March 20


CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE:  Peartree  – a Cabbagetown favourite


OPEN HOUSES
Click here for more details about Open Houses in our neighbourhood.

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

The Cabbagetown Tee
Years ago in another life, I was involved in a global project to promote Cabbagetown’s image.  The idea was simple.  Carry our flag or wear your Tee shirt and then send me a picture of yourself doing so.  People displayed our Cabbages at volcanoes, in Cuba, on Mount Kilimanjaro, in Paris, Rome and New Delhi and right across Canada. 
The project didn’t really end.  It just dropped out of sight.  But I have a backlog of these lovely photos and I’ve decided to revive it.
This week’s image (and the inspiration for this revival) comes from Kevin and Ruth who visited the Ice Fjord at Ilulissat, Greenland. 
Have you been flashing your Cabbage?  Submit your image to cabbagetownreview@gmail.com 

Heritage designation in Cabbagetown South
The Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association has alerted local homeowners that the City of Toronto is moving forward into the early stages to designate the Cabbagetown South West Heritage Conservation District.  No date has been set for the initial public meeting.  The area affected goes from Carlton south to Shuter and from Parliament west to Sherbourne.  Homeowners are advised to consider whether they favour this move.  The Association’s website has a description of the implications of this designation. You can read it here.

BNI Open House
BNI is a group of entrepreneurs and professionals who meet regularly to learn about and promote each other’s businesses.  On Wednesday March 26 at 7 am, they’re opening their meeting to special guests who want to learn how networking can lead to business success.  $10 for breakfast. Merryberry Café (559 Parliament).  Click here to find out about BNI’s Cabbagetown chapter.

ReelWorld Film Festival
ReelWorld Film Festival (438 Parliament) launches its 2014 Toronto events at Canada Square on Wednesday April 2 with the world premiere of Jeremy Whittaker’s Destiny.  It runs to Sunday April 6.  On Friday April 11 it moves to Markham for three more days.  70% of the works have Canadian content and overall, there’ll be films from twenty countries.  The program emphasizes works that represent the real world by film makers who are aboriginal, black, Latino, South Asian, middle eastern and Asian.  Tonya Williams, the Festival’s founder and director, notes that 79 films and videos will be screened including features, short films, webisodes and film videos.  Check out the program and Festival highlights here.  

You Should Be Dancing
Tour de Danse at The Toronto Dance Theatre (80 Winchester). You’re invited to join the performance and experience the excitement of dancing in a high energy evening with TDT’s company dancers.  It’s a fundraiser.  You can support the company by joining the dancers for $100.  Your package includes working with TDT’s artistic director Christopher House.  You’ll select one, two or three rehearsals (April 2, 3 and 4) and then everyone appears at the final dress rehearsal on April 5.  Your onstage debut happens on Saturday evening April 5.  TDT happily notes that this event is for everyone with all sorts of body shapes, sizes and skill levels.  Tickets for the performance itself are $25.  For details, click here.  

Acceleration 2014
Acceleration is the annual showcase that presents the talents of graduating students in the professional development program at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. This year’s program includes works by Susan Burpee, Paul-Andre Fortier, Christopher House, James Kudelka and Darryl Tracy. March 26 to 29, Winchester Dance Theatre (80 Winchester).  For tickets and more program details, click here.

New Ideas Festival
The 26th annual New Ideas Festival is now underway at the Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) and continues to March 31. It’s an eclectic mix of original writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre.  A different selection of five new plays is presented every week along with staged readings on Saturday at noon.  You can find the detailed program along with ticket info here.

In the media
Photo: Deborah Baic, Globe & Mail
Tabatha Southey wrote a column in last Saturday’s Globe & Mail about Regent Park.  She tells us why Regent Park really works.  It’s a warm, interesting and perceptive view of the community.  Click here for the full column.

So … I gave a speech
The East End Speakers Series had the courage to invite Pete Lovering and me to talk about blogs and community newspapers at its March meeting in the Paintbox (555 Dundas E) last Tuesday night.  It’s a good group of interesting people and a good venue.   The Series is a smart effort to develop a network among people living in the new Regent Park and Cabbagetown.  The evenings are free.  The Paintbox provides a $5 plate of nibblies and there’s a cash bar.  Everyone is welcome.  7 pm (until about 9 pm), second Tuesday of each month.  For more info, check out the group’s website.

Helping Tonka
Photo: City News
About two weeks ago, Tonka and his owner were walking on Cornwall Street when Tonka was shot in some kind of random shooting event.  The bill for his veterinary care was $8000.  Maggie Casella at the Flying Beaver (488 Parliament) and Marcy Rogers decided to help.  Last Thursday, they sponsored a benefit night at the Flying Beaver.  Maggie reports that they earned over $1000 from the evening and several hundred more from online donations.  Congrats Maggie and Marcy – a great project.

Thanks to the Forsythia Festival sponsors
Our local business community is once again extending lots of financial support for the Forsythia Festival.  These donors deserve our recognition and thanks.  (Next week, we’ll tell you about the amazing raffle prizes and the donors who’ve provided them.)  So here goes – a big cheer for each one:

Three Gold sponsors donated over $500 – Hepburn Landscaping, Richard Silver from Sotheby’s International Real Estate and St James Town Steak & Chops.

Six more businesses are Silver sponsors ($100 to $499) – Café Olya, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, HomeLife Realty One, House on Parliament, Nettleship’s Hardware and Nick & Hilary from Sage Realty.

Four contributed $50 to $99 and they’re Bronze sponsors – Carlton Cleaners, Johnny Gs, Lennie’s Whole Food and the UK Tuck Shop.

In-kind donors include Royal Home Hardware, Pizza Pizza, Sonshine & Broccoli and Steamwhistle.

Thanks to these people, the Festival organizers have the resources to mount their exciting new programs. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Last chance to help the CYC
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre is participating in the Team-Up contest run by Maple Leaf Sports Enterprises.  If the CYC gets the most votes, it’ll win $50,000.  The contest runs to 11:59 pm on Friday March 21.  You can support them by casting your vote (once a day, so do it regularly) here.

Buy a ticket
ArtHeart has made a positive difference to the lives of kids, seniors and adults in Regent Park for the past twenty two years.  On May 6, the program is holding a fundraiser to support the ArtHeart Community Centre (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E) with renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky.  It’ll be catered by Toronto’s new food trucks with music by emerging artists and art by ArtHeart kids.  A fun evening for a good cause.  Tickets are $150.  Click here for a video and here for lots of info as well as ticket sales.

Don’t forget the Distillery’s summer market
Here’s a great idea.  The Distillery is hosting a brand new Sunday Market from 10 am to 3 pm from June 1 to September 28.  It’s a place where people who produce special foods, artisan crafts and vintage items can market their goods.  Each vendor will have a 10’ by 10’ booth at no cost (a refundable deposit of $250 will be charged).  The show will be juried to ensure high quality and commitment from each vendor.  For more information and for an application form, click here.  

STORE NEWS

Staying power
Escalating prices, fierce bidding wars and uprooting from one’s established network are making home buying less viable.  And those who bought a house still have to spend more to redo it.  So, instead of getting mad, get smart and stay put.  Kendall & Co can show you how to get more use, more space and more pleasure from your existing home.  227 Carlton, (416) 363-9914.  http://kendallandco.ca 

Sourced & Salvaged
This new shop at 246 Gerrard adds to the remarkable range of gift and houseware stores that we now have in our neighbourhood  (along with its neighbour Eclectisaurus plus Kendall, Spruce, Labour of Love, Vintage Vagabond, Green’s Antiques, Parliament Street Furniture, Lampcage and Mi Casa.) Sourced & Salvaged has industrial, vintage, lighting and furnishings in its offerings.  You can check them out online here.  

NEWS FROM OUR RESTAURANTS & PUBS

Stout Irish Pub
Earth Day arrives at Stout (221 Carlton) on Friday March 28. From 8 to 9 pm, Lights Out will bring a candlelit atmosphere to the pub.
A quick follow-up.  In honour of International Women’s Day, Erin and the women at Great Lakes Brewery whipped up the Bra Burner, a special beer from their own secret recipe with lemongrass and coconut flavours - a delicious little brew. It sold out on the same night that it hit the market.

Junior Jazz is back next week
Saturday March 29 from 10 to 11 am.  Sophia Perlman returns with her quartet.  Chris at the Paintbox (555 Dundas E) says that his room is at its best when the kids arrive – light, airy and full of music and fun.  It’s always packed and it’s a magic time.  No cover.  Brunch is available.

Another fine restaurant
The Sultan of Samosas is open at 1 Oak Street (at the corner of Parliament).  They make ten different varieties of samosas with their own special dipping sauces.  Delicious stuff.  Check out the Sultan’s website for menus, locations and hours – plus a whole lot more about samosas that you probably didn’t even know you were missing.

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY MARCH 20 TO SUNDAY MARCH 30

Contact info
Alice’s Place, 554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088
Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen St E, (416) 368-6893, www.dominiononqueen.com
The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St, (647) 347-6567, www.pubaret.com
House on Parliament, 454 Parliament St, (416) 925-4074, www.facebook.com/pages/House-on-Parliament
The Irv, 195 Carlton Street, (647) 350-4787, https://www.facebook.com/theirvpub
The Local GEST, 424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, https://www.facebook.com/thelocalgest
Merryberry, 559 Parliament, www.merryberry.ca
Mill Street Beer Hall, 21 Tank House Ln (Distillery), (416) 681-0338, Facebook and http://toronto.millstreetbrewpub.ca/
Paintbox Bistro, 555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676, www.stoutirishpub.ca
Under the Table, 568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533

If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, we’ve listed the prices. Otherwise, the event is free.

THURSDAY MARCH 20

Dominion on Queen
7 pm, Wee Folk Club, $10
9:30 pm, blues with Curley Bridges

FRIDAY MARCH 21

Dominion on Queen
8 pm, Jazz with the Leyland Gordon Band, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Maggie”s Mayoral Race Salon, no cover
9 pm, David-Benjamin Tomlinson, Starf*ckery, $15/advance & $20/door
Paintbox
8 pm, Comedy night with Arthur Simeon, Nick Reynolds, Jeff Beaulieu & Fraser Young, $20

SATURDAY MARCH 22

Dominion on Queen
9 pm, Reinterpreting the Beatles with the Glendale One, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Vincent Wolfe with Mark Kieswetter, Just the two of us,  $15/advance & $20/door
9 pm, comedy with Angela Maiorano-Thurston,  $10/advance & $15/door
The Irv
9 pm, Frank Ryan’s vocals and acoustics

SUNDAY MARCH 23

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
4:30 pm, Jazz with the Toronto Art Orchestra, $10
6 pm, Jazz with the York Jazz Ensemble, $10
Flying Beaver
7 pm, HSSE fundraiser cabaret
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz with Shawn Nykwist, George Kozub & Sly Juhas
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema

MONDAY MARCH 24

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub quiz

TUESDAY MARCH 25

Dominion on Queen
8:30 pm, Hot Club of Corktown “Django Jam”
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub quiz

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
8 pm, Corktown ukulele jam
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Hypnotixx, $10/advance & $15/door
The Local GEST
7:30 pm, Trivia night

THURSDAY MARCH 27

Dominion on Queen
9 pm, jazz with Landen Vieira quartet, $10
Flying Beaver
Dykewerquing
The Local GEST
8 pm, Jeff Barnes & Noah Zacharin

FRIDAY MARCH 28

Flying Beaver
7 pm, Aastha Lal “Words to Laugh By”, $10/advance & pwyw at the door
9 pm, Ryan G Hinds “Comedy, cabaret and coffee talk”, $10/advance & $15/door
Paintbox
8 pm, The worst pop band ever, $10
Stout Irish Pub
8 pm, Lights out for Earth Day, live music

SATURDAY MARCH 29

Dominion on Queen
7 pm, Toronto Film Noir presents “Johnny O’Clock”
9 pm, acoustic blues with Al Lerman, $10
Flying Beaver
9 pm, Reenee soul pop quintet, pwyw
10:30 pm, Sarah Bee Dance Party, $5 at the door
The Irv
9 pm, Frank Ryan’s vocals and acoustics
Paintbox
10 am, Junior jazz jam and brunch, no cover

SUNDAY MARCH 30

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Flying Beaver
11 am, Psychic brunch, $29/reading
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema