Toronto Life articles from November 2005

Toronto Life archives from November 2005

Get real.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... Being a fan of Morgan Spurlock and his film Super Size Me, I was delighted to read your review of his new reality show, 30 Days ["Best of Fall," October]. There is so much schlock reality TV on the box these days--not to mention an...

Burb appeal.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... A year ago, my husband and I handed in the keys to our rental apartment at Yonge and Davisville, loaded up a U-Haul with our belongings and headed north to our first home in Markham. Both of us endured tsk-tsks from city-dwelling friends and...

India ink.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I would like to offer praise to Cynthia Brouse for her beautifully written story, "Indian Summer" [September]. My mother, of German descent, and my father, of Lithuanian descent, raised their three daughters in a modest house in Little...

Oops!(Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... In the September issue's "Toronto Limited" [This City], the arrow pointing to Oklahoma should have pointed to Kansas, one state north. An error appeared in our September review of Amuse-Bouehe. The restaurant's sommelier and maitre d' is...

The streets of Toronto are an unmitigated mess.(This Issue)
November 1, 2005... Everywhere you look, on main streets and side streets, there are patches--long strips that run parallel to the sidewalks and rectangles the size of king-size beds. Not even the decoratively paved stretch of St. George that runs through the...

Spice world: Canada's most acclaimed cookbook writers on their almost accidental success.(PROFILE)(Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford )
November 1, 2005... "LAST NIGHT I DREAMT THAT JULIA CHILD was directing a Batman movie and I was crew." It's 10 o'clock in the morning, and Jeffrey Alford is squatting on the back steps of the Chinatown Victorian he shares with his wife and collaborator, Naomi...

Letter mania.(URBAN DECODER)
November 1, 2005... Dear Urban Decoder: Who is Geoff Rytell, and why does he write so many letters to the editors of various newspapers and mags? WENDY BLASKO, MOORE PARK The letters page is among a newspaper's most popular departments, so Geoff...

Pros and cons: how Toronto became a scamming capital.(ROUNDUP)
November 1, 2005... Canadians are traditionally softer on white-collar crime than our punitive neighbours to the south. Con artists, as a result, love it here: they've taken up residence in Montreal, Vancouver, and especially Toronto, in droves. Last year,...

Alert level.(TELLING TALES)(9/11 miniseries production)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Toronto has played New York in the movies more times than anyone cares to admit, but a recent runaway production was about more than saving a few bucks. Since the end of July, ABC has been quietly shooting a miniseries here about 9/11. (You can...

Starry night: the film festival's In Style party was appropriately over the top.(CAMERA)
November 1, 2005... Flashbulbs popped as stretch Escalades delivered stars to the Windsor Arms for the annual InStyle/Hollywood Foreign Press Film Festival fete, where a PR cavalry wielding an ultra-strict guest fist kept screaming hordes of camera phone-happy...

The highs and lows of city life.(BEST & WORST)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... BEST MASS HYSTERIA When 50,000 people show up in Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate gonzo architecture (the 40th anniversary of Viljo Revell's City Hall) and watch the mayor proclaim the start of a year-long celebration of Toronto's arts...

Park place: inside coveted, exclusive Wychwood Park.(HOT PROPERTY)(Public Notice)
November 1, 2005... WHERE: 5 Wychwood Park SQUARE FEET: 7,000 BEDROOMS: five bedrooms BATHROOMS: three bathrooms, two powder rooms ASKING PRICE: $2,995,000 THE NEIGHOURHOOD: A verdant 22-acre hamlet, with 300-year-old trees and a meandering...

Black watch.(TELLING TALES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... On a golden evening in early September, John Fraser, the impish master of Massey College, moved about the quad amid his tall trees, his tall bell tower and Hal Jackman, his tall billionaire. At a reception ahead of a joint convocation for...

Not-so-tiny Tim's: how Tim Hortons colonized the downtown.(REALITY CHECK)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Four years ago, it seemed Tim Hortons would be starved out by Krispy Kreme. Instead, it grew stronger than ever, not just in Canada but also on KK's home turf in the U.S. Since 2000, the chain has quietly conquered the last Canadian...

That's not entertainment.(TASTE POLICE)(Brief Article)(Television Program Review)
November 1, 2005... SUSPECT: Entertainment Tonight Canada SCENE OF CRIME: Global Television CHARGE: Mindless celebrity obsession EVIDENCE: This fall, CTV's eTalk Daily found itself in competition with three new locally produced celebrity gossip...

Crib notes: behind the doors of Adrienne Clarkson's new Toronto digs.(INSIDE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... WHEN ADRIENNE CLARKSON and John Ralston Saul skedaddled out of Rideau Hall in September, they packed it in for slightly less regal quarters on Admiral Road, one of the toniest streets in the Annex. We got a sneak peek before their arrival....

Who is buying suites at One King West?(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Although most of the suites at One King West are relatively compact studios and one-bedroom units, the purchaser demographic is not primarily first-time buyers or young singles. In fact, most owners are middle-aged couples (granted that "middle...

Looking for a solid investment? 15% rate of return attracting investors to Stinson Financial.(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... It's probably not surprising that individual investors are responding enthusiastically to Harry Stinson's new financing business. Stinson Financial, creating an in-house alternative to mezzanine banks and venture capitalists, was established...

Making history: stylized, restrained--some might say precious--baroque opera is an unlikely genre to attract modern audiences. But Opera Atelier's shows are almost always sold out. Why we crave 300-year-old song and dance.(Arts)
November 1, 2005... MARSHALL PYNKOSKI is a worrier, a micro-manager of the first order, and on the evening of September 21, 1995, he had more than usual to fret about. Opera Atelier, the troupe he had co-founded 10 years earlier with his wife, Jeannette Zingg, was...

Big band theory: they play swoony music, give concerts with a hippie-ish vibe and are so non-hierarchical they call themselves a collective. How Broken Social Scene became the world's coolest indie band.(Pop Culture)
November 1, 2005... EARLY LAST AUGUST, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mod Club on College, the lanky singer-songwriter Jason Collett held a concert to celebrate the release of his new solo record, the country-folk-tinged Idols of Exile. Wearing his trademark...

Group dynamics: the tangled web of Toronto's indie music scene.
November 1, 2005... K-OS (singer): Born Kevin Brereton in Toronto. Spent part of his childhood in Trinidad before returning to Canada as a teenager. Sings with Feist on the Broken Social Scene track "Windsurfing Nation." Emily Haines appears briefly in his video...

People like them: the Westons, Hilary and Galen, are Canadian royalty--elegant, accomplished and very rich. But will the next generation inherit their business acumen and noblesse oblige as well as their wealth? Portrait of a family in transition.(THE MONEY ISSUE)
November 1, 2005... TORONTO IS A MONEY-CONSCIOUS TOWN, WHERE STATUS SYMBOLS--FROM ARMANI SUITS TO BUGABOO STROLLERS--ABOUND. We lust after money, worry about money, do crazy things for money, but still consider the topic taboo. We're more apt to know that our...

It makes the world go round: many immigrants establishing new lives in Toronto make personal sacrifices to wire money home to their families. But they say it's well worth it: small sums here can make a big difference overseas.(THE MONEY ISSUE)
November 1, 2005... WESTERN UNION HANDLED ALMOST 100 MILLION PERSON-TO-PERSON transactions last year, transferring billions of dollars around the world. In the GTA, over 1,200 outposts--operating in 78 different languages forwarded funds destined for 132...

Starting over: in Nanjing, Barry Gong was one of China's top engineers. Here, he boxes plastic bottles by hand. One man's story of moving to Toronto.(THE MONEY ISSUE)
November 1, 2005... CHINA MAY BE THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT CAN BUILD THE WORLD'S LARGEST SPORTS COMPLEX in just two years. Inaugurated last month at the 10th annual All China Games, the Nanjing Sports Centre sprawls across 90 hectares in the southeastern province of...

How much?! Fancy yourself a big spender when you splurge on a box of Timbits for the office? Yeah, well, breaking the bank depends on the size of your account. A billionaire's guide to the city's most extravagant goods.(THE MONEY ISSUE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... $40 LOAF OF BREAD Item: Parisian Poilane, baked on the Left Bank, then shipped to Holt's. Target market: Francophiles wishing they were in the Marais. Source: Holt Renfrew Gourmet, 50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333 $558 DOG COAT Item:...

Going for broke: the right car, the perfect house, the top private school, the cottage on the famous lake. Even with fat salaries, lucrative investments and an inheritance or two, it doesn't take much to become overextended. Inside the lives of the debt-ridden rich.(THE MONEY ISSUE)
November 1, 2005... HERE'S HOW RICHARD'S * LAVISH LIFESTYLE BROKE DOWN WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS IN OVER HIS HEAD. AS A senior financial executive, his annual income was $440,000 which, after tax, left him with $440,000 to cover expenses. On his 550-square-foot...

Floria Sigismondi: how the video director--whose book Immune comes out this month--would spend a single perfect day. Toronto on an unlimited budget.(24 HOURS WITH)
November 1, 2005... I'd wake up around noon and stroll to breakfast at the Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042) with my daughter, Tosca, who just turned one, and my husband, Lillian Berlin, who plays guitar and sings in the band Living Things. We'd...

The city's best loot.(Super Shopper)(Directory)
November 1, 2005... POWDER KEG Burton's Cruzer lets you ride the moguls with style and finesse. Contoured for easy turns, it's built to tear through any terrain. $384.99. Hogtown Extreme Sports, 401 King St. W., 416-598-4192. COCOA PUFF Mix warmed milk with...

Rosedale: the swatch of storefronts due south of the Five Thieves has long been a destination for upscale retail therapy. But it's recently been embroidered with a wealth of new boutiques. A snapshot of Rosedale's main drag.(On the Block)(Directory)
November 1, 2005... 1. AT Design Group Owned by Global reporter Terese Sears and long-time friend Armine Tatosian, AT is a fantasyland (think the Seven Dwarfs meet Brian Gluckstein) of channing housewares. Leaf-shaped china from Michael Aram is sweetly...

Small favours: in our nothing-for-nothing culture, the amuse-bouche--that tiny, edible "Hi" from the chef--was almost gone until a few amusing restaurateurs came along.(Dining)
November 1, 2005... IN THE DARKENING DUSK of a hot summer night, we went down to Amuse-Bouche, tucked away on Tecumseth Street--the same little building that used to be Susur Lee's first restaurant, Lotus. The new owners had mended the fountain and set out tables...

Top seed: how pomegranate juice went from a specialty-store rarity to the must-have health tonic.(Food)
November 1, 2005... THE ORIGINAL SLOW FOOD, pomegranates demand patience. On the tree, they are surrounded by thorns; after harvest, the hungry must contend with leathery skin and a clinging pith. Methods to extract the garnet seed sacs are painstaking and time...

Green gold.(Food)
November 1, 2005... Nuttier than a squirrel in November, emerald green pistachio oil is becoming easier to find on this side of the Atlantic. France's Castelmuro presses a full-flavoured variety that's best used as a garnish. Earthy and robust, it tempers the tang...

Culinary mecca.(Food)(cookbook In The Arab Table)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Finally, a comprehensive cookbook that finds a use for those bottles of rosewater gathering dust in the pantry. In The Arab Table, May Bsisu, a trained chef raised in the Middle East and now living in the United States, offers a compelling...

Slam dunk.(Food)
November 1, 2005... Bouquet garni, the bundle of herbs that flavours countless French stews and soups, rose to prominence in the 17th century, when spices became prohibitively expensive. This infuser is long enough to accommodate cinnamon sticks and other whole...

Eastward ho! One of the Okanagan's best reds makes it across the Prairies, but with very few others.(Drink)
November 1, 2005... On November 12, British Columbia's Osoyoos Larose 2002--a bona fide collector's item--lands at Vintages. This is only the second year for the bordeaux-style cabernet merlot, made by Canada's Vincor and France's Groupe Taillan from vines in the...

New releases.(Drink)
November 1, 2005... WHITE Coopers Creek 2004 Sauvignon Blanc **** $17.95 | Marlborough, New Zealand One of the more elegant New Zealand sauvignons, with an aura of cool sophistication. Tart granny smith apple with leafy, peppery and mineral notes....

Restaurants.(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... A LA MODE CRUSH *** Rustic wooden beams, spotless stemware and heavy linens lend this space a spare elegance. Though prone to noisiness from the large open kitchen, it is a comfortable room. The menu follows three paths: classics...

Rice for big fish: is Ki the world's first $7-million sushi bar?(OPENING)
November 1, 2005... David Aisenstat, of The Keg and Hy's steak houses, used to own 100 restaurants. Ki, at Bay and Wellington streets, is number 101, and is like no other. It's high-end Japanese--11,000 sumptuous square feet of it--plus sidewalk bar. Backlit onyx...

Brownie points: a multi-part dessert at Luce moves chocolate uptown.(THE DISH)
November 1, 2005... Think terroir: these days, chocolate is enjoying the same celebrity treatment as single malt scotch or artisanal cheese, and chocoholics have a new promised land. Luce's Textures of Chocolate dessert (following on Rain's variations on one-food...

A very good year: to celebrate Avalon's first decade as the soigne older brother of clubland, its inimitable owner cracks out the '95s.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2005... Chris McDonald has always been Toronto's most wine-savvy chef, so it's natural he should reach for a corkscrew when pondering how to celebrate Avalon's 10th anniversary Happily, 1995 was a great vintage almost everywhere, so '95 wines now lie...

Croute vs. Kraut: and gourmet vs. gourmand.(HIGH/LOW)
November 1, 2005... Properly prepared, a dish of good sauerkraut with a variety of meats can be more satisfying on a chilly night than the most elegant haute cuisine. At Thuet Cuisine (609 King St. W., 416-603-2777), Alsatian chef Marc Thuet creates a classic...

Cream rises: forget New York style--here's who cooks real chowder well.(QUEST)(Directory)
November 1, 2005... What is it about fish soup that always causes controversy? From bouillabaisse to zuppa di pesce, purists battle about what constitutes authenticity. The chowder controversy is especially intense. For more than 150 years, New England and the...

Pub 101: the off-campus crowd finds beer, books and respite at The Roxton.(IT SPOT)
November 1, 2005... A refreshingly unpretentious bar on a sleepy strip sandwiched between the trendy twin hangouts of College and Bloor. What appears to be a seedy booze can/strip club from the outside (blue neon diamonds decorate the outer wall) reveals itself to...

Theatre.(This Month)
November 1, 2005... OPENINGS THE AMOROUS SERVANT. As Moliere is to French theatre, Carlo Goldoni is to Italian. In his heyday during the mid-18th century, the urbane Venetian injected new life into a stale drama scene with charming comedies of manners and...

Regis redux: the showbiz patriarch conquered daytime. Next up: fill Sinatra's shoes.(INTERVIEW)
November 1, 2005... Talk-show titan Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is best known as the dynamic, opinionated and sometimes grouchy co-host of Live With Regis and Kelly. But he's also an old-time crooner, as evidenced by his 1968 pop-vocal effort It's Time for Regis!...

Quick draw: hard-rocking violinist is more Gwen Stefani than Vivaldi.(IN THE CLUBS)
November 1, 2005... Crowd control isn't typically a concern at violin recitals, but then Eugene Draw isn't your typical violinist. At the Beaches Jazz Festival this summer, so many people crammed the narrow stretch of Queen East to watch the sprightly 23-year-old...

Classical.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... CHAMBER MUSIC AMICI CHAMBER ENSEMBLE. Pianist Leslie Kinton, of the duo Anagnoson and Kinton, is a special guest for this Amici season opener. The concert pays tribute to the 250th anniversary (next year) of Mozart's birth, and features...

Beetlemania: Jennifer Angus explores the fine art of infestation.(IN THE GALLERIES)
November 1, 2005... Wallpaper, the bland backdrop to the drama of domestic life, doesn't normally demand close scrutiny. At first blush, the ornamentation that Jennifer Angus designs for her art installations seems similarly pleasant and decorative. But this wry...

Grunge, interrupted: a tender, telling portrait sheds light on an elusive alt-music icon.(The Devil and Daniel Johnston)(ONSCREEN)(Movie Review)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The rotund, soft-spoken Daniel Johnston is as famous for his struggles with mental illness as for his brilliant, tortured and comic pop songs. His music, which marries the melodic sweetness of The Beatles with the oddball humour of Ween, never...

Pop.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN. Thanks to hit TV shows like Hit Me Baby One More Time and Bands Reunited, no formerly successful '80s act will be forgotten any longer. Take Echo & the Bunnymen--moody Liverpudlian rockers who, in their post-punk heyday,...

Jazz.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... CONCERTS HABANA SAX had its origins in the 1980s, when founder Jorge Luis Almeida invited three of his Havana art school students to form a classical saxophone quartet. Since then, a percussionist has joined the group, and the saxophonists...

Art.(This Month)
November 1, 2005... [free] DAN KENNEDY. Oblique words and phrases in Wild West lettering are divorced from their original context in works that mine the rich terrain of western mass culture, from 19th-century travelling medicine shows to carnivals to Huckleberry...

Dance.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... BALLET FLAMENCO JOSE PORCEL. Porcel was weaned on flamenco. Born in Seville--the dance's unofficial homeland--he became well versed in Spanish folkloric dance as a member of Ballet Nacional de Espana. In 1991, he choreographed his first...

Kids.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... CASA LOMA. Kids can fast-track through Casa Loma's version of the Wizard Academy with an intensive three-hour-long interactive workshop on the age-old art of illusion. Head sorcerer is Magic Mike, director of the Sorcerer's Safari magic camp,...

Diversions.(This Month)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... CINEMATHEQUE. One of the four greats of the golden age of Japanese cinema, Mikio Naruse (1905-1969) wasn't exactly a cheerful guy. Of his characters, the famous Japanese director once remarked: "If they move even a little, they quickly hit the...

Toronto Life calendar.(ADVERTISING & PROMOTION EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... The scoop on this month's events and promotions from advertisers: CANADIAN CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION Support the CCFF with "Chauffeured Elegance--An Elegant Evening in Yorkville." Enjoy distinctive style and impeccable cuisine as you...

Adlink.(Directory)
November 1, 2005... TORONTO LIFE'S ADVERTISERS INVITE YOU TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEIR WEB SITE OR CALL THEM AT THE NUMBER LISTED BELOW. ALCOHOL CHURCHILL CELLARS www.churchillcellars.com...

Employed GTAers work an average of 54.2 hours a week.(The Toronto Poll)
November 1, 2005... BARBARA MORRIS, president of the headhunting firm Morris Group International "A work-life balance is important, but the truth is, if you want to make your mark, you need to put in more time." JESSA, Workaholics Anonymous member "I...

Bella invites.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Classy weddings require classy invitations. So says graphic designer Corina Van Sluytman, who specializes in haute couture cards. Her deluxe invitations are handmade from Italian dupioni silk and are all customized according to clients' tastes....

Elegant invitations.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Busy brides take note: Elegant Invitations makes house calls. With hundreds of samples in tow, Mafia Kamin, a former graphic designer, helps clients pull together stylish, affordable invites (from $62 for 25 invitations), offering dozens of...

Invitation house.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... This long-standing high-end printing outfit is run by designer Terry Kirshenbaum, who works carefully with clients to achieve the desired look. Styles include cotton- and deckle-edged stock, linen and brocade, and Japanese, all inscribed via...

The Japanese paper place.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... As mellow as a yoga studio, this Queen West haven carries a plentiful selection of Japan's finest sheets. Handmade and decorative Japanese paper is known for its hardiness (even a Kleenex-thin sheet is durable). Staff will counsel on layering...

Laura K designs.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Keep it simple. That's the mantra of graphic designer Laura K. Beauparlant, who specializes in clean, contemporary invitations with bold colour schemes. That said, Beauparlant is flexible, styling her invitations to suit clients' personalities,...

Lavender Press.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Designed for champagne tastes, the invitations at Lavender Press are elegant, understated and sensual. Made from heavy cotton stock, they have a textured, old-fashioned feel, with coloured inks and subtle fonts. For those bored of the cream...

MiMa design.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Well known to party planners, this outfit caters to a wide variety of tastes and styles. Looks include beaded invitations, multi-coloured menus and flamboyant cards featuring pressed flowers. MiMa also does church programs, place cards and...

Pantry press.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Invitations by graphic designers Julie Gibb and Christian Morrison are notable for their clean and simple styling. Housed in a quaint 1930s Roncesvalles storefront, the vintage letterpress is the source of all output, printing in hand-mixed ink...

Paper ideas.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... It's hard to imagine a more appropriate name for this emporium of whimsy. Paper Ideas can do silk invitations with pearl embellishments or custom silkscreened acrylics. One even featured mahogany wood printed in copper ink. International...

Paper things.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... From the Yorkville address to the classy materials, this is the last word in elegant invitations. Behold tree fibre and cotton Lalo cards from France or Crane's 100 per cent cotton invitations. There are plenty of dainty accoutrements, too,...

RSVP Studio Ltd.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Custom invitations are this shop's forte, with co-owners Bonnie Greenberg and Elayne Freeman patiently walking you through your options. Choose from bright, double-sided papers; pastel sheets with deckle edges imported from Italy and Spain;...

A room with a view: throw a party with a panorama--in this town, the sky's the limit.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... Canoe Dine on Canoe's award-winning contemporary Canadian cuisine while surveying the view from the 54th floor of the TD Centre. Two private dining rooms (seating 24 and 40) are available during the week, and the entire 140-seat restaurant...

Send sations.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Self-proclaimed perfectionist Jeanie Glazer designs and prints invitations on-site using laser and colour machines, so turnaround is quick; jazzy add-ons ensure all is properly packaged. An the standard styles are represented, displayed in...

The Stationery Shoppe at William Ashley.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... A Toronto wedding institution. Offers a broad range of guest books and photo albums, plus more than 30 invitation catalogues. Samples run the gamut from handmade cotton papers to traditional Chinese invitations. The Stationery Shoppe is adept...

Tiffany and Co.(INVITATIONS)
November 1, 2005... If Tiffany's blue boxes can cause hearts to race, imagine what its invitations can do. All envelopes are embossed with the classic Tiffany label, and all invitations (from $490 for 50) are christened with the stately company watermark. The look...

The Academy of Spherical Arts.(VENUES)(Brief Article)(Restaurant Review)
November 1, 2005... In the heart of Liberty Village, the Academy boasts 20-foot ceilings and rugged post-and-beam construction, attracting everyone from Bruce Willis and Woody Harrelson to those attending weddings and corporate dos. Housed in a former billiards...

Arts & Letters Club of Toronto.(VENUES)(Brief Article)(Restaurant Review)
November 1, 2005... The Great Hall, the club's main room, is appropriately named: there are cathedral ceilings, a baronial fireplace and a rotating exhibition of noted Canadian artists and dub members. Founded in 1906 by a group of Toronto journalists and members...

Berkeley Church.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... Built in 1971, the Berkeley Church did religious duties for nearly a century (it was a Methodist stronghold) before being converted into a film production studio. It is now a charming special-event facility, where lofty ceilings overlook...

The Boulevard Club.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... This regal clubhouse, built in 1905, is a fixture for Toronto preppies. Fitting, then, that the ballroom (220 for dinner, 180 for dinner and dancing) nods to tradition: chandeliers, cream-coloured walls, rich wood panelling and French windows....

Capitol Event Theatre.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... The renovated midtown cinema, famous for its seven-year run of The Gods Must Be Crazy, now plays host to swell parties; it's a popular choice for corporate dos and alternative weddings alike. The 1918 landmark has a swank contemporary feel,...

Carlu.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... A breathtaking example of art moderne, the Carlu--a seventh-floor space at the top of the old Eaton's building--was designed by one of the genre's masters: Jacques Carlu, the famous French architect. Opened in 1931, it hosted high-society...

Casa Loma.(VENUES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The medieval house on the hill comes straight out of a storybook world of valiant knights and golden-haired damsels. Of the three rooms available (which can be rented as a trio), the largest is the Great Hall, a towering space graced by...

Courthouse Market Grille & Chamber Lounge.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... They don't make courtrooms like they used to. The Courthouse Market Grille, built in 1852, is a case in point, with its grand fireplaces, 30-foot ceilings, burgundy velvet curtains, 10-foot chandelier and massive cast iron mirrors. The...

Design Exchange.(VENUES)
November 1, 2005... Style gurus love the Design Exchange, one of the few genuine deco monuments in Toronto. From the stone frieze on the outside to the steel-and-lacquered-birch banister on the marble staircase, the place is brimming with architectural detail....

The Distillery Historic District.(VENUES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... When the historic Gooderham & Worts distillery was revamped in 2003, Toronto got not only a new historic attraction--one of the best preserved sites of Victorian industrial architecture on the continent--but a popular party venue, recently...

The Doctor's House.(VENUES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... This Kleinburg legend is honey sweet and daisy fresh, an apropos setting for a Little Women film shoot or a cozy do for close-knit family and friends. The original house, dating back to 1867, was once home to Dr. Robinson, one of Kieinburg's...