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Mrs. Darlings Is Darling

There are spaces still available for the registration programs at Mrs. Darlings. Feel free to drop in.

MRS. DARLING’S IMAGINARIUM 

This weekend only, visit Mrs. Darling’s temporary studio where young creatives 4-14 can explore many mediums and material in workshop format. 20 participant to a class and four facilitators to help imagination became reality. Jewelry making, paper crafts, edible art, DIY, paper mache, fibre arts, group art, upcycling and re purposing – they will learn that they can create something beautiful from almost anything. There are also two drop in studio times where craft ideas and materials are ready to go, and families could mingle, create and play together.

Saturday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm   Drop in. Animal masks, all ages. Duct tape wallets and flower accessories with Martina Rocks!  Best for ages 8+. ($10 for both activities) Group canvas in honour of Stella Bruner Methven. (Free)

1-2pm     Paper mache taxidermy, Narwhals. Best for ages 6+. (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

2-3pm     Framed silhouettes (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

3-4pm     Chanel inspired Peter Pan collar necklace and graffiti bracelets (pre-registration required, click here). Necklace best for ages 8+. ($15)

4-6pm     Wooden spoon puppets. Dramatic story time (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Sunday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm  Drop in. Fantasy make overs! Fairies, princesses, pirates and super heroes oh my! Wear your favorite alter ego costume and make, new accessory and get a little hair and “make-up” done. ($10)

1-2pm    Glittered tee shirts (pre-registration required, click here). Best for ages 5+ ($15)

2-3pm    Mini monster and bunny stuffies (pre-registration required, click here).($15)

3-4pm    Candy sushi to eat and candy bracelets to wear (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

4-6pm    Dress up and dramatic story time. Play and be silly while acting out a favorite children’s story (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Mrs. Darlings Imaginarium for Girls and Boys – A place to play with art and discover the art of play. To explore, make believe, and follow where ever their imaginations take them. Mrs. Darling encourages the inspired magic with drop in times, where children and their parents can mingle and create, with facilitators to guide and encourage, as well as classes for more elaborate projects and intimate instruction. 

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Dressed up Doggies, Mrs. Darlings, and 54 Division

DOGGIE FUN

You know how on Saturday mornings, your dog can sense that you’re not going to work and will therefore give you their best sad eyes that scream “take me with you!”??

Well this Saturday, October 27 from 10:30 a.m. – noon, you get to be doggie parent extraordinaire!  Dress up your pooches and bring them to the Merrill Park Dog Association annual Howl-o-Ween festival! (Because what does a dog love more than dressing up in costume?)

Enjoy the festivities in the park and help raise money for Speaking of Dogs.

* Dog Costume Contest * Mummy Wrap * Poop Toss * Bobbing for Balls * Prizes!!! * Beverages and Snacks * And more…

(Rain Date: Sunday, October 28th)

Click here for more info, or if you might want to volunteer to help out!

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DECA’S 2nd POP UP SHOP: MRS. DARLING’S IMAGINARIUM 

Did you pop in to the pop up over the weekend?  Could you feel the buzz?  Well, next weekend, October 27 & 28, a new business will occupy the space at 1948 Danforth.  Yet again our neighbourhood has a chance to show landlords and businesses how willing we are to show up, shop local, and renew East Danforth. 

Many of you already know Mrs. Darling from the craft tent at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market, but just wait until you see what she can do with a whole store for two full days! See below for more details. Note that some activities require advance registration, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment!

Pop up What??

A one-weekend only, temporary studio where young creatives 4-14 can explore many mediums and material in workshop format. 20 participant to a class and 4 facilitators to help imagination became reality. Jewelry making, paper crafts, edible art, DIY, paper mache, fibre arts, group art, upcycling and re purposing – they will learn that they can create something beautiful from almost anything. There are also two drop in studio times where craft ideas and materials are ready to go, and families could mingle, create and play together.

Saturday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm   Drop in. Animal masks, all ages. Duct tape wallets and flower accessories with Martina Rocks!  Best for ages 8+. ($10 for both activities) Group canvas in honour of Stella Bruner Methven. (Free)

1-2pm     Paper mache taxidermy, Narwhals. Best for ages 6+. (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

2-3pm     Framed silhouettes (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

3-4pm     Chanel inspired Peter Pan collar necklace and graffiti bracelets (pre-registration required, click here). Necklace best for ages 8+. ($15)

4-6pm     Wooden spoon puppets. Dramatic story time (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Sunday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm  Drop in. Fantasy make overs! Fairies, princesses, pirates and super heroes oh my! Wear your favorite alter ego costume and make, new accessory and get a little hair and “make-up” done. ($10)

1-2pm    Glittered tee shirts (pre-registration required, click here). Best for ages 5+ ($15)

2-3pm    Mini monster and bunny stuffies (pre-registration required, click here).($15)

3-4pm    Candy sushi to eat and candy bracelets to wear (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

4-6pm    Dress up and dramatic story time. Play and be silly while acting out a favorite children’s story (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Mrs. Darlings Imaginarium for Girls and Boys – A place to play with art and discover the art of play. To explore, make believe, and follow where ever their imaginations take them. Mrs. Darling encourages the inspired magic with drop in times, where children and their parents can mingle and create, with facilitators to guide and encourage, as well as classes for more elaborate projects and intimate instruction. 

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54 Gets Friendly on Facebook
As you  may know, there are ongoing discussions about possibly closing 54 Division. To keep updated about news and events, please join the new Friends of 54 Division facebook group.
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DECA’s busy October

REVITALIZING THE DANFORTH

DECA’s building it, will you come?

DECA’s Business Revitalization Team (BRT) is working with local landlords to put temporary tenants in their empty buildings. This strategy worked wonders in Newcastle, Australia, turning the abandoned downtown to a thriving centre again. It is working in old Oakland, California. Why not here?

Our first partners are Gay and Scott, the owners of 1948 Danforth – the former Metro Nails. They love the idea and hope it will land them a good paying tenant. They’ve given us a month for free in their space, in exchange for some help cleaning and painting. We put out a call to budding entrepreneurs for proposals and got more than 50 responses in a week! After interviews, our committee selected two – a west-end collective of local designers, Birthia and our own Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium for Girls and Boys.

Please come support us and them on Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. 

If you are a landlord and want to work with us, we’d love to meet you – click here to email us.

And here is what DECA’s own Catherine Porter had to say about this project in the Toronto Star last week.

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DECA PUB CRAWL – Thursday, October 18th, start @ 7:00 p.m.!

We’re here to remind you that drinking is not just for the weekends when you’re with your neighbours. Leave the kids at home and come have a night out with DECA! Thanks to Tara S. for this post.

Starting at Sidewalk Café, we’ll then go to Sarah’s, El Sol, TKOs and finally Relish for karaoke!!  All participating pubs have agreed to prepare special drinks and food for us, so this is an opportunity not to be missed! Come hungry & thirsty!!

Here’s the breakdown:

7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. @ Sidewalk Café (1344 Danforth Ave) 

  • A plate of mini Martinis (sweet, sour & dirty – 1oz each) including a side of Italian sushi (you read that correctly!) $8

7:40 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. @ Sarah’s Cafe and Bar (1426 Danforth Ave)

  • 3 x Mill St. 7 oz samples for $6.00 and half-glasses of Jackson Triggs Chardonnay, St Lucas Torrontes, Porta Merlot & Jackson Triggs Cab Franc at $3.65 per 2.5 oz pour (you can have as much or as little as you like)
  • Mixed Hors D’oeuvres Plate with Roasted Garlic & Brie Crostini, Devilled Egg, Brushetta & Falafel for $8

8:20 p.m. -8:50 p.m @ El Sol (1448 Danforth Ave)

  • Margaritas, Sangrias and Mexican Beer
  • Delicious beef tacos with guacamole for $4.95 – Ole! 

9:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. @ TKO’s (1600 Danforth Ave)

  • Beer tasters and sliders (hamburger, pork and chicken)

9:45 p.m. – onward @ Relish Bar and Grill (2152 Danforth Ave)

  • Beer tasters and tapas selection and Karaoke!

We welcome late-comers along the way, so please join us whenever you can.  In order to make ourselves obvious, we’ll be wearing feather boas and we encourage all of you to do the same (we’ll have a few extras on hand so don’t worry if you can’t find yours). There will also be giveaways, prizes, and Jason from Toronto Model Photography Studio taking photos!

If you know that you want to come or are even leaning toward yes (you know you are), please email here to RSVP so that we can advise the pubs on our numbers ahead of time if possible.

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DECA BOARD MEETING – Tuesday, October 16, 2012 @ 7:30 p.m.
If you are a DECA member, or you just want to get to know us a little better, please come and join us for our Board meeting.  This is where the magic happens, and it happens over ginger ales, beers and laughs at a local restaurant.  Where, you ask?  Click here to get more info.
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EAST LYNN FARMERS’ MARKET
Don’t forget that the market continues throughout the month of October.  Stay tuned for more info about this week’s lineup of fun, crafts and surprises.  (Has everyone recovered from last week’s Harvest Moon Festival??)
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DECA’s Call for Proposals & Free documentary screening

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Arts and/or Social Enterprises interested in pop-up placement on the Danforth, Monarch Park to Main

DEADLINE:  September 23, 2012

We here at Danforth East Commmunity Association are interested in filling the empty stores along Danforth Avenue between Monarch Park and Main with short-term enterprises. We believe that more activity along our commercial strip = a safer, more walkable and vibrant neighborhood. We are looking for artists and social enterprise projects that:

  • Can fill (and vacate) an empty space quickly and easily
  • Will add value to the street and the community

If you have an idea for a creative enterprise that could be placed temporarily in an empty store, we are interested in hearing from you!  In 200 words or less, tell us what you would like to do. If we are interested, we’ll ask you for more!

We are now accepting statements of intent for a weekend showcase this October.

What would YOU do with one free month on the Danforth?

Click here to email us with your proposals and/or your questions.

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FREE DOCUMENTARY SCREENING & DISCUSSION

Next Wednesday, September 26, 2012 @ Danforth/Coxwell Library


 

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Renew Newcastle

The turnout to Marcus Westbury’s talk on community revitalization in March was huge. DECA co-chair, Anita Schretlen was there and sent this report…

 

More than 100 people showed up, including all four city councillors within the DECA boundaries, MPP Michael Prue, and interested folks from as far as Oakwood, Dufferin Grove and Etobicoke.  There is clearly a lot of interest in the issue of empty storefronts and the revitalization of our communities.

The talk focused around Marcus’ experience of taking his Australian hometown of Newcastle from a complete ghost town to a busy, vibrant community that was recently named one of Lonely Planet’s “top 10 must-see destinations in the world.”   An impressive achievement, needless to say, accomplished in a matter of a couple of years.

How did he do it?  Essentially, Marcus convinced landlords to lend out their empty buildings on a rolling 30-day basis and then filled them, rent-free, with people who could use these empty spaces as an opportunity for their various ventures.  Examples included a photography gallery, a jeweller’s shop, a fashion design collaborative, a co-working facility, a visual arts gallery, etc.  Not all of these ventures were viable businesses in their own right, but they were all high quality enterprises that brought some value to the community.

Certainly, there are a lot of nuts and bolts practicalities behind this concept.  Marcus’ group “Renew Newcastle” took care of it all.  This non-profit company acted as an intermediary broker, taking out an umbrella insurance policy, removing any risks the building owners may have of bills not being paid or tenants not leaving when needed, and recruiting suitable ventures.  In Marcus’ words, they created a “permanent structure for temporary projects”.

To date, Renew Newcastle has supported over 70 different projects.  Some of them have turned into huge successes and now pay their own way, some have packed up and made room for the next person, and some simply give back to the community. The priority has never been on the achievements of individual businesses, but rather the overall result of a vibrant, lively neighbourhood.

The effect of such an approach is multi-pronged.  By cleaning up and filling abandoned buildings, the area becomes more attractive, to both foot traffic and to other businesses.  By offering the use of a storefront to a fledgling enterprise, a big boost is given to someone who may not otherwise have the means to get their idea off the ground.  By doing this en masse, a distinctive destination is created, housing many interesting and unique projects.

This was an engaging, informative and inspirational discussion, to say the least.  Thanks need to go to Catherine Porter who spearheaded evening and to the many volunteers at both DECA and GECO (Gerrard East Community Association), who worked jointly to put the event on.  Both groups will be following up on the discussions and ideas that came out of this meeting in the coming weeks.  The real exciting part will be to see where all this takes us next.

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True Brew Crew

Thanks so much to this fabulous True Brew Crew. They came out on a Sunday to help with our latest Business Revitalization Team renno day.  True Brew is a fabulous cafe on the north side of the Danforth, just east of Woodbine.  Thanks everyone!

We’re having another board meeting next Tuesday evening.  If you would like to come, let me know and I’ll give you the details natasha.granatstein(at)gmail.com