torontolife.com » Soho Metropolitan Hotel

Nicolas Cage is a sad wine drinker and Maggie Gyllenhaal wears sweatpants at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel last night

Kevin Naulls — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:35:51 +0000

Nicolas Cage (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Outside of the Soho Metropolitan Hotel, fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Nicolas Cage at his Trespass after-party, and to be perfectly honest, most of the action was happening outside of the Euro beat–heavy clubland inside. We spotted Hysteria’s Maggie Gyllenhaal in “couture” sweatpants and glasses exiting an elevator, seeming eager to distance herself from the afternoons-in-Ibiza party that was happening in the hotel (she was staying there), but apart from these two star sightings, the biggest name we spotted was Massari. Check out the scene and find out what desperate measures some partygoers took to see Cage after the jump.

A club hierarchy was in place, with three coloured wristbands to indicate varying levels of importance: blue, yellow and white. Blue and yellow were the prized accessories, allowing access inside a cordoned-off private room where we saw Cage aerating his wine and looking fairly unimpressed. Earlier on the red carpet, Cage seemed exhausted, but he showed up and cracked a half-hearted smile for photographers because, if you’ve seen any of his recent movies (Drive Angry 3D), you know Nicholas Cage is all about putting in the work, if only half-heartedly. The rest of the night didn’t get any better, and we witnessed white wristband–holders attempting to snap photos on their iPhones through a glass wall that was covered by a decorative wine bottle room divider. Women in impossibly tight dresses leaned close to the tiny crevices between the wine bottles—in what can only be described as a classy manner—attempting to angle their phones to get a blurry snapshot of the only A-lister at the party. We just wish Nicole Kidman had shown up to TIFF this year, because it would have been like seeing a fish out of water.

Today at TIFF: Starbuck gala presentation and Trespass after party with Nicolas Cage

Toronto Life Staff — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:14 +0000

Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.

• 6:30 p.m. Starbuck gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall

• 7 p.m. Festival Music House with the Arkells and Hey Rosetta at The Mod Club

• 9 p.m. Jeff Who Lives at Home special presentation at the Elgin Theatre

• 9:30 p.m. Trespass gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall

• 11:00 p.m. Trespass after-party at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel

The Best of Winterlicious 2011: Toronto Life’s 62 favourite restaurants

Toronto Life Staff — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:15:21 +0000

(Image: Renée Suen, from the torontolife.com Flickr pool)

January is upon us, and for many hungry Torontonians, that means one thing: Winterlicious. The menus are less predictable than previous years—crème brûlée’s out, lentils du Puy are in—so even the ’Licious haters might have a reason to take advantage of the festival this year. We’ve already named the 12 menus that we think are the best bets, but that doesn’t begin to cover it. Here, find Toronto Life’s 62 favourite Winterlicious restaurants, complete with menus, reviews and reservation numbers.

Winterlicious runs from January 28 to February 10. Reservations are accepted from January 13 onward (January 11 for American Express users).

Seven Numbers
Danforth/Riverdale
307 Danforth Ave. (at Bowden St.) | 416-469-5183
Toronto Life review | sevennumbers.com | View Menu

93 Harbord
The Annex
93 Harbord St. (at Spadina) | 416-922-5914
Toronto Life review | 93harbord.com | View Menu

Amaya Bread Bar
Leaside
3305 Yonge St. (at Glenforest Rd.) | 416-487-1100
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Ame
Downtown
19 Mercer St. (at John St.) | 416-599-7246
Toronto Life review | amecuisine.com | View Menu

Auberge du Pommier
North Toronto
4150 Yonge St. (at William Carson Cres.) | 416-222-2220
Toronto Life review | oliverbonacini.com | View Menu

Azure
Downtown
225 Front St. W. (at Simcoe St.), InterContinental Toronto Centre | 416-597-8142
Toronto Life review | azurerestaurant.ca | View Menu

Bangkok Garden
Downtown
18 Elm St. (at Yonge) | 416-977-6748
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Biff’s Bistro
Downtown
4 Front St. E. (at Yonge) | 416-860-0086
Toronto Life review | oliverbonacini.com | View Menu

Boulevard Café
Annex South
161 Harbord St. (at Borden St.) | 416-961-7676
Toronto Life review | boulevardcafe.sites.toronto.com | View Menu

Bymark
Downtown
66 Wellington St. W. (at Bay) | 416-777-1144
Toronto Life review | bymark.ca | View Menu

Byzantium
Downtown
499 Church St. (at Wellesley St. E.) | 416-922-3859
Toronto Life review | byz.ca | View Menu

C5
Downtown
100 Queen’s Park (at Bloor St. W.) | 416-586-7928
Toronto Life review | c5restaurant.ca | View Menu

Café du Lac
West Toronto
2350 Lake Shore Blvd. W. (at Burlington St.) | 416-848-7381
Toronto Life review | cafedulac.ca | View Menu

Canoe
Downtown
66 Wellington St. W. (at Bay), Toronto-Dominion Centre | 416-364-0054
Toronto Life review | oliverbonacini.com | View Menu

Centro
Midtown
2472 Yonge St. (at Castlefield Ave.) | 416-483-2211
Toronto Life review | centro.ca | View Menu

Célestin
Midtown
623 Mount Pleasant Rd. (at Manor Rd. E.) | 416-544-9035
Toronto Life review | celestin.sites.toronto.com | View Menu

Coppi
North Toronto
3363 Yonge St. (at St. Germain Ave.) | 416-484-4464
Toronto Life review | coppiristorante.com | View Menu

Corner House
The Annex
501 Davenport Rd. (at Madison Ave.) | 416-923-2604
Toronto Life review | cornerhouse.sites.toronto.com | View Menu

Crush Wine Bar
Entertainment District
455 King St. W. (at Spadina) | 416-977-1234
Toronto Life review | crushwinebar.com | View Menu

Didier
Midtown
1496 Yonge St. (at St. Clair Ave. W.) | 416-925-8588
Toronto Life review | restaurantdidier.com | View Menu

The Drake
West Queen West
1150 Queen St. W. (at Beaconsfield Ave.) | 416-531-5042
Toronto Life review | thedrakehotel.ca | View Menu

Edo
Forest Hill
484 Eglinton Ave. W. (at Tarlton Rd.) | 416-322-3033
Toronto Life review | edosushi.com | View Menu

Edward Levesque’s Kitchen
Leslieville
1290 Queen St. E. (at Leslie) | 416-465-3600
Toronto Life review | edwardlevesque.ca | View Menu

Epic
Downtown
100 Front St. W. (at York St.), Fairmont Royal York | 416-860-6949
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Far Niente
Downtown
187 Bay St. (at Wellington St. W.) | 416-214-9922
Toronto Life review | farnienterestaurant.com | View Menu

Fifth Grill and Terrace
Entertainment District
225 Richmond St. W. (at Duncan St.) | 416-979-3005
Toronto Life review | thefifthgrill.com | View Menu

Five Doors North
Midtown
2088 Yonge St. (at Manor Rd.) | 416-480-6234
Toronto Life review | fivedoorsnorth.com | View Menu

Florentia
Midtown
579 Mount Pleasant Rd. (at Manor Rd. E.) | 416-545-1220
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Frank
Downtown
317 Dundas St. W. (at McCaul St.) | 416-979-6688
Toronto Life review | ago.net/frank | View Menu

Globe Bistro
Danforth/Riverdale
124 Danforth Ave. (at Broadview) | 416-466-2000
Toronto Life review | globebistro.com | View Menu

Hank’s
Downtown
9 1/2 Church St. (at the Esplanade) | 416-504-2657
Toronto Life review | hankstoronto.blogspot.com | View Menu

Hemispheres
Downtown
110 Chestnut St. (at Dundas St. W.), Metropolitan Hotel | 416-599-8000
Toronto Life review | hankstoronto.blogspot.com | View Menu

Il Mulino
Forest Hill
1060 Eglinton Ave. W. (at Glen Cedar Rd.) | 416-780-1173
Toronto Life review | hankstoronto.blogspot.com | View Menu

Jaipur Grille
Midtown
2066 Yonge St. (at Eglinton) | 416-322-5678
Toronto Life review | hankstoronto.blogspot.com | View Menu

Jam Café
Cabbagetown
195 Carlton St. (at Ontario St.) | 416-921-1255
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Kamasutra
Leaside
1522 Bayview Ave. (at Millwood Rd.) | 416-489-4899
Toronto Life review | thekamasutrarestaurant.com | View Menu

Kultura
Old Town Toronto
169 King St. E. (at Jarvis St.) | 416-363-9000
Toronto Life review | View Menu

La Fenice
Entertainment District
319 King St. W. (at John St.) | 416-585-2377
Toronto Life review | lafenice.ca | View Menu

Lai Toh Heen
Midtown
692 Mount Pleasant Rd. (at Soudan Ave.) | 416-489-8922
Toronto Life review | lafenice.ca | View Menu

Lee
King West
603 King St. W. (at Portland St.) | 416-504-7867
Toronto Life review | susur.com/lee | View Menu

Lucien
Old Town Toronto
36 Wellington St. E. (at Leader Lane) | 416-504-9990
Toronto Life review | lucienrestaurant.com | View Menu

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
King West
85 Hanna Ave. (at Snooker St.) | 416-588-5695
Toronto Life review | templekitchen.com | View Menu

Mistura
The Annex
265 Davenport Rd. (at Avenue Rd.) | 416-515-0009
Toronto Life review | sopra.ca | View Menu

Noce
West Queen West
875 Queen St. W. (at Walnut Ave.) | 416-504-3463
Toronto Life review | nocerestaurant.com | View Menu

North 44°
North Toronto
2537 Yonge St. (at St. Clements Ave.) | 416-487-4897
Toronto Life review | north44restaurant.com | View Menu

Nyood
West Queen West
1096 Queen St. W. (at Dovercourt Rd.) | 416-466-1888
Toronto Life review | nyood.ca | View Menu

Oliver and Bonacini Café Grill
North York Centre
2901 Bayview Ave. (at Spring Garden Ave.) | 416-590-1300
Toronto Life review | oliverbonacini.com | View Menu

Ouzeri
Danforth/Riverdale
500 A Danforth Ave. (at Logan Ave.) | 416-778-0500
Toronto Life review | ouzeri.com | View Menu

Pan on the Danforth
Danforth/Riverdale
516 Danforth Ave. (at Logan Ave.) | 416-466-8158
Toronto Life review | panonthedanforth.com | View Menu

Prime
Downtown
18 St. Thomas St. (at Bloor St. W.), Windsor Arms Hotel | 416-971-9666
Toronto Life review | windsorarmshotel.com/Prime | View Menu

Quince
Midtown
2110 Yonge St. (at Manor Rd. W.) | 416-488-2110
Toronto Life review | quincerestaurant.ca | View Menu

Reds Bistro and Wine Bar
Entertainment District
77 Adelaide St. W. (at Sheppard St.) | 416-862-7337
Toronto Life review | redsbistro.com | View Menu

Sassafraz
Bloor/Yorkville
100 Cumberland St. (at Bellair St.) | 416-964-2222
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Senses
Entertainment District
328 Wellington St. W. (at Blue Jays Way), SoHo Metropolitan Hotel | 416-935-0400
Toronto Life review | senses.ca | View Menu

Southern Accent
The Annex
595 Markham St. (at Lennox St.) | 416-536-3211
Toronto Life review | southernaccent.com | View Menu

Studio Café
Midtown
21 Avenue Rd. (at Yorkville Ave.) | 416-928-7330
Toronto Life review | fourseasons.com | View Menu

Tabülè
Midtown
2009 Yonge St. (at Glebe Rd. E.) | 416-483-3747
Toronto Life review | tabule.ca | View Menu

Trevor Kitchen and Bar
Queen West
38 Wellington St. E (at Leader Ln.) | 416-941-9410
Toronto Life review | trevorkitchenandbar.com | View Menu

Tutti Matti
Entertainment District
364 Adelaide St. W. (at Charlotte St.) | 416-597-8839
Toronto Life review | tuttimatti.com | View Menu

Ultra
Queen West
314 Queen St. W. (at Spadina) | 416-263-0330
Toronto Life review | ultratoronto.com | View Menu

Vertical
Downtown
100 King St. W. (at Bay), First Canadian Place | 416-214-2252
Toronto Life review | View Menu

The Wine Bar
Downtown
9 Church St. (at The Esplanade) | 416-504-9463
Toronto Life review | View Menu

Susur Lee for $385, popcorn as Viagra, prison food gripes

Matthew Halliday — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:28:58 +0000

Slaw slinger: Susur Lee gives Torontonians a taste of his new menus

• For $385, fans of Susur Lee can experience the All Things Susur Lee package at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel. Included is an overnight stay at the hotel and a five-course tasting meal with selections from Lee’s restaurants in Toronto, New York, Washington and his not-yet-open RUYI, which will be located in Singapore. [National Post]

• 36-year-old journalist Leanne Davis tries a mid-career transformation into a pastry chef with help from Splendido’s Michael Angeloni and Victor Barry. Turns out pastry making is a more exacting—and back-breaking—discipline than she ever imagined. [Toronto Star]

• Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols is aggrieved by the shockingly bad meals served at Colorado Supermax prison, where he’s incarcerated. He claims the processed edibles are a violation of his constitutional rights and cause him to “sin against God” by violating his “holy temple.” To bolster his case, he’s enlisted an abortion clinic bomber who takes an equally dim view of the food. [Examiner]

• Lay off the jujubes and load up on popcorn. Men’s Health magazine claims that the cinema nibbles improve blood flow and sperm count thanks to a nutrient called arginine, making popcorn a sort of snack food Viagra. [Guardian]

• The Indian military is developing a hand grenade that will contain chili powder from one of the hottest peppers on Earth, the bhut jolokia, which measures over one million on the Scoville “hotness” scale. For comparison, a jalapeño ranks at 3,000 and a habanero tops out at 350,000. [Reuters]