Gentleman’s Expo
This past weekend gave men the chance to finally go to a show just for them. That’s right, the Gentleman’s Expo made its inaugural debut in the city of Toronto. This show was designed by men, for men and featured something for every type of man who attended this expo.
Men had a chance to go into the show with a regular passport, or the “man-up” passport. A regular passport provided men with entrance to the show and 6 drink samples with a chance to purchase extra tickets afterwards. With the “man-up” package, the drink samples were doubled and men were given several other perks upon entering including socks from McGregor, vitamin supplements, coconut water, and W. Brett Wilson’s newest finance book entitled “Redefining Success, Still Making Mistakes”.
Once inside the expo, men had a variety of things to see. There were seminars, demonstrations, and interviews taking place throughout the weekend with some of the most interesting people in their industry. There were two different “Dragons” present from CBC’s Dragons Den, Jon Jones from the UFC, as well as top chefs, whiskey experts, and so much more. Beyond the seminars, men had a chance to see some of the best products available to them.
Whether it is fashion sense, lifestyle changes, grooming tips, or food and drink, there was a representation at the expo for men to enjoy. A quick walk through the doors saw an instant chance to get some grooming tips and pampering from John Allan’s. Men could get a quick trim to neaten their hairline, or even have their shoes polished. Continuing further up the aisle men started to see some of the other great aspects of the show.
The first clothing vendor men would come across was Agent Royale, a new business with some amazing clothing. Agent Royale has original t-shirts printed on organic cotton. These shirts bring back the days of rock ‘n’ roll with some amazing imagery. The amazing style didn’t stop there though. While wandering further into the expo men would find Got Style. Got Style provided a booth designed to show men all of the upcoming trends in male fashion.
If fashion wasn’t your thing you just had to turn the corner from Got Style and you would find some of the finest restored cars. The Guild Automotive Restoration Group brought in several vehicles to display and get a guy drooling. They had an old Lamborghini, Bugatti, and a replica of Ed Roth’s Super Van, which is the epitome of a “shaggin’ waggin’”.
It went even further than that as walking a little further down men would find beer, wine, and spirits. With several varieties of each beverage men were given ample to choose from in order to quench their thirst. What made things fun in the beverage department was the Canadian Club booth where men could sit in the “manly” chair and have their picture taken to become an official Canadian Club, Card carrying member.
Of course, what goes better with a nice cold beverage? Food naturally. The Gentleman’s Expo brought in some of the best gourmet food trucks from around Toronto. Gourmet Gringos served up some infant sized burritos and amazing fish tacos. Beyond that, Hank Daddy’s BBQ served up some of the best smoked meats around. They even provided their trademark dish, the Pulled Pork Parfait, something every meat lover needs to try in their life.
If men still weren’t satisfied, there were sports, electronics, and so much more to see at the Gentleman’s Expo. There was even an attempt at a Guinness World Record, to see how many moustached men they could get in one room. Sadly they came up a little short, but are hopeful to try again next year. This show even gave back to charity as every ticket purchased gave back to the Movember movement. That wasn’t the only charitable cause present. There were several agencies supporting charities and seeing if people were willing to help out while other vendors were donating portions of sales to a charity of their choice.
Overall it was an amazing day for anyone who attended the Gentleman’s Expo. From technology to fashion, drinks to grooming, the expo had it all. For the men of Toronto, this was the place to be and the countdown is already on for next years show.
Michael Chantler
Follow Mike on Twitter @mchantler
