Toronto Delivers

Murder in Margaritaville

2008-02-17T22:05:46Z

Courtesy of Mark McKay - a local celeb at MTV Canada

Join Facebook and many other Social Network's Prayer for NIU Families and Friends

2008-02-16T11:21:42Z

Directly from the Facebook group's description ~ On February 14, 2008 just after 3:00pm, a lone unknown gunman entered into a Introduction to Oceanography class in Cole hall near the center of the campus and began shooting with two handguns and one shotgun. While on his rampage the shooter shot a total of 21 people, hospitalizing 16 with gunshot wounds, and killing 5. The death toll has risen to 5 now, including the killer. 5 Students were killed and all 5 students have been identified. Eyewitnesses described hearing a door to the right rear of the stage slam open and seeing the gunman, wearing a knit cap and sweat shirt, wielding a shotgun. He stayed within 10 feet of the door and started shooting—first with the shotgun and then with the handguns. Witnesses also say that he shot randomly into the crowd and that it didn't look like he was aiming at anyone in particular (Chicago Tribune). The gunman has been identified as Stephen Kazmierczak. It has been confirmed that he was not a student at the university at the time. He was a graduate of NIU that majored in Sociology. While attending the college, Kazmierczak was honored and awarded with a dean's award for his work in sociology. It was confirmed that he was attending graduate school at University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign; the same town where he purchased his weapons. Vigils have been gathering together all over the country to pray for the victims and their families. Do join the Facebook Group or any of the many social networks out there on this tragedy.

Eye Toy

2008-02-10T01:55:00Z

Next time you're in Circuit City or Best Buy, check this program out (unless you've already set it up at home). It's pretty cool. Much like Wii, this is a pretty cool game.

Samba Squad jumps starts Carnaval season at Lula Lounge

2008-01-16T01:07:19Z

Can’t make it to Rio for Carnaval? Well tear off your parka ‘cause Samba Squad is bringing Rio to Lula Lounge with a Brazilian Carnaval party on Friday, February 1st. Led by award-winning percussionist, RICK SHADRACH LAZAR, SAMBA SQUAD fuses Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, North and West African rhythms with elements of funk and hip-hop generating a high energy blast of non-stop, heart-pounding rhythms. Special guest vocalists on February 1st include Alberto Alberto, Eliana Cuevas and Laura Mae Lindo, as well as Toronto veteran musicians Levon Ichkhanian and Gordon Sheard. Lazar's open-door philosophy means that Samba Squad has become a microcosm of multicultural Toronto and one of the most exhilarating live music experiences in Canada. "The joy that they bring to it, that's what you can't buy," he says. "That's infectious." Join Toronto’s percussion posse at Lula Lounge for an exhilarating night of sizzling rhythms and songs from Rio and around the world. Warning: extreme sweating guaranteed! Samba Squad Brazilian Carnaval Party Friday, February 1st at 10:00 PM Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas St. W., Toronto Doors open at 7:00 PM | Showtime: 10:00 PM Tickets: $15 at the door | Information: 416.593.9746 www.sambasquad.com | www.lula.ca

Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January)

2008-01-14T22:09:25Z

TfT presents award-winning play Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January) by Evelyne de la Chenelière Théâtre français de Toronto is proud to present Evelyne de la Chenelière’s award-winning play Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January). Directed by Jean-Stéphane Roy, Strawberries in January is a biting, heart-warming comedy about four romantically challenged singletons who stumble through contemporary Montréal in search for love. The play runs at Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs from February 13 to 24. François wishes love could be more like the movies. A cafe bar tender - frustrated screenwriter, he uses every event in his life as inspiration. He casts Sophie, his ex-flatmate-turned-lover-turned-friend, opposite Robert - a cafe regular and university professor. Outside the city, Sophie’s childhood friend Lea, runs a B & B. She’s drowning in ‘too much fresh air and boredom’. A surprising, passionate encounter provokes her to seek out Sophie for a reunion. Their stories collide and interweave with intriguing serendipity. Evelyne de la Chenelière is one of Québec’s most exciting playwrights. Des fraises en janvier won the Masque Award (Québec’s version of the Doras) for Best Original Script. Her previous work includes L’héritage de Darwin, Chinoiserie and Henri & Margaux. Directed by Jean-Stéphane Roy. Featuring Djennie Laguerre, Patricia Marceau, Michel Séguin and Manuel Verreydt. Costumes by Nina Okens ; Lighting and accessories by Glenn Davidson ; Set design by Vikki Anderson ; Surtitles by Gunta Dreifelds ; Translation (for surtitles) by Morwyn Brebner. A Théâtre français de Toronto production. The piece was originally produced by Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui of Montreal, then by Compagnie Jean Duceppe. It has been translated into several languages, and has been performed in Canada, France, Germany, and Scotland. « A warm and delightful tonic for our frosty souls in these dragging days of winter » The Montreal Mirror « A wonderfully witty and unquestionably lovely piece of theatre » Calgary Sun « De la Chenelière is a witty, observant, refreshingly good-natured writer » Timesonline Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January) by Evelyne de la Chenelière | Directed by Jean-Stéphane Roy February 13 to 24 Opening: Friday, February 15, 2008 at 8:00 PM Théâtre français de Toronto | Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs - 26 Berkeley Street Evening performances: Wednesday to Saturday at 8PM With SURTITLES?: February 14, 20 and 22 at 8PM, February 23 at 3:30PM Saturday matinee: February 16 and 23 at 3:30PM | Sunday matinee: February 17 and 24 at 2:30PM Tickets: $29 to $46/ Students, seniors and groups: $24 to $32 Box office: 416.534.6604 or 1.800.819.4981 |

Piatti Restaurant Service After Payment Sucks

2008-01-12T09:37:21Z

Is this an appropriate question to a restaurant client after they paid? "Why was your tip low?" and demanded it to be more?! This was the Piatti Restaurant [150 Eglinton Ave. East.] experience we had last night. The restaurant is almost empty on what one would expect to be a busy Friday evening (the other restaurants on the same block - Philthy McNasty and the Irish Pub were packed!) so I understand why they would be concerned about tips but to ask for more tip is just rude and would just make one write about it on a blog (oh yeah, I'm doing that right now). In thinking about the dinner experience step by stey we (the group that I was with) realized that the service was a bit rushed. Were they running out of food? One of the guys in the group have gone to this restaurant before and requested for anchovies which they didn't have anymore. The salad selections are pretty standard - well there's mesclun and romaine choices, two sets of tomato salad, a basket of olives, two types of bread, two types of meat - a bit hardened prosciutto and salami, grilled eggplant, and some little things (cheese, greek salad, darkened avocado salad, etc) I wasn't too wow'd about. The pasta choices was much better with either preselected items to your pasta, rigatoni or whatever other pasta of your choice or you can select the items yourself for a personalized pasta selection that is served to you in a slightly deep large white plate. One would expect at least ten choices in a rodizio format but tonight it was four types of pizza, roasted mini-chicken, lasagna, risotto, cannelloni and salmon. The dessert was either roasted pineapple dashed with cinnamon sugar and a dessert pizza covered in milk and white chocolate, mozzarella cheese, a slice of banana, two thin slices of strawberry and drizzled with a raspberry-cream cheese coulis. I counted that on average at every 8 minutes, the waitstaff would come by to ask if we were done. This would have been fine if we actually were done but when clearly someone has pasta on a fork about to be eaten, the question seems inappropriate - especially when it was asked four times! What message is the waitstaff sending when plates are being cleaned up forcing the one person to hurry up when there were only 6 tables occupied (approx 10% occupancy) and they were still 3 hours away from closing? Definitely NOT WORLD CLASS and NEEDS to UPGRADE their attitude towards the few guests who are already there. This experienced was punctuated with the rude comment of "why did you tip this way?" which was uncalled for, unprofessional, forcing us with undue guilt trip, and definitely creates unwilling participants out of us moving forward. What would you do in such a situation?

Toronto Public Library Presents Art Under Cover Books as Sculpture Redefine Literary Art

2008-01-09T17:37:24Z

Opening Saturday January 19, Toronto Public Library will present Art Under Cover, an exhibition of artists* books that challenge the traditional perception of books as strictly narrative. The exhibit will feature books with unique three-dimensional forms, distinctive covers and unusual textures and shapes. Highlights include books designed in the shape of a fan, a corset, a window blind and earrings. Designed to engage, amuse and even puzzle the viewer, Art Under Cover is a spectacular representative selection of rarely seen pieces from the special collections of Toronto Public Library. What: Art Under Cover When: Opens Saturday, January 19 Where: TD Gallery, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Related Programming: BookArtBookArtBook A panel discussion with OCAD professors George Walker and Peter Sramek and book artist Lise Melhorn-Boe on the metamorphoses between books and art. Toronto Public Library*s new Altered Book Collection will be highlighted. Thursday, February 14, 6:30 pm. Toronto Reference Library, Atrium The Creation of Artists' Books Book artist and teacher Mira Coviensky talks about her work along with a range of contemporary artists' books with images and examples from her collection. Thursday, March 6, 2-3 p.m. Toronto Reference Library, Beeton Auditorium For more information about the exhibit, free tours and other related programming, call 416-393-7158.

Des fraises en janvier

2008-01-08T20:47:10Z

The play Des fraises en janvier by Evelyne de la Chenelière to replace Le Don Quichotte de Toronto by Glen Charles Landry Due to unforseen circumstances, Le Don Quichotte de Toronto by Glen Charles Landry will not be ready for its February premiere which was due to run at Berkeley Street Theatre February 13 to 24. Specially commissioned by TfT for its 40th anniversary season, the play will now be replaced by Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January) by critically acclaimed Québec playwright Evelyne de la Chenelière. This will be a Théâtre francais de Toronto production with English surtitles directed by Jean-Stéphane Roy and featuring Djennie Laguerre, Patricia Marceau, Michel Séguin and Manuel Verreydt. Dates, times and location remain the same. A full press release will soon follow. For more information regarding Théâtre français de Toronto or its 40th anniversary season please call 416.534.6604 or click here

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T02:59:27Z

Hope everyone had a great holiday! We've been busy with planning and you will be seeing new and exciting things at TorontoDelivers this coming year ~

New Year with Kathy and Andy

2008-01-02T20:03:14Z

I don't understand Richtree's Gift Card Redemption process

2007-12-22T20:52:55Z

I think Richtree's Gift Card Redemption process is not world class. Here's the deal: You get a holiday card from a colleague, friend, work, whatever... you get a food card at Richtree. Get your meal, enjoy the food and when you're ready to pay, the cashier asks "How much is in your card?" Do you have to answer (which means you have to always remember the value of your card) or do you say "I don't know, check it for me please." Here's the real problem: If you decide on the latter and ask them to check the card value for you, they would look at you with disdain as its another step in their process. Here's the explanation of one of the filipina checkout employees at the BCE location. [her words not mine] 1. If I check it for you, I have to remove the orders, then look up the value of your card 2. Then I have to load your meal cards again to get the total value 3. Then I have to use your card to pay for your check [my words again] So why do you have to ask the value of my card? [her words] Because it saves one step - you tell us if you have enough money on the card to pay for your check [check means the bill] otherwise your card will bounce and you will have to pay the difference. [my thoughts] Don't you do this at any other store anyway that uses a gift card? If I go to Starbucks and use a gift card, I will hand it to them and if there is a difference in value, they will tell me in which case I have a choice of paying by another card or cash. Why not have the same process at Richtree instead of making me remember the value of my card EACH time I use it? Would this be counter productive to the usage of the card? Is this a function of their cash register system - an afterthought that meant a process workaround that puts the onus of remembering the value to you - the customer - rather than to the store. Why don't they just look up the card's value and then tell you the difference without giving you further aggravation. I think this process needs to be reevaluated as it does not entice me to use their gift card system. What do you think? ~ richard

Casa Loma Readings

2007-12-12T22:47:50Z

Crime Writers of Canada Readings at Casa Loma Blood on the Holly: An Anthology of Christmas Mysteries Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:30 p.m. The third in a six part series featuring Canada's top crime writers presented in association with Crime Writers of Canada. Canada's crime writers are celebrated around the world. Award winning writers and first time authors offer their twisted take on the festive season with stories ranging from the hilarious to the serious. Blood on the Holly readers will be Rosemary Aubert, Lyn Hamilton, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Sylvia Maultash Warsh, Maureen Jennings, Dennis Richard Murphy, Madeleine Harris-Callway, Jane Burfield, D.J. McIntosh Admission $12.00. Free Parking. Upcoming evenings: Jan. 8 -Giles Blunt and Louise Penny Feb. 5 -Peter Robinson and N.J. Lindquist Mar. 4 -Lyn Hamilton and Rick Blechta

the MOD Club's Jamaica to TO show

2007-12-11T18:06:38Z

In 1963, the flight from Jamaica to Toronto was 8 hours. Today it's 3 1/2. Countless people have made the dwindling journey over the years, but in the sixties and seventies there was a new breed of traveler: the finest ska, rocksteady, and reggae recording artists the West Indies have ever produced. Light in the attic talks about Studio One, Treasure Isle, Trojan, and WIRL veterans Jackie Mittoo, Johnnie Osbourne, Wayne McGhie, Lloyd Delpratt, The Mighty Pope, Noel Ellis, Jo-Jo Bennett, and many more. Arriving in their new Canadian home, these talented singers, songwriters, musicians, and performers simply did what came naturally to them. One by one, they hit the studio and captured some of the hardest tunes this side of Kingston. Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk and Reggae 1967-1974, details this crucial sonic migration and stands tall as the second helping of Light In The Attic's new Jamaica to Toronto series, compiled by DJ/Canadian music historian Sipreano, along with Light In The Attic. Jamaica to Toronto has been over three years in the making, a combination of deep crates, exhaustive research, and foundational tales presented with the same attention to detail as 2004's Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy release (LITA 008), the initial release in the Jamaica to Toronto series. The CD version of Jamaica to Toronto is accompanied with a 36-page book, exploding with unseen archival materials and extensive liner notes. The 16 songs on Jamaica to Toronto range from the in-demand Northern Soul attack of Eddie Spencer's "If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)" to Jo-Jo And The Fugitives' unknown break-beat monster, "Chips-Chicken-Banana Split". Taken from his 1971 album Wishbone, Mittoo's "Grand Funk" sounds like a Jamaican Santana, while The Hitch-Hikers Featuring The Mighty Pope represent raw funk of the highest order on the righteous "Mr. Fortune". Reggae comes courtesy of dancehall don Johnnie Osbourne's "African Wake" as well as the magical "Memories" from Noel Ellis (whose Summer Records self-titled LP is the next release in Light In The Attic's ongoing Jamaica to Toronto series - with over a half-dozen more titles and numerous 45s slatted for release). Jamaica to Toronto is only the beginning, so sit back and buckle your safety belt; this musical flight is about to take off... Jamaica To Toronto: Soul, Funk and Reggae 1967-1974 Thursday December 13, 2007 Mod Club Theatre (722 College St.) 19+ Event, Doors @ 7:00pm, Show @ 8:00pm Tickets are $20.00 in advance and available at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Play De Record & Soundscapes

Can't find that gift? Go to the Museum Store

2007-12-11T04:47:00Z

Art Metropole is a place to check out if you need to find that esoteric gift for that special someone. Just from the photo above you'll see Rayne Baron & Paige Gratland's Donut Ho's Hawaiian Brooch that is hand stitched. On this photo is a mini Hawaiian Fancy beaded donut with a gold coloured brooch pin which comes in a printed paper Donut Ho's bag. There's also Joan Bankemper's porcelain A Pleasure Multiple which the artist indicated is intended to give pleasure both aesthetic and physical, handmade casts of bananas, (in small, medium and large) glazed pink, printed with classic textual reflections on love, meant to be, as the artist puts it, “stimulating fine art”. Then there's Bless' Hair Visor which is a black sun visor with real human locks attached that's ideal for bright and sunny bad hair days. There's also Michael Campbell's Seven Ends. Check this out and more at Art Metropole today.

Queen Street Market's Ben & Jerry

2007-12-10T00:00:46Z

We saw this and said to ourselves Is she really sitting on the counter where she serves my ice cream? I'm not quite sure this is appropriate behaviour. Although Ben and Jerry's was not yet open so she had time to kill by reading her school books but the market where the store is located is open. She could use the chair that was behind the counter but she choose to be right there for everyone to see. What do you think? Is this appropriate? I would rate this Not World Class and Needs to Upgrade immediately. A little bit a coaching would do the trick. ~ richard