hysterical blindness

House of the Week: $2.1 million for a Summerhill semi with a tranquil sunken living...

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:16:00 -0400

House of the Week: $2.1 million for a Summerhill semi with a tranquil sunken living room

Address: 125 MacPherson Avenue
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
Agent: Allan Consky, Royal LePage/J & D Division, Brokerage
Price: $2,095,000

The Place: A two-bedroom brick semi on a pretty, tree-lined street in Summerhill.

Bragging Rights: Plenty of traditional homes have had contemporary makeovers, but few snag a feature in DesignLines magazine. A recent reno brought in design-centric details like walnut accents, a sunken back living room and an open-tread stairwell.

Check out all the pictures HERE

from my recent trip to Jamaica… one I won’t soon forget… A hideaway for past...

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:59:13 -0400

from my recent trip to Jamaica… one I won’t soon forget…

A hideaway for past presidents, celebrities and even James Bond… this is the luxurious side of Jamaica

Simone Olivero June 03, 2013Features

(Image courtesy of Round Hill)

Butlers, baby-sitters, private villas and spas are just a few of the things that separate the all-inclusive package vacationers from the luxurious escape that once befitted presidents, celebrities and even James Bond. Old world luxury is making a comeback in Jamaica.

If you’re between the ages of 25 and 60, you’ve probably been to at least one all-inclusive resort in your life. Whether it was in Mexico, the Dominican, Cuba or otherwise, package vacations are a great, no hassle way to escape the daily grind and get a little sun. The problem is, it’s often hard to distinguish between these holidays, regardless of what country you happen to choose.

(Image courtesy of Round Hill)

Once again, people are seeking out a more unique and more memorable experience that can be found at a luxurious boutique accommodation.

Read it in full HERE

a beauty post for mother’s day i wrote for BeautyEditor.ca… 3 beauty rules my mom...

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:16:00 -0400

a beauty post for mother’s day i wrote for BeautyEditor.ca…

3 beauty rules my mom taught me… and how I broke (and then embraced) every single one

Beauty Diary

Posted by Simone Olivero on Friday, May 10/2013 · 0 Comments

Sunday is Mother’s Day and in the spirit of “Mother knows best…”, here are three things I learned about beauty (the hard way) from my mom.

For as long as I can remember, my mother has been a minimalist. Whether it was growing up in conservative Oxford, England, or her penchant for babe-songstress Joni Mitchell, I’ve always known her to be bare-faced with natural, free-flowing hair. This probably makes her an unlikely expert on the topic of beauty, but let me explain.

Read it in full HERE

my walk through Detroit’s Heidelberg Project… The Heidelberg Project Simone...

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:49:00 -0400

my walk through Detroit’s Heidelberg Project…

The Heidelberg Project

Simone Olivero

After the 1967 riots, Detroit was never the same. Neighbourhoods were abandoned and chaos filled the streets. One such street was Heidelberg, the home of artist Tyree Guyton who has spent the last 27 years transforming the neighbourhood from a place where people were afraid to walk, even in broad daylight, to one where residents could be proud to welcome tourists and visitors.

Image by Simone Olivero

Check out the full gallery HERE

Last night was the annual Met Gala. Guests donned variations on the theme, “PUNK: Chaos to...

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:24:00 -0400

Last night was the annual Met Gala. Guests donned variations on the theme, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” which in many cases just meant a bucket load of make-up…

Here are my faves (punk or otherwise) from last night’s red carpet:

(Images via)

For those of you that read this regularly, Rooney isn’t much of a shock. Some may argue that her look is becoming old but for whatever reason, I can’t seem to get enough of it!

Until next year…

Condo Showdown: five sumptuous residences in Toronto luxury hotels The slew...

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:12:31 -0400

Condo Showdown: five sumptuous residences in Toronto luxury hotels

The slew of five-star hotels that popped up downtown in recent years did more than increase Toronto’s appeal as an tourist destination. They also upended the city’s upscale condo market. The high-end residences have stacked amenity lists (with steep condo fees to match) that appeal to jet-setting business-types accustomed to all the conveniences of hotel living and wealthy A-listers with a love for high-profile luxury brands. From a party-ready suite in the Thompson to a unit in the Four Seasons with incredible views, we break down five of the units currently on the market.

Check out the properties HERE

new gig

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:36:52 -0400

started working with BeautyEditor.ca… check out my first post below!

Do or don’t? The Farrah Fawcett look, as seen on Claire Danes this week

Celeb Beauty

Posted by Simone Olivero on Friday, May 3/2013 · 0 Comments

Earlier this week, Claire Danes was snapped with some Farrah Fawcett-style waves on the red carpet outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Not sure if channeling Farrah was intentional—if it was, I’m all for ’70s revival—but this look just isn’t working for our girl Claire.

Here’s why it flopped (literally).

Read the full post HERE

my food tour through Jamaica… prepare to drool… A foodie tour through Jamaica Simone...

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:35:00 -0400

my food tour through Jamaica… prepare to drool…

A foodie tour through Jamaica

Simone Olivero

There’s more to Jamaica than just jerk chicken and patties - though both of these are reason enough to go. Take a culinary journey through the island where turquoise beaches and soulful rhythms provide the perfect backdrop for a feast of flavours.

Photo by Simone Olivero

Sugar and spice

Tender jerk fish comes with blackened edges in a small ramekin over poached tropical fruit that perfectly combines sweet with savoury.

see all the photos HERE

House of the Week: $3 million for a boldly decorated historical home in Rosedale Address: 53 Elm...

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:08:00 -0400

House of the Week: $3 million for a boldly decorated historical home in Rosedale

Address: 53 Elm Avenue
Neighbourhood: Rosedale-Moore Park
Agent: Joseph Robert and Gillian Oxley , Royal LePage/J & D Division, Brokerage
Price: $2,998,000

The Place: A five-bedroom, 5,300-square-foot semi in Rosedale that was built in 1888.

Bragging Rights: Following a major overhaul by reno guru Joe Brennan, the bright and cheerful decor was featured in Canadian House and Home and Chatelaine.

Check out the inside HERE

oh, hi jamaica! stories from my latest trip to come soon…

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:37:21 -0400

oh, hi jamaica!

stories from my latest trip to come soon…

House of the Week: $4.45 million for a swank townhome in a converted Victorian...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:42:00 -0400

House of the Week: $4.45 million for a swank townhome in a converted Victorian church

Address: 314 Palmerston Boulevard
Neighbourhood: Palmerston-Little Italy
Agent: James Martin Molloy, Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
Price: $4,450,000

The Place: A 5,600-square-foot luxury townhouse in the Victorian church and school house at the corner of College and Palmerston.

Bragging Rights: Custom home guru Joe Brennan, who restored the exterior, convinced the developer to turn the church into four high-end townhouses instead of a spate of condos. Brennan ended up liking the conversion so much that he bought the largest, most expensive unit.

Check out the inside HERE

Wedding Beauty: gorgeous hair and makeup ideas for brides-to-be Styling by Simone Olivero |...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:20:00 -0400

Wedding Beauty: gorgeous hair and makeup ideas for brides-to-be

Styling by Simone Olivero | Photography by Renata Kaveh | Makeup by Veronica Chu | Hair by Tomara Patchett and Vili Nikolouzos of Philosophy Salon

As soon as you’ve said yes to the dress, it’s time to start thinking about the hairstyle, makeup and accessories to go with it. To help, we assembled four beauty looks with four very different inspirations: Old Hollywood starlet, ballerina, flower child and ‘60s retro.

Check out all the looks HERE

my picks for best wedding cakes in the city (umm, yes those are donuts!) Eight of Toronto’s most...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:06:20 -0400

my picks for best wedding cakes in the city (umm, yes those are donuts!)

Eight of Toronto’s most creative wedding cakes

Television shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes have popularized the show-stopping wedding cake. Here, eight sugary tiered concoctions to finish off your perfect day

See all eight cakes »

a new condo series i’m working on with Toronto Life Condo Showdown: five industrial lofts for...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:05:00 -0400

a new condo series i’m working on with Toronto Life

Condo Showdown: five industrial lofts for less than $1 million

The number of so-called “hard lofts” in Toronto has ballooned since the early 2000s as developers wised up to the moneymaking potential of turning old factories and warehouses into residential units. True loft conversions have an artsy vibe that’s nearly impossible to imitate, and some buyers feel they’re a smarter investment than new builds because supply is, in theory, limited by the number of available buildings to convert. Even would-be loft owners with sub-$1 million budgets can find a range of options: some units maintain the original raw, industrial feel, while the rough edges on others have been smoothed away (some repurposed buildings are even packed with luxury amenities). Below, five recently-listed hard lofts from across the city.

Check out the properties HERE

my weekend in Detroit…. more to come soon :)

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:46:25 -0400

my weekend in Detroit…. more to come soon :)

Flavour of the Year: Five tips for preparing vegetables from the city’s top chefs A miracle has...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:06:49 -0400

Flavour of the Year: Five tips for preparing vegetables from the city’s top chefs

A miracle has occurred in this meat-obsessed city: vegetables have shown up on menus. Here, five top chefs offer easy tips for home prep.

Check them out HERE

House of the Week: $3.6 million for a live-work building in the Fashion District Address: 548...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:23:27 -0400

House of the Week: $3.6 million for a live-work building in the Fashion District

Address: 548 Richmond Street West
Neighbourhood: Waterfront Communities-The Island
Agent: Robin Tully, Royal LePage/J & D Division, Brokerage; Marc Paillé and Michell Pérez, Royal LePage Signature Realty
Price: $3,600,000

The Place: A minimalist building in the Fashion District containing both a large commercial space and a two-bedroom residence.

Bragging Rights: The juxtaposition between the stark exterior and the warm, wood-toned interior won a residential design award from the Ontario Association of Architects in 1997.

Check out the rest of the interior HERE

my chat with Ben Heaton about, seriously, the best soup I’ve ever had.. and this is coming...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:16:00 -0400

my chat with Ben Heaton about, seriously, the best soup I’ve ever had.. and this is coming from a girl that doesn’t even really like soup…

Recipe: Parsley root soup from The Grove, an earthy and richly textured starter

PARSLEY ROOT SOUP

By Ben Heaton
The Grove

RECIPE HERE

TIP
Thinly slice parsley root and fry the slices in a little oil at a low temperature. They make great chips and pair well with the soup.

BEN HEATON
THE GROVE
Ben Heaton was born in Yorkshire, raised in Whitby and trained in Manchester and London. He spent six years in some of Toronto’s better kitchens—One, Colborne Lane and Globe Bistro—before opening The Grove on Dundas West. The restaurant, co-owned with Richard Reyes, is an ode to Heaton’s motherland. Almost everything he cooks is inspired by the simple, honest English dishes he ate as a kid. Heaton’s speciality is to spin new flavours into faithfully Anglo fare like blood pudding, mushy peas, and whipped pork and pickled onion on toast. His parsley root soup mixes the salty sweetness of bacon, the saline chewiness of snails and the earthy punch of parsley root. It’s a richly textured beauty, almost painterly in its execution. The buttery fried bread bits deepen the dish’s soul-sustaining warmth.

Recipes developed by Victoria Walsh. Recipe photography by Ryan Szulc. Portrait photography by Raina and Wilson. Illustrations by Aleksandar Janicijevic. Interviews by Denise Balkissoon, Ariel Brewster, Andrew D’Cruz, Jennifer Goldberg, Matthew Hague, Claire Hastings, Bronwen Jervis and Simone Olivero.

from the latest issue of Toronto Life… where you should be eating… enjoy :O) Best New...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:03:09 -0400

from the latest issue of Toronto Life… where you should be eating… enjoy :O)

Best New Toronto Restaurants 2013

One thousand three hundred and eight. That’s how many restaurants opened in 2012—more than triple the year before, and the year before that. Toronto is in the middle of a restaurant boom that’s changing the way we eat, drink, date, schmooze, celebrate and generally revel in the city. The shimmering Momofuku triplex has dignified business execs devouring pork ssäm with their hands, and couples happily—gratefully—shelling out $400 for 10-course tasting menus. Downtowners are piling into rowdy izakayas for after-work sake and Sapporo, while Brit pubs are, to the amazement of every Firkin-going anglophile, becoming destinations for refined dining. Canadiana is no longer just a term for moose-print sweaters and maple leaf mittens, but a bona fide big-city cuisine borne of chefs obsessed with heritage meat and wild plants, preferably foraged in the Don Valley. Yes, Toronto is so flush with new places to eat that keeping up with them has become a full-time job. This year, Toronto Life’s critics were busier than ever, stuffing our faces, snapping photos on the sly and analyzing every last aspect of the dining experience. After much debate, we winnowed down 1,308 establishments to the top 10. Here, our annual ranking of the most innovative, interesting and delicious new Toronto restaurants.

BEST NEW TORONTO RESTAURANTS 2013

1 SHŌTŌ
2 EDULIS
3 DAISHŌ
4 HOPGOOD’S FOODLINER
5 FARMHOUSE TAVERN

6 THE GROVE
7 JABISTRO
8 KINGYO
9 PATRIA
10 URSA

By Mark Pupo and Rachel Heinrichs, with additional reporting by Jeffrey Bercuson, Matthew Hague, Emily Landau and Simone Olivero. Photography by Dave Gillespie

READ IT ALL HERE

last week was toronto fashion week… a week full of silly...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:27:00 -0400

last week was toronto fashion week… a week full of silly nails, peacocking and runways shows… until next season…