Wayback Wednesdays at Bloke and 4th

Ever in a situation where you don't have a class on Thursday, or someone's birthday awkwardly falls on a Wednesday and not sure where to go? Well wayback wednesdays might just be the perfect option for you. The weekly event most recently moved from Gravity Soundbar to Bloke and 4th, which is located near the major intersection of King and Spadina. Bloke and 4th can seat up to 90 guests comfortably, and gives a sophisticated and high class vibe to the lounge. It could be used for intimate meetings or dinners, and throughout the night the venue slowly transforms into a dance floor. Although Bloke recently took over the role of hosting waybacks in Toronto, the venue fits the criteria perfectly. With DJ Delerious the IceMan and Tony Monaco live to air from Toronto's hit radio station Z103.5, it is a night worth having if you prefer classier venues, as well as a older genre of music. Although the Dj primarily played throwbacks, as the night progressed some top 40 hits were a part of the mix. I would like to mention that it was my first time visiting this venue in the dead of winter, and I can imagine it would be much more pleasurable of an experience in the summer, as most things are. So holding off might not be a bad idea, but it is certainly a night you want to experience in Toronto at some point during your stay. The crowd appeared to be ranging from primarily mid twenties to forty years of age, some students but dominantly those with a working status. Below I have enclosed some pictures and a video to give a visual and hearing aspect of the venue.

The picture on the left above this paragraph does an effective job at portraying the neatness of the club and the sophisticated environment that it upholds with the layout of the goose bottles. Even the picture on the right shows the flooring tile to be a higher end along with the uniform of the person in the bathroom, once again emitting the more luxurious feel. One of the most important things when in business is to be continuously networking, and seeing how I'm in the marketing program at my school I always keep this in mind when I am going out in Toronto. Below I have enclosed a picture of a photographer that I was happy to connect with, as he is knowledgable of various events in Toronto that I am curious about. Was able to kill two birds with one stone, making a new connection, and having a great night at an event I had never been to. 

Below is a short video to give a visual idea of the venue on this night.

Overall I had a great time at wayback wednesdays and would recommend it for an event to go to in the summer, or if you have some time off or available mid week. 

Sensation White, Into the Wild At Toronto's Rogers Centre

Once a year in Downtown Toronto at the Rogers Centre, Toronto holds an all white music festival with some of the world's best EDM DJ's. This year Afrojack, Mr. White, and Eric Prydz attended the festival and it was most definitely a sensational night with amazing people. It was required for entry to the event that all the attendants where all white clothing, and the result of the images and layout of the crowd was incredible. Everyone was given a bracelet that glowed in the dark, which created a dream like atmosphere, and the combination of the energy of the crowd along with the DJ performing was what made the night complete.The concept of "into the wild" comes from the concept of the Sensation that was originated in Europe and is held in different countries across the world including Belgium, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Mexcio and others. There are a number of entertainers that attend the event that preform acrobatics and dancing that portrays the image of being in a wildlife scenario (faces painted, special costumes etc) I have enclosed a video below to portray the amazing atmosphere of the event.

The amazing thing about EDM events, is that for whichever purpose they are attending whether it be to witness a DJ they love or never have seen before, or they are simply having the time of their life with their friends, everyone feels united within the environment. When a special song comes on that everybody knows it results in everyone singing along with the lyrics, and it is an amazing feeling to have everyone surrounding you so passionate about one thing, the music. I have another video enclosed that demonstrates the interesting use of lighting throughout the event that I quite enjoyed.

Although this event can be on the pricey side, it only happens once a year and if you are looking for a different experience with a bunch of friends Downtown Toronto and you enjoy house music, this event is the perfect opportunity to experience that. I met a few people at the event, and was fortunate to say that they just added to my friend group and experience. Below I have posted a couple pictures of some of the friends I was happy to say I made at a point in the night.

 


The great thing about the event is there is a lot of accommodation surrounding the Roger's Centre for transportation or places to sleep. I was fortunate to stay in the hotel attached to the Roger's centre, that i would definitely recommend to anyone who chooses to attend this event, due to the fact that the service is great and the convenience is a big plus with the close proximity of location to the event. The hotel's name was Renaissance and located directly on Blue Jays Way.  The security was very high at all times throughout the night, so I did not feel unsafe at any point throughout the duration of my stay despite the large crowds of people entering and exiting the hotel for the event.

Act Industry Sundays and Factory Fridays at Uniun Nightclub

Who would've thought that you could go out on a sunday to a club in Toronto and actually have a decent time, let alone the venue being open past 11 p.m. Most individuals whether a part of a consistent work or school schedule, view sundays as their days to relax and recuperate before the dreaded start of their weekly ritual. It is a day used to collect thoughts from what may have happened during the weekend, and how to get back on track and focused for the week that is commencing. I had never attended Uniun on a Sunday, as I always had classes the following day and did not want to be unfocused or tired during the duration of them. This past sunday was my good friend's birthday and the first thought that popped into my head was "Uniun" and it was most definitely an unforgettable night from start to finish.

The picture below is the outfit I decided to wear to the club, seeing as Uniun is generally a classier venue located near Adelaide and Bathurst, I wanted to look my best for whatever the night had in store.

At first the weather was discouraging, it was a blizzard outside and we were contemplating on whether or not it would be worth going. A few thoughts raised in our heads "will it be busy, will it be a waste of time or money, will it be safe to get to and from the venue'. We decided to take a risk and see how the night played out. We ordered Uber X, which is a fantastic alternative to a cab that can be easily accessed from an app on your phone and not to mention for a cheaper price, to the residence we were staying at. The great thing about Uber X is it also says how far away the driver is from your location, wouldn't recommend a better form of transportation if you are travelling to a destination and don't like using public transit. When we arrived at the club we entered for free due to our names being on the guest list (can be done through the official Uniun website) and walked inside the club doors at around 1130 p.m. Every previous time I had been to Uniun was on a friday (factory fridays that I will be discussing below) or on a Saturday so I was used to seeing the floors packed with people but initially it was quite empty, and the motivation to stay at that point was the other friends that were joining us shortly to get a booth for My friend's birthday. The picture below is of me and the birthday girl patiently waiting for the remainder of the group to arrive, thankfully there is a mixture of seating and dancing place in this venue so there wasn't a shortage of places we could wait and relax in the time being.

Finally our friends had arrived and that is when the craziness of the night had begun. If you like electronic dance music and house with an upbeat vibe this is the perfect place for you. The layout of fixtures on the walls as well as the lighting make the experience that much more unforgettable. At that point in the night the bottles had began to arrive, as displayed below. On most nights a 750 ml bottle (which is standard for most venues with bottle service) ranges from anywhere from about 200 to 700$, not including gratuity for the bottle service at Uniun (which is 18%). There was a special going on that night for Super Bowl sunday that select bottles were as low as 125$. Specials and discounts on bottle service arise now and again on specific act sundays at Uniun. Our alcohol of choice for the night was belvedere.

After receiving the bottles and having a few good laughs with my group of friends, I noticed the club started to fill up quickly. It went from being almost completely empty to packed with individuals from wall to wall of the dance floor. It was amazing to see the transformation of the crowd in just an hour's period of time.I have included a video below that portrays the type of music that is generally played, along with the lighting fixture layout as well as the positive vibe of people in the venue.

Overall it was an amazing night with great people, definitely a fun place to spend a birthday and an exceptional Sunday. Here is another picture from inside the club which also matches the classy and luxury feel of the inside.


 Another great thing about Uniun is the Factory Friday events. Every Friday, a new dj that is generally more popular spins at Uniun nightclub creating another unforgettable night. I have attended many factory fridays for some of my favourite djs including Fedde Le grande, Martin Garrix and Laidback Luke. The one that I most recently attended in December, Fedde le Grande, was an amazing experience seeing an incredible DJ. I got to be a part of the dj booth nearing the end of the night when two of Toronto's best Djs (Manzone and strong) were spinning to finish the night. The vibe was also incredible because everyone was in unison and there to see this particular DJ or just to have a good time. Bumping into old friends at events is also exciting because then you can enjoy the experience together, and grow the group that you are in the venue with. Below I have pictures with the Dj as well as some friends, in addition to a movie from Fedde Le Grande and from the Dj booth.

Whether you are there to simply see a special Dj on a friday or want something to do on a Saturday or Sunday, Uniun is a fun filled environment that doesn't fail to disappoint with it's music, people and overall entertainment.Uniun

Night out at the Thompson

I have been to numerous bars and clubs in the past couple years, but without a doubt the rooftop at the Thompson was an unforgettable night with amazing people. The mature vibe, incredible view and nice variety of music make it a fun environment for almost any individual. It is the type of place that you can be wild, or just sit and relax and have a few drinks with some good company. Personally I always try to bring out with me the best people in order to ensure I have a good time, but visiting a classy luxurious place is definitely a bonus.

This is a picture of me on the rooftop at the Thompson enjoying myself to the fullest. This past weekend when this picture was taken was the first time I had ever attended the Thompson and it definitely wasn't going to be my last. Although I didn't visit the actual club part of the hotel called the Wildflower, I walked up the stairs into the lounge and fell in love with the view of the CN Tower and the rest of Toronto. Although it was a bit cool outside the view was breathtaking therefore distracted me from the weather. It was also a good spot to cool down after doing a bit of dancing in the lounge area. I spent majority of my night with one of my best friends (which is displayed in the picture below this paragraph) and with some other friends and new people i met throughout the night. We had bottle service, and I can definitely say it added to the experience by having our own place to sit and relax while being able to leave and come back as we choose. After me and my group of friends had finished our bottle service upstairs, we checked out the lobby in which there was a huge bar layout with good music and a mature group of people, most of which were staying in the hotel that same night, and others coming up from the basement club portion. At that point the night was coming to an end, and we decided to go to the 24 hour breakfast place around the corner. At that point it was the perfect place to go to, I had acquired an appetite and breakfast was my favourite meal of the day so I was quite content. The best part about being in that breakfast place at that time was that everyone was still in party mode and having a good time, and at one point in hour of sitting there we got the whole restaurant singing along to one of my group's favourite songs, summertime sadness. It was as if we were getting a bunch of strangers and making them all do something in unison, making the environment more relaxed and comfortable.

The great thing about the Thompson is it not only a place that you can party, but also a place you can stay for the night. It has a variety of options of different rooms you can stay in with amazing views of the beautiful city of Toronto. The cool white and lush orange accented rooms with dark hardwood floors add the luxurious feel to the stay at the hotel. Additionally it has a gorgeous 40 foot swimming pool that could be used by the residents. Surrounding the hotel are many food places you can dine at including Blowfish Restaurant and Sake Bar (sushi place with lounge), Rodney's Oyster House, Lee Lounge (Asian diner), BUCA (Italian cuisine), SOMA chocolate (chocolate shop) and a variety of others. All of these restaurants and eating places are within walking distance of the Thompson on King Street West. Also within walking distance is one of the more well known art galleries in Toronto ( Art galley of Ontario) as well others so if art is something that interests you this is another option to explore during your stay.

Introduction

Many people lead busy lives that involve a long work or school day, or in some cases both. Majority of workers and students dread mondays and do the daily countdown until the weekend, in which some tension and stress from the previous week is released. How people spend their weekends often varies, some spend the entire thing on their couch, watching Netflix or indulging on items from their fridge. Others spend it with their families catching up on some needed quality time, along with that come the health fanatics that will spend an obsessive amount of time at the gym to make up for the possible missed time during the week. Most commonly people will engage in activities with their friends, whether that be dining at a restauraunt, or partying in a club or bar. The point is, there are a number of ways to spend your weekend, which one would i suggest... the one that suites your personality or priorities best. Personally, I am a student in college with a drive to do well in my education, but enjoy the nightlife of Toronto and have experienced a lot of different aspects and experiences I would like to share. Everything is good in moderation, and I believe that with a good balance of work and play one can be successful, as long as the ultimate goal of that individual does not get lost along the way. There are a variety of things that the "nightlife" includes, most individuals have the perspective that it just involves going to an area with strobe lights and getting shit faced while dancing, which is only a small portion of what being out a night in toronto could really involve. If your goal is to get drunk then by all means, there are many options in which one can do so, but after a while (speaking from personal experience) it gets tiring and draining, not to mention puts a dent in your bank account. So what else could a night on the town involve, well in the summer there are a variety of options such as various restauraunts, summer festivals, boat cruises, sheesha lounges, music festivals, and other alternatives. In the winter there is skating locations, winter festivals, sheesha lounges, places to eat as well as movie theatres. Throughout the blog I will touch on a variety of different places with my personal experience as well as reviews from others to give the reader an idea of some of the things that make the toronto nightlife so great, and what you can do to make your weekend what you want it to be.