Always a Season Ahead: Yabu Pushelberg

If you’ve ever had a nightcap at the W Hotel in Times Square New York, sipped a Lipstick Martini at Toronto’s Bymark, waltzed into Tiffany & Co. on Wall Street or snagged a bag at Louis Vuitton, Hong Kong, then it’s fair to say you’ve already shaken the figurative hands of George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. With their innovative personalities strewn like rose petals across the interiors of international landmarks, this interior duo has become globally known for leaving its 21st century signature on every space. “No matter what type of project it is, interiors should evoke an emotion,” says Pushelberg, who speaks for one half of the award-winning Yabu Pushelberg design firm.

There’s another reason why their names might ring a bell. The ambitious partners were commissioned to design the entrance lobbies, spa, ballroom, conference facilities Read more

Great Reads

Turn over a new leaf with unique reads that are bursting with colour.

Charles Chaplin, My Autobiography
This book is a peephole into the private life of one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century. Charles Chaplin brought laughter into the lives of those living through war and economic hardship; listen carefully as the star of silent films Read more

Enlightening Yoga

When Kathryn Curtis put her passion for yoga to the test, the results were quite riveting. The PhD student in York University’s department of psychology, faculty of health, is the lead author of a pilot research project that suggests yoga reduces physical and psychological symptoms in women with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes fatigue and chronic pain in muscles and joints. “I was inspired to do this project as I have a deep love for all aspects of yoga, and wanted to be able to make this practice accessible to those who might benefit from it most,” says Curtis.

Eligible research candidates completed an eight-week yoga intervention in which they provided pre- and post-program salivary cortisol samples, attended two 75-minute hatha yoga sessions weekly, filled out multiple questionnaires concerning pain, and took part in a final follow-up session. In total, 19 female Read more

The Unseen World of Lisa Ray

Lisa Ray is in her own world right now. The acclaimed Canadian actress appears faraway from the photographer, videographer and stylists that have formed a tight circle around her. Even the intense stare of studio lights can’t assuage her green gaze as she ironically sways to the orchestral sound of Arcade Fire’s Empty Room. Wearing Christian Louboutin shoes on her feet, a white silk-chiffon Réva Mivasagar dress on her body and the lyrics When I’m by myself, I can be myself on her face, Ray’s angelic feathers are as unruffled as it gets.

With a self-assurance and practiced poise that’s poetically performed, you would never guess that the spirited 39-year-old considers herself an introvert. “I need time alone. I’m quite shy at my core and at my being and I don’t really invite attention,” says Ray. That’s not the case, however, when the red light Read more

Montreal Grand Prix: Infiniti, Above and Beyond

Moët & Chandon champagne bottles pop as gourmet gastronomy tantalizes taste buds to the sound of a DJ pumping beats during Montreal’s exhilarating Grand Prix. Infiniti certainly has a track record for hosting hot parties, adding a splash of Red Bull for a bash that takes the trophy. The global luxury automotive brand and its official partner, Red Bull Racing, invited Dolce Vita Magazine to experience the Canadian Grand Prix from a whole new perspective at the Red Bull Paddock. “I felt like I was part of the team. We had the exclusive privilege of walking the pit lanes, exploring the Red Bull Racing garages and listening in on Sebastian Vettel as he chatted with engineers,” says Dolce Vita Magazine’s publisher, Fernando Zerillo. Amidst the weekend events, Infiniti also hosted an intimate dinner featuring Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner and Helmut Marko at Montreal’s posh La Queue de Cheval.  Read more

Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua: Health Care, Infrastructure and Taxpayer Dollars

Q: Is being mayor of Vaughan everything you expected after 22 years in federal politics?
A: Actually it’s a lot more, it’s more exciting than I thought it would be. The issues are issues that touch people in a very real way every day, whether they are related to seniors, recreation, or dealing with transit and traffic, and economic development. I think the most exciting part about politics today is the evolution of cities – they are becoming the magnets for investment, creating jobs, providing the quality of life and standard of living for the people – it’s been a very fascinating experience. I’m really happy that I came back to the city of Vaughan to take on this role because this is a city where many things are happening. We have a new subway coming up, we have the future development of a downtown core, we’re going to see many exciting things occur in the area of culture, sports, the arts, and it speaks to a dynamic process that is taking place in this Read more

Summer Real Estate

From contemporary condominiums to haute homes, revel in this eclectic mix of residential gems.

Kleinburg Reserve “on the boulevard” The esteemed quality of Quintessa Homes Corporation comes to life in its latest project, Kleinburg Reserve “on the boulevard.” This eminent enclave of properties near the Humber River ravines provides “a new level of luxury.” www.quintessa.ca

THE MERCER The Mercer’s, “It’s all about ME,” tag line says it best. An architectural gem at the centre of downtown Toronto, this contemporary condo and its harmonized culture typifies the vibrant spirit of the city in which it resides. Read more

Backyard Escapes with Jennifer Hayman Design Group

Greater Toronto Area homeowners know that every square foot holds great value. With limited residential space and a 9 to 5-plus work life that can often confine you to an overcast cubicle, there’s never been more of an incentive to make use of your sunny backyard space. This is where gardening guru Jennifer Hayman comes in. “In Toronto, space is at such a premium that rather than having neglected, unused lawns and gardens, why not make it a series of outdoor rooms that flow and connect and allow you and your family the opportunity to relax and really maximize your time outside.” Hayman is the founder of Toronto’s award-winning landscape design-build firm Jennifer Hayman Design Group.

While Hayman’s firm fulfills a diverse array of landscaping dreams, she says that a rising trend in outdoor space solutions is to take existing abandoned garages and transform Read more

Fuel, Food and Inflation

Stacey Unsworth, a 36-year-old actor and independent contractor, is squeegeeing the windows of his Dodge Caravan at a gas station on Highway 7 in Vaughan. The cleanliness of his car is something he still has control over; the soaring cost to get from A to B however, seems inexorable these days. What once cost him around $50 for a fill-up is costing him nearly $75 today. “I live in the suburbs and commute, which millions of people do every day. Unfortunately as much as I would like to throw my hands up and start biking, like a lot of Torontonians or people in the GTA, we’re held captive by the oil companies. We have no choice but to drive,” says Unsworth. Though he’s bitter about the spike, Unsworth knows that he’s not the only one suffering from what’s been referred to as ‘pain at the pump.’ “I feel that oil prices are grossly inflated for no real reason at all, but I think that’s the general consensus of a lot of people,” Read more

Engineered Automotive

Ahead of the curve in a fast-paced market, Engineered Automotive is an invigorating alternative to traditional dealerships and maintenance centres. With its fresh, forward-looking approach, this seasoned Vaughan-based business is focused on steering consumers in the right direction.

For more than 25 years, Engineered Automotive has been providing premier service in the high-end auto segment, specializing in a large spectrum of services from body repair, upgrades, sales and tuning, to dynamometer services (torque testing), detailing, vehicle storage and corporate events. With founding partner Billy Smilovsky behind the wheel, the company has fine-tuned its customer-geared philosophy of ensuring that quality, integrity and cleanliness Read more

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