90210 Hits Toronto for Artbound’s pARTy

We hit The Evergreen Brick Works last night for a return to those carefree days of the 90s for Artbound’s 4th annual The pARTy, where the theme centered on that beloved zip code from times past – 90210. View the full gallery here.

This meant all the classic 90s anthems like Bran Van 3000’s “Drinking in LA,” Blackstreet’s “No Diggity,” TLC’s “Waterfalls” and “Unpretty,” and, of course, favourites from N Sync, Tupac and Usher. Outfits rivaled those of Donna Martin and Zack Morris, and a performance by Naughty by Nature ended with a dance party on stage. 

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Not surprisingly, the nostalgic Naughty by Nature performance inspired a flood of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pictures, many with a comment or hashtag; “O.P.P., ya, you know me.” Perhaps the most nostalgic (for us, anyway) were images throughout of the cast of Beverly Hills 90210, many of which we clearly recall decorating our bedroom walls with back in the day. 

The city’s young VIPs were out to play, including Kardinall Offishall, Aliya-Jasmine Sovani, Seamus O’Regan, Free the Children Founder Craig Kielburger, and event co-hosts Melissa Grelo and Tanya Kim, among others. PR powerhouse and Artbound co-founder Amanda Alvaro (Narrative Public Relations), who looked like she could pop any moment, joined Grelo and Kim onstage and joked, “Who knew so many teenagers got knocked up in the 90s?” She was also referring to Grelo, who recently announced her pregnancy on her new show, The Social. 

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Though it’s a tough call, perhaps the best outfit award goes to Grelo and jewellery designer Shay Lowe, who dressed as Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh at their Spring Dance when they both showed up in the same black off-the-shoulder gown with the big white bow (remember?!). Lowe’s getup was complete with a crown (as you may recall, Kelly was Spring Princess, as she so boldly reminded Brenda). Tanya Kim, meanwhile, channeled her inner Left Eye (TLC) in baggy denim overall shorts (with one strap down), a toque and no shortage of over-the-top bling. 

The fashion in general meant denim vests, overalls, crop tops, neon, big earrings, bigger hair, Converse Chucks, Keds and band tees. Others opted for polo shirts with cardigans for the super preppy 90s look.

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To our pleasant surprise, the Art Battle team was on-site to host a mini battle that featured six regular competitors. The competition drew a sizeable crowd that took in the creative process of the artists, who had 20 minutes to create their best works of art. In signature Art Battle fashion, the paintings were then up for grabs via a silent auction. 

Other party highlights included a popcorn and candy station, an ample supply of well-received midnight pizza, zero wait times at the bars, a beautifying station by Blo (which was necessary with the evening’s humid weather) and a crowd-pleasing beach ball that lasted even longer than we did. 

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In case you’re still in the dark, Artbound is a Toronto-based non-profit volunteer initiative that works in support of Free the Children and helps create sustainable change in developing countries through the arts. Founded by Toronto young professionals Amanda Alvaro, Jason Dehni and Katie Telford in 2010, the organization partners with artists and passionate arts people to raise needed funds to build sustainable infrastructure like schools, medical care facilities and alternative income programs.

Artbound started by fundraising and building a village for the arts in Kenya. As the organization continues to support that project, efforts are also directed towards building a sustainable village in Rajasthan, India in early 2014.

A not-to-miss event for the YP set, Artbound’s The pARTy celebrates the power of the arts and marks a refreshing change to the sometimes stuffy charity events we know all too well. One hundred per cent of the proceeds are used to integrate and sustain the organization’s local and international initiatives. This year, The pARTy proceeds are earmarked for breaking ground on an all-boys school in the Maasai Mara. 

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The pARTy definitely did not disappoint and made for a memorable evening to bid summer a final farewell. We’re going to bet we’re not the only ones who resisted our urge to yell “Donna Martin graduates!” mid-party, or who woke up and played some of the forgotten favourite tunes rediscovered on the dance floor to kick of our Saturday.