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The five quinas (which translates to "group of five”) are the shields which makeup central motif of Portugal’s flag and is the country’s oldest symbol. They are associated with the "Miracle of Ourique” where an old hermit appeared to Count Afonso Henriques (future first king of Portugal, Afonso I) and foretold of Afonso’s victory in the Battle Ourique. This was followed by an apparition of Jesus on the cross promising victory and at the Battle of Ourique (July 25, 1139) the five Moorish kings were defeated. In 1143 D. Afonso Henriques showed his gratitude to Jesus by incorporating the quinas into the flag arranged in a cross. Each shield contains five bezants representing the five wounds of Christ when crucified and the sum of the bezants (doubling the ones in the central shield) is 30, symbolizing Judas’ 30 pieces of silver.
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Liz Ramos Anderson Julia Dantas Eva Fernandes Katrina Fernandes David Ganhão Noah Ganhão Stella Jurgen Vince Nigro
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Published by MDC Media Group Manuel DaCosta, President. Printed in Toronto. ©2019 Luso Life. All rights reserved. All material in this magazine may not be reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any form without the written permission of Luso Life.
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Beauty by Julia
A mesa da avó
One makeup application, three frightening good looks.
Avó Rosa shows us her recipe for one of Portugal's most beloved appetizers—bolinhos de bacalhau.
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The man behind the Mod An interview with Jorge Dias who operates Toronto's Mod Club, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and FountainBlu.
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Young creatives managing mental health Expozed Exhibit Events explains how they are helping young creatives overcome Mental Health in the GTA.
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Art: a controversial, fascinating subject* *and why i taught myself to paint Artist Liz Ramos Anderson tells us her story.
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Living it up with Down
Denim re-imagined Stella is recycling Denim to create one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing.
Raising a child with Down Syndrome— A mother's story.
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Watching the wheels The fast-paced, adrenaline-fuled world of motorsport.
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[not so] Hidden gems Ten quirky and fun Toronto speialty shops.
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Free at last Freedom experienced in famed Canadian landscapes prioritized a love of life over a forcibly curated one.
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What a wonderful world
Portrait
We visit Caffino, a restaurant tucked away in Toronto's Liberty Village Carpet Factory, and speak with the owner, Rosa about food, architecture and family.
A photo taken in the Paris Metro evokes thoughts of equality.
WORDS & PHOTOS: JULIA DANTAS
BEAUTY BY JULIA
Frighteningly good looks H alloween is a night for ghoulish fun. Kids go door to door, trick-ortreating in search of candy, adults dress up to attend parties and clubs where they dance under the moon to the spookiest grooves. I love seeing everyones creativity on display—kids of all ages dressed up as the latest movie characters, superheroes, aliens and any pop icon you can imagine.
Some of my favourite costumes are the timeless creatures of the night, which also happen to be some of the most popular of all time. These costumes scream halloween and if you’d like to try one yourself—or three—I
have a simple makeup tutorial that will work as a base for three halloween classics. Using one look you can transform yourself into a witch, vampire or mummy in combination with some minor changes to your outfit and hair, because you never know when you might need to make appearances at three separate halloween parties.
If you want to watch the full tutorial check it out at cbc.ca/life and search for Julia Dantas. Follow my socials for more work and pro-tips! @JULIADANTASBEAUTY
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ONE: First thing I always do is apply a primer. This helps the foundation stick to the face, and makes the makeup last throughout the day. I love the Smashbox Primerizer if you have dry skin or the Smashbox PhotoFinish, if you are more prone to getting oily throughout the day. TWO: Next, pick up your favourite foundation. However, there’s a catch. You want to use a shade three tones lighter than your skin. This will give you a paled out, “spooky” look. I recommend using the Makeup Forever HD Stick Foundation for more theatrical looks because it has nice full coverage and lasts all day long. You could also try the Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation as a cheaper alternative. Apply this over the face with either a brush or a beauty sponge. THREE: Skip the concealer (since we will be darkening the under eye area.) We are going straight to contour. I like using a cool tone shade to really hollow out the cheekbones. You are also going to apply this to your temples and in the hollows of your under-eye. A great product for this is the PÜR Cosmetics Contour Diaries Palette. FOUR: Perfecting the brows. While you want to look scary, witches, vampires and mummies should be glammed up a bit! Use your favourite brow product and glam up those brows. I used ColourPop Brow Pot to define the area. FIVE: Next, me move to a charcoal coloured eyeshadow—apply this all over your eyes. It’s okay if you're messy because this look is a bit grungy. You can start layering the pigment, even dipping into a black shade. Grab
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a tiny brush and pop that shade on the bottom lash line to define the eye look. Pick up a black eyeliner for the waterline and finish off the eyes with some dramatic lashes. My favourite, affordable eyeshadow palette is the Covergirl TruBlend Eye Palette, Smokey. You can use whatever eyeliner you like best, personally I love using the Annabelle Eyeliner and my current favourite lashes are the Ardell Wispies. SIX: Now it’s time to customize the makeup: For the vampire look, apply a red liquid lipstick all over your lips. Next, pick up that grey charcoal eyeshadow that you used on the eyes and apply this with a brush to the centre of your lips. I love using ColourPop Liquid Lips because they stay in place all day long, great for a night out! I used the shade Creeper to create this look. If you are going with the mummy or witch, you will want to apply a light concealer or the foundation you used on your face (something lighter than your natural face shade) on your lips. You want to give this a ‘muted-out’ look. You can apply this with your fingers or a beauty sponge. Next, repeat the same steps, and apply the charcoal eyeshadow to the center of your lips. It helps if you keep your mouth open while doing this. This will give you a super scary effect and make everything come together. SEVEN: Last but not least, apply your favourite setting spray to make sure everything stays in place. My all-time favourite setting spray is the MAC Cosmetics “Fix Plus” Setting Spray. This also helps all the powders on your face melt together and gives your makeup a seamless look.
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WORDS: EVA & KATRINA FERNANDES
RECIPE: ROSA FERNANDES
A MESA DA AVÓ ROSA
Bolinhos de bacalhau
T
here is more than meets the eye when it comes to bolinhos de bacalhau. Lots of love and care go into the making of these delicious, savoury snacks. In our home, the slightest whiff of these bolinhos instigates the hunt to find the stash. You definitely don’t live in a casa portuguesa unless you smell cod fish and frying oil in the air during special times of the year. Birthdays, Christmas, and Easter are just a few of the occasions where codfish cakes are served. Growing up, a staple of ours, or should we say our avó, were these delicious bolinhos de bacalhau. You knew the holidays were right around the corner when you would search the house looking for your avó was, just to find her in the kitchen making them in the masses. And when I say masses, I’m talking
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150—enough to last us the year. Whether they were to take to friends, family, or to serve in our home, they always had a purpose. Now might we add, these are great hot and fresh, but you should be careful because if Rosa catches you stealing from the stock, you may be in trouble. (“just one”) she always says, because the rest are for the guests. But, if you can sneak enough before dinner you might be able to pass on all the healthy options (just a tip we have learned along the way). You would think an abundance of these would serve well at Christmas, but this has not always been the case. No one will forget the one Christmas where everyone (but my uncle Custodio and late avô who made it known they had no part in this) made it clear that enough was enough and we would
no longer need so much food during the holidays. Oh boy did Christmas take a turn for the worse, my mom and avó decided that one bolinho per person would suffice that year—ONE! What did they expect us to do? Actually eat the vegetables that were being served? The nerve. With that Christmas making history in our family, no one has ever threatened the chefs since and we all went back to the abundance of these little fish cakes we all love so much. In all honestly these truly bring our family to the table. Whether it is over a glass of wine or paired with another favourite accompaniment of ours, rissóis, they are always a crowd pleaser. Even if you are not Portuguese, eating one of these without asking any questions is a great way to show your future mother/avóin-law that you are ready to join the family.
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
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PORTUGUESE
H
á muito mais para lá da aparência quando se trata de bolinhos de bacalhau. Muito amor e carinho estão presentes na confeção desses deliciosos petiscos salgados. Na nossa casa, o menor cheiro desses bolinhos instiga a caçada para se encontrar o tesouro. Definitivamente, você não mora numa casa portuguesa, a menos que sinta o cheiro de bacalhau e óleo de fritar, no ar, em períodos especiais do ano. Aniversários, Natal e Páscoa são apenas algumas das ocasiões em que são servidos bolos de bacalhau. À medida que crescíamos uma das marcas dos nossos, ou será melhor dizer da nossa avó, eram os deliciosos bolinhos de bacalhau. Sabíamos que as férias estavam a chegar quando entrávamos em casa à procura da avó, apenas para a encontrar na cozinha a fazer a massa dos bolinhos. E quando digo massa, falo de uma quantidade para 150 bolinhos - o suficiente para durarem o ano todo. Quer para levar para amigos, familiares ou para servir na nossa casa, os bolinhos tinham sempre um propósito. Agora, podemos acrescentar, que os bolinhos de bacalhau são ótimos quentes e frescos, mas deve ter cuidado, porque se Rosa o apanhar a roubar o stock, você pode estar com problemas. “Apenas um” ela sempre diz, “porque o resto é para os convi-
dados”. Mas, se conseguir apanhar o suficiente antes do jantar, poderá depois passar para todas as opções saudáveis (apenas uma dica que aprendemos ao longo do caminho). Poderá estar a pensar que, no Natal, sempre é servida uma quantidade abundante de bolinhos, mas nem sempre foi esse o caso. Ninguém esquecerá o Natal em que todos (exceto meu tio Custódio e o falecido avô que fizeram saber que não faziam parte disso) deixaram claro que bastava e que não precisávamos de tanta comida durante as férias. Bem… o Natal deu uma guinada para pior. A minha mãe e avó decidiram que um bolinho por pessoa seria suficiente naquele ano - UM! O que elas esperavam que fizéssemos? Comer os vegetais que estavam a ser servidos? A sério? Que nervos. Com esse Natal a fazer história na nossa família, ninguém mais ameaçou as chefs desde então e voltámos à abundância desses bolinhos de bacalhau que todos amamos tanto. Com toda honestidade, os bolinhos realmente trazem a nossa família para a mesa. Seja com um copo de vinho ou com outro acompanhamento favorito (os rissóis), eles agradam sempre a todos. Mesmo que você não seja português, comer um bolinho de bacalhau sem fazer perguntas é uma ótima maneira de mostrar à sua futura sogra que está pronto para se juntar à família.
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MAKES 50 PIECES
Bolinhos de Bacalhau ½ salted cod fish (approx. 700g) 9 potatoes 1 tbsp Parsley chopped 10 Eggs lightly beaten Vegetable or canola oil (for deep frying)
Soak the salt cod in cool water for at least 48 hours, changing the water 2 to 3 times per day. Boil potatoes until cooked (30-40 minutes), mash and set aside. Remove cod from cool water and add to a pot of boiling water. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove cod from pot and let cool. Remove skin, debone, shred and set aside. In a large bowl add potatoes, codfish, eggs and parsley. Mix . Heat up vegetable oil in a pan. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the mix, and use your hands to shape it into an oval. Once the oil is hot, place the bolinhos into the oil and fry them for about 2 minutes each side. Swap them out for new ones as they brown and crisp up Pour your favourite drink and share them with your friends.
PORTUGUESE ½ bacalhau salgado (aproximadamente 700g)
Mergulhe o bacalhau em água fria, pelo menos, 48 horas, trocando a água 2 a 3 vezes por dia.
9 batatas
Ferva as batatas até ficarem cozidas (30-40 minutos). Rale e reserve.
1 colher de sopa de salsa picada 10 ovos levemente batidos Óleo vegetal ou de canola (para fritar)
Retire o bacalhau da água fria e coloque o bacalhau numa panela de água fervente. Cozinhe por 8 a 10 minutos. Retire o bacalhau da panela e deixe esfriar. Retire a pele, despinhe, desfie e reserve. Numa tigela grande, adicione batatas, bacalhau, ovos e salsa, e envolva. Aqueça o óleo vegetal numa panela ou frigideira funda. Coloque uma colher de sopa cheia da mistura e use as mãos para moldá-la em forma oval. Quando o óleo estiver quente, coloque os bolinhos no óleo e frite-os por cerca de 2 minutos de cada lado. Troque-os por novos à medida que douram e ficam crocantes. Aproveite, pegue sua bebida favorita e partilhe com seus amigos.
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Denim reimagined
W
hen I have the urge to create something new, I like to turn to something old and re-invent it. For a few years I have been recycling Denim to create one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing to wear for myself. Donations from my family members inspired me to make wearable items I never thought I could sew. I made a jacket, vest, two skirts, small purse, two boleros and an apron. Working with Denim was fun, it was just like building a puzzle. Combined with other materials and finishing with embellishments -- what once was old, it’s new again! One day I saw an ad on the Joshua’s Creek Neighbours magazine requesting for Denim items to be lent for a community exhibition, I submitted photos of my pieces and the rest is now part of “history”. The Museum of Oakville’s Curator of Collections, Carolyn Cross and her team organized an exhibition that was fulfilled by the residents. This unique exhibition entitled “From Work Wear to Everywhere” was held at the Queen Elizabeth Cultural Community Centre in Oakville and the exhibit became the living soul of the community from July to September. “From laughter to tears, love, work and relationships, we wanted to know the stories behind each piece” says Carolyn. “We collected a variety of artifacts that meant a lot to people and we wanted to share their stories with the community”. 30
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Little did I know that my creations had a purpose, not only to wear, but to be displayed as pieces of art. The Museum digs to the roots: This strong and durable material originated in the 15th Century in the port of Genoa, Italy and it was mainly used to make sails. The fabric was dyed blue by Indigo traded with India. The usage expanded to clothes for the Genoa Navy and the fabric was exported as “bleu de Genes, hence the words “blue jeans”. In Nimes, France, a similar cloth was made, just a bit sturdier “Serge de Nimes”, eventually the word ‘serge’ as dropped and it became fabric ‘de Nimes”, known today as “denim”. By the 19th century, work wear created with locally made denim by European immigrants Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss were a hit in North America. Davis made tents, horse blankets and wagon covers during the Gold Rush in the late 1800s. He had the idea to make pants from the denim bought from Levi Strauss, who owned a dry good business in San Francisco. They became partners and in 1873 the “Levi waist overalls” became the most popular workwear in the west. People called their overalls “jeans”. My pieces also travelled for a good cause, in October the Museum of Oakville took the exhibit to “Frayed”, a fashion show organized by West of the City Magazine to raise funds for ArtHouse on October 6 at the Budd’s Imported Cars Jaguar. I am in love with Denim – I never imagined that to use, re-use and re-invent was so much fun and that it had so much importance. Maybe I should reimagine this thought.
WORDS: STELLA JURGEN
PHOTOS: NORM JURGEN
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WORDS: FERNANDA SILVA
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
Living it up with
Down
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Luca and his father, Marcos, take Max for a walk.
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W
elcome to the world Luca Blue! You are going to rock that extra chromosome. July 14, 2007 changed my life forever. So many mixed emotions from happy to sad to angry to hopeless. Hopelessness because at that moment everything I hoped for my son, for my family, for our lives together seemed to have died. My life wasn’t going to be how I imagined it. It was going to be different, but different isn’t bad, it’s good. God doesn’t make mistakes, he blessed me with the son I was always meant to have. Luca has down syndrome. If you were to search “What is Down Syndrome?” a slew of links would appear, providing medical definitions, lists of traits and what most would think is everything you could know. If you search “What is a human?”, you will also find scientific definitions and lists of characteristics. Despite falling into both of these categories, Luca, like all other people cannot be summed up into one textbook definition. At age twelve, Luca loves horses, dogs, swimming and play-dates with friends. His sense of adventure is unmatched, which especially shines when we travel. Luca is funny, silly, kind and loving. He’s also stubborn and there are days he drives me crazy—he’s a kid. The sentiment put forth by most people who meet Luca is “what a special gift” we have—and he really is spe-
cial. He is special to us…because we are his parents. The reality is (and I hate to disappoint you) he isn’t a magical unicorn that poops rainbows. He’s a kid who can do anything he puts his mind to, just like he’s peers who were born with the 46 standard chromosomes. Our journey has been one with many challenges but with every challenge comes determination and with determination comes accomplishments. This of course sounds very cliché (because it is) but it’s true for us and it’s true for every single parent. Some aspects of our lives are more difficult, like sticking to a routine—wakeup, lunch, snack and bed are all on a schedule which means we have to plan our days carefully. Other things are wonderful like Luca’s sense of innocence. It’s heartwarming to watch him reach out to strangers with a simple smile, a handshake and a hug—quite frankly, the world could use a little more of this (yes, another cliché). Being a mother has changed my life forever. Through the good and the bad I have learned real life lessons that have helped me grow as a person. Lessons in love, acceptance, patience, understanding and kindness that I have taken from Luca because he is the most special child in the world…and believe me, he is funnier, kinder, brighter and cuter than any other child—not because he has Down Syndrome, but because I, his totally biased loving mother told you. LUSO LIFE
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PHOTOS TAKEN AT WINDREACH FARM—A REGISTERED CHARITY SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ENRICH THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR SPECIAL NEEDS. THE FARM PROVIDES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY EXPERIENCES IN FARMING, NATURE, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. WINDREACHFARM.ORG
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WORDS: DAVID GANHÃO
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
WATCHING THE WHEELS
O
n the surface, live auto racing is a lot like sex—not much of a spectator sport. You sit in your seat (or scout out a spot to stand), drink overpriced beer, watch cars whizz by on the strip of racetrack in front of you and by the end of the day, your wallet is empty. After attending this year’s Honda Indy in Toronto, I was amazed that over 30,000 motorsport fans would make their way to the track to watch a sporting event they can’t actually see because no matter where you sit or stand, it’s impossible to get a view of the entire track. It’s also impossible to know who’s winning the race, unless you’re following the race you’re watching live on your iPhone. Watching at home seems like a more logical solution—it’s comfortable, you won’t miss a single second of the action, and the beer is cheaper—but logical isn’t always the best solution.
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“ Auto racing, bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports... all the others are games.” - Ernest Hemingway This is isn’t golf, it’s auto racing. It’s not about comfort—it’s about adrenaline. Live motorsport offers an experience that you can’t get from your living room sofa—the smell of burning rubber and high octane racing fuel that permeates the air, the sound roaring engines, and the experience of being part of the high-intensity atmosphere with 30,000 other passionate fans. Fans who take racing very, very seriously. Fans who are racing each turn vicariously through the eyes of their favourite driver because danger is intriguing.
“ If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti
Danger is an integral part of the attraction. In Indy Car the top speed is over 300km/ hr and wheels are often inches away from each other as drivers jockey for top spot. Any minor miscalculation can be catastrophic, which is why there is a tight bond between human and machine—they race as one. Human is fearless, pushing until he’s reached the edge of disaster and machine is tuned to perfect precision in order to be responsive, predictable and reliable. Naturally many safety measures are in place during a race—drivers wear safety harnesses, fire-resistant suits and helmets; the cars have a crash-protection cages; there were safety workers at every turn; and most importantly, nobody on the track is drunk or texting—but the question “why put your life on the line in a sport where you know you could get killed,” still lingers.
“ Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.” - Ayrton Senna As humans most of us have a an urge to be faster than everyone else. Whatever it is we’re doing, we want to do it first and better than the rest of the pack, but most of us aren’t willing to risk our lives for to be win. Once the pedal is pushed to the floor, the adrenaline and concentration take over, and the driver enters what some refer to as the “racing high”. The background noises of ordinary life are muted and taken over by thoughts of how to pass the car in front of you. It’s addictive.
“ When I was in F1, sex was safe and motor racing was dangerous.” - Jackie Stewart Truth is, racing will never be 100% safe, STIs have alway been around and sports and be enjoyed in many different ways. Some love watching from the grandstands, others pay extra to get into the VIP areas and many prefer to simply turn on the television and watch from the sofa, but nothing can get the adrenaline flowing like sitting in the cockpit, and accelerating to the finish yourself…so I’ve been told. 44
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INTERVIEW: DAVID GANHÃO
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
JORGE DIAS
The man behind the Mod LUSO LIFE
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GH BASS ARE JORGE'S CURRENT LOAFERS OF CHOICE
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few weeks ago, I bumped into Jorge and showed him some of the questions we were thinking of asking for this cover story. Jorge grabbed my phone, entered his contact and messaged the questions to himself. After he gave back the phone, I notice he had labeled the contact ‘Jorge from Mod’, which is funny because that’s how I know him—I had no idea what his last name was. When I brought that up to him, he laughed and told me I wasn’t unique. “People identify me by where they know me from—Jorge from Mod, Jorge from QET, Jorge from Aquario, Jorge from Alto Basso.’ Which Jorge we know doesn’t matter and it obviously doesn’t matter to him. What’s important is the impact he’s made on Toronto’s nightlife and how thousands of people associate him with the various businesses he has ran over the years. Currently Jorge hosts the party at the Mod Club Theatre, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and FountainBlu. He is the babysitter making sure nobody gets into trouble. He is the curator who filters through countless emails every week from bands who want to perform at the Mod Club. He is the businessman who works closely with promoters making sure the artist’s needs are taken care of. He is the host greeting concert goers at the door. He is Jorge from wherever you met him. He is Jorge Dias.
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Luso Life: You began working early and it seems like you’ve been in the industry forever, how did you get into it? Jorge Dias: One Step at a time (laughs). It all started with a small café when I was 18—Café Aquario—and it’s kept growing from there. Aquario was very popular cafe in the heart of Little Portugal. After running the café for seven years I felt that it was time for change and an opportunity to purchase a bigger venue presented itself, so off I went to open Alto Basso which became a hotspot on College Street. This was a different concept from the café that included a restaurant and live DJs. Later, the biggest opportunity was presented by Bruno Sinopoli (owner of Mod & QET) who gave me a chance to manage two of Toronto's best live music venues— the Mod Club Theatre and shortly after Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Loving what you do gives you opportunity. LL: How have club crowds changed over the years? JD: I feel like now there is a greater diversity in the age of the audiences. Some shows will have audiences ranging from 16 to 60-year-olds. Some audiences will be 30+ and others will be almost entirely under 18. I attribute this to the lines of genres blurring, reunion tours and the rise of YouTube stardom. Overall in the last 5 years alone I’ve seen a massive boost in the amount of live shows around the city and in the amount of people going out to shows. I believe that we’re in the middle of a very exciting time in not only music, but more specifically, Canadian music. Toronto has become increasingly more renowned for its sports and its music industry. This has had a huge impact on not only tourism, but also the number of bands touring through Canada, which in turn has had an impact on the amount of people going out to shows. LL: Do you go to other venues? Are there any you’ve strived to model yourself after? JD: My favorite venue is Budweiser Stage because of its open concept by the lake— it reminds me of being in Portugal. I look LUSO LIFE
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forward to watching events at the Bud Stage. Being in a business where I’m surrounded by loud music daily, quiet time is very important, so sitting at a restaurant patio with friends or watching TV on days off is how I relax before the next stretch of concerts. A gentleman by the name of Bechara "Charles" Khabouth has been my idol from day one in this industry. Khabouth as a nightclub owner, restaurateur, music promoter, and hotelier they call him the "King of Clubs" due to his influence on the city's nightlife. Stilife, a ritzy nightclub for the posh crowd and the Guvernment, a live music venue that was also a hotspot for the city’s Rave Kids were both his. LL: What’s it like running a venue known for hosting artists before their rise? Have there been any artists that performed where you knew they would become huge? JD: I take a great deal of pride in being a part of a venue that’s known for hosting artists before they break big. I think a lot of it has to do with the high level of production, while also having a mid-level capacity. High production value allows artists who are growing to get the professional look and sound they need. The mid-level capacity allows for the room to be filled easily while the artist is still growing their fan base and in turn gives that spark of energy we all seek in a live show. We have a big venue look and
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feel while still providing the perfect sized capacity for a budding artist. There are a number of artists that I knew right away would be huge. The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Drake, Florence and The Machine, to name a few out of roughly 300 artists that perform on a yearly basis. With artists like these, there’s just something captivating when they hit the stage. Their energy, the way the audience is completely entranced, it’s unlike anything else. LL: You don’t strike me as someone who gets get star struck. Has there been anyone who changed that? JD: I feel like it’s difficult to be star struck in this line of work. You see the artists off the stage and they’re just like everyone else, human. You see their humble personality come out in those candid moments. It’s hard to feel star struck when you saw them lounging in their pyjamas 3 hours before the show. LL: How has working in this industry affected your personal life? Do you feel it has consumed the majority of it, or heavily modified it? Good, bad, etc. JD: I think, like anyone in this industry, this career can consume every corner of your life. You sort of have to eat, sleep and breathe it in order to be successful. Not to say it’s a bad thing. I absolutely love what I do and I think that not only translates into my work, but also
makes some of the sacrifices totally worth it. The long hours, stress and fast-paced environment doesn’t take as much of a tole when you’re in love with what you do. LL: You were a runner at a young age, have you kept up with this or other activities to maintain your personal wellbeing? JD: Sports was definitely in my blood growing up. Soccer, track and field, football, hockey played it all but it all came to a complete halt once I entered the entertainment business. Late hours and early mornings never end well. (laughs) LL: Musicians, artist, celebrities, often fall into a habit of substance abuse. As someone who is fully submerged in this world, have you personally seen this side of stardom? Has it made its way into your own life. JD: Sex, drugs and rock & roll! Substance abuse is certainly present in this industry. It’s incredibly easy to fall into bad habits when you’re not only surrounded by it on a day-to-day basis, but when it’s also normalized. I’ve seen it totally consume people and even end careers. I think seeing the negative repercussions of it has really helped keep myself in check. MOD CLUB THEATRE 722 COLLEGE ST, TORONTO THEMODCLUB.COM
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WORDS: DAVID GANHÃO & VINCE NIGRO
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
[not so]
10 TORONTO SPECIALTY SHOPS
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Hidden
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It’s easy to turn to big-name department and grocery stores when you go shopping, but if you look closely, Toronto offers many alternatives. These are the tiny niche boutiques that serve specific neighbourhoods—some are tucked away on side streets and a little harder to find while many are in plain view. If you’re a serious shopper, you’ll love these offbeat offerings— quirky and fun all with something unique to offer.
BALANCE FITNESS
BAR APE GELATO
BALANCEFIT.COM
BAR-APE.COM
52 ST CLAIR AVENUE EAST
283 RUSHTON ROAD
This boutique gym is nestled in at Yonge and St. Clair with an unbelievable selection of services and personal training that caters to your every fitness need. The staff, which includes personal trainers, fitness instructors, registered dietitians and rehabilitation experts, are amazing and very experienced and knowledgeable. The yoga studio is probably the best facility in the city with great instructors.
If you are an ice cream lover, this is for you. Their bars are moulded by hand and come in a variety of stock flavours (oregano to green tea and so many others) plus they make limited runs of ‘Feature Bars’. The gelato soft-serve pairing changes weekly and there is always at least one vegan option. You can follow them on social media to get the flavour of the day.
We also like the fact that membership is limited so it isn’t crowded and there is never a wait for equipment.
Unfortunately, they are closed for the season, but don’t be upset, their bars can be found at some local shops (check their website for stockists).
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CHOCOSOL TRADERS
DE LA MER FISH MARKET
CHOCOSOLTRADERS.COM
DELAMER.CA
131 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST
728 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST
If you love chocolate and want to know how it’s made, you have to visit this very low key, unassuming store front on St. Clair. They call themselves “a business and social enterprise transforming cacao, the ‘food of the gods’ into bean-to-bar and stone-ground, artisanal dark chocolate.” We call them delicious. A must visit if you are a chocolate lover.
Bright, clean and nicely decorated…ok, maybe décor isn’t at the top of your list when looking for fish, but it helps! Crates on the ceiling, chalk board menus, a seafood mural drawn with magic marker and fish…lots of fresh fish!
Visit the website to find out about their Taste & Tour, Tortilla Project and ChocoSoil.
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They have a very knowledgeable staff who are ready to tell you everything you need to know about the organic, naturally raised, sustainably caught, and farmed fresh seafood and fish options.
LILLIPUT HATS
OLIVE OIL EMPORIUM
LILLIPUTHATS.COM
OLIVEOILEMPORIUM.COM
462 COLLEGE STREET
659 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST
This is a traditional hat shop. You can have something custom made to your liking right on the spot or entertain one of their vintage style hats. Lilliput Hats has been used by every Hollywood costume director and has catered to many stars from across the world. The staff are amazing, and the store is very unique.
Chipotle, blood orange or cilantro infused olive oils, blackberry-ginger or cinnamon-pear balsamic vinegars—these are some of the flavours offered by this specialty shop. The title says it all—Olive oils and everything related.—olives, olive patês, recipe books, olive oil skin care, soaps and (of course) dispensers.
Oh, and did we mention they designed a series of hats for Gord Downie…you may have seen them—widebrimmed hats with embellished feathers. Iconic.
If you’re curious, drop by and sample the different flavours at their tasting bar before you purchase.
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PASSION FOR THE PAST
THE PAPER PLACE
PASSIONFORTHEPASTANTIQUES.COM
THEPAPERPLACE.CA
1646 QUEEN STREET WEST
887 QUEEN ST WEST
If antiques are your thing, this place is packed to the ceiling. They specialize in china and glassware but also have a large selection of vintage jewelry. John, the owner, has been carefully curating pieces from Victorian era to mid-century modern. For some more offbeat finds, don’t forget to dig through the treasure trove in the basement!
Are you obsessed with fine paper? This is Toronto’s best source for premium paper, stationery and anything paper related. They have a nice assortment of fun gifts for the paper enthusiast—we found a very cool pinhole camera which may end up under the tree this Christmas. Once you select your gift, you can choose a wrapping paper, ribbon and your all set.
It’s cluttered and quirky and John is always ready to offer some interesting conversation about every piece in the store.
As they say on their website, you’ll discover a selection of enchanting objects what you didn’t know you were looking for!
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TSAA TEA SHOP
WONDERPENS
TSAATEASHOP.COM
WONDERPENS.CA
412 DANFORTH AVENUE, TORONTO
52 CLINTON STREET
For the love of tea…you need to take a trip to the Danforth. TSAA offers over a hundred different organic loose leaf teas from around the world. Flavours range from pineapple sencha green to Irish breakfast black….and let’s not forget the bubble tea. The environment is quite nice as well.
It’s all about the art of handwriting. If you are looking for any kind of writing instrument with you have to visit this store. It has every king of pen imaginable and then some. Their focus is specialty fountain pens and inks but they also carry pencils and stationery supplies. You can also order via their website
They also have an online store where you can order and have your favourite teas delivered directly to your door
If you want to improve your handwriting skills, sign up for one of their workshops which range from 'children's cursive writing' to calligraphy classes.
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BANFF SOLVED MY INSTAGARAM
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WORDS AND PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
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t eighteen and a half, I was experiencing what many people who have an Instagram "theme" face. I had relapsed. Should I change my theme or will I be ruining a good thing? On top of this 21st century crisis, I was deliberating on resurrecting white borders around my photos so that they no longer followed Instagram's forced 4x5 crop— but wait—would accounts stop featuring me now? A simple message replying to an IG story bloomed into a full fledged drive across Canada to the famed west; a place I held to an extremely high regard. As someone from southern Ontario, who had never seen mountains but sure as hell yearned for them, this was an experience I wanted for what felt like forever. I was out of the nest and just like that, those cliché DIY Pinterest signs that say, "the mountains are calling and I must go," had come to life. Now how, as a modern day photographer, was I going to deal with all of these photos, if I was yet to smooth this bump in the road that was my Instagram? Unbeknownst to myself, this couldn't have occurred at a better time. This trip was many things I did and did not imagine it would be— one being the solution to my predicament.
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VERMILLION LAKES & TWO JACK LAKE, BANFF VIBRANT RED CANOES CAN BE RENTED ON LAKE LOUISE LUSO LIFE
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PEYTO LAKE, BANFF
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Of course I've been too close to see, the answer was right in front of me! I had lost site of what matters— how could my love for the places and people around me take a backseat to a damn colour theme? Each phase I have gone through in my photography began because I liked it, whether I was striving to emulate someone I admired or messing around with an editing style that could (or at least I thought) be applied across a range of photos without me growing tired. As one would expect, this was not the case. I am far too restless and artistically temperamental to be so confined. My work needed to breathe and become an enhanced representation of what I was already finding beautiful in front of me. I needed to convey the unique feeling of a given moment. A shift that undoubtedly resulted in a deeper discovery of my personal style—both compositionally and in colour—than I expected. I imagine there is a deeper sentiment that lies within this but I'll leave that for you to discover. PRESENT DAY I have been happily married to white borders and a lack of forced theme since June 2017. Here I am, finally free. @NOAHGANHAO
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WORDS: CLAUDIA TAVARES
PHOTOS: FELICE TRINIDADÂ
EXPOZED EXHIBIT EVENTS
Young creatives managing mental health
EXPOSED (ADJECTIVE) IN A VULNERABLE POSITION OR SITUATION. NOT COVERED, SHELTERED, PROTECTED OR HIDDEN; VISIBLE. To be EXPOZED one should be open to being the authentic version of themselves. We believe in expressing our emotions through art and all other forms of creativity. Our community is open to everyone who wants to be a part of something but doesn't know where to start. EXPOZED provides a wide variety of options and services to help make things a little easier for you!
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Founders: Claudia Tavares & Preeti Prasad LUSO LIFE
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MENTAL HEALTH (NOUN) A PERSON’S CONDITION WITH REGARD TO THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. Several studies have shown a link between various mental health problems and having a creative brain. Many famous artists have struggled with their mental health— Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, and Sylvia Plath, an American poet, novelist and short-story writer, are just a two examples of mental health resulting in suicide. According to one Stanford University study published last year in “The Journal of Affective Disorders” People who have a creative mind, often share more personality traits (Anxiety, Bi Polar tendencies, Depression etc.) with the mentally ill than people in less creative pursuits. Expozed Exhibit Events explains how they are helping young creatives overcome Mental Health in the GTA. Luso Life: What is Expozed Exhibit Events and why did you create it? Expozed Exhibit Events: Expozed Exhibit Events started off as a visual arts pop-up exhibit 80
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to showcase our personal collections. As young, female artists, managing our own mental health, we noticed there weren’t enough communities offering a platform for creatives to express their messages and stories freely. So we decided to create one. After the success of our first show, we began reaching out to creatives eager to showcase their work and venues that were interested in collaborating with us. Being our own boss, responsible for overcoming the milestones involved in owning a start-up company has helped us manage business, financial and social skills that influence personal decisions, aside from Expozed. LL: Does Expozed Exhibit Events only cater to visual artists? EEE: It did, at first! The original plan was to do one show and move onto the next project. Since we launched last year, we have expanded our platform to photographers, poets, comedians, ceramic artists, fashion designers and we aren’t done yet! We just had our first fashion show in September and it was such a perfect evening! The collection was really cool.
LL: What are your personal experiences with mental health? Has Expozed Exhibit Events helped you manage it? EEE: One of the issues we both have trouble with is time management which leads to feeling anxious. Between juggling work, school and a social life, Expozed has become our common ground, our personal happy place for creating. We are able to take a break from everything else going on in our lives and create experiences with some pretty amazing people. The rush of satisfaction we feel after a show is hard to explain. It really feeds our soul. LL: How does art help you overcome anxiety/mental health? EEE: We believe that expressing ourselves and our emotions through art is a form of therapy. Recreating our personal and inner fantasies can help heal past trauma and make the current reality seem easier to deal with. There was a time where we thought art would never get us anywhere in life. The truth is, creating and hosting these events is the most satisfying thing either of us has done in a very
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EXPOZED X REMARK BY LAUREN NOVAK
Expozed Exhibit Events hosted their first Fashion Show on Sunday September 15th, 2019. It featured a one of a kind collection of hand picked, reworked pieces by local designer, Lauren Novak. Luso Life: At what age did you discover your passion for design? Lauren Novak: I was 9 when I discovered my passion was sewing. I used to take sewing lessons every Wednesday for an hour and it was the the best hour of my week. When I turned 13, I decided that I wanted to design for a living. LL: How did you come up with the name Remark? How has the brand evolved? LN: I have no idea how I came up with the name Remark but 15 years later it still represents the same thing. Reducing, reusing and recycling one thing to make another. 2017 was the year when things real-
ly started coming together. I started focusing my energy into my craft more than ever before. It was a result of the people I surrounded myself with. Hard working creatives who help fuel my inspiration. By the end of 2017, I started collaborating with Vintage 905, reworking their vintage pieces into more femme friendly items. Working with them inspired me to create my own reworked pieces. Currently, I make custom pieces for clients and most recently started making 1 of 1 collections with my best friend sierra for our collaboration ‘lokeycozy’. You can watch the entire rework process from start to finish on my instagram @remarkbylauren. LL: You were involved in a fashion show recently? How did that go? Describe the collection for us! LN: The Fashion show was a success! When Expozed Exhibit approached me to design a 1 of 1 collection out of their t-shirt line, I
thought about what it meant to be exposed. I was inspired by breaking away from social norms. I used string and roope in each piece to show the message of allowing yourself to let go, to literally be exposed. Sierra did an amazing job turning my pieces into outfits and the models looked amazing! The entire collection is now available online at expozedexhibitevent.com LL: How does being creative through design help you manage your mental health? LN: Some people go to gym to release stress. I clear my thoughts through sewing. When I am alone with my machine, I am able to recenter myself and my thoughts. I can spend hours at my workspace without noticing. It’s a form of meditation for me. I think it’s important that I’ve decided to work in a field where I am able to do what I love but also help the environment by recycling items and creating something new with them. LUSO LIFE
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ART: A CONTROVERSIAL, FASCINATING SUBJECT *
* And Why I Taught Myself To Paint
Words & PHOTO: Liz Ramos Anderson
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s a child my mother presented me with a coffee table book called “Impressionism,” exposing me to the world of art thereon. The book was larger than me, but I cherished and held onto it for weeks as my contemporaries would a Raggedy Ann doll.
As I painted, I got the feel for it and I loved it. Turns out a few others did too and I've managed to carve out a second career.
I was mesmerized by the images. The colours, textures, and subjects were otherworldly. I nearly blinded myself staring closely at George Seurat’s pointillism. Monet was my favorite. I would fantasize about being grown up and having my own collection of these masterpieces hanging on the twenty foot high walls of my fictional home. Kids are such dreamers...gotta love ‘em.
There are fine art lovers, who have dealers and auction houses on speed dial. Hardcore collectors who spend millions. They appreciate the work, are savvy investors and for them it’s a grand passion. These folks are rare.
My first apartment was five hundred square feet; hanging on my wall were framed posters—Mark Rothko, Joan Miro, and Humble Pie’s “Rockin’ The Fillmore. One of my high school pals had a father who was an art dealer. She took me to his fancy gallery in Yorkville, where I was first exposed to modern art—Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans. I was horrified, but like every teenager trying to fit in, I’m sure I must have told my friend’s father “I thought they were groovy.” I was fortunate enough to travel to Paris in my early twenties where I was faced with the real artworks from my childhood book. At that time, most of the impressionists could be seen at the Gallerie Jue de Paume. I nearly had a seizure taking in Monet’s water lilies. As a humble non-billionaire, I haven’t been able to fill my house with priceless masterpieces—shocker. I have however, spent my adult life buying photographic art and abstract paintings. The years passed and my taste for abstracts eclipsed my income, so I taught myself to paint. I wanted it to happen organically and freely, like when your drunk Aunt Millie does an interpretive dance to “Rhapsody In Blue” at Thanksgiving dinner. Yeah, like that, but better.
I have learned that there are several reasons why people buy valuable art.
Then you have the people who collect art (as well as homes, cars, jewels, planes and often spouses) to show off their wealth. Expensive art (not necessarily good art) is a sign of status and privilege. When I read about a Jeff Koon’s “Balloon Dog” selling for 58.4 million, I threw up a little in my mouth—I’m not saying I’m a communist, but come on! I think you get my point. In a perfect world, art should not be considered a status symbol. My message being: “All art is subjective” (I didn’t invent the line) so buy or paint what makes YOU happy. Frame your kid’s finger paintings. Just make sure it’s something that makes you feel good, (not just because it matches your new sofa but that’s okay too). Just get joy from it. note: If I had a time machine, I would take myself to New York in the year 1915, before Jackson Pollack could hold a paintbrush, and steal his idea. Just a little house paint, and I would splatter away. I would avoid drinking and driving, and then get back into that time machine and return (one doesn’t age in my make believe time machine) to the time when his (my) work was most valuable. I would then cash in, buy a little Villa on the Amalfi Coast and maybe, (after spending millions feeding the hungry and financially contributing to the saving of our planet), I might just buy myself a Monet.
Monet Colors Liz' first painting LUSO LIFE
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WORDS: DAVID GANHÃO
PHOTOS: NOAH GANHÃO
What a wonderful world...
CAFFINO
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isiting a new restaurant for Luso Life is always fun. I like to show up early to get a feel for the place before interviewing with the owner. As I sat at Caffino’s bar sipping on a glass of wine, I surveyed the room and tried to picture the owner—eclectic was the first word that came to mind. Hidden away in Toronto’s Liberty Village, the restaurant is carefully decorated with a wide variety of pieces from a different era—much like the building they occupy. After a short wait I was greeted by Rosa and within seconds hugs were exchanged and we were talking about Italian family dinners and how she cherished the hours spent at the table eating, talking, drinking and eating some more—no mobile phones, no distractions. The conversation flowed from the history of Caffino to the beauty of Puglia, Italy. I quickly realized Rosa was driven by passion—in 1996 she left a lucrative profession to open a restaurant. “I was a woman in construction. I used do architectural detail so I love buildings. Italy and New York were my inspirations to build here.” At the time, Liberty Village was at the beginning of a revitalization and The Carpet Factory offered the perfect location. In the centre of this 19th century complex sits the old pay office where employees would go punch their timecard and pickup their cheques. “Originally I just wanted the small pay office building to open an Italian bar that served sandwiches and charcuterie boards…then they offered me the warehouses which were attached. So I started dividing it up and now it’s a little bigger than I had intended.”
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What makes Caffino more alluring is the fact it isn’t visible from the street—another inspiration Rosa brought from her days in New York. “In NY the nicest places were the ones that weren't advertised. Someone would tell you about a hip place down an alleyway—you had to be told where to go and that’s what I wanted here. Sitting in the courtyard, you look up and you don’t realize you’re in Toronto.” In the beginning, this worked against Caffino—lunch lineups started immediately since there weren’t any nice restaurants in the area, but dinner was a different story. “It was difficult to build up the evenings because my customers worked here, then went home—this was a bad neighbourhood 23 years ago… and the customers who came, tried to keep us their secret and I’d tell them to ‘please let the secret out!’” Considering the restaurant’s eclectic mishmash of aesthetics, the menu is quite tame; traditional Italian, because why reinvent what’s already perfect? The pasta is made in-house with flour imported from Italy, steaks and fish are hand-cut then simply grilled and the ingredients are as
local and fresh as possible. Pasta Caffino (Penne with grilled chicken, diced tomatoes and mushrooms in a light pesto cream sauce) is the signature dish and Rosa’s personal fave. “I love a bolognese or arrabbiata—real simple! Whatever you choose, you won’t leave hungry—we serve a good portion.” I go to restaurants for an experience, not just food and believe that many people will concur that this is what makes a restaurant truly great. What makes Caffino great? “We stand out because we don’t stand out. We’re tucked away, our entire staff is professional (no failed/aspiring actors) and the food is traditional. The biggest compliment you can give me is to sit in the restaurant or bar—it means you’re enjoying the aura.” So I sat at the yellow kitchen table by the bar, Rosa brought me a second glass of wine alongside margherita pizza, I opened my MacBook and spent the next little while enjoying the aura and writing this article. What a wonderful world...
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“ We stand out because we don’t stand out.”
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Spinach gnocci with rapini and grilled lamb chop Caffino makes their spinach gnocchi in-house but you can use store-bought gnocchi for this recipe. If you’re making your own, Rosa offered up a few tips. “Use your favourite, add a spinach purée and remember to make them light and airy.”
Ontario lamb chops
Prepare the gnocchi.
Gnocchi
Sauté rapini in the fresh herbs, fresh garlic, sea salt and olive oil.
Rapini Fresh herbs Garlic (fresh and roasted)
Grill the seasoned lamb and set aside. Plate the the dish.
Sea salt
Add the brown butter and roasted garlic and red wine to the rapini pan and reduce.
Olive oil
Drizzle mixture over lamb, gnocchi and rapini.
Brown butter
E buon appetito!
Roasted garlic Red wine
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Brampton 10 Cottrelle Blvd. Suite 302 905.230.3100
Mississauga 30 Top Flight Dr. Suite 12 905.564.2100
flowercityrealty.com
Jack Oliveira Business Manager Luis Camara Secretary Treasurer Nelson Melo President Bernardino Ferreira Vice-President Marcello Di Giovanni Recording Secretary Jaime Cortez E-Board Member Pat Sheridan E-Board Member Headquarters 1263 Wilson Ave. Toronto ON M3M 3G3 T: 416.241.1183 F: 416.241.9845 1.877.834.1183 Eastern Office 60 Dodge St. Cobourg ON K9A 4K5 T: 905.372.1183 F: 905.372.7488 1.866.261.1183 Northern Office 64 Saunders Rd. Barrie ON L4N 9A8 T: 705.735.9890 F: 705.735.3479 1.888.378.1183 Kingston Office 145 Dalton Ave., Unit 1 Kingston ON K7K 6C2 T: 613.542.5950 F: 613.542.2781
@liuna183 www.liuna183.ca
ACS-PCWOF-2019.pdf
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2019-05-31
10:49 AM
SOUND | SPECIAL EFFECTS | STAGE LIGHTING | PROFFESIONAL PA SYSTEMS STAGES | EQUIPMENT SALES | LEASING | CLUB INSTALLS | LONG TERM RENTALS
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BUILDING A TRADITION OF QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
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there’s lots more where this came from
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WORDS: DAVID GANHÃO
PHOTO: NOAH GANHÃO
TRAIN OF THOUGHT
Portrait
For many city dwellers, the metro (subway, tube, you name it…) is their primary source of transportation. Each day, millions of people around the world descend stairs into the underbelly of their city to board a train that glides through tunnels, letting passengers off at their desired stations, where they emerge from the darkness in a different area of the city. Despite uniting citizens during their commute, when reflected upon, the metro is a gloomy symbol of a flaw that lies within large cities. Emotionless human cargo is moved through darkness, aptly symbolizing the omnipresent loneliness and disconnect that looms over countless city dwellers at one point or another. Oddly enough however, there is a sort of unspoken camaraderie in just sitting and sitting with one another. People from all walks of life travel in communal solitude standing inches from each other. The lady holding the Louis Vuitton bag stands next to the teen carrying his backpack and both are surrounded by dozens of others, all on their way to different destinations—work, school, therapy, lunch—only they know. 112
LUSO LIFE
They collide with one another, share intimate space yet know little about their fellow travellers. The quiet time is an opportunity for people watching; maybe painting a mental picture of the person next to us, using the information they choose to divulge—do they enjoy reading, do we hear Bowie leaking from their earbuds, did they wash their hair , do they wear perfume, are they doing a crossword or scrolling through Instagram. Some give us information that we’d rather not have—frustrated parents disciplining children, fights between strangers and arguments between couples. Others wear a smile on their face—friends laughing, lovers holding hands or a mother and her giggling baby. Their lives differ, but for a brief moment every day, all are equal. Silently sharing the same space, where they shiftily avoid eye contact—instead opting to lock eyes with mediocre ads until the speaker announces their stop. En masse they exit the metro and march back up the stairs, reentering their city, splintering off in different directions, rarely crossing paths until they meet again tomorrow morning.
Viana Roofing & Sheetmetal Ltd. is a progressive roofing, waterproofing and restoration company who has successfully completed thousands of projects over the past 35 years. Our services include all types of roofing, sheetmetal and siding, caulking work, waterproofing and more.
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