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Arts In The Neighbourhood

The FINAL deadline to apply for the Danforth East Arts Fair is Tuesday, June 15th. There are already a lot of great artists who have applied for this year’s fair so it looks like it will be even better than last year.  The application and fee ($175) must be submitted by June 15th.  For more information, contact deca.arts@gmail.com

Three Wishes Storytelling Festival – June 11th and 12th join Aubrey Davis, Deborah Dunleavy and Ruth Danzinger for stories, lively poems, chants and music for children and families.  There is one concert on Friday and three workshops and concerts and Saturday at Pegasus Studios (361 Glebeholme Blvd. 3 blocks north of Danforth, east of Coxwell).  Costs range from $5/person to $30/family depending on which event you attend.  For more info call 416-699-2608 or visit www.storytellersforchildren.ca

Danforth Mosaic BIA Family Fun Fest

Join your local Business Improvement Association on Saturday, June 12th at East Lynn Park for the Family Fun Fest.  There will be face painting, beading, boomerang decorating, clay sculpture, bouncy castles, Razzamatazz, clowns, african drumming and more.

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First Farmers’ Market – This Thursday

Thurday, June 3rd is DECA’s first Farmers’ Market at East Lynn Park.  Be there for the 4:30 fest (pilates in the park) and the cafe, sponsored by Guru Coffee.  Our fabulous face painters will be there turning run-of-the-mill children into fantastic fairies and super heros.  Also – DECA Bikes will be there to help you tune up your bike and get it road-ready for the season.

Oh – and guess what?  The cheese lady is back!  Ruth Klassen is back at the market.  Now you’re excited, right?

P.S.  –I notice Celena’s bakery and True Brew Cafe are both open on Sundays

P.P.S. – Nancy Greene  is offering free reiki as she completes the final stage of her certification from the Canadian Reiki Association.  If you would like to know more contact here at ngreene11@sympatico.ca>

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Enjoying (and not enjoying) Your Neighbourhood

A miscellany of things to tell you about today…

Jack of Sports provides swim lessons and summer camps at various places around the city.  Now, it’s moving into our neighbourhood – at Monarch Park Collegiate (west of Coxwell, south of Danforth).   They run the Red Cross swim program.  It costs $160 for 10 lessons of 1 hour each and lessons will be starting at the end of June.  They’re also planning on offering summer camps.  For more info call 416-489-4777 or info@jackofsports.com

Environment Days

The Ward 31 Environment Day is Saturday, June 5th from 10-2 at Stan Wadlow Park at 373 Cedarvale Ave. Pick up free compost, buy native plants, exchange broken green bins and kitchen catchers, buy a rain barrel or water saver kit, learn about the city’s environmental programs, get free seeds, drop off hazardous waste and special recyclables, and much more.

Red Sable

Check out the paintings by Lisa Crouch, Ana Gribbons and Cynthia Noel during the month of June at Red Sable at 1765 Danforth.  The opening reception is Saturday, June 5th from 1 – 4 p.m.  Red Sable is open Thursday and Friday  11-6 and Saturday 12-5.  Call 416-436-3733 for more info.

Tree Tour

Want to learn how to distinguish a sugar  maple from a silver maple?  Join Lauren B  own from LEAF (Local Enhancement and  Appreciation of Forests) and learn how to  identify trees, the benefits of trees, the  challenges our urban forests face and ways    to help.

Meet on Sunday, June 6th at the Grinder  Cafe at 126 Main St. (south of Danforth).    The tour will take place from 1 – 3 p.m. Fore  more information, contact Mary-Margaret  McMahon at spargy@rogers.com

Car Wash

A group of people who live near the car wash at Aldridge and Danforth are getting very frustrated with the noise of the car wash and the noise and exhaust of the cars idling in the back lane waiting to use the car wash.  Linda has posted about it here on the blog and the residents there looking for any advice people may have about how to proceed.  They’ve formed a committee called the West Lynn – Aldridge Peace and Enjoyment Committee (because they’ve lost the peace and enjoyment of their yards).

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Not To Brag But….

Since the only thing I do for DECA’s farmers’ market at East Lynn Park is to write about it and eat my way through it, I feel absolutely no need to be modest about it.  Thank you to Renata for pointing us to the fact that Toronto Life has put out it’s list of the best farmers markets in the city (the top eight) and guess which little community market appeared on it?   Yes, we made the list!

Why?  Because we have an incredible group of women who put in tons of volunteer hours to arrange the special events, work with the farmers, paint faces, set up tents, get permits, make caramel apples, organize buskers etc etc etc.  And because we have fabulous volunteers who cook for the farmers (a unique and much-loved piece of east Toronto hospitality) and pitch in whenever we need them.  And because a LOT of people come and shop there and hang out with their neighbours.  And because we have a terrific community vibe that the farmers thrive on and that makes going to the market an ongoing, community building event that helps people get to better know their neighbours and make our neighbourhood safer and more vibrant and at the same time supports local business by significantly increasing foot traffic on the Danforth.  Umm.  I think that’s all.

The market starts next Thursday (June 3rd).  This year, every day at 4:30 there will be a family-friendly activity.  And if you’re looking to sit down and just soak up the atmosphere, check out the new farmers’ market cafe.  Of course, we’ll still have all our special events – from the spring strawberry social right to the fall harvest pumpkin festival.

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Gledhill Goings On

The Gledhill Family Movie Night is tomorrow (Thursday). They’re showing Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Doors open at 6 p.m.  Showtime is 6:30 p.m. and it’s 90 minutes long.  The cost is $1 at the door and they’ll be selling popcorn.  All proceeds go to Gledhill’s breakfast program.  This is a family event.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  All families are welcome.

Want to know more about your school’s energy use? On May 25th at 7:30 p.m. Trustee, Sheila Cary-Meagher and Green Globes Energy Specialists are hosting an event that will help schools explore possible renewable energy projects.  The event is at 7:30 p.m. at the Gledhill Public School library.  RSVP to Mary-Margaret McMahon at spargy@rogers.com or 416-693-9276.

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Guess Whose Running For City Council?

I suppose it had to happen eventually.

You get a bunch of community-minded people together and sooner or later one of them is going to try and play in the big leagues.

Mary-Margaret McMahon has been on the DECA executive since we were half a dozen people sitting around a dining room table.  She’s been instrumental in almost everything that DECA has become – from the farmers’ market to the countless environmental initiatives, from DECA Bikes to re-skilling workshops and so much more.  At least half of what you read on this blog comes straight from Mary-Margaret because she’s either organizing it or knows someone who is.

DECA is not a political organization.  It’s in our charter.  So you won’t see us endorsing one candidate over another in October’s municipal election. However, because she’s such an integral part of DECA, I thought you should know that Mary-Margaret is running in Ward 32 (south of the Danforth).  Her campaign launch party is Tuesday, May 18th at the Balmy Beech Club (1 Beech Ave – doors open at 7:30 – remarks at 8 p.m.)  RSVP to lauriesmith1025@gmail.com