A Note from Jane

When we started Wish five years ago, it was our plan to bring you the very best of fashion, beauty, home and food – because busy, stylish women, like you and me, want to put our best foot forward every day. The editors and experts at Wish worked overtime to find the solutions, deals, shortcuts and options to help make life easier – I can’t tell you how much we’ve enjoyed every step of the way.

Our loyal readers also pushed us to give more. It’s hard to imagine our 20-Minute Supper feature without wine pairings, but it was Jane from Ottawa who first suggested it four years ago: “I just received the second issue of Wish in the mail and read it from cover to cover. Then I went back to the website. We just had the Pesto Chicken Pasta – it was great! Next time, could we have a wine recommendation with the recipe?” Since November 2004, every Wish 20-Minute Supper has been paired with a complementary beverage suggestion.

Which brings to mind all the reader recipes we’ve printed. More than 1,000 entries to our 20-Minute Supper contests have helped raise the bar at dinnertime for hundreds of thousands of Canadian households. And you can still join the club! To find a fresh recipe for every night of the week or to track down one of your favourites, check out wish.ca/20minute – we’re still going strong.

In our last issue of Wish, editors and experts have identified many easy ways and insider ideas to build more wellness into your routine. I don’t think it has to mean giving up our favourite treats, just finding a balance. So, as we suggest in the pages of our last issue: Feel great. Look great. Eat well. Sleep well. Exercise (even when you’re pressed for time). Never get sick. Whistle while you work. Smile at strangers. Laugh – just because! It’s time to kick-start the best year of your life.

Experts have told us this is the beginning of the end of many of our favourite things. The current economic climate has made it impossible for us to continue delivering all you’ve come to expect from us here at Wish. It is with sadness – and many fond memories – that I say goodbye on behalf of every Wish staffer, supporter and contributor. It has been our pleasure.

- Jane Francisco, Editor in Chief

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Hidden (Art) Agenda

Going through a reno myself, I find that guests will usually give you a free pass when it comes to a messy place. Bare walls, on the other hand, are an inexcusable faux pas. But art pieces that are attractive, original and inexpensive are hard to come by. That’s why I’m super psyched for Toronto’s Whodunit? Mystery Art Sale taking place November 22nd (a public preview of the art will be held from November 19th-21st). Presented by Orangina and the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD), the event promises over 1,000 original works of art from OCAD students and Canadian designers, celebrities and established artists. Each and every piece will sell for only $75, with proceeds going toward OCAD and its emerging artists. The twist? All of the art will remain anonymous until it is purchased on November 22nd! Bonus: Admission for both the public preview and the art sale itself is free!
– Amy Thrasher, Editorial Intern

Whodunit? OCAD Mystery Art Sale, 100 McCaul Street, Toronto.

Public Preview:
November 19 & 21, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
November 20, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.


Art Sale:
November 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Say Cheese

How would you react if I told you getting your teeth cleaned could be a relaxing and enjoyable experience? With awe and disbelief, I’m sure, but it’s the truth. Impressions, The Dental Hygiene Spa in Toronto’s east end, is revolutionizing oral hygiene. Where else can you sink your toes into a pair of plush slippers, sit by the fire and read a magazine or watch your favourite show while you wait for your appointment? If that’s not enough, you’ll enjoy a paraffin-wax hand treatment while you decompress in a massage chair. Regular checkups? Piece of cake. My hygienist will be seeing a whole lot more of me. For all the goods, visit thedentalhygienespa.ca
-Kyle Gordon, Assistant Beauty Editor

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All Set For a New Look

Smart Set has long been my resource for great tees and tanks, but it’s about to offer much more in terms of style. The stores have a brand new, boutique-like design and carry even more fashion-forward items, including an already successful denim collaboration with Parasuco and a new athletic line called Muv. But my favourite new addition to the stores has to be the change rooms – they've created little nooks for your bag, sunglasses and cellphone, to keep everything off the floor while you try things on – genius!
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor

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Nuts for Pistachio

I’ve had a hard time starting this post because I can’t decide which is more intro-worthy – Pistachio’s beautiful boutique and the items it carries; or its rigorous environmental credo. Its flagship retail location was designed with the earth in mind, incorporating locally quarried ‘Silverwater’ stone, repurposed wood floors, Urban Tree Salvage furnishings and an outdoor awning designed to reduce solar heat gain. Inside, beautiful stationery, pencils, soy candles, apothecary items, throws and organic chocolate are just a fraction of the coveted finds. Every item adheres to the company’s belief that being environmentally responsible doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style or the things you love. It just means making smarter choices – and supporting your community, which Pistachio does by donating a portion of its sales to Evergreen Brick Works (evergreen.ca). If you can’t make it to Toronto’s Yonge/Eglinton strip or Yorkdale Shopping Centre (store opening November 15), head to Chapters and Indigo stores for Pistachio’s paper collection.
- Andrea Mills, Senior Editor, Home

Pistachio, 2433 Yonge St., Toronto, epistachio.com; chapters.indigo.ca.

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We Scare Because We Care

Fashion Cares is one of the most talked about events of the year. With funky fashion shows and high-profile performers, the party always surpasses expectations while raising money for the AIDS Committee of Toronto (more than $10 million to date!). But this year they are shaking things up by moving the event from spring to fall, and adding a spooky Halloween twist. Guests have always dressed to impress, but now extravagant, fanciful costumes are a must. Expect Halloween, Hitchcock and haute couture all in one. On Nov. 1, Fashion doesn’t only care, it sCares!
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor

Fashion sCares, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, tickets available at fashioncares.com.

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Peroni on Parade

I know people THINK magazine editors do nothing but RSVP to party invitations and go on press trips to Reykjavik, but sometimes we stand around the water cooler (or espresso machine) and marvel at clever, clever publicity stunts, like this one pictured here. In an effort to help knock Stella Artois off its pedestal as the hipster lager of choice, Italy’s Peroni beer has opened a shop at 146 Bloor Street West in Toronto with a pop-up boutique “so exclusive, that it will invite consumers to window-shop only,” according to the press information. Emporio Peroni clearly targets the fashion crowd – the classic Italian blonde is the official beer of this season’s L’Oréal Fashion Week at Nathan Phillips Square. Watch for Peroni Nastro Azzurro at stylish nightspots and restaurants everywhere.
- Doug Wallace

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Snow Show

Each year after Thanksgiving weekend, I turn my attention to the long, cold winter ahead of us. If you’re anything like me, you must be excited about that crisp chill sneaking into the air, and probably can’t wait to start wearing mitts again! No, I’m not crazy – it’s just that ski season is right around the corner, and as most enthusiastic snow bunnies know, the Toronto Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show is in town to signal the unofficial start of the 2008-2009 winter season. Besides being the ultimate place to get your gear in order for the first powder day, this year’s show is your chance to get a sneak peek of the incredible Peak 2 Peak gondola debuting at Whistler Blackcomb in December. Twenty-eight monstrous “sky cabins” (including two with glass floors – not for the faint of heart!) will be shuttling skiers and boarders across 4.4 scenic kilometres between the resort’s two peaks. Maximizing slope time just got a whole lot easier! Even if you’re not planning to head out west, drop by the show this weekend and see what over 100 resorts from all around the world have to offer. It’s time to get stoked for your winter vacation!
- Jasmine Li, Online Editorial Assistant

Toronto Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show, Oct. 16-19, 2008, $15 for adult admission, Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto.

Hours:
Thursday: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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Get Your Chocolate Fix

I can’t think of anything better than a good martini to beat the end-of-summer blues. Well, maybe chocolate. Or men. If you happen to be in Vancouver or Toronto this fall, there’s a way to get all three. Kinder Bueno has morphed their delicious Bueno bar (chocolate, wafer and creamy hazelnut) into two indulgent desserts and one over-the-top martini – all of which will be served up at chocolate lounges in choice hot spots. I loved the tiramisu-inspired Bueno-misu (Bueno bars, mascarpone, whipping cream – ‘nuff said), but the highlight was definitely the custom martini. Some at my tasting complained that the Bueno-tini was too rich (whipped cream, cream, Bueno bars), or too strong (Godiva liqueur, Frangelico). For me, the delicious concoction went down smoother than suds on a hot day and left me wanting another. And if the Bueno boys are as tall, dark and handsome as they were during my lounge session, you’ll really struggle with that age-old question: is chocolate really better?
- Julia LeConte, Assistant Editor, Copy & Research

Kinder Bueno Chocolate Lounges:
Toronto: Brant House, October 17 & 18
Vancouver: Opus Bar, October 25

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Shop Talk

The stock market may be on shaky ground, but if the recent surge of U.S. chains opening in Canada is any sign, the home-design market can’t be in bad shape. In Toronto, you can head to Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate and Barrel, and as of October 16, the Williams-Sonoma-owned West Elm. Their location in the hip and still-rough-enough-around-the-edges-to-be-cool Liberty Village is sure to corner downtown’s colossal condo market – and for good reason. It’s a one-stop shop with great finds from furniture to tableware to organic bedding to curtain rods to light fixtures – all at very reasonable prices. Think Pottery Barn but younger and cooler. The store also features a virtual space planner so you can map out your new West Elm pieces within the dimensions of your rooms. And if you can’t fit it all into your compact hybrid, there is a delivery and assembly service that will set everything up wherever you want. It’s a good time to be moving after all!
- Andrea Mills, Home Associate

West Elm, 109 Atlantic Ave., Toronto, westelm.com.

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Cool Cuff

Wrists are all the rage this season, so why not deck yours out with a bracelet that gives back? Here are the top 5 reasons you should buy this cuff:

1. Cuffs are cool!
2. It’s etched with an adorable illustration by children at the Rebero Orphan Center in Rwanda.
3. It’s only $5!
4. It comes in silver or gold. Plus a black, rubber version for gents.
5. 100% of the net proceeds benefit YouthAIDS HIV-prevention efforts worldwide!

- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor

Aldo Fights AIDS cuff, $5, Aldo, youthaids-aldo.org.

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Hanging with Hudson

The Hazelton Hotel, in the heart of Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood, was quite the hot spot at 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon earlier this month, with editors eager to learn the secret behind Kate Hudson’s perfectly polished locks. The answer: David Babaii for WildAid. Hudson partnered with long-time hairstylist Babaii to create the new line of 12 hair products (everything from amplifying shampoo to styling spray) made from exotic, natural and renewable ingredients. Bonus: 10% of all profits is donated to WildAid (wildaid.org), a non-profit organization that works to end illegal wildlife trade.
Stay tuned; product will be hitting shelves at Shoppers Drug Mart soon. For more information, visit db4wildaid.com.
- Kyle Gordon, Assistant Beauty Editor

Image courtesy of MAS Communications.

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Store Opening Alert!

Yes, the rumours are true – Crate and Barrel is opening its first store in Toronto (our fingers are crossed for more stores across Canada soon) on September 25th. Because I’ve spent countless hours in the New York and Boston locations, I know first-hand that there is something for everyone at this design mecca, from stylish, big-ticket items (read – couches, tables and beds), to smaller, grab-and-go accessories. Oh, and let’s not forget the fabulous kitchen collection! I have my eye on this gorgeous, Asian-inspired cabinet – what a unique piece for storage and display. If you want to know what the buzz is about, schedule a shopping spree to Yorkdale Shopping Centre and see for yourself. But be warned, if you’re not partial to big crowds, you may want to wait a week or two. Tip: Brides-to-be, behold one of the best places to register for gifts!
- Hannah Bank, Assistant Home & Food Editor

Mandarin Sideboard, $1,100, Crate and Barrel, crateandbarrel.ca.

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Fifth Annual Fundraiser

Break open your wallet and let the bidding begin! On Sept. 25, Blundstone’s “Boot It Up” fundraiser takes over Toronto’s Steam Whistle Brewery with an auction for bedazzled Blundstone boots designed by local artists, personalities and musicians (including Izzy Camilleri, Nelly Furtado and a team from Metro Morning). With yummy refreshments, live entertainment and a boot-toss game (for prizes!), it promises to be a night to remember! All proceeds benefit Sketch – a community initiative that creates art-making opportunities for street-involved and homeless youth ‐ making this event a great way to give back. Plus, get a sneak peek of the top ten decorated pairs before the big event, at the Bata Shoe Museum from Sept. 15-24.
- Caitlan Moneta, Assistant Fashion Editor

Visit sketch.ca/bootitup or email bootitup@sketch.ca for tickets and more information.

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Friendly Pirates

I’ll admit it: I’m pretty clueless when it comes to doing anything mechanical. I knew if I took my beloved bicycle apart, it would not be going back together (properly, anyway). So what to do? Enter the Bike Pirates, a group of bicycling enthusiasts who run a do-it-yourself shop in downtown Toronto. Volunteers are on hand to show you how to do repairs, and tools are provided. The Pirates also fix old, beat-up bicycles to sell fairly cheap, so if you’re looking for a new(ish) ride, this is definitely the place to go. Donations are welcome, but not necessary. The shop is currently open Thursday and Saturday afternoons.
- Tasia Rivero, Online Intern

Bike Pirates, 1292 Bloor St. W., Toronto, bikepirates.com.

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Shoe Heaven

I've found my new happy place – StyleSense! Picture a shoe store the size of a football field, with rows upon rows of neatly displayed shoes... and bags... and wallets... and watches... and hats... and gloves... Oh my! The brands are to die for – big designers (whose names I can't spill, but you know them well) and tried and true classics for man, woman and child – all at a huge discount!
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor

StyleSense: Shoes and Accessories, Vaughan Mills Mall, 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive,
Vaughan; and Oakville Place, 240 Leighland Ave.,
Oakville; stylesense.ca.

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Hotel Honeybees

Great service and high-thread-count sheets aren’t the only reasons to visit Fairmont luxury hotels across Canada. Queen bees and their swarms have taken up residence on the rooftop of The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto and on the front-lawn gardens of The Fairmont Algonquin in New Brunswick. Toronto’s beekeeping initiative is part of an effort to serve local honey to the hotel’s guests, and the bees’ urban presence will increase city biodiversity and help pollinate thousands of plants. At a recent media event organized by the Toronto Beekeepers Cooperative at the Royal York, executive chef David Garcelon guided us through a honey tasting (not unlike a wine tasting) and highlighted the importance of local honey (visit ontariohoney.ca) as a means of promoting our ecological commitments to bee culture and local farmers. The three hives in the hotel’s apiary will produce about 600 pounds of the sweet stuff this season. I sampled it right from the roof and it was a sugary delight with a hint of citrus – yum!
- Hannah Bank, Assistant Home & Food Editor

Visit fairmont.com or call 800-441-1414.

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Good Girls’ Night Out

Although I usually reserve Tuesday nights as my personal girl’s night in, I’m making an exception on September 23rd to check out the 13th annual Eat to the Beat – a gala fundraiser hosted by Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada. While mingling with over 900 other guests at Toronto’s elegant Roy Thomson Hall, I’ll get to sample culinary delights from 60 of Canada’s finest female chefs including Food Network TV personality Anna Olson, sip on stylish martinis from Pearl Pomegranate Vodka Martini Bar and if I’m lucky, score some sweet swag. It will be a pretty wonderful way to spend a Tuesday evening – all in support of a great cause. So why not join me?
- Laurie Jennings, Managing Editor

Eat to the Beat, September 23, 2008 at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., Toronto. Tickets, $150 each, eattothebeat.ca.

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Shop Talk

Finding wardrobe pieces that the girl sitting next to you on the subway isn’t sporting can be a challenge. But with Vancouver must-stop shop Jonathan+Olivia opening a sister store this month in Toronto, discovering unique items just got a little easier. Displayed against raw wood, painted textures and exposed steel beams, coveted labels such as Acne Jeans, Alexander Wang, Opening Ceremony and APC (a personal fave I’ve been searching for since returning from a trip to Paris) as well as several other exclusive-to-the-store collections, will make this standout shop a style maven's haven.
- Caitlan Moneta, Assistant Fashion Editor

Dress, $475, Surface to Air at Jonathan & Olivia, 49 Ossington Ave., jonathanandolivia.com.

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American Invasion

Following the lead of other major retailers such as Sephora and Forever 21, American chain Bath & Body Works has set its sights north of the border. Offering favourites like C.O. Bigelow, Aromatherapy and True Blue Spa, the stores are bound to be your new go-to when looking for bath and beauty indulgence. And with scents like Black Raspberry Vanilla and Brown Sugar & Fig, the company’s own signature collection is a must-have line. This fall, keep an eye out for stores in Edmonton, London, Guelph, Mississauga and Toronto. Visit bathandbodyworks.com to check our more of their divine beauty brands.
- Tasia Rivero, Online Intern

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LIV Style

The cozy luxury of bedding store, Au Lit Fine Linens, has just been translated into a new lifestyle shop, LIV by Au Lit. The sister operation first opened its doors three months ago at the former Nestings Home Furnishings location on Eglinton Avenue West. The warehouse-like first floor is arranged with a maze of beautifully displayed scenes featuring home ware that leans toward a shabby-chic/French-country style. Etched glasses, elegant linens and scalloped-edged dishes are presented alongside romantic furnishings with linen upholstery, caning or ornate moulding. The lower level is chockablock with even more Louis XVI-inspired pieces. Not just a home store, LIV also carries an exclusive line of trendy clothing, jewellery and leather handbags. Comfy t-shirts, beautiful summer dresses and pretty beads are sure to catch your eye.
- Leah Weber, Home Market Editor

Yedi cup and saucer, $8, LIV by Au Lit. 418 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto, 416-481-2300, livbyaulit.com.

Know of a new shop opening in your city that you think we should cover? Email us at webeditorial@wish.ca.

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Looky Here!

I recently attended a party at West Queen West jewellery boutique, Made You Look. I had passed by the store many times before, but never ventured in and never quite understood what set it apart from other jewellery shops. But as soon as I stepped inside, the difference was apparent – there was a huge, state-of-the-art jewellery creation studio at the back of the store. Twenty in-house designers work on site 24-7, and are available to discuss their work or even consult on a custom design for you. Owner Sarah Hamel pitched the idea for the studio/store while still a student in George Brown College’s jewellery arts program. Her classmates loved the concept and a few signed up on the spot. Some are even still working out of the space today – seven years later. Now there are two locations – the original fine jewellery shop and studio on the north side of the street, and a new, fun and funky costume mecca on the south – with hundreds of styles between them, and a little something to add to everyone’s jewellery box.
– Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor

Drop pendant necklaces, $95, by Aimée Kennedy. Made You Look Jewellery Studio & Gallery, 1338 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-463-2136, madeyoulook.ca.

Know of a new shop opening in your city that you think we should cover? Email us at webeditorial@wish.ca.

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Holy Hermès

I recently attended the grand opening of Toronto’s brand new Hermès store at 130 Bloor St. W., just a hop across the street from the old location. The stunning space mixes modern (sleek metal, limestone and wood displays) with traditional (moulded glass light fixtures originally designed for Hermès in 1925), and provides 221 square metres of space to show off the beautiful leather goods, whimsically printed scarves, colourful bracelets, and equestrian-inspired ready-to-wear. The party was one of the best I’ve been to all year with champagne flowing, tasty treats circulating and Toronto’s most fashionable mingling about (this was one RSVP people didn’t pass up). Even if a diamond-dripping Kelly bag isn’t on your shopping list (oh yeah, it’s there), the store is worth a visit to check out Parisian style at its finest.
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Associate

Hermès, 130 Bloor St. W., Toronto, hermes.com.

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Well Suited

Bespoke is the be-all and end-all of custom-made suits. The term bespoke comes from London’s Savile Row. The saying, “to be spoken for,” meant that a certain bolt of fabric had been claimed by a customer and could not be used until his suit was entirely completed. Bespoke is more than just custom-made. Entirely handmade suits are tailored based on a series of measurements (not an existing pattern), and according to the customer’s every request. To carry on this tradition, tony Toronto shop, Harry Rosen, has just made a spectacular addition - a 4th floor bespoke studio. From a starting price of $3,450, your man can have a one of a kind, beautiful suit made just for him.
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Associate

For more information, visit harryrosen.com.

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