Monday, February 28, 2011

Wine Bar local ready to start renos



The planned wine bar location in the former Picture it Framed store. which simply moved a few doors est of the North side also...now has it's windows covered for renos?

Sports store wow!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, February 11, 2011

Art or graffiti? Art experts weigh in Toronto Star article



When sitting at the lights going west on Dundas st West at Runnymede Ave a look to your right will give you a look at these murals if you are about two cars back from the lights. You can also walk up the lane from Runnymede Ave to look at them, but probably not for long as the city wants them down.

How wrong!

full article from the Star link

thanks to Natz for the alert

Monday, February 7, 2011

Lead paint in Junction homes.




Lead paint exits in many homes in the Junction. When this author read the text of the above ad (readable text version below) the low level of contact with the paint required to cause health concern was rather jarring.


Text of ad...


Learning disabilities, hearing loss, speech

delays, violent behavior and, in rare cases,

seizures and even death: these are just some

of the effects lead paint poisoning has on

young children. If your home was built before

1978, lead paint on your walls, doors, windows

and sills may be dangerous. And it's not just

large paint chips that can cause damage. In

fact, three granules of lead dust are enough to

poison your child. Let's make all kids lead-free

kids.


Saturday, February 5, 2011

Capitalism and Culture events in the Junction this week

Saturday February 5, 7-10 pm

Artist Talk: Capitalism and Culture

Participating artists will give short talks about their work in relation to the show, and then open up for questions and discussions with community members.

(Bring your own coffee/tea mug. Snacks are welcome)

Sunday, February 6,  2-5 pm

Evangeline’s Transformation Project: The” Quilt” project knitting circle

Join members of the Red Wagon Collective and women from Evangeline’s  in a knit / crochet circle. We’ll be drinking tea and talking about the issues of  women and insecure housing. As we talk we will add on to the “Quilt” that has been started at Evangeline’s and documents the space of women’s gathering to share solace and knowledge.

Everyone welcome, whether you work with wool or not.

(Bring your own coffee/tea mug. Snacks are welcome)

Wednesday, February 9, 7:30-9:30pm

The art of selling – a workshop for handmakers

With Mary Breen owner of Wise Daughters Craft Market

Are you talented with your hands but afraid to “pitch” your product?

Are you at a loss as to how to price your wares?

Do you really know your market?

This workshop is for people who want to break into the retail market, or expand sales.

After 18 months of operating Wise Daughters Craft Market (and constantly soliciting feedback from customers), I have tips to share about what people want, when they want it, what motivates them to buy handmade, and how much they want to spend.  I also know what works and doesn’t work in my own relationships with over 70 artisans.  After all, selling is all about relationships.

You’ll also do some talking, pitching one of your own products and receiving constructive criticism from fellow crafters, in a supportive environment.  Remember, we’re often each other’s biggest fans and best customers!

Spaces for workshop limited so please register by going to Wise Daughters Craft Market,

3079B, Dundas West, 416-761-1555-

sliding scale $10-25.

Friday, February 11, 8-10pm

Rates of Exchange: a night of video

Short video’s made about surviving/ life within capitalism by Junction neighborhood members. Popcorn and discussion will be encouraged.  (bring your own mug)

Grounded, Micheal Ricks (9:00)

Untitled, Wren Jackson (2:15)

Pretending to be inarticulate, Kim Jackson (6:00)

The Crossing, N.H. Egan (9:00)

Wearing, Nancy Viva Davis Halifax (3:00)

JUST Lynda, barter me in…Lynda Solowinsky and L.K. Jackson (12 min)

and more….

Thursday February 10, 7 – 9pm

Hanging by a Thread: Finding the Models for

Strong Women in traditional tales.

(children welcome, comprehension level is for ages 10 yrs and up.)

Using tales of strong women from around the world, storyteller Norman

Perrin will explore how “lost models” of strong women can be found in

tales from around the world.

There will be a display of feminest folktale collections from the Four

Winds Storytellers Library, including:

The Virago Book of Fairy Tales. Angela Carter

Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from

around the world. Kathleen Ragan

Wise Women: Folk and Fairy tales from around the world. Suzanne Barchers

Mirror, Mirror: Forty Folktales for mothers and daughters to share.

Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple

Norman Perrin is a Toronto story. He runs The Four Winds Library a 5,000

volume collection of folktales out of his apartment in the Junction.

Saturday, February 12, 1-4pm

Lets Face It

The resonance of communication:

An interactive all ages performance event with I’m Sold

(Bring a mirror, and coffee/tea mug. Snacks are welcome)

Sunday, February 13,  2-5pm

The Poetics of Social Change: a writing workshop with Nancy Halifax

Red Wagon collective member and York University professor of Critical Disability Studies, Nancy Halifax, gives a writing workshop that explores poetic language as upsetting complicity and revealing the personal depth and beauty of resistance to the veneers of everyday life.

(Bring your own coffee/tea mug. Snacks are welcome)

Closing Party, 6-9 pm

Bring some food or beverage to share – music by Craig Flint.

by Craig Flint.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Can the Village by the Park be a part of the Junction Residential community?



The Village by the Park condo development has become a welcomed addition to the Junction, with it's 643 units.  Many of the condo owners bought into the area because they were attracted by the Junction and the local development.  The issue, with the development is the consistency of boundary lines.  The east side of Keele to Indian Road is included in the Junction Business Improvement Association (JBIA)  BUT it is not included in the Junction Residents Association.  East of Keele, is included in the West Bend Residents Association.  The blog feels that this boundary discrepancy, loses the voices and participation of people who bought into the Junction but aren't allowed to have their opinions heard on Junction issues.  The blog means no disrespect to the great efforts of the West Bend, but should we not include the development that is considered in all other ways to be in the Junction?  The blog believes that the JRA boundaries ought to be shifted to Indian Road to be consistent with the JBIA.

any opinions?

Should the community collaboratively design the parkette changes|?



Update: I seem to have upset the JRA as they have read in the post that I was stating theyof not holding public consultation efforts...so this was not my intention or belief as I do believe they do.

The purpose  of the post to have the parks departments (without being too tough on the people you are in contact with) to hold a design community meeting. This is simply to capture all the people in the community that use the park, which is part of their responsibility.

Vine Parkette has 100,000 dollars for new play equipment earmarked in the parks capital budget if city council approvals (time to email Sara"s office).  The current play structure was installed a couple years ago and certified for children ages 5-12.  What type of equipment do you believe would improve Vine Parkette?  Recently, the blog was told by local pre-teens that monkey bars and other climbing/balancing apparatus would be appreciated by the older kids.  What specific equipment would you like to see in the park?

The blog would like to propose that the Junction Residents Association and the City of Toronto Parks Department hold a design meeting alongside the community to collaboratively design the park so that all voices can be heard.