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Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium

In case you missed it, Mrs. Darling has a full schedule of activities to keep your child’s creativity in check over the holidays.  There are both drop in times and pre-registaration sessions taking place this Friday through Monday at the pop up studio space at 1948 Danforth Avenue.

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Schedule

Friday, December 28th

  • 10-12pm  Drop in. Mod Mobiles and Balloon Bean Bags.
  • (Closed for a private birthday party in the afternoon.)
Saturday, December 29th 
  • 10-12pm  Wooden Spoon Puppets and face painting. (drop in)
  • 1-3:30pm  Weekend Christmas Break Camp – 2 crafts over two days! A chance to do more elaborate crafts, and a longer drop off for parents.  Paper clay barnacles and initial canvas using repurposed toys.  (pre-register please)
  • 4-5:00pm- Magazine page circle garland. (pre-register please)
Sunday, December 30th
  • 10-12pm  Tee shirt yarn with hardware bracelets and marshmallow launchers. (drop in)
  • 1-3:30pm Continuation of the Weekend Christmas Break Camp crafts.
  • 4-5:00pm Headbands two ways. (pre-register please)
Monday, December 31st
  • 11-12pm Paper lamp sculptures. (pre-register please)
  • 2-5pm Family New Years Eve Party!! Face painting, two crafts, dress up,  games, dance party, refreshments… even a ball drop at the “real” new years, 4pm. (pre-register please)
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Still more Poppin’ on the Danforth

The pop-ups have been buzzing lately thanks to the fabulous flash mobs and some local press. (Beach Metro and East York Mirror) But word-of-mouth is best, so please tell your friends, family and coworkers that it’s not too late to check them out.
Still need to grab a gift for their favourite guy or gal?  No problem!
Need a creative outlet for the kid so they don’t get cabin fever over the holidays?  That’s covered too!

Check below for the latest on special events, activities and some store hours.  Also, did you know that we’ve got a daily calendar posted on our website: http://danfortheastcommunityassociation.com/events/

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LEN (1936 Danforth Ave)

Thursday, December 20: It’s on LEN. Spend $25 or more in store and get a free cappuccino at Seb’s on LEN

Friday, December 21: Open late until 10 pm for Guys Night. Lets face it there are probably a lot of people out there which haven’t even started holiday shopping. Most of them are guys. Just saying. Stop by LEN to get started right. They’ll have Scotch, salty snacks, and best of all, no judgements! Christal will be on hand to offer a female perspective on gift choices and of course everyone is welcome. Open through the weekend and although normally closed Mondays, LEN will be open in the 24th noon to 4 pm.  Closed on 25 and 26th.

Lemon Drop Clothing (1948 Danforth Ave)

There are still many beautiful dresses left in the Lemon Drop sample sale, plus a great selection of Stella & Dot jewellery.  The ladies will be there until this Saturday with their full selection of custom-made dresses.  Don’t forget to enter their draw for a free dress too.

Pop Goes the Easel (1803 Danforth)

The next event is a Dream Board workshop on December 28th – 7 pm, $20.  Email for more details. It will be regular business the rest of the week: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6 pm.

TYKE Threads (1938 Danforth)

Only a few more days left!  Tyke Threads is open December 19-22, Thursday to Saturday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.  Owner Grace will have a special “I’d rather sell it than move it” sale on her last day, December 22, with more discounts on already marked down prices!

Wednesday – Saturday, 12-6 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm.

CareerFit Mom (1872 Danforth Ave)

CareerFitMom has loads of fitness classes scheduled until Dec. 23rd, including Zumba, PlayFit for parents & kids, Tabata Training, Boot Camp and Mom & Baby Fitness.  CareerFit Mom is runing a canfitpro Fitness Instructor Certification Course from Dec 27-29. Email Beth for more info.

Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium (1948 Danforth – December 28-31)

Mrs. Darling will be back with even more amazingly wonderful kids crafts activities! Visit her website for more specifics on prices and registration.  Here’s her schedule:

Friday, December 28th
  • 10-12pm  Drop in. Mod Mobiles and Balloon Bean Bags.
  • (Closed for a private birthday party in the afternoon.)
Saturday, December 29th 
  • 10-12pm  Wooden Spoon Puppets and face painting. (drop in)
  • 1-3:30pm  Weekend Christmas Break Camp – 2 crafts over two days! A chance to do more elaborate crafts, and a longer drop off for parents.  Paper clay barnacles and initial canvas using repurposed toys.  (pre-register please)
  • 4-5:00pm- Magazine page circle garland. (pre-register please)
Sunday, December 30th
  • 10-12pm  Tee shirt yarn with hardware bracelets and marshmallow launchers. (drop in)
  • 1-3:30pm Continuation of the Weekend Christmas Break Camp crafts.
  • 4-5:00pm Headbands two ways. (pre-register please)
Monday, December 31st
  • 11-12pm Paper lamp sculptures. (pre-register please)
  • 2-5pm Family New Years Eve Party!! Face painting, two crafts, dress up,  games, dance party, refreshments… even a ball drop at the “real” new years, 4pm. (pre-register please)
Psst – we heard a rumour that the new artists’ collective, Artisans at Work @ 2071 Danforth, is staying open late this Friday night!  Watch this space for details as they become available. 
To learn more about DECA vist www.danfortheastcommunityassociation.com
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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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Plenty-O-Pop-Up!

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A Morning Mention for DECA’s Pop-Ups

Renew East Danforth volunteer Cindy Rozeboom spoke with Matt Galloway of CBC’s Metro Morning earlier this week about the reasons and inspiration behind the pop-up initiative.  In case you missed it, have a listen here.

Dance! Dance! Dance!

If we dance… they will come.  At least that’s our theory.  So we’re saying it one more time: FLASHMOB.  We have two flashmobs planned for this Saturday (December 8th) in hopes to bring in more traffic from some not-so-distant locales to our beloved pop-ups.  The first will be in front of the Carrot Common at 2:45 p.m.  The second will be on the sidewalk of  the Kew Gardens Playground at 3:30 p.m.

There’s still time to learn the dance and join in all the fun.  A rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. at Pegasus Dance Studio (361 Glebeholme Blvd) and a second rehearsal has been added Friday night at 5:00 p.m. at CareerFit Mom Pop-Up Studio (1872 Danforth Ave).  Check out the Facebook page for more details or rsvp by clicking here.

This Week in Pop-Ups

Many of our pop-ops have exciting events going on this weekend.

Friday

  • CareerFit Mom: Friday, December 7th is a PA Day and why not share some fun physical activity with the kiddies at PlayFit. Recess games, imaginative play and silliness with balls, hoops and toys.  Parent & Tot (ages 2-4) at 10:30 a.m. and Parent & Kid (ages 4-7) at 1:30 p.m.
  • POP Goes the Easel: Another option for Friday’s PA day is the Holiday Craft Drop-In.  $5/child, 12-5pm.  

Saturday

  • Len: The Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art and Beautiful Things will be having their Official Launch party this Saturday, December 8th from 7:30-10:30 p.m.  10% off all Beautiful things (excluding fine art), bubbly refreshments and tasty bites guaranteed.
  • POP Goes the Easel: Saturday will be more crafting with a Holiday Craft session from 1-3 p.m. ($5)
  • CareerFit Mom: There are plenty of options for exercise this Saturday with High Intensity Intervals, Kickbox and Mind/Body Fusions and more PlayFit.  Check out the website for class times.
  • CareerFit Mom: And if a career move is in your cards you’ll want to check out the Resume Resonance session on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  ($30+tax)

Sunday

  • POP Goes the Easel: The GRAND OPENING will be celebrated on Sunday December 9th, 12-6:00 p.m, with an Open Studio and Holiday Sale.

Tuesday

  • Len: Join the Eggy Wegg lady, Alysa Golden, for in store tasting of her brilliant new products from Hope Eco Farms.  Gift baskets will be available for purchase and Alysa will also take your custom orders for the most special people on your holiday gift list.  LEN will join in the fun with special pricing on select holiday entertaining items.

And a reminder of where to find them all….

Pop Goes the Easel (1803 Danforth)

Tyke (1938 Danforth)

Patsy Berton Art Gallery (1948 Danforth)

bright-brown vintage+handmade  & VSVSVS (1801 Danforth)

LEN (1936 Danforth)

CareerFit Mom (1872 Danforth)

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Pop-Up Guerilla Marketing

Print it!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it.

1.  Use your office photocopier for good, not evil. Make some copies of these two items…the pop-up poster and the flyer.

2. Post these items in your office, at the coffee shop, to your Facebook and Twitter feeds, on light poles, on your neighbour’s front door.  Anywhere where there are people who have eyes. E-mail it to everyone in your address book. It’s not spam if you do it.

3. Feel good about helping to spread the good word and getting as many feet walking along Danforth East as possible.

3. Eat this message.

pop-up flyer

Pop-up Shop Details

Dance it!

Join the pop-up flashmob!  (Oh yes we said it, and we’ll say it again: FLASHMOB!)

Follow these simple steps to get involved:

  1. R.S.V.P. to Jules by clicking here.
  2. Download this video from YouTube to get familiar with the song and the dance moves (you do not have to memorize them… just have some fun with them)
  3. Come to Pegasus Dance Studio, 361 Glebeholme Blvd. at 8:00 pm on Thursday, December 6 for a one-hour rehearsal. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring anyone you think might get a kick out of being in a flashmob.
  4. Rehearse some more at home and encourage friends and family to rehearse with you.
  5. Perform the dance in a flashmob at two different places over the next two weeks (times and locations to be announced), and help encourage people to come out and see what exciting things are happening in the pop-up shops and in the shops around them.
Can’t wait to see you there! (And check out our fancy poster below, just to prove that this is not your average run-of-the-mill flashmob.  This is a flashmob with a poster!)

Flashmob announcement

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Pop-Up Shops – This December

We started with two pop-up shops in October. And, not to toot our own horns, but they were a great success. Why? Because all of you came out to take a look.

Building on that excitement, the Renew East Danforth team (and it’s a big team now) has been working like mad for the month of November to organize nine shops in six storefronts over two blocks.

We believe this is the biggest pop-up the city has ever seen and it’s been done completely by volunteers.  More than 30 artists and entrepreneurs applied for this round and the nine that were selected are a fantastic mix of arts, gifts, clothing, accessories (from silver jewellery to duct tape wallets), arts and crafts workshops and fitness classes.

We’ve been reading a lot about pop-ups lately and we know that by increasing activity in empty storefronts and bringing shoppers to a commercial strip, pop-up shops have successfully regenerated run-down neighbourhoods around the world.  Where there are shoppers, paying retail tenants follow.

The pop-up shops are opening this Saturday, December 1st for the month of December.

(You might want to keep a copy of the Pop-up Poster in your pocket for easy reference :-)