A "Shout Out" from NOW Toronto

Every day can be a sweet deal day with a Shop The Block membership card. A $65 registration gets you discounts of up to 20 per cent at local retailers and restaurants. Over 50 north Toronto businesses have already signed on for the program, including LIV by Au Lit (418 Eglinton West, 416-481-2300), Oink Oink (352 Eglinton West, 416-322-8255) and Le Pain Quotidien (508 Eglinton West, 416-485-3000). Visit shoptheblock.ca for membership info and a full list of participating businesses.

Shoe tip
Tomorrow (Friday, June 19), Balisi owners Rehlee Balisi and Cory Kierstead open another shoe shop at 439 Danforth (balisi.com). The Greektown space is Balisi’s third Toronto location and stocks the duo’s favourite footwear labels, including Fly London, El Naturalista and Firetrap. If the new spot plus stores on Queen West and College aren’t enough to feed your shoe fetish, watch out for more openings soon.

Design development
The Fashion Design Council of Canada (lgfashionweek.ca/fdcc) has put out the call for its new Designer Development Fund competition. Menswear and womenswear designers who’ve been in business for between one and four years are eligible for a prize that includes $10,000, a runway spot at the fall 2010 shows next March and a mentorship with FDCC president Robin Kay. Call 416-922-3322 for more info. The application deadline is July 3.

Here’s the deal
Every day can be a sweet deal day with a Shop The Block membership card. A $65 registration gets you discounts of up to 20 per cent at local retailers and restaurants. Over 50 north Toronto businesses have already signed on for the program, including LIV by Au Lit (418 Eglinton West, 416-481-2300), Oink Oink (352 Eglinton West, 416-322-8255) and Le Pain Quotidien (508 Eglinton West, 416-485-3000). Visit shoptheblock.ca for membership info and a full list of participating businesses.

Sweet deals
The Rage’s (2 Kensington, 416-599-5177, ragetoronto.ca) Karaoke Sale runs Saturday and Sunday (June 20 and 21). Everything is marked down 20 per cent, but if you can carry a tune the discount increases to 25 per cent.

Mod Kartell furniture pieces including the curvy Thayla chair, Philippe Starck Ghost stools and Componibili storage units are reduced up to 40 per cent at Neat (628 Queen West, 416-368-6328, neatspace.ca) until July 5.

Rumah (668 Queen West, 416-703-4594, rumah-inc.com) is closing its doors, so all furniture and home accessories are now marked down 50 to 75 per cent.