Elegance and style reign supreme at the 60 Years of Designing the Ballet gala

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4:03 pm

Last night we hit up the opening gala for the 60 Years of Designing the Ballet exhibit. Held at the Design Exchange, attendees were offered an in-depth look at the design work of The National Ballet of Canada, ranging from exquisite Swan Lake tutus to pieces plucked from the set of The Nutcracker. Curated by Caroline O’Brien, the peek into the collection arrived on the dawn of the National Ballet’s 60th birthday.

Upstairs in the exhibition space, guests — including many from the costume design realm — mingled over nibblies and wine before trotting down into the gala area. There, 60 tutus from The Tutu Project had the lay of the land, pirouetting (well, kind of) throughout the room.

After a series of speeches, guests were able to examine the tutu workmanship up-close. Designers included Sunny Fong and Amanda Lew Kee, artist Julie Moon, the Ballet’s Jennifer Zimmerman and a host of school kids.

One of the most stage-worthy creations was crafted by jewellery designer Shay Lowe: wrapped in feathers and studded with jewels, the tutu was an ideal pick for The Nutcracker’s Snow Queen, and it came complete with one of her eye-catching necklaces.

60 Years of Designing the Ballet, Design Exchange, 234 Bay St., 416-363-6121. July 11 – Sept. 2.

Five things to keep in mind before suiting up for Toronto’s upcoming Dîner en Blanc

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12:30 pm

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Dîner en Blanc, the 25-year-old “secret dinner party” from Paris, is finally coming to Toronto on August 9. While a copycat version of the event took place last fall in the Distillery District, this marks the first time that the real deal will be touching down in Toronto. For those hoping to join in on the fun, there are a few things to know about the monochromatic pop-up event.

1. If you’re not a VIP, you’re probably not going. With the invitation process described as a “friendly co-optation system,” getting into this colour-free dining extravaganza is not easy. Registration takes place in three phases, with the first round of invites reserved strictly for previous members and “friends of the organization” and a second round for the “friends of friends” recommended during phase one. Only in phase three can the plebs get their shot at picnic prestige (you can sign up on a first-come-first-served waiting list). But with an ethos that firmly supports “quality over quantity,” non-VIPs shouldn’t hold their breath for an invite.

2. Expect a cheesy location. Having originated in Paris, the original DeB has taken place at some of the French capital’s most recognizable locales, from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs-Élysées, so you can be sure that only Toronto’s most postcard-friendly locations — CN tower, anyone? — will be forming the backdrop for this al fresco dining spectacle. But don’t try to camp out in advance; locations will only be revealed immediately prior to the event.

3. BYO… everything. Along with food and drinks (wine and champagne only, no beer or hard liquor), diners will have to bring their own white folding chairs and tables, with the exact table dimensions specified in advance. While there is no set menu, the event’s Facebook page offers a host of hoity-toity suggestions for what guests should bring in their picnic baskets (hint: think “quality menu items and China dinner service”). That means no Mickey D’s, please.

4. Play by the rules. While the event may be of French origin, it certainly isn’t laissez-faire. There are a plethora of rules to adhere to if you don’t want to find yourself blacklisted (get it?) from future events. These include a strict white-only policy in both attire and seating (white tablecloths will be provided), arrival and departure solely by public transport and a pre-organized, sex-segregated seating plan. So don’t even think about playing musical chairs.

5. Toronto is cool now. With a new Soho House slated to touch down in time for TIFF, Toronto looks like it’s finally being given its due as a city worthy of playing host to the world’s most ridiculously pretentious organizations. In holding the event, Toronto will join the ranks of 23 other cities worldwide — 12 of which have just been added this year — including New York, Barcelona and more exotic locales such as Kigali in Rwanda and Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire. Apparently, becoming a DeB city is a big deal: according to the (hopelessly self-congratulatory) website, “the event’s photogenic quality adds to the city’s image of a modern and stylish city, open to the world.” Even if the event’s not, it seems, open to its own residents.

What I Wore: an open-backed, totally summery LBD

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11:29 am

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No matter how hard I try, I can never resist a little black dress. Why would I? It’s one of the most classic items to have in your closet, and currently, these dresses take up a quarter of the space in my own. An LBD can work for any person, season or event (yes, even a summer wedding).

Anyone from Audrey Hepburn to a Goth girl can pull one off, but my favourite thing about the LBD is that it can transition from day to night so easily. It never fails to look chic with a pair of flats and sunglasses during the day, and even more so with a pair of heels at night.

It doesn’t always have to look so “classic” either. This dress by 5 Preview, for example, is playful, and it’s perfect for the summer months with its unexpected cut-out back detail.

Here, I’ve chosen to pair the dress with my vintage Chanel sandals, found at my go-to designer consignment store, Fashionably Yours, on Queen West. I always describe them as a ’70s pimp’s take on a Japanese sandal, because I am convinced that Uncle Karl must have recruited one to help with the design process of these particular shoes.

To me, this outfit is perfect an evening out on the town — anywhere from Yorkville to Parkdale.

What I Wore: 5 Preview dress from Rac Boutique, vintage Chanel sandals from Fashionably Yours.

Grace Carroll is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in ELLE UK, ELLEcanada.com, Plaid magazine and FILLER magazine. Keep up with her daily blog at www.graciecarroll.com.

Secret Recipe: Time to veg out

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10:16 am

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The backyard BBQ can be tricky terrain for vegetarians; here are three sizzling ideas for a meat-free feast.

Terrific tofu and pepper kebobs

The veggie burgers are a blast

Marvel at meatless quesadillas

Post City Magazines’ culinary columnist, Rose Reisman, is the author of 17 cookbooks, a TV and radio personality and a health and wellness expert. Visit Rose at www.rosereisman.com.

Ex-Drake chef Anthony Rose wants to open a bunch of new Toronto restaurants

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2:15 pm

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Word has it that ex-Drake chef Anthony Rose has some big plans up his sleeve. The ambitious chef-cum–entrepreneur plans to open not one, not two, but three new Toronto eateries in the next two years under the banner of his new restaurant group Rose and Sons. While the exact concept behind the new ventures has yet to be revealed, Rose is emphatic that simple food and a good atmosphere will be the name of the game in his upcoming resto trifecta.

"The concepts are very simple," Rose says. "We want to go into a good space, do very little to it, and come up with something gorgeous."

While Rose had originally kept his location-search to the downtown core, the limited real-estate options led him to expand his search to Leslieville, Yonge and Eg, the Junction and beyond. Having widened his scope, Rose has been tireless in his hunt for the perfect venue.

"We've got all these great concepts and now we just have to find the right place for them."

Atmosphere and ambiance are extremely important to Rose, and he has been in talks with a number of local artists, including street and graffiti artists, regarding restaurant design.

"We don't want to go down the path well trodden. We want to do something different, and create a great atmosphere where people keep coming back for more."

If all goes as planned, at least one of Rose's new ventures could potentially open its doors by fall. Look out for an influx of Rose's creative and culinary vision coming soon — quite possibly — to a neighbourhood near you.

Toronto Style Radar: Tabula Rasa, Miracle Thieves, Bridge + Bardot, Jonathan + Olivia and more

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2:10 pm

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Every week, we round up the best events from the city’s fashion scene. In this edition: two sweet summer sales, a barbecue with Uncle Otis and Jonathan + Olivia and the grand opening of Dundas West’s Bridge + Bardot.

What: Tabula Rasa’s clean slate summer sale
Where: Tabula Rasa, 745 Broadview Ave.
When: on now
Details: Tabula Rasa has marked down its new and vintage pieces by up to 30-50 per cent. It’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new mid-summer piece, but hurry before all the good stuff is gone!

What: Summer Designer Sample Sale
Where: Sheraton Hotel, 600 Highway 7 E.
When: July 12-15
Details: coveted lines such as Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Rag + Bone and more will all be offered at 40-80 per cent off. Don’t let the word “sample” scare you off; full size ranges will be available.

What: Philippines Exhibit: Tribal Jewellery
Where: Miracle Thieves, 249 Crawford St.
When: July 12
Details: the owners of Miracle Thieves, a community-focused creative space, have returned from a month-long trip to their native land of the Philippines. They brought back enough finds for everyone to get their hands on some amazing one-of-a-kind pieces.

What: Bridge + Bardot’s grand opening party
Where: Bridge + Bardot, 1138 Dundas St. W.
When: July 13
Details: head out to the up-and-coming new shopping strip along Dundas West to celebrate the new permanent location of vintage shop Bridge + Bardot. The curated vintage goods will hang alongside local designers and hand-made accessories. Party treats and champagne will be served.

What: Uncle Otis x Jonathan + Olivia BBQ
Where: Red Bull HQ, 381 Queen St. W.
When: July 15
Details: ultra-hot style shops Uncle Otis and Jonathan + Olivia have teamed up to throw a rooftop barbecue party to celebrate summer. Free drinks, free food and DJ sets by Creep designer Hiroshi Awai and Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning. What better way to end the week?

Toronto gets a Peruvian-themed pop-up restaurant

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1:40 pm

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Toronto’s penchant for pop-ups seems insatiable, and this week a new concept that’s temporarily setting up at 99 Sudbury is showcasing a cuisine that often gets overlooked in this city: Peruvian.

The four-day enterprise is called Restobar Peru. The menu, designed by acclaimed Peruvian chefs (including Emmanuel Piqueras of NYC’s Panca), will feature more than 20 dishes sourced from different regions of Peru, with ceviche being the main attraction. Beverage connoisseurs will be able to wet their whistles with pisco — a grape brandy, and Peru’s traditional drink of choice — which will be on offer in a host of cocktail formats.

Peruvian food, which merges native Inca cuisine with Asian, African and European influences, has recently begun to make major waves in the international food scene, with Nick Curtis of the Independent recently proclaiming Peruvian as “the new Mexican.”

Friday will feature an a-la carte menu and live music for $35 (or $25 in advance), while Saturday and Sunday will feature a $60 lunch buffet.

Here’s to hoping that Peruvian food experiences the same culinary renaissance that its Mexican compadres have recently been experiencing.

Restobar Peru @ 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St., 416-731-9501. July 12-15

Morning Throwback: before Edgefest, Torontonians moshed to classical music

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9:37 am

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Nowadays, if the Internet is down, people freak out. But back in the ’50s, entertainment came in the form of some freaky kid tickling the ivories. Yes, we said freaky. “Eccentric” doesn't really cut it when you’re dealing with a narcissistic genius who speaks Latin and eats only salad.

Toronto’s izakaya invasion continues with Hapa, set to open in Little Italy this summer

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4:35 pm

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From Guu to Don Don Izakaya to the upcoming locations of Nejibee and Kingyo, it’s safe to say that izakayas are well on their way to overtaking sushi joints as Toronto’s favourite Japanese culinary transplant. And soon there will soon be a new contender competing for izakaya supremacy in Toronto, with beloved Vancouver chain Hapa Izakaya set to touch down in Little Italy this August.

An Izakaya, for those not well-versed in Japanese dining lingo, refers to a casual drinking and eating establishment where smaller plates for sharing (think Japanese tapas) are served alongside a robust booze menu. And while Guu may have led the izakaya’s surge to popularity in the West Coast and Toronto, Hapa Izakaya has a bold presence as well, with four popular Van-city outposts.

Torontonians can expect a similar menu and concept with the upcoming Hapa: marketing manager Jade Pover says it will offer all the classic menu items beloved by Hapa fans, as well as a unique Chef’s page showcasing location-specific favourites from month to month.

While Toronto’s izakaya bar (no pun intended) has already been set pretty high, here’s to hoping that Hapa manages to make a name for itself within Toronto’s favourite new Asian food scene.

Let the singing, yelling and table-thumping begin!

Hapa Izakaya, 602 College Street

Morning Throwback: PETA be damned — Toronto women loved wearing their furs all year round

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9:49 am

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Too-rich-to-give-a-care is cute, but too-rich-to-notice-that-we're-experiencing-a-heat-wave is Pepé Le Pew loco. But we dig it.

Woman with fur jerkin and muff, 1909. (Toronto archives: Fonds 1244, Item 348)

The ACC’s Hot Stove Club is getting a complete redesign

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4:45 pm

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As the original restaurant at Maple Leaf Gardens, the members-only Hot Stove Club is steeped in history. First opened in 1963, the venue was moved to the Air Canada Centre in 1999. It’s since lost some of the allure of its halcyon days, though, which is probably why it’s now getting a complete rebuild. Rik Ocvirk, director of restaurants and catering at the ACC, is calling it “the revitalization of a legend.”

The room has been stripped down to its concrete and is in the process of getting brand new décor from Fleur-de-Lis Interior Design. It’s also getting an upgraded kitchen, a raw seafood bar, a wine cellar and potentially a dry-aging room. Management is also looking for a new chef de cuisine to work with the ACC executive chef Robert Bartley.

The goal is to have the new Hot Stove Club open for the Maple Leafs home opener on October 13.

Trinity Tuck shop brings everything park-goers could want (and more) to the Bellwoods ’hood

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3:33 pm

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Now that Toronto’s dalliance with summer is getting hot ‘n’ heavy, down time at the park is more alluring than ever. At Trinity Bellwoods, park-goers can duck into Trinity Tuck Shop, the work of Kealan Sullivan and designers Dylan Davies and Ashley Rowe. The retro pop-up houses everything from candy-coloured clothes to jars of, well, candy — with Augie’s Gourmet Ice Pops and gelato from Boreal Gelato Company to boot. We stopped by to check out the best of the bunch.

With on-trend pastels and dyed goods filling the racks, it was hard not to fall for everything. We loved an assortment of vintage tie-dyed tees Sullivan picked up on a trip to New York ($30), while pieces from Rowe’s namesake label are ideal for those looking for something less park and more party ($90). Rowe’s man-friendly versions — tuxedo shirts that she’s both dip-dyed and spray-dyed — were sold out, but she assured us more are on the way ($30).

Summer-fresh whites included a pair of men’s woven leather shoes ($60) and some cropped jean overalls ($45) — ideal for throwing over a one-piece swimsuit. We eyed some striped denim shorts ($30) in bubblegum pink and white, while a jean jacket that spelled out L-O-V-E on the back ($60) was as sweet as can be.

Perhaps best of all, the shop rents out and tennis racquets and games for those who simply can’t sit still.

With a pink-splattered racquet in hand, your game will improve no matter the score ($5/hr).

Trinity Tuck Shop, 198 Walnut Ave.