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Show Some Love

I’m delighted to pass along an invitation from Paola Girotti from Sugar Moon Spa for the ‘Show Some Love’ fundraiser this Saturday in support of Toronto East General’s Child Development Centre.

‘It means a lot to me to hold this fundraiser as my son Elias was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. He was born at 32 weeks at Toronto East General and we had amazing care from the neo-natal unit right through to the Child Development Center. We feel very blessed to have such a wonderful hospital in our neighbourhood and would like to “give back” to all the wonderful staff for their support. Come and join us for a fabulous evening.’— Paola Girotti

This Saturday, April 10th at 8 p.m. $10 at the door

Location: Sidewalk Cafe (look for the orange balloons) 1344 Danforth Avenue, Toronto (416) 465-2012

Lots of prizes to be won: 50/50 draws and more!

Coffee Coffee

This just in from Pat on the new cafe at Danforth and Woodbine…

“I just got back from Coffee Coffee and OMG!!!!!!  It is GORGOUS!   The name doesn’t do it justice. I had thought it was somehow linked to Pizza Pizza, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s modern and beautiful inside–spacious and airy– and instead of ceiling tiles they use burlap coffee bags adorned with the logos of fair trade coffee. Really neat. They do all their own baking and try to use organic ingredients where possible. They have breads and strudels, killer cinnamon buns. Today for lunch they’ll have lasagna and soup–it wasn’t out yet when I was there at 10. I think this is their first day open and it will be exciting to see their full product line. I spoke with Vera, who owns Coffee Coffee with her sister. Very friendly and professional.  I can’t believe that after all these years of no bakeries in this neighbourhood suddenly we have two!”

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Getting Fit And Other Cool Stuff

I’ve been meaning to write about Alisha Austin Fitness for – oh about six months now.  I’ve been procrastinating about it.  You  ever do that?  Procrastinate?  Perhaps you procrastinate about getting fit?  If you’ve been coming up with 101 reasons for not going to the gym or going for a jog or doing whatever DVD you have in your basement, you should get to know Alisha.  You might already know her.  If your kid has ever had their face magically transformed with face paint at the East Lynn Market, you’ve probably met the wonderful, talented, totally down-to-earth, Alisha Austin.

Aside from being a fabulous DECA volunteer, Alisha is also a personal trainer – but she’s no uber-pumped, intimidating iron-woman.  She’s a mom who knows what an unused gym membership looks like.  She’s not all judgmental about it.  But she can get your butt into gear.  If you’ve ever thought about a private personal trainer – you won’t find a better price than this.  And nothing will get you started like a few private sessions.  If that’s not your thing, there are other boot camp options to choose from.  The least you can do is check out the website.

Anyway – I stopped procrastinating and you can too.

Yoga

If that’s not your thing, you might try a little yoga with another DECA member,  Amanda, on Monday evenings or Friday mornings (before work) in a home-based studio on King Edward (one block east of Woodbine.)  For more contact her at simplybyamanda77@gmail.com

Honest Earl’s Bargain Basement Sale

This sale at Earl Beatty School (55 Woodington Ave – one block east of Coxwell, two blocks north of Danforth) offers gently used clothing for children and infants.  There is outerwear, sportswear and everydaywear.  The sale supports the schools eco team.  There will also be a 50/50 draw and delectable baked goods along with coffee and tea. Saturday, April 17th – 9 – 1 p.m.

Bike Sauce Fundrasier

I told you about Bike Sauce a few weeks ago.  Now they’re having a grand opening and fundraiser to get the wheels rolling.  Bike Sauce will officially open on April 17th at 717 Queen Street East (at Broadview) and they’re having a fundraiser on April 9th at Blue Moon at 725 Queen St. East.  Check out the website for more info.

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DECA Bikes!

After three years of ‘hounding’ Mary Margaret McMahon and her ilk have convinced the City to install 10 new bike racks at Woodbine subway station.  This stuff doesn’t just magically happen – somebody makes it happen…and often that someone in Mary Margaret.

1st Ever DECA Bikes! Tune Up Workshop

On Saturday, March 27th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. bring your bike to the Danforth Mennonite Church at 2174 Danforth (one block east of Woodbine on the north side) to learn how to get your bike ready for the season.  Bring your bike and pay what you can.  For more info contact Jamie Thiers 416-587-7204 after 3 p.m.  or jamiethiers@gmail.com anytime.

Bike Sauce

Give us your poor, your rusty, your jumbled mass of old bicycles….Bike Sauce will breathe new life into them.  Your donated bicycles and bike parts will be used to put more bikes on the road and help people develop bike repair skills.  Bike Sauce is an east-end volunteer-run, registered non-profit dedicated to promoting cycling in Toronto.  It has three goals:

1. To refurbish old bikes and help people learn to repair their own bikes

2. To get more people cycling

3. To advocate for better cycling in the city

Does this sound like something you want to know more about?  Something you want to help make happen?  They need volunteers of all descriptions – from bike fixers to tea-makers and cheerleaders.

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Danforth East Arts Fair Applications Now Up

Not to be confused with the Art of the Danforth Art Walk (April 23rd – May 2nd) the artists application for the Danforth East Arts Fair (Sep 18-19th) is ready!

The Danforth East Arts Fair will be held at East Lynn Park on September 18 and 19, 2010. This high-quality show grew from consistent demand for crafts at the Danforth East Community Association’s weekly farmers’ market.
Our inaugural arts fair, held in September 2009, attracted approximately 2,000 people per day. Artists from our own neighbourhood and from as far away as Peterborough and Sarnia shared their wares.  People were thrilled to have a new event in their community.
Join us this year: Grab an ice cream cone, a cappuccino or brunch, and then come wander through the park. Pick up some some soap, some new art, and maybe even a few Christmas presents to stash away early!

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Danforth Gem – Celena’s Bakery

By Gillian Grace

So fresh-pastry-starved was Danforth East, that I suspect we would have been grateful for any bakery. But Celena’s, which is having its grand opening this weekend, is not just any bakery — it’s a really good one. A worthy croissant can be hard to find in Toronto, but theirs is rich and buttery; the chocolate croissant (available only on weekends) is the decadent, Parisian ideal.

As any specs-wearing customer can attest, everything is made fresh daily, in house (to arrive on a Saturday morning is to experience temporary, albeit fragrant, blindness as your glasses fog up from the baking). An open plan kitchen lets you see the fresh loafs as they’re brought out from the oven. The interior is laid out for perfect sunny morning lolling, with lots of space for strollers and a wheelchair-accessible washroom.

It’s run by husband-and-wife team Celena and Richard, who met at the culinary management program at George Brown. Running a bakery of her own has been Celena’s dream since she was 16, and, when the couple started to get serious about their business plan, friends urged them to open in the neighbourhood. The two spent four months gut-renovating a former framing store, and soft-opened February 6th. Most mornings, they’re in the store kneading and mixing by 4:45 a.m.

So far, the whole wheat bread (baked in a tin to lend it the shape and height of a traditional sandwich loaf) is one of their more popular items, as is a roasted garlic sourdough (try it for an extra-tangy grilled cheese). Celena and Richard make all their own preserves, which they use to make the filling for their Danishes. Also much adored are their scones, which come in three kinds, blueberry-chocolate, strawberry and cheese. Place a special order for birthday cakes and larger numbers of cupcakes; individual cupcakes and smaller gâteaux are up for grabs in the fridge.

Up next? Celena’s is hoping to introduce meat and chicken pot pies, joining other savoury offerings such as a daily soup and pizza, as well as espresso, lattes and cappuccinos.

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M Cubed and Sam

If you read this blog regularly, you know at least a little bit about Mary Margaret McMahon. She’s a tireless advocate for our neighbourhood and our planet.  And today she’s on the front page of the Toronto Star. Speaking of the Star; Joe Fiorito wrote this little piece about the demise of the post office at Coxwell and Danforth this week.

Danforth Gem – Sam’s Hairstyling

Diana, one of our Farmers’ Market team sent along this recommendation for local kid hair cuts.

“There are actually 3 “Sam’s” between Monarch Park and Woodbine, but the one I go to is located beside Quattro Regazze.  Sam is a Sicilian barber, and he even has a little seat for kids to get their haircut.  My son’s haircuts are amazing.  Sam is fast (under 10 mins), precise, and has enough skill to do the job without using the scary buzzer.  My advice is to not go on a Saturday morning as the place is hopping with locals waiting to get a trim.  Daddy gets his do done there too–it’s usuaslly a dad and son morning out followeded by spaghetti at Quattro Regazze.”