[URBAN NOTE] "A massive farewell party is happening at Honest Ed's"

[rfmcdonald]

blogTO's Amy Grief describes plans for a cultural event to be held February in the emptied Honest Ed's. I, for one, plan on being there.

Honest Ed's will close its doors for good at the end of 2016, leaving a gaping hole at the intersection of Bathurst and Bloor. But before you get all teary eyed, put on your dancing shoes because one Toronto group is hosting a goodbye party of epic proportions inside the massive department store space.

The Centre for Social Innovation is throwing Toronto for Everyone, which describes itself as the first, last and only event at Honest Ed's before it's demolished. This festival, which runs from February 23 to 26 will include a market, a dance party and a slew of multi-disciplinary programs - the organizers are currently soliciting submissions and are open to suggestions from all Torontonians.

That's because, as executive director of the CSI Adil Dhalla tells us, the event's all about inclusivity. "We saw what was really an incredible opportunity to bring the city together and ultimately commemorate something that has been iconic to our narrative of Toronto," he says. "And hopefully do something to kind of carry the legacy forward."

He describes Honest Ed's as a place where everyone's welcome, no matter who you are. It's especially important to newcomers and most Torontonians have a soft spot for the space. He says the CSI hopes the event honours the store's legacy and also creates a conversation about what's happening in Toronto right now.

"We have a lot of new developments, and in order for that to happen, a lot of old things are being closed and broken down and moved out of the way," he says. "I say this is as much about the past and the future as it is about the present. And the present is about us having conversations about the experience of a city in transition.