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Mark Your Calendars

DECA Meeting

If your new year’s resolution was to get more involved in your neighbourhood, meet your neighbours or drink more beer – you’re in luck!  The next DECA executive meeting is Tuesday, January 25th at 8 p.m.  If you would like to come, let me know and I’ll send you the details.

East End Bike Social

Come meet other cyclists in the east end and talk about things that are planned for 2011 bike-wise.  This is an informal event that is open to all.

Wednesday, January 19th 6-10 p.m.

Remarks Bar & Grill 1026 Coxwell – north of Cosburn

Contact Tom Flaherty for more info at tflah@metropolitan.com

Councillor Coffee Talk

Join ward 32 councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon to find out more about how Toronto’s city budget works and have a great cup of coffee at the same time.

January 22nd, Red Rocket Coffee, 1402 Queen St. E. 9-11 a.m.

January 22nd, Juice & Java, 2102 Queen St. E. noon-2 p.m.

January  22nd, Grinder, 168 Main St. 3-5 p.m.

January 23rd, Caketown, 2039 Danforth Ave. 10 a.m. – noon

For more info, contact councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca 416-392-1376

Doggie Swap Meet

If your dog wouldn’t be caught dead in the plaid winter ensemble that aunty mabel gave or if you are in need of a new coat, toy or extra leash, perhaps you need to attend the Merrill Park Dog Association Doggie Swap Meet (meat?).  Laura Taylor is organizing the first doggie swap meet on January 23rd from 10:30 – noon.  There will be hot drinks and muffins.  Contact merrillpkdogs@gmail.com or laura.taylor@sympatico.ca

Business Training Series

The Danforth Mosaic BIA and Woodgreen Community Services are hosting a business training series of workshops by Elizabeth Verwey from Small Office Mentors.  The sessions are free to Danforth Mosaic BIA members and $100 for others.

Four workshops will cover business communications, cash flow and money matters, networking and sales strategies and planning for business growth.  Once business owners complete these four workshops, they qualify to apply for a micro-load from Alterna Savings.

Workshops are happening February 2/9/16/23 as well as Mondays in June and Wednesdays in October.

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Telling Stories

The Open Door East End Arts Collective is a group of artists from Toronto’s east end who “love their neighbourhood and the arts with equal passion.”  This trio is launching a storytelling festival at St. David’s Anglican Church right across from Donlands subway station from  January 23rd  – April 17th at 3 p.m. in the parish hall.

Sunday January 23rd is the festival opener featuring Dan Yashinsky, Brian Katz and Rainos Mutamba (Dan Yashinsky was a performer at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market and he was fabulous).  Admission is pay what you can with a suggested minimum of $5/person.  For more info, call 416-469-2878 or look here.

Celena’s Bakery – was featured on blogTO this week and we thought you should check it out.

Updates

If you got a beautiful piece of art for Christmas and are wondering how to frame it, Ciraco’s (1946 Danforth) 15% off custom framing sale has been extended until the end of the month.

In December I told you about a local business, CareerFitmom. Turns out, DECA member, Jennifer D. Foster wrote a profile on owner, Beth, this fall about trying to find the balance between career and motherhood.

2011 Budget

Nothing says a good time like sitting around talking about the city budget.  The fierce debates.  The gut-busting guffaws.  The tears.  Um…maybe that’s just at my house?  On Wednesday, January 19th councillors will be hosting public consultations on the proposed budget.  This is your chance to get involved, learn more and give your two cents (less 2%).  It’s from 6-9 p.m. at the East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell.  For information on how to make a deputation, check out this link.

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Not Quite Last Minute Gifts

Give the gift of local food, strong community and general neighbourliness by making your way to Caketown Cafe and picking up some East Lynn Farmers’ Market Bucks. It’s the perfect gift for neighbours or nannies or foodies or as a most well-received  hostess gift.  Caketown Cafe is just west of Woodbine on the south side of Danforth (beside the big hole).

If you’re worried about where all this holiday eating is getting you, you might want to check out CareerFitmom.   This is a local business serving mostly moms and babies but also provides women’s-only fitness.  The next session starts January 10th, but if you register before Dec. 27th, it’s only $85 for six weeks.  Classes are at Cosburn and Woodbine.

CareerFitmom is owned by Beth Yarzab and Beth is teaching a fitness instructor certification course between Christmas and New Year’s.  Teaching fitness is a great, flexible job so if you are interested in knowing more, contact Beth at beth(at)careerfitmom.ca

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What To Get For Your Favourite Community Blogger?

It can be difficult.  What is the right gift for the woman who sends you news you can use in your own neighbourhood?  A woman who toils away in front of her computer night after night just so you can be the first to know what’s happening and where?  Wink wink.

Tak Bui decided to send me this fabulous electronic christmas card.  And I thought I would share it with you….gracious gal that I am.

Of course, you can never go wrong with jewellery.  Fine Silver Girl is hosting another open house from 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at 48 Woodington this Saturday.  Fine Silver Girl, aka Heather, also offers various classes including a adult and child classes.  Check out her calendar.

You may also want to check out Karen Franzen and friends.  They’re selling artwork, jewellery, quilts, functional ceramics and tiles, home-baked cookies at 3 Wembley Drive, 2 blocks east of Coxwell and upper Gerrard St.  Karen will also be offering 7 week pottery classes and tile painting workshops in her studio beginning in January.

(Note for people buying presents for women – especially men who aren’t always that adept at choosing the pefect gift – a pottery class is a really really good present.) Why?  Because not only do many of us ladies harbour secret fantasies about making pottery, it is also a little bit of that glorious ‘me time’ that we so crave but have trouble carving out for ourselves.  Take it from me and put this one in the stocking.

Speaking of pottery, on January 1st, 2011, LucScultpure will celebrate four years at its location at 663 Greenwood.  Luc is committed to this community and to the arts, locally and beyond and if you’ve never wandered into the building just steps north of the Danforth on Greenwood, now is the perfect time.  There are arts items for sale from $2 – $200 available until Jan. 2nd.  Gift certificates (for pottery classes and other things) are available.  But Luc also throws some pretty cool parties there.  From Jam sessions (Friday, Dec. 17th $5) to the ‘Lost Soul Party’ on New Year’s Eve ($10!).  It’s a warm, welcoming environment to wander into.

Other local gifts that might tempt you? I’ve just bought a lovely gift bag of delectable foodie goodies at Royal Beef.  I’d like to keep it for myself, but I won’t.  Also, Cozy Cafe has the most delightful meringue cream chocolate ‘trees’ and I will certainly be giving those as a gift in the near future.  If you have other ideas, post them here.

Carmelina Condominiums

Perhaps you feel that any of the things I’ve mentioned just aren’t significant enough to fully convey to your favourite blogger how much you appreciate her?  You would like to get her something really special…something big?  Maybe a condo would be what you’re looking for?  The big hole at Danforth and  Coxwell now boasts a big blue fence and a big sign advertising Carmelina Condominiums.  But really, you shouldn’t have.

Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association

On December 8th, the BIA held its Annual General Meeting and elected it’s new board members.  They are ‘nominees’ until approved by community council in January.

Aurelio Acquaviva
Maria Acquaviva
Tanveer Arif
Peter Dekoulos
Jordan Ison
Banchi Kindie
Mehmet Korkmaz
Carmelo Lorefice
Enza Lorefice
Litsa Kostouros
Jason Manos
Pat Silver
Victor Singh
Nick Sissakis
Yared Tibebu
Asres Yirga