Unitarian Universalist Community Potluck Dinner for A Good Cause

Thursday May 22nd

Join your Neighbours at Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation for a fundraising Pot-Luck Dinner. Hiawatha residents along with Mitch Petty are raising money for the Hospital for Sick Children, come along and sponsor Mitch on a Drive-a-thon with his "punch buggy" Volkswagon Beetle as he travels across Ontario to raise money for the hospital.

This will be a great time to meet your neighbours and share some great food! I hope everyone will come and help our 'Punch Buggy 4 SickKids' charity reach our fund raising goal of $10,000 for SickKids!

Let them know if you are planning on coming, so that they know what numbers to expect.

For more information on Punch Buggy 4 SickKids or to donate on-line go to:

www.punchbuggy4sickkids.com

To learn more about Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation - located at 79Hiawatha Road go to:

www.nuuc.ca

Shopping Gerrard India Bazaar

One of the wonderful things about our neighbourhood is window-shopping the colourful Sari displays along Gerrard. I am often in awe of the colour, fabric, and beauty of the many garments I don't dare wear. If I was a little more certain of myself, or a little more outrageous... but I admit, I have been shy about even entering the shops. Luckily I am not a shy creature by nature and it was only a matter of time before curiosity overwhelmed all other emotions and, having two perfect excuses, I have finally made my first two purchases on Gerrard.

In the first instance I was looking for a gift for my niece who lives in the Netherlands. My sister owns a kid's toy and craft shop there, and also has her own impeccable taste, so I am almost always at a loss to chose something surprising and unique for her children. To make up for the lack of direct contact, It's also nice to find something that tells her girls what type of person their Auntie is, just so they know that I'm, like, a million billion times cooler than Mom. Mission accomplished this year - as I walked past Little Bangladesh at 1396 Gerrard Street East, I saw a outfit in the window seemingly designed specifically for the sequined, pink loving diva that is the improbably offspring of my no-nonsense tomboy sister. Ankle length skirt, sequined tank top, and matching scarf in creped cotton for $30.00.

Today I was drawn into Pooja Boutique at 1424 Gerrard Street East, on an entirely different errand. Renos now trucking merrily along, I follow close behind adding the finishing touches to our finished rooms. Looking for something to put the unique stamp of the neighbourhood onto our home, I have been searching for a nice fabric for a living room curtain. At the Pooja Boutique I found a lovely midnight blue sari,on sale for $30.00, with multi hued sequined flowers. I was assisted by a very helpful young lady, who unfurled the length of fabric for me and explained how to drape it. I hesitated to tell her what I had in mind for the fabric, worrying that the reversal of the famous Sound of Music curtain dresses, might be slightly offensive (especially considering my sewing skills)but never-the-less, I have a privacy solution that all of my neighbours will hopefully find as beautiful as I do.

Both visits were wonderful experiences; and shyness overcome, I'm sure I will return.

Hope It's Not Too Late for Summer Registration!

If you are after cheap (or even free) recreation, or have gotten a late start on your New Year's Resolution, you are in luck; Gerrard India Bazaar is conveniently located to access a number of community centres, with a quick TTC ride, or a brisk walk. Most convenient: the Matty Eckler Resource centre, on Gerrard across from Gerrard Square and SH Armstrong Community Recreation Centre on Woodfield near Queen street.

You can access the Toronto Parks and Recreation guide for Toronto and East York here:

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/torontofun-south-district.htm

Bad Blogger. No Walkies.

I've been rather remiss in updating lately, buried as I have been under reno rubble (no, not literally!), and so I was disappointed to find that I had missed a wonderful opportunity to tour my new neighbourhood:

Toronto Walks at www.Janeswalk.com

I certainly hope I will get the chance agin, but in the meantime take a moment to learn about this wonderful "accessable, fun and free" movement (yes, this time literally!)

Every Decent Neighbourhood Needs a Good...

Will. Or a Goodwill. Ideally, every decent neighbourhood needs a Goodwill where the staff are not very knowledgeable about current labels and so conviently leave them underpriced(and if I was to design my dream thrift store: like to colour coordinate the used clothes.)In fact, any used clothing store will do, but on the East side of Coxwell at Gerrard, just above the No Frills, the residents of Gerrard India Bazaar have been gifted a Goodwill.

I dropped in for a browse, and to get a sense of what was on offer, and found six tops: two Banana Republic, a Tristain and America, a Mexx, and an Angora Sweater - none of which fit properly, sadly. There was also a plentiful supply of good condition Children's toys, and nice Girl's Clothes (said a little wistfully from the mother of a small Boy). I noted in particular a good many nice Leather Coats. But I was a little disappointed that I didn't find what I had dropped in for: Sari's. Considering our neighbourhood, I was hoping to find a few which would yield some nice material.

NOW Magazine's Signature Dishes

NOW Magazine's most recent issue celebrates the 20 top signature dishes at various Toronto restaurants. Wondering where you can sample some of the best Toronto has to offer, without straying to far from home?

The Jerk Pork Pizza at Ghali Kitchen, located on the corner of Greenwood and Queen won "Best Pizza". From experience I can reccomend the "Burroti", which was wonderful and big enough that (when I picked one up for take out late one night) I could save a third of it for my husband to sample - but I couldn't resist finishing it off on the bus ride home!

Also recommended: the Pollo en Mole at El Sole at Danforth and Monarch Park. Just take a shortcut up through the park, (accessable through the tunnel at the top of Woodfield, and it's an eight minute walk to "an obscenely slow-simmered sauce that contains over 65 ingredients...to dazzle the tongue."

Heeeeey Neat (take 2)

Being a consummate pedestrian, I tend to refer to my neighbourhood as anywhere that is reachable in a fifteen minute walk. So, as I strolled along the Danforth past Greenwood and on past Coxwell, I made a mental note of any shop or restaurant of interest. Though I realise it is a stretch to include it in "Gerrard India Bazaar", the warm weather will soon arrive (if only by sheer force of communal will, it seems) and for all those who may find themselves further afield, I found these gems for when, frankly, you just don't feel like eating Indian food.

At Danforth and Monarch Park: Sarah's (which I have visited in the past, mainly because they boasted a variety of unique brew on tap) made a good impression both in ambiance, food and drink, and though not what I would call "Family Friendly", where very accommodating with my not always perfectly behaved toddler, and wide stroller. Today, however, I stopped for lunch at the Sunset Grill, just East of Coxwell on the North side of Danforth, and made a mental note that there was a reason it was famous for its breakfasts, but I am certain to return when the yen for bacon and eggs strikes. Unfortunately, stuffed full of mediocre burger and side salad I happened across the Bus Terminal Family Restaurant, only a few doors further East.

The Bus Terminal Family Restaurant (1604 Danforth Avenue at Coxwell) appeals immediately from the outside with its multi hued benches lined up along the side as if expecting impending waiting hoards, strange 70's style pendant lanterns, and menacing human sized "Chicken Run" figurine staring ominously through the white blinds. A quick glance inside shows a typical Family style diner with booths and Formica, but tarted up with LP album covers of the '50s, '60s and '70s covering the wall and ceiling. The bright purple exterior paint gives way to an orange, white and brown interior that warms the nostalgic cockles of my 70's and 80's reared heart. This is a location that, whatever the value of their food, I will be visiting numerous times.

And LOOK It's for sale!

And a quick non-food related sighting that made my day - also at Danforth and Coxwell - Ages and Stages, a used children's clothing and toy store yielded a book based on my son's favourite singing rhyme! And while a little skinny on cool Boys clothes, had a number of label quality girl's sun dresses, that made me stop and look for something for my neices.