| EVENT REPORT 09.16.09 2:35 PM |
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Cinema Against AIDS Fund-Raiser Goes Old Hollywood With Black and Gold Decor
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 | The Carlu's concert hall
Photo: BizBash |
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Amfar, the Foundation for AIDS Research, partnered with Dignitas International to host the first Cinema Against AIDS Toronto fund-raiser at the Carlu Tuesday. The event, which featured performances by Sarah McLachlan and Deborah Cox, attracted 400 guests, including Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; Miranda Richardson; Amfar ambassador Michelle Yeoh; and Nobel Peace Prize winner and Dignitas co-founder Dr. James Orbinski.
“Cinema Against AIDS, this particular branded event that we do in conjunction with film festivals, was actually started in 1993 at the Cannes Film Festival by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, our founding chairman. That event did so well and Amfar’s relationship with the film industry has been so strong that it has just grown and grown,” said Franklin G. Fry, Amfar’s director of special events.
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RELATED TOPICS
Toronto International Film Festival, Amfar, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Dignitas International, Sullivan Entertainment, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Cartier, BMO Financial Group, Brookfield Properties Corporation, Burgundy Asset Management, Gucci, Rave Motion Pictures, RIM |
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| NEWS 05.21.09 8:00 AM |
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Events and Pop-Ups Are a Boon to Troubled Retail Real Estate—and Vice Versa
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 | Reebok's La Brea pop-up
Photo: Vero Image |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
The recession has brought a flurry of “For Lease” signs to the windows of Los Angeles retail spaces, which have been vacated with particular urgency in high-rent districts like Melrose Place, Robertson Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard. But the bad news for real estate could be buoyed by corporate event and pop-up hosts using those same spaces—and likewise some hosts are finding that a vacant retail space can be an efficient and attractive venue choice.
“[The high retail vacancy is] definitely encouraging me, with any event, to walk around an area I like and look at all the retail spaces as a first protocol,” said Harrison & Shriftman national creative director Ryan Jordan, who recently chose vacant retail and parking structures for the likes of Allergan’s Latisse launch, and a launch for Russian designer Kira Plastinina (whose line filed for bankruptcy just months after its U.S. debut). “They’re a lot more cost effective, and it definitely increases your bargaining power, since they're already vacant—in New York, Miami, L.A.—everywhere.”
The Beverly Center, which occasionally hosts its own promotional events, is actively shopping for corporate event and pop-up hosts. “I've been talking to New Beauty magazine about doing a pop-up store [out of which the magazine would offer relevant] seminars, maybe for a month or a couple of months. We've been talking to Los Angeles magazine about doing the same thing for the tastemakers issue. Also we’ve been working with [an animal rescue] organization to do animal adoptions [out of the space formerly occupied by a] pet store, since their lease expired, which would allow us to lease the space later,” said Steve Valentine, a publicist for the mall (which may be facing a significant new PR problem after the murder of a young rapper in daylight there on Monday).
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Pop-Ups, Y-3, Reebok, Kira Plastinina, Allergan, Latisse, New Beauty Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Paper Magazine, Campari, Kitson, Johnnie Walker |
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| EVENT REPORT 04.09.09 12:20 PM |
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Fashion Group International Previews Trends for Industry Types With Speakers, Runway Show
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 | Fall fashion trends on the runway
Photo: BizBash |
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The Toronto chapter of Fashion Group International hosted 100 fashion and beauty industry folks at the Fifth Social Club Tuesday to review the key looks for the upcoming season at the organization’s annual Spring Pret Event and Trend Report. “This particular event gives our members an update on what just hit the runway,” said Michelle Calvert, who serves as the organization’s regional co-chair along with Pheinixx Paul. “We also have trend forecasts happening tonight, which is really, really valuable to most of our members. They’ll get to see what’s hot a year in advance.”
Grace Lee of M.A.C. reviewed the beauty looks seen on the runways in Paris, Milan, London, and New York, and Lush Magazine fashion director Peter Papapetrou discussed the fashion trends for the fall 2009 season—illustrated by models wearing designs from Evan Biddell, Farley Chatto, David Dixon, and Linda Lundström.
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Fashion Group International Toronto, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Lush Magazine, WGSN |
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| EVENT REPORT 03.16.09 3:55 PM |
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Greta Constantine Scales Back Set Design, Goes Runway-Less for Fashion Show
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 | The catwalk at the Courthouse
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash |
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In 2008, Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong—the designers behind the Greta Constantine label—created elaborate sets to showcase their runway collections on a mirrored catwalk at Circa. But on Friday night models wearing fashions from the pair's fall/winter 2009 line walked the bare hardwood floor before a crowd of 500 guests at the Courthouse.
The designers used the stage at the front of the main floor for additional seating and created a runway that zigzagged through the chairs on the main level. The Courthouse began preparing the venue for the show last Tuesday, repainting some areas of the nightclub and repairing the hardwood floors, said Natasha Penzo of ASC PR.
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Greta Constantine, Fritz Helder & the Phantoms, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Aldo, Steamwhistle, Hair2Inc., Belvedere Vodka, Vitaminwater, Dean Davidson Jewelry |
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| EVENT REPORT 02.16.09 11:46 AM |
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Harlequin Romances Inspire Fourth Annual Book Lover's Ball
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 | Models wearing Greta Constantine
Photo: Henry Lin |
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For the fourth annual Book Lover’s Ball—held Thursday at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and presented this year by Harlequin—the Toronto Public Library Foundation paid tribute to Harlequin’s 60-year history with a runway show spanning six decades and a special presentation featuring fashions imagined for the future. “Books are a great respite … especially in tough times,” said foundation president Heather Rumball, who reported that organizers wanted to create an atmosphere where guests could “escape” for an evening.
The runway show—produced by Monarch Events Group—featured designs created by the likes of Lucian Matis, Ross Mayer, Bustle, Farley Chatto, Andy Thê-Anh, Greta Constantine, Evan Biddell, and Denis Gagnon. Each designer presented a collection inspired by the romance of a different decade. (The '70s scene featured a live performance by Liberty Silver singing “Last Dance” and models wearing gold fashions designed by Chatto.) “The designers have been so willing to lend their support. They believe in the library,” Rumball said.
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Toronto Public Library Foundation, Harlequin, Random House of Canada, Whitehots Canadian Library Services, The Toronto Star, The Printing House, TD Bank, M.A.C. Cosmetics, HarperCollins Canada Ltd., CBC, Maclean’s, Quill & Quire |
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| EVENT REPORT 11.17.08 3:41 PM |
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All That Glitters Gala Adopts a Jet-Set Theme With California Palms, Eiffel Tower Centerpieces
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 | Models dressed as flight attendants
Photo: BizBash |
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Although ticket sales for this year’s All That Glitters Gala—held Thursday at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex—slowed when the stock market hit a low in October, Marc Ralsky, director of volunteer and regional affairs for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, expected the organization to reach its $500,000 fund-raising goal. More than 900 guests attended the benefit, which adopted a “Jet Set” theme and offered attendees the choice of dining in Los Angeles, London, or Paris. “It was first come, first serve,” Ralsky said of the ticketing for the themed rooms, noting that organizers sold different levels of sponsorship as royal-, first-, and executive-class tickets.
“Tickets were selling really, really fast, and then once the stock market crashed, we had no more sales. It just stopped,” Ralsky said. “Corporate tickets we had no problem with. We were on target with our corporate numbers. It was the individual tickets we had problems with.” The fact that the benefit fell on the same night as events being held at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum may also have impacted individual decisions, he said, noting that ticket sales picked up again just prior to the event. Ralsky reported that people who attend the foundation’s benefit typically have some connection with Crohn's and colitis. “We don’t attract the general public to events just because it’s the place to be," he said. "We’re trying to change that, so we upped the ante this year by bringing Solutions With Impact on.”
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Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada, The Globe and Mail, Air Canada Vacations, CTV, Mercedes-Benz, Danier, M.A.C. Cosmetics, 104.5 Chum FM |
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| EVENT REPORT 09.09.08 4:43 PM |
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Go-Go Dancers, Disco Music Move Crowd at M.A.C. Gold Fever Party
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Scantily-clad go-go dancers, blaring dance music, and celebrity guests such as Jill Hennessy (spotted dancing on a table) made the M.A.C. Cosmetics Gold Fever party—a traveling branding event for the company—a hot ticket Sunday night. Held in the parking lot of CTV's Queen Street headquarters following the much-hyped DSquared2 fashion show, the disco-themed party also included a performance by famed R&B singer Thelma Houston.
"The whole thing the Gold Fever party offers is sort of irresistible," said Phillip Ing, vice president for international special and retail events for M.A.C. "It's a nod to Studio 54 and making that era a little bit sexier."
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RELATED TOPICS
Toronto International Film Festival, M.A.C. Cosmetics, DSquared2, CTV, Fashion Television, Thelma Houston |
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| EVENT REPORT 03.21.08 10:38 AM |
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Mirrors, Tree Branches Embellish Greta Constantine Set
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 | The Greta Constantine show
Photo: George Pimentel |
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Going against the grain and forgoing the L’Oréal Fashion Week tents, Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong presented their Greta Constantine fall 2008 collection to a packed crowd at Circa on Wednesday. Entitled "Part Four," to represent the label's fourth season in the business, the show furnished the nightclub's front ballroom with stairs leading to a 42-foot-long mirrored runway and a tree-branch collage backdrop.
Pickersgill and Wong produced the show with the help of main sponsor Campari, Circa staff (who constructed the runway), and ASC PR. M.A.C. cosmetics also sponsored the invite-only show, which was a factor in determining the venue. (L’Oréal products are used in the tents at Nathan Phillips Square.)
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RELATED TOPICS
Greta Constantine, M.A.C. Cosmetics, L'Oréal Fashion Week |
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| EVENT REPORT 03.06.08 12:11 PM |
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Casey House Benefit Conveys Passion Theme With Red Decor, Soulful Music
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 | Red feather centrepieces
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash |
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With tickets sold out a month before the event, Casey House's SnowBall 2008: Passion benefit didn't seem to need much promotion. "It's mainly about word of mouth and creating a strong reputation year after year for an event that can't be missed," said Bill Calkins, development manager of events at Casey House, a specialty hospital for people living with HIV and AIDS. Calkins planned the evening with the help of a volunteer committee and Nicholas Pinney of Nicholas Pinney Design. To illustrate the fund-raiser's "passion" theme—and also to mark the 20th anniversary of Casey House—Pinney chose all-red decor for the dinner and its new award ceremony.
Guests including former Ontario premier Bob Rae filled the Ontario Room at the Fairmont Royal York for a cocktail reception, where singer John Alcorn performed and servers passed mixed drinks of vodka, cranberry juice, melon liqueur, lemon juice, and frozen cranberries. Silent-auction items set in front of shimmery drapes included a tomato-red Vespa LX scooter donated by the Canadian Scooter Corporation.
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Casey House, June Callwood, Valerie Pringle, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Vespa, Rex Harrington, Royal Conservatory of Music, John Alcorn, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Billy Newton-Davis, Frank Angelo, Frank Toskan |
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| EVENT REPORT 03.05.08 3:49 PM |
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Ballet Gala Employs Students as Event Hands, Performers
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 | The Grand Pas de Deux gala
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash |
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To ensure that guests arrived at the right party at the Fairmont Royal York on Thursday, Kate Lloyd of IntriKate Events employed uniformed National Ballet School students to direct the appropriate guests to the Grand Pas de Deux gala. The event, which honoured arts philanthropists Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan, took place in the hotel's ballroom, located on the same floor as the "One Night Live" preshow party.
Aiming for an elegant look, Lloyd—whom the National Ballet School contracts to plan its events—worked with Michael Dolan of Avenue Event Management to plan the fund-raising gala, which drew close to 300 guests. Along with their role as greeters, students appeared on the stage, where they posed as models for the eight live-auction prize packages, which included a doggie-pampering kit valued at $5,000 and a trip to Ireland. "Because the gala supports the students, we allocate them to different roles for the evening," Lloyd said.
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RELATED TOPICS
National Ballet School, Seamus O'Regan, M.A.C. Cosmetics, One Night Live |
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