Sunday, February 24, 2013

Cha (Tea) Launch Party

I love tea. Can't get enough of it (and my credit card agrees!). I first discovered Cha at the Toronto Tea Festival a few weeks ago, so when I learned they were having a launch party, I got my (free) ticket and marked the date down in my calendar. My friend and I had a birthday party to go to, so we only had about an hour to enjoy the launch party. While it was off to a slow start, we still managed to get some tasty treats and have a fantastic time.

To attend the party, you needed to register for a free ticket, as spaces were limited and the event sold out very quickly. However, when we got there, they were not checking tickets/names at the door, so theoretically, anyone could have attended. The event was held at a beautiful yoga studio at Yonge and Eglinton and we both enjoyed the feeling of zen and partying in our socks (in fact, I would love to attend more parties at yoga studios!). When we arrived, the organizers were still setting up, so we grabbed some floor cushions and hung out in one of the empty studio rooms catching up. It was very relaxing and a nice change from the hectic pace of our regular lives. When we had about 30 mins left before we had to head out to our next stop, we popped back into the studio where all the excitement was happening and found a party that was getting into full swing.

The sock-clad crowd was mixing and schmoozing over some tea-flavoured desserts (which were delicious), tea cocktails (which very delicious), and tea sample giveaways (which were adorable!). In order to score a beautifully packaged tea sample, you completed out a 10-question online quiz and the computer matched you with one of the tea samples based on your answers. My friend and I are both very excited to try ours. As we were leaving, the party was just getting into full swing and there may have been more surprises coming later in the evening. Even without the (possible) additional treats, we were very happy with the time with spent at the event and would definitely attend similar events in the future.

WHAT: Cha Launch Party

WHERE: Yoga Tree, 40 Eglinton Ave East

WHEN: February 23, 6:00pm

COST: Free

INSIDER DETAILS: If you miss out on securing a ticket to a small local event, you may still be able to get in. Try going early (I mean right at the start) and let the organizers know that you won't be staying the whole night. Chances are, the logistics will not be quite worked out until a steady stream of people have come through and you will either be able to walk in without having to show a ticket or convince the organizers to let you in to check out the event.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Free Banking - Extended Trial Run

I was very skeptical when free banking first appeared in Canada, but having gotten badly burned by bad financial advice I received at BMO (a bank I've been with since I was 16) I felt particularly opposed to paying about $120 annually in fees when it didn't really seem to make much of a difference. Having finally reached a point where dissatisfaction outweighed the inconvenience of the seemingly arduous process ahead to switch banks, I finally signed up for President's Choice Financial. 

For starters, the process itself was unexpectedly painless. In less than 2 weeks' time, I had transferred my payroll deposits and any pre-authorized payments to my new account. Every single step was quick and painless and made me wonder why in the world I had waited this long. I left my RRSPs and a line of credit at BMO since those services were free but more complicated to transfer, but I closed my checking account with them (not that they've noticed) and opened one with PC Financial instead (as well as a savings account, a line of credit, and a PC MasterCard) - all set up before stocking up on groceries at the same place.

Now, to sweeten the deal, not only am no longer paying any banking fees, but I am also collecting points that translate to free groceries. In almost a year since I've signed up, I have redeemed about $150 in free groceries - no strings attached. For those who like the idea of an actual bank teller in case you need last-minute cashier's cheques or other non-standard transactions, I can only say that I had the same reservations and hence held off on switching for so long. However, how often do you actually use those services? Is it worth paying $120+ in fees a year just to get one certified cheque quickly? My recommendation is keeping some business (that doesn't involve bank fees) with your traditional bank so you still have access to these service on a per-transaction fee basis, but moving your daily banking to an institution that doesn't charge baking fees.

I do most of my banking online anyway, so I haven't noticed any difference in how I do my banking since switching to a supposedly inferior banking institution. My money is still just as secure as with any of the main banks (in fact, PC Financial is a subsidiary of CIBC and fully covered by the CDIC Deposit Insurance). In addition, I already shop at Loblaws, so I can easily withdraw any cash I need or make deposits on my regular grocery run without having to make a separate visit to the bank. And any of those extra services you're worried about (such as certified cheques) - they are still accessible and there is a bank representative on site that you can talk to. You just might need to plan a little further ahead.

WHAT: Free banking

WHERE: PC Financial

WHEN: Any time you like

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: See if any of your friends have existing PC Financial accounts. I often get emails from them with promotional codes I can share with my friends - if they sign up, both of us get extra PC points, often worth $20-$30 in free groceries. I am happy to share mine if you don't know anyone.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Spearhead Brewing Belgian Stout Launch Party

Spearhead Brewing was launching its Belgian stout tonight at Victory Cafe and I'm not one to pass up free beer samples, oysters, cheese, and giveaways. So I recruited a trusty sidekick and we met up after work to scope this out. The launch party started at 7 but we both finished work much earlier, so we met at the Cafe at 6pm and enjoyed us a couple of pre-party pints. I had seen an earlier tweet about a tasty-sounding brew, so I went with an Amsterdam Nut Brown, which did not disappoint. It was satisfyingly delicious with no bitter aftertaste. My trusty sidekick went with a maple ale, which was also lovely but I still preferred my pick.


As for the launch party itself, the event was everything it promised. There were beer sample tickets handed out at the door and oysters and cheese were circulated about every half hour. In addition, the first 100 people through the door were treated to Spearhead baseball hats and a staff member walked around handing out bottle openers. The bar was popular but not overcrowded and we both had a great time there. Overall, we sampled four different beers (it pays to be nice to the bartender!) and enjoyed some tasty snacks. Definitely glad I made it out to this one.

WHAT: Spearhead Brewing Belgian Stout Launch Party

WHERE: Victory Cafe, 581 Markham St

WHEN: February 21, 2013

COST: Free

 INSIDER DETAILS: If you show up to an bar-based event early, befriend your server and let them know what you're there for. If you are nice, chances are you'll be able to score some extra tasting tickets and get a heads-up on when the event opens. Plus you might be able to get an inside scoop on what's coming up.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Happening Today - Family Day Monday

I am stuck working from home and trying to catch up on some homework, so unfortunately can't make it out to any of these :( But here's a short list of fun happenings taking place in the city today:

Lick's Canada - $0.50 Burgers
Visit any of the following Lick’s locations on Family Day, Monday February 18th, and purchase a Homeburger, Nature Burger, or Gobbler for only fifty cents:
Guelph ( 5 Clair Road West)
Burlington ( 3315 Fairview Street),
Oakville ( 2420 Lakeshore Road West )
Oakville ( 270 North Service Road ),
Oakville ( 548 Trafalgar Road )
Queensway ( 1585 The Queensway )
Mississauga ( 2969 Argentia Road )
Mississauga ( 5029 Hurontario Street )
Barrie ( 347 Bayfield Street )
Maple ( 9781 Jane Street, Vaughan)
York Mills ( 860 York Mills Road )
Pape ( 654 Danforth Avenue )
Spadina ( 720 Spadina Ave )
Milner ( 43 Milner Road )
Warden ( 900 Warden Avenue )
Morningside ( 4543 Kingston Road )


Rink of Dreams - City Hall
Free homemade soup and hot chocolate 11 am - 2 pm.

Toronto's Waterfront - Family Day Events
A variety of venues, including Harbourfront Centre, Queen's Quay Terminal and PawsWay will be hosting a full day of FREE events including dog sports demos, bouncy tents, arts and crafts, live music, magicians and Harbourfront Centre's HarbourKIDS: Family Skating Party presented by RBC. Rumour has it, a few Olympians will even be on hand for the festivities, too.

Pure Spirits Oyster House - Distillery District
All You Can Eat Mussels at Pure Spirits Oyster House in The Distillery! $15

Bar Volo - $5 pint night
$5 pint night - 4pm-12am

Yelp Canada Parkdale - A Progressive Snackathon with Beer
Gladstone @ 6:30 for $5 pints and $5 burgers
Pink Cadillac @ 8:00 for more $5 pints

Friday, February 15, 2013

Beer my Valentine at the Beer Academy

Every year, I set out on a hunt for something ridiculous to do on Valentine's Day. It's a bit of a tradition and one I usually enjoy tremendously. My closest girlfriends and I get together, leave the boys at home, and head out for a night on the town. In the past, I've gone speed dating for charity, sold my best friend in a date auction (also for charity), posted an ad on Craigslist and went skating on a frozen river with a group of guys (there was a cleared rink, bonfire, hot chocolate and s'mores involved!), gone to a strip club for someone's birthday, and went to a queer slow dance. All were incredibly fun and made for some hilarious stories. Not one to break tradition but feeling a bit under the weather after a two-week battle with a particularly nasty flu, Beer My Valentine fell into my lap as a perfectly good option for this year (the other option being a pajama party but I simply didn't have the energy to make it to that one).

Beer My Valentine was an event hosted by the Beer Academy. The poster promised special food pairings by Sequel Event Catering, Chocolate Cream Stout tastings, live music, and games and prizes. While I had a great time, the event didn't quite live up to the poster. First of all, it was pretty dead most of the time we were there (between 5:30-8:00 pm) and the planned game (celebrity couples match-up) didn't get off the ground because there simply weren't enough people at the bar for the staff to give out all the name stickers. The promised food pairings consisted of the sale (rather dear at $9.50) of a toasted brisket-type sandwich and there was no other food available on premises.

On the bright side, the Chocolate Stout was delicious and my friend and I ended up staying to enjoy a tasting flight (very reasonable at under $7 for 3 good size samples) and made some fast friends with a group of guys at the next table when I engineered a scheme to create a celebrity match-up and win those door prizes (which was a great success and we left with some Beer Academy merch in our hands). The verdict - the event itself was a bust but the venue itself is a great place to hang out and I would definitely visit again.

WHAT: Beer My Valentine

WHERE: Beer Academy, 75 Victoria St.

WHEN: February 14, 2013 - 5:00pm-close

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: Quiet events with a small number of attendees are actually a great chance to get in on any raffles or door prizes that might be on offer. The odds of success are very attractive and you can often convince staff to bend the rules if the event is not going as originally planned. Make your own luck and get your hands on those prizes!

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Toronto Tea Festival

I love tea. It is my hands-down favourite drink and I simply can't get enough of it (as my tea cupboard and my Visa cards will attest). So when a friend of mind forwarded me a link to an upcoming tea festival, it was a no-brainer that I would go.

The website for the Toronto Tea Festival promised an event where you could sample hundreds of teas, learn from the experts in the industry at one of the 7 presentations, watch a traditional tea ceremony, participate in a silent auction, enter a raffle, engage with exhibitors to learn more about tea, and shop teawares, teas, and related products. I believe this was billed as the first annual festival, so there are likely more to come in the future years.

Overall, I found the event had great potential but the execution fell a little short of expectations. First of all, their website was down for a few hours in the morning, so I couldn't look up the schedule of presentations before heading over and ended up missing some good ones. Then there was a line-up to get in. It seems the organizers were caught off guard by the popularity of the event and were only letting people in as others were exiting. They also ran out of complimentary bags at the registration desk. Inside, the space was rather overcrowded. Exhibitors had space for only 3-4 people in front of their space but as most would mill around after getting their samples, it was a constant push-and-shove routine to get at the vendors and the line-ups were a little annoying. There were simply too many people and not enough exhibitors and physical space for people to spread out. It also meant that you couldn't really talk to the exhibitors, which was kind of the most useful part of such a festival, so a lot of its value got lost. Finally, I founds that some of the tea vendors were notably missing (e.g. David's Tea, TeaBlendz, Tealish) and of the ones that were there, the prices were not any cheaper than I would normally pay at a store. In addition, many people ran out of their most popular teas and not all products were available for sampling.

On the bright side, the one presentation I did make it to was very good. There was definitely a lot of knowledge in that room - it was just hard to access because of the overcrowding. It was easy to spot trends in tea (e.g. blueberry and cinnamon are big this year) and compare some of the vendors as many were tasting similar products. And there was free coat check. On the whole, I would say the event as it is right now isn't really worth the $15 admission price but there is hope for it to grow into something bigger and better next year. I would not attend if the set-up is the same next year but if they move to a bigger location and more sponsors come on board, I would definitely consider giving it another go.

WHAT: Toronto Tea Festival

WHERE: Toronto Reference Library, Appel Salon

WHEN: February 2, 2013 - 10:00am-5:00pm

COST: $15 at the door

INSIDER TIPS: Go early! There was a line to get in later in the afternoon and some of the vendors ran out of many popular tea blends. Also, look at the prices carefully. I didn't really see any deals at the event. In fact, some of the prices were higher than what I would pay for a similar blend at David's Tea when you consider how many grams you were getting. So think twice before you buy.

Saturday, February 02, 2013

CESAR General Members Meeting

The Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson (CESAR) was looking for class reps and when no one else in my classes this term wanted the job, they had me at "free dinner". The class representatives are expected to attend general membership meetings and act as liaisons between CESAR and other students, passing on any concerns and information. Well, turns out those meetings are kind of a big deal! There are by-laws and voting cards and a whole slew of people who are rearing to change the world.

You do get free dinner (and get to feel like you're playing Model United Nations). In addition, you also get to hear about upcoming changes, new projects, resources, and all sorts of (generally) free activities coming up on campus.

WHAT: CESAR General Members Meeting

WHERE: Student Centre, 55 Gould St.

WHEN: Once a month

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: If you get a chance to volunteer for a student association, it's good fun and usually comes with catered meetings. Official student associations are usually well supported by the administration and enjoy a great deal of autonomy, influence, dynamism, and funding. If you have the time to spare, there are usually a number of executive positions up for grabs, so you can get a chance to be even more involved and pursue interests you may not have known you've had. Do it!