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Activities galore!

Fall is that magical time of year when the leaves change, the days darken, and we all have to think about what kinds of activities we are going to undertake for the year. (If you are like me, you were frantically trying to sign up your kids for swimming lessons this morning at 7am!) Here are a few options in the neighbourhood…

East End Music Project
(non-profit music program for kids on Tuesdays)

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Miranda from the East End Music Project sent this note along:

I run the East End Music Project (I do this out of LOVE as a volunteer), which is a very cool social purpose music school in the East End.

The project is taught by professional musicians and educators with instruction at a very high level. The social purpose part of it is that all the class fees are geared to income. Our focus is on collaboration and working together in the classes. It is a fabulous opportunity. I have a couple of spots available because I’ve hired more teachers to increase our capacity. We would love to have your families join us.

If you’ve ever thought about music lessons, this is a great way to get involved in a social purpose enterprise, support local musicians, and participate in something really special. Your kids will also get a stellar music experience. All classes are subsidized. No restrictions on who can apply! Check out www.eemp.ca to see what classes still have availability. Thanks!

Are you ready to sing?

Some locals, Sarah and Damaris, are starting a new choir and would like YOU to join! Registration form is here and some additional details are below.

choir poster-01

Pegasus Studios

SO many classes, so little time. What can we say about Pegasus? It’s music, dance, art, choir, yoga – stuff for kids, adults, kids and adults together – if you don’t know about this neighbourhood institution, you should. www.pegasusstudios.com

Fitness

We have been so lucky to have so many new fitness-related businesses open up in this neighbourhood (coinciding nicely with the bakeries, ice cream shop and restaurants!). Here are some of them:

Fly Girl Fitness

Bomb Fitness

Ankh Yoga

Legacy Indoor Cycling

Counterbalance Studio Pilates

Career Fit Mom

Dragonz Martial Arts (adult and kid classes available)

Bell’s Martial Arts (adult and kid classes available)

Monarch Park Stadium (adult and kid classes/activities, running track)

 

One more thing….

Our next DECA Board meeting will be next Monday, September 21 starting at 7:30pm. If you’d like to join us, drop us a line here and we can let you know where we’re meeting. Last time we enjoyed an hour at the beginning to meet & greet, but this time we will get right to it a 7:30pm because we have a lot to cover. All are welcome!

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DECA’s Bike Tune-Up Day and More

DECA Learns is alive and well and bringing you a terrific event this Saturday at Main and Danforth.

Free (or nearly free) Bike Clinic

Have your bike fixed and learn how to fix your bike at the DECA Bike Tune Up Day!  Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Main Square near the corner of Main and Danforth.  There will be half a dozen tents, each with a bicycle repair station and someone to help.

This event is pay what you can.  And free is just fine.  If you happen to have any old bikes or parts that you don’t need, bring those along too.  Our fabulous team including Ray and Jamie would love to have them.

DECA Gem – Legacy Cycling

Speaking of cycling.  If you’re into the kind of bicycles that don’t move, you may want to stop in and talk to Andy at Legacy Cycling (1506 Danforth at Coxwell).  I (Natasha) have been taking Andy’s boot camps and spinning (stationary bikes) classes for about six months.  Andy is the owner and he’s terrific, but there are a number of other great instructors teaching spinning, boot camps, yoga and personal training.

Andy worked as a trainer and instructor for years at Goodlife and decided in 2009 to open up his own studio here in Danforth East.  He said he looked at a few different locations, but really liked this neighbourhood and loves being beside Cyclepath.

How is Legacy different from other fitness studios?  “We know all of our members by name,” says Andy.  “We keep in touch weekly and we customize all of our packages and workouts to our members.  We also want to see results so we discount our members for the weight that they have lost.”  I would have to agree that it does feel a bit like getting a personal trainer for the price of a group class.

After two years in the neighbourhood, Andy says he’s come to love the family community in the Danforth East area.  “Many of the residents come here because they love to support local businesses,” he says, “but also because they are prepared to work hard.”

Legacy offers personal training in studio or in your home, boot camp classes with weights, Birkram hot yoga including prenatal options, morning, evening and weekend spinning.

There is a deal right now; you can buy 6 months of unlimited spin for $400 + HST or a summer pass which includes any 12 classes for $150.  Psst… If you decide to do a weekend morning boot camp and stay for the spin class, he’ll only charge you for one class.  You can also just drop in any time and pay per class. These offers are available until the end of June.  What I like about buying the passes is that you’re not paying when you’re not using the class.

If you’ve been looking for something local that will kick your butt and get you looking and feeling better, check out Legacy.  And if you’re worried that you’re not fit enough, not hip enough, not dressed in the coolest clothes enough, I can tell you there are all kinds of people there with all kinds of fitness levels.  And clearly if I go there, you don’t have to be hip, cool or trendy.

Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association (BIA)

A few people have been asking why DECA hasn’t planted the flowers in the flower boxes along the Danforth this year.  While I would love it if DECA had the kind of money that is required for that, alas we run on volunteers and good thoughts.  It is, however, the BIA that is responsible for such things.  Earlier this year, they had opted not to do the flowers this year and have apparently changed their collective mind because the flowers started going in this weekend.  Yay!

For the record, DECA had formally asked the BIA to reconsider its earlier decision.  We said that the flowers are very important to the residents and that we believe they are an important tool to draw people to the Danforth.  We had even suggested that we do some ‘guerilla gardening’ in the some of the planters, but we were delighted that it didn’t come to that and that the flowers have returned.

The BIA is also hosting a family fun fest this weekend including entertainment  and activities on Saturday, June 11th at East Lynn Park.  There will be free activities for all ages, carriage rides on Saturday and Sunday, a sidewalk sale all weekend and prizes.

Town Hall on City Services

The City of Toronto is reviewing its services over the next few months to determine which services will continue, which will be privatized or contracted out and how the city will pay for the services it offers.  It is also developing a new plan for recreation services.

Councillor Janet Davis is hosting a town hall meeting this Wednesday, June 8th at 7 p.m. at East York Civic Centre (850 Coxwell) to give you the chance to have your say. If you can’t make the meeting you can also contribute your thoughts online at www.torontservicereview.ca or here to do the survey on recreation and parks services.