After having thrived in Vancouver since 2003, Lea & Justin Ault have made their mark with their Hapa Izakaya.  The  equal-parts Pub and Couture Japanese Cuisine Eatery has the distinction of being voted among the five best of its kind in North America by Bon Appétit Magazine.  Toronto now is lucky enough to have its own Location, timed perfectly with the Izakaya Craze taking over the City of late, including the likes of Mainstay Guu and the superb recent addition, Kingyo.

Hapa sets itself aside from the Competition locally in that it has more Tapas and Fusion-based leanings than others.  Exotic and decadent offerings like Halibut Tacos, Lobster Motoyaki (Lobster and King Oyster Chunks baked in a shell), Salmon Yukke (Salmon Tartare served with Seaweed Tempura Crisps), Crab Cream Croquettes, Foie Gras Sushi and Fried Oysters & Truffle Chips. All were exquisite and not a crumb was wasted.  About six platters for two individuals is about enough.

Cocktails also were fantastic.  The Wasabi Caesar tantalized and excited the taste buds, and Raspberry-flavoured Hello Kitty was refreshing, coming highly-recommended by Staff.  Pricing and size is reasonable, dishes (each shareable up to four) averaging approximately $8-$12, same for Cocktails.

See more Photos below:

Offerings change daily and it’s best perhaps to check in advance prior to visiting.  Click here for more.

Hapa Izakaya is located in Toronto’s Little Italy at 602 College Street  (at Clinton Street).

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

This looks absolutely hilarious! Shot in Toronto, this brand new Red Band Trailer for Kick-Ass 2 has just surfaced! We were among the first to spot casting addition Jim Carrey (Colonel Stars and Stripes) filming in Toronto and here we can finally see him in all his sadistic glory!  See Hit-Girl (Chloë Moretz) really kick some ass!

Watch the Trailer below:

Universal Pictures releases Kick-Ass 2 in Canada on August 16, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

Irish-born and UK-based Pop Duo Jedward need little introduction to the Pop Music-savvy, but they are about to enter the Canadian consciousness. Even the election of a new Pope wasn’t enough to steal their Social Media spotlight with their trending on Twitter in Canada earlier today as the most popular topic.

The 21-year-old identical Twins who got their big break on The X Factor (UK) before getting signed, are in Toronto the entire week. They treated Fans who were devoted enough to trek to Scarborough’s CTV Studios bright and early this morning for a live interview and two-song performance on Canada AM. Jedward, John (normally on the left) and Edward (normally on the right) drew Fans from as far away as Atlanta, expressing their love for our Country – this their second time in Toronto this year.

Being Irish, Jedward told Canada AM‘s Beverly Thompson and Jeff Hutcheson that they plan to spend St. Patrick’s Day in our City, celebrating by listening to a bit of Irish Music and dining on some Irish fare. They even joked that they have a Canadian Girlfriend named Phoebe – that of course being Phoebe Dykstra of MuchMusic, Host of New.Music.Live, who has been showing the Boys around town along with Co-Host Lauren Toyota.  They even Tweeted that they may attend a Toronto Maple Leafs Game this Saturday!

Jedward wowed Fans with a costume changing, one-handed Somersault, Mic Stand-shattering performances of their Hits Waterline, followed by Happens in the Dark. Watch a Clip of their Interview and Performances below:

Truly Jenergetic and outright Jepic!

The Boys were super-gracious to stay behind and meet everyone in the Audience, generously snapping Photos and signing Autographs.  I got my moment with Jedward and they of course were super fun.  John told me I was super-coordinated and noticed me in the Audience! I assured him his Autograph definitely won’t wind-up on eBay and in fact, I would love for one Reader to win it!

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share this Post from my Facebook Page or Re-Tweet the below and double your chances!

http://www.mrwillwong.com/jedward @MRWILLW met @PlanetJedward and now he’s giving away a Signed Photo! #win #jedward

All are welcome to enter. Good luck!

See more Snaps below:

Jedward‘s Disc Young Love is now available on iTunes Canada. Get it.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Audio content: Universal Music)

It’s honestly luck! This morning while visiting CTV Studios in Scarborough in the lobby, I ran into none other than UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer, Tito Ortiz!  He was amazingly nice and navigated my Camera to snap this Selfie better than I ever could have!

Ortiz just landed in Toronto and will be here through Saturday for a series of appearances across the Greater Toronto Area and you too can meet him. The Mixed Martial Arts Icon will be signing Autographs and there also will be Photo Ops for Fans all he way from Whitby to St. Catharines! His stay will be capped-off by an appearance at Muzik Night Club Saturday night.

See our Snap below:

For more information, look below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Inner Circle Agency/Punishment Athletics)

I am pretty much obsessing! Although Australia and parts of Europe already are familiar with Jessica Mauboy, we too soon will get to know former Australian Idol Runner-Up and top-selling Artist Jessica Mauboy.  I cannot stop listening to the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to The Sapphires, the Musical Dramedy which premiered at TIFF here last September and soon will be due for a release across North America.

The Soundtrack includes stellar Covers of Motown Hits like I Can’t Help Myself, What a Man,  Who’s Loving You, I Heard it Through the Grapevine and Soul Man, featuring the fantastic Vocals of the Cast which also includes Funnyman Chris O’Dowd.  Mauboy who stars in the Film as Julie, provides Lead Vocals on a majority of the Tracks and I am just so absolutely in love with that voice.

The Sapphires is based upon the true Story of four Aboriginal-Australian Girls who learn about life, love and war when they venture off to Saigon, entertaining American troops amidst the Vietnam War.

Check-out Mauboy‘s stunning delivery of I Can’t Help Myself below:

 

“Our love was made to rule the World/You came and broke the perfect Girl.”. BIEBER!

It is no mystery that I love Selena Gomez like a Love Song. I am totally loving this new Track which has just surfaced, called Rule the World. The beauty of a Break-up is that good Music often is born from it. This definitely shows maturity and growth from her last Disc as Selena Gomez and The Scene, When the Sun Goes Down. Musically, it’s giving me major flashbacks to Kelly Rowland & David Guetta‘s When Love Takes Over. Massive.

This Track, we’re hearing, is just a Teaser and not the official first Single from what will be her first Solo Disc as only Selena Gomez. It is said that Track will surface in April, titled Come and Get It.

Check-out Rule the World in full:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

It’s been seven years since we’ve had a new Album from Justin Timberlake. Hot off his stellar job hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, Sony Music Canada and Mr. Will Wong want to give Canadian Readers a chance to win a copy of his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience. The Disc reunites with Pop Icon with longtime Collaborators Timbaland and J-Roc Harmon and if his first two Singles Suit & Tie (ft. Jay-Z) and Mirrors are any indication of how great it is, this Album really can’t come soon enough!

Tracklisting below:

Pusher Love Girl
Suit & Tie
Don’t Hold The Wall
Strawberry Bubblegum
Tunnel Vision
Spaceship Coupe
That Girl
Let The Groove Get In
Mirrors
Blue Ocean Floor
Dress On (Deluxe Only)
Body Count (Deluxe Only)

To enter to win a copy, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Double your chances by sharing this Post from Mr. Will’s Facebook Page on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/jt2020experience @MRWILLW wants me to #win a copy of #JustinTimberlake‘s #The2020Experience. Out 3/19/13!

Sony Music Canada releases The 20/20 Experience on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 in Standard and Deluxe Editions. Pre-order it here!

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

The Movie which brought Ryan & Eva together. After premiering at TIFF last September to positive Reviews, finally The Place Beyond the Pines sees a release later this month. Reuniting Director/Writer Derek Cianfrance together with Ryan Gosling after their fantastic Collaboration, Blue Valentine, the Drama is about a Stunt Driver (Gosling) who provides for his unborn Child and Lover (Eva Mendes) by robbing banks. A Rookie Cop (Bradley Cooper) however is onto him, he himself dealing with internal issues in reporting to a corrupt Detective (Ray Liotta). Think Drive, but with a Motorbike, a Baby and Corruption!  LOL

Regardless, the Film looks amazing and despite it being early still, the Critics of Rotten Tomatoes have pegged it at 92% on their Tomatometer.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Of course, I’ve met some of the amazing Cast of The Place Beyond the Pines over the years and it’s always seeing a Film blossom after it premieres at TIFF!

Rolling Stone Magazine got the exclusive Behind-the-Scenes with some amazing Photos during filming in Schenectady. Click here for more!

eOne Films releases The Place Beyond the Pines on April 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Comedic Great Michael Ian Black currently is in Toronto for the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival and to spread the word, the Actor/Writer/Director was out at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition).  He also is scheduled later today for an appearing on CBC‘s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.

In addition to having written the Scripts for Run, Fat Boy, Run and having starred in Cult Hit Wet Hot American Summer, the Connecticut Native currently is keeping busy hosting on the hilarious E! Series Burning Love, which parodies the likes of Reality Series, The Bachelor.  Details here.

Black will be appearing at Randolph Theatre tonight at 8:00 PM and it’s still not too late to get tickets.

My Snap with the funny and kind Black below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Running from May 15 through 26, 2013, the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival will roll out the Red Carpet to the Who’s Who of Cinema and just announced as the Opening Night Gala being that of long-awaited The Great Gatsby 3D.  The Baz Luhrmann-directed Adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘s Novel stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Elizabeth Debricki.  To draw the connection, Luhrmann released a Statement explaining that Fitzgerald actually wrote “some of the most poignant and beautiful passages” in France, not far from Cannes.

Warner Bros. releases The Great Gatsby 3D on May 10, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)