news for a chilly night

Here are a few tidbits to distract you from that Visa bill that recently showed up.

Happy 5th Birthday to Melanie’s – $25 prix fixe menu!

How much do we love having this superb little bistro in our neighbourhood?  A lot, that’s how much.  Melanie’s Bistro is turning 5, and to celebrate, they are offering a special $25 prix fixe menu, $2 off sandwiches and wraps at weekday lunches, AND half off desserts during the week.  I’d say these are some pretty good reasons to stop in to celebrate right along with them!

melanies 5th anniversary

Artisans at Work: Call-out for Teachers

Renos are under way at one of the neighbourhood’s new businesses, Artisans-at-Work, and owner Tara has asked us to post this message:

Artisans At Work, 2071 Danforth, is almost finished construction.
We will be open in February to the public for classes, workshops and events, whilst we continue to stock our shelves with Toronto artist’s work!
We would like to take this opportunity to invite all local art, music, dance, and theatrical teachers in the neighbourhood and beyond, to submit proposals to hold classes for children, teens and adults.
We are looking to fill many series of classes in time slots, but also single classes here and there. March break classes are also ready to be planned and booked!
Please submit your proposed class, time and day(s) preference, cost, and any other information to us by clicking here.
Thank you,
Tara
PS – Website coming soon: www.artisans-at-work.com; in the meantime you can “like” us on Facebook to keep in touch!

Monarch Park Stadium Info Night with Trustee Cathy Dandy – January 22nd

Trustee Cathy Dandy is holding a community meeting on Tuesday, January 22nd at 7pm at Monarch Park Collegiate (enter at the front doors of the school).  The event is described as “an opportunity for the community to come together and discuss the new Monarch Park Stadium.”

DECADiaries Fun fact: You can call 3-1-1 to order a new recycling bin and/or second green bin – FREE!  Garbage bins can also be exchanged, but remember that the larger the bin, the more you will have to pay for pick-up on your bill. 

Local fitness!

Have you dusted off your running shoes and managed to make it back to the gym yet?  Did you feel like you already got a workout just digging your yoga mat out of the basement? (We have no idea what THAT is like!)

So, it’s been a week since you made that resolution to be more active in 2013 – and to help you along, your friends at decadiaries just wanted to remind you that there are a number of local options for you and your whole family to get moving.

First, you can check out our post from the summer with info about getting fit in this neighbourhood.  Second, we’ve posted info about even more local places to get moving so keep reading!   If your favourite local fitness spot isn’t listed in either post, please tell us about it in the comments!

Pegasus Studios (361 Glebeholme Blvd)

Check out the Pegasus website for their full list classes and program options for kids, teens and adults, including dance, yoga, pilates and Zumba.  They even have a brand new ballet program for wee ones (see poster below) and we hear that it includes a big recital at the end that is sure to be painfully adorable!

Angelina Ballerina

Open House at Bomb Wellness (1338 Danforth Ave.)

How convenient.  Bomb Wellness is hosting an Open House this weekend.  On Saturday and Sunday from noon until 3:00 p.m.   There are free classes both days, a Fit Kids class & activities, prize draws, snacks, Red Rocket Coffee, special discounts etc.  Congratulations Bomb on your one year Anniversary! (And thank you Bomb, for understanding that some of us need coffee with our exercise.)

Open house poster

Monarch Park Stadium (1 Hanson St., behind Monarch Park School)

Check out their website, www.monarchparkstadium.comto see what they’ve got on (pick-up soccer, track passes, triathlon training) and then click through to all of the leagues offering team sports at this brand new state-of-the-art stadium right in our own backyard!

Tidal CrossFit (1510 Danforth Ave.)

And for the truly daring and committed:

Tidal CrossFit has plenty of options to help you burn the surplus calories that you took in the entire month of December, including a Foundations BootCamp for those new to the CrossFit movements. http://www.tidalcrossfit.com/

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P.S. Thanks for liking us so much!! DECA’s Facebook page just reached 500 “likes”!  We like you too.

Busy busy busy – lots to tell you about!

Happy 2013!

Here is a random assortment of neighbourhood info for you to consider as you drink your tea, wine, espresso or whatever your Friday night fancy is.

DECA Board Meeting

The new 2013 Board will meet on January 15 starting at 7:30 p.m..  Our meetings are open to all DECA members, potential members, and interested others. If you want to come (and you know you do) please contact Anita by clicking here, and she can give you the meeting details. Oh, and we meet at one of our local, licensed establishments so at the very least, you get to drink beer or ginger ale while you revitalize your community.  Win-win!

New Year’s Levee with East York Elected Officials

We have all been invited to the annual New Year’s Levee, this Sunday, January 6 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell Avenue!!

Councillor Janet Davis sent out the following invite:

I hope you will be able to join me and our fellow East York elected officials at the annual East York New Year’s Levee. Welcome in the new year with MPs Matthew Kellway and Craig Scott, MPPs Michael Prue and Peter Tabuns, School Trustees Sheila Cary-Meagher and Cathy Dandy, Councillor Mary Fragedakis and myself. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for our local food bank.

Pop-Up Feedback

So, our December of pop-ups has come to a close, and we’d like to hear what your thoughts are on the project.  Did you visit?  Did you love it?  Did you not love it?  Did you notice?  What are your thoughts on this project?  Let us know by emailing here.

PS – One of our pop ups is still popping up, but they have taken over a different space.  You can visit LEN at 1801 Danforth for the month of January.  Their website is: http://len4all.com and they have a facebook page as well.  Seriously, this store is amazing.  I paid them a token visit in December, and went back three times to get something for every person on my list.  They are THAT good.

Oaks ‘n Acorns

A new business is set to open across the street from East Lynn Park called Oaks ‘n Acorns.  As an “activity studio for parents and tots”, they will host a variety of classes for children and/or parents, and their registration has just opened up. In fact, if you sign up by January 20, you can get a discount and free membership card!  Click here for more info.  It looks like they will also host birthday parties!

Even More New Stores

Have you noticed a few new stores this past week?  The Dulux paint store is open at the corner of Moberly and Danforth, 2031 Danforth to be specific,  and with a rumoured 25% off grand opening discount it’s not to be missed!  There is also a Brand Name Discount Store that just opened a few stores west of Value Village. (I swear I repeated the address over and over to myself in order to include it in the post, but it’s really cold outside, so I believe that inhibited the formation of long-term memory.  Someone should research that!)

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Oh, and if you are wondering why your garbage didn’t get picked up today (Friday), it’s because of the holiday earlier this week.  It pushes pickup back by a day so you can expect the pickup to take place tomorrow (Saturday).

Enjoy your chilly weekend.

Last weekend of 2012 = sales, crafts and fun!

Last Chance Art Clearance Sale!

POP goes the Easel at 1803 Danforth Avenue is clearing out their inventory with a CLEARANCE SALE!

Pop in tomorrow, Saturday, December 29 from 12:00-5:00 p.m. and help them clear out their beautiful things so that they have less to take home.

This is the LAST DAY that this pop-up will be open.  Don’t let your neighbours have better art than you.  Go in and get some for yourself, on sale!  (Can you say “win-win”?)

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colourful explosion of art including: paintings, prints, cards and magnets.

Q&A with Mrs. Darling

By now, as a loyal decadiaries readers, you have heard of Mrs. Darling and perused the wonderful and inspiring schedule of crafts and creative fun going on in her Imaginarium pop-up at 1948 Danforth Avenue, which started today and runs through December 31.  (Click here for the schedule again if you need it)

Another local blogger, the East End Pioneer, sat down with Mrs. Darling and posted the interview today.  Give it a read – you know you want to.

And if you haven’t been, drop into Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium.  You will be glad that you did.

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(hopefully Mrs. Darling doesn’t mind us borrowing this photo from her Facebook page!)

A few last words for the year?

On behalf of the Board of the Danforth East Community Association, thank you for reading, volunteering, showing up, and for being such wonderful neighbours.  We wish you a very happy and healthy 2013!

 -Shelley & Sheri, DECAdiaries

The Shops & Pops of Danforth East

Are we ever lucky. Not only do we have a new pop-up shop opening this week (Lemon Drop Clothing – with cool custom fit dresses for all shapes ands sizes), we have all the pop-ups AND many existing local businesses participating in a late night shopping experience this Friday evening. So if you still have people yet to be crossed off your nice list I suggest you hit the beat on Friday Night. I hear some of the shops will have in-store specials and warm beverages to go along with their extended hours!

Poster

And this week in Pop-Up Events…


Thursday, December 13th

  • LEN: It’s on LEN! – get a free cappuccino at Seb’s with every purchase of $25 or more.

Friday, December 14th

  • CareerFit Mom: Interested in a new career? Beth will be running a Career Transition for Moms session at 1:15 p.m. with a focus on brainstorming new job opportunities and how to market yourself. ($30 + tax)

Saturday, December 15th

  • Pop Goes the Easel: Stories, Songs and Play-Along with Nathalie Vachon and Ross Lynde. 1:00-3:00 ($5 each, $10 family)
  • CareerFit Mom: Shake some wiggles out at the Family Dance Party with kid-friendly music, lots of space to show off dance moves from all ages and stages. 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Free with donation to toy/food drive item)

Sunday, December 16th

  • LEN: Today’s the day to think about Fine Art either as a gift or a treat for your home. With LEN’s democratic prices starting at $100, everyone can afford to buy an original work by a Canadian artist. And on the 16th, 10% of all Fine Art sales will be donated to Sketch: Working Arts for street involved and homeless youth.

Tuesday, December 18th

  • Pop Goes the Easel: Painting/Mixed Media Workshop, 7pm- 9:30pm ($35, please email)

And while you’re out and about this week, don’t forget to stop by the new Artisans at Work store (2071 Danforth Ave). Each week there are about 20 new artisans displaying their wears.

Here’s a peak into two of the pop-ups and some shots of last weekends flashmob.

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Holiday happenings & other news

The holidays are upon us, and some events are taking place in our neighbourhood that you might want to mark on your calendars.

DECA’s First Annual East Lynn Park Tree Lighting! 
Thursday, December 13 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, come on out to meet your neighbours and have a cup of hot chocolate together this Thursday – it’s for a good cause, and it will be lots of fun!

EastLynnPark tree lighting 2012

And a big thank you to all the volunteers who braved the rain this weekend to hang the lights in preparation for Thursday’s event.  Check out the photos!

Gingerbread House Building at Cozy Cafe & Bakery (Woodbine & Danforth) December 15 (5-7 p.m.) & 16 (3-5 p.m.) for $25

cozy

Call Cozy at (647) 349-5251 to reserve your spot, and then next Sunday enjoy your clean kitchen after you and/or your kids have iced the floors and furniture at Cozy!

An artful walk?

Remember in the fall when DECA helped to facilitate the painting of some local Bell boxes?  Have you ever wondered, ‘where are those boxes?’  As winter clamps down, if you are like me you probably need an excuse to get off the couch and venture out, so why not take a little walking tour of the murals? Here is a map to show you where the boxes are, and photos to give you a sneak peek of the beauty that awaits you on your journey.

Bell box murals Danforth 2012Stay tuned for information on next weekend’s pop-up events, and details about some late-night shopping specials at some of our favourite local shops!