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Dressed up Doggies, Mrs. Darlings, and 54 Division

DOGGIE FUN

You know how on Saturday mornings, your dog can sense that you’re not going to work and will therefore give you their best sad eyes that scream “take me with you!”??

Well this Saturday, October 27 from 10:30 a.m. – noon, you get to be doggie parent extraordinaire!  Dress up your pooches and bring them to the Merrill Park Dog Association annual Howl-o-Ween festival! (Because what does a dog love more than dressing up in costume?)

Enjoy the festivities in the park and help raise money for Speaking of Dogs.

* Dog Costume Contest * Mummy Wrap * Poop Toss * Bobbing for Balls * Prizes!!! * Beverages and Snacks * And more…

(Rain Date: Sunday, October 28th)

Click here for more info, or if you might want to volunteer to help out!

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DECA’S 2nd POP UP SHOP: MRS. DARLING’S IMAGINARIUM 

Did you pop in to the pop up over the weekend?  Could you feel the buzz?  Well, next weekend, October 27 & 28, a new business will occupy the space at 1948 Danforth.  Yet again our neighbourhood has a chance to show landlords and businesses how willing we are to show up, shop local, and renew East Danforth. 

Many of you already know Mrs. Darling from the craft tent at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market, but just wait until you see what she can do with a whole store for two full days! See below for more details. Note that some activities require advance registration, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment!

Pop up What??

A one-weekend only, temporary studio where young creatives 4-14 can explore many mediums and material in workshop format. 20 participant to a class and 4 facilitators to help imagination became reality. Jewelry making, paper crafts, edible art, DIY, paper mache, fibre arts, group art, upcycling and re purposing – they will learn that they can create something beautiful from almost anything. There are also two drop in studio times where craft ideas and materials are ready to go, and families could mingle, create and play together.

Saturday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm   Drop in. Animal masks, all ages. Duct tape wallets and flower accessories with Martina Rocks!  Best for ages 8+. ($10 for both activities) Group canvas in honour of Stella Bruner Methven. (Free)

1-2pm     Paper mache taxidermy, Narwhals. Best for ages 6+. (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

2-3pm     Framed silhouettes (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

3-4pm     Chanel inspired Peter Pan collar necklace and graffiti bracelets (pre-registration required, click here). Necklace best for ages 8+. ($15)

4-6pm     Wooden spoon puppets. Dramatic story time (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Sunday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

9am-12pm  Drop in. Fantasy make overs! Fairies, princesses, pirates and super heroes oh my! Wear your favorite alter ego costume and make, new accessory and get a little hair and “make-up” done. ($10)

1-2pm    Glittered tee shirts (pre-registration required, click here). Best for ages 5+ ($15)

2-3pm    Mini monster and bunny stuffies (pre-registration required, click here).($15)

3-4pm    Candy sushi to eat and candy bracelets to wear (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

4-6pm    Dress up and dramatic story time. Play and be silly while acting out a favorite children’s story (pre-registration required, click here). ($15)

Mrs. Darlings Imaginarium for Girls and Boys – A place to play with art and discover the art of play. To explore, make believe, and follow where ever their imaginations take them. Mrs. Darling encourages the inspired magic with drop in times, where children and their parents can mingle and create, with facilitators to guide and encourage, as well as classes for more elaborate projects and intimate instruction. 

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54 Gets Friendly on Facebook
As you  may know, there are ongoing discussions about possibly closing 54 Division. To keep updated about news and events, please join the new Friends of 54 Division facebook group.
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Pop-Up Shop: Birthia

Hey DECA. It’s me, Natasha.  Remember me?  Well, I’ve hauled my sorry keester out of DECA Diaries retirement for one reason and one reason only.  Because I’m asking you to get off your keester for the first ever, premier,  never-see-before, pioneering DECA pop-up shop.  When? This weekend!

Walk your keester over to 1948 Danforth, conveniently located across from East Lynn Park, and close to a number of local cafes and eateries. If you do that between 12 and 6 this Saturday and Sunday you will find our first fabulous shop: Birthia.

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When we put out the call for artists, entrepreneurs and community groups to submit proposals for one of two weekends, we were overwhelmed and absolutely delighted with the more-than-50 applications that came in. Most of them were fantastic. We interviewed four of those who submitted. Osvaldo, who runs the shop, Birthia, was the first person we interviewed. We really loved him and the local products that he sources for his shop.

This pop-up shop is the first of what we expect will be many neighbourhood storefronts that are temporarily occupied by creative enterprises of many kinds. It is our hope that by working with landlords who provide the space, we can provide the vitality that can make these storefronts more attractive to paying tenants and therefore help build the kind of vibrant, walkable neighbourhood that we all want to see. It’s win-win-win.

How can you help?  It’s easy.  All you gotta do is show up. We’ve already done the hard part – and by hard part I mean getting down on hands and knees and scrubbing the floor of this shop until our hands were calloused and sweat was pouring down our foreheads.  So really, showing up, this Saturday and Sunday between 12 and 6 is the very least you could do.

As for next weekend, you can already start signing up to bring your wee ones to Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium for Girls and Boys. You know Mrs. Darling (a.k.a. Melissa). She’s the one who does the crafts at the Farmers’ Market every week.  She has two full days planned including pre-registered and drop-in programs.

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Danforth news

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Farewell True Brew

A keen observer noticed a sign in the window of True Brew saying that they will be closing for good tomorrow, October 13.  DECA worked with owner Sylvia to update this space earlier this year, and we are very sad to see it go.

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An even better Better Bulk?

It’s official!  Better Bulk is moving across the street to a bigger location at the end of the month.  If you haven’t yet “liked” them on Facebook, click here to like them and you will be among the lucky insiders who receive their updates about sales and stock, including fresh organic produce.  Congratulations Better Bulk!

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Hallowe’en Outlet

It’s My Party has once again opened a Hallowe’en Outlet at 2208 Danforth Ave, at  the western edge of the Honda dealership (where a new KIA dealership is now being built). The hours are Mon-Fri from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Scary stuff for grown-ups (costumes and decor) is at the front, kids stuff is in the back room, and the really scary stuff (props) is in the back back room!  Boo!

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Groundbreaking News

There was some heavy machinery heard from behind the boards around the ‘big hole’, where the condo is supposed to be going up near Danforth & Woodbine.  Could it be that the ground has been broken at last???

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DECA Pub Crawl

Oops!  We asked you to RSVP to the wrong e-mail address for the DECA Pub Crawl. The exciting event details were given in our last post. The e-mail has been corrected on the page, or you can click here to let us know that you’ll be coming!