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House of the Week: $8 million for a deluxe Arts and Crafts home steps from Lake Ontario

NEIGHBOURHOOD: The Beach

AGENTS: Thomas D. Neal, Royal LePage Estate Realty and Sam Mcdadi, ReMax Performance Realty

PRICE: $8,000,000

THE PLACE: This massive house on the water boasts a 270-degree panoramic view of the lake, making its vibe more island than urban. Built in the 1920s, the Arts and Crafts-style home underwent two years and $4 million worth of renovations to turn a rundown hodgepodge of small apartments into a single-family dwelling.

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The Hype

The Velvet Rope

May 15, 2012 | 1:35 pm

Comments

The Rosens, the Nugents and other monied guests walked like Egyptians at the Fandango gala

Wannabe Cleopatras, pharaohs and sultans took over the Ritz-Carlton on Saturday night, causing the doorman to do a double-take as guests arrived for the annual Fandango fundraiser in support of Bridgepoint Health. This year’s theme was “On the Nile,” and the 450 guests were encouraged to shake things up by dressing with Egyptian “flair.” To our surprise, many did, and in place of the typical stuffy attire befitting a society affair, we saw snake-adorned crowns, towering gold and black nemes headdresses, kohl-lined eyes, jewel-encrusted baubles, flowing robes and sequined loin cloths (often worn on top of tuxedos). Among the monied guests were Catherine and David Nugent, W. Bruce C. Bailey, Shangri-La’s Alex Filiatrault, Evelyn and Harry Rosen, dapper duo Andy Body and Alan Hanlon and politicos Jerry Grafstein, Mike Harris, Paula Fletcher and David Shiner.

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The Informer

Gimme Shelter

May 2, 2012 | 1:00 pm

15 Comments

House of the Week: $1.6 million for a Scarborough home with hints of Frank Lloyd Wright

ADDRESS: 9 Annis Road

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Guildwood

AGENTS: Caroline Ilaqua and Ron Baldwin, Royal LePage Estate Realty

PRICE: $1,650,000

THE PLACE: Architect Wayne Olson transformed a once boring ranch-style bungalow on a hill overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs into a roomy modern home.

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The Hype

High Art

April 25, 2012 | 5:04 pm

1 Comment

Sneak Preview: a photo tour of the much-anticipated Picasso exhibit at the AGO

On May 1, the much anticipated “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée Picasso, Paris” exhibit begins its three-and-a-half-month stint at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Considered the Picasso collection by Picasso, the 5,000 works on display represent actual pieces that Picasso kept for himself and his family over the course of his career. The exhibit is arranged in seven different rooms and takes you through Picasso’s varied career, from the beginning to days before his death. The exhibit includes everything from informal sketchbooks to iconic masterpieces, and Anne Baldassari, chairman and chief curator from the Musée National Picasso, describes the carefully selected collection as “a true chronology of his life.” You get a feel for his love of women through various nudes and portraits of his lovers (Olga Khokhlova, Dora Maar and Françoise Gilot), and the exhibition explores his constant experimentation with styles (blue and pink periods, African art-inspired works, grotesque surrealism and radical cubism). Picasso was famously quoted as saying, “Give me a museum and I’ll fill it,” and he has now filled seven rooms of one. (Whew!)

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The Informer

Gimme Shelter

April 18, 2012 | 1:00 pm

18 Comments

House of the Week: $3 million for a Romanesque-revival heritage home in the Annex

ADDRESS: 111 Bedford Road

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Annex

AGENTS: Christian Vermast, Paul Maranger and Fran Bennett, Sotheby’s International Realty

PRICE: $2,995,000

THE PLACE: An expertly restored heritage house in the Romanesque style of iconic Toronto buildings like Old City Hall and Queen’s Park.

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The Informer

Gimme Shelter

April 4, 2012 | 1:00 pm

24 Comments

House of the Week: $1.7 million for an Arts and Crafts home with a first-rate reno in Rosedale

ADDRESS: 16 Inglewood Drive

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Rosedale–Moore Park

AGENT: Kara Reed, Chestnut Park Real Estate

PRICE: $1,679,000

THE PLACE: Alan Tregebov of AJT Architects overhauled this large house, which was originally built in an Arts and Crafts style. Tregebov usually works on corporate projects, but the persistent homeowners persuaded him to take on this residential challenge.

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The Informer

Gimme Shelter

March 21, 2012 | 1:00 pm

12 Comments

House of the Week: $4.3 million for a regal Georgian on a sprawling Forest Hill lot

ADDRESS: 110 Kilbarry Road

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Forest Hill South

AGENT: Nissan Michael, RE/MAX Unique

PRICE: $4,300,000

THE PLACE: This grand Georgian sits on a sprawling lot in well-established Forest Hill South. Extras like English-country landscaping and a circular driveway ooze prestige.

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The Hype

The Velvet Rope

March 12, 2012 | 5:15 pm

1 Comment

A delightfully unstuffy affair (featuring Malcolm Gladwell) at the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala

3rd annual University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala

E. Nigel Harris and Malcolm Gladwell (Image: Erin Simkin)

More fancy Toronto benefit galas should be like the third annual University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday night. Guests shared warm embraces and rowdy laughs, a drum circle in colourful costumes ushered the food to the table, and a string of talented musicians delighted those on hand from start to finish. Special guests honoured at the proceedings included the New Yorker’s Malcolm Gladwell, Canadian artist (and friend of Michelle Obama) Artis Lane, former Cabinet minister Zanana Akande, top lawyer Frank Walwyn and cultural philanthropist Dr. Anthony MacFarlane. Check out our photo gallery from the gala after the jump »

The Informer

Gimme Shelter

March 7, 2012 | 12:30 pm

30 Comments

House of the Week: $2.7 million for a glamourous Victorian in Yorkville

ADDRESS: 28 Belmont Street

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Yorkville

AGENT: Carol Lome, Royal LePage/J&D Division, Brokerage

PRICE: $2,749,000

THE PLACE: Located within walking distance of the Mink Mile and Ramsden Park, this glitzy Victorian’s crystal chandeliers, coffered ceilings and decorative wrought iron details on nearly every window give it a glamorous, old Hollywood feel.

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The Goods

Weddings

February 29, 2012 | 2:00 pm

1 Comment

Weddings 2012: three refined suits that look great next to white

By Simone Olivero | Illustrations by Joe McKendry

City Hall
Wedding
The no-fuss urban wedding calls for mod tailoring and casual accessories

Country
Wedding
Vintagey details for a do up north or in the middle of nowhere

Formal
Wedding
The prescribed classics for the major, six-figure blowout

See these three suits now »

The Informer

Gimme Shelter

February 29, 2012 | 12:30 pm

15 Comments

House of the Week: $4.3 million for a stately designer home in Lawrence Park

ADDRESS: 115 Rochester Avenue

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Bridle Path–Sunnybrook–York Mills

AGENT: Jennifer Stanley and Gordon Nye, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage

PRICE: $4,295,000

THE PLACE: A custom-built house masterminded by architect Richard Wengle, best known for his contemporary Trinity Bellwoods townhomes. Interiors are by Connie Braemer.

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The Informer

Gimme Shelter

February 28, 2012 | 4:15 pm

2 Comments

Office Space: $2 million for the 4,500-square-foot “Sunflower Building” on Richmond West

ADDRESS: 686 Richmond Street West

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Niagara

AGENT: Lee Taylor and Donald Mulholland, Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage

PRICE: $2,095,000

THE PLACE: Unlike many of the boldly emblazoned buildings scattered throughout the city, this off-the-beaten-track freehold would go unnoticed were it not for the large countryside mural adorning the north wall. Divided into three storeys, the “Sunflower Building” consists of a lower-level workshop with a large storage area, his-and-hers bathrooms and a kitchen, while a 1,500-square-foot main floor office includes a reception area, a boardroom and workstations for eight. Upstairs is a lofty three-bedroom, two-bath apartment with a rooftop deck.

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The Goods

Weddings

February 28, 2012 | 8:00 am

1 Comment

Weddings 2012: DIY decorations and party favours

How six Toronto couples made their big day more memorable and less expensive
By Simone Olivero

Check out these DIY wedding ideas »

The Informer

Gimme Shelter

February 22, 2012 | 12:30 pm

11 Comments

House of the Week: $2.7 million for a contemporary cube in Mississauga’s glitzy Lorne Park

ADDRESS: 1287 Birchview Drive

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Lorne Park, Mississauga

AGENT: Richard F. Vieira, RE/MAX Realty Enterprises Inc., Brokerage

PRICE: $2,699,000

THE PLACE: A dominating presence on an otherwise quiet street dotted with traditional family homes, this glass, wood and stone structure isn’t what you would expect to find in trendy Lorne Park.

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The Dish

Opening

February 22, 2012 | 11:37 am

19 Comments

Introducing: Church Aperitivo Bar, an Italian kitchen and bar in a (former) Queen West church

Mixologist Scott Talbot pours church-inspired drinks along the marble-clad bar (Image: Simone Olivero)

It’s been nearly a year since we first noticed the permit signs on the long-abandoned Slavic church at the corner of Queen and Dovercourt. Having walked by the vacant property for years, Sandra Cassaro and David Beddia finally took the plunge on it last January, hoping to build a sophisticated yet unpretentious place to have drinks with friends. With backgrounds in construction and marketing and event planning (Cassaro has worked with Liberty Entertainment Group and Ink Entertainment), these childhood friends recruited Italy-born chef Fabio Sacca to help them create their menu of Italian small plates.

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