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DECA Kids Clothing And Gear Sale

If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely got a basement full of outgrown clothes, maternity pants and perfectly good toys that your children no longer touch. Fear not — DECA’s coming to your rescue. We’re organizing a kids’ clothing and gear sale.

For $20, you can secure a table at our event and sell your spring and summer goods to other parents in need. It’ll be a fun day for everyone. We’ll have crafts and other activities on tap for the kids while you sell or shop. We’ll also be offering a “spit and polish” service — clean up those new toys, tighten the screws and install new batteries (if required) right on site, before you take them home.

Your selling fee will help cover our organizing costs (space rental and posters). Any money left over will be donated to DECA’s latest worthy project — revitalizing a park at Main and Stephenson. And if it helps you out, we’ll haul anything left over down to a donation centre at the end of the day.

Our gear sale will be on a Saturday or Sunday in late March. Location will be local, but will be determined by interest. Please fire us an email at deca.arts@gmail.com if you’d like to reserve a table.

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Psst…

DECA is always out there snooping around, pressing our collective nose in the window of new businesses and chatting up business owners. What have our spies learned lately?

A “lovely Irish guy” named Merv has taken over Susanna’s at 2046 Danforth and is turning it into an Irish pub. He has experience as a publican and he is busy renovating, putting in wainscotting etc. He hopes to open March 1st. Merv is looking forward to his first St. Paddy’s Day at Kilt To Harp.

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Family Skating Party

The Earl Beatty Community Centre family skating party is this Sunday (February 12th) 2-4 p.m. at Monarch Park – right beside the pool.

This is th 11th annual skating party, and everyone is invited!

There will be fun with music, games and a crazy scarf contest – can your scarf be the most colourful? The longest scarf? The weirdest? Come out and find out and win a prize. Games include spot skates and races for all ages.

The Advisory Council also puts on a great spread – hot chocolate and marshmallows and home baked goods. Our newest neighbourhood eatery, RED ROCKET CAFE, will be supplying coffee, and COZY CAFE will be offering their famous cinnamon buns. Come out and have some fun with the whole family, courtesy of the Earl Beatty Community Centre Adivisory Council.

(Children under 6 must wear a CSA approved helmet.)

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Danforth Gem – Bomb Wellness

AARON HARRIS/FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The newest Danforth East fitness studio – Bomb Wellness – was recently featured in the Toronto Star. Here’s DECA’s very own Sarah Kiriliuk’s take on the newest business on the strip.

Running, spinning, weights….tired of the same old, same old workout? Get ready to breath some life into your fitness routine. Bomb Wellness,  at 1338 Danforth, is the new girl in town when it comes to getting healthy and she is no one-trick-pony. On my first visit to the space, I was giggling with delight at all the new calorie-burnin’ opportunities that owners Kevin and Victoria have on the schedule.

At first glance, visitors will notice a strange contraption with ropes and pulleys in the middle of the studio. Although it looks a bit intimidating if you’re not an olympian, don’t be afraid. It’s called the TRX system and it’s a revolutionary way to get that lean and lovely A-lister look by using a system of ropes and webbing to work against your own body weight.

At the back of the studio, what looks like stationary bikes from a distance are actually machines called Striders – a low impact workout similar to elliptical machines, but way cooler. Owner Victoria will take you through your paces during the three-to-four weekly classes and she means business! Your legs will feel like jelly afterwards.

The workout floor space provides enough room for the high-energy Zumba classes, or another innovation called the Slosh Pipe which is exactly as it sounds: a pipe filled with water that sloshes around and helps you with balance and stabilization. With a background in mixed martial arts, co-owner Kevin also offers classes called Fighting Fit, as well as some standard yoga and Pilates classes.

The best part about this studio is that it’s not a mega-corporation that is not invested in your personal fitness. The studio has a neighbourhood feel to it, and the owners care about each of their customers (such as shushing a fussy babe while one new mother rocks the Zumba beat).

We talk a lot about shopping local – but if you want to work off that cookie from the bakery, this is the local place to invest in your own personal wellness.

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Want A Vibrant Commercial Strip? Shop Local

Not too long ago someone suggested that we have ‘DECA Friendly’ stickers to showcase businesses that have supported DECA in one way or another through the years.  Because we have so many great business owners on our strip, we have lots. I’m not sure if we’ll make the stickers, but a bunch of them (definitely not all) are referenced below.

Pegasus Studios – Dances of Offering Benefit Concert

Each year Pegasus faculty and students bring members of the Toronto dance community together to celebrate and give back to our city through an evening of dance. This year they are raising money for the Paediatric Ambulatory Clinic at Toronto East General Hospital. The event is at the Betty Oliphant Theatre on Jarvis Street on Sunday February 12th at 5:00 pm.

The unique event combines the talents of students and professionals. This year’s show features, two-time Dora award winner, Nicola Pantin, up-and-coming choreographer Jessica Houghton, the wonderful students of Earl Haig/Claude Watson and Father Redmond performance arts schools and much more.

For tickets, visit http://www.dancesofoffering.myevent.com. For more information, visit http://www.thepegasusdancebag.blogspot.com

Reminder – Public Swimming at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute

Tuesday 7p.m. – 8 p.m. female only $1/person

Friday 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. all ages $1/person

These community swims are booked until June 2012.

Self Defence For Women

On Friday, February 24th from 4 – 6 p.m., Dragonz Martial Artz owner and 5th degree black belt taekwondo, Marvin Prashad is offering a self-defence seminar for women.  Hosted by St. John Elementary School, it is pay-what-you-can and all proceeds will be donated to Hope4Help, a non-profit that supports the Tumani Community Orphan School in Kenya.   To confirm your attendance and request additional information, contact Liane Paixão at liane.paixao(at)sympatico.ca.

Melanie’s Bistro 4th Anniversary

To thank local diners for their business during the first four years, Melanie’s Bistro is offering at $25 prix fixe menue from Jan. 25th – Feb 8th. Yum.

The AWARD WINNING Better Bulk 

Now Magazine has decreed that our very own Better Bulk  is the “Best Bulk Food On The Danforth.” We already knew that, but we’re glad that Now everyone else knows too.

The AWARD WINNING Wag On The Danforth

Not to be outdone, Wag On The Danforth was voted the 2012 Best Pet Food and Supply Store by Toronto Pet Daily. Wag also hosted two cat adopt-a-thons last year and placed 24 cats into new homes. That success is spurring them on to host another one this year. Also – if your dog is a great big muddy mess because of the great big muddy weather, you might want to stop by the wash-your-own-dog tub and wash your big muddy dog.

LucSculpture

Did you know you can buy a membership to the LucSculpture School & Studios at Danforth and Greenwood? It gives you access to the pottery studios and wheels, events and library as well as discounts off glazes, classes and workshops throughout the building.

Ciraco Framing

Fernand Ciraco wants you to know they’re having a sale on custom framing. 15% off at the store at 1946 Danforth, across from East Lynn Park.

Contractor Wanted

And, finally – speaking of businesses we want to support, I’ve received a request for some recommendations for a contractor to do a major basement reno and a minor stairs reno.  Step up DECA-ites and post your suggestions to the blog or send them to me and I’ll do it (natasha.granatstein(at)gmail.com.