Who says spring always has to be about pastels and flowers? Spring 2010 promises to change the way women are dressing and give them an edge all their own. This season is full of ways to rock out while still looking chic. 
With distressed denim, 80’s inspired muscle tanks, and one piece jumpers you can make spring your season to show off your chic tomboy persona.  By simply adding a few key pieces into your current wardrobe you can update your look and create that rocker chic style.  
 Distressed Denim

From jeans to jackets to vests this spring takes denim to a whole new level.  By using classic washes and intentional fraying, designers are taking a rawer look at the everyday jean.  The new take on denim is taking the basic skinny jean and adding an edge with acid washing and deconstruction.  With the addition of distressed and acid wash denim you can take your basic bright tee and create an 80’s inspired look.  With skin reveling rips and form fitting cuts this new trend is all about channeling your inner rock star. 

Girl Meets Boy

Show off your feminine side while hanging out with the boys.  This look is all about hanging out and looking cool with putting that girly spin into the typical tee shirt and jeans.  Off the Wall clothing knows just how to do this as they pair together distressed Hurley Jeans with a Dakota tank; topping it all off with a great Dakota Jacket. By utilizing floral inspirations and distressed denim, you can create a look all your own and be more than just one of the guys. 

80’s Style Re-run

This spring brings back the 1980’s with bright colours and classic cuts that bring the rocker edge front and center.  With cut off sleeves and animal prints you can return to the decade where rock was chic and expression was all in what you wore.  Being that 80’s inspired drama queen means taking those bright colours and letting your personality shine through your clothes and accessories this season.

That One Piece

This spring shows the one piece romper making a strong comeback and continuing on the rock and roll theme of this season.  With a tye-dye Roxy romper available at West 49, you can bring out your chic tomboy while still looking girly enough to be more than just one of the guys.  

Make this spring your season to be more than just a girl.

According to a recent Globe and Mail article, Canada’s visible minority population is set to double in the next twenty years.  This is not only due to increased immigration, but also because some cultures tend to have more children than others.  However, it’s very interesting that some commentors automatically assume that any recent arrival from a non-western will automatically have more than two or three children.  My parents would have been considered “recent arrivals” when I was born – they had only been in Canada for less than a decade.  Yet, I am their only child.  It is actually unusual in my parents’ circle of friends (which are overwhelmingly from Hong Kong) to have more than two kids.  The only thing that *MIGHT* be different from a typical Anglo-Canadian family are the handful of homes where there are grandparents.  However, that is changing.  No one in my generation would even consider having their parents move in with them!

I do, however, agree with some of the comments about integration.  Yes, many immigrants don’t bother to learn “Canadian ways.”  And that can be very difficult, especially for the children who grow up here.  It’s no wonder that there are major cultural clashes between the generations which spark movies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Bend it like Beckham.  The movies may be funny to watch, but it is somewhat realistic.  Another thing I don’t agree with is the assertiveness of some groups, wanting rules changed just to accomodate them.  Yes, some rules need to be more accomodating, but if it only affects you, then you shouldn’t bother.  I mean, if you’re upset that people kiss in public, or that people aren’t dressing modestly according to your set of rules, don’t try to make changes that apply to all.  Just make them apply to yourself.  In addition, you should take a look the rules and regulations in the old country.  If it doesn’t apply there, it shouldn’t apply here. 

When my parents came here in the 1970s, they kept some things “traditional,” yet integrated to mainstream culture as well.  Though this is the case for some families, the media have certainly taken it a different direction.  Sure, there are probably MORE immigrants who take their time integrating, and yes, that’s probably not a good thing.  However, the media has taken this scare tactic too far.  What REALLY needs to happen is good exposure to other cultures.  People who aren’t integrating are doing so because they are afraid of the unknown (strange, since they’ve made a decision to come to a new country.  One would think that they would have done their homework).  At the same time, people who are coming up with these scare tactics also need to do research.  It will only anger some groups and make them even more interested in changing…for them.

Image © Nancy Louie/iStockPhoto

It looks like half of you were watching the Big Game on February 28, while 20% of you were doing something else. I guess you didn’t want to jinx the results, eh?  10% of you were sleeping, another 10% didn’t know about the game and yet another 10% chose “other.”

Chimichanga Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar has opened its second Toronto location in Yorkville recently.  Though the location can be hard to find (it’s located at the lower level and can be easily missed without a sandwich board on the sidewalk).  My fiance and I went to the restaurant to test it out.  We have had not-so-nice experiences in their uptown restaurant at Yonge and Eglinton and was hoping that the Yorkville location would be a bit better.  In our four or so visits to the Yonge and Eglinton location, they had managed to mess up our order every time (including once where they switched our order with the table next to us – a table who ordered extremely spicey food) and provide slow service twice.  We decided to give the place one more try at another location.

The difference in service between the Yorkville and Yonge and Eglinton locations were like night and day.  Not only did they not mess up our service, servers were also efficient.  We ordered the nacho bar plate (first picture, $9.99), which consists of gourmet cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pinto beans, mild guajillo pepper, sauce, jalapeno peppers & pico de gallo to start and my main course was lamb barbacoa tacos (second picture, $12.99 as an appetizer, $14.99 as a main).  The sauce would be considered a little on the spicey side for those who are “sensitive,” but the guacamole definitely cures the problem.  The main course, was not bad, but not as good as the nachos.  The serving size was not bad for a North American restaurant – I would have eased it a bit on the tacos, serving two instead of three, since portion sizes in this part of the world tend to be on the larger side.

We have always thought that food at Chimichanga was pretty good for Mexican food in Toronto, but the thing that kept us from going frequently was the service at the Yonge and Eglinton location.  Now with a new location with much improved service, Chimichanga is definitely going to be on our regular visit list.

Chimichanga Yorkville is located on 70 Yorkville Avenue.  Phone: 416-546-1246.

Kathryn Bigelow has made history by being the first woman to win an Academy Award for directing.  Winning for her film, The Hurt Locker, a film about soliders who disarm bombs in Iraq, she beat James Cameron (her ex-husband), who had been a favourite for the award up until a few weeks ago.  Until then, it was assumed that Avatar was going to be sweeping up the awards.  Things changed when The Hurt Locker took home six BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards, while Avatar only took two (both which were technical awards). 

The Hurt Locker also took home Best Picture, among other awards.  Avatar, which was nominated for nine Oscars, went away with three.

They want to change the lyrics of O Canada, claiming that “in all thy sons command” is sexist.  Honestly, I can’t believe Ottawa would even suggest changing such a thing.  This is not a “real” issue that needs to be dealt with right away.  It’s just words.  It’s not an official document that affects the majority of people in this country.  Most people, in fact, don’t care (though I find it very odd that statistics say only 25% of Canadians know all the words to O Canada.  The anthem was drilled into me in elementary school, when they played it every morning.  They made us sing it at Brownies and Girl Guides too.  Perhaps they meant people not knowing the anthem in both official languages?  Because I can’t sing it in French) about the “sexist” words.

Really, I think the government has fallen into the trap of trying to be extremely politically correct.  It’s something that many multi-generational Canadians are guilty of.  They try to accomodate everyone and sometimes even criticize people for “integrating” into mainstream society.  In the most extreme cases, they give off the vibe of treating people who aren’t “like them” as museum pieces.  Think “it’s great that they don’t integrate.”  Not very nice when you look at it this way, right?  Anyway…

Right now, Canada has more issues than one simple word in our national anthem.  We are in recovery mode when it comes to the economy.  There is a war going on in Afghanistan.  There are issues relating to immigration.  Those are just three of the many more serious problems that Ottawa should be focusing on.  Why aren’t they concentrating on that?  Why are they trying to fix something that most people don’t want fixed and pleasing only a very small handful of extremists?  Maybe you know, because I surely do not.

Canadian flag image © ranplett/iStockphoto

A new grocery store has opened on Bloor and Park.  Catering to the DINK/condo crowd, the The Market by Longo’s opened on Wednesday, March 3.  The Market is a concept which Longo’s started a few years ago, opening in more urban areas of the city.  The stores are smaller than regular Longo’s supermarkets and offers a great deal of prepared or partially prepared foods, ranging from salad bars to ready-to-make stir-frys and a pizza bar, as well as standard supermarket items.  For caffineaholics, there is even a Starbucks (probably the sixth or seventh within the Yorkville area) in the store. 

This store is clearly not the place to go if you are looking for a full-out supermarket. However, it is a great place to pick up a few things to take home to complete a meal.  Perhaps you don’t feel like making any sides.  What do you do?  Pop in to the Market to get some prepared vegetables – great to complement the chicken you made for dinner.  Looking for the perfect dessert?  Pop into the bakery.  Though smaller than a mainstream grocery store, this is a great place for people who aren’t feeding family of four.