The new Italian restaurant, located across the street from the Keg Mansion on Jarvis St., resides in a heritage building designed by architect George Horace Gooderham in 1891.

Ganzi is now open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel was in attendance and the eve was emceed by eTalk’s Tracy Melchor.

Also in attendance:  Shay Lowe, Melissa Grelo, Shinan Govani, and Jen Kirsch.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

DJ TONY Okungbowa (of the Ellen Degeneres show) acted as the evening’s DJ.

In attendance:  Glen Baxter, Ashton Lawrence,  Kardinal Offishall, Matt Dusk,  Evan Biddell, Amanda Lew Kee, Lucian Matis, and Rosie Maclennan.

Right To Play uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

The new menu is designed by Chef Rob Bragagnolo.

In attendance:  Simon Benstead, Adam van Koeverden, Paul Alexander, Claudio Aprile, Melissa Austria, Frankie Solarik, Brendan Canning and Morad Affifi.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

Photography by Ryan Emberley

About you…

How did you get started in acting?

I saw Les Mis when I was 8 at the Royal Alex. I went home, drew a storyboard of the show, and performed the show, lip-synching for my family. I never looked back.

Best moment of your career so far?

It’s an early moment: My first professional job was as an apprentice at Stratford. I was in the chorus of The Threepenny Opera. Susan Gilmore was starring in the show. She also played Fantine in that production of Les Mis I saw 9 years before. I had a picture of my “lip-synched” performance in which I was singing Fantine’s Death, in a bathrobe, with a bonnet and blanket, reaching out to the invisible Cosette. Sharing that picture with her, and being able to speak, in my first professional job, to the woman who inspired me to be an actress: that was pretty special.

Your major career influence?

Too many mentors over the years that I am grateful to, and that I admire and respect. Martha Henry and the late Richard Monette greatly influenced the beginning of my career. I also have huge admiration for the career and work of Amy Adams. But ultimately, my biggest career influence is my insane and wonderful support system of friends, family, and my agent. Without them, I wouldn’t survive this business.

Best advice you’ve received?

Ask questions, listen, but don’t be afraid to trust yourself and throw out any advice that doesn’t help or improve you. Not all advice is good advice.

If you weren’t an actor, what would you be?

A psychotherapist perhaps. The human psyche fascinates me, and I’ve always been drawn to psychology. But honestly, if I wasn’t acting, I’d probably focus more time on poetry and writing. Another passion filled yet unstable vocation!

What’s up next?

A few more episodes of BBC America’s Copper, the Toronto theatre release of the romantic comedy film Please Kill Mr Know it All during the May long weekend, and a summer trip to Poland (my ancestry, and I’ve never been so I’m very excited).

Apropos T.O…

A place in Toronto you’d be proud to take people to?

The islands. In fact, when I’ve had international visitors, I’ve made a point to take them to the islands. Watching the skyline from the docks on Ward Island, or the boats walking down the boardwalk, I think is a favourite Toronto moment for locals and visitors alike.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Live at Spadina and Dupont. It’s a vegan restaurant with raw and cooked food. I have a terrible sweet tooth, and their black forest raw cake is divine. Really anything chocolate there. Or anywhere for that matter.

Your favourite Toronto neighbourhood and why?

I’ve lived in various areas of Toronto since 2008, and there is something to love about all of them. I’ve lived near Forest Hill Village for a few years now and I really like the area. As I love the outdoors, I am partial to the Belt Line that runs midtown. It’s a great place to escape from the city and you can follow it through to Mount Pleasant Cemetery (which in itself is beautiful), all the way to Don Valley Brickworks.

Least favourite thing about Toronto?

Traffic.

A Toronto resident, other than yourself, who’s making a positive impact on the city?

Anyone who is working tirelessly to support the arts in our city. We have such a vibrant community of artists here, and I am always in awe of the work of those who promote, attend, maintain, inspire, and create art in Toronto, in all its forms.

The evening featured catering by Daniel et Daniel, L-eat, The McEwan Group, Neptuno Oysters, and 10tation Catering.

In attendance:  Suzanne Boyd, Shinan Govani, David & Glen Dixon, Elena Semikina, Stacey Kimel, David Daniels & Kate Alexander Daniels, and Glen Baxter – among others.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

The evening featured hors d’oeuvres by Chef Claudio Aprile (Origin) that were paired with Veuve Cliquot champagne.

Also in attendance: Raymond Girard, Bernadette Morra, Rita Zekas, and Robert Gage.

The event was organized by Mary Symons.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

In attendance:  Mike Chalut, Ashley Rowe, Samantha Beckerman, and Candice Best.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

Dragonette performed in Montreal, STARS performed in Vancouver, and Walk Off-The-Earth performed in Toronto.  Feist also performed as a hologram in all three cities.

Photography by JJ Thompson and Ryan Emberley.

The event, which featured beatboxing and b-boying, was emceed by CP24′s Gurdeep Ahluwalia.  The exhibition was designed by Karim Rashid.

‘Out of the Box’ is now open to the public and includes over 120 sneakers representing the past 150 years. This includes rare sneakers from the archives of adidas, Nike, Reebok, PUMA, and Converse, along with loans from rap legends Run DMC, sneaker guru Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love and Dee Wells from OSD is featured. The exhibition also includes the latest from high-end fashion designers, including Christian Louboutin, Pierre Hardy, Lanvin and Prada.

Also in attendance:  Dee Wells, Glen Baxter, Jeanne Beker, Sonja Bata, and Bernadette Morra.

Photography by Ryan Emberley