fourONEsixSTYLE

Taking a page from NYC’s Fashion Week, celebrated in midtown’s Bryant Park, Toronto’s week of runway shows is also back in a prime pedestrian intersection, Nathan Philips Square. I’ve been around for the Liberty Grand shows and Muzik too but this venue excites me a bit more. Likely it’s because the best fashion I see in Toronto is on the streets, where style is most exposed. It’s also where, rubbing shoulders with strangers all day long, fashion plays the biggest part in your identity, you can play it up or play it down, be anyone you feel, swathed in the sweet cloak of anonymity.

L’Oreal Fashion Week begins its showing of fall collections for 2008 on March 17th.

While I’m not quite close to having enough pictures or fashion knowledge to publish something like The Sartorialist blog, I did snap some shots of people in Toronto this summer that I thought took their style the extra step and thought I’d share them with you here.

This guy was working the yellow, right up to his canary-coloured Blue Jay’s baseball cap. Fortunately sports teams are modernizing their gear.

Because I’m more about sporty style than high-fashion I totally dug this girl’s seventies throwback sporty mix. Pat Benetar would be proud. Notice she’s also busting the gold chain.

My J.Crew catalog shot. Hot boy in board shots. ‘Nuff said.

Simple, cute and sexy summer style. Athletic to boot.

Read more about Wakestock Weekend in Toronto.

On a recent night Jerrold, Sameer and I headed up to Woodbine racetrack for a night under the big top with Cirque Avaia. Happily forgoing candy apples for a nice drink, we strolled into the main tent to see what the Kantemirov Family - the Russian family dynasty who’d created the show - had in store for us. With horses billed as a big part of their act I could only imagine something like Medieval Times but I was hoping there was more to it than childish role-play.

The show opened on a somber note, with curious bohemian clowns in an underwater scene while sonic rain began to fall on our heads. As Cirque Avaia continued we were awed by the lavishness of it all, massive horse breeds danced around the ring while acrobats in lush costumes flung overhead. The loose theme seemed to be a journey through time and place lingering in medieval eras, but this was no Medieval Times, instead I felt like I’d come upon one of George Lucas’ transient villages. I was both curious and a bit unsure.

The flow through acts left us jarred at times, ebbing and flowing between scenes of melancholy and tribal celebration. These latter built up my excitement, reminding me of something out of alieninflux’ Harvest Festival and its focus on visual treats served up with bassy beats. Avaia’s costumes (for both humans and horses) were stunning, and the original music was a perfect compliment to the circus’ shifting moods and otherworldly feel.

Despite the array of brilliant visual and aural stimuli, Cirque Avaia lacked the glossy touches rival troupe Cirque du Soliel is known for. To me this was a positive point, since I found it helped me connect with the show on a more real level. The performers were hard working and disciplined but not so much so that their faces held back the strain and sacrifice of demonstrating their life’s work under the bright lights’ unforgiving glare. Sitting close to them I was filled with the same tension they must’ve felt before moments before these acrobats pelted themselves though the air and gymnasts dropped and dangled above us on a thread. I was left both dazzled and made to gasp.

Just when I’d felt you could cut the tension in the room with a knife… the knife thrower came out and did just that. From our perspective the man seemed to lose control of one of his knives, darting through the air over the heads of a group next to us. More anxiety filled me as a horse lost footing and fell. Fortunately it was fine and quickly regained composure. After this it became difficult to enjoy any of the horse scenes, wondering what might happen as the ringmaster loudly cracked his whip.

Luckily the clowns saved the day. Their interlude was a charming touch and nothing like the cliched acts usually offered up under the big top. We argued later whether it was their performance that had made the show. They consistently amused the crowd, and it wasn’t just the kids who were all giggles, they won us over too.

If you like entertainment with an element of surprise and danger check out Cirque Avaia, only here until May 27th.

Much thanks to Jerrold for the fabulous photos and Sameer for his Cirque Avaia preview and commentary.

This might just change the way I think about fluorescent lighting forever. Toronto design collective Castor Canadensis has found a fun way to light a space while making sure used bulbs don’t end up in landfills all over the place. Using the old tubes tied together with incandescent bulbs lighting from within makes for a fantastic showpiece, especially for those eco-sensitive design fiends out there.

Made large to be hung horizontally or 2 feet tall for table or floor versions, the lamp will surely stand out from more traditional lighting. The collective notes on their cool website that they’ll cut the manufacture price by half for those who bring in burnt-out bulbs themselves from architecturally significant buildings. No word from the firm whether the design has any bearing on energy efficiency but blogTO readers have a comment or two. Hit recommend if you want to spread the word yourself.

Last night champagne flowed and painted-white cirque-robats glowed while media types mingled in an interior design fantasy world at the preview for the Interior Design Show 2007. I was fortunate to gain entry into the magical kingdom for a sneak peek at the fanciful design in store for us this year.

As expected, the usual design stars - Debbie Travis, Lynda Reeves and Brian Gluckstein - will be there peddling their wares, but none seemed to offer any notion of innovation or inspiration, except perhaps what we can expect the next hot colour of the season to be. Travis’ “no photographs please” living space was decked in spooky black and orange. All I can say about that is “Boo!”

Moving away from the dens of domesticity, local Toronto designers were making a splash. Here are my top picks for Toronto design talent.

1. Adept with porcelain, artist Ken Gangbar, creates fluid sculptures and installations for clients from TO to HK. If you want to give ceramics a whirl too he offers workshops from his studio in Liberty Village.

2. Everything Queen East shop Up to You showed, I wanted to buy. Coolest are the wood carved clothes hangers depicting New York, Tokyo or Paris skylines, though they are $120 a pop and there’s no deisgn for TO. There is an “I Heart ______(blank)” sticker though. That’s where TO can go.

3. I was seriously blown away by the modern stand-alone apartment and eco-friendly fireplaces made by Ecosmart. No gas, no hard connection. Great for any place that needs a little warming up.

4. Utillity in a tile? That’s where Utilitile comes in. I found these walnut wood tiles in the prototype section. Following form and function is truly the way to a Danish girl’s heart.

5. Simple, practical shelving by Sheridan made a big statement. The statement is “I’m fun, and smart, dammit!” Made by, and for, students so it’s got to be.

The Interior Design Show takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Direct Energy Centre, CNE Grounds. Tickets are $16 online or $18 at the door.

Among the other exhibitors at this weekend’s Interior Design Show is a smart Toronto upstart called Bookhou Designs. The two partners, Arounna Khounnoraj who focuses on textile and sculpture and John Booth who designs furniture, marry their talent to create beautiful handmade products for your home that seem so obviously Canadian in their adorable and unassuming way.

Pillows and playthings are adorned with owls, chickadees or meadow sprigs, while lamps and benches’ curvaceous lines appear playfully constructed. I’d seen their pieces about town in places like The Paper Place (887 Queen West) and Red Pegasus (628 College Street) but enjoyed browsing their site for a better look at what they do. I’d love to see Bookhou’s textile line grow to include bedding with the same bright prints they use for journals, as above. Stop by their booth at IDS07 to see what more is in store.

According to Anita Clark’s website I want - I got, and mass emails quickly circulating around the city, Lululemon is having another huge warehouse sale. You can expect massive line-ups but also bargain prices for otherwise pricey yoga gear. I know the image of Lululemon-clad girls running about town has become a bit cliche, so if you’d rather avoid the stereotype Roots, Fila, and Old Navy offer yoga lines too.

Since I’m back on the yoga track, hitting Bikram classes a few times a week, I feel like I spend most of my extra time doing laundry. That’s one good reason to for me to pick up some more gear. Most of Lululemon’s yoga tops and bottoms are made with material that wicks away moisture too so it’ll be easier to handle the heat when my Bikram’s instructor jacks the thermostat to 40C+. You wouldn’t catch me dropping $50 for a bra top or $75 on stretchy pants so I think I’ll hit the sale like everyone else does to find some bargains.

See what people are saying about it on blogTO

Location: 473 Adelaide Street West.
Sale starts today and runs until Sunday
Everyday 10AM-7PM

Czehoski Restaurant on Queen West
Originally uploaded by hc916.

I’ve been having a bit more fun rating restaurants in Toronto on Restaurantica. My favourite place out there is Czehoski. It’s a great place to meet friends for drinks in summer or winter. Menu is small but there’s a great selection of drinks, even organic wines.

It was my top pick too when I wrote a piece last fall for Variety magazine. New Yorkers (Gotham edition) could get a quick look at the best places to hit in Toronto for nightlife when visiting during the Toronto International Film Festival.

At the time I sat down for an informal interview with the Manager of Czehoski; he revealed great stories about the former mob hangout and butcher shop, remnants of which are immediately obvious when walking through the door. On the second floor it’s another world entirely, small intimate areas make up the space.

Visit Restaurantica for more of my review.