How to Shop

Prepare
A couple things to know before you hop out the door. It’s a good idea to carry cash, I’m highly offended by bank fees and many places won’t offer you any other options. Bring your own bags. Or everyone will judge you- there I said it. But not really, and also kind of? Why aren’t you doing this already? Always plan ahead. If you think you may be enticed to buy several pounds of strawberries don’t take your bike and you’re dog that day. Also go early, especially on weekends.

Circulate
I always come with a list, but unlike the grocery story where my list is highly regimented at the market its more of a suggestion. Check out who’s popular, where they are selling from (a specific farm? or a are they trying to act like lemons and kiwi grow in Canada?), and what looks good. This way you don’t regret buying that asparagus when you turn a corner and see much better product.

Taste
In addition to stopping for some lunchtime tacos don’t be shy to ask merchants if you can taste what they have to offer. Beans, strawberries and smaller items are often presented as up for grabs but ask about things like apples or carrots. My favorite part about shopping at farmer’s markets is eating everything. Imagine the samples at Costco but one million times better. And the cheese. oh what cheeses. Eat them all.

Seasons for Ripe Pickins’
If you want to eat local you need to know how things grow locally. By eating with seasons not only are you supporting a return to a classical and more natural eating style but you’r eating only the freshest and most delicious foods available. Shwing. Central Canadians can foolow these guidelines. If you’re way on the left or right coast the seasons may change by a couple of weeks. No worries, just ask. Or you know, google.

May:
Arugula, Asparagus, Fiddleheads, Herbs, Lettuce, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach

June:
All of the produce from May PLUS
Beans, green & wax, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cherries (but not until late in the month),Cucumbers, Herbs, Kohlrabi, Peas, Radiccio, Strawberries, Turnips

July:
Apricots, Beans, Beets, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cherries, Corn, Currants, Gooseberries, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Plums (yellow), Potatoes, Rapini, Raspberries, Rutabaga, Spinach, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini/Other summer squash

August:
Everything from July (save for strawberries, which have peaked but can be ok) PLUS
Apples, Canteloupe, Cucumber (fresh field), Eggplant, Garlic, Grapes, Kale, Leeks, Muskmelon, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Shallots, Tomatillos, Watermelon

At Home
Obviously you’re going to take all your delicious goodies home and make beautiful fresh nourishing food. But market food is a little different from supermarket food. There is a reason why cultures that shop at markets go 3 or 4 times each week. Unlike the traditional Western once a week foodfest this food actually goes bad. In like a few days, less than you think. Eat your produce right away if you can and plan your next visit soon. And for the love of all things that are holy do not put your tomatoes in the fridge. Sacrilege.

Toronto Markets

Here’s a list of daily markets throughout Toronto. The St. Lawrence Market is a classic. My first market where my Dad would take me every Saturday at 7am. I liked looking at the dead pigs. Brickworks has a strong following as does Trinity Bellwoods. If you research within your given area I always find that there are little secret market happenings. Also important, My Market allows you to research whether the produce you buy is certifiably from the greenbelt and therefore local. A great tool to have around.

If you’re daytripping. Markets in Guelph, Wasaga/Collingwood, and (pie capital of Ontario) St. Jacobs have insanely good products with a lower key vibe.

Montreal

Seriously worth the visit just for the bounty of local products, and my home. When at the market remember, it’s a French market. It’s a little more natural and a little less lysol. Also, as happy as the merchants are to be selling their wares they will likely act as though they’re doing you a favor. They mean well- just smile, merci beaucoup, and enjoy. Jean-Talon is the classic its beautiful and sprawling. Atwater has always been my favorite. There’s 3 for $14 local cheeses and some killer saucisses.

Battleship is pretty much everything you want (read: I want) in a summer blockbuster: Rihanna, aliens, OK CGI, cheesy dialogue, summer tan sweat, a reunion of Friday Night Lights, & Rihanna.  Before we get into the complexities of this film, let me just briefly let know what it’s about: The film opens with NASA sending a signal through deep space to let Planet-G (an Earth-like planet far far away) know about us, all the meanwhile some nerd is saying “THis ISss A BAdd IdeA”. Cut to > Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgard; they are in a lifelong relationship, and even though they truely love each other, Taylor can’t seem to get things together, so to get him on the right track Alex recruits him to the navy where they can be together 4ever. Taylor has a big ego so he needs a beard…it’s Brooklyn Dekker. She adds big tits and blonde hair to Battleship..Oh and she’s Liam Neeson’s daughter (He’s the Admiral) . Anyways, the NASA signal makes connect and 5 alien ships head towards Earth to scout our planet and eventually try and signal back to the homeland to let them know that they can come on over and take over.

This is where we get into Hasbro game territory. Taylor commands a Destroyer, and with the help of a token Asian, they devise a plan to see the ships (because radar is down) and with precise accuracy and timing they start to own the waters.  The way they incorporated the use of the game was done seeminglessly.  OBVIOUSLY they would use the buoys as beacons to sense the waves therefore be able to tell just how far those damn aliens were.  GENIUS. Also the missiles/bombs the alien bros use on the humans are the same as the the pegs you would use to sink a battleship at home.

Obviously Rihanna is the stand out character in this movie. Her lines are just as poetic as her songs, and she was blazed out the entire time filming, giving her character just enough edginess to really enforce her personal brand IRL. Rihanna comes out guns blazing with her first line “”What’s wrong with you, drama queen?” letting the audience know she means business and she’s not taking this over-paid job in Hawaii lightly. Just how hard did RiRi have to work to get her lines p e r f e c t? Check out every line she so beautifully Britney breathed out.

Ok so RiRi isn’t the only thing that makes Battleship.  The next best thing is the semi reunion of Friday Night Lights alum. We got Peter Berg (creator of FNL) directing, and Taylor Kitsch (Riggins) & Jesse Plemons (Landry) acting their hearts out. Landry is still Landry, kinda dumb, totally nervous and a lil scared, and Riggins brooding around never learning his lessons until he has to finally man up. DAMN this movie would have been so fun to be a part of. “Hey you guys all wanna come to Hawaii for a month, get overpaid, smoke weed and chill with Rihanna?”
“Um..D U H.”

Battleship was nothing but fun.  There were no expectations what so ever for this film. It came. It raved. It made millions of dollars. LOL smart, and good investment Universal. If you come out of Battleship pissed about the acting or the dialogue, then you clearly were too dumb to realize exactly what you were walking into.
PS. Rihanna sings but doesn’t sing a little. “We Found Love”??

After BATTLESHIP, I needed to see another film Taylor Kitsch was born to star in: JOHN CARTER. This CGI heavy sci-fi action film really nails it by showcasing that when you’re magically transported to mars by some god like minions, it’s easy to adapt, you’ll be able to jump real high and a lot, and you’ll become celebrated hero.  You will also meet another beautiful wife material princess, and befriend a fast mutt. If you need a life boost, JOHN CARTER is the movie for you, it will help you see the person you will become..on MARS.

The actual actors in JOHN CARTER seem out of place.  The film should have been completely animated, the CGI was good, but the green screens and editing the actors in it didn’t feel REAL. JOHN CARTER has a more serious tone than BATTLESHIP.  Taylor proves with both films that he is capable of playing a leading man, who can also be (somewhat) taken seriously as a very intelligent well read individual.

The filming was done very well. The landscape shots were breathtaking, and by the end, it felt like a pretty short film, mainly because it keeps you engaged.  What JOHN CARTER lacks is a more clever plot.  Basically, someone wants to have total control, and repress others, while all along he was just being used as a puppet to continue the cycle or war.  SO DEEP. IT’S SO RELATABLE. UGH. Disney we know it’s PG but make us think just a bit, or say fuck it and make more BATTLESHIP.

If you enjoy anything Sci-Fi or I’m guessing if you were of fan of the original John Carter of Mars you’ll enjoy this film, but within a week you’ll have forgotten about it.  Taylor Kotsch it’s time to step up your game. Friday Night Lights was handed to you, and now it’s time to fire your agent and go bigger.

We’ve been rolling around the city with Uber lately. If you don’t know, Uber is the on-demand private driver service that’s quickly becoming ubiquitous with getting around Toronto. Download the free Uber app for iPhone/iPad/Android (or request a ride via text message), set your pickup address and within minutes a professional driver in a slick black car rolls up and takes you where you need to go!

Now it’s #HumpdayHandout so you know that means we’ve got something special for you. We’re giving away a $50Uber credit so you can ride in style for FREE

 How to Win:

Post the following phrase on your twitter/facebook and tag Uber Toronto (@Uber_TOR) and us (@pinkmafia4life) in it:

“I want to ride in style with $50 in Uber ride credits from Uber Toronto”

If you don’t get chosen, we’re sorry, but you can still sign up for the app and ride like a baller. Head to www.uber.com to sign up!

Filmed in her basement apartment à la Wayne’s World, Raina invites bands over for the ultimate anti-interview where baking cookies, making arts & crafts and playing homemade board games are not out of the question. Her lastest episodes featured the babes of Chains of Love who engaged in a titillating game of marry, fuck, kill, while Papermaps debuted their culinary masterpiece ‘The Olympic Sized Triple-Double Decker Avocado Caramelized Vegan Grilled Cheese Speciale‘.

You can like Rain’s World on facebook, follow her on twitter @rahrahraina or check in at Rain’s World homebase for new episodes and updates of all her zany adventures. Here are her hilarious answers to our 20qs:

1. What is your dream of happiness?
Being able to afford to hire a person to play with my hair. All the time.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
I’ve been both. Right now, I’m blonde, but as far as in the opposite sex, I seem to lean towards brunettes. Are dudes with brown hair still called “brunettes?”

3. What is the quality you like most in a person?
The thirst for adventure! Let’s jump in a pool and then watch ‘Gone With The Wind’ until we pass out. In the morning? Order pizza. To our bed. Extra large.

4. What do you fear most?
This is embarrassing. I am terrified — and I mean, panic-attack-grade-terrified — of asteroids hitting the earth. Oh? You’re afraid of spiders? You’re afraid of public speaking? How about CATASTROPHIC GLOBAL DEVASTATION? TSUNAMIS! AEROSMITH’S “I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING” PLAYING ON EVERY RADIO STATION?! Yeah, I thought so.

5. 808s or 909s?
Nine is my favourite number. What’s with the 0′s? Is it bad that I don’t get this question? 42.

6. What’s your biggest regret?
That I will never have an authentic Mexican accent. Have you ever heard Salma Hayek? My god. I wish. But it will never, ever happen.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
I will always love Sneaky Dee’s. Those nachos, the vibe, the decor. Plus you’ll always run into someone you know, and they’re open forever.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
Cheese. I tried it once, and it didn’t work.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Easy #1 – Talking Heads. David Byrne, if you’re reading this, please be my best friend.
#2 – Kurt Cobain in Nirvana.
#3 – The original Sublime – with Brad Nowell, while lying in the sand under a palm tree.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
I’m pretty happy here. Honestly, it’s incredible that everyone with a great musical idea can put it on the internet  and I can listen to it, judge it, and then make a video of myself singing it and post it on YouTube.  It’s amazing. We are so lucky.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?
Blind. BLOUND. That’s what I think the past tense of “blind” should be. Like, “OH NO! A STICK GOT IN MY EYE! I’VE BEEN BLOUND!”

12. How old is too old?
5 billion years is about as old as I’d like to get, because that’s when the sun is going to explode. Don’t really wanna be around for that.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Living in a squatter city in an RV in California. Look up Slab City. I’m working on it.

14. Who’s your hero?
Tom Green! Everyone thinks he was a frat-humour dork who humped a moose, and everyone is WRONG. He was a fucking genius who pioneered social, observational humour. His stand-up comedy is insightful and incredible. He is the Andy Kaufman of our time – way fucking ahead of everyone. I could go on all day about this, but that’s for another time.

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Red.  Because it starts with an ‘r’ and it was Raphael’s colour in the Ninja Turtles.  Incidently Raphael from the Ninja Turtles was my first crush.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. Way too long, overwrought, boring garbage. And James Hetfield’s voice drives me mental.

17. Metallica or Madonna?
I’ll take Madge. See previous question.

18. What’s your most hated vice?
I don’t hate any of my vices, moderation is the key.  Laziness, though, is a pretty big one of mine.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Gary Busey.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
LCD Soundsystem. I cried.
Arcade Fire. I danced.
Hollerado. I learned to shoot a confetti cannon.

Dear Mica:

My brother is planning a huge camping trip with his buddies to celebrate his birthday in July and he’s invited me to come along. The only problem is…I hate camping. I’d tell him I was too busy but we only just became friendly again in the past few months (we didn’t talk for years). Meaning,  I can’t get out of it. They go camping every year for his birthday and it’s the first time they’ve invited me so it means a lot to them. What do I do?

City Girl Forever

Dear CGF,

I’m sorry to hear you don’t like camping! First off, do you have any girlfriends that like it? I’d check with your bro and if he gives the green light, try and recruit someone. Camping with a bunch of boys will definitely be fun, but at some points you might want a girl to come to the washroom in the dark with you – just sayin’.

I’m assuming that your brother and friends will be in charge of getting together all of the camping gear. Check with them. If not, hit up Canadian Tire and MEC (among other companies) to get yourself set up.

Other things you’ll need (off the top of my head):

• bug spray + sunscreen
• warm clothes (it can get cold at night), things with long sleeves/pant legs that aren’t too heavy (bug spray is good, but long clothing = added back up) + a hat
• tent (of course) + air mattress (trust me, it can make a huge difference – do make sure you have a way to inflate it though) + sleeping bags + pillows if you want some
• Matches (think long in length) + newspaper + firewood
• frisbee/books/other stuff to do during the day

CLICK HERE to get a thorough list

Are they planning to do group hikes, canoe around the area and/or any other related nature stuff? Likely yes. Be prepared to do these things. That said, you dont have to do everything. Compromise and your brother will appreciate it.

That said, make sure to put yourself out there and try things you may think you don’t like; sometimes you can discover a new passion!

About.me has a great “Camping 101″ link. CLICK HERE to read it.

PS – Boys like to fart in tents (another reason to bring a girl). Just a heads up :)

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

When I lived in Korea, I would often see women with only one or two nails painted and the rest left plain, when I finally let my curiosity get the best of me and mustered up the courage to ask a woman why she only had one nail painted, she smiled widely, threw her hands in the air and announced “NO TIME!”

I’m always thinking of that moment when I look down at my bare nails, so sad and feeble without any pop of colour or shine. Even when I paint my nails, after one day, they just aren’t as beautiful as they were when I first painted them.

Imagine having something that you could keep in your purse, just in case you realized you had bare nails that needed a little shine or your manicure was looking a little dull, that could help you revamp your shine? Maybe you’re going on a date or an interview, maybe you just believe in looking good 24/7.

Either way, REVLON is at it again and they have come out with a nail buffer that’s small, compact, and incredibly useful. Their new Crazy Shine To-Go Nail Buffer has great designs and an even greater use.

Rubbing the patterned side of this magic tool against your bare or even polished nail creates a brilliant top coat like shine that is 400 percent shinier than bare nails in just seconds. The luster lasts for THREE DAYS.  How could you not love that?

So, arm your purse with this little jewel for on the go use and make sure to grab the full-size Crazy Shine Nail Buffer for your beauty kit at home. Buffing your nails keeps them healthy (buffing action stimulates blood circulation,  thus aiding in stronger nail growth)  and looking beautiful,  a quick and simple way to look “put-together”.

And, if you have never buffed your nails before? It’s super fast and easy. Revlon has made a quick tutorial to show you the magic of their cute little Crazy Shine To-Go Nail Buffer.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

How to Buff your nails:

1. Get out and purchase your Crazy Shine Nail Buffer and Crazy Shine To-Go for on the go use.

2. File your nails as usual, rounded square or oval.

3. Start with the green side of your buffer and begin to buff in a smooth side to side motion. The aim is to smooth out any major ridges on your nails.

Note: After this step, you’ll have a lot of white dust on your nails from buffing and filing, don’t worry, the next step will fix that.

4. Once your nails are smooth, repeat the buffing side to side motion with the adorable patterned side of the buffer. The aim now is to produce a lasting shine effect.

Once you’ve buffed your nails to perfection (removed those horrid ridges and surface discolourations) feel free to go au naturel or paint them. Another amazing benefit of buffing your nails is the fact that after you do, your nail polish will go on smoother and last longer.

The patterned side of the Crazy Shine Nail Buffers can even be used on already polished nails to enhance their shine.

So, whether you are in a cab on the way to your date or at home preparing for a movie-night with the girls,  use the Revlon Crazy Shine nail buffers to keep your manicure looking fresh and fabulous.

xoxo

Meaghan

How to Win:

Go to our Facebook page and watch out for when we post the Gossip trivia question. Answer the question in the comment section to enter for your chance to win.

Winners will be announced on May 22.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

You’ve probably seen the food trucks parked around the city.  Been invited to one of the El Carnita taco & art events or Toronto Underground Market events on Facebook.  Or if you’re an experienced and curious foodie, you’ve probably tasted some of the food from Toasted Tangerine, El Gastronomo Vagabundo or Gorilla Cheese.  There is a huge movement hitting Toronto right now (for those in the know) and it’s the Food Truck movement.

While Toronto isn’t the original city of the Food Truck movement (one foodie I spoke with told me that Toronto is about 3 years behind the ‘movement’), cities like New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles trail-blazed a path for how Toronto could operate and set up shop.  Shows like Food Network’s “Eat Street” put a glaring spotlight on the industry and people were becoming more and more interested in these bite-sized eats that you could grab street side that weren’t just hot dogs and french fries.

But the path to Food Truck bliss hasn’t been a very straight and narrow road to navigate. I spoke to founder of Toronto street-food advocacy group Food Truck Eats, Suresh Doss who told me “Food Trucks started to popup in Ontario about 2 years ago. Most of them are based outside of Toronto, and because they’re not allowed to be in Toronto curbside, you rarely see them. So we started Food Truck Eats as a way to bring the trucks in, to introduce them to the public.”

Street food has been a hot topic in Toronto for many months now. Because of the city’s bureacracy and an archaic set of rules (a moratorium placed by council in November of 2002), new street food vendors (trucks) are not allowed to operate in public spaces within Toronto’s downtown core.  Doss told me, “The goal of Food Truck Eats is to show that food trucks can operate on private property and some spaces without creating any congestion, or being curbside. We believe, as the Ontario Food Trucks Association, that there can be a balanced approach to street food in Toronto by using spaces for street food installations.”

In Toronto, you will happen to see many events happening at the Distillery District and BrickWorks.  Suresh tells me that both spaces have been incredibly supportive of the Food Truck movement since inception and ‘get’ what they are trying to do.  They are also able to accommodate the trucks and lineups, thus Food Truck events will continue to pop up there.

Just recently (May 10, 2012), councillors Adam Vaughan and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled a motion aimed at getting the city bureaucracy to start thinking about eliminating a rule that makes it hard for food trucks to operate from licensed pay-to-park lots.  This could be seen a minor victory for The Toronto Street Food Project and Ontario Food Trucks Association.  However there is still much more to go. The Toronto Street Food Project was launched specifically to bring these issues to City Hall and will continue to do so until everything is passed.

But regardless of all the legislation around the Trucks, it really all comes back down to the food.  It’s really quite amazing what you can get from these trucks, in a small period of time, from such empowered chefs.  Lobster Ceviche for $4.  Chorizo Nachos for $5.  Cornbread Jalapeño Buffalo Mozzarella grilled cheese with Guacamole for $5.  Toasted Ravioli with fresh Tomato Sauce for $6.  Maple Bacon cupcakes for $4. This is just a small sampling of what you could attempt to eat.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

I was able to speak with Graeme from Gorilla Cheese (food truck owner and operator), who told me about how they deal with the crowds, “Our mandate is to provide value for our customers, and take pride in providing a filling meal at a fair price. At some of the bigger festivals, where we often have lines hundreds deep, we’ve done “festival portions”, basically a half sandwich at a reduced price. This allows us to serve the lineup far faster, and the smaller portions allow people to sample the other foods available to them, instead of getting full from one single venue, while providing a fair price-point”.

While I spoke with Tamara from El Gastro Vagabondo (food truck owner and operator) who told me that while some trucks still stick to ‘comfort-foods’,  at El Gastro, they were going to push the limits of what people expected from street food: “Adam is a professionally trained chef, and he has taken what he’s learned in the restaurant industry in Australia and Canada over the past 17 years and created our globally inspired menu.  We have a strong food philosophy of using as many local and sustainable products as possible. The cost of our ingredients, and the labour involved in making everything from scratch, of course factors into the price point of our food.”

When you walk into your first Food Truck event, it can be a bit overwhelming.  There are hundreds of people all running from truck to truck trying to get at a little bit of everything.  Some chefs from trucks screaming & singing songs to attract you to their truck.  Some lineups outweigh others and you’re wondering, “Should I really wait in this line”.  But I guess that is the whole thrill of attending.   Tamara from El Gastro told me, “I don’t think any of the marketing tactics of trucks detracts from the food at all.  At the end of the day, people will remember the food they ate above all else.  Each truck works hard to attract customers and maintain a dedicated following, but it’s the food that keeps people talking and coming back for more.”  Which nails it right on the head.  For days, you will be talking and telling everyone about that bite-sized delight regardless of what took place around you.

So exactly how does one go about tracking down one of these Food Trucks, if you’re unable to attend one of the events you’ve heard so much about. It’s really quite simple.  You can follow Ontario Food Trucks on Twitter or on their website or even better yet, you can download the mobile app called Street Food Toronto, for free.

Remember, Toronto’s relationship with street food is mired in red tape (currently), but there are signs that city hall is poised to loosen restrictions. As Graeme from Gorilla Cheese told me, “(We need) to keep making food to the best of our abilities, and to help expand food truck culture all over the province by working within the rules, and using diplomacy to change them as needed.  Also, email or telephone your local Councillor to let them know how you feel.”

Food Trucks and street food are finally here and they are here to stay, whether the city is ready for it or not.

Photos by Yuli Scheidt

R.I.P. to the “Queen of Disco” aka Donna Summer… music lovers around the world received the devastating news yesterday. At the age of 63, Ms. Summer passed away from cancer… causing my mother a mild heart attack (as I was born to single “The Woman in Me”. Seems in such a short period we have lost some of best musical talents to grace the world… may they R.I.P. and may their music live on!!

H&M AUTUMN 2012 MEDIA PREVIEW

As much as I love to hate H&M (you know what I mean)!! Nothing makes me happier than getting to sneak peek all their goodies before the masses. I was super excited and delighted by the offerings for the Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Once again H&M does what they do best, serve up a stellar collection of minimalism injected with the just the right bold elements.

Sparkle and bling are some of my favourite things… so natural I was in love with the sweater, skirt and even harness dripping in gems, pearls, and gold.

And just to tone it down a notch- a day look that still shines with the luster of the gold skirt and warmth of the chunky mustard cardigan.

We all know prints are here to stay… from floral prints to patterns – loved them all!!

I sooooo needs this sweater and they having the matching leggings- can you say outfit!!

Who say’s shorts are just for summer!?!? Sleek, futuristic and metallic the perfect combo for a killer shorts suit.

As always the best part are the accessories that I would cut of body parts to own.

Once again the pearls, gems and gold are talking to me!!

Sooooo need these silver penny loafers in my life.

This is MY must have accessory from this collection… I will kill for it.

I’m not a baseball cap kinda girl, but this may change with this hat…

When didn’t forget the gents as H&M always keeps them fly and fresh.

These may not be for every guy out there… but I still think a few could own these suede and leather pants!! Shoot, I want a pair.

Even the men get treated to a lil sparkle and shine (in a man appropriate way).

Boy the accessory game for the men is proper for F/W ’12.

These leather gloves – can we scale these down for the ladies??

Bow ties for everyone.

These boots are a MUST for the men for F/W ’12… I’m just saying.

Of course H&M has to tug on my heart strings with too cute kiddie clothes.

SWAROVSKI FALL/WINTER 2012: KINGDOM OF JEWELS

For F/W ’12 Swarovski continues to bring us their classic, heritage and style with a combination of modern day elements. With the collection entitled “Kingdom of Jewels” one could see why, with aristocratic touches of days past with a fusion of modern day bad ass.

Can you say, I’m SEXy and you know it!!! Perfect for the today’s modern woman.

Love the colour and the massive crystal doesn’t hurt.

What time is it?? Not sure you can tell with all shine.

I always love the funny lil characters.

Modern elements of rocker chic are infused with old world charm for the perfect “Rock Royalty” look for the men.

Do I need to say anything more.

Keeping tradition alive they can’t forget their classic figurines that we all know and love.

Walking in a winter wonderland with these cheery pieces.

For all the Hello Kitty lovers out there if you got a cool 10K this too can be yours and FYI only 80 exist on the planet…. or you can just settle for necklace.

JIMMY CHOO GOES LOOKBOOK ON US

Notorious shoe and accessory designer Jimmy Choo is the latest to jump on the street style bandwagon with his interactive microsite Choo 24:7 Stylemakers. The interactive microsite is pretty much an image gallery showcasing fans wearing of course “Jimmy Choo” around the world and at different times of the day. Basically, everyone from style mavens, rebels and photographer submit their street style images and a selection of the best are uploaded onto the site and shared internationally. Users can create their own Stylemaker photo galleries and post images via social media sites like Facebook and Instagram images with #choo247 will also feed to the site. To launch the new site, Jimmy Choo threw down a collabo with street style photographer Eddie Newton, who snapped Stylemakers like Caroline Issa in London and Jessica Joffe in New York… and for all the die hard fans- the site features curated content with archive images of celebrities, ad campaigns and Jimmy Choo events.

Recently, a new company, Deca Cosmetics, has been created in Toronto that distributes high quality mineral based cosmetics that have been clinically tested as up to par if not better than the leading top quality cosmetics brands we use today.

Right now, Deca is only available in Trade Secrets and Glamour Secrets locations, the sales teams have been fully trained to use the product and are happy to help any customers with make-up tips and tricks.

So for today’s HumpDayHandout, Deca will donate the following to one lucky winner:

• Deca Oil-Free Tinted moisterizer (available in Light, Medium, or  Dark)
• Deca Creamy Mascara (in navy, brown, or black)
• and, a Deca Mineral Lip Gloss

There should be enough products there to convince you that this one is worth entering for sure.

How to Win:

Like/Follow @DecaCosmetics on Facebook  or Twitter and tag them in this message:

“#HumpDayHandout I want to get #DeckedOut with @DecaCosmetics and @PinkMafia4Life”

The Gossip’s new album, A Joyful Noise hits the internet for sale May 22nd, and it’s worth a buy for the following reasons:

1. They make albums. You can put it on and listen throughout. It’s probably the perfect getting-ready-to-get-laid album, not in the sense that The Weeknd gets people in the sexy mood post 2AM (seriously, who hasn’t hit it to at least one of those Weeknd EPs in the past 6 months) but in the “getting my hair did to snag me some tail” kinda way. It’s the well rounded dance floor fluff that gets you singing along while you get your dancing shoes on.

2. There’s some amazing throwback bitchery. “Get a Job” floored me on first spin. Not only is it catchy and exciting like a strutting George Michael “Freedom 90″, but the lyrics are killer. Sample: “Poor little rich girl, you don’t know where the money went…you need to get a job! What kind of life is it when every day’s a weekend. How quickly we forget when I’m at work, you’re sleeping in…you need to get a job!” It’s harsh and beautiful, it has ton’s of dance floor potential for remix and catchy as all hell. “Get Lost” also rocks a chorus with piano line that is reminiscent of  a genre we all know and love called “old Madonna”.

3. It’s just enough of a departure to show growth, but not so much that fans will feel turned off by the dread Zooropa curse. This album is more electronic and poppy then past efforts, although you wouldn’t know it from the single, “Perfect World”, which is vintage Gossip. There’s a lot more synths, but a general even-ness to the tone that keeps it poppy light.

If you’re just looking for the “hits” then download:

-Get A Job-for it’s “you betta work” potential

-Move in The Right Direction-for its drag queen struttability

-Perfect World-if you like songs that get stuck in your head for days

-Get Lost-cause it’s like some old new Madonna ish (post Vogue, pre Frozen)

Photos by Alice Xue

We sat down with Director X at the Royal York yesterday and here are his  20 Questions:

1. What is your dream of happiness?

I’ve got to dream of happiness but it’s kind of like your birthday wish – if you say it, you jinx it.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

both at the same time. Kind goes back to the dream of happiness actually…

3. What is the quality you like most in a person?

Honesty

4. What do you fear most?

No fears

5. 808s or 909s?

It’s 808′s and heartbeats, right?

6. What’s your biggest regret?

No regrets

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

Cirque in London and Jet Black – the craziest afterhours you’ve ever seen in your life.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?

Me.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Jimi Hendrix, The full Beatles, Bob Marley

10. What is your favourite decade in music?

The 70′s – Hendrix The Beatles, and Marley were both alive.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?

Neither.

12. How old is too old?

You’re never too old.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

I don’t want to jinx that either.

14. Who’s your hero?

Superman, Spiderman, and Wolverine.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

By the time you hear any song in 20 years it’s become a fond memory.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Metallica. But really it depends on the night.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

I don’t do vices. But I’ve seen too many people go the wrong way with certain ones…

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Adolf Hitler.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Pharcyde, Kanye West, LOVE by Cirque du Soleil

The Festival started in 1991 out from “a small community of people who yearned to see film and video created by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people.” It is now Canada’s largest festival of it’s kind and in the top five world wide. Over 200 films and videos from Canada and around the world will be welcome to the over 35,000 who attend. In short, The Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival has a reputation “as an international leader in the presentation of queer film.” This year, the Festival celebrates their theme of “Fearless, Shameless, Timeless” with films that have come from international film makers. There is so much to see, and do this year. My blog is merely the surface of what is available this year at the Festival.
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Opening Night Gala Screening

On Thursday May 17th “My Brother the Devil”(UK 2011 112 min) ushers in the first film of the festival. What better way to start the 2012 Festival, with “an adrenaline-fuelled urban tale that burns with vision and passion.” Director Sally El Hosaini brings to life the story of two brothers who are intertwined in the Gang Culture of East London. The love between two brothers who must find themselves and their own way in life is a fast paced coming of age story. This is on Thursday May 17th, at 8PM, the opening night of the festival at Tiff Bell Light Box CINEMA 1, 350 King Street West (corner of John Street).
~~~~~

Opening Night Gala Party

DJ Shane Percy famous from such events as CandyBar, Future Disco, the “smash hit gay night Pop Machine.” He will be joined by Yura of Viva Cabaret. Yura bring his performance from years of international acclaim. Their performances will be the kick off celebrations to all the events as they unfold over the many days of the festival. This event will be held at OCAD Great Hall, 100 McCaul street. To attend the party, it’s $10 entrance fee, or $8 if you are a member. It’s freewith your Opening Gala screening and party ticket.

~~~~~

The Womens Spotlight

The Inside Out festival is celebrating lesbian-themed films. Cloudburst tells a “Thelma and Lousise” styled tale of Stella and Dot. The are played by Acclaimed actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker. The couple have lived together for 31 years, in Maine. When Dot is injured and is placed in a nursing home, her mate Stella free’s her partner, where they take a ride up to Nova Scotia, where they can be legally married. Thom Fitzgerald brings “earthy humour, touching moments and ravishing landscapes.” It will be shown on Friday May 25th at the TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX CINEMA 1.

~~~~~

Women’s Spotlight Reception

On Friday May 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Toronto Inside Out Film Fesatival, will welcome guests to raise a glass to all the fabulous women in filmmaking and in our community. With the amount of Women centred films in this years festival, it is certainly going to be the event you need to attend. It will be held at Urbanspace Gallery, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 117.
~~~~~

“Lady Shorts”

This series, is four installations, numbered 1 through 4. Each has four films. “Lady Shorts 3″ looks to be the best one to check out. The first film in this installation, is simply entitled “Cross Your Fingers” Manicurist Su-Yeon encounters Maya, a punk girl at her salon in Brixton, South London. Su-Yeon who is a good Catholic girl, is forced to confront her new feelings and desires. ““Next Door (NEBENAN)” is a German film about lesbian’s sharing a flat and the secret’s that can’t be kept. The third film, “Out of Bounds” tells the tale of two lesbians, Rose and Samantha desiring to move in together. The catch, is that only one of them is out. Rose has a very conservative mother. The final film in the series, comes from Spain entitled “Uniformed ” Margaret is a young girl who hears her own voice when she makes an announcement. Despite the constant messaging of “how to fulfill society’s gender roles” she shows she is not afraid to break the mold.”

~~~~~

“Bye Bye Blondie”

The film, will be presented at the Closing Gala on Sunday May 27, 7:30PM | TBLB CINEMA 1. It comes to us from France and is the North American Premier of the film. Director Virginie Despentes takes on the tale of “two women struggling to revive their relationship after years of separation and change.” The wonder or possibility of trying to recapture their first love, is accentuated by the compelling performances of Béatrice Dalle (Gloria) and Emmanuelle Béart(Frances) Gloria, a 40 year old drifter, receives and invitation to come to Paris, at Frances’s beckoning. What transpires is a look at the genesis of their relationship and how it started in 1984. It is juxtaposed to what happens when middle age and the pursuit of youth combine.

~~~~~

Closing Night Gala Party

What better way to end the festival than with Toronto’s favourite Cat.DJ Cozmic Cat will be spinning at Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Ave, starting at 10 PM. For those of you who have not been to Cherry Bomb, or heard her spin at various locations through the city, your ears will thank you. She is known internationally and has worked with the worlds best DJ’s and performers. She brings a “live wire energy” when she spins and it’s obvious she is passionate about her work. Tickets: $10 General Public/$8 MembersFree with your Closing Gala screening and party ticket.
~~~~~

Where to get Tickets

They offer 3 easy ways to purchase tickets. They are currently available for sale. You can click them Online By Phone: 416.599.TIFF (8433)Toll free: 1.888.599.8433 The lines are open 10am to 7pm daily. In Person: 10am to 10pm daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West (at John Street)All tickets include HST with a “$1.00 per ticket (or pass purchase), to a maximum of $10.00 per ORDER.” This applied to all online and telephone ticket purchases. A membership will let you move to the front of the line, click here to purchase your membership online. The box office and all screening venues are wheelchair accessible.

~~~~~

words by shona
Follow me on Twitter for Festival Highlights and Updates @Shona__Fraser

Check out the PinkMafia Facebook Page on Monday’s until the Album release for our Gossip Trivia question.

How to Win:

When you see the trivia question (the time will never be the same, so you have to make sure to keep a look out for it) answer the question in a comment on the post. Commenting the correct answer enters you in the contest for a chance to win. The more you answer, the more ballots you receive.

Winners will be announced on May 22nd!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

AHHH! I seriously cannot believe how much Whedon their has been in my life lately. From the Buffy reruns that air everyday on MUCH MUSIC, to Cabin In The Woods, and now The Avengers, Joss is all I can/want to think about :)

JOSS WHEDON IS A GENIUS,  a clever cult genius. It’s actually kinda strange (in a good way) that we’re getting so much Joss in our lives considering mostly everything he does is not well received by the average overweight American public…BIG SHOCK! But thankfully Paramount and Marvel Studios have faith in him to write and direct not only the best blockbuster of the summer, but one of the greatest superhero movies OF ALL TIME.

The lead up for The Avengers has been almost 4 years in the making with the release of Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk in 2008, and  Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain American followed close by to give a strong back story to these marvelous characters. Aside from The Incredible Hulk, all cast members have remained the same, therefore seeing these men being so comfortable in their second skin makes you feel as though these actors have been always and will be forever their superhero alter ego (Edward Nortan played Bruce Banner/ The Hulk in the 2008 film, but due to disputes with the studio, the studio decided to cast Mark Ruffalo as Bruce in The Avengers). The addition of Black Widow and Hawkeye are portrayed perfectly by Scarlette Johanson (I know it’s surprising considering she’s can’t act, but that’s the magic of Joss), and Jeremy Renner.  Even though these characters are minuscule in comparison to their famous team members, Whedon still allows for character development and your are never asking yourself about their back story or where are they off to now,  This goes for every character in The Avengers, Whedon does a brilliant job dissecting each hero/villans persoanlity for the audience, allow us to get to know everyone a little deeper.

The plot of the film is fine, and follows along as a sequel to THOR , but keep in mind this movie is not about the plot, it’s about the characters, comic books coming to life, and the ACTION! So basically, Loki, Thor’s misguided brother, comes to Earth to retrieve the Tesseract, a glowing blue cube with unknown amounts of energy,for the Chitauri, an evil alien race. Loki needs the cube to open a portal between the two worlds so he can summon the Chitauri army to Earth and he can thus become the Ruler of our world. I’m sure you can predict the outcome, but don;t think too deep because the banter between these divas with over inflated egos completely overshadows the plot.

With a reported budget of $220 million no corners were cut in the making of this film.  The CGI was impeccable, putting movies such as The Hunger Games, and probably The Amazing Spiderman, to shame. The amazing work Whedon did at directing this flick and the people behind making the CGI look as real as possible made this film look like just like an epic Avengers cartoon episode.

Joss Whedon took the superhero genre to a whole new level with this film, and now with Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2, being put into development,and hitting theaters in the next year or two, they’re going to have a lot of live up to if they want to create even close to the same sort of buzz The Avengers has done over the last few months.  Regardless, at least we have the sequels to keep us entertained until the recently greenlit Avenger 2 hits theaters sometime in 2015.

PS. Throughout the entire film, I could stop thinking about how awesome it would be to be the HULK to just smash things all day and throw yourself around like a rag doll…such a great way to relieve some stress.

Originally set for release in 2009, through MGM Studios, but because of bankruptcy issues, it’s been thrown around so many times through development hell up until now.  Joss Whedon’s Cabin In The Woods could not have came out at a better time to coincide with the hype for the major epic super awesome summer blockbuster, The Avengers, and to make this cult icon a soon to be a household name.  In true Whedon fashion, you have no idea what you’re in for, but I guarantee it’s a hilariously gory ride into the unknown.

You probably think you know Cabin In The Woods; a twist on the typical slasher horror where a bunch of dumb college kids go into the woods to a recently acquired cottage for a vacation, who in the end all get brutally murdered. The twist, you might think, is an experiment sanctioned by the government or some higher authority (Whedon loves underground labs…)..Or maybe these kids are on a reality show? Or maybe it’s a movie within a movie within a tv show within a dream? Not giving anything away, but remember IT’S  JOSS FUCKING WHEDON, everything can/does happen. Cabin In The Woods goes deep. Just when you think you might have an understanding of where the film is headed, a main character dies and a new twist is thrown in..and there’s still an hour left!  The fast pace of the film with the two story lines occurring side-by-side keep you on the edge of your seats, and the self-aware characters are what really takes Cabin In The Woods to new levels.

At first, the characters seem like stale and flat re-issues from other slasher flicks, but every character is ‘created’ with intention.  Let’s meet the cast: Curt (Chris Helmsworth aka THOR) the dumb jock, Jules (Anna Hutchison) the whore, Dana (Kristen Connolly) the virgin, Holden (Jesse Williams) the jocky nerd, and Marty (Fran Kranz (!!!!)) the burnout. With a fantastic team like this, you can expect a thrill ride of gore, and for added entertainment a plethora of evil creates including a merman, and a blood thirst unicorn. Fanboys will be grinning from ear to ear throughout the entire film, solely on the cast. Chris Helmsworth, the biggest name (right now) is the film, thanks to THOR, and The Avengers will get everyone wet.  Then their is Fran Kranz and Amy Acker of Dollhouse fame who basically play the same chacters they played on Dollhouse except Kranz is way more stoned and Acker is way less sedated. Probably the stand out characters in Cabin In The Woods are Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford.  These two provide most of the comic relief throughout the film regardless of their complete disregard for human life, and all you can think by halfway through the film is what sort of clever way has Joss come up with to kill these two dummies. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a brief encounter from a Buffy alumni.

Cabin In The Woods breaks down into a film about making your own choices to create your own destiny, whether that means to choose the colour of your hair, to choose to not turn back or to make a choice that can change humanity.  The first step in Cabin In The Woods that starts the machine that puts all you choices in the hands of gods, is to step into the basement…

At first glance Jiro Dreams of Sushi seems like a movie about, well, sushi, but not too far underneath the surface it’s actually a story about dedication and hard work.  85 year old Jiro Ono is the worlds best sushi as art as food chef in the world, with 3 Michelin stars, because of his dedicated to the craft at a very young age (9), and of course because of his sheer talent. If you’re thinking about flying to Japan for Jiro, you might want to think about it a few months in advance; to get a seat at his 10 seat restaurant underground there is a 2 month to a year wait list, and the starting price for a meal that will last about 15 minutes, will run you about 30 000 YEN (~$375).   The beautiful cinematography done by director David Gelb has you watering at the mouth, almost as if you can taste the juicy pieces.  When each piece is served and you can see the juices and the slight movement of the sushi move on the freshly cleaned plate, the taste is right at your fingertips and you can see the perfection that has gone into each and every piece.

The hard work Jiro has put into his career has transcended to both of his sons, who both aspire to be as good if not better than their father. Because of Japanese tradition, the eldest son must succeed his father, thus Jiro’s son Yoshikazu Ono works with Jiro, who will one day take over the restaurant, and hopefully be able to offer the same high standards.  Jiro’s other son Takashi has opened his own restaurant and still aims to be the best just like his father, but he offers a more relaxed atmosphere, where some customers have told him they find his father intimidating. Any man who is on the very top of his game better be intimidating. Regardless of the pressure Jiro has placed on his sons to be the best, he generally wants their eternal happiness, which can be seen when he talks about how his father abandoned him, forcing him to go to work at a very young age.

Not only do we get to see the the dedication Jiro and his sons have put into being the best, but also the people who work with Jiro, and apprentice under him are made to work hard to create the best cuts, the best egg, the best rice, etc., sometimes taking 4-6 months before they are able to achieve quality standards, and have what they have been working on served to Jiro’s customers. Again, this is not a movie about sushi, it’s about putting in the long hours and the hard work day after day perfecting your craft to achieve something to truly be proud of.  Even if you are not a fan of fish (like myself), Jiro Dreams of Sushi is inspiring, and the beautiful shots by David Gelb has you paralyzed in a dream like state for 80 beautiful minutes.

It’s busy times for Caribou drummer Brad Weber. The multifaceted musician is gearing up for an international summer-long tour with music gods, Radiohead kicking off in Mexico next month. But first, some DJ sets in Germany. And then, somehow the debut release of his other and equally impressive project Pick A Piper. Caribou visits home with a gig at Downsview Park on June 16 (buy tickets now, drugs later). And while he should probably be packing, he instead grants us insight into his brilliant, rhubarb-laced mind with 20Qs.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Canada actually being liberal and environmentally conscious again.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Brunette

3. What is the quality you like most in a person?

I like when people listen and aren’t overly distracted by the multitude of things in modern life that can distract!

4. What do you fear most?

Not being able to get rhubarb pie late at night.

5. 808s or 909s?

I only make sounds using general midi.  Preferably the “brass” presets.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Using anything other than general midi.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

Razzmatazz in Barcelona

8. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?

Photos of meerkats hugging each other.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Mitch Mitchell, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey

10. What is your favourite decade in music?

1966-1976 was pretty insane.  But music now also rules.  It’s just exciting to constantly discover new sounds that inspire you.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?

I’d come down with Oniomania (the compulsive desire to shop).

12. How old is too old?

18… oops, I said that out loud.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Bald and grey.  Maybe a little salt and pepper!

14. Who’s your hero?

Marshall Allen… 87 and still touring and is still as insane of a player as ever!

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Apparently “razzmatazz” is an actual colour name too, invented by Crayola in the 90s.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

Whichever Meatloaf song title has the most words in brackets.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Metallica if it’s just the “Some Kind of Monster” documentary. Have you seen that?  One of the most entertaining things in existence.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Not having rhubarb pie everyday.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

This dude named Roy Sullivan got struck by lightning seven times, none of which killed him!  But then killed himself over a girl.  That’s pretty tragic.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Tough question!  In the last year I’ve seen some insanely good shows like: Tony Allen, Omar Souleyman, Emeralds, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Ex & Getatchew Mekuria and so on.  I guess that’s more than three. Sorry!