Wise Daughters Craft Market grand opening

3079B Dundas St. West

(the same building as Crema, where Loft Pilates used to be, Quebec & Dundas)

http://www.wisedaughters.com/

Black History Month author visit at the Annette Public Library!

image- Charles Bray

Meet Rosemary Sadlier, author of The Kids Book of Black Canadian History and several other books! Everyone welcome (school age and up)

February 10th at 1:30 p.m.

145 Annette St.

M3H 6A7

February activities/programs calendar for the Dundas/Keele early years centre

For the FEBRUARY calendar please click ---> HERE

2918 Dundas St. W.,
Toronto ON M6P 1Y8,
416-762-3700

Tent!!

There will be a tent over the Junction City Square ice rink for the Winter Carnival, isn't that amazing?? For more info on the event, click ---> HERE

New cafe/lounge?

click on the images to enlarge

The Junction :)

New blog dedicated to our quickly-changing neighbourhood, by Jonathan Mark Rojas

To see the brand new blog click ---> HERE

Junction Public Spaces – Junction Public Square Initiative

From the Arts Junction Blog:

Join the low-traffic e-mail discussion list for people who care about public spaces in the Junction. Ask questions there, so everyone can help answer the questions. E-mail us at junctionps@gmail.com for us to add you to the list.Contact us, and arrange a phone call, or to meet up - we even plan to have discussions where everyone tells everyone else about how the project should be run.

Robert Hilts, Artist

Marek Rozkowski, Architect

More info and images click --> HERE

Smoking will be outlawed at Toronto playgrounds

Thanks to Junctioneer for posting all the latest info! I have a huge beef with people who smoke on kids' playgrounds, whether they are parents, locals with dogs (dogs on kids playgrounds is another beef, dog poo on the playground anyone?) or just passers by. As I posted a few times before, all the local playgrounds are littered with cigarette butts, second and third-hand smoke is toxic to children of any age and don't forget the terrible example for kids to witness... everyone is preaching that smoking is bad for you, but kids learn best by example, we all know this fact! Honestly, I prefer a complete ban on tobacco period, but this is better than nothing.

Toronto Star Article

Wise Daughters Craft Market opens Saturday, January 31, 10am-6pm

Wise Daughters Craft Market opens Saturday, January 31.

The first hundred customers will receive a free sample size handmade soap. And starting at 1 pm, you can enjoy live music by Toronto band Endsville.

For February workshops and info, click HERE

3079B Dundas St. West -the same building as Crema, where Loft Pilates used to be on Quebec Ave, just south of Dundas

Junction is in the news again :)

Toronto SUN article .. click --->> HERE

High Park Stroller Fit WINTER MONTHS

Hi everyone!

It's cold, snowy and slippery, please wear shoes with good treads and dress warmly. We can't do hills because of ice and snow, just walk the High Park loop and have coffee afterwards.

We'll do some serious hill workouts again when the snow disappears, it's just not safe right now.

If you're thinking of joining the walks, PLEASE don't forget to RSVP and check the event calendar before leaving the house, if you'll be late, please post a message with your RSVP :)

The point of the walks is to get out of the house, sure you're getting less exercise at the moment, but you're also socializing yourself and your kids. I read that post partum depression hits harder in the Winter months when many moms choose to stay inside instead of venturing out into the cold, so if you REALLY don't feel like walking in High Park, make a small effort and show up at the Starbucks (on Bloor and Ellis Park RD) by 10:15 am to hang out with those who just finished the walk, but do make sure to RSVP accordingly, you won't regret it, the company is always friendly and warm and there's always plenty to do afterwards ie. library, Chapters, window shopping, taking the TTC with a friend to the nearest mall..etc.. :)

Irina

P.S. Where are all the stay-at-home dads? Come on fellas, you're welcome to join us any time!

Junction Winter Carnival at the Junction City Square (Dundas St. W and Pacific Ave.)

info credit- Junctioneer

12 - 4 p.m. Free refreshments, ice sculpture, ice skating.
7-11 p.m. Heated tent, cash bar, live band

Don't forget to bring your skates! :)

Playwriting workshop for kids aged 8 to 11

This winter, aspiring young playwrights can learn how to take an idea from inside their head and make it come alive onstage! Local theatre talents Alison Broverman and Kristen McGregor teach Saturday Afternoon Script Superheroes, a six-week playwriting workshop especially for kids aged 8 to 11. The workshop will culminate with a public reading of the kids’ work performed by professional local actors!

Dates and times:

January 24, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
January 31, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
February 7, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
February 21, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
February 28, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Location: Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., Toronto
Cost: $100 per kid
Call to register: 416-804-1612
Contact: Alison Broverman or Kristen McGregor at scriptsuperheroes@gmail.com.

Junction Residents' Association meeting is Thursday, Jan. 15th at 7:00pm

junctioneer

Topics this meeting will include: What should be the themes of our upcoming meetings, Information on our February Free Community Event, an update on the Junction Public Space Project, our new Wiki and of course reports from the sub-committees and an open forum. We are trying to live stream this one on the internet for those who can’t make it but want to participate. For now, please mark it in your calendar. 6:30 Membership Drive, 7:00 Meeting. West Toronto Baptist Church.

3049 Dundas Street WestToronto, ON M6P 1Z5
http://www.junctionra.ca/

New Craft Store in the Junction!

As I clicked on the Junctioneer Blog this morning, this POST put a huge smile on my face, I'm always crazy excited when a new retail opens up in the Junction, but I'm even more thrilled when it's art related! I'm still hoping for an Arts Supply store, maybe soon?

Here are the details about the new retail from their website:

Welcome to Wise Daughters Craft Market in the heart of the Junction, where you will find unique handmade crafts. GRAND OPENING JANUARY 31, 2009
Buy from one of the shop's local artisans, or get inspired to do it yourself. Wise Daughters offers workshops where you can learn to make all kinds of gorgeous handicrafts.

I just called the new owner Mary Breen to congratulate her on the new business, she told me that she'll provide stroller parking in the front of the building and will host crafting classes every Thursday and kids classes this coming March Break.

3079B Dundas St. West (the same building as Crema, where Loft Pilates used to be)
Toronto, ON,
M6P 1Z9
(on Quebec Ave, just south of Dundas)

SimplySmart Makeup Remover towelettes recalled due to bacteria

Personally, I use baby wipes to remove make-up, if it's good for my baby's bum, it's good for my face :)

Here's the details of the recall --->>> click here

New 80's Babies classes with Laura Swan starting next week!

Click on the poster to enlarge!

Third-hand smoke... not so new cigarette hazard

When my eldest was in NICU (she was born at 27 weeks), one of the nurses who cared for her always reeked of stale nicotine, I often saw her smoking outside the hospital doors in the same clothing that she wore inside the neonatal intensive care unit where she handled the preemies assigned to her, this always upset me but I finally complained after she was assigned to care for my daughter. Yes, she washed her hands before entering the NICU but she and other smoking nurses did not change their clothing or cover their hair, they saw me as one of those "difficult" parents who complained (I used a fat red marker to write "please do not touch my daughter if you smoked and didn't change your clothes/cover your hair/wear gloves) untill one of the NICU pediatricians explained that ANY nicotine residue is toxic to kids, not just newborns or preemies, he informed me that toxic residue from just one cigarette will stay in your hair and in your skin for many days (yes, even if you shower regularly). I didn't hear about any NICU "third-hand smoke" rules being changed though, this was over 3 years ago..

Here's finally a story in the media on the subject of third-hand smoke:

From The New York Times:

"Third-hand smoke"- ...invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, not to mention cushions and carpeting, that lingers long after second-hand smoke has cleared from a room. The residue includes heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor.

Full story HERE

Smoking on Kids' Playgrounds

Weekend Brunch at the Beet

image-mukodu

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10am-4pm at The Beet Organic Cafe (2945 Dundas St W)

The Beet has an accessible entrance, a large accessible washroom, a couple of high chairs and a variety of kid-friendly food.
info@thebeet.ca
http://www.thebeet.ca/