NUBIA & YOU by Moody's Global

Cirque Du Soleil's TOTEM...

2011-07-11T13:29:00.030-04:00

Thank you for all your positive feedback regarding our previous Cirque Du Soleil posts. Headquartered in Montreal, multi-award winning Cirque Du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to 90 million spectators in over 200 cities on five continents.

In Toronto from August 1th-September 4th, Cirque Du Soleil's latest work TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly, however, it's impossible for us to hear the word Totem without thinking about all of the wonderful and majestic Native symbols we regularly experienced while growing up in British Columbia.

Kris Taeleman for Royal British Columbia Museum

Victoria, B.C.

The word totem is derived from the tribal Ojibwe word odoodem: "his kinship group". The ancient practice of totem carving has been handed down through aboriginal generations as a way of preserving their history. Sculptures carved from mostly large Western Red Cedar trees, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America.

Totem design meanings vary as widely as the cultures that accomplish them. Poles may recount familiar legends, clan lineages or notable events. Some poles celebrate cultural beliefs, but others are mostly artistic presentations. There are also poles illustrating stories that commemorate historic persons, represent shamanic powers, or provide objects of public ridicule. Some are symbolic reminders of quarrels, murders, debts, and other unpleasant occurrences (about which Natives prefered to remain silent). Poles placed in front of houses were meant to show the success of the families. Due to decay, few of the totem poles that were carved before the year1900 exist.

Cirque Du Soleil's TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

A Native artist performs a narrative dance, using hoops to create static and dynamic shapes to evoke various animals and images in a ritual that symbolizes the endless circle of life. Surrounded by members of numerous tribes, the dancer returns to create new figures with his hoops, finishing with a globe that he raises high above his head.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend, TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, to man's dreams and to man's infinite potential.

As the term totem is about the idea of the order of species, we carry in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire to fly—like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole.

Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, to man's dreams and to man's infinite potential.

Deaf TO Baseball Player Drafted by Milwaukee...

2011-06-12T13:48:00.002-04:00

Following in his brother Jesse Galen's baseball player footsteps, Victoria Mariners' third baseman and former junior national team player Jalen Harris was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2011 MLB draft . Mr. Harris was selected in the 41st round, and was one of 5 active BC PBL players to be drafted this year.

The 6'2", 210 lb. third baseman first played baseball at the age of two, joining a team when he was five. Harris' success on the diamond is all the more impressive given that he was born deaf and had cochlear implants inserted when he was three years old to help him hear.

"People ask about that, but I don't think about it," Harris said. "I just think, 'I guess I'm a lucky guy.' My teammates and coaches treat me like anyone else. My coaches makes extra sure that I understand what is happening on the field, or what has been said to the rest of the team. Most of the time, people don’t even know I am [deaf].” '"

A typical teenager, Harris enjoys hanging out with friends, spending time with family, and playing videogames, however, Harris was always fiercely competitive, intent on one atypical goal: cracking the Canadian national junior baseball team and getting drafted by the major leagues.

Harris now join a select group of hearing impaired athletes that have cracked the major leagues, a list headed by 19th century star William Hoy and recent major leaguer Curtis Pride.

Congratulations and good luck Jalen!

May 19th-May 29th: Black Boxes at the Inside Out Film Festival...

2011-05-05T16:43:00.001-04:00

Black Boxes

TIFF Bell Lightbox Cinema 2
Monday May 23 | 5:00pm

This program has 5 films

Inside Out, the Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival celebrates its 21st anniversary this year with programs that include Black Boxes, a lineup that covers "scintillatingly, repudiating, conventional notions" of how race, sexual orientation and gender collide with black body politics, in addition to the tense passion in multi-award-winning Dee Rees' Colonial Gods, the "joyful bliss" of and I am me and the "brooding self-denial" of Billy Sweet Pea Strayhorn's characterization in Billy & Aaron.

Billy & Aaron

Renowned musical composer Billy "Sweet Pea" Strayhorn lives as an openly gay man within the hyper-masculine African-American jazz milieu of the 1940's.

Colonial Gods

In a nod to back to the 2010 Inside Out film festival, a complicated friendship between a recent Somali immigrant and a Nigerian activist unfolds against the backdrop of gentrification and displacement in a small immigrant community in Cardiff, Wales.

Change

Jamie is an African-American teenager who grapples with his sexual identity. On the night that Senator Barrack Obama is elected President of the United States and Proposition #8 passes, a member of Jamie's gang initiates the bullying of an openly gay classmate. Jamie uses his wits to try and prevent the incident, but when things don't occur the way he hopes, he is forced to face his fears head on. This program is rated 14A

"and i am me"

An honest portrayal about the tender relationship between a lesbian mom and her adopted Ethiopian son will warm your heart with love and hope. This program is rated 14A

Free Man

When Charlie, Michael's partner of thirteen years, dies unexpectedly, Michael is forced to plan the funeral arrangements with his estranged mother-in-law Celinel. Michael ultimately finds himself embroiled in a power struggle. While he dissolves into grief, Celine turns to the legal system, stripping Michael of Charlie's burial rights so that Michael is forced use music and the power of his union with Charlie to mourn his passing. This program is rated 14A

Tonight: Arthur Simeon "Brings Down The House" For Youth...

2011-04-02T06:09:00.004-04:00

Photo by Debra Friedman for NOW Magazine

Susccessful side-splitting comedian and business man, Ugandan-Canadian Arthur Simeon will be Raising The Roof for homeless youth tonight at The Rivoli. As per NOW Magazine,

"...Skewering ridiculous stereotypes is a huge part of Simeon’s act, and if things continue as they’re going – [he could be]...the country’s next breakout global comedy star.What’s strange is that unlike many so-called ethnic comics (Peters included), Simeon can’t rely on waves of first- or second-generation immigrants to flock to his shows. Not many Ugandan Canadians attend comedy clubs...

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” he says. “The blessing is that I sound different from everyone else. The curse is that people identify with me less than everyone else.”

[Still], originality is hard to find in comedy. Watching Simeon deconstruct Western stereotypes about Africans (“all the jokes about us have to do with AIDS, clicking tongues or blow-darts”), you won’t confuse him with that generic white dude onstage talking about smoking pot...Simeon still can’t believe it all happened...

...Just a few years ago, he used to write, hashing out material for amateur nights and open mics while drinking juice and watching European football...This was during his crash-on-the-sofas-of-friends period, right after moving here from [the University Of] Peterborough. Early on, he got encouragement from Jack Norman at Yuk Yuk’s Tuesday amateur night and Kenny Robinson, host of the Nubian Disciples Of Pryor, who added him to the lineup after a no-show, then a month later promoted him from five minutes to 10, all in front of one of T.O.’s toughest comedy crowds.
“I loved the energy of the Nubian nights, because even though it’s an all-black comedy show, I wasn’t doing what the others were doing,” he says. “The room is heavily Jamaican, and as a whole they’re very proud and brash, very aggressive. So I became a little more aggressive just because I had to match them. They love that I don’t back down.”...

What Simeon does so well is communicate the disconnect between what he’s feeling and how he’s perceived...

Whatever you think of Peters’ comedy, says Simeon, he has completely changed the game.“Everyone before him was doing it for a small market. Richard Pryor changed the game by bridging the races. Russell comes along and says, ‘What about Dubai or Australia?’”

“What Russell’s done is create a blueprint for future comics, especially a comic like me who’s a global child. I’m from Uganda but I live in Canada.” He pauses, considering the sacrifices he’s made – the bridge between where he grew up telling jokes at birthday parties to now, when he’s in hot demand.

“I almost never take off any time. My family’s still in Uganda, and it sucks. I work hard, harder than many comics. A lot of veterans get jaded about the business, say they’ve been doing it for X number of years. But I’ve learned that if you work hard, something will come of it.”

Show at 7 pm. Enjoy.

We Are Mentioned In THE STAR...

2011-03-27T04:52:00.010-04:00

With ACTRA Awards Nominee Maurice Dean Wynt

Media Room, The Carlu: Toronto, ON

Photo by Steve Blackburn, YYZ Events

Thanks to the Toronto Star for featuring us again. (Last time, it was Laina Dawes' article about President Obama.) A specific thank you to writer Simone Abrahamsohn, a professional we met via Media Bistro functions. Established in both national and local papers such as the Globe & Mail and the National Post, here's just an excerpt from Simone's enveloping business article Making Multitasking Into Your Life's Work:

Gillian Moody can’t chat for long. She is... a public relations and communications consultant...[who must] update her two blogs... Moody’s Global and Moody’s for Youth...

It can be a juggling act, but it’s worth it to me,” says Moody, a resident of Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood. “After 9/11... I had to create my own opportunities... It’s about choosing a big picture that you really care about, and going with it. I crave variety, and this way, I can devote my time to many different projects."

Career and employment coaches are now referring to work schedules such as Moody’s as a “portfolio career"... With shrinking industries resulting in fewer full-time positions, many... are becoming entrepreneurial and trying on several different hats...

Please click Making Multitasking Into Your Life's Work to read the full article. Thank you!

Fashion Critic Anita Clarke Heralds Us Into FW 2011...

2011-03-21T09:31:00.014-04:00

Fashion Critic Anita Clarke Is Interviewed By The Fashion Television Channel
Philip Sparks FW 2011
Burroughes Building, Toronto

It's show day and the team of established designer Philip Sparks has spent the weekend at TO's historic Burroughes Building "We were building our set, finalizing details with our amazing team of sponsors and going over every last piece of clothing with the steamer and a lint roller.

Tonight, sponsored by Hamilton Watches, Sparks gives us his second womens' wear collection just prior to TO's prestigious LG Fashion Week. Women’s apparel is Mr. Sparks’ response to all the positive feedback he regularly receives from women on his preppy line of boots, shoes, and trim trousers and vests.

After developing an interest in heritage tailoring in the design departments of the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada and the Stratford Festival, inspired by found photographs, Canada’s great outdoors, vintage fabrics, hardware and notions, Sparks founded his men's clothing line in 2007. "All clothing and accessories are proudly made in Canada by specialized manufacturers, leather workers and knitters. We also partnered with Town Shoes on Philip Sparks branded footwear.
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Our brand [feels] nostalgic, referencing vintage details and classic tailoring, but [with] a contemporary sensibility that connects men and women [with] quality, fit and [functionality]". Tonight, expect womens' wear as "some tailored (and very warm) wool coats with collars made of Italian mountain sheep shearling. I wish we had a photo of the silk dresses and skirts custom printed from photos snaps. You’ll just have to wait until [the] show".

Look at the Janelle Monae lookalike model below...

Other Fashion Week designers' shows we look forward to viewing include Greta Constantine. See you there.

March 3rd: Kardinal Offishall, Pinball Clemons at BLUEPRINT GALA for Youth...

2011-02-28T16:24:00.150-05:00

The Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation invites you to wear your finest jeans nd jewels and come out to support the building of better futures at the Blueprint Gala at the prestigious Fairmont Royal York Hotel, to be attended by sports stars and celebrities such as Juno-award winning rapper/producer Kardinal Offishall. Last year’s af’ri•ka event raised over $300,000. Help Pinball help youth.

Help MPCF make significant donations to organizations that focus on benefiting health, human resources, education and character building programs that serve our youth most in need. Help build hope, security, education and opportunity for individuals within our local communities and around the world. Hope builds 131 schools in third world countries over five years with Free The Children’s Adopt a Village campaign. Security has assists a deserving local family to achieve the seemingly impossible dream of home ownership with Habitat for Humanity. Education supports students that are struggling financially with scholarships through the George Brown College Foundation. Opportunity is leveling the playing field by providing computers to youth in under resourced communities through Sky’s the Limit.

Enter the chic and elegant construction site, mix and mingle with celebrity guests, sports icons and MPCF’s committed builders. Dance the night away to spectacular live performances and participate in live and silent auctions to help construct a better future for so many in need.

MEET US

Concert Hall, The Fairmont Royal York Hotel

100 Front Street W, Toronto, Ontario

6:00pm – 7:15pm – Cocktail Reception, Silent Auction

7:30pm – 10:00pm - dinner, speeches, auction, entertainment

CELEBRITIES

Michael "Pinball" and Diane Clemons

Kardinal Offishall Juno Award Winner

Farley Flex Music Promoter, Manager

Jordan Younger Toronto Argonauts

Cory Boyd Toronto Argonauts

Adriano Belli Pro Football Player - CFL

Taylor Robertson Toronto Argonauts

Sherman Hamilton TV Basketball Analyst

Kevin Frankish Co-Host, Breakfast Television

Dina Pugliese Co-Host, Breakfast Television

Byron Parker Toronto Argonauts

ACTRA Awards: The Carlu, Toronto...

2011-02-26T11:53:00.171-05:00

Actor Zarrin Darnell-Martin

with Nominee Noah Reid and Friend
ACTRA Awards Media Room, The Carlu: Toronto, ON

Photo by Della Rollins

Members of the Canadian film and television community gathered to celebrate the ninth annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto presented February 25, 2011 at The Carlu. Youthful host Ennis Esmer (The Listener) came across as irritating at first, but eventually kept us entertained and laughing at his jokes. Esmer welcomed industry luminaries including actors such as Pantera's Zarrin Darnell-Martin above.

As per NOW Magazine, in the play Pantera, Darnell-Martin portrayed the young central character in Beatriz Pizano’s La Comunión, someone who has no time for girlhood games. She’s too busy toting a gun and fighting in a conflict that’s gone on for fifty years as a Colombia child soldier, caught up in a war of complexity that included class, economic and sexual tensions. She joined the guerrilla forces as an 11-year-old, brought to them by her grandmother--who apparently wanted to protect the peasant girl(!!). Years later, Pantera flees to Canada where she would encounter a completely different set of problems.

ACTRA Awards Nominee Maurice Dean Wint with Gillian Moody

Media Room, The Carlu: Toronto, ON

Photo by Steve Blackburn, YYZ Events

ACTRA Award nominees chosen for recognition by their peers included Maurice Dean Wint for his performance in Beasts Of The Bible. This 90-minute documentary explores the most extraordinary creatures in the Biblical tales. The Bible's beasts have captivated our imagination for centuries, but did they really exist? In this eye-popping, myth-busting film, ancient writings are decoded, hidden meanings of symbols and legends unlocked, and the most famous and most mysterious Beasts of the Bible are uncovered.

Congratulations to all nominees and winners.

Host/Actor Ennis Esmer, Actor Cle Bennett (Stag)

ACTRA Awards, The Carlu

Photo by Della Rollins

Multi-Award-Winning Prof. Dr. Henry Gates Visits The ROM, Toronto...

2010-12-09T10:08:00.023-05:00

"LES DEMOISELLES D'AVIGNON" As Per The African Masks Observed By PABLO PICASSO Just Prior To Painting Prostitutes In The Buff

For the fifth annual Eva Holtby Lecture at the prestigious ROM in Toronto, Dr. Henry Gates' gave us a most informative talk about his extensive findings: "noble images of Africans".

The following week, we were enjoying our usual read of Toronto's top entertainment paper NOW Magazine. NOW Magazine's opinion is important due to its established reputation. To our surprise, their writer Sigcino Moyo's coverage of the ROM talk often consisted of (1) nonsensical negative comments about Dr. Gates, (2) assumptions made about the audience and (3) a lack of writing quality and research in general. Africadian activism and entertainment editor Laina Dawes corresponded that she agreed with us.

After several emails and phone calls complaining to editor Enzo DiMatteo about Mr. Moyo's article, it was great to find out that the Letter To Editor we had written would be printed--albeit heavily editted. This meant that an alternative (read: positive) view of Dr. Gates' talk would be presented. It was therefore so disappointing when the letter that the editor actually printed was editted with a negative ending(!). In other words, not the impression we wanted to convey at all. As per below,

At the Gates of hell (title chosen by that editor!)
Sigcino Moyo doesn’t back up his (largely negative) statements on Henry Louis Gates (NOW, November 18-25). For reasons not made known to readers, Moyo begins his article with Gates’s wrongful arrest as the cause of “strange things.

Moyo makes assumptions about how best to relate to NOW’s young, hip audience. If you have no idea that “barbershop… sh_t” may be considered cultural street slang, it sounds negative, as if there’s something odd about Gates’s grandfather’s skin colour when it’s referred to as “white.”

Gates details Picasso’s initial viewing of the dusty African masks that led to his repainting of Les Demoiselles. Moyo calls Gates’s statements “controversial” and “a shocker.” Um, why? The Picasso story is already so well known.

The people around me and I quite enjoyed Gates’s lecture even though “not everyone was fully on board with his postulates.”

Ack! As you can see--in addition to the letter being heavily editted--in the last sentence, the editor didn't clarify for his readers that the quotation had actually been stated by Moyo, easily causing a reader to be confused about the quotation's origin.

So, what's best here? Not to make a habit of writing Letters To The Editor, at least not to the editor of NOW Magazine? In truth, this lopsided (read: incorrect) editting of a Letter To The Editor has occured to us before when we wrote a letter to the Globe & Mail. The letter that they printed made no sense and definitely didn't reflect our point of view.

A Snow Stampede, Calgary ...

2010-11-19T01:40:00.001-05:00

Stampeders Henry Burris and Rob Lazeo
Practice Prior to the Western Final in Saskatchewan

Photo by Chris Bolin

"Black Snob" Remembers....

2010-11-11T11:11:00.065-05:00

I remember, lest we forget.

Over the past few weeks, our previous Remembrance Day photo has received much of your attention. Thanks so much! This year, I want to appreciate inspirational American blogger Danielle C. "Black Snob" Belton--a recent speaker to Essence Magazine's Women's Conference which she then followed with a spot on CNN(!). Tearing herself away from her hundreds of thousands of worldwide fans, Belton has generously chosen to share one of her own family photos (Coloured Regiment, France), explaining "Remember those who served today".

Lest we forget.

Photo by D. Finney

Nov.6th: Yasmine Warsame To Grace Heart Of Fashion Benefit, Toronto...

2010-10-29T17:01:00.012-04:00

INDULGE in Decadent, Provocative, Divine

Immerse yourself in a cultural and fashionable affair... Hot on the heels of Toronto's fabulous LG Fashion Week, North York General Hospital will hold its annual Heart Of Fashion^® fundraising event in order for its proceeds to help fight breast cancer (via its BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre (BDC)). Scheduled for November 6^th, 2010 in the stunningly renovated, upscale Bayview Village during the shopping centre's 10th anniversary, Heart Of Fashion proudly welcomes internationally-renowned fashion model Yasmin Warsame as their Honorary Fashion Show Chair. A Somali-Canadian, Warsame began modelling while pregnant with her son Hamzah. After two years, her look was considered too haute couture for North America so she flew to Paris, London and Amsterdam. Warsame had a career breakthrough when she was photographed by Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue and she has since modelled all over Europe and America, but still manages to find time to volunteer for the Somali Youth Coalition of Canada.

"I'm honoured to chair the fashion show and continue to bring awareness to North York General Hospital's fight against Breast Cancer. There is no better way to give back then supporting a hospital that helps so many women in the community."

Since 1997, North York General Hospital's BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre (BDC) has provided comprehensive services for women with a potential diagnosis of breast cancer, dealing with approximately 1,300 new patients each year.

"For the past 10 years, Heart of Fashion has provided significant financial support to the BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre. The funds from this year's event will be directed towards the purchase of a new ultrasound machine for the Centre, " says Dr. Donna McRitchie, Division Head of General Surgery for NYGH.

In a setting transformed into a sleek condo space by The Rockport Group for over 2000 guests and celebrities to sip champagne and enjoy exclusive Privé gift bags, everyone will come together in a celebration of fashion and philanthropy, featuring performances by Juno award-winning songstress Jully Black, along with entertainers Paisley Jura and The Alma Quartet.

Highlighted in a vignette setting--as opposed to a traditional runway--the designs will have more of a vintage and editorial feel, and will be broadcast on large screens throughout Bayview Village for all the guests to enjoy. Featured Canadian designers and boutiques include NADA and Franco Mirabelli.

Back by popular demand are the Heart of Fashion Mystery Bags. For a mere $50, you have the chance to experience luxurious and extraordinary gift opportunities that include golf trips, in addition to watches, shoes and fashions by designers that include Andy The-Anh, Brian Bailey and various others.

Continuing in the celebration of fashion and philanthropy, Heart of Fashion is proud to announce exclusively-signed fashion sketches, created for the silent auction by such iconic Canadian designers as Wayne Clark, Farley Chatto and Linda Lundström.

Won't you join us?__

Tickets
$75 per guest
$250 including the VIP Privé Reception at 6:30pm.

Doors Open (2901 Bayview Avenue)
7:30pm for general admission
(includes decadent food, divine cocktails, fabulous entertainment, and a unique fashion show)

Attire
Cocktail Chic with a splash of pink!

Anita Clarke Of "I Want I Got" On LG Fashion Week 2010, Toronto...

2010-10-21T08:14:00.002-04:00

Featured In The Globe & Mail,

Watch And Listen To
Multi-Award Winning Blogger Anita Clarke Of I Want I Got

Speak About LG Fashion Week.

Sesame Street's Facebook Afro-Phenomenon: "I Love My Hair!"...

2010-10-20T00:51:00.004-04:00

I realize that this is al-l-l-l over Facebook. Yes, okay, whatEVer! I can't get enough of it.
Actually, I think it should be required viewing under How To Have Self-Pride.
Enjoy.

English Dame Kelly Holmes Is "On Camp": Commonwealth Games, India...

2010-10-12T04:56:00.108-04:00

As per the BBC article, double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes wants to pass on her expertise to young athletes and give something back to a sport that has given her so much, by helping them to develop life skills through the world of track and field.(Photo: Getty Images)

At the 2010 Commonweath Games in New Delhi, India, Holmes continued her global message with a camp at the Indian Institute of Technology. She and her athletic instructors enjoyed unbridled enthusiasm from more than 120 Indian primary schoolchildren. The wide-eyed kids were instructed in various warm-up drills or jogging sessions, hanging onto every word spoken, following their instructor's every move. (Photo: Newshopper Sulekha via Associated Press)

"People don't realize how much work I put into this - it means so much to me. It's been six years now and it is great to see the interaction [between my staff] and the youngsters. Many of the kids here are from local villages that I hope to get to visit while I'm here. We're preparing them for life and giving them the confidence and skills to be a success at whatever they try."

For more information, please click here.

Oct.20th-24th: ImagineNative Film+Media Arts Festival, Toronto...

2010-09-20T01:42:00.002-04:00

Taika Waititi will be in Toronto and in attendance for the Canadian Premiere of "BOY", now the #1 highest grossing film in New Zealand and scheduled to open this year’s CTV-sponsored imagineNative Film+Media Arts Festival on October 20th at 7pm in the Bloor Cinema. Inspired by Waititi’s Oscar-nominated "Two Cars, One Night" about heroes, fantasy and magic, BOY is a hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age story written, directed and starring Taika Waititi. The story enfolds in 1984 on the rural East Coast of New Zealand, a time when youth were so affected by Michael Jackson's video “Thriller”.

“imagineNATIVE is situated at the intersection of ideas, issues, narratives and contemporary realities of Indigenous peoples from around the world,” states Executive Director, Jason Ryle. “What these film and media makers are doing is constructing history in engaging, entertaining and beautiful ways.”

BOY is a part of the world's largest Aboriginal festival is the imagineNATIVE Film+Media Arts Festival. The festival features highlights such as outstanding artist and performance events, popular music showcases, one-of-a-kind media mash-ups, panels and talks with industry insiders. Come and be a part of a truly original festival.

Oct.18th-23rd: Anita Clarke Does LG Fashion Week 2010, Toronto...

2010-09-18T07:12:00.075-04:00

Fashion And Style Blogger Anita Clarke Of I Want I Got

Looks Forward to LG Fashion Week 2011

One of the first and most prominent online fashion writers in Toronto, multi-award-winning Anita Clarke is a self-described "computer nerd with a fashionable twist" who has brought a rather direct perspective for several years. Clarke wrote for BlogTO, has been published in Variety Magazine, Gloss Magazine and Chick Advisor. In addition, she has been mentioned in Canadian Press, Fashion Magazine, Flare Magazine, Masthead, Metro, 24hours, National Post, Eye Weekly, Now Magazine, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Now Magazine. She speaks on the topics of fashion, marketing, media relations and social media. Clarke has also been in ad campaigns for Windfall’s Buy Design fundraiser. About LG Fashion Week, "I love it."

LG Fashion Week brings together media, industry, buyers and consumers to view the season’s collections in the Toronto, Canada's Fashion Capital. Now in its 12th year, the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) has successfully created a Fashion Week known as LG Fashion Week Beauty by L'Oréal Paris, commanding international respect, driving the Canadian fashion economy and profile within the industry.

"Mannequins" Made With Actual Plant Dresses, LG Fashion Week

Inside Allstream Centre, Exhibition Grounds

Obama's View...

2010-08-18T15:43:00.004-04:00

The Sierra Nevada Mountains as seen from Air Force One as it flies north towards Seattle from Los Angeles with President Barack Obama.

Photo by Larry Downing for Reuters

How Joe Halstead Saved Caribana, North America's Largest Festival....

2010-08-02T03:17:00.011-04:00

As per the Eye Weekly article, much of the credit for the phenomenal turnaround of the formerly debt-ridden Scotiabank Caribana Festival goes to current chair and CEO Joe Halstead whom many see as the catalyst for the entity’s recent success.

After four years at the helm of North America’s biggest and most anticipated summer bash, Halstead is soon to be the former head of the Festival Management Committee. His successors are Denise Herrera-Jackson as CEO and Christopher Alexander as Chief Administrative Officer.

Now an over-$300-million enterprise that gives prestige and tax dollars to all three levels of government, Halstead has some words of wisdom for his successors: “This is an awesome responsibility,” he says. “Take it seriously, because you are being watched not only by the community, which cares deeply about this festival, but also by other festivals and events that are trying to catch up and surpass us.” Being closely watched is something Halstead knows all about... For the full, extensive article, click here.

(Upper LEFT PHOTO: Mr. Halstead accepts an award for his distinguished years of service at the beautiful Caribana Festival Gala on the evening of July 24th.)

Caribana Parade 2010: Who's Afraid Of A Blue Devil?...

2010-08-01T12:48:00.097-04:00

Blue Devil Gloria Regina Roheim

Caribana Parade 2010

Ricardo McCrae, Founder of TO's Blue Devil Mas Society with friend Diana

Once again, as per other Caribbean world festivals, Blue Devil Mas was an active--albeit this year, it was smaller--and pertinent part of TO's Caribana Parade 2010. Spectacular costumes represent characters and events from history and folklore. The tradition of "Mud Mas" involves participants known as Jab Jabs. These Jab Jabs cover themselves from head to toe in paint, chocolate, coloured powders, water, oil, mud, and anything else that strikes their fancy. All are traditional carnival characters that capture the elements of the past yet continue to tell new and innovative stories with each carnival. It is the J’ouvert (colloquially pronounced: jouVAY) custom that no one is “clean” (or remain clean if you're a festival-goer), and it is therefore a common site to see newcomers hugged by muddy revellers. (As you can see in the above RIGHT PHOTO with my friend Christine Sorenson, I was definitely hugged by a Blue Devil!)

Right: Gloria Regina Roheim

Caribana Parade 2010

Left: Ricardo McCrae, centre: Patti Ann Trainor, right: Nia Riley

Left: Liam O'Neill, centre: Darren (Dee) Baptiste, right: Ricardo McCrae

G8, G20 Welcomes African Leaders to Canada...

2010-06-24T12:34:00.006-04:00

"There is an ongoing process in the Canadian foreign ministry to develop and maintain a strategy on Africa. There is concern about the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) engaging African countries. Africa has consolidated important relations with these countries and this bond is seen as a threat to Western countries.

Canada wants to understand how it can meaningfully engage with Africa regarding issues around security, aid, trade and investment." Dr Mzukisi Qobo, programme head for emerging powers and global leadership challenges at the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA)

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Get maximum exposure to the largest number of professionals in the financial community and the media Canada wants to assist the G20 Summit to bring stability to global financial markets and to promote economic cooperation. Here’s to increasing the voice of emerging economies and to the G20 building a future of sustainable and balanced economic growth.Let's do our part with the world’s most effective forum to stabilize economies, prevent future crises and coordinate stimulus packages. We hope you can see that these blogs give our readers insights and ideas that better their ability to differentiate the G20 from the norm. We would be honoured to contribute.

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"Many of the smaller countries seldom get a chance to be highlighted on an international stage. The needs of a small country like Malawi are vastly different to that of Egypt, for example, and it has to put its own case forward."

Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill Opens, Toronto...

2010-06-19T01:58:00.034-04:00

Style & Fashion Writer Anita Clarke, Socia Media Writer Jaime Woo
O & B Cafe Grill
Photo by J.J. Thompson
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In the heart of the city’s downtown core, O&B Café Grill is the result of the dynamic partnership between Peter Oliver and celebrity Chef Michael Bonacini. Together since 1993, Oliver introduced an O&B concept called “emotional service”, gaining loyalty for the partners’ numerous restaurants. Boasts Bonacini, “We wanted [our restaurants] to reflect a down-to-earth attitude.”

The vast 14,500 square-foot project (230 seats, a stylish bar, a lounge and a wraparound patio) faces both Front and Yonge streets. A collaboration between Chef Bonacini and Anacleto Design, former Yabu Pushelberg associate, designer Lindsey Anacleto created intimate gathering spots, dotted with communal tables, “hidden” booths, and a loft-like dining room.

A refined, but refreshing menu Chef Bonacini created in collaboration with Chef Anthony Walsh, it designates such delicacies as Pancetta and Mushroom Pizzetta and Lamb and Spinach Pasta. Adds Bonacini, “It’s important to keep evolving our culinary style to suit the tastes of the sophisticated downtown crowd, and embrace culinary trends [that are both] local and artisan.”

Concept Chef Marcus Bestig's Tuna Lettuce Wraps with Taro Root Fries
O & B Cafe Grill
Photo by J.J. Thompson
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May 26th: TIFF Student Film Showcase, Toronto...

2010-05-14T15:17:00.024-04:00

See the work of the best young filmmakers of the year! Student Film Showcase is brought to you by the team that brings you the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF recognizes the importance of nurturing aspiring filmmakers and is proud to provide a forum and platform for student filmmakers to exhibit their work at the Student Film Showcase. Here are just a few samples...

Leah by Michelle Berry
(Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning)
A sensitive coming of age film, LEAH follows the title character’s struggles with her mother and teenage peers, as she finds guidance in the wisdom of a familiar stranger.
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Every 28 Days by Kenny Chow

(Capilano University)

Explosive, original and uncompromising, this zombie comedy makes its mark by mixing natural physical occurrences, the dangers of untested pharmaceutical products and the power to overcome them.
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A Glimpse, Naghmeh Abbasi

(Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
A young girl wends her way home through urban streets, followed at a distance by a boy tracing her path, providing a child’s perspective of a daily routine.
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Buckshot by Gabriel Jablanczy

(Nova Scotia College of Art & Design)

Clayton, 11 years old, feels the pressure to please his negligent father by reluctantly caving to his hunting tendencies. An ambiguous and sensitive approach to a rough relationship.

This annual event is presented in association with the Film School Consortium, a national group of 17 universities and colleges across Canada that provides a wide, diverse and exciting range of student works including animation, documentary, fiction and experimental films.This initiative presents opportunities for these filmmakers to make important contacts and develop career-enhancing relationships with peers and industry professionals. Films included in past showcases have gone on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada’s Top Ten, Sprockets and other notable festivals.The showcased films are selected by TIFF prorgammers from more than 500 submissions and are considered for a prize by a jury of film-industry processionals.

Join us...

Wednesday, May 26
7:30pm
@
AMC Yonge & Dundas
Tickets $8

Get yours today at Student Film Showcase