FASHION: Yorkdale Adds Nordstrom to Its New Roster
18th May 2013Yorkdale Shopping Centre is expanding once again announcing a new $331 million 298,000 square foot expansion, making this shopping centre Canada’s premier shopping destination. With Yorkdale Shopping Centre having undergone four major renovations since 1964, including there recent $220 million 145,000 square foot development that opened to the public this past November 2012 featuring a number of first-to-Canada brands, the recent expansion announcement is having shoppers wonder what could possible be next.
Yorkdale has a track-record for being the entry point for international retailers entering the Canadian market to meet market demands for enthusiastic shoppers and is proud to announce that the new expansion will be anchored by a 188,000 square foot Nordstrom store, an upscale department store chain in the United States and will also house a diverse range of other retailers that will be announced closer to completion. The construction is schedule to begin in January 2014 and will be completed in the Fall of 2016. The new expansion strives to provide shoppers with the very best experience by bringing in the most in-demand retailers from around the world and having everything shoppers both need and want all in one place.
- Vanessa Cioffi
Posted in Fashion, Lifestyle | Tagged Canada, fashion, Nordstrom, shopping, shopping centre, Toronto, Toronto Fashion, Yorkdale | Leave a commentLIFESTYLE: Scrubs in the City presents BLOCK PARTY ( + Giveaway!)
17th May 2013Get your ticket now to the hottest block party of the season! Now that the warmer weather is here to stay – I really can’t handle any more crazy hail storms -let’s celebrate with a fabulous night out. In its 12th year, Scrubs in the City draws out some of the city’s most influential movers and shakers. On Thursday, June 6, 2013 neighbourhoods collide to create an electric city vibe at Scrubs in the City Presents BLOCK PARTY. Chic meets street for a night of fashion, food, music and culture all in support of SickKids.
To date, the event has raised more than $2 million in support of some of the most critical needs at SickKids. This year, neighbourhoods will unite in the open air and help support Toronto’s newest member to the community – The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. The state-of-the-art laboratory and learning facilities will encourage research collaboration among scientific and clinical perspectives to accelerate discoveries and foster new knowledge.
So let’s get street chic for SickKids! Grab your tickets now at http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/scrubs, or enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets from Style Empire! Just enter using the widget below!
Event Details:
What: Scrubs in the City presents BLOCK PARTY
When:Thursday, June 6, 2013. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 6.00 p.m. for Blockette ticket holders)
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4W 3X8
Tickets:
Individual Ticket: $175
Ticket includes: full access to Block Party food, bar and entertainment.
Blockette: $5,000
Rock your own personal Blockette for an exclusive VIP experience. Blockette includes: a maximum of 10 guests, bottle service and catering throughout the evening, full access to Block Party food and bar, and early access to the venue.
Winners must live in the Toronto area to claim your prize.
Winners will be contacted on June 3rd and have 24 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.
Contest closes June 2nd 2013 at 11:59 PM EST.
TEST DRIVE: Protect & Perfect Intense Serum by Boots No7
16th May 2013Every week, our resident Beauty Junkie, Marissa Enge, tests out the latest and greatest on the beauty counters in our TEST DRIVE. From drug store finds to products that are top-of-the-line, she gives us the full scoop without any holdbacks.
Product: Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum
Where to Buy: Sold exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart
Its Claim: Proven to visibly improve deep lines and wrinkles by up to 50%
How it Works: Featuring a hypoallergenic formula with peptides, retinyl palmitate, and antioxidants, this lotion offers moisture while enhancing your skin tone. It’s unscented serum will make your face feel and look younger and fresher.
How to Use: Use two pumps of the lotion and massage over face and neck.
Our Thoughts: Yet another anti-aging product that promises younger looking skin in 4 weeks. I’ve been using the serum for almost 3 weeks and have seen very little change. Maybe my skin is just too youthful?! I do, however, enjoy the super silky feel of my skin after application. It wasn’t tacky or heavy like some other serums I’ve tested. I’ll keep testing this for a few more weeks and see how it goes. Boots No7 products have been around for over 75 years so I’m pretty confident that with the right skin type this product could be great!
- Marissa Enge
To read more of TEST DRIVES, click here.
Posted in Beauty | Tagged beauty, Boots, boots No7, Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum, hypoallergenic, Marissa Enge, Shoppers Drug Mart, test, Test Drive, wrinkles | Leave a commentLIFESTYLE: Take a Hike with HI-TEC Footwear
14th May 2013When I received the invite to go on an urban hike, I was hesitant. I’m not quite the outdoorsy type but I thought to myself, well if it’s in Toronto, how bad can it be?
For my first ever urban hike, it was a ton of fun to say the least!
Manned with our new HI-TEC kicks, we took a micro tour of Toronto, which included pit stops at DAVID’s TEA on Queen Street, the first ever DAVID’s TEA location, the Caplansky Food Truck, located at the corner of Spadina and King, and other various stops in the area. During the walk, street style photographer, Stefania Yarhi of textstyles.ca, took sartorial snaps of us before the rain came pouring down. Before we panicked, the HI-TEC team was ready with rain jackets in hand – pheuf!
Throughout the hike, my feet stayed dry and the shoes were surprisingly lightweight and comfortable. I opted for the Tian style, which offers a stylish synthetic upper that delivers breathability, while the rubber outsole makes the shoe ideal for any terrain. Although we weren’t going though any mountains, this was great for the rain and it even helped during a few of the photo ops.
For my next outdoor trek, I’ll be sure to pack my HI-TECs with me. These comfy and stylish kicks are a no brainer, no matter where the next adventure may be.
- Chenessa Lam
*Top Right Photo and Bottom Photo Courtesy of Stephania Yarhi
Posted in Fashion, Lifestyle | Leave a commentTRAVEL: Visually Stunning and Culturally Enriching, That’s Morocco
12th May 2013A few times a year, I am enveloped by the urge to jetset. Ideally, to a foreign country I’ve never been to before. We tend to get so wrapped up in life and forget what’s out there but I travel to put things into perspective. We often take the little things for granted but when you’re away from home, it’s easy remember how lucky you are.
Last month, Morocco popped up on my radar, and it was game over. Whether you’re looking for a beach, a hike through the mountains, a trek through the Sahara or just to wander through old city streets, this North African country has you covered.
Our journey consisted of visiting three main cities (Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech) and the Sahara desert. The number one thing to do in these cities is the medina, the old town of the city. With winding streets, souks (open-air markets) and plazas, one can easily get lost in the mayhem and madness.
Chefchaouen was our first stop and it was the perfect city to ease into Moroccan life. The “blue city” offers a brightly painted medina, which was painted blue by the Jewish refugees who lived there during the 1930′s. The beauty of the blues is breathtaking. As a calmer and smaller city, we had time to soak up the architecture, relax in the plazas and wander the city streets without fear of getting too lost.
Our second stop was Fes, noted as Morocco’s cultural and spiritual center. We entered through Bab Bou Jeloud, a.k.a. The Blue Gates, which take you into one of the largest car-free urban areas packed with street vendors and restaurants. After spending a good part of a day shopping in the souks, we sought out the leather tannery and the Kairaouine Mosque (Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin), one of the oldest universities in the world. With a predominantly muslim population, Morocco has many mosques that offer magnificent architecture.
When most people think of Morocco, Marrakech (our next stop) comes to mind. It was given the nickname of the “Red City” or “Ochre City” because of the red sandstone used in its walls. In the medina and souks, you can find various handicrafts, fabrics and food. In the middle of all this, you’ll find Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square, with food and orange juice stalls, belly dancers, story tellers and even snake charmers. If you want to learn about Moroccan culture, this is the place to do it. You can indulge in a traditional hammam, learn to belly dance or take a lesson or two in Moroccan cuisine.
Before journeying into the Sahara, we drove through the Atlas Mountains and stopped by a Berber village. The Berbers are the indigenous people of North Africa and consist of many tribes. Their kasbahs (fortified villages) were built out of mud and clay. I had a geek-out moment when I was told that Game of Thrones was shot in the kasbah we were visiting (think Daenerys Targaryen, when she buys the Unsullied). A handful of other movies have been shot in the villages, including The Mummy and Gladiator, to name a few.
And now to the climax of our adventure. A trip to Morocco isn’t complete without a trek into the Sahara, the largest desert in Africa. After an hour long camel ride (and a very sore derrière), we found ourselves at home for the night. Although Berber tents were set up, we decided to sleep under the Sahara stars – how often is that even an option? We climbed up the vibrant orange dunes, which complement the bright blue sky and then relaxed and patiently awaited the sunset. Watching the moon rise and the shooting stars fly by was an unreal experience. I even woke up early to sneak in a quick yoga session atop one of the dunes. To say that this trip was a once in a lifetime experience would be a huge understatement. Now that Morocco is marked off my Bucket List, it’s time to start counting down to the next adventure.
What We Ate
In Morocco, tagines and couscous are your main options. Tagine is a historically Berber stew cooked in a clay pot. It usually has vegetables, meat and is rich in spices. Couscous is traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over it.
Where We Slept
Forget the hotels, Riads or Dars are a must-do when in Morocco. These traditional guest houses within the medina are often peaceful and exquisitely decorated. A few of ours had rooftop terraces which offered a stunning view of the city.
Good To Know
- The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham and it’s best to have Dirhams and/or Euros on you. We found that the souks gave better prices with the Dirham but some riads offer a better exchange on the Euro.
- Since the population is predominantly Muslim, baring shoulders, knees and excessive skin can be offensive, not to mention you’ll attract unwanted attention. Although tourist areas tend to be more forgiving, it might not be a bad idea to invest in a pair of harem (Aladdin) pants.
- Bring toilet paper and soap everywhere. Chances are you’ll be fine in your riad or dar, but the public bathrooms are another story. Some have toilets, some do not, but most won’t have toilet paper or soap. I treated mine like gold and toted it with me no matter where I went.
- If you’re a vegetarian, beware. The streets are often lined with food vendors and some of which have animal heads on their counters. The tannery is also an experience you might want to avoid if you’re sensitive.
- If you’re staying/visiting in the medina, a map is useless (the streets are very windy and without any signage). Instead, pay someone a few Dirhams to take you to your desired location.
- The Moroccans are very hospitable, you’ll be offered mint tea almost everywhere you go. So drink, relax and enjoy!
- Chenessa Lam
Image Credits: Chenessa Lam and Moe Alfalahi
Posted in Lifestyle, Travel | Tagged Travel | Leave a comment
