Festival Weekend has arrived
It’s a complicated weekend.
On Thursday from 7 pm, you can enjoy samples from nine
Cabbagetown restaurants during One Night in Cabbagetown.
The Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival
(Winchester Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester) happens on Friday from 7 pm.
There are garage sales (everywhere) from 7 am on Saturday
to dusk on Sunday.
Art & Crafts in Riverdale Park (Winchester & Carlton) fills the park with small tents featuring art and craft vendors
from 1 pm on Friday and all day long on Saturday and Sunday.
Parliament Street rocks with entertainers, street food,
vendors and artists, and lots of individual highlights from 11 am to dusk on
Saturday and Sunday.
Blair’s Run opens the Parliament Street festivities at
9:45 am (Carlton & Parliament).
Riverdale Farm (east end of Winchester Street) is home to
day-long corn roasts on Saturday and Sunday.
The Yonge Street Mission is hosting Kidz Korner in
Anniversary Park (Gerrard and Parliament) on Saturday afternoon.
The Cabbagetown Theatre Company
(Necropolis Chapel, east end of Winchester Street) presents Cinderella…If the
Shoe Fits on Friday at 7:30 pm and then throughout the afternoon on Saturday
and Sunday.
The CPA sponsors walking tours (from the northeast corner
of Riverdale Park) on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Smaller art exhibitions happen near Sprucecourt School
(Sumach and Carlton) and beside the cemetery (Winchester and Sumach).
Have fun – it’s our annual celebration of our community.
More special entertainment
There’ll be oysters and Guinness at the House on
Parliament (454 Parliament) on Thursday night – it’s a fundraiser for the
Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre.
Jeff Barnes & The Wild Irish Rogues appear at The Ben
Wicks (424 Parliament) at 9 pm on Saturday night. Look for the special Festival
menu throughout the weekend.
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) stages Irish dancing
throughout Saturday afternoon.
Carol Pope is at the Flying Beaver (488 Parliament) at 7
pm Friday and 8 pm Saturday followed by Lea DeLaria and Maggie Cassells, Friday
at 9 pm, Saturday at 10 pm. There’s a lively
outdoor patio as well.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar (51A Winchester) will have a
large outdoor patio at Winchester and Parliament. Look for musical entertainers throughout both
days on the weekend.
Go Freddy Go are appearing at the House on Parliament
(454 Parliament) on Saturday from 1 pm.
Two big stages
will dominate Parliament Street over the weekend. On Saturday, the stage is set up at Carlton
and Parliament and the Samba Squad will lead a dance down Parliament Street at
11 am. On Sunday, it’s near Carlton and
Berkeley. Danny Marks will be the MC for a full day’s program.
The CCDT (509 Parliament) will stage
flash mob dances, demonstrations of different dance classes and free dance
lessons throughout the weekend.
As always, good food
St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) gets
raves from Festival-goers every year for the barbeque offerings, especially the
back bacon sandwiches. For many of us,
this is the place to start the day with a good breakfast (or brunch sandwich).
It’s really hard to single out any place that has good
food and a comfy patio. But, here goes –
Wellesley & Parliament – a whole block full of exotic
Asian foods prepared on street barbeques right before your eyes.
Cranberries (601 Parliament) has a street patio right in
the middle of the hectic action for those who want to sit and watch a crowded
street.
F’Amelia (12 Amelia) fills Amelia Street with a patio and
offers a special menu featuring the foods that have made it one of Toronto’s
destination restaurants.
Butter Chicken Factory (556 Parliament & Prospect)
has a patio and lovely Indian food.
Alice’s Place (554 Parliament) has a patio.
Merryberry (559 Parliament) has a patio and its unique
and acclaimed menu.
Thai to Go is setting up for the weekend at Winchester
and Parliament with their very popular Thai specialties.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar (51A Winchester) has its
patio on Winchester from Parliament east to the lane.
Peartree (507 Parliament) is a favourite place to sit and
enjoy the crowds in comfort.
The Flying Beaver (488 Parliament) has a barbeque and
patio throughout both days.
Johnny G’s (478 Parliament) takes its brunch and light
lunch menu out to the street in their patio.
Ginger (252 Carlton at Parliament) has a very popular
south Asian menu.
Young Thailand (446 Parliament) has Thai dishes on the
patio and also has a takeout spot so you can wander the street while enjoying
their food.
Wing Machine (443 Parliament at Spruce) is expanding its regular patio onto Spruce for the event.
Grab a takeout slice from 2-4-1 Pizza (451 Parliament), Peter’s Cajun Creole Pizza (415 Parliament) and Pizza Pizza (560 Parliament at Prospect)
Gourmet Burger (482 Parliament) has eat-in and take-out
service for its burgers, fries, onion rings and other goodies.
No word yet about Kibo, the new restaurant at 533 Parliament or from Omi (241 Carlton). Both have Japanese and Asian dishes and are well worth investigating.
There’s life after the Festival
CNH Childcare Program
The Parliament Street Writing Group
The group is hosting its annual public reading of extracts
from members’ short stories, works-in-progress and poetry. Everyone is welcome – the Reading Room at the
Parliament Street Library. Monday September 10 starting at 6 pm.
Snacks are served. Gerrard &
Parliament opposite Anniversary Park.
Street party in Cabbagetown South
Exercise classes at the CYC
One further thought - it is definitely not true (so we’re
told!) that some class members retire afterward for coffee and snacks simply
because they’ve already worked off all those calories. Not true – not true at all. Nope, not true.
Volunteer for the Tour of Homes
In the media …
Killing the cabbage
Visitors from Edmonton view Cabbagetown
