This afternoon, Scotiabank announced the shortlist for the inaugural Scotiabank Photography Award, the largest award in Canada for an established Canadian photographer. Here are the nominees:
Roy Arden, Vancouver
Lynne Cohen, Montreal
Robin Collyer, Toronto
These three talented artists were nominated by eight independent experts from across Canada. The winner will be announced at a gala event on May 18, 2011, during the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and will receive $50,000, a book published and distributed worldwide by art photography publisher Steidl, and a curated photography exhibition. The book and exhibition will be launched at the 2012 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, the world’s largest photography festival. The two shortlisted artists will each receive $5,000.
Nathalie Atkinson wrote a story about Diane Lai skin care in the National Post on Saturday. In the article, Diane (the founder and owner of the skin care line) talks about how she was able to generate public interest and sales for her company through PR.
NKPR was proud to have played a role in Diane’s rise through the skincare ranks–our celebrity-filled IT Lounge helped launch her products during the 2010 Toronto film festival! In the National Post story, Diane had some wonderful things to say about her IT Lounge experience and what it meant for her business:
“I started at ground zero at the film festival,” Lai says, “and within three months I had $12,000 in gross revenue.” Six months later, those who were gifted with product (yes, thanks to tabloids and celebrity culture, gifted is now a transitive verb) have started to reorder, and editorial press placement and testimonials are trickling in.
To read the article, “Celebrity skin care,” click here.
As promised… here are photos of some of the stars who enjoyed sweet treats from Baker Street, the Toronto-based family-run bakery, at GBK’s Luxury Gift Lounge in honour of the Academy Award nominees and presenters. Alias‘ Michael Vartan, Canada’s own Natasha Henstridge and Malin Akerman (pictured to the left), That’s So Raven star Raven-Symoné and Tim Daly from Private Practice were just some of the stars who visited the gift lounge on February 25 and 26. The dessert-loving celebs took home Baker Street’s Red Velvet Cupcakes, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Caramel Brownie Cheesecake, Handcrafted Apple Pies and Pecan Pie Cheesecake!
Michael Vartan
Natasha Henstridge and friend
Raven-Symoné
Baker Street’s Alyson Fuller and Jessica Somerton with Tim Daly
A commercial premiered last night that I’m really excited about! It was a spot for Gogo’s Crazy Bones, a toy that you’re going to be hearing a lot about this year!
Gogo’s Crazy Bones are the biggest selling toy collectable in the UK, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. There have been over 310,000,000 Gogo’s sold worldwide and now the toys are here in North America!
Gogo’s Crazy Bones are small, unique figurines with endless gaming, collecting and learning opportunities. In North America, Gogo’s are sold in packets of three, five and collector’s tins featuring hundreds of characters in multiple designs and colours, like Sato and Nasako here:
Gogo’s are in toy stores now and are coming back in a BIG way — with a 1 MILLION piece giveaway at various events around North America this year. (More info. to come on the events soon!) The Gogo’s Web site is a great place for fans to gather and a hotspot for news and contests! Visit the site here and click here to watch the ad.
A commercial premiered last night that I’m really excited about! It was a spot for Gogo’s Crazy Bones, a toy that you’re going to be hearing a lot about this year!
Gogo’s Crazy Bones are the biggest selling toy collectable in the UK, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. There have been over 310,000,000 Gogo’s sold worldwide and now the toys are here in North America!
Gogo’s Crazy Bones are small, unique figurines with endless gaming, collecting and learning opportunities. In North America, Gogo’s are sold in packets of three, five and collector’s tins featuring hundreds of characters in multiple designs and colours, like Sato and Nasako here:
Gogo’s are in toy stores now and are coming back in a BIG way — with a 1 MILLION piece giveaway at various events around North America this year. (More info. to come on the events soon!) The Gogo’s Web site is a great place for fans to gather and a hotspot for news and contests! Visit the site here and click here to watch the ad.
The fashion at the Oscars did not disappoint last night and the office was buzzing this morning! Here are some of the looks that my team loved.
Brittany: My favourite by far was Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang. Her stunning red dress with simplistic accessories was classic yet sexy.
Cat: Mila Kunis. It was really soft and feminine. Mila looked very relaxed almost like the dress was an extension of her.
Jenna: All of Anne Hathaway’s dresses throughout the evening were great, even her tuxedo. Each one was elegant and she looked stunning. I’d love to wear any one of them!
Kristin: Mila Kunis in Elie Saab. Mila took a risk in this gorgeous lilac gown with lace detailing! Unique and beautiful!
André: Christian Bale. You can’t go wrong with all black. Jennifer Hudson’s red dress made a statement, too, since the colour was so vibrant.
Lisa: Mila Kunis. Her dress was gorgeous! The colour, the ruffles, the cut — I loved it!
Kaley: I love everything about Anne Hathaway. From menswear to gowns drippings in crystals or beaded tassels, she is perfection. Yet another coup for the Zoe camp!
Rebecca: I loved Anne Hathaway’s Lanvin tuxedo. I love me a girl in a bowtie!
Katy: Jumping on the Mila Kunis bandwagon! I loved the elegant cut and the pretty lace 🙂
Lauren: Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein. The striking simplicity of the dress complemented her effortlessly beautiful blonde locks.
Sarah: Celine Dion. Because she actually looked comfortable!
Here are a few of my favourites:
Reese Witherspoon. Because she wore black!
Halle Berry looked gorgeous (although she would look good in anything!)
Mila Kunis: Stunning.
Penelope Cruz. She had that beautiful new mom glow!
What Oscar looks were your favourites? Tweet me at @natashankpr.
The Academy Awards are this Sunday and while many people are excited about the fashion and picking the winners (me included!), I have the inside scoop on the treats the stars will be enjoying behind the scenes!
First things first: dessert! Baker Street, the Toronto-based family-run bakery, brought its handcrafted creations to GBK’s Luxury Gift Lounge in honour of the Academy Award nominees and presenters today, and they’ll be doing the same tomorrow. Celebrities who have stopped by for something sweet and delicious include the director of The King’s Speech Tom Hooper, Denise Richards, Beau Bridges, Cloris Leachman, 2011 Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Fred Willard, Jane Leeves, Justin Long, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Louis Gossett Jr., Natasha Henstridge, Raven-Symone, Regina King, Sharon Osbourne, Tony Shalhoub and William Shatner. (Photos to come next week!)
And here are the Baker Street treats they’re loving: Red Velvet Cupcakes, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Caramel Brownie Cheesecake, and pictured above, Handcrafted Apple Pies and Pecan Pie Cheesecake. So good!
FIJI Water will also be at the Oscars on Sunday night as the official backstage water! FIJI will be hydrating this year’s nominees and talent, including Natalie Portman, Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman and hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco!
I know I blog about my winter blahs every now and then, but this week I have an extra special reason to enjoy the season. Bloor-Yorkville’s annual IceFest is happening this week and runs until February 27. The theme of this year’s festival is Step Right Up! and will feature spectacular circus ice sculpture displays, events and demonstrations throughout the neighbourhood. This Friday is the official kick-off of IceFest with the arrival of the ice—all 25,000 lbs. of it! There are ice carving competitions, displays and lots of fun for kids, too! Visit Bloor-Yorkville’s web site here for more information.
How great was The Marilyn Denis Show today? Dr. Francine Gerstein and Dr. Romy Saibil from Toronto’s True MediSpa were Marilyn’s guests! The doctors spoke about skincare products for under $20 that help treat problems like adult acne and hyper pigmentation. They also offered some really smart advice on using concealer and how to select a moisturizer.
