Sep 30, 2009

Free Yoga Fridays at Downward Dog


If you are not one of the pale office 9-to-5ers, or if you can get of work early on Fridays-then this is just for you! Downward Dog Yoga Centre offers a free class every Friday at 4p.m. The class is suitable for all levels and is taught in a slow and mindful way. It also gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with the studio and purchase some great items-yoga mats, mat covers, books, tow spreaders, etc. The merchandise is not cheap, but maybe you’d like to reward yourself for something special.

Let’s Downward Dog!

F.

Sep 28, 2009

Report on Harvest 2009






Capa and me came back from Harvest on Sunday night. First, let me tell you how dead tired we are! We barely slept at all and had all the fun we could take. The festival was awesome! It was very well-planned (kudos to the Promise folks), the music was out of this world in all three pavilions, and the grounds were beautiful and surprisingly easy to navigate. I am posting some pics here-me and Capa being stupid, just me and just Capa, some random but fun folks from the festival, and the Screaming Heads Sculptures.

We hope to see you at Harvest in 2010!


F.

Watch out-Fall is here!




Note to my fellow Torontonians-Fall is Here! Make sure you dress for the weather-the High of +13 and heavy rain during the next 3 days.


On the positive side, it gives all of us a chance to wear our beloved Hunters or Trentorns.




Let's Get Wet!
F.

TEC Deals, Discounts, and Promotions

Visit TEC Store Promotions Page before going shopping. It has a list of all current sales and discounts, like a fabulous Roots Autumn Sale that's on now!


Let's Shop!

F.

Jersey Boys @ the Run For The Cure-Free!

My old friend, Ali Smith, is now starring as Francine Valli in Jersey Boys. They will be performing at Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West) on Sunday, October 4th, at 11:15 a.m. The performance is part of the CIBC's Run For The Cure.

Come to enjoy the performance and to help find the cure!


F.

Sep 25, 2009

See you Monday!

Hello all. Me and Capa (along with many others) are off to Harvest Festival and will return on Monday.
For those staying in TO this weekend, we will bring you a detailed account of the Festival upon our return.

Enjoy your weekend!

Snow Storm VS Sand Storm-This Week!




Australia on Wednesday morning, September 23, and Colorado, USA on Monday, September 21.
After all, Canada is not so bad....
F.

NOTE to all...Cuban Fest on Queen & Ossington Sep 24-27


If you are not at Harvest fest dancing in the mud like me and the weather is semi-nice, there is a Cuban festival! Yes! And it's happening in the Queen/Ossington area.
The area is inhabited by old school Portuguese, Italians, hipsters and wannabe artists...oh, and myself...how does Cuba relate to that, I'm not sure...but

A lot of my favourite bars and restaurants are participating. To find out how, click on the links below.
It's just another excuse to go bar hopping...

The Havana Cultura Festival, Sep 24 - 27, here is a link.

Here is an article from Toronto Life.

If I were you I'd go. And let me know if you did.

-k-

New cafe on West Queen West - QUAFF


One day walking home I have spotted another new cafe on Queen West
of Bathurst and right away texted Fira to take a note and go check it out together. So we did. But it took me almost two weeks to write that note. Sorry! I tried really hard to participate in TIFF drinking activities and a couple of the parties I managed to attend exhausted me for the rest of the month...

Anyways, if you are walking on Queen towards the Trinity Bellwoods, stop by this new cafe Quaff at 668 Queen West (2 blocks west of bathurst).

The prices for coffee and espresso don't seem to be higher than Sturbuck's. Their croissants and sandwiches are made right there. The pastries come from some locale shop.

We found it to be cozy. More upscale than the regular Kensington hangouts but not too fancy and, personally, any alternative to Starbucks is great.

-k-


Image is from blogto.com. Our original ones are coming.

Sep 24, 2009

NOTE to all

My new music find that I can't get enough of, Fever Ray are in Toronto on Oct 2 at Kool House.


Tickets can be purchased through their website (above), Ticketmaster or my old time college favourite Rotate This at 801 Queen West (if I remember correctly, places like that don't charge extra service fees like Ticket Master). Tickets are $34.

-k-

Katie Coristine's Weekend in Toronto

Katie Coristine, a contributor to ChickAdvisor wrote a very sweet article about Toronto.
I am a huge fan of our city, and I just had to share it with you.

Enjoy!

F.

NB: The picture for this post was provided by Igor Karasev.

Elia Kazan's "On The Waterfront"- A Masterpiece!

Kazan's On The Waterfront is the most famous of his movies.

It won "eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, and Cinematography, and recently voted one of the ten greatest American films of all time". Marlon Brando is sexy and brutish, and the storyline is captivating!

On the Waterfront is screening at the Cinematheque on October 25, 4p.m.

F.

Megabus is Here! Cheap Bus Tickets!


You know how Greyhound and Coach Canada have these $1 tickets on promotion from time to time? And you know how anxious we are to score the cheap ticks? Well, now we can take advantage of these ticks all year round with Megabus.com. This carrier offers $1 one-way trips to Montreal via Kingston plus $0.50 booking fee. There are 9 departures daily!


Montreal, Je t'aime!
F.

Sep 23, 2009

15% off at Club Monaco-Boys Only


Come to any Club Monaco location and get 15% off ANY men's purchase just for trying on their new men's collection.


And don't forget-20% off any purchase with a valid student ID.


Let's shop!

Arabesque Belly Dancing Studio-Free Class!


Arabesque Dance Studio is located at 1 Gloucester Street, Suite 107. Unlike other belly dancing studios its location is convenient for downtowners.

Arabesque offers a free trial class to everyone (this is an $18 value!). Even if you decide that belly dancing is not for you, it's a great girls-night-out option that can be followed with cocktails in a bar somewhere along Yonge street.


And if you fall in love with belly dancing, Arabesque also offers:


Tribal
Belly Hop
Conditioning Technique
Folklore
Just Dance
Props & Drills
Props & Improv
Kid's
Men's ...and more!


Prepare to shake it up!


F.

Sep 22, 2009

Let's Talk Film!

Have you ever felt awkward when someone started talking about an old "classic" film, and you've never seen it? I found myself in this situation quite often, but never had enough willpower to go rent that "classic" and watch it at home at my spare time. I have to admit, with all my love for cinema I am having difficulty watching textbook films at home.
But this year I have discovered a brilliant solution! Well, actually Capa discovered it a while ago, but we only became serious about it this spring.
Cinematheque (a part of TIFF group) is located at Art Gallery of Ontario. It is a review theatre that features classic films on big screen. The films are refurbished and enhanced so the viewers are not subjected to the terrible creaking noises and bad quality picture.

The Director Retrospective series (upcomming are Elia Kazan and Manoel De Oliveira) feature the best films of a given director. Don't miss A Streetcar Named Desire -a must-see!

See you at the movies!

F.

Poor Student Travel Tips


Here is an alternative to hostels-stay in a 3/4-star hotel for the price of Motel 6. Priceline searches for the cheapest available hotel in your area of interest. Simply input location and how much money you are willing to pay. A friend of mine is staying in Mariot in the heard of Washington DC for $65 (regular price is something like $200).




Have a nice trip!




F.

Sep 21, 2009

SSense. com- my on-line shopping destination


SSense. com is one of the best on-line shopping sites out there! First, it's Canadian (that means cheap/free shipping). Second, it had an amazing selection of brand names like Diesel, Citizens of Humanity, G-Star, etc. It also has an out-of-this-world sale section (think 70% off Diesel shoes and Ts, Cheap Monday jeans for $40, and much more). It's a haven for anyone size XS and S-most of the deeply discounted items are only available in smaller sizes.


Sale Items are Final Sale.


Enjoy your shopping!


F.

Free Samples at Kiehl's


Visit any of the Toronto Locations and receive complimentary samples of Kiehl's newest products. Also, take a few minutes and read about their Rare Earth collection. It's truly fascinating how much care and thought they put in the products.

F.

iYellow Wine School-a real bargain!


Happy Monday! Have you ever thought about taking a wine course? I was thinking about it for a while, but all the courses that came my way were plain expensive. And then I've discovered iYellow Wine School. Their classes are very accessible with a $25 price tag (4 for $80) and convenient timing (all classes run on Saturdays 4p.m.-5:30p.m. at Reds Wine Bar at 77 Adelaide Street West). The classes include a lecture and some wine tasting. here are the upcoming ones:


Sept 26th - Hi my name is Syrah, but you can call me Shiraz.Did you know that Syrah and Shiraz are actually the exact same grape? If you think Australia is the only country making Shiraz – this class will open your eyes to the global Syrah/Shiraz movement.


Oct 3rd - Mmmmmmm… Sparkling!Love the world of sparkling? You’re not alone. How often are you able to try multiple glasses of bubbly at once? How do they make bubbly anyway? Taylor brings his sparkling personality to this class and teaches you the difference between Italian Prosecco and French Champagne.


Oct 10th – Chardonnay 101Don’t think you like Chardonnay? We beg to differ. Taylor will have you falling in love with the varietal and showing you the world of Chardonnay. This varietal is so widely planted, its grown in almost every wine region in the world. Oaked or unoaked, this grape is so complex we think you’ll definitely find a glass that you’ll fall in love with!
F.

Sep 18, 2009

Nick Cave in Toronto

One of the albums I have from Nick Cave is recorded on tape. I used to listen to it at night when everyone was a asleep and the house was being filled with a different air...different dimension even...

Anyways, by pure luck I found out that he was signing his new book at the Eatons Center.
I didn't buy the book or stood in line, that stretched to the second floor, but just listened to him speak for around 15 min.

He is from another world...crazy...but i love him! he is really ugly too.

Here is his book: The Death of Bunny Munro.
It, apparently, also comes as some iphone application, where you can hear his voice or see him read it. Creepy!

I don't think I'll buy the book, but I won't miss his concert next time he's here. That's for sure!

-k-

Note not to all: TIFF reviews via Moscow

I have been visiting LookAtMe blog for years to get some updates on the things Moscow and not necessarily just that.

It's nice to suddenly come upon a familiar face reporting from Toronto to Moscow about our TIFF fest.

So, another report on TIFF but via Moscow here by Sergey S.

круто

-к-

September Clothign Show

"The Clothing Show is host to over 300 booths of new local designers, retailers, jewellery, accessories, vintage, and eco-friendly clothing all under one roof. Art gallery and runway fashion shows add to the mix."

I have to admit I've never made my way there. The show runs twice a year and I'll make sure to go next Spring.

You can find the details here.

F.

Free Yoga At Lululemon TEC This Sunday

Join Lululemon's team for yoga this Sunday morning between 10 and 11 a.m. at their Eaton Centre location. The rumour is that they have really good instructors...
Also, get a great deal on LULU Yoga Mat-Only $28.
F.

Sep 17, 2009

NOTE to self (or to all)...

a personal thought of the evening: " Partying is addictive!"

Nuit Blanche and ROM - free


To be honest, I haven't been to a new ROM yet. On the contrary, I ran to check out the renovated AGO on the first week! I won't go into that discussion. Here is Toronto Life's article on that.

I think this time, I'll finally make it to the ROM on Oct 3 from 6:55 pm to 7:00 as it'll be FREE.
"For one night only get a free entry to Vanity Fair Portraits."

-k-

P.S. Discounted TTC passes for Nuit Blanche

Let's AGO!



Have you been to AGO lately? I am ashamed to say that I've been there once after the reno. Well, not counting my numerous visits to the Cinematheque. I intend to catch up soon!

Here are the upcoming events/exhibits at AGO.


F.

Bikram Yoga on Bloor-a Very Special Special



Bikram Yoga on Bloor and Bikram Yoga Beaches is offering "10 Days of Yoga for $10".
Check out this offer here.

The Bloor Location is at 208 Bloor Street West, and classes are offered daily @ 6p.m.


F.

LouLou's Block Party



I rearly read those small in-the-corner inserts in Metro Toronto, but this morning I am glad I did!

I just found out that next Wed, Sep 23 "LouLou magazine throws a block party to celebrate its 5th anniversary".

The party will be held on Bloor Street, between Avenue Road and Yonge from 5p.m. to 9p.m. there will be live performances, balloons, and ahhhh! discounts!

Banana republic, Gap, Town Shoes, and Winners are all offering up to 45% off their merchandise!

See you there!

F.

Sep 16, 2009

Enjoy Toronto for Free!



I came across this article a little while ago. I consider it a near-perfect guide to enjoying Toronto for free-or very close to free. I am specifically talking about visiting museums, galleries, major attractions, etc at a fraction of their regular cost. Here are the best deals. Click on the link for more...

- The Royal Ontario Museum waves admission fees from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m on Wednesdays, and half price admission is available Friday nights from 4:30 to 9:30 p..m. Guided walking tours of the city are free.

- The Gardiner Museum offers free admission on Friday nights from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

- York University Observatory offers free public viewing programs throughout the year, and their "Shoot the Moon Program" lets visitors try their hand at night time photography.

- The Bata Shoe Museum has "pay what you can" admission every Thursday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (A $5.00 donation is suggested).

F.

Sep 15, 2009

When was the last time you went to the ROM?



Did anyone answer "Never"? Or may be "A few years ago..."? It's surprising how Torontonians (me being one of them) neglect this treasure chest of history, art, and entertainment.
I have to agree that the Crystal may not have been the ideal addition to the 19th-century original building. I also agree that after all the money spent there was a better use for it then housing the over-priced restaurant. But all thins is so unimportant compared to the joy of walking the high-ceiling rooms and admiring the ancient artifacts and contemporary art.

There is a whole bunch of exhibits going on now, and you can read about them here.

See you at the ROM!


F.

Woodbine Entertainment Complex


Last summer my boyfriend and I were bored and looking for new ways to entertain ourselves. One of us suggested trying Woodbine Entertainment Complex, specifically their racing track... After the very first visit we fell in love with horse racing!I am not a gambler, but even I enjoy betting two dollars (minimum bet allowed) on the favourite.

Woodbine Complex is not fancy, but rather run-down. The crowd is far from what you would expect, with many retirees, unemployed, and I-Have-Nothing-Better-To-Do people.
You can get pizza, burgers, and beer ($4/glass) and wait for the next race to begin. On a typical weekend races run every half-hour with a different set of horses every time.

Make sure to read up a little on horse races before you go. It is beneficial to have a basic knowledge of betting practices. There is even a special lingvo there
...

Let us know if you went to Woodbine. We are curious to know what our readers think.

F.

Canadian Opera Company-The Nightingale and Other Short Fables


Not too many people in our age group are Opera fans. I've discovered Opera for myself as a kid, when my mom used to drag me to the performances. Mind you, I slept through my first Madame Butterfly.

I've been a patron of COC (Canadian Opera Company) for 4 years now. I love going to the Opera, having a glass of sparkling wine, and enjoying the performance.

Because I get tickets through Opera For The New Age program ($20 tickets for patrons under 30), I usually get the worst possible seats, but who cares?!

I'd like to point out a very special upcoming performance-Rober Lepage's The Nightingale and Other Short Fables. You can read about Lepage here.
The only thing that I can say is that he is great! And it is a very rear opportunity to see his performance in North America-for some reason this Canadian-born director prefers Europe.
You can read about The Nightingale here and get tickets here.

I hope you will enjoy the show-trust me, it is something to tell your kids about!


Cheers,
F.

Sep 11, 2009

Treasure Trove




"Trove" is one of my favourite independent stores. It is owned by a mother-and-doughter team and has two convenient locations-one in Annex, and another one in Bloor West Village. Besides amazing (but overpriced)hand-crafted jewellery, they also carry an array of shoes,pashminas, bags, and some great clothing! Check out their site:

http://www.trove.ca/Welcome_to_TROVE.html

Cheers,
F.

Ukrainian Festival-Bloor West Village



Being a Bloor West Village resident,I've attended the Ukrainian Fest at least 5 times. Aside from drunk teenage semi-Ukrainians, the affair is interesting and ummm...tasty. I strongly suggest trying Ceddar-and-potato perogies from street vendors, but would advise against fried sausages with cabbage. I can't talk to the quality of Ukrainian beer, but after all it's about spirit, not the taste, right?

The performances at UF are never disappointing, as well as arts and crafts exhibits. You will also have a chance to ride a marry-go-round for $2:)

If Capa makes her way to Bloor West, we will definitely review the affair. For now, here is some essential info:

Festival Hours:
Friday, September 18-4p.m.-1a.m.
Saturday, September 19-9a.m.-1a.m.
Sunday September 20-11a.m.-7p.m.

Bloor West Village, between Jane and Runnemed subway stations.



F.

Taste of Kingsway Festival



The Annual Fall festival (at Royal York Subway Station) held along Bloor Street West (from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Road), is a food and entertainment extravaganza with plenty of fun activities for everyone. Along with over 30 Kingsway Restaurants serving delicious samples of International Cuisines, attractions and freebies include:

Beer and Wine Gardens throught Bloor Street
Two Grand Stages with continuous live performances
HSBC Dog Show Saturday
Large Exotic Auto Displays
Markets, Artisans and Crafters Pavilions
2 Rock Climbing Walls
Skateboard Park
Community Exhibits
Product Demonstrations & Give-a-ways
Draws
Remote Helicoper Show
Numerologist and Astrology Readings


September 12th and 13th, 2009
Saturday 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.
Sunday 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.




F.

Canadian Wine Deal



I LOVE wine! I love reds, whites, roses, even green wines (who new that even existed?). I love it during the day and in the evening, all year round, with ice or heated up with spices... What I don't like is paying $20+ per bottle. Without trial-and-error it's very hard to find an affordable wine that's tasty and enjoyable.


Copper Moon is an affordable Canadian wine (under $10.00). The grapes are "harvested under the light of the moon...", gives it a cool, fresh taste. The web-site below has all info about the wines, as well as some great deals and limited time wine sales. Enjoy!


http://vineyardsestatewines.com/


F.

Sep 10, 2009

NOTE to all...Discounted TTC pass for Nuit Blanche

Re: Scotiabank Nuit Blanche,

The TTC’s Special Event Day Pass for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is available now at Collector Booths for $9.

The pass allows a single customer or a family/group of customers (up to 6 people, maximum 2 adults and 4 children/youths, 19 years of age or under) unlimited TTC travel from the start of service on Saturday, October 3, until 9 a.m. on Sunday, October 4.

Apparently, it's "limited availability".

Open 'till 4 a.m. during the TIFF-Drinking into morning hours


For some reason, my strongest urges to have a drink come specifically after the last call... Luckily, for the next 10 days a whole bunch of well-known drinking/partying spots will stay open 'till 4 a.m. Here is the complete list, courtesy of Toronto Life:


LIST of places open till 4 am by Toronto Life


Now I am going to make a serious face and ask you to drink responsively.

F.

Report - X-Treme Makeover Party @ 80 Bloor West

Here is our report on yesterday’s party-the Xtreme Makeover at 80 Bloor West. This was a free event that listed “food, drinks, and give aways” in its invite. We’ve arrived early and were subjected to a 20-min wait in the line. The security was as if the entire celebrity line-up from TIFF were attending the event.

Finally we were allowed to WALK up the escalator and we were in…Let me just side-track for a moment here and say that we were asked four times if we were members of Xtreme fitness... The venue was really big, but clearly overcrowded. The bottom level had half-naked models dancing on trade mills, a bar (3 drinks per person, unlimited for VIPs), and gym employees offering you memberships at an “incredible 50% discount”.

The top floor was much more interesting. There was another bar, another group of people dancing in their undies, but also make-up, skin care, and hair styling stations, free gift bags (nothing outstanding, a few samples and fliers), FCUK and Lacoste models and various ‘Fill-This-Out-And-Wins”. However, lack of food was very disappointing.

Overall, we’ve found the event worthwhile. We didn’t spend any money at all, had fun, and didn’t come home empty-handed.

Cheers,
K & F

Vegetarian Food Fair 2009-Free Event


Regarded as the largest event of its kind in North America, the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair gives you an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy a diverse cross-section of vegetarian cuisine. Discover new products and ideas from more than 100 exhibitors and enjoy a wide variety of presentations and cooking demos.

Not a vegetarian? Whether you're looking for new ideas to add colour and variety to your meals or you're a "seasoned" vegetarian interested in expanding your knowledge of nutritious and ethical foods, this is the place for you.

Show Hours:
Friday from 4 pm - 9 pm
Saturday from 12 pm - 9 pm
Sunday from 12 pm - 7 pm
We are not sure yet if we are attending the fair, but it is definitely worth a visit. Lots of delicious food to sample!
F.

Sep 9, 2009

NOTE to self...

To check out Guaff cafe noted at 668 Queen St West.
Classic modern chairs were spotted from the outside, the opposite colour of the white ones in a new "Parisian" cafe Nadege on the same side of the same street just a bit further.

To be checked out on Friday!

Where to TIFF for Free


Another source that we love: BlogTO. They are a little more 'down-to-earth' and wallet-friendly then Toronto Life. Here is how they suggest to TIFF for free (don't you just LOVE this word: FREE...ummmmmm).


F.

Note to Harvesters-Sevice fees at Shanti baba

Shati Baba is charging $5 fee for Harvest tics. Justin suggested going to Sideshow cafe @ 1300 Gerard Street East. They only charge the face value.

THE LIST. Places to check out according to TL


Toronto Life has a list of hot spots for TIFF for "celeb spotting" and etc...

It's a great list to refer to during the year even after TIFF if you are looking for a new space to check out. It could be a restaurant or a bar from pretentious Yorkville to a layed back Ossington (that more and more 905ers starting to invade on Saturdays).

We love Toronto Life!

Above, is Czehovski. Some spaces get boring after you visit them few times, but this one is still great. The food is over priced. Even when I had some money, I could only afford poutine. But! There is always beer that tastes great on the patio or even inside.

-k-

Big "YEH" to the Film Festival


TIFF is almost here. And I'm really excited about this one. Unfortunately, I'm looking forward to free parties more than the movies themselves. I think I gave up on the wishing thoughts that come to me each year at that time: "damn, next year for sure I'll get all the passes to all the movies and will be updated on everything that is going on in the movie world (besides the gossips)!"

I'll still try to pick up some info on what's worth watching and maybe even make my my own list, hoping that one day after watching all the classics I'll get to those movies...one day!

Anyways, parties! Come on! Free drinks, free snacks, a chance to wear a not-so-new outfit, suits (that are not really my type after all), loud "oh my gud!!!" girls that come in groups and look identical. Not my scene at ALL, but I love it!!!

Above, is where we are going tonigh!

-k-

Aveda Stimulus Package



http://www.aveda-institutetoronto.com/email/stimulus_package/en/

During the month of September get this in the participating Aveda Locations:

1. Free Aroma Sensory Journey
2. Free cup of comforting tea
3. Free Stress-Relieving Hand Ritual
4. Free Stress Relieving Neck and Shoulder Massage
5. Free Makeup finishing touch

PLUS a free Aveda product sample chosen to fit your neess and lifestyle!

Freebies on Yonge Street-September 9-11, 2009

Healthy Inside and Out!

1. Visit David's Tea's new Yonge Street location and receive a complimentary set of three premium tea bags and a free cup of "tea of the day". 2389 Yonge Street

2. Visit Kiehl's at 2518 Yonge Street and receive a free skincare consultation, plus a free lip balm and some other samples!

3. Come into Lululemon at 2558 Yonge Street for a Naturopatic consultation and a complimentary massage


Update: Ok, this is a must-go thing! I got a whole bag of free skin-care items from Kiehl's, an ice-tea and some tea bags from David's tea. BTW, that place has teas that sell for $50/100 gr. Insane!!!

F.

Мумий Троль

"Мумий Троль"
MOD Club – 722 College Street, Toronto
10 октября 2009 – 20:00
Знаменитая российская группа "Мумий Троль" вновь в Канаде.
10 октября - единственный концерт в Торонто.
В помещении Mod Club Theatre, 722 College Street.
Начало в 20:00
Билеты: $39.50
Телефон: 416-588-4663