Danforth news

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Farewell True Brew

A keen observer noticed a sign in the window of True Brew saying that they will be closing for good tomorrow, October 13.  DECA worked with owner Sylvia to update this space earlier this year, and we are very sad to see it go.

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An even better Better Bulk?

It’s official!  Better Bulk is moving across the street to a bigger location at the end of the month.  If you haven’t yet “liked” them on Facebook, click here to like them and you will be among the lucky insiders who receive their updates about sales and stock, including fresh organic produce.  Congratulations Better Bulk!

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Hallowe’en Outlet

It’s My Party has once again opened a Hallowe’en Outlet at 2208 Danforth Ave, at  the western edge of the Honda dealership (where a new KIA dealership is now being built). The hours are Mon-Fri from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Scary stuff for grown-ups (costumes and decor) is at the front, kids stuff is in the back room, and the really scary stuff (props) is in the back back room!  Boo!

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Groundbreaking News

There was some heavy machinery heard from behind the boards around the ‘big hole’, where the condo is supposed to be going up near Danforth & Woodbine.  Could it be that the ground has been broken at last???

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DECA Pub Crawl

Oops!  We asked you to RSVP to the wrong e-mail address for the DECA Pub Crawl. The exciting event details were given in our last post. The e-mail has been corrected on the page, or you can click here to let us know that you’ll be coming!

Mark Your Calendars

Lots to tell you about today so I’ll try to keep it short and sweeeeeet.

2011 Penultimate Farmers’ Market – Thursday, Oct 20th

O.k. have you been buying the honey crisp apples?  They’re truly unbelievable, aren’t they? And they’re the size of my head.  Moving on. The farmers will be there tomorrow. The fun will be there tomorrow. But the fabulous face painting and crafts will not be there so forewarn your butterfly princesses and your glittery spidermen that everyone will be back next week for the final (sniff) market of the season.

True Brew – Free Cake! – Until Monday, Oct 24th

Visit the True Brew cafe on the Danforth, just east of Woodbine, from now until Monday, buy a sandwich and get a free piece of cake. Need I say more?

Woodbine Heights Live Auction – Saturday, Oct.22nd 

The Woodbine Heights Baptist Church is hosting a live auction this Saturday with, what I’m sure will be, great deals for great stuff and great services. Food and drink will be served. Tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40. Kids under 12 are free. Woodbine Heights is very active in our neighbourhood. It operates a food bank, offers community meals and advocates for low-income people. The auction is 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 1171 Woodbine at Sammon. For more info, contact woodbineheights(at)gmail.com.

Move Towards Change Walk – Thursday Oct 27th

Families will be walking to raise awareness about preventing child abuse on Thursday, Oct 27th from 4:00 p.m. – 5 p.m. beginning at Teesdale Place at the Lumsden apartments in Crescent Town and walking to the Royal Canadian Legion at 9 Dawes Road where there will be a free event and discussion.

Greenwood Park Fall Festival – Saturday, Oct 29th

The Friends of Greenwood Park (FROG) invite you to enjoy the NEW playground, pumpkin painting and parade, face painting, treats, a magic show, storytelling, a campfire, lion dancers, artisans, music, best pet tricks and races at the off-leash area. How fabulous are the FROG people? Wonderful to see another group of residents throwing parties! The event runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more info, contact friendsofgreenwoodpark.frog(at)gmail.com

Green Home Fair – Saturday, Oct 29th

Save money and create a healthy home. There will be vendor displays and children’s programs throughout the afternoon. As well, there will be a session on saving energy and money from the Windfall Ecology Centre, a Q&A with Vanessa Farquharson, author of Sleeping Naked is Green and how to create a healthy home for your family and pets by the Zero Point. Bring your used batteries, bulbs and paint to be recycled. It all happens from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church at 72 Main St., north of Kingston Rd. For more info, contact greeningward32(at)gmail.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Upper Beaches Tree Tour – Sunday, Oct 30th

Join LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) and Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon for a colourful fall tree tour through Merrill Bridge Park ravine and some quirky species in the neighbourhood. Costumes are highly recommended as is a $5 donation. Register at www.yourleaf.org.

Merrill Park Dog Association ‘Howl-O-Ween’ Party – Sunday, Oct 30th

Speaking of Merrill Park, stay tuned for more information about this event.

DECA Pumpkin Parade – Tuesday, Nov 1st

East Lynn Park, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Bring your pumpkins, your candles and your cameras. We’ll handle the rest.

What’s In What’s Out

It’s spring and there are a whole lot of new things popping up on the Danforth.  Yes there is this place called ‘Retro Burger‘ beside Shopper’s Drug Mart near Coxwell.  Its menu of deep fried food includes Mars Bars.  No I’m not kidding.  Then there is the ‘Circus Coffee House’ beside Carter’s Ice Cream on Woodmount at Danforth.  Rumour is it’s owned by this guy, but I haven’t verified that with three sources.

Speaking of coffee shops, you read here that the owner of True Brew coffee shop and cafe had sold the business.  The new owner has painted and done some work inside to brighten it up.  Susan L. (not the former owner) wrote to tell me that “people are not making the effort to cross Woodbine and discover this gem in our neighborhood!!!!  Great coffee, all homemade soups, sandwiches, quiche, and desserts!!!!!! Absolutely fabulous food. Please advertise this place so the owner does not have to close down due to poor attendance!”

Up for lease is the former Ethiopian community centre at Danforth and Woodbine.  Cuts by the federal government last year have meant this agency is consolidating its services in one location in the west end.  Columbo’s Pizza is under new ownership. Columbo’s serves pizza, pastas, sandwiches and the much-loved rice balls.  The new owner, Charlie, tells me he has done some work to open up the kitchen and fix up the front of the restaurant (a new paint job etc).  He also told me he is renovating the basement and will be making it available for parties – including make-your-own-pizza birthday parties!

Treasure Land used furniture has opened at 2038 Danforth. They are selling gently used home and office furniture and offer free pick up and free delivery and a seniors discount.  The owner of the business did quite a bit of work on the shop – which had been a crumbling eyesore – painting and generally fixing up the shop.  He makes an effort to make his front window look inviting and that earns praise from deca diaries.

O.k. I know I’m forgetting some things.  Post your updates on the Danforth here or send me a note and let me know the latest happenings on the Danforth.

DECA Safety and Self Defense

Early in April, more than a dozen people participated in the self defence class at the DragonZ Martial Artz Centre – hosted by DECA’s safety team.  Sir Marvin Prashad spent two hours teaching safety and self-protection techniques.  Not only was the class educational it also provided a fitness component in a fun and enjoyable environment.  The event was such a success that Marvin wants to make this a reoccurring event by offering self-defence classes every first Sunday of the month for all to attend.  For more information visit www.dragonz.ca

DECA Executive Meetings

If you’re interested in attending a DECA executive meeting (and you should, we eat and drink and are merry!) mark these dates on your fridge.  We meet at 7:30 p.m. in the back room of Sarah’s pub on the Danforth.

  • May 31
  • September 13
  • October 25

But if you just want to be a fly on the wall, check out the minutes from the last meeting on our shiny new website! 

Earl Beatty Fun Fair

This year the 7th annual Earl Beatty Public School Fun fair will be held on Saturday, May 28th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 55 Woodington Avenue (two blocks north of Danforth, east of Coxwell).  In partnership with the Earl Beatty Community Centre, this event provides a day of family fun including a ball hockey tournament, inflatable games, face painting, auctions, raffles, a barbeque, bake sale and some live entertainment.

Coleridge Ave. Break-Ins

Kathy sent me a note to let me know about some break-ins happening on her street, which is one block east of Woodbine.

“Early Monday morning (9:00) I discovered that someone had riffled through our car. We immediately assumed that we’d forgotten to lock it the night before. As near neighbours emerged from their homes, they, too, discovered that someone had been through their cars. It would appear that we all did not forget to lock our cars, but rather that someone using a slim jim got in, and was even able to by-pass a car alarm. Fortunately there was no damage, nothing of value seems to have been stolen (except a pack of smokes that were smoked whilst breaking into the other cars). We did, though, discover that a few items like sunglasses and a hand tool ended up being left in other people’s cars, and we believe all was recovered. Reminder to all: do not leave valuables in your car/trunk regardless of how secure it appears to be!  My husband did notify the police and advised that many vehicles had been broken into, though I don’t believe that any other neighbours did contact them. Other than knowing what occurred at our end of the block, we don’t know how many others might have been affected. We do know that six cars were accessed.”


Danforth Gems

So many gems to share today…

Nutralicious Kitchen

A few people (thanks to Kathy and Miranda) have written to let us  know about a new takeout counter at Woodbine and Lumsden called Nutralicious Kitchen.  Menu items include delicious sandwiches, pizza, salads, daily hot table (for dinner), juice bar and more.  It’s all prepared by Chef Tony – a board certified nutritionist, master herbalist practitioners and a certified personal trainer with a degree in holistic health.  Check it out at 1231 Woodbine or call 647-341-8646.

Creartive Cakes

If you’re a fan of those TV cake decorating shows like Ace of cakes and Cake Boss (or even if you’re not) you should really take a walk over to Creartive Cakes at 2207 Danforth.  Today when I walked by owner, Ji Youn, had a hamburger cake and a nachos cake in the window along with the gorgeous wedding cakes and adorable birthday cakes.  I see she’s also done a replica of the Ontario College of Art Building (above).  Ji is very very nice and she also sells ready-made beautiful and delicious cupcakes.

True Brew Cafe

True Brew is a nice little spot just east of Woodbine on the north side.  Susan bakes her goodies every day and is now carrying bagels along with the lunch sandwiches and soup.  According to the facebook page, True Brew is soon to open on Sundays and is considering staying open later on Fridays and Saturdays.

Elite Music Academy


One of our DECA members (a professional actor and musician) was telling me about the Elite Music Academy at 2007 Danforth (just west of Woodbine).  Her son is taking drumming lessons there and loving it.  She tells me the teacher is excellent.  As it happened the manager walked by and told me they offer lessons starting around age five and also offer music camps in the summer.  They offer lessons in everything from voice to guitar, to Greek Bouzouki and everything in between.  This location is a second location.  The HQ is at Danforth and Jones.

Chicken’licious

And finally – from Renee…

I have a recommendation for a new restaurant on the Danforth called Chicken’licious – at 2789 Danforth Avenue. (416 691 9800).  My family and I ate there on the long weekend, and it was very good! I had the chicken souvlaki on a pita, my husband had the chicken shwarma, and our kids split an order of the yummy chicken wings.  All in all, very good, reasonable prices and very friendly service.  This is a location that has not been successful for other restaurants in the past few years, and I would love to see this one survive!  They also have great deals on full roast chicken dinners, and offer free delivery for orders over $15.

Careerfit Mom

If the opening of a few new bakeries in the neighbourhood (to say nothing of ice cream season) has got you looking to increase your caloric activity, Beth from Careerfit Mom is beginning a stroller fit class in East Lynn Park on Monday mornings and a group fit class at Taylor Creek on Monday evenings.  She’s also offering a new play fit class for parents and kids on Wednesdays.  Find out more at www.careerfitmom.ca