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Savel Does Hotdocs 2012

Mark Savel — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:45:51 +0000

It’s that time of year again… The birds are chirping, the Leafs aren’t in the playoffs and HotDocs Film-Fest-Fever is taking over my life!

The Festival is in it’s 19th year and is looking like the biggest one yet… at least for me! In 2009 I some how found my way into the festival while searching for a track by Thelonious Monk. My Google search took me to a link promoting the screening of doc about him and his Jazz Baroness - Pannonica Rothschild. Being the self-proclaimed ”Doc freak” that I am, I naturally had to buy a ticket for the show. It was love at first sight… the nostalgia of watching films in some of Toronto’s oldest theatres, to the energy of others partaking in the low key film fest had me hooked!

Since that faithful night, I’ve been coming back year after year and for 2012 it’s no different! Except this time around I’m seeing even more films! The festival runs from April 26 – May 6, 2012 and features both Canadian and International content. Below is a summary of the 5 films I’m watching:

Theo Fleury: Playing With Fire

Click here to view the embedded video.

Theo Fleury achieved every boy’s fantasy of becoming a hockey superstar, raking in the millions, being cheered by countless fans and living the high life with a beautiful woman. Then he blew it all on booze, drugs, gambling and strippers, betraying his game, his colleagues and his family in a flame-out he couldn’t control. In 2009, he published a book that revealed his difficult childhood and years of sexual abuse by his coach, Graham James. Inspired by the book, the film takes the story further through hockey highlights and interviews with coaches, family, ex-friends, Olympic figure skater Jamie Salé and, most of all, with Theo as he hits the road to promote his book and faces the ghosts of his past. A compelling portrait of a great hockey player, a man who won it all, lost it all, faced his demons and is bringing his game up to a whole new level. Lynne Fernie

Fists Of Pride

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“Thai children have more money. Burmese children have no money. They are rich. We are poor. That’s all.” This is how 13-year-old Pho Kyaw ‘Panda’ sees the world while training to challenge a Thai boxer at the annual Water Festival along the Burmese-Thai border. If he wins, his family receives prize money from bets placed by his coaches. Losing isn’t an option. For sons of migrant workers, the Thai boxing camp is their best hope to escape the dangerous and impoverished life that otherwise awaits them. The boys’ militaristic training regime and their daily routines reveal their courage and fear as they face the ring. The coaches provide another fascinating layer, as their gambling success determines the boys’ well-being. The film is a powerful allegory for a cultural and political battle that continues to be waged, through the eyes of children who inherited a bruised and battered history. Alex Rogalski

The Queen Of Versailles

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Meet Jackie, former Mrs. Florida 1993 and current wife of David Siegel, the self-styled king of a vast timeshare empire. She loves her husband, eight children and shopping. A leggy blond teetering on high heels, Jackie is thrilled to show us her work in progress, the largest single-family home in America. Modeled on the palace of Versailles but arguably more lavish, it features 30 bathrooms and a skating rink. At the same time, David is building the largest timeshare property in Las Vegas, selling average citizens a small piece of the good life for just a little money down. Then the financial crisis of 2008 hits. As the threat of losing it all looms, David’s personality undergoes a marked shift from boastful billionaire to tired old man, but Jackie soldiers on with a bright smile. One wonders what it will take to wake this queen from her American dream.

We Are Legion: The Story Of The Hacktivists

Click here to view the embedded video.

We Are Legion is a guide into the world of Anonymous, the “hacktivist” collective with no defined leadership or structure that’s responsible for numerous acts of a new internet-based civil disobedience. Through interviews with current members and those awaiting trial, as well as with other major online figures, writers and academics, we gain an understanding of motives and what it means to be involved with a group redefining online activism. We hear from a group that began as a forum to share jokes, learning about the development of their ideology and their ability to mobilize thousands worldwide. A history of the internet’s evolution, the film traces the birth of a powerful democratic activism that’s making corporations and governments very nervous. Charlotte Cook

Charles Bradley: Soul Of America

Click here to view the embedded video.

For decades he’s been Black Velvet, a soul singer scraping by in Brooklyn’s projects with small club gigs in the evenings and odd jobs by day. But 62-year-old Charles Bradley has an impossible dream: he wants to make it in the music industry as…himself. As if that weren’t challenge enough, he’s also supporting the mother who abandoned him as a child, struggling to pay his own bills, and, in his spare time, learning to read. When Bradley’s noticed by the soul maestros at Daptone Records, it seems as though he just might have a chance. With lyrics that draw directly from the anguish and hardship of his life, his electrifying performances transform pain and sorrow into an experience of sublime transcendence. When he says to the audience, “I love you, each and every one of you,” he truly means it. It’s a visceral rush to your soul. Gisèle Gordon

For a full list of movies and to purchase tickets, check out http://www.hotdocs.ca/

Cash Back Discounts and HUGE SAVINGS at Treviso

Mark Savel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:47:42 +0000

Treviso Condos (at Dufferin and Lawrence) is a development that I’ve been writing about for several months on the blog… in fact, I like the project so much, I even bought a suite there for my self! I’ve helped several people purchase at Treviso and because of it, I’ve become one of the top selling Realtors for the development. Thanks to this, I’m able to offer all purchasers who work with me the following exclusive discounts and bonuses… but only for a limited time!

Get 5% Cash Back ($12,000-$30,000)
AND Free Assignments – Regular $5000
AND $3000 Yorkdale Gift Certificate OR Travel Voucher

Special Deposit Choice for Treviso 1 and 2
$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 Days
5% in 120 Days
$2000 Every 3 Months (for additional 5%)

$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 days
10% BMO Interest Only Loan and Vendor Pays the Interest

FIRST 20 2 & 3 BEDROOM SUITES SOLD AT TREVISO 2 ONLY GET AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 CASH OFF
AND a N’espresso Espresso machine at closing, offered originally and exclusively when I represent you in the purchase of a unit at Treviso! Contact me TODAY!

Demolition Begins at Treviso Condos

Mark Savel — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:43:59 +0000

La Dolce demolition has begun at the Treviso Condominiums construction site!

As one of the top sellers at the Treviso Community, I’m able to offer all purchasers who work with me the following exclusive discounts and bonuses… but only for a limited time!

Get 5% Cash Back ($12,000-$30,000)
AND Free Assignments – Regular $5000
AND $3000 Yorkdale Gift Certificate OR Travel Voucher

Special Deposit Choice for Treviso 1 and 2
$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 Days
5% in 120 Days
$2000 Every 3 Months (for additional 5%)

$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 days
10% BMO Interest Only Loan and Vendor Pays the Interest

All cash back offers can be deducted off the purchase price or be adjusted on final closing. Bank of Montreal loan program is subject to approval. Mortgage pre approvals are required on all sales. Balance to 20% is required on occupancy date for all deposit structures noted above. All promotions, discounts offers are valid until April 30, 2012. All promotion offers may be changed and/or cancelled at any time without notice.

Priestly Demolition is working on scrapping the former BiWay/Blinds-T0-Go/Perfume Outlet that once operated on the Dufferin and Lawrence corner. Once fully removed, excavation and shoring can take place. If all goes according to plan we should expect construction to start in the Spring/Summer of 2012!

I stopped by the site on Thursday and took a few photos of the demolition taking place, check them out below:

If you’d like to call Treviso home, I’d love to help! Contact me by filling out the form below:

Treviso Phase 2 Extended Promotion

Mark Savel — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:43:00 +0000

As one of the top sellers at the Treviso Community, I’m able to offer all purchasers who work with me the following exclusive discounts and bonuses… but only for a limited time!

Get 5% Cash Back ($12,000-$30,000)
AND Free Assignments – Regular $5000
AND $3000 Yorkdale Gift Certificate OR Travel Voucher

Special Deposit Choice for Treviso 1 and 2
$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 Days
5% in 120 Days
$2000 Every 3 Months (for additional 5%)

$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 days
10% BMO Interest Only Loan and Vendor Pays the Interest

You can read more about living at Treviso over here… or if you’d like to learn more purchasing, contact me below!

Inside the 8 Gladstone Sales Centre

Mark Savel — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:28:24 +0000

By now, I’ve easily written close to a thousand words about the 8 Gladstone Lofts…but as the saying goes “a picture says more”.

Armed with my iPhone camera, I stopped by the 8 Gladstone Sales Centre to check out their hip new hub! Located at 1230 Queen St West, the sales centre is a complete transformation from the old warehouse that once sat on the property. Black walls, high cielings, and accents of bright pink are the first things I noticed. After signing in, I was given a tour of the sales centre starting with the model unit!

The loft is a replica of the 605 Sq.Ft. layout pictured below!

The first thing that caught my eyes were the large 24”x24” procelin tiles…it came as a welcomed surprise from the typical engineering laminate seen in most sales centres these days. This floor plan in particular unit has the split bathroom, with the toilet and sink on one side and the shower with a 5 foot vanity on the other!

I often prefer walking into a dedicated foyer first instead of a kitchen or busy living space. Something about the division of space makes the floorplan feel bigger. Shortly past the enterance is a laundry room deep enough to store your cleaning products…with some room to spare for a broom and mop!

A “pegged” art piece was put up along the wall that leads guests into the living/dinning/sleeping areas. I’m sure any true Queen West dweller will have no shortage of ideas for the blank canvas of a wall!

The kitchens were custom designed by the hands of II by IV Design and are available in a high gloss or wood veneer finish. The fridge and dish washer seamlessly blend in with the panelling over top! The island shown in the picture is an upgrade, and is fully mobile as it’s on wheels.

The only place you’ll find carpeting is in the bedroom…but don’t expect any 70′s shag! They have a variety of modular broadloom tiles styles and patterns for purchasers to choose from…actually 4 different choices (pictured below)

Staging a model unit is nothing new…every developer does it to give potential purchasers ideas of what their unit can one day look like. The problem with that is, most of the furniture can’t be found, let alone bought. 8 Gladstone did things a bit different using local furniture pieces to stage the model unit!

The magnet furniture pieces below the floor plans were another first for me! The idea is to let buyers get a better sense of space by inserting different pieces in the layouts. I found it helpful to play around with furniture placement…each piece also had the name of the store that the furniture can be found in! Check out several other photos from the sales centre below:

Give me a call or send me an email if you’d like to purchase at 8 Gladstone!

MUST HAVE MONDAYS – Game Room Accessories

Mark Savel — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:40:08 +0000

When you think “gamer”, you don’t typically think “style”… instead you probably think “mother’s basement, low light and wood paneling.” For this weeks Must Have Monday I found two accessories that can change that!

The first is a “Sim City” inspired wallpaper (pictured above) that brings and array of pixelated colours to any plain wall! Designed by eBoy, the print is available in a variety of themes including: New York, Paris and Tokyo. I can see something like this working well in a den or office space of a condo… but why stop there?

To compliment your new wallpaper, why not pair it with a working arcade light switch! The switch integrates real arcade buttons instead of the standard flip switch. It comes in a variety of colours and combinations that you can customize to add an extra level of uniqueness. Available online for $45 (USD), it’s not the cheapest switch in the world…but it definitely is one of the coolest, and they ship to Canada!

Give me a call or send me an email if you’d like to find a condo big enough to fit all your gaming needs!

PHOTO FRIDAY – Treviso Condos Breaks Ground

Mark Savel — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:51:26 +0000

Receive a special cash discount for a limited time on all purchases in phase 1 and 2! As part of Treviso’s VIP Realtor group I can exclusively offer my clients this promotion PLUS a N’Espresso coffee machine at closing!

On Sunday June 4th, Lanterra Developments held a community party for purchasers and residents in the Dufferin and Lawrence community! The celebration was to mark a milestone for the development…ground breaking!!

I attended the event along with several friends and past purchasers! We were treated to free ice-cream, pizza and drinks (all of which somehow ended up on my shirt). Guests at the party were welcomed by an Italian band playing all the “tarantella” one could ask for!

Mid way through the party Lanterra partners, Barry Fenton and Mark Mandelbaum along with Anne Lambrou (VP of sales for Milborne Real Estate) participated in soil turning ceremony that continued inside with a speech on the success of Treviso Phase 1… did you know, the corner was once owned by Conrad Black?

Construction walls have now been errected around the site to make way for demolition, excavation and shoring! The event also marked the public launch of Phase 2. There were lots of purchasers at the sales centre that day…it looks like phase 2 shouldn’t be too far behind Phase ones success!

Until June 30th, 2011 I’m am able to offer some exclusive promotions. If you purchase with me, you’ll get:

1% discount off the suite price
$4000 towards upgrades
Half priced locker (Regular $5,000 now $2,500)
$0 assignment fee
A N’espresso Espresso machine at closing, offered originally and exclusively when I represent you in the purchase of a unit at Treviso!

Fill out the form below if you’d like to discuss purchasing further!