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Unique Gifts Galore

What to get the person (young or less young) who has everything?

For those who are less young, you might want to make your way to the Gledhill school auction on Thursday, Dec. 9th from 7 – 10 p.m.  (Live auction at 7:30 p.m.)  This is a 19 yrs+ event.  Admission is $2 or non-perishable food item.  Gledhill school is behind the Honda dealership at Danforth and Gledhill Ave.  A few of the items on the block include:

  • Raptors Tickets (Dec. 22nd vs. Detroit Pistons)  Two seats in a mid-court private box including food and drink.  Valued close to $600.
  • Maple Leafs tickets
  • Scores of beautiful hand-made jewellery from local artists such as Fine Silver Girl, Marmalade Designs and Circa1890.com
  • ‘Reporter For A Day’ – spend the day shadowing Toronto Star reporter/columnist, Catherine Porter and learn her tricks of the trade
  • 12 Days of Christmas baking – get twelve dozen unique homemade baked treats delivered to your door in time for the holidays
  • More than 200 other items up for a fraction of their retail value.
  • ‘Reporter

For those who are more young…there is the Little Footprint Toys ‘pop-up’ sale this weekend. A photographer, Kim Reain, will be on hand on Saturday between 11 and 4 to take pictures of your adorable children – copies of which will be available to purchase from her website after the sale.

Share Share Share

We’re all about sharing the love here at the diaries and some good local shoppers have posted a few great ideas about local gift-giving. Here are a few of the offerings:

  • “I often buy a selection of gourmet cooking oils, vinegars and seasonings at Royal Beef for cooks on my list, and to use as hostess gifts. It’s also a good gift idea for “Secret Santa” gift-giving at the office. For cat/dog lovers, definitely Wag on the Danforth”. – Pat
  • Playmobil toys from John’s Hobbies for my daughter and nephew. Beautiful seasonal floral arrangements from Darling Flowers for my mother-in-law. Wool for projects (or cute and reasonable handmade items if there’s not time for projects) from The Wool Mill. Gift certificate to Value Village for the serious thrifters in my life. Basket of delicious selection of dried fruits and nuts from Better Bulk for the group gift (daycare, office staff, etc.) – Rebecca

True Brew Open Mic Night

This Friday starting at 7 p.m. make your way to True Brew Cafe, just east of Woodbine, for open mic night.  Bring an instrument and get down with your funky self! Both players and listeners welcome…no experience necessary for either.  All ages welcome.

Nutralicious Thursdays

Nutralicious Kitchen serves up healthy meals-to-go from Woodbine and Mortimer/Lumsden.  Owner/chef/personal trainer, Tony Landry is offering a new series of specials including the Thursday Night Special.  Buy one hot table entree and the second one is half price! Its a great deal and the second meal will keep for the next day or two.

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Let Us Eat Cake!

Pat Chartier is the Kermit T. Frog of DECA Diaries.  She’s out on the street getting the scoop on what’s coming and what’s going on the Danforth.  Here’s her latest post from the field:

There’s a neat new business coming to the Danforth, immediately west of Celena’s Bakery near Woodbine and Danforth:  Madame Gateaux Patisserie!  OMG ANOTHER bakery, you’re thinking. But no. The owner, Noel Yim, is a trained pastry chef, and she is going to offer cake baking and decorating classes, and also sell baking utensils/cookware. Fred and I peeked in and the place looks great. She hopes to open next Saturday or early the following week. Her sign should be going up a.s.a.p.

Cake decorating is hugely popular these days–look at all the TV  reality shows with that focus–so Madame Gateaux could potentially draw customers from outside our immediate area, and that would be good for all our wonderful neighbourhood retailers. I know I certainly would love to take a decorating class or two. Here’s wishing her well!

Butter Tart Boys

Check out their sweeeeet jazz sound this Friday night at True Brew Cafe.  This is a great event for families because it happens from 7 – 9:30 p.m. and there are yummy treats!  True Brew is at 2116 Danforth, just east of Woodbine.

Little Footprint Toys

This local web business sells ‘planet friendly fun and gear’ including toys and games for all ages.  Owner, Barbara, is holding three ‘pop up’ sales this holiday season at the Cool East Market (1390 Danforth Ave near Greenwood Stn).  The sales are Nov. 19-21, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 17-18.  Each weekend will include a special promotion so check out the website (here) to learn more.