Open Bar

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Lori

I thought that might get your attention.

So it’s that time of year when your brain starts turning to mush. The count down has begun…seven weeks to freedom! It’s time to finish the essays, plow through the midterms, and hold your breath those last final weeks until finals are done. It’s the time of year when you need a break, or at least I do.

The other night I attended an Awards Gala for my college. It was held in the great hall at Hart House and the food was divine! It was so nice to forget about all the things I have to do in the next month and relax with some friends. It got me thinking about all of the amazing formals that are fast approaching.

Most colleges have end of year galas and I think we should all take advantage of the opportunity to de-stress, let loose, and get all fancy even if it’s just for one night.

I thought I would provide you with a listing of all of the colleges’ end-of-year parties and then you can let loose, enjoy the good food, and open bar if you so choose.

Unfortunately, this is all I could find. I was really surprised at how hard it was to locate these three events online. I know most of the colleges have these year end formals, so I’m hoping that all you readers out there will add to the list! Post a comment and I will make updates to this list as they come in.

So here it is:

Woodsworth College Gala (presented by WCSA) — March 31st, 2012 @ 7PM. The event will be held at the Fairmount Royal York…Shwanky!

St. Mikes College Annual Double Blue Formal (presented by the SMC student’s Union) — March 9th, 2012 @ 7PM. The event will be held at Le Jardin…also quite Shwanky!

Victoria College (VUSAC) presents Highball 2012! Speakeasy: A 1920s Affair on March 2nd, 2012 @ One King West Hotel. This one looks like a ball…teehee. The banner is cut off at the bottom, but it says a shuttle will be available from the college to the venue on the evening of the affair.

We all need a break! If anything you’ll finally have a chance to wear that fascinator you’ve always wanted to try out!

-Lori

Are you too old to trick or treat?!

Posted on October 21, 2011 by bockinglaura

Here comes Halloween!

Too old to trick or treat?!

Maybe…

But NOT too old to get dressed up!!!

Halloween may be the only driving force dragging me through mid-October midterms, but I think I’ll make it. Looking back on Halloweens gone by I can see the PowerPoint of my fave costumes. Now I’ve always preferred to dress up with other people in group costumes: pigs, chickens, cabana pool boys, sheep and old ladies to name a few!

This may seem like quite a few costumes, however the beauty of Halloween is that there are so many events to get dressed up for. Why wear just one costume when you can be something different each day leading up to the 31st! This month there are potential opportunities to wear a costume on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. If that’s too many different outfits for you, why not dedicate some study break time now to making an epic costume to wear again and again!?

Potential Events Agenda (i.e. ideas of sweet places to wear your nifty costume to!):

Thursday October 27^th- CLASS…what better way to entertain your colleagues and get some more wear time in.

Friday October 28^th– FIESTA…have one of your friends host a costume party!

Saturday October 29^th– SCARY SKATE (from 7:30pm-9pm bring your friends and enjoy some skating, games and refreshments at Varsity Centre!)

Sunday October 30^th– STRETCH WORKS at Hart House…limber up after your big skate!

Monday October 31st – YOUR FRONT DOOR! Buy some candy and check-out what the cool kids are wearing these days!

If you’re short on ideas I just happen to know of a lady who has PLENTY of DIY Costume ideas – check up on Martha Stewart’s latest digs!

Later Skaters.

Harry Potter and U of T?!

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Cynthia

Any Harry Potter fans out there? If you are, then I am sure you know what happened this weekend. Yesssssss, Deathly Hallows (part 1) was released in theatres!

I grew up with Harry Potter. I remember devouring the first three books when I was in Grade 6 and then eagerly awaiting subsequent new releases as I graduated from each grade.

Even though U of T is huge, one of the things that secretly comforted me when I first started here was that our college system was much like HP’s house system, and even more so that I was at Trin! We wear robes, yo.

But the books are completed and the films are approaching its end. The one thing that has been with me throughout the highs and lows of highschool and university applications and tests and pretty much the one thing that remained constant with me year after year is slowly fading into the recesses of my memory.

What delights me though, is how I’m coming to discover that this childhood friend of mine really hasn’t gone away. It started when I noticed that a photo of a student on the U of T homepage has a Gryffindor scarf wrapped around her neck. Then, when I did my Colleges series last year, Janine Hubbard, Recruitment and Outreach co-ordinator at Vic told us a fun fact:

Students often comment on how much our dining hall looks like the one in Harry Potter. Well, after a colleague did some research, he found out that our hall design was based on one at Oxford (Christ Church College’s dining hall), and it was used in the Harry Potter films, so we essentially have the same design!

HP has leapt off the pages of its canon and has taken a life of its own, going so far as to challenge and engage our student and academic life. Don’t believe me? For starters, Professor Alison Keith, chair of classics, credits the increase of interest in Latin courses at U of T to the Harry Potter series!

Two things that make me smile every time I hear about it are U of T’s Harry Potter lectures and our Quidditch team. What? You didn’t know we had these? Now you do, dear readers, now you do.

Shamefully enough, I couldn’t make either. I know, I know. I’m sorry. To make up for it, I wrote my final paper on a literary analysis of the rhetorical strategies in Harry Potter for my INI209 class. Concurrently, I wrote a 20-page essay on the Jungian perspective of Lady Gaga. I may have slept very few hours in those last couple of weeks of the semester, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy rereading HP looking for evidence while blasting Lady Gaga in my room.

Anyways, I digress. Every now and then, we have lectures on the science of Harry Potter. I really wanted to make “The Quantum Physics of Harry Potter”. The department even brought in a magician! Who said academia is all serious business? Luckily, you can experience the book and science nerdiness in all its glory here.

Apart from physics, Professor George Eleftheriades from the Department of Engineering (ECE) was researching the possibility of making invisibility cloaks, and finally… WE HAVE A QUIDDITCH TEAM.

I have Facebook friends on the Quidditch team and I saw pictures, but I can’t for the life of me find them. I did email the team and they said to keep checking back on their Facebook page for upcoming games next semester.

Muggle Quidditch is as ridiculous as it sounds. It’s a mish-mash of soccer and lacrosse and tag, except, you have a broom stuck between your legs. I’m going to be mature and adult and not make any of the litany of wildly inappropriate jokes that come to mind. Check out the photos from The Varsity. Despite sticking a broom between your legs and perhaps giggling self-consciously, the game is actually quite intense; just look at the photos from when McGill came over to teach us how to play. U of T went to the Quidditch World Cup a few weeks ago and played their first game against the NY Badassilisks (what a kickass name). We didn’t win, but I found a video of the action on Youtube:

Take a break from writing/studying and reminisce with me. What memories do you have of Harry Potter? Have you seen DH1 yet?

- Cynthia

Summertime, and the living’s easy

Posted on May 6, 2010 by liz.kagedan

Are you there, student population of U of T? It’s me, Lizzie.

Who am I? On a metaphysical/psychological level, I’m uncertain. Depending on who I’m talking to, I would describe myself as someone going into their fourth and final year of a Specialist in Economics and Political Science. Alternatively, I’m an aspiring journalist, law school hopeful, retail junkie, former classical singer, the list goes on …

In all honesty, I am a total geek. I get more nervous about going to a prof’s office hours than on a date (I’ve been known to change outfits multiple times in preparation). I usually have about four potential timetables (along with multiple drafts of each), as well as an ever-growing Word document with research on potential profs in preparation for course selection time.

But I have other interests, I swear. I like to think of myself as a clothing collector (read: I filled nine stuffed boxes with folded clothes when I moved a few weeks ago). I usually feed my addiction at the vintage stores in Kensington Market. I simultaneously love delicious food yet never seem to find the time to make it, so as a result I am forced to wander the streets of Toronto searching for the best sushi, Chinese buns, pizza, cupcakes and ice cream. My current obsession is a gourmet sandwich place on Bloor called Sky Blue Sky, where all the sandwiches are priced under $5 and named after Wilco songs. This combines two of my favourite things: indie-folk and carbs. I always love suggestions on delicious eats about town.

My first year, I existed almost exclusively on campus, so I’ve made a vested effort this past year to enjoy the city surrounding U of T (the University of What?).

Still, despite my best efforts, I’m usually on campus most of the time. This past exam period, I studied in shifts of 11 am–7 pm at a “fun” library (Graham, Pratt, anything with pretty interiors), then 8 pm–3 am at my home-away-from-home, Robarts.
It can feel like campus shuts down in the summer, but it doesn’t. There are still thousands of students taking courses here and lots of events and activities going on. Toronto, by contrast, really revs up in the summer–a mixed blessing for summer students, or those studying for all-too-important aptitude tests (like me).

In this little corner of the interweb, I hope to talk about both the best resources still available on campus and all the glorious things the city has to offer. I’ll also be passing along a few of my hard-learned lessons to students present and future.
Oh, the places we’ll go.

- Liz

A DIY Gift Guide for the Poor and Weird

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Liesl

A random assortment of gift ideas, for you. I broke my body, brain, and so-called ‘spirit’ this week, so, it’s a bit disjointed. I’m going to go cry now.

Box of Hugs/Kisses/Positive Mantras
Get an empty box… and fill it. Good for kids to give. Bad for kids to get.*
I recommend adding this gift along with another gift… You don’t want your figurative love to be plain laziness. The box can double as a storage box if you compress your love enough.

Make Your Cards so Gorgeous and Heartfelt That They Are the Gift
A 5 x 7” masterpiece. Yeah. But, seriously, if you personalize/artsy-it-up it enough, your loved one will appreciate your, cough, “unique” style and the time you put in making them a lovely card.
COUGH. They better.

Non-Sequitur Trinkets
If you’re doing the tiny gift bag thing for many of your friends, add… strange things. Strangely strange or strangely useful. Depends on who it’s for. Chop sticks (if you can’t eat with them, they’re hair pins), marbles, chap stick (which I lose often), tiny note pads, pens, paintbrushes, LED lights, I dunno, whatever. Extra, presentable trinkets from home are good. Think useful, or at least philosophical. Reuse. Dollar stores are a blessing, but… are also full of junk.
Also, bauble things. These can also make great jewellery, i.e., if you were to glue them to ring-things, bracelet things… push pins…
And candy. Always, always… give candy.

Mixtapes/Things Like Them
Once upon a time, there were things called ‘mixtapes’. Through analog magic, one recorded a series of songs, or one’s own voice, onto a cassette tape and could present it as a gift to a friend or record label fiend or something to that effect.
Make a mixtape, or burn a cd of songs for your someone special, labels and all. If you can sing, why not add your own voice? If you can TALK, why not add unnecessary commentary after every track?! Do a MIX-PODCAST.
If you’re really crazy, try a mix-Data-CD/DVD storage thing. Instead of just music, you can load it with pictures, random word documents, poems, website links, downloaded games, pixel art, msn conversations, anything you like that is special to the both of you. Awwww.

Lessons
Can you play the guitar? I can’t. Give someone free lessons in some brilliant ninja skill you have, whether it be singing, drawing, doing backflips… If materialism feels necessary, make little coupon thingies and stick them in a card.

Compiling(s) of Why-I-Love-Yous
Fariya suggested a Powerpoint presentation of a 100 reasons why you love someone. Well, if that ain’t th’ sweetest thang I eva heard I must be listenin’ t’ honey now mustn’t I? 100 reasons why you love them, 100 reasons why they’re great, etc…
Or, make a small book of their best qualities. “NEVER LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT UP”
^_^

Favours
I stole this from a friend’s brain. Give ‘guaranteed’ favours; save for assassinations and other deplorable actions, offer to unconditionally help a friend out with… I dunno, the dishes, an assignment, moving… once again, the adorable paper coupons in a card are applicable.

A Personal Event
Insult someone all day long. I’m just kidding. Throw someone a ‘just for you’ party; cook lunch/dinner for them, pamper them for a day, just spend time with them… These are the kinds of things I hear people only do for their boyfriends and garbage on Valentine’s Day. Yeah, there are other people in your life, I’m sure, and days other than Valentine’s Day. [/scorn for youth]

Wearable Doodles
Decorate. Clothes.
White shirts are a good place to start. Use sharpies or fabric markers. I suggest Crayola, as others fabric markers can be expensive… as can fabric paint. Buy a white/light shirt in your loved one’s size (if you are certain of that size), steal a pair of your friend’s pants that they do not want, get blank canvas shoes from the craft store…
I want to say you can use plain acrylic paint for fabric as well, but I have yet to try it myself. It would also be 107% permanent, a frightening prospect for non-Monets.

Personalized/Theme Gift Baskets
For example, movie-themed, with popcorn, a DVD, a blanket, like this cute one here**. One can also try travel-themed, if your loved one has a country they’d love to/will visit, or if you’ve got a little person on your list who has yet to travel… Cat-themed, Star Wars-themed, Uncensored Bugs-Bunny themed, etc. Fill it with anything and everything pertaining to said theme. Darth Vader Pez Dispensers?
(**Yes, I frequent that site.)
Here are examples of more personalized gift baskets. Kind of like theme-y one, but… person-themed.
Such as a ‘pamper kit’ of bath stuff for Mom, ‘beer kit’ for Dad, a ‘memories’ kit for your best friend… For your sister… a Star Wars kit…
(Ha ha)

Collage covered/customized Blank Journals
You could even add secret messages every few pages. If you have time, can you make the journal yourself from scratch? Can you make the PAPER? Can you handle the TRUTH?

The Deft of Needle
Haveth you the basics of sewing? Tote bags, and those little ipod/mp3/cell phone cases are easy and quick to make.
Sewing ninjas can advance to scarves and hats for winter! Sewing many ad nauseum can cover quite a few people on your list. Or I imagine it would. We’ll find out after exams, now won’t we.
And you know those expensive heating pads? Yeah. Dried corn in a sewn up bag. Right here.
(NB: I think rice works too.)

EATS
I can’t cook, I can’t bake, maybe you can. Everyone eats, thus everyone can appreciate food as a gift. Provided it’s fresh and all. A candy example; Peppermint bark, chocolate melted with broken candy canes, is super simple and super tasty.
Make, and present beautifully any food you are good at making. Those possible to save or refrigerate are always good. My mom makes meatpies for our family friends and presents them on lovely plates wrapped in cellophane with ribbon and whatnot, but people usually care about the meatpies.
Compile a book of quick recipes for your fellow, starving college student friends. Example here. Don’t be intimidated by the immaculate Martha Stewart presentation; it’s just a pretty binder with pretty paper.
Ironically, Stewart herself (or her site) provides what looks like a simpler version. No, I do not frequent this site. I don’t even know how I got there.
Or try a ‘recipe in a jar/box’, in which the ingredients are already packed in nicely and ready to use.
Lastly, minimize the waste you produce. Use the comics section of a newspaper as gift wrap, save the wrapping you get, use and old (WASHED) shirt, do whatever, use your brain. Get creative. I’m tired, go away.

LINKS

Message board thread of random ideas from random individuals.

DIY Gifts for Geeks. Contains a ‘winter emergency car kit’ you can put together for cheap.

Inexpensive DIY Gift Roundup #4: Gifts for Teens & Twenty-somethings Or so they say. I kid.

DIY Network: Christmas Gifts . Plentiful, but some possibly time-consuming.

A Do-It-Yourself Christmas: 34 Great Gifts You Can Make Yourself. You will spot for yourself which ideas I ‘borrowed’.

-Liesl

* (blank stare) “But I wanted an Xbox…”

Get your Beaver Tales at the Art Centre

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Mary

Despite having lived for several years with a number of artists, I don’t feel at all like I’ve got a tangible grasp on the meaning behind much fine art. If spelled out for me, the conceptual foundations behind certain pieces do emerge (albeit still somewhat murkily); other times academic classes have helped me appreciate the historical context in which art movements occur, and how particular environments shape the meaning and purpose behind specific works. Nonetheless, when passing through the threshold of a gallery, I often wonder, “Will I get it?”

I definitely felt a bit of this sensation when I went into UTAC (University of Toronto Arts Centre) this week. I knew that the gallery had on a show called Beaver Tales: Canadian Art and Design, which sounded promising as the “design” part of the title created images of a show a little more pragmatic and a little less abstract than does “fine art.” The piece that had initially lured me into the gallery was a Robert Southcott installation called United We Stand; which consists of a bench made of four separate chairs, whose backs all converge to look like knotted, wooden antlers. Probably not pragmatic by definition, but in my opinion, much more palpable than some fine art.

The first thing I noticed upon entering the gallery (found inside University College, the entrance accessible through the quad’s courtyard) was a piece by Tristan Zimmerman, who happens to be a good friend’s husband, who, like my friend, is an OCAD graduate. I had no idea he had a piece in the exhibition, and was delighted to see one of the heads from his Plastidermy collection hanging on the wall. Most of the pieces were, like the deer head and the deer chairs, installation pieces. Many of them incorporated textile design or construction, such as Virginia Johnson’s deer print cotton, or Mauricio Affonso’s Trillium Scarf. The inclusion of textiles really appealed to me, as I am an avid sewer. The meaning behind a piece of art is far more intelligible if I can understand its process. Likewise recognizing the materials from which a work is constructed, and the skill involved in producing the item are factors that enhance my appreciation for the work.

Plastidermy - Tristan Zimmerman

Each piece in the show melded together function and aesthetic, spiced with a little Queen West Canadiana. Despite my own lack of artistic comprehension, I really did feel like I was learning, interacting, and getting something from the show.

Admission is free, and the gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday.

-Mary

Life @ U of T

Category Archives: Fashion