RANDY ‘THE DEEP DARK’ WOODS THE LIFE IS TOO SHORT BASKET I had some help with this and – fair warning – if you ask people to pick items that represent you, be prepared for some hard truths… The Shadow Boxer. Steven Heighten has emerged as one of Canada’s best novelists and Shadow Boxer is one of my favourites. In it, he beautifully captures the intensity of getting in the ring. He also captures going for long swims in cold Canadian waters. Perfect to read while drinking a glass or two of wine.
Transcript
RANDY ‘THE DEEP DARK’ WOODSTHE LIFE IS TOO SHORT BASKET
I had some help with this and – fair warning – if you ask people to pick
items that represent you, be prepared for some hard truths…
The Shadow Boxer.
Steven Heighten has emerged as one of Canada’s best novelists and
Shadow Boxer is one of my favourites. In it, he beautifully captures the
intensity of getting in the ring. He also captures going for long swims in cold
Canadian waters. Perfect to read while drinking a glass or two of wine.
Mike Tango Bravo Red & White.
You won’t find these in the LCBO. They’re from the Costaflores vineyard in
Argentina. I purchased it from the owner, Mike Barrrow, who is best known for
his extreme wine tasting adventures: think stopping for a tasting mid-way though
the New York Marathon and imbibing 60 feet below the Antarctic sea.
Oban 14.
My brother and I were fortunate enough to spend a few weeks bombing around
Scotland with my parents to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Our landlord worked
at a distillery and dropped off single malts every few days as if he was some sort
of saintly milk man. This is a nice, if pricey, dram – it was even nicer at the distillery
in Oban, though that’s truly expensive if you count the cost of the flight.
Dior Self-tie Bow Tie.
Because you know you want to untie it at the end of the night and
have it hang around your neck like some underfed GQ model. Note –
for best results, tie it before you launch into the Oban 14.
$200 MEC gift certificate.
You really should get outside once in a while. Or at least look like you do.
Toronto FC Tickets (July 22nd)
A donation from my business partner. We called it “foot hockey”
when I was growing up in Listowel, but I will say the atmosphere
at their games is incredible. Though any sport where
the championship is decided on
penalty kicks…
sigh!
RANDY ‘THE DEEP DARK’ WOODSTHE LIFE IS TOO SHORT BASKET
MARK ‘OLD MAN FIGHTING’ BENOITOLD MAN FIGHTING GIFT BASKET
I have been fortunate indeed to have been able to spend my time
building exciting things in exciting places… but… even though I have
had a charmed existence… for which I am profoundly thankful… like
most people I need moments of repose and respite… to escape
from the maddening fray we call life!
Literature has always been my avenue of escape.
Deep rich voyages into another’s world calms, de-clutters and
invigorates my taxed mind. When the books ain’t cutting it…
a bloody fantastic bottle of wine sure helps!!!!
So this basket contains two of my favorite things… great literature
and great wine! BUT… with a TWIST! Many have heard of beer and
wine paring with food! Pfft! Big Deal. Today we will pair wine with
literature. Each wine is hand selected and paired with the essence
of each book. Let’s call it the Taste of Literature! The process is
simple… read the book and then… celebrate the literary voyage
by uncorking and savoring the elegantly paired wine! Don’t screw
up the order… that leads to nothing good! There are twelve books
paired with twelve wines. One for each of the next twelve months!
That’s a whole year of entertainment!!!
Take the advice of the “Old Man Fighting”… buy this basket…
enjoy and become a better person for it!
MARK ‘OLD MAN FIGHTING’ BENOITOLD MAN FIGHTING GIFT BASKET
BRANDON ‘PAYDAY’ GLYNNWORK HARD, PLAY HARD BASKET
Entering the Fight to End Cancer was a big step for me. I’m a twenty-something year old (ok 28 now, but really trying to hold on to my
twenties!) and my schedule was a mess. Between work and trying to maintain a try hard King-West lifestyle, training for this fight threw my life into a whirlwind of schedules and deadlines. I have always been a supporter of the philosophy “work hard, play hard”, so I knew there
was not a better slogan for the theme of my basket!
First step- commit to the look. I developed an obsession with buying workout gear, well, because I never had any time (read lazy)
to ever clean my smelly gym clothes.
Cardio was my next challenge - I hated running (still do) so needed to step up my skip roping skills. Buying a new skip rope
will make me better, right?
Step three- lose weight. I had to cut out the booze and late night snacking – bah!! Although I have tried my best to stay away from drinking during my training, it goes without saying that I failed- miserably. Luckily, I saved a bit of my stock to put in this basket!
I often felt sorry for myself Sunday afternoon so I would re-ignite my motivation by throwing on a boxing flick to get my head back into the game. Monday morning would come and I needed to get ready for my week at the office - in and out of client meetings all day and barely a
second to get home, eat and head to training. My crock pot became my best friend when I had no time to cook for myself at home, so I had to
throw one of those into my basket!
I hope whoever wins this enjoys it as much as I actually depended on everything in it!
BRANDON ‘PAYDAY’ GLYNNWORK HARD, PLAY HARD BASKET
WILL ‘THE THRIL’ IAFANOTHE GENTLEMEN’S BASKET
BY SLOAN RANGERS HAIR SALO
William Iafano and Sloan Rangers Hair Salon For Men
have teamed up to bring you The Gentleman’s Basket. Inside you will find an
assortment of necessary items for the modern man:
American Crew Shampoo & Conditioner, Grooming Kit, Lacoste Cologne,
Shoe Polish, Two Pairs of Fancy Socks, Hendrick’s Gin, a Skillet and Skillet
Cooking Book, Coffee Beans, and of course, duct tape.
If you don’t know about Sloan Rangers then you should call them right now
and book your next haircut!! Fernando and his skilled staff are some of the
top barbers in Toronto. If you don’t think so? Just ask John Tory… Yes, that’s
right! Sloan Rangers is the barber of Toronto’s Mayor John Tory. All of this
and a great price!
Sloan Rangers Hair Salon is located at:
1 Adelaide Street East, Unit 4 - Concourse, Toronto.
Phone: 416-363-2237
Website: www.sloanerangers.ca
WILL ‘THE THRIL’ IAFANOTHE GENTLEMEN’S BASKET
BY SLOAN RANGERS HAIR SALO
MICHAEL ‘THE MAGIC’ SINANANTHE ITALIAN CONNECTION BASKET
An intelligent frog once noted - ‘It’s not easy being green’. We all know he meant ‘being me’ in the most gracious way possible. Funny how, after all these years, THAT - is what stuck with me. Comparatively
though, he wasn’t far from the truth. My desire for great art, scrumptious food and eloquent drink has lead me to believe, and at
times confirm, I was born Italian in a previous life. Alas, when someone tells you to do what you love and your stubbornness reinforces that,
you’re really left with no choice!
Alas, I present to you my basket.
Running a communication design business is a rewarding experience. A part of my personal contribution will be to endow said bidder to
a full rebrand of their company. Details are provided in the enclosed enveloped. This value can lead up to $3000 depending on the items
required. Great art, done.
The next addition to my career is the current journey I’m on, to becoming a sommelier. Ah, wine. Nectar from the gods, need I say
more. The bottles of Italian red and white are a couple of my current favourites. Let’s see if they become yours. Not to overshadow my
homeland - ice wine. Note to bidder, drop an ounce of ice wine in your next ‘dry’ cider. You’ll see what I mean. Great wine, done.
My sweet tooth demands great chocolate with my port for after dinner. My current staple of choice is included for your pleasure. Scrumptious food and eloquent drink. Done… and yes, chocolate is a food group!
ENJOY!
MICHAEL ‘THE MAGIC’ SINANANTHE ITALIAN CONNECTION BASKET
CHRIS ‘ NOTORIOUS’ SMALLCYCLING AND COMMUNITY BASKET
Cycling has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
As a kid, the bike represented freedom and the ability to expand my world
beyond my immediate neighbourhood. The bike also got me to and from
baseball practice, football practice, work, and of course school.
The bike transformed from transportation to a sport, as a teen. I began
watching the Tour De France and even racing myself. My time on the bike
changed from a means to get from A to B to getting from A to B faster than
anyone else or making the distance from A to B ever further. The bike became a
way to go fast, to compete, occasionally to win, but to always improve.
My racing days came to an end, as an adult and the bike went
through another transformation. Still a means to stay fit and challenge myself,
but more than that it became a place to think, to clear my head and to stay
physically active. It also kept me centred. I discovered that it’s impossible to
worry about whatever little stressor might be consuming your thoughts
when you’re trying to drag yourself over the next hill.
The bike also became a way to really connect with whatever community I
was living in at the time. The bike offered a way to travel the city and to know it in
a way that a car never will achieve. I have lived in four provinces and seven cities
and the bike has been invaluable in getting to know each of them.
I have now moved to Toronto and live in Leslieville and the neighbourhood
has welcomed me with open arms. My neighbours who introduced
themselves as the moving truck unloaded, the bars, restaurants and shops
that have fed me, entertained me and helped make my house a home - I have
embraced this neighbourhood. I could not be more enthusiastic about the city
and my Leslieville. The spirit of my neighbourhood is reflected by the number of
local merchants that enthusiastically contributed to the creation of my fighter
basket. This will be my first summer in the city and I can’t wait to explore
both my neighbourhood, and other Toronto locations on bike.
This “basket” is the melding of these two passions -
the bike and Leslieville.
CHRIS ‘ NOTORIOUS’ SMALLCYCLING AND COMMUNITY BASKET
SEBASTIAN ‘THE UNDERDOG’ SALOLERONCESVALLES VILLAGE BASKET
I am a father of two young children so I don’t go out as often as I used to. Fortunately my neighbourhood is Roncesvalles and a trip to the
strip can feel like going out – either with the guys or the family. Roncey Village has everything - amazing coffee shops and restaurants, fabulous
shopping and lots of live music - you’ll certainly want to come back.
Throw on your designer sunglasses and come to Roncesvalles for the day you won’t be disappointed!
Here is a sampling of the items in The Roncesvalles Village Basket:
• Scotch and Scotch Glasses to enjoy some favourite bevvies!
• Wine and a Basket of Chocolate – what goes better together!
• Rayban Sunglasses – so you can be cool when you hit the Village
SEBASTIAN ‘THE UNDERDOG’ SALOLERONCESVALLES VILLAGE BASKET
ANDREW ‘THE LION’ NOELA TASTE OF TO’S FINEST BASKET
My basket is all about showcasing a few of the things that make
Toronto one of the best cities in the world. I am in the agency business
and travelling to various cities is part of the deal. That perspective has
given me a greater appreciation for all that our amazing city has to
offer. Thanks to some great friends and family that believe in the
Fight and our city you too can experience a little ‘Taste of TO’s Finest’.
Sports, food, fitness, music and entertainment –
yes TO has it all and so does this basket!
KIM ‘THE HAMMER’ HAMILLWEEKEND BLISS BASKET
The last 6 months have been dedicated to boxing, boxing and more boxing!
Outside of the ring, however, there are a few other things I like to do.
The wine, well, that speaks for itself of course. I train hard all week so
it’s amazing to relax with a little glass of vino and some chocolate.
I have always been an active person and running is a big a passion for me.
If you are a runner, you will find a few things to get your run off on a good
foot. There are some gels to give you energy, a water bottle to keep you
hydrated and some socks to keep your feet moving speedy.
I have also been a huge reader since I was a small child, it is my
escape from reality, enjoy a read and a gift certificate from Indigo.
This basket includes all the things I love to do when I’m not training
for the Fight (and need a ‘me’ day!):
• Running gear to get your
run off to a good foot
• Relax on the couch with a good book,
enjoying local Ontario wine and chocolate
• Spend a few hours or the day at
the spa for some well-deserved pampering!
• Get my hair done and head out with friends for a group dinner,
