All posts tagged with: Toronto

From a very young age, Jessica knew she wanted to be a singer.

“I would perform in front of my mirror until the wee hours of the morning,” Jessica giggled. “It’s a dream come true.”

For most teenage girls, growing up to be a pop singer could only be a dream. But not for Jessica. The singer, actress and dancer hit it big when she was signed on to be a famed Pussy Cat Doll.

“I learned so much,” Jessica said as she described her seven year career with the Pussy Cat Dolls. “There was not on particular thing. I grew up. I became a really good performer.”

In 2010, Jessica made the decision to embark on a solo career. It was a decision she can be proud of, especially when her debut single, Show Me, hit the #1 spot on the Billboard charts.

“Breaking into a solo career is hard, but it’s worth it,” described Jessica. “It’s so fulfilling to do it on your own. I feel like I’m earning this, as opposed to having it handed to me.

Jessica has the support of her past band members and appreciates everything they have done for her and her career.

“Don’t give up,” is Jessica’s advice for upcoming artists. “It’s not easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it. Have a reason bigger than you to be on that stage. To create that music.”

Jessica is set to release her new album in September 2012.

Photos in this post were taken at Sugarbeach during Toronto Pride 2012 where Jessica Sutta performed her hit song, “Show Me”, in front over thousands of enthusiastic fans. 

In the heart of Toronto’s gay village is a beautiful Victorian home, which has been converted into a one-of-a-kind gastro-pub, serving up traditional comfort foods.

Best known for their large, outdoor patio and pumping music in the summer, it’s a popular meeting place for the locals. There’s plenty of outdoor seating and is ideal for an afternoon of people watching.

The menu has everything you would expect from a traditional North American pub. Classic nachos, hamburgers, chicken wings and sweet potato fries. There are 13 draft beers on tap and a selection of cocktail and martini’s.

The Vic Public House is located at 580 Church Street. Get there early on hot summer days to get a good seat.

Right off Younge Street and Toronto’s Gay Village is the Ramada Plaza Toronto, delivering excellent value, a convenient locations, and comfortable rooms in downtown Toronto.

Rooms and suites feature all the standard amenities in a downtown hotel, including in-room fridge, LCD televisions, coffee makes, complimentary WiFi, sofa beds, and more.

Although it is not a brand new hotel, the property has received upgrades over the years to keep it current and up-to-date. The linens and towels are fresh and crisp, the rooms are clean and the bathroom facilities are modern.

The hotel staff are warm, friendly and helpful. There is a fitness centre on site, along with a swimming pool, business centre, restaurant and a full-service conference centre.

Standard rooms start at just $159, and suites from $169. It really is great value!

One of the largest Pride celebrations in the world, attracting an estimated one million people, the 2012 Pride Toronto festival and  parade was held June 22 – July 1, 2012. Pride Toronto celebrates the history, courage, diversity and the future of the LGBT community in Toronto.

This couple were married on a float during the 2012 Pride Toronto parade.

Bright, elaborate and daring costumes

The events take place over 24 city blocks in Toronto’s Church-Wellseley neighbourhood. The festival includes seven performance stages, 80 community booths, and 147 sponsor, marketplace and food booths.

Activities and community spaces include family pride, youth pride, clean and sober spaces, Trans pride, Dyke march and rally, and 40 affiliate events.

Celebrating diversity and culture

The week-long event involves a significant amount of human resources. Collaboration for the festival and parade takes of 5 full-time staff, 11 board members, 48 year-round volunteer team leads, 45 year-round volunteers, 1,200 weekend volunteers, and 296 performers. There are over 150 parade and march participants, and community groups.

Toronto will be hosting WorldPride in 2014, the fourth event ever held, and the first held in North America.

Toronto’s Pride festival attracts visitors from Greater Toronto and across the world, and generates an estimate $136 million for the local economy.

The hottest party on Saturday during Toronto Pride is Prism’s Aqua Party at Sugarbeach in downtown Toronto. The Pussy Cat Doll’s, Jessica Sutta, will be performing per hit single, Show Me.

The 8,500 sq metres of white sandy beaches will be hopping thanks to DJ’s Manny Lehman, Honey Dijon, and Aron, who will be spinning from 2pm – 10pm. At sunset a fireworks display will light up the sky!

After you’re done at the Prism Aqua Party, your Prism Weekend pass gets you into the Prism Main Event party at Koolhaus, right across the street!

Tickets to all the Prism Toronto Pride weekend events are available online.

Attention Soldiers. It’s time to report for active duty. For the ninth year, Prism presents Bootcamp, a military-themed event during the annual pride week in Toronto.

Fueling the nightlong event will feature Grammy-nominated writer, producer, remixer, singer and DJ Tony Moran, along with New York’s hottest circuit and club DJ Hector Fonseca, and Toronto’s very own DJ Jeremy Khamkeo.

Ripped abs, chiseled chests, bulging arms and quads of steel – Next Door Studio’s Canadian porn star Tyrstan Bull along with sidekick James Huntsman will be performing.

Bootcamp is held in the Main Room at the Guvernment from 10pm till 6am on Friday, June 29. Tickets for the red-hot event are $55.

With over 30 DJ’s lined up for the weekend events, the best value Toronto’s pride weekend is the Prism Weekend Pass. Go to all six events from June 28 – July 1 for just $199! Passes are available online now.

Pierre Fitch, Hector Fonseca and Brian Webb at Pride Toronto 2011. Photo credit: Chase Young

Toronto Pride is going to be jam-packed with hot guys, amazing entertainment and amazing music. Plan now to end the weekend with beats by the hottest DJ couple on the circuit; DJ’s Dave and Gerardo. The New York DJs, producers and lovers have played at the hottest clubs and circuit events in Canada, the United States, Mexico and South America, and this year they will be spinning at the Prism Revival Party on Sunday, July 1.

D&G, as they are known, are best recognized for their love of house music. Their career started at Splash in New York, and they quickly entered the international circuit scene.

Today, D&G are regulars in south Florida at Score in Miami and Living Room in Ft. Lauderdale. Together, they mix fresh tracks – from house music and tribal beats to classic vocals. They love to create high-energy that fills the room

In the studio, they create high energy sounds with remixes of Tiesto, Missy Elliot, and Gloria Estefan.

Prism’s Revival is the highlight-closing event of Toronto Pride weekend. Also DJ’ing at Revival will be Peter Rauhoffer and Shaun Riker, Javier Madina, Deko-ze and Cesar Murillo. Tickets are $85 per person.

For $199, purchase a All-Access pass will get you into the hottest Prism events: Aqua / Boot Camp / College Night / Main Event / Revival.

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Located at 35 Church Street in Toronto, the Hot House Cafe has one of the best people watching patio’s around. It’s located near theatres, music, hotels and night clubs, making it an awesome location to stop in before heading out for the evening. They’re also open for Sunday brunch.

The Hot House Martini is their signature martini on their menu. It’s rich, thick and sweet – you’ll love it.

• 1 oz Pomegranate Liquor
• 1 oz Blueberry liquor
• ½ ozSimple syrup
• ½ oz pomegranate juice
• ½ oz blueberry juice
• 1 oz Lemonade

Fill a martini shaker half full of ice. Add in all ingredients. Shake until the shaker begins to frost. Pour into a chilled, sugar rimmed martini glass.

Ian - Mr International Leatherboy 2010

In February 2010, Ian McKechnie was titled, Eastern Canada Leather boy, and just a few months later in July 2010 he was named Mr International Leatherboy.

“Since that time I have been publically stripped naked, tied-up, beaten, flogged, kicked, punched, electrocuted, and set on fire,” said Ian. “It’s been a great freakin year!”

The youngest of seven children, Ian grew up in a blue collar, Roman Catholic family in Hamilton, Ontario. He is proud of his accomplishments as a second-degree black belt.

Thought his involvement in the Hamilton Pride Committee, Ian was introduced to the Golden Horseshoe Leather Association. Here Ian met his two leather mentors, Phil and John, who showed him the many facets of the leather community.

Sadly, his mentors passed away before they could see Ian win his International title.

“It is the memory of their love, boundless energy, and selfless commitment to the leather and bear communities that I take with me throughout this title year, and always,” Ian proudly said.

During his term, Ian shares his duties with Sir Hugh, International Leather SIR, and red warrior, International Community Bootblack 2010.

Ian has attended many Pride events and festivals over the past year as part of his duties, including Toronto Pride 2011.

Ian ended with, “I am proud to say that my name is Ian, and I am a Leather boy.”

Mr International Leatherboy, blogger Brian Webb, and DJ Pierre Fitch at Toronto Pride 2011

Freshness, quality and quick service are what The Acme Burger Company prides itself on. Everything from the buns and toppings to the fries and meat are carefully selected.

Acme Burger uses 100% certified Angus beef that is flame-grilled to order. There are 22 free topping choices to customize your burger just the way you like it, and an additional seven others including Shitake mushrooms, bacon and Swiss cheese for just $0.75 each.

What makes their beef so special? Only 8% of all beef qualified as certified Angus beef, and at the Acme Burger Company in Toronto, that’s all they serve! In fact, they are so particular about the quality of premium beef they serve that only one-in-five Angus-influenced cattle qualify.

Sides include fries, onion rings, coleslaw, Poutine, and sweet potato fries. Healthy options are available too – garden salad, Greek salad, and grilled chicken salad.

Like a traditional burger shack, you can get milkshakes, soda pop, chocolate milk, coffee and tea.

For dessert there are cookies, ice cream, and ice cream sandwiches.

Overall rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)

There are three locations to choose from:

• 735 The Queensway, Etobicoke
• 500 Bloor Street W., Toronto
• 542 Church Street, Toronto

For more information, visit their website.

For over 10 years, DJ BlackCat, or Michael Hall, has been spinning in the Toronto music scene. Starting out with no experience, he quickly became a hit with the locals and his name could be found on club posters everywhere.

The DJ and music producer is well known for his hip-hop, house and Caribbean mixes. But as a versatile DJ  he likes to mash it up with a little Aretha Franklin from time-to-time, making party-goers go crazy.

DJ BlackCat can primarily be found in clubs in Toronto’s gay district, including Zippers and Crews and Tango, but also plays at other events like the annual Caribana celebration and Toronto Pride.

Toronto’s gay and lesbian community is proud of their local DJ. Next time you’re in the area, find out where he’s playing – you’ve love his style!

DJ BlackCat spinning at the 2011 Pride Toronto Festival

On Sunday, July 3, 2011, Toronto hosted the 31st Annual Toronto Pride Parade. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the parade route, celebrating diversity and the variety of life in Toronto.

Community groups, special interest groups, political parties, drag queens, entertainers and members of the LGBT community were all part of the over two-hour long parade. The parade included creative art, costumes, choreography, and great music.

Glitz and glam! The 31st Annual Toronto Pride Parade reflects on its past and looks towards the future. Parade entries and participants are encouraged to show their Pride through creative art, costumes, choreography, and sound.

• Date: Sunday, July 3, 2011
• Time: 2:00pm
• Parade Route: Parade starts at Bloor & Church (see map)

Parade participants are encouraged to gather and show their Pride and celebrate the diversity and variety of life and culture in Toronto, while respecting the subtle differences amongst citizens and visitors. Pride Toronto reminds Parade goers to have an open, tolerant and supportive attitude.

During the parade, awards will be handed out for a number of categories including Best Celebration of the 2011 Theme, Best Drag, and Best Art Direction.

Multiple Juno and Grammy nominated Canadian R&B/dance icon Deborah Cox will  perform on Friday, July 2 as one of the major headliners of Toronto’s 2011 Pride festival.

“Deborah Cox is a powerhouse performer that has dominated the music charts and the Broadway stage,” said said Pride Toronto’s Arts & Culture Manager, TK. “She is definitely a crowd favourite that will surely ‘werq’ the crowd with her fierce energy and stunning, show stopping performance style.”

Ms. Cox will take to the stage at 10:30 p.m. as part of Werq! – a high‐energy dance extravaganza on the festival’s largest stage, Wellesley Stage.

World‐renowned choreographer Scott Fordham will complement Ms. Cox’s magnificent voice and stage presence with his signature choreography. Ms. Cox previously performed at Toronto’s Pride festival in 2009.

Often cited as Canada’s top R&B/dance icon, Deborah Cox has had ten number‐one hits on Billboard’s ‘Hot Dance Club Play’ chart, including her smash single ‘Beautiful U R” which reached #1 on the US Dance chart. Her music has appeared in numerous films including the award‐winning dramas Hotel Rwanda and Akeelah and the Bee.

In addition to her successful recording career, Ms. Cox also conquered the Broadway stage in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice’s hit musical Aida. This fall, she will make a much-anticipated return to the Broadway stage.

Toronto Pride Week kicks off on Monday, June 27,  the City of Toronto will raise the iconic rainbow flag at City Hall and read the Pride Week proclamation.

• Date: Monday, June 27
• Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
• Location:Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

The raising of the rainbow flag was in question earlier this year when schools in the Toronto school district banned the flags and the City of Toronto threatened to cut festival funding.

Notable speakers at the flag raising ceremony will include:

• Frances Nunziata, Councillor & Speaker
• Francisco Alvarez & Margaret Ngai, Pride Toronto Co-Chairs
• Angie Umbac, Pride 2011 International Grand Marshall
• Kristyn Wong-Tam, MC

From now until July 3, Toronto’s streets will be buzzing with activity. Pride Week in Toronto is Canada’s premier arts and cultural festivals, and one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world.

Thousands of community groups, businesses, sponsors and individuals will be participating in this year’s festivities and celebrating Toronto’s queer communities.

Events include arts and cultural programs, community activities, the street festival, Pride parade, Dyke March, and many youth and family activities.

Pride Parade, Dyke March, Family programming, Blackness Yes and Youth and much more.

For more information, maps, and other Pride Toronto activities, visit their website.

Time to sort out your travel schedule. Here are the top 7 must-attend Pride festivals in 2011:

1. WinterPRIDE, Whistler, British Columbia – January 30 – February 6
   
2. Gay Days, Orlando, Florida – May 31 – June 6
3. LA Pride, Los Angeles, California – June 10 – 12
4. New York Pride, New York, New York – June 18 – 26
5. Toronto Pride, Toronto, Ontario – June 24 – July 3
6. Seattle Pride, Seattle, Washington – June 25 – 26
7. Vancouver Pride, Vancouver, British Columbia – July 24 – August 1