Volunteers for the
Forsythia Festival
The Festival happens in
Wellesley Park on Sunday May 5. It
actually starts in Riverdale Park and a parade takes the kids, dogs, parents,
police cars and a band through the neighbourhood to Wellesley. This year, there’s a jazz band, a beer garden
and a plant sale along with the regular events.
Can you help? Please contact the
organizers at info@cabbagetowner.com . It’s
always a fun day and this year, it promises to be even better.
And don’t forget – if you
know someone who should be considered as the Festival King, Queen and Parade
Marshall, send in their name to shannongrimm@hotmail.com before April 19.
Marilyn at Pet Valu
Marilyn returns to Pet Valu (240 Carlton) on Saturday to give your pets their Pawdicures, 10 am to 4 pm, $10. The third annual Pet Appreciation Month has also started up. Buy a paw and help a pet. Your donation will be directed to Catbusters or to the Pet Food Bank.
Spring tune-ups at Cycle
Solutions
Kale reports that the big
Spring rush is now underway. As a
result, Cycle Solutions (444 Parliament) has set up an appointment system. Call (416) 972-6968 to get your date. If you
bought your bike there, you’ll get priority treatment for your tune-up for the
first two years. Full tune-ups are $50
plus parts. This is also the best time
of year to check out new equipment – the latest designs in helmets, lights and
other accessories are all in stock. If
you’re curious about the latest trends, check out the new wheel sizes in
mountain bikes. And see the new electronic
shifting systems for road bikes with batteries and wires instead of
cables.
Radiant lotus qigong for
women
At Sundara Yoga, Karusia
Wroblewski is leading this special event.
Qigong is the Chinese version of yoga. Karusia`s course runs from April 20 to May 4,
from 3 to 5 pm. There`ll be a free
information session on Saturday April 6 from 3 to 4 pm. There`s also a description on Sundara`s
website.
Sundara
has a new schedule available now for Spring on the website.
Take
a hike – opening reception
"Take
a Hike" at MJG Gallery (555 Parliament). Enjoy Laura Culic’s mixed-media
encaustic works and Carol Westcott’s acrylic paintings of Ontario landscapes.
The show runs for a month. The opening night
reception is Friday, April 5th, from 6 to 9 pm.
Gallery hours are Tuesdays to Sundays
11 am to 6 pm. (416) 923-4031
or markaloo@yahoo.com
Add Spring to Your Step
KENDALL
& Co (227 Carlton) now has a bigger selection of indoor-outdoor rugs. Thirteen colourful patterns and five sizes
(from 2’ x 3’ to 8’ x 10’, round and runner), starting from $75. Made of mold
and mildew resistant durable synthetics, they’re weather safe for decks, patios
at the cottage or in the city and they’re perfect for high traffic areas such
as kitchens, entry ways, foyers, mudrooms, bathrooms, powder rooms, laundry
rooms. View them all online here. While you are there, shop the clearance sale
with 40% OFF home accessories. (416) 363-9914. Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday
11 am to 5 pm.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Stan Venecek
Stan died on March
31. He was a familiar and welcome figure
in Cabbagetown. His restaurant, Margarita’s Mexican Fiesta, was a landmark on
Carlton Street for nineteen years until it closed late last year. He leaves his two daughters, Natalie and Lauren,
and four grandchildren. A service will take place at Rosar-Morrison Funeral
Home (467 Sherbourne at Wellesley) on Saturday at 10 am.
Art and music at Cafune
Tai Selbach’s art is
coming to the walls at Cafune for the next two months. You can see her work at her website. To celebrate, Vicente has asked Henrique
Matulis (jazz guitar) and Henrique Cazes (cavaquinho) to provide an evening of
Brazilian music. Saturday from 6:30 to
8:30 pm. Cafune is a small room and it’ll
fill quickly so reservations are recommended (647) 748-7884.
Cafune has a very good
Facebook page – recommended for
anyone thinking about an evening's dinner and wondering what’s on the menu.
Congrat’s to Jet Fuel
John Englar’s Jet Fuel (519 Parliament) has just celebrated its 21st anniversary. His coffee shop has become a fixture in the neighbourhood. To his dedicated customers, Jet Fuel is an institution, a daily necessity, a clubhouse. Articles about Cabbagetown by foreign travel writers, local bloggers and agitated customers always refer to Jet Fuel. Some love his attitude and his coffee and others grind their teeth. Everyone has an opinion, including John. However it’s measured, John’s 21-year run is a remarkable achievement and it’s a pleasure to wish him 21 more.
Thai to Go
Dale and Joe have sold their
restaurant. They plan to relocate to
Hong Kong in mid-April where Dale will handle a new assignment for CIBC. Thai to Go and Thai by Prasai (452 Gerrard)
have been a remarkable success. Much of
it, of course, resulted from Joe’s confident skills in his kitchen. It also was a smart business and a welcome
supporter of our community. Congratulations to both of them for their success
and best wishes for their future plans.
The new owners are Kao
(the chef) and Brennan. More about them
in the near future.
Congrat’s as well to Café Olya
blogTO has done a nice
review of our latest coffee shop. “Cafe Olya will fit in well in the cozy neighborhood, making a perfect stop
for a sweet treat on a Sunday afternoon or a quick coffee run on a rushed
Thursday morning.” 540 Parliament.
MUSIC
Whiskey Jack
Duncan Fremlin and Whiskey Jack are appearing
at the Eton House (710 Danforth) on Saturday from 4 to 7 pm. Lots of Stompin’ Tom tunes (click here and
listen to one of their tribute songs)
and a special appearance by Randy Morrison, Canadian Fiddle Champ for the last
three years. No cover, kids welcome.
Fundraiser
Support the Regent Park
School of Music and enjoy a cabaret evening at “Cabaret Concert with Cadence”,
a fundraiser being held at First Unitarian Church (175 St Clair Ave W) on
Saturday April 6. Cadence is a
Toronto-based a cappala jazz quartet who’ve received worldwide rave reviews. Light refreshments, cash bar. Tickets are $40, available online (Visa
only).
Toronto Welsh Male Voice
Choir
On Friday April 12, the
Choir sings at Metropolitan United Church (56 Queen St E) at a benefit to
support the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce at Sackville). You can hear excerpts from its songs on the
choir’s website.
The Club’s
renovated facility now provides ongoing support to over 1100 local kids. Tickets are only $25. If you can’t go, please consider buying a
ticket and then donating it to someone who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
Toronto Pop-up Orchestra
This new chamber music
orchestra is launching itself with an afternoon concert at 598 Yonge, Third Floor,
on Sunday April 14 at 2 pm. Cabbagetown
musician Nonna Aroutiounian is a member. The concert is a fundraiser (tickets
are $10) and will feature pieces by Spanish and Latin American composers,
including an original work by Patrick Arteaga.
You can buy tickets at the door or contact nonna.arout@gmail.com
Reaching Out Through Music
Reaching Out Through Music
provides musical and social opportunities for kids in St James Town and it
needs your support to do this. On
Saturday April 20, you can hear New Choir, Meredith Shaw and Scott Pietrangelo
perform with the Children`s Choir.
There’ll also be a special appearance by the De La Salle Oakland
Crusaders Brass Ensemble. It’s a
fundraiser. Tickets are $20 (patrons
$100 with an $80 tax receipt). The
silent auction starts at 6 pm and the benefit concert at 7:30 pm at St Simon
the Apostle Church, 525 Bloor (between Sherbourne and Parliament). Buy your
ticket at the door or contact (416) 923-8714, ext 205, or jamierotm@hotmail.com
DANCE
The Brussels/Toronto
Project
Toronto Dance Theatre
presents the third installment in this series of collaborations bringing fresh
international ideas to Toronto. This
year’s program includes new works from two of Brussels’ leading lights, Thomas
Hauert and Etienne Guilloteau. April 18
to 20 and 24 to 27 at 8 pm, plus a matinee on April 21 at 2 pm. Prices vary, including a premium ticket
performance on April 24 with drinks, a reception and a chance to meet the
artists. Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester) For more information, click
here.
Monday, April 8, 7 pm, 80
Winchester. Meet the artists and choreographers,
learn about the show’s creation and see excerpts. Free event.
For info, call (416) 967-1365.
Dancing the summer away at
CCDT
The Canadian Contemporary
Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) has three programs running this summer. You’ll find links to each one in the
left-hand sidebar. For kids ages 4 to 8,
there’s Summer Arts offered from July 22 to 26.
Sun Dance is aimed at students who are 8 to 20 years old and it runs
from July 1 to 19. From August 26 to 31,
Ignite is a six day choreographic residency where you can explore the complete
choreographic process with contemporary choreographic artists from TOES for
dance and New York guest artists MADboots. Check out the programs, registration details
and costs at the CCDT website.
School at Toronto Dance
Theatre
The summer school program
is designed for individuals who are pursuing or considering a professional career
in contemporary dance. It includes a
challenging program, renowned teachers, technique classes and a healthy, fun
learning environment. July 1 to 26. The
website has details about curriculum, faculty, fees and schedules. Click here.
IN THE MEDIA
Regent Park towers
John Bentley Mays has been
commenting about the towers that were designed by Peter Dickinson in the
original Regent Park. He considers them
noteworthy examples of Dickinson’s work and he worries about their pending demolition. Several readers have written to him with
ideas and observations about their restoration and future use. You can see the article here.
Nelson Mandela Park School
The restoration of this
building – listed by the City of Toronto as a heritage site – has gone well
over budget and has been delayed by unforeseen construction issues. Finally, students have returned to these
classrooms. Justin Skinner has written
about the new building and the controversy.
Regent Park School of
Music
Over the past few weeks, there
have been several stories about fundraising projects on behalf of the Regent
Park School of Music. This week’s
announcements, for example, include Cadence, a concert happening on Saturday. John Lorinc in the Globe & Mail has
written about the school’s programs and its impact and he explains why this
fundraising is urgent. A student may
only pay $2 for a class in a course costing up to $1500 over the year.
CLUBS & PUBS EVENTS
THURSDAY APRIL
4 TO SUNDAY APRIL 14
Contact info
Alice’s Place, 554
Parliament St, (647) 931-9088
Ben Wicks, 424 Parliament
St, (416) 961-9425, www.benwickspub.com
Cafune, 194A Carlton
Street, (647)748-7884, Facebook and http://cafune.ca/
Dominion on Queen, 500
Queen St E, (416) 368-6893, www.dominiononqueen.com
Flying Beaver, 488
Parliament St, (647) 347-6567, www.pubaret.com
Paint Box Bistro, 555
Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton
St, (647) 344-7676, www.stoutirishpub.ca
Winchester Kitchen &
Bar, 51A Winchester St, (416) 323-0051, www.winchesterkitchen.com
If there's a
cover charge or tickets are sold, we’ve listed the prices. Otherwise, the event
is free.
THURSDAY APRIL 4
Dominion on Queen
7 pm, The Wee Folks Club,
$10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Match Fever &
the Dating Games with Maggie Cassella, $10/advance, $15/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9:30 pm, Jeff Barnes &
Noah Zacharin
FRIDAY APRIL 5
Dominion on Queen
9 pm, Havana To Toronto Live
Afro-Cuban, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Paula Wolfson “Strings
attached” with Kirk Elliott, $15/advance, $20/door.
9 pm, Amy Lewis & Jen
Calder “All strung up” acoustical music with James Mulvale, Trish MacAulay
& Jordan Alexander, $5/ advance and door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Solar Messiah 13
SATURDAY APRIL 6
Cafune
6:30 to8:30 pm, Brazilian
music with Henrique Matulis (jazz guitar) & Henrique Cazes (cavaquinho)
Dominion on Queen
4 to 7:30 pm, Ronnie
Hayward, pwyc
8:30 pm, East end comedy revue with
Host Dave Martin & Mike Wilmot, Darren Frost, Jen Grant, Hunter Grant,
Julien Dionne, Steph Tolve & Cal Post with pianist Suga Jam.
Flying Beaver
7 pm, “This much I know”,
opinionated nonsense with Marilla Wex,
$10/advance, $15/door
9 pm, Donna Greenberg
sophisticated, sassy & spicy songs with Jordan Klapman & Kobi Hass,
$15/advance, $20/door
SUNDAY APRIL 7
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Rockabilly
Brunch with the Cosmotones
7 pm, Landen Veira Quartet
jazz and blues, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Danish Anwar hosts
Martha Chaves “Full Spectrum Comedy” with guests Paul Bellini & Robert
Keller. Funds go to Native Women’s Resource Centre, $15/door
Stout Irish Pub
5:30 pm, Toronto Boardgaming Society, Strategy Boardgaming Night
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Beau’s Open Mic
with Porter
MONDAY APRIL 8
Dominion on Queen
7 pm, Good Neighbours Open
Mic night, pwyc
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm Win-Prov
10 pm, Industry Night
TUESDAY APRIL 9
Dominion on Queen
8:30 pm, Hot Club of
Corktown Django Jam, pwyc
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub
quiz
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, epic film night
WEDNESDAY APRIL 10
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
8 pm, Corktown Ukelele Jam
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Neil Diamond
tribute show starring Joey Purpura, $15/advance, $20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia
THURSDAY APRIL 11
Dominion on Queen
9 pm, Susie’s Alibi
rockabilly swing, $10
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Ali Hassan &
Eman “Muslim and funny”, $15/advance,
$20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9:30 pm, 506 Funk Fest
with Emmerson Street Rythym Band and REDBRICK
FRIDAY APRIL 12
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Ted Morris comedy
“Dawn of the Ted”, $15/advance, $20/door.
9 pm, the New Testament
according to disco “Oh God” with Matti McLean,
$15/advance, $20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm, 506 Funk Fest with
The Out-of-Townrs, Kilowatt and DJ Soulstice
SATURDAY APRIL 13
Dominion on Queen
4 to 7:30 pm, Ronnie
Hayward, pwyc
7:30 pm, Shakespeare Bash’d fundraiser
9 pm, Sonic Blues series
“Blues & troubles”
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Mark Cassius and
Diane Leah “50 is the new Black” $20/advance, $25/door
9 pm, Maggie Cassella
“Because I said so, warm-up show”
$15/advance, $20/door
Paintbox Bistro
Cuban jazz and music with
Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran, dinner and performance $45, performance only
$15
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm, 506 Funk Fest with
Thunderfunk, Funkbucket and Kilowatt
SUNDAY APRIL 14
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Rockabilly
Brunch with the Cosmotones
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Peter Donato
Cantautore, $10/advance, $15 door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
7 pm, Unhappy hap rap
party
9:30 pm, 506 Funk Fest closing
party with Open Funk Jam
