P i s t a c h i o

Resulted in three-page feature article, including full-page photo in the following week’s National Post Weekend Section by Adam McDowell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAURENTIAN ROOM SAYS THANKS AND FAREWELL

Unique Toronto nightspot closes its doors and fondly looks back.

Toronto – December 13, 2007 For three and a half years, The Laurentian Room created an unforgettable ambiance above the historic Winchester Hotel in Cabbagetown. A gorgeous mix of gays and straights loved The Room’s sophisticated groove, critically acclaimed flavours, great music and cabaret entertainment – pioneering the reintroduction of burlesque to Toronto nightlife.

“It’s been a great run,” says proprietor Trevor Berryman, “and we’ve had a fabulous time every step of the way. We want to pursue other ventures, but first, we want to say thanks to our patrons for helping us bring this great idea to life.”

Berryman is a restaurateur with a long line of Toronto restaurant successes, among them Babalú and Xango.

“Trevor really knows how to throw a party,” wrote James Chatto in Toronto Life Magazine, in his praise for how Berryman creates the mise en scène for a great party that brings the revelers in. Although he opened The Room in August, 2004, with four partners — Michael Griffiths, James Burn, Wayne Box and David Daniels – the original opening was in 1935. The Room was a Prohibition-era speakeasy with an Art Deco décor. It became a magnet for celebrity bootleggers, high society, touring jazz musicians, notorious gangsters and adventure-seeking night-lifers. Al Capone was said to have been a patron, and so were Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker, when they were performing in town.

When the partners decided to renovate, restore and re-open the heritage room, they wanted to maintain as much of the original lore, glamour and romance as possible. But they also wanted to combine what people love most about going out: meeting for cocktails in a great lounge, sitting down to an outstanding meal and relaxing in an elegant club atmosphere with great music and entertainment.

“We saw the merit of offering it all,” explains Berryman. The Room featured market fresh cuisine and specialties from Pan-Latino chef Carlos Fuenmayor of Sabrosito. For entertainment, Tiger Lily’s Erotic Cabaret performed weekly. For music, patrons enjoyed some of Toronto’s finest vocal acts and an eclectic range of DJs playing everything from 1950s Jamaican “blue beat” to jazz, Afro-Cuban salsa, Brazilian beats and classic house music. Salvaged and restored was the 35-foot bar, which is one of the room’s best features, and was also one of the stages for some of the cabaret acts.

“We know that someone with an appreciation of history, design and entertainment will continue to cultivate a piece of Toronto culture for a fabulous neighbourhood,” says partner Michael Griffiths.