| |
Features:
For all your feature article needs...
Bake: Dessert: I’m a social worker by profession but I’ve always enjoyed baking. I started Bake: Dessert when my job ended and I was looking for work. My son’s a pastry chef, and I eventually talked him into starting a business with me. I also asked Karen to join. My son had to leave the business but Karen and I carried on. Karen does the business side, which works out very well. Who else can you trust more than family? READ ON >>
ALL ABOUT TORONTO
It was years ago that I fell in love with Albert and all the delicious oxtail he could offer, and it still remains my go-to place when I crave oxtail. Sure, for the price of a meal plus drink you could be catching the latest Will Smith blockbuster, but the oxtail is worth every penny.
READ ON >>
Tosha Dash: Being a female producer in a male-dominated industry can be both off-putting and empowering. “I think that being a female producer is actually a selling point for me. I think it's definitely something that people remember and they take away from our shows. If people hear that I'm a producer before they actually hear our songs, I think I get something more like, ‘Oh, that's cute, a girl making music.’ They don't expect that it'll be any good. I definitely get a lot of reactions from it.” READ ON >>
Cha Cha: Detail is very important to me, I really have to try and differentiate myself from the other zillions of handbag designers out there so I like to focus on the quality and detail of each piece. I want people to recognize someone carrying a Cha Cha because of the detail, not because of an in-your-face logo. READ ON >>
Afrodelik Designs: It took me about six months to come up with Afrodelik. I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I wanted something that fit me…fit me right. A lot of the names I came up with had the word “Afro” in it. I love the 70s era! I love the coolness of it. I could relate to those women. I thought they were sexy and hot. I think the coolest women, to this day, were the ones with big afros. READ ON >>
Blue Mountain Bistro: A close friend of mine tipped me off about Frederick Roberts - a friend of his, who is the executive chef at Blue Mountain Bistro - a new upscale West Indian restaurant. Okay, my mom is from Trinidad and noooooo one can whip up Caribbean dishes like my moms (or so I thought!)...so I was bit hesitant to check it out. READ ON >>
BOOM Marketing: No two seconds are the same. When we hire candidates, me make sure and tell them that. One minute we could be schlepping cases of product and the next moment we're preparing presentations or we're doing an activation. We don't have a typical day. I would say that our strength is that we have yet to do anything twice. It's a strength because our stuff is very creative and designed to respond to the character of a brand. We truly try to create unique experiences for the brands. READ ON >>
Honey Matthews: When I was younger around 14 or 15 years old, and I started going to Caribana. I went the first couple of times and I didn’t dress up...I didn’t realize what it was really about. And then as I got older I saw that it was like a fashion show. So I said, “Okay, I’m going to start making my own clothes!” That’s when I started designing my own outfits to go. Girls would come up to me and say, “Girl, that’s hot!” and I would be like “really?!” People were noticing my clothes and that’s when I realized that I wanted to design. READ ON >>
Scratch Lab: The main classroom is spacious, with ample room to house the many turntable workstations that are set up. The instructor stands on an elevated platform while a projector screen behind him catches all of his moves. This allows the students to see everything that he is doing. Very impressive! The school also boasts two practice rooms for those who want to get in some extra study time. READ ON >>
FEATURED OLDIE
On the afternoon of the date, I hadn't heard from him via e-mail or phone. This placed me in a peculiar predicament. Should I call him to see if he'd received my e-mail, and to ask if the date was still on? Or, should I not call him and assume that it was in fact still on? Or, should I call him and say that I was running late and would therefore need to meet fifteen minutes later, thereby confirming the date in a stealthy fashion?
READ ON >>
Dr. Kenneth Montague: We'd be sitting on the front steps looking across at Hitsville, USA and Motown Records and see Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross adorned with her white gloves, and Marvin Gaye coming out of their cars and going to the recording studio. That was a big influence seeing black culture in an extremely innovative, stylish, positive light versus what we'd see on TV with "What's Happening" and "Good Times." READ ON >>
Makeup By CC: "Get your hands on any and every magazine. Study them on your own before you decide to go to school. It confirms everything. If you're not interested in makeup and you think that taking courses in school will change that, then you're wasting your time. If you don't have the passion for it outside of school, what makes you think that you will have a passion for it once you get in school?" READ ON >>
Shebang! Crew: I think that if we had boys in the group we would be better breakers. It would push us more to try harder things. But at the same time, we formed this kind of bond and friendship I don't think that we would have if we were in another crew. We are like best friends. To me, that is the best part of being in an all girl crew. I have four best friends. READ ON >>
Carion Fenn Interiors: Interior Designers and Decorators have the ability to take a humdrum room and jazz it up to fit your own personal style. Knowing what looks good in a room and where to put is not just a stroke of luck, it's a skill. I caught up with Carion Fenn, a successful Toronto based Interior Decorator and Designer and owner of Carion Fenn Interiors, and had a chance to ask her a few questions about her profession of choice. READ ON >>
Inspired Brides: For anyone walking down the aisle, the preparation for the big day can be frustrating and exhausting - not to mention costly. And honestly, there are very few people that actually have the creative dexterity of Martha Stewart. With the use of innovative and economical wedding ideas and designs, Wong and Chu have helped hundreds of brides and grooms plan the perfect wedding, and now they're sharing their expertise. READ ON >>
Pretty Paper: I had the chance to ask Sasha Brijmohan a few questions about her amazing customized invitations and cards company, Pretty Paper. I had the pleasure of receiving a few cards not too long ago, and I desperately wanted to speak to the brains behind the operation. READ ON >>
More than Wishful Thinking: For Jane Francisco, Editor-in-Chief of Wish magazine - "the Canadian woman's Shopping List for Life" - promoting ways to get out there and do some good is an important part of sitting at the helm of one of Canada's newest and brightest consumer glossies. READ ON >>
Dance, Ballerina, Dance: It's easy to imagine Courtney Lutz, her dark eyes wide with concentration, as she watches her older sisters from the sidelines of their ballet class. Though she begs and pleads to join the girls in their black leotards, pink tights and, best of all, frothy tutus, the teacher remains firm: "Not until she's out of diapers!" READ ON >>
Copping the Perfect Job: Roulston also says some people hassle her simply because she's female. "I'm bombarded with stupid sexual comments from drunk guys - usually something about a girl in uniform with handcuffs and a gun. Get over it, guys! It's not funny after the 15,000th time!" READ ON >>
This Business Really Suits Her: After seven years working part-time fitting bras in her mother's Yonge Street lingerie store - Melmira Bra Boutique - custom retail seemed to be in Amie Heenan's blood. "I was raised in the business," says Heenan, 26. "My grandmother has a store out west, my cousin has one in Edmonton. I was raised feeling that being fitted for your undergarments is really important." READ ON >>
Reddy Fox: First off, I must congratulate my friend for all his success. Not only does he DJ exclusively for Kardi (Kardinal Offishall), he works at Flow 93.5, and he DJs at tons of clubs in the T Dot. READ ON >>
Golden Child: I was really curious about his DJ name, so the first question out of my mouth was, "How did you come up with your name?" He was quick to say that he didn't come up with the name; "some of his boys" came up with his alias. READ ON >>
The ill kidz: As the interview went on, I was thinking, "Damn, I got respect for this guy." Not only have the ill kidz been DJing for 10 years (by the way, Ricky is just 23 years old), they are ambitious and they haven't gotten caught up in the moment. They see their careers spanning a very long time. READ ON >>
Rich Lowenberg: "That's not a question I answer," he laughs. "I get asked that a lot. The part of the point is that it's very ambiguous. I think if you knew the answer, it would spoil it." Damn. READ ON >>
Jemeni: When I first spoke to Jemeni I felt like I found my new best friend. Not only do we both have a love for poetry and Lauryn Hill, we both confessed to having a weakness for American men (yo, T-dot men, don't get it twisted, we love y'all too.) READ ON >>
Kid Carson: Kid Carson's picture on the Kiss 92 website does not do him justice. That is the first thing I notice about the Toronto DJ when he greets us down at the radio station's lobby. The second thing I notice is that his voice is even sexier in person than it is on the radio, if that's possible. READ ON >>
George Stroumboulopoulos: As the days passed and I spoke to more people about the upcoming interview, I received a mixed bag of opinions on the Much Music VJ. Good or bad, I realized, everyone has an opinion about him. And that's the beauty of George. READ ON >>
Man of the Year: About three hours later, after I've drunk myself into a despondent stupor, I switch gears and start thinking about my Man of the Year pick. Who stood out this year, without resorting to drunken arrests or scandalous affairs? Who made 2006 a little funnier, but intentionally? Who achieved fame, without having to date Paris Hilton? After half of Hollywood was eliminated, the answer was clear. READ ON >> 2006 Reader's Poll: Just as Rob Schneider has become a staple in our lil' poll, we've noticed that David Spade is also sitting comfortable here. With Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, and now The Benchwarmers, it's hard to imagine any worst list without him. Despite his popularity here, it's the much-parodied Snakes on a Plane that earns our wrath, with Basic Instict 2 not far behind. This horrible sequel ties for second with Big Momma's House (which still managed to pull in a baffling $70 million at the box office) and Jackass: Number Two. READ ON >>
2005 Reader's Poll: The Black Eyed Peas rightly come in first with their horrible, insipid, and utterly stupid "My Humps," while another horrible, insipid, and utterly stupid remake, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," comes in a close second. This year marks the first time Eminem has gone from our "Best" categories to our "Worst," but with "Ass Like That," he proves that grown men acting juvenile is not a crowd-pleaser. "Hollaback Girl," by Gwen Stefani, was not loathed by our readers, although it was kind of loathed by us. READ ON >>
Man of 2005: Since I haven’t seen “It’s Like That” in a long time, the only scene that I can recall is the one where he is wearing that stupid masquerade mask. But in “We Belong Together,” his hotness is displayed on a pillar for all to see. As he sits languidly in his suit and running shoes, we can’t help but ogle. Plus, he really sells his attraction to Carey, although in this particular video, her eyebrows have run away from her face. READ ON >>
Grrl of 2005: She completely deserves to be the Grrl of the Year for coming out with an impressive CD and for successfully rejuvenating her career. Instead of being defeated and giving up, she got back to what she does best and showed us all that she ain’t ready to leave the game. READ ON >>
You've Got Matches II: Dave said he was an adventurous guy, so I quizzed him a little about his…"adventures." He had considered skydiving, thought about bungee jumping, was going to get his motorcycle license sometime, and hadn't gone hiking lately. His cup of something wonderful was coffee. He had, however, injured his thumb recently while skiing. READ ON >>
Wedding Wise: Too many people subscribe to tradition without knowing why. Couples deserve more than your average, run-of-the-mill McWedding. The more you know about wedding customs, the easier it is to pick and choose the ones that mean most to you and create your own unique ceremony. Likewise, the more you know, the more amused you'll be sitting through each of your girlfriends' ceremonies. READ ON >>
Self Help Books: Instead of hanging by a thread and wasting their time, the book says, women should be taking control of their lives and moving on to a man who deserves their time and attention. Amen! But is this all the book really says? After all, there are 176 pages in there, and that's a lot to fill with something that I was able to say in two sentences. READ ON >>
You've Got Matches: If a couple has a match, they will receive each other's email address, and a free pass to pursue their connection. If a person does not receive a match, he or she may attend another event for free. This is surely an incentive - if you're rejected 25 times, you can come back for more. READ ON >>
Strip To Fit: I'm on my way to try the latest trend in fitness - strip aerobics. With DVDs like Carmen Electra's Official Aerobics Striptease Strip Workout topping the bestseller list for workout videos, it seems everyone wants to learn to be a stripper these days - or, at least, have a body like one. READ ON >>
Grrl of 2004: It's been a long time since a female R&B artist from Canada has received so much attention (do you remember Deborah Cox or…Tamia?). So I'm thrilled that this truly talented artist is getting the opportunity to let her star shine. READ ON >>
Man of 2004: After much deliberation, a couple of glasses of wine, and a heart-warming rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from a Christmas Day showing of The Sound of Music, I was ready to name my man of the year. READ ON >>
2004 Reader's Poll: British group Franz Ferdinand, who barely made a splash in North America but caused much buzz in England, is edged out by Gwen Stefani to fall to a commendable third place. Unfortunately, Scott Weiland's protruding ribs and Slash's kooky hair weren't enough to get Velvet Revolver into the top three. READ ON >>
The Relationship Survey: If there weren't any games, things would be a lot more boring and less dramatic. Where's the intrigue and anticipation in that? But there has to be balance, don't let things get out of hand because the only people who should be dealing with excessive levels of drama are talk show hosts and soap opera writers. READ ON >>
Feminism: They will mourn the ails of society, the corporate glass ceilings, those stupid Swiffer ads that show women cleaning the floor in an ecstatic frenzy. But at the end of the day, they will come home and expect their boyfriends or husbands to give them flowers and take them out to dinner. READ ON >>
Man of 2003: They say that for every good man, there is an even better woman standing right behind him. This being the 21st century, the same can be said about a good woman. And if she were lucky, the good man standing behind her would also have an empire built around him. READ ON >>
2003 Reader's Poll: Linkin Park is still in our hearts, while Eminem is absent but proudly represented by his protégé, 50 Cent. Beyoncé's summer anthem, Crazy in Love, wins by a landslide, while the other club anthem, I'll Never Leave You, isn't quite as vote-worthy. READ ON >>
The Female Condom: Despite the benefits, only 36 percent of the participants said they would continue to use the female condom instead of the male condom, even if it was available free of charge. READ ON >>
Online Dating: Who are these people? Are they interested? Are they profiled for some reason? I don't get it. Everyone is over thirty, with the exception of a twenty-nine year old professor who likes to wear a bandanna around his neck. Maybe he's in some kind of French gang? READ ON >>
Happy (First) Birthday to Us!: Since I didn't have the money to take a web design course or hire a doppelganger or stage my own fake death, I did the next best thing and tried to learn how to put a website together. Through trial and error, it slowly morphed into what it is today, and it only took me fifty hours of staring at the wall and cursing at my computer to do it. READ ON >>
2002 Reader's Poll: We asked and you answered. From Best Artist to Worst Movie, you told us what you liked and hated about 2002, and we put it all here for you to check out. READ ON >>
Man of 2002: This man embodies everything that I want and respect in a man. First of all, he's talented as hell, he's creative, and last but not least, he is dripping with bad-boy sexiness that I just can't resist!!! READ ON >>
Depression: Everyone gets the blues. It would be inhuman not to get down once in a while or even feel slightly depressed. The difference between this and severe depression is that the blues eventually subside, while depression can last months or years, and recur without warning. READ ON >>
The Rules: After reading the first three chapters of the book, it becomes apparent that the authors know how to manipulate the reader - and nothing much else. If you read between the lines and clichés, you'll find that they prey on gullible and desperate women's fears of being alone. READ ON >>
Safe Sex: You and your man are horny as hell, and you both want some, but you either don't have any rubbers, or you haven't taken any necessary precautions for birth control. Basically, you are both relying on blind luck that you won't get pregnant or contract an STD. READ ON >>
Hidden Gems: I invited a friend to spend the day with me and explore the district. We arrived mid-afternoon; therefore we had ample time to soak up the historic feel of the neighbourhood. I loved the rustic look of the cobblestone roads and the Victorian buildings. They made me feel as if I escaped the millennium and was thrown into the Industrial Age. What I liked most about this area was the maze-like setup. In one corner you have a cluster of artsy home décor shops, and in the next is a gigantic ornate gallery. There was a surprise behind every corner. READ ON >> Sweets: Not wasting any time, we frantically scanned the display case for anything containing chocolate. Trying to choose which dessert looked the yummiest was a feat in itself. I saw cookies bursting with chocolate, elaborately designed cakes, and fruit filled tarts. I was in heaven! We eventually decided on getting the Key Lime Tart. It didn’t contain much chocolate, but it looked so cute! READ ON >>
Eat: When my meal hit the table I felt as though my eyes were playing tricks on me. Either that, or they gave me a meal from the kid's menu. I tried to eat very slowly so that I could savour every morsel. By the time that I put the last forkful of food in my mouth, I was still a little hungry. READ ON >>
Clubs: Money is a typical club, although the pictures in their photo album, satiated with "boob" shots and guys pimped out to the point of mockery, might tell you otherwise. On any given night, you can catch their go-go dancers shaking their thang on the front outdoor patio, which, as a woman, gives me little reason to go inside. READ ON >>
Eclectic Shopping: When I feel like it's time for me to get back to my hippie roots, I immediately think of Kensington. Their selection of retro clothing could rival any fashion conscious city. Where else would you have the choice of buying a vintage ball gown, authentic vintage tees, or Michael Jackson's Thriller album (on vinyl, no less) all in the same place? READ ON >>
Hair: I love that Rosina makes me feel special every single time that I visit the shop. She is one of the sweetest people that you'll ever meet, and she always gives her clients exactly what they want. Believe me, she will work on your 'do until you are truly satisfied. READ ON >>
Jazz: Another great thing about Alley Catz is its dance lessons. If you're anything like me and have three left feet - the extra foot just spontaneously appearing at the oddest times - then it may be time to boogie yourself over to some lessons. READ ON >>
Rapper: After a few listens to the song in its entirety, I was overcome by your boldness. I love that you put out a song that is, first and foremost, deep, but it also has a funky beat that is so infectious! You truly are hip-hop's reigning king. READ ON >>
Lounges: Lobby does have its share of pretty, well made-up people, but what got to me the most was its badly designed floor space. More specifically, its lack of seating areas. After an hour, all I wanted to do was push one of the pretty people off their pretty chair so I would have a place to rest my feet. READ ON >>
Radio Station: No day would be complete if I didn't get the chance to listen to the crazy antics of Jemeni and Mark Strong on The Morning Rush. I look forward to listening to them on the long trek to my job. It definitely makes my tedious 1 ˝ hour bus ride go faster. READ ON >>
Patties: I'm not the only one hooked on this treat. When I took a trip to Los Angeles to visit my then-boyfriend, he made me promise to bring him at least half a dozen of Ralph's infamous patties. Yes, I brought them and we consumed them within seconds. READ ON >>
Getaways: The live band isn't as annoying as some live bands can be (mostly because their amps aren't turned up all the way), and in addition to jazz-infused numbers and 50's Motown favourites, you'll also get Celine Dion and Whitney Houston (by request, of course…I'm sure the band dreads requests). READ ON >>
Dance: G Spot, for me, was one of those clubs that you always pass, laugh at the line-up, and then wonder what the big deal is. One night I found myself wandering in, and finally figured out why it was so popular. READ ON >>
Dessert: Mmm, if it's desserts you're after, then head down to Just Desserts. They have a very extensive selection of cheesecakes, tortes, flans, and cakes. Okay, so I don't really like dessert, but I know you do. READ ON >>
Eat: If you are ever in the T-dot and are looking to deviate from hamburgers and fries, brush up on your chopstick skills and drop by Pho Mi 99. READ ON >>
Drink: Every time I've left, I've been a happy customer. Of course, every time I've left I've also been drunk out of my mind, but we'll save these stories for another time. READ ON >>
Hair: She deserves props because of her versatility. Not only is she able to style chemically straightened hair (which is easier); she is able to transform my everyday look into something sensual. READ ON >>
Karaoke: XO Karaoke is the place she was talking about in her article, and it's my home away from home. My foray into the ancient art of karaoke began there almost four years ago. READ ON >>
Movies: A multitude of celebs hop in and out of limos just to make it to their premiere on time, or to go to a fabulous party. It is pure bliss for starstruck individuals like myself. READ ON >>
Shop: Pacific Mall is a great place to shop if you have the money. Remember not to take the first offer. Have cash handy and test your bargaining skills. Get what you want at a reasonable price. Read on >>
