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Toronto Is an Oasis of Food, Culture, and Empowerment for BIPOC Creatives – Essence

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Photo credit: Steven Kriemadis / Getty Images

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Toronto is an amazing place to go to for any occasion, but the town is most enchanting throughout the summer months. When the season began in late May, I had the chance to go to Ontario’s capital to experience creativity like I had never experienced before. Toronto was buzzing with energy, art, and a palpable sense of community. Every day was full of visits to exciting places, interviews with inspiring people, and unforgettable experiences that showed the wonder and depth of the town.

Stay in Drake’s Hotelan iconic and eclectic hub situated on Toronto’s Queen Street West, added a major element to the trip. The hotel itself felt like a creative haven—a fusion of art, design, and urban comfort. The décor, combined with the view from the rooftop, made it the proper backdrop for my city adventures. Every morning began with a burst of inspiration, whether it was savoring pancakes on the Drake Café or admiring the gallery-worthy art scattered throughout the property.

Toronto is an oasis of food, culture, and empowerment for BIPOC creatives
Drake Hotel. Photo: Brandon Barré

One of the highlights of the trip was the VIP event at Wellington Market, affectionately often called Well—throughout the reopening celebration. With greater than 50 food and beverage vendors, the market was a showcase for Toronto’s diverse culinary scene and an ideal option to kick off summer. The 70,000-square-foot space offered the whole lot from fresh local produce to globally inspired dishes. The market felt like a microcosm of the town—bustling, diverse, and full of flavor. Whether it was artisanal baked goods or fusion cuisine, each meal told a story of Toronto’s culinary culture.

Another vital event was my visit to Nia Art CenterLocated in the guts of a historically Caribbean neighborhood with a protracted history of artistic and creative entrepreneurship, this space is the primary skilled Black arts center in Canada and is greater than just a spot—it’s a logo of cultural preservation and empowerment. Walking through the exhibit with its spaces and theaters, it was clear that the Nia Center serves as a spot for Black artists and creators to thrive. The sense of purpose and commitment to the humanities was deeply inspiring. The digital media lab and youth center create opportunities for the subsequent generation of talent, ensuring that the humanities remain accessible and Black voices are amplified in meaningful ways.

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Toronto is an oasis of food, culture, and empowerment for BIPOC creatives
Courtesy of RioCan

During my stay at The Drake Hotel, I had the chance to talk with the incomparable Kadon Douglas, Executive Director BIPOC TV & Film. In 2023, Indeed partnered with Hillman Grad and TIFF to launch Rising Voices Canada, a program designed to uplift and speed up the careers of emerging BIPOC filmmakers. Kadon’s words resonated deeply as she spoke concerning the importance of making a protected and supportive community for filmmakers of color. “The cornerstone of BIPOC TV & Film is community and creating that safety,” she said. “There’s a place where people can come to rest.” The freedom she described—where filmmakers could give attention to their craft without the burden of racial trauma—was inspiring. The program itself is groundbreaking, giving talented individuals access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that may propel their careers forward.

Toronto’s summer charm spread to each corner I visited, especially during Indigenous Fashion Art Festival. The event, held on the Eaton Centre, was a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture through fashion. Six Indigenous fashion collections were presented, each telling a robust story of tradition, innovation and transcendent love. The atmosphere was electric, with daring designs that combined modern aesthetics with deep cultural meaning. This festival was a reminder of the wonder and resilience of Indigenous art, and it was an honor to witness this fusion of fashion and cultural pride.

Toronto is an oasis of food, culture, and empowerment for BIPOC creatives
Photo credit: George Pimentel

The next day brought a change of pace with a visit to OverActive Media, Canada’s largest esports ownership group. Their headquarters was a haven for gaming enthusiasts, and I had the chance to take an in-depth take a look at how the corporate operates from the within, in addition to a glimpse into the long run of the gaming industry. Here, we discussed Toronto’s burgeoning esports scene and its impact on the town’s economy. Demand for live events has skyrocketed, and OverActive Media is on the forefront, bringing world-class esports events to Toronto while constructing a world fan base through its offices in Madrid and Berlin.

Toronto’s film and television industry was on full display on the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards held on the CBC Broadcasting Centre. The event was an impressive tribute to the perfect of Canadian film, television and digital media. Speaking to the numerous attendees — who included actors, directors, producers and industry influencers — I used to be reminded of how Toronto has turn out to be a beacon of artistic talent, attracting creators from around the globe. Tonya Williams received the Changemaker Award, the comedy award and the documentary was an ideal success on the ceremony, providing a fitting end to a journey that highlighted Toronto’s role as a centre for culture and creativity.

Toronto is an oasis of food, culture, and empowerment for BIPOC creatives
Tonya Williams receives the 2024 Changemaker Award. Courtesy of Reelworld Screen Institute

When you consider your time in Toronto, it’s amazing how much the town has to supply, especially in the summertime when its energy is at its highest. From art to culinary experiences, fashion to esports, Toronto thrives on diversity, creativity and a way of community. The Drake Hotel, with its artistic flair, has only enhanced this experience, making every moment of your trip feel like a fusion of luxury and culture. Toronto is a spot it is best to aspire to go to not less than once in your life.

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Celebrity Coverage

Latocha Scott sings through pain – essence

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(Photo Umbrella Griffin/Getty Images)

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Latocha Scott allows music to talk for her. The singer Xscape has just dropped the emotional form of Freestyle to Chris Brown, turning the viral #residualschallenge into confession. In an Instagram clip, all that is established-her 30-12 months-old marriage with Rocky Bivens has passed, rumors about his infidelity are associated and the pain cuts deeply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o9nrz5DMVC

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“I read comments, I say he has a child on the way,” he sings. Fans quickly approached the severity, implied betrayal, regret loss of affection that was once unwavering.

But it isn’t nearly Rocky. Scott also extends his hand – in public – to repair the fences along with his sister and member of XScape, Tamika Scott. They have each been alienated for years, and their once current bond crashed after Tamika accused Latocha and Rocky of theft $ 30,000 in tantments from her.

Fallout played in real time, the Reality Bravo 2023 series, which after two legendary R&B groups tried to mix again on a joint concert tour. In one of the explosive moments of the Tamika series with tears, she confronted with Latocha, claiming that she had receipts proveing ​​that the missing license checks were deposited on Rocky’s account. Latocha, surprised, denied the allegations, but her refusal to directly take care of claims meant that fans questioned the reality.

The situation increased from family dispute to full madness, and the Tamika doubled interviews and posts in social media, claiming that she was forced to silence to guard the group’s image. Meanwhile, Latocha maintained her innocence, but gave up farther from Xscape, transferring her concentration to a solo profession.

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Latocha Scott sings through pain
Charlotte, North Carolina-17 July: (LR) Singers Tamieka “Tiny” Cottle-Harris, Kandi Burruss and Tamika Scott from XScape perform at a concert during Queens of R&B: XScape & SWV Tour at PNC Music Pavilion on July 17, 2024 in Charlotte, Karolina Northern. (Photo Jeff Hahne/Getty Images)

After her freestyle, Latocha also claimed that she was thrown out of Xscape – the statement that it was Kandi Burruses, a member of the group, closed quickly. While the group continues to be going forward as a trio, although at first it’s 4, Burruss explained that Latocha was never faraway from the group, but reasonably decided to go away due to continuous tensions.

Tamika Scott also weighed, calling for sharing their thoughts concerning the song. Although she admitted that Freestyle Latocha’s style was well made, she questioned her honesty, suggesting that it was a “brilliant marketing strategy for her new music,” said Tamika, leaving a spot to debate about whether the general public request was really honest or simply for attention. Nevertheless, Tamika told her sister to “drive up, let’s talk.”

Still, the web is buzzing. Some fans praise Latoch’s susceptibility, calling freestyle a master class in transforming pain into art. Others ask if public display of regret can fix the years of harm.

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Ici: Keke Palmer’s Beauty appearance and more – Essence

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Ici: Keke Palmer and Sheryl Lee Ralph's Naacp Beauty look and more

ASKRS> Keke Palmer

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Time is now for essentially the most fashionable moments in celebrity between Fashion Week, a season of prizes and magazine covers. Meanwhile, some glances required a full GLAM team once we finished a month and Valentine’s Day, sleeping hair and romantic manicures are still strong.

For example Black flexible headband. With an analogous volume Honey Afro Janet Jackson was entwined with a red gel manicure to enhance the golden accents. Then the model Alva Claire attended Baft in a fragile UPDO, which combined her curved, thin eyebrows and a blue-winged insert.

Makeup Artist Dee Carrion was chargeable for the golden lips and teeth in the quilt. Then Coco Jones’s hair was soaked in water – glass lids and lips added to the appearance. As for TEMS? The shiny French manicure was cherry on its siren and hot chocolate gloss.

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And those that participated within the NAACP rewards didn’t come either. Keke Palmer has turn into viral not only due to touching speech of “Artist of the Year”, but additionally due to her to knock out beauty: elegant red hair and gothic makeup makeup.

Sheryl Lee Ralph was on her “suit and draw” that night. Saisha Beecham Saisha Beecham worked on shiny magic, as she put it, “Sixty Fine” within the years. Finally, the hair artist Larry Sims gave the Gabrielle Union museum by some means Bobów. He wrote within the signature “It gives a film star”. And we couldn’t agree more.

If you missed this, take a look at the very best moments of beauty from the week.

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Cosmetic school: Expert for additional long nails – essence

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“At that time we only had acrylic,” Angie Aguirre says Essence, who puts ESPY-Jones in the primary episode. “We didn’t have a number of things we have today.” Starting the series, in honor of the Black History of the month, Aguirre, nail artist Sha’carri Richardson, resembles a black story for extremely long nails-at the identical time spreading techniques from the past.

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From memories of curved acrylics on Flo Jo of the Eighties to the red manicure in Donn Summer, and even the nail of Stiletto from the Nineteen Thirties about Queen Nenzim from the Democratic Republic of Congo, manicure for construction has a wealthy history hidden behind every decorating extension.

Using the attention shadows as a substitute of the airbrush machine (which within the Nineteen Nineties was a big, loud pedal machine), she recreated one of the vital popular styles that has since appeared today as a preferred look.

Often appropriated in popular culture long, loud nails are historically called “ghetto” as an offensive statement after they wear black women. Meanwhile, they are sometimes seen as fashionable after they wear white celebrities.

“We usually set up trends [and] People kick, “says Aguirre within the film while painting about traditional nail art visible within the Nineteen Nineties.” When pop culture gets it, they change what they want to be like that. ” However, “black women wore these nails long before social media.”

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Now that the nail industry is to succeed in USD 36.27 billion until 2032Aguirre explains the influence that black women have on beauty and what the longer term of those historical manicures will seem like. “Nail game has become very innovative,” he says, with latest products reminiscent of Gel-X. “[It’s] It is very different from what was during the day. “

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