Patio Hopping: The MuvBox

Torontonians love their patios.  I know this because I have worked on one of the busiest patios in the city and have witnessed first hand the attraction to spending summer days on a patio sipping on suds and sangria. 

There are so many patios to choose from, especially in the financial district.  Yesterday I finally had my first patio lunch of the season and newly opened MuvBox.  

The MuvBox is the recent addition to the Market Fresh brand of Marche, located in the beautiful sunny plaza of Brookfield Place. 

The MuvBox patio has a unique welcoming ambiance with the perfect mix of sun and shade. The massive white canvas umbrellas block just enough sunlight so you don’t overheat.  Very important when you are in a suit and have to be fresh for your 2:00 meeting. 

The MuvBox also has a full outdoor bar complete with every sort of summer drink you can think of.  They have a great bar area you can sit at, perfect for a quick drink with a colleague or friend. 

I tried their white wine spritzer, which was sooooo good. It is made with crisp white wine, campari, soda and friut.  I could have easily had anther one or two, but it was only lunch and I had to go back to work.

One of my favourite things about the MuvBox is the outdoor kitchen.  I have never been to a patio where they have turned an old freight container into a working kitchen that makes everything fresh right in front of you.  Very Marche.

I finally understand why the combination of kettle chips and a burger is so good.

This is what I ordered.  I know many of you that know me personally are shocked.  I never order burgers and rarely eat them.  But it was highly recomended that I try the AAA prime burger.  GREAT reccomendation, this burger was AMAZING complete with thin crispy onion rings on top. It really made the whole experience feel like you were at a BBQ with good friends.

What completed the whole exxperience, putting MuvBox high on my list of downtown Toronto patio favourites was the phenomenal staff.  Not only do they all have a wicked sense of style, they are friendly, fun and really good at their jobs.  I didn’t have to wait more than two minutes for anything.  Haley, our server made the whole experience memorable and had quite possibly the most awesome black dress on I have seen in a while. 

 

The MuvBox is a great patio for lunch time meetings or lunch with your co-workers.  I highly recommend it and will be going back soon to check out happy hour.  

Thanks MuvBox for the fantastic experience!

H

A note to my girls: we need to do happy hour drinks here early next week.  Girls night!!

 

I’m Twisted, Not Tilted.

Today I did something I have never done or experienced before.  When it was over I felt significantly taller, pain free and balanced with a new comfortable stomp in my step.  

I had a Muscle Activation Technique session performed on me at the Adelaide Club by Marcelo.  The difference I feel in movement and posture right now is unbelievable.  

You are probably like me and have never heard of MAT before.  Muscle Activation Technique is a specific, unique and individualized process for evaluating your ability to utilize and develop your muscles properly.  From this evaluation your MAT specialist, in my case Marcelo, can determine what your problem muscles are.  From there your specialist will work at stimulating the underused muscles to fix the problem. After that a specific exercise program can be created to target, develop and strengthen those problem muscles. 

Whew. I hope I explained that properly.  If you want to read more about the science behind Muscle Activation Technique click here.

Anyway, I found out today that my pelvis was tilted on the left side.  Apparently that’s not a good thing.  

An hour later after Marcelo did a whole bunch of Muscle Activation magic, my pelvic was straight again. 

Thank-goodness. 

The conclusion of my evaluation is that I am still twisted so I will definitely be going back for more sessions.   The proof of how beneficial this process is was immediate for me.  I am in stilettos, wedges, pumps and every other beautiful type of torture device shoes on a daily basis.  Not the best for my body, I know.  But, as soon as I stepped back into my Camutos’ I noticed an immediate difference.  The dull ache in my hips was gone and I felt more balanced.  I was able to walk comfortably in 4″ heels down King Street as I rushed to catch the 504 back home. 

Muscle Activation Technique can help with a countless number of problems from joint pains to sleep problems to better high heel wearing experiences. 

Muscle Technique Activation at the Adelaide Club: Highly recommended.  

It’s the next step in taking care of your body and optimizing your muscles potential.  You only have one body.  It’s time to consider taking care of it. 

H

 

One Year: Thank-You.

All my life people asked me “what do you want to be when you grow up”.  My answer has changed countless times as I had no idea.  As my early twenties rolled on I began to really hate that question.  By March of last year I was panicking on a daily basis, because at 23 I still didn’t know what I wanted to “be”.  

That’s when I met Barry Kuntz, a life coach and mentor who asked me the question “what do you love?” to which my immediate response was “fashion”.

That question of “what do you love?” changed the way I perceived establishing myself in a career. Instead of chasing a specific job title I started to chase things that I felt passionate about.

It lead me to my first major assignment; an 2 minute fashion segment titled “Haute with Holly” on an internet show for torontopath.com.

I was hooked instantly on all of the possibilities I saw in this venture and was encouraged by my now boss Don Givelos to start a blog in conjunction with the TV show.

Thank-you Don for being a fantastic boss and mentor

The show has been put on hold (to return in a new form soon), and my blog has gone through quite a few changes (with more to come).

Today my blog turned one. 

Thank-you to everyone who encouraged and pushed me on a daily basis to throw myself 100% into what I love. 

Happy Anniversary!

H

 

Can’t Hold Us

I go running every day to this song, it is so energizing. As you know am completely obsessed with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and finally the video to my favorite song has come out. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

H

Introducing: The Future Arts People

Last night I attended “Open Up I’m Burning Through” an art event put on by The Future Arts People featuring artist Samantha Wilson and others. 

It was fantastic.  

The event was held at a trendy Corktown loft.  As soon as you walked up the candle lit stairs to the main floor you were hit with piece after piece of amazing art.

Samantha Wilson was the feature artist for this event.  Her pieces were done in charcoal, and were very beautiful yet eerie, sometimes even unsettling to look at.  

Other artists include:

Maya Carmichael: Graphic Artist

Yehuda Kaufman: Regionally inspired Abstract

Yuichi Maruo: Graphic Designer/Promotions(TheFutureArtsPeople)

Here are some of my favourite photos from their “Open up I’m Burning Through” event last night. 

Maya Carmichael – Artist

Digital Future – Yuichi Maruo

Animus

Love this one!

Best tasting and visually stimulating cupcakes I have ever had

Charcoal painting by Samantha Wilson

Cupcakes!

Live Art

 

The party carried on late into the night and was quite possibly one of the best events I have been to in a while; complete with wine, cupcakes and firemen. 

Can’t wait for The Future Arts Peoples‘ next show!

H

My Extreme Caesar

I’m Canadian, which almost automatically makes the Caesar my favourite cocktail.  When I make it, it’s more like a salad in a glass with Vodka. 

I had been doing the original Celery stick garnish for the longest time until I discovered Matt & Steve’s Extreme Beans at one of my previous bar tending jobs.  They make these amazingly good pickled spicy beans that are dangerously addictive. 

 

I decided I needed to come up with the perfect Extreme Bean Caesar in a Jar.  Why a Jar you ask?  Because you can fit more Extreme Beans in it.  

Here is how you make the perfect Extreme Bean Caesar  

Step 1: Rim the lip of the glass/jar with Matt and Steves Caesar Rimmer

Step 2: Add Ice and Vodka. I go with 2 oz but you can add more or less depending on preference.

Step 3: Add Clamato and make an extreme bean Skewer for garnish. I’m using the original Extreme Beans, Dill and Garlic Extreme Beans and B’nolives.

Step 4: Add in a squeeze of lemon, 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce and 8 dashes of Tabasco. I like mine a bit spicy.

 

 

Step 5: Drink the Jar of Caesar and then eat the beans

 Here is a fun facts for you about these wonderful beans: They are great for snacking with only 10 calories per 3 beans. 

Stay tuned for other great things you can do with Matt and Steve’s Extreme Beans. 

H

The Shoe of the Future

I have just been introduced to something that gave me goose bumps. 

One of my girlfriends sent me this link about 3D printed fashion.

That is where I saw these amazing shoes!  They are made by Jenina Alleyne, a footwear designer from the UK.

 

I CAN’T WAIT for these shoes to eventually hit the market.  Absolutely I will be wearing them because they are amazing.

What’s your opinion on these fantastic 3D printed shoes?

H