I love the sparkly wreaths and the beautiful window boxes!

Cigarette Butts on Roncy

Please keep our street clean!  The new garbage cans have a receptacle for cigarette butts.  We also have some portable ashtrays so drop by and ask for one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jci7×1JFwmg&feature=relmfu

Volunteer Street Sweepers

A nice story in the Toronto Star from Ellen Moorhouse of the Review Theatre about neighbours not complaining but actually DOING!   http://www.thestar.com/article/1084349–trash-talk-a-clean-sweep-on-roncesvalles

Neighbourhood Jack ‘o’ Lanterns

Sorauren Park on November 1.  You MUST see this next year.  Neighbours bring their Halloween Jack ‘o’ Lanterns to the park on November 1 where they glow again another day.  Really something to see.  Check out this link from the Toronto Star and make sure to follow the link to the photo gallery.  Awesome.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1079758–jack-o-lanterns-live-to-glow-another-day

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

Follow this link for a schedule of events for this weekend’s Polish Festival on Roncesvalles.

http://polishfestival.ca/wp-content/uploads/rpf2011schedule.map.pdf

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, October 18 is “EAT TO THE BEAT”, a fundraiser in support of Willow Breast Cancer Support.  The event is held at Roy Thompson Hall and features over 60 female chefs, including Blue Plate’s own Julia Young!!!  Tickets are $150 and include all you can eat and drink, as well as a charitable receipt.  There is live music, a silent auction, and fabulous fancy dress.  The event has raised millions of dollars over the years.  I have participated in this event for years, as Blue Plate and, before that, as BOHO.  It is a tremendous amount of fun for all, and the food and wine are amazing.  For details, and to purchase tickets, go to www.eattothebeat.ca.

Wednesday, October 19 is “FEAST FOR THE FIGHT”, a fundraiser in support of The Canadian Cancer Society.  Participating restaurants, including Blue Plate, will be donating a percentage of that day’s sales.  For more information, go to www.feastforthefight.ca.  Call now to book your reservation!

Private Parties

Did you know that Blue Plate is available for your private party?  On Saturday we hosted a beautiful wedding luncheon.  The sun shone, the wine flowed and everyone was very happy!  The menu, arranged by special order with the wedding party, included shrimp dumplings with sambal aioli, vegetable spring rolls with hoisin sauce, pissaladiere, maple-chipotle glazed salmon, lemon herb-roasted chicken, grilled marinated vegetables, potato salad, Tuscan bread salad, lemon squares, chocolate brownies, oatmeal cherry cookies and fresh fruit.  We would be delighted to host your private function too!  Please call Melissa at 416-888-0432 to discuss your requirements.

Road Trip

This is kind of cool! Just two questions: how did they make it the whole way without being stuck behind a streetcar or getting a red light; and what happened to Blue Plate, Lardon, The Local, The Review, Prints Charming, High Park Paint, Margis Pharmacy, Roncy Gallery etc on the other side of the street?

Roncesvalles Grand Opening

Information from Roncesvalles Renewed about Roncesvalles Grand Opening on July 23rd:

Roncy’s official reopening Roncesvalles street celebration on July 23 On July 23, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., we’re inviting everyone to come to Roncesvalles Village for a special celebration. After years of planning and work, our street is ready for its close-up! We now have close to a hundred new trees planted to the highest standards anywhere in the City, new pedestrian spaces, a bike and transit-friendly streetscape, all supporting one of the most dynamic and friendly main streets anywhere in Toronto. So bring your friends and let’s show it off! It promises to be a great day on Roncy! The grand opening event will feature: special events for kids: a bike, trike and wheelchair decorating contest bouncy castle balloon clown and face painting a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the return of streetcars to Roncesvalles after a long absence guided tours of the street via free hop-on-hop-off vintage streetcars a historical display of the Roncesvalles of old live music and buskers a sidewalk sale featuring the very best of what our shops have to offer The commemoration of the return of streetcars to Roncesvalles will take place shortly after 10:00 a.m. at the High Park Library lawn at 228 Roncesvalles Avenue at Wright Avenue. We’re looking for volunteers, so If you can spare some time to help make this day extra special, please email Martha Goodings or call her at  416-532-5697.

volunteers needed Grand Opening: Help make our street celebration a resounding success by lending a hand or contributing your talents. We need help with: postering bike/trike/wheelchair decorating contest balloons and popocorn machine stage support VIP tent Roncesvalles Renewed kiosk and visitor orientation Please email or call 416-532-5697. get the news Visit us online: to find out more about who we are and what’s been happening now that our mainstreet and sidewalks are back and better than ever. Go to roncesvallesrenewed.org. We’re sure you’ll appreciate the improved performance of our blog, which has undergone a major reconstruction of its own. In fact we tossed out the old infrastructure all together, but it’s still driven by the same community spirit. All of our activities are powered by volunteers.

photos please #roncy: We’re looking for photos of the new street in all its glorious shapes and forms. We want streetscapes, street life and street trees; locals and visitors experiencing the magic, even robots and aliens too. Anything you feel makes this street unique and awesome, in addition to plain old charming. Post your images on Flickr and tag them “roncy” Don’t miss the action on July 23, 2011 starting at 10 am on the High Park Library lawn. share your views Want to weigh in on what’s happening? Whether you’re part of our community or just love to visit, please share what inspires you about developments on our main street or in other places where they got it right. Roncesvalles Renewed is made up of community members interested in sharing informed opinions to make a great street even better. To express yours, join us at a meeting or comment at roncesvallesrenewed.org. As one of our subscribers, we want to thank you for your interest and your continued engagement.

Roncesvalles Celebration!