NOW Magazine's Best Of Toronto Issue

NOW Magazine recently published its "best of Toronto" issue and, as expected, our area and environs is home to a lot of winners. It's voted on by readers so -- yeah!
A few examples: Victory Cafe for Best Pub; Karma Co-op for best Bulk Food AND best Green Grocer; Fiesta Farms for Best Supermarket; Insomnia for Best Lounge AND Best Martini; and Sonic Boom for Best Record Store.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Insomnia Raffle

Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge, on the south side of Bloor, just east of Bathurst, helps a family in need every Christmas.
Here's the scoop about this year:"Help Us Help a Family In Need This Holiday Season! Charity Raffle Tickets on sale at Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge from now until December 19th.

For $5 you can enter to win these amazing raffle prizes:
* iPad mini! Value $329 - Donated by Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge

* Two $50 gift certificates from Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge

* $100 Gift card for Best Body Bootcamp! 

* Creemore weekend getaway! Weekend for two in Creemore, 1 night accommodation at the Creemore Inn Bed and Breakfast, A VIP Tour of Creemore Springs Brewery, A $100 gift certificate for dinner at the Sovereign Restaurant.

* Free Tarro Card reading! Value $120 by Liz Harpur

* Free week of children’s summer camp at St. Alban’s Boys Club!
* Gift Package from INI Hair Design! Value $165 

Raffle Draw December 20th, 2012.

More to Come!

All donations and money from the sale of the raffle tickets will go to help this years family in need. You are helping a single mother of a 20 month old little boy and a two month old little girl who are in great need. If you are interested in making a donation of goods to the family please contact tasha@insomniacafe.com.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!"
Cheers,

Vanessa

The Funk Hunters, Skank Honto and Splattermonkey At Insomnia

You know, I must say, that's probably going to be the most interesting headline ever on my Blog: "The Funk Hunters, Skank Honto and Splattermonkey At Insomnia."

Here's the scoop, quoted from BlogTO.

"Funkin' Fresh Fridays is your ticket to finding the best djs in the Annex, and the best part is that the ticket is free since there is no cover! Friday February 17th marks a big night as we've been blessed with the opportunity for one of Canada's hottest acts to come and supply some musical awesomeness."

Cheers,
Vanessa
PS Skank Honto, Skank Honto, Skank Honto. Going to be stuck in my mind now!

Insomnia Fundraiser Tonight for Japanese Relief Efforts

Local bar/restaurant Insomnia is holding a fundraiser this evening from 9 pm to midnight to benefit relief efforts in ravaged Japan.
The write up that I found is a bit of poetry, so I'll leave you with it:
"come to insomnia on tuesday march 22 for another edition of
KEEP MOVING.

you know what i think?
stay close to me in times of crisis.

bring love, show love, share love.
stop for a moment.
come toast to your friends.
and toast to our blessed lives.
and toast in solidarity to our japanese friends at insomnia. reconnect over some drinks and be reminded of what drives the resilience of the japanese people: their stoic dignity. don't panic, just keep moving.

you know how we do. we bring what we are able. as always, proceeds from bar sales + all of damara's tips will be donated to the relief, via globalgiving
(http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/)

land of the rising sun, you will rise again."
Vanessa

Insomnia Cafe Christmas Fundraiser Tonight

Local haunt and brunch favourite Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge on Bloor, just east of Bathurst, holds its Christmas Fundraiser this evening starting at 6 pm.

I love this idea: the money raised helps a family in need. The proceeds from a silent auction, a raffle draw and a dollar from every drink sold will be donated to the cause.

Cheers,

Vanessa

P.S. Don't forget that this evening is the Royal St. George's Neighbourhood Carol Service at 7 pm at Walmer Road Baptist Church.

Toronto Then and Now Photos At Insomnia

There is a new photographic show in our neighbourhood that sounds intriguing:

"A few of my Toronto Then and Now remixes will be up at Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge from September 8 to October 6...

Most often when we hear the word remix we think of music and the re-making of an old song or the combination of two songs into one. Then and Now remixes follow the same logic. They remake an old picture by combining the old with the new. Blending two images gives us unique insight into how things have changed, how things could have been were some changes never made, and a general feel for the past while keeping the present in perspective."

Intrigued? Check out the Toronto Before website.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Musical Paintings At Insomnia

I like that some restaurants rotate art shows in their dining areas.
Whether you like the art or not, it gives you something to peruse and, possibly, discuss while dining.
And you can ignore it utterly if a deep talk with your dining partner is on your agenda.
I stumbled across a notification of Musical Paintings on display at Insomnia until the end of February and thought that you might want to check them out.
Insomnia is not one of my regular haunts, but the food has been grand any time that I have gone there. It's a place to chat and linger since the food isn't served up as quickly as it is at a sushi place, for example.
Cheers,
Vanessa