My dinner with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann of OPI

I recently had the pleasure of being invited to Toronto for a very special event – a private dinner with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, founder of OPI nail lacquers, and presently Executive VP & Creative Director. Along with key members of the host PR firm and two associates of Suzi’s, there were 8 bloggers in attendance, one of which was none other than yours truly.

Upon arriving at the venue, CIBO Wine Bar – an unpretentious eatery in the heart of downtown Toronto, I was almost stunned into incoherence upon learning that I was to be seated next to Suzi – what an incredible honour!

Cocooned in our private dining room, with what seemed like endless trays of food going around the table family dinner-style (I’m sure I must have rolled back to my hotel later on), the conversation flowing, and sets of the upcoming holiday 2013 Selena Gomez for Nicole by OPI lacquer sets in front of us, the night could not have been more perfect … unless you count going back to my luxurious king suite at the Soho Met, an über-chic boutique hotel, with heated marble floors in the palatial bathroom (I want to move in) and Molton Brown body care products. Or maybe the topper was my getting the chance to meet Suzi again the very next day where I was given the opportunity to interview her … but that’s best kept for my next post!

My travel companions …

Aerial view, approaching downtown Toronto

Advantages of sitting alone: being able to stretch out

The Soho Metropolitan Hotel, my home for the night

Stunning Murano glass sculptural ceiling over the entrance to the hotel

Meant to be: Flight #416, room #416, Toronto area code 416 — a message perhaps?

Room details: king suite, bathroom with heated marble floors and Molton Brown luxury body care products

Time to kill: ready to hit the town and take in some sights

Toronto landmarks: The CN tower (left), and the Rogers Centre (right)

CIBO Wine Bar

CIBO Wine Bar foyer – I’d like a wine cellar stocked like that!

The wall niches in CIBO’s foyer displaying Crystal Head Vodka – made by Canadian Dan Aykroyd in Newfoundland, Canada

Larger than life Nicole by OPI banner welcoming guests to the dinner

A view of our private dining room

Artful display of Nicole by OPI beauties: the Gumdrops Collection and upcoming Holiday sets

Table setting: mouth-watering menu & a Nicole by OPI Holiday set

A mini-montage showing just a small sampling of the feast we enjoyed

Decadent desserts presented on a slate slab – I did NOT say no to any of them

Dinner companions part 1: That’s me on Suzi’s right – I’m still pinching myself!

Dinner companions part 2

Suzi Weiss-Fischmann and yours truly

with the President of the host PR firm

I must confess that meeting Suzi Weiss-Fischmann was definitely something I can now cross off my bucket list; engaging, down to earth, as well as humble – along with being funny, incredibly intelligent, and honourable, are just a few ways to describe this woman. It was my complete honour to have been able to spend this quality time with her, something I’ll cherish forever. A massively huge THANK YOU to everyone who made this dream possible! ♥

Stay tuned for my next post, as I detail my interview with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann.