Facebook Live Sessions: Lewis + Company x Tamara Lee Beauty

We went LIVE in our community Facebook group Our Riverdale and had a GREAT conversation with Nadia Lam, the founder and CEO of Tamara Lee Beauty! ⁣ ⁣ Nadia tells us about how she has shifted her business throughout the current circumstances and how we can help as a community!⁣ ⁣

Tamara Lee Beauty has become one of the BEST beauty boutiques in the East end in just under two years! ⁣ ⁣ Her mission is to change the narrative that taking care of your skin is a luxury and show that it is meant for any human of any sex, race, or age.⁣ ⁣

The purpose of these Facebook lives is to bring the community together in a fun and creative way while connecting virtually to show our love and support for not only each other, but our local small business owners and the like! We truly believe that standing together, talking about our struggles, and communicating where we could use some help (while adding some fun in between) is one small step towards recovery.⁣ ⁣

If you’d like to check out Tamara Lee Beauty’s website please click this link:⁣ https://www.tamaraleebeauty.co/⁣ ⁣ Instagram: @tamaraleebeauty⁣ ⁣

Lewis + Company Blog: https://www.lewisandcompany.ca/blog/tamara-lee-beauty-where-wellness-meets-beauty

FACEBOOK LIVE SESSIONS: LEWIS + COMPANY X THE AULD SPOT

As we all continue to navigate through our "new normal", we've been thinking of ways in which to support our many valuable small businesses.

Every Friday, we are going LIVE on the Facebook page Our Riverdale and will be interviewing local businesses and asking about ways in which we as neighbours can help support.

The purpose of this initiative is to bring the community together and connect virtually to show our love and support for not only each other, but our local small business owners and the like! We truly believe that standing together, talking about our struggles, and communicating where we could use some help (while adding some fun in between) is one small step towards recovery.

In case you missed our first Facebook Live event, please check out the recorded session below. We chatted with The Auld Spot Pub to hear about how they are pivoting through this pandemic and what we can do to help. PLUS, Nathan is showing us how to make an Auld Spot-style caesar from their new cocktail kits available for pick-up + delivery, along with an assortment of other delicious eats. They’re open Wednesday-Saturday from 5-8 pm. Check out their website to see what’s on + kindly email orders to auldspotpub@gmail.com or call 416-406-4688.

If you're interested in following along, join the Our Riverdale Facebook page and stay tuned every Friday at 3PM.

We're all in this together! Stay safe + support local!

Start your spice trail in Riverdale. The latest addition in the 'hood!

Article and Photos by: Fleur Boomsma

Meet proud Owner and Head Chef of Herby, Javad Zehdifar. // FLEUR BOOMSMA

From Northwestern Iranian inspired artwork to handmade local potteries, Herby invites you to dive into Iran’s homey culture full of organic and fresh homemade dishes.

Think of Herby as a big family offering you a seat at their table. You will witness the vibrant culture being expressed through the spices, food and atmosphere allowing friends and family to get together to socialize over food and reminisce over the memories made back home. Owner Javad Zehdifar expresses his generosity and shows his big heart through his customer service and desire in wanting to share his love for food with others.

The family-run business is named after Herbi, a village known for their rose-filled fields located near Zehdifar’s hometown in Tabriz. Of course, as some of you may know, the term herby is defined as a food or drink having lots of taste and smell of herbs. It resembles the perfect representation of the Iranian kitchen cuisine.   

Zehdifar has developed his love and passion for cooking at a very early age and was always aspired to open his own restaurant. Prior to opening up Herby, he owned a small take-out spot for nearly a decade. Now, years later he turned his dreams into reality and opened his door to the Riverdale and Danforth community by offering delicious dishes made with recipes passed down from his mother and grandmother.

“The food is not just for the business,” Zehdifar says. “The food is part of our culture, it’s art. That’s why I made this a cultural and artistic space.”

The place is decorated with items and art pieces that remind him of Tabriz. It also includes photographs taken by his son-in-law, handmade pottery imported from Tabriz and a large seven-piece artwork based on an Iranian poem called “The Conference of the Birds”.

If you observe the artwork closely, you’ll find a breathtaking photograph of his niece picking roses at a farm in Herbi.

The Food

Herby does serve your all-time favourite Persian kebabs, but they are particularly known for their unique Azerbaijani style menu, which includes meals like piti and tava kebab – all well worth a try! Note that each Iranian province uses different herbs, spices and vegetables to season their dishes.

Piti is a very rich meal as it contains lamb and chickpea that is served in a traditional piti pot (handmade and imported from Tabriz), and it requires a bit of mashing using a mallet.

The serving of their tea could personally be my favourite thing on the menu as they boil the (imported) organic tea the traditional way for several hours and serve it in the traditional Persian tea pot along with its tiny teacups and Iranian sweets.

Tava kebab is made very differently than the kebab you may purchase at your Persian take-out restaurant. Instead, it’s made in a tava (a pan) – along with its vegetables and rice or tahdig (also known as rice that has a thin crust of slightly browned rice that’s produced on the bottom of the cooking pot). 

Zehdifar enjoys cooking so much that he considers all the dishes on the menu to be his kids, especially because they originate from his hometown, a place very close to his heart.

You’re in for a treat!

Herby Restaurant
397 Danforth Ave
Catering services are also available upon request.

Open House: The Broadview Hotel brings your wedding to life

Article Written by: Samantha Campanale

Courtesy of: @byfrancescaxoweddings

The Broadview Hotel, a 127 year-old historic landmark with a rich and storied past, hosted their first Wedding Open House on January 26th, 2020. Located at Broadview Avenue and Queen Street E, the boutique hotel showcased their luxurious guest suites, the most sought after vendors, and their unique and extravagant venues that would take any wedding day to the next level. Speaking of levels, the open house left no door unopened, as it was presented on three separate floors to allow for each spectator to experience all the hotel has to offer. 

Courtesy of: @princejohn.media, @liightphotograpgy

As soon as they walked off the elevator, the newly engaged couples and their companions were immediately greeted with a sparkling glass of prosecco to accompany them on an intimate tour through Lincoln Hall, The Rooftop and The Broadview Hotel’s hidden gem, The Tower. A complimentary blend of contemporary and historic charm, each room you entered had a perfectly placed vendor to help paint the picture of the real day. From The Nail and Champagne Bar - a mobile beauty bar offering mini manis and hair touch-ups, to real-life models walking around in Sash & Bustle wedding gowns or Gotstyles’s made to measure suits - no potential wedding day detail was overlooked.

The panoramic views of the newly renovated 7th floor made for a heavenly backdrop to Francesca’s event space design and grandiose flower arrangements by her company called By Francesca xo Weddings. The live band, St. Royal Entertainment, sang everyone into a dancing mood, which presented the perfect opportunity to try out the prop filled photobooth by Snapshot Photobooth company. You could either place them in the event guest book or use them as a perfect take-home item. Not one for a photobooth? No problem. Award-winning Mango Studios, the professionals at Liight Photography and Ryan Bolton have you covered for all your photography needs.

Every detail of a dream wedding day was considered at this open house, from the delicious fluffy cupcakes by Bobbette & Belle to the bridal hair ornaments by Iliaika; this event was a brilliant way for couples to seek out exactly what it was they were looking for… And all the things they didn't know they needed.

“The wine was flowing; the food was delicious; the vibe was great and the excitement was high. Just as we promised, our first Wedding Open House came together wonderfully,” stated The Broadview Hotel’s Instagram post when featuring the after-movie of the event. Whether the couples were after an Instagram worthy wedding or a chic DIY, the wedding open house at the luxurious Broadview Hotel was exactly where you needed to start. There was simply no better way to see the latest wedding trends, compare the best wedding services and get all the inspiration you needed to start planning the wedding of your dreams. 

Video by: @princejohn.media