Coming Soon: Intermix, opening in Yorkville this summer

11:02 am

When it was originally announced back in January that Intermix was opening its first Canadian location on Bloor Street, it was speculated for a fall 2011 debut. Now Intermix CEO Khajak Keledjian tells us the store will open its doors in the old Lululemon spot (130 Bloor Street West) at the end of the summer, news that should please fashionistas who adore the retailer’s signature mix of “uptown chic with downtown chic.”

Toronto marks the first international location for the merchant and was chosen because “customers are already shopping with us,” Keledjian says. “When we launched our [online shopping] site, Toronto was the biggest market we were shipping to. Our sales do very well here.”

The new store will be boutique-style with personal service and will carry a variety of worldwide designers, like Chloé, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo and the new collection by celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe. The store will also feature emerging brands and Toronto designers, giving editors and stylists a chance to help budding fashion hounds get the hang of mixing established names with edgy new talent.

And though its clientele is a mixture, just like the retailer’s name suggests — ranging from “thirteen year olds to a grandma” — Keledjian says Intermix welcomes anyone who loves fashion. “If you’ve got a passion for fashion, then you’ll love it here.”

New cookbook by local authors caters to the part-time (meat) lover, the “flexitarian”

9:55 am

Nettie Cronish has been a steadfast vegetarian for over 40 years, but that didn’t stop her from co-authoring Everyday Flexitarian, a new cookbook for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The Toronto chef, teacher and author learned some lessons in flexibility when her kids turned to the carnivorous dark side. We caught up with her to talk about the conundrum of eating meat ethically, her new book and the benefits of having an “enlightened pantry.”

You’ve been a vegetarian for a while. What made you decide to partake in writing a book about flexitarianism?
Well, I’ve been a vegetarian for 40 years. I’ve got three kids and a husband, and my kids didn’t want to be vegetarian anymore. I didn’t want food to be too big of an issue — I didn’t want them sneaking around or lying to me. The idea was to be able to talk about these things without overreacting in a negative way. This book has been evolving for 15 years, and I had to find the right person to write it with. My co-author, Pat Crocker, is a culinary herbalist. She’s also very knowledgeable about vegetarianism. And we paired with Cynthia Beretta from Beretta Organic Farms to supply good quality, humanely-raised meat.

What would you say is the single most important factor in eating meat ethically?
How it was raised. Because we live in a wonderful city like Toronto, there are a lot of ethical butchers. And every food has a story. Go on the Internet and visit websites like Rowe Farms or Beretta. Find their story, and you can even visit the farms. I visited Beretta farms, I saw where the animals grazed, I watched how they were being raised.

Did seeing any of that make you question your vegetarianism?
No. It made me more determined to be a vegetarian.

Why is that?
I think that there’s so much food on the earth that we don’t need to eat animals. Having said that, I’m not going to force anyone else to eat what I eat. Dialogue comes from being open minded and tolerant. I wanted to call our book The Tolerant Kitchen. And I also think that people are so busy these days. I think it’s very adult, very grown up, planning what you’re going to eat, but people want to be spontaneous.

What do you think are some lessons that meat eaters can learn from vegetarians culinarily?
I think meat eaters have to expand the repertoire of ingredients that they use. They have to look beyond the barbecue. Look at the spices you have in your kitchen: who uses five spice powder? And what about curry leaves? And I love baking with green tea. What do you have in your pantry, and what’s a new way of cooking with it? Near the beginning of the book, we have a section called “The Enlightened Pantry.” And what we try to do is give people a lot of information about alternative ingredients, because let’s face it, agave nectar doesn’t have a marketing board.

Do you think people use meat as a shortcut sometimes?
I think some meat eaters know only one way to cook. When it comes to vegetarian cooking, everyone thinks it’s going to take two and a half hours, and it doesn’t have to. What people need to do is properly equip their kitchen — most people have crummy pots and pans — and then they have to sit down and read recipes. People need to change the way they cook. And you can buy ingredients that are already prepared — for instance, organic beans in a can. You can make my tortilla recipe in 20 minutes; you don’t have to make everything from scratch all the time.

Do you see flexitarianism as a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of vegetarianism, or do you see it as a practical way for the masses to eat ethically?
I see it as a time-saving way to cook. I don’t think people are going to become vegetarian. Being vegetarian takes an ethical commitment, and it’s also time consuming. You have to read your labels and you have to do a lot more planning. And a lot of people either don’t want to or don’t think it’s important. And you can’t push moral values on other people. I’ve explained to my kids why I’m vegetarian — they’ve dutifully listened and chosen not to be vegetarian. So that’s why you have to be tolerant.

Q&A: Shaun Majumder, hitting T.O. on his cross-country tour this Friday and Saturday

2:48 pm

These days, Shaun Majumder is a busy guy. He’s moved to Los Angeles, where people don’t know him as a stand-up comic and the sketch comedy guru behind such loveable characters as Raj Binder, the sweaty, East Indian journalist featured on This Hour has 22 Minutes. Currently, he’s a tough cop on the police drama Detroit 1-8-7, a show that was well-received by critics but hasn’t yet connected with a mass audience. We caught up with Majumder on the eve of his cross-Canada stand-up comedy tour.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I saw you doing standup at Yuk Yuks, but now — doing solo comedy tours, acting in gritty crime dramas — it seems you’re really hitting your stride.
I am very happy. I mean, it’s so strange the paths of careers and how one thing can lead to the next. I’ve been very adamant in my own head about trying to do things different and unique, about not being locked into one thing. It provides some security, plus, I bore easily. But I think that by being as varied as possible, it also keeps things in my head fresh, new and exciting.

How do you avoid being typecast, or just being given comedic roles?
When I moved here, to Los Angeles, my instinct wasn’t to get away from comedy. It’s like a Newfoundlander moving to Fort Mac, you gotta go where the jobs are. And L.A. has the nice weather, and there is so much industry here. To do what I love to do, there are so many outlets.

Was comedy your first love?
Way back when, even throughout high school, I remember preferring to be on stage and doing plays. I definitely had a thing for comedy, but I was actually more drawn to drama.

Can you tell us a bit about your concert tour?
I’m pretty stoked on it now. I absolutely love performing in these theatres. I mean, it’s not like playing a one-nighter at a bar in Bolton. I mean, I like Bolton — I’ve got the T-shirt — but these theatres are so amazing.

And you’re shooting it as a documentary film as well?
I actually don’t have any kind of DVD. Comics churn out DVDs, but I don’t have one. It was never the right time, but now doing this tour, I think it really is the right time. But it’s not just a performance DVD. It’s a documentary film about many things — my journey, traveling across the country. There is a performance element, but it’s more about my personal story.

Who was your favourite interview as Raj Binder?
The guy who took it best, and who played along, was Zdeno Chara. Every time I interviewed him, it was around the time of accusations of steroids. Well, Zdeno in skates is like 7’10", and I’m 5′ 8". And I said, “Clearly you’re not taking steroids. Perhaps you’re drinking radioactive material.” And I asked him, playing for Boston, how many children does he eat before games. And he’s like (in thick Eastern European accent), “I like to eat three or four children, little fatty ones.” And at that moment, I thought this guy is awesome.

If you were to bring back Raj Binder for an election special, who’d be your first target?
I think it’d be Raj and Stéphane Dion at the Playboy Mansion.

What about Gilles Duceppe?
I love Gilles Duceppe. Other than the separatism, he seems really cool; I know he’s been to those Cirque du Soleil orgies, eating hash cookies for breakfast.

So Detroit 1-8-7 — what is the status currently? Is it on or off?
Detroit 1-8-7 is currently in a state of limbo, and basically we’re waiting to see what happens with their shows in development. And, you know, it is hard to say.

And if it gets cancelled?
I lucked out, and booked, kind of in second position, another show if 1-8-7 doesn’t come back.

What is it?

It is called Bad Mom. It’s a pilot for ABC with Jenna Elfman [Dharma and Greg, Accidentally on Purpose]; a single-camera comedy in the vein of Modern Family.

Shaun Majumder, Winter Garden Theatre, May 6 and 7

Q&A: Rohan Fernando, director of The Chocolate Farmer, premiering tonight at Hot Docs

11:29 am

Rohan Fernando’s visually stunning The Chocolate Farmer makes social issues seem big-screen friendly. That may not be what you’d expect from an NFB production, but this film about cultural transition doesn’t cater to expectations. The Chocolate Farmer documents the life of Eladio Pop, a penniless Mayan farmer from Belize, as he adheres to traditional farming methods in the face of looming industrialism. Fernando spoke with us at the Hot Docs headquarters.

The Chocolate Farmer touches on many interwoven issues: globalization, tradition versus modernity, indigenous self-determination, women’s rights, agriculture and the environment. What was your starting point for this film?
The inspiration for the story was Eladio. I was interested in doing a film about the relationship between the first world and the third world and was originally researching international aid. I was working with [NFB producer] Annette Clarke and we thought it would be interesting, rather than doing a didactic film, to find a positive example and try to profile it. She was reading a book about the chocolate industry, a dark look at the industry [Bitter Chocolate by CBC’s Carol Off].

What, for you, would be the ideal audience response to this film? Do you want to incite people to action?
It’s not necessarily an activist film that inspires people to take down corporations, but [it aims at] an increased awareness of where your food comes from, the people who are involved in making it and what their lives are like, and awareness in terms of the choices you make as a consumer, and awareness for other cultures and what they’re going through. It’s also about the way this community [in Belize] is transforming, and the way the environment is related to cultural transformation.

There is an astonishing familiarity about Eladio’s relationships with his children, and his feelings about the changing world. Did you set out to make an “everyman” story?
I didn’t want to exoticize him. I related to him right away. You know, when you’re making a film that’s kind of intuitive, you don’t have a big plan for what the story and the message is. And there was so much in what he was saying and going through that I related to — these are universal themes. It’s about a human being; it’s not about an indigenous man or a Mayan man or even a farmer. It’s about the human condition at this time in history.

Someone in the film makes the distinction: “We’re cash-poor but we’re not impoverished people.”
I think we take our values, what we think is ideal and what we think is progress and we impose it on a culture that doesn’t subscribe to the same value system. What they value is community and connection, space and time. I hope one thing the film does is reflect back on the viewer what we take for granted as things to strive for. Those things may not eventually give us happiness.

It’s almost like their life wasn’t so bad, in many respects.
Yeah, I was envious for their life; and yet I was sad knowing where it was going to go, that they might not be able to stop where it was going. But they’re aware of what is happening. We did also make a children’s film, Elisha and the Cacao Trees, which follows the life of one of Eladio’s daughters through her perspective.

What can you say about the value of the NFB to your career and to Canada?
This is the fourth film I’ve done with NFB. I really can’t say enough about them. I don’t know where else I would have had the opportunity to make the films I’ve made. The NFB doesn’t push you in a commercial direction; it’s about really delving into the story, trying to find the truth of the situation and making it entertaining … so that people who are underrepresented can see themselves. It’s important – because it did it for me [as a Sri Lankan immigrant] – in terms of developing self-respect and being happy with who you are and feeling that you have something to contribute.

The Chocolate Farmer, Hot Docs, May 5

Mother’s Day the right way: five Good Samaritan gift ideas

9:44 am

Look at your Mom. She’s living proof that giving is better than receiving. That’s why this Mother’s Day, we urge you to “pay it forward” by getting her something she’ll not only love, but something that will benefit those in need. After all, what gift could be greater than the satisfaction she’ll receive knowing her efforts to raise you into a caring, considerate person have paid off? Here are our top five altruistic finds:

1. KitchenAid stand mixer, $349.95

The “mother” of all bakeware, this special edition stand mixer is the ideal instrument for ladies who like to have fun with flour. This sweet staple is a necessary addition to her collection of goodie-making utensils (and if you don’t believe us, the proof will be in the pudding). To generate a donation to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, just register the product at www.cookforthecure.com and KitchenAid will donate up to $50 per unit.
Williams-Sonoma, 100 Bloor Street West, 416-962-9455

2. The Body Shop’s Japanese cherry blossom shower and soften set, $10.50

Help Mom take a load off with a bubble bath and some body lotion. For the most luxurious, ethically-sourced options, The Body Shop is where it’s at. The Japanese cherry blossom shower and soften set, with its light floral fragrance and decadent texture (not tested on animals and free of carcinogenic ingredients) is a great pick. To top it all off, from now until Sunday, receive 30 per cent off all Mother’s Day pre-wrapped gifts — or your entire purchase — when you buy a $5 gift container. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
The Body Shop, Yorkdale Mall, 416-782-2948

3. A charitable bouquet from Fund Flowers, $45

The sweet scent of flowers never smelled so good! Toronto’s only charity florist, Fund Flowers, has a beautiful bouquet of three yellow Gerbera daisies complete with a vase and a balloon. It’s sure to brighten up her day (and her living room). Ten per cent of your total sale goes to a charity of your choice and all remaining profits (yes, all of them) go to organizations that make a difference in the community.
www.fundflowers.com

 4. “Songs for Japan,” $9.99

A benefit album that is sure to inspire and uplift, music-loving mummies will dig this disc. Featuring classic ditties like John Lennon’s remastered “Imagine” to more contemporary favorites like Lady GaGa’s remixed “Born This Way,” all proceeds benefit the Red Cross in Japan. And if you want to go a step further, ditch the plastic and subsequent future e-waste by buying the album on iTunes and uploading it onto Mom’s iPod.
Chapters, Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge Street, 416-591-3622

5. Salvaged wood serving platter, $39.99

Planet and people-friendly, your mother will adore the salvaged wood serving platter from Grassroots Environmental Products. This one-of-a-kind item is made here in Canada with non-toxic ingredients from 100 per cent salvaged urban forestry. Ideal for trendy moms with an appreciation of beauty in its rawest form.
Grassroots Environmental Products, 408 Bloor Street West, 416-944-1993

Five spots to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (you know, that generic Mexican day following Star Wars day)

1:57 pm

Tomorrow marks Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican festival in which downing tequila shots and plates of tacos is pretty much all you have to do to celebrate. If you’re thinking of taking part, we’ve selected a variety of events that will help you waste away in Margaritaville. As for figuring out what, exactly, you’re celebrating, your guess is as good as ours (maybe Wikipedia could help).

Rancho Relaxo

What sounds more fun than a lineup of local bands and stand up comics? Beats us. Join the fun at 8:30 p.m. $5.
300 College Street, 416-920-0366.

Tequila and More Spirits and Cocktail Show

For the die-hard tequila, mescal and Mexican beer enthusiast, this second annual show at the Metro Convention Centre on May 6 is for you. Try some never seen in Ontario mescal and tequila straight from Mexico. $28-$40.
Metro Convention Centre, Hall G, 222 Bremmer Blvd, 647-727-4455

Lula Lounge

If you’d prefer to have a more cultural experience than a drinking one, this event with bands Café Con Pan and Quique Escamilla Band promises an evening of interesting musical explorations. $10.
1585 Dundas Street West, 416-588-0307

Naco Gallery Café

Naco invites you to come celebrate the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla (hey, at least someone knows why we’re celebrating). It’s got DJs all night, $4 tequila shots and tasty food, so you can’t go wrong.
1665 Dundas Street West, 647-347-6499

Parts and Labour

The folks at Mansion are presenting a fiesta of cheap tequila shots and Corona, as well as reggae and hip hop tunes. A different kind of "ting" for Cinco de Mayo.
1566 Queen Street, 416-588-7750

Fine dining on the subway: more NYC weirdness for Toronto to copy

9:54 am

Toronto’s food scene may be on the verge of going underground (figuratively speaking) but how about literally underground? Like TTC underground? After all, nothing could be more appealing than the thought of dining on black garlic and morels while on the screeching, jolting subway. Well, the coast is clear for Toronto to experiment with fine subway dining because New York City has done it first.

According to The New York Times, a formal luncheon was staged aboard the Brooklyn L-train last weekend by a group of supper clubs. Diners, who were enticed by the promise of a “clandestine dining experience,” were invited to meet at the North East Corner of 8th Ave and 14th St, where they were escorted onto the subway and treated to a luxurious, six-course lunch that included filet mignon, foie gras and caviar. Makeshift tables — complete with holes to fit water glasses — were tied to subway railings with twine, and guests were served by gloved waiters and a maître d’.

The feast lasted for about half an hour as the train proceeded to make its usual stops (some passengers were invited to take the seats of no-shows). Apparently, there was no sign of the cops, but bigwigs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority weren’t impressed when they found out what went down. “A dinner party on the L train?” Charles F. Seaton, a spokesman for the authority, told The Times. “No. Subway trains are for riding, not for holding parties.”

It was a lunch party, Mr. Seaton, and we could have sworn subway trains were built for the express purpose of holding parties. So now we’re left wondering: when is this going to hit Toronto? Charlies Burgers, we’re looking at you.

[The New York Times]

Toronto's food scene about to go underground

1:13 pm

Hassel Aviles is on a mission to put food underground. And no, she’s not planning on sowing a garden. Instead, the born and raised hogtown girl is well on her way to setting up Toronto’s first-ever underground food market.

“One of the reasons I’m doing this is to fill a void in Toronto’s food industry,” she says. “When it comes to street food, we’re not very multicultural, we don’t really have a good selection … it’s embarassing.”

Aviles cites Toronto’s dubious a la cart food program as an example of how the city has failed when it comes to offering a variety of cheap but tasty street food options. That’s where the idea for the new market comes in.

The Toronto Underground Market is very much based on a concept that’s recently taken San Francisco by storm. In 2009, Iso Rabins conceived the SF Underground Market, which is about people who love to cook coming together and offering their own home-cooked dishes at cheap prices. It’s more grassroots than a farmer’s market, where vendors must be certified and must have used a commercial kitchen. At an underground market, anyone can sell their gastronomic wares as long as certain health and safety requirements are met.

Just last week, Aviles put out some social media feelers to see if anyone in the Toronto area would be interested in participating. She says the response has been astronomical. “I’ve received hundreds of emails,” she says, adding there’s been interest from the likes of brewers, homemade jam-makers and gluten-free bakers.

Currently Aviles is in talks with a health inspector, a food safety inspector and a lawyer to ensure she can legitimize the market (yes, this underground market will be legal). After that is sorted out, she says the next step is to line up official vendors and secure a venue. She has a few places in mind, but didn’t want to elaborate.

Ideally, she’d like to see an indoor/outdoor marketplace, probably in an industrial building or warehouse, where there’s lots of space. She’s also been emailing back and forth with Rabins in San Francisco to nail down the details. The San Fran market costs $5 to enter, and all dishes are between $3 to $7. Aviles says she’d like to do something similar here. If all goes according to plan, the first Toronto Underground Market will be held this fall.

  “There are hundreds, thousands, even millions of people in the city who love to cook and want to do more with it than just feed friends and family,” she says. “This is really about bringing those entrepreneurs without financial support and helping them develop from the ground up.”

The Big Chill gets a little sister with The Little Dog, a pocket-sized haven for hot dog connoisseurs on College

10:40 am

Since hot dogs are pretty much the only thing street vendors can legally sell in Toronto (still), our streets are flooded with them — usually Shopsy’s; always grilled. But according to Sam Santino, owner of The Big Chill and the newly-opened The Little Dog, a properly done hot dog is always steamed.

“A hot dog needs to be steamed,” he says. “When you grill them or barbecue them, you lose the juices, you lose flavour.”

The self proclaimed hot dog connoisseur opened The Little Dog last week as a tiny, takeout-oriented, carnivorous counterpart to his popular ice cream parlour, The Big Chill. Offerings include Nathans dogs (New York-style, $3.49), Chicago 58 dogs (Coney Island-style $3.49), and, in what could be a Toronto first, the Montreal steamie ($1.99), a tiny Lesters hot dog that traditionally comes served all-dressed with cole slaw, mustard and onions. Vegetarians haven’t been left to the wayside — there’s a veggie dog too at $3.49. All the dogs and buns are, of course, steamed.

The simple menu also sells poutine ($3.99) and chili cheese fries ($3.99), along with a sizable list of toppings. Open until midnight on weekdays and until 1 a.m. on weekends, the opening of The Little Dog can only mean one thing: the corner of College and Manning is officially becoming a mecca for seekers of some lowbrow indulgence. A grand opening — complete with free samples — is set for May 15.

The Little Dog, 566 College Street, side entrance, 416-960-2455

Four reasons to stop worrying and love the UFC (in the odd event you haven't already)

12:02 pm

UFC 129 has come and gone, and Toronto is still in one piece. Despite hordes of rabid fans crowding into the city, there were no riots, and the moral fiber of the city hasn’t been ripped to shreds. Overall, the aftermath of has been overwhelmingly positive. Here are some reasons why:

1. It filled the Rogers Centre. UFC 129 attracted an audience of 55,724 people to the Rogers Centre (the average attendance for a Blue Jays game last season was just under 24,000). It was easily the most attended UFC event in history, nearly doubling the previous record held by Montreal.

2. It brought in the dough. UFC President Dana White predicted that the event’s economic impact on Toronto would be around $40-million, and he may not have been far off. The event set a gate record of $11.5-million, and considering the crowds that went out after the fight, we think it’s safe to say that Toronto’s coffers didn’t suffer.

3. It showcased some amazing Canadian athletes. Canadian patriotism was bursting at the seams when Georges St-Pierre won his fight, and the event also showcased Toronto’s growing crop of talented mixed martial artists (Claude Patrick, Sean Pierson, Mark Bocek). And if you weren’t blown away by Mark Hominick’s display of sheer heart in his featherweight title match, you have no soul.

4. It solidified Canada’s status as a growing MMA Mecca. Including UFC 129, the three largest fights in UFC history have all been in Canada. In Toronto, UFC shops are opening and a new Toronto magazine, MMA Guide, was recently launched. Dana White struck a chord when he said Georges St-Pierre is bigger than Wayne Gretzsky, but it’s clear that hockey’s mecca is gradually becoming MMA’s mecca.

Coming Soon: Belmonte Raw Boutique, bringing organic, raw and healthy takeout to Queen East

10:24 am

Two years ago, Carol Belmonte parlayed her talents as a personal chef into building a thriving raw food delivery business, Belmonte Raw. And while her customers might be disappointed to learn that she’s phasing out her popular boxed-lunch delivery service, the good news is that she’s making way for the opening of her first retail location on Queen East, set to open this June.

Belmonte Raw Boutique, a raw food takeout spot and juice bar, will feature a changing menu of boxed meals ($12-$14) as well as an organic juice bar. Boxed raw meals will include “spaghetti and meatballs” comprised of shredded zucchini and squash with nut and herb “meatballs,” or the “chakra salad,” an arugula and spinach salad topped off with a rainbow of tomato, shredded carrot, yellow peppers, green beans, blueberries and purple cabbage with an herbed white wine vinaigrette. Everything will be dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and with few exceptions, organic and free of animal products.

Belmonte’s popular gourmet raw desserts, like the peanut butter cups that can currently be found at Torito, will also be on hand. Torito’s executive chef, Luis Valenzuela, is helping put the kitchen together and will be on site to hire and train kitchen staff. Also available will be “elixirs:” shots of herbal remedies meant to pack a healthy punch ($4). The foods will be available as one-off snacks and meals or as part of a series of cleansing systems that already have a loyal following.

“They’re feeling so much healthier,” Belmonte says of those who indulge in her cleanses. “Their skin glows, and their eyes get really bright.”

For Belmonte, teaching is a big part of what she does, and she plans to invite customers in for classes on food preparation.

Belmonte Raw Boutique, 1022 Queen Street East

The Dressing Room: a love letter to sweatpants

2:52 pm

For somebody whose job requires regularly dressing for evening events where a quick head-to-toe evaluation is as customary as air kisses, I have a forlorn aversion to getting ready for anything where female patrons might have spent a previous portion of the night pondering the perfect shade of red lip for their age. The reason is an even combo of lazy dresser syndrome (incrementally intensifying with age) and an ardent and long-standing attachment to jogging pants.

And so it was that last night, instead of attending the opening of visual artist Harley Valentine’s group exhibit at The Alison Milne Gallery, I stayed in and blamed my towering workload, the howling wind and a hamper of laundry for placing me under house arrest. I want to say that once I knew I wouldn’t have to venture outdoors again for the night, I changed out of my work clothes and into “something more comfortable,” but to simply describe my jogging pants as “comfortable” would be an injustice to their character.

Like Batman before me, my closet is chock-a-block with duplicates of a single wardrobe item. The Dark Knight has his utilitarian noir armour, and I have my grey jogging pants. From charcoal to heather grey, my closet is a laze-about’s dream. While I am not a pack rat — or at least not one worthy of Hoarders — I rarely toss away one of my cotton gems. I am a purist when it comes to joggers and would never trade in elastic cuffs and cotton for a nylon/spandex blend.

My curation has earned me a collection that ranges from classics nabbed in high school, like Northern Reflections, Cotton Ginny and Beaver Canoe (that memorable partnership between Roots and Camp Tamakwa), and my latest acquisition: a pair of vintage-t-shirt soft-sweats by Canadian designer Jules Power. Known for her polished take on contemporary casual wear, Power brings the distinction of tailoring to her youthful pieces — even sweats — from rolled-sleeve crew tops to my cropped capri pants, which I picked up from Robber on Queen West last year. I wear mine despite Pickle having pulled the drawstring out from the waistband and my nephew having finger painted on them with what did not end up being washable paint. Luckily Powers will be having a sample sale at 780 Queen Street West (entrance on Gore Vale) from the 6th-8th,, where I will hopefully be able to grab a new pair (elbow-edging may ensue).

Luxuriating in my Power sweats, I begin to tackle the editing and household chores at hand, periodically stopping to read through the email field commentary sent to me from the gallery by my friend/colleague Tobin Dalrymple (a columnist for Hardly):

Email #1

Me: The hustle bustle of punch drinkers matches my red 7 jeans denim perfectly – bought them from Aritzia on sale 3 years ago. Finally they fit after a diet of cucumber and celery.

Email #2

Princess Anthea: She’s got great legs wrapped in geometric patterned stocking, all black dress, with sparkly little rhinestones everywhere to match her ears and teeth.

Email #3

This Guy: Wearing a pink plaid button down that proclaims "’punks not dead’… then coughs a little bit and says ‘just kidding. Who cares!?’"

Email #4

The Atmosphere: Maybe it’s the royal wedding, but big checks and stripes and funky morning colours abound. I half expect teacups and walking sticks — you know, those really British walking stick thingies.

I felt graciously freed from the certain anxiety I would have endured had I turned on my flat iron and climbed into a pair of tyrannical, geometric-patterned stockings rather than my endearing and faithful joggers. Of course, my feelings were tinged with some pangs of regret for not attending what looked to be an interesting art exhibit, and especially for missing out on Valentine’s work. After all, it’s only natural to be curious about the work of an artist wearing, as Tobin informed me, vintage Cole Haan’s and a hand-painted vest reminiscent of the Jackson Pollock school.

Today seems the perfect day to champion the glory of sweatpants: this a.m., millions of Canadians awoke to watch the royal nuptials. While the festive ladies amongst us may have broken out the ornate headwear and white gloves, I would wager that most wore pajamas or a cozy pair of joggers.

Whereas the man in the grey flannel suit suffers from an individuality crisis, I, the woman in the grey cotton pant, am freed from social and professional expectations — however temporarily. Find a friend in jogging pants and freedom too, can be yours.

Toronto-based writer Jennifer Lee is the Editorial Director of FILLER magazine, an online fashion & culture journal. She is also the Co-Editor of Hardly magazine, an arts-centric online teen publication for Canadian girls. Her column, The Dressing Room, appears weekly.

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