This is actually one of the best reviews of the new Gatsby we’ve read. As a huge fan of the novel, and a quasi-fan of the Robert Redford Gatsby, James Franco’s review in VICE is fair, and thought provoking - and has actually restored our interest in the film. Give it a read!
Gatsby - a few impressions
With Victoria Day weekend fast approaching, we at Madhouse are eagerly looking forward to our weekend plans. A few of us are escaping the city this weekend to battle the blackflies in the country or making the six hour drive to Pembroke. For those who are opting to stay local this long weekend, Artfest Ontario is hosting its Toronto show in the Distillery District - and admission is free!
With 85 different artists taking over the Distillery, there is no better way to spend a beautiful sunny long-weekend than by strolling through this historic neighbourhood. Running May 18, 19 and 20 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily, it’s easy to get caught up in all the amazing wares on display.
Take a peak at our itinerary for a day out at the Artfest Toronto in the Distillery:
11:00 a.m. - Arrive at the Distillery (possibly via First Class Rickshaw from the Streetcar at King and Parliament). Stop in at Caffe Furbo for a latte to kick-start your day of shopping!
11:30 a.m. - Start your shopping! Check out the amazing art and jewellery from artists like this:
Devine (located at booth D13)
Chez-Toi (located at booth E10)
1:00 p.m. - Stop in for lunch at the Brick Street Bakery (BLT $4.50!) or grab a pint and a burger at the Mill Street Brewpub.
2:00 p.m. - Keep exploring the great vendors throughout the area.
Kristensen-Smith (located at booth D2)
Michael Hyman Photography (located at booth A9/10)
6:00 p.m. - Step into to Pure Spirits Oyster House for dinner. With outstanding daily specials, and to-die-for oysters, this is a great place for a Saturday night out!
8:00 p.m. - The best way to end your day out in the Distillery? Stop by Greg’s Ice Cream for a scoop (or two)! Try the Burnt Marshmallow ice cream. It’s the taste of summer campfires in a delightful frozen treat!
Stop checking that clock, because today will be the longest Monday of all time. Like most of the citizens of Toronto (and Leaf nation), we at Madhouse are working away, just hoping that 7:00 p.m. comes soon so we can turn to CBC and experience another 60-minutes of stomach turning, heart-stopping, ulcer inducing hockey as the Leafs battle the Bruins in game seven of a fast paced, hard fought opening round of the NHL playoffs.
The NHL playoffs have revitalized this city. It’s united the citizens under the blue and white. It’s drawing the city out from under the sizeable girth of a less than reputable mayor. It’s even caused us to forget the disappointing play of the Blue Jays, you know, the favourites to win the pennant this year? (sorry, the Blue Jays play BASEBALL - nine guys on a field with bats and balls)
And maybe it’s because we’ve missed this; the draw of playoff hockey, the bandwagon jumpers, the horns blazing down Yonge St after the win, the nausea caused by that final five minutes of a close game. Maybe the city needed the nine-year hiatus between playoff appearances. That’s not to say we enjoyed missing out year after year. That’s not to say that the mockery of our team didn’t cut deep. That’s not to say that the Leafs weren’t trying in the years leading up to this season. We are a young team, and it’s taken time, but we have matured into a strong team, ready to make a stand in the playoffs.
As much as the other Canadian teams hate to admit it,(**Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal in particular), the Toronto Maple Leafs are Canada’s team. You can be anywhere in the world and you will find a Leafs fan. It’s inevitable. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the standard uniting cyclists and motorists, the Conservatives and the Liberals, the jocks and the geeks, immigrants and natives. Blue and white can be seen everywhere from little Portugal to the Beaches, the Lakeshore to the furthest reaches of the GTA. Right now, we are all bleeding blue, and frankly is it a surprise?
The Leafs wear the symbol of our nation on their chests. It’s a unifying symbol. When Conn Smythe took over the team in 1927 and transformed us from the Toronto St Pats to the Maple Leafs he chose the Leaf as the symbol to fight for:
“The Maple Leaf to us, was the badge of courage, the badge that meant home. It was the badge that reminded us all of our exploits and the different difficulties we got into and the different accomplishments we made. It was a badge that meant more to us than any other badge that we could think of… so we chose it… hoping that the possession of this badge would mean something to the team that wore it and when they skated out on the ice with this badge on their chest… they would wear it with honour and pride and courage, the way it had been worn by the soldiers of the first Great War in the Canadian Army.”
Maybe the nine-year absence was necessary to make us value these Leafs again. Maybe these Leafs are representing the same values that Mr. Smythe saw 86 years ago. These Leafs are fighting for the Stanley Cup, and in doing so, they’ve united all the members of Leafs nation: Torontonians, Canadians, international fans, new fans, old fans, bandwagon hoppers, and the unyielding faithful.
With pay day on the horizon, we felt it was our duty to inform our readers about two sales happening this weekend in the heart of Queen West…you know, so you can blow all money you worked so hard for this week!
First off, on Saturday May 11, head out to 627 Queen St West for the launch of Friendly Wealth Clothing by the Enjoyeur Collective. Specializing in one-of-a-kind t-shirts with roots in underground music and action sports, each piece focuses on the here and now. With images and clever word-play celebrating the boundary pushing lifestyle of the Collective, no two shirts are ever the same. Custom modifications are encouraged and the hand-cut stencils and silk-screened prints literally transform the same old shirt into a unique and vibrant statement or series. Did we mention that Friendly Wealth is fully licensed? The evening launch party (starting at 7:00p.m.) is also set to feature performances by some surprise DJs. Have a drink, buy some clothing, and take in the awesome atmosphere. 20% of sales from the opening will go to charity in accordance with the “Friendly” mandate.
Looking for another great place to shop for charity on May 11? Head down to lemonTree Creations for their $2 Clothing Sale in support of the Paprika Festival. The Paprika Festival is a theatre festival in the city that brings the development of Canadian theatre to the forefront. This year, the $2 Clothing sale fundraiser is being hosted by lemonTree Creations (196 Spadina Ave, just north of Queen St). LemonTree Creations is a Toronto-based theatre company that tries to innovate theatre through non-conventional means and develop new Canadian plays by investing in artists and bringing rarely told stories to the stage. The $2 Clothing Sale is like the ultimate garage sale. Re-vamp your entire summer wardrobe for $2 an item!
It’s practically summer, and you deserve a treat. Take yourself out May 11 for some major retail therapy - and support your local businesses and charities at the same time!
She took care of you when you were sick, made innumerable school lunches, sat through every hockey game, school play, dance recital, and science fair. She’s the one who helped you through your first break up, your first broken bone and your first tattoo. How can you ever say thank you for all of the wonderful things your mother has done?
With Mother’s Day looming on the horizon, we at Madhouse have assembled a list of some ways to say thank you to Mom in and around the city this mother’s day.
Fancy Food
High Tea at the Fairmont Royal York Library Bar
Treat Mom to an afternoon of luxury in Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York. The afternoon tea tradition has been served at the Fairmont Royal York since its opening in 1929. In addition to fine tea and a decadent menu ($35 prix fixe), guests are also able to explore the rooftop herb garden and the hotel’s famous urban bee apiary.
Mother’s Day Tea at Black Creek Pioneer Village
Want to escape the urban life for an afternoon? Black Creek Pioneer Village is hosting its annual Mother’s Day tea with two sittings (12:30 and 2:30). Experience the finery of Victorian Canadian living by spending the afternoon as far removed from bustle of Queen Street and the 501 Streetcar as possible (while still in the city).
Mother’s Day Brunch at the Drake Hotel
The Drake Hotel has two options on the menu to celebrate Mother’s Day this year: the 3-course prix fixe, or the Family Style Soul Food Feast in the Underground. The prix fixe is a Drake tradition that serves up the Drake’s take on traditional brunch for $34 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The Soul Food Feast at the Underground will feature all the fixings of the south complete with performances by a live blue-grass band. For a spicy mama with southern soul, this fun take on brunch is sure to delight. Contact the special events team for reservations.
Festival of Chefs at The Cheese Boutique
Does your mother like entertaining? Then these workshops at the Cheese Boutique are the perfect way to spend some QT with Mom. Toronto’s top chefs take to the Cheese Boutique to teach you how to make the perfect wine and cheese pairing. Sunday, Chef Grant van Gameren from Bar Isabel will be working with Beamsville, Ontario winery, Hidden Bench.
Fancy flowers
Casa Loma Plant Sale at Casa Loma
Treat Mom like a queen today with a tour around the grounds at Casa Loma. Visit the annual Plant Sale early and help Mom build her own Versailles from the lush plants cultivated by the gardening team at Casa Loma. The beauties for purchase include rare cannas, dahlias, as well as heirloom vegetables and a plethora of other flora to enjoy all summer long.
Plant Sale and Tea and Truffle Pairing at the Toronto Botanical Gardens
Visit the Toronto Botanical Garden this Mother’s Day for both their Tea and Truffle Pairing and their highly anticipated Plant Sale. The Tea and Truffle Pairing runs Sat., May 11 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. for $65 for non-TBG members. The Plant Sale runs all weekend, and if this weather holds out, a beautiful afternoon on the TBG grounds could be the perfect bonding time with Mom.
Fancy Finery
One of a Kind Jewellery Design at Anice Jewellery
What better gift than the one you make yourself? In this case, take Mom to Anice Jewellery, right in the heart of Kensington Market! From 10 a.m. -12 p.m., Anice will be hosting a Mother’s Day jewellery-making workshop that includes mimosas and treats. Create a bauble for yourself or for each other. ($20 plus cost of materials)
Downtown Abbey Day at William Ashley
You’re obsessed, admit it. From the Dowager’s English wit to the intrigues of the servants’ lives, Downtown Abbey has taken North America by storm. The Spadina Museum and William Ashley have joined together to bring you an entire afternoon of Downtown. Running Saturday May 11 from Noon- 5:00 p.m., William Ashley will host a series of events and lectures focusing on the finer aspects of Victorian living. From Table Settings to Period Fashion and even an Etiquette Challenge, this event is the closest thing most of us will ever come to the life of Lady Mary Crawley.
Fancy Fellows
The Theatre!
Make it up to Mom for every horrible re-enactment of West-Side Story that she had to sit through by taking her to one of the amazing theatre experiences around town. From the newest hit, The Book of Mormon, to the classic The Wizard of Oz, what Mom wouldn’t love a night at the theatre?
The Godmother of Punk, Patti Smith, has brought the work of her camera to the Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St W) with Patti Smith: Camera Solo.
Smith, a major fixture in the New York City punk rock movement of the ’70s, has continued to develop her other artistic talents. This is the first presentation of Smith’s work as a photographer in Canada. The exhibit features approximately 70 black and white photographs presented as gelatin silver prints, which were taken with Smith’s vintage Polaroid camera. Many of the pictures are accompanied by personal objects of the artist to add context to the images captured.
Smith, best known for her song “Because the Night”, co-written by Bruce Springsteen, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2005 she was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. Smith’s prowess as an author was also acknowledged in 2010 when she won the National Book Award for her memoir, Just Kids.
This exhibit at the AGO highlights the deep relationship that Smith has developed between her interest in poetry and literature. The images are dreamlike moments encapsulating a hidden power, that resonates within each individual as deeply as her lyrics.
The Exhibit runs until July 14, 2013.
The world is full of beauty and colour, and nothing exemplifies this more than a beautiful spring day in Toronto. Appropriately so, the splash of colour from tulips and magnolias also heralds in the 98th annual Graduate Exhibition at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (100 McCaul St).
With over 550 graduates displaying the work of their theses, the event is sure to be a delight. Running from May 2 until Sunday May 5 as a pay-what-you-can event, GradEx is accessible to everyone. Students from 12 undergraduate disciplines will be displaying the fruits of their studies to an estimated 26,000 people over the four day exhibit.
OCADU has gone the extra step this year and created an App to help patrons enhance their visit. The App features a map to navigate the inner workings of OCADU and a list of the medal winners and other exhibitors and where their work is located. An interesting feature of this App is the GradEx Camera which allows you to take photos on your smartphone of the art and share them with the online and OCAD community.
Check out the App at http://myeventapps.com/ocadugradex/.
From photography and illustration, to fabric and ceramic design, come out an experience what the freshest artistic minds have to offer.
On May 26, bring the family down to the Evergreen Brick Works to take part in the Walk of Life in support of the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada.
Join The Mikey Network’s Team Mikey at the Walk as they continue their work to promote heart health.
The Mikey Network was founded in 2003 by Heathwood Homes and The Heron Group of Companies in honour of their partner Mike Salem, who tragically lost his life in the summer of 2002 when his heart stopped while golfing in Muskoka. In his memory, the Mikey Network was formed to promote public awareness and education about heart healthy lifestyles. By placing public access defibrillators (MIKEYS) in as many high-risk locations as possible, the Mikey Network is striving to ensure those affected by sudden cardiac arrest may have a second chance at life.
With a 1km Family Run (for those with strollers etc.) and a “Tot Trot”, this event is a great way for a family to spend the a beautiful May morning. There’s also a competitive 3 and 5 km run with prizes going to the top three male and female competitors.
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It’s May, and with the budding magnolias comes the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival. Founded in 1997, the festival runs from May 1-31 and celebrates the art of photography. Contact is one of the premier cultural events in Canada and the largest photography event in the world. More than 1500 Canadian and international artists contribute their work in more than 175 venues across the GTA.
(Akihiko Miyoshi, Abstract Photograph, 2011)
This year’s theme is titled Field of Vision and explores the medium’s history and its current manifestations. The festival brings focus to the camera’s ability to extend the eyes field of vision; to bring focus to what is invisible to the naked eye.
(Sebastiào Salgado, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska, 2009)
The art will be displayed at venues and galleries across the city and on a variety of public places as well. The AGO, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Tiff Bell Lightbox, and the Ryerson Image Centre are a few of the venues hosting the festivals artists. Keep an eye out for billboards along Spadina and Dundas St W to also be displaying work by artists. If you’re a traveler, St Patrick’s subway station will predominantly feature the work of some of the festivals artists, as will Pearson International Airport.
(Source: scotiabankcontactphoto.com)
We at Madhouse want to send out a big congratulations to all the winners at this year’s BILD Awards. The event was another major success and a bright night for our industry. It’s such a treat to get glammed up to celebrate accomplishments within the building industry.
The building and development industry celebrated its 33rd awards at the Paramount Event Venue with more than 1,100 professionals in attendance. There were 48 distinct awards that were handed out ranging from ad campaigns to architectural design, green living and community building.
Angus Glen Community, by Kylemore Communities received the low-rise P2G Community of the Year award.
MOD Developments’ Massey Tower won Pinnacle Awards for both High-Rise Project of the Year and Best High-Rise Building Design.
The HOT in Mississauga project by Great Gulf Homes took home awards for Best Newspaper Ad and Best Brochure for a Low-Rise.
The People’s Choice Award went deservedly to Lifetime Developments and CentreCourt Developments’ INDX Condos. The teams at Lifetime and CentreCourt did a phenomenal job on these condos creating a fun, creative and interactive campaign. More than 1,300 people voted during an online public engagement campaign.
Some notable faces at the event included Darlene Fraser from Eastforest Homes Ltd. and Michael Rosset, the President at HOMES Publishing Group. My Design Studio’s Yasmine Goodwin and Hugh Hagen were members of the Madhouse table and helped us celebrate the building and development industry Oscars!
(The Madhouse Crew setting out. I swear, we didn’t intentionally coordinate our outfits.)
