Tag Archive for Danforth

| March 31, 2013
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Old-World Pizza on the Danforth

Review of Pizzeria Libretto

By Anoja Muthucumaru

Pizzeria LibrettoI have the good luck of reporting a taste bud-altering encounter with pizza at Pizzeria Libretto. Pizzeria Libretto is an Italian inspired restaurant that opened on the Danforth November 2011. The atmosphere is friendly with an air of laid-back sophistication. The restaurant is packed with regulars like local families, professionals, and students, so seating is limited.

The open kitchen anchors the dinning area with two Naples-made wood burning stoves at the back. The centre of the pizzeria is packed with seating and comfortable red booths at the far right. There is an espresso and wine bar to the left. Read more

Category: Food & Drink | Tags: ,
| March 28, 2013
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Stay and Play!

Oaks ‘N Acorns: A Hangout for Parents and Kids

By Amanda Kirsten Grant

puppetsLocated right between Coxwell and Woodbine subways stations and across from a park, Oaks ‘N Acorns Activity Centre is in a prime location for parents and children to gather together for fun and relaxation.

Owners Winnie and Nicole wanted to create a safe and fun environment where parents in the Danforth area could come together. Oaks ‘N Acorns offers 6–12 week long courses for children newborn to seven years old. Each course—be it dance, art workshops, or baking classes—is taught by a professional instructor. The space offers lots of sitting, so parents can hang out together and chat while their kids play at various work stations.

A special favourite of the girls is the puppets, some of them handmade by Nicole. Puppet shows are performed either by staff or the children themselves; everyone is encouraged to play together. For the younger ones, there are sing-along activities.

Nicole and Winnie in the café

Nicole and Winnie in the café

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Category: Community | Tags: , , , , , ,
| March 27, 2013
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People Love El Pipil!

El Pipil 1 - exterior25 Years of Spectacular Style, Sales, and Smiles

By Kaavya Sivakumaran

The arrival of spring means two important things: sunshine and toasty temperatures are creeping up on us, and it’s the perfect excuse to make some fashionable additions to our warm-weather wardrobes.

“Yellow will be in during the fall season,” says Betsy Papachristou, owner of El Pipil, a chic and charming women’s boutique at Danforth and Broadview.

The Danforth became home to El Pipil when a relative of a relative of Betsy’s opened the store 25 years ago. After 18 years of owning it herself and developing a relationship with the area and its residents, she says, “we have a really good customer base in the neighbourhood, and people know us…[some of them] have been coming here for years, and we’re seeing them over different parts of their life.” Read more

Category: Community, Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , ,
| March 9, 2013
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Danforth and Logan at Twilight

Photo of the Week

Photo by Christina Guidoccio

Photo by Christina Guidoccio

Category: Photo of the Week | Tags: ,
| March 7, 2013
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A Diner Like No Other

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What makes The Bus Terminal Diner a Danforth Landmark?

By Venetia Bodanis

The Bus Terminal Diner is no new kid on the block; the diner has been a Danforth landmark since 1948. Despite boasting a resume of being a set for several major Hollywood films like Get Rich or Die Tryin’, the diner doesn’t let any of its screen fame interfere with their great prices and friendly service. The reasonably priced breakfast menu runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily and includes coffee, “taters,” and toast with each of its meals.

The quirky decor (metallic green booths, a dragon’s head protruding from the back entrance, and celebrity-picture plastered walls) adds to The Bus Terminal Diner’s overall quirkiness, making it feel like you’ve stepped into a psychedelic flashback from Twin Peaks.

My meal, for only $5.95, consisted of three eggs, toast, fruit, coffee, and taters and was the epitome of greasy spoon goodness.

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Being a self-professed breakfast foodie, I found the meal to be satisfying overall. Golden and crunchy taters, passable coffee, plenty of butter on the toast, and tasty (but as expected, not very fluffy) scrambled eggs made for a decent meal.

As for the portion size, when compared to their prices, the serving quantity was fair—I left satisfied but not overly full. If you’re looking for overstuffed plates, the three egg option might not be your best pick; you’re better off going with the option that includes a side of meat and two pancakes.

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Category: Food & Drink | Tags: , , , , ,
| February 13, 2013
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Jack Layton Way Opens!

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Take the First Walk in Memory of a Canadian Legend

by Stephanie Chow
 

On Sunday, February 24, 2013, at 12 pm, Councillor Paula Fletcher will conduct the ceremonial opening of the Jack Layton Way. Formerly known as the Don Jail Roadway, the new street is part of the Bridgepoint Health redevelopment and is named in honour of the late Jack Layton, who died in August 2011.

Layton, longtime Toronto city councillor, the leader of the NDP 2003–2011, and Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth 2004–2011, is being commemorated for his passion for the Danforth community and inspirational commitment to the city of Toronto. Joining Fletcher is a very special guest: MP Olivia Chow, Layton’s wife of 23 years.

Take the first walk down Jack Layton Way and join your community in celebrating his memory.JackLaytonWay-map

Category: Community, events | Tags: , , , ,
| February 12, 2013
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Healthy and Delicious Planet

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Go Green and Get Healthy at Healthy Planet!

By Meghan Gribben

I have stopped by Healthy Planet on the Danforth a few times since I have started at Centennial College. There aren’t many great food places near the school; there’s mainly fastfood joints with few vegetarian options. Healthy Planet, though, is local, convenient, and healthy.

Healthy Planet is a grocery store as well as an eatery. Specifically, they sell “vitamins, supplements, health, and beauty” products. They are committed to healthy foods and a greener environment. They only deal with socially responsible manufactures and distributors.  This is the kind of grocery where you can get coconut oil, kale chips, and an organic juice smoothie—all at the same time! They sell eco-friendly products and carry a large selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free items. Got a special Did I mention there is also an espresso and juice bar?

Opening up in the summer of 2012, Healthy Planet is still relatively new. Speaking with the friendly employees, they mentioned they would be adding lunch specials soon, since students from the college are coming more frequently.

The best part about Healthy Planet is their hot table and salad bar. They charge by the kilogram, and my plate full of deliciousness (pictured below) only cost  $6.50. All the items are made in-house in the mornings, and everything is vegetarian friendly. I love that you can load your plate with a variety of items and not just chose one dish—there was so much to choose from, and I wanted to try everything!

On my plate, clockwise from top:

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Barley salad, black bean salad, wheat germ and lentil salad, brown and wild rice, gorgonzola gnocchi, and quinoa salad.

Healthy Planet’s rotating food service includes salads, hot dishes like pastas and rice, gluten-free pizza, and samosas. There is always something new to try.

Next time I’ll be getting a smoothie!

View Larger Map

568 Danforth Avenue
(Danforth / Carlaw)
Toronto, M4K1R1
Ontario.
416 465 9998
647 873 1204

Category: Food & Drink | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| February 9, 2013
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Broadview and Danforth in the 1920s

Photo of the Week

Image found in the City of Toronto Archives

City of Toronto Archives

It you look down Danforth you will notice streetcar tracks, and power lines. The streetcars were removed when the Bloor-Danforth Subway Line was completed.

Category: Photo of the Week | Tags: , , ,
| January 30, 2013
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Danforth’s Treasure Trove

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The Perfect Toy Store for Parents and Kids!

By Amanda Kirsten Grant

Even amongst all the unique and spectacular stores located along the Danforth, Treasure Island Toys is one of the easiest to spot. With its brightly painted storefront and large window displays, it’s not hard to see why parents and children are drawn inside.

Treasure Island Toys has been offering a place for children to play and parents to shop since 1988. The store has a wide selection of toys and games for all ages. But this isn’t your typical toy store.  Children are encouraged to play with the merchandise and participate in activities at stations located around the store—even a pirate ship!

Store owners Katie and Lori explain their community-based philosphy: “we live in the neighbourhood and Treasure Island Toys was already on the Danforth, so when we found out the previous owner wanted to retire we purchased the store.” Because they are local, they know the importance of shopping within the community. They buy locally made toys like Anouk’s Ark, an eco-friendly memory card game that focuses on endangered species.

treasure infoParents can find the always popular and timeless toys. “Lego and Playmobil still remain classic sellers, as well as dolls”, says owner Katie. “Some of the most popular toys right now include Magformers, which are a magnetic construction toy.” Treasure Island Toys also offers a wide variety of eco-friendly options so parents can feel good knowing they are contributing to the community and giving their children earth-friendly toys and games.

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Category: Community | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| December 19, 2012
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Winter with the Withrow Park Farmer’s Market

Local Food, in from the Cold

By Amanda Kirsten Grant 

The colder winter weather may have arrived, but that’s not stopping the farmer’s market from providing the Danforth with fresh, local food.

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Since their first full season in 2007, the Withrow Park Farmer’s Market has been providing Danforth residents with fresh, local produce and food products.  The market was created by Roberta Stimac, in response to a need for greater access to local produce. Stimac believes that the Danforth area needs a place to buy the produce grown by local farmers and the food products made by people in this very area.

“The vendors are all hard working people,” says Stimac of the more than 20 summer vendors. This is the first year that the market has been open in the winter season.  The idea behind opening the market for the winter came from vendors who were looking for a space to sell their products good all year-round, such as bread and pastries. It is not always easy for these vendors in the winter months, when produce growth is down and the winter weather makes it impossible to sell outdoors. That is why Stimac turned to the Danforth Church. On the corner of Danforth and Bowden St., it is an older structure that has a lot of character and is a familiar landmark in the Danforth area.

The Danforth Church, winter home of the market

The Danforth Church, winter home of the market

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Category: Community | Tags: , , , , ,
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