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DECA Danforth Walk – This Saturday!

DECA’s very own board member, veteren journalist and local historian, Stephen Wickens, is often asked to speak about the history of East Toronto. He’s agreed to lead a walk this weekend about the history of the Danforth how that will influence where the neighbourhood is headed and how it will get there. The walk will take about two hours, leaving from the Greenwood Tim Horton’s at 10 a.m. Steve asks that if you plan to grab a coffee, arrive a little early so the walk can start on time.

Curious? Here’s a little more to whet your appetite…

For many Torontonians, the Danforth is the main street of Riverdale or a place to eat Greek. But that covers just a small strip of this storied street, formerly known as the Second Concession, the Danforth Plank Road and The King’s Highway No. 5.

Danforth and the surrounding streets east of Pape, sometimes referred to as the “Other Danforth,” wasn’t really developed until the 1920s, partly because a series of creeks made road maintenance a nightmare, and partly because the Bloor viaduct didn’t open until after World War I. The timing meant ours was one of Toronto’s first areas in which the automobile was a major factor. But it was also very much a streetcar suburb, and our main street was an intensely thriving place until the 1960s.

The Other Danforth has always tended to be blue collar and gritty and, while it has seen hard times and empty storefronts, especially in the past four decades, the area is almost certainly about to see a wave of gentrification, investment and development. How do we as a community maximize the chances we get the type of change we want? What factors are key to making neighbourhood economies thrive?

On October 29, we’ll tackle these questions and more while walking the Upper Midway strip, from Greenwood and Danforth to Wise Guys tavern, east of Woodbine. The walk, based on the popular Other Danforth Jane’s Walk held each May since 2008, will examine forgotten history, hidden geography and the basics of urban form and healthy local economies. We’ll also discuss how this might provide opportunities for us and the people who will eventually inherit our neighbourhood.

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Mark Your Calendars

Lots to tell you about today so I’ll try to keep it short and sweeeeeet.

2011 Penultimate Farmers’ Market – Thursday, Oct 20th

O.k. have you been buying the honey crisp apples?  They’re truly unbelievable, aren’t they? And they’re the size of my head.  Moving on. The farmers will be there tomorrow. The fun will be there tomorrow. But the fabulous face painting and crafts will not be there so forewarn your butterfly princesses and your glittery spidermen that everyone will be back next week for the final (sniff) market of the season.

True Brew – Free Cake! – Until Monday, Oct 24th

Visit the True Brew cafe on the Danforth, just east of Woodbine, from now until Monday, buy a sandwich and get a free piece of cake. Need I say more?

Woodbine Heights Live Auction – Saturday, Oct.22nd 

The Woodbine Heights Baptist Church is hosting a live auction this Saturday with, what I’m sure will be, great deals for great stuff and great services. Food and drink will be served. Tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40. Kids under 12 are free. Woodbine Heights is very active in our neighbourhood. It operates a food bank, offers community meals and advocates for low-income people. The auction is 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 1171 Woodbine at Sammon. For more info, contact woodbineheights(at)gmail.com.

Move Towards Change Walk – Thursday Oct 27th

Families will be walking to raise awareness about preventing child abuse on Thursday, Oct 27th from 4:00 p.m. – 5 p.m. beginning at Teesdale Place at the Lumsden apartments in Crescent Town and walking to the Royal Canadian Legion at 9 Dawes Road where there will be a free event and discussion.

Greenwood Park Fall Festival – Saturday, Oct 29th

The Friends of Greenwood Park (FROG) invite you to enjoy the NEW playground, pumpkin painting and parade, face painting, treats, a magic show, storytelling, a campfire, lion dancers, artisans, music, best pet tricks and races at the off-leash area. How fabulous are the FROG people? Wonderful to see another group of residents throwing parties! The event runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more info, contact friendsofgreenwoodpark.frog(at)gmail.com

Green Home Fair – Saturday, Oct 29th

Save money and create a healthy home. There will be vendor displays and children’s programs throughout the afternoon. As well, there will be a session on saving energy and money from the Windfall Ecology Centre, a Q&A with Vanessa Farquharson, author of Sleeping Naked is Green and how to create a healthy home for your family and pets by the Zero Point. Bring your used batteries, bulbs and paint to be recycled. It all happens from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church at 72 Main St., north of Kingston Rd. For more info, contact greeningward32(at)gmail.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Upper Beaches Tree Tour – Sunday, Oct 30th

Join LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) and Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon for a colourful fall tree tour through Merrill Bridge Park ravine and some quirky species in the neighbourhood. Costumes are highly recommended as is a $5 donation. Register at www.yourleaf.org.

Merrill Park Dog Association ‘Howl-O-Ween’ Party – Sunday, Oct 30th

Speaking of Merrill Park, stay tuned for more information about this event.

DECA Pumpkin Parade – Tuesday, Nov 1st

East Lynn Park, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Bring your pumpkins, your candles and your cameras. We’ll handle the rest.

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Halloween Costume Sale

Getting ready for Halloween?  This Saturday the SPACE dance studio is hosting a halloween sale. They have lots of costumes looking for new homes for as little as $10. Plus there are loads of accessories. All money raised will help The SPACE produce its next musical. 1324 Danforth Ave, 416-850-1677, 2-5 p.m.

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What’s News?

First off, I’m sorry to report that the restaurant  Ten Feet Tall has closed its doors, for good, apparently.  Personal reasons.  That’s all I know. Unfortunate because it was a great spot for music and they were very committed to the neighbourhood – oh and the sweet potatoes fries were amazing.

Walking east along the Danforth, there is a new little interior design and home decor shop two doors north of Danforth on the west side of Coxwell.  It’s in the spot where Do Bamboo used to be.

As you walk by Shoppers Drug Mart, you might like to know that Canada Post is set to open an outlet in the Shoppers Drug Mart at Coxwell and Danforth.  November 8th!  Thanks to our on-the-street-reporter, Susan, for that bit of news.

Keep walking east along the Danforth and right beside Carter’s Ice Cream is a new cafe called Circus Coffee. Street reporters, Susan tells me that it is very cool and that Ron, the owner, is an interesting guy with interesting food and drinks!  He also owns Circus Books – a lovely used book store at Danforth and Jones.

Keep walking on the north side of the Danforth until you hit Silly Goose Kids, the fabulous new toy store beside the De Serres art store at Woodbine.  Silly Goose is selling beautiful toys, books and baby gear. There is a train table in the back and there will soon be mummy/daddy and baby activities as well.  Owners, Shamie and Tracy are friendly and helpful and so incredibly delighted to be in the neighbourhood.

Last stop, just past Woodbine is True Brew Cafe. It was written up with rave reviews in the Toronto Star today.

Don’t forget our Harvest Festival on Thursday, featuring the delectable dishes of Food Network host and Chef, Lynn Crawford. Lynn will be at the market from 3-7 p.m. with food and wine. Come one, come all.

One last thing!  We really need some donations to help pay for painting the wading pool.  For every $5 you donate on Thursday night to the pool fund, your name will be entered to win $50 market bucks!

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A Grand Thanks – Danforth East Arts Fair

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It goes without saying that the third annual Danforth East Arts Fair was a hit. Even Mother Nature cooperated by holding off on the rain so 50 artisans, musicians and food vendors could take over East Lynn Park for a wonderful community event.

It also goes without saying that these events don’t just come together by themselves. A core group of volunteers worked for nine months to bring it all together — and many, many more helped out in the days leading up to and during the fair. Thank-yous are in order. And so, without further adieu, we say thank you to the following amazing people:

For the past three years Mary Vallis has led this amazing initiative from concept to creation. She’s endured every headache and she deserves much of the glory.  But she most certainly did not do it alone.  A core group of people have been planning this event for a year including: Melanie Ramsay, Julie Glick, Fernand Ciraco, Heather Bell Denison and Honey Dacanay.

Postering: Mike Riley

Web support: Lesley Westheuser

Stunning graphic design (posters and ads): Marie Rampino and Andrea Crofts

Weekend volunteers: The aforementioned, along with Sheri Hebdon, Cindy Rozeboom, Paul the New Guy, Catherine Porter, Jessica Schmiedchen,  Lorraine Cheng, Anita Schretien, Eric Denison, Alison McMurray and more.

Countless more people also helped out — some of whom asked to remain anonymous, and others who we have likely inadvertently forgotten. Even so, we thank you too, and ask for apologies if we’ve made an oversight.

Next up, our sponsors: A huge thanks goes out to our media sponsor, Toronto Community News, as well as  De Serres, Toronto Hydro, Starbucks and the new Danforth toy store Silly Goose Kids, who provided free arts and crafts activities for children during the fair.

Most importantly, we’d like to thank each and every person who turned out to support the arts. You’re the reason there is an arts fair — you asked for  it, so we created it. Stay tuned for an even bigger and better show next September.