The 2010 Toronto International Film Festival begins on Sept. 9, 2010 and we, at Roots, can't wait! Every year this festival seems to get better and better and bigger and bigger. The names of celebrities attending have been rolling out for a few weeks now and you can definitely feel the buzz growing within the entire city.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) began in 1976 as the Festival of Festivals. Organizers would gather all the best movies shown at other film festivals and would show them to eager audiences in Toronto. That first year, they showed 127 films to 35,000 people. This small festival has blossomed into the International event that is has today. This year, the 35th year of the festival, there will be 300 films and 300,000 tickets.
Stay tuned to The Buzz for more information on other fun things Roots is doing for the festival.
Thirty-seven years ago today, the first Roots store opened it's doors in mid-town Toronto, Canada selling negative heel shoes. On that first day, Co-Founders, Michael Budman and Don Green sold seven pairs of shoes.
Since then, Roots has become one of Canada's most iconic brands known and respected around the world.
The web team would like to congratulate Don and Michael and wish Roots a very happy 37th birthday!
You and a friend could be going to the Eat Pray Love Premiere* in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal!
If you live in one of those cities and want to be entered in the draw to WIN one pass for two, post a comment below telling us either:
Your favourite food to eat
What you're wishing for
What, or whom you love
You have until 2 p.m. ET today (August 5, 2010) to enter. One entry per person and you must include which of the above cities you live in.
Winners will be posted and contacted today.
*Draw will be held at 3 p.m. today and passes mailed out. Only people in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver are eligible to win. Winners of passes must arrive early as the the winning passes do not ensure admittance. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.
Critically acclaimed Montrealers, Arcade Fire's latest album doesn't come out until August 3, 2010 but you can take a listen to the first single right here!
Read: A stuffed donkey and a howler monkey
Yann Martel's latest novel, Beatrice & Virgil, follows Henry, an author, as he attempts to help a taxidermist finish his play, called Beatrice & Virgil. Henry is also attempting to get his second book published and has recently moved his wife to a foreign city and has given up on writing. Wry and engaging, Yann Martel's second novel is very entertaining.
Bookmark: What's your mood today?
Stereomood is an online music streamer that creates playlists based on your mood! Feeling grumpy? Sad? Working? Taking a road trip? Stereomood has just the song list for you.
1/2 of a 397-g pkg frozen puff-pastry dough, thawed
5 cups (1.25 L) strawberries, about 11/2 lbs (750 g)
1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50 mL) cornstarch
1 egg
Pinches of granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 mL) apricot or seedless raspberry jam, or
apple jelly (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 475F (240C). Line baking sheet with
parchment paper or foil. Lightly sprinkle counter with flour and place
pastry on top. Dust rolling pin with flour. Roll pastry into a thin
circle, about 14 to 16 in. (35 to 40 cm) wide. Don't worry if it's not a
perfect circle. Loosely roll pastry around rolling pin, then unroll
over baking sheet. It may have overhang.
Hull, then halve or quarter berries. Lay on paper towels
and pat dry. In a large bowl, stir 1/2 cup (125 mL) sugar with
cornstarch. If berries are not sweet, add another 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar.
Stir in berries to coat. Mound berries in centre of pastry, leaving a
3-in. (8-cm) edge uncovered. Fold pastry over fruit, overlapping as
needed. Centre of pie should not be covered.
In a bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp (15 mL) cold water.
Brush over pastry edges. Don't let it pool, or it may form streaks when
baked. Sprinkle pastry with pinches of sugar. Place on bottom rack of
475F (240C) oven. Immediately reduce temperature to 375F (190C). Bake
until pastry is golden, 40 to 45 min. If berries begin to dry out,
loosely cover with circle of foil for the last 15 min of baking.
Remove pie from oven and make glaze by discarding any
chunky pieces of fruit from jam, then microwaving in small bowl on
medium-high until melted, about 30 sec. Brush over warm berries. Let
stand 10 min before cutting into wedges.
Top with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or frozen
yogourt. Pie is best warm. It will keep well, covered, for up to a day
at room temperature.
Check out these photos taken at the Rosedale store.
Douglas Coupland was one of the fifty speakers at this year's Idea City, which is 'Canada's Premiere Meeting of the Minds'. The event produced and presented by, Moses Znaimer is held every June in Toronto. This year Douglas Coupland shared the stage with Roots co-founder, Michael Budman as he showcased his futuristic collection, which will be sold at Roots stores come July 8th.
The launch for the Roots X Douglas Coupland Collection was last night in Toronto and Drake was there! Check out the photos below. There will be more coming soon!
The city of Toronto comes alive during the summer time, and the best way to experience the lively city is by attending the many festivals and events happening all summer long. Torontonians and tourists from all over the world help make this city magical and energetic.
There are so many amazing festivals this summer that you will feel like a kid in a candy store, not knowing which ones to choose. But don't fret, here's a few festivals that are fast approaching. There's something for everyone, so be sure to take part!
Toronto's Pride Week is a 10 day festival that includes the 30th Annual Pride Parade. As well, the three-day street party has live entertainment taking place over eight stages, a street fair with food and vendors, a Family Pride program, and much more. Toronto's Pride festival is the 3rd largest in the world, and is regarded highly among the arts and culture festivals in Canada. The festival starts June 25th and goes until July 4th.
For music lovers, the Annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival is a must! Music is something quite powerful, and this festival embodies that. From June 25th to July 4th, the city will be filled with sounds from well-known Jazz artists from all over. The festival will be spread over 40 locations within Toronto, most notably is Nathan Phillips Square, with a 1200 seat concert theatre hosting many free events to the public.
The Toronto Fringe Festival beginning on June 30th and going until July 11h, is Toronto's largest alternative theatre festival. Taking place in 25 venues all over Toronto, the festival showcases the many talented individuals in the theatre and arts industry. With a variety of theatre genres, from improv to musical extravaganzas, this festival is definitely one to take note of.
Be sure to experience all that Toronto has to offer, and take part in some incredible events over the course of the summer!
