Gift wrapping ideas

- Use fabric with yarn or strands of raffia for awkward-shaped gifts
- Line re-used boxes with coloured tissue paper (instead of white) and put your homemade treats & goodies instead for a lovely hostess gift
- Buy a holiday mug (Dollar Store, IKEA, Canadian Tire) – place small items inside like chocolate covered pretzels, Christmas tree ornament, or candles
- Wrap baskets in cellophane with beautiful festive ribbon or add a Christmas ball for colour
- Have kids paint, colour, or decorate poster paper to wrap gifts for grandparents, teachers and aunts/uncles
- Use photos of your little ones pasted on their gifts to identify each one – even if they can’t read their name, they’ll recognize the gift is for them by their picture
- Re-use wine bags for skinny or cylindrical shaped gifts
- Comics & other coloured newspaper makes great gift wrap
- Send your special someone on a scavenger hunt to find their gift – start with a card with a clue, and proceed with a series of clues around the house until they find the hidden treasure
- Make Christmas fun and be creative!!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Setting the perfect Holiday Table

• Start with a simple table cloth (white cotton or linen) – ensure it’s clean, crisp, and ironed
• Add a festive holiday centerpiece – green branches with red & white berries surrounding a large candle
• Look for themed holiday plates – Canadian Tire, Costco, or Home Sense
• Use festive holiday paper napkins to match plates or cloth with a holiday ribbon or beautiful silver napkin ring
• Always use your best flatware and glassware – you’ve been saving it all year, now’s the time to use it!!!
• Silver salt & pepper shaker or source a holiday set featuring bells, angels or snowmen
• If your table is big enough, bring your serving platters, gravy boat, and bowls to the table – it’s always nice to have a “Family” style meal at the holidays
• Place small votive candles (Red or White) in clear glass containers
• Finally use a gold glitter pen to write place cards for each seat
• Sit down & ENJOY!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Green Event Planning

Whether you’re planning a family reunion, an annual meeting for your workplace, or a community-wide festival, make it a more environmentally friendly event.
Planning a green event takes a little more time and effort, but the rewards are great. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve conserved resources, reduced landfill waste, and shown a commitment to preserving a sustainable quality of life for our community and our world.

Best of all, you will provide a model for others to follow. Your family, neighbours, customers, clients, and community members will note with approval that you have taken the time to ensure that your event is environmentally friendly.

Top 10 Ways to Make Your Meeting Environmentally Responsible

1. Write It Up
Create an environmental statement or policy for the meeting as simple as, "We commit to minimize the environmental impact of our meeting by increasing the use of recycled materials wherever possible, reducing the amount of solid waste and disposing of waste responsibly." Be sure to get sign-off from hosts and suppliers.

2. Go Paperless
Using Web technology can cut paper use dramatically. A simple Web site for the conference can offer registration and confirmation. Email can serve advertising needs.

3. Meet Close
Insofar as possible, minimize the average distance that participants must travel. Choose venues close to the airport and within walking distance.

4. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Ask your hotel and meeting venue to provide visible and accessible reduction, reuse and recycling services for paper, metal, plastic and glass.

5. Avoid Individual Servings
Use bulk dispensers for sugar, salt, pepper, cream and toppings.

6. Choose Green Hotels
Choose a hotel that offers a linen reuse program and bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps in guest suites.

7. Eat Green
Include vegetarian options, and use caterers willing to provide locally produced foods in season.

8. When You Must Print…
Print all materials on earth-friendly papers, using vegetable-based inks, and use both sides of every page if possible.

9. Lights Out
Make sure that lights and air conditioning are turned off when rooms are not in use.

10. Inform, Instruct, Inspire
Tell participants and speakers about the "green" commitment of the meeting. Include verbiage on printed items and table tents.

Check here more tips of how to make your own green event!

Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

FastLane Gadgets and Tech - Woo Buffet and Restaurant

FastLane had its last networking event of 2009 at Woo, an Asian buffet restaurant right in the heart of the city.

With the theme being gadget and tech, there were presentations from many companies, including Palm, iLane, Belkin accessories, Hi-Tech Tattoos and Showcase TV. People could mingle with the industry's best while enjoying gadgets.

Hi-Tech Tattoos were there to personalize people’s mp3 players and phones and iLane showcased their GPS-sized bluetooth device which reads out emails from one’s smartphone.

Door prizes included: WiFi Personal Hotspot, iLane device ($399 value), $100 Hi-Tech tattoo gift certificate, just to name a few.

It was a great tech experience with the opportunity of networking with a variety of professionals.

Stay tuned! Check the website for upcoming FastLane events.

We hope to see you all at our next event on January 19th!
Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Photos by Anthony Parazo

JAE associates celebrates 29th anniversary!

Champagne, cake and lots of good vibes were the order of the day when Great Canadian Promotions, Div. JAE associates Ltd., celebrated its 29th anniversary. Gatherings Event Planning proudly organized this event and took care of the décor, catering, AV equipment, gift bags and on-site management.

On September 3rd at the International Centre, clients, suppliers, friends and family joined the team to celebrate the occasion, in an event that featured a keynote address by Stefan Danis, CEO of Mandrake Toronto and NexCareer. Kurt Reckziegel acted as special MC, regaling all present with stories of promotional products from the beginning to the present.

We congratulate Ms. Rang and her team and wish them the best of success in the years to come.

Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

New venue in Toronto: Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Gatherings Event Planning is pleased to announce our new partner, Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina Ave. As the official Management Office for Dark Horse, Gatherings is responsible for any rental and event's inquiries.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar is a fresh, new independent coffee house in the entertainment district of downtown Toronto. Lots of space to sit, with recycled bowling alley wood tables, and a well furnished lounge just behind the coffee counter.

If you are looking for a new venue, unique and modern to hold a function for up to 125 people, you just found it!

Come visit us, see this beautiful space and have an espresso!
Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Great Benefits!
> No landmark Fees
> No exclusivity agreements
> Bring in your own Alcohol
> Built-in sound system
> Reasonable rates

Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave (just north of Queen St. W)
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7

Management Office
Gatherings Event Planning & Fundraising
E: info@GatheringsEventPlanning.com
T: 416.551.0241



Photo Credits:
Toronto Eats
Dead Sex Magazine
Miss Yu
Dar Mustafa
FoodHogger
Matt MacGillivray

FastLane Patio Networking - Jump Cafe & Bar

This month's event was held at Jump Cafe & Bar on 18 Wellington Street West. As usual, there were door prizes, appetizers, drinks and much more.

Guests were entertained by the live magician Dan Trommater, on-site body painting, and great music by DJ Jude Kelly while they explored the many outlets that could assist in achieving their career, social, and lifestyle goals.

Jump is an American style bistro with sky-high glass atrium ceilings and a New York style bar. Guests could enjoy the warm weather, while networking among interesting people of various business backgrounds.

We hope to see you all at our next networking event on September 22nd at Prego Della Piazza in Yorkville!

Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Check the website for upcoming Events
Check SNAP article

Photos by Anthony Parazo

FastLane – Patio Party

On July 14th FastLane held its fifth event of 2009 at Marben Restaurant. Guests came out and enjoyed the warm weather while networking with many interesting people from an array of different professions.

A mix of great food, yummy martinis, fresh juice cocktails and a fantastic street side patio all helped put guests at ease and made them ready to have a fun night of mingling with other young professionals.

Once at ease guests met new people, traded tips and made beneficial contacts in a trendy modern atmosphere.

We hope to see you all at our last patio networking event in August!

Michelle Cheung & The Gatherings Team
____________________________

For the next FastLane event, we invite you to the August Patio Party at Jump Café and Bar in the Financial District.

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Location: Jump Café and Bar - 18 Wellington St. West

Tickets: On-line in advance $25 or $35 at the Door, tickets include one drink ticket.
Drinks & appetizers, Gift bag, and Door prizes!
Buy tickets here.

Remember to buy your tickets soon, as space is limited.
Join the FastLane Facebook Group.

“Through the Garden Gate” Beyond the Bridle Path

Toronto Botanical Garden committee and Gatherings team organized the event "Through the Garden Gate" that was held on Father’s day weekend on June 20 & 21. Garden enthusiasts turned out in full force with a visit to the exclusive gardens in the Bayview Ridge to Banbury Avenue, a neighbourhood known for its exceptional residential design and expansive parklands.

The tour offered visits to 14 private gardens, where people were inspired by the talent and creativity expressed in all of these exceptional gardens. The event is an important fundraising event for the Toronto Botanical Garden whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening and all the proceeds help to support the program and services offered by the TBG.

Karla Buendia & Gatherings Team

Next year’s tour is already in the planning stages.
For more information about the tour please email us or visit www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca

FastLane - Wine in the City

FastLane held its forth event of 2009 on May 26th at BLU Ristorante & Lounge on Yorkville Avenue, and this month’s theme was wine in the city.

Guests participated in a wine and chocolate tasting in a relaxing environment. There were many chances to meet people of all different professions, as well as the opportunity to learn about the different wines of the world and how to pair them with foods.

We had amazing wine tastings provided by Adriatic Coast, Authentic Wine and Spirits, Black Prince Winery, Kacaba Winery and TreAmici Imports. Incredible Chocolate pairings provided by Daniel Le Chocolat Belge and SOMA.



It was a great tasting experience with the opportunities of networking with a variety of professionals. We hope to see you all at our next event!

Michelle Cheung & The Gatherings Team


For the next FastLane event, we invite you to a patio party at Marben Restaurant in downtown Toronto.

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Location: Marben Restaurant – 488 Wellington St. West

Tickets: On-line Advance $25 or $35 at the Door
Drink & appetizers, Gift bag, and Door prizes!
Buy tickets here.

Remember to buy your tickets soon, as space is limited.
Join the FastLane Facebook Group.

Ga-la-licious

Ga-la-licious, Nightwood's annual fundraiser, returned for its third year, on Thursday April 30th at The Courthouse.

All of the proceeds benefited Canadian women artists. Funds raised through the event went directly to the creation of new works by female artists, free youth programs for girls and enables Nightwood to keep on developing and producing plays.

It was a great success!
A lot of fun, great food, entertainment and silent auctions :)
We look forward to next year’s event!

Renata Altrão & The Gatherings Team

Photo: Pink Pearl Images

FastLane "In The Community"

FastLane held its third event of 2009 on April 21st at Kultura on King Street East, and this month’s theme was focused on community service. Special partner for the event was the United Way of Toronto’s GenNext, who engages young professional Torontonians in their 20s and 30s who want to make a difference in their community.

We had other great features: The ever popular speed networking was back! Redroom Records performed their very own written and produced music. Oh So Cosmo with Josie Dye from Cosmo TV was there with us to cover the event; she was exploring new places, events and ways to meet men!



Another unique guest was IBfrank, a mobile grooming service targeting men (they also offer mini spa services for women). The ever-popular HiTech Tattoos were there to engrave people’s cell phones and mp3 players.

We had so much fun and met great people! Hope to see you all soon!
Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team



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At next month’s FastLane, we invite you to an exclusive tasting of Wines at the newest hotspot in Yorkville, Blu Ristorante & Lounge.

Date: Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm
Location: Blu Ristorante - 17 Yorkville Avenue

Tickets: On-line Advance $25 or $35 at the Door
Drink & appetizers, Gift bags, and Door prizes!
Buy tickets here.

Remember to buy your tickets soon, as space is limited.
Hosted by: www.torontocityevents.ca and www.GatheringsEventPlanning.com

Join the FastLane Facebook Group.

ELN’s inaugural Summit

Tuesday April 7th at Centre for Arts and Design, George Brown College, Gatherings Event Planning was pleased to participate in the logistics execution of the Emerging Leaders Network ELN’s inaugural Summit.

ELN members participated in a dynamic day-long session where they considered some of the Toronto region’s most pressing challenges, and as a group, identified action-oriented responses for them. The topic areas were Arts and Culture, Diversity, Economy, Environment, Politics, Poverty and Community Services and Transportation.

The ideas presented were creative and inspiring. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the future of the Toronto region was unmistakable throughout Tuesday’s gathering.

Each participant joined one workshop where ideas were presented for discussion and debate. At the end of the day, each group reported back in plenary. These ideas will be "tested" over the summer months with a view to presenting our findings at a public forum later this year. Many people worked tirelessly in the background to make this happen and they will still have a lot of work to do.

It is a great initiative and we are very proud to be part of it.

Happy city-building!
Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team

Read more about ELN here.

The Great Valentine Gala

Gatherings Event Planning was excited to participate in the execution of the ’Great Valentine Gala’ with The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons as they celebrated their 25-year partnership with Canadians with disabilities.

The Great Valentine Gala is a major fundraising and public awareness event honouring the aspirations and achievements of Canadians with disabilities. This year's Gala paid a special and spectacular tribute to the nation’s medal winners at the Beijing Paralympic Summer Games. The Gala was held on Valentine’s Day at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel and featured a live performance from Juno award winning Canadian musical artists Leahy.

The Gala was a beautiful spectacle as well as a spectacular way to honour the achievements and dedication of our Canadian athletes. The Toronto Star covered the Gala in a three page write-up which included pictures of the all of the athletes who attended. Gatherings Event Planning is pleased to have been a part of this extraordinary event.

Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team

GA-LA-LICIOUS 2009! Come out and support Nightwood Theatre!

Gatherings Event Planning is thrilled to present Nightwood Theatre’s GA-LA-LICIOUS 2009. On Thursday April 30th at The Courthouse, join emcee Erica Ehm (first female MuchMusic host, Real-Life with Erica Ehm - Life Network, Popstars: The One - Global, and the YummyMummyClub.ca) with musical performances by Janna Polzin (from The Sounds of Music and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?), plus carnival-chic buskering by dozens of talented performers - fire breathers, magicians, aura readers, play-in-a-box and much, much more.

This year’s tantalizing cuisine will be available at several food stations and provided by: Marben, Aphrodite Cooks, Mangia & Bevi and Dufflet Pastries. If that’s not enough, there will also be an exciting silent auction featuring some fabulous prizes to take advantage of.

Tickets: $50 before April 1st, $75 after April 1st

Call Gatherings Event Planning for tickets and more info (416) 551-0241

Come out and support a great cause!
Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team

Fastlane - In the NYOOD pictures?

Upcoming FastLane Event: Tuesday April 21st

Cost: $25 in Advance or $35 at the door,
Group Ticket Rate -purchase 5 tickets for $100

Join the FastLane Facebook Group
.
Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team

FastLane - In the NYOOD?

We all had an awesome time in The Nyood. Yes N-Y-O-O-D not N-U-D-E. FastLane February was buzzing with high energy and finesse! With a guest appearance from The Food Network’s celebrity chef Roger Mooking, who is also the executive chef of Nyood. The night in its first hour was already a success. Over 75 chic young professionals mingled and networked over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. FastLane combined individuals with various professional backgrounds bringing business and fine artistry together.

This FastLane featured Speed Networking, allowing those who were looking for the fast-pace networking experience to meet 16 other FastLane attendees in a short period of time. All and all it was a great night!

We are really excited at Gatherings to tell you that our next FastLane will be on April 21st and at TBA Location. Trust me you won’t want to miss it.

Hope to see you all soon!

Janson Mcilwaine & The Gatherings Team

Providing tools to make ideas become reality

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IdeaNation provides people with the tools to expand their social and professional networks. It’s important that they enable individuals to develop and elaborate important skills, while simultaneously gaining new experiences. The philosophy that community involvement should be fun guides ideaNation through their everyday practices.

Gatherings Event Planning helped ideaNation launch their new and innovative plans for 2009 in a big way. IdeaNation celebration featured a silent auction, wine raffle as well as guest speakers. Attendees were entertained by a live performance by Simeon Ross, who featured songs from his newly released CD.

Members of ideaNation shared inspirational stories while guests socialized and sipped cocktails. Positive vibes filled the room and the energy was definitely evident. IdeaNation’s passion for community change was impactful on guests and set the tone for 2009.

Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team

FastLane – January 13th 2009

We jumped into the FastLane this month at the luxurious Adelaide Club Lounge. Our patrons were given the opportunity to not only tour the club but view all the outstanding services offered to their members.

Having the event at the Adelaide Club really set the tone for our Health and Wellness theme. When organizing this event our team arranged to have special guests and services available to our patrons. Ben Stellino joined us from BensChocolate.com and Mike Wiebe from Mona Vie Juices. Both these exhibitors offered everyone a free sample of their amazing healthy products.
The Adelaide Club was also kind enough to hook up FastLane patrons with a free tongue analysis from Dr. Jumy Kim, and a hand massage from a certified massage therapist. Overall, everyone had a great time!

Remember, FastLane is a monthly event that takes place at various chic venues in Toronto. Come join us on February 10th for the next FastLane at Nyood featuring food from celebrity chef Robert Mooking.

Renata Altrao & The Gatherings Team