November’s over. Done. It’s not even a ‘thing’ anymore. It is, instead, Movember, that wacky and wild month of hair-owing proportions that sees gents sporting ‘staches ranging from the Dirty Sanchez to the Magnum P.I. The initiative, which began in Australia in 2003, has quickly grown into a world-wide phenomenon with over $301 million (CAD) raised and over 1.9 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas registered since its inception.
And all this extraneous hair growth – the visages adorned with prepubescent looking pricklies, the porn star lip rugs, the 18th century curlings – has a two-pronged goal: to raise vital funds for, and raise (potentially even more vital) awareness for, men’s health, specifically Prostate Cancer and Male Mental Health Initiatives.
To find out about the beginnings of Movember, where the funds go, and important information and statistics on men’s health, click here.
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We’ve sent out a few feelers to see what restaurants, bars, and lounges are taking part in this oh-so-fun and even-more-so-important month, and there are a few of our favourite spots throwing the shave cream out the window and embracing their inner Selleck…
LA’s Italian + Bar
LA’s Italian + Bar is one of our fave fine dining spots, and this year the whole kitchen team is participating. Don’t worry, they promise to keep their ‘staches to themselves and out of your entrees.
Donate: You can support LA’s Italian + Bar’s Team here.
Earls
Earls – the pioneer restaurants of West Coast Casual Dining – is doing a company-wide Movember movement. Each restaurant is picking five partners as the poster boys… er… Bros (or Sis’s) to participate in growing some otherworldly ‘staches. The downtown Toronto location – Earls King Street – is going an extra step and will have their Mo Bros take selfies daily so we can all watch the exponential growth. And on November 25th, they’re taking a page from The Bachelor and hosting a very special Rose Ceremony where each of the Mo Bros will select a Mo Sis for the great honour of shaving their lip rugs on the last day of November. It’s a cause dear to their hearts as two members of Earls King Street’s team are sons of Prostate Cancer survivors. PS Apparently three Mo Bros on the team have decided to harness their “extra testosterone” (yes, that’s a quote) and cultivate some uber creepy lip caterpillars.
Donate: You can support Earls King Street’s Movember Team here.
Gladstone Hotel
The Gladstone‘s going from Hotel to MO-tel during Movember, with some of their handsome gents participating in a group shave today to prep for the month ahead. (Apparently they’re filming it, so look for the video soon.)
Donate: You can support the Gladstone MO-tel’s Team here.
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Nota Bene
The Nota Bene team is looking to grow out their mo’s to become “walking, talking billboards for men’s health.” This is the one time of year the prim and proper resto throws caution to the wind and gets down and dirty… ‘stached, that is. (Apparently Chef David Lee will sport a killer ‘mo by month’s end!) You can stay up-to-date of their progress by following the team on Twitter and Facebook. Nota Bene will also be hosting their second wine auction with 100% of the proceeds going to Movember. (Lifford Wine Agency graciously donated all the vino.) You can following along using the hashtag #NBMoWine. On the 26th, Co-Owner Yannick Bigourdan will host a Movember dinner to cap off Nota Bene’s Movember initiatives, and Chef Lee has added two health-conscious recipes to the menu for Movember: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls and Braised Greens with Bean Curd.
Donate: You can support Nota Bene’s Movember Team here.
The Winchester
They’ve got a team. They’ve got a special cocktail. (The Tom Selleck, naturally.) They’re having a shaving party on the 30th. And, finally, The Winchester‘s had some special Movember pins made up for any donations above $10. Let them ‘staches grow!
FAB Concepts
This hospitality company oversees a slew of restaurants and pubs in Toronto: Murphy’s Law, Foggy Dew, Pour House, Pogue Mahone, Brazen Head… (cracks fingers for more typing)… Watermark Irish Pub and Restaurant, Against the Grain, and Bar Vespa, among others in the GTA and Ottawa. This year, they’ve launched Fo Yo Mo, a social media campaign that sees participants from the restaurants growing some upper lip gold. Their pics will posted on their respective location’s facebook page in a weekly progress album and people are invited to like the ‘stache stature of the participants. The winner is the fellow with the most Mo likes, and the company will donate a buck per like (up to an additional $500) in the winner’s name. Further to this hairy competition, the restaurants will also be doing themed features starting Movember 19th: Food that Sticks to Yo Mo and Have Mo Beer. As a grand finale, each location will be having their own shave off party on the 30th. Stay tuned for more details about what’s in store.
More Information: Click here for the portal to all of FAB Concepts restaurants.
7 Numbers
The 7 Numbers‘ Movember Team is dubbed the Mopranos, and these Mo Bros have it going on with a special night on November 12th that sees a guilt-free, nutritionist approved dinner and expert wine pairings in support of the cause.
Donate: You can support 7 Numbers’ Movember Team here.
SPIRITHOUSE
Throughout the month of November, 10% of all oyster sales are going towards SPIRITHOUSE‘s Movember Team’s fund.
Donate: You can support SPIRITHOUSE’s Movember Team here.
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Brownstone Bistro
They’ve got a couple things in the works towards the end of the month. An auction? Perhaps. A grand finale event? Maybe. A Brownstone Bistro team? Most definitely.
Donate: You can support Brownstone Bistro’s Movember Team here.
Keep checking back as we’ll add restaurants, bars, and the like to the list as the month goes on. If you’ve got some 411 that needs to be in this post, drop me a note to adam@viewthevibe.com and I’ll check out your Movember Teams, events, specials, and the like!
