Libra Lounge Had a Party

So Libra Lounge... this adorably petite lounge skirts on the hem of King West. With naked ladies on the walls lit by the cascading light from trendy chandeliers, Libra Lounge is a pretty good antithesis to MEC located across the street. Well last night was a little party held in its honour, complete with custom made tote bags and an ice sculpture/martini fountain.

Yes, I know, why do they always insist on making the ice scupture a martini fountain? I have yet to see one in use besides at that wedding I went to not long ago. I guess ice sculpters figure that the bougie couldn't possibly cool down their beverages with a straw and some ice.

Kicking it old skool is completely verboten.

Martini fountain functioning or no, the IceCulture Inc ice sculpture was great. You can see it in the photo - it looked like glass. I'm also totally crushing on those flowers - colour and everything.

The martinis were nice, but they weren't my favorites in the city. The Supermodel was more Adriana Lima than Daria Werbowy with sunny tropical citrus amidst something pink and laced with the soundtracked scent of coconut tanning lotion rum. The Ouiskey Business was the second from the bottom on the Martini menu, was tricky to pronounce and it kind of just tasted like Red Bull - although many people liked it, as it was recommended to me several times.

Perhaps the "Ouiskey Business" had something to do with copyright infringement?

For the entire time I was more interested in talking and not moving in such a way that would encourage my leggings to sag down a little bit more than they already had. Men have no clue how distracting that can be!

Kendra Court of Gathering Event Planning & Fundraising was the spirited event planner that brought it all together. I intended to introduce myself, but as I made a move she got caught in a stream of partigoers with only enough time to say, "Remember, 15 minutes before the complementary bar shuts and the cash bar comes up!" before she wass swept up again.

Thank you, Kendra and cheers to all the event planners who don't own restaurants!

Screw the budget!

I heart you.

So Libra Lounge... you were pretty rad. This would be a cute spot to rock out for a friend's bday. I can see how it works; I'm down for it. It's apparently a restaurant in the day time - although, I haven't been.

As my friends and I prepared to leave, a woman in black offered us simple black and white tote bags. After careful consideration, I had my heart set on the white canvas with silver strap, "What a cute shopping bag" I thought to myself as I was handed a black reflective bag with a Navajo print on the handle.

"Excuse me, may I have the white bag?"
"No, we aren't allowed to let people pick."
"Oh, but I'll use the white one..." she walked away.

Shame. Must be nice to have the best job in the world.

Over to my left were the remaining bags. Hmmm...

Black bag down.
White bag up - much better! The other one would've just gone to goodwill! I'm sure the designer would rather their bag get used than tossed. Right?

While we were there, I ran into a bunch of folks from Dine.TO and Deb Lewis of CityEvents as well as some rad folks from National PR.

I would probably go back, if I were to use it for an event - for sure. But, when we left the party we then realized there was a man make up studio on site doing man make up. Reado wasn't down for it, although I think most guys could benefit from some lip balm and tinted moisterizer.

There's a photo of my friends, the purses on the right, the fountain on the left and an unfinished Ouiskie Business infront.

Libra Lounge was fun. Until the next event!!

Some Stats on Libra Lounge:

391 King St W, Toronto, ON (Across from Mountain Equipment Coop)
416-599-7000
One Level + Front Facing Patio
Bathrooms on Lower Level
Street Parking + 2 Parking Lots Across the Street.
Capacity is 120 people
Outside Caterers are totally cool
Full kitchen

FYI, I ♥ Accuracy - Lou Dawg's Southern Sandwiches

I knew something was up when we were asked if we wanted to turn our sandwich into a Po' Boy for $1 extra.

"That means on a baguette, right?"
"Well they all have a baguette."
"So isn't already a Po'Boy?"
"Well a Po'Boy means we put coleslaw on it."
"..."

Besides the grave inaccuracies surrounding what a Po'Boy is or isn't, Lou Dawg's Southern Sandwiches (589 King St West, Toronto, ON) is a decent stop for a bite - minus the fuss. But, contrary to their menu, don't get too excited, they don't have Po'Boys.

In the vein of many Tdot BBQ shops, Lou Dawg's only difference is that the BBQ is available only on a sandwich. While the delivery is different, the taste is the same - slow cooked pork and brisket inspired by Southern BBQ without the Southern soul. It's tasty, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy my sandwich, but that classic Southern sammy with the crusty shell and silken soft crumb, dressed with all the good stuff - was missing.

Don't get me wrong, for what Daryl D'Souza and chef Sean Smith have been able to build, it is the perfect post drinks haunt in the middle of the Douchery Distrik or lunch counter stop over. But true fans of Po'Boys and other Southern sandwiches will be disappointed.

While it isn't smoked, the best stop for slow cooked sandwiches in the city is still, in my opinion, Black Camel. Their brisket sandwich cannot be matched. Alternatively, Reggie's Old Fashioned Sandwiches only a few shops East of Lou Dawg's has a very respectable pulled pork sandwich, on a crusty bun that is MASSIVE. With a drink, it'll cost about $10.

The sides at Lou Dawg's were a little over priced. A $5 large fries is a suitable serving for one. The Yukon Gold potatoes were fluffy, with a good cajun seasoning on them - The fries were pretty damn tasty. But, $5 fries? Yukon Golds are not frying potatoes, they never were and they never will be. Unlike Smoke's Poutinery (Who also use Yukon Golds), Sean Smith has coaxed the maximum amount of fryability out of these bad boys. I just wish there were more in a large serving.

The coleslaw? It wasn't for me. The sauce was slightly curdled - I thought there was tahini sauce in it at first. The addition of dried cranberries and sunflower seeds didn't really add anything to it. It didn't really have any determinable flavour - eh. It won't offend you, if that's the experience you're going for.

All this really confirms, is that, you go to Lou Dawg's for the sammies. Don't go expecting a spot that channels real Southern sandwiches, because that's not what you will find. You will, however, find a clean, relaxed, sandwich bar with a decent product that's marginally pricier then other locals. Of course, you can't have a spot in the Douchery without Sleaman's and Mike's Hard on the menu - no Grey Goose bottle service found here.

I probably won't be seeking out Lou Dawg's again to scratch any cravings. It wasn't bad, but it didn't blow my mind.

Atmosphere = Cool
Price = $30 for two (2 sandwiches, 2 pops, large fries & coleslaw)
Rating = 6 out of 10
Return Visit = Prolly Not.

Cheese Boutique Has a Party!

This is a late post - sorry, I was going to do it last night, but I went to Lily Allen.

Honestly, there's nothing Karmacake related except for, this was a lot of fun. Since I've been working with Dine.TO, I've had the opportunity to go to a bunch of fun little events taking place in the city.

Cheese Boutique, if you haven't gone, is a mecca for any food enthusiast. While the prices are $$$ the variety is fantastic, but if you go, go for the cheese. TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Well this event was the kick off to the Festival of Chefs it goes on throughout May on specific dates. On those days you can expect to see the top chefs in the city do demonstrations. It's a GREAT opportunity for people to get face to face with the people who are normally behind the scenes. I'm jazzed for the AGO's Anne Yarymowich on May 10th, Mildred's Temple Kitchen's Donna Dooher on May 24th and Langdon Hall's Jonathan Gushue on May 31.

If you follow me on Twitter, you would've heard about how embarrassed I was to find out that the proofreader didn't catch me calling Black Hoof, Black Bull. Thankfully, Grant Van Gameren, co-owner and chef at Black Hoof, caught it and left me know. Well, at least I didn't call him Greg, like the Globe and Mail, right? All I could say in response was, "Well at least Toronto Life got it right!"

ha ha. I'm not the best with thinking on my feet.
Getting called out by one of the city's golden boy chefs... well, I guess we all have to start off somewhere.

I ate spit roasted lamb, polenta with truffles, plates of cheese, charcuterie and pickled veg. My cousin came with, Elias is the latest addition to the city's culinary circuit and I can say from experience, this man knows how to cook. Although, at one point in the car, Elias admitted that I'm the best cook.

I can't lie.

It's true.

Here are some photos from Cheese Boutique.




Wow. I thought I took more. Sorry so blurry - camera phone. Any port in a storm... *yawn* Fuck, I want some cheese now. Can't. The Slim Fast will be pissed and then punish my Kardashian sized booty. :(

Visiting Chinatown

This is a piece I'm thinking of producing for the big Karmacake. A series of food adventures exploring the ethnic neighborhoods of the city. There will be lots of food posts - there are a few things Toronto does well.

1. We throw a great weekender party
2. We have great diversity of food - AND WE LOVE IT!

Surely every city has diversity, Toronto is no exception. However, it is the enthusiasm in which the city embraces it's multiculturalism that is second to none. From busy Chinese bakeries, bustling dim sum shops and overflowing pho stops, Toronto has a lot to offer in the way of Chinese cuisine. Here's my thoughts on where to eat in the busy strip.

Pho - After sampling pho shop after pho shop in Chinatown, it became clear that Toronto has a love for the steaming bowl of Vietnamese beef soup. For days on end, my friend Brady and I declared Saigon Palace (454 Spadina St) the best pho in Chinatown. The steaming bowls of broth and noodles with a side of crispy pork filled spring rolls were our favorite lunchtime meal.

Then on a tip, I discovered Pho Pasteur (525 Dundas St. W) a pho hotspot that's open 24 hours, located next to a parking lot with an $8 maximum and serves up massive bowls of pho. Everything about it was so good. The beef! Oh man, they carve up insane amounts of beef to top the soup with and it's cheap! A bowl rings in less than $10 and is enough to fill you up.

Dim Sum - Rol San is a stand by, but when the line ups are too long. I double back and hit up Noble Chinese Restaurant (530 Dundas St. W; Across the street from Pho Pasteur). I particularly like it for the noticeable lack of Westerners, and the dim sum is solid. Shu Mai are large three bite dumplings - juicy and tender. Har Gow are brimming with whole shrimp and the sticky rice in a lotus leaf always has a slice of sausage in it.

There will be more to come, but I just had to get it published...

Toronto a la cart - We want what vendors can't afford

Toronto's latest proposal for yumming up the city, is Toronto a la cart. A lofty project unintentionally aimed at new immigrants as a method of broadening street eats. Currently, if you want to eat-street, you have a choice of hot dogs (with various toppings), sausage, and in some cases fries and burgers.

The goal is to introduce food carts that serve nutritious, ethnically diverse food in a manner that protects health and safety. Furthermore, participation the project provides valuable information to the city, as they would be able to monitor the success of the program.

The list of foods now available for street meat vendors to include in their menus, based upon nutritional considerations, includes:

o Pre-packaged fruits and vegetables
o Whole fruits and vegetables
o Pre-packaged fruit salad
o Bagels with butter, margarine, peanut butter or jam
o Pre-packaged nuts and seeds
o Pre-packaged salads containing only vegetables and/or fruits
o Pre-packaged Tabbouleh salad and pita bread
o Soup
o Pretzels
o Veggie burgers
o Coffees and teas

Hot dog scented apples... mmmmmmmmmmm... Kind of reminds me of the gravy at Cluck, Grunt and Low! Sausage gravy that tastes like hot dog sauce - so sick.

While this sounds very exciting for those wishing to take part, the numerous hoops potential participants must jump through pose serious challenges. The biggest obstacle presented by the City of Toronto, is no subsidies for new cart purchases. Participants are required to spend $21,000 - $28,000+ on a food cart from Crown Verity, a firm chosen by the city. So depending on the specific needs of the ethnic food vendor, the cart could cost a lot or a heck of a lot.

Overall, this being a pilot project, those wishing to participate also must accept that after the 3-years is up, there's considerable uncertainty on whether or not they will be able to continue using their carts.

Toronto a la cart was proposed by city councillors including Councillor John Filion, who was instrumental in launching the program. According to Toronto Star, Filion recognizes that there would be significant start up costs associated with participating in the program, however, he says, "I think they'll make a very, very good income."

While the possibility of making a "very, very good income" is as concrete as a mud foundation in the rain, what is certain is the 70% time commitment that cart owners must devote to operating their stand. How will the inspectors who are monitoring the process know? The vendor's photo will be attached to the cart at all times.

Fun fun fun.

Overall, the people who have been attending the information sessions are mostly new immigrants. According to Stats Can, 18.5% of new immigrants remain in the low-income bracket for over 4 years after they initially moved to Canada. So startling enough, low-income is rampant amongst those new to the country - therefore it is particularly heart breaking to consider that these individuals, looking to get established, will be required to not only pay a $150 application fee, a $375 business license fee, a $5000-$15,000 location fee (because Toronto has pre-selected 15 areas in the city where these new carts will be located), a $20-28,000 cart as well as the food on offer.

Brutal.

Good thing this is a city of Toronto pilot. Because, I'm sure the expenses would be very high if it weren't - OH WAIT THEY WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME!

Well, if I were my Dad and this was a business deal proposed to me by a potential partner - I would tell them to go stuff themselves.

Toronto, this is YOUR pilot. YOU should subsidize something!

102.1 the edge vs. Facebook

"Just one more click! If I can get like a million people to join in 1 week I'll be laughing! This contest is going to be so easy!"

Welcome to my Facebook addiction - the crack cocaine edition.

It started off like any other 102.1 the edge radio contest although, this time, listeners were invited to create a Facebook Group with the largest number of members to win $7,000.

Who knew that it was going to resort in groups getting shut down, servers getting bogged, and users getting royally pissed! Who knew that it was going to resort in my code red addiction to acquire new members to join. Late night strategy meetings and an intimate understanding of Facebook's terms.

Well, yours truly is in the contest!
Heck with $7,000 in my pocket, I can't deny that it would be very useful to have at this moment in time.

So arm and arm with my tech savvy boyfriend we create a Facebook group, invite our friends, create playlists, quizzes and discussion boards to engage our users. We reveal where we plan to direct the funds including upping my pledge towards my friend's bike ride to Montreal to assist those living with HIV/AIDS and paying off student debt.

We understand that the bottom line of this contest is loads of free advertising for 102.1 the edge. While that doesn't upset me, it has gotten a number of Facebook user's knickers in a knot. With their own backlash groups arising with titles like "No, I will NOT join your 'Help _______ win $7000 from Edge 102.1' Group". While they are obviously getting out their message of unwavering solidarity, they fail to recognize that their group is also contributing to the overall advertising campaign of 102.1 the edge.

In the end, we are all the same.

So while, Matt and I do our best not to spam, to try and find kind hearted folks to join our group outside of Facebook. Short of promising to get a tattoo if we win the contest, we are hoping some faithful Karmacake readers would sign up.

Will you help us out? Good Karma will be had for all! Maybe some cookies at a victory party!! mmm

Hope you help us out. We would love to have you!
http://utoronto.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2354049266

Post Party Wrap Up: Operanation Tid Bits

Operanation was a resounding success!
905 people
1 brand new opera house
5 designer food & drink stands
1 DJ
tons of media, fans spray on tattoos
and, me!

The evening opened with all committee members hitting the Four Season's Centre for Performing Arts nice and early to get debriefed, unwind and prepare for a stellar night of uncomperable arts and entertainment.

Dressed in our finest cocktail attire, and I in my silk crepe, leopard print, vintage inspired number (Thank you A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz ) we were ready to meet, greet and be the friendly faces of Opera in the young professionals sect.

The silent auction was amazing, besides a bizarre addition of an empty Culture Club record sleeve by Gian Gomeshi, there was a party for 140 at Revival, Feenie Beadies was on site finishing a lavish necklace, complete boxed sets of DVDs from Alliance Atlantis, and more.

Of course, if you purchased a $200 VIP ticket, you were treated to a backstage tour, a champagne reception, a live auction featuring a wardrobe from Hugo Boss, Land Rover experience tours in Montebello and luxurious vacations, not to mention the wonderful gift bags complete with Hugo Boss cologne, decadent chocolates, magazines, a book about the history of Opera and a darling broach from Foxy Jewerelly (Suzy from Foxy Jewerelly is posing with me just above).

Live performances dotted Toronto's newest archetectural gem, while party goers sipped on expertly prepared cocktails and dined on haute cuisine soul food (The Miniature Tourtières were my favorite, next to the crab stuffed cucumber squares and fried asparagus) all the while revelling in the exclusivity of this very chic metropolitan fundraiser.

An event planned for the youth, by the youth, it was an event to raise funds, raise friends and raise awareness. The opera is more than performances on stage. The Canadian Opera Company is renowned for nurturing new artists through their ensemble programme, educating children with their numerous education and outreach programmes, developping new and innovative interpretations of operas featuring compelling Canadian artists like Atom Egoyan, and touring the world to leverage the Opera Company and Canada as a producer of exceptional artistic creations.

The Opera is more than fat ladies on stage. It's arts, education, professional development, cultural excellence and one of the few art forms with an invested interest in compelling younger audiences. Hence, Operanation.
Hence, the reason we sold out this year.
Hence, tickets being sought after on craigslist.
And, why you should think about buying your ticket for next year.
Operanation.
Opera-awesome.