Results tagged “thedrakehotel”

Late last week, Torontoist had the chance to attend an exclusive tasting of the much sought-after, but until now relatively difficult to obtain, miracle fruit—the famous berry that, once ingested, makes sour and bitter foods taste sweet. The berry's properties have been known to Western scientists since as early as the eighteenth century, but it has nevertheless kept a fairly low profile until the past few years when "flavour-tripping parties," like the one we attended, started cropping up everywhere. In late 2008, the berries even made a cameo in an episode of CSI: NY where a flavour-tripper died after unknowingly drinking poison (this is TV; they actually aren't that potent). Curious Toronto gastronauts will be happy to know they don't need to wait any longer to get their fix.

Urban Planner is Torontoist's daily guide to what's on in Toronto, published every morning. If you have an event you'd like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you've got any—to events@torontoist.com.

A whole weekend has passed, and the town's still talking about Thursday night. It was a good party. The Governor Gwas there and probably the entire Globe & Mail Style section and a girl dressed up as Pocahontas or something. Hipster cultists huddled around American cigarettes near a window; through it, you could see Quebecois art collective BGL doing their interactive thing. Kiki, who's worked there so long she doesn't need a last name, looked killer in new glasses, almost too big. Kevin Drew looked a little unsteady on the stairs.

You'd be forgiven for seeing nothing but charcoal skies on the holiday shopping horizon, but you also wouldn't be looking quite industriously enough. But, don't fear; that's why we're here! The past week has brought joy to our spendthrift hearts, with creative retail outlets, more like niche markets than stores, popping up all over the place. Looking to spend like it's 2007? Scope out the trio of cool new addresses atop our shopping list.

If the business of getting hitched is less than brisk this spring, wedding planners can blame Alfred Sung. The resounding sentiment among exiting attendees was that L’Oreal Fashion Week’s opening show made them never, ever want to walk down that aisle. Ouch. Must have been all the diamante. (Pretty bouquets tossed by models in the finale were a saving grace, but barely.)

Photo by Henry Roxas.

MUSIC: The Polaris Music Prize Gala is happening tonight at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, where the winner of this year's best Canadian album will receive $20,000. The gala will include performances from nominees Holy Fuck, Shad, Two Hours Traffic, Basia Bulat, and Plants and Animals—but it's also invite-only. Those of you who can't get in have still got a number of options, though: CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence will be hosting a live broadcast of the gala, which you can listen to on both CBC Radio 3 and Sirius Channel 86. You can also head over to the Drake Hotel, where there will be a free official after party open to the (of age) public. Brian Borcherdt and Graham Walsh from Holy Fuck will be DJing, along with Shad and DJ T-Lo (1150 Queen Street West, 10 p.m., FREE).

MUSIC: Psychedelic folk band These United States are playing at Sneaky Dee’s tonight. Coincidentally, today is also the release date of their sophomore LP, Crimes. No strangers to the Ist-a-Verse, These United States actually wrote a few tour blog entries for DCist a year ago. Also playing at Dee’s this evening are Entire Cities and Dickie Haydon. Sneaky Dee’s (431 College Street), 9 p.m., $5.

Photo by Ryan Coleman from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

SPORTS: After a four-day stint in Baltimore, the Toronto Blue Jays return tonight for their first home game in two weeks. The Jays take on the Seattle Mariners tonight. The Mariners are in last place in the West Division, and the Jays are in second-last place in the East Division! This is shaping up to be an exciting series. Rogers Centre (1 Blue Jay Way), 7:07 p.m., $9-$57.

Iceland was made for you and me.

For the entire month of May, the Deep Wireless festival will be taking place at various venues, from the west end to your very own living room. Presented by New Adventures in Sound Art, this is the sixth edition of the annual festival that explores the medium of experimental sound and radio art.

For live music junkies, the week between Christmas and New Year's can offer very little in terms of quality shows. The folks at The Drake Hotel are trying to remedy the situation with their What's In The Box? week of shows. Running from the 26th to the 30th, the Drake Underground and Lounge are featuring the best acts from 2006. Each day is five dollars and features five bands, leading to a nice "5 Bands 5 Days 5 Dollars" slogan.

Windy enough for ya? Those heavy gusts that left you scrambling for your scarves yesterday also knocked out power to some of Toronto's east end, and much of Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Tonight Pontiac Quarterly unleashes its second issue this year at The Drake Hotel (8pm). For those of you unfamiliar, PQ is a performance magazine where writers read their fiction, feature stories - even advice columns - on stage in front of a live audience. Coming around only four times a year (it's right there in the title!), The Torontoist looks forward to it like our mom looks forward to gardening season.

Assuming it doesn't rain torrents, you have two options for free filmgoing this evening. Dundas Square offers family fun with The Sound of Music, while Harbourfront capitalizes on its proximity to a large body of (sharkless) water with Jaws. Do neither of these films tickle your fancy? Then why not set up a screening in your own backyard? Rent a projector, pop in your favourite movie, and invite TOist over. We love us some Christopher Plummer, but it's time for a little more variety at city screenings!

Wait a second...Isn't this a hip music venue that serves that nice fresh fruit salad? Yes to the music venue, and doubly so to the fresh fruit salad. But the Drake's hipster appeal is not the reason that there's a ginormous line every weekend - that's more so because of the luv-hungry 905ers go there to get lucky. Perhaps it's just the dichotomy between the Drake Underground (the aforementioned hip music venue) and the two upper levels, but the West Queen West establishment looks like it's become the new home to the most obvious and abhorrent pick-up moves in the city. ("You may remember me from the airport scene..."). We'd wish you good luck there tonight, but if you can get in, there's really not much luck needed.

will make no mention of the Chretien government, and will most likely lay off Canada altogether. The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen W) houses the film in its basement (pronounced 'the Drake Underground') tonight at 9:30pm, with the doors at 8:00pm. After-party includes the Alchemy Trio (featuring Richard Underhill), Great Bob Scott, Lee Hutchinson, and a "rare" set from DJ Gringo Star (formally known as Sir Spinner Fine Vinyl).

Although presented by Word Substance Spatula, don't bother to check WSS's Web site for details -- it’s embarrassingly out of date, inviting amateur time travelers to attend an event in February of 2005! See you there Paul Poissel!

Canadian Music Week, which is not really a week, kicks off tonight with what looks like a promising line-up. Then again, with like 200 bands, how could there NOT be a promising line-up? The CMW shotgun approach has Torontoist looking forward to this small smattering of shows:

The Drake Hotel, the Queen West nightspot all the cool kids are contractually obligated to pretend they hate, is throwing down the gauntlet this All Hallow's Eve with their Dead Artist party. Dress as your favourite deceased cultural type and have the chance to win 300 bucks, they say on their website. Torontoist guesses Andy Warhol fright wigs won't be enough to bring home the bacon. You could tape over an ear and go as Vincent, but we'll be aiming higher: Brantford's finest thespian, the late, great Phil Hartman.