Mary Aitken’s Verity Club — A Social Revolution

Within the raw brick walls of a historic Queen Street East building exists a colourful collage of refined women who are laying the foundations for the future. Verity Club is the realization of one business veteran’s vision of a forward-thinking female community. With a direct aim of addressing the dismally small number of women in senior management positions, Mary Aitken founded a social environment that forges female friendships and business relationships.

Aitken’s storied past helped pave the way for Verity. As a former top-tier investment analyst and successful entrepreneur, Aitken often found herself at all-male roundtables. “Most of the industries that I’d been involved in were male-dominated, especially at the senior level, and I thought ‘this is just wrong,’” she says. Aitken was aware that companies in which women held senior positions Read more

Lounging at LaPlaya, Nestle up to Naples

Imagine yourself sprawled by the oceanside, sipping on an icy margarita while the warm sun beats down on your skin. Miles away from your troubles, the only sound you hear is the spellbinding waves that crash against a pristine shore. The best part? You’re much closer to home than you’d think.

Nestled in the heart of Naples, Florida, rests the gorgeous LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort. With an inspired landscape and inviting suites, this hidden gem gives its guests the secluded, far-off feel of an island oasis with all the comforts and amenities of a familiar five-star resort.

Reflecting the contemporary lifestyle and easygoing attitude of South Florida, the ambiance of LaPlaya makes guests feel instantly at home. An updated twist to Florida’s classic Read more

Hair Addicts Grand Re-Opening

Friends and family mingled at the new Hair Addicts Salon, while enjoying delicacies, music and cocktails. The new salon’s ‘do’ at 9000 Weston Rd., Unit 6 has transformed into a more modernized and upbeat Read more

City Search – August/September 2009

MBCo
Upon entering MBCo (Montreal Bread Company), you’ll feel as though you’ve just stepped off a plane and walked into a European establishment. This restaurant and bakery offers customers flair from abroad with rustic dishes. Hand-carved sandwiches, fresh salads and sweet indulgences are all on the menu. www.mbco.ca, 416.961.6226

ROM
The Royal Ontario Museum presents “Vanity Fair Portraits: 1913 – 2008,” from Sept. 26, 2009 – Jan. 3, 2010. The exhibition, which celebrates the iconic magazine’s history, documents almost 100 years of popular culture and features 150 portraits. The ROM is the exhibition’s only Canadian venue, so be sure to check it out. www.rom.on.ca, 416.586.8000 Read more

Dip into the Fountain of Youth’s Crystal Water

With summer in full swing, it’s time to gear up for a season of sun-soaked days and fun-filled nights. But as your social calendar begins to overflow with garden parties, swanky soirees and exotic beach getaways, will you be looking your best?

Turn to Crystal Water Salon and Spa to help you uncover a slimmer, firmer, younger-looking you without the pain of surgery, the fuss of a fitness regime or the deprivation of a strict diet.

“Your appearance is the single most important accessory you’ll ever have,” says Tina Lombardi, who co-owns the salon and medical spa with her mother, Loretta Lombardi. “If you don’t look good, you won’t feel good.” Read more

Calling All Spa Addicts—Ready, Set, Spahh…

Nothing says vacation like a relaxing deep tissue massage on a white sandy shore to rejuvenate you. But before you jet off, explore our list of the world’s top spas and return home a new person – rested and ready to take on the world! Read more

Discovering Beautiful Brussels

When people decide to head to Europe for a visit, places like Rome, Paris, London and Madrid spring to mind almost immediately. But there is another little jewel in Europe – a place rich in history, culture and beauty. That place is Brussels, Belgium.

The first thing you notice when arriving in Brussels, Belgium is the wildly divergent architecture around you. The striking buildings that have stood for hundreds of years share terrain with wonderfully eccentric Art Nouveau buildings designed by native Belgian architect Victor Horta. The one thing that’s consistent about the look of Brussels is its inconsistency. The reason for this is that Belgium has been conquered so many times over the centuries – by the Spanish, the Germans, the French and the English – that the city reflects the diverse looks of all those different cultures. Read more

Touchstone on Lake Muskoka: A Retreat from Toronto

Enter a world where you can own a piece of a small exclusive resort on crystal waters and sandy beaches. You can visit it whenever you want and never have to worry about cooking, cleaning or maintaining it. Welcome to Touchstone.

If you thought cottage life was about small cabins with rusty hinges, outhouses and animal trophies – you were dead wrong. Today, a cottage can be a luxurious retreat that can feel like a resort or even a spa. This is the impression that the Touchstone Muskoka cottages give you. Walking into the palatial homes, you feel overcome with a sensation of awe and wonderment. Touchstone goes beyond the typical cosy cottage and offers exquisite city-style living on a Read more