Archive for the ‘Spread the Word: Shopgirls Loves its Customers Back’ Category

Shopgirls hosted a private shopping party and wine tasting last month, and for the latter, we enlisted longtime customer and sommelier extraordinaire, Anne Martin. We’ve been outfitting her for tastings and media appearances for years, and were thrilled to learn about and taste wines with Anne right here in the shop!

Nathalie Atkinson of the National Post had to leave before the tasting, but was intrigued enough to follow up with Anne later that week, and today the article was posted! Click here to read more about Anne’s picks for summer wines. Everything we tasted at the party was delicious and reasonably priced, so you’re sure to be turned onto something you’ll love.

Anne is also available for private tastings, wine shopping, and more! Get in touch with her to find out what she can do to share her delicious wine expertise with you!

 

Our lovely customer Paula was photographed in a piece by Veronique Miljkovitch.

Spotted at a fundraiser for SickKids Hospital you can read the article in Page 8 of last weekends National Post.

Or check out the photo gallery here.

Shopgirls attracts a variety of customers. We get the artists, the writers, the students, the professors, the professionals and the stay-at-home mums. We get the boyfriends, the collectors, the groups of girlfriends, the crafters, the brunchers and the too-cool-for-schoolers.

These people come from all different places and all walks of life. The common characteristic is that they are all wonderful!  Seriously, people. Have we told you lately how much we love you? You come in for a shop or a visit, and bring with you great stories, excitement and even sometimes your cheerful, little secrets. We love to think that, given the chance, we can brighten your day just a little bit, but really, you often brighten ours

We adore our eclectic community and I just felt that maybe it was time you knew. We hope you love us as much as we love you!

 

 

“Spread the Word” is a series of posts we’re writing about our lovely customers, those who consistently support what we’re doing to promote Canadian designers, and who are engaged in amazing work that in turn deserves our support. This is where we’ll spread the word about the wonderful people around us. Amber Joliat is our fourth customer to be featured in this space.

Don’t let Amber’s sweet disposition fool you… she will whip your ass into shape if you let her!  A former resident artist at Shopgirls and longtime BFF, Amber’s passion for Yoga & Pilates has culminated to create Misfit Studio right here in the heart of Parkdale!   Amber is not your typical instructor and Misfit is not your typical studio. While you may find yourself in downward dog once in a while, there is always a twist to your workout and experience.  The studio specializes in “Baby Mama” classes (thanks Amber!) as well as Yoga/Pilates fusion. (Yes Misfit also has reformers on hand for you die-hard Pilates freaks.)

Located at Dunn and Queen this adorable space and owner are ready to take on those flabby thighs and chicken arms.  When Amber is done hurting you, you can relax in the courtyard and think hard about whether you REALLY need that chocolate chip cookie you’v been daydreaming about.  Get a free class pass and find out more about Misfit and Amber on her website, or check out her blog for tips on healthy living and musings on life, the body, and more.  Better yet, drop in and see the studio for yourself.

Fall Schedule:
Monday: 11am babymamma
Tuesday: 12pm fusion
Wednesday: 8am yoga / 11am babymamma
Thursday: 12pm yoga / 6pm fusion
Friday: 10am pilates / 11am babymamma / 12pm yoga
Saturday: 10am fusion

In between these times, Amber is available for private sessions, duo sessions or group classes.

PRICELIST
$15-1 class
$70- 5 classes
$135- 10 classes

(These stunning photographs courtesy of Alexander Jowett)

“Spread the Word” is a series of posts we’re writing about our lovely customers, those who consistently support what we’re doing to promote Canadian designers, and who are engaged in amazing work that in turn deserves our support. This is where we’ll spread the word about the wonderful people around us. Sophie Noel de Tilly is our third customer to be featured in this space. She’s also one of my best friends!

When I was carrying our newest shopgirl I wanted to capture my pregnant belly in all its glory. What I didn’t want were the typical maternity studio images.  I wanted tasteful yet sexy with a great backdrop.  Because of the intimacy of the shoot, I especially wanted to feel comfortable with the photographer. Sophimage fit the bill!  With 15 years of photography experience under her belt, Sophie’s ability to capture those candid moments is unparalleled.  Sophimage combines strong attention to detail with a splash of humour, bringing out the best in her subjects.

Based out of Montreal but always willing to travel, this loyal Shopgirls shopper has provided us with stellar images from life events to those in the shop…her photography is as unique in look and feel as is her sparkling personality. Whether you are looking for the perfect gift or someone to capture a special moment in your life, I highly recommend Sophimage Photography.

Whether it’s in a park, in your back yard or in your home, Sophimage will create lasting memories that you will cherish forever.

And if you’re still not convinced, check out her portfolio at www.sophimage.ca.

You can thank me later!

“Spread the Word” is a series of posts we’re writing about our lovely customers, those who consistently support what we’re doing to promote Canadian designers, and who are engaged in amazing work that in turn deserves our support. This is where we’ll spread the word about the wonderful people around us. Sarah Selecky is our second customer to be featured in this space.

Dear World,
Will you please read this book? You’ll love it, I promise.

Love,
Ashley

For serious. Read this book.

We at Shopgirls are so thrilled to have met author and writing instructor Sarah Selecky a few years ago in the shop, and these days we love calling her a friend. Sarah is a local Parkdalian, hosting writing workshops in her beautiful home, and befriending and supporting local businesses like Shopgirls and Coriander Girl. She even participated in our Walk the Walk fundraiser for Windfall last September, strutting her stuff on the runway for a great cause. And she rocked it!

Thus, as friends we are pumped to help promote this beautiful first book of hers! This Cake is for the Party is a collection of ten perfect little stories. I really couldn’t say it better than Lisa Foad, who reviewed the book for the Globe and Mail:

“Sarah Selecky’s debut is an exceptional story collection full of regret and celebration, wisdom and wit. And while the collection explores sites of emotional and physical volatility, Selecky sinks her teeth into something far more powerful than the violence of loss: she skillfully wrests devastation from its customary gloom of lamentation and regret, and bares its overwhelming beauty. Each of the 10 sharply cinched tales within This Cake pivots around this powerful inversion. Selecky’s stories are also ridiculously witty. Compelling, clever and exceptionally crafted, This Cake really delivers.”

And if that somehow did not convince you, then I demand that you read this excerpt from Toronto Craft Alert.

One of the things that so drew me in about this collection is a comment Sarah made during the launch party, where she was interviewed by writer and broadcaster Jeff Warren. Jeff shared with Sarah a deep interest in meditation, and in response to his probe regarding the subject, Sarah talked at length about her writing process as heavily influenced by the practice: the slow (and I think, daring) work of quieting the mind and digging in, in an effort to embody each of her characters so they come out true. Which clearly works for her, because funny or flawed, everyone in this book is familiar.

If you are inclined to try this kind of practice, you’re in luck! This September will see Sarah teaching the writing portion of Breathe in, Write Out, a rural retreat where participants alternate between yoga, meditation and writing; in doing so, they learn new ways to adapt to the present moment, allowing space for authentic writing to happen.

Shopgirls encourages you to go to your local, independent bookstore to pick up a copy! Closest to us here at the shop is Type Books, just on the South side of Queen Street, across from the lovely Trinity Bellwoods Park. Ooh! Buy the book and then read it in the park! Sarah would love that.

In the meantime, read Sarah Selecky’s Twitter Feed for news about This Cake, daily insights and tips for writing. Also, please see Sarah’s website for more information about her classes, her writing, and her stupendous self.

____

We leave you with more reviews of This Cake is for the Party:

“Selecky’s stories are ultra-lush and wise, wickedly wry. She is uncannily accurate about all the tender, blasted-open moments that change us for the good. This Cake… is delicious.” Lisa Moore, author of February and Alligator

“An elegant collection that weaves between life’s everyday pleasures and everyday pain…a beautiful book.” Erin Balser, Torontoist

“The short story by Sarah Selecky is everything a story should be: smart, wise, achingly poignant, its tightly sprung pages enfolding lifetimes of experience. The story is one of the highlights of This Cake is for the Party, the 35-year old’s first collection.” Rebecca Wigod, Vancouver Sun

This is the first in a series of posts we’ll be writing about our lovely customers. “Really,” you say, “You’re going to write about the people who shop there?” Yes! All of our staff have commented that the people who come into the shop are the most interesting, smart, funny and creative people we meet anywhere in the city. They are writers, artists, teachers, filmmakers, moms, bloggers, and just about anything else you can think of. They are forces of nature, women (and men) who consistently support what we’re trying to do (promoting the work of Canadian and local artists and designers) and who are constantly doing amazing work that in turn deserves our support. This is where we’ll spread the word about the wonderful people around us.

The first of our featured customers is Summer Love (what a name!), who lives right near the shop and has been dropping in ever since we opened in December 2007. We have learned gradually over the years about Summer’s film projects, and the one in particular we want to tell you about has been in the works for 7 years. 7 YEARS! She is nothing if not dedicated. Of course, she is much more than dedicated; she’s smart, funny, fiery, and passionate. We love her visits to the shop.

So a week ago, some of the Shopgirls staff attended the NXNE launch of Sounds Like A Revolution at the NFB, directed by Summer Love and Toronto-based Jane Michener. We squeezed into a packed-house theatre with over a hundred other people to catch this pro-active and energizing documentary about a new generation of activist musicians who are living proof that music is an important and powerful tool in the ongoing struggle for social change (we never doubted it!). They’re not anywhere as mainstream as dissenting musicians in the 60′s were, but the doc features people from the pop country Dixie Chicks to Michael Franti to the punk band Anti-Flag, artists from all ᠋across the musical spectrum – so important for engaging a diverse audience in this important dialogue about the role of artists in society, freedom of expression and democratic participation.

Anyway, the film is outstanding. It will at times make you laugh, and at others give you shivers. But it is always provocative, and totally relevant. GO SEE IT!

Sounds Like a Revolution – HD Trailer from Deltatime Productions on Vimeo.

And to check out CityTV’s coverage, and short interview with Summer, click here.

Check out the Facebook page to connect and share the film with others! Spreading the word through channels like these will help grow awareness of the film and get it the audience it truly deserves!

Sounds like a Revolution is playing all week at The Royal (608 College St. Toronto, ON). Here are the dates!

Friday June 25
7pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Introduction by Alan Cross + Q&A with filmmakers)
9:15pm –Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers)

Saturday June 26
7pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers + acoustic performance by Justin Sane)
9:30pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers + acoustic performance by Justin Sane)

Sunday June 27
4:30pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers + acoustic performance by Justin Sane)
7pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers + acoustic performance by Justin Sane)
9:15pm – Sounds Like A Revolution

Monday June 28
9:30pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers + acoustic performance by Jessica Stuart)

Tuesday June 29
7pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers) Mac Graham special appearance!

Wednesday June 30
7pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers)

Thursday July 1
9:15pm – Sounds Like A Revolution (Q&A with filmmakers)

If you miss out on the Royal dates get to the Carlton Cinemas from July 2-8, 2010. There will be a Q&A with the filmmaker most screenings.

FOUR STARS – NOW Magazine! “Terrific energy. But it’s the interviews with the articulate musicians that are most inspiring.” – Susan Cole