The Interior Design Show isn’t just about scoping out the latest in furniture and fixtures, it’s also an opportunity to clink glasses and chat up the industry’s movers, shakers and tastemakers on the show floor and around the city.
Tonight at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, IDS’s pre-show fête serves up canapés and cocktails from the city’s best restaurants. Squeeze in a word with such A-listers as Bjarke Ingels, Piero Lissoni, Fabio Novembre and Matali Crasset at this swank gala and be among the first to take in this year’s impressive feature exhibits. (And do it all while grooving to the DJ stylings of Karim Rashid.) You’ll also have the first crack at bidding on one of the 20 re-designed Julian chairs by Magis. Each re-worked by design firms including Bruce Mau Design, Giannone Petricone, and Yabu Pushelberg, the proceeds from the auction will go to the children’s non-profit foundation ONEXONE. (255 Front St., $60.)
On Friday, New York industrial designer Stephen Burks will be on hand from 6 to 10 p.m. for the opening of his Man Made exhibit at the Design Exchange (234 Bay St). Then, scoot westward to the Cooper Cole Gallery (1161 Dundas St W) where the participants – including the prolific Rob Southcott and Joy Charbonneau – in the Associates exhibit show off their new works with an opening party also on from 6 to 10 p.m.
On Saturday, IDS’s official last day, head back to the MTCC and build up your energy for the day with a pancake breakfast served up by celeb chef and design fan Mark McEwan. In the afternoon, MADE (859 Dundas St W) holds a public reception for the Radiant Dark exhibit a few doors down from 3 to 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Castor Design takes over the Parts and Labour bar/resto (1566 Queen St W) at 9 p.m. to launch their new collection Deadstock and if you’re still standing, The Gladstone closes the week with their annual Love Design Party starting at 10 p.m.
