Carols by Candlelight at Trinity St. Paul's Sunday Evening

I tend to ignore anything "Christmas frenzy" and cleave to things "Christmas friendly." So I end up enjoying lots of carolling -- at parties, in the neighbourhood and sometimes even at churches, despite not being religious.
If the Holidays leave you frazzled and annoyed rather than peaceful and buoyed, perhaps you should give it a try.
The parties are up to you to suss out, but there is neighbourhood carolling open to everyone, as I've mentioned, and Trinity St. Paul's hosts Carols by Candlelight Sunday evening beginning at 7 pm.
Enjoy!
Vanessa

TCAT Hosting Active Transportation Workshop in The Annex Nov 27th

Here's the scoop:

"TCAT hosting active transportation workshop in the Annex

5 Nov 2013

In partnership with Toronto Public Health and Cycle Toronto, as part of the Healthy Canada by Design CLASP initiative, TCAT (Toronto Centre for Active Transportation) is hosting a workshop "Walk Cycle Move: the Annex" on Wednesday, November 27 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Trinity St. Paul's, 427 Bloor Street West, in the Chapel Room.

The workshop will examine public opinion on the following proposed projects that could improve walking and cycling safety in the Annex:

1. The potential to change speed limits to 30 km/hr on seven roads in the Annex, listed here.
2. The request to explore road alterations on Bloor Street West to improve the streetscape for pedestrians and possibly cyclists, as described here and here.
3. The revival of the Environmental Assessment for BIke Lanes on Bloor Street, describedhere.

Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to ryan.whitney@tcat.ca

More information here. Download the invitation here and the flyer here.

Join the conversation by completing a short survey here.
http://cycleto.ca/ward-update/tcat-walk-cycle-move-workshop-annex"

Cheers,
Vanessa

Open House at Trinity-St Paul's on Bloor

What a miserable day out there! Ick.
However, that makes it a great day to tour the renovated sanctuary and performance space at Trinity-St. Paul's United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts.
It gets underway shortly and runs till 4 pm.
Cheers,
Vanessa
PS Don't forget the Women Making Waves concert at the same venue tonight.

Salsa In The Annex

I didn't know that people were "salsaing" right under my nose! Without my knowing! How intriguing.
Here's the scoop about Saturday Salsa at Trinity St. Paul's Church. 
Cheers,
Vanessa

Dec. 16th Carols By Candlelight at Trinity St. Paul's

First of all, Happy Hannukah to those of you in the midst of celebrations.
For those of you who celebrate Christmas, you may want to join Carols by Candlelight December 16th at Trinity St. Paul's.
It's the same night as neighbourhood carolling, so you'll have to choose between being seated indoors and listening, or being outside on the move and singing.
Cheers!
Vanessa

Tafelmusik Christmas Concerts

We have a renowned baroque music orchestra in our midst. Lucky or what?
Tafelmusik performs Handel's Messiah every year and lately they've been doing it in Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music, which is within walking distance.
Double lucky!
A truly marvellous experience is trucking down to the annual, always-sold-out, sing-along Messiah at Massey Hall. This year it's on the 23rd.
Closer to home -- and at its usual home -- this weekend the group is celebrating the season with French Baroque Christmas at Trinity St. Paul's at 427 Bloor St. West.
Happy singing and humming!
Vanessa

Songs of Toronto Concert Saturday

There is an interesting line up for Songs of Toronto at Trinity St. Paul's this Saturday.
And I quote "All songs, whether new, historical, humorous, or tragic, will look at our city and the people who make it up, and overall some deep themes of social justice and concern for our  City’s folk should emerge."
Performers include Mary Lou Fallis and Andrew Cash, formerly of L'Etranger.
Tickets are $15.
Cheers,
Vanessa

David Miller Talk Tonight At Trinity St. Paul's

Remember when we had a Mayor who wasn't embarrassing? Yeah, neither do I.
But if you'd like to catch our former head honcho, David Miller, talking about Creating Jobs and Fighting Climate Change, head over to Trinity St. Paul's tonight.
The cost is pay-what-you-can and the talk gets underway at 7 pm.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Sultans of Swing CD Release Concert

Sounds like a fun CD release concert: Sultans of String will celebrate releasing Move Saturday at 8 pm at Trinity St. Paul's Centre in our area.
Tickets are $15 and $20. Here's some info about the group and its music:

"Canadian string super-group and 2010 JUNO Award Nominees Sultans of String are releasing their stunning new CD, MOVE. This third album weaves a truly global sonic tapestry, influenced by Spanish Flamenco, Arabic folk, Cuban rhythms, jazz, Bossa, and French Manouche Gypsy-jazz music.
MOVE is a riveting musical adventure, seamlessly traversing diverse themes of heart, place and tradition. Fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funk bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound."

Cheers,

Vanessa

Blessing of the Bikes Today

If you bike in Toronto, you need all the help you can get to survive in one piece.
So, if you'd like some divine help, take your two-wheel chariot over to Trinity St. Paul's today to get it blessed.

The Blessing of the Bicycles runs from 12:30 pm to 2 pm and the church is located at 427 Bloor St. West.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Free Concert Saturday: Holidays of the Global Village

Another great event is happening in our neighbourhood, this one aimed at a younger crowd and their families:
"At 1 pm, Saturday November 27, JUNO nominee, 3x Parents' Choice Award winner & CFMA winner, Chris McKhool, celebrates Canada's multicultural mosaic at Trinity St. Paul's Centre.

Presented by: Small World Music Society.

All funds raised at the concert are being donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank and ArtsCan Circle

Celebrate! Holidays of The Global Village is an interactive and playful musical journey into the myriad of holidays, customs and festivities enjoyed in the North-American Fall and Winter. Children will learn traditional and original songs encouraging them to share our diversity with neighbours and friends.

Inspired by travels across Canada and around the world, "Celebrate!" is a groundbreaking collaboration with musicians from diverse cultures. It features songs about holidays from across the globe that are celebrated here in Canada, including Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Carnival (Quebec), Chanukah, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Indigenous traditions, Kwanzaa, Ramadan and Winter Solstice.

"Celebrate!" was developed as a response to the lack of programming for young audiences and families that integrates diverse cultures and holidays into one coherent vision. While there are many worthy public concerts and programs that take place in the fall/winter holiday season that celebrate specific holidays such as Christmas, Chanukah, Diwali etc, there is no concert program in Toronto that aims to bring so many holidays together under one roof in this way.

Special Guests:

Suba Sankaran, Aviva Chernick, Shannon Thunderbird, Maryem Hassan Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Kevin Laliberte, Drew Birston & Jordan Klapman!

At: Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Playing: Saturday

Times: 1:00pm

Cost: FREE - monetary donations and non-perishable food items greatly appreciated!"
Enjoy!
Vanessa

New Montessori School in the Annex

Attention all parents: Trinity St. Paul's Centre is the site for a new Montessori school in our area: Annex Montessori. Children can attend from the age of 18 months to six years.
For the non-initated, these private schools teach children according to methods created by Maria Montessori.
A welcome addition to the neighbourhood.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Bells Will Be Ringing ...

... the sad, sad news....

On Sunday, people will gather in front of Trinity St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor Street W., at 11:45 am to "make a holy racket" as the church bells ring.

The event is one of the "simple, dignified and fun" activities planned for the World Wants A Real Deal, a day of global action on behalf of climate justice.
Cheers,

Vanessa