Toronto, Ontario – Reported by Mark Lash for Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
I was born and raised in Toronto and it is home to both my wonderful family and successful jewelry business. Mark Lash Fine Jewelry specializes in custom design work along with carrying a beautiful selection of imported fine jewelry. My jewelry business has allowed me to travel around the world where I continue to be inspired by art, architectural design and fashion but no matter where my travels take me, I am always happy to return home to Toronto. With ethnically diverse neighborhoods, world-class hotels, restaurants and professional sports teams, Toronto has it all!
Through the years Toronto has evolved into an internationally recognized cosmopolitan city. Because of our British Commonwealth heritage, we have a European sensibility that can be enjoyed when visiting ethnic neighborhoods of the city such as Greek and China Town, and Little Italy.
The Toronto Film Festival is recognized as one of the premier film festivals and attracts many A-list celebrities from all over the world. Toronto is home to numerous world-class hotels including The Hazelton Hotel, The Trump International Hotel and Tower, The Ritz-Carlton, The Thompson and the soon-to-be-opened Four Seasons Hotel. Toronto has a wonderful theater district, opera house, art gallery and museum that host internationally acclaimed exhibits and Broadway theater productions.
Tourists can explore and enjoy many attractions when visiting Toronto such as Harbour Front, The Toronto Islands, The Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market, to name a few.
The Bloor Yorkville area can satisfy the shopping passion of any fashionista visiting the city. When spending time in this area of the city I like to eat at One, located in The Hazelton Hotel at the corner of Yorkville and Avenue Road. The food and customer service is exceptional and many celebrities visiting the city have been spotted having lunch and dinner on the patio. After lunch I will walk up to Stanley Wagman Antiques. They have a wonderful selection of Art Deco lighting and furniture. The building that they are located in is a Heritage Building and it is one of my favorite architectural sights in the city. I always tell my friend Warren Wagman that I could live in the building as it must have been a grand residence in its day.
As well as designing jewelry, I really appreciate great furniture design. I have purchased many pieces of furniture for both my business and personal residence from Avenue Road. Avenue Road is a trendy furniture store owned by world renowned architects Yabu Pushelberg. I also enjoy shopping at South Hill Home on Dupont, as the owner has a great eye for furniture design.
I really enjoy spending the day exploring art galleries in different areas of the city. Some of my favorite galleries are Jane Corkin and Engine Gallery, located in the Distillery District. I also like to buy from young and up-and-coming artists. I was one of the first to purchase artwork from Steven Nederveen, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Thrush Holmes and Sylvain Louis Seize. I have watched them become successful with great pride.
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Queen Street is one of my favorite streets in the city. When on Queen Street East, I enjoy having lunch at Burger Priest. Its laid-back atmosphere and comfort food reminds me of my childhood. For dinner I highly recommend Ruby Watchco, run by internationally acclaimed chef Lynn Crawford. The menu is set on a daily basis and only the freshest of Ontario-grown foods are used to create a delicious dining experience. When on Queen Street West, I will stop into Propeller and Angell art gallery on Ossington. Queen Street West is home to many independent shops and restaurants that make browsing this area very enjoyable. I will stop into Fresh for lunch, and if you are looking for authentic Italian pizza, I highly recommend Pizza Libretto. This trendy establishment on Ossington is always lined up but worth the wait.
About the author: Mark Lash is the president and head designer of Mark Lash, the jewelry line he founded in 1982. Mark’s keen eye, natural talent and determination drove his passion into the successful business it is today. His name is synonymous with innovate designs, quality workmanship and personalized customer service. Mark is known for dressing many celebrities at red carpet events, including the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys, with his designs.
Contact: Mark Lash, (905) 881-5229; mark@marklash.com; www.marklash.com
