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  • 20Feb

    O.Noir-Blacked Out Dining-and Trying New Things

    Downtown Toronto Office Space, Office Space, Toronto Virtual Office No Comments

    O.NOIR – Canada’s first-ever “Dine in the Dark” has two location Montreal and Toronto. O.Noir dining is a great idea. Sighted people are taken into a blacked out dining room and served by people who are blind. The idea is that when you eat food in the dark, your remaining senses are heightened to savour the smell and taste of food. The idea is to heighten the senses of taste, smell and touch by denying diners of their sight. It’s also to give guests an appreciation for what it’s like to be blind. It’s O. Noir. The idea was built on a concept started by a blind Swiss pastor, who blindfolded his guests at home so they could understand his eating experience. The idea of a dine-in-the-dark restaurant was one to teach people about blindness, but also to create jobs for the blind.

    The menu is a fixed price menu with a choice of starter, main dish and desert. Diner’s are asked to select their choices before entering the blacked out room or can chose to be surprised. Often people will choose their main dish and be surprised by the starter or desert that is chosen for them.

    We all like to say we are willing to try new things. This weekend a group of friends suggested we try O.Noir restaurant in Toronto, my girlfriend was all up for it and raring to go. When it came time to go, I knew that I would panic in the dark and potentially ruin everyone’s fun, so I backed out and allowed them to enjoy their dinner. By all accounts, they had a great time and really loved the experience. I later found out when I picked her up, they did have a lit dining room for those who could not handle the darkness to finish their meal, so I should have at least tried. The group is planning another blacked out event, so next time I will go and experience it.

    As a business person, I am always looking to avoid risk. When I chose my downtown Toronto office space, I chose an office business centre that did not require me to sign a long term lease, in case it was not the office space Toronto for me. Even when I signed up for my Toronto virtual office package at Telsec, I did not want a long term agreement, just in case I wanted to move or to upgrade to Toronto executive office space at the same location.

    When it comes to dining at work, I love the natural light that comes into the 4th floor cafeteria of the Toronto Star Building. Having a cafeteria on the fourth floor and not some artificially lit basement food court was not one of my original deciding factors in choosing my Toronto office space for rent. In fact it was not until I had been renting Toronto office space for a few months did I even find out that The Toronto Star Cafeteria was also open to other building tenants to use.

  • 02Feb

    What Happened to This Epic Snow Storm?

    Meeting Rooms, Office Space Toronto, Toronto Virtual Office No Comments

    For days the media has been talking about a major storm that was heading our way. They were promoting this storm like it was going to be the biggest storm to hit Toronto this millennium. School closures were planned before the first snowflake fell, even the Toronto District School Board offices were scheduled not to be open today. Colleges and Universities cancelled classes and programs, day care centres were not even going to open. All of this was in preparation for this epic storm that only delivered about 15 centimetres of snow instead of the 30 or 35 centimetres that was forcast, and then it was of the light flakey variety at that.

    While many people like myself planned not to go into the office, I could at least make it look like I was in the office. Similar to how Toronto virtual office clients have their calls answered by a receptionist and transferred to the number of their choice, those clients with downtown Toronto office space at Telsec can also have their calls routed to wherever they are working.

    Around 11 am, I got a call transferred to my cell from a potential client. The potential client was in the city and had a few meeting cancelled, they wanted to know if I could meet with them today while they were in town. I called the receptionist at my office space Toronto and asked her if there was an open boardroom for 1 pm, she looked it up and indeed there was an available boardroom. While I was talking to the receptionist I asked if the office was quiet today, she said it was a little quiet but most were in and it was business as usual.

    It took me a few more minutes than usual to get into the office, but that was because I was stuck behind a row of snowploughs on the Don Valley Parkway. When I got to the office, I headed directly to the same place I do every day, the kitchen. As I was getting my cup of hazelnut coffee, a few of the usual suspects were also getting their second or third cup of the day.  The topic of conversation … What else… the storm that never came. The one woman was upset at the school closures, she remembered walking to school in blizzards when she grew up in Northern Ontario. Another person who runs a branch office for a Southern California company was experiencing his first taste of winter and was happy to see the snow. He got a few odd looks from us hardy winterized Canadians when he mentioned he was heading to California tonight.

    The meeting with the potential client went well and I counted on a slow drive home. To my surprise, the commute home was not that bad. The roads were clear and there were fewer cars than normal. I want the weatherman to make more storm predictions like this and keep more people off the roads.

  • 28Jan

    I am Always Asked-What DSLR Camera Should I Buy?

    Office Space, Toronto Virtual Office, Virtual Office Toronto No Comments

    As a photographer, I participate on a number of photography forums and blogs. I do this to learn new techniques and get tips on the things that I do not know about. I also like to give back by sharing my knowledge and answer questions. One of the most frequent questions I see on these forums and hear from friends and family is “What Camera Should I Buy”? The answer is not a simple one.

    Often the first reply on the forums comes from someone who has a personal bias for one brand over the other. The thread turns into a “My camera brand is better” type of debate. This is not often helpful to the person posing the question. The most common brand debate is Canon Vs Nikon because these two brands are the biggest selling brands of cameras, especially when it comes to digital single-lens reflex cameras (digital SLR or DSLR). This is a debate that will never end.

    When people do ask me my preference, I tell them Nikon. The only reason I tell them my preference is because over the years I have made a considerable investment into my two Nikon DSLR bodies. This along with the handful of Nikon lenses and other accessories that are Nikon specific I have purchased. I believe that both Nikon and Canon are great camera manufactures, when I purchased my first DSLR I could have easily started with a Canon.

    Here is my advice to choosing which camera to buy a DSLR.

    I would recommend Nikon or Canon instead of one of the other brands. Why, because they are more popular and widely used. You will find a wider range of body styles, lenses and accessories for the two brands that outsell all of the other brands combined. Even the aftermarket manufacturers make more lenses to fit these two brands.

    In deciding between these two brands, do not try to choose a brand based on the features of similarly priced models, each will have those same features in a lower or higher model. My best advice in choosing a brand is to ask those you know what brand they own and have the most knowledge. If more of the people you will be looking for help and advice from on your camera have Nikons, choose Nikon. If your support circle shoot Canon, then choose Canon. The other reason for this is that you want to be able to try their lenses or accessories on your camera body before you make a purchase.

    This reminded me of a situation last year when a friend asked me how would they find the right virtual office Toronto for them. Putting aside my bias for the office space Toronto that I first started out at as a Toronto virtual office client, I decided to show him how he should choose what he wanted based on his needs.

    I asked him if he needed a virtual office solution that included Telephone Message Service and Mail Service arrangements or just a Toronto mail service at a prestigious business address. He was not sure, so I explained the differences to him. He said that the virtual office in Toronto that he needed would need to have a live receptionist answering his calls and transferring them to either his home office, his cell phone or even directly to his voicemail.

    I then asked him where he wanted his virtual office to be. Did he want an uptown or a downtown Toronto office? He chose downtown.

    Did he want his mail forwarded to him or did he want to be able to pick it up when he wanted? He was clear that he wanted to pick up his mail when he needed to pick up special deliveries and cheques. I told him in that case, he would probably also want it to be a convenient location in terms of traffic and close parking.

    After all this I went through a list of office business centres that offered downtown Toronto virtual office packages that would fit his needs. He asked me if my Toronto office space offered virtual office plans, because he would rather chose one that he knew some who would recommend it. Besides that he would also want to make arrangements so that I could pick up some mail for him from time to time.

  • 22Nov

    Is it Christmas shopping season already

    Downtown Toronto Office Space, Toronto Mail Service, Toronto Virtual Office No Comments

    It only feels like yesterday that I was enjoying summer, it is hard to believe that November is almost over and that Christmas is just over a month away. I was reminded of this on Sunday as I was driving downtown and got caught in traffic as Mother Goose was passing along Bloor Street. I had forgotten that Sunday was the Toronto Santa Clause Parade.

    All of the signs were out there that the Christmas shopping season is upon us. The malls and stores started playing Christmas music November 1st, Christmas lights are starting to appear on homes and apartment balconies (some never come down), and Christmas gift packages are filling the isles of the LCBO. Other signs of Christmas coming soon is that some retailers already advertising early Boxing Day sales.

    This Thursday is the American Thanksgiving and the following day is the infamous Black Friday. The day that US retailers kick off the Christmas shopping season with drastically reduced prices on everything from toys to high end electronics and gadgets. Not only retail stores have Black Friday sales, but also online retailers put their offerings on sale.

    All of this reminded me that I had not even started to think of Christmas shopping, I have no clue where and when to begin. I only have a few people to buy for, but that does not make it any easier.

    Earlier today I was working on some new copy for the Toronto virtual office page of this website and remembered that a friend once bought his wife the gift of a virtual office Toronto at the same place as I have my Toronto office space. Unfortunately for me, none of the people I am buying for could use a virtual office or a downtown Toronto office space. Having a private office in Toronto at Telsec will help me this Christmas shopping season, as I can have my online purchases shipped there without having to be in the office to sign for the package.

    I have to close this blog with a message to my friend Les.

    NO…You cannot send me one of your cat’s kittens to my office space Toronto, even if the courier company says they will deliver it. The receptionist will not sign for a live animal as a rule. I have warned her that you may try to find a sneaky way to do so, so give up on trying to offload a kitten on me.

  • 01Nov

    An interesting Halloween with Tricks and Treats.

    Downtown Toronto Office Space, Toronto Virtual Office No Comments

    Here in Toronto Halloween was not filled with the typical shenanigans and according to police it was uneventful. At my door, the numbers of “Trick or Treaters” seemed to be down. This may be because of Halloween falling on a Sunday night.

    One person got a real “treat” on Sunday, that was Lee Westwood. Westwood overtook Tiger Woods as golf’s No. 1 player. This leaves many to speculate that the fall out from Tiger Wood past “tricks” are distracting Woods.

    Most will say that Halloween is for kids. A chance for them to go out in search of “trick or treats”, but also a chance for adults to decorated and theme their homes. In some neighborhoods, you would see a whole block that got together to make their street the most Halloween themed. Even in the coffee room of my downtown Toronto office space on Friday, there were people talking about the elaborate decorations they were doing in anticipation of Halloween.

    This got me thinking about the “tricks” that some of the competitors of my Toronto office space use to attract Toronto virtual office space clients. Finding the truth in the advertisements when it comes to places like Craigslist is no “treat”.

  • 05Apr

    Easter Parade in the Beach

    Toronto Office Space, Toronto Virtual Office, Virtual Office Toronto No Comments

    I had not been to the Easter Parade along Queen Street in many years, in so many years that I forgot they held the parade Easter Sunday. I had planned a photo shoot down along the beach to get some lifestyle shots of a model for an upcoming project, but unlike myself (who arrived very early) the model ran late and could not get anywhere near the Beach to meet me for the shoot. Most of the streets heading into the beach were closed for the parade. Without the model, I could not do the shoot, so I figured since I was down there already, maybe I could get some interesting photos of the parade.

    Along with the police escort, the three generations of TTC Street Cars, the marching band, and the various floats, also came some unusual entries into the parade. It was odd to see as part of the parade, Karate schools, beauty pageant contestants and Roller Derby Teams, but what most I did not expect to see in an Easter Parade, was a group of Star Wars Storm Troopers and Princess Liea.

    The parade also included a few floats from companies who were sponsors of the parade, most of the sponsors were renovation companies, roofers, and of course real estate agents. This got me thinking that next year Telsec needs to sponsor a float that would have the Easter Bunny sitting at a desk working from his Toronto virtual office space. Having a virtual office space Toronto at Telsec Toronto office space, the Easter Bunny could work from anywhere he chooses (including while on route of the Easter parade), all while having a prestigious office address of 1 Yonge Street, the number one address on the longest street in the world.

  • 26Feb

    Day 14 of The Vancouver Olympics and Canada’s women win third straight hockey Gold Meda

    Office Space Toronto, Toronto Mail Service, Toronto Virtual Office, Virtual Office Toronto No Comments

    Another Gold medal for Canada’s women’s ice hockey team, they defeated a very tough USA women’s team 2 to 0, to take their third straight Olympic Gold medal. What made this Gold Medal sweeter was to take this one on home ice in front of not only a hometown crowd and the Prime Minister, but the greatest player who ever played the game who was seated next to Stephen Harper, Wayne Gretzky.

    While it was widely publicized that the team had spent weeks leading up to the Vancouver Olympic Games playing practice games against boys midget hockey teams . Thanks to an innovative strategy by Alberta Minor Hockey League, the boys teams’ games against the Canadian women even counted in the league standings, giving these teenagers more motivation for pushing the women’s team to improve.

    What many people did not know about was “Operation Aquarium”. It seems that in a covert move, they arranged two more practice games against Major Midget League teams, this time in secret. They let everyone believe they were taking a team activity to the Vancouver Aquarium, meanwhile they were off to play the Vancouver North West Giants of the B.C. Major Midget League at the Burnaby Winter Club. These games were played before family and friends and kept secret, even the opponents were asked to not talk about the games until after the medals were won.

    One of the other amazing Bronze Medal stories is Joannie Rochette. Only four days after her mother unexpectedly died following a heart attack and a heart-wrenching short program with a gutsy free skate won Olympic Bronze for her near-flawless skating. In the hearts of Canadian Joannie’s efforts were a Gold Medal effort.

    While the Canadian women’s hockey team had “Operation Aquarium”, your Canadian small business can have “Operation Telsec”. Your company can have a virtual office Toronto with a prestigious business address, while operating your business from wherever you like.

    With a Toronto mail service or a Toronto telephone answering service and mail service, your company can give a professional business image to your clients without the cost of a physical office space Toronto. With a telephone answering service Toronto plan, your calls are answered by a professional receptionist who handles your calls to your instructions. You could be working from your home, on the road or even at your cottage, your calls can be answered by your receptionist and transferred to wherever you chose.

    As your company grows and you need physical Toronto office space or even Toronto shared office space, Telsec can help you upgrade without having to change your telephone number or your prestigious business address.

    One of the big benefits of being a shared office Toronto client or a office space Toronto client is that you have access to meeting rooms and boardrooms absolutely free. Even Toronto virtual office clients have access to meeting rooms and boardrooms at a very nominal fee.

  • 17Feb

    Day 6 of the Vancouver Olympic Games.

    Office Space Toronto, Toronto Virtual Office No Comments

    Another silver metal for Canada, what a birthday gift to give yourself. That is what Canada’s Marianne St-Gelais did tonight. The Canadian women’s hockey team once again delivered a dazzling showcase of its diverse scoring abilities. The Women’s team clobbered Sweden 13 to 1.  This was team Canada’s third straight victory of the 2010 Olympics. The other big story of the day was Lindsey Vonn winning gold in the women’s downhill sking. What makes this such a large victory is that she is the first American to win downhill gold at the Olympics. Canada’s “speed queens,” who have had extensive training at the Whistler facility had high hopes, but 6th place was the top rank for Canada.

    Instead of being in 6th place, why not put your business into office space Toronto at the number 1 address on the longest street in world, one Yonge Street. Telsec offers very fast internet access that will allow you to keep watch streaming coverage of the Olympics whenever you want.

    Even if you only need a prestigious address for your business, Telsec also offers Toronto mail service as well as telephone and mail service Toronto. These Toronto virtual office packages gives your company a more professional appearance.

    And remember that at Telsec, the coffee, tea and filtered water are always complimentary.  The other benefit of having the coffee, tea and filtered water in two convenient kitchens, means that you do not have to leave the office to go get it.

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