A couple of quick announcements ...
Make a community Christmas gift
We’ve added more information about our local agencies on
our Christmas Gift page. Click on the
poinsettia on the right to see the updated list.
New Year’s Eve
Are you making plans for New Year’s Eve? Click here for a list of our pubs, fine
dining and entertainment.
Christmas sing-a-long at The Wicks
This wonderful Cabbagetown tradition is taking a new turn
this year and it promises to be a big success.
Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacahrin are leading the mass choir at The Ben
Wicks (424 Parliament) on Sunday December 23, starting at 4 pm. We can reliably report that Robert will be there
(he’s already clearing his throat and memorizing his songs), and Louise (who’s
emailing everyone she knows to swell the crowd) and Doug (who promises not to sing!) Jeff and Noah will have their guitars,
there’ll be an open mic and lots of audience participation. It’s time to bring your family, enjoy a
break from the pre-Christmas stress and see your friends and neighbours in this
comfy spot.
Amahl & the Night Visitors
Two performances (3 pm and 7 pm), next Sunday December
16, St Peter’s Church (188 Carlton) by the Cabbagetown Classical Youth Choir under
the direction of Daniel Eby. After each
performance, the choir will also sing a program of Christmas favourites. Tickets are $20 and you can call (647)
701-5033 to reserve yours and to find out more about the concerts. There’s a good, short YouTube video about the
choir and this concert – click here to see it.
Get your tree here
The McDermott family have returned to sell us their
Christmas trees. They’ve set up their
trailer and their trees at Spruce and Parliament for the 60th
year. They’ve got a great selection and
they’ll help you find exactly the one that fits perfectly in your living room.
Gerry McDermott who’s family has long been the operators at this sale has
announced that $5000 will be donated to Sick Children’s Hospital in honour of
Alice and Elmer McDermott.
Christmas disk from Number 9
George Rondina and his staff have compiled a Christmas
album to benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation. Entitled “Christmas on Seaton Street”, it
offers fifteen songs that were recorded here in Cabbagetown at the Number 9 Studio (222 Gerrard at Seaton). A remarkable group of artists
participated in the project and each artist generously donated the time and
effort needed to record these pieces. All
proceeds from the sales of these disks go to the Foundation. You can buy
physical copies at Number 9 or download them from iTunes, CD Baby and the other
online retailers. There’s a Facebook page where you can
find out about the artists, their selections and the new disk.
Have an elegant Christmas toast
Leslie at Eclectisaurus (249 Gerrard) has a set of six
vintage silver fade champagne flute glasses.
Click here for more information.
Santa’s coming back.
He’ll be back to Pet Valu (240 Carlton) on Saturday from
11 am to 2 pm. Once again, you’re
welcome to bring your family and your pet for a picture with Santa. He was here two weeks ago and lots of people
took advantage of the occasion. So if
you missed him then, here’s your chance for a great photo. The pic’s are really good – as Willie the Wonder Dog can
testify.
Scrooge at Soulpepper
Soulpepper’s staging of A
Christmas Carol is now a favourite Christmas event. Michael Shamata directs the performance and
Joseph Ziegler is Ebenezer Scrooge. The Globe
& Mail says “Soulpepper’s beloved annual production of Dicken’s
triple-ghost classic totally toasts our hearts’ cookies.” Continues through Saturday December 29. 50 Tank House Lane, (416) 203-6264
Stout
at the world’s end
On the
Mayan calendar, the world ends on December 20. Erin is throwing a party to
celebrate at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton). There's gonna be a
champagne toast for the survivors at midnight. Wear your pajamas and win a
prize. If the end is here, then why not gather your family and face it together
with your pals at Stout? Hors d'oeuvres and craft beers available while you
wait.
Twelve days of Christmas at Kendall & Co
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
12 one-of-a kind lighting,
11 sofas with piping,
10 votives a-glowing,
9 sweet smelling fragrances,
8 silk drapes a-flowing,
7 decorative trays for serving,
6 wine buckets worth celebrating,
5 napkin rings,
4 monogrammed pillows,
3 wonderful vases,
2 turtle ornaments,
And a beautiful rug under the Christmas tree!
Find these holiday gifts + festive décor, greeting cards,
gift wrap and more at KENDALL & Co (227 Carlton)
or shop online.
Cranberries Christmas
Once again, Cranberries (601 Parliament) will host
Christmas Day dinner. It’s a traditional Christmas feast. Start with
cream of butternut squash soup or organic greens with balsamic vinegar. Oven roasted turkey is the main course,
served with mashed potato, fresh seasonal vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing
and gravy. There’s warm apple pie and
ice cream for dessert. Two sittings – 5
and 7:30 pm. $24.99. Book now at (416) 925-6330.
Central Neighbourhood House
Volunteers are needed to distribute
small gift bags to people in CNH’s In-Home Services Program. About one thousand people, living in
the downtown core, receive a bag filled with personal care items, pens,
notebooks, gloves and candies. The deliveries are made in the day and evening
and on the weekends – so if you have time in these slots, then CNH will
appreciate your help. Contact Chris or Angela at (416) 925-4363 or at
cstouffer@cnh.on.ca. CNH is located at 349 Ontario Street.
The early reviews are great
Cafune (194A Carlton) has only been open a couple of
weeks and the early reviews at Urbanspoon are very enthusiastic. You can see
Cafune’s website here.
Toronto City Gossip
takes a longer look at
Cabbagetown Brew (552 Parliament). The
author enjoys the café’s ambiance and its coffee and food selections. Cabbagetown Brew has a Facebook page.
The CYC’s celebration
The celebration at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2
Lancaster) last week was a great success. Dancers from the Performing Arts
Program provided the entertainment, Bob Rae and Pam McConnell were the visiting
dignitaries, Thompson Egbo Egbo played a keyboard piece to honour John
McFayden, Lila Orbach and John Iskra represented the Carl Orbach Foundation and
a wide variety of volunteers were recognized for their efforts over the past
year. Justin Skinner from City Centre
Mirror has written a nice story about the evening’s program.
Lookin’ good
Glen Murray (our local MPP) took a break from his Liberal leadership
campaign and refueled at lunch at the House on Parliament (454 Parliament). He ran into ex-Winnipeger and enthusiastic
Liberal, Barbara Jacob. Lots of gossip
ensued from their encounter. I say –
“lookin’ good, you two, lookin’ good.”
Glen Murray (our local MPP) took a break from his Liberal leadership
campaign and refueled at lunch at the House on Parliament (454 Parliament). He ran into ex-Winnipeger and enthusiastic
Liberal, Barbara Jacob. Lots of gossip
ensued from their encounter. I say –
“lookin’ good, you two, lookin’ good.”
