August 20

FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Festival weekend schedule

Wednesday September 9 to Sunday September 13

Cabbagetown Short Film Festival, Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St

Wednesday - gala live screening

Thursday to Saturday - virtual screening

Website click here. 

Art & Craft Show, Riverdale Park West, Winchester & Sumach

Friday - opening day, 1 to 6 pm,

Saturday - 10 am to 6 pm

Sunday - 10 am to 5 pm

Website click here. 

Sprucecourt School vendors, Sumach & Carlton
Saturday & Sunday (details to be announced)

Riverdale Farm Fall Festival

Saturday & Sunday (details to be announced)

Cabbagetown Festival, Parliament & Carlton streets

Saturday - 11 am to 8 pm
Sunday - 11 am to 7 pm
Website click here.

Blair’s Run, corner of Parliament & Carlton

Sunday - 8 am
Website click here.

Blair’s Run

The results are exciting - by Thursday morning, 121 participants have signed up. Over $14,150 has been raised to support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. There’s plenty of time before race day and it looks like a great crowd will be running - or walking, or strolling! There’s a link on the Blair’s Run website to register yourself and your team. The race happens on Sunday September 13 from 8 am. (Photo: The Carlton Comets in 2024) 

Cabbagetown Short Film Festival

The program line-up has been published online.  Check out the Film Guide and see the promo for each film.  There’s comedy, drama, animation, documentaries and more.  The 2026 live screening will happen at the Central YMCA Auditorium (20 Grosvenor St) on Wednesday September 9.  The virtual screening happens from September 10 to 12. $20/ticket for both screenings. If you go to the live event, you’ll automatically get a ticket for the virtual screenings as well.  Click here to buy your tickets.

Sprucecourt School festival spaces

There are a number of 10'x10' spaces around the Sprucecourt schoolyard (Sumach and Carlton) available to rent during the Cabbagetown Festival. Artisans, entrepreneurs, makers, and even avid garage sale resellers can reserve a dedicated space for the weekend. Funds raised from the rental costs go directly back to the school and parent council. Fees range from $160 to $220.  Set-up starts at 6 am and can be left overnight at the vendor’s risk.  To register or to get more info, send an email to Dan. 

Cabbagetown Festival

The Festival organizers are calling this year’s event the “largest ever Cabbagetown Festival”.  There’ll be artisan shops, food trucks and pop-up patios, live music, street performers, outdoor games and a KidsZone.  And there’ll be a new stage with EDM DJs and a new Rainbow Market with 2SLGBTQI+ vendors.  September 12 and 13, along Parliament (from Wellesley to Gerrard) and Carlton (from Parliament to Sherbourne). For details, go to the Festival Facebook page.

Art & Craft Show

The list of the Show’s artists along with images of their work is on Instagram. Check it out here.

Festival traffic plans

The official traffic plans for the Festival’s two days have now been posted.  Carlton from Sherbourne to Parliament and Parliament from Gerrard to Wellesley will both be closed for the entire weekend.  Streets that access them inside the closed routes will be redirected.  Click on the map image to enlarge it.  Click here to check it out.

LOCAL NEWS

Corktown developments

The Corktown Residents & Business Association has posted info online about four development proposals in its neighbourhood.  An 18-storey building on the Beer Store site at Queen and River has received approvals from the Ontario Land Tribunal.  Another project at Queen and Berkeley has been approved for 49-storeys, 545 units and ground floor retail.  The third approval will be built on the site of the landmark cube houses at One Sumach for two towers at 55 and 59 storeys with 1,276 units.  City of Toronto staff rejected the 20-storey project at 4 Gilead.  Click here for details about each development. (Photo: One Sumach, RAW Design)

Cabbagetown Farmers Market 

Chris Scian is providing the music and DON Tacos, For Good & Twenty and Willibald Distillery are this week’s guests.  Tuesday from 3 pm in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester).  Click here for more info.

Underpass Park Market 

The Market is open every Thursday in Underpass Park (29 Lower River St).  Click here for info about the Market and its vendors.

Allan Gardens Saturday Market 

The Market is busy now - twenty vendors are scheduled for Saturday.  Open from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday outdoors at the Children’s Conservatory (19 Horticultural Ave). For more info, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Anita Bostok & Norman Hathaway

They’ve recently joined Johnson & Daniel Brokerage and they’re continuing their generous support for Cabbagetown’s community events in their new role.  They’re silver sponsors at this year’s Festival.  Be sure to stop at their Parliament Street booth to enjoy the special activities that they’ll be bringing to the Festival.

COMING EVENTS

Discover Canary

Take a walk along the Front Street promenade and visit local businesses and important sites.  No fees and no registration.  Just take a stroll at your own speed.  Saturday August 22, noon.

Rock Steady boxing

Non-contact boxing is for people with Parkinson’s.  These boxing skills help to improve their quality of life.  Lessons are divided among four levels to match each boxer’s skills.  Classes are held at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club (2 Lancaster) on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 10:30 am.  There's a free introductory class.  $25 for a 90-minute session with discounted longer packages. For more info, send an email to Chris.

Country Fest at the Distillery extended

There’s free line dancing lessons in the Distillery - for beginners on Friday August 21 and 28.  For intermediate dancers on Wednesday August 26.  All lessons start at 6 pm. Live music happens daily from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 8 pm.  On Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 to 10:30 pm, there’s Nashville Nights with a DJ.  Mechanical bull rides from 1 to 9 pm on weekdays and 1 to 10 pm on weekends.  Watch out for art carts and country markets, face painting, photo ops, cattle roping and carnival games from 1 to 9 pm daily.  Participating restaurants will have a southern menu throughout the festival.

Taste of Regent Park

The kitchen is busy again.  Every Wednesday starting at 5:45 pm, Taste of Regent Park serves freshly baked goodies at the pizza oven in the Big Park (620 Dundas E).  

RESTAURANT NEWS

Bluet Bakery

Yeva has been busy in Bluet (245 Gerrard E).  She’s added extra freezers, a big fridge and new display cases.  Her store is clean and open. You can watch her prepare her goodies in her kitchen area.  All of this happens despite the construction chaos outside her shop’s door. I can add a personal note - her honey cake makes me a hero when I bring it home. 

Blake House

The Blake House (449 Jarvis) is hosting a dress rehearsal for Thanksgiving.  It’s a fun idea.  They’re offering roast turkey, all the traditional trimmings and carrot cake for dessert for $37.  It’s happening next weekend, Friday August 28 to Sunday August 30. 

Pop-op paint day

Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) has a new Sunday event - Bonnie Devine will present pop-up paint days.  It’s a free drop-in event and she brings the supplies.  Kids are welcome.  Sunday August 30 from 1:30 to 5 pm.  Bonnie is an impressive artist - check out her Instagram here.

Messy Margaret’s Drag Bingo

She’s back at Super Bargain (441 Parliament).  Bingo starts at 7 pm. 

Decoy’s anniversary party

It’s Decoy’s (370 Queen E) fourth on the weekend - enjoy food on Friday with Bite Club, on Saturday with Sky Dough and on Sunday with Rhum.  The weekend’s entertainment includes DJ Murr and Bobby Maxwell on Friday, DJ BassKasse and DJ Double Denim on Satutday and Mas Aya on Sunday.  

 

WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS 

Here’s your list, day by day, of events and specials in our clubs and pubs for the next ten days. For contact info, see the list at the bottom of this page. 

THURSDAY AUGUST 20 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 30

THURSDAY AUGUST 20

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Bucking Broncos

5 pm - The Allen Band

Mill Street Brew Pub

7 pm, Trivia with Quizmaster Jess

Old Flame Brewery 

7 pm, open mic

FRIDAY AUGUST 21

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Cam & Dex

8:30 pm - Nashville Nights with Jeffrey Navarro

Decoy

Fourth anniversary weekend party with Bite Club

9 pm, DJ Murr

Midnight, Bobby Maxwell

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live Jazz

Old Flame Brewery

7 pm, live music

SATURDAY AUGUST 22

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Coty Robinson

5 pm - Tommy Belmont

8:30 pm - Nashville Nights with Kyle Moore

Bisou

4 pm,  DJ Antony

Decoy

Fourth anniversary weekend party with Sky Dough

3 pm, DJ BassKasse

9 pm, DJ Double Denim

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live Jazz

Old Flame Brewery

2 pm, live music

SUNDAY AUGUST 23

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Charissa

5 pm - Maddisun

Decoy

Fourth anniversary weekend party

1 pm, rum tasting

3 pm, Mas Aya

Johnny Gs

5 pm, Live jazz

Old Flame Brewery 

2 pm, live music

MONDAY AUGUST 24

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Chris Chambers & Noel Guenther

5 pm - Jukebox Jordo

Stout Irish Pub 

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY AUGUST 25

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Paige Rutledge

5 pm - Chris Bray & the General

Golden Pigeon

6 pm, Achillean Night with board games and social

La Gloria

4:30 pm, Practice your Spanish

Stout Irish Pub 

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

Super Bargain

7 pm, Drag Bingo with Messy Margaret

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm - Darcy Windover

Golden Pigeon

8 pm, Trivia with Rachelle Lauzon

Old Flame Brewery

7 pm, Trivia night 

Stout Irish Pub 

7 pm, Euchre night

THURSDAY AUGUST 27

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm, Rob Watts

5 pm, Propter Hawk

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live jazz

La Gloria

4:30 pm, Practice your Spanish

Mill Street Brew Pub

7 pm, Trivia with Quizmaster Jess 

Old Flame Brewery 

7 pm, open mic

FRIDAY AUGUST 28

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm, Gregory Child’s & Heart Lung

8:30 pm - Nashville Nights

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live jazz

Mill Street Brewpub

Noon to 4 pm, live music and DJ with brunch

Old Flame Brewery 

6 pm, live music

SATURDAY AUGUST 29

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm, Conor Gains & Bucking Broncos

5 pm, Bree Taylor

8:30 pm - Nashville Nights

Bisou

4 pm, DJ Antony

Decoy

10 pm, DJ San Fran

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live jazz

Old Flame Brewery

2 to 6 pm, live music

SUNDAY AUGUST 30

Distillery Country Fest

1 pm, Stardust

Johnny Gs

7 pm, Live jazz

Old Flame Brewery 

2 to 6 pm, live music

Stout Irish Pub 

1:30 pm, Bonnie Devine pop-up paint day

CONTACT INFO

Alphabetical lists for restaurants in Cabbagetown, Canary District, Corktown, Distillery and Regent Park.

Cabbagetown

Bisou - 350 Berkeley (at Gerrard), (437) 971-7150

Blondies - 419 Parliament, (437) 341-1555

Butter Chicken Factory - 560 Parliament, (416) 964-7583

Chew Chew’s Diner - 186 Carlton, (416) 323-0068

China Gourmet - 235 Carlton, (416) 515-0088

Church’s Texas Chicken - 537 Parliament, (416) 519-3846

Desi Bit3S - 568 Parliament, (416) 928-9731

Epos Coffee - 290 Gerrard E

Falcha Fusion  - upstairs, 568 Parliament, (416) 926-9141

F’Amelia - 12 Amelia, (416) 323-0666

Gushi - 296 Gerrard E (at Parliament), (437) 241-1710

Hakka Bistro - 398 Parliament, (416) 944-3033

Hakka & Jerk - 296A Gerrard E, (647) 643-5405

House on Parliament - 454 Parliament, (416) 925-4074

Jet Fuel - 519 Parliament, (416) 968-9982

Johnny G’s - 478 Parliament, (647) 368-3877

Ju Sushi Bar - 383 Dundas E, (416) 594-0383

Kibo - 533 Parliament, (647) 352-3788

Kingyo Fisherman’s Market - 51B Winchester, (647) 748-2121

L’Avenue - 583 Parliament, (647) 368-8008

La Gloria Mexican Coffee - 453 Parliament, (647) 806-6383

Luis H - 556 Parliament, (416) 964-1000

Madras Curry - 178 Carlton, (416) 323-0000

Maya Bay - 252 Carlton, (416) 924-8989

Mikaku Udon Bar - 229 Carlton, (416) 323-0033

Momo Ghar - 568 Parliament, (416) 920-8224

My Pandan Cake - 246 Gerrard E, , (416) 276-6698

New Retro - 193 Carlton, (416) 519-8511

New Town - 413 Parliament, (437) 777-8260

Noushe - 200 Carlton, (416) 466-9595

Pastor Tacos - 245 Gerrard E, (647) 687-1175

Phosome - 482 Parliament, (416) 551-6395

Playground Cafe - 492 Parliament, (437) 799-5248

Poopathi Mess - 585 Parliament, (416) 923-4243

Rayah - 505 Parliament, 

Red Cranberries - 601 Parliament, (416) 925-6330

Saigon Pai - 446 Parliament, (416) 920-8424

Salt & Tobacco - 521 Parliament, (647) 348-2993 

Shalom Ethiopian - 587 Parliament, (416) 964-7271

Souvlaki Express - 484 Parliament, (416) 637-6777

Stout Irish Pub - 221 Carlton, (647) 344-7676

Super Bargain - 441 Parliament, (416) 266-6471

Tasso - 540 Parliament

Tender Trap - 580 Parliament, (416) 920-5147

Thai Room - 243 Carlton, (647) 352-8424

The Golden Pigeon - 424 Parliament, (416) 392-1039

The Vibrational Apothecary - 243 Gerrard E

Urban Thai - 415 Parliament, (416) 513-1020

Wing House - 420 Parliament, (416) 968-0294

Wing Machine - 443 Parliament, (416) 961-1000

Zakkushi on Carlton - 193 Carlton, (647) 352-9455

Zero Cocktail Bar - 223 Carlton, (416) 920-9376

Canary District

barBurrito - 464 Front E,  (416) 601-1777

Cherry Street BBQ - 275 Cherry, (416) 461-5111

Fuel+ - 469 Front E, (416) 306-6480

Keating Channel - 2 Villiers, (416) 572-0030

Lost Craft Brewery - 482 Front E

Region - 475 Front E, (416) 864-0800

Souk Tabule - 494 Front E, (416) 583-5914

SukhoTHAI - 460 Front, (416) 777-2092

Corktown

Banknote Bar - 474 Adelaide E, (416) 367-7327

Berkeley Cafe - 262 The Esplanade, (416) 825-0504

Decoy Bar - 370 Queen E

East Coast Donair - 314 Parliament 

Figs - 344 Queen E, (416) 913-7205

Fusilli - 531 Queen E, (416) 214-5148

Gusto 501 - 501 King E, (416) 477-5647

Impact Kitchen - 573 King E, (416) 306-1986

King Solomon & Queen of Sheba Ethiopian - 360 Queen E, (416) 368-9002

Ladybug Wine Bar - 514 King E, (437) 222-0142

Mengrai Thai - 82 Ontario, (416) 840-2754

Signature Bar - 320 Queen E, (416) 996-6004

Sumach Espresso - 118 Sumach, (647) 351-3833

The Rosebud - 498 Queen E, (647) 531-1388

Wood 900 Grill+ Bar - 372 Queen E, (416) 363-1571

Distillery

Arena Coffee Bar - 15 Tank House Lane

Arvo - 17 Grist Mill Lane, (647) 352-2786

Balzac - 1 Trinity St,  (416) 207-1709

Boku Japanese - 42 Gristmill Lane, (416) 368-8686

Brick Street Bakery - 27 Trinity St, 

Cluny - 35 Tank House Lane, (416) 203-2632

Eataly - 21 Trinity

El Catrin - 18 Tank House Lane, (416) 203-2121

Jardin Kitchen & Juice Bar - 28 Gristmill Lane,  (416) 203-2363

Madrina - 2 Trinity St, (416) 548-8055

Mill Street Brew Pub - 21 Tank House Lane, (416) 681-0338

Old Flame Brewery- 45 Tank House Lane, (416) 360-1209

Pure Spirits - 17 Tank House Lane, (416) 361-5859

Scooped by Demetres - 46 Gristmill Lane,(416) 988-2482

SpiritHouse Toronto - 16 Trinity St, (416) 948-9926

Spirit of York - 12 Trinity, (416) 777-0001

Young Centre Cafe - 50 Tank House Lane, (416) 866-8666

Regent Park

Cafe Zuzu - 555 Dundas E, (416) 815-2660

Liberty Pizza - 657 Dundas E