life isn't average. neither are we.
Let Them Eat Cacao!
Kristina Chau - Thursday, October 28, 2010
Hey party peeps,

Happy Chocolate Day!  Yes, that's right, apparently October 28 is National Chocolate Day...well for our friends down in the States it is.  

Anyhow I figured that this is the perfect inspiration to write a blog post on chocolate events and venues in the city and how you can incorporate everyone's favourite delectable treat to create your own "not your average party"!

 pic-ball.jpg (29912 bytes)Toronto Chocolate Festival - In it's 5th year, the annual Toronto Chocolate Festival is a series of events that cater to the chocoholic in you!  It started last Friday on October 22 and runs until November 7 city-wide. Check out the website for events such as The Chocolate Ball, which was held at Palais Royale; or Chocolicious: Tour de Chocolate offering a passport to the many chocolatiers and pastry shops in Toronto; or enjoy the afternoon and have Chocolate High Tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel.


MoRoCo Chocolat - Amongst the shops and restaurants in the trendy Moroco Chocolat Restaurant Torontoneighbourhood of Yorkville, you will find tucked away a chocolate lover's paradise. Entering their boutique is like entering a little piece of heaven.  The clean white display cases showcase some of the most tantalizing treats your eyes have ever laid on.


Moroco Chocolat YorkvilleAdjacent to their boutique you enter their grandiose lounge which is open for afternoon tea, weekend brunch and can also be rented for special events.  It's a perfect venue to host a shower or a unique corporate event. Surprise your guests with one of their fabulous chocolate indulgences such as the "Gimmie S'Mores Torching Table" station or the "Chocolate Velvet" sipping chocolate bar.  MoRoCo can also be hired to cater your next event. 


Attend a Chocolate Workshop - I've mentioned in previous blog posts that cooking schools and mixology classes are fun interactive event ideas but here's a delicious spin - arrange to attend a chocolate or truffle making workshop! 

Stubbe at Christie and Dupont specializes in chocolate but also offers yummy treats such as tortes, pastries and truffles handmade on-site.  Patrons can view the open-kitchen where these mouth-watering treats are created right in front of them and also sign up for one of their chocolate workshops.



Host a Chocolate Tasting Party - A Taste of Chocolate will work with you to customize a chocolate tasting at your next corporate or private party.  Your guests will learn about where chocolate comes from, how it's made, what to look for when purchasing high-quality chocolate and even the health benefits, all while tasting!



Lastly, don't forget that everyone loves chocolate so what's a more perfect favour at your shower or wedding or corporate gift?  Send your guests away with a beautifully wrapped box of gourmet chocolate or truffles and they'll be sure to remember you and your event.  Check out BlogTO's list for some of the best chocolatiers in Toronto.

As you can see, there are many ways to celebrate your occasion with chocolate.  What better excuse to indulge than an event?  ;)

For the life of the party,



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T'is The Season!
Kristina Chau - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Hi party peeps,

 I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving weekend!  I love this time of year.  The leaves are changing, it’s time to make yummy soups and stews, dress in cozy scarves and boots, and of course, it’s another opportunity to celebrate with family and friends.



Even though we have less than three weeks to go before Halloween, it really is time to start thinking about the biggest holiday season out there!   For corporate companies this means it’s time to start thinking about hosting your own “not your average party” for your employees.  


To get your creative juices flowing, here are a few unique corporate holiday party ideas that are ideal for various group sizes and range in various budgets:



 1. Party Like a Rock Star – Everyone has rented a karaoke machine or gone to a karaoke bar, but have you ever had the chance to rock out like a real star? 
Rock The Stars offers various packages to up the entertainment value at your holiday party.  You can “Play With The Band” where guests sing along a real live band or your can host “Battle of the Airbands” where guests dress up in full gear and battle it out airband style.  These fun interactive games are sure to create a memorable event for you and your staff. 




2. Mix It Up – Cooking classes are very popular interactive activities but they’ve been done before so why not take that idea and put a twist on it.  Take your staff to a venue that puts you behind the bar and create your company’s own signature cocktail.  Venues such as Ame or The Drake Hotel not only serve amazing food, but they also offer personalized mixology classes for small groups. 

Alternatively, if you prefer relaxing and being served at the bar, take your group out to a venue such as Bar Chef on Queen Street and delight your senses by trying one of their molecular cocktails and nosh on some yummy nibbles.



3. Holiday Cheer – Spread the holiday cheer around by selecting a charitable organization that aligns with your company’s community giving objectives and throw a great party that raises funds for them. 
  
Here are some examples of how to do this:

 Inspire staff to auction off their skills or special talents to their colleagues
 Engage your corporate clients in the fundraising, i.e. For every $1000 donation, an employee could dedicate a period of pro-bono work
 Host an online fundraiser using your social media networks


One example of a great not-for-profit organization who would be happy to assist you with putting together such an event is SKETCH.  SKETCH believes that everyone is creative but for many at-risk youths, the resources to be creative and express themselves are very hard to come by.  So, SKETCH provides the space, tools and workshops; in turn the young artists learn skills, become purpose driven and create culture. For further information on how to connect on this amazing opportunity, contact Dale Roy at 416-516-5428 (ex:34) or dale@sketch.ca.

4. An Afternoon to Remember – Perhaps you want an afternoon outing for the team but you still want them to have the VIP treatment.  Host an afternoon to remember by booking out the screening room at one of the newest venues in Toronto – The Thompson Hotel. 

The 41-seat capacity screening room allows you play whatever you film you want (a holiday classic would be perfect) and accompany this with their Champagne Break package which includes such delights as “Truffle Scented Fresh Popcorn, Cracker Jacks”, “Kobe Beef Sliders, Foie Gras, Fig Jam, Caramelized Shallots, Lavender Honey, Truffle Oil” and of course a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

I hope you've enjoyed these "not your average" ideas and please feel free sharing this post on Facebook or Twitter with the links below!  Should you wish to have this party guru help you plan your own company or private event, please fill out this contact form.

For the life of the party,




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A Night of Fright, Frolicking & Fun!
Kristina Chau - Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hey party people!

September is upon us and Toronto has been in full TIFF-mode. With all of these soirees and galas (and the occasional celebrity-stalking) one tends to lose sight on what's just around the corner - my favourite holiday of the year - Halloween!!

Throwing a great Halloween party can take a lot of time, creativity and let's face it - money, but most importantly it also can be a lot of fun! To help you create your own "not your average" Halloween party, here are 10 planning steps you should cover:

First you need to select a date. Halloween is on a different day every year so that gives you flexibility to host a party the weekend before or after, depending on when it lands. This year is looks like the prime dates are Friday October 29 and Saturday October 30.



Now you need to decide on a theme. A lot of people host just a Halloween party but why not have fun with it?! You could pick a theme like Zombieland where everyone dresses as zombies, or go elegant with a Black Masquerade, or have with a disco Boo-gie Bash.  The options are endless!


Next on the list is to decide where to host your party. If your home allows for it, throwing a haunted house party will be your most cost-effective option. Otherwise, start venue scoping and finde a space that fits your budget and needs. If you need ideas, contact this party guru



Compile your guestlist and decide how you want to send out your invitations. If you have a small guestlist and the time, creating DIY invitations can be fun. Check out Martha Stewart for some unique invitation ideas - my favourite is the severed finger in a box! Otherwise if you're busy like most of us are, buy your invitations at a store or you can also use an online invite such as Evite.



As a responsible host/ess you will need to serve food, especially if people are drinking alcohol. Plan ahead and figure out a themed menu to serve your guests. Here are some recipes on Epicurious or you can mix it up with some of the disgusting treats from this website.



Mad Eye MartiniAlong with the menu you serve, you may want to include beverages such as a witches brew, eyeball-tinis, or a shrunken head punch. Check out Canadian Living for some great cocktail recipes and get your mixology on but don't forget to also serve non-alcoholic drinks too.


Another party must-have element is good music. If you have any DJ friends you can call on, book them in advance because this is a busy time. Otherwise, have fun compiling an iPod playlist. Some of the more popular Halloween songs include the Monster Mash, Thriller and Time Warp amongst many more. To mix it up even further, add movie theme songs i.e. Halloween or the Exorcist.


Now it's time to to really get your creative juices flowing and start planning your decor. As this can be time consuming, ask your friends to help out. Ask them to carve pumpkins; donate old clothing and bedsheets to create a bloody murder scene; collect empty jars of all sizes to fill with old doll heads and dye the water with food colouring; use cardboard and garbage bags to cover the windows and give an abandon house feel; if you have a tv, put it on a blank channel so it casts the white light of a static screen. Other inexpensive items you can include are cobwebs, candles, black lightbulbs, plastic spiders and bats.


Trick or treat! Everyone loves treats so who says that they're only for kids? You can make up cute loot bags for guests to take away or create a creepy candy buffet full of gummy worms, eyeball jawbreakers, marshmallow teeth, candy corn, and other treats. Check out stores like the Bulk Barn, Sugar Mountain or Sweet Temptations to satisfy your ghoulish sweet tooth.


Ok so you're not a dog but how cute are these ones in their costumes?! As the host of your shindig, you better make sure you have one awesome costume! My friends and I love any excuse to get dressed up so Halloween is right up our alley. We get super creative and make our own costumes but if you don't have the time - check out stores like Party Packagers or Amazing Party & Costume, which also sell decorations.  To ensure everyone gets in the Halloween spirit, host a contest for the best costume.


So there you have it!  If you have any ideas or questions you want to share, please feel free in adding them to the comment section below.  Let the countdown to Halloween begin!  

For the life of the party,


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