Posted on

#LoveDanforthEast – show the love this week!

Do you feel love in the air? Whether or not you are pro- or anti-Valentine’s Day, getting out and enjoying the neighbourhood is a great way to embrace February.

We put a call out on our Facebook page for Valentine’s Day events – see below for what we heard back. But first, be sure to get your skates ready for the Friends of Monarch Park annual community skating party, happening tomorrow (Sunday, February 11) at 3pm.

Here are some Valentine’s Day ideas for everyone, whether you are celebrating or not! Shopping and dining locally boosts our local economy and keeps our neighbourhood vibrant and thriving. Stores we love don’t stay open unless we support them so check out these or other shops and show how much you #LoveDanforthEast!

No automatic alt text available.

Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe, 1849 Danforth

Fresh Paint + Fresh Beer Night – an evening of painting with a beer sampling with Muskoka Brewery. February 14th, 6:00-8:00pm. $48/person includes cavas, paint and beer!

Valentines Day Wine and Painting

To learn more and to buy tickets, visit: http://freshpaintstudio.ca/…/valentines-day-paint-night-2/

Dickie’s Cooking School, 87 B Cedarvale Ave (just off Danforth)

Be My Valentine! (February 14, 2018) 2 hours @ $70.00

What are you doing for Valentine’s? How about drinking, eating and cooking in a super chill kitchen? In this two-hour workshop, you will make (and then eat) appetizers, two cocktails and they will provide dessert. The menu is flexible and can accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Please outline any sensitivities or restrictions when you register. http://dickiescookingschool.com/index.php/class-schedule/

dickie's cooking school

 

Melanie’s Bistro, 1870 Danforth Ave

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, food

Offering a special Valentines Prix Fixe Menu 3 courses starting from $45  Two seatings: earlier between 5 and 6 and later at 7.30 or 8 pm. Call now for a reservation: 416-422-1870

VII Design + Gifts, 1434 Danforth Ave

No automatic alt text available.

Find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift! You will find lots of heart pillows – both square and heart-shaped, as well as LOVE pillows on sale – other great gifts (silk velvet scarves, earrings and necklaces by local artisans, Wendy Tancock t-shirts, handcrafted wood pens and shaving stands) – and they have a selection of local artist Gordana Olujic’s HEART art.

 

Oaks ‘n Acorns, 1856 Danforth

Bake & Craft workshop – live footprint keepsake cards and yummy cookies to share with those you love! $31

Visit their Facebook page for more info

Right Side Boutique, 2097 Danforth (just east of Woodbine)

Image may contain: one or more people and text

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at The Right Side Boutique this year! On February 14th, this is special event that you and your sweetheart won’t forget. The event will feature:

*A couples yoga session led by Denise Kam
* Temporary tattoos
*Guided essential oil relaxation therapy with Jill Kovacs
* Valentine’s Day treats (including gluten free vegan brownies)

Stop by the store or email us at info@therightsideboutique.ca to register! Tickets are $20.

The Nooks, 1912 Danforth Ave – TODAY!

Find your perfect gift and from 7:00-9:00pm, make a night of it!

Image may contain: text

Visit their Facebook page for more info on this and other events.

Posted on

Two great workshops & a sample sale

Wednesday night – take your pick…improve your space or learn to wear your baby? Either way, get out and take part in these great local workshops!

On Wednesday, January 24 from 7-8:30pm, come to Fresh Paint Studio and Cafe (1849 Danforth) and join professional organizer Cherie Cox, interior designer Melissa Peretti, and mortgage broker Lisa Okun to talk about how to love your home – tips, trends and great info. $5 – includes a chance to win a raffle prize.

Buy tickets and get more info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/179268622667199??ti=ia

Or register for a Babywearing workshop at Silly Goose Kids on Wednesday, Jan 24 from 7-8:30pm! Be sure to follow them for all of their events and workshops!

Email Leigh to register by clicking here.

Also, don’t miss the Saloman Sample Sale on this weekend!

Posted on

Big changes proposed for Danforth and Coxwell

Thanks to DECA’s Visioning Committee for these important updates!

The future of the Danforth TTC Garage site at Danforth & Coxwell (south/east corner) is now being determined after years of planning and visioning by many, including DECA’s Visioning Committee.

On the 24th of January, City Council will be asked to vote on a proposal to locate the future station for the Amalgamated 54/55 Police Division at the Danforth TTC Garage site at Coxwell & Danforth.

If approved, this site will be developed to house expanded TTC uses, a police station, a library as well as other cultural and public uses, which will be determined as part of the Master Plan process.

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.EX30.11

DECA looks forward to being part of the process, along with the Danforth Mosaic BIA and others in the community in working with the city and the police to realize this important city-building project in our neighbourhood.

Stay tuned!

Posted on

A new year, a new Board

 

Happy New Year!

At our recent Annual General Meeting, the DECA membership elected a stellar Board for 2018:
Gay Stephenson & Loreen Barbour (Co-Chairs)
Audrey Kvedaras (Vice Chair)
Anita Schretlen (Treasurer)
Nicole Bergot-Browning (Secretary)
Alison McMurray
Jennifer Scott
Amanda Olsen
Melissa Peretti
Rebecca Green
Brad Bradford
Lorraine Cheng

Here is a message from incoming co-Chairs Gay & Loreen:
One of the many things to love when you get involved in our neighbourhood is that it makes the world feel like a brighter place. Gathering with neighbours to work on local happenings or projects has a way of harnessing good energy and comes with the benefit of getting to know more of the people who live across the street, around the corner, or down the block.

In the coming year, DECA would like to build even more opportunities for us to connect with one another. We’d like to meet you! We’re will be continuing to host “meet and greets” before Board meetings, building on this initiative from the past couple of years. Half an hour before the meeting begins, come chat with us! Watch this blog and Facebook for meet and greet dates and times for the new year. (Hopefully you are reading this because you are a blog subscriber!) Better yet,  if you haven’t already, join DECA as a member. It’s only $10 per/family per year and you can do it online here.

Did you know that everything DECA does began as someone’s idea? From vision to reality with the support, energy and dedication of many others! Initiatives like the Farmers’ Market, the Danforth East Arts Fair, Pumpkin Parade, Festival of Lights, DECA Pride, Visioning Committee, DECA Connects, Business Revitalization Team, Pop-up Shops, Laneway Crawl and more- they all started as an idea in someone’s head.

So as we go forward into 2018, we look forward to meeting with you, sharing time and inspiration. Perhaps you, or one of your neighbours have the next big (or small) idea for our neighbourhood? We want to hear them all so let’s get to know one another in the new year! And don’t forget to let us know if you’re hosting an event in the ‘hood and we’ll help spread the word. We are entirely volunteer run so the easiest way to alert us is by tagging us on social media.
Posted on

More good things happening

My blogging break is hard to maintain when I see so much happening! Read to the end so that you don’t miss info about the upcoming public consultation for the Danforth Avenue planning study.

Oh, and a quick update to a previous post – DECA Connects discussion on empathy has been a postponed to the new year – stay tuned for details.

“Adopt a Family” Holiday Hamper Program

At this time of year, we always remind you to shop local and support local businesses. But we also have neighbours who are in need, and what better way to support them than through helping to fulfill their wish lists?

Three ways to help: make a cash donation, (get a tax receipt for anything over $25) volunteer during the week of Dec 17 to help pack or deliver the hampers, or “adopt” a family – get their wish list and shop for gifts for them (get a group together with friends, family or colleagues to make it easier!). Keisha, the coordinator, is aiming to “adopt” 100 local families this year. If you can help, here’s how to get in touch:

Keisha Cooke
Family Resource Coordinator
Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, 91 Barrington Avenue
416-698-1626, ext.  204
kcooke@accessalliance.ca
www.accessalliance.ca

Holiday in the Hood

Today from 10am-3pm! Check out Holiday in the Hood, Earl Beatty’s annual holiday craft and bake sale – this event is fun for everyone (even if you are not part of the EB community).

Little Robot Friends at Silly Goose

Come see for yourself what Little Robot Friends are all about. Sunday, December 10 from 2-5pm.

Old’s Cool Tree Lighting

December 9 from 5-8pm – check out the poster for the details of the festivities!

Planning Study Consultation, Monday Dec 11, 6:30-9:30pm

The City is holding the 4th Community Consultation Meeting on the Danforth Avenue Planning Study on Monday, December 11th at Hope United Church, 2550 Danforth Avenue, from 6:30-9:30pm.

The objective of the meeting is to review and obtain feedback from the community on the built form (building height, scale, and massing) analysis and engage in discussion about future development along our stretch of the Danforth.

DECA’s Visioning group has been working to prepare for the study for many years leading up to its launch and we continue to be a strong voice. Strong and vibrant communities have active participants. We encourage you to come out and participate and help shape the future of our neighbourhood.

For more info click here

Artisans at Work – Dec sales and events

Owner Tara Shelton has announced that she’s closing her shop at Woodbine & Danforth at the end of January. Stop on before then to pick up something lovely. Events and sales are happening too – check out the poster!