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Back in April, we reported that Daniel Boulud was another in the growing group of Michelin-starred chefs to snub Toronto in favour of Vancouver or Montreal. Not so, apparently: the National Post’s Shinan Govani confirmed yesterday the rumours that the lauded New York chef of Daniel fame will be opening a restaurant in the new Four Seasons hotel and condo complex on Bay Street (there’s an official announcement scheduled for next Thursday). This is the second Canadian hotel partnership in the works for the chef, who is opening Maison Boulud in Montreal in early 2012 to coincide with a $150-million renovation to the Montreal Ritz-Carlton. Previously, Boulud opened and subsequently closed two restaurants in Vancouver, DB Bistro Moderne and Lumière, after only two years in business.
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The cat’s out of the bag: Daniel Boulud to open restaurant at the new Four Seasons
THE SCENE: An Unforgettable Night at the sixth annual benefit for the Alzheimer Society
Maureen McTeer and Margaret Trudeau
On Wednesday night, the Four Seasons Hotel was bursting with honorary guests for the sixth annual Alzheimer Society Unforgettable Night gala in honour of all Canadians who care for someone with dementia. Mila Mulroney joked that “there’s no first wives club in Canadian politics,” and yet the room was filled with them: Gellis Turner (wife of John Turner, who was also present), Margaret Trudeau and Maureen McTeer came together in support of the cause despite their differing political views. The mixed crowd included Michael Ignatieff and wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar, Ben Mulroney and wife Jessica Brownstein, theatre community darling Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia) and actress Fiona Reid (King of Kensington), among others. Check out the scene and find out who made a special surprise performance after the jump.
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A parking space at the new Four Seasons Hotel that costs more than most cars (hint: we’re talking six figures)
Undeground parking—always glamorous (Image: THOR)
Apparently the market for parking spaces is booming at the moment. Or at least the cost of a spot in the new Four Seasons Private Residences in Yorkville suggests as much. The price tag? A cool $100,000. That’s right—five zeros. It may seem a little much for an uninspiring piece of concrete marked by a pair of white (or sometimes yellow) lines, but it appears that residents are more than willing to shell out the dough. And we guess we probably shouldn’t be surprised, with the likes of Mark Wahlberg and an unnamed international man of mystery—for whom $100,000 is probably pocket change, after blowing $28 million on a condo—moving into the neighbourhood.
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Mystery foreign buyer purchases Yorkville penthouse for a record $28 million
(Image: screen grab from Yorkville Residences website)
The 55th-floor penthouse suite of the new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in Yorkville has sold for a cool $28 million, the highest price ever for a Canadian condominium. All we know about the new owner is that he or she can be identified only as an “international buyer”—a non-disclosure agreement was signed—so we’re holding out hope that it’s James Bond. The price works out to roughly $3,000 a square foot for the 9,038-square-foot space, causing most market watchers to wonder how anybody (even persons of international mystery) could possibly pay that much.
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Vista-marring condos to go up behind Queen’s Park
Toronto’s thirst for condos proves unquenchable (Image: Ronnie Yip)
The pink palace that houses the Ontario Legislature is about to lose a bit of its charm. Yesterday, Dalton McGuinty said the construction of two high-rise condo towers behind the provincial legislature wouldn’t meet any further opposition from the provincial government, much to the dismay of legislative Speaker Steve Peters. The crusading Peters has been fighting the 44- and 48-storey towers tooth and nail recently, complaining the buildings would diminish the “grandeur and importance” of Queen’s Park by adding an unattractive touch to the otherwise regal view up University Avenue.
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Justin Bieber to reprise role on CSI
Justin Bieber shopping (Image: jake.auzzie)
Justin Bieber will be guest starring in another episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation this February 17, just in time for sweeps week. Loyal CSIers and devout Beliebers may recall his much-hyped appearance on the show last September, which lasted a total of 3 minutes and 25 seconds and consisted of lines like: “I was just gonna scare the cops, not blow them up.” Now he’s back, reprising the role of Jason McCann in an episode with the mindblowing meta title, “Targets of Obsession.”
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Spotted! Lou Reed in Yorkville
Our sources tell us that one of our favourite musicians–curmudgeon Lou Reed—dined at the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville last night. We assume he’s in town supporting filmmaker buddy Julian Schnabel, whose film Miral premiered at TIFF last night. The two were spotted partying at the AGO soirée for the movie.
= Find this story on our Celebrity Sightings Map, where we plot the locations of stars spotted throughout Toronto
Guests ogle Anthony Hopkins at the George Christy luncheon
Anthony Hopkins was the talk of the luncheon (Image: George Pimentel/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)
The luncheon and reception at the Four Seasons hosted by famed Hollywood columnist George Christy is always one of the hottest TIFF tickets. At Saturday’s reception, mega-stars mingled with the genteel set—including Galen and Hilary Weston, Kim Newport-Mimran and Joe Mimran (looking regal in plush blue and gold slippers) and Ben Mulroney—in the Avenue Bar before proceeding to a sumptuous lunch upstairs.
Anthony Hopkins, in town to promote his film, the Woody Allen-directed You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, had the ladies a-twitter (“He looks so good. How old is he?”) and brought the inevitable fava bean and chianti jokes as he offered one-word answers to our questions. Yes, he does like Toronto, and yes, it was good working with Allen. Roger Ebert chatted with Norman Jewison and took pictures of actor Dominic Cooper. As hotel staffers tried to wrap the party and usher guests out, they were stopped by one who insisted, “It’s George’s decision. Let it go on as long as he likes.”
= Find this story on our Celebrity Sightings Map, where we plot the locations of stars spotted throughout Toronto
TIFF PHOTO GALLERY: David Suzuki Foundation gala with Ed Begley Jr. and Russell Peters
NHL defenceman Andrew Ference, actor Ed Begley Jr. and Russell Peters at the David Suzuki Foundation's fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
Friday’s sold-out, thousand-dollar-per-head charity fundraiser for the David Suzuki Foundation brought out an environmentalist mix of athletes and actors to the green carpet on the second floor of the Four Seasons.
We got to exchange jabs with the night’s co-host Russell Peters—who was in town for just one night—and listen to Ed Begley Jr. go on about collecting rainwater. Susur Lee was also on hand, as he was one of the event’s chefs.
Below, our photo gallery of the event.
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- Comedian Russell Peters was the co-host of the fundraising gala for the David Suzuki Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- NHL defenceman Andrew Ference, creator of the league’s carbon-neutral program, at the David Suzuki Foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- NHL defenceman Andrew Ference with actor and eco activist Ed Begley Jr. at the David Suzuki Foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- NHL defenceman Andrew Ference, actor Ed Begley Jr. and Russell Peters at the David Suzuki Foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- Olympic kayaker and David Suzuki ambassador Adam van Koeverden at the foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- Actress Debra McGrath with her husband, comedian Colin Mochrie, at the David Suzuki Foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
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- The entrance to the David Suzuki Foundation’s fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel (Image: Karon Liu)
Today at TIFF: Roger Ebert Twitter showdown, Hello! party, Vanity Fair party, OneXOne fundraiser
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 12:00 p.m. George Christy Luncheon at Avenue Bar and Print Room (Four Seasons Hotel)
• 1:30 p.m. Little White Lies world premiere gala at Roy Thomson Hall
• 2 p.m. The Whistleblower world premiere at Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
• 3 p.m. Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie world premiere at Ryerson Theatre
• 3 p.m. Conviction world premiere at Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
• 4 p.m. Roger Ebert Twitter showdown at the Hyatt Regency
• 6 p.m. Made in Dagenham world premiere at Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
• 6:30 p.m. The Conspirator world premiere gala at Roy Thomson Hall
• 6:30 p.m. Artists for Peace and Justice Fundraiser at Pears on the Avenue
• 7 p.m. HELLO! Magazine Film Festival Cocktail Party at Royal Conservatory Telus Centre for Performance and Learning
• 7 p.m. ReelWorld Film Festival Indie Film Lounge Reception at Empire Lounge
• 9 p.m. Beginners world premiere at Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
• 9 p.m. It’s Kind of a Funny Story world premiere at Ryerson Theatre
• 9 p.m. Vanity Fair Party at Thompson Hotel
• 9:30 p.m. The Town North American premiere gala at Roy Thomson Hall
• 10 p.m. Forest Park hosted by Hayden Christensen at Ultra
• Dipdive Nights featuring Will.i.am at Festival Central (148 Cumberland St.)
• OneXOne fundraiser at Bisha
• Late Night It’s Kind of a Funny Story after-party at Brassaii
• 11:59 p.m. Bunraku world premiere at Ryerson Theatre
Today at TIFF: I’m Still Here, Biutiful, Trust, David Suzuki Gala and more
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 3:30 p.m. The Way world premiere at Winter Garden Theatre
• 6 p.m. Daydream Nation world premiere at Ryerson Theatre
• 6 p.m. David Suzuki Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel
• 6:30 p.m. Everything Must Go world premiere at Isabel Bader Theatre
• 6:30 p.m. The King’s Speech at Roy Thomson Hall
• 8 p.m. Biutiful North American premiere at Winter Garden Theatre
• 9 p.m. Stone world premiere at Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
• 9:30 p.m. Trust world premiere at Roy Thomson Hall
• 9 p.m. Alliance Films Studio Party at South of Temperance
• 10 p.m. I’m Still Here North American premiere at Varsity Cinema 8
• 10 p.m. Grey Goose Biutiful Dinner Party at Soho House
• 10 p.m. Slash at Tattoo Rock Parlour
• 10 p.m. SHARAM Live at This Is London
• 10 p.m. Jamie Kennedy at Ultra
• Trust After-Party at Brant House
Where to get a TIFF drink: the film festival’s 44 spots with 4 a.m. licences
The arrival of TIFF always demands answers to three crucial questions: which celebs are coming to town, what are the best flicks to see, and where can we get inebriated at ungodly hours of the night? The first two we’ve taken care of here and here, and now we have the nearly complete list of venues with extended hours for TIFF. The news is good: last year, around 25 bars and restaurants were approved for extended hours; this year, about 44 will be serving late. The selection is more varied, and with spots like Gabby’s and Hey Lucy on the list, it’s decidedly more casual. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario tells us that the list could expand as more venues get last-minute approval. Here, the 44 bars officially licensed to stay open until 4 a.m. »
The super-sexy reason Scissor Sisters love Toronto
Jake Shears (Image: Neill Turner)
Electronic rockers Scissor Sisters professed their love for Toronto and Canada yesterday in an interview with the National Post, and we’d just like to say, the feeling is mutual. Apparently front man Jake Shears took away a very special souvenir from Toronto at the tender age of 18. “I met this really sweet construction worker from Collingwood and lost my virginity in Toronto at the Four Seasons Hotel,” Shears said. “He had saved up his money because I was only 18 and had nothing, and now Canada always makes me think really sweet thoughts.” Scissor Sisters’ new album, Night Work, was released yesterday, and it’s every bit as delightfully upbeat and artfully nuanced as their previous two works. Pride Week is on now in Toronto. Maybe we can convince them to swing by for a sequel to their Four Seasons adventure.
• Scissor sisters actually didn’t feel like dancing [National Post]
Snake charming: Daniel Espinosa cobra cocktail ring
Reptiles have always creeped us out, but we’re reconsidering our aversion after finding this cobra ring ($565), part of the Myths and Fantasies collection from Daniel Espinosa. The stones, hand-set cubic zirconia fused with different metals to achieve the rich colours, sit on a base of sterling silver (both regular and oxidized, for a black finish) and 24-karat gold. Serpentine jewellery is all the rage right now, from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s line for British luxury goods retailer Asprey to the more affordable rings at Club Monaco. Snake handling has never been more glamorous.
Daniel Espinosa at the Four Seasons Hotel, 21 Avenue Rd., 416-323-9127, danielespinosa.com.
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