Floorplay Socks Father's Day Giveaway

Floorplay Socks made in Italy.

Floorplay Socks is my "go to" spot for all my socks! I have blogged about them numerous times before and enjoy the customer service I consistently received at this family owned company. Since the last time I blogged about Floorplay Socks, they have expanded with a secondary location near Yonge & Eglinton. They consistently provide the same exemplary service if you are a business man buying 20 pairs or a teenager buying a pair of $5 socks. Floorplay has no barriers when it comes to providing customers with a smile.

InStance "no show" socks- Popular item at Floorplay

Floorplay socks collection is quite extensive. One of the key factors to their success is the support of local or Canadian vendors and manufacturers. They only carry quality socks at affordable prices. Janet, the owner, will not only select the socks but will see how they hold up after a wash in the laundry. Floorplay has the largest selection of InStance socks. These socks are high quality & stylish. They have a silicon gel inside the top of sock that keeps your socks from sagging. How cool is that? Floorplay socks carries mens, women's and infant socks & women's underwear/activewear.

Artist Collection from Hot Sox

Floorplay has an amazing wide selection of designs & styles. They really have the best & exclusive selections paired with knowledge of quality materials. Checkout the art inspired socks above from HotSox

WIN this collection of socks from Floorplay & Good Luck Socks - Value over $100

Thanks to Floorplay they have given me the opportunity to giveaway Floorplay Socks & Good Luck Socks with a total value of over $100.00. This would be a perfect Father's Day Surprise! Enter for free and good luck!

Floorplay Socks has 2 locations:

762 Queen Street West

Toronto Ontario M6J 1E9

416-504-7325

2585 Yonge Street

Toronto, Ontario M4P 2J1

416-485-7625

info@floorplaysocks.com

Twitter: @floorplaysocks

Facebook: Floorplaysocks

Copy and Paste and Tweet for additional entry:

@clickflickca I want to WIN @goodlucksock from @floorplaysocks #FloorPlaySocks

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Just for Cats Film Festival - April 17th

Is the cat going up or down? This seems to be the viral internet discussion at the moment. I will let you decide the proper way to view this optical illusion. Since the topic is about cats, I would like to inform you of an event for cat lovers called the "2015 Just For Cats Film Festival."

The 2015 Just For Cats Film Festival is all about supporting & giving awareness to cats and the community of cat lovers. This event also encourages the adoption of cats to avoid euthanization. It will involve a fun screening of the "Top Cat Videos" you'll find on the internet. This will be showcased at the TIFF LightBox theatre in Toronto. Deadmau5, an owner of 2 adopted cats, will also be at the screening. On that note, thanks to Temptations, I will give a pair of tickets for the April 17th screening at 7:00pm. I will randomly pick a winner on Wednesday April 14th. Good Luck to everyone that enters the contest. For more information: facebook.com/TemptationsCanada

Info on Temptations

Info on Canadian Federation of Humane Societies

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Disclosure: I like dogs more than cats but I really think cats are cute too. Also, I've been given tickets to be randomly chosen in exchange of an invitation to the Just For Cats Festival. See I like cats too!

Let's Be Frank Media Preview was Juicy!

I recently was invited to the Media Preview of a new hot dog bar called Let's Be Frank. Let's Be Frank is located in an interesting area located just north of Chinatown in Toronto at 460 Spadina Ave. It's a cool little spot located among some late night Chinese food joints and quick service chains such as Popeye's Chicken, Burger King and a 7-Elleven. It's also located next door to the infamous El Mocambo Tavern - Toronto's legendary music venue and adjacent to Kensington Market & U of T.

Left to right- Christa Muio, Julie Ford, Simon Coyler-Owners of Let's Be Frank

I had the pleasure to meet the owners of Let's Be Frank and I was curious to hear how they started in the food/bar business. The it's no secret that their complimentary skillsets from marketing, business and the general love of food and drinks would find them with a product that can't help but redefine gourmet street meat. It all started off with a food stand, progressed to a Food Truck and Pop-Up location, to the final hot dog bar they visualized since 2009. I was also curious to know what made them think they could succeed in this competitive restaurant/bar business. It all comes down to having that visual drive and an execution plan. And if you look through many of Toronto's nooks and crannies, it won't be surprising to find some sort of food hub that you would consider a hidden gem...Let's be Frank could become one of them. Co-owner Simon responded by stating that their attention to their customers and being receptive to customer needs is key and important.

Pulled Pork Po'boy

The Full Menu of hot dogs use Nathan's famous beef franks. They're considered the best hot dogs weiners. Let's Be Frank offers hot dogs in 3 different sizes: 3.5" slider / 6" regular / 8" big dog. Pictured above is the 3.5" slider pulled pork po'boy. It had pulled pork, coleslaw & hickory sticks with BBQ sauce on top. Is your mouth watering yet?!? I did make the recommendation to have their slider versions....toasted with butter to give it that little boost of flavour from the bun. That's my recommendation & hope they incorporate that in future menu iterations.

Tom Green Beer from Beau's All Natural Beer is available at Let's Be Frank

Stiegl Grapefruit Beer

The owners mentioned that they wanted a place they can just go and have a quick bite coupled with a beer. Yes, beer!! Emphasis on their beer selections is evident with a great selection from Stiegl to local Beau's Brewery. The owner did mention they have a secret drink mix menu so make sure to ask for that next time you visit. They might even have a secret hot dog menu ( wink! wink!). The staff & feel reminded me a little bit of the famous Crif Dogs in NYC.

Media Preview Night.

Bring your own records to play at the bar.

Let's Be Frank is fully licensed. They're another; different option to late night food in the Chinatown area. They encourage customers to bring in their own records to play in the bar which is a unique touch. They will also have live perfomances in the bar which bodes well since they are neighbours to El Mocambo, that will bring more late night crowds to their bar. I wish them the best since the owners are genuinely nice and down-to-earth people. It's always nice to support local. They opened quietly over the 2014 holidays and are open for business. Would you visit them or still go for street meat? Give them a try & tell me what you think. :-)

For more information: Let's Be Frank

Disclosure: I was invited to this event & given complimentary samples of the menu.

Celebrating Craft Beers in Toronto

As far as I remember, back in my youth, Molson Canadian or Budweiser were always the beer of choice. Through the years, I have found that taste palette has changed.... or as I would like to say, evolved. Being in the forefront of many social gatherings, my choice of beers would evolve buying beers in green bottles because it appeared fancier (you know the Stella Artois and Heineken bottles, remember those?) This past week I put my beer palette to the test! I was invited to try sample beers including Beau's Beer - Ontario, Erdinger - German and Stone Brewing - USA. Oh how the times have changed!! The landscape of the beer market has never quenched my thirst on so many different levels!

This is a great time to be a beer fanatic because their are so many choices and options available. So long are the days when your choices were Canadian, Bud or Coors Light. To be honest, my knowledge of the beer industry & process is lacking. The number of independent and local breweries is a great indication of the thriving craft beer market and what I've been missing out on. One favourite that comes to mind is the Flying Monkey's line of beers...goes down nice and easy!

As mentioned earlier, I was invited a few days ago to the launch of Stone Brewing Co. from California at Bier Markt. I had the opportunity to try the Stone IPA and the Arrogant Bastard Ale. I enjoyed sampling both beers paired with the new menu offerings from Chef Michael Cipollo, Executive Chef for Bier Markt. I have to admit, I have never heard of the beer company before but they are apparently one of the biggest craft brewers in the USA. ( I learn something new every day!) They have been distributing in Ontario which is becoming a crowded space for Craft beers. I love and favour support of any local beer so this is a bold and smart move for Stone Brewing Co. Stone Brewing is already an established Craft Brewer; they couldn't have entered a market at a better time! Craft Brewing will be one of the food and drink trends this year in my opinion. In Toronto, with so many beer & food events it will be an exciting year for beer.

On that note, the folks at Bier Markt have given me the opportunity to let my readers WIN a $50 Gift Card to be used at any of their locations. Good Luck!

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Valentine's Day Moto 360 Giveaway

 

If you haven't noticed all the heart decorations popping out in stores or the red, white, pink colour schemes...or noticed the air feeling different lately (not the cold air but LOVE in the air?) well Valentine's Day is just around the corner!! Yes it's that time of the year again (*sigh*) For all out there who would like to get your special someone something nice this Valentine's...because what to get someone who has everything, right?...need to find that perfect spot to buy flowers or plan that romantic dinner out? Motorola has made that accessible all from your Moto 360! This is a cool gift to give to anyone that they will be thinking of you every time! It can update you with weather, traffic and also has voice commands. Thanks to Moto 360, life just got easier... And to show how easy it is, they have given me the opportunity to give my readers a Moto 360 Smartwatch. Moto 360 is powered by Android.

PhotoCredit: TechCharger

Wearable Tech has been one of the hottest trends of late. Motorola is one of the first companies to come out with a wearable technology watch, Moto 360. One of the cool things about this watch is the base charger. The watch can double as your alarm clock. For more info & details where to buy Moto 360:  Moto 360


On that note, I have a Valentine's Giveaway for you! I will be giving away a Moto 360 to one lucky person. All you have to do is enter the contest below or send me a tweet what you love most about the Moto 360 at @clickflickca. Contest entries begins at 5pmET.



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Disclosure: I received compensation for this post. However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.  

North American International Auto Show with GM Canada

Part 3 of 3 NAIAS blog Series.



Chevrolet

This is the new Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle Concept car which is designed to offer more than 320+ kilometres on a complete charge for under $30,000. I think once people understand the amount of money that can be saved in gas alone; this vehicle will be one of the popular EV cars to look out for especially for city driving. So in comparison to a Tesla which has a higher 420+ kilometre range at double the price tag at over $75,000, you're getting value at much lower price point. A smarter option if you ask me. Although I'm not really familiar with Electric Vehicles, saving money is only common sense, and I'm sure we'll see an influx of these cars on the road as a result!

Exterior headlight of Chevrolet Bolt EV

Media frenzy surrounding the Chevrolet Bolt EV in Detroit

Buick

It's fascinating to see the Buick brand evolve. I remember driving with my friend in his parents' Buick Regal years back. It was one of those comfortable and quiet rides with nice leather interiors. Looking back, the Buick we grew up with in the past is no longer daddy's car anymore. The introduction of the top down convertible Cascada has redefined the Buick image to include a broad range market. I can envision the convertible Cascada along the Pacific Coast Highway while the skies are blue and the wind blowing in my hair(LOL). A trustworthy brand for the well-seasoned yet eye-candy for even the young professional. I was unable to confirm if this will only be available in USA at time of posting.

Cascada

Overall, what intrigued me the most is the positive direction GM is going in terms of understanding the consumer and their expectations. Having access firsthand to the President, designers and support staff behind the GM brands creates positive outlook. GM has endured recalls in past with great strides by going above and beyond. I think they have learned from a few bumps on the road that their creative wheels just keep on turning! Their take on the "Connected Car" is what I like most of the GM brand and their creativity. Cadillac understand it's just not about a car but rather a lifestyle as an example.

Dinner with GM Canada President Stephen Carlisle(left)

Overall, I didn't want to focus on the aesthetics of the car because that's easy to find on the web. I wanted to give you a glimpse of the technologies & people behind the brand that make GM today and those who are behind building their vision. On that note, I wanted to show a quick video of Mark Reuss- Executive VP of Product Development at GM which pretty much sums up what GM has planned for the future and their customers.



Disclosure: I was invited by GM Canada to attend the NAIAS Media event in Detroit. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Onstar Command Center & RemoteLink

Part 2 of 3 NAIAS Blog Series.

Welcome sign at OnStar Command Center in Detroit

I had the opportunity to visit the OnStar Command Center in Detroit located at the GM Renaissance Center. Upon entering the Command Center, I could not help but notice the hi-tech security access into the OnStar Center. I thought I'd shy away from photos of cars in this post to focus on the Tech and App side of GM.

Security Access to OnStar Command Center

What is OnStar? OnStar provides auto security & safety features, a turn by turn navigation, Wi-Fi & much more with a single touch of a button as shown below. Basically, you "push" the blue Onstar button and you will be connected to a live advisor from OnStar. How cool is that right? This is an exclusive feature to the GM cars. There are various price plans for OnStar you can find here.

I have used OnStar on test drives, more recently in Kentucky where I wasn't familiar with the streets & highways very well. It was very helpful because I had the option to hear a live voice give me directions or have the option for directions to download to the car. It was also fun to just chit chat with an operator to give a sense of reality... a companion on a lonesome ride?

Did you know that OnStar has a feature called Stolen Vehicle Assistance: Stolen Vehicle Slowdown capability allows an OnStar advisor to remotely send a signal to gradually slow down the stolen vehicle to help authorities recover the car. As the owner of the vehicle all you have to do is call 1-888-4-ONSTAR to make this happen if your car was stolen.

OnStar Command Center

OnStar has various Call Centre's around the world. This is the ellaborate Command Center in Detroit. The map in the middle shows an live update of people pushing the OnStar buttons for assistance. There are over 3 million button presses per month. Isn't that crazy?

In conjunction with OnStar comes RemoteLink App that you can download for iOS and Android.  RemoteLink allows you to start your car from your smartphone. You can enjoy waking up in the morning and starting your car from your bed. How cool is that!?! Let's say your in Russia and your car is in Toronto; you can remote start your car from that far of a distance. Even cooler, right!?! The "Horn & Lights" feature allows you to spot or hear your car in that crowded parking lot. I took this screenshot from a friend who recently bought a Cadillac CTS.

OnStar RemoteLink Smartphone display

RemoteLink is a cool app that gives predictative car diagnostics to you via your phone or email. Imagine receiving a monthly email detailing the health of your car. Viewing the App on the phone will give you updates on how much gas & mileage you have in the tank. It will notify and update you when you need an oil change. It also can tell you if you need more air in each individual tires.

I was given some top secret info *winks* that OnStar "At Your Service" will be incorporated in the future of GM cars; an example of this is when searching for hotels via OnStar, you can receive special partner offers/coupons from Priceline etc. GM will also introduce Apple Car Play & Google Android Auto later this year. Exciting way to extend your smartphone into your car. Another exciting feature is an Insurance Assessment 90 Day Program that drivers can sign up for with info collected by OnStar diagnostics. It would track your driving habits which can help lower your car insurance saving you money. GM is translating technologies into experiences that people will love.  The future looks promising!


Disclosure: I was invited by GM Canada to attend the NAIAS Media event in Detroit. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.