York Woods District Blog

You Could be the Next Iron Chef

Are you a Food Network junkie? Do you dream about the dishes you would create on Iron Chef or Chopped? Is it your dream to battle it out on Dinner Party Wars? For serious chefs to the dinner party host, look no further than our amazing collections of cookbooks, including those from your favourite celebrity chefs. Now you don't have to worry about deciphering that recipe you jotted down on the back of a grocery receipt!

This is just a small sampling of some of the vast array of cookbooks on offer. Check our catalogue for more of your favourite celebrity chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis.

Teen's Edition: March Break @ York Woods

Hey, what are YOU doing for March Break? Learn to express yourself through art and cooking with these programs at York Woods. Come have fun, meet new friends and maybe even learn something new! Register in person or call 416-395-5980.

TUESDAY March 13 & WEDNESDAY March 14, 2-4 pm.  Japanese Anime, Manga and Chibi drawing. Learn to draw characters such as naruto, inuyasha, tsuna and ichigo found in a variety of manga/anime books from your favourite graphic novels.  Have fun, be creative and learn from a Q&A session afterwards. 

 

THURSDAY March 15, 6 – 7 pm. Fruit and Vegetable Carving for Teens. Capture the creative art of carving fruits and vegetables for table centre pieces with Willie Pierre.  Please bring apples, oranges, plantains, carrots, green peppers, pineapples and bananas.  

 

 

FRIDAY March 16, 2-4 pm. Easy Portrait Drawing. Learn easy ways to draw portraits in your own style.  Get practical knowledge to make self-portraits or diverse types of portraits using fast strokes that generate self-confidence.

 

SATURDAY, Mar. 17, 2- 4 pm. Raw Desserts. If you have never experienced the delicious taste of raw desserts, you have missed out on a real treat. Plus they’re healthy and take only minutes to prepare!

 

 

Want to learn more? Check these titles out from your library!

Kid's Edition: March Break @ York Woods

Hey kids, what are you doing for March Break? Check out these family programs @ York Woods. The fun lasts all week!

SATURDAY March 10, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. Join us in the York Woods Theatre for a free screening of Winnie the Pooh. Please pick up tickets 30 minutes before the show at 12:30pm at the box office. Groups of 10 or more can register in advance by calling 416-395-5980.

 

MONDAY March 12, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Join us for a game of Bingo for a chance to win some great prizes. What a great way to start the March Break – prizes!!! For ages 5 to 12. No registration required. Drop-in early! 25 maximum; no groups.

TUESDAY March 13, 10:30 – 11:30 am.Join us for It’s a Jungle in Here, a puppet show featuring lovable animals from the Amazon. Please pick up tickets 30 minutes before the show at 10:00am at the box office. Groups of 10 or more can register in advance by calling 416-395-5980.

 

WEDNESDAY March 14, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. Join us in the York Woods Theatre for Kung Fu Panda 2. Please pick up tickets 30 minutes before the show at 12:30pm at the box office. Groups of 10 or more can register in advance by calling 416-395-5980.

 
 

THURSDAY March 15, 10:30 – 11:30 am. Register for a fun session where you will learn to create your own unique African mask while learning about African culture. For children ages 6 to 12. Please pre-register by calling the Children’s Department at 416-395-5980. 25 maximum; no groups.

 

FRIDAY March 16, 2:45 – 3:30 pm. Join Babar in the York Woods Theatre as he tells of the exciting, amusing and sometimes difficult adventures that brought him from childhood to become the famous King of the elephants. Pick up free tickets at 2:15 p.m. at the box office. Groups of 10 or more, please register in advance by calling 416-395-5980.

 

See what's happening over March Break at library branches all over the city!

 

Downsview Branch Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary!

Fifty years ago on March 6, 1962 Downsview Branch first opened its doors.

Photo credit: Roy Nicholls

With only 15,000 books and approximately 10,000 square feet in size, Downsview opened its doors as the third branch of the North York Public Library. Its target population was 70,000 residents who lived between Dufferin Street and the Humber River. Now with over 80,000 items to borrow and over 20,000 square feet of space to read, study or enjoy a program in, Downsview Branch has a special "golden" occasion to commemorate!

On Tuesday March 6th, 2012 from 2 pm to 4 pm, Downsview Branch will be celebrating its 50th anniversary! At 2 pm, guest speakers from the North York Historical Society will talk about the early Downsview settlers, the historic Downsview United Church and what the area was like in the early 1800s!

Join us for an afternoon of reminiscing with former and current Downsview staff!

*Answer will be provided at the anniversary celebration!

 

Learn more about the Downsview area of North York!

*This is a 1947 aerial photograph from the City of Toronto Archives (see 8E).
Can you identify any of the streets or landmarks? Perhaps the Downsview Airport?

Engage in a conversation over a special photo presentation using images from Canadiana Department and from the Toronto Public Library's Digital Archives!

Photo description: Wilson Ave. looking east from Keele St., May 1955. Photo source: Toronto Public Library Digital Archives

Photo description: Wilson Ave. looking east from Keele St., May 2009. Photo source: Google Maps, street view.

 

Enjoy light refreshments and an afternoon of Downsview memories.

 

Hope to see you there!

Diana

Downsview Branch
2793 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3M 2G3
416-395-5720

 

P.S. Can't wait til the 50th birthday to find out more about Downsview? Check out the book Pioneering in North York: a history of the borough by Patricia W. Hart! Our guest speakers will also discuss historical content from the book! 

 

 

Black History Month @ York Woods

This month, come celebrate Black History Month @ York Woods with storytelling, art, workshops and contests!

On Wednesday February 8th Rosemary Sadler, author, historian and President of the Black History Society (OBHS), presents an overview of African history including the Underground Railroad, black loyalists, Mary Ann Shadd, Harriet Tubman and other historical personalities.

 

On Friday February 10th found objects are turned into artwork by Sherman Jones, African Caribbean visual artist. A tour of his recycled art display compliments the workshop. 

 

On Saturday February 18th and Sunday February 19th we will be celebrating, educating and promoting African cultural identity through reading, writing, spoken word and storytelling at the 6th annual African Canadian Children and Youth Literary Festival.

 

 

 

On Thursday February 23rd Keith C. Holmes, author of Black Inventors: crafting over 200 years of success  documents the creativity of black inventors and provides a comprehensive view of their ground-breaking achievments. 

Click the book to place a hold on this inventive title!

 

  

Please register for these programs by calling (416)395-5980
or coming in person to the information desk.

 

Black History Month Challenge!

Hey kids, come to the children's information desk to enter our Black History Month Challenge. Can you name 5 famous historical figures included in our collage? Test your knowledge, check out our display and enter for a chance to win a Cineplex Night Out Coupon!  The challenge winner will be notified on February 24th.

 

Find the library's complete program schedule for Black history Month here.

Study Black History all year at York Woods Library, home to the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection. Find out more about the inspirational Rita Cox and this fascinating collection.

Have your say @ the Downsview Book Club

Winter-Spring 2012

The Downsview Book Club has a long tradition of meeting every two week to discuss a wide variety of books. This eager group of enquiring minds is always looking for new members to join them in lively discussion. If the list of the upcoming season's books appeals to you please register at the Information Desk on the Main Floor or call Downsview 416-395-5720. Start date is February 8, 2012.

This season's books: (Click on image to get linked to Toronto Public Library for descriptions)

      February  8                  February 22                    March  7                       March 21

      

     April  4                       April 18                         May  4                         May 16                                 

      

Downsview Library is also hosting a Coffee & Conversation about Books on Thursday, May 3 for anyone interested in books about siblings: the good, the bad and the ugly. If you have titles to share or would like to hear about a few you may not have read please register!

For more information watch for the blog or call Paula at 416-395-5720.