Mad Angles

'Gatsby' | VICE United States

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:31:01 -0400

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!

jamesfranco:

Gatsby - a few impressions

View more on WhoSay »

A "Victoria Day" day out in the Distillery

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:20:57 -0400

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!

Uniting under the Blue and White

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:42:01 -0400

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.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz...This is where the shopping is!

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:38:36 -0400

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...

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:07:04 -0400

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?

Through the lens of the Godmother of Punk

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:30:38 -0400

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.

Beauty among us at the OCAD GradEx

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:35:21 -0400

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.

The beat goes on...

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:00:48 -0400

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.

Our world in pictures

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:21:00 -0400

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.

And the winners are...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:59:43 -0400

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.)

Good will in full bloom at Humewood House Gala

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:19:10 -0400

This year’s Humewood House In Bloom Gala was a huge success! Set in the beautiful Malaparte room at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, supporters of Humewood gathered and enjoyed the sounds of Heillig Manoeuvre and Alana Bridgewater.

Guests sampled outstanding hors d’oeuvres by O & B and bid on items at the silent auction. From Jays tickets to a week’s stay in Florida, the silent auction had something for everyone and guests outbidding each other for a great cause.

(Soleil and Joshua, Humewood House mother and child)

The event was particularly touching when two Humewood mothers took to the stage to share their personal experiences with Humewood and discussed the benefits of a place like the Humewood House.

(Sabrina and Nina, Humewood House mother and child)

The volunteers were recruited early as Nina, whose mother, Sabrina, was a Humewood resident and is currently a full-time student at York University, circulated through the crowd and sold keys to “unlock” an iPad.

Despite the cold, damp April weather, the warm and cheery atmosphere of the event was appreciated by all who attended. It was another great night for a great cause and we at Madhouse were thankful to be part of such a wonderful event.

(Madhouse crew at the Humewood In Bloom Gala)

A night to remember: The Humewood In Bloom Gala

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:32:27 -0400

The Humewood In Bloom Gala is happening April 24 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the crew from Madhouse will be in attendance. Running from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the gala is sure to be a huge success featuring live music, a cocktail reception and a great silent auction. The gala, presented by The Daniels Corporation in support of the Humewood House, will be “a night to remember”.

Humewood House was founded in 1912 and provides a safe and caring environment for young pregnant and parenting women and their children. Located in the Bathurst and St. Clair area, Humewood offers childcare, education, residential services and life skills training for young mothers. Last year Humewood helped over 400 women and pregnant teens.

Check out www.humewoodinbloomgala.com for more details and www.humewoodhouse.com for more information and to find out how you can become a Humewood supporter.

Drumroll ...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:48:57 -0400

Madhouse is excited to unveil our 2013 marketing campaign including a redesigned website. Our new bold and contemporary look reflects the talent and vision of Madhouse. Our website showcases many of our award winning projects. Find out more at www.madhouseinc.ca

Tami Kenwell, the president of Madhouse works tirelessly to create a strong and memorable brand for her clients. The success of any brand depends on the ability to stand out from the competition. With 24 years of industry experience in sales and marketing, specializing in the real estate industry, Tami provides excellent client service for her clients in this boutique agency. Madhouse is made up of a talented team, which is continually growing and expanding to meet the needs of our clients.

“Work with creative people, have fun with your agency and make ads that are memorable.”
Tami Kenwell

The Gift of Giving

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:19:41 -0500

This year for the holidays, Madhouse has decided to ‘pay it forward’ and help other businesses in developing countries to get off their feet by donating to Kiva.

Kiva is a lending program that empowers men and women in developing countries, for as little as $25, you can help support men and women who need help paying for their business costs. With Kiva you have the choice of supporting vulnerable groups such as widows, refugees, start ups, conflict zones, rural communities and housing etc. There is an astounding 99.01% repayment rate.

As a business, we thought there was no better gift then empowering other business owners. Click on the links below to see the individuals that the staff at Madhouse chose to make contributions to:

http://www.kiva.org/lend/509709

http://www.kiva.org/lend/501642

http://www.kiva.org/lend/503177

http://www.kiva.org/lend/502275

Wishing you a safe and Happy Holiday!

The Madhouse Team

Experience the magic of Dragon Condos - Dragon Condos proves to be a big hit in Chinatown

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:50:00 -0500

In celebration of the year of the dragon, Ideal Developments kicked off their Dragon Condos Grand opening Sales Event on this past Saturday, November 10. Located in the heart of China Town, in the bustling intersection of Dundas and Spadina.
270 Spadina Avenue was alive with Chinese Dragon dance and drummers outside the sales centre. People on the street enjoyed the traditional festivities and sampled fortune cookie giveaways.

There were incredible opening day incentives that brought people inside including waiving assignment fee ($6,500 value), development charges/levies capped at $3,500 as well as a free limited dragon condos bicycle & bicycle parking spot with each unit sold. Not to mention the red envelope special, that if you got a lucky envelope, buyers were offered a one time special incentive to save thousands off the published purchase price. Inside the sales centre, we indulged in a delicious Chinese buffet compliments of Dragon Condos.

There was a big buzz around this event, with throngs of people in attendance.

People were excited to be part of this unique new opportunity to own in the heart of downtown. All buyers will also receive a complimentary bicycle parking spot as well as a complimentary bike with each unit. To find out more, please visit www.dragoncondos.com.

Madhouse attends the 5th annual Prosperity Ball - Moonlight Masquerade

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:31:00 -0500

The Prosperity Ball is held annually to raise money for the charitable agency New Beginnings. New Beginnings works in the community to help improve the quality of lives of women and children who need assistance. Madhouse is a proud sponsor of New Beginnings and had the pleasure of attending the Ball. It was a wonderful evening that started with melodic opera singing by Tammy Short, a complimentary cocktail and time to peruse the silent auction items that had been generously donated by multiple sponsors and supporters. We took our seats in a beautifully decorated dinning hall and our host Emmanuel Belliveau introduced speakers, including CHCH co-host Liz West and the Wine Ladies Georgia and Susanne, who told inspirational stories of their personal “new beginnings”. The dinner was exquisite from start to the delicious Vanilla Penna Cotta finish. After dinner the live auction started, followed by the silent auction results. The evening continued with musical entertainment from Jully Black. It was a wonderful event and we are happy to be a sponsor of the New Beginnings Support Program, if you would like to learn more about them have a look at their website and well see you next year at the 6th annual Ball!

OHBA - We survived!

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:46:50 -0400

Madhouse attended the Ontario Home Builders Association 2012 Conference held at the Village at Blue Mountain in Collingwood. What a beautiful location for the conference! We arrived on Sunday and received excellent instructions from the staff on where the events and locations for our stay would be. We had a suite at the Seasons that included a little balcony overlooking Georgian bay.

We arrived late on Sunday and had just enough time to rush ourselves out of our travel gear into our casual dinner wear. The evenings theme was country casual and upon entering the conference dinner area we were presented with straw cowboy hats and a choice of coloured bandannas. With our gear in hand we filled our plates and glasses and found two empty seats. The food was excellent and we were informed by our table mates that we were now considered a team and would be cohorts in the evenings games. We were also informed that we would be singing the Karaoke part of the events! Everyone at our table admitted to not being a very good singer so I was not exactly looking forward to the Karaoke part of the evening. After a humorous speech by a host from the OHBA we were informed our teams were to depart and take turns at the various restaurants completing our tasks on our program, gaining points upon completion.

Off we went, the crowds looking mighty country in their hats, plaid shirts and cowboy boots. Some of the attendees even wore their own leather cowboy hats. Our first stop was Avalanche @ Blue, the club “downstairs” with black lighting and a clubby atmosphere we observed the Karaoke set up centrally in the club. After some liquid courage we picked a song and lined up behind a couple teams to do our best at being the worst Karaoke singers of all time. I think we succeeded. Some of the other teams had good singers so we listened to a few then gathered the troops to conquer the next challenge.

Our teams second stop was at a pub for mechanical bull riding. This was the challenge I volunteered for. I was pretty happy at this point that I was wearing jeans! We watched a few riders before I tried my best to stay on the slippery thing, I lasted a whole 3 seconds! Not to worry though, one of our manly team mates lasted 36 seconds which was quite impressive! His downfall was when he released one hand to do the one handed bull riders wave.

The last stop was Rustys for cow milking. This challenge I have to admit I was curious about, would it be a real cow? What and why would we be milking something! It turns out it was a wooden cow with a very happy expression painted on its face. The flat cutout wood cow contained a box holding a bucket with milk and plastic udders. The teams had to compete milking the wood cow and the officials recorded the amount of milk in a measuring cup, the milker that milked the most wins. Im not sure who won this but I did not participate. I was kind enough to film a team mate doing it and was laughing the entire time!

We had a great time at all the events and handed in our score card and crashed after a very fun filled night.

Monday morning we attended a quick breakfast and registered. Monday most of the attendees had signed up for golf or the Scandinavian Spa. We were not signed up for either. We did ask about the Spa but it was booked so we went back to our suite to work on our emails and time always flys like MAD when we are working! The hotel we were in did not provide room service (or house coats!) but we did have a small kitchenette. I went to town to shop for food to enable us to continue working.

On a side note, I really like the small town of Collingwood. In August the Loblaws parking was set up with the bandstands for ElvisFest which I attended, my group of friends donned the fake Elvis wigs and glasses, it was a blast! I highly recommend attending next year.

There are allot of other activities to do at Blue Mountain. You can take the gondola to the top of the mountain and go hiking, or explore the scenic caves. Mountain biking is popular and you can even rent a bike if you didn’t being yours. There are lots of other activities to enjoy at Blue Mountain and you can check them out here http://www.bluemountain.ca/blue_mountain_activity_central.htm

Back at the suite I laid out the hummus, veggies, calamari and crackers and got back to work. Dinner time came quickly and we garbed up in our fancy gear for the evenings awards ceremony. It was well planned evening and we enjoyed the Jazz band during dinner. I liked watching the winners reactions and the photos of the interiors/exteriors. One highlight was the winner of an award that was so excited he danced all the way to the stage and swung his jacket around with his victory dance. We went to Rustys after and socialized over a few drinks with new friends.

Tuesday we had to pack up and leave early due to work deadlines. Goodbye OHBA at Blue it was a great conference everyone! See you next year (we’ll bring our own housecoats next time)!

Jennifer Sproston

Senior Designer

Madhouse

http://www.ohbaconference.com

Going Mad at the OHBA!

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:48:20 -0400

Madhouse is very excited to attend the Ontario Home Builders Association conference in Collingwood from the 23rd to the 25th.

We also very happy to be nominated for two awards “Best Low Rise Ad Campaign” and “Best Low-Rise Project Sales Brochure”.

If you see us at the conference please say hello, we might have something in common to talk about!

To find out more about the conference visit http://www.ohbaconference.com

Daniels Long Valley Phase 2 Goes On Sale Tomorrow!

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:46:00 -0400

The countdown is on to the launch of The Daniels Corporation’s FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two – the most affordably priced new home community in Erin Mills. Located at the northwest corner of Thomas Street and Winston Churchill Boulevard this fantastic neighbourhood is already under construction with a limited collection of condominium suites and townhomes priced from an incredible $179,900.

As Daniels 12^th FirstHome™ Community within the Greater Toronto Area, FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two will be the next in a series of very popular communities that typically sell out in a matter of hours. Just this past spring Daniels went on sale with FirstHome™ Hazelton Place in Erin Mills and all 87 homes SOLD OUT IN LESS THAN FOUR HOURS! “The unprecedented sell-outs are proof that there is a pent-up demand for solid affordable homes in great locations” says Daniels Vice President Don Pugh. “Daniels has already had tremendous interest in FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two. Anyone looking to own a brand new home in Erin Mills for a fantastic price should register NOW to receive an invitation to attend the Preview Event later this fall.”

FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two will have something for everyone with home designs ranging from studio to three bedroom plus den suites as well as one, two and three bedroom condominium townhomes. Plus, since the homes will be fully-built before going on sale, purchasers will be able to tour a model of every home design, including seven fully-furnished model homes, so they can see, touch and feel the layout that best suits their lifestyle needs. By building the homes before they go on sale, purchasers can move-in within 30, 60 or 90 days after they buy!

In addition to being able to view the model homes, purchasers at FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two will be able to benefit from Daniels’ innovative financial programs that make homeownership more achievable. Through Daniels Gradual Deposit Payment Plan, buyers pay only $2,500 with the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, another $2,500 within 10 days later, then $1,000 every month until 5 per cent of the purchase price is reached or until final closing on their home.

PLUS, Daniels will once again be offering their exclusive LIVE FREE program, which waives the interim occupancy fee until the condominium registers. But wait – there’s even more! Daniels is working closely with financial institutions to cap the mortgage rate at FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two at an incredibly low level – this deal is truly unbelievable!

“We understand that purchasing a new home is a big decision and our FirstHome™ program is designed to make the process as accessible as possible by offering quality built homes, at affordable prices, in incredible locations with fantastic first-time buyer programs. Since we introduced the FirstHome™ concept in 2004, more than 1500 new homeowners have realized their dream of homeownership” says Pugh.

Daniels FirstHome™ Long Valley Phase Two is situated in one of the very best locations in the GTA. Residents will live close to the shops and restaurants of Erin Mills Town Centre, parks, schools, and access to Highways 403, 401 and 407 ETR.

Over the past two decades, The Daniels Corporation (www.danielshomes.ca) has become one of Canada’s preeminent builder/developers with a reputation for quality and integrity in all forms of residential construction. Named the Tarion Warranty Corporation’s 2012 High-Rise Builder of the Year and the recipient of the 2012 Toronto Arts and Business Award presented by the Toronto Arts Foundation, Daniels has built more than 23,000 homes and apartments in a wide range of award-winning communities across the GTA. Among its many initiatives, Daniels was chosen to partner with Toronto Community Housing to revitalize Regent Park – 69 acres in Toronto’s Downtown East. Committed to community, Daniels continually champions neighbourhood initiatives that enhance residents’ quality of life, and supports numerous charities and non-profit organizations.

3 Useful Web Tools For Designers

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:04:00 -0400

Some people are under the impression that technologies and current industry standards are evolving at a rate that is hard to keep up with. This is partially true but one thing that keeps us designers ready to tackle any change is not found in a thick text book or expensive seminar. What really helps us is learning and using tools that others create, after all learning to code is all about grabbing code from others and playing around with it until you understand what all the variables do. Taking this same approach to web building, their are many resources for designers to seek out that saves time.

Here I have 3 websites that provide designers with ideas and resources for web projects.

1. Little Big Details { www.littlebigdetails.com }

As the name suggests, the key to having a great user interface that is user friendly is in the details. These details make a BIG difference. This blog houses small user generated posts showcasing a screenshot and description of examples from the web.

Cloudapp - After pressing the “Login Button” its value changes to “Logging In”, letting you know that something’s happening in the background.

2. Colllor { www.colllor.com }

With Colllor it is much easier to generate a consistent web color palette with just a few clicks. This tool will let you find the exact value of darker shades of any color, not just something that ‘looks darker’. That will be a huge step towards professionally looking design.

3. Subtle Patterns { www.subtlepatterns.com }

This website allows you to browse repeatable textured backgrounds for websites, then download them free! Another great feature is that you can press the preview button as your browsing the site and it changes the background of the page so you can visually see how it would look like on a page. With an extensive collection this tool easily allows your sites to pop with texture and your clients will be impressed.