• Archive

    Flower Therapy

      Danforth Avenue’s FRESH Floral Creations By Sarah Blagdon Nothing is better than escaping winter by dashing into the doors of a local florist, with its warm temperatures and surrounding reminders of spring. Case in point: walking into Danforth Avenue’s FRESH Floral Creations, it’s hard not to be amazed by the modern and sophisticated collection of flower accessories, and more importantly, by the glassed in green house that encamps half of the store. Don’t let their small store front, (at 333 Danforth Avenue, between Chester and Broadview) fool you. There are many unique arrangements and gifts available for every season and occasion.  My personal favourite, their FRESH at home collection,…

  • Archive

    I Scream, You Scream

    You upper-Canadians don’t know how good you’ve got it. If you didn’t already know, I hail from the east coast.  It is a lovely place filled with quaint back-country roads and beaches galore.  But in April, it is still snowing.  It snowed this past weekend.  Badly, I hear.  I chuckled when I heard the news as I gazed out of my window at blue skies, blooming trees and the parrot across the street (weird, I know right?) Perhaps the best part of spring is that it is now acceptable to eat copious amounts of ice cream.  Even better (or worse, depending on what your vices are) when there’s a cozy…

  • Archive

    Raining on the Parade

    It was a cold, dark and rainy Sunday just on the cusp of spring, and the whole world seemed depressed.  Well, maybe not the whole world, but my room-mate and I were after a long weekend indoors with little fun and loads of schoolwork.  To cheer ourselves up, we decided to make use of the Tim Hortons coupons my mom had sent me (it’s the little things when you’ve been a student for 5 years) by loading up on sprinkle doughnuts and iced cappuccinos. Emerging from the underground at Pape station was like stepping into a different time.  Cars were spaced evenly all along the southside of the Danforth with…

  • Archive

    Community Love

    The Riverdale Share Community Association defines what a community is. By Kristen Gentleman For eighteen years, the Riverdale Share Community Association has dedicated itself to bettering its Danforth-Riverdale community.  Every December, it hosts the Riverdale Share Concert to raise money for people-in-need within the community, now a much loved start to the neighbourhood’s holiday celebrations.  Susan Baker, producer and co-artistic director at the Association (RSCA), says she hopes to expand it into a full-time community association, but is finding it difficult to find the manpower and time to do so.   “There are people who have and those who have not,” Baker says, “and I think there is an important role…

  • Archive

    Blogging on the Danforth

    This is a blog you should be reading…if you haven’t already. By Madelaine Paterson Natasha Granatstein of the Danforth-based blog, DECA Diaries, shares Danforth’s history and purpose, shedding light on why this medium is so crucial for connecting with the community. Why Blog? The motivation to create a blog was all about reinvention. As the chairperson of the Danforth East Community Association (DECA), Natasha sent out e-newsletters updating community members on what was going on with DECA and the Danforth at large.  It was a tedious process so she introduced a blog instead. DECA Diaries is now a one-stop location for people to access the association’s happenings in a more…

  • Archive

    800 Acts of Caring

    Poverty is an issue all around the world, but at Centennial College, students are making the community a priority. By Tracy Martin              In 2006, 2,100 families in the Danforth area, spanning O’Connor, Broadview, and Coxwell, were living in poverty.  This spurred a number of events including Countdown for Change, a poverty awareness event held at Centennial College, and 1.4 Billion Reasons, a presentation conducted by the founder of The Global Poverty Project.  After these events, Centennial College administrator Kathy Mahoney wondered if there was something to be done by students to fight poverty.  She passed on her idea to Tilt, a student-run communications agency at Centennial.             800 Acts…

  • Archive

    A Place to Call Home

    The Massey Centre sits neatly tucked into the corner of a no-exit street along Broadview Avenue in East York. It is made up of two buildings: one, an antique split-level home turned main office and the other, a large brick building with glass doors and a keypad requiring a code for entry. They are a fitting combination of the centre’s historic roots and modern-day innovations.

  • Archive

    Art of the Danforth

    Revitalizing the community with an art walk By Katie McHale     WHAT IS IT? Art of the Danforth is an art walk planned for April 23-May 2. One objective of the event is to “pretty up the community” by displaying art around the neighbourhoods of the Danforth, including Danforth Avenue between Greenwood and Woodbine, and Jones and Main. Another goal is to get different members of the community involved in the event. Existing work might be displayed, along with approved ideas for work created specifically for Art of the Danforth. The art might be displayed in empty storefront windows, on walls of existing stores, in parkettes, or in existing…

  • Archive

    Top Seven Places to Visit on the Danforth

    A guide on where to eat, shop and hang out while visiting Greektown! By Andrea Del Medico 1. Caffé Demetre Caffé Demetre offers one of the largest homemade ice cream selections in Toronto. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place to be! It offers an extensive assortment of sundaes, waffles, cakes, pies, crepes, and specialty coffees. Treat yourself to an iced espresso loaded with ice cream, drizzled with mocha sauce, and topped with whipped cream. (400 Danforth Avenue / 416-778-6654) 2. Treasure Island Toys This independent toy store sells everything a kid’s heart could desire! Visit Thomas the Tank Engine, check out the giant pirate ship, or…

  • Archive

    Lean, Green and Clean!

    10 Tips for making Spring Cleaning Green & Fun By Jennifer Moore 1.  Out with the old. Most cosmetic products have a shelf life of less than a year. Can’t remember when you bought it? There’s a good chance it should be tossed. 2.  Make it fun. Put on some upbeat music and enjoy yourself! 3.  Go Floral. Spring is all about fresh growth. Add some hanging plants or fresh-cut flowers to your space. 4.  Lighten up. As award-winning decorator Nate Berkus suggests, “put winter wools and heavy blankets in the linen closet and replace them with crisp white sheets and a lightweight duvet in your favorite color.” This is sure to…