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  • 15Apr

    The Charlie Sheen in Toronto Show Has Mixed Reviews

    Office Space No Comments

    I was not able to get tickets to either of the sold out shows with Charlie Sheen and Russel Peters. I did read some good reviews of Charlie Sheen’s Toronto show and some not so good reviews from the media, but was more interested in the reviews of people who attended. I finally found some reviews from attendees, they too were mixed. Some people wanted to see the show and be there when he bombed, they were mildly disappointed that it did not end in a total fiasco. Other people went to see how Russel Peters could help the show and they were very impressed. Then there were people who went just because it was Charlie Sheen on stage and were waiting for his controversial antics, they were ecstatic when Charlie admitted the first celebrity he “Banged” was his Ferris Bueller’s Day Off co-star Jennifer Grey. Whether Charlie bombs or is on his game, he and his fans seem to be #winning.

    Business people looking for downtown Toronto office space or a Toronto virtual office can be winning if they do their homework. If you are looking for a Toronto office space, you can read office space Toronto reviews. If you are looking for a virtual office solution, you can look up virtual office reviews and find out what Toronto virtual office solution works for you.

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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.

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  • 14Feb

    Happy Valentine’s Day

    Office Space No Comments

    While it is a very happy Valentine’s Day for me, it has not always been that happy. This is the first time in 4 years that I have been truly happy on and around Valentine’s Day. I have been with my girlfriend just over 7 months, this is a very special Valentines for us, as it is the first of many Valentines to come.

    For some people Valentines is just another day, but to many it is a greeting card industry created holiday. Valentine’s Day is not only the biggest day for the greeting card industry, it now is one of the biggest sales days for flower and chocolate industries. Many other businesses like the jewelery stores and restaurants also see a significant jump in sales on Valentine’s Day

    This morning when I walked into the reception area of my downtown Toronto office space, there were already 5 or 6 bouquets of flowers that had been delivered for various office space clients and even one for a Toronto virtual office client. The receptionist thought it was cute that even the virtual office client’s lover believed that they actually had a physical office space Toronto at Telsec.

    I thought I had seen it all, but when I got back from lunch there was a guy kneeling in the hallway just down from my Toronto executive office proposing through the open office door to his girlfriend. When I was later talking to a few other office space clients who had their offices at Telsec longer than I have, they told me that this was not the first office space marriage proposal.

    It is interesting that Valentine’s Day, the shortened name of Saint Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions, actually has nothing to do with the original meaning behind the day. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

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  • 11Feb

    February Blaa’s

    Downtown Toronto Office Space, Office Space No Comments

    Every year we go through this cold month looking forward to spring or even the month of March. A few years ago the Ontario Government created “Family Day” as a new holiday in February, but did not make it a mandatory holiday. Only those in the public sector are guaranteed to have the day off, while those of us who work for ourselves or in the private sector end up working that day.

    It has been the private sector that has done more for helping people out of the February blaa’s. Over the past two weeks I have enjoyed Winterlicious (the February version of Summerlicious), it was a chance for people to try new restaurants I have never been to. 150 restaurants offered three course fixed price meals ranging from $15 to $45. Other culinary events were held at historic locations like Fort York, Campbell House, and Casa Loma. Even some cooking schools opened their doors to help the public discover new ideas in cooking.

    Other events in February are:

    The National Home Show featuring a tons of exhibitors, the Boulevard of Dreams, Main Stage Speakers, a Neighbourhood Marketplace, a Warehouse Sale and home renovation advice. February 18 to 27, 2011.

    The Yorkville Ice Fest, where the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood transforms into an icy wonderland, with ice-sculpture displays, games, food and family-friendly fun. February 26 and 27, 2011.

    The Outdoor Adventure Show features the newest information and equipment for travel, outdoor sports, scuba diving, boating and more. Featuring themed zones like the Great Ontario Outdoor Adventure Pavilion, the Adventure Travel Pavilion, a Canoe and Kayak Expo and Scubaworld. February 25 to 27, 2011.

    The most anticipated February event is The Canadian International AutoShow. The AutoShow delivers an experience unlike any other. The show features a chance to discover innovation never seen before, as well as a look at the newest offerings from car makers around the world. February 18 to 27, 2011.

    For many Valentines is the big day in February. There are tons of Valentines inspired events going on around Toronto like spa day deals, romantic arts and craft shows, hotel packages, theatrical shows, dinner specials and other events besides sitting at home with roses and a box of chocolates.

    I was planning to take my girlfriend to the Toulà the revolving restaurant at the top of the Westin Harbour Castle, but she put her food down and said no. She did not want me looking across the way at my downtown Toronto office space and thinking of work, especially if we were seated with a view of the Toronto Star Building. I tried to assure her that the restaurant was no longer revolving and that we could get a lake view seating, but she still did not want to risk it.

    Speaking of my office space Toronto, I met one of the newest tenants there yesterday in the kitchen, but found out they were not a new client to Telsec. It seems that similar to myself, they started off as a Toronto virtual office client and moved up to being a office space for rent client. That is where the similarities ended. For me I had not planned to have an office space, but continue to work from home until having an office was absolutely necessary. For them, they had subscribed to the Phone Answering Service/Toronto Mail Service a few months before they arrived from New York City. Their plan was to use this address until they could find an office space in Toronto for their three year project in Canada. It turns out that the office space that Telsec had to offer would work great for them over the three year project and they would not need to sign a long term lease.

    I also found out that the tenant was a bicycle enthusiast and that he has traveled the world with his bike. I told him that he would have to wait until March, but he should not miss the Toronto International Bicycle Show (www.bicycleshowtoronto.com).

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  • 06Feb

    Finding the Super Bowl Ads Online is Hard Work

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

    Every year millions of people around the world look forward to the Super Bowl, but not everyone is interested in the game. There are millions of people who want to watch the big game just to see the epic Television commercials that will only be aired during the Super Bowl.

    In 1973 (Super Bowl VII), the first ever super-high-profile Super Bowl ad was aired. The ad featured the sexy Farrah Fawcett spreading Noxzema cream on Joe Namath’s face. The next most talked about Super Bowl commercial came in 1980, Mean Joe Green tossed his game-worn jersey to a young boy after the boy gave him his Coca-Cola. Then in 1984, Apple used a George Orwell’s “1984″ inspired commercial to introduce “The Mac Computer” and thus starting the trend of creating epic commercials for the most watched annual event.

    The problem for me and millions of Canadians is that we do not get to see them. Unless you are watching an American TV station via antenna or satellite, Canadian commercials are substituted by the network who hold the Canadian rights to air the game. Over the past years, these epic ads find their way onto the Internet a few days after the big game. A few years ago, I found a site that was uploading the commercials minutes after the commercial aired on TV.

    Fast forward to 2011 (Super Bowl XLV) This year, I cannot find that site. There seems to be hundreds of web sites claiming they have the 2011 commercials, but most of the ads they feature are the ones that were released in advance by the advertiser. Most of the sites were set up to lure people onto the site and gain revenue themselves from online advertising, some did not even have links to any Super Bowl commercials. It took a while, but finally the commercials started getting put up on the Internet.

    Some will ask me why I put so much effort into finding these commercials tonight, my answer is three words – Water Cooler Chat. I know that when I get into my downtown Toronto office space, everyone will be talking about the Super Bowl and this year’s epic commercials. I do not want to be the only one at my office space that has not seen them. As I am writing this, I wonder what the Toronto virtual office clients do when they want morning coffee chat. Maybe I should convince the staff at my Toronto office space to create a virtual coffee chat room for the clients in their virtual office locations.

    By the way, does anyone know the score on the game? Go Team Go!

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 10Dec

    Technology working against the cell phone provider

    Office Space No Comments

    Over the past few days I have been missing calls on my cell phone that all seem to be from the same number, a 1-866 number. I tried to pick up on the first ring, but I seem to miss the call regardless. A friend suggested that it was a telemarketing call that was using an auto dialer. Because I have Ring Tunes (callers hear music instead of ringing when they call me) that my cell phone provider recently offered me, the telemarketing auto dialer thinks I have answered before I did and the call ends. As someone who gets annoyed by telemarketers, this might actually be a good thing.

    The problem was that the calls from this number kept showing up as missed calls. Finally after several more of these missed calls, I decided to call back the number to ask them to stop calling my number, as their auto dialler would never get through to me, because of the ring tunes from my cell provider. When the call was answered it turns out who was calling me was cell phone provider. I was greeted by a automated message that asked me to enter my phone number, when I did it told me they had received my latest payment and my next payment was due at the end of the month. I still had no idea why they were calling me, so I opted to try to reach a live operator. The operator did not know why their automated system was calling me if my payment had been received, she also had no idea that the automated system could not reach me beyond the ring tune.

    This problem with my ring tune, started me thinking what other calls I might miss. Through some research I found that only auto diallers are affected by the ring tune and mainly telemarketers use these auto diallers. I have no problem if telemarketers are not able to reach me.

    This also got me to thinking about call display on my phone and what would come up when calls were transferred from my downtown Toronto office space to my cell phone. So I contacted one of the helpful staff at Telsec to ask what number would come up when a call was transferred from my office number to my cell number. Lindsay the Toronto virtual office specialist informed me that the Telsec number would come up and thus tell me that the caller has called my office number and assumes that I am in my private office space rather than at home office or on the road. This is important because even when I am out of my office space Toronto, I do not want my clients to know this, unless I tell them I will be out of my Toronto Star Building office space.

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  • 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.

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  • 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”.

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