Feel The Love Baby

Well, thanks to all of you who joined us at the Community Cocktail Party last night. Melanie of  Melanie’s Bistro was a wonderfully gracious hostess, as always and it was a treat to meet some new people in the neighbourhood.

Sugar Moon

We were extremely pleased to announce a very generous donation from one of our local businesses. Sugar Moon Body Sugaring and Esthetics Boutique has donated $1000 to DECA this year. Owner, Paola Girotti, is incredibly community-minded and an ardent supporter of the work our community association is doing to make our neighbourhood more vibrant, walkable and safe.  Paola was a bit of a pioneer in this neighbourhood by opening her gorgeous little salon first just east of Coxwell and now just west of Coxwell. She’s a big believer in shopping local and supporting local businesses and just as a big a believer in community. Thank you Sugar Moon.

Woodgreen Child Care Centres 

Woodgreen Community Services is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto -operating almost exclusively out of the east end. It provides service to 37,000 people every year. It runs 10 child care programs in east Toronto serving 820 children and their families. Why am I telling you all this? Because Woodgreen provides a lot of services in our neighbourhood and as the Christmas season starts sneaking up on us, there is a toy drive to support the Woodgreen child care centres.

The fabulous new toy store – Silly Goose Kids – is helping out this year by:

  • selling donation gift cards in $10 denominations
  • giving customers the opportunity to donate their ‘golden egg’ points to the toy drive
  • charging $1 for gift wrapping with all profits going to the toy drive

The event is being sponsored by realtors Duncan Fremlin and Karen Laing.  Local residents supporting local toy store and local real estate agents and all helping local social services agency.  Love it.

Art & Craft Show At LucSculpture

T’is the season to really show your support for your local businesses by shop shop shopping local. It’s getting easier and easier to do it every year. First stop? the LucSculpture sale featuring sculpture, paintings, drawings, photography, post cards, pottery, jewellery and crafts from local artisans. The sale is on now, but the official opening reception day is Saturday, December 3rd from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more info visit www.lucsculpture.com.

And – hey – I want to know what how you are shopping local.  What are you buying and where?  Post it on the blog or e-mail me and I’ll post it! natasha.granatstein(at)gmail.com

Local Arts Services Organization

There is a move afoot to look at the feasibility of starting a local arts service organization in East York. There is a public meeting to discuss it on Tuesday, December 6th from 3 – 5 p.m. at 3079 Danforth (near Victoria Park subway). To find out more, contact Liz Swan at eswan(at)toronto.ca.

Planning For THE Plan And Other Fun Things To Do This Week

Wednesday, September 21st

The City of Toronto is beginning a review of its official plan that will focus on how and where Toronto will grow.  Stage 1 of public consultations are this fall and include an open house at the East York Civic Centre on Wednesday September 21 between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.  You can drop in at any point to see displays and share insights with city staff.  A presentation and facilitated discussion will occur at 4 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.

You can visit toronto.ca/opreview to watch videos, take a short survey, submit comments, sign-up for e-dates and learn more about consultation events.

Thursday, September 22nd

Woodgreen Community Services is having its 2011 annual general meeting and keynote address.

Reception 5:30 p.m. followed by meeting at 6:30 p.m. and keynote speaker, Camille Orridge, CEO Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network at 7 p.m. Riverdale Collegiate, 1094 Gerrard St. E.

Now – September 30th 

The Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association is hosting ‘Dine Around The Danforth’. Participating restaurants from Jones to Westlake are offering specials and live entertainment until the end of September. Visit the site for information on what special specials are being offered up.

Oct 1st

Drop in and have coffee and a chat with City Councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon (south of the Danforth, east of Coxwell) from 9 – 11 a.m. at Cozy Cafe (2075 Danforth at Woodbine).