Share your Parkdale love and vote for the Best of 2014!

It’s that time of year again, time to have your say in picking the top shopping spots, bars and restaurants throughout the City with NOW Magazine’s Best Of Toronto Reader’s Choice. Parkdale is full of great spots to shop, grab a bite or have drinks with friends and this year’s list of nominees prove that well. Take a few minutes to vote for your favourites and let the rest of Toronto know that Parkdale is the place to be!

BestOf_Nowmag_2014

Best Dance Club

Wrongbar

Best Florist

Coriander Girl

Best Green Store

Common Sort

Best Jewellery Store

Made you Look

Best Unisex Clothing Store

North Standard Trading Post

Best Vintage Furniture Store

Queen West Antique Centre

Best Bar

Cadillac Lounge

Best Beer Selection

The Rhino

Best Breakfast

Easy Restaurant

Best Caribbean Restaurant

Bacchus Roti

Best Cocktail Bar

Zeze Food and Drink

Best Cupcake

Yummy Stuff

Best Donut

Glory Hole Doughnuts

Best Mexican

Grand Electric

Best Mixologist

Esther Kang @ The Yukon

and

Steve McKeon @ Small Town Food Co

Best Patio

Cadillac Lounge

Best Prix Fixe

Local Kitchen

Best Restaurant

Restaurant Chantecler

and

Grand Electric

Best Roti

Bacchus Roti

and

Mother India

Best Taco

Grand Electric

Construction Notice

Construction to conduct general maintenance, repairs and road resurfacing along Queen Street West.

Expected Project Dates: August 25, 2014 – October 31, 2014, however the construction happening within the Parkdale BIA is expected to be finished by mid-September.  Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 7am – 6pm, weather permitting
Location: Queen Street West, between Bathurst Street and Roncesvalles Avenue.

  • Scope of work: Cut repairs and associated road resurfacing.
  • Phase I construction to proceed west, along the north side of Queen Street West, to Roncesvalles Avenue.
  • Phase II construction to proceed east, along the south side from Roncesvalles to Bathurst.
  • Construction is scheduled to end at the end of October.

What to Expect:

  • Traffic delays, decreased street parking and noise are expected during construction;
  • The City will attempt to minimize obstruction of private driveways and sidewalks;
  • Sidewalk signage and storage containers must be removed during project.

For more information:

  • City Inspector: Alimul Chowdhury – (647) 269-0700
  • City Services and Information – 311
  • Contractor: Ross Spinello, Trisan Construction – (416) 410-3839
  • TTY – 416-397-0831
  • Ward 14 Councillor Gord Perks – 416-392-7919

The Lab Cab Festival entertains Parkdale for a second year!

This past weekend the Parkdale Village BIA sponsored the second Lab Cab Festival & Sidewalk Sale in Parkdale Village!  Patrons enjoyed over 100 multi-arts performers at 80+ venues and it was a wonderful opportunity for visitors to meet business owners, shop locally and participate in free activities! A huge thanks to all our volunteers, the festival organizers, the artists and shop owners who took part. Also, thanks to the organizations and community partners that supported the event, the residents and visitors who came out to support Parkdale!  Please enjoy some event photos online at Lab Cab & Parkdale BIA!

Photos courtesy of Parkdale Village BIA, Lab Cab Festival and Jeremy Mimnagh.

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Restaurant Study Update – Settlement Offer

On July 8, 2014 City Council will be considering the recent settlement offer received from the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association (“ORHMA”) in respect of their appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board of By-laws 1049-2013 and 1050-2013, enacted by City Council on July 19, 2013. This is following a mediation which took place between parties in late June 2014 regarding the Queen Street West Restaurant Study between Roncesvalles Avenue and Dufferin Street.

If the settlement is rejected by City Council, which the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner recommend, and a compromise cannot be reached, a 5 day hearing may be scheduled to begin on August 11, 2014.

For more information about the City Council meeting on July 8th, 2014, please click here.

Parkdale gets ready for another Lab Cab Festival – July 26 & 27!

The Parkdale Village BIA is delighted for the return of the Lab Cab Festival and Sidewalk Sale on July 26 & 27, 2014.

Lab Cab is an annual, two-day multi-arts festival which includes over 100 shows in 75 venues along Queen Street West. It is a free family event offering a sidewalk sale, music, dance, theatre, film, poetry, kids’ stuff, visual art and comedy performed in restaurants, bars, community centres, boutiques, cafés, parks, library, parking lots, hair salons, flower shops, clothing stores, convenience stores, antique stores and more. Acts range from 2 to 40 minutes, and are performed by seasoned and amateur artists from 2:00pm-8:00pm throughout the weekend along Queen Street West, starting at Dufferin & ending at Roncesvalles.

Founded in 2001, the mandate of Lab Cab (short for “Laboratory Cabaret”) is to provide a home for local artists of various disciplines to experiment with new work in a fun and risk-free environment. The first Lab Cab Festival premiered in the fall of 2006 with over 50 arts groups filling every nook and cranny of the Factory Theatre at Adelaide and Bathurst.

The Parkdale Village BIA is excited to host Lab Cab for another year as the festival flourishes throughout our neighbourhood, check out last years photos, click here.

And the best part? It’s FREE.

Photo Courtesy of Lab Cab Festival

Stay tuned to http://www.labcab.ca/ for line-up and schedule updates!

To volunteer for the festival email us at director@parkdalevillagebia.com or contact click http://www.labcab.ca/site/support/volunteer/.

Scotiabank CONTACT Photo Festival Launch!

This past weekend marked the city wide launch of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. This years programming saw an exciting addition as local photographers Hitoshi & Vincent from Hello Foto joined as curators and spent the winter season working with Parkdale Collegiate Institute students on the principles of photography and how to interpret the theme “Identity”.

We invite you to visit all 9 venues as well as the additional curated shows in Parkdale Village at General Hardware Gallery, Gallery 1313 and Goodfellas Gallery.

See below for more details about participating venues: Queen West Antique Centre, Food & Liquor, This Little Piggy, Common Sort, Leesa Berry Haircutting, The Well of Alternative Medicine, The Parkdale Drink, The Public Butter & Rustic Cosmo Cafe.

The exhibit runs May 1-31, 2014. We thank the participating businesses, Hello Foto, CONTACT organizers and the teachers and students of Parkdale Collegiate Institute.

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CONTACT 2 2014

PCI Students view their work on opening night!

 

Spring into Parkdale Festival has sprung!

Last weekend Spring made a brief appearance in Parkdale Village for the 2nd Annual Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Sale and Festival on April 26, 2014. We would like to thank all the businesses and community partners who participated and the many residents and visitors that strolled our neighbourhood!

With so many participants we are well underway in growing this event and hopefully becoming a must visit in the years to come – thank you volunteers and BIA members! Please see below for a snapshot of the weekend, more photos can be viewed on Facebook. Some photo credits: Hitoshi Murakami

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Spring 15Spring Festival - PARC- 2014 Spring Festival - tibet Womens Association - Bhume Lhentsog 3 - 2014

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Spring Into Parkdale This Weekend – Dogs, Neighbours, Smoothies & Art!

Can you believe we are less than a week away from our 2nd Annual Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Sale & Festival on Saturday April 26th 10am-6pm! 

Even a little rain won’t stop the many shops and organizations participating this year, and with the help of residents and visitors the show will go on!

Follow up on Twitter at #SpringIntoParkdale all weekend as we announce even more surprises and help you re-explore, re-discover and support local shopping & free attractions along Queen St W from Dufferin to Roncesvalles!

Puppy Love: Swing by Not My Dog for some awesome photography and handmade clothing at 1510 Queen St W.

Smooth: Enjoy 23 degree coffee, Vega smoothies and much more at JR’s Natural Health & Bulk @ 1382 Queen St W @ Cowan Ave.  

Stars: Join Bell Media CTV Toronto for a TV series called Local Calls & step into their video phone booth @ Cowan Ave!

Freeze: Become a part of a new artistic project at Skeir Gallery. Pose for a photo & share your silhouette for this community project @ 1537 Queen St W @ Callender

West: Visit Queen & Dufferin for face painting, product demos and gift bags @ West End Food Coop!

Neighbours: Join the Parkdale Residents Association at Elm Grove, meet your neighbours, become a member and get involved in your community!

Spring into Parkdale Attractions 6 - 2014

Click below for more info on activities & entertainment:

Cupcakes, Balloons, Bikes & Surprises

Birthday, Sliders, Drums, Chalk & Alumni!

Cheese, Exploration, Sistema, Horses & Rock!

Pride, Treasure, Superman & Eagles!

Art Market, Spa Deals, Portraits & Tours!

Spring Into Parkdale Festival – Cupcakes, Balloons, Bikes & Surprises!

With just over 1 week to go, we just can’t keep up with all the wonderful activities and promotions taking place during our 2nd Annual Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Sale & Festival on Saturday April 26th 10am-6pm!

To continue our weekly countdown we’re announcing even more attractions!  We hope you’ll be enticed to re-explore, re-discover and support over 50 participating partners & shops. As you stroll the strip, be sure to stop by Triller Avenue, Sorauren Avenue, Cowan Avenue & Dufferin Street for free attractions.

Get Well: Get ready for a HUGE Inventory Sale at The Well of Alternative Medicine with over 40% off goods @ 1344 Queen St W @ Brock!

Pan Am: Meet the Pan Am Mascot Pachi @ Cowan Ave & Dufferin St and learn about the Pan Am/Parapan Am Game coming to Parkdale in 2015!

Cupcakes2Go: Check out a special promotion with Yummy Stuff Bakery & Car2Go, visit them at Triller Ave for details on free cupcakes, plus decorate your own!!!

Surprises: Visit Ze Ze Food & Drink for lots of
delicious surprises and deals @ 1704 Queen St W @ Roncesvalles.

Balloons: Join Parkdale High Park MP Peggy Nash and MPP Cheri DiNovo at Cowan Ave and stock up on balloons!

Bikes: Bike on over to Sorauren Ave and meet the team behind Cycle Toronto, learn about Cycling and Safety in Toronto! Spring into Parkdale Attractions 5 - 2014

Click below for more info on activities & entertainment:

Birthday, Sliders, Drums, Chalk & Alumni!

Cheese, Exploration, Sistema, Horses & Rock!

Pride, Treasure, Superman & Eagles!

Art Market, Spa Deals, Portraits & Tours!

Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Sale & Festival - 2014

We’re Hiring – Project Manager!

Job Description
Position: Project Manager
Reports to: Board of Management and Committee Chairs
Location: Parkdale Village, Toronto, ON
Status:  Full Time, Contract (June 2014 – May 2015)
Salary Range: $40,000-$44,000; Competitive Compensation Packages

Purpose:
This role is responsible for the effective implementation of the 2014/2015 Marketing Strategy and continued management of Streetscape Strategy projects, including development, operations and execution.

Key Accountabilities:
Planning and Execution
The Project Manager provides marketing and event project management, streetscape project management, customer service, administrative support, and general assistance to the BIA. The individual must be a self-starter and possess strong organizational skills to ensure that priorities are assigned to projects and activities.

Reporting to the Board of Management through the BIA Chair [or designate], the BIA Project Manager’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Implement programs and policies as approved by the Board;
  • Financial management
  • Establish, encourage and maintain positive, constructive and proactive relationships with the BIA members as well as those non-members whose action can impact the BIA; and
  • human resource coordination
  • All administrative functions of the BIA

Duties of the BIA Project Manager include the following:

Communications

  • Maintain and implement all marketing and event projects and promotions as directed by the Board;
  • Execute all elements of project management and marketing mix (advertising, printing, media, volunteer recruitment, permits, budgets, logistics, etc.)
  • Monthly communications with existing BIA members via email, social media, phone
  • Monthly communication via newsletter, prepare, produce and distribute
  • Monthly communications via website articles, prepare, produce and post new & existing news
  • Weekly website maintenance and updates
  • Daily communications via social media (twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
  • Outreach to new BIA members via site visits and material distribution
  • Draft materials for distribution to the local community through appropriate media [door- to-door, local newspaper, etc.];
  • Preparation and distribution of press releases and other media materials;
  • Conduct all metrics such as surveys (quantitative and qualitative), analytics analysis and reporting on a monthly basis
  • Perform a cycle of visitation to merchant members every month; and act as liaison with non-BIA members.
  • Liaise with City departments such as: Economic Development Culture and Tourism Department, Urban Forestry, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and other departmental staff as appropriate;
  • Liaise with members of other BIAs and BIA associations; and
  • Liaise with community groups and agencies
  • Acts as a spokesperson for the BIA, members, board and neighbourhood maintaining high level of professionalism and integrity in all levels of communication

Capital

  • Maintain and implement all streetscape, beautification and enhancement programs as directed by the Board;
  • Prepare and administer necessary documentation in accordance with the City’s Capital Cost Sharing Program;
  • Obtain “sign-off” on all relevant documents as required by the City and the BIA; and
  • Relay project status to the BIA and organize staff/BIA meetings where appropriate.

Maintenance and Repairs

  • Maintain and monitor all floral programs, banners and light poles as directed by the Board;
  • Monitor public works and related activities [sidewalk repair, garbage receptacle replacement, garbage collection, hydro infrastructure projects, other physical repairs/improvements] in the BIA; and
  • Work with the Board to implement the area improvement schedule.
  • Maintain weekly inventory of assets and repairs

Administrative

  • Schedule meetings and prepare agendas with Board and Committee Chairs;
  • Prepare and distribute committee minutes or notes, follow-up on issues as required
  • Responsible for maintaining regular office operations such as filing, folding, stuffing and mailing;
  • Maintain database (250+ members, media, committee members, etc.)
  • Prepare cheques, invoices and other financial documents; and
  • Day to day office management (phone and internet provider, IT troubleshooting, office & equipment maintenance, etc.)

Meeting Organization  

  • Reserve appropriate meeting location;
  • Make all required physical arrangements including refreshments, seating etc.;
  • Contact all required committee members and other interested parties to attend.

Qualifications:

  • University or College Training in marketing, project management and/or equivalent
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong financial management and adhering to budgets
  • Strong problem solving skills using creative solutions
  • Delivers high standard of customer service and acts with integrity by promoting consistency among principles, values and behaviors
  • Impeccable organizational and record keeping skills
  • Motivated, organized and ability to concurrently manage projects and initiatives;
  • Strong social media skills [Facebook, Twitter, Instagram] & Smartphone
  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Able to walk / move extensively around the Parkdale Village BIA area
  • Knowledge of Parkdale Village Neighbourhood and experience with BIA’s an asset
  • An interest in entrepreneurship, community development and multiculturalism an asset; and
  • Strong program skills [MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Mail Chimp, Survey Monkey, WordPress]

Deadline for applications is Monday May 5th, 2014 5:00pm.

Cover letter and resume to:

Hiring Committee
Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area
1313 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON.  M6K 1L8
director@parkdalevillagebia.com