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June 11th: DECA Yard Sale + Danny BIA Street Sale are back

Look for the yellow Daily Bread Food Bank Donation Bins during this year’s DECA Yard Sale! 

On June 11th, the DECA Yard Sale and Danny BIA Street Sale will be back! We are delighted to see so many people in our community sign up for this year’s yard sale. It’s going to be a great day to wander our neighbourhood, find new treasures and support our local businesses. 

This year, during the yard sale, DECA will be hosting donation bins for the Daily Bread Food Bank. The Daily Bread Food Bank supports 189 food programs distributing fresh and non-perishable food items as well as prepared meals. Last year they recorded the highest numbers of visitors in Toronto’s history, with close to 1.45 million visitors. That’s a 47% increase with 61% of visitors identified as new clients. Help support the Daily Bread Food Bank by donating non-perishable food items https://www.dailybread.ca.

We are still looking for more volunteers to host donation bins at your yard sale. The bin can hold approximately 200-250 lbs of food and are 2’x2’ and 4’ high. They would be delivered to you collapsed; with the task of taping the bottom as the only assembly required. The Daily Bread Food Bank will start picking up the bins promptly after the yard sale ends at 2pm. Please consider hosting a bin along with your yard sale and getting your neighbours involved to help fill your bin, give back and support those in need. 

Some donation bins will be located at East Lynn Park and hosted by the DECA board members. There will also be bins spread throughout the yard sale map. You can’t miss them. The bins are bright yellow, and you can find them marked with yellow pins on the yard sale map. 

If you are interested in hosting a Daily Bread Food Bank bin at your yard sale or have any questions, please visit https://deca.to/yardsale or email yardsale@deca.to. 

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Dancing (and cycling and playing and stargazing) in the streets this Friday and Saturday!

This weekend, DECA is so very excited about Canada’s first ever Vision Zero Popup Street Makeover!

As we wrote in our August 2 post, on Friday August 23rd at 5pm until Saturday August 24th at 3pm this Pop-up Event will reimagine the Danforth from Woodbine Avenue to Woodmount Avenue into a safer, more vibrant block in the city, using simple materials and with the help of volunteers.

Planned and organized by 8 80 Cities and The Better Block Foundation with support from DECA, the Danforth Mosaic BIA, Councillor Brad Bradford and The Workaround, this fun event is designed to engage everyone in the possibilities for creating city streets that are more liveable and walkable for our communities.

From the 880 Cities Website:

“From August 23rd – 24th one block of Danforth Avenue will be transformed into a street that exemplifies the City of Toronto’s aspiration to get traffic fatalities down to zero. With temporary paint, and simple materials we will show that community can come together to build solutions for safer and more vibrant streets. The street will include expanded pedestrian space, protected bike lanes, parklets, street furniture, and community programming for all ages.

The pop-up street makeover will take place over 2 days on one block from Woodbine Ave to Woodmount Ave. This will be the first pop-up street makeover of its kind in Toronto, bringing internationally renowned tactical urbanists The Better Block Foundation to Canada for the first time.”

Check out the news coverage of this event in the Beach Metro and on Toronto.com. 

The posters here have more details about the programming for the weekend.

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8 80 Streets Danforth: August 23 & 24

880 posterWe’ve got some super summer news! DECA is excited to be participating in Canada’s first ever Vision Zero Pop-up Street Makeover happening right here on Danforth East!

On Friday August 23rd at 5pm until Saturday August 24th at 3pm this Pop-up Event will reimagine the Danforth from Woodbine Avenue to Woodmount Avenue into a safer, more vibrant block in the city, using simple materials and with the help of volunteers.

Planned and organized by 8 80 Cities and The Better Block Foundation with support from DECA, the Danforth Mosaic BIA, Councillor Brad Bradford and The Workaround, this fun event is designed to engage everyone in the possibilities for creating city streets that are more liveable and walkable for our communities.

Would you like to volunteer to help make this event happen? There’s so much to do! Let 8 80 Cities know how you can help by filling out this online form.

For more event info check out the poster below. We’ll keep you posted as more exciting details are announced and we look forward to seeing you on August 23 & 24th!

Interested to know a bit more about 8 80 Cities? They are an awesome non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people living in cities no matter their age, ability, or socioeconomic status. 8 80 Cities brings people together to enhance parks, mobility, and public space so that together we can create more vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities. Their core belief is that if everything we do in our public spaces is great for an 8-year-old and great for an 80-year-old, then it will be great for all people. Thumbs up to that!

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Coming soon to the Danforth, and more!

It may be colder than it’s supposed to for mid-November, but that’s no reason to miss out on walking our amazing neighbourhood.

Yesterday I was on a little stroll running errands and I saw so many nearly-open new businesses and other fun things that this blog post practically wrote itself.

Coming Soon…

My Sewing Studio

1898 Danforth (formerly The Handwork Dept)

The door says “alterations and repairs”. Since the hem just fell out of my favourite pencil skirt, (and I have zero interest in learning to fix it myself) this is great news!

Little Ones Closet

1854 Danforth (formerly Merrily, Merrily)

Looks like it’s a kids consignment store selling new clothes too – great news!

Cumin Fine Indian Kitchen

1820 Danforth (formerly Forth Ave Kitchen & Bar)

When they open up, their website will be: http://www.cuminkitchen.com

Flourishing Sprouts

2039 Danforth (formerly Caketown Coffee)

It’s a child’s activity centre – here’s the website to follow for more info.

https://www.flourishingsprouts.com

…And more!

Other recently-opened businesses you want to know about:

The Workaround, 2080 Danforth (formerly TD Bank)

A parent-friendly co-working space. For membership and other info, visit https://theworkaround.ca

The Ellery, 1870 Danforth

(formerly Melanie’s Bistro)

A great new restaurant with lunch, dinner, and brunch. http://www.theelleryto.com

Common Threads, 2026 Danforth

(formerly condo sales office and before that an abandoned jewellery store)

“We teach life skills – sewing, cooking, organization and money management – in a fun environment.”

https://ourcommonthreads.ca/

Gyoko Sushi, 2143 Danforth

(formerly Happy Sushi)

This may be in the same genre as it’s predecessor, but it’s an entirely different place owned by a local family. It has been nicely renovated and everyone raves about the delicious and reasonably priced food.

https://www.facebook.com/Gyoko-Sushi-226922467965331/

Virtual Experience (VX), 2069 Danforth (upstairs)

Virtual Reality Arcade & Lounge, family and kid-friendly.

https://virtualxperience.ca/

Although the Handwork Dept https://torontovintage.ca just moved a few stores to the west, the new space is amazing. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but definitely go downstairs. Their basement is brimming with treasures from yesteryear and will make you strangely nostalgic for your parents’ basement. I snapped a few pics but you really have to see for yourself. (Yes, that’s a pinball machine and yes all those records are for sale.)

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Yes in my community! Join the tour and community building discussions on Saturday Sept. 29th

You are in for a treat when you say “Yes!” to this event. DECA is thrilled to partner with The Toronto Public Library Danforth Coxwell Branch to host an event in the series “On Civil Society” about community building!

On Saturday, September 29th, 2018 at 3:00pm join us for a walking tour from East Lynn Park to the Danforth Coxwell Library. Pssst… our walking tour includes a rare peek inside the Danforth TTC Garage! If you are curious about this site, here’s your chance to see a bit more.

Then at 4:15pm meet us at the library for refreshments and TED like talks and discussions.

“TED” Talk Participants:

Gill Penalosa, 8 80 Cities

Gill is incredibly passionate about transforming cities into places for all people. He has inspired and advised decision makers and communities in more than 300 different cities around the world on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status. His focus is on the design and use of parks and streets as great public places, as well as sustainable mobility. His call to action is to move ‘from talking to doing’.

Michelle Senayah, The Laneway Project

Michelle is an urban designer who is passionate about the public realm and what happens in it. She works collaboratively with designers and planners, community members, municipal staff, students and politicians to plan, design and implement projects and policies that redefine how we think about and use our public space.

Matthew Browning, ARUP

Matthew is a senior transportation consultant with a civil engineering background, and leads Arup’s Transportation Master Planning work in Canada. He most often seeks out projects where he can promote sustainable modes of transportation such as transit, walking and cycling and has led the development of numerous master plans and street reconfigurations across Canada, the US, the UK and the Middle East. Working alongside architects, designers, stakeholders, municipalities and members of the community, Matthew finds ways to overcome ingrained thinking about traffic engineering and build cities for people, not cars.

Billy Dertilis, Red Rocket Coffee & Danforth Mosaic BIA Chairperson

Billy is a business strategist looking to share his skills and knowledge and contribute to the neighbourhood he grew up in. The son of a Danforth shopkeeper, some of his earliest memories are of his father’s shop and the sense of connection that grew out of a strong and vibrant retail strip. As BIA chair, Billy is a tireless advocate for deeper ties between the business community and neighbouring residents. 

Moderated by: Mary Vallis, Professor of Journalism at Centennial College, former DECA Board Member & Founder of the DECA Arts Fair

TPL_DECA-poster_Yes-in-my-community!-event

Itinerary:

3:00PM: Meet at the entrance to East Lynn Park. This is a community tour highlighting East Lynn Park, sites of the DECA Pop-Up Shop initiative, the old Crossroads building, and the Danforth TTC Garage site (which is slated for redevelopment with Toronto Police Services).

The final stop on the tour is the Danforth TTC Garage – we’ll take you inside for a rare look around!

4:00 PM: Tour will head to Danforth Coxwell branch of the Toronto Public Library for light refreshments.

4:15 PM: All are welcome to join us on 2nd floor of Danforth Coxwell Library for TED style talks with guest speakers with questions/discussion to follow.

You are welcome to share the event on Facebook and help us spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/events/273495250153006/

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#DanforthEast Yard Sale & Sidewalk Sale on June 9 – one more week!

It’s not too late to sign-up to sell, and it’s not too early to plan all of your buys. Once again, we’ve partnered with the Danforth Mosaic BIA so not only are the residents holding sales, but many businesses are too!

In fact, the BIA has organized to have activities and entertainment along the Danforth so there will be fun for everyone that day!

#DanforthEast Yard Sale & Sidewalk Sale
June 9, 2018, 8:00am-2:00pm
**Rain or shine**

To check out the big map or to sign up for your own sale, click here.

Please note that yard sales can only be added if you live in the DECA area (plus a few blocks on some sides). We would love to include all east-enders but as volunteers, we just can’t manage an area bigger than this one to administer. The Sidewalk Sale goes all the way to Jones though!

The event is rain or shine so fingers crossed that our perfect streak of weather continues!