Danforth East Arts Fair 2014 – Call for artists and craftspeople!

Call for artists and craftspeople: Early bird deadline is April 13!

Early bird application deadline is less than a month away – April 13th, 2014 is soon upon us! Painters, Jewellers, Photographers, Clothing Designers, Woodworkers, Potters and every creative person in between – show us what you do! We want to hear from you.

The Danforth East Arts Fair (DEAF) is a juried outdoor arts and crafts fair in East Lynn Park in mid-September. Now in its 6th year, DEAF 2014 will take place on September 13 & 14. This early bird deadline will save you $25 off the application fee ($175 instead of $200).

Go to the DEAF website for more information and to download the vendor application form.

For more information, drop a line to the fabulous DEAF team: deca.arts@gmail.com

November 2, 2013

Are you in touch with your City Councillor?

Engaging your Local Councillor

Unless you are living under a rock, chances are that you are more aware of municipal politics than ever before. Municipal politics are about more than just the headlines on the evening news. It matters to us to know what is happening in our neighbourhood, and who better to hear it from than our elected officials?

If you haven’t done so, contact your local Councillor and ask them to add you to their email list, so that you get all their news and updates. Consider signing up for more than one email newsletter!

Here are the email contacts and websites for the four Councillors in DECA’s borders:

Mary Fragedakis, Ward 29: councillor_fragedakis@toronto.ca
http://maryfragedakis.com/

Paula Fletcher, Ward 30: councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca
http://paulafletcher.ca/

Janet Davis, Ward 31: councillor_davis@toronto.ca
http://www.councillordavis.com

Mary-Margaret McMahon, Ward 32: councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca
http://www.councillormcmahon.com

If you don’t know which Ward you live in, click here to search by address.

Here are three events that Councillor Davis talked about in her recent newsletter:

What’s Happening in the Ravine? November 4, 2013 @ 7:00pm

The residents of Ward 31 are privileged to have excellent access to the ravines in the Don River watershed. Our Taylor Creek and ET Seaton Parks have some of the most popular recreational trails and unspoiled natural features in the City. But the ravines also contain some of the largest and oldest sewer infrastructure and most polluted water in the GTA . Our ravines are busy places that contain important infrastructure that thousands rely on every day.

Many people contact our office regularly to find out “what’s happening in the ravine.” Whether it’s construction noise or storm damage; smelly outfalls or discoloured water; bank erosion or closed washrooms, broken stairs or litter, muddy paths or damaged bridges, I know you and thousands of others care deeply about this special green oasis.

I have invited staff from City Parks, Water, and Transportation (cycling) departments and Toronto Region Conservation Authority to share information and answer your questions about City initiatives underway or planned in the parks and ravines of Taylor Massey Creeks, East Don and Don River. Whether you live on a ravine property or simply enjoy walking your dog here, I hope you can join us to learn more about:

What’s Happening In the Ravine?
Monday, November 4, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Presteign-Woodbine United Church
16 Presteign Avenue

Child Care Parent Summit – Register on November 4 to Participate

Recent media stories about the shortage, cost and quality of child care have highlighted the persistent problems facing parents in Toronto. Almost 75% of women are working; yet only 25% of their children are in regulated, inspected child care arrangements. Many parents are forced to use care of questionable quality, while others make trade-offs like shift work and a patchwork of arrangements with family and friends. Others simply give up.

Child care can cost the same as a mortgage or use up an entire second income. Fees for an infant or toddler can be as high as $25,000 per year. Over 19,000 low and moderate income families in Toronto are eligible for financial support for their child care; but they sometimes wait years to find a space and get a subsidy.

Toronto’s economic future depends on a workforce ready and able to contribute; and adequate affordable child care is a pre-requisite for any workforce development strategy. And, of course, our children deserve and need good quality care to succeed in school and life.

The challenges for parents to find and pay for child care is not new – but we want to hear from you! This year Council supported my motion to hold a Parent Summit. We want to find new ways to hear what parents need and want for their children in early childhood education and care. Please pencil in these dates and places. Registration opens Monday, November 4 at www.toronto.ca/parentsummit. Hope you can make it.

Thursday, November 21st, 2013: North and South Summits
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
North Summit Location: North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
South Summit Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St.

Saturday, November 23rd, 2013: East and West Summits
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
East Summit Location: Chinese Cultural Centre, 5183 Sheppard Ave. East
West Summit Location: Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall

Ward 31 Budget Consultation – November 27

Save the date! Councillor Janet Davis’ Ward 31 Budget Consultation will be on Wednesday, November 27, 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Wadlow Clubhouse, 373 Cedarvale Avenue. Please join me to get information and share your priorities for the proposed 2014 City budget.

January 18, 2013

Farewell to Cozy Cafe

We are so sad to tell you that Cozy Cafe at 2075 Danforth Ave will be closing their doors this weekend. Our sources tell us that tomorrow (Saturday) will be their last day of operation. Evidently, they were unable to renew their lease.

Many of you will recall that DECA and the rest of the community rallied to save Cozy a while back, when they were struggling to keep up with the bills. (click here to read about those efforts)

If you want the best egg and cheese sandwich ever, stop in for brunch tomorrow – and don’t forget to leave room for a cinnamon bun!

To Vera and Slavica, we thank you for always greeting your customers with a smile, a story, and so much kindness. We will miss your beautiful baked goods, and your home-cooked meals; but most of all we will miss you!

Follow DECAdiaries on our new twitter account – @DECAdiaries

December 21, 2012

Artisans at Work and Silly Goose in the News!

Artisans-at-Work…are workin’ late tonight!

In addition to the pop-up shops we posted about yesterday, we wanted to highlight a new business that has opened up on the heels of the success of the pop-up initiative. The Artisans-At-Work store and studio is located at 2071 Danforth. Many, many artists and artisans selling their handmade creations until 10:00 p.m. tonight (December 21). It is the longest night of the year, so might as well spend it shopping!! Here is a note from owner Tara:

Late Night Shopping on the Danforth!

From 4pm until 10pm Friday Dec 21!!

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Artisans-At-Work

Presents:

A quality Arts & Crafts Show with 25 artists!!

2071 Danforth

(balloons on south side at Woodbine, just west of Pizza Pizza!)

Drop in tonight for some Egg Nog, Punch & Yummy treats!!

All quality, handmade items!

Featuring Baby Bibs, Ornaments, Toys, Jewellery(many kinds), Wood art, Stone mosaics, Knitted hats, Scarves, funky baby onesies, Winter Ponchos & Fancy Hair Clips

and oh…so much more!

Also open all this weekend: Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd

9:00am to 6:00pm

Stay tuned for our grand opening in the New Year!

After renovations, we will be an artisan’s gift shoppe, with 7 workstudios, and a Community Room for all sorts of events, monthly licensed open house evenings, children & adult art classes and all types of workshops! Have an idea to hold one, or attend one?

Please click here to be included in our upcoming invites, services & newsletters!

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Silly Goose Kids does it again!

On the topic of amazing stores in our neighbourhood, Silly Goose Kids’ owner Shamie was recently interviewed for an article in the Toronto Star about the more realistic doll from the UK called “Lottie”. Somehow, Shamie and co-owner Tracey have managed to get the dolls into the store just in time for the holidays. (Maybe those magic kits they sell really work?) If you have “liked” their Facebook page, you will already have reserved yours!

If you have any hard-to-buy-for kids or adults on your list, go to SGK. All of the staff are informed and helpful, and will offer expert advice to help you zero in on the perfect gift. There is lots of stuff that grown-ups would like too – like watches, retro toys, board games and more!

Silly Goose Kids’ hours to Christmas are Friday 9:30am-7pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm, and Monday 9:30pm-3pm.

October 12, 2012

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!

September 13, 2012

A crafty request, the return of the Eggy Wegg depot and beer week!

Attention all reusers and recyclers!

Our queen of crafts, Mrs. Darling, is a little short on glass and plastic bottles for this weekend’s Danforth East Arts Fair crafts, particularly for Saturday. So before you throw any jars or bottles in the blue bin, can you put them in a bag and bring them with you to today’s East Lynn Farmers’ Market? They can be dropped at the Kid’s Kourner. Or bring them to the Art’s Fair and drop them off at the craft tent or the DECA table.

Thanks! Mrs. Darling appreciates it so very much!!!!

Eggsiting News!

This is a message from Alysa aka ‘the eggy wegg lady’!

The fantastic West Lynn Eggy Wegg depot is now back after a brief summer hiatus.

Since February of this year over 400 dozen of some of the healthiest, freshest and most ethical eggs one can eat has passed through the depot into the hands of our neighbours. The eggs come from Hope Eco Farms in Aylmer. They are hard to find in stores and normally are sold for up to 25% more than we can get them through the depot.

Through the profit share, we were able to give almost $100 to a local not-for-profit that one of our neighbours is starting that helps children with hard-to-treat skin diseases.

If you would like to take a stroll every week to pick up these beautiful happy chicken eggs that have been laid within 6 days of being delivered, click here to contact Alysa.

Beer Week!

On September 17th, a Beer Week pub crawl will include a visit to Sarah’s, in our neck of the woods. Click here for details.

On September 19th, another beer-related event will take place at Morgan’s, just outside the DECA zone, but close enough that some of us might want to check it out! Click here for details.

Let’s keep patio season going!!