Restaurant Review: The Good, The O.K & The Meh at Chippy's!

Chippy's Fish & Chips Review

I am not a picky eater. I know what I like and what I don't like to eat. So when I was invited to try out some of Chippy's Fish & Chips Inc. menu for free, my love for fish and chips had me jumping for joy!

Chippy's is located on West Queen West across from Trinity Bellwoods Park, which is why it can get extremely busy on warm sunny days.

Happening Weekend: Art & Cocktails Cars Free!

Toronto Event Listing for May 29 - May 31, 2015

I can't believe that it is the last weekend of May already! I'm actually going to work on my To-do list this weekend but there are definitely some events happening in the city that I might just check out.

Here are my top picks for fabulous things to do in Toronto this weekend!:

Skincare Review: Glowing Skin from Pelle Beauty!

Pelle Beauty Skincare & Facial Oils Review

I recently attended an event at Blush Pretty's downtown Toronto headquarters. I was introduced to some amazing beauty and lifestyle brands which included skincare line Pelle Beauty.

Pelle Beauty is a skincare line that focuses on face oil blends. Their line consists of several types of oils, mists, balms, and cleansers. I was lucky enough to be given a trial starter kit to take home  and test out.

Exhibit: Fact or Fiction?!

Koffler Gallery's Erratics Exhibition Review

I recently visited the Koffler Centre of the Arts and took a trip down someone else's memory lane. The Koffler Gallery's latest exhibit, Erratics, consists of two very unique art installations and is apart of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. They take two different and unique approaches in archiving personal stories and memories.

The lines become blurred between fact and fiction in Erratics and the role of photographs and words in preserving the past is examined.

Happening Weekend: Doors Open and Rocking Out!

Toronto Event Listing for May 22 - May 24, 2015

While most of the country considers Victoria Day long weekend (last weekend) as the unofficial start to the summer season, I personally consider the Doors Open Toronto weekend as the start of the summer season. Doors Open is happening this weekend and is among the many great events happening around the city.

Here are my top picks for Happening Events this weekend!:

Explore Toronto: Hauntingly Beautiful Memorial to Irish Immigrants!

Ireland Park Review

Along the waterfront, at the bottom of Bathurst Street lies one of my favourite public art installations in Toronto. Nestled between the abandoned Canada Malting Silos, Lake Ontario and a construction barricade is one of the most serene and heartbreaking places in Toronto - Ireland Park.

Until recently, I was among the many that never knew Ireland Park even existed. It opened in 2007 and then closed in 2010 for several years due to surrounding construction. A few months ago, I heard about an Irish monument down by the harbourfront, so last St. Patrick's Day a friend and I decided to go in search of it. And I'm so glad I did.

Exhibit: Two Unique & Very Canadian CONTACT Exhibits at Gladstone Hotel!

Gladstone Hotel's Two Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Exhibits Review

May has been such a busy month for me. Between work and family, trying to visit as many Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibits has been quite a challenge this year. I loved the three exhibits at MOCCA so much that I decided to walk the ten minutes west on Queen Street, to take in the two exhibits at Gladstone Hotel.

Bright Lights Dark City: Crumbling Land by Sylvain Chaussee

Happening Weekend: CONTACT, Movies & Bubbles!

Toronto Event Listing for Victoria Day Long Weekend, May 15 - 18, 2015

It's finally the long weekend - May 2-4 to us Canadians! It is the (un)official start to the Summer season (even though summer doesn't technically start until June 21). If you are not leaving the city, Toronto has plenty of fabulous events happening this weekend!

My Style: Belt it Out!

Two Spring Transitional Outfits

Now that the weather has finally started to cooperate and the sun has come out of hiding, it's that time of year when it's hard to dress for the days that can go from hot and humid to suddenly very cool and chilly very quickly. During the transitional seasons like Spring, layering is the most easily and stylish way to look great, but still be able to stay warm or take off a layer if the warm sun makes an appearance.

Adding a cardigan or sweater is the most common layering technique, but a fabulous alternative to just throwing on a sweater is to turn that sweater into the top!

Exhibit: Past and Present Collide at MOCCA!

MOCCA's Three Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Exhibits Reviews

May is not only home to the May Two-Four long weekend and Mother's Day, but it also kicks off Toronto's summer festival season with one of my favourite art festivals - Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. If you have never heard of CONTACT, don't worry you are not alone. One of the main reasons I started The Purple Scarf was to not only learn more about my favourite city in the world but to also share why Toronto is my favourite city. So let me start off by telling you that Scotiabank CONTACT Photography festival is the LARGEST Photography Event in THE WORLD. That's right THE WORLD and it's right here in our own backyard!

113, 2012 by Maria Robertson

Over the next few weeks over 1500 photographers and artists, from across the globe will be displaying their work not only in galleries and museums, but coffee shops, cafes, and even retail stores. Toronto itself becomes one large gallery!

Happening Weekend: Beer, Basquiat & Blossoms!

Toronto Event Listings for May 8 - May 10, 2015

There is always so many fun and unique events happening in Toronto every weekend! For me, most weekends are busier than the weekdays. They are jam packed full of To-do lists, fun meetings, and events I just need to attend.

From burgers to vintage, there is something for everyone to enjoy this Mother's Day weekend. Here is a list of some of the best happenings in the city this weekend!