March 2014 – Danforth East Community Association

March 27, 2014

Let’s Party! Save the date: April 12

It’s been a long winter. Power outages, Polar Vortex, snow, the return of the Polar Vortex, and even more snow. If there was ever a Spring to celebrate, this is it. So save the date for Saturday, April 12, 12-4 pm, 1811 Danforth, because we’re inviting you to kick off your Sorrels and get together with your neighbours to party.

We’re calling it Danforth East Dreams. We were so inspired by #DreamPopup survey response, we decided to up our game and go even bigger. What do you want to see next for DE? A co-work space? Community gardens? Ping pong in the park? And we know dreams are a good place to start because the Farmer’s Market, Arts Fair, Pumkin Parade, Pop-up Shops, Adopt- a-Tree and Yard Sale (or a community association) all began as someone’s big idea.

Come out and tell us. Or show us. Because this isn’t a meeting: it’s a party. We’re going to have all kinds of fun, interactive ways to share your ideas. Put your house and ideas up on the giant map of the hood, Neighbourland (apologies to Candy Chang); pin your dreams to our clothesline; get interviewed by roving kid-reporters; build your dream with the crafty Mrs. Darling (of Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium for Boys & Girls fame); get your bike tuned up for spring by the folks from 32 Spokes; or just come and hang out and be inspired.

Besides all the free activities, we’ve also got free snacks and drinks to fuel your creative energy–popcorn courtesy of Moberly Natural Foods; java and treats from Melanie’s Bistro; beer from family-run, DIY-ers Beau’s.

But that’s not all.

Right next door, at 1803 Danforth, from 11-3 pm, Toronto’s Repair Cafe is partnering with the Tool Library and offering you free repairs of your broken stuff! The volunteer-run organization is committed to giving people the confidence to fix your things instead of making them landfill fodder. They’ll have fixers available for computers and other electronics, small appliances and furniture, and clothing and more. Our current pop-up shop, Veritus Pictures, will also be open for business– take a stroll through his gallery and find out about his fabulous workshops.

So start dreaming about the hood and tweet your ideas with #DEdreams to get us started.

Special thanks to the owners of 1803 & 1811 Danforth, Haig and David, for the use of their space for the day.

March 25, 2014

The Return of the Great #DanforthEast Garage Sale!

The #DanforthEast Garage Sale returns on June 7! Save the date and your stuff for our 2nd annual community-wide sale.

We had over 140 garage sales and seven street sales across the whole neighborhood last year and we’re hoping this year will be even bigger and better.

The sale will run Saturday, June 7th rain or shine. More details will follow in the next few weeks, including how to sign up, but until then start decluttering and dreaming about summer!

March 24, 2014

History, Hoots, and new local fitness options

Is there a link between these events/notices? Yes! You can walk to all of them. (It may be a far walk, but still, once it stops being minus a million degrees, walking will be appealing again!)

Free Library Event this Wednesday – The Mosquito Program: Historian Keith Hyde

Wednesday, March 26 from 6:30-8:00pm,1675 Danforth Ave (@ Coxwell)

Hirut Hoot Comedy – Friday, March 28 starting at 9:00pm, only $5, 2050 Danforth Ave @ Woodbine

This is high calibre, high quality stand-up comedy. People in the know come far and wide to this monthly event (the last Friday of every month), so you have no excuse to miss it.

The Scoop: New local exercise spaces coming soon

Fly Girl Fitness

Fly Girl Fitness is moving into the space above Relish, on Danforth just east of Woodbine @ Cedarvale. In fact, it looks like they are offering FREE TRIAL CLASSES this week and next, so don’t delay! Click here for the details, and be sure to like them on Facebook. Owner Briar Munro posted these pics on Facebook of the outside and inside of the new studio.

www.flygirlfitness.com

Rebel Therapy Yoga and Pilates

Located at 1083 Woodbine Ave, a few blocks north of Danforth, this new studio is offering free classes the week of April 1. It looks like they are a pop up shop for now, to test out whether they want to move in full time. (They are not part of DECA’s pop up shop program, but we’ll support them just the same!)

The owner, Karla Jang, posted this pic of herself and her keys on twitter @rebeltherapy:

www.rebeltherapy.ca

March 20, 2014

Dance! Dance! Dance! DECA Family Dance Flash Mob!

If you’ve always wanted to dance with your neighbours, here’s your chance! The DECA Family Dance Flash Mob is back! Jane and the Pegasus Studio team will lead you through some easy steps over a series of practices, starting with one this Sunday, March 23rd. If you can’t make any of the practices email Jane to find out how to learn the steps at home by video.

Watch for the all the fun as the DECA Flash Mob takes over Danforth East on Sunday, May 4th.

March 17, 2014

Danforth East Arts Fair 2014 – Call for artists and craftspeople!

Call for artists and craftspeople: Early bird deadline is April 13!

Early bird application deadline is less than a month away – April 13th, 2014 is soon upon us! Painters, Jewellers, Photographers, Clothing Designers, Woodworkers, Potters and every creative person in between – show us what you do! We want to hear from you.

The Danforth East Arts Fair (DEAF) is a juried outdoor arts and crafts fair in East Lynn Park in mid-September. Now in its 6th year, DEAF 2014 will take place on September 13 & 14. This early bird deadline will save you $25 off the application fee ($175 instead of $200).

Go to the DEAF website for more information and to download the vendor application form.

For more information, drop a line to the fabulous DEAF team: deca.arts@gmail.com

March 12, 2014

30% Off For DECA @ Kids Fun Town

Introducing the newest business on our Danforth East strip: Kids Fun Town!

When we posted this picture on our Facebook page on February 11, the day that their sign went up, it was shared over 40 times and viewed by 3865 people (so far)! Many of us were excited.

Thanks to DECA Diaries matriarch, Natasha G, for the following post and for news of a great deal for DECA Diaries readers!
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Kids Fun Town is a small indoor playground that has opened at 2040 Danforth, just west of Woodbine on the north side. It offers drop-in play, birthday parties and even babysitting ($12/hr, call ahead). I chatted with owner, Daniel Moradhaseli, who has been pleased with the welcome the shop is getting in these first few weeks. He hadn’t heard of DECA until he opened his doors, but already people are dropping in because they read about the shop on in the Diaries. To say thanks for the early patronage, Daniel is offering 30% off drop-in play admission from now until March 31st when you print out this blog post.

Drop in play is regularly $7 per kid, per day. (You can return anytime that day and not pay again.) Kids Fun Town is open 7 days a week, 9 am – 5 pm EXCEPT when there is a birthday party so you need to call or check the website before you make promises to little people that you can’t keep.

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Correction: Earlier today, we posted about our next board meeting and referenced a date that doesn’t exist. (We blame the snow, and winter in general.) To clarify, the next Board meeting is Tuesday, March 18. Here’s the corrected post should you want the downlow on how to wrangle yourself an invite (you should come!).