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An Innovative Winter Brew Worthy of Cellaring

Muskoka Brewery Introduces Two Vintages of Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout

For immediate release

 MUSKOKA – December 2, 2012 – What could be more reminiscent of a frigid Northern winter than an insulating beard and a warming Muskoka specialty brew?  One of the exciting aspects of the craft brewing movement is it invites innovation, creativity and local support.  These aspects sum up the efforts of Muskoka Brewery and the return of their Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout – appropriately named “Winter Beard.”

 “The concept of this beer was to create a limited run brew, made with unique ingredients with the ability to cellar and improve with age.  We wanted to shift perceptions of how people think of beer,” commented Gary McMullen, Founder of Muskoka Brewery.

 Upon the release of Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout it was heralded as North America’s best new December beer release by California based RateBeer.com.  In 2011, Muskoka encouraged consumers to cellar a bottle or two of Winter Beard to enjoy the following holiday season.  The response was overwhelming.

 “What we found was that consumers were purchasing Winter Beard by the case with the sole purpose of cellaring in mind.  It was amazing,” remarked Todd Lewin, VP of Sales for Muskoka Brewery.  

This year’s 2012 vintage of Winter Beard is bottle conditioned and packaged with a special cork to allow for cellaring even longer.   With 70% dark chocolate, real cocoa and a slightly higher alcohol content, this rich and sturdy stout ages beautifully, allowing the depth of the chocolate and subtlety of the cranberries to mellow and co-mingle in the bottle.

 This special brew is produced in limited quantities and is available at the LCBO and select Beer Stores.  When it is gone it is gone.  The brewery has a select number of bottles of the 2011 vintage which will be available on December 1^st on the breweries online store http://shop.muskokabrewery.com/.

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 Growth of Craft Beer:

 Craft beer is the fastest growing segment in beverage alcohol.  Last year, sales of craft beer were up 45% in the LCBO.  Consumers are gravitating to locally made, flavourful beers.   Because of the intricacies, attention to detail and variety of styles, it is now wine drinkers that are really starting to get intrigued by craft beer offerings.

 About Muskoka Brewery:

Founded in 1996, Muskoka Brewery handcrafts premium beers as unique and refreshing as the region they’re from.

 In addition to Muskoka Brewery’s core line-up of beers, they make four limited run specialty beers, available only during select windows in the calendar.

 These include:  The Legendary Muskoka Oddity, Summer Weiss, Harvest Ale and Winter Beard; Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout.

 Winter Beard; Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout:

 What could be more reminiscent of a frigid Northern winter than an insulating beard and a warming Muskoka seasonal brew? Our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is rich and sturdy with roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa, 70% dark chocolate, and freshly harvested local cranberries. Pair that with a slightly higher alcohol content of 8% and you’ll find yourself sharing this bottle of joy all winter long. The beard is not included.

 8.0% ABV

750ml - $10.95

Availability:  December - January

Media Contact:

Deborah Knight, dkpr public relations inc.

contact dkpr

(416) 363-1255 or 416-200-dkpr (3577)

VON MAUR SELECTS CANADIAN ALLISTYLE COLLECTION FOR ITS ATLANTA STORE OPENING IN NOVEMBER 2012

Canadian plus size brand, Allistyle, is pleased to announce that Von Maur has selected 72 pieces for its new store opening in Atlanta in November 2012 at the Perimeter Mall. 

Pam Shainhouse, founder of Allistyle, personally drove to their head office this summer to showcase her favourite basics from the Allistyle line and present the new designs for summer 2013.  “The response was overwhelmingly positive”, says Shainhouse.   “Our quality and price point fit perfectly with their sophisticated customer who loves comfortable, beautiful and classic fashion.”

The von Maur family opened its first store in the late 1800's. The rented store was 20 by 50 feet, located in Davenport, Iowa. Today, 27 Von Maur stores are located across 11 states: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio; and still expanding. Their corporate headquarters and E-commerce store are still proudly located in Davenport, Iowa. 

The strength of the Von Maur brand lies in our enjoyable and unique shopping experience. The backbone of this experience is our wide selection of brand-name merchandise, open and attractive store design, amenities that enhance the customer experience and our commitment to excellent customer service.

Plus sized brands sell well in their stores which include Lauren by Ralph Lauren Plus, Eileen Fisher Plus Size, Lucky Brand Plus Size, Jones New York Collection Plus, Louben Plus Size, Christine Alexander Plus Size, MSK Plus Size, AK Anne Klein Plus, Ming Wang Plus Size and Alex Evenings Plus Size among others.

Media information contact:  Deborah Knight, VP Marketing and Public Relations, Allistyle at 416-200-3577

For more information, visit www.allistyle.com

THE ALLISTYLE  2013 COLLECTION IS AN ALL CANADIAN LINE THAT’S COMFY, CURVY AND COLOURFUL FEATURING DESIGNS BY NEW YOUNG DESIGNERS

Whitney Thompson, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10 winner, is now the Executive Vice President and creative advisor for the Allistyle.  She has a strong opinion about ‘plus size’ fashion.  The first full-figured woman to win this U.S. national competition seen around the world, she believes women should be comfortable with who they are and make the most of the body that they were blessed with. 

She is a blogger who writes about being the best you can be with the curves you have and is an advocate and Board member of the National Eating Disorders of America in New York City.  "Allistyle clothing makes me feel beautiful and comfortable. As a plus size model, I welcome clothing that allows me to breathe, move freely and gravel with style.  I am so excited to be working closely with Pam in the design of the new collection" says Whitney Thompson.

Whitney Thompson is not only the fresh face of Allistyle, but has a strong commitment in making this company a success.  She and Pam met at New York’s’ plus sized fashion week in 2010 and became instant friends. 

 “This collection is designed with the active woman in mind who wants simple yet classic designs that travel well, can go from the office to an evening out.  The colours are bold and flattering, and each piece has a unique multi-seasonal functionality because of the wonderful eco friendly fabric.” Says Pam Shainhouse, Founder of Allistyle.

About Allistyle Canada

Allistyle was founded by Alli’s mom Pam, because they always wanted to create a fashion line togther.  Alli was a fashion forward woman who went up and down on the scale during her chemotherapy treatments.   She had challenges going shopping for beautiful, fashion forward and flattering pieces for her daughter Alli Shapiro, who was a vibrant, young woman in her twenties.  This fashion-conscious young woman knew that she wasn’t going to find fashionable clothing for her new figure in traditional stores in Canada.  When Alli passed away at the age of 26, her Mom’s vow was to carry on her vision of giving women a better choice in clothing for sizes 14 and up.  And she did just that.  Allistyle is now available in boutique shops in Toronto and online at www.allistyle.com

After forming Alli’s Journey (www.allisjourney.ca), a national charity dedicated to raising money to provide special sanctuaries or comfortable “chill out” rooms for young adults with cancer in hospitals such as Wellspring at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.  Allistyle became the perfect challenge for Pam to design for women by honouring those women who’s bodies have not only changed from cancer treatments, but also for women who love their curves and want to feel gorgeous, sophisticated and as beautiful as anyone else.  Pam set to work and our Ryerson University students helped to design a line of sustainable, classic pieces made in Canada, fashion forward pieces for REAL women. 

Select pieces from the spring collection are now exclusively available at Gussied Up, 1090 Bathurst St. in Toronto.  Allistyle is available on line and will be available in the new Atlanta store at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta, GA in November 2012.

Media Contact: 

Deborah Knight, dkpr public relations inc. (416) 200-3577 dknight@dkpr.ca

NEWS RELEASE

The 2012 Cultura Festival

Cultura Festival Finishes Its Six-Week Festival with an “Encore Edition” August 24 at Mel Lastman Square in North York

Toronto, ON August 17, 2012:  Presented by John Filion, in partnership with North York Arts, an initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation, this year’s Cultura Festival will end with an exciting main stage musical performance by Sarv Ensemble. The originally scheduled final Friday on August 10, was postponed due to inclement weather conditions.   Rain can’t stop this festival from entertaining the families of North York and cultural travelers alike!

On August 24, Sarv Ensemble, returns to the festival for an encore performance.  One of the biggest hits from the Cultura Festival 2011, this group draws inspiration from diverse classical and folk traditions across Iran.   Sarv Ensemble presents music both in traditional contexts as well as in collaboration with artists from different traditions and disciplines. Sarv Ensemble has performed in several festivals and venues across Canada, such as Tirgan Festival, Cultura Festival, and Festival du Monde Arabe.  The main stage performance is co-presented with Small World Music.

The featured charity this week is the Ontario Historical Society. Celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 this year, the Ontario Historical Society brings together people of all ages, all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving some aspect of Ontario's history.

Evening Schedule

Starting at 5:00 pm, international food vendors La Fiesta, Naniwa Taro, Casa Manila, Sunshine Shakes, Motimahal and Pondicherry Caterers will be returning to serve up an array of delicious international cuisine.

Busker entertainment of John Parks will be spinning plates on the mainstage busker area, Darren Bedford, the fabulous stiltwalker and juggler returns this week.  Sarv Ensemble performs on the main stage from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 

At 9:00 pm. the festival closes with a screening of the Oscar Award Winning film The Artist (2011, 100 minutes) co-presented with Cinéfranco. The Artist, a romantic comedy-drama filmed in the style of a black and white silent film, is the story of silent movie star George Valentine who meets a young dancer, Peppy Miller, but the arrival of talking pictures sends their careers in opposite directions.

Admission to the festival is free to the public.

About Cultura

The Cultura Festival is an annual six week celebration of culture in North York.   Cultura celebrates the diversity of Toronto and the GTA by showcasing unique artistic talents, musicians, dancers, buskers, family-friendly drum circles and international food vendors. Each festival evening closes with a featured film, displayed on a large screen. The festival also serves to benefit the local community, with funds from the proceeds of busker performances and a portion of vending sales being raised to support locally-based charities. 

Cultura began in 2010 as the brainchild of John Filion, who sought to showcase the usability of public spaces (specifically Mel Lastman Square) outside of the downtown core, while simultaneously promoting the arts in an open air and publicly accessible venue. Since this time, attendance has grown from 12,000 to close to 20,000 visitors in 2011.  In its third year, the Cultura Festival continues to serve as a highly anticipated event in the city, providing a showcase of the arts in North York.

The festival organizers would like to thank all the sponsors and partners for their generous support this summer:

Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, ZipCar, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Canterbury Place, Now Magazine, Toronto Public Library, Gibson House, Global Café, Hotel Novotel, Entripy, Hot Docs, Small World Music, Reel Canada, Dispatch Talent, Random Acts of Dance, FindingRhythm Drumming and Percussion, Little Monsters, Cinéfranco and Cheshire Unicorn Productions.

For more information please visit www.culturafestival.ca

Media contact:  dkpr public relations inc., Deborah Knight, dknight@dkpr.ca 416.363.1255

NEWS RELEASE

The 2012 Cultura Festival

Array of Chefs and Caterers Bring International Cuisine to Mel Lastman Square

Toronto, ON July 25, 2012: Cultura Festival celebrates flavours from all over the world as chefs from restaurants and caterers surround the Square with a warm aroma filled with exotic spices and grilled foods. The cuisine varies from Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Latino, Iranian, and Filipino dishes. There is also a juice bar to refresh on a hot summer’s day.  The Cultura Festival offers a fun and affordable way for families to taste the flavours of the world.

Food is an integral part of any Festival. Cuisine lies at the heart of many cultures, and chefs are given the chance to showcase their international dishes while expanding the taste buds of many Toronto residents. The featured restaurants and caterers include CASA manila, MotiMahal Restaurant, Agave y Aguacate, Pondicherry Caterers, La Fiesta Catering, Naniwa Taro, Yasaman catering, and Sunshine Shakes. These international food vendors and chefs will be there every Friday night  to August 10.

CASA manila is a renowned Filipino restaurant in Toronto. The restaurant offers a diverse and exotic cuisine, a fusion of the Philippine Islands’ natural resources and its history with China, Middle East, India, South East Asia, Spanish and American influence. CASA manila strives to provide fresh and healthy Filipino cooking for dine in, take out, catering services and banquets at CASA manila. CASA manila pleases its customers with their pleasant hospitality and authentic ambiance showcasing Filipino culture. A wide selection of vegetable, soup, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, rice and noodle dishes are offered. 

The MotiMahal Restaurant is a recognized favourite in Toronto’s little India and has provided authentic Indian food since 1976. Their flavour-rich dishes range from vegetarian dishes such as Channa Bhatura (spicy chick peas and fried bread) to non-vegetarian dishes such as Chicken Tikka. Toronto locals come to enjoy the inexpensive and delicious tastes of India at MotiMahal, located in the heart of Gerrard India Bazaar. 

Agave y Aguacate, a fast-food Mexican restaurant in Kensington market, is another eatery recognized by Torontonians. Owner and chef Francisco Alejandri trained at the prestigious Stratford Chef School, and pours his knowledge into the creation of every dish, to provide Canadians with authentic and unique Mexican food. Kensington Market patrons come to watch Alejandri in his distinctive Panama hat at work behind a stainless-steel table. There is always a line-up of eager customers at Alejandri’s kitchen. 

Cultura Festival attendees can also enjoy the Indian flavours of Pondicherry Caterers, Latino dishes by La Fiesta Catering, Japanese delights made by the people of Naniwa-Taro, Iranian cuisine by the Yasaman caterers, or quenching juices provided by Sunshine Shakes. North York locals and Torontonians can enjoy the array of International dishes every Friday night of the Cultura Festival in July and August.

“Culture is alive and well north of the 401. Cultural travelers from across the city will want to get on the subway and head north because there is really nothing quite like the Cultura Festival anywhere else in Toronto,” said John Filion, Founder of the Cultura Festival.

Schedule 

Cultura Festival 2012 will run on the following Friday nights in July and August. Each week will have a mainstage busker performing from 8:30-9:00 pm, and a busker at Yonge Street performing from 5:00-8:30 pm, in addition to the weekly Random Acts of Dancing and Walking Tours of MLS. 

July 27 Mainstage Performer Jayme Stone’s Room of Wonders/ Platform Stage performer Suzie Vinnick.  Mainstage Busker Madame Buskerfly/ Yonge Street Busker Madame Buskerfly

August 3 Mainstage Performer Silk Road (Qiu Xia He, Pipa & Andre Thibault, Flamenco Guitar)/ Platform Stage performer Yongli Xue

Mainstage Busker Ben Burland/ Yonge Street Busker James Poi

August 10 Mainstage Performer Sarv Ensemble/ Platform Stage performer Sina Salimi.  Mainstage Busker John Park/ Yonge Street Busker Darren Bedford

The Cultura Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its sponsors and partners: Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Zip Car, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Canterbury Place, Now Magazine, Toronto Public Library, Gibson House, Global Café, Hotel Novotel, Entripy, Small World Music, Reel Canada, Dispatch Talent, Random Acts of Dance, Finding Rhythm Drumming and Percussion, Little Monsters and Cheshire Unicorn Productions.

About Cultura 

The Cultura Festival is an annual six week celebration of culture in North York.   Cultura celebrates the diversity of Toronto and the GTA by showcasing unique artistic talents, musicians, dancers, buskers, family-friendly drum circles and international food vendors. Each festival evening closes with a featured film, displayed on a large screen. The festival also serves to benefit the local community, with funds from the proceeds of busker performances and a portion of vending sales being raised to support locally-based charities.  

Cultura began in 2010 as the brainchild of John Filion, who sought to showcase the usability of public spaces (specifically Mel Lastman Square) outside of the downtown core, while simultaneously promoting the arts in an open air and publicly accessible venue. Since this time, attendance has grown from 12,000 to close to 20,000 visitors in 2011.

Now entering its third year, the Cultura Festival continues to serve as a highly anticipated event in the city, providing a showcase of the arts in North York.

For more information about additional programming including the film schedule, please visit www.culturafestival.ca

Media contact:  dkpr public relations inc., Deborah Knight, dknight@dkpr.ca 416.363.1255

NEWS RELEASE

The 2012 Cultura Festival

Week #4

Friday Night Films at Dusk - Life in a Day, Rio, and The Artist in Mel Lastman Square July 27- August 10

Toronto, ON: July 24, 2012 Cultura Festival closes off each Friday night with a featured film displayed on a large screen as the sun goes down on Mel Lastman Square. The films that will be shown from July 20- August 10 are Life in a Day, Rio, and The Artist, and will begin each Friday night at 9:00 pm. Festival-goers can enjoy a mix of genres, from drama to documentary to family. 

On July 27, the Friday night feature will be Life in a Day (2011, 90 minutes), a film presented by National Geographic Entertainment and YouTube. Directed by Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) and produced by Ridley Scott, Life in a Day presents a microscopic view of our daily experience as a global society. The film is compiled of 80,000 YouTube submissions from 192 countries, representing a snapshot of a single day on Earth. This documentary has a profound human element, displaying similarities among the lives of humans across great distances. Life in a Day was nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

On August 3, the comedy animation for the whole family is Rio (2011, 96 minutes) which will send sounds of huge laughter throughout the Square. Set in the city of Rio de Janeiro and the lush rainforest of Brazil, this comedy-adventure centres on Blu, a rare macaw who was taken from his home in the rainforest. Brought up as a domesticated pet in Minnesota, Blu thinks he is the last of his kind until he meets another rare macaw, Jewel. Blu leaves the comfort of his cage and heads to Rio, embarking on an adventure with the high-flying Jewel. Made by the creators of Ice Age, Rio has become a family classic.   

On August 10, the Festival closes with a screening of the Oscar Award Winning film The Artist (2011, 100 minutes). The Artist, a romantic comedy-drama filmed in the style of a black and white silent film, is the story of silent movie star George Valentine who meets a young dancer, Peppy Miller, but the arrival of talking pictures sends their careers in opposite directions. The Artist was nominated for six Golden Globes and won three. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius, and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin. 

“Our films this year have a common theme of reactions to adversity. The opportunity to showcase these films under the stars at Mel Lastman Square also allows our audience to share these experiences and reactions together, as a community,” said John Filion, Founder of the Cultura Festival. 

Schedule 

Cultura Festival 2012 will run on the following Friday nights in July and August. Each week will have a main stage musical performer and busker, along with acts of dance and dramatic theatre and international food vendors. Each night will close with the screening of a film at 9:00 pm.  

July 27 Main stage performer Jayme Stone’s Room of Wonders/ Platform Stage performer Suzie Vinnick.  Main stage Busker Madame Buskerfly/ Yonge Street Busker Madame Buskerfly.

August 3 Mainstage performer Silk Road (Qiu Xia He, Pipa & Andre Thibault, Flamenco Guitar)/ Platform Stage performer Yongli Xue.  Mainstage Busker Ben Burland/ Yonge Street Busker James Poi.

August 10 Main stage performer Sarv Ensemble/ Platform Stage performer Sina Salimi.  Main stage Busker John Park/ Yonge Street Busker Darren Bedford.

The Cultura Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its sponsors and partners: Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Zip Car, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Canterbury Place, Now Magazine, Toronto Public Library, Gibson House, Global Café, Hotel Novotel, Entripy, Small World Music, Dispatch Talent, Random Acts of Dance, Finding Rhythm Drumming and Percussion, Little Monsters and Cheshire Unicorn Productions.

About Cultura 

The Cultura Festival is an annual six week celebration of culture in North York presented by John Filion, in partnership with North York Arts, an initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation. Cultura celebrates the diversity of Toronto and the GTA by showcasing unique artistic talents, musicians, dancers, buskers, family-friendly drum circles and international food vendors. Each festival evening closes with a featured film, displayed on a large screen. The festival also serves to benefit the local community, with funds from the proceeds of busker performances and a portion of vending sales being raised to support locally-based charities.  

Cultura began in 2010 as the brainchild of John Filion, who sought to showcase the usability of public spaces (specifically Mel Lastman Square) outside of the downtown core, while simultaneously promoting the arts in an open air and publicly accessible venue. Since this time, attendance has grown from 12,000 to close to 20,000 visitors in 2011.

Now entering its third year, the Cultura Festival continues to serve as a highly anticipated event in the city, providing a showcase of the arts in North York.

For more information about additional programming including the film schedule, please visit www.culturafestival.ca

Media contact:  dkpr public relations inc., Deborah Knight, dknight@dkpr.ca 416.363.1255

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

The 2012 Cultura Festival

Mel Lastman Square becomes a World in the Square for Six Friday Nights

Toronto, ON June 22, 2012:  Presented by John Filion, in partnership with North York Arts, an initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation, this year’s Cultura Festival will feature music ranging from Quebecoise Folk, Soca, Calypso, South Asian, Banjo Jazz, Blues, Flamenco, Chinese and Persian traditional performances.

"This event shows that culture is alive and well north of the 401. Cultural travelers from across the city will want to get on the subway and head north because there is really nothing quite like the Cultura Festival anywhere else in Toronto." said John Filion, Founder of the Cultura Festival.

On July 6, David Rudder opens the 2012 Cultura Festival with the sounds of Calypso.  Rudder’s unprecedented rise to fame in 1986 has made him the subject of music critics around the world. From New York to London to Tokyo, where the Japanese have released a CD of Rudder’s greatest hits complete with lyrics translated into Japanese, Rudder has been described as modern calypso’s most innovative songwriter.

On July 13, Autorickshaw’s music will ignite the square.  Autorickshaw’s music lies on the cultural cutting edge, as contemporary jazz and funk easily rub shoulders with the classical and popular music of India. Formed in 2003, Autorickshaw has become one of the most intriguing acts on the world music and jazz landscapes, garnering 2004 and 2007 Juna Award nominations for World Music Album of the Year, winning a Canadian Independent Music Award in 2005 and a John Lennon Songwriting Competition Grand Prize in World Music in 2008.

On July 20, Le Vent Du Nord, one of Quebec’s favourite folk bands will show audiences why they are now one of the most-loved Quebec folk bands in the world.  They have received several prestigious awards, including a Juno Award.   The group’s current line-up consists of singers / multi-instrumentalists Nicolas Boulerice, Simon Beaudry, Olivier Demers, and Réjean Brunet. Some of their songs come from traditional folk repertoire, while others are original compositions. Le Vend du Nord know how to deliver music that will move any crowd – to their feet and in their hearts!

On July 27, Jayme Stone performs on the mainstage.  With music inspired by folk traditions from around the world, his latest album, Room of Wonders, explores music from Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Brazil, Italy and North America. The repertoire includes a movement from Bachʼs French Suite, a Moorish sword-fighting dance and Stoneʼs lush, edgy originals.  He is joined by Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Joe Phillips (bass) and Nick Fraser (drums).  His Juno Award-winning albums, most notably Africa to Appalachia, both defy and honor the banjoʼs long role in the worldʼs music, turning historical connections into compelling music.

August 3 , Silk Road (Qiu Xia He, Pipa & Andre Thibault, Flamenco Guitar) performs.  Silk Road Music consists of two groups headed up by Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault. Founded in Vancouver in 1991, the ensemble pioneered the kind of Chinese-Western musical fusions that one now hears in acts ranging from The Sparrow Quartet to Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road project. It has blended Chinese folk and classical music with Celtic, Latin, Arabic, Aboriginal, jazz, and blues music.  It developed two exciting educational programs to bring world music to school children, and in 2001, it created a groundbreaking recording and performance project that paired Chinese and European-Canadian vocalists for bilingual duets of Chinese folk songs.  This dynamic group has earned a Juno nomination, two West Coast Music Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and countless enthusiastic reviews.

On the final Friday on August 10, Sarv Ensemble, returns to the festival for an encore performance.  Drawing inspiration from diverse classical and folk traditions across Iran, they share this music through concerts, workshops, and outreach and community events. Sarv Ensemble presents music both in traditional contexts as well as in collaboration with artists from different traditions and disciplines. 

“Toronto Arts Foundation believes that the arts should be accessed and enjoyed in every part of the city.  We are thrilled to be partnering with Cultura, through North York Arts, as it is already an enormously successful festival, and one that is sure to grow each year.” said Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director, Toronto Arts Foundation.

Schedule

Cultura Festival 2012 will run on the following Friday nights in July and August with Drew Gonsalves kicking off the first night at 7:00 pm on the side stage followed by David Rudder performing on the mainstage from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  All performances thereafter are scheduled from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 

July 6 David Rudder / Drew Gonsalves

July 13 Autorickshaw  / Matra Project

July 20 Le Vent Du Nord / Joanna Moon

July 27 Jayme Stone / Suzie Vinnick

August 3 Silk Road (Qui Xia He) / Yongli Xue

August 10 Sarv Ensemble / Sina Salimi

The Cultura Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its sponsors and partners: Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Zip Car, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Canterbury Place, Now Magazine, Toronto Public Library, Gibson House, Global Café, Hotel Novotel, Entripy, Small World Music, Reel Canada, Dispatch Talent, Random Acts of Dance, Finding Rhythm Drumming and Percussion, Little Monsters and Cheshire Unicorn Productions.

About Cultura

The Cultura Festival is an annual six week celebration of culture in North York.   Cultura celebrates the diversity of Toronto and the GTA by showcasing unique artistic talents, musicians, dancers, buskers, family-friendly drum circles and international food vendors. Each festival evening closes with a featured film, displayed on a large screen. The festival also serves to benefit the local community, with funds from the proceeds of busker performances and a portion of vending sales being raised to support locally-based charities. 

Cultura began in 2010 as the brainchild of John Filion, who sought to showcase the usability of public spaces (specifically Mel Lastman Square) outside of the downtown core, while simultaneously promoting the arts in an open air and publicly accessible venue. Since this time, attendance has grown from 12,000 to close to 20,000 visitors in 2011.

Now entering its third year, the Cultura Festival continues to serve as a highly anticipated event in the city, providing a showcase of the arts in North York.

For more information about additional programming including the film schedule, please visit www.culturafestival.ca

Media contact:  dkpr public relations inc., Deborah Knight, dknight@dkpr.ca 416.363.1255

Bazant Unique Adornments Inca Collection and Infinity Collection

Designed by Lara Bazant, Incorporate Rare Shells and Recycled Silver

TORONTO, May 13 /CNW/ - The BlackCreek Summer Music Festival announced it will be going social on Facebook® Platform. 

The new annual summer music festival series will launch in Toronto on June 4 at the Rexall Centre at York University in Toronto with world renowned tenor, Plácido Domingo, in concert.  BlackCreek's inaugural season will feature Symphonic, Pop, Opera, Jazz, Broadway, Country and Gospel music concerts with renowned artists including James Taylor, Lionel Richie, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, The London Symphony Orchestra, conductors Lorin Maazel and Marvin Hamlisch, and classical concerts featuring spoken performances by Dame Helen Mirren and  Jeremy Irons, with more artists still to be announced.

BlackCreek Summer Music Festival has incorporated social media at every level of the festival ensuring that fans have a truly social experience, whether they are attending the BlackCreek concerts in person or through the multiple online and mobile platforms available on a global basis.

The BlackCreek Summer Music Festival's social features include:

• Live Concert Streaming of the June 4th Plácido Domingo concert on his Facebook Page using Facebook Credits - a first.
• An application built on Facebook® Platform that will allow BlackCreek Summer Music Festival ticket buyers to group their friends and encourage them to join them at the BlackCreek concerts. The more friends on Facebook that buy tickets, the more they will be rewarded with ticket discounts, merchandise and exclusive content.
• When someone arrives at the BlackCreek Festival and checks in using Facebook Places, they are directed to a special VIP stadium entrance, and then they are invited to enjoy an exclusive VIP lounge that they can use before the concert, during intermission and post concert.  They will also have a chance to be upgraded to a Luxury Suite with all their friends that are attending the concert, as well as BlackCreek Festival virtual gift cards for free live streaming of the concert that they can send to friends that cannot attend live.
• Many more exclusive benefits will be announced throughout the summer.

"Facebook instilled in us the need to be 'Social by Design' from the very start of our business.  Social media has changed the way we live on a daily basis and our work on Facebook ensured that an enhanced social experience for our fans will be ubiquitous in everything we do." stated Kevin Albrecht, CEO, BlackCreek Summer Music Festival. "Let's face it; concerts are more fun when you are with your friends; in the era of social media, that means our fans have friends all around the world. We wanted to create an environment where you could share your passion for the music at BlackCreek with all of your friends no matter where they were."

The BlackCreek Summer Music Festival experience begins today, Friday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST on www.Facebook.com/blackcreekfestival, with a Live Streaming Unplugged Interview with Plácido Domingo on the BlackCreek Summer Music Festival Facebook page. The interview will be conducted by Marvin Hamlisch- the multiple Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning composer and pops conductor - who serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Festival's Broadway and Pops concert presentations:

About BlackCreek Summer Music Festival
BlackCreek's 2011 season will host concerts throughout the summer months featuring Symphonic, Pop, Opera, Jazz, Broadway, Country and Gospel music with renowned artists including Plácido Domingo, James Taylor, Lionel Richie, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall, John Fogerty and The Levon Helm Band, Chris Botti and Pink Martini, iconic country artists Brad Paisley and Allan Jackson, The London Symphony Orchestra, conductors Lorin Maazel and Marvin Hamlisch, and classical concerts featuring spoken performances by Dame Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons, and more to be announced , all performing "On a warm summer's night…Under a northern sky." 

Facebook ® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.