Rising up from the courtyard like the skeletal bow of a Great Lakes freighter, the five-metre tall bronze sculpture is prominently displayed in the building’s forecourt and represents a welcoming touch to the building. Charlie Condominiums, a building designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects for developer Great Gulf, is amongst the most handsome new condominiums currently completing the construction phase in Toronto. Its handsomeness is mostly the result of its high-profile location and the intense interest in filling in a gap in both the streetwall of the rapidly regenerating area and in adding retail frontage that will bring new shops to the growing population in the neighbourhood.

Lind, whose art explores the intersections of the natural and the manmade, wanted to create a work that reflected the transformation of the King Street corridor from the industrial and production-heavy hub it once was to the dynamic cultural space it is today. This is perhaps why Lind’s sculpture was chosen by a panel of highly respected art professionals in a competition for the Charlie public space on behalf of Great Gulf.

In this neighbourhood, high-rise buildings like Charlie are setting the stage in making art a valued and integral part of society, altering the neighbourhood and assisting in the making of a new creative class in the process. Alan Vihant, Senior Vice President of High Rise Development for GreatGulf explained it best, “great public art is one of the requirements of a great city. Our mission, with all our developments, is to enable people to live greatly and to enhance every neighbourhood we are in. Mr. Lind’s ‘Ballast’ is an excellent complement to an already vibrant neighbourhood.” So, if you have passed this five-metre sculpture at King and Charlotte and wondered what it was, well, now you know.

Sources:

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2013/03/ballast-anchor-great-gulfs-charlie-condos-king-charlotte

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1127665/canadian-artist-s-graceful-evocative-ballast-sculpture-wins-great-gulf-competition-for-public-space-art-at-charlie-condos

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/canadian-artists-graceful-evocative-ballast-121500946.html

http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/03/20/goodbye-industry-hello-creative-class/

Bloke and 4^th is relatively new to the scene- replacing Montreal’s short lived m:brgr at King and Spadina in 2011.  Though many skeptics believed it would be “same-thing-different-name,” the people behind Bloke and 4^th did everything possible to prove them wrong.  Two years later, and it seems as if they have done just that.

The place is a joint venture between high-end caterers The Food Dudes, nightclub promoters Something & Monroe and entrepreneur Steve Georgiev.  Since 2007, Niman and McClenahan have run the successful Food Dudes catering operation, with Niman in the kitchen and McClenahan managing everything else.  Driving the front of the house are Michael Ullman and Reza Abedi of Something and Monroe (also known as S&M). The event planners and nightclub promoters are the force behind countless parties at the Century Room, Maison Mercer, Cheval, Nyood, and The Ballroom.  The final partner in the establishment is Steven Georgiev, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist with a family background in food service. 

According to their website, Bloke & 4th “aims to create a comfortable, yet sophisticated environment where socializing and dining go hand in hand.”  Basically, clubbers can get a great bite of food before they turn into raging partiers when the clock strikes 10 pm.  The club also offers appetizers and late night snacks for their customers. 

Inside, the décor manages to look sophisticated, comfortable, and exhilarating at the same time.  With sleek marble entrances, exposed brick walls and wood paneling, midnight blue and crimson light fixtures and plush seating, socialites can unwind and enjoy the atmosphere. A touch of Toronto culture is brought indoors with local artwork is displayed on the walls.  It combines the perfect amount of anonymity and acquaintance at once.

Social apps and specialty cocktails are always available until 11 pm.  But from Thursday through Saturday, dinner is served, in two seatings, from 6 to 9. The menu is diverse and divided into social apps (for sharing), mains and desserts. The 10 sharing platters come on custom-made burl-wood platters, and might just be the restaurant’s selling point for revelers starting the party on King West.  There are about a half dozen main courses on the menu, ranging around the $30 mark. A menu of elegant appetizers is served from 6:30 to 10 p.m., after which the tables disappear, the lights go down and the music goes up, with a rotating roster of DJs spinning hip hop, house, and R&B.  For the partiers, there’s a small late-night menu that riffs on all things fatty and filling.

Things look good for Bloke and 4^th, most nights they’re almost positively sold out- a sure sign of their growing success.  Looks like this one will be around for a while, folks. 

Enjoy it while you can! Contact them to book a reservation and let us know how it went!

Contact

(416) 477-1490

401 King St. W

Tuesday 10 pm – 3 am

Thursday to Saturday 6 pm – 3 am

Dining List:
rsvp@blokeand4th.com

Guest List and Bottle Service:
info@blokeand4th.com

Sources (images included):

http://blokeand4th.com/#&panel1-1

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/1635288/restaurant/Entertainment-District/Bloke-and-4th-Toronto

https://twitter.com/blokeand4th

http://www.torontolife.com/guides/bars_and_clubs/bars/bloke-and-4th/

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/openings/2012/01/31/introducing-bloke-and-4th/

http://www.thegridto.com/life/food-drink/bloke-4th-wants-to-break-king-west-stereotypes/

Planning

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of any formal dinner party. First, organize a budget for your dinner. It is easy to go overboard, so be mindful of how many people will be attending and how to distribute your budget. Will you need to purchase additional décor? Will you be providing all the wine and beverages in addition to the meal?

It would be nice to invite each guest with a written invitation. Do so at least 2 weeks in advance and be sure to include a way for your guests to RSVP.

Plan your menu in advance. A formal dinner party is not the time to experiment with brand new recipes. If cooking is truly not your thing, consider hiring a private chef or catering service. In general, it is advised to plan for 2 to 3 appetizers, a salad, a main course and 2 side dishes or vegetables, and of course, a yummy dessert. Dishes which allow you to do a lot of pre-preparation the night before

Plan the décor. Will you have enough silverware? Are you trying to create a particular theme or colour scheme?

Party day

The day of the formal dinner party can be stressful. There are lots of things to do on that day; it helps to stay organized. Start by preparing all the food you will need that evening. Make sure to take into account the time each item needs in the oven and whether you can work on multiple aspects of the menu while waiting for others.

Set your table with your best linen, china, and silverware. Bring out floral designs or colourful pieces you think would look good.

Dressing your table isn’t the only thing; if you haven’t figured out by this point what you will be wearing, that should also be a priority. Formal dinners are one of the few opportunities people have to dress up, so take advantage!

Make sure to be a welcoming host, but keep it simple. Don’t be too ostentatious, even if this is a formal party. It’s important for your friends and family to feel relaxed.

A formal party is actually quite simple to host, as long as you prepare well in advance!

Sources:

http://www.thekitchn.com/a-guide-to-setting-a-formal-table-185718

http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/uncategorized/tips-for-throwing-a-formal-dinner-party

http://www.ehow.com/how_2044627_plan-formal-dinner-party.html

http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/dinner_party_etiquette.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/fashion/saving-the-endangered-dinner-party.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnlx=1354303601-0jIJXYw1XDJYxqt1q%20s/Dg&

Materials:

• Various glass containers (must be glass, great ideas are mason jars, old milk bottle, ridged flower vase, candle holder, etc.)
• Spray bottle
• Water
• White vinegar
• Krylon looking glass spray
• Paper towels
• Newspaper or other protective covering

1. Cover area outside (or in an extremely well ventilated area) with newsprint or other protective covering — grocery bags will also do.

2. Thoroughly clean and dry all glass pieces you’ll be working with — you want to make sure the glass is clean in order for the spray to fully do it’s thing. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar and shake to combine. Set nozzle of spray bottle to its finest mist setting.

3. Now, onto the real fun!  Gently spray a fine mist of vinegar/water on the outside of your glass container; you are looking for small droplets of water that bead up and do not run.

4. Follow up the water/vinegar spray almost immediately with a gentle and even layer of the metallic spray.  Allow it to dry for just a minute and apply another fine mist of water/vinegar solution — then let them sit.

5. Allow to dry for about 2 minutes, then gently blot the beads of water/vinegar with your paper towel — they should lift off areas of the mirror spray in a varied pattern. Don’t rub very hard as the metallic finish will streak, though you can apply gentle pressure in various places to achieve a more realistic and varied mercury glass look. Don’t worry that the glass is still see-through at this point, since you’ll be doing several thin layers to build up the look over time.

6. Just repeat the same process over and over, rotating between resting your glass container on its base versus its top so you get full coverage. 3-4 coats will suffice.  You want to go with several thin and even layers of the spray to avoid runniness and splotching. Keep adding layers until you are happy with the overall look and feel of your containers.  You’re done!  Before bringing it inside, allow to dry for at least 3 hours!  This allows it to set and seal.

This tutorial doesn’t just apply to vases though!  Follow the same steps listed above for any of the items below.  They’ll all make for great decorations too!

• Candy Jars 
• Furniture knobs
• Pillar candle holders
• Table or pendant lamps
• Glass holiday ornaments
• Colored glass votives or bottles
• Glass desk caddy or pen holder
• A serving tray or tray that holds candles
• An antique window with the panes sprayed as a mirror

Source:

http://www.17apart.com/2012/05/how-to-diy-antiqued-mercury-mirror.html

Image c/o http://www.punchbowl.com/p/winter-party-themes

The holiday season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in different ways this winter! Here are several party themes, perfect for a friend or family get-together.

A gingerbread house party: Gingerbread houses make great desserts. Why not gather your friends and enjoy a casual evening with good conversation and delicious food, all the while getting your hands dirty to create the perfect gingerbread house!

Winter cocktail party: Why not host an elegant cocktail party? Shades of white and silver make for a stylish setting in the middle of winter. Choose white and silver tones to turn your home into an elegant winter wonderland cocktail party!

Winter sports party: For those of you who enjoy the snow, why not organize a sports-themed gathering? Whether it’s a sledding expedition, a skiing trip or a snowman making competition, bundle up and get active!

Beach party: Sure, it’s the dead of winter – all the more reason to throw a summer themed party in your home! Bring out the beach ball, fake palm trees and sea shells to decorate your home. Think of serving beach party foods like burgers and ice cream.

Comfort foods party: Sometimes, the best way to enjoy the cold weather is with comfort foods. Host a potluck where guests bring items such as: macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, cupcakes, soups or whatever else they would like to indulge in!

Have any more winter party ideas? Let us know!

Sources:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-party-need-not-stop-continuing-wintry-festivities-in-the-new-year-181869

http://www.statutoryholidays.com/

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/winter-party-themes

Image c/o hipurbangirl

Pop-Up shop (open until January), The Detox Market, located at King and Spadina is a toxin free boutique specializing in natural and organic products. What’s nice about The Detox Market is that you don’t have to worry about spending hours at the shop sniffing and sampling 30 different lotions. Founders, Valerie Grandury and Romain Gaillard, wanted to make sure their store only carried the best of the best, so you can be confident that the product you select is certified organic, and is good for yourself and the environment.

Image c/o hipurbangirl

Carrying a range of products that will make you feel good, The Detox Market houses hair and skincare products, as well as tea and chocolate. The majority of the lines are exclusive to The Detox market and come from far off places. From France, you’ll find triple-milled Pure Provence soaps (scented in Pomegranate and Cranberry Acai) and fragrances by Honoré des Prés that come straight from Paris.

Image c/o rubyorganicsblog

Hailing from Finland, KIDE is a pure mineral foundation that contains vitamins and antioxidants that are healthy and safe to use on your skin. KIDE is also known to protect your skin from premature aging- a definite plus in our books.

Image c/o beautylish

Known for its fabulous colours, Kusmi Tea is made with the highest quality tea leaves. What’s special about this fun tea is that their blends have been created using the same recipe for over 140 years. Labeled with fun and funky names such as Sweet Love and Be Cool, Kusmi Tea makes for a great Christmas gift.

Image c/o ilovetoronto

Located at 367 King Street West, The Detox Market is open daily from 11AM-7PM. Make sure you visit before the New Year as this location is only a pop up shop!

Sources:

http://www.thedetoxmarket.com/

http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Shop/September-2012/The-Detox-Market-an-all-in-one-eco-friendly-shop-pops-up-on-King-St/

http://www.hipurbangirl.com/2012/09/hip-urban-store-detox-market.html

Renderings of Charlie, designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects. Image c/o dsai.ca

Developers of condominium projects get a lot of attention these days, but what about the architects behind all the stunning designs? The comparable lack of focus on the architects is why we’ve decided to take a closer look at the firm in charge of architectural design for Charlie, Diamond + Schmitt Architects.

Diamond + Schmitt Architects was established in 1975 and, today, it is one of Canada’s leading full-service architectural firms. Over the years, it has gained national as well as international recognition for its innovation and design excellence.

The firm’s projects are not limited to Canada. It serves clients throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Likewise, the firm is not limited to multi-unit residential building. In fact, its portfolio includes many cultural, academic, and commercial buildings as well. 

Since 2004, it is the only Canadian architecture firm to be named among Canada’s “50 Best Managed companies.” This is due in part to the firm’s commitment to a collaborative workplace. They operate like a studio would, with different teams working on projects from beginning to end. This instils a sense of ownership and coherence in the work.

The firm offers a large array of services in addition to architectural ones. These include things like feasibility studies, interior design, and master planning & urban design.

The Charlie project was led by David Dow, a Scottish architect who joined Diamond + Schmitt in 1999. He has also taken a leading role on other projects such as Bridgepoint Hospital, the Sick Kids Research and Learning Tower, and Paintbox condominiums. 

If Charlie seems like the right condo for you, please feel free to contact us for more information. Reach us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help you find the perfect condo!

Sources:

http://www.dsai.ca/

http://twitter.com/DiamondSchmitt

I just got back from attending a tour of the penthouses still under construction at Charlie and I have to say, I liked what I saw. I also got the latest V.I.P. Broker pricing updates for all units at Charlie straight from the developer. Stay tuned for pictures from my tour, but for now, here’s a breakdown of some of the pricing, suite, and building features for your reference.

*NOTE: I did not receive a price list for the penthouse suites still under construction, but these units start at $2,000,000 and are still available.

Parking and Lockers

$38,000 per parking space. Parking is available for all 2 Bedroom Suites, 2 Bedroom +Den suites and Denim Suites from floor 9-35.

$3,500 per locker.

Suite Features

Luxurious finishes include a choice of pre-finished engineered wood flooring in living/dining areas, foyer and kitchen. Porcelain floor tiles in the bathroom. Stunning contemporary kitchen cabinetry designed by internationally renowned interior design firm Cecconi Simone. Choice of granite or solid surface countertops. Stainless steel appliances including frost free refrigerator, self cleaning range, built-in dishwasher and microwave. Stacked brand name washer and dryer.

Building Features

Charlie is a dramatic 36-storey building featuring an elegant lobby designed by Cecconi Simone with 24/7 concierge service. “The Zone” ont he 7th floor will include fitness and weight rooms, aerobic/yoga studio, co-ed steam room, his and hers change rooms, media lounge, catering kitchen with dining room, billiard room/lounge, library and poolside lounge. This floor opens onto a spectacular fully landscaped rooftop garden which will include an outdoor pool and seating areas.

Occupancy is slated for August 15, 2012. If you’re interested in purchasing a unit at these V.I.P. broker special prices, call me, Kaive Wong, today at (416) 929-1660. I can also be reached via email at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. I’d be happy to help you choose your dream unit!