spots that take the patty to the next level. 1 CRAFT BURGER 573 King St. W. / 416.596.6660 / craftburger.com Craft Burger “appreciates your patience” as each fresh, handcrafted 100% AAA patty is cooked to order. While Craft’s menu offers everything from the classic 6-oz charbroiled number to such culinary cleverness as its best-selling Spicy Burger, layered with caramelized onions and chipotle mayo, its extensive list of West Coast chic toppings (think avocado, coleslaw and jalapeño-smoked Havarti) allows you to craft your own. Advantage: With several well-established locations across town, you know what you’re getting. Disadvantage: Too often what you’re getting is a burger cooked beyond health-regulation standards to the point of dry and overdone. And yet, Craft’s minimal, modern glass-fronted take on a burger shoppe isn’t only a convenient stop for taking in a perfectly decent burg, it’s also the perfect vantage point for taking in the KW action.
CABIN FEVER
365 King St. W. / 416.977.3010 / grindhouse.ca If someone didn’t tell you, you would have no idea that the melt-in-your-mouth burgers served at the low-key, tucked-away Grindhouse are good for you. Chef/owners Mark Matusiak and brothers Rob and Tim Pettigrew have made it their mission to serve top-quality gluten-free, hearthealthy burgers that even those on the strictest diets can indulge in—enlisting nutritionist Lisa Budd to consult on the menu. Free from refined sugars, hormones and preservatives, all ingredients, including condiments, are made onsite and are locally sourced from Ontario farms—except for the meat in the kangaroo (!) burger. The all-star menu consists of 12 well-designed burg options and a full selection of sides, such as fresh-cut Yukon gold French fries, delectably crisp panko-crusted onion rings and a zesty asiago-bacon Caesar salad. Naturally, aspartame-free drinks and house-made ice tea and—surprise, surprise—a fully stocked bar are on hand to quench the thirst of discerning patrons. While it might be a dedication to locally sourced, wholesome food that beckons diners to Grindhouse, it’s the big, juicy burgers that will see them coming back for more.
3 M:BRGR 401 King St. W. / 647.729.1747 / mbrgr.com Montreal newcomer m:brgr is already making its mark on the emerging KW gourmet burger scene. Owner and selfproclaimed foodie Jeff Dichter’s comfortable200-seat restaurant is soulfully appointed with oak-paneled walls, hardwood floors and large-scale contemporary murals of Toronto—a chic take on Canadian cool. With a build-your-own menu concept, diners pick their patty from AAA or Kobe beef, select their bun, choose their cheese from nine artisanal options and pile high the extras (including grilled pineapple, sautéed porcini and a fried egg) to fulfill their burger fantasy. Sides almost eclipse the main event, with truffle potato-chip-crusted mac n’ cheese, poutine and famous Moishe’s pickles. The ultra-luxe $100 double-patty Kobe beef burger (above), topped with just about everything but the kitchen sink, has been gaining m:brgr precious word-of-mouth citywide since its opening. Talk about making an entrance. – KG
LIBATIONS
1 oz Cabo Wabo Tequila ½ oz Galliano 2 oz pink guava juice 1 oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz honey water (honey diluted with 30% water and shaken) ½ oz egg white Garnish with edible flowers The trick with this drink is to shake all the ingredients without ice first. After the initial shake, add ice and shake well again. This is what gives the nice foamy texture.
What was your inspiration for this recipe? JP: At this time of year I start craving fresh cocktails. This drink is an original day-dreamed up at my desk. Flowers, patio drinks and, of course, tequila all mark the return of summer. The tequila brings a nice herbal undertone to counterbalance the sweet vanilla from the Galliano. Guava and lemon give it a fresh, exotic flavour that reminds me of flowers. –John Paul Potters
John Paul Potters is the sommelier at the members-only Spoke Club / thespokeclub.com
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HOT SPOTS Best patios in the ’hood
THE STEEP Herbal Infusions Tea Co.
Think 18th-century apothecary meets 21st-century martini bar—or Toronto’s newest take on the tea shop, Herbal Infusions Premium Tea Co. Sit on shiny white chrome stools and explore dark oak shelves, complete with rolling ladder, of beautifully displayed brews, colour-coded by kind. Unassuming owner Dan Johanis opened shop just months ago, offering the widest selection of tisanes (herbal fruit blends) and fruit-infused cane sugars in Toronto. Think tea is just for winter? Johanis suggests fruit tea blends and iced tea lattes for summer refreshment. An exclusive, the Cacao tea, an infusion of cocoa bean husks, tastes like a chocolate river—without any caffeine or calories. Or bunk convention with White Cucumber tea (smells like pickles but tastes crisp and earthy steeped). This summer, Johanis is partnering with farmers for locally grown herbs like lavender. Sample a tea shot: $2 for a corked test tube, enough for a full pot. –Sheetal Lodhia
THOMPSON ROOFTOP LOUNGE – Pull up a seat for what is hands-down the best view in the city. Lounge on the raised limestone deck by the infinity pool or settle into one of the cozy conversation pits strategically positioned between the bar and the killer view. Perfect for entertaining out-of-town guests, the roof is open to the public during the week; Friday and Saturday nights have a guest list. 550 Wellington St. W. / 416.640.7888 / thompsonhotels.com LE SÉLECT BISTRO – This classic French restaurant boasts both a bustling terrasse out front and a quiet garden patio nestled in the rear courtyard by a burbling fountain. For full sun, come at lunchtime. Happy hour fills the patio with ad gurus and media types eager for an aperitif, although Sunday brunch is the busiest. 432 Wellington St. W. / 416.596.6405 / leselect.com BUCA – A KW insider secret, Buca’s discreet alleyway patio is cool, spacious and private, perfect on a hot summer day. The best time to go for a reviving prosecco and prosciutto is late afternoon or early evening, when you can pretend you’re chilling out in a tiny piazza just off a bustling thoroughfare somewhere in Rome. 604 King St. W. / 416.865.1600 / buca.ca MARBEN – A find for sun worshippers, this west-facing street-level deck basks in full-on rays all day. Décor as earthy and rustic as the farm-inspired menu encourages guests to kick back and take in the full KW scene. Busiest at cocktail hour, the outdoor service bar keeps things moving after sunset. Closed Mondays. 488 Wellington St. W. / 416.979.1990 / marbenrestaurant.com
Frank Gehry Left Twist Cubes $250 each. In seven bold colours, the palette for these weather-proof seats was inspired by Gehry’s flower sculpture for French artist Sophie Calle. Design Within Reach / dwr.com
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BIER MARKT – The after-work crowd flocks to this open-air patio to unwind and survey the scene. Strategically positioned on the key corner of King and Portland, this hot spot sees traffic around the clock during the warmer months. Bonus: Along with an extensive list of micro-brews, Bier Markt serves up lunch and dinner daily, and there’s a late-night menu for night owls. 600 King St. W / 416.862.1175 / thebiermarkt.com
PHOTOS: (HERBAL INFUSIONS) SUSAN GOUINLOCK, (CUBES) INMOD.COM, (THOMPSON ROOF) COURTESY OF THOMPSON TORONTO
404 Adelaide St .W. / 416.900.6942 herbalinfusions.ca
THE
GREAT ESCAPE Outdoor enthusiasts hit the road JAMES HOWELL / PATAGONIA
Choice escape: Niagara Glen Travel time: 1.5 hours Don’t leave home without: Starbucks VIA Ready Brew “The Niagara Glen is a beautiful spot for bouldering enthusiasts like me! By far the best place to get in a day of climbing close to the city, the Glen’s gigantic rock faces are challenging for all skill levels—a great outdoor escape.”
bobble From $12. Karim Rashid’s portable filtration system filters H2O as you drink. Swipe Books / swipe.com
CHERYL CHRISTENSEN / MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP
Choice escape: Rattlesnake Point Travel time: 1 hour Don’t leave home without: A sense of adventure (and enough food and water to keep things cheerful and safe) “Rattlesnake Point on the Niagara Escarpment is awesome for trail running. The beautiful lookouts and green forest are a nice change from fast-paced city life. I love that in just an hour I can be truly in nature, breathing fresh air and being active! Rattlesnake’s vistas + challenging climbs = the perfect combination for outdoor fun.” MARK GALLIER / EUROPE BOUND
Choice escape: Elora Gorge Travel time: 1.5 hours Don’t leave home without: My canoe “For white-water adventure seekers, the Elora Gorge is a great place to get in some sunshine, fresh air and fast-paced outdoor fun. It’s just a short drive from the city and I love the cliffs, trails and fast-moving water. Perfect for a paddle and a picnic.”
HBC Collection Beavertail Paddle $139. Make a splash in the heritage company’s signature stripe. Hudson’s Bay Company / thebay.com
SPRING CLEANING
PHOTOS: (PRODUCTS) GEOFFREY KNOTT
pros for a fresher 1 2 3 4
DRINK A TALL GLASS OF WATER with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice first thing upon rising, says Dr. Stephanie of The Health Loft. Do this every day! EAT LOTS OF COLOURFUL FRUITS AND VEGGIES—the fibre will help keep your digestive system running smoothly and the naturally occurring antioxidants fight aging. ADD HIGH-QUALITY OMEGA-3 FATS—they’re not only beneficial to your cardiovascular system and in reducing inflammation, but they’ll make your hair silky and your skin dewy. MOVE CIRCULATION with the Lymphomaniac Facial at Pure + Simple, says P+S co-owner Kristen Ma. The Lymphomaniac is a full classic European facial paired with lymphatic drainage through massage of the abdomen and upper body that takes down water retention and winter weight while rebalancing the complexion.
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CLEANSE YOUR GUT with Holistic Vanitea–Clarifying Tea, Ma suggests. This clarifying tea is based on a traditional Ayurvedic recipe to help digest toxins and eliminate waste. Excellent for clearing up the skin, it’s also a fantastic gentle internal cleanse and helps support proper digestion. USE CLAY MASKS. Clays are excellent for detoxification as they have astringent properties that absorb toxins. Ma recommends P+S’ Purifying French Clay Mask to kick-start a spring skin routine or as an overnight spot treatment to dry up and eliminate blemishes. DON’T SCRIMP ON THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS—regular massage, chiropractic or acupuncture—says Dr. Stephanie. These help keep you strong, pain free, relaxed and energized to take on life!
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Adirondack Rocker $598. Rock out on this fade-resistant, 100% recycled polyethylene classic. Design Within Reach / dwr.com
THE LIST Heads-up on what not to miss
THE READ Ben McNally’s best bets for summer The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld
BEN SAYS: A doctor and a policeman investigate the Wall Street explosion of 1920, while Sigmund Freud applies himself to a related mystery.
The Salt Road
by Jane Johnson BEN SAYS: A cryptic note and an amulet induce a strong-willed young woman to journey into the deserts of Morocco.
April 9 – July 3
Edward Burtynsky: Oil
April 26 – Aug 7
Paris: Life & Luxury
May 4 – July 31
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
June 9 – June 12
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 13
June 20 – July 3 June 25 – July 4
July 11
The Getty Center, Los Angeles The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Manchester, Tennessee $H!T Happens in Berlin
Relative Space & Floorworks, Toronto 2011 Wimbledon Championships
Wimbledon, England Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Various venues, Montreal U2
Rogers Centre, Toronto
The Tiger’s Wife
July 12 – July 17
Brimfield Summer Antique Show
BEN SAYS: A remarkable debut novel in which a young doctor navigates her war-torn homeland in search of her grandfather’s life story.
Aug 5 – Aug 29
Fringe Festival
Aug 20 – Sept 6
Canadian National Exhibition
Sept 8 – Sept 18
36th Toronto International Film Festival
by Téa Obreht
Ben McNally is the well-read owner of Ben McNally Books. BEN MCNALLY BOOKS 336 Bay St. / 416.361.0032 / benmcnallybooks.com
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Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
Brimfield, Massachusetts Edinburgh, Scotland Exhibition Place, Toronto
Various venues, Toronto
things making me
happy right now
BY RUSSEL L SM IT
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THE TR AK TOR S4 MUSIC CONTROLL ER This is an ev ilconsole with lot looking shiny fla s of knobs and bu t bl ack ttons and flashing German enginee rs and looks it— light s on it. It’s ma it looks like electr de by DJs to mix danc onic music itself e music seamles . It’s designed fo sly—you connec r clu b files—but mach t it to your lapto ines like this are p and use digita increasingly being l music new pieces. This used by musician thing can pl ay fo s to compose wh ur track s at a tim ole anything the mo e, plus it can samp st accomplished le, loop, beat juggle tu rntablist can do , on Queen West. . Mine was $1,10 It takes a while to 0 all told at Moog master the softw Au dio can build sets th are, but it mean at sound pret ty s that amateur s professional. I’m like me DJ—and it’s exce getting really go llent late-night od at pretending ther apy, better th I’m a an video games.
QUAILS WITH BR ANDY AND MUSH ROOMS Buy a pa fresh quail s at St ck of . Lawrence Mark et , split and butterfl them, fry them in y butter for about 15 minutes. Add and parsley and chopped onion some more butte r, cover and cook minutes. Remove for five more the quail s and ke ep them warm. Pu of sliced mushro t a cup or two oms in the pan, brow n them, then of br andy. Boil th ad d a half- cup is up for a few mi nutes, add a dash then pour it over of lem on juice, the quail and se rve. Rich, salty, impressively Eu sa tis fyi ng , ropean—and it’s done in less than Serve with polen ha lf an ho ur. ta—apparently Na poleon’s favour ite combinati tion.
ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL BOZINOVSKI , VISHANA LODHIA & CASSIE ZHEN
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THE ARCHITECT S ARE HERE BY MI CHAEL WINTER not the Newfound This is land wr iter’s mo st recent novel (th true- cr ime dr am at’s a a called The Deat h Of Donna W halen one I’ve just caug ), but it’s the ht up to. I’m slow reading him beca he’s dif ficult—he use frankly breaks all the ru les of telling a story times let ting you , some know that what’s going on is reall sometimes makin y ha ppening, g you guess if it’s in the narr ator’s imagination. But he’s an amazing daredevil with lan guage and narr ative—ever y second sentence is funn y, and the story is wild and rollicking and violent an d macho and unpredictab le and romantic. W inter is by far my favour ite Ca nadian author right now, and it’s not a coincidenc e that he’s one of the ve ry few who wr ite from a tough gu y’s point of vie w.
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MY NE W JAMES BOND SUIT I ju st bought what must be the skinniest su it made this side of 1961 . It’s by Tiger of Sweden, it’s a midnight navy , and I got it at Bo om er on Queen West for unde r $1,0 00. It’s so ne at and narrow and natty and un-dress y—I fe el I sh ould be singing “C an’t Bu y Me Love” in it ra th er th an doing any kind of busin ess—it recalls a tim e when men wore suits to wa tch football an d bu y gr oc er ies in. I want an ex cuse to wear a suit all day ever day. Ac tually I y am very please d that nice-look men’s suits do in g seem to be incr easingly democr atic: Look at Simon Carter’s amazingly fash able and af ford ionable line for, of al l people, Tip Top Tailors: al l wool , sw inging -’60s narrow lin for $525. (You es have to go to Yo rk dale Mall to se those, though, e so br ing your pa ssport and a fla of something ca sk lming.)
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THE SECRET M EADOW At the foot of Strachan down toward th Avenue, as you e Pr incess Gate go under the bello s to the Ex, just wing raised ex before you dip pressw ay, you an emer ald la wi ll see on your wn. It is always left, below you, empt y yet it is one of those ga always mowed rdens in fairy , pr istine. It’s lik ta le s that is only se e there has been en by children. for many year s This is becaus no obvious wa e down to it: Ther y to get down to e is a br and ne it. But you can w staircase on ge t your picnic bask th e east side of St et, a bl anket, a rachan. Br ing bottle of wine, your fir st picn descend the st ic of the year— aircase and ha a surreal one— ve the humming ov in total pr ivate er pass. There on the green un is a faded monum der perhaps to an ent to somethi overgrow n ancie ng there— nt cit y, sunk be neath the py lo ns of progress .
Russell Smith writes novels set in Toronto. He also writes two weekly columns for The Globe and Mail and is one of the founders of dailyXY.com. / 29
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The RITZ Puts It On Five-star service and a sexy take on modernism come downtown By Alex Bozikovic Photography by Arash Moallemi
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ARCHITECTURE
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A
PHOTOS: (RITZ INTERIOR) COURTESY OF RITZ-CARLTON HOTELS
s you walk into Toronto’s new Ritz-Carlton—or step out of your limo at the door—you’ll be greeted by the theatrics of classic fivestar service. Top-coated doormen. Warm greetings from every passing staffer. A richly paneled lobby just inside the whispering revolving door. But you may also notice massive steel beams flexing diagonally up to the ceiling. They’re holding a few million pounds of ballrooms and event space just above you. And above them towers one of Toronto’s newest and tallest buildings: 53 storeys of hotel rooms and condos, spreading out into a broad glass wedge as it reaches to the sky. That sharp wedge-like form is perceptible from a distance, but up close the building has a cool texture that evokes the 1950s pioneers of glass towers like New York’s Lever House. Steel spandrels pin together panels of pale blue glass (a subtle variation from the green glass ubiquitous in this part of the city), tapping out a quiet, complex visual rhythm. It’s a distinctive addition to the skyline—one that marks a change for the Ritz and for the King West area, as both welcome a young and glitzy new crowd. Ritz-Carlton’s Allison Sitch explains that the Ritz’s brand has changed. “It used to be attuned to affluent customers who are middle-aged and older,” she says, “but now people in their 20s and 30s are very important to us. People are enjoying the finer things in life while they’re younger.” Which is why Toronto’s Ritz has custom-built its own boldly 21st-century building. Around the world, the hotel company is employing contemporary architecture and design to update its brand. For the Wellington Street West building, the hotel and developers Graywood turned to New York architects Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). They’ve been responsible for an array of tall towers, including the home of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo at Roppongi Hills, all of which are artfully designed with an eye to the cities around them. KPF’s Josh Chaiken led the design for the Ritz tower, which turns the conventional language of skyscrapers on its head. Instead of a large base supporting ever-smaller sections on top, this tower starts big with the ballrooms and public spaces, gets smaller for the hotel rooms in the middle, and then swells out through the top 30 floors. This feat of structural engineering means there’s more valuable real estate to sell as condos up top, where the views are spectacular, though the tower doesn’t feel too massive from the street.
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ARCHITECTURE
The architect Cass Gilbert, who pioneered New York’s “wedding cake” towers in the 1920s and ’30s, once said, “A skyscraper is a machine to make the land make money.” This one, designed by KPF with Toronto architects Page + Steele, does its job well. But unlike many other tall towers of the past decade—which show off with twists, leans, bridges and rings—this one is a good neighbour. “It stands out from the other towers around it, but it reflects them as well,” Chaiken says. “It’s like people in a big party—you want them to feel like they’re gesturing to one another.” This tower, Chaiken explains, gestures in two directions: toward Toronto and the water. “One side faces north toward the city, and the other side faces south toward Lake Ontario—the primary natural feature of the city.” In between, “a ‘zipper’ separates the slender form from the larger form to the south, which leans toward the lake.” But it’s also designed to transform the city’s emerging downtown neighbourhood. The Ritz is part of a complex with the more conventional office tower next door, which KPF designed for investment managers RBC Dexia. The two buildings are linked underground, and they share some facilities as well as a skin of energy-efficient blue glass. “It seemed like a good match,” Chaiken says. “Hotels that are successful aren’t just places for people to sleep. They lend themselves to other kinds of activity. The hope here is that with good bars and restaurants there will be street life. And the bank wants to change its image as a conservative institution, so positioning itself on a block with a luxury hotel made sense.” Together the mass of office, restaurant, hotel and residential space is transforming a chunk of downtown that used to feel like a giant parking lot. A restaurant is also going into the RBC tower, adding to the three in the Ritz. The new Ritz even offers outdoor space. Out front there’s a small patio at the TOCA Bar (a stylish acronym for “Toronto Canada”), overlooking Metro Hall Park across the street. And, in back, DEQ, the more relaxed hotel bar, features a big patio with a wood-fired pizza oven and views of another adjacent park. This is a very smart piece of design; sit in either place for a few minutes and you won’t believe that the hotel site was a parking lot for almost two decades. It’s true that this block seemed less appealing a few years ago. Aside from the parks, the Ritz is flanked by oversized office buildings, including Philip Johnson’s bland CBC headquarters and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. But the immediate area is getting glitzier fast: This September the Toronto International Film Festival will hold screenings at TIFF Bell Lightbox around the corner. Gala parties regularly take over Roy Thomson across the street and Metro Hall Park as well. Within a couple of blocks, hundreds of high-end condos—and their flush urban-minded inhabitants—are quickly filling in the gaps in the streetscape. And the theatres on King Street are 100 metres from the
Ritz. To outsiders, this looks like what it is—a killer location. “The hotel is in the theatre district, and it’s a natural fit for us to be in a theatre district,” says Ritz-Carlton’s Sitch. “And the film festival is moving in that direction.” This bodes well for the area—as does the strong, simple architecture of the building, which will endure for decades. But it also seems a bit of an edgy choice for the Ritz, a brand that’s associated with affluence and old-school glamour. In Toronto, wealth lives uptown. Why isn’t the hotel opening in Yorkville, like its rival, the Four Seasons? Sitch says: Look to the future, and look where the money is going. “We don’t build for this year’s business. We build for three, five, 10 years down the road.” And in other cities—Hong Kong and Dubai this spring—the hotelier is similarly choosing locations that are central but a bit undervalued. “In all these cities, we haven’t opened in the districts where people expected us to,” she says. “And we think that’s good.”
BY THE NUMBERS 267 159 700,000 450 10,920 23,000 60 450
Hotel rooms Condos Building size (square feet) Smallest hotel room (square feet) Biggest condo (square feet) Size of the spa and fitness centre (square feet) Wines by glass at TOCA Bar Original Canadian artworks in the hotel’s collection
It’s a distinctive addition to the skyline—one that marks a change for the Ritz and for King West.
DESIGN
CURIOSITY
SHOP
Roberto Navarro’s storefront gallery is an insider haunt for world-class 20th-century art and design IN THE RUSH OF CONSTRUCTION and the gleam of restaurant lights along King West, it can be easy to overlook the Navarro Gallery. The sign by the door is discreet; the narrow shop, with its original leaded-glass window and exposed brick walls, is understated. Inside, there’s an almost casual, unstudied look to the array of midcentury modern chairs and desks, monumental Art Deco vases, sleek bronze tables, vintage ceramics and landscape paintings. No price tags or descriptive notes, no dramatic lighting. But even a design neophyte can see these are not just generic examples of an era or style. Most are showstoppers, elegant, some of nearmuseum quality. Many are a little mysterious. They’re pieces that could be a room’s focal point or inspire a passion for collecting.
PHOTOS: (PORTRAIT) FRANCO DELEO, (LOCATION) CLAYTON BUDD
DESIGN
Enter friendly, thoughtful proprietor Roberto Navarro. He is generous with his extensive knowledge, happy to explain the distinctive qualities of the finds. Born in Morocco to a family appreciative of the arts—his father painted and worked as a designer—Navarro studied architecture at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. He came to Toronto in 1970, renting an apartment on King West—back when it was quiet, mostly full of industrial buildings and a few empty storefronts. In 1978, he opened a gallery in Yorkville, started doing interior design work for private clients and then opened the King West shop in 1998. The gallery’s pieces are showcased on Navarro’s own website and on 1stdibs.com, a glam site of high-end designer pieces and antiques that’s a major resource for the international design and décor crowd. The big design names Navarro offers are catnip to designers and collectors, famous makers such as Deco designer Ruhlmann, mid-century stars Robsjohn-Gibbings and Tommi Parzinger, and Fornasetti, the legendary Italian designer with a Surrealist bent. “Since I opened the store, this area has changed completely,” Navarro says. “More young people are living here in the condos, and they show an interest in modern furniture. It’s possible to buy Eames knockoffs, but when younger people come here, they realize why the originals are so good.” The reason Navarro calls his storefront a gallery is that he sees everything from architecture to design objects and furnishings as works of art. “Until the ’50s, architects designed not only a structure but also the wallpaper, doorknobs, furniture—everything. Think of Gaudi. After that, architects stopped thinking about how to fit furniture in the room. I never liked the disassociation of design and art—I’ve always tried to show them together.” He adds, “In the ’70s, galleries started to combine art, objects and furniture in exhibitions. It became a trend.” Navarro’s eye for Murano glass is renowned. “No one wanted Venetian glass when I started to buy it. They said, ‘You’re not collecting that vulgar stuff!’ As I went along, I would discover that a piece had been made by an important maker—Carlo Scarpa, Ercole Barovier, Gio Ponti. It was exciting.” Dr. Francesca Valenti, of the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, took slides of Navarro’s collection and sent them to Italy for expert valuation. This led to an exhibition at both the Institute and in Los Angeles. When asked about trends, Navarro observes: “What’s popular now are ’60s and ’70s pieces, in steel, chrome, brass, bronze.” A chic bronze ’60s coffee table by Philip and Kelvin Laverne currently at the gallery is a prime example. “High-end Art Deco pieces are always hard to find, even when Deco is less fashionable. And they hold their value.” At the moment, he has some spectacular French Deco furniture suites, as well as an early 20th-century palm-frond chandelier by Joseph Hoffmann that anticipates Deco while suggesting Belle Epoque romance. The King West advantage over the flocks of website-haunting international connoisseurs is that those of us lucky enough to be Navarro’s neighbours can see these pieces up close, run a hand lightly over their textures—and, best of all, learn about them firsthand from a true expert.
Navarro Gallery: 20th Century Art & Design 613 King St. W. / 416.504.3956 /gallerynavarro.com / 1stdibs.com Kateri Lanthier is a Toronto-based writer and editor who specializes in design and decorative arts. A published poet, she is currently at work on a novel. / 41
DESIGN
PROBLEM SOLVED
ASK THE DESIGNERS
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John Tong 3rd UNCLE Design Inc.
Kate Thornley-Hall Kate Thornley-Hall Inc.
Paul Filek Burdifilek
Shirley Meisels Mhouse Inc.
Anna Simone Cecconi Simone Inc.
“The Holodeck, for those who watched Star Trek, was laser holographic technology that simulated real and seamless environments of one’s fantasy (whole villages, mountains, waterfalls, oceans)—a science fiction idea not yet available to us. Fortunately, our minds are incredible instruments—a particular sound, image, aroma or quality of light can evoke powerful memories and transport us to other places. Focus on ephemeral qualities: A wellplaced plant like a bonsai in a beautiful container or an expressive branch on a wall can evoke nature and, more importantly, a serene and spiritual place. There is a lot of hybrid furniture, with very sophisticated modern materials, that is used outside that can be brought indoors to put us in the outdoor-lifestyle mode. Also, quality of air goes a long way. Good ventilation, an air purifier or maybe even an ionizer might do the trick.”
“Start with a gorgeous rug, perhaps one with a foliage design. Bring in new scatter cushions with bold, bright colours—this instantly changes the feel of a room. My current faves are the lovely John Robshaw designs or Virginia Johnson’s new crewel-work pillows with leaves and flowers. Don’t resist vivid colour—shocking blues, fuchsia and greens can make a room feel instantly sunny. Place vases of spring flowers on different unexpected surfaces—in the hallway entrance, bathroom, kitchen. Use lots of tulips in spring colours. Even though they don’t last long, nothing says summer is coming like overstuffed vases of lilacs— the scent fills the room with thoughts of temps perdu. And treat yourself to artwork that brings the outdoors in. A photograph of the sky on a wall can create the illusion of a window with a perfect view.”
“Rather than take things too literally, I think the best way to bring the outdoors in is to play up the character of light, based on your sun exposure. The majority of condos boast one vast wall of glass (or two, if you’re lucky!). Taking a considered approach to highlighting this feature, filtering and controlling the light coming through that lens and understanding the quality of light can create different moods throughout the day. Framing the view and making that the focus will ultimately bring the best of what’s outside in. Finding a balance between creating a window to the outdoors and feeling overexposed is key. Layering of materials and screens can create a dramatic effect. Also, adding reflectivity through the use of glass or metal elements will help carry the sparkle of light throughout the space.”
“Nothing warms up a modern space more than organic textures, shapes and objects, and I almost always integrate elements that remind me of the sea into my interiors. Capiz shell chandeliers add a retro/ glam/natural vibe to any room. Teak root tables look great with a piece of glass thrown on top; their beautiful sculptural shapes remind me of large pieces of coral. And linen is so fresh! Cool and comfy to wear by the beach, but how about papering your bedroom with linen wallpaper? The texture on the walls adds warmth while still feeling light and breezy. Oh, and I always keep a bowl of fleur de sel on the counter in my kitchen, yum!”
“Condo dwellers who are fortunate to have balconies can learn how to maximize this benefit. Balconies often act as the transition to our view, but too often they’re a forgotten space that’s being used for storage Our outdoor space can significantly contribute to how we live and entertain if we take steps to increase the fluidity from the indoor space outdoors. One way to do this is to integrate lighting. Similarly, use continuous flooring material from indoor-to-out to enhance the illusion of a larger space. Choose furniture that is manufactured for outdoor use but looks as though it was intended for indoors. Don’t be afraid to accessorize outside as you would inside, using throws, cushions, candles and flowers. And, most importantly, make sure that your design aesthetic is consistent from your interior to your outdoor space.”
PHOTO: (KATE THORNLEY-HALL) SUSAN GOUINLOCK, (PAUL FILEK) LEE TOWNDROW, (ANNA SIMONE) JOY VON TIEDEMANN
HOW CAN CONDO DWELLERS BRING THE OUTDOORS IN?
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT THE LATEST LOOKS FOR THE LOO 1
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1 LET’S BRING BACK BY LESLEY M. M. BLUME Bathroom reading for nostalgic know-it-alls. $23 / Swipe Books / 401 Richmond St. W. swipe.com 2 WAVE COLLECTION SINGLE-LEVER WASHBASIN MIXER
Make a splash with Cisal’s very Italian faucet. $126 / Acqua-Cucine / 624 King St. W. acqua-cucine.com 3 FLIPSIDE SHOWERHEAD
One showerhead, four showering sensations. $89 / kohler.ca
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4 CARLI OLIVE OIL SOAP
7 INCENSE MATCHES
Smell like olives from the land of olives. $3.50 / Fresh & Wild / 69 Spadina Ave. freshandwild.ca
Strike for a hit of potpourri, patchouli, coconut or musk. $3 / Drake General Store thedrakehotel.ca/dgs
5 THE ORIGINAL RUBBER DUCK
In real rubber for squeaky bathtime fun. $12 / Drake General Store thedrakehotel.ca/dgs 6 WETSTYLE BATHTUB (BE COLLECTION)
Soak it up in this comfortably ovoid tub, available in matte or gloss finish. From $6,755 / Acqua-Cucine 624 King St. W. / acqua-cucine.com
8 CERAMIC “STASH” CONTAINER
Courtesy of Jonathan Adler’s Vices collection. $90 / Drake General Store thedrakehotel.ca/dgs 9 WHISKEY AFTERSHAVE
The manly scent sans hangover. $15 / Jacob & Sebastian / 622 Queen St. W. jacobandsebastian.com
PHOTOS: GEOFFREY KNOTT, (FAUCET) CISAL, (TUB) WETSTYLE, (TOILET) DURAVIT, (VANITY) BISAZZA
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10 DURAVIT STARCK X DUAL-FLUSH TOILET
12 MARVIS TOOTHPASTE
Minimalist cubic chic for the powder room. $4,795 / Acqua-Cucine / 624 King St. W. acqua-cucine.com
Fresh mint, Italian style. $13 / Drake General Store thedrakehotel.ca/dgs
11 MONTHS TOOTHBRUSH SET
13 BISAZZA BAGNO GOLD HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC VANITY WITH SINK AND MIRROR
A year’s supply in sustainable bamboo by Izola. $15 / Drake General Store thedrakehotel.ca/dgs
Scrub up in style with Jaime Hayón’s fanciful luxe. From $10,500 / Acqua-Cucine 624 King St. W. / acqua-cucine.com
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David Hayes dishes on why the diner still rules At 11 a.m. on a recent Sunday, I’m sitting with my girlfriend, Jennifer, in a booth at the Avenue Diner. The smell of home fries and the sound of eggs sizzling on the grill is reassuring, a reminder that despite problems at work, tensions in a relationship, financial pressures, health worries or existential concerns, this is always a place where you can forget everything for an hour or two. If you’re a regular at the Avenue, the staff behind the counter know your name and your usual order. We have the Sunday New York Times on our table but mostly we’re just quietly chatting, feeling over easy in the perfect place to spend a weekend morning. Every big city has its legendary diners and it’s there that you’ll see a reflection of a city’s soul in all its heterogeneity: young and old, rich and poor, well-dressed and shabby. A place where cultures rub shoulders and find refuge from both yesterday and tomorrow. The Avenue is a quintessential diner. It’s family owned (opened nearly 70 years ago, it’s been run by the current owners since 1973) and the décor is unpretentious—six booths with Formica tables, 13 stools along a long counter, a scuffed tile floor. The menu is mainly homey, old-fashioned food at reasonable prices and, like any diner worthy of the name, it serves an all-day breakfast. (The cheddar cheese omelette is the highlight.)
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he origin of the diner can be traced to 1872, when Walter Scott, a newspaperman in Providence, Rhode Island, realized he could make a living selling food and refreshments around the city to working men at lunchtime or whenever they got off a factory shift at night. To do so, he bought a horse-drawn delivery van. Soon, imitators elaborated on his idea. By the late 1890s, Thomas H. Buckley had mass-produced 275 of his “lunch wagons”—each one large enough for a few customers to crowd inside. By the early 20th century, prefabricated buildings meant to sit at one location had replaced the wagons. Some were dining cars decommissioned by one of the many railway companies; others were manufactured in the approximate size and shape of a railway car so they could be easily moved by road to their location. Many were beautifully streamlined, influenced by the Art Deco design movement. Today it’s hard to find authentic old-school diners. Fast-food chains have driven many out of business and ersatz chains like Johnny Rockets bring a kind of desperate nostalgia to the diner tradition, closer to the TV sitcom Happy Days than the real thing. In Toronto, there are a handful of fine remaining examples: the George Street Diner on Richmond, the Patrician Grill on King, the Church Street Diner north of Wellesley, People’s Foods and the Vesta Lunch (a single counter and décor apparently untouched since it opened
in 1955) on Dupont, Mars Food on College; The Lakeview Lunch on Dundas and, in the east end, the Tulip Restaurant at Queen and Coxwell and the Bus Terminal Diner on the Danforth. But far from being frozen in time, diners are evolving. In their 21stcentury incarnation, they have been reinvented as cool hangouts— sometimes open 24 hours a day, as the original diners once were, but rather than serving factory shift workers they’re more likely to cater to the appetites of today’s ’round-the-clock knowledge workers and the hungry post-dance club demimonde.
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t was in this spirit of exploring where the diner is headed that Jennifer and I visited The Counter, in the Thompson Hotel, which is billed as a “modern interpretation of the original boxcar diner.” The Counter is open 24/7—no doubt to accommodate inebriated club goers seeking comfort food, depending on the time of day, either to soak up the liquor or to soften the hangovers. Like the diner of yesteryear, it is housed in a curvy Deco structure, although, at 2,900 square feet and two storeys high, you could stack a dozen or so old-school diners inside it. The décor, Jennifer observed, is, well, eclectic: “The floor is like an Italian café, the booths are like a steakhouse and the walls are like a mambo lounge.” And yet the menu hearkened back to what makes a diner the iconic rest stop for Hopper-esque contemplation. When brought to our table by one of the vaguely ’50s-clad wait staff, the food was reassuring. My simple omelette was tasty, but after considering the “Brunch Burger” (a burger with fried egg, bacon and melted cheddar served on a powdered donut), Jennifer sampled one of The Counter’s tour-de-force offerings—“The Fat American”: sausage- and bacon-stuffed pancakes topped with buttermilk fried onions and a fried egg. (No, she couldn’t finish it.) Since it was only 11 a.m., she chose strong, Italian coffee over the Guinness milkshake on the menu. Self-consciously chichi while resonant of the familiar, The Counter sits at a new postmodern intersection of diner tradition and trendiness, just like its neighbourhood. And yet what gives a diner, classic or updated, its timeless appeal is a certain sense that it is a place where we can simultaneously enjoy being out with others while feeling at home. Because at a diner—whether it’s been there forever or just opened months ago, or whether you walk in wearing Lululemons or couture and diamonds—we all belong. It’s simple, really. Whether sitting in a booth at the Avenue Diner or The Counter, the image that comes to mind is Tony Soprano in the final episode of The Sopranos, sitting in the diner flipping through the jukebox. When Ben E. King and The Drifters begin singing “This Magic Moment,” I think, that’s what it’s like every time I’m in a diner, just when my omelette and home fries arrive.
Check out 24 hours at The Counter...
WE CAME, WE ATE, WE SHOT: KINGWEST’S 24 HOURS AT THE COUNTER
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CULTURE
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THE POWER PLANT’S REGENERATION AIMS TO TURN YOU ON Betty Ann JordanPhotos Photography Arash Moallemi ByBy Betty Ann Jordan By ArashbyMoallemi / 51
CULTURE
UNDER A SURPRISE SPRING SLUSH STORM, Toronto’s culturati sloshed their way into the new entrance of The Power Plant for a VIP preview of its sleekly refreshed space. If they had been able to see above their lowered umbrellas, they would have been struck by the energy and dynamism of The Power Plant’s new exterior signage—a signal that the gallery’s “refreshment” was more than skin deep. While this public exhibition venue for prescient and challenging contemporary art is a respected player in the global art arena, it has always been a sore point that the gallery’s entrance was so understated that a number of potential visitors have yet to find their way to its doors. As board chair Shanitha Kachan, wife of financier Gerald Sheff, enthused in her welcoming remarks, “No longer will visitors find themselves standing in the no-man’s land out front wondering ‘Where is The Power Plant?’” Housed in a 1920s waterfront power plant originally repurposed in 1987 by Peter Smith of Lett/ Smith Architects, the former powerhouse has been cannily redesigned by Bruce Kuwabara and Taewook Eum of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB), which is emerging, with its work on the Gardiner Museum, Koerner Hall and the TIFF Bell Lightbox, as the city’s premier go-to firm for cultural institutions. As the guests negotiated their way through the slush to the new lobby, the anticipation in the A-list crowd was palpable. Architectural revamps have given many an art institution a boost, so would Kuwabara be able to sprinkle some of that magic starchitect dust on The Power Plant? With The Power Plant turning 25 next year, there was little doubt it needed this lift-andtuck. Housed in a very white high-ceilinged space, the public area of the gallery wasn’t only confusing to negotiate, it was also beginning to look tired. What made the building unique in the first place was that it has always been anchored by the massive base of a 60-foot-high red-brick chimney stack, a remnant from the building’s industrial past. And now, thanks to KPMB, the grand decommissioned chimney stack—starting with its aged brick base encrusted with copper donor plaques—is revealed as an interior focal point. And the space above it now breathes: One can also look way up through the lobby skylights for a glimpse of the rest of the original waterfront landmark, previously hidden from view. “This is the polish we needed,” said Power Plant assistant director Christy Thompson. “Now you can orient yourself vis-à-vis the iconic smokestack, inside as well as outside.” Key to the new infrastructure is an elegant wall of very tall glass doors, which amicably afford multiple points of entry while serving as a transparent glass screen to the bright and inviting new retail and admissions area. Even after hours, theatregoers leaving the Enwave Theatre next door can see through the glass to view the gallery’s new LCD signage system vibrantly scrolling between the bright, variously coloured new Power Plant word mark and exhibition information. The consensus at the unveiling was that the refreshment more than fit the bill. In a celebratory mood, corporate art adviser and passionate Power Plant supporter Jeanne Parkin said, “I love the clarity and precision of the space”; then, breaking into a wide smile, she added, “We’re grown up!” Rating the tweaks to the space and the gallery’s brand, four stars are in order. The Power Plant’s redesign brief requested a boldly kinetic image that expresses the fact that contemporary art is always in flux, ever
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responsive to the present moment. “The art that we present often appears to challenge the status quo,” said departing gallery director Gregory Burke, who spearheaded the campaign. “We embrace the energy of the new, and as a cutting-edge facility, we wanted our new look to embody our core values, which include access to the diverse advanced artistic culture of our time.” The masterminds behind The Power Plant’s new graphic identity are Alison Hahn of Hahn Studios, in collaboration with Stéphane Monnet and Agnes Wong of Monnet Design. Says Hahn of their super diagonally striped Power Plant word mark (whose fuzzy edges and bold colour variants make it vibrate): “The stripes represent energy. Because of the contemporary art context, they can be transparent when superimposed over works of art.” Virtual visitors will also find a well-honed new website, designed by the same team and developed by ecentricarts. Not a moment too soon, in the opinion of Burke. “Our previous website was so antiquated that it belongs in the collection of the Los Angeles Museum of Jurassic Technology,” he quipped. The exhibition spaces, now completely separated from the admissions area, have expanded slightly but remain essentially intact. This fact was somewhat masked by the startling, chaotic Das Auge (German for “the eye” or “a feast for the eyes”) installation. While far from the first controversial exhibition mounted by The Power Plant, Paris-based artist Thomas Hirschhorn takes the notion of “seeing red” to its literal extreme in a labyrinthine warehouse of infamy in which many objects were
splattered with red paint. Stunned partygoers wended their way past a six-foot-high eyeball and several large buckets of fake eyeballs to look up at mannequins on a catwalk sporting fur coats drenched with red paint and a tableau of red-splattered stuffed baby seals adrift in ersatz entrails, leaving some unimpressed. Certainly the apocalyptic tone of Hirschhorn’s work reflects the present moment, which is, after all, still The Power Plant’s mandate. Alluding to the exhibition, which he had initiated, Burke closed by saying: “Hirschhorn’s installation is a cultural form of resistance and protest.” Adding, with a hint of defiance: “It’s not just what you stand for, but ultimately what you do.” Fearless in his programming over his six-year regnum, the New Zealand native was no doubt alluding to the very recent announcement that he has resigned, effective the end of May. In effect, the curatorial team who brought the institution to this happy moment is now no more. With associate curator Melanie O’Brian, recently arrived from Vancouver, to assume the role of curator of programs, a post vacated by the muchadmired British-born Helena Reckitt, and with Burke’s replacement to be announced later this spring, the gallery is in the midst of a process of radical change from the outside in. Refreshed, if not re-energized, the new Power Plant is now better equipped than ever to tune us in and turn us on to the heady arena of contemporary art.
THE POWER PLANT / 231 Queen’s Quay W. 416.973.4949 / thepowerplant.org
AT THE DEBUT | KINGWEST WAS THERE
(left to right) PP director Gregory Burke, former PP chair Phil Lind and architect Bruce Kuwabara, artist Michael Snow and Sheelagh Keeley, board member Jeanne Parkin and fellow launch guests, Art Toronto’s Susannah Rosenstock and husband.
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PHOTOGRAPHS: Franco Deleo CREATIVE DIRECTION: 64th and Queen ART DIRECTION: Clayton Budd, Vishana Lodhia STYLIST: Shan Sarwar (PUSH) HAIR & MAKEUP: Heather Fox (PUSH) MODEL: Madeleine Blomberg (PUSH)
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BLAZER: RENZO at MILLI / milli.ca SCARF: PINK TARTAN / pinktartan.com
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(THIS PAGE) DRESS: SONIA RYKIEL, NECKLACE: LEE ANGEL, CUFF: SONIA RYKIEL, all at Milli / milli.ca SUNGLASSES: RETROSUPERFUTURE at UPC / upcboutique.com SHOES: OPENING CEREMONY at THE BAY /thebay.com (OPPOSITE PAGE) DRESS (WORN AS TOP), SKIRT AND SHOES: BCBGMAXAZRIA at THE BAY / thebay.com BRACELETS: SONIA RYKIEL at MILLI / milli.ca BAG: CC SKYE at UPC / upcboutique.com
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TANK TOP: JOSEPH, SKIRT: SUNO, SHOES: OPENING CEREMONY, all at THE BAY / thebay.com SUNGLASSES: TED LAPIDUS at GAFAS / gafas.ca
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DRESS: VENA CAVA, SHOES: BCBGMAXAZRIA, both at THE BAY / thebay.com CUFF: CHLOÉ COMME PARRIS UPC / upcboutique.com
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KAREN VON HAHN REPORTS FROM THE RUNWAY
FASHION
MONDAY Try booking a blowout the Monday morning of Fashion Week. Just try—not only will you be desperate because your go-to stylist doesn’t work Mondays and your hair looks like you’ve just come back from a family vacation, but everybody else in Toronto is in the same fix. Badly blown by the walk-in place at the end of the street where they always burn your scalp with the hair dryer, I arrive for the Holt Renfrew opening night cocktails with my date, both of us, weirdly, in approximations of the same little black dress. Judging from the flashes of colour in the penned-in VIP area, this may have been a mistake. Pink Tartan’s Kim Newport, popping in for a quick schmooze in the midst of dressing models for the Holts show, is smack on-trend for Spring 2011 in a silky ensemble of vivid cobalt. Society gal Sylvia Mantella is resplendent in a brilliant gold and red McQueen kimono. And Zoomer editor Suzanne Boyd is fetching in an all-blush pink suit with harem pants. Nevertheless, the show must go on. After a mercifully brief introduction from FDCC head Robin Kay—“We are on the threshold of a brave new moment in Canadian fashion”— the lights dim, the music starts and the front row readies their cell phone cameras. Todd Lynn is daring with proportion as his models teeter dangerously in their crazily high-heeled platforms; Lida Baday works a ’70s-meets-’40s vibe in earthy olives and teals; and all the models sport smeary eyes and greasy-looking hair, which should make getting ready to go out in Fall 2011 far less demanding. I immediately want to rush out and buy: 1. Jeremy Laing’s one-shouldered moonscape gown, which was simultaneously modern and romantic, and 2. almost everything on the runway at the IZMA show. IZMA is the collaboration between leather and fur designer Izzy Camilleri and ex–Fashion File host Adrian Mainella, which could have proved either awkward or prosaic. But my date and I want all of it, from the sexy ’70s fur chubbies with their metal placket fronts to a slithery silver gown topped with a fabulous eggplant capelet.
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Big day that begins with a show of the sexy/ tough/complicated designs of Montreal’s Denis Gagnon and ends with a late-night society-studded soiree for Joe Fresh atop the Thompson Hotel roof. Interestingly, the two solitudes seem moot here in fashion-land, with other Quebec labels like Shan showing happily here, along with Montreal-based observistas in the local audience like modederue.ca’s adorable Lolitta Dandoy (who appears, each day, in increasingly fabulous outfits). The afternoon hits a lull with Chloé comme Parris, which is so dark that the only glimpse of light occurs when one of the model’s waistlength crystal necklaces shatters on the runway. But then spirits are lifted by a surprising turn of events: Korhani Home designs rugs, not clothes, but they have decided to show their collection here. (In between shows, outside, as media types catch up on email and fill up on cigarettes, there is much grumbling about this.) Lo and behold, the show is fantastic. Starting with a procession of models bodypainted in rug patterns and winding up with a series of carpets fashioned into stiff poodle skirts (accessorized, naturally, by dyed real poodles and cardboard rug boxes as designer handbags), Korhani’s clever marketing idea turns out to be a brilliant send-up of the real thing. And then it’s Joe Mimran’s night, starting with the evacuation of the media from the front row, whose dull scribe-like presence is replaced with pretty, shiny VIPs and friends. One madly scrambling woman in the rush for the Pink Tartan show is relieved to find the seat next to me reserved for Vanessa Mulroney. “She’s not coming,” said the woman, tossing down her giant python handbag. “We talked earlier today.” Stacked audience aside, Pink Tartan delivers: from a silk camp shirt tucked into a gold tulle evening skirt to a gown of camouflage print damask, it’s a fashion army of killer outfits. Joe Fresh is all slick, bright and, well, fresh— with surprisingly esoteric items for the mass market such as a neoprene dirndl, skinny gold jeans and one so-ugly-it-must-be-fabulous sweater with a primary-hued landscape theme. The fetching gold men’s brogues inspire audible oohs and ahhs from the editors around me who will be the first to run to Loblaws.
PHOTOS: GEORGE PIMENTEL, ADAM MOCO, LELA KOUYOUMDJIAN
TUESDAY
WADING THROUGH THE POSING CROWDS, I AM STRUCK BY HOW MUCH OF THE SHOW NOW TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE.
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY Wading through the posing crowds of fashion students in outlandish combinations of Victorian underwear and bondage gear and young men in skinny jeans and chunky girls’ heels, I am struck by how much of the show now takes place outside the actual venue. There are so many rogue photographers and fashion bloggers tweeting on cell phones about each other that the notion of a fashion “show” suddenly seems quaint. Busy day but I manage to catch the Comrags show and I am pleased I do: It’s been 28 years since Judy Cornish and Joyce Gunhouse first teamed up and it keeps getting better. Stylist Roz Griffiths Hall sitting next to me is immediately jonesing for a sharply tailored sleeveless vest in a silvered wool, and I am falling hard for a Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde scoop-neck blouse and a pair of full, high-waisted trousers. The show closes to an old OMD song, and Roz and I sway together to the beat. Kudos, too, to plastic fantastic Jay Manuel, whose new Attitude line for Sears shows heartening sophistication. Not to be outdone by an upstart, veteran David Dixon knocks our knickers off with an Indonesianinspired collection that is edgy and modern.
Why, oh why do I rush down to Rudsak? After three days of late nights and whiling away the afternoon at shows, I’m behind on deadlines, my in-box is bursting and my throat feels like sandpaper. Derrick Chetty from The Toronto Star (who is wondering the same thing as we watch a bunch of leather jackets march up and down the runway to the strains of “Born to Be Wild”) and I compare complaints. I recommend disgusting but effective oregano oil, which Derrick claims he gets in more palatable form from this hummus with oregano he buys at his corner store. In between shows, we use our official reporter status—and considerable charm—to wile our way into the roped-off mezzanine Master Card lounge that is off limits to all but VIP clients of the sponsoring plastic. Turns out not only is it a regular ole partay up there, complete with a sexy bar and black-on-black Vegas lounge décor, but when the curtains open, these special guests get the best view in the house of the runway! File under life isn’t fair. In a pre-cold trance, Derrick and I wander over to a mysterious show about to begin in the smaller Studio space. Called Cydelic by Choryin (I’m thinking either name could stand on its own), it turns out to be a nearconceptual presentation of black stretchy, witchy things trimmed with what appear to be either Beanie Babies or soft sculpture Easter Island men. The finale gown: a bustling confection of purple and black tulle we agree is perfect for Helena Bonham Carter for next year’s Oscars.
FRIDAY Bonnie Brooks of The Bay is one smart cookie. She knows that at the end of a long, hard Fashion Week, she has us at the word “lunch.” And so we are thrilled to be invited to preview Jeanne Beker’s Edit line over a ladylike dejeuner—except that I am so dull-witted by this point, I don’t even glance twice at the invitation and end up wandering the third floor of The Bay looking for everyone. Of course, while the Edit line is indeed at The Bay, the lunch and fashion show is being served at a lovely restaurant across town called Bohmer. Not to be deterred, I jump back in my car, drive like a maniac, park illegally out front and waltz in before Suzanne Boyd does. Jeanne is not only a pro but an inspiration: Edit is decidedly mass market, but it is also very, very clever. Undo some buttons and a pretty trench coat, for instance, converts into a cute shrug and then a sleek armless vest. Finally, clothes that work as hard as the woman who’s come up with them. And the lunch is darn good, too.
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Knights of the Dining Table How Oliver & Bonacini conquered the city’s culinary scene. BY LEANNE DELAP PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEOFFREY KNOTT
FOOD
Restaurants are a spiritual pause and sit at a table together
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BIFF’S BISTRO
O&B EVENTS AT TORONTO BOARD OF TRADE
THE CULINARY CAREER OF O&B
AUBERGE DU POMMIER 66 /
JUMP
CANOE
TIMELINE PHOTOS: ANACLETO DESIGN, COURTESY OF OLIVER & BONACINI
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ETER OLIVER HAS A NASTY COLD, which he has to explain to every suit who comes up to greet him, hand left dangling in space. A tall, lanky man with a shock of white hair, he pops out of the crowd at the chef ’s rail skirting the now-legendary dining room of Canoe at Friday lunch. Financier David Ekmekjian of Sanwa McCarthy is not to be dissuaded by a few pesky germs and he grabs Oliver in a money-guy-style bear-hug tackle. “I’ve eaten here four times this week,” he tells the restaurateur. “And I had dinner at Biff’s last night!” Oliver is the genial-deluxe front-of-house half of the Toronto restaurant empire he has run with partner chef Michael Bonacini since the two opened Jump in Commerce Court in 1993. Canoe followed quickly on its heels, an even bigger risk on a downtown that until then didn’t have much of a fine-dining scene beyond the white-tablecloth gold-card steakhouses. Indeed, the duo are the original restaurant kings of King Street. In the early days of building their empire, almost two decades ago, swish nightlife and fine dining was firmly entrenched uptown (think Bemelman’s, Fenton’s and then Centro, Scaramouche and Splendido: all basically within a stone’s throw of their Rosedale and Lawrence Park clientele). Oliver’s was there—and then, before most realised the potential, Oliver and Bonacini were downtown. Back when the lofts and condos of King West were near-condemned warehouses, the entertainment district blossomed out from the core: Brokers and bankers saw Jump and Canoe as New York–style lunchtime power destinations. Soon the after-work martini and single-malt scene moved steadily west on King: Thursday nights now start at Yonge and vibrate straight to Brant. And the Oliver and Bonacini imprimatur is everywhere. Canoe, their flagship perched atop the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, just went through a milliondollar overhaul. Biff’s, their classic French bistro (“without the French attitude,” as Bonacini says), also got a little light bodywork done. The opening of the 14,500-square-foot Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill, at 33 Yonge beside Biff’s, marks the fifth in the newly branded mid-priced chain; other locations are up and running at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, at Bayview Village, in Waterloo and in Oakville. The Café Grill is also in the swinging broker market, as Thursday nights the large back bar starts hopping with a DJ at the closing bell. Then there is the TIFF Bell Lightbox project on King West, which launched last film fest: O&B does all the food, from the main-floor Canteen to the sultrier Luma, as well as the catering for the private event spaces. They also cater for the Board of Trade out of First Canadian Place. And they just inked a deal with The Bay: Starting with the yawning kitchens at Arcadian Court at the Queen Street location, they are ripping out the works and starting fresh, developing a new Canadiana concept called Bannock, which will eventually be rolled out across the country. Even Auberge du Pommier, their classic French gem at the top of the city, tucked in a green valley off Yonge Street, is getting a shiny new chef.
FOOD
experience, a place where we and talk and share food. Their overall staff roster now hovers at around 900, but with The Bay and patio season kicking in, by summer there will be more than 1,000 souls on the payrolls. Oliver, whom Bonacini calls “the visionary,” can identify a goodly chunk of those faces by name. With these kinds of numbers, there is a company-wide staff orientation pretty much once a month. Oliver always runs the proceedings. “I cry, usually. Restaurants are a spiritual experience, a place where we pause and sit at a table together and talk and share food. Everyone on the team has to be working to make the experience better for each other and for the customers. We want people hungry to learn.” Tucking his long legs capped in boat shoes under the foot rail, he gets mushy in his button-down: “Hey, we are as keen to make money as much as anyone. But at a certain point in life you want to see that you tried to make the world a better place than you found it.” With all the recent activity at O&B head office, this mission seems to have picked up the pace. “We’ve been on a bit of a march,” Oliver says, his South African accent now just a glimmer. “All the deals we signed kicked in just as the recession hit. It is a very good thing people will always have to eat.” When Oliver landed in Toronto in ’78 to open a bakery (in the same spot at Yonge and Eglinton where the company’s head office still resides), this city was a different place. “Toronto has become a very sophisticated food destination,” he says. “But it wasn’t always thus. We’ve watched a total turnaround in a generation.” When he found himself with the offer of a space on the ground floor at Commerce Court, he knew he needed a star to draw crowds. “We both had the same instinct,” says Bonacini in his small office overflowing with free Creuset pots (sent by publicists eager to have him use them on CityLine) and architectural schematics of every restaurant under his command. (“A chef has to know where the grease traps are; the practical stuff is as important as the saucing,” he says.) If Oliver is the inspirational speaker, Bonacini is the showman. Welsh (with some Italian mixed in), Bonacini worked his way up through Anton Mosimann’s kitchens at the Dorchester in London from a starting job on the service floor. Scooped up by the Windsor Arms in 1985, he then went on to greater acclaim at Centro. What they both liked was the Union Square model in New York: something hip. “Big, bold and ballsy but not intimidating,” Bonacini says. Somewhere a CEO could bring his whole team for a closing dinner. A bar that “felt like it has been there forever.” Almost 20 years later, the tight black T-shirts on the bartenders are gone, but the buzz astoundingly remains. Jump is due for its own makeover in the next year. The design is also part of Bonacini’s mandate. “Peter does the business side. I am operations. We are very lucky to have similar drive and temperament. And, yes, we do get along.”
2010
O&B CAFÉ GRILLYONGE & FRONT
O&B CANTEEN
LUMA
MALAPARTE
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BANNOCK
O&B EVENTS AT ARCADIAN COURT / 67
FOOD
EAT THIS O&B Café Grill Mushroom Soup Mushroom soup is dear to Michael Bonacini’s heart. When he arrived in Toronto, he was charged with remaking the classic for the Three Small Rooms at the Windsor Arms. Years later, it remains a staple in his kitchens. This recipe is the one served at Jump and the Café Grills; both Auberge du Pommier and Biff’s have their own punched-up versions. 1 tbsp olive oil ½ cup chopped onions 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 sprig thyme, chopped 6 cups coarsely diced assorted mushrooms (shitake, oyster, maitake, king oyster) Salt and pepper 4 cups water 1 bay leaf Truffle oil (optional) 1 tbsp chopped chives Enoki mushrooms for garnish Yogurt (optional) In a good-sized saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Gently sauté the onions, garlic and fresh thyme for 6 to 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms a couple handfuls at a time, seasoning with salt and pepper, stirring constantly as each handful cooks down. Pour the water over top and add the bay leaf. Simmer gently for 25 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Purée, using a hand-held
They are also both family men. Oliver’s son (one of four children) has joined the company to run private dining. He also has his own company, Rooster Capital, which brings new acquisitions to the O&B table. Bonacini’s son is still in high school but is, his father says, a budding foodie. Oliver at 62 has to be thinking about setting up a transition; Bonacini at 51 moves further from the heat of the stove and into a larger chess game. Perhaps what is really behind the furious-paced empire building is legacy building: Now is the time to create something that will run itself and extend to the next generations. Says Bonacini: “We made a decision to consolidate the brand identity with the Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill concept. We had many doors, each quite different, with its own identity. The O&B brand, like the concept for The Bay, is about familiarity. We nailed the high end. Now we want to expand with volume in the mid -sector.” Bonacini no longer gets much time at the stove, his days filled with hiring chefs and tinkering with architects and coordinating food suppliers for an organization that serves 30,000 meals a week. Like his partner, he has hit a point in life where he has earned the right to wax poetic. “I am all over our restaurants. There is always a washroom to be checked, a drawer to be cleaned. You have to be there to instill a desire to do more, to do it right.” Bonacini and Oliver both use the terms “a-ha moment” and “mental energy” frequently. The other thing they talk about, independently and together, is “the moment of truth,” which Bonacini describes thusly: “It is when you take a customer somewhere unexpected. If you listen closely, you can make a dining experience transcendent.” Oliver echoes the sentiment, waving out at the sea of suits enjoying the view at Canoe. “Reputation is remade every day. You are only as good as the last meal you served.”
immersion blender for a coarsely textured soup or a high-speed blender for a creamy texture. Return to the pot and bring back to a simmer. Drizzle in a little truffle oil, if desired, and serve. Garnish with chopped chives and enoki mushrooms, and if you like, a dollop of plain yogurt.
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Leanne Delap’s first job was in the food department at Toronto Life; she remembers feeling like quite the hick from Pickering at the openings of both Jump and Canoe. She now writes a column for The Toronto Star and for various magazines around town.
E S TAT E PAV L I D I S D R A M A ,
M A C E D O N I A ,
G R E E C E
Thema Red 2007 Pavlidis Estate is situated in the region of Drama, in northern Greece, in a narrow valley on the footslopes of Mount Falakro. It was founded by Christoforos Pavlidis in 1998 after a long search for suitable sites for quality grape growing. The aim of Pavlidis Estate is the production of premium wines, with pleasing aroma and flavor characteristics but also with a distinct and recognizable character. The main varietals grown by Estate Pavlidis are Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Syrah and Agiorgitiko. Now available at select LCBO VINTAGES locations Vintages LCBO #202622
PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND GREEK GOVERNMENT
SUMMER ENTERTAINING
Splendour Grass IN THE
KW PACKS THE PERFECT PICNIC Basket, $49, West Elm; Disc, $22, Europe Bound; Coconut water, $3, Fresh & Wild; Napkins, $4 each, West Elm.
Roberts Revival DAB Radio, $299, Drake General Store.
Mini-MoĂŤts, $21, LCBO; Kikkerland Paper Straws, $8 a box, Drake General Store.
Tiffin Box, $16, Tap Phong Trading Co.; Alfajores from La Merceria.
Bamboo Cutting Board, $10, Winners; Tarts from La Merceria.
Fatboy Knapsack/Blanket, $211, Neat.
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PHOTO: GEOFFREY KNOTT
Rosti Outdoor Dishes, from $3.50, Swipe Books; Chopsticks, $2.50 per pack, Tap Phong Trading Co.; Empanadas from La Merceria; Salads from Springbox Kitchen.
SUMMER ENTERTAINING
WINE PICKS BY ROBERT GRAVELLE Bring on those sticky, hazy afternoons! Whether it’s a business lunch on a local patio, relaxing on the deck on a sleepy Sunday or kicking back in the Muskokas, embracing the heat is that much nicer with a summery, refreshing glass of one of these in hand.
Blue Mountain Brut NV Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $34.95 - Lifford Wine Agency / liffordwine.com Sparkling wine is great for the summer months—it works well as an aperitif and is quite versatile with food. Blue Mountain Winery produces delicious champagne-method sparklers at a fraction of the cost of actual champagne. Expect green apple and citrus flavors along with some biscuity notes from two years aging on the lees.
Ciu Ciu Oris Falerio DOC 2009 Le Marche, Italy $14.65 - Le Sommelier / lesommelier.com
Domaine Gardiés “Les Glaciaires” 2010 Côtes du Roussillon, France $25 - Da Capo Wines / dacapowines.com One of the most interesting quaffs is the Gardiés Glaciaires 2010, a classic Roussillon blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Macabeo. In the south of France, there is an emerging movement toward ancient methods of grape-growing and wine-making, requiring a true respect for the land from the vigneron. The result is wine that speaks of the place it comes from, a terroir-driven wine, so to speak. This choice combines richness and freshness, ripe fruit and minerality, and it will age well if you can restrain yourself from pulling the cork.
Norman Hardie Unfiltered County Pinot Noir 2009 Prince Edward County, Ontario $35 - LCBO Vintages 206813 / vintages.com Ontario produces great wine, especially from cool-climate grape varieties like Pinot Noir, and Norm Hardie produces some of the best. His wines combine ripeness with elegance and finesse. The 2009 County Pinot is generously fruit-forward with notes of ripe raspberry and strawberry, some floral notes and a hint of mineral. The alcohol is modest and balanced by soft tannins and ripe acidity. A great match for a variety of fare, including burgers and seafood.
In recent years I’ve been an advocate of the ABPG (Anything But Pinot Grigio) movement and in favour of promoting the incredible diversity of Italian white grape varietals. Thus my value pick of the month: Ciu Ciu 2009, an eclectic blend of Trebbiano, Pecorino and Passerina with a touch of Chardonnay. This wine has great complexity of aroma, from ripe peach and lychee fruit to minerality to fresh flowers. Lightweight on the palate with refreshing acidity.
Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2008 Napa Valley, California $49.95 - LCBO Vintages 442623 / vintages.com I like to have a full-bodied white on hand that can stand up to charred red meat and other offerings from the BBQ. Mike Grgich is the unofficial King of Napa and is known for producing serious Chardonnay. Expect a complex nose of ripe tropical fruits, minerals, fresh baked bread and buttery notes. Weighty on the palate while still balanced with delicious acidity.
Robert Gravelle is the general manager/wine director for Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse and an instructor for the International Sommelier Guild.
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Wabora
Thompson Hotel 550 Wellington St. W. 416-777-9901
ESCAPE
A ROUND AT
MUSKOKA BAY
Golf columnist Lorne Rubenstein takes a s w i n g a t t h e a w a rd - w i n n i n g c o u rs e
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ESCAPE
I
like my golf rugged and adventurous. I like a course that pleases my eye, challenges my mind and invites me to get inventive with my swing. I’d heard that the Muskoka Bay Club would provide all of this and more. I wasn’t disappointed. It was hot, humid and windy when I played Muskoka Bay that first time. I hit balls on the roomy range for an hour or so; I could have stayed there all day, even in the sticky conditions. The range at Muskoka Bay seems to stretch to the horizon—or at least the view made me feel that way—and it sits at a high point on the course. Architect Doug Carrick knows how to use elevation and is obviously inspired by Muskoka Bay’s beguiling natural setting—its granite outcroppings and wetlands are incorporated in creative ways into his design. Much like the Clifftop Clubhouse—Richard Wengle’s contemporary take on Muskoka architecture—which is also set on a ridge, the range offers a visual spectacle. As my starting time approached, I turned around and meandered to the first tee, itself perched well above the fairway. There’s nothing in golf quite like a downhill opening tee shot. It’s dramatic and invites a free swing. So I swung away, easily, and watched the ball hang in the air. The hang time was long, as it should be. My golf ball seemed to take minutes before it fell to the fairway. Beautiful. My pulse slowed even as, metaphorically, I felt my heart racing. Clearly, I was setting out on a golfing adventure. It didn’t hurt that I was playing with Carrick. I’d known him since we were members at the Uplands Golf Club in Thornhill. The legendary Canadian architect Stanley Thompson, one of the charter members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, designed Uplands. Thompson wasn’t afraid to be playful. He also liked rugged landscapes and relished the idea of fitting the course to the environment. Carrick had said for years that he learned from Thompson how to design a course to get the best out of the game. “I tried to make the bunkers ragged,” Carrick told me as we made our way down to the fairway at the par-four opening hole. “I folded the sod over the edges, so the look would reflect the rugged landscape.” Ragged and rugged. I liked the look. The fairway curved to the right, where the green was set between bunkers there and on its left side. There was room at the front to run the ball in if the player elected to do that. Thompson usually provided a player a way in, an opening, which also meant it was important to position the best angle in from the fairway. Carrick had learned from the master. We soon moved on to the second hole, a par-three with its ingenious green site across a winding stream that slithers up the right side. The shot is across the water and the wetlands, but there’s an opportunity to play a bit left of the green, which is shaped like a kidney bean. That takes some of the water out of play. I was quickly learning that Carrick’s primary objective was to let the Muskoka landscape’s wow factor speak for itself. His job was to create a course routing that would take full advantage of the site. He’d been struck the first time he walked the property by its many rock ridges. The terrain was rugged—the word kept coming up as we played—and so it was also formidable. “The property presented a lot of unique opportunities,” Carrick said. “I thought I could use the rock outcroppings and ridges in ways that would add a lot to the experience. The idea was to try to find a routing into and through the natural terrain without blasting a lot of rock.” Developer Peter Freed gave him enough land—300 acres—to find the best routing. Carrick came up with half a dozen routings before he decided on the course. There were, of course, some surprises along the way. Carrick found what he thought was an ideal site for the third green, only to uncover a huge outcropping the size of a bus when the land was cleared.
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MORE AT
MUSKOKA BAY EAT The Clifftop Clubhouse features the indoor/outdoor Cliffside Bar & Grill and the Muskoka Room for fine dining. SWEAT Tennis, anyone? Or get physical in the fully equipped fitness studio. CHILL Go for a steam or spoil yourself with a massage at the spa. Take a dip in the infinity pool. SHOP Treat yourself to the latest from Nike and Titleist at the Pro Shop. LEARN Get your game on with golf instruction from certified Canadian PGA pros (from $60). PLAY & STAY Spend the night in a luxury villa. The Muskoka Bay Getaway starts at $325 per person and includes golf, accommodation and breakfast. GET THERE For a truly VIP experience, Fly in & Tee Off transports you from the Island airport via helicopter straight to the 1st tee.
2 1
3
Then, at what would become the signature 9 th hole, topographical maps showed a unique site for a green. The green would be elevated above the fairway and through a natural valley. When the land was cleared, rock on either side became visible. Here was the chance for a green site that would be truly exceptional. The golfer looks up to the green through what looks like a notch or gate between the granite outcroppings. It’s an exhilarating view and it’s deeply satisfying to thread one’s shot up the valley through the narrow entrance, only 25 feet wide, or over the rock to the green behind. The green is much larger than is apparent from the fairway, but the rock hides much of it from view. The hole has been controversial, but I agree with Carrick—it’s exceptional. Standing on the tee at the par-three 11th, I stopped to admire the view over water and a wide but shallow bunker to the green beyond. “You must have grown up in an art gallery,” I suggested to Carrick. His response was typically modest: “It’s hard to miss with this kind of land.” I played the last seven holes almost in a reverie. Inspired, I had decided almost without thinking about it to play by feel, by intuition. This can happen on courses that fit well into the landscape rather than being forced upon it. The inner eye picks up the distance and shot required. I found myself hitting a variety of shots, curving and running the ball off slopes into fairways and greens where possible. Certainly there were forced carries, but Carrick did an excellent job of putting tees in places where any golfer, no matter their abilities, could keep those to a minimum. The par-three 17th, for example, is all over water, but the four tees mean a golfer can play it from 214 to 124 yards. “My goal was to make sure the course would be playable for a majority of golfers,” Carrick told me. “I tried to limit mandatory carries on tee shots as much as possible.” We came up the last fairway in the early evening. It was still hot, but the humidity had relaxed its grip. Or maybe I was so involved in our game and enjoying the course so much that I hadn’t noticed it. We were playing the hole from the blue tees, which made it 404 yards long. I hit a mid-iron into the green, hooking my ball in from the right side because I wanted to avoid the bunker at the left. Carrick and I putted out and shook hands. I was already looking forward to my next game at Muskoka Bay. That would come later, when I played the course with my friends Jerome and Margie Shore. Margie played the best nine holes of her life. Later I asked her what she remembered. “It was very quiet and serene, allowing me to get into a golf zone,” she replied. That’s Muskoka Bay: quiet and serene, and a sweet golf zone all its own.
technology, accurate to within a yard. $500. Golf Town, 266 King St. W.,
golftown.com
2 GOORIN BROS. FEDORA. Cool and breathable chic. $60. Gotstyle,
4
62 Bathurst St., gsmen.com
3 GOLF SUPPLY HOUSE UMBRELLA. In an appropriately ballsy print.
5 6
$40. Golf Town, 266 King St. W., golftown.com
4 TAYLORMADE R11 DRIVER. With aerodynamic shape and adjustable Flight Control Technology. $450. Muskoka Bay Golf Club,
muskokabayclub.com
7
5 ONCORE OMEN GOLF BALL. The world’s first and only hollow metal core ball. US $34 per dozen. oncoregolf.com
6 HANK POCKET SQUARE by Ben Mulroney. 100% silk with a retro golf motif. $55. Gotstyle, 62 Bathurst St., gsmen.com
7 FOOTJOY 2011 LOPRO WOMEN’S GOLF SHOES. Strut your stuff in these saddle-style shoes. $120. Golf Town, 266 King St. W., golftown.com
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MUSKOKA BAY GOLF CLUB, (PRODUCTS) GEOFFREY KNOTT
1 BUSHNELL HYBRID LASER GPS RANGEFINDER. With Pinseeker
Drivers cap by Goorin | $65
Cotton blazer by SAND | $550
Wing tips by Vera Luca | $250
Bamboo henley by Wes Misner | $95
Cotton pant by Haight & Ashbury | $150
Belt by Ted Baker | $95
Travel bag by Gotstyle | $300
Plaid shirt by SAND | $175
THIS SIDE MUST BE PLACED IN GUTTER
62 Bathurst St. 416.260.9696 gsmen.com
alison milne interior design + gallery
49 Ossington Avenue, Suite 201, Toronto
alisonmilne.com
summer is
here and the patio is
open
“The Ballroom serves the best food I ever had in a sports bar. Period”
-Amy Pataki, Toronto Star
“Who serves organic quinoa salad in a sports bar? Mr. Shehata does. And it’s wonderful.” -Joanne Kates, Globe and Mail
The Ballroom 145 John Street, Toronto. 416.597.2695 (BOWL) info@theballroom.ca www.theballroom.ca follow us on twitter: twitter.com/theballroombowl
26516_BallroomSummerAd_9x12.indd 1
11-05-09 5:40 PM
ON THE TOWN
NIGHTS IN THE ’HOOD
PHOTOS: JOSEPH MICHAEL
HOT DOCS OPENING NIGHT, DESIGN EXCHANGE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jamie Kastner; Antonio Ramirez, Jeff Harris and Bruce LaBruce; Sandra Singer, Hot Docs director of programming Sean Farnel, Hot Docs programming manager Karina Rotenstein, Hot Docs forum and market director Elizabeth Radshaw and Adam Benzine; Peter Wintonick, Michael McMahon and Alan Zweig; Morgan Spurlock at the opening night for his POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold; Hot Docs heats up; Elena Viltovskaia, Jason Kennedy and Carl Brundtland; Christy Garland and Charles Officer.
PHOTOS: JESS BAUMUNG & SKYELAR MENARD
ROCKSTAR HOTEL, THE SPOKE CLUB
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dallas Green; Sheepdog jam session; Down With Webster’s Patrick Gillet; Julie D’Uva; Rockstar revelers; Hedley; Nat and Talia.
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ON THE TOWN
PHOTOS: CHRISTINA GAPIC & MORAD AFFIFI
MASSIVE PARTY, ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Artist Natalie Kovacs and Alexander Josephson; DJ jojoflores; fabulous in pink satin; guests inspired by the Marchesa’s flair for fashion; all smiles; Tanika (Mz. Chawles) Charles and The Wonderfuls; the Marchesa and entourage; restaurateur Tawfik Shehata and hairstylist Jie Matar.
PHOTOS: LUCIA GRACA
PROM: INTO THE WILD, ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Fabulous in feathers; BCBGMAXAZRIA Spring/Summer 2011; Prom committee member Nicolla Milnes; Prom cochair Allison Brough and Jay Richards; ROM trustee Christopher Jamroz, ROM director and CEO Janet Carding and Kasia Jamroz; girls gone wild; Ana Zotovic; Toronto Life’s Karen Cleveland and Lindsay Gavey.
PHOTOS: PEDRO MARQUES
BLOWFISH ON BAY OPENING
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Blowfish team Zark Fatah, Tak Tien and Nishan Nepulongoda; Candice Chan and friend; Camille Moore and Jackie Lewis; Shamira Dewshi and Rubeena Jamal; Gary LeBlanc, Monika Schnarre and Brent LeFevre; Melissa Austria, Devon Boyd and Andrea Nino; Nick Mulroney and friend.
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MONTREAL 2011
D L E I F ING Y A L P HE
T
C A P S here comes a time in every Thirtysomething Single Girl’s life when the middle modifier starts to write itself out in all-caps. SINGLE. If it were a neon sign, it would flicker and make a buzzing sound. As a billboard sign outside a rundown motel, the “S” would hang upside down and swing idly in the breeze. If you listen close enough, you might even hear a faint squeak. It’s like, all of a sudden, the word no longer says unattached, but unattached. When my caps lock key got stuck last fall, it caused a brief, albeit alarming panic to set in. In a not entirely un-Bridget Jonesian fashion, I found myself being asked by lots of unsingle people why I was still single—something I somehow had managed to escape until now. Whether it was because I live like a child or act like a child, no one ever really questioned why I was still on my own after all these years. But as a significant birthday drew near, my marital status started to draw suspicion from even my oldest and most trusted cronies—the ones who’ve been privy to my marriage conspiracy theories, deepseated commitment issues and misanthropic tirades for decades. To say that I was blindsided would be an exaggeration. I know what my friends see: a reasonably attractive and intelligent woman with a keen sense of style and a clean criminal record. Who wouldn’t want a piece of this, right? As is often the case when faced with a truth that niggles at the back of your subconscious, I too was feeling crowded by the caps. Of course I have loads of beautiful, single girlfriends, and of course we are totally content being on our own. If the right man comes along, great! If not, so be it. Eventually, though, you start questioning serendipity and it doesn’t look good. Then come the thinly veiled arguments: A little social experiment wouldn’t hurt, we say. I need to get myself out of my comfort zone, one points out. My liver can’t handle the excessive drinking that comes in the name of socializing, another argues. It’ll make for great material, I reason. And up goes the online dating profile. Marketing is a powerful tool, dear reader. Anyone who tells you
otherwise is trying to sell you something. Those schmaltzy eHarmony commercials with their giggling couples and two-month timelines-tohappiness had me hook, line and sinker. It was, I told myself, the 21stcentury version of a discreet matchmaker and would result at the very least in a date with a man who could a) write a coherent sentence, b) enjoy a good action-adventure or c) afford to shell out for two coffees. At first, I would feel a faint thrill as I’d open my email in the morning and find my matches of the day. I did the math: 10 matches per day for the 30-day period would result in 300 possible mates. There had to be one diamond in all that rough. But as the days ticked away and I continued to receive grinning emoticons from Tonys and Franks and Dinos, I grew suspicious. Evidently, despite having checked the Caucasian, Hispanic and African-American boxes, eHarmony, like my mother, felt it was important that I date within my own culture. By day five, I was ready to call it quits. Despite my jocular attitude and promising math calculations, my self-loathing was starting to reach a dangerous apex every time I opened one of those daily emails and, frankly, I don’t need anything to fan the flames. I had nothing against the Tonys and Franks and Dinos— some of them were even cute, and employed! But I simply couldn’t continue to participate in a mating ritual that reeked of computer-generated insincerity. Yet something told me to wait. I don’t know if it was another TV commercial or the slipped disk I suffered from carrying a heavy suitcase up the stairs by myself, but I decided to give it one more day. I know what you’re thinking. Serendipity! And in a way it was. Because when I opened my email the next day and surveyed my matches, someone caught my eye. A man who was strangely familiar, who possessed traits eerily similar to mine and was completely and oddly in synch with my personality. It was as though we had known each other all our lives. And you know what? We had. Because he was my brother. I took it as a sign. A sign to take down my profile and never look back. I think I’ll stay in my comfort zone, poison my liver and find material elsewhere. The universe—cyber and otherwise—is clearly telling me online dating is not the answer. I’ll stick with my caps, thanks.
Marilisa Racco is a Toronto-based fashion and beauty writer who prefers the company of her dog, Floyd.
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ILLUSTRATION: CASSIE ZHEN & MICHAEL BOZINOVSKI
By Marilisa Racco
With summer swelter heating up, curly girl Esther Garnick gives you the straight talk on three stylin’ salons in the ’hood. “I would describe my natural hair as what would happen if Diana Ross and Howard Stern merged their DNA. Enter my weekly fix— the salon blowout. Fast, affordable and pain-free, the professional blowout is a no-brainer for the frizzy-haired working girl. So when KW assigned me this Test Drive, I was prepared to be blown away.”
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TEST DRIVE
PHOTOS: LEWIS MIRRETT
BLO
RITUAL
H&CO
626 King St. W. / 416.703.1256 / blowmedry.com
789 King St. W. / 416.306.0040 / ritual.ca
83 Portland St. / 647.247.2190
Vibe: The décor is sleek and modern with funky transparent chairs and hot-pink flashes everywhere. The low-lit blow-dry bar on this rainy evening felt serene until an energetic stylist named George punched things up with a verbal cancan (topped with a pirouette) for clientele as they entered. Perks: They sell snazzy pink umbrellas and flats by Damn Heels, so on a rainy day, you can both protect your investment and change out of wet shoes into cost-effective flats. Stylist: Amy MacCulloch Technique: After a quick wash, Amy separated my hair into about four million sections and then blow-dried each one and flat-ironed in sequence. I’d never seen this done before but it did the slick trick. Based on the menu, it appears that I got the “executive sweet”: “This hair means business and is de rigueur for the power meeting, the time-fora-raise talk or a boardroom presentation.” Duration of blowout: Approximately one hour, even though Blo typically guarantees 30 minutes. But I wouldn’t expect Vidal Sassoon himself to get my hair straight and shiny in a half-hour. Cost: $33 Final coif: My hair looked sleek and straight, not severe. The Blo result is perfect for the girl who wants her hair to say “functional” not “going to a function.” How long it lasted: I was able to maintain this ’do with little fuss for six full days. No, I’m not kidding.
Vibe: Bump-ing. Women really love their stylists, estheticians and front-desk babes in this place. It was a scene, with clients mixing and mingling. I immediately regretted coming directly from spin class (still sweating) sans makeup. Perks: Water, cappuccino or espresso? Stylist: Tamara Gibson Technique: Tamara washed my sweaty hair and followed it up with an incredible scalp massage. She used a paddle brush to blow-dry my hair straight—a little trick she picked up “working in ethnic salons.” God bless her, she muscled through, with no sign of a round brush or flatiron anywhere. Duration of blowout: Approximately one hour. Cost: $33. Final coif: Very glamourpuss. This blowout left my hair extremely shiny with a touch of volume and some subtle waves near the ends. Between my freshly coiffed look and the CSI-quality mirrors in this salon (ingenious!), my hair was upstaging the rest of me, so I immediately booked in for an emergency eyebrow and upper-lip wax. How long it lasted: Because there was very little product in my hair, I was able to keep this look alive for five days. (That’s right. I said it.)
Vibe: Very “boutique chic.” Friendly, pretty faces greeted me as soon as I entered and I felt like a French gamine walking into a charming little salon with its clean white walls and chandeliers. Perks: The robes are really slimming and the gourmet coffee comes with a petite biscuit. Stylist: Hayley Bloomfield (the owner) Technique: I didn’t know what to make of the rollers fastened into the crown of my head, but Hayley explained that they were for volume. A classic round brush was used to smooth out my Hebrew tresses and give the ends a little oo-la-la twirlyness. Duration of blowout: Approximately 45 minutes. Cost: $60—nearly double what I paid for the others, but my hair got the expert touch of the salon’s owner. Final coif: This blowout gave my hair serious vavoom! At first I thought I resembled a backup dancer in a Katy Perry video. However, within minutes it started to fall and suddenly I mistook myself for a Victoria Secret model. Hair + slimming robe + over-caffeinated = delusional but confident. This is the perfect spot to achieve “occasion hair.” I picked up the phone and made swanky plans. How long it lasted: I was able to rock this ’do until the next morning. After a night of sleep, my lovely locks had transformed and I looked like a cast member from Friends—in the early years— so clearly I had to bring out the ol’ flat-iron.
Esther Garnick is a Toronto-based PR professional whose company specializes in lifestyle public relations. Having launched some of King West’s hottest spots, she has been tagged a “party girl publicist” but, in fact, she spends her free time flat-ironing her hair and hanging out with Jonah, her Pomeranian pup. / 91
NEALE CONWAY, 30 MANAGER, GOTSTYLE
MAXIM HOLMES, 30 STYLIST, GOTSTYLE
KW: Who is your fashion inspiration? Nicola Formichetti for now. KW: What are your favourite style blogs? Of course, gotstylemenswear.com. And Dazed Digital (dazeddigital.com) is pretty cool, too. KW: What’s the one thing most guys could use some style help with? Go for a cleaner look! KW: How could King West guys take it up a notch, style-wise? Why just a notch? There is always room to grow! KW: What’s item number one on your shopping list this summer? Shorts (sorry, Tom*, I’ll be a gentleman all other seasons).
KW: How would you describe your style? It’s pretty eclectic. I believe in a well-rounded wardrobe for every man. KW: What’s the one thing most guys could use some style help with? Definitely suits and dress shirts. Boxy is bad! They don’t have to be tight, but they should complement your silhouette, not hide it. KW: How do you keep up with fashion? By working at one of the top menswear stores! I’m surrounded daily by changing style and trends. KW: What can you save on and what should you splurge on? Splurge on a nice well-made suit. It will last longer and there’s a huge difference between a cheap suit and one that’s been expertly tailored. Save on denim—there’s some great jeans out there for under $200. KW: What are you splurging on this summer? A lightweight cotton blazer. Great for every day or a night out.
*Ford, we presume.
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ON MAX:
ON NEALE:
Cinque jacket. Sand shirt. Dr. Denim pants. Paul Smith shoes. Ray Ban glasses.
Johnny Love trench coat. Suit slim-cut suit dress shirt. Levi’s matchstick jeans. Pony hightops.
PHOTOS: LEWIS MIRRETT
SPOTTED AT >> WELLINGTON & BATHURST
“It can be both!
bonus. It’s a big bonus “It’s
You know it’s right there at the corner so you don’t have to worry about driving. It’s more convenient, more action basically. It brings all kinds of people, but picking out the right place to go to, that’s the problem. They’re all favourites.”
—Ahmed, 27, mobile specialist
It’s certainly changed. When we moved here five years ago, it was like an empty lot across the way and it was quiet. The bonus is that with all the people it feels a bit safer. It’s nice because we have a lot more restaurants and stuff like that, but it’s a drag when we get infested on the weekends.”
—Sean, 34, animator
eat! r g ’s t I “ iting, d it’s exc
n n one ha ther I mean, o do. But, on the o e to t th lo p to re there’s a isy and u o n y ll a e r people hand, it’s can hear u o y ide. g in orn e downs th s t’ a in the m th using, so f fun!” still caro ’s a lot o it t, a th an Other th line, — Jacque yer thing, law 30-some
“It’s maybe a little bit of a problem, because it’s no you’re trying to t as easy when sleep and som etimes you just don’t feel like going out or going dancing and all that st uff. But when I’m in th e mood to go out, the neighbourhoo d is great!” — Martine, 32, CBC host
King West Weighs In On:
NEIGHBOURHOOD NIGHTLIFE BONUS OR BOTHER? Interviews By Geneva Bokowski
Interviews by Geneva Bokowski
. to iten I t n e h er ew indifitf. It was worasrs ago. hen. f o kind I don’t loveut 10 or 11 yereally bad tt’s ’m I si “ bo but was te it, etime nd it rea, a
ea os a ’t ha som I don ved into th few cond d flowed, o e n h a first m e one of t of ebbed OK.” d er We w en it’s kin etimes it’s ter th m repor , s Since ad and so 0 5 b , mid really ah B. r o b De
—
“It’s a bonus
if it’s going to keep the economy going and make us a be tter neighbourhood. It can be a weird scene, it brings some interesting people in, bu t nothing negative has happened.”
— Lindsay, 25, engineer
“I think it adds to the neighbourhood.
I’m a night owl, so it doesn’t keep me up. There can be lots of noise but I’m usually a part of that, so it’s all right. I don’t mind it.”
— Sean Y., 35, government worker
/ 93
REAL ESTATE
Jeffrey Anderson's King West Know-How
KW: This is amazing! How big is this living room? It’s actually 66 feet long. I was originally looking at this one unit, which was in this southeast-facing corner. I loved the view because you’re right in the tree-tops. In the summer it’s like a wall of green. But it wasn’t big enough. It was only 1,100 square feet and I was looking for something twice that size. And then the next-door unit became available, so I thought, what if I bought that one, too, and pulled down the load-bearing wall in between them to make this one big apartment? I’ve got windows here now in this one room that face south, east and west—it’s an incredible view. KW: You pulled down a load-bearing wall? Yeah, it’s on the fifth floor, so they let me take out 25 to 30 feet of it, not the whole thing, so I ended up with this one enormous space for hanging out, cooking and entertaining. Basically, with the two units, I ended up with two hallways, four bathrooms and two bedrooms to play with. Because of the sheer size of this space, I could expand the kitchen, which used to be a galley-style kitchen against one wall, into this open “L”-shaped kitchen with an oversized island, which I love for when friends come over. No matter what, everybody always wants to hang out at the kitchen island. And then, because I basically had two front hallways side by side to work with, I used some of the extra depth by the door to build a huge walk-in front hall closet.
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THE LOWDOWN: »Two neighbouring 1,100 sq-ft south-facing units at 55 Stewart combined into one 2,200-sq-ft unit. »Bought in 2007, for a total cost of $1 million. »Sold in January 2011 for $1.35 million. »On the market for six months.
PHOTOS: FRANCO DELEO
THE DEAL
REAL ESTATE
KW: Is this your first condo in the 'hood? No, it’s actually the fourth place I’ve bought and sold in the King West area. My original place, above the Foggy Dew on King, was around 1,000 square feet, and I bought it in 2003 for $230,000. Another place, a 1,500-square-foot unit at 833 King, I bought purely as an investment for $500,000 and sold for 20 percent more six months later. And then three years before I could move in here, I bought a 1,200-square-foot place at 10 Morrison just to tide me over until this one was finished. The neighbourhood has treated me well. KW: Obviously you like the neighbourhood. It’s amazing how much the area has grown since I first moved here. After work you see these crowds of people all walking home along King Street. It’s funny, because I’ve been living here for years and now my office is right at King and Portland. And now there’s everything you need within walking distance—except decent bread. Somebody smart should open a bakery.
The new owner plans to keep everything, down to the Eames chair and the elaborately framed take by a local artist on a Banksy. The custom sofa is from the Lifestyle Shop.
KW: Where are you moving to? My fiancé and I are moving just around the corner to 500 Wellington West. It’s on the eighth floor, 2,500 square feet with a private elevator that goes right to the apartment. You can actually see my new place from here, it’s part of that glass cube on the top. The views are just amazing. We’ve left everything open, even the bathtub, so when you’re in the bath you have this crazy city view. KW: When are you moving? We have to be out of here at the end of June, but the new place won’t be ready until September. I have a boat at Ontario Place, so I’m trying to convince my fiancé that it will be great to spend the summer living on the boat. So far I haven’t been all that successful. KW: Will your new place have a similar look? Nope, we’re starting completely from scratch. The guy who bought this place wants everything, right down to the dishes and bed linens, so I sold it to him completely furnished. They just want to move in with their toothbrushes and that’s it. Jeffrey Anderson is the VP of digital sales for CanSport, an online sports news portal. / 95
KING WEST’S REAL ESTATE
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PREMIER BROKERAGE
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468 WELLINGTON ST WEST #500
$2,899,000
This Spectacular Loft Offers Exclusivity And Luxury In The Heart Of King West. With Over 5400 Sq Ft Of Space Featuring 12-14 Foot Ceilings, Exposed Brick And Beam, Two Private Elevators, Original Wood Floors, Juliette Balconies, A Separate In-Law Suite With Gourmet Chef Kitchen And Elevated Loft Space. Heated Floors In The Ensuite Washroom, Spacious Bedroom Layouts And A Massive Open Concept Living/ Dining Room For Entertaining. This Intimate 12 Unit Building Is A Perfect Option For The Affluent Urban Professional Seeking Convenient Access To The Financial District, Theatres, Restaurants, The Island Airport Or Major Highways.
500 SHERBOURNE ST #1302 $358,888
20 STEWART ST #508 $529,500
In The Core Of Downtown Toronto, Walking Distance To Yorkville And Best Restaurants, U Of T, Rosedale, Dundas Square, Subway & Close To DVP. Listing Price Includes Furniture - Call Listing Agent For More Information. Extras Include: 668Sq Ft, 50Sq Ft Balcony (As Per Builder’s Plan), 9 Ft High Ceilings, Laminate Flooring In Living and Dining Room. Granite Counter Tops, Lots Of $$$ Spent In Upgrades! 24 Hour Concierge, Party Room, Games Room, Rooftop Lounge W/BBQ, Guest Suites & More.
Stylish Boutique Loft Building (Freed Developments) Nestled In The Heart Of King West & All Of It’s Great Restaurants, Lounges & Amenities. Great Kitchen With Over-Sized Island (Ideal For Entertaining!) Granite Countertops, Tons Of Storage, S.S Appliances. Floor To Ceiling Windows, Hardwood Throughout, 10’ Ceilings (Exposed Concrete!) With Fantastic Balcony That Spans The Width Of The Suite. Spa-Like Baths. Loblaws Coming Soon To The Neighbourhood! Split 2 Bedroom, All Electrical Light Fixtures Included, Excluding Chandelier Above Coffee Table. All Window Coverings, Stackable Washer/Dryer, All Stainless Steel Appliances, Parking And Locker Included.
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77 PORTLAN D STR E ET | TE L 416 360 0688 | PS R B ROKE RAG E.COM
13 BERNARD AVE $4,185,000 This Yorkville/Annex Home Explodes With Charm And Personality. Back To Bricks 3 Storey, 4000 Sq Ft Home Was Lovingly Renovated And Restored With Luxury And Lifestyle In Mind. Custom Details Are Like No Other From The 2Pc Washroom On Main Floor To The Private Wine Cellar And Tasting Room That Marvels The Finest Restaurants. Meticulous Attention To Detail, Exceptional Custom Millwork, Architectural And Design Integrity Is Evident Throughout. Move In And Live And Enjoy Life. Why Not?Private Heated Drive
With Attached Garage. South Facing Easy To Maintain Backyard With Bbq Area, Custom Built Pergola - Landscape Architect John Lloyd. Interior Design - Trianon, Architect – Mark Hall. Completed With Permits. Sound And Security System By Command Performance. New Windows, Plumbing And Mechanicals.
55 STEWART ST #403 $429,900
1029 KING ST W. #1015 $369,000
Residences Of The Thompson Hotel, Open Concept Large One Bedroom, One Washroom Suite With Modern Pogen Pohl Kitchens, Floor To Ceiling Windows, South Facing Suite With Two Balconies. Building Amenities Include 24 Hour Concierge, Roof Top Infinity Pool With Adjacent Bar And Lounge, Gym, And Much More. Suite Includes Parking & Locker. Steps To Public Transit, Victoria Memorial Park And King West Restaurants. Stainless Steel Appliance, Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Frosted C-Living Bedroom Doors, Double Thick Corian Counter Tops, Large Island With Microwave, Full Sized Front Loading Washer/Dryer, Roller Blinds 9Ft Exposed Ceilings.
Penthouse, 2 Storey Loft With Terrace At Electra Lofts. Open And Bright 17Ft. Ceilings Facing North With No Obstructed Views. Den Can Be Used As An Optional Second Bedroom. Custom Blinds, Freshly Painted, Hardwood Thru Out. Separate Living Vs. Entertaining Space. Full Size Terrace Walk Out From Main Level. Parking & Locker Included. Live In King West, Walk To Liberty Village. Direct Access To Shops And Public Transportation. Extras Include Stove, Fridge, B/I Dishwasher, Microwave/ Range Hood, Stacked Washer/ Dryer, Freshly Painted, All Custom Blinds.
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55 STEWART ST #507 $637,500 This Immaculately Upgraded Loft At 55 Stewart Has It All! Approximately 1153 Sq Ft Of Space (As Per Builder) Efficiently Designed To Maximize The Entertaining And Relaxing Space. Enjoy Views Of The 3rd Floor Terrace And Victoria Memorial Park From Your Living Room Or Head Up To The Thompson Rooftop Pool For Drinks. Over $22K In Upgrades Were Complete On This Loft Including A Gas Line To The Balcony And Kitchen, Extended Breakfast Island, Granite Counters And More. Incredible Amenities Include A Rooftop Pool, Gym, Concierge And More. A-La-Carte Services Include Room Service And Cleaning Service. Includes S/S Fridge, Stove, Gas Range, Rangehood, B/I Dishwasher, Washer + Dryer.
650 KING ST WEST #610A $389,900
80 CARR ST TH#33 $344,000
650 King West Unit With Sunny South Exposure And Lots Of Natural Light. Fantastic 745Sq Ft Layout. 9Ft Ceilings With Exposed Concrete; Floor To Ceiling Windows, Sleek Euro-Style Kitchen With Stone Counter Tops & Hardwood Floors Throughout. Leed Registered Environmentally Conscious Building In The Heart Of Toronto’s Fashion/Entertainment District. Unit Located In 10 Story King Building. 2012 Completion Date.
Trendy Condo In Prime Urban Location, Queen And Bathurst. Close To Everything Toronto Has To Offer. Loaded With Custom Finishes. Red Cedar Wood Sauna (2-3 Person), Sound Proofing In Key Areas, Projector Screen Theatre And Large Patio Make This Unit Great For Entertaining. Modern Kitchen with Stainless Steel Appliances & Granite Countertop, Ample Storage Space, Underground Parking & Locker, Gas Line, Ensuite Laundry. Liberty Village Value In Downtown Location!! Extras Include: Reverse Osmosis Water System In Kitchen.
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77 PORTLAN D STR E ET | TE L 416 360 0688 | PS R B ROKE RAG E.COM
360 DAVENPORT RD. $2,850,000 Here Is Your Opportunity To Own One Of The Most Prestigious Live/Work Buildings In The Most Desirable Area Of Downtown Toronto. Over 6700 Sq ft Of Beautifully Renovated Contemporary Space With 2 Stylish Penthouses Above Prestige Retail. Perfectly Positioned Between Toronto’s Most Affluent Neighbourhoods Of Yorkville & Forest Hill In Designer’s Walk. Suites Finished With Top Of The Line Appliances & Finishes, Huge Rooftop Patio, 3 Parking Spaces Plus Plus Plus!
1040 THE QUEENSWAY AVE #113 $364,900
11 BRUNEL CRT. #1115 $439,900
Welcome Home! Beautiful 2 Storey Villa In A Condo. Beautiful Open Concept Layout With 17Ft Ceilings And 1290Sq Ft Of Living And Entertainment Space. Wall To Wall Windows To Enjoy Natural Light. Upgrades! Upgrades! Upgrades! Designer Finishes, Quartz Counters, Custom Light Fixtures & Custom Divider To Create A 2nd Bedroom W/ 4Pc And More. This Unit Has It All Including A Walkout To A 200Sq Ft Private Terrace To Enjoy. This Is Living! www.Loggia113.Com. Stainless Steel Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher, Stacked Washer/Dryer, Custom Window Coverings. Conveniently Located Directly Across From Entertainment Complex, Restaurants, Banks, Public Transit and Minutes From Downtown!
Spectacular 2 Bedroom & Den Condo At West One! This Unit Boasts Approx. 930Sqft (As Per Builder’s Plans) Of Sun-Drenched Space With An Efficient Design And Layout. Get Downtown & Out Of Town From This Conveniently Located Building W/Public Transportation, Major Highways, The Financial District & King West All A Short Distance Away. Relax & Enjoy The Extensive Building Amenities Including A Pool, Gym, Concierge, Party Room & More. Parking & Locker Included. Extras Include: Granite Kitchen Counters, Fridge, Stove, Built-In Dishwasher, Microwave, Stacked Washer & Dryer & Upgraded Closet Organizers In Master Bedroom Are Included. Parks, Sobey’s, Banks, Restaurants And Cafes Are All A Quick Walk From Your Door.
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80 JOHN ST #1612 $1,079,900
Photo credit: Maris Mezulis
Stunning City Views From This Impeccably Updated Suite In Festival Tower. This Loren Model Has 1249Sf Of Luxurious Living Space With Another 143Sf On The Balcony (As Per Builders Floorplan). Upgraded Hardwood Flooring, Cabinetry, Washrooms & Trimming Are Just Some Of The Features Of This Unit. This Is One Of A Select Few To Offer Custom Automatic Window Coverings Throughout The Entire Suite. Privacy At The Touch Of A Button! Complete Miele Appliance Package Extras: Superb Amenities: Tower Cinema (Used For Tiff Screenings), The Pool House (Indoor Pool, Whirlpool, Waterfall), The Fitness Centre (Full Gym, Yoga Studio, Spa Treatment Rooms), Tower Lounge, Rooftop Terrace, Hotel Services, Tiff Membership.
75 PORTLAND ST. #606 $555,000
1001 ROSELAWN AVE #116 $359,900
Yoo By Starck Building. Open Concept Two Bedroom / Two Washroom Suite Which Is Approximately 951 Sq Ft + Balcony. Suite Boasts 9Ft Exposed Concrete Ceilings, Scavolini Italian Kitchen, Engineered Hardwood Flooring Throughout, Frosted Glass C-Living Partition Doors For Bedroom / Closets And Much More. Steps To Public Transit, Victoria Memorial Park, And King West Restaurants. Extras Include: Stainless Steel Fridge/Freezer, Stove, Dishwasher, Microwave, Stacked Washer/Dryer, Double Thick Granite Counters, Scavolini Kitchen With Soft Close Drawers, Roller Blinds And Upgraded 12X24 Tiles In Washroom.
Authentic Loft Conversion In The Forest Hill Lofts. Great Entertaining Space! Open Concept One Bedroom Suite Which Is Approximately 950 Sq Ft. Suite Boasts 14 Ft Ceilings, Italian Maple Kitchen, Laminate Flooring, Surface Parking, Locker, Private Rooftop Terrace, (400 Sq Ft) W/Unobstructed City Views & Gas Line For BBQ Hook Up, Warehouse Style Windows, Heated Floors In Washroom And Much More. Minutes To Allen, Subway & TTC. Extras Include Fridge/Freezer, Stove, B/I Dishwasher, Stacked Washer / Dryer, Patio Furniture On Private Roof Top Terrace and All Electric Light Fixtures.
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77 PORTLAN D STR E ET | TE L 416 360 0688 | PS R B ROKE RAG E.COM
26 HARVARD AVENUE $819,900 Fully Renovated Contemporary 3 Storey Home In Roncesvalles Village. This Professionally Designed Home Boasts Four Bedrooms, Three Washrooms, New Modern Kitchen with Large Eat In Island. S/S Appliances, Hardwood Flooring Throughout, Exposed Brick Walls, Pot Lights Throughout and Basement with Separate Entrance. All New Plumbing and Mechanical. Great Opportunity To Own This Stunning Home In Roncesvalles. Extras Include: S/S Fridge/Freezer, Gas
Range, Dishwasher, Hood Fan, Hardwood Flooring Throughout, Modern Kitchen, New Windows, Modern Spa Like Washrooms, Caesar Stone Counter Tops, Pot Lights In Areas, All Electric Light Fixtures and Oversized S/S Sink.
11 BRUNEL CRT #309 $254,999
2307 - 88A PARKLAWN RD. $460,000
Bright And Cheerful Unit. Breathtaking View Of City And Lake. Floor To Ceiling Windows. Very Functional Floor Plan. 24-Hr Concierge. Excellent Recreational Facilities That Include 25M Indoor Swimming Pool, Steam & Cardio Room, Basketball Court, Sky Garden And More. Short Walk To TTC, Supermarket, Waterfront, Financial District, Union Station And 8 Acre Park. Easy Access To Highway. Fibre-Optic Infrastructure For High-Speed Internet. Lots Of Upgrades Including Hardwood Flooring, Window Coverings, Raised Baseboard - Shows Like New! Fridge, Stove, B/I Microwave/Hoodfan, Stacked W/D &Lots Of Closest Space.
“The Tides” -South Beach. Take Advantage Of Getting In Before Anyone Else, And Be Prepared To Live The Miami South Beach Lifestyle In The Heart Of Toronto. Total Of 879Sq. Ft. South, Unobstructed Lake Views With Upgrades Galore Including Built In Custom Closet, Extended Island, Hardwood ThruOut, Marble And Granite Thru-Out, Pot Lights And Integrated Paneled Appliances.
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75 PORTLAND #904 $899,900 An Entertainer’s Dream! Fully Upgraded Custom Designed Open Concept 2 Storey Sub Penthouse Located In Canada’s 1st Yoo By Stark Building. Suite Boasts 19Ft Ceilings, Scavolini Italian Kitchen with Large 14Ft Island, Electric Blinds, Custom Corian Vanity/Tub, Stereo System with B/I Speakers, Gas Line To Balcony For BBQ Hookup And Much More. Steps To Victoria Memorial Park, Thompson Hotel & King West Restaurants, Full Upgrade List Available Upon Request. Extras Include: S/S Liebherr Fridge/ Freezer W/Ice Maker, Bertazzoni Gas Range, Bosch Dishwasher, Marble Back Splash And Double Thick Counter Tops, Wide Plank Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Hansgrohe Rainforest Shower Head, Toto Dual Flush Toilets.
560 KING ST WEST #806AD $344,900
231 FORT YORK BLVD #1114 $339,900
Award Winning Fashion House [Build: Project Of The Year-High Rise / Best Building Design-High Rise] 585 Sq Ft With A 121 Sq Ft Terrace With Park Views. Spacious Open Concept Layout. Floor To Ceiling Windows And 9Ft Exposed Concrete Ceilings 24 Hour Concierge; Gym; Outdoor Infinity Pool And Private Courtyard.
Live Across The Street From Lake Ontario In ‘Waterpark City’. Upgraded ThruOut, 2 Bedroom, Open Concept Unit. SW Unobstructed Views, Plenty Of Light, Sunsets And Partial Lake. Floor To Ceiling Windows. Covered Balcony. Mirrored Closets, Engineered Laminate Flooring And Marble Thru-Out. Full Marble Shower with Glass Slider Doors and Rain Shower. Galaxy Granite Counter with Breakfast Bar. Granite Blacksplash and Double Undermount Sinks with Extendable Faucet. New Appliances And New Cabinetry.
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77 PORTLAN D STR E ET | TE L 416 360 0688 | PS R B ROKE RAG E.COM
231 AVENUE ROAD $2,295,000 Here Is Your Opportunity To Own A Highly Visible Corner Property In One Of The Most Desirable Areas Of Downtown Toronto. Perfectly Positioned Between Toronto’s Most Affluent Neighbourhoods Of Yorkville And Forest Hill, And Right In The Heart Of Toronto’s Design District, This Unique Property Is Centrally Located Among The City’s Upscale Residences, And The Most Luxurious Retailers And Commercial Brands. The Surrounding Area Not Only Accommodates Local Businesses And Residents, But Also A Variety Of Office Buildings And Upscale Urban Amenities Such As Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Shops And Cultural Venues.
212 ST. GEORGE ST. #310 $ 299,999
75 PORTLAND ST #909 $739,900
Gorgeous 1 Bedroom Unit Located In The Heart Of The Annex In One Of Toronto’s Heritage Buildings. Upgraded Cabinets, Bamboo Floors, Spacious Master Bedroom, Rooftop Patio & 1 Underground Parking Spot. Walking Distance To All Amenities. Move In Ready!
This Spectacular 2 Level, Sub-Penthouse Loft At 75 Portland Boasts Soaring 18 Foot Ceilings In The Dining Room, A Balcony And Terrace, Pre-Engineered Wood Floors, Granite Counters, Stainless Steel Appliances And Incredible Views Of King West. The Minimalist Finishes In The Lobby And Courtyard Designed By Philippe Stark Elegantly Flow Into This Custom Designed Suite. The Affluent Urban Professional Will Appreciate The Detail Invested Into This Suite. Extras Include: Stainless Steel Appliances (Fridge, Stove, Built-In Dishwasher, Rangehood), Stacked Washer And Dryer, All Electrical Light Fixtures And Window Coverings.
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at the LCBO The Lucky Country Wines deliver great taste and value. You can now share and enjoy the experience of what makes Australia the “Lucky Country.�
2009 Shiraz Price: $15.50 | LCBO#: 145276 Dark, zesty, fun with a licorice burst. Intense texture; silky, dense, flavourful and easy to drink. All around great Aussie Shiraz.
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B & W Wines 416.531.5553
JOHN STEINBERG I started styling hair when I was 15. The story goes that I wanted to be either a pirate or a professional cricket player because I wasn’t very good at school. But none of these were acceptable to an observant Jewish family from northwest London. Fashion was crazy when I started apprenticing in London in 1959. Being a hairdresser, you knew everything that was going on and it was so exciting. Carnaby Street had just opened, Sassoon’s was moving ahead, The Beatles—the whole experience of living in London in those days was mind-blowing. As far as we were concerned, it was the epicentre of fashion in the world. And it was. Fame and fortune brought me to Canada in 1967. I found the fame, still waiting for the fortune. I used to be called the Rosedale Rebel. From 1977 to 1991, I ran the Rainbow Room on Yonge Street. It became very iconic. The energy was fantastic. It was all about creating a new look. We were on the tip of doing all the punk stuff, but we were also doing all the high-end stuff. My favourite decade was the ’80s because people were so adventurous. I don’t think there will be another decade like it for clear expression of art—and I include hairdressing as an art form. I opened the salon on King West in 1991 because I needed a cheap rent. I only had about a third of the current space, about three chairs. Eventually I took the whole space, which was a bit of a gamble. Everyone said I was crazy. There was hardly anybody walking around the neighbourhood during the day—it was dead. Now the phone rings off the hook with stylish 25 to 35 year-olds who live in the area. There used to be an Italian restaurant on King called Ciccone’s, where Lee Lounge is now. The food was, let’s say, questionable. They used it for sets for mafia-type films; it was used more for film sets than anything else because there was never anybody in there. There was also a bit of a knocking shop—the motel that’s just been torn down—and the strip club and a sewing machine shop. And that was about it. I’m the master of getting people to open up. It’s what I miss most about hairdressing—the contact with people and getting inside their head. We have physical contact with our clients, so there’s an intimacy there. One client told me she would feel more comfortable cheating on her husband than cheating on her hairdresser. My best hairstyle was pure black with a pink lightening bolt in the centre. Trying to get through the airport in those days was tricky. I shaved my head because there was no point—I had done everything to it that could be done. So why not get rid of it? I never have a bad hair day.
PHOTO: LAURA SERRA
John Steinberg, renowned as one of the most revolutionary hairstylists in Canada, is the founder of John Steinberg & Associates. With more than 96,000 haircuts under his belt, he recently hung up his scissors to become a keynote speaker on creative mentoring across the country.
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