What To Get For Your Favourite Community Blogger?

It can be difficult.  What is the right gift for the woman who sends you news you can use in your own neighbourhood?  A woman who toils away in front of her computer night after night just so you can be the first to know what’s happening and where?  Wink wink.

Tak Bui decided to send me this fabulous electronic christmas card.  And I thought I would share it with you….gracious gal that I am.

Of course, you can never go wrong with jewellery.  Fine Silver Girl is hosting another open house from 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at 48 Woodington this Saturday.  Fine Silver Girl, aka Heather, also offers various classes including a adult and child classes.  Check out her calendar.

You may also want to check out Karen Franzen and friends.  They’re selling artwork, jewellery, quilts, functional ceramics and tiles, home-baked cookies at 3 Wembley Drive, 2 blocks east of Coxwell and upper Gerrard St.  Karen will also be offering 7 week pottery classes and tile painting workshops in her studio beginning in January.

(Note for people buying presents for women – especially men who aren’t always that adept at choosing the pefect gift – a pottery class is a really really good present.) Why?  Because not only do many of us ladies harbour secret fantasies about making pottery, it is also a little bit of that glorious ‘me time’ that we so crave but have trouble carving out for ourselves.  Take it from me and put this one in the stocking.

Speaking of pottery, on January 1st, 2011, LucScultpure will celebrate four years at its location at 663 Greenwood.  Luc is committed to this community and to the arts, locally and beyond and if you’ve never wandered into the building just steps north of the Danforth on Greenwood, now is the perfect time.  There are arts items for sale from $2 – $200 available until Jan. 2nd.  Gift certificates (for pottery classes and other things) are available.  But Luc also throws some pretty cool parties there.  From Jam sessions (Friday, Dec. 17th $5) to the ‘Lost Soul Party’ on New Year’s Eve ($10!).  It’s a warm, welcoming environment to wander into.

Other local gifts that might tempt you? I’ve just bought a lovely gift bag of delectable foodie goodies at Royal Beef.  I’d like to keep it for myself, but I won’t.  Also, Cozy Cafe has the most delightful meringue cream chocolate ‘trees’ and I will certainly be giving those as a gift in the near future.  If you have other ideas, post them here.

Carmelina Condominiums

Perhaps you feel that any of the things I’ve mentioned just aren’t significant enough to fully convey to your favourite blogger how much you appreciate her?  You would like to get her something really special…something big?  Maybe a condo would be what you’re looking for?  The big hole at Danforth and  Coxwell now boasts a big blue fence and a big sign advertising Carmelina Condominiums.  But really, you shouldn’t have.

Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association

On December 8th, the BIA held its Annual General Meeting and elected it’s new board members.  They are ‘nominees’ until approved by community council in January.

Aurelio Acquaviva
Maria Acquaviva
Tanveer Arif
Peter Dekoulos
Jordan Ison
Banchi Kindie
Mehmet Korkmaz
Carmelo Lorefice
Enza Lorefice
Litsa Kostouros
Jason Manos
Pat Silver
Victor Singh
Nick Sissakis
Yared Tibebu
Asres Yirga

Arts And More Arts

Shop Local

T’is the season for shopping locally and there are any number of ways to do it as you will see below.  Don’t forget to share your local shopping tips with the rest of us and check out what others have already posted – here.

Madame Gateaux – is a new shop at 2034 Danforth, just west of Woodbine. Owner, Noel Yim, is a George Brown -trained pastry chef who has worked at the Windsor Arms Hotel and as Head Pastry Chef at Humber college.  The shop sells a large selection of baking utensils and ingredients and is offering a range of classes for both hobbyists and professionals.  There are a number of Christmas-themed classes coming up including gingerbread houses and cookies, yule logs, sticky toffee, fruit cake and tarts and cookies.

Cozy Cafe and Bakery – on the southwest corner of Danforth and Woodbine , is starting extended holiday hours as of Monday, November 29th.  Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Don’t forget their homemade frozen food section!

Fine Silver Girl


Heather Bell Denison (a.k.a Fine Silver Girl) was one of the volunteers on the organizing committee and also one of the vendors at the Danforth East Arts Fair.  She’s hosting a studio show and sale on Saturday, Dec. 11th from 3 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. at her studio at 48 Woodington Ave (near Coxwell and Danforth). She also offers a number of classes.  Information about all of this and more is on her website at www.finesilvergirl.com

Tyke Threads

Tykethreads.com is a local online shop for hip boys clothes.  But, owner, Grace Sanchez MacCall is hosting a ‘pop-up’ store sale Dec. 10-12th at 1390 Danforth (east of Greenwood) from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Cash only.

Art Needed!

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon would like some children’s seasonal artwork for holiday (electronic) cards and to hang in the office.  If you have a kid in your house who can help, send your approx. 5″x7″  drawings to 100 Queen St. W. M5H 2N2 by Dec. 15th.

Music Festival

From the brains and the brawn who brought you the Art of the Danforth, there is another project afoot – an Ethiopian/African music festival in 2011.  Working with some of the business owners along the Danforth, Cindy Rozeboom and her band of merry art-makers are planning on musical community workshops leading up to a day- and night-long bridge-building event.  If you are interested in helping with the organization of this project, contact Cindy at info(at)artsimperative.ca