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Danforth Gems launched today, and the nominations are already rolling in!

Matt has nominated Sunny’s Auto Clinic on Danforth and Westlake. Matt writes, “One time in the winter I had both of my young sons packed in the car for a trip to Hamilton. Everything was good to go… then I went to start the car. No luck. I called Sunny, he personally came to my house, boosted my car, and brought it back to his shop. He replaced the battery and returned the car to my home.”

Laurie reveals the impeccable skills tucked away behind “the mannequin in the long faded sequin dress in the window of Four Seas Fashion Tailor.” Laurie says, “Joseph started sewing when he was 13 years old. He’s a master tailor. Joseph’s sewing skills – creating suits from scratch – may not be in high demand these days as buying ‘off the rack’ is more popular and affordable, but his loss is our gain.

Hidden not because they’re in the business of undesirable house pests, Corinne votes for Aetna Pest Control, “the authority on termites in the city of Toronto since 1974.” She says, “Who wouldn’t want to just sit and chat with Dick Murphy for hours with that lovely Irish accent? They deal with creepy crawlies, mice or… gulp, rats! There are other companies who deal with this too, but Aetna is the best. They are local, efficient, and in my opinion, heads and tails above the rest. With a sprucing up in their reception area and window, they could make themselves even more well known in the community.”

Starting today and for the next three weeks, we’re celebrating these and many other local gems! Tell us about your favourite spot in the neighbourhood.

You can nominate on Facebook (DanforthEastCommunityAssociation), Twitter (@decadiaries using the hashtag #DECAgems) or by e-mail at DECAgems@gmail.com.

Mention why your nominee is a gem, how it is hidden, and why it deserves the fabulous marketing prize pack consisting of services from designers, a PR and website specialist, professional stagers and photographers.

We’ve received many excellent nominations already, and we know so many neighbourhood gems are still out there! Keep up the energy and keep the nominations coming this way!

— Written by guest blogger, Razili Datta.

Basil Thai Kitchen has the best sole fish with okra and tamarind sauce, but you might never have stepped past the cacti in the window.

Joseph can sew your wedding dress into a cocktail outfit, but you likely have never noticed his shop Four Seas Fashion Tailor (2193 Danforth).

NaNa Florist specializes in Japanese ikebana flower arrangements and it delivers across the city for just $10. Have you ever ordered from them?

These are just a few of our neighbourhood’s hidden gems.

We want to celebrate them! And we need you to help us!

This Thursday, we are launching DECA’s inaugural Danforth Gems competition.

It will last a month. At the end, the business we crown as our neighbourhood’s hidden gem will win a free marketing prize pack, with designers, a PR and website specialist, professional stagers and photographers.

It could mean a whole new look for them, and new publicity, so they no longer remain hidden.

THIS IS HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS:

Nominate your favourite hidden gem within DECA boundaries. DECA’s borders are Main Street (east), Lumsden/Mortimer (north), Monarch Park, (west) and the train tracks (south).

Tell us why it is a gem, how it is hidden, and why it deserves this prize pack.

Send us a photo, if you want.

You can nominate it on Facebook (DanforthEastCommunityAssociation), Twitter (@decadiaries using the hashtag #DECAgems) or by e-mail at DECAgems@gmail.com.

On May 8, we will choose the top four contestants.

Then a week later, our panel of celebrity judges will choose the winner.

What do we mean celebrity judges? Well, CBC music columnist Errol Nazareth, Spacing Magazine founder and publisher Matt Blackett, restaurateur and Guinness Record holding Oyster shucker Pat McMurray, Kim Mitchell Band keyboardist Ray Coburn, Danforth Mosaic BIA chair Billy Dertilis, DECA chair Sheri Hebdon & past chair Anita Schretlen. (The last two are celebrities to us.)

Get involved. Unearth your buried treasure in the neighbourhood!

We started these brief bios to introduce you, dear community reader, to DECA’s new board members.

Once we were done that, some of our veteran members started piping up. They wanted you to meet them too.

If you didn’t already know all about them, we thought we certainly would. We’ve worked together on the board for years! Turns out, we were wrong.

For instance: We knew Jane Davis-Munro owned local Pegasus Studios.

We did not know she married her grade 10 sweetheart and lived for decades in a nearby co-op housing. In fact, we didn’t even know there was co-op housing so nearby!

We don’t want to give all the sparkling surprises buried in this blog post away.

So, with no further ado, here is the beautiful, kind and soulful JANE DAVIS-MUNRO, in her own words.

My name and age is… Jane Davis-Munro (maiden name and married name put together).  I am 58 years young.

Two things people don’t know about me are… I have been with my husband, Dan, since I was 15. Dan is a vocalist and we met at a house party in Etobicoke where he was performing. He is still singing ‘The Blues’ in a band (for fun) and we love going to the Linsmore on Sunday at 5:00 to see a great R & B and Blues band – Perez and Dickie!

I also am the owner of Pegasus Studios which is a family-run, community arts centre started with my mother (who was a visual artist) 29 years ago in Kimbourne Park United Church. Our mandate is to teach dancers the benefit of giving back to the community. Our students have raised thousands of dollars by dancing for local and international charities. We also love to spread the joy of dance by dancing for many local schools, daycares, at the East Lynn Park Farmers’ market, Arts Fair and the Tree Lighting! Our dancers are learning the importance of sharing their gifts, empowerment and developing self-confidence, exactly what we want for our children.

I moved to Danforth East … from Mississauga in 1979 into Innstead Co-op Housing, a scattered housing co-op with over 52 properties between Jones and Coxwell, Queen St. and the railway tracks.  We had two young daughters, I had just graduated from Ryerson’s theatre department specializing in dance and we hated living in a highrise apartment.  We moved into a wonderful community that believed in co-operative food, housing, supportive child-raising and we had our third daughter. We lived in the co-op for over 20 years, which allowed me to start my own business and go back to school to become an early childhood educator.  We are forever grateful.

One change I’ve seen over the years…. is the many young families moving in and the revitalization of neighbourhood.  I have been around long enough to see it come full circle. These are exciting times!

The thing I love most about Danforth East is… that everything we need is here. People know each other, hang out together, shop local and find entertainment and services all in our neighbourhood.

My biggest local pet peeve is… people who do not park respectfully. We need to walk more, and when you do need to take your car, make sure you don’t block driveways or take up more than one parking spot!

My neighbourhood secret is… Kimbourne Park United Church has just begun turning its lawn into a permaculture garden to grow local food and connect with the community. They want to create a space where people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can connect with the earth, grow food and learn together. Find out more at www.gardenatkimbourne.blogspot.com.

The place I go in DECA’s stomping grounds that you’ve likely never frequented is… Fly Girl Fitness at 85 Cedarvale and Danforth (above Relish). You can see me there taking small group training, kettle bells and pilates classes. My daughter Briar is the owner. When she was young, she was diagnosed with Perthes disease — a degeneration of the bones in the hips. She decided that if she was never going to walk again, she should get her black belt in taekwondo! With the guidance of Desantos Martial Arts (Main and Danforth) she went on to get her second degree black belt between surgeries. Briar coaches people to reach their goals.

I also go to The Yoga House, which is nestled on quiet, residential Copeland Ave, with a view onto the ravine.  The owner, Celeste Shirley, offers lots of classes, workshops and Thai massage. My favourite way to start my day is “Wake Up Yoga” on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

The thing I’ve done as a DECA board member that makes me most proud is… organizing two community flash mobs.  One to launch the Pop-up shops at the Carrot Common and the second was to celebrate International Dance Day. Over 100 DECA families and dancers came together to dance in Robertson Parkette and in the Beer Store parking lot, to kick off a local Jane’s Walk. We had so much fun and hope to do it again next year or sooner.