It was only three years ago when monte & coe hit the scene, launching their Toronto-made products to the tune of a successful Indiegogo campaign where they reached 252% of their initial goal.
Since then, the Toronto-based brand has been focused on creating the best luggage and accessories possible, taking a modern approach to the traditional products we see in the everyday market. Their artistic designs feature full-grain Italian leathers contrasted by the softer feel of Italian wools. It all started with the perfect weekender bag suitable for any vacation, business trip, or daily gym trip. Their collection had since expanded to 21 units and counting, ranging from $35-$695.
monte & coe has caught the eye of retailers like Holt Renfrew and Hudson’s Bay, among the many other independent retailers that carry them in Canada and the USA. Their focus on reviving Toronto’s reputation for quality manufacturing and craftsmanship is at the forefront of their growing popularity.
I recently caught up with Co-Founder Andrew Coelho and he had this to say about the brand’s direction:
“For me, it’s about bringing true value with luxury raw materials and high-quality craftsmanship and adding personality through design elements like vibrant stripes and interiors. It’s also super important that we continue to support local family run businesses and show people that we are in fact a world class city with world class manufacturing. I’m truly passionate about showing the world that made in Canada means something again, and if there’s one thing I am most proud of, it is that we are made right here in our own backyard.”
Check them out at www.monteandcoe.com and stock up on gifts early, while quantities last.
They hooked us up with a 20% discount, exclusive to SD readers. Use code #StyleDemo at
checkout until Nov.12th
It’s October , and the cold is starting to creep underneath our jackets and makes evenings uncomfortable. . The only way we’ve been able to keep our souls warm is by eating delicious slow – cooked meals. Here’s a list of 10 Awesome Crock Pot Meals.
1) Crock Pot Lentil Vegetable Soup
• 2 cups dried lentils, rinsed and looked over
• 2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces each)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped carrot
• 1 can chilies (4 ounce size)
• 5 cups chicken broth (or replace with vegetable stock)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Combine all ingredients in a 4-5 quart crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until lentils are tender.
2) Curried Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 cups baby carrots (almost 1 pound)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• ¾ teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• ¾ cup cream
Instructions
- Put everything except cream and maple syrup in bag to freeze.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- Puree soup in a blender a few cups at a time or use an immersion blender. Stir in maple syrup and cream.
3) Creamy Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs pork chops, boneless (about 4-6 chops, thick sliced)
6-8 medium potatoes, chopped into large pieces
2 (10.75 oz each) cans cream of chicken soup
2 (1 oz each) packages dry Ranch dressing mix
1 cup milk
Dried parsley to sprinkle on top (optional)
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the soups, milk, and ranch dressing mixes and pour into a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Combine all other ingredients together and zip closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
Use the extra sauce in the slow cooker as a gravy for the potatoes and the pork chops. Sprinkle with dried parsley if you want.
4) Spicy Buffalo Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken (We use Zaycon Chicken and love it)
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch mix (dry mix)
1 12oz bottle Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce – Hot Buffalo
3 T. butter
You could easily use a milder form of Franks Red Hot if you do not want it super spicy.
Directions
Place chicken in the Crock-Pot
pour Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce over the chicken, Sprinkle the Hidden Valley Ranch mix over the top.
Cook on medium for 6 hours
Shred the chicken and enjoy
5) Chicken & Spinach – prep/no cook, freeze
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar Classico Pasta Sauce (or any marinara– 3 cheese, mushroom, etc.)
Onions, bellpeppers, etc.
Cajun seasoning to taste
Sliced zucchini & squash (the yellow ones that look like cucumbers) (optional)
mushrooms sliced (fresh or can)
Bag or container of fresh spinach, or can use frozen
Pasta of your choice (bow-tie, spaghetti, etc.)
Dumped everything in two bags— freeze
EDIT: The pasta in this recipe is actually just a serving suggestion, as in serving the sauce/meal over pasta, it doesn’t actually go in the bag or the crock pot, you would just cook it separately if you choose to use it. Sorry for the confusion!
6) Lemon Garlic Chicken – prep/no cooking, freeze
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (1 lb. in each bag)
2 T. butter (1 tbsp. in each bag)
1/4 c. water
3 T. fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley (I didn’t have fresh parsley, so I just used dried and it worked perfectly)
1 package cream cheese (you can use 1/3 less fat or fat free)
Again— dumped everything into two gallon bags and into the freezer– I think it will workout just fine
As one of the premier event marketers in Toronto, we know what makes an event stand out above the rest. While the venue, what’s on offer and obviously the guest list are the key elements to a successful event, one thing that often sets your event apart from the rest is talented entertainment.
If entertainment isn’t the focal point of your event – say you’re throwing a party or maybe even a wedding – it’s often hard to find just the right person to make your event special. Do you get a recommendation from a friend? Do you search online? It can be very confusing and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, very frustrating.
This is where Playbook Hub comes into play – Playbook Hub is a singular platform that connects you to musicians, performers and other artists and allows you to book them for your event or gig in one simple place. Playbook Hub was designed and built from the ground up to make booking an artist for a performance or project as simple and intuitive as possible.
What makes this platform even better is that it’s encompassing for both people looking to hire an artist and for artists to register and receive bookings as well. It’s free to join and artists and creatives of all categories can register.
In partnership with Playbook Hub we wanted to showcase some of the most interesting artists you can hire right now on the site.
- Sabina Fenn – Artist
Lifetime artist and digital illustrator, Sabina uses her whimsical drawing style to bring life into any event or activation. She focuses on live sketching, custom illustration and editorial illustration.
- Stephanie Anne – Illustrator
Stephanie is another one of the fine illustrators you can find on Playbook Hub. She focuses on creating beautiful watercolour inspired illustrations that bring a level of sophistication to any event.
- Hala on Stilts Entertainment – Unique Performing Arts
Talk about making a statement, Hala on Stilts truly does rise above the competition. Focusing on circus-style stilt walking Hala on Stilts brings a unique and jaw-dropping show to a variety of events.
- SILIKA Contortion – Unique Performing Arts
With over 8 years experience, S I L I K A will dazzle and contort herself into an amazing display of athleticism at your next event. Focusing on hand balancing and alternative modelling, S I L I K A is a marvel to be seen.
- Conor Cutz – DJ
If your event needs music, Conor Cutz has you covered. The open format DJ has superior skills to bring the right flavour to any style event. Music is often the pulse of any great event and having a world-class DJ at your fingertips is a dream.
- Hector Vasquez – Photographer
Events make memories. Why not hire a professional shooter at your next event? Capturing life moments and people in their element is what makes Hector Vasquez a premier choice for event photography.
- Scarlett Bobo – Drag Queen
When your event needs more flavour look no further than Scarlett Bobo. As one of Canada’s top female impersonators Scarlett Bobo has mastered the arts of drag performance. She’s known for impersonating P!NK and always warms the hearts of any audience luckily enough to see her perform.
- Nicole Rosove – Dancer
Ever thought of being your own showcase at an event? If the spotlight is something you desire and dance is the vehicle, the Nicole Rosove has you covered. A premier dancer herself Nicole has the added benefit of being a choreographer. Her instruction can help you dance the night away or be the centre of attention as you dazzle the crowd with your Nicole inspired dance moves.
- DJ Tilt – DJ
Sometimes events need to be wild. They need that energy and they need DJ Tilt. Focusing on club-style DJing, DJ Tilt brings the turn up to any event.
- Gabriela Carnovale – Dancer
Throwing a mid-east themed party? Then it calls for belly dancers. Mesmerize your crowd with the belly dancing stylings of Gabriela Carnovale
With fall upon us and winter just around the corner, many of us Canadians retreat indoors and take up our new favourite activity – binging on Netflix shows. There’s nothing better than having a new season of your favourite show come out, or discovering a new gem. This October, Netflix is bringing the heat as they have recently announced a stellar lineup of shows and movies that are coming to Netflix.
Most excitingly, part 2 of the mega-popular crime docu-series Making A Murderer is coming back on October 19th. Start preparing for your winter hibernation and get comfy with Netflix.
Here’s What’s coming to a streaming device near you:
October 1
- Anger Management
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil
- The Purge: Election Year
- Warcraft
October 2
- Joe Rogan: Strange Times
- MeatEater: Season 7
October 3
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein
- Angela’s Christmas
- Casper
- Dawn of the Dead
- Dune
- Mr. Bean’s Holiday
- Operation Finale
- Spy Game
October 4
- Star: Season 3
- Violet Evergarden: Special
October 5
- Big Mouth: Season 2
- Dancing Queen
- Elite
- Empire Games
- Little Things: Season 2
- Malevolent
- Private Life
- Super Monsters Save Halloween
- Super Monsters: Season 2
- The Rise of Phoenixes
- YG Future Strategy Office
October 6
- Little Things: Season 1
October 8
- Mo Amer: The Vagabond
October 9
- Inferno
- Supergirl: Season 3
- Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 4
October 10
- 22 July
October 11
- Riverdale: Season 3
- Salt Fat Acid Heat
October 12
- Apostle
- Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil
- Feminists: What Were They Thinking?
- FightWorld
- ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff
- Tarzan and Jane: Season 2
- The Boss Baby: Back in Business: Season 2
- The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell
- The Haunting of Hill House
- The Kindergarten Teacher
October 13
- Dynasty: Season 2
October 14
- A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities
October 15
- Octonauts: Season 2-4
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments
October 16
- Black Lightning: Season 2
- Ron White: If You Quit Listening, I’ll Shut Up
- Travellers: Season 2
October 19
- Accidentally in Love
- Ask the Doctor
- Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever
- Darren Brown: Sacrifice
- Distrito salvaje
- Gnome Alone
- Haunted
- Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 2
- Illang: The Wolf Brigade
- Larva Island
- Making a Murderer: Part 2
- Marvel’s Daredevil: Season 3
- The Night Comes For Us
- Wanderlust
October 20
- [REC]
- Halloween
- Scary Movie
- Scary Movie 2
- Scary Movie 3
- Scary Movie 4
- Scary Movie 5
- Scream
- Scream 2
- Scream 3
- Sinister
- The Cabin in the Woods
October 21
- Robozuna
- The Cured
- October 22
- The Secret Life of Pets
- October 23
- Adam Sandler 100% Fresh
October 24
- Batman Ninja
- Bodyguard
October 25
- Great News: Season 2
- Hell or High Water
October 26
- Been So Long
- Castlevania: Season 2
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
- Dovlatov
- Jefe
- Shirkers
- Terrorism Close Calls
October 27
- Girl From Nowhere
October 28
- Bridget Jones’s Baby
- Certain Women
- Collateral Beauty
- Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj
October 30
- Fate/EXTRA Last Encore: Illustrias Geocentric Theory
- The Degenerates
October 31
- GUN CITY
Is there anything better than a charred beef burger, kissed by a grill or flame embraced by melty cheese nestled in a warm bun? If that gets you going then you may know that September 18th is National Cheeseburger Day.
In celebration of this fine occasion, McDonald’s is giving away their legendary cheeseburgers for free. Patrons visiting McDonald’s tomorrow on September 18th can get a cheeseburger at no cost when they order any item through the My McD’s App.
Happy eating.
Eddie Huang is a man of many talents. His first book Fresh Off The Boat put him on the map as a unique voice in the culinary and social commentary world and his restaurant BaoHaus in New York draws in fans from around the globe.
His book and restaurant led him to his current success as a stand-out media personality. Huang has had a VICE series and even got his book turned into a sitcom making it the only primetime sitcom to feature a predominately Asian cast.
While he has had his success in many different arenas, food is the link that fuses all of his efforts together.
In the latest episodes of popular interview show Hot Ones, Eddie names Toronto the best food city in North America. Big kudos to Toronto!
Check out the interview below.
Unless you haven’t been on social media in the last 72 hours you have probably heard the somewhat controversial news that Colin Kaepernick was named the face of Nike’s new Just Do It Ad campaign. Last night, Nike released the visuals that go along with the campaign. The video ad is inspirational, powerful and flies in the face of the naysayers trying to boycott Nike over this latest ad spot.
Colin Kaepernick is featured primarily at the end of the ad but narrates the entire ad describing the journeys of different athletes and their on the field/ off the field efforts. The video features stars such as Nyjah Huston, Shaquem Griffin, Alphonso Davies, Serena Williams, LeBron James and many more.
Take a look at the video below and let us know your thoughts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq2CvmgoO7I
Shrouded in controversy Nike has decided to make Colin Kaepernick the face of their latest “Just Do It” campaign.
As one of the biggest stories of the year, Colin Kaepernick – the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback came under fire for his choice to sit during the national anthem in 2016. After talking to a military serviceman as to what the best way to honour the flag while taking on a protest stance Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to shed light on the vast inequality and injustice African American face at the hands of police. This decision by Kaepernick eventually led to an indirect exile from the NFL.
The new campaign is poignant it reads “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” This is a powerful statement especially one that is as American as Nike. Nike has placed their advertising dollars behind an important message in today’s politically aware climate.
Kaepernick’s actions sparked controversy between the Trump administration, the NFL and black athletes as a whole. Trump went as far as calling out the NFL and stating “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘get that sone of a b**** off the field right now, out – he’s fired!”
“We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward,” said Nike’s vice president of brand for North America Gino Fisanotti to ESPN.
According to insiders on Twitter, saying “- It’s wide endorsement. He’s going to have his own branded line. Shoes, shirts, jerseys, etc. There will be Kaepernick apparel.”
If you haven’t made it to the CNE yet, maybe this latest promotion will help get you down to one of Toronto’s most famous yearly attractions.
The CNE has announced that guests can now enter the Ex for free before 1 pm today (Tuesday, August 28th) and on Wednesday, Aug 29 courtesy of popular ride-sharing app Lyft.
You can also get discount rides heading to or from the CNE. Simply use the code “LYFTCNE18” (until Monday, September 3).
If you can’t make it that early during the week (because you have a job), all this week from Monday, August 27 until Thursday, August 30, visitors can attend the CNE after 4 pm for only $9.
Canadian National Exhibition
When: Now to September 3, 2018
Where: Exhibition Place, Toronto
Is there anything better than iced coffee on a hot day? If you’re looking for a great deal on your favourite drink you’re in luck as popular food-app Ritual has partnered with over 70 coffee spots in Toronto to offer up delicious iced coffee for only $1. The only catch is that you have to use the app, and pre-order before you arrive to your coffee shop of choice.
If you’ve never heard of Ritual – it’s a ‘skip-the-line’ app that allows you to pre-order your food so that by the time you get to the shop your items are waiting and ready.
The promotional event is dubbed “Iced Coffee Week” and will take place from August 13th to the 17th and takes place at coffee shops all over the city.
It’s not just obscure shops either, notable restaurants like Aroma Espresso Bar, Oretta Cafe, JJ Bean and Cali Love have all agreed to take part in the promotion.
Enjoy your iced coffee and check out the list below of restaurants taking part in the promotion.
