Renaissance Cafe.

Thanks to the kind and diligent efforts of Catherine Penny (a good friend of mine in the fashion industry who has been following my progress over the years), there will soon be a 'fundraiser of fun' to help support my international fencing goals! This event will showcase a bonanza of local talent. There will be music performed by First Nation's Photobased Artist Arthur Renwick and his band The Shakedown Crew! Arthur will also be having a solo show of his work at the AGO in February 2007 which has been linked with Emily Carr. Brendan Seaton, another photographer and musician, has created the posters for the evening which have been posted around the community. At the fundraiser of fun, Brendan will be exhibiting a photo-diary of his trip to Beijing last fall. Quite good timing since Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympics!!

The number of door prizes is building by the day!! So far, these include a hockey stick signed by the players of the Toronto Maple Leafs (thanks to the Leafs and Mike Penny, the Leafs' AGM); CDs from Canadian Juno Award winning musicians, donated by AM640 Sports; coupons from our very own Chris "The Hamburger" Bower of BetterFoods; jewelry from the lovely Danielle Sweeney; and beer stuff from Brad and Premier Imports! You can see Arthur in the photo above with the stick...he shoots, he scores!!

The details are as follows....
When: November 24th 2006 at 9pm
Where: Renaissance Cafe - 1938 Danforth Ave. Toronto
Tickets: Prices are $25.00 per ticket
Contact: Catherine Penny - 416.422.1883
Renaissance Cafe - 416.422.1441

Finally, I'd like to thank Catherine for all her hard work in setting-up and advertising the event. I really hope you can all make it out that night.

Take care...

Mark.

Holloween Party!!!

A BIG thanks must go out to Gord Woods and Nick Tomko who organized a party for halloween last week where the proceeds of the evening went to my Olympic Fund! It was perfect timing for all of us as they just moved into the place a few weeks ago. So the combination of a house-warming, halloween, and fundraiser party was perfect. There had to have been at least 100 people that night, most of whom I knew and some I had to figure out because of the great costumes. Props go out to the Giant Banana (was that you, Ian Grey?) who stayed true to the fruit...(no matter what happened)...and Liese and Al for their scandelous rendition of Tie Domi and Belinda Stronach....who would of thought that hockey and politics could make such...music!!!! (I guess there's a first for everything).
If anyone has any photos please send them along so I can post them. I still have yet to see a
picture of me dressed as a construction worker....black eye included. And actually, I think someone stole my measuring tape....has anyone seen it?
All in all, it was a great night from start to end....especially the late-night fooze-ball game which really pumped-up the crowd! Thanks boys!