Monday, August 18, 2008

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Cothing Show Giveaway!

UpsideDive will be attending its first Clothing Show this September as a vendor!

Toronto's Fall 2008 Clothing Show takes place at the Better Living Centre @ Exhibition Place from September 26-28th.

In anticipation of this event, we are holding a draw to give away two prizes. One, 1 pair of tickets to the show. The other is a 10% off coupon. How to enter? Each purchase made through our online store will be considered an entry. No minimum purchase is required. It is not necessary to make a purchase -you may send an advice question to Dora to be entered into the draw, send questions to dahlingdora@gmail.com

Please note in your email entry or order entry, which prize you are entering for. If you are not a local resident of Toronto, or will not be able to attend the Clothing Show, you would enter the draw for 10% off coupon. 1 winner will be drawn from each entry pool- 1 from the coupon draw, 1 from the admission ticket draw. Enter as many times as you like.

Winners will be drawn on September 18th and will be notified via email on day of draw. Contest closes September 17th, 10pm EST.

Good Luck! Hope to see you at the Show!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Upside of Sustainability... DIYBusiness

So today in the Globe and Mail's Life section I read two articles about some very inventive businesses. They focused on the trend of running a restaurant/café, but in non-traditional setting; eateries in apartments, backyards and even on bikes. I feel this relates to sustainability in that this DIY mentality usually comes paired with a greater sense of community. These businesses are definitely not in it for the money (more the reason to support them.) Rather, love of food and social gathering trump all. One group would hold dinners and events to raise money for specific goals, whether it was a pet's surgery, or, unfortunately, a friends' funeral. Most often the money earned goes toward running the business, paying for what is needed instead of what is wanted. Generally the menus showcase locally bought ingredients from farmer's markets andd as cheesy as it sounds, more love in the food. I think a sustainable cycle needs to start with nurishment, which can only lead to a healthy run. If anything these ventures, though not always legal or long-standing, can only bring about change by challenging the norm of what a modern business means.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Dahling Dora: The Battle of Black and Brown!

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Upside of Culture - 5x4!

"5x4" an installation/performance conceived and directed by Cara Spooner and Alicia Grant, is happening this Friday, Aug. 8 at 8:30 at Cinecycle (129 Spadina Ave.)

20 performers + 20 household objects...

This is gonna be magic! Hope to see you there!

upside of...Sustainability: Vieux-Montréal

(Sorry guys this was supposed to be posted yesterday.)















This past weekend the boys and I went tripping to the beautiful city of Montreal. This would make it my second excursion to Montreal. My first was last year, a highlight of my life for it officially and finally allowed me to be somewhere outside of Ontario (Niagara bridge certainly does not count). I had never been to another Canadian province before and thankfully I never ever have to say that again. On that first journey I was so caught up in being free of my Ontario prison that I didn't get to do any touristy things. So this time Mike and P took me to Old Montreal, and thats when I fell in love. Beauty beyond words. I ignorantly asked Mike "This is what Paris must be like, right?!" Mike clarified that Paris is far too beautiful of a city to be compared with. (this is why I need to be a more worldly person) Anywho... the architecture in Old Montreal, blew my mind. Like in Paris (I said like) they've maintained and restored the buildings to keep the look of the city in its golden age. I could not get over the streets.



I envisioned myself cry laughing while bumpily catapolting down the cobbled streets in one of those horse-drawn buggies, trying to eat a bagette without choking. Speaking of food and wanting to gorge! The most amazingly mouthwatering goodness I have ever tasted. We went to Olive & Gourmando, a rustic cafe on St. Paul. I will never get the granola out of my mind. FIGS! Nobody ever puts figs in granola, tres bon, tres bon!!! Also, never do I want to have another coffee anywhere else for any other coffee following, would taste tainted. Le sigh if only it didn't take 6 hours to drive there, then I could have this kind of magic everyday. Better yet, I wish Toronto had this kind of magic. It's sad when I think about Toronto and how little we maintain or restore our architecture. We're so easily able to tear down history and stake up condos, whats wrong with us? I mean come on now guys, look what you've done to the Distillery District! We should have took notes from Montreal. I mean yes there are little pockets of our heritage scattered about, and some of it's okay but if you're gonna tear down or gut out a piece of the past, please of all things do not put a Tim Hortons or Mc Donalds in it's place, thats just down right insulting. I'm so glad I was able to get outside my Ontario box and see restoration done right and be hopeful that not everything will become extinct, that there are people who appreciation and have great respect for things of the past, so thanks Montreal for wiping clean my once muddy Ontario goggles and allowing a glimpse of true beauty.

.t.
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