Audi called on InField Marketing Group to plan the event and invited 600 people—owners, dealers, prospective clients—to the cocktail reception, set amid a range of Audi vehicles.

“The event here is extraordinary," Mondavi said of the jazz festival. "I’m very happy to be here and to celebrate, as I always do, my wonderful husband, who was such an inspiration and had such a passion for wine." Mondavi's attendance at the event marked the first time she has joined the tour, now in its third year. In 2009, the tour has visited Phoenix, Dallas, New Orleans, and the Food & Wine Festival at National Harbour near Washington. The tour will also stop in Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Diego this year.

“The party gives people a chance to interact with designers, so it becomes more than just ‘This guy designed my floor.' It’s about meeting him and finding out why he joined the project,” said AJ Manji, marketing and business development manager at Freed Developments. He added that the company will launch a new Fashion House Web site next week with video clips of each designer and examples of their work.

“Last year the event had a Muskoka theme, and the year before it was Hawaiian,” she said of the firm's annual summer party, which typically attracts about 250 guests. This year, the numbers were limited to 100 and the invitations were non-transferable. “It’s basically the senior executives of Royal Bank, Scotiabank, and financial institutions like consulting firms,” Ben-David said.

"We are excited to have a second gallery with A Taste of Quebec attached. It's a nice step up for us," said Joanne Thompson, who co-owns the boutique and gallery with Sylvain Landry. "This is so much better for receptions right here on site." (The original Thompson Landry Gallery, which showcases Quebec artists, remains open in the Stone Building.)

"Our new environment is inspired by luxe international spas, while offering treatments and services that are effective, accessible, and affordable,” Kline said. “We wanted to exceed our guests’ expectations with an experience that both relaxes and renews."

1. The Burroughes Building, located at Queen and Bathurst, is an independent loft-style space with hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. The 6,000-square-foot venue, which opened about a year ago, debuted a rooftop patio on May 31. The outdoor space, referred to as the Top of the Burroughes, offers views of the city and can accommodate up to 125 people. The space is equipped with its own bar and lounge furniture. The patio can be booked for private events in conjunction with the sixth floor loft area, which holds up to 500 people.

“It’s not rocket science. People with steady jobs and a steady income are less likely to wind up back in jail. The ones who are truly interested in turning their lives around will become some of our best employees. They’re on a mission to prove something, to prove that they can succeed," Thuet said in a statement in which he openly discussed his past experience with addiction and alcohol abuse. "I think this place has the potential to change more lives. It wasn’t that long ago that it helped save me."

The duo’s education and experience play an integral role in their floral creations, Mojtahedi says. “Whether it’s the colour of the arrangements, the scale, the texture—there’s more of a sculptural aspect to what we do. It’s taking the entire scene into account more than saying, ‘Here’s a bouquet, place it wherever you want.’” The two met while Perri was working at a trade showroom on Designers Walk and immediately hit it off. “I worked with a designer, and we’d be sourcing fabrics and furniture [at the showroom], and we just connected,” Mojtahedi says.

What was it about last year’s experience that made you decide to participate in Luminato again this year?
L'Oréal Paris did a tent at Yonge-Dundas last year, and we're doing exactly the same thing this year. Our brand strategy is to really align ourselves with fashion and to show the expertise of our beauty experts. Our vision with that tent was to take everything we do with Fashion Week and with Project Runway Canada and bring that backstage feel to the street. Last year we conducted 6,500 makeovers [over three days]; the success was so great that we decided to do it again.

Why did you decide to take the event national this year?
I think the event itself works from a fund-raising standpoint. People, once they understand it, want to get involved. And kids with cancer is a cause that hits home whether it’s in L.A., Vegas, Miami, or Toronto. In my opinion, the cure is just around the corner and all it takes is money. This event is driven by the participants.

What is the WWF hoping to achieve with Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is a symbolic event. The goal is to get people to turn off their lights for one hour and send a visual statement to government and world leaders that people are taking action on climate change and they need to do the same. But the other purpose is to show individuals that each of us can play a role in the fight against climate change and even simple actions like turning off your lights add up to make a really big difference.

New York-based On 3 Productions created an orange and white lounge for artists and presenters participating in the MuchMusic Video Awards this year. "We were going for something edgy, something a little different, with bright colours and bold colours," said Matthew Simon of On 3 Productions. Ikea and Sumo Lounge provided furnishings for the space, including bag chairs and ottomans. "It's a place where people can just chill out and relax."

The city is planning to create three pedestrian areas with the planned closures of the Bay Street corridor from Gerrard Street to Front Street, McCaul Street from Grange Road to Dundas Street West, and Liberty Street from Dufferin Street to Pirandello Street. The T.T.C. will also expand its all-night service to a larger portion of the subway line. Trains will run all night on the Bloor-Danforth line from Keele to Woodbine and on the Yonge/University/Spadina line from St. Clair West to Eglinton station. Service on the 509 Harbourfront streetcar will also be extended overnight to transport people from Union Station to Liberty Village.

"We like to think of the MMVAs as the Super Bowl for youth in Canada. Advertisers get to attach themselves to a platinum event, and some sponsors want to dig deeper and create exclusive experiences. This year Pepsi and Nokia wanted to step it up and do something extra special around their sponsorship of the MMVAs," said Brad Schwartz, senior vice president and general manager of Much MTV Group.

But rather than fill the spot with an alternate presenter, Munro made other arrangements. "We'll be broadcasting him live from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida post rocket launch," she said. "We accommodate where we can." Worden is one of 50 presenters slated to address a sold-out crowd of 497 guests during the prestigious conference—dubbed Canada's premiere meeting of the minds—which takes place at the Isabel Bader Theatre on the University of Toronto campus.

"We changed the format this year in the sense that we want to have many people involved in organizing parties. We really cannot rely too much on corporate sponsorships at the moment, and a lot of people want to give in kind. So we have to look for creative ways [to raise money]," said Jane Ip, the designer behind the Jeanne Lottie brand and the woman who founded the Pink Bedroom benefit six years ago.