pop-up shops – Page 7 – Danforth East Community Association

March 20, 2013

Pop-Up Shop Big Ideas Night & More

Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.

Joel A. Barker

Big Ideas Night

DECA’s pop-up shops started with a vision to change the Danforth. You acted. You scrubbed. You scraped. You painted. You walked in the door. And you shopped. Each of these are small, but vital acts that support the future of our community and of walking neighbourhoods in Toronto and around the world. People who change the world don’t do it grand sweeping gestures. Well, I suppose you might if you were Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. But those guys just give money to people who scrape, scrub and and walk in the door. In these acts you are creating a community that is more vibrant, walkable and safe. Now we’re asking, once again, for a little bit more. We need your ideas.

You are cordially invited to join us for the DECA Pop-Up Shops Big Ideas Night. We want you and we need your big ideas. Pop-up shops have already been responsible for the renting of two spaces on the Danforth and we’re looking forward to a few more pop-up tenants opening up permanent shops this spring. If you like the pop-ups and the activity they are creating, we’d like you to help us think about the future of pop-ups and where to go from here.

Wednesday, March 27 7-9 p.m. This meeting will be fun and interactive. We promise!

One Last Hurrah for the Current Pop-Up Shops: Krystle Lee & Fa Real

Fa Real Designz N Prints | 1898 Danforth Avenue
Tuesday-Saturday 12-8
Fa Real brand clothing is all on sale for $10. Plus, if you want your name put on a hockey jersey you can get it done for between $15-30.

Krystle Lee | 1801 Danforth Avenue
This weekend only she will be offering everyone and additional 30% discount (on select merchandise) off the already super low prices, best to go out with a bang!

If you haven’t had the chance to shop or you left that special something behind, now is your chance.

You can catch her this Saturday and Sunday between 1-5pm

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March 8, 2013

Be a better you and support local businesses

Was February really only 28 days long? Holy moly! If you are like me, motivation has been at an all-time low. Just in the nick of time, here are some local options that will get you out and about.

Get Artsy

Julie Glick, who is an extraordinarily talented local artist and all-around wonderful person (who is an invaluable member of our Arts Fair team of volunteers) is teaching oil painting on Tuesdays at Artisans-At-Work, starting THIS Tuesday, March 12 for 8 weeks. There are only a few spots left. Details below!

Get Moving

We blogged in January about fitness options in our neighbourhood, but CareerFit Mom has some new classes coming up that we wanted to tell you about, including a free run club on Sunday mornings along the Taylor Creek Trails!

Get Shopping

This is not a pop-up shop plug. This is a personal story about my best shopping experience ever.

On Monday afternoon, on a day off shopping for sinks and toilets for my new bathroom, I finally made it into Krystle Lee’s pop-up at 1801 Danforth Avenue.

I expected to go in, casually browse through items, make polite conversation, and then leave. That is exactly the opposite of what happened.

Krystle was warm and welcoming, and I explained that I am recently back to work after having twins, which was my second pregnancy, so all of my clothes are either too tight, too old, or both.

Krystle literally took me through almost every garment in her shop. She encouraged me to try things on, even things that I didn’t think would look good. I learned that all of her clothes are Canadian-made – no sweatshops and as much as possible, Toronto-based designers. (What? Designer? Who do I think I am??) So I tried on many, many beautiful clothes. Krystle and I honestly assessed each outfit and she gave me tips and advice about fashion that I had no idea about. (If you know me, you will not be surprised that fashion info was all new to me.)

I was playing it cool and not looking at price tags, but when push came to shove, I had to start caring about the bottom line. Beautiful spring blouse? $35. Gorgeous black button-down dress? $95 Softest and best fitting camisole ever? $20 The prices were totally reasonable. (She has higher end stuff too, which is also steeply discounted, if your budget has a bit more give than mine!)

Krystle is a personal stylist and usually sells privately to clients who know about her almost exclusively through word-of-mouth. She buys her clothes with deep discounts, and her lack of overhead means that she can pass those savings right to her clients.

I left there with a great work dress, a georgeous sweater, and some really beautiful tops. Even more amazing was that for the first time in 15 months, since my twins were born, I am excited to get dressed in the morning and I feel better about myself than I have in a long time. To me, you can’t put a price on that.

You can find Krystle at 1801 Danforth Avenue for the month of March. www.krystle.ca

March 7, 2013

March Pop-Up Shop News

Did you hear? Two of the February pop-up shops that we fell in love with are sticking around another month! Now, they are the pop-up shops formerly known as the February pop-ups. (Thankfully, they have much catchier names:) Fa Real Designz N Prints and Krystle Lee will be gracing our neighbourhood with their awesomeness for the entire month of March.

Fa Real Designz N Prints | 1898 Danforth Avenue
Tuesday-Saturday 12-8
Birthday celebrations are happening. We hear there will be cake to celebrate owners Allister’s milestone. And this weekend only you can get custom tee’s for $20 (regular $30) and toddler/baby shirts for $10 (reg $15). There is also a end-of-winter season sale on FaReal clothing (hoddies, long sleeves and tees) and if you spend over $50 the toque is on them!

Read more about Fa Real owners Tracey and Allister from an interview they did with the Scarborough Mirror and check out what local resident, DECA Board Member and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee recipient Catherine Porter has to say about her experience with the shop below. And if you too would like to be the best gift giver in your family, you should visit Fa Real this weekend.

I am a good gift giver. I pride myself on this. I’d say I have the record in my family as the best gift giver.

I give thoughtful cool presents.

Allistar and Tracey at Fa Real Designz N Prints have helped me keep my record. I am in love with them. You will be too.

Let me explain.

Seven summers ago my husband’s family built a lop-sided cabin at the cottage. I was up on the roof too. The project ran over time and budget. So, for Christmas that year, my husband and I got everyone in the family (the Burt family — I kept my last name, thank you very much) custom-made shirts for the Burt Building Company. On the back it says: “We may not be smart…. but we’re slow.”

The shirts were a hit.

My sister-in-law just had baby number three. I needed to get little Ollie a gift. An AWESOME gift. So, I took a photo of the T-shirt — both sides — and emailed it to Allistar and Tracey, who specialize in custom-designed shirts. They have one of our pop-up shops on the Danforth, where the old jewellrey place was.

I asked them to approximate the design — use a triangle instead of a house, you know, whatever. It’s the idea that counts.

Tonight, I picked up a dark blue onesie that matches EXACTLY my own T-shirt — except I don’t have clasps at the bum, but you get the idea.

Allistar and Tracey are geniuses.

I got two more — three custom-made shirts for $50.

This place is the BOMB. It’s around for another month, as one of DECA’s pop-up shops. Lucky us.

We’d like them to stay even longer.

Don’t you have a gift to give someone? A soccer team to outfit? A street party coming up?

For more information about these pop-up stores, the DECA Pop-Up Shop project and DECA, please visit our website, and follow us on twitter @DECAdiaries.

February 21, 2013

There’s still time to POP in.

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There’s about one week left for the February Pop-Up Shops – still plenty of time to pop in! And if you want to know more about the people behind these pop-up shops, check out this Beach Metro article.

Fa Real Designz N Prints | 1898 Danforth Avenue
Tuesday-Saturday 12-8
The buy 1 get one 1/2 off promotion will continue this week.

Repetitions Fitness | 1803 Danforth Avenue
Monday 10-7 | Tuesday 12-4 | Wednesday 10-7 | Thursday 10-4 | Friday 10-7 | Saturday 9-5 | Sunday 10-3
Struggling with meal planning? Let Nadia take care of meals for you with a variety of meal packages available. Her meals are heart healthy, organic, largely vegan and free from most of the major allergens (ex. Soy, gluten, nuts…). Email her for more information. Also check our events page for her full schedule of fitness classes

February 13, 2013

Valentine’s Day Dilemmas Solved by Pop-Ups

Yes, there are a good number of florists in our neighbourhood that will no doubt be busy tomorrow. But you know what would be a really cool gift for that special someone? A customized hoodie professing your love. A bright pink leather wristlet and fake eyelashes. Or how about a couples personal training session or home meal delivery service? Check out the notices below to see what else you can find last minute at the DECA pop-ups.

Also, don’t forget that YOU can get involved in the DECA Pop-Up project. We’d love for you to join us next Thursday, February 21st at 8 p.m. Email us for more details.

Fa Real Designz N Prints | 1898 Danforth Avenue
Tuesday-Saturday 12-8
Couples Special – Buy one, get the second half price! FaReal now has kids’ sizes and ONESIES for customizing! Let everyone know how much you love your hood with a few “I heart Danforth East” onesies! Or perhaps make that surprise announcement to family with a “I’m going to be a big Sister/Brother” tee.

Krystle Lee | 1801 Danforth Avenue
Monday 12-6 | Tuesday 10-6 | Wednesday Closed | Thursday 10-6 | Friday & Saturday 11-7 | Sunday Private Appointments
Krystle Lee is teaming up with Amy Beth of Makeup in the City, a leading hair and makeup company, for Valentine’s Day. Special offer: Lavish your Lashes for “V” day. A 5 min consult and lash application with false lashes – the first 10 people getting their lashes for free, $5 afterwards. Full Valentines makeup makeover available by private appointment. With celebrated artists specializing in makeup, hair design, airbrush makeup, permanent lash extensions and hair extensions. Owner and artist Amy Beth has had her work featured on the pages of Elle Canada, Vogue Italia, and Chloe magazine. Amy’s celebrity clientele also includes Lady Antebellum, Drake, and Chloe Moretz. From Runway to Red Carpet anyone can be flawless and fierce.

Repetitions Fitness | 1803 Danforth Avenue
Monday 10-7 | Tuesday 12-4 | Wednesday 10-7 | Thursday 10-4 | Friday 10-7 | Saturday 9-5 | Sunday 10-3
Nadia offers gift certificates for all services and is doing a 10% discount on gift certificates for Valentine’s Day (Wed & Thurs purchases). Why not try a couples’ sessions or a private training session for your Valentine? Nadia also offers meal planning and prepared food home delivery tailored to you. Sample menus are on her website with some pictures featured below. Consultations for fitness or meal planning are complimentary.

Delicious and health meal from Repetitions Fitness

Delicious and health meal from Repetitions Fitness - Quinoa & Cauliflower — Delicious and health meal from Repetitions Fitness – Quinoa & Cauliflower

For more information about these pop-up stores, the DECA Pop-Up Shop project and DECA, please visit our website.

February 11, 2013

Pop-Up People

First thing’s first. Have you checked out the pop-ups yet? February is a short month so if you don’t get out there now and show your support with your feet and your wallet, the month will be over and you will feel badly. So get on out there and visit your local pop-ups.

Second. These pop-ups are awesome, but they take work. And we’re getting a little bit tired. We need some help. Big bits of help and little bits of help. If you’re interested in finding out how you can help in a big way or a small way, we’d love for you to mark Thursday, February 21st at 8 p.m. on your calendar. We’re meeting to talk about next steps and what jobs need to be done to get us there.

If you are interested, send me a note by clicking here

Thanks. Really.

February Pop-UPs

Repetitions Fitness | 1803 Danforth Avenue

Krystle Lee | 1801 Danforth Avenue

Fa Real Designz N Prints | 1898 Danforth Avenue