City of Toronto: Black History Month – Events

February 1 – February 12th

Caroline, or Change: Produced by Acting Up Stage Company

Caroline is a struggling African-American maid to a Southern Jewish family in 1963 amidst the dawning Civil Rights Movement. Caroline, or Change mixes fact and fantasy, symbolism and reality, and a wide palette of musical styles to tell the story of ordinary people facing extraordinary change.

February  3rd – 5th

Harbourfront Centre: Kummba Festival

This year, the ever-popular Kuumba Festival returns with an amazing lineup that offers something for everyone. We’re talking USA vs. Canada comedy night, 50 years of Jamaican music, films, drumming, dance, storytelling, food, and a fashion workshop with supermodel Stacey McKenzie.

February 4 to February 19 — Music, Magic, Clash: New Voices in the African Diaspora

Black filmmakers in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Africa continue to invent new ways of telling the stories of resistance and healing that unite them. In celebration of Black History Month, TIFF Cinematheque puts the focus on new voices — from the impressive feature debut of Jamaica’s Storm Saulter, to a group of young African filmmakers beginning to make their mark in short films, to Toronto’s own Sherien Barsoum who reveals a remarkable story of black identity in the city’s suburbs.

Films screening from February 2 to February 15 include:

Better Mus’ Come dir. Storm Saulter
Saturday, February 4 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 at 3:45 p.m.

Colour Me dir. Sherien Barsoum
Tuesday, February 14 at 6:30 p.m.

February  4th

Afrotropolis – Wanderland: Black History through Fashion

Afrotropolis seeks to explore black history and culture through fashion, film and other art forms. Capturing different eras, the exhibition celebrates the cultural achievements of people of African origin.

February  7th

Black Diamonds Art Showcase at N’awlins Jazz Bar and Dinning

February 17th

Lower Ossington Theatre: “Fleurette Africaine: a collection of poetry and dance narratives exploring identity.”

This is an interdisciplinary performance based on the poetry of Charles C. Smith. The performance combines poetry with recorded music, dance, moving image, and other art forms.

Let us know if there’s any we missed!

These past few months especially, I needed a bit of a nudge to feel sassy, saucy, and sizzling again. I returned to my September article for some inspiration, and ‘Enrolling in a Pole Dancing Class’ particularly captured my attention.

The Group-On for an introductory sensual fitness class landed us at the front door of Brass Vixens on Queen Street West, just west of Bathurst. Walking up the stairs to the studio we were welcomed into a sensual décor of fuchsia walls and violet accents. There was even an inviting lounge area to mingle with other vixens! Once registered, we were ushered into the studio by our instructor, Dawn, where 11 brass poles were waiting for us to unleash our inner vixens.

Throughout the teaser class we shimmied and shook to music, as we learned a few moves and routines. Dawn even took us to the floor for tantalizing moves suitable for bedroom seduction. I was also able to live out my ultimate striptease fantasy song – ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ by Def Leppard (think back to Coyote Ugly)! All in all, I left feeling confident and excited to return another day to practice my moves.

Some of the benefits of Pole Dancing include:

• Weight loss (burn up to 250 calories per hour!)
• Improved body toning and core stability (specifically your abs, arms, and legs!)
• Increased coordination and flexibility

Build confidence, self-esteem, and body awareness. Increased fun, and the ability to unleash your wild side in a safe and fun environment!

Alexandra never thought about putting her business skills to fabulous use in the world of esthetics. That was until she met Karen and the two instantly bonded over their love for all things beautiful and their common goal to start a business. After recognizing a major gap in the beauty industry Alexandra and Karen took a leap of faith to combine their two passions of business and beauty to create Beautifully Bare Hi-Tech Spa – Toronto’s first mobile medical esthetics service – dedicated to partnering with existing beauty business owners to grow and expand their services.

The Bare Beauties ~ Karen and Alexandra ~ recognized that while there was this shift in the industry, business owners were troubled with the high barriers to entry when incorporating these medical esthetics services in to their businesses. From there, Beautifully Bare was born ~  with their primary business focused on partnering with salons & spas, fitness and wellness centres, Beautifully Bare has been successful in incorporating medical esthetics services to grow existing businesses.

With over 15 partners in the GTA and Northern and Southwestern Ontario, Beautifully Bare is an innovative business using top of the line technology and is a fresh brand that gives the beauty industry a much needed facelift.

Like Beautifully Bare on Facebook!

BHD loves the John & Jenn collection because it’s fun, flirty and fresh. This colourful collection has pieces to suit any style. Highlights include multi striped maxi dresses, oversized lightweight textural cardigans and subtly glam sequined mini dresses and tops that can take you from day to evening.

Muscat and Wells are known for their impeccable style and taste, the launch of John & Jenn continues to prove that this strong duo has a serious sense for what’s really good.

John & Jen is available at TNT, Holt Renfrew, Mendocino, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, E Street D and many more – a BHD Holiday gift idea that is sure to be a success.

The launch of their collection happened last week at TNT in Hazelton Lanes – check out some of the images from the launch party below!

12►

It’s all up to the jury now in the MJ case. (CNN)

Do the Google barrel roll! (Mashable)

Forbes names world’s most powerful people. (MSN.CA)

So, Greece is going to stay with Europe, for now. (CBC)

Poppy boxes get stolen in the GTA. Bodyguards hired. (City News Toronto)

Katie’s dress is here. Do you still care? (The Daily Beast)

Enjoy the photos of the adorable little pups, the models wearing Philip Sparks’ designs and the ravishing attendees. Oh, and how about the treat table? I’d gladly sit, stand, beg, speak or play dead to be rewarded with some of that yum.

Major kudos to the co-chairs of the event, Laura Serra and Paul Smith, and their team for being the voice of our furry friends.

Donate to Paws for the Cause. All proceeds go to the OVC Pet Trust Fund.