When it came to choosing a designer to feature at this year's "Most Wanted" fashion event—held yesterday at Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maple—the choice was obvious, says Erika Larva of Monarch Events Group. “Escada was Concetta’s favourite, so that was an obvious choice,” Larva said in reference to Concetta Guglietti, the woman who inspired the evening. Guglietti passed away following a battle with ovarian cancer two years ago. Her son Marco and his cousin Jim DeGasperis founded the event—which benefits the gynecological cancer department at the Princess Margaret Hospital—in her honour.
“We decided that a fashion show would be a great idea,” DeGasperis said. “She was very fashion-oriented, so we thought, what a great idea to do a fashion show in her honour.” DeGasperis said the pair plans to add new elements to the event each year. New items this year included white T-shirts with the "Most Wanted" logo, and CDs. The event raised $40,000 last year, DeGasperis said, adding, “This year we’re on track to raise $70,000.”
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSPrincess Margaret Hospital
FROM CHICAGO On Wednesday, a face-painted man wearing a pink shirt and toting a green water gun wove his way through the stylish crowd assembled at the River East Art Center for Gen Art and Nokia's Art in Motion event. The colorful guest was part of one of three films that were shot on site, as emerging filmmakers commissioned by Gen Art made short movies using Nokia's N95 8GB device.
The moviemaking was only one of the ideas that Gen Art Chicago's regional event director, Laura Lachman, cooked up for the event, which was intended to showcase the cutting-edge capabilities of Nokia's N95 and N810 devices.
Guests had the option of ordering drinks the old-fashioned way (by bellying up to the bar) or by taking a more technological route: Nokia reps standing at three highboys held N810 Internet tablets that they used to type in guests' drink requests. The orders went electronically to a computer behind the bar, and a server brought the drink orders to the tables within a matter of minutes.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSGen Art,
Nokia
An array of Fabulous Stationery's offerings Photo: Courtesy of Fabulous Stationery
For stylish thank-you notes or invites on a budget, Fabulous Stationery has a wide range of cards that can be personalized. The Philadelphia-based company, owned by three advertising-agency veterans, offers more than 300 designs, including Pop Art prints, masculine stripes, and organic shapes. For bulk orders of 10 or more sets of 25 cards and envelopes, the designers can tailor both the text and the look of the cards and add a company logo. Corporate clients include Marie Claire and the Hyatt Regency Boston. Individual sets range from $35 to $55; bulk orders receive 15 percent off. The company ships worldwide. —Lisa Cericola
Nestlé and the Coca-Cola Company put a spin on the tradition of afternoon tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel yesterday for the launch of Nestea Vitao, a new vitamin-enhanced iced tea. "The concept here today is called turning high tea on its head. The idea is to juxtapose high tea and the tradition associated with that with a new wave and a new movement in Canada toward enhanced iced tea," said Helen Gushue of Beverage Partners Worldwide (a joint venture between Nestlé and the Coca-Cola Company), noting that organizers chose the Windsor Arms because the hotel is known for its tea service.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSBeverage Partners Worldwide,
Nestea,
the Coca-Cola Company,
Nestlé
As the director of marketing and public relations for Hugo Boss Canada, Dawn Bellini handles all advertisement components, editorial loan-outs to editors, and the planning of all of the company's events. Bellini has been with Hugo Boss since 1994 and plans roughly seven large events a year, such as the annual Boss Benefit, held in a private home for 400.
Production: "I cannot live without McNabb Roick Events. Jeff Roick is like my right hand when it comes to events. We work with him on everything—coordinating the rentals, staffing, decor, the DJ, and catering. Every event we work on he has a hand in, and he’s on the Boss Benefit committee. He even hosted my baby shower last year, he’s that close."
Sound, Lighting, Staging: "Through Jeff, we came to work with Westbury National Show Systems. When we do our fashion show for Boss Benefits, they set up the runway. They also do big concerts, so they already have the tech riders, which is what the artist requires to perform, like a certain type of piano, soundboard, and microphone. They are able to anticipate what the performer will need."
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSHugo Boss Canada,
Hugo Boss
After almost three years in Los Angeles running the restaurants Bella, Parc, and Shag, Lesle Gibson returned to Toronto and launched Grace on Tuesday. Located in the space that housed her former restaurant Xacutti (and beside another restaurant she used to co-own, Teatro), the 60-seat room is decorated in shades of cream and blue with antique accents. "I wanted to make it feel almost like you're in somebody's house for dinner," Gibson says.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSLesle Gibson,
Susur Lee
Nick Di Donato of the Liberty Entertainment Group and Charles Khabouth of Ink have collaborated on a second venue following the opening of Tattoo Rock Parlour, their first joint venture, which launched late last year. The pair opened the doors to Spice Route, a bistro-bar on King Street West, on May 1. The pan-Asian restaurant features 8,000 square feet of space inside—including two private rooms—and a 3,000-square-foot patio that looks onto the street and wraps around the east side of the building.
Designed by Nadia Di Donato, Liberty Entertainment Group's creative director, Spice Route incorporates a mix of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Indian aspects. The entranceway features antique teak Asian doors, flanked by two water urns and flaming torches. "We're not going to do any signage. I think it's going to speak for itself," Di Donato said during a tour. "People are going to know where it is." Inside, many of the artifacts that dress the space are imports. But several pieces, including the hand-carved Burmese goddess that graces the reception area, are from Di Donato's personal collection of Asian antiques.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSThe Liberty Group,
Ink
The Crown Royal Lounge Photo: Playboy/James Trevenen
Several big-name brands showed up in Louisville over the weekend to host events surrounding the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. Dubbed the Run for the Roses, the horse race has become a breeding ground for tabloid-friendly celebrities—and where celebrities go, endorsement-seeking brands follow. (Ubiquitous types like The Hills' Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, model Molly Sims, Entourage's Adrian Grenier, and former Miss USA Tara Conner were on the scene.)
"The Derby is one of our favorite events," said Hi-Fi Marketing Group partner Brian Gefter, who produced Friday's In Touch Weekly Parlor party with his partner Mike Satsky. "We do all of these parties around national event properties like Super Bowl, but the reason the Derby is appealing to us is that it’s very celebrity-driven but it’s less cluttered. There's a real chance to make a huge impact in an area where there aren’t as many events going on, as, say, the Super Bowl."
Playboy division vice president of creative services Donna Tavoso, who produced the Crown Royal Lounge on Friday night, said, "I think as more and more people realize that the Derby is a celebrity event and a great consumer event, they are drawn to the whole idea. It's not surprising that others want to throw a party [on the Friday night before the Derby]. That said, we know the level and quality of the party we throw, and we rest on that reputation."
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSKentucky Derby,
Barnstable Brown Gala,
Playboy,
In Touch Weekly,
Pama,
ProFlowers,
Crown Royal,
Grey Goose
Barefoots Wines' display at Yonge-Dundas Square Photo: BizBash
Barefoot Wines held a beach-themed promotional event at Yonge-Dundas Square yesterday morning, offering free pedicures and wine samples to passersby. Jennifer Wall, the California company's winemaker, worked with Praxis PR on the product awareness and fund-raising event. For every pedicure given, Barefoot pledged to donate $100 to Blue Flag, an eco-labeling program for beaches. The program is operated in Canada by Environmental Defence.
"We have a longstanding policy that we don't do any paid advertising, so instead we partner with nonprofit organizations for promotions and local events," said Wall, who flew in from Los Angeles. Jennifer Valentine of Breakfast Television broadcast live from the event, which started at 6:30 a.m.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSBarefoot Wines,
Breakfast Television,
Environmental Defence
Toronto-based event management firm Event Marrin is offering a new take on interactive events—and it doubles as a viral marketing tool. The concept, called a Movie in the Making (M.I.T.M.), incorporates the shooting of a short film into an event's proceedings. A product launch might include the new offering in a '50s-style comedy, for example.
Marrin consults with clients to create a script and sends professional actors, a director, and a producer to the event. Guests receive their lines as they arrive (or they can choose not to appear on film—Marrin with alter the script depending on the number of interested participants). The movie is shot throughout the course of the event, and within three days, a copy of the final cut is emailed to everyone who attended.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSBuilding Buzz With Online Videos
