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Make A Joyful Noise Parade

Join us this Sunday for the sensational second Make a Joyful Noise Parade at East Lynn Park!  As part of the kick off to the Art of the Danforth, DECA is inviting kids and kids at heart to wear a crazy hat or costume, bring an instrument and join the 11 a.m. parade around the inside of East Lynn. The fabulous folks at Silly Goose Kids will have a few surprises on hand and Rebecca will be there with her face paints at the ready beginning at 10:30 a.m.

See you there!

WHAT? A Paint Fight In The Street?

If marching around a park making a racket isn’t enough rowdiness for you, then make your way up to the 10 minute paint fight. 100 gallons of paint. 200 people dressed in white, armed and anxiously waiting for their cue to hurl hues at one another…and 10 minutes later, they will each walk away a living, breathing piece of art.

Participants from all over Toronto will gather to participate in this free, family-friendly, energetic burst of creativity and fun that will kick start the second Art of the Danforth (AoD) festival.

What you need to join in the fun: Dress in white, wear goggles and be prepared to get messy!

MEET at the corner of Ladysmith & Danforth (one block east of Greenwood) at 12:30 pm to register. Paint Fight will begin at 1 pm sharp.

BE ON TIME OR MISS THE FUN!!

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Wood Warblers

Thank you to Julie Graham for this post about the tropical birds we can spot in our back yards!

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Keep your ears open while walking and your eyes on the treetops while not, and right now you may well see tiny, flitting birds working the leaves in any good-sized tree. Get your old binoculars out and you’ll more easily see flashes of brilliant yellow and orange.

These are migrating warblers, and warm southerly winds brought a huge wave of them in to Toronto on May 3 just before our first thunderstorm of the year. There are dozens of kinds of these little birds in eastern North America, and many are long distance migrants who return to us from the southern US, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Many are just passing through the Great Lakes en route to our northern boreal forests, whose moist, treed and buggy expanse is a perfect place to raise the next generation. But some will stay with us in Southern Ontario through August and September before turning south again.

Between 7 and 9 each morning in late spring, the sun stirs the bugs and these famished travelers get to work. Their songs aren’t as sweet or as strong as their names might imply, but their high pitched, delicate songs are worth a listen and can help identify these restless birds. Birders from all over the world consider the Great Lakes a gold mine for wood warblers, and thanks to the many mature trees in our city parks, ravines, streets and backyards, we have lots of opportunity to see birds that are a rarity for most of the world.

An hour in Monarch Park Friday morning found these warblers:
black and white; blackburnian; yellow rumped; palm (running over the grass, no less); black throated green; Nashville; chestnut sided; and blackpoll.

In addition, look for white-crowned and white-throated sparrows as they too pass through for the north. Woodland birds like hermit thrushes will also pop up in your backyard at ground level; they are easy prey for cats during the long, tiring journey of migration so try to limit your cat’s daylight outdoor time through the spring.

If you need help identifying birds, check out Cornell University’s online guide.

Dog walkers and other semi-early risers should luck out with some good sightings, but be prepared to crane your neck and to spend a little time concentrating on what you’re seeing and hearing. Take a little time to wonder at tiny creatures who weigh only a few grams and yet manage to make a journey of thousands of kilometres not once but twice a year. And all they ask of us are trees, clean air and water, and a little space.

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Art of the Danforth 2012

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From May 20 – June 10, 2012, Danforth Avenue between Greenwood and Cedarvale will host:  36 large site-specific installations, four hands-on workshops, 20 stores turned mini-galleries, and over 50 walking tours, on-the-fly events and performances.  All activities are free, accessible and open to all.

 AoD 2012 boasts everything from surprising installations from some of Toronto’s most cutting-edge artists to projects that will let you, your family and your friends participate in whimsical arts activities. Come and…

·         throw paint at total strangers,

·         interact with a store window,

·         learn how to yarn-bomb,

·         join a walking tour led by two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet,

·         host arts curios in your own home,

·         empty the contents of your pockets and tell a story

… and see east Toronto in a whole new light.

Projects, schedule and map are now online:  www.artofthedanforth.com.  Please check it out and please share… we’re depending on YOU to spread the word!

UPCOMING dates of import:

May 20 is our kick-off.   Join us in our two opening activities:

·         DECA Make a Joyful Noise Parade in East Lynn Park – 11am – dress up, bring your noisemakers and help us make some noise!

·         10 minute paint fight on Ladysmith Avenue.  Gather at Danforth & Ladysmith at 12:30 pm. Fight starts at 1pm SHARP so don’t be late!  Wear white!

 How you can participate?

·         Volunteer!  We need all sorts of people to help set up, maintain exhibits and generally hang out with us and have fun.  If you’re interested, please email Daniel at volunteer@artofthedanforth.com

·         We’re looking for stuff to borrow (or just plain take):  a ladder, leftover paint / primer and painting supplies.

·         Come out, enjoy our activities and SPREAD THE WORD!

 In other news:

Artists / Artisans: the  early-bird deadline for the Danforth East Arts Fair is May 18.  Apply now and save some cash!  http://www.deca-arts.ca/

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A Lot Goes On Around Here In May

Jane’s Walks are this weekend and we at DECA are big fans of learning about your neighbourhood by walking through it.

DECA’s own, Stephen Wickens, is leading his very popular walk – The Other Danforth – on Saturday, May 5th at 10 a.m. It starts at the Wise Guys pub and ends at the Linsmore Tavern. For more on Steve and what you might learn, visit the East End Pioneer blog, here.

If you want to head a little further south, you can get the scoop on poop with Councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon and assorted friends. She’ll start out at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th with Tap To Toilet where you’ll learn all you ever wanted to know about the Ashbridge’s Bay water treatment plant and “some exciting new ideas for eco-engineering the future of sanitation and toilets”.  If that doesn’t scare you enough, join Mary-Margaret and Gene Domagala at 7:30 p.m. for a Spooky Ghost Tour of St.John’s Cemetery. Bring your flashlight!

Is There A Doctor In The House?

For the last two years we’ve been watching a building rise out of the former O’Conner Brothers funeral home at 1871 Danforth Ave.  The South East Family Health Team has now opened its doors and is accepting new patients.

Monarch Park Pool

Do you know that you can swim at the Monarch Park C.I. indoor pool? Lessons, masters swim programs and mommy and me programs are offered by Jack of Sports, Beaches Swim School, H2Ofit and Family Fun Fit. And you can drop in to community swim Fridays and all-girls swims on Tuesdays. Read more about all of the above here.

Hirut Hoot

May I be the first (but certainly not the last) to say, ‘May the fourth be with you.’ And I always like to follow up with, ‘And also with you.’ Because that’s the good church-goer that I am.  Anyway, that’s the theme of tomorrow night’s comedy show at Hirut restaurant.  Eat, drink and laugh. Starts at 9 p.m.

Shoes!

The Bata Shoe Museum is taking it’s show on the road this weekend. Staff from the museum will be at the Danforth Coxwell library with a number of different shoes for touching (a sealskin boot and a shoe made from a tire for example). They’ll have great stories and kids (and adults I suppose) can make a shoe-shaped magnet to take home.

Beaches Studio Tour

Many local artists will be showing at the Beaches Studio Tour this weekend. Who?  When? Where?  It’s all right here for your perusing.

Ward 32 Environment Day

Mark your calendars for the next Environment Day at the Ted Reeve Arena parking lot. Drop off old paint cans and other untoward household hazards, pick up compost, learn about neighbourhood groups, get your bike tuned up and enjoy some hot dogs and good music. That’s right, garbage and dirt can be fun! May 17th, 4-8 p.m.

DECA Kids Gear Sale

Thank you to everyone who bought a table and everyone bought some stuff and everyone who bought a cookie for DECA’s first Kids Gear Sale. Aside from reusing and recycling and having a good time, we raised $170 for the community gardens and mural project at Stephenson Park at Danforth and Main. If you’re interested in learning more about that project and maybe getting your hands a little dirty, contact Tak at artattak(at)total.net.

And finally…

Thank you to all of you who took part in community clean up events a few weeks ago. Our neighbourhood is so fortunate have so many people who willingly give up a Saturday morning to help out.

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Are We Toronto’s Most Underrated Neighbourhood?

So, a little while ago, The Grid, put out a call for Toronto’s most overrated and underrated neighbourhoods. I guess I was feeling a bit sassy on that particular day.  I put forward a little blurb about our little pocket of the world.  Well Danforth East made the short list and now it’s time for you to vote on what you think is the most over- and underrated neighourhoods in T.O.   There is $1,500 on the line, so vote early, vote often and add your two cents to the East York neighbourhood page.

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The Good Life

Mind & Body Tune-Up

Earl Haig School Council and Safety Committee will be hosting a free “Mind & Body Tune-Up: Earl Haig Healthy Living Fair” on Thursday, May 3 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 15 Earl Haig Ave. The whole community is welcome for a mix of activities and information displays on how to live a healthy life. Some of the presentations will include:

  • Author visit: Karen Lang –  Martha (the confident) Mouse
  • BOMB Fitness demos
  • Zumba demos
  • DeSantos Martial Arts demos
  • Family-focused Yoga demos
  • Playground and Car Seat Safety
  • Practical First-Aid
  • Concussive Head Injuries information
  • Bike Safety
  • Children’s Mental Health Ontario and The Hinks-Dellcrest Centre
  • Integra – Learning Challenges
  • Mindfulness Everyday
  • Greening Ward 32
  • Girls on The Run
  • Healthy Snacks
  • PIAC – Parent Involvement Advisory Committee
  • Info from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canada’s Food Guide

For more information, please contact Hilary Gray @ 647-401-0629

S Sense in Design

Have you noticed that cute little store on Coxwell just north of Danforth. It’s called S Sense in Design and it is hosting the art of Mafalda Silva. The exhibition will be displayed from April 26th – June 27th.  S Sense in Design is at 698 Coxwell Avenue and is open Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

Fuzz Box

Check out the East End Pioneer’s blog post on a new restaurant on the Danforth, The Fuzz Box (insert your own joke here). They specialize in a Nova Scotia donair. And if you don’t know what that is, then you better stop in and find out.

The Groove Bar

Speaking of restaurants, I took my little boys to the Groove Bar tonight for dinner. Yes, I took my young children to a bar for dinner.  Now, before you get all righteous and judgemental on me…actually I have no good excuse, you can feel free to be righteous and judgemental. Anyway, the food was good and Mama, the owner, was perfectly delightful. We played foosball and had a great time. So there.

Logical Consequences

It probably stands to reason that following the proliferation of bakeries would come the proliferation of gyms and exercise studios. You may already know that I pump iron at Legacy Studio, and there is also now Bomb Wellness and (coming soon) Tidal CrossFit – all on Danforth west of Coxwell. For those of you with babes in arms, you may want to try out Legacy’s Mommy and Me class on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. I hear it’s great fun and a great workout. For more info, contact Andy at info(at)legacyindoorcycling.com