Monday, May 9, 2011

A Taste of Greece in Montreal


Milos. A world renowned restaurant, having locations in Montreal, Athens, New York City, Miami and Las Vegas. I'm writing about this restaurant on a bit of a personal level also, due to the fact that the owners and founders of all three of these locations are my neighbors. My neighbors who live in Town of Mount Royal, have two children; one living in TMR also and the other living in Athens, a private yacht in Greece and many properties in both New York and Athens. They live the life everyone wants. This is due to the success of their restaurants. They serve upscale Mediterranean cuisine, all imported directly from Greece. Every week, the Milos truck stops in front of my house to deliver food products directly off the plane from Greece so that my neighbors are able to have these in their home to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are some of the nicest people I know in fact. The Milos restaurants are definitely restaurants you need to check out if you want an exquisite meal.The go beyond what is "good" at a restaurant with extremely nice touches in every meal.

Also, they recently opened another restaurant, about a block away from Milos, called Cava.From what I hear, it's also very successful, so successful that it's extremely difficult to get a reservation.

A few years ago, they opened "Le Petit Milos", a charcuterie where all the products they used at their restaurant, were available for purchase. I even remember going to the grand opening where food was readily available for us.

Acqua For Life


Once in a while, we hear about amazing things that people are doing to help the world become a better place. It's even more incredible when the people doing these amazing things have a lot of money and are aware of the problems people around the world face. They use their money to help, which I find is incredible. Recently, I was watching TV and came across a commercial for a program called Acqua For Life.It was spearheaded by fashion designer Giorgio Armani. The way it works is that at the beginning of March 2011, every bottle of Giorgio Armani fragrance sold will be used to provide water for under privileged communities in Ghana. In Mr. Armani's own words, “Water is such a simple word, but like all simple words it has a profound significance because where there is safe water, there is life, energy, wellbeing, a serene encounter with nature and a marvelous sense of freshness,” said Giorgio Armani.



Check out the serene TV spit here :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi44EtbFjd4

And the website here for more info: http://www.acquaforlife.org/home

Style Icon of The Year



At the Royal Wedding, everyone was awaiting Kate Middleton and her dress. For the months leading up to the wedding, everyone was asking the same questions. What would her dress look like? Who was designing the dress? No one ever expect this but, there was a new lady that would come and steal the show. Her name is Pippa Middleton, also known as Kate's sister. Her dress choices were showstoppers, that for days after would be talked about all around the world.Many people even called her the new style icon. Dress after dress, she continued to impress. Her timeless white dress worn at Westminster Abbey for the ceremony was designed by local London designer Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. Later that day, she changed in a form-fitting dress by another London designer Alice Temperley that was sure to catch eyes everywhere.Check the pictures out above. Which one do you like better? Make sure to keep an eye out for her next style choices, because I'm sure she'll be back with a ton more perfect fashion choices.

The Best Of Miley






It's no secret that I adore Miley Cyrus. If I had her closet, I would be the happiest girl in the world. The dresses she picks for every single red carpet she goes to are incredible. I end up liking every single one of them. So today, I decided to write on "The Best Of", a collection of all of my favorite red carpet moments of her. The dresses that I die for. Her choice of gowns are always classy and timeless and she surprises us every time.

Royal Wedding Exclusive



So I know it's a little late, but myself, and the rest of the world got a little caught up with the death of Osama Bin Laden so I was never able to provide commentary on the Royal Wedding. The first comment I would like to make was that the fashion that day was AMAZING. Every single guest in the Westminster Abbey that day was dressed to impress. I woke up at 3:30 am that day and was refresh by all the tasteful attire these people were wearing. It only made me want to update my own wardrobe. All I have to say is that Kate, now known as Catherine's dresses throughout the day were GORGEOUS. And when I say gorgeous, I mean GORGEOUS. The minute I layed my eyes upon her wedding dress, I was speechless. Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen made a gown that will go down in history. It is a timeless piece that everyone in the world wants to get their hands on. Just wow. But I was EVEN MORE amazed by the dress that she changed into at the Queen's party for the newly married couple. Once again, Kate appeared in a Sarah Burton creation that was TO DIE FOR. I want it!

My question to you is : Which dress did you perfer? Her timeless, yet elegant wedding dress or her classy and gorgeous after-wedding dress?

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Sweet 701.


Alright, so today I'll let you all in on one of my secret places that you'll most likely find me a few nights per month.

Located in Old Montreal, Suite 701 is a restaurant lounge in the Places D'Armes hotel and one of Old Montreal premier party destinations. THE best if you ask me. The service is impeccable, the food is amazing and the drinks are tasty. It's not as well known as Med or Primadonna, which is why sometimes I like it better.It's more low key (although really not that low-key), although still considered one of Montreal's hotspots. Equipped with different colored lights, this place is FULL on weekends and extremely hard to get a reservation at. It is housed in a room with huge ceilings,a pink bar and an incredible DJ. This is not to be confused with a supperclub. There's no dancefloor at Suite 701. Just tables and a bar. It's got an extensive wine and cocktail list, with a glass of Moet & Chandon and a Raspberry Mojito on it. It has a great menu full of yummy first courses such as an upscale poutine, with homemade fries, sauce, cheese and steak along with a lobster bolognese! They also have bigger plates to share, like their seafood platter with crab legs, shrimp, oysters and muscles. Everytime I go, I have the crab cakes. I know it doesn't sound like a meal, but it to me it. Three crabs cakes and a crab leg is sufficient for me. The best part of the Suite 701 experience are the waiters. They're extremely helpful, polite and know their stuff, in case you may have any questions. This is definitely some place you NEED to go if you're looking for a fun environment with some good food!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The NEW Jersey Shore. Louis V included.




Luxury cars. Beautiful people.Huge homes. 5 star hotels.No, you're not in Los Angeles.

Last summer,my family and I made our annual summer trip to New York City. We visit this wonderful city on every occasion we get throughout the year, but every summer it's a must. We love it. But last summer,we wanted a beach vacation too.We were already going on a trip to Boston and New York and needed some time in the sun and sand, but didn't want to travel far for it. My mom did a little bit of research and found a small beach town in the Jersey Shore. We had gone to typical beach towns like Cape Cod and Virginia Beach and we didn't want the tackiness of that anymore. The town we found was Long Branch. Long Branch is located just an hour from New York City and really is anything but your typical beach town. It's a town full of stylish, fashion-conscious people with money. As one of the hotel people had said," A place for only the rich to vacation." And the hotel clerk was rich.After doing some research, I found that back in the day, some of Hollywood's most famous stars had vacationed there. It has boutique 5-star hotels, designer shops and some pretty trendy restaurants, with, NO souvenir shops in sight! This is a beach town you must visit if you want to truly relax and get some excellent special treatment anywhere you go. Drive down the main boulevard and you'll find some GIGANTIC mansions. The Real Housewives of New Jersey much?

The Royal Day


Tomorrow is a VERY important day. Possibly the most important day in this decade! Kate Middleton and Prince William will wed tomorrow at Westminster Abbey in England. This is a huge event and once they announced their engagement a few months ago, was HUGE news. So, who will be watching tomorrow? What do you think Kate will be wearing? Who will be designing her highly anticipated dress? I guess we'll have to tune in tomorrow to find this out!


Monday, April 18, 2011

The Playground.


Las Vegas is often known as an adults playground. Entertainment, top notch food and nightlife is at it's best in this city. Shopping is also amazing here, with many high end stores, such as Louis Vuitton and Dior. The hotels themselves on Sunset Strip are just enough to make a trip special and worthwhile. In Vegas, anything goes. You want something, it's at your finger tips. It's where the rich go to party. If you stay for a night or even a few days, I suggest staying at the Venetian. Rated one of THE BEST hotels on the strip, it goes the extra mile for it's clients. It has several casiones, it's room are HUGE and it's shopping is spectacular. All this to make you feel as if you're strolling along the canal in Venice. It's incredible! Many many many celebrity chefs also call Vegas home. Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse as well as Wolfgang Puck. I suggest making reservations at Restaurant Charlie, from the famed Charlie Trotter for some amazing food. Then there's the shopping. Take a stroll down the Venetian Canal Shops in the Venetian and you'll find the boutiques of Kenneth Cole and Dooney & Burke. Vegas is sure to excite you as the city is a constant show in itself.

CRAZY ABOUT SALAD.


My latest craze is salad. Salads are amazing, healthy and extremely yummy.
A really good salad place is Mandy's. The staff is super nice and helpful, knowing all their customers by name and the service is really good and quick. They have a ton of topics, including different fruits, meats, cheeses and crunchy stuff to choose from, along with a "salad of the month".
They have three locations, all located in a Mimi&Coco store. One on Shebrooke Street, the other on Wellingdon and the other on Laurier. I've been to all three locations and I can say they are all equally as fabulous. It's definitely worth the trip and the price.

From Rome To Milan.

On a recent friday night, I was doing some shopping for my high school prom when I came across a small store in Old Montreal, my favorite part of the city. I decided to go in and see what it was all about, and to my surprise, I fell in love with this store. It wasn't like anything I had ever seen before. Located on St. Paul Street, LOU LOU carries only designer clothing. Italian designer clothing. You can find anything from Giorgio Armani, to Roberto Cavalli to Dolce and Gabbana, each item handpicked by the store owner and shipped back to Montreal from Europe every single season. I died when I heard this. I was in shock. I was surprised. I mean, how many stores do this? None that I know of. Obviously, after looking through the various racks in the store, I finally came across THE dress, a gorgeous Roberto Cavalli gown, like the one Miley Cyrus wore on her Marie Claire cover and like a slew of other celebrities have worn to various red carpet events. It was love, and I'll definitely be returning to check out the next collection once the owner has returned from his next trip in a month!

Secrets of the 514


Montreal has AMAZING restaurants. Okay, I somehow feel the need to say that again. MONTREAL HAS AMAZING RESTAURANTS. Got it now? Okay good.

I want to share with you a list of all my favorite restaurants in this wonderful city. Chefs come from all over the world to open restaurants here and it is their pleasure to come and cook here. So here are my favorites:

Med Bar and Grill
Tokyo Sushi Bar

The Face of Ogilvy IS The Face of Canada.


So, I'm a sucker for fashion. That's no secret. I LOVE LOVE LOVE fashion. A few years ago, I discovered an amazing model, who is now known to be my favorite. I also found out that she's Canadian...which is a plus!

Coco Rocha was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to British Columbia at a very young age. She is Irish, Russian and Welsh and belongs to Elite Models Management.

The reason why I personally like her is not just because she's another pretty, skinny model but because she's a pretty, HEALTHY model. She's someone who has spoken out on many occasions about eating disorders in the industry and how it's important to be healthy and take care of your body. She is a normal weight and on top of that, she is also very talented.
From her early teenage years, she has practiced and participated in many Irish tap dancing competitions and has walked on every runway possible, from Dior to Chanel to Yves St. Laurent.

She is also the face of Ogilvy Department Stores as of recently and she looks gorgeous in their ads.

Go Coco!

Below is a GORGEOUS video of Coco Rocha's wedding. I've watched it sooo many times, I love it, it's just beautiful!

Friday, April 1, 2011

ADDICTED.


I admit it. I'm an addict. I'm addicted to Hollywood gossip. Everyday I come back from school and check 7 of my favorite Hollywood gossip sites! Crazy? Kind of! Interesting? Very!

See, over the years, I've gone through sooo many gossip sites, and i'm talking about hundreds, but I've ended up picking my favorites and saving them in my bookmarks! I'll be sharing them with you today, including the links, and i'll see what you think!



Do you check these websites? What others are you currently OBSESSED with?

BABY ZOE!



This may come as a little late, but I'm super excited to announce that one of my FAVORITE people, has just given birth to a baby boy!

Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman just gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Skyler Morrison Berman and this past thursday the world got to see their little bundle of joy for the first time! He was born in Los Angeles, where they both reside.

Zoe had confirmed in November on her twitter page that she was indeed pregnant with her first child!

This is super exciting news and I'm looking forward to seeing the styles this baby will be rocking as he gets older!

Congratulations!

Khloe Khloe Khloe!


This past month, the Middle East released their own edition of Cosmopolitain Magazine, possibly one of the most famous magazines in the whole entire world! I was pleased to see that Khloe Kardashian was on the cover of this issue? Why, you may ask? Simple because I feel like she's an amazing role model for women everywhere and she continues to inspire women. I'm excited to go and pick up a copy and see what she has to say.

Fashion Turned Ugly.


As you know, on this blog I often talk about fashion. Fashion shows. Fashion stores. And just fashion in general. We all think of fashion as being this glamourous thing that only the rich and famous can only be a part of, but what many people don't realize, is that there's an ugly side to fashion and the fashion industry.

Did you know that 1.5% of Canadian women aged 15-24 suffered from an eating disorder?
Did you know that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness?

Yes, I'm talking about eating disorders. These deadly disease has taken the lives of millions of people and the fashion world has played a role in this. Models are told to lose weight from their size 2 frame constantly and the everyday woman is impacted by these models and the media and "the norm" is no longer a healthy beautiful woman. It's a girl who's rib cage is exposed and who's hair is falling out completely from malnutrition.

I really believed that it was my duty to address this serious issue.
A new six episode television series does an even better job at addressing it, and showcasing the REAL lives of those living with anorexia and bulimia, without sparing any details or deadly images. It's called "What's Eating You" and can be seen on E!


Let's please shed this unhealthy image of what is BEAUTIFUL and find what TRUE beauty is.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

COACH For Japan


As we all know, a horrible earthquake had hit Japan less than a week ago and an incredible number of support is being given to the country already. Coach, the famous fashion house is also giving a helping hand. They have pledged to donate almost $5 MILLION dollars to the Japanese Red Cross Society!

That's AMAZING! It's good to hear that everyone is doing what they can to help out!

We Remember.


On March 11th, 2011 an 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami hit Japan and it's surrounding areas killings thousands of people and injuring thousands more. Many are left without homes and seperated from their families. An unimaginable amount of damage has been done to the country and has left hundreds of thousands hopeless. We can bring hope to these people and show them that everything will in fact be okay. By donating to the Red Cross, you allow these people to start up a life again, so please take initiative and donate now.

FRESH Off The Runway.





A few weeks ago, every major city in the world was showcasing their fashion weeks. This year, one show in particular caught my eye and for a weird reason. I'm not normally a big fan of this next super fashion house, but this season, they have not let me down. I'd probably call their spring/summer collection the best out of all the up and coming collections. Dolce & Gabbana.Why you may ask? Because it's filled with white clothing, which brings a fresh new look to fashion house and is MY color for the summer. They also feature some sleek black pantsuits which are TO DIE FOR. I can't stop looking at the slideshow for this collection! If you want to check it out, here it is. The dresses are cute and feature a lot of embellishments which is my current obsession.

SECRET: Miley Cyrus wore a D&G dress from this collection in her Marie Claire photoshoot.


Whatta Primadonna.



It's no secret that I ADORE the restaurant scene in Montreal. We have some of the most amazing restaurants with THE best food, ambience and decor and SO many world renowned chefs from around the world. I recently wrote about my experiences at Med and Cavalli, both owned by the same two men, and I'm ready to add another restaurant to that list. Primadonna. Located right across the street from Med, on the happening St-Laurent Boulevard, this is yet another amazing restaurant. The menu ressembles that of Med, italian fusion, with some fish and meat plates and an EXTENSIVE drink menu. The service was also incredible. I really have no complaints about this restaurant. Once again, another hit for Mr. Damiani and Mr. Caruso! Well done! Their last restaurant for me to visit, Buonanotte, located right next door to Med. Keep checking back for my thoughts on that one!

I DIE FOR FASHION.


Fashion is my life. I'm not afraid to admit that. I'd die for fashion. I spend hours and hours looking through every single slide of my favorite designer's runway shows every time fashion week time comes. Milan, Paris, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Miami. SOOOO many fashion weeks to choose from! Obviously, New York is my favorite, because their shows are always impressive and draw a HUGE amount of celebrities and press! Just recently, I found a really amazing site that I check EVERY day, which allows normal people like me to create your own photoshoots with some amazing clothes to showcase your talents and amazing looks. It gives me inspiration if i'm looking for a party look or a girls night out look. The site is called LOOKBOOK.nu and I love to check it every day for the hundreds of new looks thats are posted every day. They even have a mobile site that gives me easy access, even when I'm on the go and while I'm out shopping for an event! This is DEFINITELY a site you need to check out.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Are YOU Excited?

Tonight is the annual Grammy Awards! Are you excited?! There is a list of wide-range performers tonight, from Lady Gaga to first time performers like Mick Jagger and Justin Bieber! To be honest, I'm most excited to see how Mick Jagger does! I mean, he's a Rolling Stone! So tune in and see what happens!


8pm on CBS.

Oh- Miley!






About a week ago, I was surfing the internet when I came across pictures of the new Marie Claire magazine for the month of March featuring cover girl Miley Cyrus. I'm not gonna lie, but Miley is pretty much my idol, so when I was these pictures I was shocked. Everything looks perfect in this shoot. From her hair, to her clothes, to her poses, it's all so perfect. Whoever was the stylist on this shoot, did an amazing job, putting Miley is some of the seasons finest clothes by Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Cavalli. Right now, I'm dying over the Dolce & Gabbana dress she wears. It's just gorgeoussss! Here is a sneak peek of the shoot and an extra behind-the-scenes picture too!


N.Y.C. Gourmet


So, in about a month, I'll be returning to my favorite city in the world...New York City! There are a ton of really cool restaurants that I want to go to next, so I wanna share the list with you guys! Keeping up with the theme of this blog, they are nothing less than glamourous! These are some of the best known gorgeous restaurants with amazing food and decor!

First up is Tao. An asian-fusion restaurant on New York's ritzy upper east side, it houses a 16 foot tall buddha and a fountain full of goldfish! The ambience is insane in this restaurant and the food is suppose to be amazing with dishes like lobster and crab spring rolls and roasted thai buddha chicken! This is a restaurant I will for sure be visiting on one of my upcoming trips to the Big Apple! Check out the Vegas location aswell!

World famous Babbo is another restaurant I want to go to when in NYC. Owned and operated by celebrity-chef Mario Batali, in partnership with Gwenyth Paltrow, the food is suppose to be superb! It's all family-style oriented here, so the ambience may not be the greatest, but this restaurant is for sure one of the greatest italian ones in the city! I'll be excited to go and compare it to the less-known Otto, also owned and operated by Batali, that I've been to several times!

Cipriani's is next on my list. It's been around for ages and is still frequented by some of Hollywood's most famous stars! The food is suppose to be amazing and with locations all over the world, why shouldn't it be? I admit, one of my biggest food weaknesses is pasta, therefore, give me an Italian restaurant and a bowl of pasta and it will be gone in about 5 minutes! Yummmmm!

Last, but not least, is the WORLD FAMOUS Le Bernardin. It may be old school and classic, but it's by far one of the most glamourous restaurants in the whole entire world! It has won countless awards for it's service,french food and ambience, which is pretty impressive and any trip to New York is incomplete without a visit to Le Bernardin! But you should be warned, it deserves reservations months and months in advance, oh and it will set you back a few hundred dollars!

In a Trance


Ever since I was born, I feel like I've had a passion for trance/techno music. I've always adored the beats and club-like atmosphere it creates. It makes you wanna get up and dance. It's a shame that these very talented artists don't get more recognition for the hours and hours they spend mixing beats so that it sounds just right. Recently, i came across a really amazing video, a compilation of several of my favorite songs. Watch careful because a story is being told along with the songs. It's incredible and I can't stop watching it OVER AND OVER again. Enjoy!



Monday, January 24, 2011

Med. Med. Med.





I'm a true believer in eating right. Walking out of a restaurant where you've just had an amazing meal and you're more than satisfied is one of life's pleasures. Over the past month, I've had the privilege to go to many amazing restaurants, but there's one that I particularily enjoyed VERY much, SO much that I visited it twice in a span of a week. Located on the trendy stretch of Montreal hottest street St. Laurent Boulevard, known to many as The Main, close to Sherbrooke street and surrounded by MANY uber trendy restaurants is Med. Owned and operated by Giorgio Damiani and Gianni Caruso of the famed Bice, Cavalli, Buonna Notte and Primadonna, Med exceeded my expectations both times I visited. The atmosphere is spectacular with a funky and upscale decor, the music just right and the food spectacular. Although the prices are a bit high, it's what you pay for a restaurant like Med and in my opinion, its really worth it. It's one of the best supperclubs in the city. It opens at 3 in the afternoon and stays open as a restaurant until 10: 30 pm when suddenly all the tables are pushed up against the wall, the drapes are closed and DJ Teddy Flores starts spinning some of the city's hottest tracks. It's a place where the city's rich, famous and glamour flock and attracts those clients from New York, Hollywood and beyond. Keep your eye out for many of the boys from the Montreal Canadiens, they're regulars at this place!

Livin' It Up in Los Angeles, California


Everybody has dreams. Whether it's to travel across the world or to accomplish something that is very important to them. I have many dreams, but i start by accomplishing the small ones and gradually do everything I can to make my big dreams come true. I dream of traveling to some of the world's most glamourous places, wearing some of the world's most luxurious clothes and eating at some of the world's most expensive restaurants. After all, this is what this blog is all about. All those places. I've already talked to you about my experiences in the city that NEVER sleeps, the one and only New York City, a city that i'm proud to call my second home and probably the city that I know better than the one that I actually live in, but there's another city that also has part of my heart. Otherwise known as The City of Angels or The City where dreams come true, Los Angeles. I dream of being able to walk down Rodeo Drive and dine in West Hollywood. The city has been on my mind A LOT recently, so today, I've compiled a list of places I wish to visit when I do go.

Dine

Villa Blanca
9601 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, California

Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California

Katsuya
6300 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, California

The Ivy
113 N Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Retail Therapy

Fred Segal
8100 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California

Kitson
115 Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Lisa Kline
136 Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Beauty Sleep

SLS hotel
465 La Cinega Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Hotel Bel Air
701 Stone Canyon Road
Bel Air, California

Sunset Towers Hotel
8358 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California





Sunday, January 9, 2011

Music Music Music!

As a really big fan of techno and house music, I came across an amazing song recently!

It's called Take Over Control by Afrojack!

Have a listen and let me know what you think!

GO HABS GO!


We're already half-way through the hockey season, but as a crazy Montreal Canadiens fan, I just wanna wish the Habs the best of luck! We can make it to the playoffs AGAIN!

GO HABS GO!

Does This Make You BLUSH?


Soo, a couple of days ago I was sitting in my hotel room in Vermont watching TV and I came across a show that I thought was new, but to my surprise, it actually made it's TV debut in 2008. It's called Blush: The Search For The Next Great Makeup Artist.

What prompted me to write this post about it was my friend who's doing a Youtube channel on makeup and different looks and from what i've seen, her work is amazing!

Okay, back to this show! So, I watched the remainder of the episode and it looked really cool. If you like The Rachel Zoe Project, you'll like this. Or if you have any interest in makeup or any other talent show for that matter, this is a cool show to watch. It's on Lifetime TV so I definitely recommend you checking it out.

R to the Z!


Soo, everyone has a guilty pleasure right?! Whether it's chocolate or a reality tv show EVERYONE has one. Mine just happens to be a reality tv show that I absolutely LOVE and don't exactly feel so guilty about watching.

The Rachel Zoe Project made it's TV debut in 2008 on the television network Bravo! It follows the everyday life of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, one of my favorite people IN THE WORLD and someone's who is a great inspiration to me every day. Cameras follow her through the very stressful award season to the very exciting fashion weeks around the world! Obviously, that does sound VERY exciting but there's also NO lack of drama in this show. Crazy assistants to fashion disasters make this series VERY interesting and it's definitely something you need to tune into every week!

2011


Happy New Year to all!

This year is going to be an exciting year for many reasons, ESPECIALLY this blog! 2011 is the year i'll be taking TWO very exciting trips. One to California and one to New York City, WHICH MEANS that there will a ton of new restaurant reviews, neighborhood reviews and A LOT more coming your way!