Every Monday, we round up the most exciting music news happening in Toronto. In this edition: Jason Collett kicks off his basement revue series at The Dakota Tavern, Julie Doiron announces more tour dates and more.
The top news story of last week, of course, had nothing to do with Rob Ford and everything to do with Guy Fieri. The American celebrity chef headed to Toronto last week for his show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and he apparently hit up Hey Meatball!, Caplansky’s Delicatessen and The Lakeview, among other places. Also: he somehow ended up cooking with Drake. Thanks to the power of Instagram, Your day is now improved.
When I was a teenager in university, I had a beloved friend and mentor twice my age with whom I attended much theatre and film and many art galleries. She used to often walk out, turn to me and declare, “Sure, it’s filthy. But is it art?” We always howled at this inspired witticism together. So much artistic achievement through history is crude and violent; but then, not everything that challenges our values, taste and sense of decorum is necessarily great art, is it?
After designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine showed their spring 2013 collection to buyers in Paris, they deemed a Toronto Fashion Week catwalk extravaganza to be, well, unnecessary. Instead, the boys chose to do things their way, showing the goods just as the holiday season comes into full swing.
Friday Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: ramen for Queen West and Little Italy, cupcakes for Yorkville, a new chef de cuisine for Scarpetta and more.
As the famed adage goes, “this is the business we’ve chosen,” and when you’re living in a dark, depressed world, running a suicide shop is pretty good business. Such is the case with Patrice Leconte’s The Suicide Shop, a French animated musical with a less-than-subtle commentary about desensitization and enjoying the finer things in life. Featured in this year’s TIFF, the flick opens officially tonight at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
This is a powerful, fruit-driven Aussie shiraz. Deep ruby in colour, with a minty-menthol nose of ripe blackberries with a spicy cedar note. On the palate, expect a ripe blackberry flavour with a savoury herbal note and a firm tannic finish.
Riverside’s Loïc Gourmet will close its doors this holiday season after almost five years in business. The gourmet take-out spot was known for its decadent French-inspired fare, including rotisserie chicken and terrine.
Innis & Gunn, the Scottish brewery known for the beer that tastes a little bit like whisky, has launched a program of seasonal releases. This month it led off with the timely Winter Treacle Porter.
The Little Years, by Toronto playwright John Mighton, is a deeply moving and profound study of a woman who is crushed by family and society. Running at the venerable Tarragon Theatre until Dec. 16, it is well worth the trip.
The Distillery District is the proud home of the Toronto Christmas Market, drawing inspiration from old-timey European Christmas with its sweeping lights, carolers, musicians, and beer gardens. Running from Nov. 30 till Dec. 16, the Christmas Market has something for everyone to get into the holiday spirit.
Grace Coddington is Anna Wintour’s right hand woman, and she is one of the most powerful people in fashion. A former model, Coddington has held the title of Creative Director of American Vogue for more than 20 years. Now, at 71, she has released a memoir, finally giving us the chance to fuel our obsession with her (and that flaming red hair) even more so than we first caught a glimpse of the true Grace in The September Issue.
