Archive for March 30, 2012

| March 30, 2012
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Degrassi High: Where are they now?

A few words with Dayo Ade

by Stacey Philipp

Centennial College’s Centre for Creative Communications is not just a place of education, but the setting of the 1980’s television show Degrassi High. While the show took on such issues as teen dating, suicide, depression, bullying, drugs, eating disorders, abortion, and more, a fan base of loyal viewers continues to grow, making this show one of the most popular televised teen dramas filmed in Canada. Degrassi High was filmed just north of Danforth Avenue at Centennial College in Toronto from 1989–1991.

Watching reruns of the beloved characters like Joey (Pat Mastronianni), Snake (Stefan Brogren), and Wheels (the late Neil Hope) aim for fame with storylines including The Zit Remedy song, Spike (Amanda Stepto) raise her baby, BLT (Dayo Ade) and Michelle (Maureen Mckay) battle through love and then break up, and the rest of the gang deal with teenage life, we can’t help but wonder “where are they now?”

On the Danforth got the opportunity to catch up with Dayo Ade (BLT) and here’s what he had to say.

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Category: Arts & Entertainment | Tags: ,
| March 30, 2012
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Re:Reading and Circus Books & Music in a technological society

Is your local independent bookstore coping with the digital age?

by Stephanie Furlan

Two independent bookstores located on Danforth Avenue, Re: Reading and Circus Books & Music, reveal the different methods they use to co-exist in a society that lives off of high-speed internet and getting anything it wants in an instant.

Employee Andrew Gray of Circus Books & Music believes independent bookstores have nothing to fear. Gray explains, “Ultimately, books will still be around.  I don’t think there will be a great shift of change. I think the eBook will allow for greater literacy, but people will still want to feel the texture of a book, and prices from a used bookstore compared to an eBook aren’t really different.”

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Category: Community | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
| March 30, 2012
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Winners of OTD raffle

Thank you to everyone who participated in the OTD raffle.

Here is what you have all been waiting for—the winning tickets:

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Category: Community |
| March 29, 2012
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Potted Potter

A review of the best Potter parody in town!

by Sabrina Medora

Whether you’re young or old, fan or not, every one has heard of Potted Potter — the show that promises to condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 hilarious minutes. I’ll admit, I was very apprehensive about how I would like the show. After watching it I can say that as a die-hard Potter fan, I was shocked. As a person with a sense of humour, I was slipping out of my seat, wiping away tears of laughter.

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Category: Arts & Entertainment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
| March 29, 2012
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Dates on a Dime (Part 2)

Three weekly budget date ideas in the city

by Michelle Medford
 

Poets take the stage at a Toronto Poetry Slam event last year; photos by Emily Muir

Dinner and a movie are standard in the dating game. It can get old quickly, not to mention it doesn’t come cheap. That’s why each week, we offer creative date ideas on a budget, so you can keep it fresh and save a few dollars along the way. Read more

Category: Arts & Entertainment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
| March 29, 2012
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Spring Fun in the Sun

Ideas to get you out and enjoying the spring weather

by Ariel Kroon

After a mild winter, spring has come full force to the Danforth and surrounding neighbourhoods. Aside from the perennial itch to clean everything, the need to be outside and enjoy the weather to the fullest is almost overwhelming. Here are some great activities for you and your friends and family to enjoy what the outdoors have to offer this season. Read more

Category: Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
| March 29, 2012
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Why I Love the Danforth

Q&A with Kendal Gerard, social media and marketing manager for Owlkids books and Danforth resident

by Christelle Agboka

Q. What first brought you to the Danforth?

A. In 2007, I was starting the Book and Magazine publishing program at Centennial and, having lived within walking distance of school all through my undergrad, automatically began looking for a place to live close to campus. I literally plunked the school’s Carlaw address into Google Maps and “searched nearby” for apartments. I always assumed it would be a one-year apartment, and that as soon as I graduated and got a job I would move closer to downtown. My boyfriend and I had already been talking about a condo in the Distillery, but we loved the neighbourhood and never left!

Q. How long have you lived here?

A. Just over four years, since the fall of 2007. Read more

Category: Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , , ,
| March 28, 2012
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The Red Rocket Café

On a street with no shortage of cafés, does this one have what it takes to thrive?

by Lauren Jerome

Lauren Jerome, Toronto, 2012.

Within the short time that I sat in the Red Rocket Café on the Danforth, a customer praised the manager on how great the coffee was; a couple raved to the barista about the new location; and a man came through the door delivering fresh tulips for the counter. This scene couldn’t have been staged better for a first time customer like me.

Though it was my first time at a Red Rocket location, I am no stranger to coffee culture. I, along with a massive amount of Torontonians, choose these urban caffeine sanctuaries as my second home. These cafés are our office, our meeting spot, a place to socialize and where we take in our lazy Sunday afternoons. Read more

Category: Food & Drink | Tags: , , ,
| March 28, 2012
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Dive on in!

Why swimming is the best exercise for anyone and everyone

by Christie Belfiore

Swimming is a form of aerobic exercise that is stimulating, refreshing, and suitable for anyone. Whether you are trying to lose weight, be active, or just want something to do, swimming provides a perfect workout and leaves behind the stress and agony of sore muscles and bodily strains and pains. Not only that, but the Danforth area can provide the pool for you, such as the Main Square Community Recreational Centre (Danforth and Main), so grab your bathing suit and goggles and take a dip. Swimming can be anyone’s key to implementing a healthy lifestyle this season.

Physical Benefits

Besides the fact that swimming increases muscle tone and works to strengthen the body, it also stretches every limb to their greatest lengths, thus loosening any tight muscles and ligaments while increasing flexibility. Through the four most common strokes, including front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke, swimmers endure a broad range of motion as they work every muscle simultaneously. Although it may not feel as though this is occurring because water is twelve times denser than air, it is one of the great things about swimming, This means that activities such as running or skipping don’t require as much force because air doesn’t provide as much resistance as water does. Another great benefit of swimming is that it makes the heart stronger without straining it, therefore allowing for better blood flow and, in turn, a healthier individual.

photo by PLRANG images for design, January 2009.

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Category: Health & Wellness | Tags: , , , , ,
| March 28, 2012
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Tune In to Tone Up!

Florence and the Machine

Add some musical life to your workout with a carefully crafted music playlist

by Delaney Caulfield and Amy Postma

Whether your workout resolution is starting to wear thin, or you are simply getting antsy for spring, add our playlist recommendation to your current workout and jazz up your routine! From stretching, getting your blood pumping, to your final wind down, our hour-long selected eclectic musical pairings will get you through it.

Stretch and Warm Up

Tim Armstrong-Into Action
Michael Franti and Spearhead-Say Hey
DJ Otzi-Hey Baby Read more

Category: Health & Wellness |
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