Another rainy day at TIFF didn’t dampen the spirits of hardcore party monsters eager to hit up infamous NYC club Bungalow 8’s takeover of the Thompson Toronto. Swarms of girls and guys in their best King West clubwear crowded the hotel’s entrance hoping to work their way past the hotel’s extremely buff security team and up the elevators to the top floor.
Storeys above, a DJ flown in from L.A. blasted the venue with crowd pleasers like Get Low and Love Don’t Cost a Thing. Bartenders poured complimentary Grey Goose cocktails– which director Darren Aronofsky, wearing the same paperboy cap he sported at the TIFF Soiree on Wednesday, happily indulged in.
Idris Elba sauntered in out of the rain in a James Bond-worthy black trench coat, which he soon took off to revel a fitted white button-up shirt that had the ladies swooning.
As the clock struck 1 am, the rooftop filled with the distinct smell of cannabis. Who might the culprit be? None other than Benicio del Toro, in town to promote Sicario.
But don’t be fooled– not just any old person can light up at a Thompson party. When another partier began rolling joints to get in on the fun, security shut him down quicker than you can say buzzkill.
Across town, Mongrel House mainstay Geoffrey Rush delighted guests with a spirited karaoke rendition of Love Shack.
Earlier that evening, a glowing Drew Barrymore wore a bohemian frock and embraced Miss You Already co-star Toni Collette with a big grin at the Soho House after party for their film. The two, clearly best of friends, caught up and embraced some more as cameras flashed around them.
A barely recognizable Ethan Hawke, all scruffy and grey bearded, celebrated the premiere of Maggie’s Plan with co-star Greta Gerwig and director Rebecca Miller at a Grey Goose hosted shindig at Byblos on Duncan Street. Maybe it was the weather, but Hawke wasn’t in the mood to mingle in the packed party. He occupied a booth with his colleagues and friends, downed a couple rounds of wine, champagne and Grey Goose cocktails, then promptly left the soiree. Meanwhile, his other co-star Julianne Moore didn’t even bother to show up for her own film’s party. A restaurant employee carefully guarded a table reserved for Moore and her entourage for several hours, but the effort was in vain.
