On the Danforth Online

Readings by Margaret Unfogs My Future

By Jessica Glover

I took the tingling in my left hand as a sign that I had reached the right card. I slowly withdrew the final tarot card for the psychic so that she could divine my future. I was afraid of what might be revealed about me, but curiosity had driven me to Readings by Margaret just east of Donlands on Danforth Ave.

Margaret has been a resident and business owner on the Danforth for fifteen years and is an active member of the community. “I love the Danforth. I find there are a lot of different cultures and people here.”

Margaret, a kind, middle-aged woman with a calming effect over her clients, takes her talent seriously, “It’s a passion of mine. My grandmother, mother, myself, and my daughter all have this talent.” Her talent consists of palmistry, tarot, and psychometry. For my visit, Margaret gave me a palm and tarot card reading.

Through reading the lines on the palm of my dominant hand, Margaret was able to discern that I have a lucky palm. But, she cautions, my palm’s luck is limited. According to Margaret, palms are hard to read because the lines of your hand change every year.

Wary but encouraged, Margaret moved to the tarot cards. Having never met before, Margaret knew nothing about me before beginning; however, she told me things about my life she couldn’t possibly have known. She looked at the cards like she was reading pages from my diary, giving intimate and private details, going so far as to bring up a lingering relationship that not many know about and I certainly hadn’t told her about.

My reading morphed from a need to satisfy my curiosity to a sense of awe; it’s something that will stay with me for a while. I’m glad that I went to Readings by Margaret and take comfort in knowing that my future may not be completely random.

There is something truly poetic about fortune telling; maybe we aren’t completely separate from those around us. Our pasts, presents, and futures are written on our bodies, and someone with a special talent can discern them if we’re only willing to listen.

How one Danforth-Area Store is Embracing the Green Movement

By Erin Haggett

The Danforth is well-known for its eco-conscious attitude. Bikers and pedestrians abound, local produce stands win out over industrial-looking grocery stores, and recycling boxes are filled to the brim come garbage day. This green mindset is one of the main reasons why business owner Rob Grand chose Danforth Avenue for the second location of Grassroots, his environmentally friendly Mecca.

“Riverdale is a great community,” says Grand. “I had some friends who did door-to-door environmental groups, and Riverdale was one of those communities that was very supportive of campaigns by local environmental groups.”

Located near the Chester subway station, Grassroots provides a full range of environmentally friendly products, from worm composters to USB-rechargeable batteries, to journals with covers made from recycled hardcover books. Below, Grand shares some of his favourite eco-friendly products.

Power Down
The Plug and Play Energy Saving Kit is a power bar that turns off the energy-draining standby cycle of many electronics, including DVD players, televisions, lights, power strips, audio tuners, and receivers.

“You just hit the remote and it cuts all the power [to whatever is plugged into it],” says Grand. “It will only get more popular as the cost of energy increases.”

Saving Energy and Money
For computers, Grand recommends a different kind of power bar, where the computer is plugged into a special blue outlet and peripherals are plugged into other outlets on the bar.

“When the computer shuts down, the peripherals do as well,” says Grand. “Products like these pay for themselves…It’s what I call an eco win/win. An ecological win and an economical one.”

Green Clean
Grassroots also has bulk cleaning products available in-store, allowing customers to fill up on everything from all-purpose cleaner to laundry detergent. “We encourage people to reuse their bottles so that they’re not going in the garbage or the blue box,” says Grand.

Finding Grassroots
For more information, visit the Grassroots website at www.grassrootsstore.com or stop by the store at 372 Danforth Ave.

The East Toronto band grows up

By Jordan Whitehouse

I first heard Everlea through a ghetto blaster during a heat wave in my friend’s back yard. We had been listening to tunes all afternoon, trying to keep out of the summer’s blazing sun, when a song by the band came on and I instantly took notice. What I heard was a well-crafted pop-rock song that delivered a great melody, hard hitting drums, and genuine lyrics. I could tell this band would be one worth paying attention to.

The band was formed in Kingston, Ontario by four high school friends. Originally calling themselves Saucepan Heroes, they spent a few years testing their infectious sound on local stages and in basement rehearsals. The unfortunate title of the band was soon dropped and they became Everlea.

Although the name changed, the band’s melodic sensibilities and honest writing style were left intact. In 2004 they released an EP (extended play), “Friends Hurt Friends.” The album showcased the passionate voice of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Justin Dube, the energy of lead guitarist Casey Shea, the building rhythms of Pat Maclean’s bass guitar, and the fervent drum beat of Brendan Soares. Ontario’s independent music scene quickly embraced Everlea and the band tasted its first success. “Watching this band go from four dudes jamming in the basement to live shows where kids are wearing our t-shirts and singing along to every word is priceless,” says drummer Brendan Soares. 

Everlea continued to increase their fan base touring Ontario, Quebec, and eastern Canada for a few years, even managing to make it New York City’s M.E.A.N.Y Festival in 2005 where they earned a National Pick award and generated even more buzz. When they returned to the festival in 2007 they caught the attention of a scout from Glassnote Entertainment Group, the independent label responsible for bringing the  band Phoenix to adoring North American ears. Everlea soon signed with Glassnote and eventually headed to Baltimore to record another album.

The band has since moved to Toronto, two members living in the east end, to develop their sound, record new material, and play to a crowd that has matured as much as the music. This maturation process, though necessary, has not been easy for Everlea. It’s tough to find the “drive to continue on,” says Soares. “We are constantly making sacrifices and always having to put the band first.”

Thankfully, Everlea has continued on. I recently saw the band at Toronto’s Mod Club and I came away impressed. The pop sound, while still apparent and necessary to the band’s structure, is less the focus of the songs and more the balance to thrashing solos and chaotic yet tight build-ups. Somewhere between a parent’s basement and a headlining show at one of Toronto’s premiere music venues, Everlea had grown up.

You’ll be able to hear new material from the band very soon. They are working on an acoustic EP, which will be released in correlation with some eastern Ontario shows that they are doing throughout the spring and summer. Another full length album is also in the works, which will hopefully be released towards the end of 2010.  To hear some music, find tour dates, or learn more about the band, visit their website here at Everlea.

Could it change the culinary image of the Danforth?

By Scott Jeffries

Traditionally the Danforth has been known for its Greek town, but over the last five years there’s been a rise in a new culinary delight: Ethiopian cuisine. Between Pape and Coxwell station you’ll notice about a dozen Ethiopian restaurants right on the Danforth’s storefront.  I’ve been attracted to these new places as a vegetarian, so I imagine that has to be part of what’s going on.

“Our dishes are popular amongst vegetarians,” explains Michael Kidus, owner of the Dukem Ethiopian restaurant, “and our most popular dish is the vegetarian platter. It’s a selection of all our meatless dishes so it works as a sampler, and since the dishes are a bit exotic they’ll know which foods they like for next time.”

Ethiopian cuisine can draw both vegetarians and health conscious diners because many entrees consist of lentils — which are a good source of protein and fibre — as well as split peas, carrots, cabbage, red onions and potatoes (don’t worry, there also have popular meat dishes).

Each dish is prepared separately and is served on top a flatbread called injera. This bread –which is a complex carbohydrate – has a unique texture because it is spongy to the touch and is excellent at absorbing the sauces.

If you were to order vegetarian dishes at a Greek restaurant you’d probably get white rice, potatoes, pitas and hummus.  Could this give Ethiopian cuisine a competitive edge and get them into ‘Taste of the Danforth’?

“I really don’t think the Ethiopian population even compares to the Greek population.” replies Anthony Belete, owner of the Lalibela Ethiopian restaurant. “Plus, I can’t see food that’s so spicy and is strictly eaten by hand being very popular at the ‘Taste of the Danforth’ festival.”

Many of their satisfied customers – such as yours truly – are a bit more optimistic. The Danforth’s Ethiopian cuisine is definitely something worth checking out.

Why The Toxic Avenger Musical closed abruptly in 2010

By Scott Jeffries

Last fall Danforth residents watched their renovated Music Hall transform into “Tromaville” as Dancap productions prepared the venue for the opening day of The Toxic Avenger Musical. The idea comes from the 1984 cult classic The Toxic Avenger which spawned three sequels (with a fourth on the way) as well as a short-lived children’s TV spin-off called Toxic Crusaders — and then, in 2009, its new incarnation in musical theatre.

The stage design of The Toxic Avenger Musical came right out onto the Danforth; there were prop barrels of toxic waste, massive sidewalk stickers shaped like ooze, and eye-catching banners hanging right over the street. So, with all of this attention, how come so few people went to see it? Why did it close after only two months?

“Ever since the show’s Oct. 31 opening, Dancap was fighting an uphill battle against mixed reviews and a venue not familiar to theatregoers.” explains Richard Ouzounian, theatre critic of the Toronto Star. “Even the casting of musical theatre star Louise Pitre as the villainous mayor failed to cause much excitement and the show just never took off.”

Dancap production even had the advantage of a Ticketmaster promotional scheme in which customers were offered up to eight free seats to a performance of their choice, but that offer still failed to stir sufficient interest in Toronto theatre to keep Toxic Avenger afloat.

Originally, The Toxic Avenger Musical opened off-Broadway in the spring of 2009, but was also unable to attract enough theatre goers and so it coincidentally closed the day after the Toronto version on January 3^rd of this year. The last theatre production of Dancap was the musical-hit Jersey Boys which has been running successfully at the Toronto Centre for the Arts since August, 2008.

Perhaps with Toxic Avenger they’d hoped to repeat the campy-horror success of Evil Dead the Musical, but alas it was not to be, and so the Danforth music hall has been detoxified for the time being.

If you think this boutique sounds good, wait until you see it!

By Lisa Wray

The La Di Da Boutique, located at 128 Danforth Avenue, is a haven for the last-minute gift shopper. Its walls are filled with a unique array of jewellery, edibles, stationary, and items for the home…including a collection of the sexiest aprons I have ever seen (these are definitely not of the variety your mother wore!). The store opened in 2006 by co-owners Joanie and Elise. The boutique initially promoted an aesthetics studio, but they closed it this past Christmas and now devote their time focusing on stock.

“We just pick what we like,” co-owner Joanie describes about their method of choosing La Di Da’s items. She also highlights “tradeshows” and the pairs worldly “travels” as two sources of inspiration for the stores products.

Joanie shared their latest product with me, nail polish and nail polish remover. But, like everything else in La Di Da land, they are not of the drugstore variety. Purchased from Karma Organic, a spa in New Jersey, these products are organic, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. The nail polish remover uses soybean oil, which not only removes polish of all nail colours (even black!), but moisturizes the nail and cuticle. A major bonus of this product is that it’s scent free; something the men at home will surely appreciate. Check out their website for a peek of what’s in store.

Also, visit our business directory for a list of other fabulous places to shop on the Danforth.

Waffles, Ice Cream, and Cake, Oh My! Dieters beware: this place is for special occasions only.

By Andrea D’Amico

A dessert only restaurant is rare. The concept is delightful: sit down with friends to enjoy crêpes, waffles, ice cream, and hot drinks in massive proportions. Not only is it a dieter’s worst nightmare, thanks to their generous portions, but Caffé Demetre could make you nauseous if you ignore the pains coming from your stomach.

Low Calorie Menu?

I went into Caffé Demetre to find out if anything on their menu was condidered low calorie. What I found was that they had a few low calorie items on the menu a few years ago, but they represented a small percent of what people ordered. It is safe to say that the people who come here are willing to indulge and let go of their diets for one night.  

Any Suggestions?

The Caffé Demetre offers suggestions for people that are adamant about sticking to their will power. Some of these options include using skim milk in their cappuccinos instead of cream and skipping the real whipped cream on dessert items. But the easiest way to avoid half the fat is to share an item with a friend. The portion sizes are large, so it does not feel like you are eating less. For those who are really counting their calories, it is best to eat small snacks throughout the day to save calories. If Caffé Demetre is not the place for you, try these other Danforth restaurants. The indulgence will be well worth it.