Blog

Toronto- October 20, 2012- Saturday October 20th marked the 4th Annual WALKFest in Toronto’s Riverside District. By popular demand Riverside’s WALKFest increased their neighbourhood walks almost four-fold, adding additional walks to the highly popular Historic Walk. Throughout the day, community members and visitors to the area were invited to partake in six differently themed walks throughout the authentic urban downtown community.

Designed to showcase Riverside’s eclectic décor and design shops, cafes, restaurants and bars as well as this historic area’s creative initiatives and community centres, the walks were guided by experts throughout Riverside community with all donations going to WoodGreen Community Services.

Anjuli Solanki, WALKFest’s event coordinator, followed the successful Jane’s Walk philosophy of community walks that help promote conversation and facilitate a sense of place; Riverside’s WALKFest highlights the Riverside District and its unique, locally oriented businesses.

Known to bring people out to explore Riverside’s unique urban community along historic Queen Street East, this year dog lovers, foodies, dance enthusiasts and art lovers alike hit the streets of Riverside district to participate in the new walks added to Riverside WALKFest’s previous self-led and historical walks. Expert guides such as Chef Scott Savoie, owner of Culinary Adventure Company, led foodies to the best eats on the east side during the Culinary Walk, and Shawn Micallef, senior editor and co-owner of Independent magazine Spacing, led a classic Riverside tour showcasing extraordinary architecture, history and development of the area on the Design Walk. Additional walks included a Dog Walk, where two and four-legged friends could experience the pet and people friendly parks and shops in Riverside, a Dance Walk, where people were encouraged to dance their way through the streets, and an Art Walk that showcased the creativity of Riverside’s local talent.

A participant from last year’s walk showed their enthusiasm for WALKFest via Twitter:

It was such a lovely event! So many great shops and eateries in Riverside. Great community! Thanks for having us! @RiversideBIA

Riverside is a community that prides itself on sustainability, the arts and creating an inviting downtown community where people live, work, dine, play, and explore. This weekend’s WALKFest was successful in showcasing this unique downtown community and promoting local businesses by drawing in hundreds of people from the Toronto area. Over the past four years, WALKFest has been successful in promoting and increasing awareness of this historic area within the City of Toronto. With this year’s turn out, WALKFest has continued to inspire new visitors to the area and encourage local community members to get involved in their neighbourhood.

If you missed out on the Riverside’s WALKFest, be sure to check out other events happening in the Riverside District through their website at: www.riverside-to.com

Follow the Riverside BIA on Facebook at /RiversideDistrict or on Twitter at @RiversideBIA.
By Guest Bloggers: Brittany Cheeseman, Victoria Mix, Stephanie Rendulic, Christopher Reyes & Emma Twells

When you hopped over to the event registration page you have asked yourself the question ‘What does a Chiropractors Clinic have to do with Dog Walking?”  It’s a fair question!  Oma Chiropractic will serve finishing point for the Riverside WALKfest’s  Dog Walk—a spot where the owner of Oma, Adrienne McRuvie can help walkers loosen up after a good walk!

The Dog Walk is about getting out with your furry friend, but it’s also about getting some good exercise and promoting wellness –  and Adrienne knows plenty about health of the mind and body.  As a medically trained Chiropractor, Adrienne is well versed with the human body.  She only adds to her credibility through her work as a birth coach, and yoga instructor.

After the Dog Walk, walkers have plenty to look forward to.  Adrienne will do some hands on exercises, provide fitness tips, check the balance of the walkers, and have a variety of wellness practitioners on board to provide useful information.  Excited yet?

You can check out the Oma Chiropractic website for more information:

Website: http://www.omachiro.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmaChiropractic

And, sign-up for all of the walks below!

Dog Walk – (Oct 20 – 10:00 am; Start Thompson Parkette )
http://riversidewalks.eventbrite.com/

That’s the question Theresa Walsh (a.k.a Tree)  asked before she started the official ‘Dance Walk TO’.  Theresa wasn’t the first to think of doing a Dance Walk in Toronto, but she certainly has kept it going.

The inspiration to start ‘Dance Walk TO’ was actually very simple.  Tree saw the video of the original Dance Walk visionary and thought it was a cool idea.  The idea resonated with Tree and she’s certainly no stranger to public dancing.

“I understand why people might think its [public dancing] uncomfortable, I grew up with dance and have a dance background” explained Tree when I spoke with her.

Incidentally, there was never supposed to be a second dance walk.  It was a spontaneous idea sprouted by the video’s inspiration, but it was only supposed to be a onetime thing.  Tree saw the benefit in a little bit of spontaneous Dance Walking and after the first Dance Walk created the Facebook Page, Twitter, and started planning for the next event.  And, the rest as they say is history…well not quite.

Tree is going to be hosting the next Dance Walk this Saturday, at ‘Take a Walk on the Riverside’.  It’s going to be a great day of fun and dance in Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhood!  Come out and join us—it’s not as scary as it seems!

Website: http://www.dancewalkto.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/285300138232640/

And, sign-up for all of the walks below!

Dance Walk – (Oct 20 – noon; Mustard Seed 791 Queen St E)
http://riversidewalks.eventbrite.com/

The 6th Annual Take a Walk on the Riverside design walk will provide the opportunity for everyone involved to see the creative side of the Riverside District.  Kalaamkar is one of the businesses that will be participating in this year’s design walk—playing host to curious patrons eager to explore the aesthetics of the riverside.  Kalaamkar’s business owner Zahid gave us a small preview of what visitors will have to look forward to.

Founded in 2006, Kalamkaar is a business whose goal is to revive the art of solid-wood, handcrafted furniture.  People have gotten too accustomed to the mass produced furniture found in stores like Ikea, and the Brick.  Zahid hopes to introduce people to quality furniture with South Asian influences.  Each piece is unique, and each has a story behind its creation.

Kalamkaar also touts the fact that its furniture is eco-friendly.  The wood that is used in the creation of the furniture comes from farm forests in South Asia that have been specifically grown for the purpose of furniture making.  Quality woods like teak, rosewood, mahogany, and mulberry are grown and crafted into a variety of pieces.

Visitors are encouraged to ask many questions.  Each piece of furniture found in Kalamkaar has a story, and Zahid seems to know them all.