Posted on

Holiday happenings & other news

The holidays are upon us, and some events are taking place in our neighbourhood that you might want to mark on your calendars.

DECA’s First Annual East Lynn Park Tree Lighting! 
Thursday, December 13 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, come on out to meet your neighbours and have a cup of hot chocolate together this Thursday – it’s for a good cause, and it will be lots of fun!

EastLynnPark tree lighting 2012

And a big thank you to all the volunteers who braved the rain this weekend to hang the lights in preparation for Thursday’s event.  Check out the photos!

Gingerbread House Building at Cozy Cafe & Bakery (Woodbine & Danforth) December 15 (5-7 p.m.) & 16 (3-5 p.m.) for $25

cozy

Call Cozy at (647) 349-5251 to reserve your spot, and then next Sunday enjoy your clean kitchen after you and/or your kids have iced the floors and furniture at Cozy!

An artful walk?

Remember in the fall when DECA helped to facilitate the painting of some local Bell boxes?  Have you ever wondered, ‘where are those boxes?’  As winter clamps down, if you are like me you probably need an excuse to get off the couch and venture out, so why not take a little walking tour of the murals? Here is a map to show you where the boxes are, and photos to give you a sneak peek of the beauty that awaits you on your journey.

Bell box murals Danforth 2012Stay tuned for information on next weekend’s pop-up events, and details about some late-night shopping specials at some of our favourite local shops!

Posted on

Plenty-O-Pop-Up!

[slideshow]

A Morning Mention for DECA’s Pop-Ups

Renew East Danforth volunteer Cindy Rozeboom spoke with Matt Galloway of CBC’s Metro Morning earlier this week about the reasons and inspiration behind the pop-up initiative.  In case you missed it, have a listen here.

Dance! Dance! Dance!

If we dance… they will come.  At least that’s our theory.  So we’re saying it one more time: FLASHMOB.  We have two flashmobs planned for this Saturday (December 8th) in hopes to bring in more traffic from some not-so-distant locales to our beloved pop-ups.  The first will be in front of the Carrot Common at 2:45 p.m.  The second will be on the sidewalk of  the Kew Gardens Playground at 3:30 p.m.

There’s still time to learn the dance and join in all the fun.  A rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. at Pegasus Dance Studio (361 Glebeholme Blvd) and a second rehearsal has been added Friday night at 5:00 p.m. at CareerFit Mom Pop-Up Studio (1872 Danforth Ave).  Check out the Facebook page for more details or rsvp by clicking here.

This Week in Pop-Ups

Many of our pop-ops have exciting events going on this weekend.

Friday

  • CareerFit Mom: Friday, December 7th is a PA Day and why not share some fun physical activity with the kiddies at PlayFit. Recess games, imaginative play and silliness with balls, hoops and toys.  Parent & Tot (ages 2-4) at 10:30 a.m. and Parent & Kid (ages 4-7) at 1:30 p.m.
  • POP Goes the Easel: Another option for Friday’s PA day is the Holiday Craft Drop-In.  $5/child, 12-5pm.  

Saturday

  • Len: The Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art and Beautiful Things will be having their Official Launch party this Saturday, December 8th from 7:30-10:30 p.m.  10% off all Beautiful things (excluding fine art), bubbly refreshments and tasty bites guaranteed.
  • POP Goes the Easel: Saturday will be more crafting with a Holiday Craft session from 1-3 p.m. ($5)
  • CareerFit Mom: There are plenty of options for exercise this Saturday with High Intensity Intervals, Kickbox and Mind/Body Fusions and more PlayFit.  Check out the website for class times.
  • CareerFit Mom: And if a career move is in your cards you’ll want to check out the Resume Resonance session on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  ($30+tax)

Sunday

  • POP Goes the Easel: The GRAND OPENING will be celebrated on Sunday December 9th, 12-6:00 p.m, with an Open Studio and Holiday Sale.

Tuesday

  • Len: Join the Eggy Wegg lady, Alysa Golden, for in store tasting of her brilliant new products from Hope Eco Farms.  Gift baskets will be available for purchase and Alysa will also take your custom orders for the most special people on your holiday gift list.  LEN will join in the fun with special pricing on select holiday entertaining items.

And a reminder of where to find them all….

Pop Goes the Easel (1803 Danforth)

Tyke (1938 Danforth)

Patsy Berton Art Gallery (1948 Danforth)

bright-brown vintage+handmade  & VSVSVS (1801 Danforth)

LEN (1936 Danforth)

CareerFit Mom (1872 Danforth)

Posted on

Too much news for one title

In no particular order, here are a few events and neighbourhood tidbits to peruse:

Holiday Singalong! December 13

Open Minds is holding a Holiday Singalong, and you’re invited. A fun old-fashioned way to meet your neighbours and share in singing together. You can RSVP to ensure a spot, or just show up the night of.
Thursday, December 13, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m at the Sidewalk Cafe, 1344 Danforth (near the Greenwood Subway station).
OPEN MINDS poster xmas singalong

Stadium Grand Opening – December 8

The brand new state-of-the-art stadium in Monarch Park is open for business. To give all of us a chance to peek inside “the bubble”, there is a community GRAND Opening this Saturday, December 8 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Go take a look – this kind of facility in our own backyard is not to be missed! For more information about the stadium, check out the website: http://www.monarchparkstadium.com

Holistic Services and Body Rub Bylaw Review – City of Toronto Survey

The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the bylaw related to holistic centres and body rub parlours (commonly known as ‘massage parlours’). The purpose is to gain greater insight into public opinion on these businesses and their impact on City of Toronto communities. You can provide your feedback in this quick survey: http://www.toronto.ca/licensing under ‘what’s new’

Silly Goose Kids is #1

Congratulations to our friends at Silly Goose Kids, who were voted Toronto’s #1 toy store by the readers of BlogTO! Check out the article here. Don’t forget that Silly Goose Kids has partnered with Woodgreen for their annual toy drive – ask them about the many ways that you can give the next time you are in.
Posted on

Pop-Up Guerilla Marketing

Print it!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it.

1.  Use your office photocopier for good, not evil. Make some copies of these two items…the pop-up poster and the flyer.

2. Post these items in your office, at the coffee shop, to your Facebook and Twitter feeds, on light poles, on your neighbour’s front door.  Anywhere where there are people who have eyes. E-mail it to everyone in your address book. It’s not spam if you do it.

3. Feel good about helping to spread the good word and getting as many feet walking along Danforth East as possible.

3. Eat this message.

pop-up flyer

Pop-up Shop Details

Dance it!

Join the pop-up flashmob!  (Oh yes we said it, and we’ll say it again: FLASHMOB!)

Follow these simple steps to get involved:

  1. R.S.V.P. to Jules by clicking here.
  2. Download this video from YouTube to get familiar with the song and the dance moves (you do not have to memorize them… just have some fun with them)
  3. Come to Pegasus Dance Studio, 361 Glebeholme Blvd. at 8:00 pm on Thursday, December 6 for a one-hour rehearsal. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring anyone you think might get a kick out of being in a flashmob.
  4. Rehearse some more at home and encourage friends and family to rehearse with you.
  5. Perform the dance in a flashmob at two different places over the next two weeks (times and locations to be announced), and help encourage people to come out and see what exciting things are happening in the pop-up shops and in the shops around them.
Can’t wait to see you there! (And check out our fancy poster below, just to prove that this is not your average run-of-the-mill flashmob.  This is a flashmob with a poster!)

Flashmob announcement

Posted on

DECA Board Meeting & Artisans At Work

DECA Board Meeting 

The next DECA Board meeting will be held this Tuesday, December 4th at 7:30 pm.  We’ll be talking trees, parks, pop-ups and so much more! Please contact Anita if you are interested in attending.

Artisans At Work

If the nine pop-up shops and handful of new stores and businesses are not enough for you, there’s more coming to our piece of the Danforth.  Artisans At Work (2071 Danforth Ave) will be opening for Arts & Craft Shows the next three weekends – December 8-9th, 15-16th and 22-23rd.

The idea for this gift shop featuring locally made arts & crafts as well as self contained studio/micro business space is the brainchild of former DECA board member, Tara Shelton.

Here’s a post from Tara about featured artistis, craft show details and how to inquire about renting space in December and beyond:

Artisans At Work

Artisans At Work is an upcoming 2700 square foot retail gallery store at 2071 Danforth Ave (at Woodbine).  The space also has eight private, turn-key micro business/studio spaces for the arts, jewellery, and community to start-up and operate for affordable, inclusive rates.

The Show

We are holding Christmas Craft Shows on the weekends of December 8/9th, 15/16th, and 22/23rd from 9am to 6pm.  Applications are still welcome.  Craft show prices are  $75 per weekend, $40 per day or $100 for two weekends.

The Artists

Stone Folio: Stone marble Mosaics. Price Range: $40-400.  Attending: Dec 15/16 & 22/23.

Lurearts Pottery:  handmade ceramic dinnerware, jewelry, clocks and hostess gifts.  Price range: $12-100.  Attending:  Dec 8th & 9th

Thunderpeep:  Illustrated designs. Price range: $4- $40. Attending: Dec 8 & 9th.

Tara Shelton: Sculptural jewellery, wood burnt etchings. Price range: $45 to $250. Attending: Dec 8/9th, 15/16th, & 22/23rd.

Bonnie Marder: Quilts, small gifts.

Zuzuki Diaz: jewellery, bags made from recycled items.   Attending: Dec 15th.

Meter by Meter: Vegan bags, and gifts for animal lovers & pets. Price range: $30-135. Attending: December  8/9th &15/16th.  100% of proceeds will go to homeless cats at North Toronto Cat Rescue .

Tweak: One of a kind jewellery. Price range: $18-300. Attending: Dec 15/16 & 22/23.

Pink Ink: Cards, restyled mittens sweaters, barettesPrice range: $4-100. Attending: Saturdays Dec 15 & 22.

ClothesPeg Designs: Handmade Children’s Clothing & Accessories. Price Range: $10-$50. Attending: Dec 15&16.

Adrienne Baker Sieffert: baby bibs, catnip beds, bags, reversible coffee sleeves, pillows, pincushions, tote bags, luggage tags and vintage inspired Christmas ornaments. Price range $3-30. Attending: Dec 8/9, 15/16, 22/23.

Ecoartworx: Earth Friendly & Ethical, Eco-Fashion accessories and Jewelry.  Price Range: $5- $120. Attending: December 22nd.

The Space

Hydro, water, security, heat, liability insurance, wi-fi, in addition to other benefits such as Open House every First Friday evening of the month, group shows, adult craft nights, networking, and more!

Some business use possibilities: art studio, jewellery studio, textile & other crafts, painting/sculpting classes, children’s arts & crafts, yoga, specialty retail etc. The possibilities are endless!

There are eight studio spaces available, ranging from 100 to 200 sq feet. Each secure micro business space is bright, with a high ceiling, is fitted with a sink and may be custom built to suit each tenant.

Long and short term leases are available, and sharing spaces is welcome!

Each tenant is also given a display area to promote their business, and contact info and/or opening hours, as well as on our website.

The retail gallery section of the store is also for rent based upon square footage with only 10% sales commission!

We supply the retail staff and help the artist vendor to promote themselves to the retail customer!

Please contact Tara for more information on renting a studio space, retailing your product, or joining the Christmas Craft Shows:   torontotara (at) yahoo.com

Many thanks!