Style & Fashion Holiday Soiree

While initially holding infinite promise, this event was not quite what I expected and unfortunately didn't live up to its branding. When I first received the invitation from The Kit Beauty and Fashion to their Style & Fashion Holiday Soiree featuring complimentary cocktails and cupcakes, I envisioned a rather more refined evening with well-dressed stylish people. I duly recruited a very fashionable friend and the two of us met up for dinner (which was fantastic) before heading over to the "soiree" (which was a letdown). In fact, had we not seen the invitation, it could have been a regular night in just about any nightclub, a scene that neither of us has much appreciation for. In fact, just about the only fashion-related event of the evening was the fact that designer Evan Biddell was dancing not two steps away from us with his models.
Despite our initial disappointment, my trusty fashionista friend and I put our minds to it and decided to have fun regardless. Against all odds, we lasted a whopping 1.5 hrs and got some good cardio exercise on the dance floor, at which point a couple of very persistent guys looking for someone to take home at the end of the night made us beat a hasty retreat. Still, we managed to enjoy our evening and collected our free drinks and got our pictures takes with Santa before calling it a night. Overall, though, this was more of a night of lessons learned than a fun fashion-forward event I had in mind. If you enjoy the club scene, keep an eye out for these. Personally, this isn't one I will be keeping on my list for next year.

WHAT: Style & Fashion Holiday Soiree (read: club night)

WHERE: Cube - 314 Queen St. W.

WHEN: Friday, December 21, 2012

COST: $3 (coat check)

INSIDER TIPS: This event is only suitable for those who enjoy the club scene. If you do, this is a cheap night out, as you pay no cover, get line bypass, and get started off with a free drink. We also saw flyers and posters inside for at least two other free events in the future. Personally, here are some lessons learned from the night:

1. Any  event that starts after 10pm is likely to be a club night, despite the more sophisticated (and misleading) wording used in the invitation.
2. The club scene behooves people to drink in order not to feel completely out of place, and is a very entertaining people-watching experience when one is not drinking.
3. I have very low tolerance for drunk people bumping into me and random guys invading my personal space.
4. You can still have fun when you put your mind to it, wherever you end up.
5. I really need to stop listening to mainstream radio - I actually knew the lyrics to the vast majority of the songs that were played despite not particularly liking most of them.

Kacaba Vineyards Open House

Many wineries (especially in the Niagara region) put on a number of special events each year - open house, holiday celebrations, art shows, concerts, private dinners in the cellar, participation in tasting festivals, etc. Kacaba happens to be one of my personal favourites and I receive email invitations to their special events, so it was a no-brainer to round up my girlfriends for a day trip when I heard about their open house.

Over two days last weekend, Kacaba Vineyards opened its doors to the production area and we received an individual tasting of this year's wines straight from the barrels (with VERY generous "samples"), as well as tastings of any of their other wines we could possibly ask for. There were also special prices on some bottles, appetizers (including the owner grilling some shrimp on the bbq), and a special surprise treat from our host in the form of tastings of a $120 bottle of wine (which we all enjoyed tremendously).

To round off the day, we grabbed lunch and stopped by a few other wineries before heading home. We picked some new wineries that we have not yet visited on previous visits and found some great deals on select bottles in the process. 

WHAT: Kacaba Winery Open House, visits to three other wineries, and lunch at About Thyme Bistro

WHERE: Niagara region, wine country

WHEN: Dec. 9, 2012 (but these types of events are available year round)

COST: $20 (gas money and lunch; all our tastings were free)

INSIDER TIPS: If you are familiar with any local wineries, get yourself on their mailing list. If you don't have any favourites yet, ask your friends or sign up for all of them! It's a great way to learn about upcoming special events and a much cheaper (and fun!) way to spend a day out in the wine country. 

Frolic 2012 - Gallery 401 Annual Open House

This is an event I first discovered last year and liked it so much that I absolutely had to come back. They've moved the date of the Artist Open Studio to a weeknight this year, so there wasn't as much traffic as last year's Saturday scheduling produced, but it was still interesting and worthwhile. The Open House celebration had its launch night yesterday and included gallery events and artist proof sales, artist open studio night, an artisan marketplace, and various exhibits throughout the building. For those unfamiliar with Gallery 401, the building itself is an interesting piece of history (and art, these days). It is a restored, heritage-designated, industrial building in downtown Toronto that is home to over 140 artists, cultural producers, microenterprises, galleries, festivals, and shops. The building is a thriving arts hub that is open to the public and you can spend hours getting lost in its winding hallways. For more information and public events, visit their website.

WHAT: Frolic 2012 - Gallery 401 Open House Launch Night

WHERE: Gallery 401, 401 Richmond St. W

WHEN: Launch Night - December 6, 6:00-9:00 pm
              Artisans Marketplace will continue through to Dec. 9

DETAILS: Click here for details and hours of operation

COST: Free

This little guy was just visiting

INSIDER TIPS: Gallery 44 (one of the galleries inside the building) usually has a coat rack available. You can leave your coat there while you are wondering around the rest of the building and come back for it at the end of the night. Be sure to make your rounds of all the different floors - not all the artists are onsite and have their studios open to visitors during the open house, so the ones that are tend to be rather scattered throughout the building. Signs and arrows are posted throughout, so keep going even if it looks like the floor is deserted - you never know what you'll find around the corner! And all the studios are unique, so you really don't want to miss this rare glimpse into artists' lives!

Donate & Learn Workshop - Social Media

Some say learning is the spice of life and I happen to agree. While I am very familiar with continuing education and independent schools/galleries/businesses/organizations offering courses, workshops, lectures, etc. (and have attended many in the past), there is now a new game in town as well - Donate & Learn workshops organized by Green Lotus and hosted by the charity of choice. The concept is simple: registration for the event is free but a voluntary donation to the host charity is encouraged. The focus of these workshops is on social media, with various subject matter experts delivering presentations and taking questions from the crowd.

Tonight was the first event, hosted by the YWCA. All proceeds from registration donations, raffle tickets, fair trade shop, and bar sales went directly to their Adopt-A-Family program and we got a great overview of their work before the speakers took the podium. Despite this being a new event, the room was packed to the brim, so be sure to grab the best seats early at the next event. Subsequent workshops will be organized in the next few months, so be sure to check out their Facebook page or website for updates.

WHAT: Donate and Learn Workshop - Social Media

WHERE: YWCA Toronto Headquarters, 87 Elm St.

WHEN: December 4, 2012 - 6:00 pm

COST: Free (voluntary donation encouraged)

DETAILS: Click here for speakers and agenda

INSIDER TIPS: These is also a great networking event, so come prepared to mix and mingle and be sure to pack your business cards. Also, while some refreshments and alcoholic drinks are available, you may wish to bring your own tea/coffee into the event if you are a fan of having a hot drink to sip on during the presentation portion.

12 Beers of Christmas - Gladstone Hotel

Gladstone Hotel is a great source of fun events that are either free or very inexpensive to attend. Last night was a great example, with the launch of the first annual 12 Beers of Christmas. A number of breweries were on site offering free tastings. Each guest was given 6 free tasting tickets at the door (yes, people, free beer) and attendees were invited to don their ugliest Christmas sweater to create some extra cheer (some of which really took this challenge to heart!). Christmas music was playing, the hosts were appropriately decked out in Christmas gear and were very entertaining, and the Beer Festival reps were on site selling tickets to the 2013 event. It was a great night and definitely something I will keep an eye on for next year. Lacking an ugly Christmas sweater myself, I now have some shopping to do in preparation.



WHAT: 12 Beers of Christmas - Free Beer Tasting Party

WHERE: Melody Bar, Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. West

WHEN: November 30, 6:00-9:00 pm

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: To avoid waiting in line, arrive early (come on, people - nothing brings out the crowds like free beer!). To snatch one of several tables left in the space once the beer merchants are accommodated, arrive extra early. My friends and I were lucky to snatch the coveted couch arrangement right by the window and we spent the night drinking in style. You can too if you plan ahead. I would also highly recommend keeping an eye on Gladstone Hotel's events page and liking their Facebook page for updates.

Neck of the Woods - A Group Art Show

Group art shows are usually a safe bet even for those who do not consider themselves art connoisseurs. Neck of the Woods showcased 22 local artists with a body of work that expressed their personal connection with a specific Toronto neighbourhood. In addition to the art (which was great), there was also music, food, and drink, as well as a number of giveaways and interactive stations from sponsors and local businesses. For example, you could get your makeup done, get a design painted on your nails (for a donation of tips), sample some gourmet cheesecakes, and go vintage shopping, to make a few. Within the hour from the opening, the space was packed and the crowd was buzzing. This was definitely one you wanted to get to early!

WHAT: Neck of the Woods group art show

WHERE: Norman Felix Gallery, 627 Queen W.

WHEN: Opening party - November 29

COST: Admission - $6 (includes  
            raffle ticket) 
            Food - free
            Makeup application - free
            Nail art design - tip 

 


INSIDER TIPS: Arrive early for best chance to look around before the venue gets packed and indulge in all the freebies without having to wait in line. 

Hugo Boss Store Opening at Yorkdale

Store opening celebrations that cap the attendee list at a manageable size are great events to attend. Hugo Boss was a fantastic example of this. The crowd was small, drinks and food were plentiful, music was great, and there were swag bags, considerable shopping discounts, and a fashion show for the exclusive audience. In order to snag a spot, you need to be aware of the event before the RSVP deadline passes, get your name on the list, and show up early enough to enjoy the night. But that's hardly effort - all you need to do is keep an eye on your inbox and respond quickly.

WHAT: Hugo Boss store opening

WHERE: Yorkdale Mall

WHEN: Tuesday, November 27

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: Keep an eye out on store opening announcements and send in your RSVPs early to snag a spot on the coveted attendee list. A subscription to the Toronto Life distribution list will automatically send you notices to some of these.

Ron James Show - Live Taping at CBC Studios

If you're not up for shelling out some hard-earned cash for one of the regular comedy shows taking place in the city (or if you simply want more variety in between new productions), this is a great - and free! - alternative. While I've never heard of Ron James until my friend asked me if I was interested in going, I'll try just about anything twice, so tonight we donned the requisite dark-coloured clothing and went to a live taping. It was a great time and best of all, super easy on the wallet.

WHERE: CBC Broadcasting Centre, 25 John St.

WHEN: Check website for additional dates and times. The show tapes in the evening, at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm (you would need to arrive up to an hour ahead).

 COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: The taping will take approximately two hours and you are not allowed to leave the studio once you enter, so be sure to take that bathroom break before you go in!

ROM Friday Night Live

If you are looking for a more relaxed version of a night out at an elegant venue but where you can actually talk to your friends without screaming at the top of your lungs, this is your stop. ROM Friday Night Live is a great night out - the crowd is well dressed, some of the exhibits are open, the food is trendy, the drinks are reasonable, and the music is great. You can get dressed to the nines and dance the night away or you can grab one of the numerous tables peppered throughout the space and catch up with your friends. It's fun, original, and doesn't cost you one of your kidneys.

WHERE: Royal Ontario Museum

WHEN: Friday nights, 7pm-12am (three more left this season - Nov. 16, 23, and 30)

DETAILS: See website for weekly themes

COST: Admission $9-$10 (free for museum
            members)
            Food and drink $5-$7
            Coat check $2 (bags are free to check)


INSIDER TIPS: Be sure to arrive early and purchase your tickets online to avoid a long wait in line. The event is very popular and the line to purchase tickets at the door moves slowly. Last call for alcohol is at 11:30 pm and the place is pretty well cleared out by midnight, so expect an early night. Also, many of the food vendors sell out before the night is over, so if you have your eye on something, be sure to get it when you see it or you might not get a chance! (I would highly recommend doing this by 9:30 pm at the latest). The music abruptly stops at 11:30 pm and the crowd rushes to the coat check. If you don't want to spend 20 mins in line for your coat, either collect it before 11:30 or wait the line out comfortable seated inside and be one of the last ones to leave.