Paul Potts and the Art of Never Giving Up

British born Paul Potts is an opera singer, and he is a fine one at that. But it is how Potts arrived at this point in his life that is something right out of a comedy film. His life story is so unusual, that if you were to see it in a movie or TV sitcom you probably wouldn’t believe it.

Paul Potts was born in Bristol, England on October 13, 1970. He had always liked opera and always had the desire to be an opera singer. A victim of bullying, he experienced a difficult time during school, causing him to grow up with little confidence. But his interest remained and he practiced his passion secretly – up until 1999, when he decided it was time to make his stand. Dressing up as Luciano Pavarotti, Paul actually got up on stage during a karaoke competition and sang opera. He was somewhat discovered that night and went on to sing opera, unpaid, for a few opera companies Read more

Jane Ip: The Queen of Pink

Canadian design house Jeanne Lottie has attracted a long list of devotees over the years, thanks to its owner and creative designer, Jane Ip. The Jeanne Lottie boutique in Yorkville is home to one-of-a-kind goodies that satisfy any personality. From sparkling evening bags to dazzling pumps and exquisite jewellery, Ip has created an accessories haven for the playful and fashionable. And while Ip has been proud of her success over the years, she has not forgotten what her father once told her: “Work hard, don’t hold any grudges and be willing to help others.”

As you walk down the cement steps that lead to the Jeanne Lottie boutique, a smile will instantaneously spread across your face. With just one look at the window display – adorned with sheer pink curtains that fall softly across a delicious display of Read more

Trading Places

In the movie The Holiday, the lead characters played by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet take part in a home exchange where they swap homes to get away from it all. The website they use is homeexchange.com and it’s not just a figment of screenwriter Nancy Meyers’ imagination. This company, which was established in 1992 as a directory service before the Internet took hold, allows homeowners from around the world to connect with each other and switch homes. When Meyers was looking on the website to do her own exchange, she was struck by the idea that this would be a great way for characters to meet. When Sony called Ed Kushins, president of Home Exchange, to get permission to use the website in the movie, Kushins first wanted to make sure that it would reflect his company in a positive light – in other words, that it wasn’t a slasher film. When he read the script, he was happy to cooperate with the studio. Since the movie first hit theatres Read more

2007 Vehicle Headliners

Look back and discover 2007’s notable entries from a few auto manufacturers.

The big news from Toyota in early 2007 was the launch of its full-size Tundra pickup that finally made it a legitimate player in the half-ton segment. There was no mistaking it: the gargantuan exterior put the Tundra shoulder-to-shoulder with the established brands in the field, which include the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan. Backing up the handsome and butch-like styling is considerable firepower under the hood. How does 381-horsepower from the high-tech 5.7-litre motor that easily shames most high-performance cars through the quarter mile sound? But most impressive is its 10,000-pound towing capability. Read more

Gold. Glamourous. Chic. Cheap? — Roberto Cavalli

Famous for dressing celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lenny Kravitz, Roberto Cavalli has teamed up with H&M so he can be famous for dressing women and men everywhere!

When you think of Roberto Cavalli you are reminded of his continuous efforts to incorporate animal print or metallic in almost every one of his pieces. Cavalli’s limited collection for H&M, featured his favourite pieces throughout the years – and that means a whole lot of gold, zebra and leopard! The collection made its debut Nov. 8, 2007.

In his first collection for H&M, Cavalli created a stunning collection using only three colours: white, black and gold. Not unusual for Cavalli. Read more