DSM [DEAD SEXY MAGAZINE]

…as in Dead Sexy’s last day on the web.

There you have it folks. We are packing up shop and taking on new and more lucrative ventures! Once again we want to thank all our team members, readers and subscribers who have supported us and taken DSM as far as it could in 1 short year.

ALL our past issues and their features are available only UNTIL JUNE 6 at www.deadsexymag.com and our blog posts here at www.deadsexymag.tumblr.com

It’s been great, and again we are sure we will see and talk to you again…

xoxo, team DSM ;)

P.S. effective immediately this Blog will not feature any further posts, and our twitter account will not be updated. Ciao folks!

This is an important announcement! Well actually not really, but here goes: After a 1 year run, DEAD SEXY MAGAZINE is packing it up and shipping out. Its been exactly a year since we launched our intrepid and ambitious little “venture” and it’s been swell. and stressful. and a LOT of work. Did I mention the stress? oh yeah. Well truthfully it was tons of fun. The team and I met a lot of sexy people, did some cool things, explored the great (and vastly underrated) city of Toronto and saw some nice stuff.

Sadly we came to the conclusion that our little magazine was not meant to be. New media is a dog-eat-dog world, especially now in this era of diminishing advertising revenue, so therefore as much as the team and I would LOVE to continue to bring y’all Dead Sexiness monthly, quite frankly we have run out of that most essential of substances - money. That’s what it comes down to folks. Money. This last year many a great magazine has gone up to that publisher in the sky and well as much as DSM thought we were all special, we - well, anyways…

The creators of DSM have made the difficult decision of carrying on with new ventures (those that actually MAKE money) and creating some exciting new chapters in our lives!

I have to mention that through all this the most important thing were our readers, and we thank you all from the bottom of our heart, as they say, for your most kind words and praise for what we were trying to do this past year…

Patrick and I wish the team and everyone a safe and fun ride in this crazy journey called life and hope to see all of you again sometime in the future!

written by Thomas Junek/ ex-Editor-in-Chief

With Mother’s Day just around the corner (Sunday, May 9, 2010), DSM has put together a list of some of the best establishments in town to show mom how much we appreciate her.  Not only is mom the quintessential caregiver whose three letter title we all learn as infants, mothers are the stuff that dreams are made of.  Mom is the first person we run to when sick and downtrodden and the one whose home cooked meals we all yearn for when we find ourselves far from home and country.  This Mother’s Day, why not show mom how much we appreciate all she has done for us by taking the time out to celebrate her special day in high season.  From traditional fare to fusion flare, DSM has provided enough options listed below to satisfy all types of mothers – from the traditional to the avant-garde.

The Old Mill Inn Restaurant

A Bloor West Village institution, the Old Mill Restaurant is part Jane Eyre, part Victorian England meets the South Kingsway. Set on a beautiful promontory overlooking the Humber river valley, this age old Mill has been a local landmark for over a hundred years. Locals love to flock here for the traditional Sunday brunch and this Mother’s Day the Old Mill Inn Restaurant will be treating our favorite grande dame with a menu worthy of an English monarch.  With a Mother’s Day Brunch menu that includes hearty breakfast sausage, served with bacon and eggs, cheese blintzes and rice pasta followed by a sumptuous seafood buffet of shrimp, crab salad and poached lobster, mom will dine like a royal. This is topped off with a charcuterie of meats: roast beef, lamb, pork tenderloin and a buffet of cold cuts and salads.  Brunch is finished off with a royal dessert of buttery chocolate fountain served with coffee and tea.  Mother’s Day Brunch at the Old Mill Restaurant will be served from 10:00am -3:00 pm and reservations are highly recommended. $48.50 per person for the brunch menu. 

The Old Mill Inn. 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto, ON M8X 1G7. (416) 236-2641. www.oldmilltoronto.com

The Drake Hotel

Known for attracting the young and well dressed and for hosting some of the best live shows and venues to be found in town, the Drake Hotel does not disappoint even on Mother’s Day.  Catering to the ladies-who-lunch, think Lee Bouvier meets Betty Draper and you’ll find mom will love the authentically urban look and feel that the Drake has to offer.  On offer is a prix-fixe brunch that can be had anywhere in the hotel ($28.00 for two courses), and that includes scones, lobster scramble, and smoked trout latkes. If seated in the lounge area, be sure to tell mom that urban crooner Big Rude Jake will be on hand to belt out a serenade-like tune. The Drake is also offering a special Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch that will be served in the Underground ($32.00 per person) and that offers a wide variety of hot and cold dishes, including deviled eggs with pickapeppa mayonnaise and hand-carved bourbon roast sirloin of beef. On top of that, there’ll be David Chow’s Famous Bake Sale for dessert. And as if to compliment the sweet taste of pastries, Meaghan Smith will be playing a live set of her poppy, folky, roots sound. Oh-la-la mama! 

The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J1J3. (416) 531-5042. www.thedrakehotel.ca

Tundra

One might not thing of Tundra as the sort of place to take mom out on this most special of days, but what better way to celebrate mom and Canadian heritage at its best?  It’s often been said that Tundra represents Canadian cuisine and décor at its finest. With artwork reminiscent of the best of the Group of Seven, there is enough to admire on the walls to bring back the serenity of glorious days spent basking in the summer sunlight of the great northern lakes and eagerly anticipating walking home to a fantastic home cooked meal – all courtesy of mom of course.  Tundra’s Mother’s Day Brunch menu represents a true Canadian taste mother can feast on, such as maple miso wild striped bass and heirloom beet salad with white balsamic vinaigrette and orange segments. Reservations are set at $39.00 per head, however the specially prepared meals are sure to warm mom’s heart as easily as the northern lights setting over lake Huron.

Tundra Restaurant, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 4G1‎. (416) 860-6800.

Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner

How often does mom get to dine at a restaurant whose helm is steered by one of the true master’s of the Canadian kitchen? Dining in a Jamie Kennedy restaurant is not just an experience, it’s an act made in heaven!  Toronto’s own iron chef extraordinaire and culinary wizard never disappoints and neither should you – treat mom to the very best and rest assured that by bequeathing her with two hours spent in the mother ship that is Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, your sure to make mom proud and happy.  On offering is a Mother’s Day Brunch for a reduced rate of $40.00 per person (compared to what the Gardiner usually charges, this is a steal!). This affords one not only a table at the Gardiner, but also the chance to be treated to a wide array of specialties including leek and blue cheese tart and beef brisket in a beer and onion sauce, among other morsels. Desserts are dressed to the nine with an array of offerings that would make even the faint of heart dizzy.  Reservations are strongly recommended. 

Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, 9 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1M1. (416) 362-1957. www.jamiekennedy.ca

Mitzi’s

Ah Mitzi’s! So goes the sigh of many who have frequented this Parkdale gem and those who have lingered too long and tasted a morsel of her charm.  Known for its staunch neighborhood clientele and famous for having amassed a devoted flock of followers from far and wide (I dream of it even from the quayside café’s of Croatia!), Mitzi’s is something of an institution. Part neighborhood diner-part/part grandma’s kitchen, Mitzi’s makes a long Sunday slumber all the more worthy.  To walk in is to enter a world long gone, one where warm and loving smiles are followed with “coffee or tea while you wait?” Such is the domesticity of Mitzi’s that you truly feel as if “everybody knows your name.”  Named after the legendary Hollywood actress Mitzi Gaynor (one time dance partner of Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby), Mitzi’s is the absolute perfect spot to treat mom to a generous portion of urban love and comfort in the form of food.  Tucked away on a leafy tree-lined corner of Sorauren Avenue, stumbling upon Mitzi’s is like finding a Faberge egg in the midst of an attic (be careful not to miss it as you ogle the spruce trees and steeple of the Greek Orthodox Church on the other side of the street). Don’t be fooled however – Mitzi’s is one of the best spots in town.  From the friendly and eager staff (ask for the lovely Carla) to the weekly menu that features fresh pancakes, French toast, omelettes and sumptuous egg concoctions. You never know what you’ll get until you arrive and, if you don’t arrive early, you and mom will be utterly disappointed. Try your luck and if that doesn’t work, linger till they can’t say no! Brunch items are offered individually with average prices ranging from $12.00 - $15.00 dollars per person,

Mitzis. 100 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6R 2E2. (416) 588-1234‎. www.mitzis.ca

Auberge du Pommier

This famous Oliver and Bonacini restaurant represents one of the best that Toronto has to offer and its dining room represents the perfect background for a Mother’s Day feast.  Show mom your devotion by treating her to some classic and well prepared French dishes that would make even Julia Childs proud.  With Mother’s Day brunch served from 5:00pm to 9:30pm, Auberge du Pommier will be serving le mere from its a la carte dinner menu.  The choices are wide and mom is sure to find something she likes, whether it be Pan Seared Wild Bass on Lentilles du Pay with Noisettes of Foie Gras, Pearl Onions and Jus du Viande ($36.00) or Slow Roasted Loin of Lamb and Gigot Braise on Parsnip Puree with Honey Glazed Turnip and Pommes Lorette au Jus de Cuisson ($41.00). Vive la France, et vive le mere!

Auberge du Pommier, 4150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M2P 2C6. www.oliverbonacini.com

Lai Wah Heen

If all of the above do not rock the taste buds, why not surprise mom with a choice that is always a crowd pleaser – Dim Sum! Who said Dim Sum was only meant to be an after hours club wake up call or a family affair following a Sunday morning after worship? Urban and suburban moms will love nothing more than being treated to a game of guessing as the effervescent carts displaying the signature round bamboo boxes rich with wares are wheeled by one after another. Known for their artful presentation and meticulous choice of ingredients, Lai Wah Heen is an experience not to be missed. Indeed, the solarium-style glass wall and twelve-foot ceilings serve as the perfect setting for the original collection of Chinese calligraphy and mom can also be ensconced in a VIP room that provides private dining in maple-paneled seclusion. Whether it’s for an intimate dinner, dim sum or a sumptuous Mother’s Day Brunch banquet, Lai Wah Heen delivers a dining experience reminiscent of China and Hong Kong - right in the heart of Toronto! The Mother’s Day menu is featured as part of the regular Lai Wah Heen Dim Sum menu.

Lai Wah Heen‎, 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1R3‎. (416) 977-9899. www.laiwahheen.com

written by Mirella Marie Radman

images via supermarketHQ*

For those who want to fill Apple’s coffer with your hard earn cash, today is your lucky day. The iPad with WiFi and 3G is available today online or in an Apple Store. The lower end 16 GB model cost $629, 32 GB is $729 while the most expensive model will set you back by $829 for 64 GB (quoted in USD).

Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately for your wallet it’s only available in the US. We up north are still waiting for the WiFi only model. It was originally planned for a late April launch but was pushed back to late May. Canadians cross your border.

Writer Rick T.

Photo courtesy of Apple

In Montreal people seem to work to live and not the reverse so what better way to enjoy life than to indulge in the city’s chocolate offering? Our pick is Chocolat Geneviève Grandbois. With a few locations across the city, this chocolatier is a pleaser.

A selection of tin boxed chocolate yummies line the walls as well as in the display case where you can pick and choose. We particularly like the Chai “infusion of black indian tea with ginger, black pepper, star anis and cardamom”, Caramel à la fleur de sel “an amber caramel flavoured with vanilla and enhanced with fleur de sel” and Érable “maple or maple butter with maple syrup added, combined with pecans caramelized in maple sugar to be exact” - quintessentially Canadian.

Montreal is like our little “Paris” in Canada but where everyone speaks English as well as French. If you head into Old Montreal and wander the meandering cobble stone streets you’ll find cafes, pattiseries, clothing boutiques and galleries. I’m sure you can convince you’re self that this Bell Provence is the next best thing to France.

Read about our Montreal coverage here.

Writer Rick T.

Photographer Sergei Yahchybekov