Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2020: Faith Nolan

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9:30 am

The Activist

Faith Nolan is a folk and jazz singer-songwriter with a decades-long music career, as well as a social activist. Nolan proudly identifies as a lesbian woman and has given voice to feminist struggles. She has advocated for workers’ and children’s rights, and has raised awareness of the disproportionate number of Black and Indigenous women who are imprisoned in Canada.

By Dalannah Gail-Bowen | MUSICIAN

If you sit quietly and listen to Faith Nolan sing, you will hear a kind and weathered voice. If you listen closer, you will hear the many miles travelled and the life experience that came with every step.

It’s not a voice of reconciling with what is and acceptance for less than. It is a voice that speaks to you in the best way with suggestive undercurrents of possibilities for what can be.

Faith has been rooted in the idea of possibilities for most of her career. The idea of possibilities is the idea that you can influence change in a situation or experience through making a statement, subtle influences or in your face action with protests. Her power is that she knows when to do what.

It does come with the understanding that this is going to be part of life for the duration…. You can’t care about the human condition some of the time and then just shut it off … at least Faith cannot.

Finding the ways and means to support everything, from women’s prisons, Black ideologies and equality to homelessness and being actively cognizant of the many inequalities in the world, is both a passion and a mission for Faith.

Her many self-mobilized initiatives are a testament. In thinking of music as a vehicle/tool for communication and change, we are most fortunate that Faith Nolan is one of our artistic leaders as “an ambassador for change.”

See our full list of Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2020 here.

Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2020: Jillian Danford

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lindsaylow

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9:29 am

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The Reality Star

Jillian Danford is the creator and star of the YouTube channel Auntie Jillian, which follows the day-to-day life of her family. She quickly amassed 12 million views and more than 100,000 subscribers. The show was then picked up by Bell Media and has aired on season on Bell Fibe TV1, making the Danfords the first Black family to have a reality show in Canada.

By Milan Danford | DAUGHTER

When I was around 16 years old, I got the word that my mom wanted to start a YouTube channel about our family. As you can imagine, being in the midst of my teenage life, I had no idea why my mom — who was much older than me — wanted to be a part of what seemed to be a young online media source.

I wondered if that would be a good idea for her, especially considering the technology required to start the channel. I mean — did she even know how to use a camera? Editing applications? The simple answer is no, she didn’t. But what surprised me was how quickly she learned.

Regardless of how unsure I was about the idea, I could clearly see that this was something she really wanted to do. So we, as a family, got on board. That’s when the real surprises happened.

Shortly after creating the channel, she hit 100,000 subscribers, and that’s when I thought, maybe she’s onto something here. And of course, my mom didn’t stop there.

One day she came home and pitched us another big idea — this time it was a reality TV show about our family. Of course, I thought, who would want to watch us on TV? But of course, my mom was onto something yet again.

Two years later, we started filming for Bell Fibe’s on-demand channel as the first Black family to have their own reality show in Canada. This is all because of my remarkable mother, Jillian Danford.

She has inspired thousands, along with myself, to never think an idea is too far out of reach because, if you really want to make it happen, nothing — and I mean nothing — can stop you.

See our full list of Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2020 here.

The new voice of Bugs Bunny is from Scarborough

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Ron Johnson

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4:28 pm

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Eric Bauza new bugs bunny — Gage Skidmore

When the beloved Looney Tunes cartoons moved to HBO Max this year, Canadian Eric Bauza led the way. The Scarborough native is the new voice behind Bugs Bunny and also gives voice to Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, and Marvin the Martian.

Bauza, or rather his vocal talents, will also be front-and-centre in the much-ballyhooed reboot of the 1996 classic movie Space Jam. The latest version, Space Jam: A New Legacy, will be released on July 16, 2021, on HBO Max (produced in-part by LeBron James). The new version of Space Jam aims to bring Bugs and crew back into mainstream pop culture and has garnered a lot of hype.

Bauza attended Blessed Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Scarborough followed by Centennial College before beginning his career as a character designer for animated series. His voice credits date back to 1999 and include characters from Lego Star Wars, Kung-Fu Panda, SpongeBob SquarePants and others.

But, Bugs Bunny is on another level entirely.

“Who grows up thinking that they’re going to be Bugs Bunny?” Bauza said in a recent CBC News interview.

While heavily representing Looney Tunes as the leading voice behind many of its beloved characters, Bauza has not forgotten his Toronto roots. Partnering with a high school friend, he created the clothing brand Retrokid that pays homage to classic Canadian TV pop culture, including Mr. Dressup and other retro favourites.

The voice of Bugs Bunny was originally handled by the late, great Mel Blanc himself, who first voiced the wascally wabbit back when the animated character first appeared in 1938. Bauza knows he has a lot to live up to.

“It’s so hard to fill those shoes that Mel Blanc left behind,” he said, “It was his original character, so he was free to do whatever he wanted with it.”

Bauza is in good company joining the many Canadians that are the voices behind some of TV’s most beloved characters, including The Simpsons, My Little Pony, X-Men and many more.

You can hear Bauza as Bugs by tuning in to Looney Tunes now streaming on HBO Max.

Toronto-based lingerie brand Lorette offers Parisian-inspired pieces designed to empower women

By

Nikki Gill

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3:42 pm

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lorette — Laure Stromboni (Credit: Lindsay Rosset)

After moving to Canada from Paris, Laure Stromboni noticed there was a certain “je ne sais quoi” missing from the country’s lingerie market. Inspired to create pieces that were designed by women, for women rather than something based on the preferences of men, she launched her line Lorette Lingerie in 2017 with the aim of empowering women to embrace their own unique concept of femininity.

“People often have a very narrow view of women’s bodies in lingerie, positioned from comfortable to overly-sexualized,” Stromboni says. “We felt that lingerie is rarely seen as an art form celebrating its wearer in its most intimate way, and Lorette lingerie wishes to change that.”

Drawing from the unique styles of the influential women in her own life like her late grandmother, Stromboni set to work creating lingerie pieces fully embodying qualities like elegance, grace and strength. The goal was to encourage women to tap into their intuitive, romantic sides rather than automatically defaulting to one end of the sexy/comfortable dichotomy.

Completely made in Toronto with 90 per cent of the designs being sourced, designed, embroidered and handcrafted within 50 kilometres of Stromboni’s studio (and the remaining 10 per cent coming straight from Paris), Lorette’s designs are a true community affair involving local female vendors every step of the way.

Stromboni says the personal relationships she has with her vendors helps to imbue each piece with a sense of love and care that simply can’t be replicated.

“It’s so special: from the first sketch I bring to my fabric supplier, to developing the embroideries with a talented duo of mother and daughter, to handcrafting every detail with my seamstresses, we all have the same intention behind it: making something truly special! And I believe you can ‘feel’ those intentions when wearing the products,” Stromboni says.

To learn more about the brand, visit lorettelingerie.com.

Toronto restaurant ends relationship with SkipTheDishes over LCBO partnership

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Jessica Huras

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3:03 pm

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Toronto restaurant Marben has removed itself from the SkipTheDishes platform in the wake of the app’s attempted partnership with the LCBO. Plans for LCBO delivery through SkipTheDishes have been put on pause by the Ontario government in response to blowback from the restaurant industry.

Marben felt that “SkipTheDishes has shown little regard for small business,” according to a post on the restaurant’s Instagram. Marben’s wine director Sean Turner points to the fact that it was the government that put the partnership on hold, rather than SkipTheDishes responding to the negative reception the deal received from its restaurant partners. “I think they made it clear that their interests aren’t aligned with ours,” says Turner.

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SkipTheDishes is the first and only third-party delivery service Marben had partnered with (they also work with Ritual for pick-up orders). When the arrival of the pandemic in March drove Marben to focus its efforts on takeout, Turner says the restaurant chose to sign up with SkipTheDishes because they wanted to support a Canadian business (Skip is based in Winnipeg), over American imports like Uber Eats and DoorDash. The Marben team now feels that SkipTheDishes doesn’t share its value of supporting local.

Ontario does not offer licensees wholesale pricing through the LCBO, which means restaurants and bars pay the same price for liquor as the average retail consumer. The SkipTheDishes partnership would have put restaurants and bars in direct competition with the LCBO. “It’s competing with the only group that we can possibly buy from,” says Turner. “I think that’s why you’re seeing calls for wholesale pricing.”

Marben offers a range of local beers and wine, including sustainably sourced bottles, through its Marben Market bottle shop. Turner says Marben is still deciding how to move forward with their delivery program without SkipTheDishes. The restaurant is considering other third-party services, as well as the possibility of doing delivery in-house.

7 great Toronto shows to check out this month filled with illusions, made-up holidays and sauce, lots of sauce

By

lindsaylow

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1:50 pm

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We might not be returning to concerts, theatre or other shows anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get our cultural fix in Toronto. Herewith, a selection of seven shows happening online and, possibly, in-person in December.

Illusions, just what we need

The Lighthouse Immersive team behind the popular Van Gogh exhibit has announced a new production dubbed Illusionarium, which is set to open on Dec. 21.

The exhibit, which will run alongside Van Gogh, is said to feature life-size holograms, 3D projections, floor-to-ceiling production design, vanguard special effects within a 300,000-square-foot space and live magicians.

The Lighthouse team has combined forces with British magician Jamie Allen (iMagician) for the experimental exhibit that, according to a press release, “blends Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of magic with state-of-the-art technology, bringing the illusions of the past into the 21st century.”

The Illusionarium will consist of four magical rooms representing different eras beginning with the 17th century.

“Illusionarium was in many ways born of my own lifelong love of magic as well as from the circumstances of the pandemic,” says co-producer Corey Ross, Lighthouse Immersive.

“Illusionarium is completely unique in seamlessly blending technology and practical magic. I have been combining magic and technology since I was a boy, but this takes that passion to a whole new level,” says Allan, the magician and creator. “I am so thrilled to debut this new experiential work in Toronto. It is a great launchpad for new productions, and the community of talented performers is so impressive.”

The installation will occupy the third gallery space in a historic building that was once home to the Toronto Star printing presses and will run alongside Immersive Van Gogh and Gogh By Car on the first two floors.

For more information, go to Illusionarium.ca.

World premiere live stream

Opera Atelier will be live streaming the world premiere of the new work: Something Rich & Strange. The opera is based on a famous quote from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

The production features some of Canada’s finest artists and is scheduled for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

The fully staged production will be live-streamed from Koerner Hall at the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning.

“The COVID-19 protocols Opera Atelier has been working under have acted as a genuine catalyst for creation — pushing us in new directions we would have never otherwise dreamed of. Something Rich & Strange promises to live up to its title, by featuring Baroque arias and dances exploring the themes of sleep, visions and dreams,” says Opera Atelier co-artistic director Marshall Pynkoski.

Something Rich & Strange will include music by Handel, Lully, Locke and Purcell, plus a new creation by Edwin Huizinga for soprano Measha Brueggergosman.

For more information, go to OperaAtelier.com.

One-of-a-kind holiday special

Toronto band Born Ruffians is celebrating its third annual December holiday show spectacular, dubbed Shondi Festoon III, on Dec. 11. Shondi Festoon will be virtual this year.

“Shondi Festoon is the world’s oldest holiday (not really), yet it is celebrated by only a small number of people. We hope to change that with our yearly Shondi concerts. Onward (and online) to Shondi 3,” says band member Steve Hamelin.

Shondi Festoon is a fictional, non-denominational holiday that comes with its own unique traditions invented by the band, including “drinking hot beer, dressing as your best friend, placing food cans under the Shondi Tree, decorating your house with Shondi flowers, being good so that the Shondi Clown doesn’t come for you!”

Last year’s Shondi Festoon concert sold out the Danforth Music Hall, as well as another sold out show in Ottawa. Now, that Shondi holiday magic is going global.

For more information, go to BornRuffians.ca.

It’s about Time

Toronto’s own Art of Time Ensemble is putting together a unique and virtual evening of live performance dubbed To All a Good Night, featuring song selections from the group’s annual holiday concerts that are “funny, edgy and full of surprises.”

The list of those contributing to the show is impressive and includes the legendary Jackie Richardson, Tom Wilson, David Wall, Jessica Mitchell and Liam Russell backed up by some fantastic players, including Art of Time artistic director and pianist Andrew Burashko.

“To All a Good Night offers us all a chance to share in some of the best — and perhaps most unusual -— music of the season,” Burashko says. “Our holiday show is truly different from the typical Christmas concert: five singers from a broad range of backgrounds perform a program of music from a wide swath of styles. There’s very little holiday schmaltz here. To All A Good Night promises fun, irreverence, warmth and lots of laughs. I hope you’ll join us.”

Highlights include Tom Waits’s “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis,” Steve Earle’s “Christmas in Washington” and Tom Lehrer’s “(I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica” and much, much more.

To All A Good Night will be available for free streaming at ArtofTimeEnsemble.com.

Barenaked for the holidays

Toronto’s popular group Barenaked Ladies is presenting a special live stream holiday concert on Dec. 18 and 19.

Barenaked Ladies Presents: A Very Virtual Christmas will be similar to the band’s favourite variety shows from holidays past and will feature sketch comedy written by the band, a few special surprises and performances including holiday fan favourites from the popular Barenaked for the Holidays album. Tickets are US$15.

For more information, go to BarenakedLadies.com.

The Andy Kim Christmas Special lives on!

The pandemic is putting the kibosh on so many holiday traditions it’s enough to think we are all dealing with a new lump of coal every day. But today, one of the city’s beloved Christmas music specials announced it would continue the tradition but also go nationwide with a new two-hour broadcast concert. The 16th annual Andy Kim Christmas Special will be broadcast on Citytv and Citytv.com live from the El Mocambo on Dec. 19.

“I was on the verge of having to postpone the 16th year of my Christmas show and was truly bummed out. I kept thinking of all the people who are having a difficult time economically, spiritually and emotionally,” says Kim. “I did not want to abandon the purpose of my yearly show — giving to those in need at this time of year. With the support of Live Nation Canada, Rogers and Air Miles, I am excited to bring the Andy Christmas Special from coast to coast for the first time and hopefully raise an incredible amount of money to very worthy causes through the power of music.”

The show is set to feature the music of Andy Kim, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger & Roch Voisine, Jully Black, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder and William Prince.

The concert is shaping up to be an old-school variety show with a strong charitable component. During the broadcast, viewers will be prompted to donate to the concert’s three causes: Crew National, CAMH Gifts of Light and Food Banks Canada.

The broadcast is slated for 8 p.m.

Getting that holiday sauce

On Dec. 12, TO Live and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre are presenting a live stream of Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce…Pandemic!.

Taylor Mac, who uses “Judy” as a gender pronoun, is a New York-based playwright, actor, singer-songwriter, performance artist, director and producer.

The show blends elements of music, film, burlesque and “random acts of fabulousness” into a sort of virtual vaudeville production reimagining this time of social distancing just in time for the holidays.

“For Taylor Mac, there is more to the holidays than rampant capitalism and gift-giving. This holiday season will be bittersweet for so many. Holiday Sauce…Pandemic! reminds us of the collective power of our chosen families, a message that is particularly resonant this year, when so many have lost so much.”

Holiday Sauce…Pandemic! is presented live-streamed at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12. The show will be available on-demand on a pay-what-you-can basis from Dec. 13 through Jan. 2, 2021.

For information, go to Tolive.com/holidaysauce.

Chef Nadège Nourian picks Toronto’s best cookies

By

Jessica Huras

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12:24 pm

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Bar Mordecai’s pandemic pivot includes new fictional restaurant Westside Maria’s

By

Ron Johnson

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11:11 am

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Chef Brian Ho of Bar Mordecai on Dundas West knew that the realities of a winter lockdown meant a lot of changes for the restaurant industry. He already adapted to pandemic life with summer collaborations with Venice Beach Bar and Unboxed Market, but the winter lockdown meant a new challenge. Looking at his own restaurant‘s menu, he realized that it was difficult to adapt his offerings to a takeout-only service. So, he and co-owners Josh and Emily Leblanc came up with an artful solution: they opened up a fictional, takeout-only restaurant.

The name Westside Maria’s came from a joke at Bar Mordecai, a play on gigantic Italian eatery chain East Side Mario’s. It stuck for the delivery venture when they realized that both the restaurant’s landlord and property manager, who have been instrumental to the Bar Mordecai’s survival in the pandemic, are both named Maria. The name became an homage to the two women for their patience, support and understanding.

Playing on the theme, they created a delivery-friendly menu, packed with authentic Italian recipes chef Ho has carried from early in his career. The food’s backbone is red sauce, and chef Ho was excited to use his own pomodoro and bolognese creations to provide the backbone of the menu.

Ho also worked with Impossible Meat to develop a vegetarian-friendly bolognese option, adhering to the restaurant’s belief that all dishes should easily accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diners. The menu is designed to be as authentic Italian and as adaptable as possible.

“Among ourselves, we have several food requirements, be it gluten allergies or vegetarianism,” says Josh Leblanc, of Bar Mordecai. “When we had the idea for this red sauce, family restaurant-type of delivery, we wanted to make sure it was accessible to as wide a range of diets as it could be.”

Classic Italian dishes include spaghetti bolognese, a veal parmigiana sandwich and baked ziti doused with red sauce as well as rose rigatoni and sides such as Caesar salad with pancetta, rapini, fried artichokes and mozzarella sticks. Dessert offerings include tiramisu and cookie boxes.

The Leblancs and chef Ho realize that part of the fun of eating out is a restaurant’s ambiance. So, to help transport diners to a classic family restaurant, they will soon introduce takeout kits that include a side of colouring sheets and crayons with your meal for the kids, or an ambiance package complete with a taper candle in a wine bottle and a checkered tablecloth.

Westside Maria’s is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, for both takeout and delivery. They will soon launch on Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes.

Well-known Toronto pastry chef opens new patisserie at College and Ossington

By

Ron Johnson

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9:16 am

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Nestled among the small shops on College Street, right by the Ossington intersection, a weathered but colourful awning hangs above what appears to be a new glass window.

Barber Shop Patisserie, at 859 College St., is Jill Barber’s first solo venture, a brave business move in the middle of a second lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. The store is open for limited runs of goodies from Friday to Sunday only, 11 a.m. to sell out, according to a handwritten sign taped inside the window.

The small shop serves coffee and tea beverages as well as apple chaussons, lemon bichons and the crowd’s favourite sausage rolls.

Barber is known around the food scene in Toronto. She previously held positions as a pastry chef for the Paradise on Bloor Group and as the head of the pastry department at Blackbird Baking Co. She has been in the industry for more than 14 years.

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A post shared by Jill barber (@barbershopatisserie)

As Barber Shop Patisserie continues to roll out menu items and adjusts to COVID-19 protocols, things will likely change. A new website will soon be unveiled and, in the meantime, fans of Barber’s pastries can sign up for updates, or follow the patisserie on Instagram.

“Patisserie will remain open on a small scale during lockdown. We are completely takeaway and working on getting online pre-orders up and running,” Barber said, in a social media post.

“I am the only person who works in the shop. I have no staff. I want to make things just a little bit brighter with hand made pastries, cakes and comfort food. Everything is made with love.”

Holiday gift ideas for home decor in Toronto

By

Marlene Mendonca

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5:17 pm

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Holiday gift ideas for home decor in Toronto are perfect for a season in which many of us will be spending more time indoors than ever before. What better way to brighten up the holiday spirit than with beautifully crafted home decor pieces? Whether you’re buying for your family or someone else in need of some refreshed decor, these unique and often practical items are sure to help them make the most of their time inside.

Here are our top holiday gifts ideas for home decor in Toronto.

A beautiful hand-made bowl from Izibele

This beautiful bowl is available at Izibele, a cute little shop on College St. (just west of Dufferin St.), that fairtrades with small makers in South Africa and locally. They specialize in slow-crafted precious objects including décor, kids toys, baby shoes and housewares: perfect for special gifts. Check out their online store for something special. Curbside pickup available as well as free hand delivery, mailing and private virtual shopping available.

A maple syrup carafe or charcuterie board from Caribou Home

Warm up your home this holiday with a selection of Canadian-made gifts for friends, family or yourself from Caribou Home. This upcycled amber glass maple syrup carafe is $28.00 and this wood whale charcuterie board retails at$43.95.

Oblio phone sanitizer and charger from Bergo Designs

The Oblio phone sanitizer and charger from Bergo Designs is not only unique but also practical and stylish at the same time. It sanitizes your phone and kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in 20 minutes while also wirelessly charging your smartphone. It uses UV-C light with ionizer technology. It’s available in dark blue, white, black and gold. Come to the Distillery to pick up yours! Bergo Designs is offering curbside pick-up at their Distillery District location.

Print on canvas from PI Fine Art

This print on canvas, ‘Convergence’, by Bette Ridgeway, comes in a black floater frame at 48×36” from PI Fine Art. The jewel tones paired with bold gestural strokes merge to create this beautiful abstract piece. Like scarves in the wind, this artwork transports us to a dream-filled landscape of movement. Price: was $398, Sale $199.

Stylish table lamps from Artemide

The Tolomeo bicolour table lamp from Artemide in the Distillery District is designed by Michele De Lucchi & Giancarlo Fassina, and available in vibrant pops of color for the holiday season. Shades of blue, yellow, coral and white add a bright accent to the black base. The lamp features the same flexible arm and diffuser as the iconic original, working perfectly as both a functional task lamp and design object.

Tower champagne glasses from William Ashley

For the perfect gift, William Ashley carries the finest selection of world renowned brands. Handcrafted in Poland, the tower champagne glasses by LSA International comes in a set of 10 assorted pastel hues, perfect for entertaining and keeping track of your own glass! These 10 assorted colours champagne saucers retails at $169.50.

Cheese board with a knife from Shaynee’s Gift Selections

This sleek and sophisticated board, designed by Wei Young, is made of Acacia wood and stainless steel, and is the perfect base to serve cheeses, fruit or charcuterie and can be purchased at Shaynee’s Gift Selections.

A new fundraiser is giving back to Indigenous communities this holiday season

By

Jessica Huras

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3:49 pm

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A new fundraising campaign is supporting Indigenous families in need this holiday season with chef-made meal kits. Launched on GoFundMe, the Indigenous Feast Boxes initiative sees Indigenous chefs across Canada preparing meal kits inspired by their heritage. Each box is made to feed 4-6 people and will feature recipes and local ingredients, along with notes outlining their cultural significance.

Organized by the Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nations (ICAN), the campaign is partnering with Indigenous chefs across the country, including Toronto’s chef Joseph Shawana of the now-closed Kukum Kitchen. Shawana is preparing the boxes with ddcx Indigenous Kitchen and Catering.

“These are truly unprecedented times for our Indigenous brothers and sisters and ICAN is very pleased to be in a position to lead such an important campaign to provide much-needed assistance,” wrote Shawana in a press release.

Other participating culinary teams include Vancouver’s Salmon ‘n Bannock restaurant as well as campaign organizer and ICAN board member Christa Bruneau-Guenther Winnipeg’s restaurant Feast Cafe Bistro.

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In addition to feeding families in need, the campaign hopes to keep Indigenous-run kitchens operating through its partnership with eight Indigenous culinary teams to develop and package the meal kits. Various charitable organizations in participating cities, including Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, will assist with the distribution of the kits to Indigenous communities.

Proceeds from the GoFundMe campaign will go towards ingredients, labour and distribution costs for the boxes. The campaign has raised about $17,000 of its $60,000 goal and will run until Dec. 18.

On Dec. 3, Bruneau-Guenther wrote on the GoFundMe page that the initial $10,000 raised would be enough to provide meal kits for about 200 families.“Let’s keep the momentum going and reach our goal to have Indigenous-made meal kits for families across Canada,” she wrote.

Top Chef Canada host Eden Grinshpan on meeting the love of her life and quarantining with Mom and Dad

By

lindsaylow

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12:40 pm

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Top Chef Canada host Eden Grinshpan has a new cookbook, Eating Out Loud, out just in time for the holidays. The Toronto-born chef now calls New York home, and that’s also where she met her husband Ido Nivron. The pair and their daughter are currently back in Grinshpan’s hometown staying with her parents in North York during the pandemic. Here’s the story of how they met.

How they met

I was visiting Israel for a couple weeks, and the last night I was there I went to a birthday party for a friend at a bar in Tel Aviv. These two girls at the bar heard me speaking English, and they started talking to me about a great guy in N.Y.C. After talking to me for a bit they thought we would be a great match, so they messaged Ido on their phone on Facebook. They sent him my name and he added me as a friend the day after. I flew back to New York the following day, and we met in person for our first date four days later.

The first date

We went to this small bar in the lower east side called Marshall Stacks. We both went on this date not thinking it was a date, more of a hangout, so neither one of us really looked at each other’s Facebook profile. I arrived early and already had a glass of wine before he got there. I remember seeing Ido for the first time. I was like, “Oh my God, he’s hot!” The second he walked in it turned into a date that I was not expecting. Ido felt the same. We talked all night and stayed until the bar closed. It was the best night. It was like hanging out with your best friend.

The courtship

After that date we were inseparable. We spent two weeks together, and then Ido had to go to Israel for a work trip for a week. When he came back, he proposed to me the morning he landed.

The proposal

Ido landed around 6 a.m. and came straight to my apartment. He immediately suggested we go shopping for breakfast ingredients at my favourite grocery store, Essex Market in the lower east side. He wanted to make me shakshuka. When we got to the grocery store he asked me where in the market I do most of my shopping, and after I showed him, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was in complete shock! It was the most amazing, exciting and romantic moment of my life.

The wedding and honeymoon

We were married at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City. We went on two honeymoons. The first one was to Jamaica for four days, and the second one was a year later, and we went to Thailand for two weeks. Both were magical.

The offspring

We have one kid. Her name is Ayv Rose Nivron, and she is three and a half years old.

Balancing work and marriage

Date nights are so key and so important. I know it sounds predictable, but it is true, and I am not talking about double dates or group hangs. I am talking about just you and your partner, talking, exploring and trying something new or fun together. When we can, we also love to book little weekend trips together.

Shared hobbies

We love spending quality time as a family, going out for meals, love to cook, going on long walks and window shopping, cuddling and watching movies together, as well as dancing and just having fun and being spontaneous. We bring out the kid in each other, and I love that about our relationship.

Secret of success

Communication, for sure. We never let anything build up and always talk. We make time for our relationship. Even just having a coffee together in the morning, lots of hugs and kisses. We also plan little adventures together, like a spontaneous afternoon of shopping and an early dinner.