The next DECA Board meeting will be held this Tuesday, December 4th at 7:30 pm. We’ll be talking trees, parks, pop-ups and so much more! Please contact Anita if you are interested in attending.
Artisans At Work
If the nine pop-up shops and handful of new stores and businesses are not enough for you, there’s more coming to our piece of the Danforth. Artisans At Work (2071 Danforth Ave) will be opening for Arts & Craft Shows the next three weekends – December 8-9th, 15-16th and 22-23rd.
The idea for this gift shop featuring locally made arts & crafts as well as self contained studio/micro business space is the brainchild of former DECA board member, Tara Shelton.
Here’s a post from Tara about featured artistis, craft show details and how to inquire about renting space in December and beyond:
Artisans At Work
Artisans At Work is an upcoming 2700 square foot retail gallery store at 2071 Danforth Ave (at Woodbine). The space also has eight private, turn-key micro business/studio spaces for the arts, jewellery, and community to start-up and operate for affordable, inclusive rates.
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The Show
We are holding Christmas Craft Shows on the weekends of December 8/9th, 15/16th, and 22/23rd from 9am to 6pm. Applications are still welcome. Craft show prices are $75 per weekend, $40 per day or $100 for two weekends.
The Artists
Stone Folio: Stone marble Mosaics. Price Range: $40-400. Attending: Dec 15/16 & 22/23.
Lurearts Pottery:handmade ceramic dinnerware, jewelry, clocks and hostess gifts. Price range: $12-100. Attending: Dec 8th & 9th
Tara Shelton: Sculptural jewellery, wood burnt etchings. Price range: $45 to $250. Attending: Dec 8/9th, 15/16th, & 22/23rd.
Bonnie Marder: Quilts, small gifts.
Zuzuki Diaz: jewellery, bags made from recycled items. Attending: Dec 15th.
Meter by Meter:Vegan bags, and gifts for animal lovers & pets. Price range: $30-135. Attending: December 8/9th &15/16th. 100% of proceeds will go to homeless cats at North Toronto Cat Rescue .
Tweak: One of a kind jewellery. Price range: $18-300. Attending: Dec 15/16 & 22/23.
Adrienne Baker Sieffert: baby bibs, catnip beds, bags, reversible coffee sleeves, pillows, pincushions, tote bags, luggage tags and vintage inspired Christmas ornaments. Price range $3-30. Attending: Dec 8/9, 15/16, 22/23.
Ecoartworx: Earth Friendly & Ethical, Eco-Fashion accessories and Jewelry. Price Range: $5- $120. Attending: December 22nd.
The Space
Hydro, water, security, heat, liability insurance, wi-fi, in addition to other benefits such as Open House every First Friday evening of the month, group shows, adult craft nights, networking, and more!
Some business use possibilities: art studio, jewellery studio, textile & other crafts, painting/sculpting classes, children’s arts & crafts, yoga, specialty retail etc. The possibilities are endless!
There are eight studio spaces available, ranging from 100 to 200 sq feet. Each secure micro business space is bright, with a high ceiling, is fitted with a sink and may be custom built to suit each tenant.
Long and short term leases are available, and sharing spaces is welcome!
Each tenant is also given a display area to promote their business, and contact info and/or opening hours, as well as on our website.
The retail gallery section of the store is also for rent based upon square footage with only 10% sales commission!
We supply the retail staff and help the artist vendor to promote themselves to the retail customer!
Please contact Tara for more information on renting a studio space, retailing your product, or joining the Christmas Craft Shows: torontotara (at) yahoo.com
We started with two pop-up shops in October. And, not to toot our own horns, but they were a great success. Why? Because all of you came out to take a look.
Building on that excitement, the Renew East Danforth team (and it’s a big team now) has been working like mad for the month of November to organize nine shops in six storefronts over two blocks.
We believe this is the biggest pop-up the city has ever seen and it’s been done completely by volunteers. More than 30 artists and entrepreneurs applied for this round and the nine that were selected are a fantastic mix of arts, gifts, clothing, accessories (from silver jewellery to duct tape wallets), arts and crafts workshops and fitness classes.
We’ve been reading a lot about pop-ups lately and we know that by increasing activity in empty storefronts and bringing shoppers to a commercial strip, pop-up shops have successfully regenerated run-down neighbourhoods around the world. Where there are shoppers, paying retail tenants follow.
The pop-up shops are opening this Saturday, December 1st for the month of December.
(You might want to keep a copy of the Pop-up Poster in your pocket for easy reference :-)
Here are the details for the December pop-up shops.
December 1 – 31 @ 1801 Danforth
bright-brown vintage+handmade has high-quality vintage clothing, decor and vinyl as well as hand-made jewelry and arts, and
VSVSVS (pronounced versus, versus, versus) is a site-specific art installation.
December 1 – 31 @ 1803 Danforth
Pop goes the Easel! is a colourful explosion of art. Expect paintings, prints, cards, magnets, art workshops and drop-in crafts. Join Nathalie Vachon and Helen Billett for great gift ideas, some decadence for your walls and some creative inspiration.
December 1 – 31 @ 1872 Danforth
Careerfit Mom – Take advantage of career coaching and fitness services, including resume writing, job search strategies, fitness classes and personal training.
December 1 – 31 @ 1936 Danforth
LEN – Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things. For the discerning buyer, a gallery of emerging and established Canadian artists will include carefully selected and prudently priced objects.
December 1 – 22 @ 1940 Danforth
Tyke Threads is a Toronto-based online boutique specializing in hip, unique, quality clothing for boys (and girls who don’t want to be in pink.)
December 1 – 9 @ 1948 Danforth
Patsy Berton Art Gallery will feature Patsy’s paintings that capture the light and dynamic energy of people and place.
December 11 – 24 @ 1948 Danforth
Lemon Drop Clothing – Choose your custom dress design. They’ll take your measurements. You choose from the luxurious fabrics and 3-4 weeks later your fabulous frock arrives on your doorstep!
December 26 – 31 @ 1948 Danforth
Marina Rocks Toronto – Get your funky duct tape accessories made by teen entrepreneur, Marina. Unique and fun, each is a piece of art.
December 26 – 31 @ 1948 Danforth
Mrs. Darlings Imaginarium for girls and boys is a place to play with art and discover the art of play. There will be many media and materials for kids to create interesting and beautiful things. Drop-in times and classes offered.
DECA’s extremely keen Renew East Danforth project is hosting another series of pop-up shops this December. All interested businesses, social and artistic enterprises are invited to submit an application to be considered for a one-month, free opportunity to create a pop-up shop on Danforth East from December 1st to December 31st. We will be accepting applications using the form at www.danfortheastcommunityassociation.com until Wednesday November 14th.
What is a pop-up shop? Pop-up shops are temporary stores that pop-up for anywhere from a few days to a few months in empty storefronts. Landlords lend their space to enterprises for a short time free-of-charge and the impact is win-win. The enterprise gets the opportunity to try the space and the neighbourhood to see if it is a viable location to start something more permanent and the landlord gets their space cleaned, painted and staged for potential renters to consider it for future use.
Who needs to be involved in making a pop-up a success? The key ingredients to a pop-up success are:
A landlord willing to lend their space for a month or more, free-of-charge
A business, artistic or social enterprise that wants to use the space and has a plan draw lots of foot traffic
A group of volunteers willing to help clean, paint and prep the space.
How can it benefit the community? Pop-ups have proven wildly successful at revitalizing empty, lagging or struggling commercial areas. Stories from cities and towns across Australia, the United States, Canada, and the U.K. all demonstrate that pop-ups have the potential to take an area that has limited to no foot traffic, abandoned storefronts, and no competition for renting space and turn them into vibrant and successful commercial areas. More rented storefronts means more foot traffic, less vandalism and safer streets.
There are spaces still available for the registration programs at Mrs. Darlings. Feel free to drop in.
MRS. DARLING’S IMAGINARIUM
This weekend only, visit Mrs. Darling’s temporary studio where young creatives 4-14 can explore many mediums and material in workshop format. 20 participant to a class and four facilitators to help imagination became reality. Jewelry making, paper crafts, edible art, DIY, paper mache, fibre arts, group art, upcycling and re purposing – they will learn that they can create something beautiful from almost anything. There are also two drop in studio times where craft ideas and materials are ready to go, and families could mingle, create and play together.
Saturday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m
9am-12pm Drop in. Animal masks, all ages. Duct tape wallets and flower accessories with Martina Rocks! Best for ages 8+. ($10 for both activities) Group canvas in honour of Stella Bruner Methven. (Free)
9am-12pm Drop in. Fantasy make overs! Fairies, princesses, pirates and super heroes oh my! Wear your favorite alter ego costume and make, new accessory and get a little hair and “make-up” done. ($10)
Mrs. Darlings Imaginarium for Girls and Boys – A place to play with art and discover the art of play.To explore, make believe, and follow where ever their imaginations take them. Mrs. Darling encourages the inspired magic with drop in times, where children and their parents can mingle and create, with facilitators to guide and encourage, as well as classes for more elaborate projects and intimate instruction.
DECA’s Business Revitalization Team (BRT) is working with local landlords to put temporary tenants in their empty buildings. This strategy worked wonders in Newcastle, Australia, turning the abandoned downtown to a thriving centre again. It is working in old Oakland, California. Why not here?
Our first partners are Gay and Scott, the owners of 1948 Danforth – the former Metro Nails. They love the idea and hope it will land them a good paying tenant. They’ve given us a month for free in their space, in exchange for some help cleaning and painting. We put out a call to budding entrepreneurs for proposals and got more than 50 responses in a week! After interviews, our committee selected two – a west-end collective of local designers, Birthia and our own Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium for Girls and Boys.
Please come support us and them on Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28.
If you are a landlord and want to work with us, we’d love to meet you – click here to email us.
And here is what DECA’s own Catherine Porter had to say about this project in the Toronto Star last week.
We’re here to remind you that drinking is not just for the weekends when you’re with your neighbours. Leave the kids at home and come have a night out with DECA! Thanks to Tara S. for this post.
Starting at Sidewalk Café, we’ll then go to Sarah’s, El Sol, TKOs and finally Relish for karaoke!! All participating pubs have agreed to prepare special drinks and food for us, so this is an opportunity not to be missed! Come hungry & thirsty!!
A plate of mini Martinis (sweet, sour & dirty – 1oz each) including a side of Italian sushi (you read that correctly!) $8
7:40 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. @ Sarah’s Cafe and Bar (1426 Danforth Ave)
3 x Mill St. 7 oz samples for $6.00 and half-glasses of Jackson Triggs Chardonnay, St Lucas Torrontes, Porta Merlot & Jackson Triggs Cab Franc at $3.65 per 2.5 oz pour (you can have as much or as little as you like)
Mixed Hors D’oeuvres Plate with Roasted Garlic & Brie Crostini, Devilled Egg, Brushetta & Falafel for $8
8:20 p.m. -8:50 p.m @ El Sol (1448 Danforth Ave)
Margaritas, Sangrias and Mexican Beer
Delicious beef tacos with guacamole for $4.95 – Ole!
9:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. @ TKO’s (1600 Danforth Ave)
Beer tasters and sliders (hamburger, pork and chicken)
9:45 p.m. – onward @ Relish Bar and Grill (2152 Danforth Ave)
Beer tasters and tapas selection and Karaoke!
We welcome late-comers along the way, so please join us whenever you can. In order to make ourselves obvious, we’ll be wearing feather boas and we encourage all of you to do the same (we’ll have a few extras on hand so don’t worry if you can’t find yours). There will also be giveaways, prizes, and Jason from Toronto Model Photography Studio taking photos!
If you know that you want to come or are even leaning toward yes (you know you are), please email here to RSVP so that we can advise the pubs on our numbers ahead of time if possible.
If you are a DECA member, or you just want to get to know us a little better, please come and join us for our Board meeting. This is where the magic happens, and it happens over ginger ales, beers and laughs at a local restaurant. Where, you ask? Click here to get more info.
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EAST LYNN FARMERS’ MARKET
Don’t forget that the market continues throughout the month of October. Stay tuned for more info about this week’s lineup of fun, crafts and surprises. (Has everyone recovered from last week’s Harvest Moon Festival??)
