Forest City Lovers’ Kat Burns wishes that her latest album, Carriage, came out before the hullabaloo of the recent G20 protests, due mostly to her track “Keep The Kids Inside.”

“Man, if we had released that one a week earlier, we would have made all sorts of money for commercials and stuff,” laughs the songwriting Whitby native and recent graduate of OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design).

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A throng of protesters, most of them visibly young, faced a grim line of armoured peace officers from Toronto, York and Peel regions.

Many held signs with the usual cocktail of social messages. Just as many held video cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, SLRs, you name it.

One of the group’s chants was “the world is watching.”

There were a couple of, “Fuck you fuckin’ pigs” characters in the bunch, but no-one moving violently. Others simply taunted officers for standing in the flowers and so on.

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Well, school is out, protests, one minor earthquake and the G20 have rocked the city and season finales are recently all wrapped for prime-time shows.

24 did its breathless, unmerciful final wrap and Lost’s big finish left everybody wondering once and forever what that stupid island was all about anyway.

Those shows were the lucky ones, closing shop at will with full honours and high ratings. Not all shows get to choose their death. As with any battleground for hearts, minds and dollars, some return victorious and others don’t.

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Lush Amazon-inspired décor transformed the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the annual Brazilian Carnival Ball.

This year’s event included a VIP reception, three course dinner,and dessert buffet, but as always the carnival parade was the crown jewel of the evening. The spectacle featured 60 masqueraders in glittery, feathered costumes flown in from Brazil. They shimmyed and danced through the dining room to the delight of patrons.

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With wedding season upon us, there was no better time for Bonnie Gordon to hold her annual Cake Show at the Artscape Wychwood Barns.

The annual event exhibited creations from students and alumni of the Bonnie Gordon Cake School in Toronto. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Stop Community Food Centre.

Day one of the two-day event, was closed to the public, and featured seminars for bakers to hone their business skills. Day two was open to the sweet toothed public, and allowed bakers to show off their cake-making and decorating skills in events like the Cupcake Challenge.

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As conventional advertising loses its impact, BlushPretty’s Beauty Board offers an interesting alternative for beauty companies looking to reach their early adopters.

For those unacquainted, The Beauty Board is a party where classic and niche beauty brands make their goods available for guests to experience. Representatives are on hand to talk about their brand and provide samples, and sheets are provided so that companies may receive feedback. In between product stations, guests indulge in gratis cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and at the end of the party, are given loot bags containing a plethora of product- all for a nominal ticket price.

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Playoff night in Toronto.

Hard to believe, but this is something the city hasn’t seen since Toronto’s basketball team, the Raptors, were eliminated in five games by the Orlando Magic over two years ago on Apr. 28, 2008. The last time a Toronto team won a game was four days earlier on Apr. 24.

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Last Thursday, 300 opera enthusiasts and oenophiles came out to support the Canadian Opera Company’s 2010 Fine Wine Auction at Crush Wine Bar.

Hopes were high this year after $250,000 worth of premier vintages were donated for the cause—a record amount for the COC wine auction.

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Last weekend, Windfall’s Buy Design annual fundraiser resembled a time warp into a 1930s small town carnival. Themed, “Spring Social”, guests were treated to a bake sale, hat auction, candy stand and balloon popping game alongside the typical live and silent auction.

A perfect compliment to the carefully planned décor and details were the guests who raided relative’s closets, scoured vintage shops and researched accessories for the perfect outfit. Most of the crowd came dressed in theme.

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For the Toronto Rock the math was overtly simple: win and you’re in.

Clearly taking this to heart, the Rock displayed past championship form in a 15-7 demolition of the Rochester Knighthawks, in front of 9,959 raucous supporters at the Air Canada Centre Friday.

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While the words, ’sample sale’ usually conjure up images of long lines and women fighting over clothing, clothing stylist Luis Zulayhka took another tack with his inaugural Style On Top event.

Last Sunday, ladies were invited downtown to the The Cryptic Canvas gallery to participate in a more experiential type of sample sale. Cupcakes, cocktails and a runway fashion show were among the incentives for guests.

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Fedoras, feathers and a speakeasy in the middle of downtown Toronto.

Prohibition has returned. But, thankfully, for one night only.

The shadows of this notorious era crept back into view as the theme of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s 6th annual Massive Party Thursday night.

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From Toronto Sun – Toronto & GTA

Councillor Kyle Rae wants the right to upset the Toronto a la Cart program.

The head of the city’s economic development committee takes over where most agree the Toronto Public Health board failed when it comes to adding some more exotic choices to the city’s street meat selection.

The program has been heavily criticized for being too regulated and has been skewered by its own vendors who feel they’ve bought into a business disaster, and the city’s existing hot dog vendors who feel they’ve been shut out and relegated to second-class street meat by the entire process.

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More Toronto news

It was a fashion double-header, (and so much more), at the Liberty Grande when supermodel Aygness Deyn appeared to DJ a set after the anticipated Betsey Johnson fashion show.

With Project Runway Canada’s Sunny Fong schmoozing at a booth and Victoria Secret lingerie model Andi Muise on the dance floor kicking up her heels, there was plenty to turn the heads of fashion victims such as Jamie Wilford.

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Recently, Toronto has made life difficult for teams on the playoff bubble but not on Wednesday night.

The New York Rangers, in a must-win scenario, dismantled the lacklustre Leafs 5-1 at Madison Square Garden.

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