Photo of assailant in sexual assault and home invasion
Toronto Police Service have released this photo from a security camera of the man who forced his way into a residence near Wellesley and Parliament Streets.  He sexually assaulted a woman and then stole her money and property.  The attack took place at 5:50 am on Saturday July 13.  Police describe him as “white with a tanned complexion, 18 to 27, 5’7” to 6’, 140 to 150 pounds, short black hair with a beard, last seen wearing a white t-shirt underneath a dark-blue sweater with horizontal stripes, dark pants and black shoes.”  If you have any information, call police at (416) 808-7474 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS  (8477)
 
NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

Vote today for St James Town tennis courts
The Kraft Celebration Tour will donate $25,000 to the St James Town’s Youth Council and Community Matters for their plans to refurbish the tennis court area and restore its value for the community. They need your vote to win the prize.  They’re up against an impressive project from Wilmot Ontario.
Voting happens from noon on Thursday July 18 to noon on Friday July 19.  The project that gets the most votes wins $25,000. 
It’s one of those odd events – you can vote as often as you want during this 24-hout period.  So go ahead.  Be crazy.  Be excessive. 
Click here and cast your vote.  Look for Match-up #9.  Your support and your voice are needed.
 
Riverdale Farm fundraiser
The Farm’s Midsummer Mixer happens tonight at the Farm (Winchester and Sumach) from 5:30 to 9:30 pm.  The goal is to raise $25,000. There’ll be good food, entertainment and activities for the whole family.  Rain or shine.  Buy your tickets at the door or online here.   $30 for adults, $5 for kids ages 3 to 18 and free for children under 3.
 

Kendall’s Special Home Collection in cooperation with Riverdale Farm. 
Select from the charming horse candle holders available in two styles:  the funky 8-candle horseshoe candelabra and the elegant wooden stallion moveable figure. A portion of net proceeds from your purchase of these items will be donated to Riverdale Farm.  KENDALL& Co is launching this capsule collection in conjunction with the Riverdale Farm Mid-Summer Mixer.  Shop the Riverdale Farm Home Collection at KENDALL & Co, 227 Carlton Street. 10 am to 6 pm weekdays and 11 am to 5 pm Saturdays. http://kendallandco.ca/fyi/
 
CPA walking tour
The Cabbagetown Preservation Association’s first tour of the season will travel through the south end of Don Vale between Carlton and Gerrard on Saturday July 20, 1:30 pm.  You’ll see the place where Toronto General Hospital used to be located, plus the mansions on Carlton, the Spruce Street Co-op and Riverdale Park.  Meet at Parliament and Winchester.

Movies in the park
Goonies is the second movie in this summer’s series being screened in Riverdale Park East.  It happens on Sunday night whenever it gets dark.  Just go to the park and look for the big screen.  Bring a picnic, bring your family and bring your dog. 

IN THE MEDIA

Tom & Emilio
Photo: Toronto Star
Tom and Emilio are fondly remembered in Cabbagetown.  For several years, they operated Sweet Creamery, the ice cream store on Parliament Street. 
Now we can offer our congrats to Emilio.  He’s been granted his green card for permanent entry into the United States.  Tom and Emilio are the first gay couple living outside the US to win a green card.  It’s the follow-up to the US Supreme Court decision to strike down the federal law against gay marriage.  When Emilio was first denied the chance to live in the US, the couple moved to Canada and to Cabbagetown.  Fortunately for us, they plan to live permanently in Canada.  For more details, check the full Toronto Star story here. 
 
Flood control at Corktown Commons
Photo: Deborah Baic, Globe & Mail
Marcus Gee wrote a column in the Globe & Mail last Friday about the importance of Corktown Commons as a flood control area.  You can read his story here.   
Waterfront Toronto confirms that the new berm held up and did its job properly during the big storm a week ago.  That storm matched and surpassed the fury of Hurricane Hazel but it was focused more over the Humber watershed.  As bad as it was in the Don’s watershed, local storm effects were not as fierce.  Furthermore, the flood controls at Corktown Commons were designed for even more severe weather.  So it was an important defence last week but not a test of the full limits of the protection.

CBC at the HOP
Photo: CBC
Marivel Taruc did a fun report for CBC Toronto's evening news from the patio at the House on Parliament  (454 Parliament).  She did a valiant job trying to show that cold beer, barbeques and ice cream can actually make you hotter.  Good try – but not many converts!  Click here for the full video clip.
The HOP suffered water damage during the big storm.  One of the drains from its flat roof above the dining room broke open, ruining the ceiling and chasing away the customers beneath it.  Fortunately, it all happened during a big rainstorm (of course) and on a Monday night so there weren’t too many customers affected by it.  Repairs are ongoing – and the restaurant is open as usual. 
 
CYC kids at City Hall
Photo:  Dave Nickle, Inside Toronto
Kids from the Cabbagetown Youth Centre went to City Hall on Tuesday and sold cookies in special packages labelled with the Councillor’s names to raise money for the organization.  Councillors were supportive and generous – the kids raised $1000 with their effort.  Inside Toronto has a nice little story about their project here. 
In fact, it’s a bittersweet story.  The CYC has seen its core financial support from the City of Toronto slashed by $100,000 annually in the past two years.  The budget cuts have left them scrambling for the necessities.  There’s no sign that the City will relent.  As always, Spiros and his staff are optimists – after the cookies, they now only need $99,000 more to survive the year.

RESTAURANT NEWS
 
Paintbox jazz for kids
Here’s a neat idea.  Take your kids to brunch and a concert at the Paintbox Bistro (535 Dundas).  It’s the Junior Jazz Jam, sponsored by the Daniels Corporation and JAZZ FM.  Six events are scheduled.  The first one happens on Sunday at 10 am with the Free Play Duo. Five more are planned from mid-August to mid-December.

Summerlicious ends this weekend
Two local restaurants are taking part – Archeo and Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill – both in the Distillery.  Archeo offers a $15 lunch and $25 dinner.  Pure Spirits has a $20 lunch and $35 dinner.  For reservations and menu info, click on their names above.
 
The new folks at “The Wicks”
A team of four has taken over at the former Ben Wicks Pub (424 Parliament) – Gary, Erique, Shawn and Tiffany.  They’re naming their new project “The Local Gest”.  They’ve moved into the premises and started their redecorating efforts.  Watch for an opening in a couple of weeks around August 1.

Progress at Hey Lucy
The new pasta and pizza restaurant at 229 Carlton is still in the middle of extensive interior renovations.  Earlier predictions placed the grand opening in late June but that deadline has passed.  The restaurant is now expected to open for September 1, hopefully in time for a splashy introduction at the Cabbagetown Festival.

Remember when?
Wellesley and Parliament – last March

 
CLUBS & PUBS EVENTS
 
THURSDAY JULY 18 TO SUNDAY JULY 28
 
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 JULY 18
 
Cafune
6:30 pm, Henrique Matulis (guitar) and Reg Schwager (guitar) -  Brazilian jazz
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, BlueVenus, pwyc.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
Burlesque night
 
FRIDAY JULY 19
 
Dominion on Queen
9 pm, jazz with Steve Cole, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Gavin Crawford comedy, “Sh*tting Rainbows”, $15/advance & $20/door.
9 pm, Ryan G Hinds “Comedy, coffee talk & cabaret”, $10/advance & $15/door.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
8 pm, Donna Gardner cabaret with Lorraine Foreman & Rick Hughes, $20/advance & $25/door
 
SATURDAY JULY 20
 
Dominion on Queen
4:30 to 7:30 pm, Ronnie Hayward matinee, pwyc
9 pm, The Don River Blues Band, $7
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Shane Harvey’s tribute to Stevie Wonder, $10/advance & $15/door
9 pm, “Amber’s Dragon” with Amber Brown (vocals), Jeff Burke (bassoon) and Pat Kelly, $10/advance & $15/door
Paintbox Bistro
10 to 11 am, brunch & jazz for children, “Junior Jazz Jam” with Jazz.FM and Free Play Duo
9:30 pm, comedy with Quinn C Martin and the Stand Uptown Boys, $15
 
SUNDAY JULY 21
 
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Toronto’s only rockabilly brunch with the Cosmotones, no cover
Flying Beaver
7 pm, “Hypnotixx”, Brandon’s slightly naughty hypnosis comedy show, $10/advance & $15/door.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm, Beau’s presents Open Mic with Porter
 
MONDAY JULY 22
 
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm Win-Prov
10 pm,  Industry Night
 
TUESDAY JULY 23
 
Dominion on Queen
8:30 to 11:30 pm, Hot Club of Corktown Django Jam, pwyc
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub quiz
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Epic movie Tuesday
 
WEDNESDAY JULY 24
 
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
8 pm, Corktown Ukelele Jam
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Minxy’s country mixup, pwyw
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia
10 pm, Karaoke at the Winch with Jason Rolland
 
THURSDAY JULY 25
 
Cafune
6:30 pm, Henrique Matulis with Tony Zorzi (guitar).
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Jazz with Julie Michels, $15/advance & $20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Phill Hood, “The Human Jukebox”
 
FRIDAY JULY 26
 
Dominion on Queen
Alistair Christl’s CD release party – time and cover charge tba
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Ashley Gibbons’ songs and stories,  $15/advance & $20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Shotgun Wedding Band
 
SATURDAY JULY 27
 
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Marilla Wex “Lost and found”, $10/dvance & $15/door
9 pm, Karen Williams comedy benefit for “The Healing Place”, $20/advance & $25/door
Paintbox Bistro
8 pm performance, Brandi Disterheft, three course dinner and performance $50, performance only $20
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
8 pm to 2 am, Hidden Film Festival
 
SUNDAY JULY 28
 
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Rockabilly Brunch with the Cosmotones
Flying Beaver
8 pm, Chris Tsujiuchi “Back in the saddle”, $10/advance & $15/door
Stout Irish Pub
5:30 pm, Strategy Board Games
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
7 pm, James Allan Magic – magic, mind reading, illusion and comedy
9 pm, Beau’s presents Open Mic with Porter