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The Hype

TIFF Talk
September 3, 2010 | 11:38 am

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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. »

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The Dish

Opening
March 8, 2010 | 11:39 am

28 Comments

A peek inside Parts and Labour, a new Parkdale restaurant that unites owners of The Social, Oddfellows and Castor Design

Parts and Labour: under construction (Image: Karon Liu)

First Cowbell, then Local Kitchen, and now this.

With the arrival of Parts and Labour, a hardware store transformed into a restaurant, the tail end of Queen West takes another step from weekend antiquing destination to social hub. Parkdale locals are excited about the new spot, and with good reason: it represents a new partnership between the owners of The Social, Castor Design and Oddfellows.

During a tour with Richard Lambert, one of the owners, we’re told that Parts and Labour is designed for “Social graduates who want to be more mature and don’t go out to clubs as much anymore.” He adds with a laugh, “We also have a no-electronic-music policy.”

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The Goods

Gossipmonger
February 12, 2010 | 3:58 pm

1 Comment

Here’s The Situation: Jersey Shore comes to Toronto to find models for an upcoming photo shoot

Situation comedy: MTV wants to shoot the Jersey Shore star with some Toronto ladies (Photo by MTV)

Get those poufs and liquid tanners ready, because The Situation is in Hogtown, and he’s looking for some high-class guidettes. An open casting call for a photo shoot with the Jersey Shore star will take place tomorrow between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at The Social. Organizers are looking for women between the ages of 18 and 25 who are willing to bring a swimsuit down to Queen West for test shots. Chosen ladies will be scheduled for a one-day photo shoot later in the month. The pay is a surprisingly decent $150 per hour.

•  Casting call for photo shoot with ‘The Situation’ MTV’s Jersey Shore [Craigslist]

The Dish

Bottoms Up
February 8, 2010 | 3:16 pm

3 Comments

Sunday and Monday, Toronto’s “other weekend,” brings inexpensive booze to the server set

After settling the tabs of Friday parties, Saturday pub crawls and Sunday brunches, a segment of Toronto gears up to celebrate the “other weekend”—Sunday and Monday. On those evenings, business owners cater to hairstylists, musicians, event planners, promoters, bouncers and other members of the service industry. “They don’t get to experience the weekend nightlife,” Mathew Tsoumaris, marketing director at Uniq Lifestyle, which owns Cheval, told the Star, “so we give them a discounted night.”

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The Dish

Restauran-TO
January 15, 2010 | 8:43 am

4 Comments

Joe Pantalone swoops in to limit west-end nightlife—again

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Toronto’s would-be mayor Joe Pantalone is coming down hard on one of the city’s most popular nightlife destinations. After similar moves against Ossington and Harbord, the councilman is now supporting a motion put forth by residents living near the busy stretch of Queen West between Dovercourt and Gladstone. The proposal, which seeks to clarify the term “restaurant” and to limit patio sizes, was approved by Toronto and East York Community Council but still has to pass city council. Pantalone claims that this section of Queen experienced “too much change, too fast” and that “a sense of equilibrium was lost.” Perhaps we have a different definition of “fast,” but The Drake, The Social and The Gladstone have been up and running for years (even the Starbucks at Dovercourt, famously graffitied “Drake you ho this is all your fault,” opened in 2005). We wonder what the construction of the Bohemian Embassy and West Side Lofts condo projects will do to that equilibrium.

• In search of more balance on West Queen West [National Post]

The Dish

Restauran-TO
September 23, 2009 | 2:49 pm

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Cuban festival turns Queen Street into Castro Street—sort of

Viva! Cuban food and drink come to Little Portugal

Viva! Cuban food and drink come to Little Portugal (Photo by Omid Tavallai)

This weekend, West Queen West goes Cubano with the second annual Havana Cultura Festival. There will be music, cigar rolling and, most importantly, Cuban-inspired culinary experiences from 16 restaurants and bars along Ossington, Queen and Dundas. One unlikely participant this year is Poutini’s. For the first time since opening, they will be offering something other than their standard menu dish: a “Cuban-style frijole” poutine consisting of black beans, onions, garlic, peppers, tomato and herbs over fries, and topped with sour cream and cilantro (it’s traditionally served over rice). On Saturday night, the staff will be manning a booth across the street in order to serve the same frijole over a baked potato instead of fries.

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The Dish Toronto International Film Festival 2009
September 13, 2009 | 12:37 pm

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At 4 a.m., there is only one true TIFF star: poutine

Who is the biggest star draw this TIFF? The ladies and gays might be inclined to say George Clooney or Matt Damon, whereas the men might want to say Megan Fox or Jennifer Connelly, but if you judge by the massive throngs of people pushing, shoving and angling to get a spot on Queen Street we’d all be wrong. The biggest star of TIFF—at least on West Queen West—is poutine, and plenty of it.

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Toronto International Film Festival 2009
September 3, 2009 | 11:51 am

4 Comments

Getting a TIFF drink: a complete list of establishments open until 4 a.m. during the film festival

Drake of dawn: the Queen Street hotel is one of many spots open until 4 a.m.

Drake of dawn: the Queen Street hotel is one of many spots open until 4 a.m.

Stalking celebs at TIFF takes a lot out of us—and, we imagine, avoiding us takes a lot out of celebs. The best way to soothe those festival blues or celebrate festival triumphs is with a few cocktails around dawn. Luckily, more bars than ever are serving late this year.

Why so many licences this year? David Brown, bar manager at the Drake Hotel, posits a theory: “The economy is a little tight in general, regardless of what the Bank of Canada says. Giving licences earlier is a benefit to the city and businesses.” He notes that the crowd typically thins out a bit around 2 a.m., with a fresh round of TIFFers coming in around 2:30 a.m. Richard Lambert, owner of The Social, echoes Brown’s sentiment: “We will see a good turnover in the crowds, with a second wave coming around 1:30.”

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The Goods

My Style
June 8, 2009 | 12:16 pm

5 Comments

Michael Mercanti is making edgy jewellery for men

Jewellery designer Michael Mercanti parties until 3 a.m. most nights (The Social and Amber are favourites), but he calls it research. Speech, the 22-year-old’s man-friendly line of metal-and-leather necklaces, bracelets and rings, is inspired by rock ’n’ roll and crafted for the young glunge (grunge meets glam) set. Launched in fall 2008, it’s already been hyped on international fashion blogs—and, yes, local dudes are wearing it, too. Currently sold at the Queen West boutique Carte Blanche, Mercanti’s pieces are beloved by guys who have “confidence and a harder edge.” We chatted with the up-and-comer about his guitar heroes, magazine collection and good luck charms.

michaelmercanti

Michael Mercanti designs for men with confidence (Photo by Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Gossip Hound
September 10, 2008 | 9:52 am

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Gael Garcia Bernal escapes the vodka, grabs a beer, heads for the tequila

A blitz of unexpected paparazzi at the Swarovski cocktail party for Blindness was literally too blinding for actor Gael Garcia Bernal, who apparently fled the crystal palace for a low-key beer at The Pilot. The following evening he was in better, ahem, spirits, thanks to some Tres Generaciones tequila down at The Social. Typically known for hosting vibrant electro mash-ups, the bar was taken over by the Mexican Film Institute, which hosted a mostly Mexican guest list for the Voy a Explotar after party (but sleazy ’70s Show stoner Danny Masterson was also invited, natch).—Jen McNeely“

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