YYZ LIVING Magazine // ISSUE 7

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Š Patrick J. Adams


These three letters evoke so much. They flood the mind with the eclectic imagery that is so distinctly Canadian—effortlessly juxtaposing the beads and butchers of Kensington with the suits and swagger of Bay Street. YYZ LIVING shines a light onto our city, projecting its qualities through the lens of breathtaking photography, provocative storytelling, and exquisite fashion editorial. Each issue is a love letter to the city that is our namesake. We bring our readers the Toronto that parties with New York, dresses like Paris, schmoozes with London, and eats like Rome; a world-class city with a personality that is completely its own.


Publishers Thomas Jacob & Nash Misir Editorial Director Lonelle Selbo Art Director Nicole Roswell Fashion Editor Alexandra Loeb Senior Editor Shantha Roberts Associate Editor CJ Bosco Communications Erin Wilson Graphic Designer Chris Vallee Social Media Tyler Reaume Bridgit Kazor Editorial Interns Alex Blum Angelika Wilk Motion Picture Grant Padley Accounting Arun Sharma

Published by YYZ Management Group Ltd. Distributed Canada Wide by Disticor Inc. Advertising & All Other Inquiries 416 840 8443 | contactus@yyzliving.com ISSN 1925 - 1033 All content Copyright 2014/15 Social /yyzmagazine @yyzmag YYZmag YYZmag yyzliving.com | yyzgroup.com

Iss ue7

cover: Patrick J. Adams, Photographer: MATT BARNES, Stylist: Alexandra Loeb & AVERY PLEWES, GROOMING: ANNA NENIOU (P1M).

No part of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the written consent of YYZ Management Group Ltd. We welcome submissions from writers, photographers, artists, and stylists.


HUDSONJEANS.COM


Š Patrick J. Adams


Content

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Editor’s Note

Young Man

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plate politics

10

Contributors

Publishers’ Note

Industry: Organic Style

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48 64 76 94

Style: The Huntsman Fix: Country Tech

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iSpy: Dundas West

Libation:

The

Bitters

Drive: Country Roads

Travel: Let's Ride ShopList

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82

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Arch & Design: Go North

Beauty: A Cappello

Read This: Transplanted Type

ChÂteau AbandonnÉ

92

13

34 68

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Fare: field to

In Tune: Workin’ 5-9

Boom

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Sport:

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Power:Play

Film: Patrick J. Adams

Accessory: Blue Train

Great Minds: Neil Young

Fashion:

90

74

54

Tech-

Editors’ Picks


Editor’s Note

© Patrick J. Adams

Designing Issue 7 around a country theme took guts. Perceptions on country are pretty staid and stark for most of us downtowners: Cowboy boots and a Stetson, Shania Twain and the Two-step. Essentially, a list of the things we have happily left to Calgary’s pleasure. However, because we're a biannual magazine, it's our privilege to lead, rather than follow trends—and tasking ourselves with something as fish-out-of-water as a country theme seemed, to us, a big idea. In retrospect, this could have gone very wrong. You could be about to flip through pages on chaps and twang, John Deere and rodeo—but in exploring all the variations on this country theme, we quickly knew we were onto something great. So we went for it, and we didn't look back. As we launch this issue, I'm proud to say that our courage has paid off. We were thrilled to invite Patrick J. Adams, from the acclaimed series Suits, to feature as our first male cover. We dressed it down, and set out to find a patch of green where we could chat about work, photography, and this great city. Then, in Power:Play, we talked to a few real life suits, who brought their killer stare from the boardroom to the great outdoors and vice versa. We looked at the farmer as a businessman in Field to Plate Politics, and discussed corn as the new cotton in Organic Style. Patricia Pearson visited Atacama to ride with Chilean cowboys in our travel piece Let's Ride, while architect Alex Josephson challenged us to push the frontiers of development beyond our city's borders. And we won't gloss over the fashion editorials—some of the most spectacular we've produced. Each story embraces the country theme from a different perspective, bringing a spectacular complexity to the fashionable uniform of our dear readers.

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Lonelle

So read, browse, enjoy. Be inspired to venture off the beaten path. Write us about your out of bounds adventures, splurge on some luxury luggage, or simply get into your car and hit those country roads. Just remember to bring Issue 7 along for the ride.



Contributors

Cont ribsu tOr

Ashley Spegel Writer - Organic Style Ashley is a Toronto-based freelance writer. When she's not typing all the words or gabbing about food, Ashley can be found biking around Toronto, cuddling with Clark Kent (her best friend's beagle), or sifting through consignment stores in search of fashionable gems.

Cory Vanderploeg Photographer - The Huntsman His experience in the film industry inspired his passion to create works of art that combine photography, motion, and interactive design. Cory is an award-winning photographer and has been published nationally for his work in the fashion industry.

David Allan Jones Hair & MakeUp - The Huntsman Alex Josephson Writer - Go North, Young Man Alexander Josephson is the co-founder of PARTISANS, the award-winning design and architectural studio based in Toronto and New York. Alex has studied and worked across the globe. He has been published widely from pieces in Fast Company to Canadian Architect, and has been teaching at the UofT School of Architecture since 2010.

Casie Stewart Writer - Dundas West Casie Stewart has travelled the world building relationships with people and brands via her blog since 2005. She’s an adventure capitalist with a love for fashion and technology.

As an international Makeup & Hair Artist, David travels the world. His work with the renowned Pat McGrath includes runway shows in Milan and Paris for Prada, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Paco Rabanne, Lanvin, Yohji Yamamoto, Alexander McQueen, and Louis Vuitton. David has worked on campaigns for Gucci, Miu Miu, and Brioni. His editorial clients include Harper’s Bazaar, Wallpaper*, and Grazia.


Jaime Slavin Writer - Field to Plate Politics Jamie Slavin is a nutritionist, guide, motivator, educator, and advocate for health and well-being. Her credentials for this role are an honours degree in Nutrition and Food, a Bachelors of Applied Science from Ryerson University, and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Toronto. Mackenzie Duncan Photographer - ChÂteau AbandonnĒ Mackenzie was born and raised on Vancouver Island. In his spare time he can be found riding his old motorcycle around the countryside or travelling the world in search of waves.

George Pimentel Photographer - Contributors George Pimentel is regarded as Canada’s most renowned celebrity photographer. From artists to world leaders, from the Royals to his holiness John Paul II, he has enjoyed unprecedented access to the major entertainment and political figures of our time. Wherever the most glamorous moments are breaking, George will be there with camera in hand.

Matt Barnes Photographer - Patrick J. Adams Matt Barnes is an award-winning photographer and director based in Toronto with big dreams and a big heart. Lover of cool stuff, good food, being fit, bikes, toys, rad people, and fun times. His main squeezes are his wife Shelley Hayes and baby girl Goldie Valentine. Mike Ward Writer - Country Roads Mike Ward is an Australian born chef and Gemini Award-winning director. He is also the host of YYZTV’s upcoming On The Road series.

Hill Kourkoutis Writer - The Bitters Boom Hill Kourkoutis is a musician and filmmaker residing in Toronto. In addition to her creative pursuits, she is an avid astronomy and bitters aficionado and loves to study the brain and various forms of shamanism in her spare time.  Photography: George Pimentel, Brian Hamilton, Steph Martyniuk



Publishers’ Note

In our lives we have been blessed with an ability to see and feel the world. Something so vital to the human experience, yet often left deeply unsatisfied. Throughout our formative years, we've journeyed on our unique paths, experiencing the taste and smell of transatlantic cultures, while taking in an invaluable education in living. It is this blessing that positions each of us to grasp the rich artistic and cultural fabric that is Canada. Insatiable, voracious drinkers of experience, we have come together to direct this omnivorous philosophy towards life and shaping YYZ. A ravenous passion for art, design, fashion, food, and culture bleeds through every page of our journal. Where the world benevolently granted us perspective on Toronto, we hope to do the same for our readers. Empowering the city, giving voice to the urban poet, painter, Bay Street player, and those who move us with their respective art. In these pages are life experiences, raw emotions, and a love for a metropolis that is a truly matchless ideal of what Canada has to offer. YYZ LIVING has taken on a meaning of its own. We implore you, rediscover your city; fall in love once again with home. If you find yourself in Toronto as an outsider, explore everything it has to offer through our eyes. Follow us on social media, as we unite everyone into a single conversation and connect to the vibrant pulse of our city. 2015 will be a massive year for YYZ. A redesign of our digital space as well as the launch of YYZ's mini-series will ensure content that is both prolific and provocative. Despite all of the electricity and excitement of yyzliving.com, we could not be more proud to bring you Issue 7, the cornerstone of our ode to our city.

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So why do we do it? We do it for the romantics. For the urban dwellers who are proud to reside in a world-class city. For the ones who carry this sense of pride and belonging with them, everyday, in the creases of their palms and the soles of their feet. We do it for you.

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Arch & Design

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It is a clear Sunday morning and I’m in the elevator of the CN Tower. My stomach is churning; I do not like heights; I do not like rides. The horizontal breaks between the windows  Alexander Josephson flicker faster and faster like an old celluloid film reel. I step out into a bubble at 1300 feet, where a binoculars-for-a-fee fixture stands waiting. Popping in a toonie, I look inside. Everything is a green blur; I focus it. I am standing on the mass of concrete that is downtown Toronto, but with the lenses trained on the space beyond our city, all I see is open land. The countryside is calling, the new frontier.

Pushing the Frontiers of Architecture

At time of writing, the Toronto City Council was approving world-renowned architect Frank Gehry’s second attempt at designing a more “Toronto” tower downtown—compromising his initial proposal to build three unique and interesting buildings in a city he thought would provide more creative freedom than it did. Perhaps he should have shifted his vision to The North.

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As the world at large moves further into urban centres, the country remains our escape. Famed 18th century German romantic landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, depicted man's contemplation of the world's natural beauty—the 'sublime.' A contemporary of English artists, Turner and


Opposite and above: Two Hulls House, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects. Photography © Greg Richardson.

Constable, Friedrich was born at a time when Europe was moving away from a material society and embracing the spirituality found in the natural world. As a Toronto-based architect, striving to create great structures in our city, I believe that era is upon us again. The seasonal migration from Toronto to our drivable getaways—cottages, farms, chalets, and public parks—is a luxurious rite of passage for Canadians. However, the historical precedent for this extends far beyond Canada; Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli and Louis’ Versailles are two of the greatest examples of the human call to take refuge in nature. Built by rulers of dynasties, these homes are the forebearers (though much larger in scale) of the current trend to build a sanctuary beyond the city’s borders. So maybe our countryside can revive greatness in architecture where our cities fall short. Perhaps we’ve overlooked Ontario’s unique terroir and how its particular features render us distinct from other places.


Of course, the rush to build in this picturesque surround has spiked land valuations in a big way. Those with the pocket to afford the best rural land in today’s real estate bubbles are mitigating that financial risk by building what is familiar, safe, and easy to sell. The majority are building architectures borrowed from other cultures—gingerbread castles, chateaux, absurd log homes, instead of using contemporary design to reflect their own taste and lifestyles. Ideally, people should be building truly custom architecture, born from the cues of those places and spaces. Brian MacKay-Lyons has become one of the world’s foremost rural architects, developing a practice in Halifax that has touched the entire architectural world with dramatic, but sensitive structures that lie in sublime contexts. His Ghost installations, temporary wooden pavilions constructed using local building traditions, have attracted iconic artists Richard Serra and Pritzker laureate Glenn Murcutt, who’ve come to revel in the glory of the East Coast's natural surroundings. A permanent

Above: Ghost Laboratory, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects. Photography © Brian Mackay-Lyons. Opposite: Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, 1818. Cliff House, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects. Photography © Brian Mackay-Lyons. Shift by Richard Serra. Photography © Sonia Ramundi.


Arch & Design

installation, MacKay-Lyons’ Two Hulls House floats over the Nova Scotia coastline like a shipwreck in a dream. In daytime, its binocular-like windows frame the sea; by night, they float like glowing lanterns over the shoreline. Integrated into harsh terrain, the strategic build provides for protected outdoor spaces between and below the dual-pavilion structure. Ardent in his belief that great architecture in Canada begins with the land, Mackay-Lyons underscored how disappointing it is to watch “the consumption of the landscape by buildings with style, rather than those that cultivate it for new insights.” Artist Scott McFarland, known for his digitally-manipulated hyperreal photographs featuring Canadian panoramas, has personified the deep connection between art, architecture, and landscape. In a conversation with McFarland, he stressed how important it is for Canadians to find an architectural language that does justice to the quality of our homeland. Despite growing up beside the mountains of Vancouver and the scorched earth of the oil sands, it is his photographs of idyllic Sans Souci in Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, that exemplify some of his best work. These images depict not only the importance of ambitious architecture in such rare vistas, but also exhibit contemporary architecture as the most appropriate or natural way of building in those contexts. And then there is Shift, the mercurial hidden work by Richard Serra in King City. Shift is a series of seven zigzagging walls of concrete that seem to emerge from the rolling farmland, as if placed there eons ago and revealed by natural forces. The work was commissioned by a property owner who appreciated the beauty of his landscape and the capacity for art and architecture to elevate it even further. Shift prompts the question, why bother creating this? It doesn’t provide shelter, nor serve any other practical purpose. Serra once wrote to this point: “The result [of Shift] is a way of measuring oneself against the indeterminacy of the land.” In other words, what we build in our seemingly infinite Canadian landscape can be a reflection of ourselves. As I sit here on this rock, pondering my own insights and the scope of this article, the Georgian Bay unfolds in front of me, my own project sitting on a body of rock almost four billion years old. Feeling like the wanderer in Friedrich's Sea of Fog, I consider the legacy I am leaving and what future generations will think of our efforts. In the midst of a paradigm-shift there is a special language developing in our countryside; but it is up to us, as Canadians—as Torontonians, and as the future patrons of architecture beyond the borders of our cities—to learn how to speak it.

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YYZ Industry

Rganic tyle Two months ago I decided to revamp both my wardrobe and perspective, leveraging a  Ashley Spegel sustainable approach to wowing the crowds and turning to vintage style as my vehicle. Satisfying both a political and aesthetic agenda, this new approach to fashion let me stand behind a knockout wardrobe, at the same time acknowledging a concern much of the fashion world still ignores.

Is Corn the New Cotton?

As in-demand crops serve to supply both our food and fabric industries, the highly sought after resources needed to cultivate them are becoming increasingly scarce. Trying to reconcile their industry’s needs, some designers and textile manufacturers are looking at environmentally sustainable alternatives. One of the big contenders in sustainable textile manufacturing is the result of a product found in virtually everything we consume: corn. “Our mission is based on transforming greenhouse gases into performance materials,” says Steve Davis, Director of Public Affairs and Communications for NatureWorks, an American eco-company that birthed Ingeo, the world’s first corn-based textile. The organization derives its materials solely from renewable plant resources, specifically fermented corn sugar, which it uses to make apparel and nonwoven materials (in addition to biodegradable plastics for credit cards, electronics, and food packaging.) “Atmospheric carbon is what causes global warming and it’s removed by plants, which displace it with oxygen.” Davis explains, “Corn is one mechanism of transforming greenhouse gas into something useful.”

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Fashion heavyweights like Versace, Oscar de la Renta, and Zac Posen have experimented with Ingeo in their designs because of its look, feel, and versatility. Rather than the abrasive, bristly husks-against-your-skin feeling one would expect, Ingeo has


Industry

the same softness, drape, and wickability (the ability to move liquids away from the wearer’s skin) as its comfy, but synthetic counterparts, polyester and nylon. Additionally, for many designers and consumers, Ingeo is a revolutionary development because of its non-GMO status. With this shift in fashion technology, industry insiders are praising textile innovators, for adding diversity to the market. This in turn, is helping to alleviate several environmental stressors—like excessive pesticides and water use—caused by some of today’s most widely used fabrics, including cotton and bamboo. “We understand the concern about sustainability and have created a partnership with two NGOs and the global brand, Danon, to produce a third party certification scheme that audits the process from farm to the finished product. The World Wildlife Foundation is also a partner involved in the certification, and this helps to ensure sustainability.” While corn’s popularity is also rooted in its incredibly high yield and adaptability compared to its counterpart crops, many experts are questioning this ‘cornucopia’ we’ve built—specifically the balance between the crop’s input versus its output. “New materials are really great… There are so few in the market today and they have a big impact on the fashion industry,” says Maureen Dickson, co-founder of Slow Fashion Forward, an international consulting collective for sustainable fashion and textiles. “The integration of diversity, using a variety of different fabrics, means there is less of a negative impact on the environment, but there needs to be that integration of more than just one new fabric, or else it won’t have a significant impact in the long term. We need to look at reusing what we have.”

Lepokorpi– Sustainable Runway Show, Copenhagen Fashion Summit presented in conjunction with COP15, the UN Climate Change Conference. Above: Gattinoni Spring/Summer 2009, Obama dress

Although she supports textile advancements, like Ingeo, Dickson follows a different approach to sustainable fashion, one that involves foregoing fast disposable fashions, for slow viable vintage. She started this practice two years ago while completing her Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability at Sweden’s Blekinge Institute of Technology. The Slow Fashion Movement, which she developed with her thesis partners, is based on changes in the fashion supply chain to encorporate ethical practices, including ecological integrity, social


Industry

equity, mutual responsibility, and collaboration. “Certain [fashion] brands have a more social enterprise approach to helping people, and with the Slow Fashion Movement, we try to bring awareness to that.” Despite positive changes in the current fashion supply chain, the reality of the fashion industry is that it continues to be governed by consumers’ insatiable appetite for essentially disposable designs. While Dickson argues that consumer education can have a formidable environmental impact, many experts insist the solution isn’t that simple. “It’s an integrated system that we are working with,” explains Sandra TullioPow, an Associate Professor at Ryerson University’s School of Fashion, explaining that advancements in fashion technology and the development of new fabrics (including Ingeo) are still cultivated on land that would otherwise be used for food production. “Corn is now used as a biofuel,” she adds, “so we have another competing user for corn and the resources used to grow it, including land, herbicides, pesticides, and water.” And despite its best efforts at sustainability, though Ingeo is plant-based, it’s not biodegradable, so it won’t break down in a landfill like the majority of synthetic and plant-based fibres. “Everything we wear—and more importantly, the things we don’t—goes somewhere,” says Tullio-Pow. “The Goodwills of the world are full... We need to think about what happens when it goes in that landfill.” The message is clear: brands interested in reducing their environmental footprint need to focus on eco-friendly methods of production and resources and on disposal applications to minimize waste. Meeting friends for drinks at Toronto's restaurant-du-jour, I receive welldeserved compliments on my sartorial flare. Smiling, I coolly smooth out a velvet ripple in the lap of my dress, but the mental victory lap is cut short by my stomach’s growl as a bowl of corn tortillas and salsa hits the table. While the fashion industry may be doing their best to work within the existing parameters of our limited planet, for most of us, food still takes priority on the hierarchy of needs.

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Above: Ingeo pellets.


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YYZ beauty


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p ap ello C Photographer: Standa Merhout Stylist: Catherine Smith Makeup : Justin St. Clair (Next Artists) Hair: Anthony Joseph Hernandez (Wilhelmina NYC) Manicure: Keri Blair (Wilhelmina NYC) Model: Andi Muise (Sutherland)

Hat, JJ Hat Center Necklace Little Doe is Love Earrings GiantLion Ring Lizzie Mandler Blazer Yigal Azrouel


This page: Hat Selentino, JJ Hat Center Pea Coat Closed Belt Ralph Lauren Earrings & Ring Lizzie Mandler Opposite: Hat Gladys Tamez Millinery Necklace Robin Labb Riding Crop, Horse.com Blazer CĂŠline



This page: Hat Gladys Tamez Millinery Earring giantLion jacket Closed Opposite: Hat, JJ Hat Centre Jacket Chanel Earrings Lizzie Mandler bracelets Robin Labb



Fare

Almanac Arithmetic

4% Prophesizer of Weather

21% Contemplator of Derivatives

9% Futures Player

15% Scrubber of Fingernails

3% Gut Follower

31% Feeder of Families 17% Hedger of Risk


Field to Plate

Pol litics “Farmers Feed Cities” proclaim the rear windows of numerous cars in town, but despite  Jaime Slavin this show of support for our rural partners, Torontonians have a complex relationship with food. Partly social, partly intellectual, and partly political—we make a concerted effort to understand the journey from pasture to plate, and realize that our food doesn’t grow in supermarkets, conveniently wrapped in plastic and packaged in polystyrene.

The Business of Agriculture

Roughly 40 percent of the world’s population work in farming and agriculture, and much of the developed world is dependent on their consistently provided product in order to maintain the ‘pantry on demand’ that we have grown accustomed to. There are 51,950 farms in Ontario that create product for both domestic consumption and international trade, and while these farmers toil in all-season soil and work demanding hours—they also bear the burden of financial volatility. Jessie and Ben Sosnicki are lifelong farmers, currently running a 100-acre micro-farm in Norfolk County. They transitioned from conventional to organic crops ten years ago and sell their produce at many farmers’ markets and specialty food retailers throughout Toronto. Jessie Sosnicki explains that “finding a niche market that understands and cares about what they are eating and how it is produced” is one of the key components of their business.

The popularity of locally sourced and grown produce has narrowed the knowledge gap between farm and fork. Ideas like the ‘100-Mile Diet’ have introduced, en mass, the concept of nutritional regiments rooted in locally grown food. This movement is due, in part, to the influx of farmers' markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), urban edible gardens, and celebrity chefs touting their rural connections with farmers. Knowing where our food comes from and supporting local growers is a good start, but we’ve yet to introduce the concept of financial food speculation to the dinner table, nor have we considered the implications of this process on our farmers and their precarious product. Betting on the fluctuation in price of agricultural goods has led to an increasingly unstable food system for both producers and consumers. As food speculators continue to buy and sell future contracts, there has been a distortion of the food market, and much higher instability in food prices. Speculation on agricultural goods has grown 5,000 per cent in less than a decade. This gargantuan surge in speculator domination has led to food prices that fluctuate less due to supply and demand, and more by prices of future contracts. These volatile markets are detrimental to the producer, hitting small farms and urban consumers the hardest. As farmers try to navigate the instabilities in cost, consumers pay the price, spending increasing amounts of their income on food.

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Fare

Knowing how to manage both the unpredictable Ontario weather and the costs of running a farm is vital to the success of the Sosnicki’s business. One of the greatest benefits of organic farming is being able to offset failures of the farming season and hedge risk, says Jessie Sosnicki “[by] growing 30 different crops instead of four main crops.” Diversifying plantings is an important strategy to ensure that certain crops will thrive in specific weather conditions even as others may be completely wiped out. “If it is cold and wet, often the organic tomatoes will get a disease such as blight and the crop will be poor, but broccoli, carrots, and beets will be exceptional.” Asked how their family farm can thrive in the encroaching market of food speculation with this approach to hedging risk, Sosnicki offers her recipe for successful farming: Sell direct to retail, and have a good relationship with buyers. Engage with your audience via social media and in person at markets. Utilize all assets on the farm such as old greenhouses to extend the season. Track what works and what doesn’t and, of course, invest in a good labour force. She tacks on the Yeomans’ philosophy, “Love what you do and work long hours.”

Celebrating its 92nd year, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been bringing the farm to the city for almost a century. A mix of country charm, fivestar dining, and traditional entertainment—this is where you can expect to see farmers from Canada and the U.S. showcasing their animals and crops to the thousands of visitors who attend the 10-day Toronto event. These farmers seek to gain the attention of national and international visitors shopping for various breeds of cattle and other livestock. Urban meets rural as crowds intermingle with thousands of cattle, goats, and other animals competing for the best in show title of “Royal Champion.” Companies specializing in animal genetics roam the venue, scouting animals with the best genetic profiles for their businesses and clients. The Fair also brings in the foodies. ‘For the Love of Food,’ an educational and entertainment platform, draws visitors who want to connect with farmers, producers, scientists, health professionals, and chefs. The hospitality and food departments are in top form when wining and dining their visitors. There are plenty of restaurants to tantalize the gastronomically focused, the most exclusive of which is The Tanbark Club, open to box seat holders of The Royal Horse Show as well as their guests.

Terraces at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair © Ben Radvanyi

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Buried treasure on Fiji is measured in liters, not carats.

Some discoveries are far more precious than gold. At the edge of a primitive rainforest, within a virgin ecosystem, rainfall filters through ancient volcanic rock over hundreds of years. Through this natural filtration process FIJI Water gathers silica, an essential mineral that contributes to our soft, smooth taste. Finally, it collects in a natural artesian aquifer where it is preserved and protected from external elements. Water that is truly one of Earth’s rarest natural treasures. fijiwater.ca Š 2011 Natural Waters of Viti Limited. All rights reserved. FWM3064

FIJI Water. Untouched.


Read This

tRAnS plaNpt ed Ty e Defecting to the country

“Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius…” – Edward Gibbon A chattering chorus of typewriters have long punctuated the chirpy, rustling, breezy song of the countryside, defining a generation of wordsmiths who’ve escaped the bustle of the city, isolated by vocational necessity.

‘Going to the country’ to write has become a cultural chestnut, a cliché, but when art is a reflection of society, oftentimes, it’s necessary for the artist to remove himself from the cultural core to gain perspective. Here, the concept of ‘country’ doesn’t just refer to the land outside of the city (like Agatha Christie’s Harrogate) but any of the ‘outer areas,’ the remote, the untouched. It’s an overarching catch-all for Hemingway’s East Africa or Hesse’s Switzerland. And perhaps the ethereal muse frequents the Cliffs of Dover, or Bay of Tangier more often than the studio apartments of SoHo. Regardless of the exact scenery or particular details, the writer abroad is a fascinating archetype, and we, the privileged reader, can luxuriate in the product of their inaccessibility from wherever we choose.  Lonelle

Selbo

The Songlines Bruce Chatwin (Penguin Random House of Canada)

Author's Home: London, England Novel's Origin: Australian Outback As lovely as it is problematic, The Songlines is considered by many to be the quintessential travel novel. Famous (or infamous) for developing a pervasive, hyperbolic, and only posthumously debunked selfmythology, writer Chatwin traverses the line of fiction and non-, blending the two as he goes along. The Songlines was written nearly ten years following Chatwin's departure from the world of fine art as an appraiser for Sotheby's. The (tall) tale goes: His doctor prescribed he take in sweeping vistas to cure an eye problem related to his meticulous and detail oriented day-to-day examination of art and artifacts. It is fitting that he chose to focus on Aboriginal's ‘Dreamtime’ (a place beyond time and space where the past, present, and future exist as one) as a backdrop for this work. Readers should take it for the sly wink that it is. When pressed about the novel's narrative validity, Chatwin stated, “I chose to write an imaginary dialogue, which takes place on an imaginary journey. To call it—or all of it—fiction is not strictly true. To call it non-fiction would be an outrageous lie.” You can hardly blame him—perhaps even commend him for his consistency. His devotion to the fantastic often crossed into his personal life; when he was diagnosed with AIDS at the age of 48, he told his mother that his symptoms were the result of being bitten by a Chinese bat (among other confabulated explanations confided to various people). There are few who truly understood the desire of escape to the great yonder as deeply as Chatwin. Working until his death, his attempted magnum opus was an intended ode to nomads and humanity's need to wander. A piece of this is captured in The Songlines via a series of musings dutifully transcribed from his Moleskine notebook and inserted directly into the novel's heart.

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 Shantha

Roberts


Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage Alice Munro (McClelland & Stewart)

Author's Home: Wingham, Ontario Novel's Origin: Clinton, Ontario Still wearing the figurative crown of the Nobel Prize, Alice Munro has elevated the small town story to that of epic narrative. Hailed by the likes of Jonathan Franzen, likened to Chekhov and Flannery O'Connor, her short stories have been lauded for having more content than that of most novels. Several of her works have been mined for cinematic greatness, two of which are contained in this collection. Munro is famed for her ability to suss out, expose and elevate the drama of the surfacemundane; Hateship, Friendship,... is no different. While many are now familiar with “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” a work beautifully adapted into Sara Polley's awarddripping Away From Her—the masterstroke of this collection might actually be “Nettles”— a story about the narrator’s childhood boyfriend. Portraiture and time-travel are Munro's stock and trade; her stories are simultaneously ephemeral and grounded. After you read her, the characters resound everywhere—from the quiet insular plots of Matthew Weiner's Mad Men to the popular blog Humans of New York, which peers into the lives of everyday New Yorkers. Part of the Southern Ontario Gothic genre, Munro has described Wingham to the New York Times as “the most interesting place in the world.” While some locals have taken umbrage at Munro’s ‘mining’ of the town's collective history for her fictional short stories, others have come to terms with their inclusion and ‘fame’. As local historian Jodi Jerome recounted for the Toronto Star “The past is so present. People drive through town and think it’s just another small town in Ontario, but when you know the stories, when you know the history—you see it everywhere.”  Sebastian Tremblay

Naked Lunch William S. Burroughs (Grove/Atlantic)

Author's Home: New York, New York Novel's Origin: Tangier, Morocco The godfather of punk; the greatest writer of the second half of the twentieth century; a complete and utter madman; William Burroughs is arguably all of these things. What is inarguable is that 1959’s Naked Lunch—the last novel to be tried for indecency in America—is a literary classic. The legend goes that Burroughs, a life-long heroin addict, fled to Tangier (known for its lenient drug laws) in 1953, after accidentally shooting and killing his wife in Mexico City. While there, he was unencumbered by the staunch narcotics laws of the West, free to penetrate into the depths of himself, and forge his heroinfueled poetry. His escape was motivated by necessity, but also allowed him to embrace his internal and external rebellion of society, away from the judgement of his family and peers. Burroughs began a written correspondence with longtime friend and fellow Beat Generation writer Allen Ginsberg. These letters, a stream-of-consciousness like exploration into his own humanity, would become the nucleus of Naked Lunch, Folklore has it that Burroughs doesn’t remember writing most of the novel, and it’s plausible. The prose reads like raw subconscious bleeding out onto the page. The non-linear story floats from scene to scene, evoking a visceral reaction in the reader and leaving them perpetually on edge. What makes Naked Lunch great is its primal appeal. Themes of control, sex, and power interplay, transcend the publication’s era resulting in a novel as impactful (and insightful) today as ever. Born of the mind of an ex-pat junkie-poet and written abroad in a heroin-fueled haze, Naked Lunch is truly an incendiary masterpiece.  CJ

Bosco


In Tune

woRkin' 5t 9


Opposite: The Strumbellas performing at the Dakota Tavern © GideonGreenbaum-Shinder, Below: © Brian Hamilton.

From Nashville to Toronto

“Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a lot of territory country music does.” – Johnny Cash

As I step across the dimly lit threshold of the Dakota Tavern, my eyes are forced to adjust, my pupils dilated to drink in the scene. The bar is worn completely smooth, the consequence of countless pints sliding across its surface to eager beneficiaries. By contrast, the tables are scarred from drinks raised and replaced, ringed fingers and braceleted palms slapping to the beat. On a stage not much bigger than a TTC shelter, local band The Treasures strum and belt their way to catharsis. Regulars at the legendary venue, their long hair and cowboy attire are juxtaposed against the Toronto that exists outside the bar. No Wi-Fi; no cell signal; no flattering lighting—and you wouldn’t want it any other way. The barrel shaped barstools sing along in creaks beneath the rhythmic swaying of their tenants. Every inch of this venue's rustic interior feels authentic—from vintage bullhorns, to string-lights, to the hubcaps, and Massey-Harris aluminum signage. The walls tell the tale of musical reverence and in particular, a deep appreciation for good ol' country music.  CJ

Bosco

Blues and country were born of the same mother; The South; Mississippi and Tennessee, their respective fathers. While the blues migrated north to Chicago, country stayed closer to home, tied to its humble roots. The genre’s eventual passage to Canada was met with mixed feelings. For some, the sound was evocative of bar fights, whiskey soaked heartbreak, and a nagging ‘twang.’ For others, the genre conjured a sense of familiar truths, the sweet sadness of loss, and a friendly and comforting ‘twang.’ The U.S. has been prolific in its production and appreciation of country folk-heroes, from Hank Williams to Johnny Cash, as well as commercial successes, like Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. But while Dolly's hit '9 to 5' resonated with the blue collar country music lover, Toronto's country scene is much more an after-hours gig, the genre, taken with a grain of salt. Though Toronto has cultivated some notable talent in this category, our appreciation has been relegated, for the most part, to the fringe of the musical landscape, with a few massive exceptions.

35


© Brian Hamilton

Bright on the scene of the most beloved Canadian country musicians is the godfather of singersongwriters, Neil Young. Born in Toronto and raised in Winnipeg, Young cut his teeth on the Manitoba bar circuit where he played and wrote with fellow Canadian legend Joni Mitchell. The prodigal son returned to Toronto, but eventually headed south, where he would record Harvest, one of the most iconic records of all time; a record that without doubt, has shaped countless Canadian musicians since. Freeman Dre, the gravel-voiced frontman and guitarist for Toronto-based band Kitchen Party, describes the genre’s influence on the band’s sound and the broad diversity of even the subgenres. “Sometimes we get categorized as country, and when we do it’s usually alternative-country.” However, he continues, “musically and lyrically, I relate more to Neil Young or the Stones’ twangy work, than I do Toby Keith.” Other revered Canadian artists, such as Gordon Lightfoot have led the way in the genre, challenging new generations of artists to embrace the roots of country-folk fables, and the storytelling at its heart. Conversely, new-country pop-princess, Shania Twain, achieved major commercial success by merging the tones of country and pop music into an easily digestible sound for a broader audience. Dan Kanter, guitarist and musical director for Canada’s most lucrative musical export, Justin Bieber, and judge on YTV's The Next Star, is a devout jam band follower, a genre that typically blends elements of country with jazz, folk, bluegrass, and rock. “I'm actually a huge fan of country music,” Kanter says, “and as a behind-the-scenes songwriter, 90 percent of the music I write is country.” A new era of Canadian artists undoubtedly owe much to the pioneers of country. Would there be a Serena Ryder without Dolly? A Wilco without Blue Rodeo? While most modern music has its roots in country and blues, that’s not to say the genres are exclusively reference material. There is still a strong contingent of indie, alt, and new country bands in Toronto. With a sound described as ‘a mixing of sweet harmonies, nostalgic melodies, and warm classic twang.’ The Treasures put songwriting and storytelling first. The Strumbellas, a Juno award-winning Toronto group also have a sound that’s distinctly evocative of the genre, with an undeniable influence of early country in their body of music. Let’s face it—country music is deeply embedded into the psyche of even the most heart-hardened city dweller. One of our country’s most iconic anthems, a tune known simply as “The Hockey Song,” by Stompin’ Tom Connors, has long been an anthem for puck enthusiasts across the nation. “Country music is thriving in Canada,” Kanter reinforces, pointing toward the youth market, “and I think artists—like Kira Isabella—have really re-energized the pop-country genre for audiences of all ages.”

36

Country music is a sanctuary, a universal mistress for the heartbroken, and members club for the down-on-their-luck. As I sit in the Dakota, engrossed in the experience, the smooth progressions unfold on stage, and reflect off the faces of a new generation of country music fans, I realize that this sound, in its many forms, will never die. It will always deliver its message with a raw intensity that bleeds through the lyrics and melodies, inspiring artists and admirers for generations to come.


Premium Luksusowa Vodka now in an elegant new bottle Represented by PMA Canada Ltd. | www.pmacanada.com | Please enjoy responsibly.


YYZ Women's Editorial


c a

hÂteau bandonnÉ

Photographer: Mackenzie Duncan (Arthouse) Stylist: Alexandra Loeb Makeup: Vanessa Jarman (P1M) Hair: Cody Alain (P1M) Manicure: Naomi Misu (P1M) Models: Shelby (Elmer Olsen), Meagan C. (Elmer Olsen), CaitlYn (Elite) Dress Stylist’s Own


Coat Stella McCartney, Holt Renfrew Blazer, shirt & pants Pink Tartan Boots YSL, 119 Corbo Earrings Anita Ko, Augustina Boutique


Coat Vintage, Stylist’s Own Shirt Pink Tartan Skirt & Shoes Burberry Prorsum Necklace Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Earrings Anita Ko, Augustina Boutique


ON Meagan: dress Zac Posen, Holt Renfrew Earrings Rodrigo Otazu Necklace Shourouk, The Narwhal On Shelby: Dress Adam X Atelier Earrings & Bracelet Carole Tanenbaum Vintage On Caitlyn: Dress Greta Constantine Earrings, Necklace & Bracelet Alan Anderson Shoes Jimmy Choo, Davids



Coat & Scarf Burberry Prorsum Broach & Earrings Carole Tanenbaum Vintage


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On Meagan: Coat Lanvin, Holt Renfrew Sweater Acne, The Narwhal Pants Dries Van Noten Boots YSL, 119 Corbo Earrings Miriam Haskell Hat Stylist’s Own On Shelby: Coat Chanel Pants Michael Kors Boots Chanel Earrings Anita Ko, Augustina Boutique Rings Lizzie Mandler



Libation

B tte S Boom the

Over the past nine years, I’ve toured the world playing music with Toronto-based artists The Weeknd, Serena Ryder, and Martha & The Muffins, to name a few—as well as my own project: Hill & The Sky  Hill Kourkoutis Heroes. This nomadic schedule has taken me across Europe and North America and—in spite of the chaos of life on the road—led me into numerous mixology bars across these continents. On this voyage, I've managed to fall in love with and accumulate a decent collection of the botanically flavoured alcoholic aid commonly known as 'bitters.'

Toronto’s Bittersweet Affair

For those who enjoy an occasional Negroni or regular Boulevardier, and are eager to learn more about this aromatic additive, Brad Thomas Parsons’ Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, is a good jumping off point, describing them as “aromatic flavouring agents made from infusing roots, barks, fruit peels, seeds, spices, herbs, flowers, and botanicals.” When combined with high-proof alcohol, the resulting concoction is said to have ancient holistic roots as a potable drink, able to cure an endless list of maladies—from indigestion and headaches, to blood impurities and sea sickness. Though their application in spirituous drinks can be traced back to England in the 1700s, it wasn’t until the 1850s in the United States that bitters exploded onto the mixed spirits scene. Chemists and doctors in the medicinal bitters trade spotted opportunity, producing a concentrated formula to further enhance drinks. From Sazeracs and Manhattans to the good ol' Old Fashioneds, bitters provided the unifying ingredient and the ‘cocktail’ was born. 70 delicious years later, bitters, along with their spirited peers, took a massive hit. The few that survived prohibition—including Angostura and Peychaud’s—did so by creatively circumventing the newly implemented laws. A revival in the post-war 50s, (See: Mad Men, seasons one through seven), paved the way for the modern mélange and the 21st century is, yet again, revitalizing cocktails in a big way, reimagining the classics for a keen and thirsty audience. Bitters are back in boom, and producers are emerging everywhere, from Brooklyn to Berlin to Bellwoods.


The Queen West West strip has emerged as the heart of this exploding culture. Thanks to stores like BYOB Bar & Cocktail Emporium, The Crafty Bartender, and The Drake General Store, an eclectic stock of craft bitters are now readily available for public experimentation. The Drake Hotel has even added purchase-by-the-bottle bitters to their drinks menu. Along with our cocktail culture and collection of revered mixologists, Toronto’s craft bitters producers are flourishing: Bar40 Bitters, Coster’s Prescription, and Niagara’s Dillon’s Bitters have made their way to bar taps and retail stores across the city—each utilizing a unique approach to the craft. Bar40’s line is based on the sensory impression of food on the tongue in the form of the basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and umami (or savoury), while Coster’s Prescription is a single-man operation with an unconventional flavour menu, ranging from Burnt Orange, to Black Tea, to Blackstrapped Ginger. Stocking over 150 flavours of bitters, BYOB's Kristen Voisey points out, “Toronto now has a world-class cocktail culture and I think with that, comes craft bitters and other cocktail ingredients. The large number of new local bitters lines just proves that we have arrived in the cocktail world.” Bar40 co-founder Jamie Beurklian disagrees. “I think that Toronto is still in its infancy in terms of bittered cocktails. Yes, there are bars that have crazy shelves of bitters, but how many of those are on their cocktail list?” He concedes, however, that the city’s mixologists are implementing

49


How To Taste Bitters As with wine and whisky, there is an art to experiencing the complex notes and aromas in bitters: Place a dash of bitters in your hand and rub both of your palms together. Wait a few seconds then raise your palms to your nose and inhale to experience its complexities. Prior to consuming bitters in a cocktail, dilute two dashes in a shot glass with soda or seltzer and sip. This will give you a good idea of how the bitters taste on their own, and in turn, how they will enhance your cocktail. The “CURE-ALL” Bitters Recipe A staple on my tour bus for recreational and medicinal purposes, bitters can provide the ultimate cure to a hangover or indigestion, the enjoyment of a non-alcoholic drink, or even a substitute for a soft drink, minus the sugar rush, and inevitable crash. Try this recipe for ‘Bitters and Soda’ from Parsons’ book: Fill a tall glass with ice and apply 4-6 dashes of bitters. Top with soda or seltzer, stir and enjoy.

© Alex Blum

“flavours, concepts, and multimodal sensory experiences” into their offerings and that cocktail competitions are places where “brave and uninhibited bartenders are doing very cool things with bitters and cocktails.” I’m taken back to the moment when I was first formally introduced to bitters while touring the UK with my band. Entering Saf in Shoreditch, the Scottish mixologist who went by the name of Jimi Rae greeted me as I approached the bar, “Jimi, as in Hendrix,” he declared with a grin. Brandishing a shaker in place of a Strat, Jimi started creating what appeared to be a work of consumable fine art, garnished with sparks of a spice he had set aflame and finally set before me on a vintage 1930s postcard. I wasn’t much of a cocktail enthusiast then, but the moment that concoction met my lips, I was transported, engulfed in the myriad nuances of its flavour. “What is that?” I begged of Jimi, who returned in his pleasant Glaswegian cadence without missing a beat, “Oh, that? That’s bitters.”

50



Sport

p wer:play


From the boardroom to the bush

Ernest Hemingway, it may be said with no small degree of understatement, was a complicated dude.

He tended to do his best work after being shot at; once machine-gunned a shark that got too close to his marlin; and could match literature’s most notorious drunk, James Joyce, glass-for-glass. He survived back-to-back plane crashes and still managed to make his mark on the literary landscape as a revered author and journalist. Hemingway, in every sense of the word, lived.  Brendan

Christie

In fact, he spent as much time with a rod and reel or rifle as he did at a typewriter. There was something that drove Hemingway into the wild with such gusto that he set world records in fishing and took down lions while hunting in Africa—and it was that same heartfelt ‘something’ that he brought to his influential work. Albert Einstein, a contemporary of Hemingway’s said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” And if Einstein said it and Hemingway lived it—it's a hard fact to deny. The search for meaning in the great outdoors isn’t lost on the modern man. Perhaps as technology occupies increasing amounts of our brain, the urge to resist this mechanical domination grows stronger too. For one of his annual personal challenges, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, recently vowed to only eat meat he himself had killed—a daunting, but character-building (or iron-depleting) undertaking. And it’s not just internet billionaires looking to return to nature— Canada is experiencing a hunting and fishing renaissance, demonstrated by the launch of retail outlets and services catering to a new breed of sportsman. They’re looking at a new class of men who spend weekdays in the boardroom trying to stand out, and weekends in the woods trying to blend in. Staring at screens, waiting for numbers to change—sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of a bigger picture, something permanent to hold on to. A downtown stockbroker and financial advisor, Derick Jansen was invited to a hunting lodge on Lake Noganosh near Parry Sound a decade ago and has been a regular since. For Jansen, hunting and being immersed in nature is his reset; it helps him regain his focus. “The outdoors is an antidote to what I do during the week,” he observes. “When I return Monday, it’s different. You have a bit of a thousand-yard stare afterwards. A lot of hunting is about just being quiet in the woods, you know. Imagine spending three hours basically by yourself, listening to the wind in the trees. It’s just a beautiful place—a place the vast majority of city people never get to experience.” On the other end of the corporate spectrum, Matt Ross owns and runs a creative services and branding agency with a client roster that includes financial institutions and giant tech firms. Heading out to a tree-planting gig in Northern Ontario years ago, Ross swerved to avoid an object in the road that turned out to be a tackle box—complete with all the gear. A quick trip to Canadian Tire for a rod and the rest was fishing history. For years, he fished alone on giant lakes in the Northern wilderness, going on to master fly fishing in the Okanagan Valley. Ross explains to his wife, “My kayak is my yoga studio.” “Fishing grounds me,” he says. “There’s no music, no electronics, and a lot of time to just think about ideas. There’s something incredible about being in the kayak as the sun is setting or rising that makes you feel small—in a good way—and helps put things into perspective that might seem huge in the office, but are really manageable once you’ve refocused.” President of a recruitment firm in Toronto, Mark Dyett was introduced to the hunt ten years ago by a client, and was instantly hooked. Naturally drawn to the outdoors, he joined a group of older hunters—mainly East Coasters, already immersed in the culture—and quickly learned the ropes. “My job is about understanding and reading people,” says Dyett, “I use that ability in hunting as well. I try to understand the animal and the environment, and maybe some of that rubs off the other way too. When you first arrive at camp, you have to shake off the city. You have to stop that ringing in your ears from urban life and attune yourself to nature again. You can’t think the way you normally do in your day-to-day life. Nature keeps you on your toes and mentally sharp.” For Dyett, it’s about discovering new insights, both about himself and the world around him. “You have to pace yourself and engage in the environment,” he says, “and it stops you from missing things. I think I’m a lot more observant now. I want to understand what motivates people, instead of just accepting their actions. Nature is not straightforward. Animals don’t do what you expect them to, but there’s always a reason behind what they do.” It’s a lesson that can be neatly transferred from the Canadian wilderness to Toronto’s concrete jungle.

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YYZ Men's Editorial

huntS Man the

Photographer: Cory Vanderploeg Stylist: Alexandra Loeb Makeup & Hair: David Allan Jones (Judy Inc.) Models: Paul Mason (Paul Mason Management), Andrew Basso (Plutino Group), Tyler Berman (Valt Models)


SHIRT SUNSoN BLAZER OLIVER SPENCER COAT BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, Harry Rosen TIE STRELLSON



Opposite: ON ANDREW: VEST STRELLSON SWEATSHIRT ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, Holt Renfrew BOW TIE ARMANI PANTS 18 WAITS ON PAUL: BLAZER MAURIZIO BALDASSARI, Harry Rosen JACKET and pants BELSTAFF, Holt Renfrew This page: ON TYLER: BLACK PANTS, SHIRT & TIE, 18 WAITS VEST FILSON ON ANDREW: SNOOD H&M JACKET GLOVERALL PANTS BELFSTAFF, Holt Renfrew



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ON ANDREW: SHIRT & TIE ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA, Harry Rosen VEST & PANTS TIGER OF SWEDEN BLAZER & PUFFER VEST ETRO, Harry Rosen SHOES JOHN VARVATOS, Davids ON PAUL: SWEATER AIGLE BLAZER PAUL SMITH, Holt Renfrew JEANS STRELLSON LEATHER BOMBER M0851 SHOES JOHNSTON & MURPHY ON TYLER: SUNGLASSES STYLIST’S OWN SHIRT TIGER OF SWEDEN SWEATER BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, Harry Rosen VEST BELSTAFF, Holt Renfrew PANTS STRELLSON SHOES MODEL’S OWN



Drive

© Brian Hamilton

C u try roads

To Prince Edward County and Back Again  Mike Ward

I have nothing against air travel, but every now and then you get that feeling, like an itch that needs to be scratched, to escape the city and get out on the open road. No security checks, no passport, no surly customs officer rifling through your things. Just you, the pavement, four wheels, and a blue sky. And as my four wheels just happen to be a 2015 435i BMW, the road is a-calling.

Beginning my journey in the ‘Land Down Under’ as a chef and food aficionado, I enjoyed years of great cuisine across the world as I made the trek north, to settle in Toronto. And, while I’ve enjoyed many a good meal in this city, I’d somehow not ventured into culinary road trip territory and never before found my way to the much whispered about Prince Edward County. It was time to make my mark on Ontario’s finest fare. Opting for a Saturday departure in order to avoid Toronto’s traditional Friday afternoon urban exodus, I woke up early, packed light, and let my GPS system (who I've taken to affectionately calling Hans) do all the work. A man of few words, he got me there in good time via the most efficient route: Germans are good like that. Setting out on the open road with the top down on the convertible, I turned up the stereo, Kelly Clarkson serenading me through the god-knows-how-many-speakers system. (Don't judge me. Yes you, guy in the black cashmere v-neck, who blasts “Man In The Mirror” with the windows up.) My first mistaken impression about PEC was the scale. I arrived expecting a slightly bigger brother to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but no: this place is huge. Everyone was wearing casual indie-cool clothing and a smile, everything seemed to be moving in slow-mo. This intoxicating country air is heady and my buzz is like that first glass of wine on a warm summer evening.


I dropped off my bag at the gushingly cute and quaint Claramount Inn & Spa then headed out for dinner at the ubercool Angéline's, the inn that houses the locally renowned Hubb restaurant. I was anticipating the kind of place that dishes up moderately tasty, overpriced fare for seasonal tourists looking for the ‘local’ experience. This was my second false assumption. “Our greatest challenge is informing potential guests that just because we're two hours from Toronto, doesn't mean we're serving 'compromise'…Quite the contrary,” Chef Elliot proudly declares. “Our guests tend to be foodies, or at least keen restaurant goers. For that reason we don't have to dumb down what we do.” Laura, The Hubb’s in-house sommelier, gleefully adds, “and we can source almost everything we need within a few miles, including amazing wine.” Before dinner, Alex, the inn’s owner, was keen to give me a tour of the rooms at Angéline's. A playful blend of ‘New York boutique’ meets ‘cottage camp’ with names like The Bijou, and The Walter. “If you like the rooms,” Alex grins, “you’ll like the food. Our motivations are the same—we’re not out to meet Toronto or Montréal expectations, we set and meet our own.” With a primed palate I ate. The fork-tender duck hearts with vanilla bean, molasses-cured pork belly Carpaccio with Brussels’ leaves, and bay scallop ceviche did not disappoint. Knowing that nearly every ingredient was sourced within a mile or so from my plate seriously elevated my experience, but the food would have been great without this intel. While PEC is known for its wine, I decided to hold off for tomorrow’s tour, so the bartender, recommended a gin fizz made with local gin courtesy of 66 Gilead Distillery. Result? The Hubb is not some tourist trap parading as a big city heavy hitter; it’s on par with any forward thinking restaurant, anywhere. Oh, and I learned that Ontario’s Juniper bushes make some killer gin. Turning down a tempting offer from a few friendly locals to hit up The Acoustic Grill, a local hot spot, I opted instead for a sensible nightcap at the Barley Room Gastropub, then hit the hay.

65


Sans alarm, I sprang out of my cloud-like king bed the next morning, dropped the top, turned up Carrie Underwood, and requested Hans direct me towards the Norman Hardie Winery. Norm Hardie is straight from central casting. He looks, sounds, and smells like a winemaker. With the scruffy and endearing appearance of a hardworking farmer, and the charisma and poise of your favourite U.S. president, you can’t help but immediately crush on this man. It takes some coaxing to disarm Norm of his modesty and get him to open up about the monstrous international success his wines have achieved. Pondering why Canadians have such a low perception of Canadian wines when some are, like world-class good, Norm obliges. “[Canadians] are odd with wine. Once a customer knows that my Pinots are sold in restaurants in London, Japan and France, they’ll order it like tap water.” The key to getting people past this perception of quality is through exposure, Norm explains. “The more that people see Ontario wines in their favourite restaurants—next to their new and old world favourites—the more they’ll take us on. It’s an optics issue, not a quality issue.” Glass in hand, I can’t help but agree. The 2012 County Pinot Noir we’re drinking is phenomenal. It’s as complex as any international wine—and quite reasonably priced. Everything Norm is doing breaks the rules of your typical, intimidating winery. Instead of the usual Niagara-style precious winery fare, Norm hired the top Neapolitan pizza makers from Toronto to install a wood-burning pizza oven. He grins with cheeky schoolboy candour, eyes glinting, and samples his product, “We want this to be fun, and let’s be honest, nothing goes better with wine than pizza.” He’s right, unpretentious passion is Prince Edward County. Unlike the many other wine country destinations I’ve experienced the world over, the people of The County are in it to do something great, not just to succeed commercially—and you can taste it in every offering. Hoping to sample a little more of what PEC County has to offer, I bid Norm au revoir, planning to stop at each boutique, art gallery, or café that catches my eye. I raise my empty tasting glass: Here's hoping that Hans isn't nearly so efficient on the ride home.

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© Brian Hamilton


The

ONE hotel

where you’ll find

...

126-year-old historic banking charm Modern suites with kitchenettes & laundry Prestigious King & Yonge street address Private entrance to subway & PATH Spectacular city and lake views

A Hotel to call Home 1 King Street West Toronto, Ontario 1.866.470.5464 www.onekingwest.com


Film

n w o d d e s s e r d

A J

K C I R T P . DAM MATT BARNES Photographer ES eb & AVERY PLEW Lo a dr an ) Stylist Alex 1M A NENOiU (P GROOMING ANN

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“This is so romantic—lying out, feeding each other cherries,” says the disarmingly blue-eyed Patrick J. Adams (it’s Johannes), as he reclines on the tartan blanket spread out near a willow tree in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. It's a kind comment given that I’m eight and a half months pregnant and he’s engaged to the gorgeous Troian Bellesario of Pretty Little Liars fame, but that’s how Adams is—compelling and genuine in a way that’s rare in common common folk, and a veritable unicorn among anyone with more than 500,000 Instagram followers. Today, the sky is heavy with cloud and the air thick with humidity; there is an unusual absence of the living in a cemetery typically enjoyed by runners, cyclists, mourners, and an incessant parade of tree-trimmers.  Lonelle

Selbo

Adams’ schedule is chock-a-block, with the majority of his time dedicated to shooting for the fourth season of the hit USA Network show, Suits, so meeting in this remote, green place was an attempt to crack that concrete mindset and divert conversation from the standard script. It works. Sitting cross-legged, absently plucking bits of grass, and discarding them into the sea of green, Adams gets philosophical about Suits, acting, growing up in Toronto, photography, space, and beauty.

Is Patrick Adams very ‘Mike Ross’? I really connected early on to his ambition, to his drive, to his determination to be taken seriously even though things hadn’t gone his way. As a young actor who hadn’t had much success—enough, but nothing serious—I felt like I could connect to that. And TV is crazy, I mean, the hours are so long that I think essentially everybody ends up playing themselves because there is just no time. Unlike doing a play where I can take two months to rehearse and make choices—it’s as if they hired us because Gabriel’s cool and has that energy about him. They hired us because I’m sort of that maniac who wants to run around—fight, fight, fight—while wearing my heart on my sleeve. They hired Megan because she’s this gorgeous alpha-female who gets a lot of shit done really quickly. All of us to some extent are playing the people that we are. So that’s how TV works? I don’t think actors usually want to talk about it—it makes it sound like we're not doing a job. It’s more that you are trying to carve out moments and make things true as fast as possible because everything’s moving at the speed of light. Scripts? Everyone is under the gun, just go, go, go. Does that work? Go. Ten pages to shoot today, does this work? Go. So it’s all just sort of an exercise in ‘How quickly can we make this real?’ What attracts you to the industry? I’m drawn to actors. There is a romance in that for a young actor, but it’s sad to see the Philip Seymour Hoffmans of the world dying off, the Heath Ledgers—seeing them disappear. It’s a wake up call. Is this really as profound as I thought it was as a young artist? Anyway, I think that’s what interests me in this kind of work and I think about it all the time—what an actor’s job is. When you are doing your job properly, it is ultimately to play out ego: to show the shadow of human beings, how they experience things, or see them, or behave. Then hopefully people who can relate to that see it, and it creates an ongoing dialogue. Did you always want to be an actor? I remember the total joy of being immersed in the story. I’d rent a movie and watch it three times, and my family would go to bed and I would watch it again, and wake up in the morning and watch it again. And it was just as exciting as when I watched it the first time. As a kid, I loved watching screens and going to the movies with my dad, it was the greatest. I would just sit there on the edge of my seat—it had a real affect on me. But I also loved outer space as a kid. I wanted to be an astronaut—probably heavily influenced by Apollo 13. In fact, I still really want to go to space; it’s a huge life goal. Carl Sagan is one of my heroes, one of the greats. So what steered you away from space exploration? I knew I loved the theatre, but I just wasn’t really committed to it. I didn’t want to be rejected; I didn’t want to put myself out there. So I did a couple of plays, and slowly but surely I got that confidence. I started doing more theatre, and I really connected with a teacher at Northern [high school] who sort of saved my life in a lot of ways and really convinced me that this was something that I was supposed to be doing. So while Jonas [Bell Pasht] was sort of just ‘rocking it’ from day one with his films and sort of using the whole school and its population to do his bidding—I was, you know, kinda being a little quieter and just trying not to stand out too much until I really knew what I wanted. One teacher made all the difference? She said “Call me Debbie and let’s sit and have a conversation.” And all of a sudden I realized that I’m a human, responsible for my own choices and I have to decide who I want to be. Most people keep kids from making that choice until later. She and a couple of the other teachers had created this atmosphere that was unlike anywhere else in Toronto. That era and that school created so many artists who are now working in creative

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Shirt 18 Waits Renfrew Vest Rag & Bone, Holt Renfrew Pants Paul Smith, Holt rick’s Own Sweater & Boots Pat Hat Stylist’s own

How is it being back in Toronto? I love being home again. It's a balancing act figuring out how the city has changed and how I've changed since I left this place. I love a lot of different pockets of the city, but moving back, decided to settle in Queen West. I know I'm riding the wave of gentrification into that neighborhood and that makes me feel a little old and a little out of touch but there is still a rebellious spirit out there. Trinity Bellwoods still behaves a little like Venice Beach. The trendy shops might move in, but they haven't erased the strange completely yet. I'm holding on tight to that.

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What are your thoughts on fashion? I’ve done a full 180. Lifestyle fashion meant nothing to me. I felt like it was sound and fury, but mostly because I was just really uneducated. Like anything, your perspective changes when you get to learn more about the nuances of it, the creativity and the personalities behind it. Suddenly I thought it might be time to invest in an education here and actually take advantage of all the amazing people around me who know everything about clothes. I’ve tried to incorporate it into my life in a way that didn’t feel egoist. Really, that’s what wearing all


Film

those suits in the show taught me—it’s about projecting that total confidence, it’s the way you decide to wear your suit that says so much about you. It also doesn’t matter if you’re a classic, perfect man, if a suit fits you and is cut the right way, whatever your shape, you’re going to look great. It’s a form of communication and a form of expression. One that I haven’t perfected yet. What are your thoughts on beauty? I can’t stand the crafting of an image. Crafting the way you feel is fine, you need to do those things that make you feel good and make you who you are. It’s very hard for us as human beings to understand—am I doing this for me or am I doing this for you? As an actor this whole thing is a minefield because our whole existence is dependent on people accepting and loving us, but the thing is, the people that are most accepted and loved are the people who don’t give a shit whether they are accepted or loved. I have these pictures of Troian that my friend Zach took. It was after a long night in New York that involved a little bit of drinking and we didn’t get a lot of sleep; we were travelling, and just broken and exhausted. And we got these pictures back and they are dirty and ugly and beautiful. Troian is her most beautiful when she wakes up in the morning and her hair is a mess and she isn’t thinking about it. That’s what’s beautiful.


Suit & Shirt 18 Waits Scarf Vintage n Boots Patrick’s Ow wne, Sunglasses Thom Bro look Optical Out

How do you get creative? I usually try and carry a camera with me because there are things that I’m just drawn to. I'm not trying to get people to think differently, I just try and look at whatever I'm photographing and really look at it for longer than I normally would. It’s an opportunity for me to actually stop and be with something or someone in a way that feels slightly more authentic, more rounded. It’s more something that I do for myself, rather than for the act of taking a really good picture. But when you finally take something and think ‘oh that’s beautiful,’ it’s like the circle is complete. And that’s the whole reason why we do this stuff.

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Here we wrap the interview, gathering our stuff together—vintage cameras (including a somewhat dated two dollar party cam given to Adams by the daughters of Canadian artist and photographer, Edward Burtynsky) and leftover cherries—we laugh at the possibility that the discarded pits might grow into a grove of trees that we could revisit in a decade. Adams tells me he grew up in this neighbourhood, remembering a story. “My mom, she wanted me to go to UCC [Upper Canada College]. One of the big things she hoped was for me to have a job where I would wear a suit to work everyday. She would tell me that and I’d refuse. And now she comes to set and sees me in a suit fifteen hours a day. It’s funny how things work out.”


416 630 2488

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Tech-Fix

tech

cOun try

Maybe it’s the constant hum of electricity that both drives and soothes us. Maybe ‘getting away’ for the urban dweller, doesn’t necessarily mean getting away from it all. In this spirit, we present the tech that will augment your getaway experience, rather than tethering you to the office. Here is your great escape button.

The Revolution Will Be Televised

GoPro HERO4 Black Edition $499 It’s said that a picture’s worth a thousand words—well with 12MP photos at a blistering 30 frames per second, you’ll have plenty to say about your departure to the country. The new Black edition shoots 4K30 video (4x the resolution of the previous industry standard, 1080p), and gives you the ability to share your experience instantly with built in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Strap the Hero on and have your very own scribe, wherever you go. Able to capture the moments that are too arresting to be interrupted by reaching for a camera, and far too beautiful to only exist in the flawed Polaroid that is our memory. This revolution will be televised, and it’s in super high def. Watch This Wrist

Pebble, Steel Watch $235 Pebble’s ‘Pebble Steel’ watch shoots you active alerts while you’re being active. This means that you won’t have to hike/row/ volley with your smartphone in hand, but will still get all the intel you need just a few inches from your fingertips. Partnering seamlessly with your Android or iPhone, this communication hub will notify you of texts, e-mails, and phone calls. With a five-to-seven day battery life and water tested to 50-metres, this watch is prepared to be as tenacious as you are. And with access to thousands of apps—it really is all in the wrist. Print is Not Dead

Makerbot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer $1,375 You need a new fishing lure, but the nearest town is miles away. No fish, means no breakfast and according to Health Canada, that’s the most important meal of the day. If you’ve brought along the Makerbot Replicator Mini, you’re good to go. This compact 3D printer is a sandbox of infinite possibilities, so even if you’ve remembered to bring the bacon and eggs, you can still let your imagination run wild. Capture your designs and upload them to all your social networks, you show-off. It’s true what they say: give a man a mini 3D printer, feed him for life.


Mission Possible

Recon Instruments, Jet Glasses $6,000 We would have picked these up right after Ethan Hunt threw them off that cliff in Australia. Enter the age of digital vision with Recon’s Jet Glasses. With an ultra-modern design and über futuristic capabilities, they’re perfect for the athlete who truly wants to push their limits. Capable of displaying performance stats, navigations, weather alerts, and digital coaching—you can stay in touch, in shape, and in top form with messages and applications, all at the end of your nose. #ShareTheSun

WakaWaka Solar Survival Kit $149 Off the grid is great, but romantic notions aside, everyone agrees: power is practical. WakaWaka gives you what you need to keep in tech. A backpack full of solar-powered gear including a power source, light, emergency USB powered radio and battery charger (and a universal USB/AC mobile charger kit for when that power source runs out) plus a waterproof pouch to wrap it all in. All this kit ensures that though you’re off the beaten path, you’re still empowered. For your phone, laptop, or emergency defibrillator—WakaWaka products bring power to wherever the sun shines and, for every backpack bought in July of 2014, one was donated to those recovering from Typhoon Haiyan. Power to the people. The Show Must Go On

Braven, BRV-1 $100 We score our everyday lives. Whether it’s The Cranberries on your morning commute, Elvis while you get your espresso, or a great film soundtrack to pick up the dry cleaning—music makes the mundane melodic. And if Hans Zimmer can elevate separating whites from colours, imagine what he could do for your great rural adventure. When wirelessly synced to your compatible devices, this rugged Bluetooth speaker can take a beating or even a swim and play on. The BRV-1 will generate 12 hours, of play time so with this new toy by Braven, you can compose the soundtrack for wherever the track takes you.

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Travel


© Patricia Pearson

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Exploring Atacama on Horseback  Patricia

Pearson

“Shh!” I say. This is the gutteral sound, accompanied by a tug, that would apparently rein in the magnificent black mare who is spiriting me across Chile’s Atacama desert on a brilliant morning.

“Shh – stop!” Vast dunes spill forth from cornices and cliffs like adobe-coloured rivers all around us. The sky is jewel-bright, casting the Andes Mountains to the east in sharp relief. Fine sand is clouding my eyes as the wind gusts; I need to adjust my sunglasses. I should have worn the face-covering bandana my guide had offered earlier. The mare, as tall as her English stallion father and sturdy as her Chilean mother, stops and blinks her glorious lashes. When we resume the trek, she picks her way between boulders, and we enter a red rock canyon where there is nothing to hear but silence, and the thud of her careful hooves. It is astonishing to think that an overnight flight from humid Toronto, followed by a quick jaunt north from Santiago, could have brought me to such a stunning place. When I was a little girl, I galloped on a pony across a glacier in Nepal, and I remember still the exhilaration. Since then, I’ve led an urban life, ever more constrained, bookish, in my head. Horseback riding through the world’s driest desert, 2,100 metres above sea level in the otherworldly Atacama, is like tasting that long-lost sense of freedom. At times, on the mare’s strong back, I imagine myself to be Genghis Khan racing across the Gobi Desert steering with his knees, crossbow raised to his enemy. In this ancient desert country near Bolivia’s border, the imagination runs riot. The landscape is extraordinary, with cliffs accordioned by millennia of wind erosion, shaded glorious hues of russet and honey. Silica-rich volcanic stones chime like glass when you kick them. “I never get tired of this,” muses my guide Phillipe, a handsome Chilean whose dark eyes are concealed by reflective sunglasses. I temporarily cast him as Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia, but his attire is entirely too modern, favouring Gore-Tex over linen. He quit his job in the Chilean capital of Santiago to revel in this humbling beauty. Nearby us is a dune,


Travel


Opposite: © Patricia Pearson, Below: courtesy Explora Atacama

Hotel de Larache is one of three spectacular properties owned by Chilean company Explora; the other two are in Patagonia and Easter Island. They operate with the philosophy of providing a luxury base camp for high adventure and guides offer a multitude of daily excursions for every level of fitness. Not to be missed in Atacama:

180 metres high, that we’d run down barefoot the day before, the sand as fresh and deep as new-fallen snow, whooping with pleasure as we threw out our arms.

} A 3.5 km hike through a canyon that leads to heavenly hot springs, followed by a picnic lunch of olives, wine, bread, and cheese

Do the horses feel as I do? Liberated, almost child-like?

} Flamingos, at sunrise or sunset, on a salt flat, as if this divine flock of impossiblycoloured birds had alit onto snow

The horses of Atacama were the first to arrive in Chile when the Spanish crossed the Bolivian border in the 16th century. But they were used for hard labour at first, for the copper mines and the herding of dust-worn cattle. I learn more about them when we return to the stables at Hotel de Laracha, a luxury lodge near the village of San Pedro de Atacama with its own, privately raised and trained coterie of twenty horses, bred specially–and with pointed kindness–for docility, strength, height, and resilience. By tea-time, after I’ve had a long Jacuzzi soak and a splendid lunch in the lodge dining room (designed by award-winning Chilean architect German Del Sol Guzman) my mare and her horsemates have already been released to the alfalfa pastures surrounding the lodge, to nuzzle with friends and kick at their frenemies. They will stay out all night, bareback, under some of the starriest skies on the planet. “That’s what they like best,” says head trainer Daniel Nadeau, as we drink fresh strawberry juice in his saddle room. Nadeau

} Hiking along the cornices of the Cordillera de la Sal, and running down sand dunes } An evening visit to the hotel’s onsite observatory, which offers unparalleled access to the stars in a region so revered for its sky clarity that the European Southern Observatory has established a radio telegraph there

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Travel

© Patricia Pearson

is a Chilean huaso, what the Argentinians would call a ‘gaucho’: a sort of Latin cowboy. He has been with horses all his life, like his father before him, and believes it is the job of a man to see as the horse sees. “They don’t see you as a human leader,” he explains, with a gap-toothed smile that brings out the laugh lines around his almond-shaped eyes. “They see you as a leader, if you have earned their confidence.” Like most Chilean horsemen, Nadeau participates in the rodeo in his spare time. The next morning, I ride the same plush mare on an incredibly comfortable Chilean saddle, made of wood, goat leather, and sheep’s wool, across the desert to Nadeau’s ranch, where he and his father practice for upcoming competitions. In the wooden ring they’ve built at the ranch, they enter decked out in straw hat and spurs to demonstrate how they work together–two horses, two men–to herd a bull toward one side of the ring and then the other, pinning him against a cushioned wall. The artfulness of the fine-stepping teamwork is breathtaking. “With your horse,” Nadeau explains, combing his mount’s mane absently with his fingers, “it’s like a sixth sense. You communicate differently.” In the soundless Atacama, visitors can participate in this dance immersed in the remote beauty of the Chilean countryside. Here, one can follow in the footsteps of the huasos who came before them to decipher whether the horse is frustrated by the rein, when she’s startled by shadow, when she wants to break free and run, or when it’s time for her to just ease up and walk so that you can marvel at the magnificent vista that surrounds you.

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YYZ Product Editorial

L b ue

n tRai Photographer: Natasha V. Creative Director: Alexandra Loeb Stylist: Jason Charles Hatton (P1M) Rugs & Chair ELTE Luggage Rimowa



Rug & Chair ELTE Bowling Bag Chanel Duffel Bag John Varvatos, Harry Rosen




Rugs ELTE Clockwise from the top: Steamer Bag Louis Vuitton, Stylist’s Own Red & Black Suitcases Rimowa, Brown Vintage Duffle, Abraham’s Trading Inc. Small Postman bag M0851, Navy Computer Bag, tan tool roll & Two-tone leather tote Filson, Black Travel Case TOD’S, Holt Renfrew, Black tote & ipad case M0851, Burgundy Travel Pouch Salvatore Ferragamo, Holt Renfrew


Rugs, Chest, Chair & Lamp ELTE Vase, Homesense Bag Tom Ford, Holt Renfrew Vintage Riding Boots, Abraham’s Trading Inc. Vanity Case & Suitcase Globe-Trotter, Betty Hemmings



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1 Anita Ko Leaf Bracelet (Price available upon request), 2 Randolph Concorde Gold Plated Aviators $229, 3 Spinelli Kilcollin Vega SG Stack $4,960, 4 Perrin Black Python Gloves $1,000, 5 Hermes Brown Messenger Bag with Silver Buckle $5,350, 6 Republic of Frends Frends with Benefits Taylor Rose Gold Headphones $199, 7 Smythe Tweed Blazer with Brown Leather Detail $595, 8 Chanel Gray Tweed Classic Flap $3,400 9 Koh Gen Do Concealer $52, 10 M.A.C. Veluxe Pearl Fusion Shadow-Copper $48, 11 Burberry Prorsum Colour Block Blanket Poncho $1,570, 12 Hunter Original Clear Leg Rain Boots in Burgundy and Black $260, 13 Triumph & Disaster YLF wash $47, 14 Alfred Dunhill Onyx Monolith Cufflinks $690, 15 Borsalino Brown Felt Hat $436, 16 Burberry Brit Lambskin Bomber $1,650, 17 Tiger of Sweden Navy Wool Vest with Brown Buttons $269, 18 j m and sons Portfolio Case $145, 19 Hermes Men's Short Alligator Skin Boot $15,330, 20 Brunello Cucinelli Blue Pea Coat $5,395, 21 Chanel Coco Noir Perfume $158, 22 Larsson and Jennings Saxon Watch $625, 23 Salvatore Ferragamo Boat Moccasin $495.


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iSpy

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as Wes iSpy

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From the boho backstreets and artistic alleyways of Kensington to the not so surreptitious success of Yorkville, the city has many hearts, each beating to its own unique rhythmic pulse. These days, I call Dundas West my home, and over the past few years I’ve witnessed its evolution into one of Toronto’s hottest areas for fun, food, and fashion.  Casie

 Photography,

Stewart Alex Blum

Though it may immediately conjure images of green and red crested flags, and the sounds of Portuguese dialect flanking the streets, Dundas West is no longer just ‘Little Portugal,’ in fact, it’s emerged as one of Toronto’s most overlooked neighbourhoods. Hidden in the West End and spanning from Bathurst to Lansdowne, the area is a wonderful mix of old world and new—imparting the atmosphere of a small Canadian town you might pass through while travelling cross-country. Oozing with a nostalgic thrift-shop feel, the neighbourhood is punctuated by long-standing family-owned businesses, bakeries, football bars (European football, that is), and boutique dress shops. Visitors’ needs and wants are easily accommodated—from the authentic Canadiana available at Red Canoe, to vintage shops carrying designer lines, to impressive galleries, and an annual Art Crawl. Grab a bite at Café Bar Pasta, see a band at The Garisson or Magpie Taproom, enjoy cocktails at Camp 4 or Montauk—whatever your taste in nightlife, the neighbourhood is abuzz from dawn to dusk—and then damn near back to dawn again. Caldense Bakery and Nova Era rival for the best pastries in the area. In either pastelaria you’ll find a mobile generation typing away furiously on their MacBooks or iPhones, juxtaposed with the old Portuguese avós, gossiping to their inner circles. A quick glance into any of these locales is sure to provide an illuminating tableau of the changing neighbourhood. In the warm season, Dundas West Fest shuts down the main strip from Ossington to Dufferin and the entire street is filled with vintage pop-ups, local designers, art, extended patios, and a night market—but perhaps the great charm of Dundas West year round is that it’s still a little underground—not yet eclipsed by condos or arrested with development. It’s a neighbourhood full of life—as diverse as the multigenerational people who inhabit it.

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In the evening, as I walk west from Ossington toward my home, the sunset illuminates the sky and casts a brilliant light on my favourite little escape in the city.



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Great Minds

© Pegi

il ney ung

O

“I'm not a preacher, and I'm certainly not a good example, but I have my own feelings about God. I'm kind of a nature guy. My cathedral is forests, or the prairies, or the beach.”

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