Oops Robby did it again!
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By: Kevin Donovan Investigations, Jayme Poisson News reporter, Kenyon Wallace News reporter, Published on Thu May 01 2014
Mayor Rob Ford’s latest spiral into substance abuse began on St. Patrick’s Day weekend just over a month ago, with a party at an exclusive Toronto club that helped provide booze to the past two Ford Fests.
On March 15, the Saturday just before St. Patrick’s Day, the mayor took four men he had met outside city hall back to his house, ordered a party bus, took them down to Muzik nightclub and proceeded to drink to excess, according to eyewitnesses to the evening.
A photograph taken of Mayor Rob Ford inside Muzik nightclub on April 5, 2014. Ford showed up alone at the nightclub late at night after the Maple Leafs game, where he was warned by security and described as "belligerent." At Muzik, Ford slipped into a restricted area with two girls and a male.
A photograph taken of Mayor Rob Ford inside Muzik nightclub on April 5, 2014. Ford showed up alone at the nightclub late at night after the Maple Leafs game, where he was warned by security and described as "belligerent." At Muzik, Ford slipped into a restricted area with two girls and a male.
Ford disappeared into the washroom at one point, and emerged close to an hour later appearing heavily impaired, babbling that his wife and children do not like him and “I am in over my head.”
People who were with Ford on March 15 and on a second night, in April, say they believed he was doing drugs. On the April night, an eyewitness saw him doing lines of cocaine.
On March 15, an hour before he disappeared into a washroom at Muzik, Ford ran into pop star Justin Bieber in a common area of the exclusive nightclub near Toronto’s waterfront, according to witnesses. Ford tried to shake Bieber’s hand and became enraged when Bieber jokingly asked him, “Did you bring any crack to smoke?”
Security ushered Ford back to his party booth, where he was entertained, along with the four men, by three paid party hostesses. The Star has been unable to reach Bieber for comment.
This March 15 event, which extended until 5 a.m. on March 16, is one of two wild nights Ford had at the night club in the past month.
It shows a pattern of bad behaviour that, according to reports in two other Toronto newspapers, continued this past weekend with drinking, apparent drug-taking and lewd comments.
According to three sources with knowledge of Ford’s visits to Muzik, owner Zlatko Starkovski has told staff at the club that “Rob Ford is our best customer. His money is no good here.”
The Star’s ongoing investigation of Ford shows close ties with Starkovski, who is listed on the provincial liquor licence for the last two Ford Fests — giant parties for Ford supporters where free drinks and food are served. Starkovski, and people who work for him, are listed as registered lobbyists in their attempts to contact city council members to seek improvements to the nightclub’s deal at Exhibition Place.
Alcohol and Gaming Commission catering forms obtained by the Star show that the liquor licences for both the July 5 and Sept. 20 Ford Fests were obtained by Starkovski, the president of Muzik Clubs Inc. Starkovski is listed as the licence holder and provincial rules state the licence holder is responsible for the “sale and service of alcohol” at an event.
Ford would not respond to questions about this.
Councillor Doug Ford, the mayor’s brother, would not discuss the arrangement that saw Muzik catering to thousands of people at both Ford Fests, one on July 5, 2013, the other two months later on Sept. 20. He said the most recent Ford Fests were a “private party” and that the Star should be “very, very careful” about what it writes. He then hung up.
Starkovski did not respond to questions about his friendship with Ford or his club’s involvement in supporting Ford Fest. At various times, Muzik has asked for either an extension of its lease or to get competing rave parties banned at other Exhibition Place locations.
A senior municipal source said it is well known that Ford and Starkovski are close and that “Ford likes going to Muzik because it is a place he feels comfortable and safe doing whatever he wants to do.”
Ford’s March 15 night at Muzik began innocently enough, with the slightly tipsy mayor outside city hall around 10 p.m. Torontonians will recall that was the occasion when a youth recorded the mayor using foul language and getting into a taxi with four men. It was unclear at the time if they were friends.
He had just met the men near the Nathan Phillips Square skating rink, according to two sources, and invited them back to his house, a 25-minute drive northwest to central Etobicoke. Ford has a wife and two young children but it was not known if they were home at that time.
After getting to his house, Ford called a “party bus,” which came and drove them all back south and then east to the Ex grounds.
Muzik is a nightclub that has a lease to operate on Saturday nights and select other nights.
The upscale club is described on its website this way:
“MUZIK defies convention each and every Saturday. With an unprecedented degree of luxury and service, MUZIK provides its guests with first-class treatment from the moment they arrive. Guests who book suites will be escorted to their private booth by MUZIK’s hostesses and will then enjoy private premium bottle service as well as gourmet cuisine from the Muzik Dinner Club,” according to the description.
Ford and his new entourage showed up around midnight and were ushered into a private booth. Three party hostesses were told to hand over their phones, according to sources with knowledge of the night. The Star has been told by people familiar with Muzik that this is typical behaviour when Ford arrives.
Bieber was there that night, partying in a common area. Ford left the booth to say hello and had a run-in with Bieber, who jokingly asked if Ford had any crack cocaine. Angered, Ford blustered back to his private booth.
People familiar with his activities over the next five hours (at least two partygoers, a Canadian actress and a Bieber follower tweeted that Ford and Bieber were there but did not provide details) say that Ford drank to excess and at one point went to a private washroom. He emerged 45 minutes later and was incoherent and rambling.
“My wife and children hate me. I am in over my head,” Ford reportedly said.
A cleaner at Muzik had to go into the bathroom and clean up vomit left after Ford exited. Two sources told the Star that Ford returned to the table and kept drinking, staying at the club until 5 a.m.
A few weeks after this event, on April 5, Ford was at the Air Canada Centre, apparently drunk and belligerent, and was barred from an executive lounge. He left and made his way to Muzik. According to witnesses, Ford slipped into a closed-off part of the club with two females and another male. He emerged an hour later disoriented and apparently high.
Ford said that night that his mother and father were never there for him and commented that “no one knows what I'm going through.”
Kevin Donovan can be reached at kdonovan@thestar.ca or 416-312-3503.
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha..._cocaine_at_exclusive_club_witnesses_say.html
Mayor Rob Ford’s latest spiral into substance abuse began on St. Patrick’s Day weekend just over a month ago, with a party at an exclusive Toronto club that helped provide booze to the past two Ford Fests.
On March 15, the Saturday just before St. Patrick’s Day, the mayor took four men he had met outside city hall back to his house, ordered a party bus, took them down to Muzik nightclub and proceeded to drink to excess, according to eyewitnesses to the evening.
A photograph taken of Mayor Rob Ford inside Muzik nightclub on April 5, 2014. Ford showed up alone at the nightclub late at night after the Maple Leafs game, where he was warned by security and described as "belligerent." At Muzik, Ford slipped into a restricted area with two girls and a male.
A photograph taken of Mayor Rob Ford inside Muzik nightclub on April 5, 2014. Ford showed up alone at the nightclub late at night after the Maple Leafs game, where he was warned by security and described as "belligerent." At Muzik, Ford slipped into a restricted area with two girls and a male.
Ford disappeared into the washroom at one point, and emerged close to an hour later appearing heavily impaired, babbling that his wife and children do not like him and “I am in over my head.”
People who were with Ford on March 15 and on a second night, in April, say they believed he was doing drugs. On the April night, an eyewitness saw him doing lines of cocaine.
On March 15, an hour before he disappeared into a washroom at Muzik, Ford ran into pop star Justin Bieber in a common area of the exclusive nightclub near Toronto’s waterfront, according to witnesses. Ford tried to shake Bieber’s hand and became enraged when Bieber jokingly asked him, “Did you bring any crack to smoke?”
Security ushered Ford back to his party booth, where he was entertained, along with the four men, by three paid party hostesses. The Star has been unable to reach Bieber for comment.
This March 15 event, which extended until 5 a.m. on March 16, is one of two wild nights Ford had at the night club in the past month.
It shows a pattern of bad behaviour that, according to reports in two other Toronto newspapers, continued this past weekend with drinking, apparent drug-taking and lewd comments.
According to three sources with knowledge of Ford’s visits to Muzik, owner Zlatko Starkovski has told staff at the club that “Rob Ford is our best customer. His money is no good here.”
The Star’s ongoing investigation of Ford shows close ties with Starkovski, who is listed on the provincial liquor licence for the last two Ford Fests — giant parties for Ford supporters where free drinks and food are served. Starkovski, and people who work for him, are listed as registered lobbyists in their attempts to contact city council members to seek improvements to the nightclub’s deal at Exhibition Place.
Alcohol and Gaming Commission catering forms obtained by the Star show that the liquor licences for both the July 5 and Sept. 20 Ford Fests were obtained by Starkovski, the president of Muzik Clubs Inc. Starkovski is listed as the licence holder and provincial rules state the licence holder is responsible for the “sale and service of alcohol” at an event.
Ford would not respond to questions about this.
Councillor Doug Ford, the mayor’s brother, would not discuss the arrangement that saw Muzik catering to thousands of people at both Ford Fests, one on July 5, 2013, the other two months later on Sept. 20. He said the most recent Ford Fests were a “private party” and that the Star should be “very, very careful” about what it writes. He then hung up.
Starkovski did not respond to questions about his friendship with Ford or his club’s involvement in supporting Ford Fest. At various times, Muzik has asked for either an extension of its lease or to get competing rave parties banned at other Exhibition Place locations.
A senior municipal source said it is well known that Ford and Starkovski are close and that “Ford likes going to Muzik because it is a place he feels comfortable and safe doing whatever he wants to do.”
Ford’s March 15 night at Muzik began innocently enough, with the slightly tipsy mayor outside city hall around 10 p.m. Torontonians will recall that was the occasion when a youth recorded the mayor using foul language and getting into a taxi with four men. It was unclear at the time if they were friends.
He had just met the men near the Nathan Phillips Square skating rink, according to two sources, and invited them back to his house, a 25-minute drive northwest to central Etobicoke. Ford has a wife and two young children but it was not known if they were home at that time.
After getting to his house, Ford called a “party bus,” which came and drove them all back south and then east to the Ex grounds.
Muzik is a nightclub that has a lease to operate on Saturday nights and select other nights.
The upscale club is described on its website this way:
“MUZIK defies convention each and every Saturday. With an unprecedented degree of luxury and service, MUZIK provides its guests with first-class treatment from the moment they arrive. Guests who book suites will be escorted to their private booth by MUZIK’s hostesses and will then enjoy private premium bottle service as well as gourmet cuisine from the Muzik Dinner Club,” according to the description.
Ford and his new entourage showed up around midnight and were ushered into a private booth. Three party hostesses were told to hand over their phones, according to sources with knowledge of the night. The Star has been told by people familiar with Muzik that this is typical behaviour when Ford arrives.
Bieber was there that night, partying in a common area. Ford left the booth to say hello and had a run-in with Bieber, who jokingly asked if Ford had any crack cocaine. Angered, Ford blustered back to his private booth.
People familiar with his activities over the next five hours (at least two partygoers, a Canadian actress and a Bieber follower tweeted that Ford and Bieber were there but did not provide details) say that Ford drank to excess and at one point went to a private washroom. He emerged 45 minutes later and was incoherent and rambling.
“My wife and children hate me. I am in over my head,” Ford reportedly said.
A cleaner at Muzik had to go into the bathroom and clean up vomit left after Ford exited. Two sources told the Star that Ford returned to the table and kept drinking, staying at the club until 5 a.m.
A few weeks after this event, on April 5, Ford was at the Air Canada Centre, apparently drunk and belligerent, and was barred from an executive lounge. He left and made his way to Muzik. According to witnesses, Ford slipped into a closed-off part of the club with two females and another male. He emerged an hour later disoriented and apparently high.
Ford said that night that his mother and father were never there for him and commented that “no one knows what I'm going through.”
Kevin Donovan can be reached at kdonovan@thestar.ca or 416-312-3503.
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha..._cocaine_at_exclusive_club_witnesses_say.html
I just checked google maps and Sullie's is located right across the street from Douglas Ford park.
Couldnt make this shit up if I tried
Not surprising Robyn Doolittle moved to the Globe since it's part of the Bell conglomerate that also owns CTV. I bet she'll be moving to TV soon.
And, by the way, the Star also lost Cathal Kelly to the Globe and Damian Cox to Sportsnet, although I believe he'll continue to write a weekly column for the Star.
And, by the way, the Star also lost Cathal Kelly to the Globe and Damian Cox to Sportsnet, although I believe he'll continue to write a weekly column for the Star.
Let those who live in glass houses...
People who have addictions act the way he has been acting. No shock here. Ask anyone who is in recovery or who works with people in recovery and they will tell you the same thing. And while it's easy for us to ridicule him, we are in essence ridiculing someone with an illness.
Denials, lies, promises, etc are all part of it. It's all part of the same sickness much like the symptoms for any illness.
Addiction Recovery centres are made up of all types of people from all walks of life, rich, poor, politicians, movie stars and everyday common people.
Those who feel at liberty to throw stones at Ford do so because he just happens to be someone who they don't like for political reasons or perhaps the way he looks. All these episodes of his addiction issues simply justify their feelings. But most who hate him did so way before any of these things were made public.
So before anyone forgets he's a human being, let's take a minute to think about whether our hate for the guy is because of his political agenda or if it's because we do not tolerate people who are sick.
Oh please... the glass house argument, the final refuge.
I remember the incident at the hockey game, well before he became mayor. I thought then this guy just has to get out of politics.
I don't hate him. He's just UNFIT FOR THE JOB!
I haven't forgotten he's a human being. Clearly he is.
He can't do his job - whether I like his agenda or not. Supporting him is actually counterproductive to his agenda.
His "sickness" makes him unfit for office.
And, I say this from my bulletproof glass house: It is time for his enablers to just shut up.
Go ahead and throw stones.
No one has mocked, or damned him for being addicted. But he's rightly been condemned for his denials, and for his disservice to his high office and responsibilities and betrayal of the trust of the citizens, most particularly of those who voted for him.
Now that he has finally admitted what was long obvious to all: That he has problems too big to cover up any longer and too serious to manage himself, we can offer the sympathy such an illness is due, but that excuses none of his lying and failings. There's no do-overs.
Quite apart from anything to do with his drug abuse, you are quite right to point out that many of us saw that his inability to get along with other Councillors, to formulate sensible policies, or to stay on the right side of the simplest and most obvious ethical standards made him unfit to be Mayor long before the the drug stuff became known beyond his neighbourhood circles.
lol... keep posting.. i'm having a great laugh at all the FORD NATION ppl trying to excuse the 5 stories that came out today...
Crack is for those coke heads that can't really get the rush of cocaine in powder form, due to prolonged exposure, they move to crack because its a more intense high... also he may have gone with crack because he didnt want to be seen sniffing in front of cameras
The Steak Queen incident was the last straw but Ford Nation will still vote for him out of sympathy.
And trust me on this one, he doesn't have the coglioni to go into rehab, one mere month will not help him. He's going to stay home and drink beer for a month.
And trust me on this one, he doesn't have the coglioni to go into rehab, one mere month will not help him. He's going to stay home and drink beer for a month.
It's all part of the symptoms. If someone's mind is clouded, lying is just one of the outcomes.
It should dawn on him that Rob Ford would be a great asset to the police. Put a dog collar on him and let him go - he has no problems rummaging through the rotten underbelly of society looking for drugs.
The lying, denials and excuses are part of the illness.
Councillors went on record as "refusing to work with him" the night he was elected. So it is not his inability alone to get along with the others.
He has not stolen money from taxpayers and in that regard, he is not corrupt.
So if you are big enough to offer sympathy and understand that it's a sickness, don't stop half-way and say "that doesn't excuse his lying...".
