Category Archives: What’s On

Parkdale Prana Room’s Two Year Anniversary Party

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Come celebrate at Parkdale Prana Room’s Two Year Anniversary Party, this Saturday May 5 from 8pm.  The party is going down at 1273A Queen St W. (at Elm Grove) and it is open to the public!

Parkdale Prana Room is home to a variety of holistically based bodymind therapies. Come have some piña colada punch (alcoholic and non-alcoholic served) and samosas. Whether you’ve been curious about our activities and space or if you are just stopping in to say hi and join the party all are welcome. Our in house Holistic and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist, Jennifer Gilmour will be djaying. BYOB.

The other Parkdale Prana Room practitioners are: Simone Moir, Director: Gestalt Psychotherapy, Yoga and Meditation. Paul Lara of QiBelly: QiGong, Tai Chi and Reiki, Catherine Cameron: Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reiki for Families and Birthing Support Programs, Karen McWilliam: Post Natal Yoga and Mother’s Support Group.

THE PARKDALE VILLAGE BIA PRESENTS “PARKDALE, WHO KNEW?” AS PART OF THE SCOTIABANK CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL

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The students of Parkdale Collegiate Institute present the photographic results of their exploration of Parkdale and mentorship with Jonathan Groeneweg, Artist, throughout various locations in Parkdale in the month of May

 

Students at Parkdale Collegiate Institute have been working under the mentorship of artist Jonathan Groeneweg, a master’s student in documentary media, to create photo-documentary works in response to the theme “Parkdale, Who Knew?” for the Parkdale Village BIA. Their results will be explored and presented in four locations throughout the Parkdale neighbourhood – at eco-boutique Chartreuse Style (1692 Queen West), Poor John’s Cafe (1610 Queen West), Brown Sugar Bakery (1374 Queen West) and The Boreal Gelato Company (1312 Queen West) as part of the city-wide Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

“Parkdale, Who Knew?” will be a foray into the hidden treasures of Parkdale Village before it was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1889. Take a journey with the students as they discover the Parkdale of yesteryear and reflections of what it is today.

In addition to the PVBIA-presented “Parkdale, Who Knew?” there will be several CONTACT exhibitions throughout Parkdale, including “Acts of Exposure” at Gallery 1313 (1313 Queen West) throughout May.

Join us on Thursday, May 3rd, for the Opening Reception of “Parkdale, Who Knew?” from 7 – 10 pm at Boreal Gelato (1312 Queen West) to kick off the exhibit, celebrate the student’s achievements and enjoy some wine and snacks.

Fireside Culture Week 2012 – A Retrospective

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Fireside Culture Week 2012 was a huge success!  Thank you so much to everyone who participated.  For those of you who missed out, or who just want to re-live the magic, The Parkdale BIA presents: Fireside 2012 – A Retrospective.

Fireside Culture Week was kicked off with our Opening Night Launch Party at Goodfellas Gallery.  It was sponsored by Beau’s Brewery, Cobs Bakery and HomEquity Bank.  Parkdale’s Coriander Girl and Le Tibet provided floral arrangements and delicious food.

Gord Perks came out to support the festival, and chatted to performer Jeff Quick.

Shuggie and The Bandits.

The fabulous Esther Kim organized the launch party.

The next night was the Fireside Comedy night “Funny For Money” at The Sister.  Some of my fave Toronto comedians participated, including Chris Locke, Sarah Hennessy, Kathleen Phillips, Ladystache, Adam Christie and so many more!  The audience voted on their fave solo and group comedians.

Kathleen Phillips won for best solo comedian.  Her character piece about “Paris, France” and mustard was well-crafted, brilliantly performed and hilarious.

She won the trophy for “Funniest in Parkdale”.  The evening was hosted by Fireside Festival Director Marcus McLean!

Hilarious sketch duo Ladystache won for funniest group. They earned that “Irish Princess” tiara!

Wednesday evening was Fireside’s Theatre Night at Big Guy’s Coffee Shop!  I didn’t make it to this event, but I heard rumors that there was a specially crafted “Fireside Ale” – I would have loved to try it.

On Friday night our queer event “Queer Parking” took place at The Cadillac Lounge! It was fabulous, and packed with wonderful people.

Parkdalian Phillip Cairns read his poetry.

Featuring the performance and hosting talents of Miss Fluffy Souffle, Queen of Parkdale!

an incredible show by Regina the Gentlelady of Light Fires!

AND a fabulous duet of The Boy Is Mine featuring Kelly McMicheals!

And dance jams late until the night by DJ Max Mohenu.

Saturday was the main performance day for Fireside, featuring performances in the Dufferin Amphitheatre and in businesses throughout Parkdale all day long.   I wish I could have gotten to all the events.

Beatface played the Amphitheatre to a happy audience of music lovers.

Thunderfunk at the amphitheatre.

Zuviri at the amphitheatre.

Yeah, You’re Right at Big Guy’s Coffee Shop.  Thanks to Esther for the picture!

Sage Tyrtle told her captivating stories at The River Trading Company.

People packed into Not My Dog for our hip hop event

featuring, among many, Shocka!  Thanks to Shaun C for the beautiful pictures.

Looks like an incredible performance.

It was an incredible week filled with culture and creativity and fun that made me so proud of our community and the Parkdale BIA.  See you next year!

Fireside Opening Night Launch Party Tonight!

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TONIGHT is the launch party for Fireside Culture Week 2012 presented to you by Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area. On Monday March 12, 2012, we will be celebrating Fireside Culture Week at Goodfellas Gallery, located at 1266 Queen St W from 7pm – 11pm.

For additional information on the week of events for Fireside Culture Week, please stay tuned to this website!

Questions?  director@parkdalevillagebia.com or call 416-536-6918.

Fireside Culture Week 2012!

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The Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area is thrilled to present Fireside Culture Week from March 12-17, 2012.  Fireside is a week filled with art and performance along Queen Street West from Dufferin Street to Roncesvalles Avenue.

Fireside will kick off on Monday, March 12 with our Opening Night Launch Party at Goodfellas Gallery located at 1266 Queen West from 7:00pm-11:00pm. Refreshments are courtesy of Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, Red Bull and Cobs Bakery. Other sponsors include HomEquity Bank and Dressed To Kill Magazine. Entertainment for the evening will be Jeff Quick and Shuggie & The Bandits.

Tuesday, March 13 is Fireside’s “Funny For Money” competition at The Sister, 1554 Queen West from 7:00pm-10:00pm where stand up comics, duos and troupes are invited to compete for cash prizes. Featuring sketch duo Ladystache and improv troupe POMP.

On Wednesday, March 14, Fireside will celebrate theatre at Big Guy’s Coffee Shop, 1718 Queen West from 7:00pm-10:00pm. The evening will include readings, wine tastings and a specially crafted Fireside ale.

On Friday, March 16, Parkdale presents Fireside’s official gay bash – Queer Parking at location TBC, from 10:00pm – 2:00am. Featuring DJs Max Mohenu and performances by Miss Fluffy Souffle, Regina of Light Fires, and Philip Cairns.

Saturday, March 17 is the Fireside Community Day, where talented performers will be entertaining Parkdale in various locations throughout the day!

Updates and further information regarding specific events are available at www.parkdalevillagebia.com

For more information please contact Heather Douglas at director@parkdalevillagebia.com

Fireside auditions featured in the Parkdale Villager!

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Thank you to Erin Hatfield and the Parkdale Villager for including a story about the Fireside Auditions in their February 21st issue!

Check out this picture of us judges being blown away by Parkdale’s talent!

Toronto’s talented blow away BIA judges

Performers will take part in annual Fireside Culture Week

Like a scene from a television talent show, Marcus McLean, Heather Douglas and Ellie Anglin from the Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) sat facing the stage at an open call audition, ready to be blown away.

And they were.

“I was really happy to see all the talent that came out and was hugely impressed by the talent Toronto has. It makes me proud of my city,” said Douglas, the coordinator of the Parkdale Village BIA.

The trio were at a local pub Wednesday, Feb. 8 to audition possible performers, musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, clowns and more for the BIA’s Fireside Culture Week IV, which takes place on Queen Street West between Dufferin Street and Roncesvalles Avenue March 12 to 17.

There were more than a dozen performers who auditioned including a storyteller that Douglas said kept the judges captivated with her tales.

“If the auditions we saw were any indication, I think it will be our best year yet,” Douglas said. Everyone should definitely come out and check it out.”

From those auditions, the judges will choose the performers for the week-long event.

Fireside Culture Week offers residents and visitors experience food, music, art, theatre, comedy and more about 40 venues in the area.

Now in its fourth year, Fireside Culture Week was started by the Parkdale Village BIA as a means to draw people out of their homes and into the establishments along Queen Street West between Dufferin Street to Roncesvalles Avenue in what can sometimes be a bleak and boring time of year.

Date Change for Fireside Auditions!

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Call for Performers to Audition for Fireside Culture Week

Fireside Culture Week IV presents FIRESIDE: “The Auditions” on Wednesday, February 8th from 1-8 pm at The Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen West). We invite performers of all kinds to audition to be in Fireside IV in Parkdale from March 12th to the 17th.  We are seeking musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, clowns, and more! We want to see your talent, and please pass this along to your talented friends.

Please contact Ellie at info@parkdalevillagebia.com to schedule an audition.

We are specifically seeking headliners for our main stage, LGBT performers and artists for our queer party, and stand-ups and sketch troupes for our comedy night; but we have a whole week and a long street to fill full of talent, so come one and come all to audition for a spot!

What: Fireside: The Auditions

When: February 8th, 2012, 1pm – 8pm

Where: The Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen West

Please contact festival@parkdalevillagebia.com or call 416.536.6918 for more information about Fireside.

FIRESIDE: The Auditions

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Call for Performers to Audition for Fireside Culture Week

Fireside Culture Week IV presents FIRESIDE: “The Auditions” on Wednesday, February 1st from 1-8 pm at The Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen West). We invite performers of all kinds to audition to be in Fireside IV in Parkdale from March 12th to the 17th.  We are seeking musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, clowns, and more! We want to see your talent, and please pass this along to your talented friends.

Please contact Ellie at info@parkdalevillagebia.com to schedule an audition.

We are specifically seeking headliners for our main stage, LGBT performers and artists for our queer party, and stand-ups and sketch troupes for our comedy night; but we have a whole week and a long street to fill full of talent, so come one and come all to audition for a spot!

What: Fireside: The Auditions

When: February 8th, 2012, 1pm – 8pm

Where: The Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen West

Please contact festival@parkdalevillagebia.com or call 416.536.6918 for more information about Fireside.

Imagining Toronto’s Better Future – Tuesday February 7th

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Join the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre
and Small Wooden Shoe in
Imagining Toronto’s better future.

What kind of city would you want to live in, if we could make a city from scratch?

Upper Toronto starts with a terrible idea. We want to build a new city in the sky above the current Toronto.

It’s a terrible idea that allows us to ask what would happen if, knowing what we now know, we could start fresh.

We are meeting with people from all across Toronto to ask them about the city that they live in now. What do you love about it? What do you hate about it? What would you change?

Spend an evening with other people from your community and help us dream of a better city for everyone.

Tuesday, February 7 at 7PM at the
Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre
1499 Queen Street West
Free (with snacks)

WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect a quick introduction to the ideas that drive Upper Toronto. Expect guided brainstorming and playful design work. Expect time to think about city planning with a freedom and depth rarely permitted to even the experts. Expect to laugh. Expect to examine your own ideas about what’s most important in city life.
By opening this process to people across Toronto we hope to learn about your civic dreams and imaginations while giving you an experience of civic engagement and the challenges of planning.

WHO WE ARE
Small Wooden Shoe is an award winning arts company that uses current and effective consultation practices, mixed with our own innovative and idiosyncratic performance style. We bring experience with conferences, unconferences, keynote presentations, debating workshops, online collaboration, and 10 years of events in which groups come together to make the world a more interesting and engaged place. We are bent on proving that good ideas are entertaining and that pleasure and thinking require each other.

—
Michael Burtt
Artistic Director
Making Room
416-876-5951
http://making-room.org

Parkdale Connected – February 15th, 2012.

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The BIA presents Parkdale Connected on February 15th, 2012 as part of Social Media Week Toronto. This event aims to assist Parkdale business owners in the use of Social Media marketing, and will also serve as a general meeting for our membership. Parkdale Connected features Social Media Expert and Parkdale resident Sue Edworthy at 7pm in the upstairs meeting room at The Rhino (1249 Queen West).

Attendees are encouraged to bring their wireless devices to follow along as Sue facilitates an interactive workshop on the use of Facebook and Twitter as marketing tools to establish and maintain Parkdale BIA members’ small business online presence. At the end of the evening, participants will have learned what they need to create their own accounts and pages, types of campaigns they can use to increase business and profile, and worked with fellow BIA members to gain the perspective of both an “outside eye” coupled with the understanding of fellow small business owners.

Please take some time to complete this short survey on your businesses’ Social Media Usage by January 31st to help us serve you better.

Facebook Event Page

Twitter Hashtag: #SMWTOParkdale

Social Media Week Toronto Event Page