Christina Butty RSS

• Operanation fundraiser shows hipper side of Carmen

  Published at 1:47 pm on March 4, 2010
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  Last Friday the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was transformed into a pop-up club, the way sellers transform random spaces into pop-up shops, as the Canadian Opera Company threw their sixth annual Operanation bash, titled Habanera.

  This year’s theme was George Bizet’s Carmen, the well-known and instantly hummable opera about a seductive gypsy who lures her lover into deserting the army, only to reject him.

  The event’s name is based on “Habanera”, the instantly-familiar aria from Carmen which looks at the passion and uncertainty of love.

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• Shelby Showcase honours racing star and car design pioneer

  Published at 11:47 pm on February 18, 2010
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  While many expect the 2010 Canadian International Autoshow to show them the future of vehicles, the Shelby Showcase looks back to bygone days in automotive history. The showcase features vehicles from legendary racer Carroll Shelby’s days as a driver, but also celebrates his career as an car designer.

  The Shelby Showcase at the 2010 Canadian International Autoshow pays tribute to the Shelby from his days as a driver right up to the present.

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• It’s all burlesque to me, baby

  Published at 11:40 pm on February 17, 2010
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  A randy crowd came ready to get it on at the Gladstone Hotel when burlesque group Skin Tight Outta Sight teamed up with Boylesque TO for a double-bill affectionately titled Be Mein Valentine.

  The show departed from the predictable and opted instead for a Weimar Republic theme.

  “Berlin’s Weimar Republic era was an artistically fertile and forward-thinking period of German history,” said Boylesque TO founder Ben Paley. “We didn’t want to do the lovey dovey thing. It’s been overdone.”

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• Anokhi’s Sexy and Successful gala celebrates top South Asian talent

  Published at 3:04 pm on February 8, 2010
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  A dose of glamour swept through Toronto’s Liberty Grand venue this weekend as Bollywood-esque magazine Anokhi paid tribute to the best and brightest in the South Asian arts and entertainment community.

  Now in its seventh year, the Sexy and Successful awards gala featured an A-list of South Asian talent, including award-winners Faran Tahir, of Ironman fame and former Miss India U.S.A. Pooja Kumar, who is also a producer, model and TV hostess.

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• Pop Night Club brings something new to ailing entertainment district

  Published at 3:18 pm on February 4, 2010
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  After a three-week metamorphosis the down and dirty Fluid Lounge has been transformed into Pop Night Club, the latest extension to the Toronto club scene.

  Owned by cousins David and Moses Sabatino, Pop Night Club is a surprising addition to the ailing entertainment district in what was once the busiest party circuit in Toronto.

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• Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Mozart Unmasqued a night fit for royalty

  Published at 5:22 pm on January 28, 2010
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  The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s volunteer committee hosted an Austrian ball fit for royalty at the Royal York Hotel to celebrate Mozart’s birthday this week.

  The benefit, titled “Mozart Unmasqued”, sought to raise $200,000 for the TSO. The fairytale evening was hosted by the elegant Marianne Ounjian, cousin of TSO conductor Peter Oundjian, a classical music enthusiast herself.

  Oundjian and her committee began planning the event last spring.

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• Hot upstart hotels show their stuff at IDS

  Published at 11:13 pm on January 26, 2010
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  While there were several great concepts and companies on display at the 2010 Interior Design Show, two of the most exciting entries were for upcoming hotels set to open in the downtown core.

  In the invitation-only concept space, nightclub kingpin Charles Khabouth of Ink Entertainment unveiled the design for the Bisha Hotel and Residence. Set to take over the Diesel Theatre, the Bisha was jointly commissioned by Lifetime development and Ink Entertainment. The building, co-designed by Khabouth and Munge Design, will be 40 storeys when it’s finished.

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• 2010 Radiant Dark Party exhibits down to earth side of design

  Published at 10:02 pm on January 26, 2010
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  The descent into the hottest design weekend in the country started at the annual Radiant Dark party, thrown by partners Julie Nickelson and Shaun Moore of retailer Made Design. Thought of as the unofficial launch of Toronto design week to some, this year’s party was RSVP only, with the guest list cut off at the beginning of the week.

  “We try to close the guest list at a reasonable number,” said Made owner Julie Nickelson. “The number of people who RSVP is always a surprise though. We want to be fair to the work and what’s here but not be exclusive.”

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• Audi IDS industry party a stylish hit

  Published at 9:34 pm on January 26, 2010
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  Audi Canada chose an ambitious task when they decided to throw the industry party for the 2010 Interior Design Show, and they did not disappoint.

  The car maufacturer threw a stellar bash at the highly anticipated Böhmer, chef Paul Boehmer’s pseudo-eponymous restaurant, which isn’t even officially open for business yet.

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• 2010 Come Up to My Room exhibition best in years

  Published at 7:42 pm on January 26, 2010
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  Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel outdid themselves with their 2010 Come Up to My Room show, an annual alternative design event which ran from Jan. 21-24 and coincides with the Interior Design Show.

  This year’s exhibitions were a clever, fun mixture from concept to execution. They made creativity look easy, as good design does. It was arguably the best show in years.

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• Toronto Little X lectures educate aspiring filmmakers

  Published at 12:22 am on January 7, 2010
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  While the name Little X may not be familiar in most homes, his work is recognizable to just about everyone who hasn’t been living in a cave.

  Born Julien Lutz in Ontario, Canada, this low-key individual is a sought-after music video director. Not only does he have over 100 music videos to his credit for artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z, he has also done commercials for Bacardi and Chrysler.

  

  The Toronto-based group Time and Space Education Exchange puts on lectures featuring Little X, the first of which happened in December.

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• Show and Tell Gallery provides hip alternative to mass-produced mall stuff

  Published at 11:39 pm on December 15, 2009
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  With only days to go until the big day arrives, Show and Tell Gallery’s holiday show “From Me to You” provides a cool alternative to schlepping through the mall for the perfect mass-produced item – for that last difficult person.

  This holiday season the notorious hipster gallery is offering a varied product assortment from watercolors to stuffed animals to books. Show and Tell Gallery is known for graffiti-inspired shows, but has lately shown more unconventional artworks.

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• Tokyo Cybermonster Party brings a taste of Tokyo nightlife to TO

  Published at 12:21 am on December 13, 2009
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  Hidden gothic nightspot Nocturne hosted the second anniversary of the Tokyo Cybermonster party on December 12.

  Guests were treated to a show by electro rock duo the Vicious Guns, and fashion segments by the ultra hip underground IMAGO-zine as well as Mystic Caravan.

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• Argo cheerleaders work hard to make it look easy

  Published at 10:08 pm on November 30, 2009
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  To outsiders the life of Toronto Argonaut cheerleaders probably seems charmed: pretty girls coasting on their looks, dancing and smiling while they throw T-shirts into crowds at CFL games.

  It’s surprising what it takes to make their jobs looks easy. Neither illness or, in one case a subway shutdown 10 days before the big Grey Cup game could keep all 36 women reaching practice, as if all the commuter drama wasn’t happening.

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• lsdoubledcup steals show at Punchclock Workers Collective fundraiser

  Published at 7:54 pm on November 28, 2009
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  Toronto has a ton of great well-known bands, but lsdoubledcup has been flying under the radar for way too long.

  Last night they played at the Whipper Snapper Gallery on College Street as part of the Punchclock Workers Collective fundraiser. Singer Simone Schmitt belted out lyrics in her bare feet while the band filled the room with nine surfy, psychedelic drone tracks.

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