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True Brew Cafe

From Susan at True Brew…

Dear friends and customers of
True Brew Café,

For personal and family reasons we’ve decided to chart a new course for 2011 and on February 15th the True Brew Café will have a new owner: Silvia Marga. We’re happy to say that that Silvia will continue to sell the kind of treats and especially the same great coffee that you’ve come to love. We’ll miss seeing you on a daily basis but Susan will be at the café until the end of the month to help the new owner settle in.

Thank you so much for your support and friendship over the past two years. You’ve been wonderful and we’ll always cherish the happy memories you’ve given us. We’re very proud to have established a spot that many of you have chosen for your daily coffee and treat — that is the biggest compliment of all.

We hope to stay in touch with the community — perhaps you’ll see us at a DECA event — and for those of you interested in staying in touch with us after February 15th, we can be reached on Susan’s personal blog at http://screamforicequeen.blogspot.com

All the best,

Susan, Frank and Colin Clarke

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Living The Good Life

Lots of ways to live well in today’s post, staring with a fabulous review of Caketown Cafe on  blogTO.  Click on the picture to go to the review…


Equinox Holistic Alternative School (JK-Grade 7) is hosting an open house on Thursday, January 20th at 6 p.m.  This school at 151 Hiawatha Rd. makes “connections between the community, earth, soul, subject and the mind and body, also striving to restore balance between analysis and intuition.”  They are looking to fill spaces for September 2011 in JK/SK and Grades 6 & 7.  Call 416-393-8274 for more information.

Monday Night Ball Hockey

Does your Monday night need a little excitement? Toronto Parks & Rec runs a really fun, energetic ball hockey game every Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the gym at Gledhill Public School. It’s open to boys and girls aged 6 to 9 – no hockey experience required!  The league runs until March 7 and is only $15 for the entire season. It is non-competitive and the kids absolutely love it. There is a chance that the city will cancel the league, if more kids don’t enrol asap. Save our ball hockey and sign up now: the parks & rec code is 1725012.

Maria Ryan (above) has been a musician for more than 30 years and a music teacher for more than 12 years.  She’s new to the neighbourhood by way of Buffalo and is now offering guitar and violin lessons in the Danforth and Coxwell area.  She says her goal is to “help students fulfill their potential as musicians whether that means strumming tunes around the campfire or playing professionally (and everything in between).”  Lessons are tailored to your taste in music and she takes a nurturing and relaxed approach to lessons to enjoy making music.  Fore more, check out her facebook page (Music Lessons with Maria) or by clicking on the photo above.  Or contact her at mariatheo74(at)gmail.com

Ward 32 Constituency List

If you would like to be on Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon’s e-bulletin list, send your contact information to councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca or 416-392-1376.

 

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Telling Stories

The Open Door East End Arts Collective is a group of artists from Toronto’s east end who “love their neighbourhood and the arts with equal passion.”  This trio is launching a storytelling festival at St. David’s Anglican Church right across from Donlands subway station from  January 23rd  – April 17th at 3 p.m. in the parish hall.

Sunday January 23rd is the festival opener featuring Dan Yashinsky, Brian Katz and Rainos Mutamba (Dan Yashinsky was a performer at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market and he was fabulous).  Admission is pay what you can with a suggested minimum of $5/person.  For more info, call 416-469-2878 or look here.

Celena’s Bakery – was featured on blogTO this week and we thought you should check it out.

Updates

If you got a beautiful piece of art for Christmas and are wondering how to frame it, Ciraco’s (1946 Danforth) 15% off custom framing sale has been extended until the end of the month.

In December I told you about a local business, CareerFitmom. Turns out, DECA member, Jennifer D. Foster wrote a profile on owner, Beth, this fall about trying to find the balance between career and motherhood.

2011 Budget

Nothing says a good time like sitting around talking about the city budget.  The fierce debates.  The gut-busting guffaws.  The tears.  Um…maybe that’s just at my house?  On Wednesday, January 19th councillors will be hosting public consultations on the proposed budget.  This is your chance to get involved, learn more and give your two cents (less 2%).  It’s from 6-9 p.m. at the East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell.  For information on how to make a deputation, check out this link.

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Not Quite Last Minute Gifts

Give the gift of local food, strong community and general neighbourliness by making your way to Caketown Cafe and picking up some East Lynn Farmers’ Market Bucks. It’s the perfect gift for neighbours or nannies or foodies or as a most well-received  hostess gift.  Caketown Cafe is just west of Woodbine on the south side of Danforth (beside the big hole).

If you’re worried about where all this holiday eating is getting you, you might want to check out CareerFitmom.   This is a local business serving mostly moms and babies but also provides women’s-only fitness.  The next session starts January 10th, but if you register before Dec. 27th, it’s only $85 for six weeks.  Classes are at Cosburn and Woodbine.

CareerFitmom is owned by Beth Yarzab and Beth is teaching a fitness instructor certification course between Christmas and New Year’s.  Teaching fitness is a great, flexible job so if you are interested in knowing more, contact Beth at beth(at)careerfitmom.ca

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What To Get For Your Favourite Community Blogger?

It can be difficult.  What is the right gift for the woman who sends you news you can use in your own neighbourhood?  A woman who toils away in front of her computer night after night just so you can be the first to know what’s happening and where?  Wink wink.

Tak Bui decided to send me this fabulous electronic christmas card.  And I thought I would share it with you….gracious gal that I am.

Of course, you can never go wrong with jewellery.  Fine Silver Girl is hosting another open house from 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at 48 Woodington this Saturday.  Fine Silver Girl, aka Heather, also offers various classes including a adult and child classes.  Check out her calendar.

You may also want to check out Karen Franzen and friends.  They’re selling artwork, jewellery, quilts, functional ceramics and tiles, home-baked cookies at 3 Wembley Drive, 2 blocks east of Coxwell and upper Gerrard St.  Karen will also be offering 7 week pottery classes and tile painting workshops in her studio beginning in January.

(Note for people buying presents for women – especially men who aren’t always that adept at choosing the pefect gift – a pottery class is a really really good present.) Why?  Because not only do many of us ladies harbour secret fantasies about making pottery, it is also a little bit of that glorious ‘me time’ that we so crave but have trouble carving out for ourselves.  Take it from me and put this one in the stocking.

Speaking of pottery, on January 1st, 2011, LucScultpure will celebrate four years at its location at 663 Greenwood.  Luc is committed to this community and to the arts, locally and beyond and if you’ve never wandered into the building just steps north of the Danforth on Greenwood, now is the perfect time.  There are arts items for sale from $2 – $200 available until Jan. 2nd.  Gift certificates (for pottery classes and other things) are available.  But Luc also throws some pretty cool parties there.  From Jam sessions (Friday, Dec. 17th $5) to the ‘Lost Soul Party’ on New Year’s Eve ($10!).  It’s a warm, welcoming environment to wander into.

Other local gifts that might tempt you? I’ve just bought a lovely gift bag of delectable foodie goodies at Royal Beef.  I’d like to keep it for myself, but I won’t.  Also, Cozy Cafe has the most delightful meringue cream chocolate ‘trees’ and I will certainly be giving those as a gift in the near future.  If you have other ideas, post them here.

Carmelina Condominiums

Perhaps you feel that any of the things I’ve mentioned just aren’t significant enough to fully convey to your favourite blogger how much you appreciate her?  You would like to get her something really special…something big?  Maybe a condo would be what you’re looking for?  The big hole at Danforth and  Coxwell now boasts a big blue fence and a big sign advertising Carmelina Condominiums.  But really, you shouldn’t have.

Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association

On December 8th, the BIA held its Annual General Meeting and elected it’s new board members.  They are ‘nominees’ until approved by community council in January.

Aurelio Acquaviva
Maria Acquaviva
Tanveer Arif
Peter Dekoulos
Jordan Ison
Banchi Kindie
Mehmet Korkmaz
Carmelo Lorefice
Enza Lorefice
Litsa Kostouros
Jason Manos
Pat Silver
Victor Singh
Nick Sissakis
Yared Tibebu
Asres Yirga

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Unique Gifts Galore

What to get the person (young or less young) who has everything?

For those who are less young, you might want to make your way to the Gledhill school auction on Thursday, Dec. 9th from 7 – 10 p.m.  (Live auction at 7:30 p.m.)  This is a 19 yrs+ event.  Admission is $2 or non-perishable food item.  Gledhill school is behind the Honda dealership at Danforth and Gledhill Ave.  A few of the items on the block include:

  • Raptors Tickets (Dec. 22nd vs. Detroit Pistons)  Two seats in a mid-court private box including food and drink.  Valued close to $600.
  • Maple Leafs tickets
  • Scores of beautiful hand-made jewellery from local artists such as Fine Silver Girl, Marmalade Designs and Circa1890.com
  • ‘Reporter For A Day’ – spend the day shadowing Toronto Star reporter/columnist, Catherine Porter and learn her tricks of the trade
  • 12 Days of Christmas baking – get twelve dozen unique homemade baked treats delivered to your door in time for the holidays
  • More than 200 other items up for a fraction of their retail value.
  • ‘Reporter

For those who are more young…there is the Little Footprint Toys ‘pop-up’ sale this weekend. A photographer, Kim Reain, will be on hand on Saturday between 11 and 4 to take pictures of your adorable children – copies of which will be available to purchase from her website after the sale.

Share Share Share

We’re all about sharing the love here at the diaries and some good local shoppers have posted a few great ideas about local gift-giving. Here are a few of the offerings:

  • “I often buy a selection of gourmet cooking oils, vinegars and seasonings at Royal Beef for cooks on my list, and to use as hostess gifts. It’s also a good gift idea for “Secret Santa” gift-giving at the office. For cat/dog lovers, definitely Wag on the Danforth”. – Pat
  • Playmobil toys from John’s Hobbies for my daughter and nephew. Beautiful seasonal floral arrangements from Darling Flowers for my mother-in-law. Wool for projects (or cute and reasonable handmade items if there’s not time for projects) from The Wool Mill. Gift certificate to Value Village for the serious thrifters in my life. Basket of delicious selection of dried fruits and nuts from Better Bulk for the group gift (daycare, office staff, etc.) – Rebecca

True Brew Open Mic Night

This Friday starting at 7 p.m. make your way to True Brew Cafe, just east of Woodbine, for open mic night.  Bring an instrument and get down with your funky self! Both players and listeners welcome…no experience necessary for either.  All ages welcome.

Nutralicious Thursdays

Nutralicious Kitchen serves up healthy meals-to-go from Woodbine and Mortimer/Lumsden.  Owner/chef/personal trainer, Tony Landry is offering a new series of specials including the Thursday Night Special.  Buy one hot table entree and the second one is half price! Its a great deal and the second meal will keep for the next day or two.