Today in the ‘hood!

A few things happening today that you might like to know about.

One Year of Press (9-5 Sat & 11-5 Sun, 2442 Danforth)

Hard to believe that it’s only been a year that we’ve had this neighbourhood gem filling all of our caffeine, snack, book, DVD and vinyl needs at 2442 Danforth, between Woodbine & Main. Pop by this weekend to show them some love. In return, you can take advantage of all of these specials:

– 25% off all books and records (new and used)

– $2 Pumpkin Spice lattes

-6 double passes to Festival of Authors giveaway

-balloons and treats for the kiddies


Carseat Recycling at Silly Goose Kids (10am-4pm, 2054 Danforth)

The folks from Get Reel will be back with their car seat recycling program. There is a fee for the service $10 for car seats and $5 for boosters.




Learn to Play Pokémon at Face to Face Games (2-4pm, 2077a Danforth, above the Pizza Pizza)

PokeParents is your chance to learn how to play Pokemon with the family. This event is free – check out their FB event listing for more details.




Are you going to the dance tonight? (7:30pm-1am, 201 Monarch Park Ave)

Some locals have organized an old fashioned dinner/dance tonight with live music and cash bar with $5 drink specials. Grab your date and/or group of friends and get your $30 tickets online www.bubblyaffairs.com, or at Sauce, 1376 Danforth. Check out the poster for the details. 

Danforth East Short Film Festival – Oct 22 8-10pm

Last week DECA was proud to join other sponsors in support of this great event! Here is a guest post from Nicole Bergot-Browning, festival founder & organizer. 

The Danforth East Short Film Festival on October 22 from 8-10pm at Time Capsule Cafe (2183 Danforth) is an evening of shorts that looks at the theme of transformation, to reflect the changing neighbourhood of East Danforth. I’ve had over 500 submissions from around the world. I am currently screening them, before I send the final entries to a jury made up of Dan Riskin from Daily Planet (and east Danforther), Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon and local film distributor Robin Smith. 

The final films will be screened at the big event on October 22nd from 8-10pm. The films come from all corners of the globe, as well as Toronto, and animation, comedy, drama and documentary will be represented. 
To buy tickets ($10 each) click here

For more information, visit: www.danfortheastshortfilmfestival.com

Read on for a short Q&A between DECA blogger Sheri and festival organizer Nicole

Festival organizer Nicole Bergot-Browning

What made you want to launch a film festival in this neighbourhood? 

I live in this neighbourhood – moved here two years ago with my husband and daughter – little did I know we had chosen an amazing place to set down roots and raise a family. For the first time in my life I felt invested in a neighbourhood and the community that I live in, and I wanted to somehow be a part of it. I like short films – I work in television and have worked on short films – they are awesome nuggets of drama and humour and creativity in a bite sized package, but where the heck do you watch them? My friend Gina Dineen has successfully run a short film festival in Cabbagetown for 25 years and I thought maybe I could do that, and that could be a way that I contribute to East Danforth. 
There used to be three theatres in our neighbourhood, but sadly they’re all gone. I’m also really interested in how the neighbourhood is changing and I wanted to somehow include that, and so the theme of all the shorts is related to transformation.  

Who is your target audience for this event?

Film lovers! Anyone who can appreciate two hours of jam packed entertainment from animation, comedy, drama, to documentary from around the world. I have had over 500 submissions (and counting) and I found films that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you think… most of all entertain you. 

Election Reform Town Hall & Seniors Talks

Come have your say on electoral reform! Oct 12 @ 7pm, St. Bridgid’s School – 50 Woodmount.

nes-bmn-townhalls-fin

Seniors’ Lunch & Learns @ MGH

Michael Garron Hospital is offering a number of free Lunch & Learn talks on various health topics. While one has already occurred there are two more coming up. Spread the word!

seniorstalkmgh

The Market this Week: Load up your freezers

It’s sad to say, but there are only four market weeks left for the year. Be sure to start loading up your freezers with all the berries and fruit for all your winter smoothies before it’s too late! Here are some of this week’s attractions:

  • Amicus Productions will be visiting the market to share information about their exciting 2016/17 Season set to start at The Papermill Theatre (67 Pottery Road) this November with their production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Stop by and say ‘hello’.

  • The winery this week is Flat Rock Cellars.

  • The wellness booth will feature Jessica Miller, the founder of Space LogixJessica, a trained librarian (UWO), a Reiki practitioner (Usui lineage), a trained professional organizer and a proud member of the Professional Organizers of Canada.She will be offering brief consultations to help you tackle your organizing challenges.

And a reminder to send us your favourite Thanksgiving recipes using market food.  We’d love to share them with shoppers!  Send an email to market(at)deca.to or leave a comment on this post.

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.

Free treats, free concert, vintage market, SGK bday & DECA mtg

Since I’m writing this post in the wee hours of the morning, let’s start with coffee.

Press Coffee Books Coffee Vinyl at 2442 Danforth is offering a free muffin or croissant (while supplies last!) with a coffee purchase on weekdays until Oct 15. A warm, cozy room full of books and records where you can buy serves coffee, tea and snacks! Friends, this is the stuff dreams are made of!

Whether you are on mat leave, working from home, or you just need a good cuppa on your way to the office, Press is worth a visit.

press-voucher

Follow Press on Facebook and Twitter (@PressDanforth) to catch their hilarious daily signboards!

On Friday, September 23, join the Friends of Stephenson Park and Councillor McMahon for a free concert with the Practically Hip (yes, a Tragically Hip cover band). Summer may officially end on Thursday but this outdoor concert will stretch out the summer fun until at least the end of the week!

practically-hip

 

This weekend on Saturday and Sunday at Old’s Cool General Store, 250 Westlake @ Lumsden, they are having their weekly fresh from the farm market, and will be opening up their big side door and selling everything inside. Here’s the event listing for all the details. Make sure to ask Zahra about the storied history of this space  (spoiler alert: it was used as a rehearsal space for some legendary musicians).

Also this weekend, come celebrate Silly Goose Kids’ 5th Birthday! Lots of events, giveaways and no tax all weekend. Congratulations to Shamie and Tracey on reaching this huge milestone! 2054 Danforth

sgk-bday

On Tuesday, September 27, the DECA Board will meet at Time Capsule, 2183 Danforth, from 7:30 until about 9:30pm. If you would like to join us, click here to RSVP by email. We will hold space on the agenda for any questions or ideas that our visitors have, but no pressure at all as listeners are also most welcome.

 

 

DECA Connects’ Second Ideas Fair Meeting

Remember how 75 people raised more than $30,000 to sponsor a Syrian refugee family come to Canada, by sleeping out on in tents on a wintry night?

The DECA Connects committee organized that.

Remember the table table tennis tournament this past summer, when 36 neighbourhood teams raised $1400 towards DECA’s inaugural Young Leaders scholarship for budding activists?

That was the DECA Connects committee too.

The magic formula of both ideas: one part community socializing, one part good cause.

What do you think we should do next?

We are having our second IDEAS meeting.

Here’s how it works — you think up a good idea, come to our meeting, and pitch it to the room of your neighbours in one minute. Then, you listen to all of their minute-long pitches. At the end of the night, the assembled group votes on which project we should take on next. We might even combine some of them into something even better, because a dozen brains are always better than one!

That’s what happened the last time: Sarah proposed a ping pong tournament in our parks so the new tables got more use, and I pitched the scholarship for a low-income budding community activist, and by the end of the night, TA DA, we had “Table Tennis for Tuition.”

Come join us on Tuesday October 4, at 7.30 at Gerrard Pizza, 1528 Danforth.

Bring your appetite for pizza, neighbourly banter and social justice.

As always, if you want to join our committee, we’d love to have you. Email us at decaconnects@deca.to.