Billabong Fall 2010 Preview

Billabong – the name is almost synonymous with surfer clothing, no? Apparently - wrong. After attending Fall 2010 preview at the Yorkdale store last week, I realized that Billabong not only caters to surfer dudes, it has a fashionable side as well!

The first thing that caught my eye as I entered the store was a multi-color Portola cardiganwith fringe detailing – a super amazing boho piece, perfect for wrapping oneself during the cold winter nights. I knew I had to have it. Throughout the store, I spotted a few other cozy-looking cardigans, faux leather jackets, super cute black dresses, and a ton of on-trend accessories. Wait, at Billabong? Yup, at Billabong.

Other than Billabong, The Yorkdale location carries brands such as Element, TOMS, Nixon, Von Zipper and Dakine.

And of course, there are rows of bikinis. Bikinis and shorts that are available all year-round. So if you’re looking for one in the middle of January, Billabong is definitely a safe bet.

For guys and boys, the collection seemed to be a bit more grown up from what I remember. There are still plenty of hoodies and t-shirts to go around, but there are also classy button-ups and sweaters available for the dressier occasions. Another cool thing that Billabong store carries is Saxx underwear. It’s pretty great to see a small company with a great idea represented at a bigger store. Plus, guys seem to looove Saxx. If you don’t believe me, get it for your man, and see him rave about the…ahem…extra support.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with the Fall 2010 collection, and having worn my new cardigan around the house, I can’t wait to take it out for a spin in the real world! I’m definitely packing it for my upcoming trip and will share some pics after I come back. You may see more Fall 2010 pieces on Style Blog’s Facebook Page  HERE.

Now what about you, lovelies? Do you shop at Billabong? Let me know in the comments.

Huge thanks to Micki Benedetti for the invitation!

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EDIT by Jeanne Beker Fall 2010 Preview

We live in a world where celebrity clothing lines are dime a dozen. And while I have no idea who in their right mind would ever even consider buying something with Heidi Montag’s name on it, when The Bay invited me to attend an intimate preview of Jeanne Beker’s new clothing line EDIT, it really made sense. After all, Jeanne is an iconic figure of Canadian fashion with an immaculate sense of style and an immense knowledge of the industry – who better than her?

And though Jeanne didn’t design the collection herself (“I’m not a designer!” – she exclaimed), she did have a hand in editing the collection to create a selection of simple, yet timeless pieces, ranging in price from $79-$195 and sizes 2-16. There’s a classic pencil skirt, a structured blazer, crisp white button-up, ubiquitous LBD – all staples in any working woman’s closet. My favorite of all was the cozy cape ($195), that came in grey and camel colors – such a versatile and fun piece to rock for fall – definitely a must-have on my list. But EDIT is not just for the ladies at the office - available are also Jeanne Jeans and Jeanne Jeggings, with portion of sales going toward Dress for Success.

The launch of EDIT not-so-accidentally coincides with the 25-year anniversary of Fashion Television, which drove Jeanne to do something a bit more personal to share with the world. The collection consists of 25 pieces, and will be available at 65 Bay stores come September.

To see some of the looks modeled by Jeanne Beker herself, check out Style Blog’s Facebook page here.

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Friday Faux Pas: Let’s Go To The Ex

If you can believe it, last year was my first time at The Ex! And of course, after the addictive games, and stuffed toys, and horrible unhealthy food – I knew I’d be back again. This year, le boyfriend and I went during the opening weekend. It was a gloomy, rainy day, but we both had an amazing time. It’s a bit scary how much fun one could have just by being surrounded by hordes of people and screaming kids,  paying way too much to win a silly toy, while being rained on standing in endless lines to buy greasy, fried food! And last weekend it felt fantastic to be young and happy and in love…feeling like a little kid at a fair, eating mini donuts, looking for Snazzy Napper to make fun of, and finding this place full of tacky things and glittery lights extremely romantic. The entire place was one huge Faux Pas – and I loved every minute of it.

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Gap Canada Online Shopping Launch

As a blogger, I spend a lot of my time online. 9-5 at the office for my day job, and then a few more hours at home scheduling posts, answering emails, reading pitches, and of course, as a girl in my twenties – shopping online. As I got older, my real-world shopping trips got more sparse, and my online deal hunting time increased dramatically. And why not? It’s so convenient – just click and pay…et voilà!

So when Gap PR invited me to attend Gap Canada’s Online Shopping Launch, I was thrilled! Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic have had huge presence worldwide and in Canada for many years now…but we weren’t able to shop online until now. All three sites, one shopping cart, free shipping (over $50), warehouse in Canada, no tariffs - easy, peasy.

Shopping at the event was easy too. Attendees were given $100 to spend on any Gap Inc. items available online, via www.GapCanada.ca. After initial browsing, I selected a cute double-breasted sweater from Gap, and some socks from Old Navy, clicked Checkout, and was done in mere minutes – the way online shopping should be.

Gap Inc. is a huge corporation…and all this ease has made me wonder why we (Canadians) didn’t get online shopping sooner. Thankfully, Gap Inc. Direct President Toby Lenk was on hand to answer some of my questions. He and Debbie Podberesky (VP Gap Inc.) shared that though online shopping could’ve been offered to Canadians much sooner, the infrastructure was not in place to allow direct shipping from Canada to Canada, which would’ve meant that packages would be shipped from the States, incurring tariffs, and making in-store returns nearly impossible. With a new warehouse in Southern Ontario, shipping is supposed to be fast and efficient, while returns and exchanges - a breeze.

I also wondered about the goods’ selection online – having shopped firsthand myself, I noted that many items offered in stores or on the US site were noticeably missing. But Mr. Lenk confirmed that it’s just a timing issue – the site is still in its early stages, and more product will be introduced as time goes on.

But as expected with any brand new launch, my online shopping did have a minor setback – an email stating that my order was cancelled. After phoning the number on the email, and speaking to very courteous and helpful support staff, I was informed that due to a large number of sequential prepaid credit card orders, the system halted said orders, suspecting potential fraud. The problem was fixed, and it somehow made me feel more secure about shopping at Gap Canada online, if mildly confused at first. A couple of hours later, all orders were re-instated, my package was still scheduled to arrive at my house in 5(ish) days. Hooray!

Now, I don’t know how fast I’ll be getting my goodies in the mail, so I can’t vouch for speediness and packaging, but as soon as that parcel arrives at my door, I’ll make sure to let you guys know all about it and post some pics too!

Are you excited about being able to shop Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy online, all on one site? Let me know in the comments!

UPDATE: Got my package in the mail 2 days after ordering. That is TWO days with FREE shipping. If that’s not amazing, I really don’t know what is! The sweater was a bit big on me, so I went in the next day to exchange it. Brought the bill with me, sales associate processed the exchange without questions. I got a pair of jeans instead of the sweater…and they fit like a dream. They’ll definitely get a lot of use on my upcoming vacay. Look out for pics!

I Wore: Pants – Gap; Shirt – H&M; Shoes – Zara; Bag – Longchamp; Belt – Nine West via The Bay

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Foodie: Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill
33 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON
647-260-2070
Perfect For: After-work Drinks, Brunch, Lunch, Date Night, Patio

For the longest time, the coveted corner of Yonge and Front has been occupied by Shopsy’s – the restaurant that I’ve been to a few times, and which left absolutely no impression on this rookie foodie. So when I found out that its days were numbered, there was no sadness on my part – on the contrary, I was super excited to hear that Oliver & Bonacini was coming to take Shopsy’s place!

Yes, O&B is a franchise, and yes, it’s not a cozy mom and pop shop, but it doesn’t mean that it lacks personality - though it did seem like that at a first glance. The restaurant is huge. There are a few dining rooms, stylishly appointed – a far cry from its previous occupant – its minimalistic design is pleasing to the eye, and the huge patio is a godsend on hot summer nights, and for the after-office-hours crowd.

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by for a quick Sunday afternoon bite without my camera, and last week I came back for brunch (pics below) with le boyfriend and his mom. On my first visit, I went for my staple brunch fare – eggs with bacon and toast ($12.95)…and it was, as expected, great – runny egg yolk and crispy bacon - YUM! Le boyfriend tried their Grilled Chicken Panini with Gazpacho ($13.25) and both were delicious! I am a big fan of the chilled Spanish soup, and I found it very flavourful and refreshing – with chunks of avocado and just the right amount of spiciness.

On our second visit, I opted for a dish that I usually don’t tend to order – Eggs Benedict ($13.50), which came served on scrumptious cheddar scones and covered in hollandaise. I’m not a huge fan of potatoes in the morning, but le boyfriend sure did help himself to the well-seasoned home fries on my plate. It’s ok, because his Poached Eggs ($13.95) didn’t have potatoes, but came with some polenta and veggies. Not a huge fan of polenta, I didn’t try his dish, and it wasn’t le boyfriend’s favorite either. But I guess, it’s a matter of preference.

Last, but not least, le boyfriend’s mom went with Savory Smoked Ham Crepe ($14.95), which she definitely enjoyed, and which also looked like the healthiest dish on our table.

The service was amazing. Our server was extremely accommodating and attentive, refilling our coffees even after we were done eating, and were waiting for the rain to stop. Wish more places treated their customers this way – it definitely made me want to come back again.

Overall, the proximity to my office will absolutely make O&B my new favorite after-work dinner place, and with a great menu, fantastic service, and fun decor, it surely is a great addition to the area. And judging by the daily crowds on the patio – I’m not the only one to think so.

Photo Credits: Top image – Oliver & Bonacini, all others Style Blog

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First Victoria’s Secret Store in Toronto!

The Angels are landing indeed. This Thursday, August 26th, the first ever Victoria’s Secret store in Toronto will finally open its doors! And to give its customers something really special, VS is flying Adriana Lima in to sign autographs at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre location. If you’re wondering where your boyfriend is this Thursday between 1:30 and 3:30pm, Yorkdale might be a good bet.

Oh, and if you spend $100 or more, you’ll get to jump into the VIP line, which (as noted) should be faster than the regular ol’ lineup.

Are you excited about having Victoria’s Secret in Toronto? I used to work there (at the NYC flagship location), so I still have some unworn items in my drawers (hence no need for more) – but I sure am excited about the lotions and the beauty products! And though Adriana Lima is not my favorite Angel, if I didn’t have to be at the office that day, I might’ve ventured out to get a glimpse. Will you?

Photo Credits: Yorkdale.com

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STYLESENSE Stiletto Sprint 2010

Last year, STYLESENSE held Toronto’s very first Stiletto Sprint. It was a great event that I had the pleasure of participating in. If you weren’t there last year, I highly recommend that you try the sprint this year! All proceeds from registration fees will be donated to Look Good Feel Better, Canada’s only national charity that addresses the appearance related effects of all cancers affecting women. And you will have a chance to win some pretty great prizes! “The winner of the women’s final will receive a whopping $10,000 in cash (not to mention fame and glory)! Women’s second and third place will receive $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.” And if your man or guy friend is interested in supporting Look Good Feel Better, then he too can put on some stilettos and run like the wind (seriously, last year’s men’s race winner ran super fast) - the winner of the men’s final gets a prize of $1,000!

Date:

Friday, September 17, 2010

Time:

Registered participants to arrive at 6AM
Races take place between 6:45AM – 8:30AM

Location:

STYLESENSE, Heartland Town Centre, 5915 Rodeo Drive, Mississauga, Ontario

Registration Fee:

A minimum $25 donation to Look Good Feel Better. Plus, for every dollar you donate above $25, STYLESENSE will match it! (to a maximum of $20,000)

For shoe specs and registration, please go to www.stylesensestilettosprint.ca

For more photos from last year’s event, click here. If you do decide to join the sprint, make sure to send me some photos and let me know the results! Good luck!

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Foodie: Breyers Ice Cream Party

When life gives you lemons, you’re supposed to make lemonade. But what are you supposed to do when a PR company sends you 5 coupons for free ice-cream? Throw an ice-cream party, of course! Last week a few of my friends and I got together after a looong week at the office to try Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy ice-cream (with 1/2 fat), enjoy some sunshine, and catch-up.

It all started out innocently enough…with a few cups of jello (thanks, le boyfriend!), chocolate syrup, sugar cones, some popsicles, and Mocha Fudge Brownie, Strawberries & Cream, and Dulce de Leche Breyers ice-cream. The ice-cream was incredibly smooth (just like the packaging stated), and absolutely delicious. The most popular flavor of the night was definitely Mocha Fudge Brownie…with actual chunks of brownies in it. Deeelicious! But I was also smitten with Dulce de Leche ice-cream, because of its creamy caramely taste…it just doesn’t get any better that that. I truly hope that this ice-cream is 1/2 fat, because after all of the cones consumed, I probably gained another 20 pounds that I was intending to lose. But nevermind…

It probably wasn’t such a great idea to hold an ice-cream party on a roof…because our cones were melting faster than we were able to eat them, and with Smooth & Dreamy ice-cream being especially soft, I had to keep running downstairs to refreeze it in order to avoid turning it into a milkshake. A portable freezer would’ve been handy.

Jo came over, wearing her new Marc Jacobs mouse flats…and we decided to take a shoe photo together…here’s my red vintage dead stock jelly Marc Jacobs flats from Apartment 909  and Jo’s adorable patent mouse ones. I think I want to swap!

After we were done with the ice-cream, some folks got hungry for real food, and out came the frozen beef skewers. After defrosting them in the sun, le boyfriend grilled them up, along with some fries. They weren’t fantastic, but it did the trick and maybe they weren’t cooked well enough, or perhaps we were just letting loose after the gruelling week, but the craziness ensued.

We invented a new way of eating ice-cream: cone-rings! Convenient and portable…patent pending.

Other uses for ice-cream cones included cone-noses, cone-ears, and crushed cones all over people’s heads…ahem…I think someone might’ve spiked our ice-cream with Kahlua or something. That would also explain excessive salt on the fries…and my scary facial expressions.

After the clouds threatened to soak our roof-top party, we all moved downstairs to le boyfriend’s condo and continued the party with some Rock Band and some pizza. But not before a few attempts at a group photo…I think this one turned out ok. And it only took us…10 tries?

I Wore: Dress – H&M; Belt – Zara; Shoes – Vintage Marc Jacobs; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

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Organic Style: Taste of the Danforth

Taste of the Danforth might be very overrated, but I always go…the reason? Honey balls! I mean, it’s sugary sweet dough balls covered in honey – what’s not to like? Apart from the food, I also like to keep my eye on the stylish passerby, that is if I can tear myself away from gluttonously devouring chicken souvlaki, corn on the cob, and soft-serve ice-cream…yum!

What about you? Did you go this year? Which food stand is you favorite? Share in the comments.

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Moon Apparel Launch Party

As mentioned earlier, Moon Apparel launched last night in Liberty Village. To be honest, I had very little idea as to what Moon was. In a “Who is Salt” fashion, I received a mysterious invite that mentioned something about the “aspirations of the modern” and “the attitude of the future”. All I knew was that the party was held at the Mimran Group Inc. offices, sponsored by The Bay, with the Misshapes (including Leigh Lezark) on the turntables – I was ready to be surprised.

As it turns out, Moon is not some miracle wrinkle-busting robot of the future, it is a clothing line – mostly designed by Jordin and Tamara Mimran, whose father Saul has found much success with Club Monaco and Alfred Sung prior to launching Moon. The clothing line is available at the Bay, and features office separates, dresses, coats, knits, and more. The setup and styling were very reminiscent of Club Monaco’s minimalistic mannequin displays, but prices were definitely more Joe Fresh, ranging from $19-$139.

I definitely had a few favorites: super adorable black and white cardi, office-appropriate purple dress with a back zipper, and a few pairs of pants that seemed to fit quite well, though I haven’t actually had a chance to try them on…yet. And though, as Torontonians we’re considerably spoiled by the seemingly infinite choices of “affordable chic”, Moon Apparel might be godsend to other Canadian cities with less options. The Bay is everywhere in Canada, and with 91 stores carrying the line, I can imagine Moon becoming crazy popular in no time.

The party itself was great. I got to finally meet Lisa aka Urban Native Girl, Kimberly of Souls of my Shoes, and Dejana of  Shopsterium - all amazing ladies with fab blogs. I also spotted a bunch of stylish attendees, and got to meet Leigh-freaking-Lezark! Ok, so that involved a bit of embarrassing groupie-like behavior, but thanks to lovely Lisa, we went up to that DJ booth and got a pic…alas a blurry one, but I’ll take what I can get. Leigh was just as gorgeous in real life as in the many photos of her online, but definitely much, much smaller than I’d thought.

The night was fun, we made new friends, met Karl Lagerfeld’s muse, and witnessed the birth of a new collection. It can safely be said – this fashion lover was over the Moon.

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What I Wore: To the Moon and Back

I have a backlog of posts coming (hopefully) soon, but in the meantime, here’s what I wore to last night’s Moon Apparel launch party. As you might remember, I’ve been searching for a pair of leather shorts for a while now…and I found them at Danier a couple of weeks ago! Not too short, not too tight, cuffed, and perfect. Just the way I wanted them! And the best part of all is that I got them on sale. What’s not to love?

Also wore a new necklace from Balisi, which has a cute story behind it. Last week, at the Taste of the Danforth festival, my friends and I went into Balisi to check out their sale (amazing deals, by the way) and I really liked this necklace. It was only $30, but I couldn’t justify buying yet another chain necklace, having decided a while back that I am only allowed to buy serious jewelry. Not even 30 minutes later I lost $20. After telling le boyfriend the story, I lamented that I should’ve spent the said lost money on the necklace instead, so at least I’d have something to show for it. Next day after brunch with my girls, le boyfriend showed up with a Balisi bag! Apparently, he texted my friend to find out what kind of a necklace it was, went to the Danforth to buy it and they were sold out! He then went to their College location, bought it and brought it to me. How freaking sweet is that? Sorry if it’s too sugary of a story, but I just really love that man! Yeah, I said it. Ok, I’ll stop now…Moon Apparel post is coming soon!

I Wore: Shirt, Men’s Bracelet, Ring - H&M; Shorts – Danier Leather; Shoes – Aldo; Necklace – Balisi; Backpack – Chanel

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Foodie: Harlem

Harlem East Side
67 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1N9
(416)-368-1920
Perfect For: Brunch, Dinner, Date Night

As an ex-Texan, I can tell you that my love for Southern food runs deep. Give me some corn bread and blackened catfish and I’m a happy camper any day! So when le boyfriend invited me to Harlem for brunch, there was definitely excitement on my part.

The moment you walk through Harlem’s doors, you’re enveloped by the warmth of colors, sounds, and smells. Motown’s best tunes lightly play in the background, as we settle into our comfy booth. There’s lots of choices, and my appetite is always bigger than my stomach, so I have to really pace myself. Le boyfriend goes for a smoked salmon/avocado/fried egg sandwich ($12), while his mom orders Harlem Benny ($12)…not wanting to copycat their orders, I go for the omelette of the day, which happens to be cheese ($10). We order a round of coffees, and enjoy our Sunday morning.

The service was a bit slow at times, but the nice lady that brought us our food informed us that the waiter had fallen ill and she was covering for him that day. Not a big deal for us, and didn’t seem to bother anyone at tables nearby. Both the chef and our server that day could not have been nicer to us!

On to the food. My omelette was simple, but fluffy and delicious, with plenty of cheese (just the way I like it), side salad was again – simple, but fresh…and the only thing I had huge hopes for – the biscuit – left me a tad disappointed, as it has gotten soggy from the salad dressing (next time I’ll ask for it on the side). Le boyfriend’s sandwich was good, but not sensational, and his mom’s eggs benny were slightly spicy, and she genuinely enjoyed every bite.

If you’re into live music, Harlem has a variety of nights for you to attend…from Music is the Answer Wednesdays, when some of Toronto’s most talented musicians, visual and spoken word artists help fundraise for disaster relief in Haiti, to Monday Open Jam nights, and to many others in between – most music lovers would find an event of their liking. 

As far as brunch places go, Harlem offers a few Southern alternatives to the good ol’ eggs and bacon, but I really want to go back for dinner, instead, to try their blackened catfish – the one dish that I wasn’t able to find at too many Toronto restaurants, and their fried chicken has been touted as one of the best in the city. With a promising dinner menu, friendly service, and a nice patio for those last few warm summer nights, I am sure we’ll be back to Harlem in no time.

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Shopping: Balisi Shoes

I have a shocking confession to make…I have never shopped at Balisi. Scratch that…I have never shopped at Balisi until a couple of weeks ago. Why not? I guess I never knew that they carry such an awesome selection of cool and unique shoe styles. After searching high and low for a pair of Melissa x Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon shoes, I (luckily) stumbled upon Balisi’s website, and promptly made my way over to their Queen Street location.

Not only was I pleasantly surprised by their extensive Melissa stock, but they also had non-rubber shoes galore! And, on top of that, the store was having a 40% off sale all weekend long. How cool is that? So not only was I able to satiate my plastic heart craving (it really is a sickness…help me?), but I got to drool over some really amazing pairs of shoes too. Not one to selfishly keep these beauties to myself, I thought I’d share some photos with you. All of these pairs (except for the creepy rat shoes) have tugged at my heart strings, but being a good girl that I am (yeah, right!), I walked away only with what I came for…not that it means that I won’t be making another trip to Balisi soon, because I will, as I’m definitely a convert…especially if they keep having these awesome sales…wink*wink*nudge*nudge.

PS. So these rat shoes definitely creeped me out. Totally the opposite of the cute Marc Jacobs “Mouse” flats, no? But still there was something very compelling about these, so I had to take a picture to share with you. Would you ever rock these or do they make your skin crawl?

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Smirnoff Graphic Party

A few weeks ago, I had received a mysterious comic-strip invitation to a Smirnoff-sponsored party. Intrigued, le boyfriend and I made our way to Corktown to find a huge lineup of people waiting to get in – so much for being fashionably late. After signing our lives (and rights to our images) away, we made our way down the red carpet, lined with hotties in red dresses and into the art gallery/party room for the night.

Right off the bat, we were given smokin’ (literally) Smirnoff cocktails – don’t really know the name, but it freaked me out a bit. After a bit of wandering, we stumbled upon a photo booth of sorts, where a graphic artist did live drawings on a computer, which were then projected on a wall as a background for photos. We took a couple of pictures and headed out to the rooftop patio. Thankfully, we arrived early, and a few lounge chairs were still empty.

We settled in on one of the cozy divans, Smirnoff in one hand, my head on le boyfriend’s shoulder, and watched the crowd, as the patio grew louder and louder with throngs of bloggers, personalities, designers, and other party people. After a long day at the office, surprisingly, being at one of the hottest parties in town was also quite relaxing. The continuous buzzing of the crowd, starry sky above us, and an intoxicating feeling of alcohol flowing through my veins – or was it love? Wish I took more photos of the night…there were definitely some stylish attendees there, but I guess sometimes a gal’s just got to put away her camera, kick up her heels and enjoy the night.

I Wore: Dress – H&M; Bag – Louis Vuitton; Shoes – Nine West

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Courvoisier Exclusif Mixology Event

As a blogger, attending various PR events is quite common nowadays. Companies believe in the power of word-of-mouth, as well as non-traditional media outlets today more than ever. But while some events make you wish you hadn’t left home, others really make you understand why those companies are in the business of PR. Such was definitely the case with Courvoisier Exclusif Mixology event held by the lovely Matchstick team last week.

My friend Diana and I showed up at Hyatt’s Roof Salon after a gruelling day at the office, only to be greeted by friendly smiles and some yummy Sidecar cocktails. Hanging out before the event began, I stared at the CN Tower across the city, looked down at the crazy car jam on Queen’s Park, and felt really freaking lucky to be able to enjoy a nice summer day in good company, cocktail in hand, anticipating something fun to come!

Once we got seated at tables decked out in all types of drink accoutrements (including chili peppers and jam), the event itself started with some dancers dressed in Napoleon-era costumes, with some dude on stilts, who looked more like a pirate rather than the emperor himself, walking around the room, freaking people out. After the bizarre beginning, the educational portion of the event began, where we learned about the flavors of Courvoisier Exclusif and Courvoisier XO – ranging from gingerbread, to coffee, to iris flower. As with the Macallan  event, I learned a lot about cognac…and felt a bit more like a real grown up by the end of it.

And while strong liquors were never my cup of tea, the mixology portion of the event proved to be a blast, as well as made me a convert to the aromatic world of Courvoisier. The reason why this event in particular really stuck in my mind, and made me smile throughout, was that we (bloggers, and guests) all got to interact in a fun, interactive setting, mixing drinks, drinking drinks, making fun of each other’s drinks (ahem…there was one cocktail that had bread as a main ingredient…it did not taste good). It was lighthearted, slightly drunken fun.

We met a few cool people at our table, like the boys of the The Panic Manual, and Scott “Evil” McMaster – professional bartender, who couldn’t technically create a drink for us, but did help out with the mixing and advising on the ingredients. After picking the drink that Di and I put together to represent our table, team VSOP was really hoping to be the one to nab the top prize out of the 10 tables present. And guess what? We did! Our drink – Josephine’s Hat – was picked as the judges’ favorite and we did walk away with great prizes (full-size bottles of Courvoisier Exclusif for everyone at the table). High-fives all around!

So not only did we walk away from the event with full knowledge of “the cognac of Napoleon”, but we actually took some home too! Let the experimenting begin! If you are curious to see the recipe of our amazingly delicious concoction, scroll down and click to see more!

So I guess the moral of the story, other than Courvoisier rocks…is that memorable and interactive events make for fun times, and better stories to share with your friends, family, and blog readers. Don’t you think?

And you know what else rocks? Helping others. If you have a couple of minutes, please consider taking this survey. For each survey completed, $2 will be donated to the Redwood Women Shelter.

The recipe for our “award”-winning Courvoisier cocktail is after the jump!

Read more…

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