Jane’s Walks – This weekend!


Grab your umbrellas and join your neighbours on these amazing and informative walks on Saturday!

The 10th-annual Death and Life of Upper Midway walk 

2301 Danforth Avenue, Wise Guys (Canvas Condos), Led by Stephen Wickens (former DECA Board member!)

May 6, 2017, 10:00 AM, 2 Hours

About This Walk:

Learn all about Danforth east of Pape, sometimes referred to as the “Other Danforth,” and how it wasn’t really developed until the 1920s, after the First World War ended and the Bloor viaduct opened. The Other Danforth has always tended to be blue collar and gritty. And while it has seen hard times, especially in the past five decades, the area is on the rebound with rising house prices, new investment, interesting businesses and development proposals..

It’s also part of a larger area that is the subject of an ongoing City Planning Avenues study. How do we as a community maximize the chances that we get the type of change we want? What factors are key to making neighbourhood economies thrive? How do we ensure that our sidewalks become more welcoming, pleasant and useful?

The walk will  concentrate on the history and character of the two main Upper Midway Danforth intersections (Woodbine and Coxwell), as well as the three lost creeks that once crossed this stretch of the Danforth — creeks that still affect the way land is used.

Two bits of reading material that Steve says should help you get the most out of this walk:

http://worldwidewickens.com/?p=756

http://worldwidewickens.com/?p=839

For the full description: http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/death-and-life-upper-midway/


Eat Danforth East – A Cross-cultural Food Walk  

2036 Danforth Ave: Royal Beef/Celena’s Bakery/ Moberly Natural Foods, Led by Phil Pothen

May 6, 2017, 1:00 PM, 2 Hours

About This Walk:

Meeting on the north side of Danforth at Moberly Foods (2036 Danforth Ave) the group will spend two hours moving east towards Main Street visiting local shops you may have passed many times before without noticing the culinary delights hidden inside. From injera bread to salted licorice, discover more special treats our neighborhood has to offer. 

From the Jane’s Walk description, this walk will ask the question: Could supporting your local, independant “ethnic” grocer help make the difference between integration and cultural appropriation?

For the full description: http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/east-danforth-east-culinary-walking-tour/

For info on other east end walks and walks around the city, visit the Jane’s Walk website!
 

100 in 1 Day & Local Jane’s Walks

Local Jane’s Walks this weekend

Have you ever wanted to combine a history or social studies class with phys ed.? Jane’s Walk is exactly that.  But the best part is you don’t even realize you’re in phys ed! There are three Jane’s Walks happening in our neighbourhood this weekend, each with it’s own flair. For more about other Jane’s Walks happening, check out janeswalk.org .

Toronto has a Main Street? | May 1, 1015 | 6:00 PM

e3d1cf69ee54bf7c66ff6d582e79c06c_f761In the late 19th-century, the East Toronto rail yard brought settlement and steady employment to the Main Street area of Toronto.  When rail operations moved elsewhere in the early 20th-century, it tore a gap in the fabric of the community.  In the early part of the 20th-century, the Ford Motor Company brought skilled jobs, relative prosperity and suburban growth.  By the early 1950s, Ford had moved its plant to Oakville, thus tearing another gap. In 1968, the subway arrived, ushering in a new era and a promise of a return to prosperity. Using a combination of archival photos and storytelling, we’ll learn how this neighbhourhood has evolved in the past 130 years, and where it is headed in the future.

The Death and Life of Upper Midway | May 2, 2015 | 10:00 AM

44f1df215b8bf284a30f01114ce9cc35_f1608For many Torontonians, the Danforth is the main street of Riverdale or a place to eat Greek. But that image 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 east of Pape, often referred to as the “Other Danforth,” wasn’t really developed until the 1920s, after the First World War ended and the Bloor viaduct opened. The Other Danforth has always tended to be blue collar and gritty. And while it has seen hard times, especially in the past four decades, the area is almost certainly on the leading edge of a wave of gentrification, investment and development.

How do we as a community maximize the chances that we get the type of change we want? What factors are key to making neighbourhood economies thrive? How do we ensure that our sidewalks become more welcoming and pleasant and useful?

A good starting point would be to read (or reread) the first three Jane Jacobs books — especially the first: The Death and Life of Great American Cities. A good second step would be to join us for the eighth annual Upper Midway Jane’s Walk, as we try to understand how and why this stretch of the Danforth developed as it did, what made it a thriving pedestrian-friendly place for so long, and why it slipped into decline. The idea is to identify factors and lessons from the past to foster discussion and to help serve as guides for the future. Along the way, we hope to show you a lot of good reasons to get into the habit of putting your feet and your eyes on the street.

Midway was largely a default name for the area between the City of Toronto (whose eastern boundary was at the Ashbridge’s Creek, just east of Greenwood) and the Town of East Toronto (whose western boundary crossed Danforth about a half kilometre east of Woodbine). In its entirety, Midway, which was annexed by the city in 1909, ran down almost to Queen. This walk will focus on Upper Midway, which was north of the Grand Trunk Railway tracks, as well as the former Church of England Glebe lands north of Danforth.

We’re going to concentrate on the history and character of the three main Upper Midway intersections (Woodbine, Coxwell and Greenwood), as well as the three lost creeks that crossed this stretch of the Danforth — creeks that still affect the way land is used.

East Danforth East – A Culinary Walking Tour | May 1 2015 2:00 PM | May 2 2015 2:00 PM

32feb834dd21966792233fdc7ee4ffcc_f2690East of Danforth East, the cafes, gastro-pubs, artisan studios, pop-up shops, and social enterprises give way to offerings that are much more esoteric, but every bit as interesting. From banana flowers and injera to giant catfish and dozens of herbs and spices you’ve never heard of, the bustling and emphatically un-gentrified eastern reaches of the Danforth present a cornucopia of culturally-specific fare that can pass unnoticed by residents en-route to the big-chain supermarket. Participants will be introduced to some of the lesser-known food products and culinary ingredients available at local fruit markets, bakeries, butchers, fish markets and grocers, and invited to broaden our palates by incorporating them in our own household cuisines. Along the way, we’ll be invited to broaden our thinking on just what ingredients make for a healthy and desirable neighborhood. The posted walk for 2pm, May 1st, is an Open Dress Rehearsal. Please be prepared for a lot of stammering and awkwardness!

100 in 1 Day for Danforth East

Have a little idea for a better city and healthier community? Be a part of the 100in1Day event on June 6th, 2015.   100In1Day is a day where hundreds people get together around of small acts of change to improve their neighbourhoods. There will be a public brainstorming workshop held on Wednesday May 6th (6-8 PM) at the Danforth/Coxwell Library to come up with an urban intervention to roll out as a part of 100In1Day for Danforth East on Saturday, June 6th.

Register for this FREE workshop at here and see the poster below for more details.

100In1Day_WorkshopPromo_May6

Upcoming community meetings and events!

Carmelina Condo Info Night – April 30, 2013 (Tonight!)

Ward 32 Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon has organized an info night with the developers of the Carmelina Condos (Woodbine & Danforth) – TONIGHT at the Danforth/Coxwell Library – 1675 Danforth Avenue at 6:30 – 8:15 p.m.  

Bells on Danforth – May 11, 2013

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Silent Mini-Quilt Auction Fundraiser – May 8, 2013

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55 Division Town Hall – May 15, 2013 – (UPDATED!)

town hall meeting zone 3 AND 4 MAY 15th 2013  final FOR PAT

Don’t forget about this Saturday’s Jane’s Walk in our neighbourhood with DECA’s own Steve Wickens @ 10:00 a.m.! For more details, click here

A Lot Goes On Around Here In May

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.

All singers and players are welcome to a weekly music jam at Hirut restaurant at 2050 Danforth, half a block west of Woodbine. Players and listeners can drop in anytime on Saturdays between 2 and 6 p.m. Call 416- 551-7560 for more info.

National Grilled Cheese Day.

Today is an American holiday celebrating grilled cheese sandwiches. The Toronto Star featured the best five grilled cheeses in the city and one of them was right here at our very own True Brew Cafe.

“Silvia Marga, the restaurant’s chef and owner layers seven-grain bread with creamy goat cheese, sliced tomato, Costco pesto and chopped green onions before warming it in a panini press.”

And sticking with the Toronto Star, it called our little neighbourhood a real estate hot spot.

Calling All Gardeners! 

Interested in growing your own food this summer? Applications are now being accepted at a brand new community garden project at The Church of the Resurrection on Woodbine and Milverton Blvd, affectionately known as The Rez. The Rez has generously offered their prime gardening space to community members to have their own individual plot within the garden.  The Garden at the Rez committee is excited to be creating a local gathering place where people can grow food and beautifying a space that can be used for community events.   For more information about getting involved check out the www.gardenattherez.com website or email Miranda at gardenattherez@gmail.com.

Jane’s Walk

DECA’s very own amateur (but extremely interesting and knowledgeable) urbanist, Steven Wickens is leading the Other Danforth Jane’s Walk starting at 10 a.m. on May 5th at Wise Guys at 2301 Danforth. Steve has been doing these walks for the last few years and the reviews are always terrific. Here’s a taste….

For many Torontonians, the Danforth is the main street of Riverdale or a place to eat Greek food. But that image 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 east of Pape, often referred to as the “Other Danforth,” wasn’t really developed until the 1920s, after the Bloor viaduct opened. The Other Danforth has always tended to be blue collar and gritty.  And while it has seen hard times, especially in the past four decades, the area is almost certainly about to see a wave of gentrification, investment and development.

Community Clean Up

Join the Earl Beatty Community for the annual Community Clean Up Day on Saturday, April 21st from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at the front of the school and from there teams will scour the area around the school and community centre: north to Milverton, south to Danforth, west to Coxwell, east to Glebemount and the streets in between. We also tidy the school yard, our nearest green space.

The city suggests bringing small bags from home to participate, but rakes, brooms and dustpans are helpful and wearing garden gloves is suggested. Hope to see you there. And if you have another local clean up to mention, post it here on the blog or send it to me and I will.

Send Us Your Bell Boxes!

Or at least the pictures of your Bell Box.  Do you know of a Bell electrical box that could use some art? We’re trying (trying!) to see if we can’t get some art on to these boxes.  It would make them less likely to be vandalized and more likely to be pretty.  First, we need your help to send in a picture of your box and its location. They should be in this neighbourhood, but they don’t necessarily have to be within our formal boundaries.  So send  your pics to natasha.granatstein(at)gmail.com.  Thanks!