Notable Now: August 26th, 2011

Scotch and Soda
Scotch and Soda Amsterdam Couture is opening the evening of the 31st on the second level of the Eaton Centre. Featuring some of the hottest trends and updated classics, expect this new shop to be a haven for casual business and weekend wear. Click here for more info on Scotch and Soda.

Bannock
Bannock is finally opening at Bay and Queen on Monday in, of course, The Bay. Another restaurant under the Oliver and Bonacini umbrella, Bannock will showcase Canadian Comfort Food in what we’re sure will be another chic O&B atmosphere. Plus, it’s great to see another resto touting Canadian cuisine as its menu inspiration. Click here for the preview.

IZAKAYA Japanese Restaurant
Banking off the love affair Toronto has with international tapas, IZAKAYA Japanese Restaurant opened recently at 294 College Street. This news is music to Japanese small-plate lovers’ ears, as so far the opening has gone under the radar and there isn’t an hour-long Guu-style wait. Click here for the tidbit.

NOLA Block Party
With the countdown to summer’s end already underway, it’s time to make the most of the last few weeks. The first-ever NOLA Block Party will have an outdoor shopping bazaar with notable stores like Gotstyle, Drake General Store, Salt&Pepper, and tasty bites from CHEESEWERKS, Freda’s, and more. NOLA Block Party is in the alley beside Drake General Store. Click here for the 411.

Buskerfest
Nothing says summer like Scotiabank’s Buskerfest. Running through Sunday in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, this annual fest brings the city’s and the world’s best street performers together for a weekend of the wacky and wonderful…and just plain weird. Check it out on Front Street east of Church and surrounding area. Learn more here.

Art Battle at the Great Hall
Now here’s a way to make art accessible and interactive if we’ve ever heard one. Art Battle will pit 16 artists – eight preselected, eight to be chosen at the door – against each other to battle it out on canvas. The audience votes, the artists move on or pack in their brushes, and the final pieces are auctioned off. August 30th at 7:30pm. Click here for the vitals.

Image courtesy Creative Commons.