October 2

This week’s image: celebrating the 25th anniversary year for the Cabbagetown Preservation Association – home of the late Peggy Kurtin.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
 
OPEN HOUSE LISTINGS
Click here to read about open houses that are happening this weekend. 

LOCAL NEWS

Pan Am and Parapan Am Torch relays
Photo:  Launching the torch relay, Lucas Oleniuk, Toronto Star
The contest to select the torchbearers for the Games’ relays has opened.  It continues from October 1 to December 1 and the draw will happen in December.  Each person`s assignment along the route and the uniforms will be unveiled in March as well.  The relay will take place from May 30 to July 10, 2015 and cover over 5000 kms with 3000 torchbearers.  To be eligible, participants must be over 13 years old, a Canadian citizen or legal resident and able to carry the torch for 200 metres.  Sign up for the contest online here. 
The Parapan Am relay will come from two directions – Ottawa and Niagara Falls and meet at the Games site in the middle.  This contest opens in April.
The Toronto Star has a good article outlining the torch relays.  Click here. 

The Pan Am Games district in the media
Photo: Future YMCA, Christopher So, Toronto Star
Christopher Hume has written about the new Canary District in the Toronto Star.  He views this area in the West Don Lands as Toronto’s first 21st Century neighbourhood. 
Tess Kalinowski has a Toronto Star story about the streetcar services on Cherry Street past the Distillery and into the Canary District.
 
Singing women are welcome
Little Trinity Church (425 King E) is welcoming women who want to join its singing workshops.  The group, called Broken Vocal Scene, has its first meeting on Friday October 3 from 7 to 9 pm.  Three more workshops are planned – Sunday November 2 at 10:30 am, Friday November 21 at 7 pm and Friday December 5 at 7 pm.  It`s open to all women of all ages who enjoy singing and it's free.  Here`s the online link. 

CPA 25th anniversary walk
2014 marks the Cabbagetown Preservation Association`s 25th anniversary and it`s conducting a walk through Cabbagetown on Sunday October 5 to celebrate.  The walk`s theme is heritage conservation and organizers hope it will be an interactive event – bring your questions and stories.  There`ll be highlights dealing with the CPA`s early days, its challenges and successes.  The walk starts at Parliament and Wellesley at 1:30 pm and it`s free.  Donations to the CPA will be welcome.

Cabbagetown forestry
David Grant and his friends at Cabbagetown ReLeaf have been determined advocates for renewal and replanting trees in Cabbagetown.  He’s proudly announcing that four U of T graduate students are now working up a forest management plan for the community and it’ll be finished and presented in December.  Check out ReLeaf’s website here. 

CYC at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Every year during the marathon, the Cabbagetown Youth Centre benefits from the fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.  They set up a tent and compete for the title as the most active, noisy, interesting cheering section.  They also recruit runners who become their “champions” and attract sponsorship funds from the community. 
This year, the tent will be located at Bayview and River Street, right below Riverdale Park.  Join them from 9 am onward on Sunday October 19.  There’ll be barbeques, a band and a lively cheering section.  This year’s champion runners are Angela Jonsson, Sylvie Andrews and Heather Hopkins. 
Click on this link to support the runners and get more details about the day’s events. 

Gardens along Parliament Street
Congrats to the people who planted and maintained boulevard gardens on Parliament Street.  At Prospect, Winchester and Aberdeen, small gardens filled bare spots and made their surroundings more pleasant.  Congrats as well to the BIA for another summer with hanging floral baskets along the street. 
Three more areas could use some of this local initiative – the current garden at the Esso Station (581 Parliament), the northeast corner at Winchester and Parliament and the northeast corner at Spruce and Parliament.  What’s needed to create new gardens?  A good gardener who will start the ball rolling in the spring and watch over it through the summer and the BIA who will include the garden on its summer watering list.

Hadrian meets C’town
Barbara and Ron are just back from a tour of the Cumbria District in northwest England.  During their jaunt, Barbara had her picture taken at Hadrian`s Wall while modelling this classic edition of our Tee. You can pick up your own Cabbagetown Tee and flag at Spruce (455 Parliament) and when you travel, click a picture for us to use here.

REMINDERS

Important reminders
Here are two online links for current events of interest:
Pan Am Games, tickets and program details, to October 6. 
Voter information, Toronto Municipal elections, October 27. 

Tune up at the CCDT
Drop-in pilates stretch and strength classes for adults of all ages have started up at the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (519 Parliament), 8:15 to 9 pm on Monday evenings.  $10 per session.  Modern dance classes at the beginner and intermediate levels are resuming on Wednesdays from 7:45 to 9 pm, drop-in, $15 per session.

The Riverdale farmer’s market
The Riverdale Park farmer’s market (Winchester and Sumach) continues for a few more weeks on Tuesdays from 2 to 7 pm.

BUSINESS NEWS

Marilyn at Pet Valu
Marilyn from Diggity Dog Grooming returns to Pet Valu (240 Carlton) on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm (longer hours – she`s getting busy) for her regular nail and grooming clinic.  Drop by with your favourite pal and it`ll be a pleasant experience.  $10 per visit. You can also connect with her at the Cabbagetown Pet Clinic (239 Gerrard E). If you want to check out all the nifty doggie trims that she does, go to her Facebook page to see her marvellous pictures. 

Congrats to Fair Trade Jewellery
Photo: Andrew Francis Wallace, Toronto Star
Ryan and Robin enjoyed a big full-page article in the Toronto Star last Monday. Theirs is the first store in North America to design, craft and sell ethical jewellery.  Their store, Fair Trade Jewellery (523 Parliament) buys its gold from artisanal miners and works with them to improve their practices and living conditions.  They use Canadian diamonds as well to avoid sourcing them from conflict zones elsewhere in the world.  The final jewellery is designed and crafted in the store.  The Star article also has a short video that shows FTJ`s process step-by-step. 

Radiant Lotus – QiGong for women
Sundara Yoga (492 Parliament, side door) is running this special workshop on Sunday October 26, 2:30 to 4:30 pm with Karusia Wroblewski.  Radiant Lotus QiGong for Women is a Chinese yoga that combines breath, movement and visualization to promote vibrant health and emotional balance.  This workshop is designed for women of all ages and abilities.  Angela has a page on her website with more information and a link for sign-up registration.  Click here.

RESTAURANTS & CLUBS

Jeff and Noah at The Local GEST
Starting tonight, Thursday October 2, Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin are back at The Local GEST (424 Parliament).  They’ll appear every second Thursday evening and on the alternate Thursdays, it’s Open Mic with Porter. 

Wine Wednesdays at F’Amelia
Throughout October, F’Amelia’s Wine Wednesdays are back  (12 Amelia).  Save 50% on any bottle of wine priced at $100 or more.  Check the F’Amelia Facebook page for more menu details. 

Ronnie B’s Southern Kitchen & Taps
Every Saturday night from 8 to 10:30 pm, Ronnie B’s Southern Kitchen & Taps (243 Carlton) has free entertainment.  This week, Emily Steinwald will be playing sax.  No cover.

Soulpepper cabaret
Soulpepper presents “The wheel keeps on turning” with Greg Oh and Ryan Scott, Daniel Morphy, Andrea Ludwig and Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster.  Saturday, 8:30 pm, tickets from $15.  Young Centre, The Distillery (50 Tank House Lane). Click here. 

Eating out around Regent Park
Photo:  Eggs benny at Figs, blogTO
Wow – now that the redevelopment has moved right along, there’s even a list of restaurants to enjoy in the Regent Park neighbourhood.  blogTO has recommended five nearby spots:  Paintbox (555 Dundas E),  J Pizza Plus (314 Parliament), Qi Sushi (358 Gerrard E), Sukothai (274A Parliament) and Figs (344 Queen E).  You can see the comments about each of them here. 
 
THANKSGIVING DINNER SPECIALS

Peartree
Over the holiday weekend from Saturday October 11 to Monday October 13, Peartree (507 Parliament) is offering a three-course Thanksgiving special dinner.  For openers, there’s roast butternut squash soup.  The main course is roast turkey with apple, onion and sage stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.  Pumpkin pie for dessert.  $22.99 per person.  Reservations are now open, call (416) 962-8190. Dinner is available on Saturday from 5 to 11 pm and on Sunday and Monday from noon to 11 pm.

Turducken at Ronnie B’s
Thanksgiving dinner at Ronnie B’s Southern Kitchen and Taps (243 Carlton) will feature turducken.  It comes with brussels sprouts with cranberry and bacon, roast potato, a waffle made with savory stuffing and bourbon yam gravy, and bread pudding for dessert.  A glass of wine is included.  $27 per person.  Sunday, October 12. Two seatings, 5 and 7:30 pm. Reservations please – before October 8, (416) 935-1515. 

Under the Table
Chef Betty at Under the Table (568 Parliament) is preparing a big Thanksgiving feast.  For starters, there’s vegetable soup or a house salad.  The main course includes roast turkey, stuffing, corn, gravy, garlic mashed potato, baked macaroni and a dinner roll.  Cheesecake with berries or pumpkin pie with ice cream are your choices for dessert. Call for reservations, (647) 351-1533.

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY OCTOBER 2 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 12

Contact info
Alice’s Place, 554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088
Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen St E, (416) 368-6893, www.dominiononqueen.com
El Catrin, 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 203-2121,  www.elcatrin.ca/home
The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St, (647) 347-6567, www.pubaret.com
Gilead Café & Wine Bar, 4 Gilead Place, (647) 288-0680, http://www.jamiekennedy.ca/
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/
Murgatroid, 568 Parliament, (416) 323-9381
Paintbox Bistro, 555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Ronnie B’s Southern Kitchen & Taps, 243 Carlton, (416) 935-1515, www.ronnieb243.com
Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676, www.stoutirishpub.ca
Tappo Wine Bar & Restaurant, 2 Trinity Street, Distillery, (647) 430-1111, www.tappo.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 OCTOBER 2

Dominion on Queen
7:30 pm, Wee Folk Club, Jay Aymar with Sahra Featherstone and Baron & Hayley Watson, $10
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Maggie Cassella’s “Because I said so – warmup show”, $15/advance & $20/door
The Local GEST
8 pm, Jeff Barnes & Noah Zacharin
Tappo
7 pm, Errol Fisher
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3

Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Boss Lady & the Coe Hill Girls, $15/advance & $20/door
9 pm, Richard Ryder, $15/advance & $20/door
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke

SATURDAY OCTOBER 4

Flying Beaver
7 pm, Adam Sank’s Canadian premiere, $10/advance & $15/door
9 pm, Alexandra Statham, Fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank, $10/advance & $15/door
The Irv
7 pm, Frank Ryan’s vocals and acoustics
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Ronnie B’s
8 pm, Emily Steinwald (sax).

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Glen Gary presents Toronto Songwriters Showcase, pwyw
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz with Jacky Bouchard  (vocals) & Richard Whiteman (keyboard)
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema

MONDAY OCTOBER 6

Murgatroid
5 to 9 pm, Board game nights

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7

Merryberry
6 pm, Cooking class – sauces, $45
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub quiz

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Help save Brock’s kitty, fundraiser, pwyc
The Local GEST
7:30 pm, Trivia night

THURSDAY OCTOBER 9

Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Lobster and trivia, $19.95 for dinner
The Local GEST
8:30 pm, Open Mic with Porter featuring Sandra Bouza
Tappo
7 pm, Errol Fisher
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10

Flying Beaver
7 pm, Glen Gary “Three for five” & friends, pwyw
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11

Flying Beaver
8 pm, funder for Momo (who got all his equipment ripped off), $10 tix or pwyw
The Irv
9 pm, Frank Ryan’s vocals and acoustics
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Ronnie B’s
8 pm, southern rock

SUNDAY OCTOBER 12

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Cheesy queer movie night, “The Hunger”, no cover
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz with the Shawn Nykwist Trio featuring Shawn Nykwist (sax), George Kozub (bass), and Steve Cole (guitar)
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema