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Getting fit in the ‘hood

We’ve been contacted about a few exciting, local, summer health and fitness specials and wanted to share them with you!

From Career Fit Mom:

Our Summer Class Pass season is running through July until Thurs. Aug. 30th. We are offering a variety of classes which you can drop into with a Class Pass.  Drop into any class / any time all summer long!  The benefits are great if:
  • You are planning a vacation this summer and don’t want to pay for classes you can’t attend;
  • You want to try out different classes (a great way to cross train and see amazing results);
  • You want to share your pass with a friend to save money. Passes are transferrable and two or more punches can be used each class if you want to bring someone.
Classes are located in the Danforth East and Upper Beaches area – East Lynn Park, Cassels Park and Monkey Magoo’s Indoor Playground.
You can purchase a 5 Class Pass ($90 + tax) or 10 Class Pass ($160 + tax) online. (Check website for other payment options)

We have just added a 2nd Mommy and Me Boot Camp class, and to celebrate, we are allowing you to try your first class FREE for the rest of July.  Classes are Mondays at 3:30pm and Thursdays @ 3:00pm.  For more information, please contact us here.

While we’re on the topic of health and fitness, here’s a list from Tara S. of a few other local places that you might want to check out:

The Yoga House 7 Copeland Avenue

Counter Balance Studio Pilates 2464 Danforth Avenue

Dragonz Martial Artz Centre 1998 Danforth Avenue

Bomb Wellness: 1338 Danforth Avenue

If you have any additional places to add to our list, please leave a comment!

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DECA Parks – Exciting developments from east to west

Thanks to Sarah K. for this update from DECA Parks!

There’s a lot going on in our DECA-area parks this summer and we wanted to provide an end-to-end update for our park-loving readers.

East-End DECA – Stephenson Park

First up we have Stephenson Park (one block south of Danforth and one block west of Main) a little-known green haven just inside of DECA’s eastern border.  This recreation space has a baseball diamond, a great playground, and a wading pool – there is as much fun to be had here as we would find in our beloved East Lynn Park.

DECA Board Member and renowned illustrator, Tak Bui, recently orchestrated a painting project on the wading pool surface, for which he generously volunteered his own amazing illustrations. The result is an ethereal watery illusion of sea creatures under the little ones’ feet – a perfect destination on a hot summer day!

This past winter, Tak also dreamed up a plan to transform a barren bit of tree-lawn on Stephenson Avenue into a mini-urban garden. The garden is now ready for planting, thanks to all the hard working volunteers who got down and dirty to make this project a reality.  See the before and after pics below. Props go out to Danforth Lumber for donating materials for the project!

Before
After

West-End DECA – Monarch Park 

On DECA’s western border we find the beautiful and busy Monarch Park (at the south end of Monarch Park Ave). The biggest news of late is that the water slide has finally re-opened after lying dormant for many, many years. As the mercury rises, folks from other ‘hoods in Toronto will be jealous of our local attraction. If you are 43” or higher, this super soaker will have you cooled off in no time!

Speaking of Monarch Park, a group of local residents have organized a Friends of Monarch Park group that will be spearheading future improvements within the park. After two community meetings, a Steering Committee has been formed and a number of sub-committees have been created. If you are interested in volunteering with this group, please visit the group’s Facebook page and let them know. You can also email them at friends.monarchpark(at)yahoo.ca.

And we bet you’re wondering what’s going on behind Monarch Park Collegiate, right? Last year, the TDSB approved the lease/sale of their athletic field for the construction of a state-of-the-art athletic facility for both students and the community. Monarch Park Stadium will include a field, track, clubhouse, field lighting, and a winter dome – click here for more information. Tentative completion date is fall 2012.

Please leave a comment telling everyone about your favourite DECA neighbourhood park!

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Friends of Monarch Park

A second meeting to create a Friends of Monarch Park group will be held:

Tuesday, June 12, 2012,  7:00 – 9:00 pm

Monarch Park Collegiate Library

Come on out, meet your neighbours, make new friends, and participate in decisions relating to this beautiful community park.

                  

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Family Skating Party

The Earl Beatty Community Centre family skating party is this Sunday (February 12th) 2-4 p.m. at Monarch Park – right beside the pool.

This is th 11th annual skating party, and everyone is invited!

There will be fun with music, games and a crazy scarf contest – can your scarf be the most colourful? The longest scarf? The weirdest? Come out and find out and win a prize. Games include spot skates and races for all ages.

The Advisory Council also puts on a great spread – hot chocolate and marshmallows and home baked goods. Our newest neighbourhood eatery, RED ROCKET CAFE, will be supplying coffee, and COZY CAFE will be offering their famous cinnamon buns. Come out and have some fun with the whole family, courtesy of the Earl Beatty Community Centre Adivisory Council.

(Children under 6 must wear a CSA approved helmet.)

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Self Defence

DECA Learns – Self Defence

Rachel Jolicoeur is taking on the helm of DECA’s safety committee this year.  The first thing she has organized is a self defence class, courtesy of DragonZ Martial Arts Centre.  Sir Marvin Prashad will provide this two hour class on Sunday, April 3rd from 1-3 p.m. It will include a warm up, situation enactment, proper technique and a fitness component.  DragonZ is at 1998 Danforth, just west of Woodbine.  Those interested can RSVP to rachel.jolicoeur(at)yahoo.ca. The cost is $5 or pay what you can.

Also, if you’re interested in being part of our new safety committee (it took a short hiatus for a while), also send a note to Rachel.

Little Ethiopia

On the one hand, Eye Weekly ran a story this week about Samuel Gettachew’s campaign to name the area around Monarch Park and Danforth, Little Ethiopia.  On the other hand, the large Ethiopian centre on the northwest corner of Danforth and Woodbine is for lease.  When the federal government cut funding to immigrant agencies in late 2010, this group lost a big chunk of its funding and will now consolidate its services in its west-end location.

Beaches Easter Parade

Would you like to help us promote the East Lynn Farmers’ Market and be in the Beaches Easter Parade on Sunday, April 24th?  We’re putting a group together.  You can dress up as a farmers or some sort of local food…a tractor…let your imagination run wild.  Children are welcome too of course!  If you’re interested contact Shelley at  shelleydarling(at)yahoo.ca

Monarch Park students going to Kenya

A group of students from Monarch Park C.I. are heading to Kenya on April 26th as part of  a four-credit special program that includes a one-month co-op placement building a school in Kenya with the organization Free the Children.  Monarch Park is the only school in Canada to offer the program. To learn more, check out this story on insidetoronto.com

Flower Boxes

A few people have asked me about the flower displays that the BIA has been putting into the tree boxes on the Danforth for the last few years.  I understand that the BIA has a significantly lower budget this year and therefore won’t be doing the flowers this year.

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This Weekend

Skating Party – Sunday, February 13th

The Earl Beatty Community Centre Advisory Council is hosting its annual skating party this Sunday.  It’s at Monarch Park outdoor skating rink from 2-4 p.m.  There will be music, games, crazy scarf contest, prizes, free hot chocolate, coffee, tea and multitude of peanut-free baked goods.  Bring your own mug to help greenify the event  All are welcome.  Children under six must wear a CSA-approved helmet.  For more info, please contact Cindy Horton at the community centre at 416-392-0199.

Valentine’s Art Market – Saturday, February 12th

This Saturday, check out Coy Clothes’ Valentine’s Arts and Crafts Market at 1390 Danforth from 2-7 p.m.  According to their facebook page, local artisans will be selling handmade jewellery, clothing, accessories and chocolate.  There will be wine, cheese and music too!  Coy Clothes makes some cool stuff..like the shirt above.  1390 is near Greenwood.

Town Hall – Thursday, February 10th

City councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon will be hosting her first town hall meeting this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at S.H. Armstrong (56 Woodfield Rd.).  This town hall workshop will feature the amazing community organizer, Jutta Mason.  What’s your vision?  Help be part of community gardens, local parking solutions, tree stewardship, public murals, parks and so much more.  If you can’t attend this one, the second town hall workshop will be Tuesday, February 22nd at Community Centre 55.   Coffee will be sponsored by Red Rocket Coffee and The Grinder – bring your own mug.  For more info, contact councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca or 416-392-1376