Several weeks ago, I taxied past Freedom Clothing Collective and noticed that their windows were papered over. In the world of independent design, this usually means that a store has met its maker. Luckily Freedom was just doing some renovations and on Friday, April 27, they reopened their doors to the hungry public.

I arrived somewhat late, and found the store packed full of fashion lovers checking out the merchandise. I didn't see a lot of new designers in the store, but some of my favourite pieces were Embody's plaid jacket with the asymmetrical zipper, Beata Dirycz's pink knit minidress and the reworked vintage cocktail dresses created by the resident Freedom Clothing designers.

Earlier this week, while stalking friends and handsome strangers online, I came across a video clip announcing the Run With the Kittens CD release at the Horseshoe on Friday March 16. Run With the Kittens is a four piece band who have been playing together for four years, and they currently hold residency at the Cameron House every Tuesday night, where they perform an ambitious three hour set. They have been compared to Beck and Ween, but I thought their new CD, Condos and Lofts, would have been great for a sixties era lounge party. And, although I liked it, I didn't expect to be blown away by their performance.

Boy, was I wrong.

Last night, I attended a fundraiser for the Queen West art scene. It was put on by The Bohemian Embassy with Fashion Workz and it showcased a broad range of artistic mediums, including fashion, music, dance and visual art. The Embassy also used the event to advertise their upcoming loft community.

Much of the visual art was displayed between advertisements for the loft community, and inside model suites to showcase both the artwork and the Bohemian Embassy lifestyle, which they're trying to sell to artists and patrons of the arts. But how many Queen West artists can afford $400,000 for a living space? Maybe that's why they're having a fundraiser.

Up until recently, Toronto's independent fashion designers had very few opportunities to sell their products within the city. Opening and maintaining a retail boutique while simultaneously designing a clothing line is virtually impossible; both projects require a full-time commitment and a bottomless wallet. Luckily, we have a few resourceful people in the world to create solutions to such problems.