occasion: My bf and I were interested in taking some…read morebartending classes so we thought we'd try this one out. We went on a Friday night, event started around 7pm and lasted ~2 hrs (but that was more so due to socializing) drinks: we made 3 drinks and ended the night with champagne. The drinks were classics with simple ingredients so you can recreate at home, but the real value was in the techniques. Jacob (our instructor) showed us how to properly muddle, strain, shake, the ingredients in the cocktails. They were very generous with servings, I think I made my drinks too strong at the beginning and started dialling it down but you could do 2 oz a drink all the way through. To end the night, Jacob showed us how open a champagne bottle with a samurai sword. He was actually very informative about the sword technique.. made it look pretty easy but not sure if ill be trying that at home lol atmosphere: Its in an office complex/apartment building on king west. The area is meant to be a sharable work space which is used for the events. The place felt very homey, high ceilings and wide open well lit area with couches, ping pong tables and a large wooden bar/kitchen area for making drinks. It was enough space to comfortable host a party of 20 (apparently they've done groups of up to 40) people: The instructor was awesome, felt more like a conversation than a class. He's been bartending for a long time, competed in competitions as well and was very detailed with his teaching. We wanted the experience to be more like a party and less like school and we definitely got that. price: we did a new years event and it was $75 per person (not sure if its different price for regular sessions), but we got 3 very sizeable strong drinks and a glass of champagne. Definitely think its worth it considering how much other places in the area charge for cocktails.

Just had a mini bachelorette on Saturday night and we had the best time! Everyone is so nice and as…read morethe evening goes on everyone gets even more friendly ;). Jacob and Val (I cant remember his name sorry!) were great hosts and made it such a fun environment and helped when you were looking a bit sloppy. The cocktail recipes were plays on some classics but simple enough that you could make it at home. The space is slightly hard to find... when you see the Neon Heart it's the small glass door on the left of it with the #71-73 on it. We pressed some random buttons, but I think someone will come down to get you. Warning there are 4 flight of stairs so stretch your legs before entering. I don't write reviews often but this place totally deserves the 5 stars... go for a birthday or party or even a date you are gonna have a great time (just don't drive!).

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Even if you have a background in bartending previously, there are…read moremany details, the history of making alcohol that add to the knowledge of the beverage. My teacher, Jess, was great at teaching the course and took the time to answer questions and interact with all participants. It is a good course for covering all the basics and teaches you a few things that serve as a strong foundation to keep learning more.

My obsession with cocktails has reached a juniper-soaked fever pitch. Just the other day I scraped…read moretogether unused egg whites from breakfast to fashion an early afternoon bourbon flip. Totally unnecessary. So too are the infused simple syrups I make in my spare time. And I think I buy way more fresh limes and lemons than is typical of a person without scurvy. I think I have a problem, but I can't seem to SHAKE it. So I took some classes. Located in a rather non-descript location at Adelaide and Portland, the Toronto Institute of Bartending is the place to get edified in the ways of the drink. Their "classroom" is a fully-equiped bar where you pull up a stool and get your learn on. Their bartender certification program includes lessons in product knowledge, tastings (Sippin' Patron at 11am? Yep.), and of course many hours behind the bar, mixing, shaking and stirring. TIB was quick to emphasize that this class is about bartending -- not mixology. You don't only learn how to make drinks but how to serve and treat customers. This is definitely crucial stuff for anyone wanting to break into the industry. There was good practical advice about how awesome working in a nightclub is (spoiler alert: it's not), and helpful tips on how and where to find gainful employment as a barkeep. Our instructor was Chris, a long-time tender of bar at various Toronto haunts. He really knew his stuff and kept the lessons casual and breezy. He wasn't afraid to tell the two unfortunate lovers of Smirnoff Ice in our class to "GTFO" (something I truly appreciate) and he blasted music during our practical work. He's also quite man-pretty which I just thought I'd mention for the ladies (and curious men) out there. The course was spread over four eight-hour Saturdays; well worth the cost considering the knowledge and skills attained. On the last day there is a practical and written test, and if you pass you get certified. I'm not above mentioning that I was the top-scoring dude on the practical exam. I "won" the honour of doing a "muff dive" shot in front of the entire class. I'll be sure to post the video of this online never. Lots of fun. Check it out. Obligatory Title Pun: Satisfy your THIRST for knowledge. Menu Readability: Someone needs to redo their lesson manual posthaste. It's loaded with typos and low-res raster images. I think it was made in Word. PUKE. Need to mention: They are opening a bar in the same space called Spirit House Toronto. Stay tuned. What this place teaches me about myself: I rule the booze school. My mother will be so proud.

**They closed off the King St location and is now at 9 Clarence Square, Toronto, ON…read more I took the week-long accelerated Masterclass program three years ago. It was very informational and I did learn a lot. I got the basic bar-tending kit at the end of the class, and my certification card. However the program really doesn't prepare you for any real bartender jobs and can really only be viewed as a beginning intro series. I got a taste of what it'd be like working in high-traffic (through the final exam) but wasn't really trained thoroughly to survive in a real bar. The only thing I took away from BartenderOne was how to use a bartending kit, and how to make some classic drinks. It's true that they use powerpoints with misspellings. Wasn't worth the 500$. Also most places don't recognize or accept the certification so it's kinda just a gimmicky thing to have. Still cool though. I was interested enough to continue learning on my own; currently I work as a freelance bartender on the side of my full time job, mainly doing semi formals and parties. ***READ THIS: They said graduates of the program would be able to train in their events team, and work for them (first few events you only earn tips) and told us to add them on Facebook. My request to join wasn't accepted until a few months later with reinforced follow-up. No one posted on the events group and the owner and staff left me on read when I messaged for updates. So basically it was just an over-hyped scam. Don't take this course if you want to work. ***

Very cool event to try out for newbies & pro's, fun for team building, stags/staggettes, and dates…read more Would def do this again!

I've been looking forward to coming here for quite some time and finally had a chance today! There…read moreare only about a dozen parking spots at the Visitor's Centre, and I think it fills up quickly as it's a small-ish lot. Had to repark after a spot became available. They have 2 Wine Tasting options available, $25/4x1oz (includes higher-end wines), $20/4x1oz (smaller selection, but still quite a far amt). I think beer flights were $15/4x2oz. From speaking with her, I don't think the girl who helped me with my selection knew a great deal about wines. She said that she hasn't tasted all of them, but then again, there are A LOT from the both menus. I'm assuming that most of the people working here are students. The back patio is nice with the Escarpment in the horizon and vineyard in the foreground. I think you can also order apps that are cooked in the trailer outside. At 1oz each, I honestly think this isn't enough to get a good idea of the wine. It is literally 2 small sips! Other wineries that I've been to usually offer 4x2oz pours at the same price, and this amount is MUCH better in terms of getting a proper taste. Since it was such a small amount, it was hard to get a good gauge of the wines. The Muscat was nice though and I bought a bottle. Instead of doing the beer flight, I just cans to go as it seemed more economical. Bar area where those tasting were happening was a bit cramped! There was someone sitting at the bar already, another guy standing doing a tasting, and I felt a bit weird intruding on their space to ask the bartender about the beers. Fridges were on both sides of the bar, so not concentrated in 1 area. Beers/ciders area looking like a bit of an afterthought.

Great place to visit with friends, couple or family. Amazing to see and walk the fields with a cup…read moreof wine. I will visit this place again anytime. Rgds

We could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding. Sarah, Paula and Gleb were with us from…read morethe very beginning in working with us to ensure everything we wanted for our wedding was possible. They were always incredibly responsive and open to any concerns or questions we had. They were also super detail-oriented and able to offer ideas and I sights to ensure our event was one-of-a kind. We had a a few dietary restirictions and accessibility needs for our guests and every single accomodation was met with compassion and support. Gleb was fantastic the day of and kept the day moving smoothly but also made sure we were having a fantastic time. All our guests raved about the beautiful space, the food, and the service. We would highly recommend this venue to anyone.

A Retro Gem With Serious Vibes!…read more * Atmosphere & VibesWe held our annual toast at The Eglinton Grand, and the vibe was incredible. The retro look of the building grabs your attention from the outside, and the interior carries the same classic, vintage charm. It truly feels like stepping into an old-school theatre. * Entrance & SetupThe entrance is as grand as the name suggests. There's a coat check available, which is always appreciated for events. For our gathering, guests submitted song requests, so we essentially created our own playlist -- it definitely helped set the mood. * Photo BoothThere was a photo booth on-site. It was a little misaligned, but honestly, it still did its job and captured some fun memories. * Food & DrinksI didn't expect the food to be particularly good for an event venue, but I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was tasty and satisfying. And the drinks? The video I uploaded speaks for itself -- they were fantastic. * Staff & ServiceThe staff were polite, helpful, and overall very decent. Service flowed smoothly throughout the night. * OverallThe Eglinton Grand is a beautiful retro-style venue with great ambiance, good food, solid drinks, and friendly service. A memorable place for events and celebrations.

Ashley was our paint nite instructor. We had a company event onsite in our office in Toronto. The…read moreinstructor came to our office. She was very cool. We had a fun time. Majority of the painting was not done using paint brushes but more of the paper towel. The painting turned out nice.

SCAM REFUND PROGRAM! Attended a paint night at Burlington with friends to celebrate my birthday…read more I've bought a ticket and send them the referral link for them to ourchase the ticket so we can get the bring 3 friends promo and get your ticket refunded after the event. The artist was amazing, friendly, started on time and was engaging. However I didi not get a refund, I've been sending them emails and it feels like a bot. They respond like they don't read my concern and just proceeds in explaining the program. I've sent them proof I've attended and that I sent the referral link conversations with friend. But it's been annoying like you're talking to a wall. Event was Nov 15 and it's Dec 10 now without resolutions or getting a response from a real person. (Yes, I didn't find any phone number that I can call) I would still probably do this activity again or attend the artist's events but not with paintnight.com

Getting dressed to the third wedding of the week is exhausting. I suppose the novelty of it all…read morewears off eventually. . Exhausted, I try and look half decent for this drive to H-town. Pulling up to the parking lot, this place is massive. Good size for the lot. Lots of room for parking. Walking in, this place is stunning. Very Romanesque. Pillars and angelic portraits on the walls, chandeliers - it is a breathe taking view. Super elegant, classic decor and runs throughout. Bathroom is spotless, all 5 stalls. There is staff everywhere. Greeting you right when you walk in until you walk out. A the front, an array of guest name tags are arranged per table number. Super organized. I like this. Right away, I was approached by a host and he directed me to by table. Inside, the decor was done by the brides sister in law, and boy was it ever gorgeous. Every girls dreams. Hot pink & black was the theme. Very well done too. The service is phenomenal. Each table has it's own waiter that remembers your name. He was so gracious, offering extra servings, food for everyone at the same time, remembering extra side sugars and desert/meat options etc. I had an amazing time. I highly recommend this venue for a small-medium sized wedding. It's intimate and coordinated very well by the staff. The bride is a high school friend of mine. Naturally everyone else I haven't seen from high school was there. This was such an unexpectedly wonderful surprise. You see, I was a hardcore - cereal anytime of the day - crib talking - break dancing - gap sweater wearing - baseball cap front bending - tom boy. At a venue with 100 tables MAX - you have no where to hide. - Forewarning for the "late bloomers" The bar is right outside of the hall (on either side of the doors) - obviously, the most popular spot of the evening. Open bar. I felt weird drinking Coors light out of a wine glass. They will not give the bottles out. The 3 beer options was Heine , corona & Coors light. - Boooya! The open bar and awesome DJ brought back some amazing high school memories. There was some dirty break dancing wars . I did not win. I blame boobs. Ugh. This is going to be a very hard wedding to top. Rest assured, if you book your wedding here, every minuted detail will be taken care of. The bride & groom could not have possibly been more stress free. xoxo M.

Recently had my wedding here and we really felt like we were treated like family!…read moreNot only did they communicate quickly and openly but also advised us along the way! The venue is very clean and comfortable, spacious as well, no cramped tables for us. The chairs are actually some of the best ones I've sat in, wedding wise! The in house decorating is beautiful and our guests commented on how lovely it looked. Lighting was perfect throughout our ceremony, dinner and dancing. The in house DJ is really good too! Basically it's like an all inclusive resort but wedding wise! We had very little stress and a party people were raving over. And the food! Wow! Everything came out warm and delicious, everyone had more than enough to eat! Nothing worse than leaving a wedding hungry. The midnight poutine and cookies were a huge plus, our guests cleaned out the poutine in minutes lol. Delicious food, and they accommodated different diets (pescatarian, vegetarian and gluten free) seamlessly. Drinks were always good too! I'm gonna send my love to the service team because they really work hard and always had a smile on! Great team! From start to finish you all made our wedding dreams come true and we will always recommend this place!

Visited On: October 23, 2019 Meal: Dinner…read moreDining Style: Dine-in Would I Return: No Ordered: -Steak Dinner ($21.00) -Tea ($2.50) Thoughts: I would give Shopsy's a 3.5 star rating. To me, this is one of those places you check out once and that's good enough. I was satisfied with the service and food, but nothing stood out for me to want to return. Service We went for an early dinner at 6:00 PM on Wednesday and were seated within a few minutes. We had 3 different servers serve us throughout the evening, as opposed to 1 like in most other places. Everyone was helpful and friendly. Food I ordered the steak dinner (8oz AAA Alberta NY striploin, shoestring onions, fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes). To my surprise, the plating was well done and very impressive. The steak had more fat pieces than I would have liked and the garlic mashed potatoes was a bit dry. However, the steak was cooked perfectly and the shoestring onions were crispy and delicious.

Well I've never been to a NY or Montreal deli, but I kind of like the music…read more... Shopsy's Deli has been around since 1921 when Harry and Jenny Shopsowitz opened a small ice cream parlor below their tiny apartment on Spadina Avenue, in the heart of Toronto's garment district. Their sons Sam and Izzy built the business, and Sam eventually became known as Canada's 'Corned Beef King.' I first heard about Shopsy's when my first real girlfriend (Miriam) told me stories of family visits to Toronto and eating at their neighbourhood deli. Soon after, my friend Norm and I headed off to Toronto to see the sights and eat at Shopsy's for ourselves. And I have returned periodically to this location over the years. This is a great place to satisfy a craving for a delicious deli sandwich (hold the white bread and mayo), along with some crunchy coleslaw and a nice green pickle on the side. And you get a bit of the attitude thrown in for free. My only real criticism is that this Shopsy's is not really in the "neighbourhood" anymore. I love the Jewish-style delis not just for the food, but for the community energy.