Blog – Page 73 – Danforth East Community Association

August 16, 2016

Grab your picnic blanket—it’s movie night at East Lynn!

Summer’s starting to hit its peak, but there’s lots of fun ahead yet at our park! For starters, this Thursday is movie night. Hosted by Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon, the Peanuts Movie will start at 8:30 p.m. It’s a family-friendly flick, so don’t miss it. And no need to make your own popcorn, it’ll be on sale during the screening.

Not able to make the movie? Don’t worry, there’s lots of great entertainment happening at the Market, like a live performance from Sonshine and Broccoli, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Toronto Public Library will have stories for the kids starting at 4:30 p.m. and DesignNook will be running bubble craft activities—visit their booth (and ask them about their newest Nook opening on our stretch of the Danforth).

For your sipping pleasure!

All our awesome farmers will be on site selling delicious produce, meats, baked goods and more this week (don’t miss the peaches! They’re perfection right now), including wineries Rancourt and Creekside.

A wellness break

Come and talk to Pegasus Dance Studios between 4:30 and 6:30 on the benefits of Dance in your child’s life. Not only is dance beneficial for physical development but did you know that emotional, social and cognitive attributes also can be linked to dance! Pegasus will help you find the best extra-curricular activities for your child to keep them happy and healthy this fall, in the Danforth East Area.

Got an old car seat?

Plus, are you looking to get rid of your old car seat? Don’t leave it on the side of the curb, come learn about a unique car seat recycling program that will soon be coming to our neighborhood care of Silly Goose Kids & Merrily Merrily. Red Propeller is a social enterprise that helps Ontario families recycle their kids’ car seats but also provides work to those facing barriers to employment. Talk about a great opportunity to teach your lil’ environmentalist-in-the-making all about recycling. Check out the poster below for the full details about upcoming drop-off dates and locations. (Please don’t lug your car seats to the market this week as the Red Propeller crew will only be on hand to answer questions, the two drop off dates are in September.)

And, of course, swing by the DECA booth to learn more about our work in the community and how you can be a part of it. There’s so much more to come at our Market in the weeks to come–but this one’s going to be a highlight of the season—see you there!

The East Lynn Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3-7:00 p.m. between June 2 – October 13 at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave. Stay up to date by visiting the East Lynn Market Facebook page or by following us on Twitter.

August 10, 2016

In the market for some fun?

Last week’s market was peachy! Our farmers had lots of Ontario-grown peaches on hand, not to mention blueberries and corn on the cob. Produce that screams “summer!”

Here’s what you can look forward to this week:

Shakespeare in the ruff

The Guerrilla Ruffian Squad will perform two improvised, ten-minute Shakespeare plays, as well as lead two half hour workshops simultaneously from 4-4:30 p.m. Swordplay for people aged 11+ and singing for all ages.

Get rejuvenated

Find out how you can enhance your health and bring out your natural beauty with Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture. Naturopathic Doctor Nana Jokura from Accept Wellness will be offering complimentary mini consults and Tongue & Pulse Diagnosis from 4-6 p.m.

You spin me right round

TTL Kids! will be teaching kids how to do spin art on DIY machines.

Summer sips

Prince Edward County’s Karlo Estates – the world’s first Vegan Certified winery – and St. Catharines’ 13th Street Winery will be on hand to share the fruits of their labour. Drop by for a tasting or to pick up a bottle or few.

August 9, 2016

Help imagine a future for your laneway and laneways across Toronto!

So excited for our upcoming Laneway Crawl on August 28th. The Laneway Futures team will be joining us! Thanks to guest blogger Mike Stulberg for this post.

On July 3rd, Laneway Futures T.O met with residents of the Danforth East community to learn more about what community members envision for the future of their laneways. As part of the consultation, passersby in the laneway just North of Danforth Avenue and West of Woodbine Avenue were met with the challenge of reimagining that laneway in the year 2035!

Armed with markers and stickers, local residents took to the task of brainstorming potential new uses for some of the things typically found in the laneways today (ex. pavement, garages, curbs, graffiti, etc.). With over 20 participants throughout the day, the exercise facilitated introductions and created conversation, while making areas of common interest between residents visible for all to see.

Caption: an assortment of ideas about what this laneway should look like in 2035 — An assortment of ideas about what this laneway should look like in 2035

“Bringing the community together in conversation around this shared resource may prove to be an important first step towards making collective improvements to these spaces…whatever improvements this community would like to see” says Mike Stulberg of Laneway Futures T.O

In a city with a growing need for residential, commercial, recreational, and green spaces, many believe that Toronto’s 300km of laneways are a significantly underutilized resource. For the Laneway Futures T.O team, made up of recent graduates from OCAD University, using the laneways themselves to play host to this conversation, can help communities engage more constructively- and democratically- in planning improvements to these spaces.

Team — Laneway Futures T.O (Jennie, Eman, Mike) began several months ago when the team received funding from RECODE; a program providing social innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for College and University students in Ontario

As part of the Danforth East Laneway Crawl on August 28th, responses from last month’s consultation will be used to create temporary laneway installations set in the year 2035. The team believes that providing residents with physical manifestations of their ideas will encourage a deeper exploration of what is possible-and preferable- for the future of Toronto’s laneways.

“One thing that stood out from the responses last weekend was the desire for the laneways to act as a hub of connectivity between neighbours, the community and the city at large; this appeared to be particularly important to local residents in the context of preserving their laneways and reducing unwanted behavior within them. Whatever we stage on August 28th, we will be sure to address these issues as well as other issues we will learn about in consultation with local residents,” says Stulberg.
The Laneway Futures T.O team invites you to join them in the laneway (just North of the Danforth, running East/West between Woodbine Ave. and Woodmount Ave.) on August 28th to experience this scenario first hand.

Futher details can be found on the event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/281588465540070/

The team can be reached at:
LanewayfuturesTO@gmail.com

August 2, 2016

Laneway update on Wednesday!

A few years ago, we asked you to reimagine the laneway that goes up to Coxwell station along the Green P lot. Since then, Councillor Davis, the TTC, Toronto Parking Authority, East End Arts and Transportation Services have been working on solutions.

Come to the Bus Terminal patio on Wednesday, August 3 from 5-7pm to hear about what will happen next for the laneway. (spoiler alert: mural!)

July 30, 2016

From reggae to jazz -today’s events (Jul 30)

Old’s Cool’s Reggae Healing – 250 Westlake @ Lumsden, 11-4

Summertime can be a slow time for our local businesses, especially those off the beaten path. Old’s Cool General Store hosts regular events to bring people in, (“like” them on Facebook so you don’t miss one) and today is going to be the perfect way to celebrate sun, summer and Caribbean culture.

See the event listing for all of the details, but here are the highlights and lunch menu.

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Jim Clayton Duo – Jazz Vespers Series, Hope United Church, 2550 Danforth, (n/w corner Main & Danforth), 4:30-5:15pm

Part of a new Jazz Vespers series at Hope United, jazz pianist Jim Clayton will be joined by bassist Steve Lucas today. Cost is free/pay what you can.

Click here for the event listing.

July 28, 2016

The market TODAY!

While yesterday’ downpour may have put a damper on your outdoor activities, I’m sure local farmers were praising the much needed rain. If you’ve died out from yesterday, or even if you haven’t, be sure to stop by the market this week to pick up some fresh, local produce! Here’s some of the activities and visitors you can expect:

The Tool Library KIDS will be onsite offering another fun and unique craft activity for young builders.
Emergency Room nurses from the Michael Garron Hospital (formerly TEGH) will be sharing information on bicycle safety and saying safe in the heat.
For our thirsty shoppers, stop by the winery booth and sample the wares from Flat Rock Cellars, who come to us from the Niagara region.

Wellness Booth:

Here what you can chat about with Accept Wellness at the market this week, in their own words:

Calling all moms & dads! Would you like to feel amazing after having babies (no matter how old they are)? Naturopathic Doctors Lindsey Mallais & Nana Jokura will be offering free assessments in energy, mood and your health so that you can keep up with your little ones. Accept Wellness is now offering east end services again!