Gledhill school’s family fest is taking place Friday, June 8, between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the school yard. There will be bouncy castles, BBQ, pony rides and petting zoo, carnival games, crafts, face painting, a speed chess tournament, and much, much more!
O.k. we’re going to play a game here. If you’re reading this on some teeny mobile device, you might want to check it out on something bigger. Ready?
1. Spot the difference in these two photos.
If you said anything about flowers, trees, greenery of any kind, give yourself one point.
2. Spot the difference in these two photos.
If you said, one is a much-vandalized wall at Main St. and Stephenson and one is a brand new beautiful mural depicting that corner from years gone by, give yourself 5 points.
3. Last one. Spot the difference.
If you said the picture on the left is Ashbridge’s Bay beach and the picture on the right is the fabulous East Lynn Farmers’ Market, give yourself 10 points and go buy DECA board member, Tak Bui’s, new book, Spot The Difference, in which these two puzzle pictures appear along with many others.
Tak is actually responsible for all of the above achievements. With some help from DECA, he successfully lobbied the City to improve the landscaping at Main and Stephenson. Working with a few young artists, Tak painted the fantastic new mural at the same spot to try and deter vandals (it was tagged the first day, but Tak has since fixed it). He’s also been creating three community gardens in the same area that have fostered community involvement and made that space less inviting for criminals and more inviting for other community members. In his free time, he lead a team of DECA board members to create some fabulous DECA t-shirts (available at the farmers’ market) and paint an incredible whale mural on the wading pool at Stephenson Park playground.
Now count up your points. You win!
Thank you to Julie Graham for this post about the tropical birds we can spot in our back yards!
Keep your ears open while walking and your eyes on the treetops while not, and right now you may well see tiny, flitting birds working the leaves in any good-sized tree. Get your old binoculars out and you’ll more easily see flashes of brilliant yellow and orange.
These are migrating warblers, and warm southerly winds brought a huge wave of them in to Toronto on May 3 just before our first thunderstorm of the year. There are dozens of kinds of these little birds in eastern North America, and many are long distance migrants who return to us from the southern US, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Many are just passing through the Great Lakes en route to our northern boreal forests, whose moist, treed and buggy expanse is a perfect place to raise the next generation. But some will stay with us in Southern Ontario through August and September before turning south again.
Between 7 and 9 each morning in late spring, the sun stirs the bugs and these famished travelers get to work. Their songs aren’t as sweet or as strong as their names might imply, but their high pitched, delicate songs are worth a listen and can help identify these restless birds. Birders from all over the world consider the Great Lakes a gold mine for wood warblers, and thanks to the many mature trees in our city parks, ravines, streets and backyards, we have lots of opportunity to see birds that are a rarity for most of the world.
An hour in Monarch Park Friday morning found these warblers:
black and white; blackburnian; yellow rumped; palm (running over the grass, no less); black throated green; Nashville; chestnut sided; and blackpoll.
In addition, look for white-crowned and white-throated sparrows as they too pass through for the north. Woodland birds like hermit thrushes will also pop up in your backyard at ground level; they are easy prey for cats during the long, tiring journey of migration so try to limit your cat’s daylight outdoor time through the spring.
If you need help identifying birds, check out Cornell University’s online guide.
Dog walkers and other semi-early risers should luck out with some good sightings, but be prepared to crane your neck and to spend a little time concentrating on what you’re seeing and hearing. Take a little time to wonder at tiny creatures who weigh only a few grams and yet manage to make a journey of thousands of kilometres not once but twice a year. And all they ask of us are trees, clean air and water, and a little space.
From May 20 – June 10, 2012, Danforth Avenue between Greenwood and Cedarvale will host: 36 large site-specific installations, four hands-on workshops, 20 stores turned mini-galleries, and over 50 walking tours, on-the-fly events and performances. All activities are free, accessible and open to all.
AoD 2012 boasts everything from surprising installations from some of Toronto’s most cutting-edge artists to projects that will let you, your family and your friends participate in whimsical arts activities. Come and…
· throw paint at total strangers,
· interact with a store window,
· learn how to yarn-bomb,
· join a walking tour led by two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet,
· host arts curios in your own home,
· empty the contents of your pockets and tell a story
… and see east Toronto in a whole new light.
Projects, schedule and map are now online: www.artofthedanforth.com. Please check it out and please share… we’re depending on YOU to spread the word!
UPCOMING dates of import:
May 20 is our kick-off. Join us in our two opening activities:
· DECA Make a Joyful Noise Parade in East Lynn Park – 11am – dress up, bring your noisemakers and help us make some noise!
· 10 minute paint fight on Ladysmith Avenue. Gather at Danforth & Ladysmith at 12:30 pm. Fight starts at 1pm SHARP so don’t be late! Wear white!
How you can participate?
· Volunteer! We need all sorts of people to help set up, maintain exhibits and generally hang out with us and have fun. If you’re interested, please email Daniel at volunteer@artofthedanforth.com
· We’re looking for stuff to borrow (or just plain take): a ladder, leftover paint / primer and painting supplies.
· Come out, enjoy our activities and SPREAD THE WORD!
In other news:
Artists / Artisans: the early-bird deadline for the Danforth East Arts Fair is May 18. Apply now and save some cash! http://www.deca-arts.ca/
Jane’s Walks are this weekend and we at DECA are big fans of learning about your neighbourhood by walking through it.
DECA’s own, Stephen Wickens, is leading his very popular walk – The Other Danforth – on Saturday, May 5th at 10 a.m. It starts at the Wise Guys pub and ends at the Linsmore Tavern. For more on Steve and what you might learn, visit the East End Pioneer blog, here.
If you want to head a little further south, you can get the scoop on poop with Councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon and assorted friends. She’ll start out at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th with Tap To Toilet where you’ll learn all you ever wanted to know about the Ashbridge’s Bay water treatment plant and “some exciting new ideas for eco-engineering the future of sanitation and toilets”. If that doesn’t scare you enough, join Mary-Margaret and Gene Domagala at 7:30 p.m. for a Spooky Ghost Tour of St.John’s Cemetery. Bring your flashlight!
Is There A Doctor In The House?
For the last two years we’ve been watching a building rise out of the former O’Conner Brothers funeral home at 1871 Danforth Ave. The South East Family Health Team has now opened its doors and is accepting new patients.
Monarch Park Pool
Do you know that you can swim at the Monarch Park C.I. indoor pool? Lessons, masters swim programs and mommy and me programs are offered by Jack of Sports, Beaches Swim School, H2Ofit and Family Fun Fit. And you can drop in to community swim Fridays and all-girls swims on Tuesdays. Read more about all of the above here.
Hirut Hoot
May I be the first (but certainly not the last) to say, ‘May the fourth be with you.’ And I always like to follow up with, ‘And also with you.’ Because that’s the good church-goer that I am. Anyway, that’s the theme of tomorrow night’s comedy show at Hirut restaurant. Eat, drink and laugh. Starts at 9 p.m.
Shoes!
The Bata Shoe Museum is taking it’s show on the road this weekend. Staff from the museum will be at the Danforth Coxwell library with a number of different shoes for touching (a sealskin boot and a shoe made from a tire for example). They’ll have great stories and kids (and adults I suppose) can make a shoe-shaped magnet to take home.
Beaches Studio Tour
Many local artists will be showing at the Beaches Studio Tour this weekend. Who? When? Where? It’s all right here for your perusing.
Ward 32 Environment Day
Mark your calendars for the next Environment Day at the Ted Reeve Arena parking lot. Drop off old paint cans and other untoward household hazards, pick up compost, learn about neighbourhood groups, get your bike tuned up and enjoy some hot dogs and good music. That’s right, garbage and dirt can be fun! May 17th, 4-8 p.m.
DECA Kids Gear Sale
Thank you to everyone who bought a table and everyone bought some stuff and everyone who bought a cookie for DECA’s first Kids Gear Sale. Aside from reusing and recycling and having a good time, we raised $170 for the community gardens and mural project at Stephenson Park at Danforth and Main. If you’re interested in learning more about that project and maybe getting your hands a little dirty, contact Tak at artattak(at)total.net.
And finally…
Thank you to all of you who took part in community clean up events a few weeks ago. Our neighbourhood is so fortunate have so many people who willingly give up a Saturday morning to help out.
