CABBAGETOWN
NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
New sports facilities in St James Town
New sports facilities in St James Town
Community Matters Toronto has
received a generous grant to improve facilities for children and youth in St
James Town. Sentry Investments
will donate $65,000 and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment another $25,000. The money will be used to build the St
James Town Multipurpose Games Court, a place that can be used all year for
basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. Community Matters works to create improvements in the St
James Town neighbourhood that benefit the lives of its residents. This project culminates several years’
efforts to replace a decrepit tennis court near 260 Wellesley East with a
useful, attractive new facility.
Gina has her own documentary
Image: Ingram Gallery
Gina Dineen (founder of the
Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival) has launched her first short
documentary on YouTube. Entitled Jack Nichols, Mystery & Light, it’s about
the late Jack Nichols and his work. He was a friend of hers and she’s a trustee
of his estate. It’s an intriguing
glimpse into his life as an artist and reflects her view that his beautiful art
deserves wide exposure. Click here
to watch it. You can see more of Nichols’ work at
the Ingram Gallery website.
Soulpepper Concerts - A movable musical Maritimes feast
PEI`s Mike Ross and his guests
explore the extraordinary musical life of eastern Canada. Concerts happen on Friday February 20
at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm and Thursday February 26 at 8 pm. Young Centre for the Performing Arts
(50 Tank House Lane, Distillery). Tickets and more info available online
here.
Your Hood’s a Joke
Local comedians are duking it out in
an ongoing series of battles to determine which Toronto neighbourhood has the
funniest credentials at the Comedy Bar (945 Bloor W). On Saturday February 21 at 10 pm, it’ll be Bloordale versus
Cabbagetown. The Bloordale team
will be facing Nails Maloney (Q107 host), Jesse Owens (Funny Business Inc) and
Ryan Dylan (Bite TV). $10 – don’t
miss it.
Re:Leaf community meeting
Re:Leaf has been organizing a
community-wide urban forestry plan for Cabbagetown with the help of graduate
students from the University of Toronto.
On Thursday February 26, they’ll present their findings. The meeting will be held at the Boys
& Girls Club (101 Spruce at Sumach) from 7 to 9 pm.
Shamrocks & Sneakers 4k Run
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre is
taking part in the Shamrock & Sneakers 4 k Run on Sunday March 15. It starts at St George Street and
Bloor, goes east to Yonge, south to Queen and west to University Avenue. It’s a fundraiser for the CYC. Advance fees range from $20 to $30 and
race-day entries are $40. Teams of
ten or more can register for $25/advance and $35/race day per person. For all the details and for online race
registration, click here.
Breakfast networking
The Breakfast Network is a new
Cabbagetown group that meets weekly on Wednesdays at Murgatroid (568
Parliament). It will serve
entrepreneurs who want to share experiences and learn successful business
secrets. Meetings are held from 7:30 to 8:30 am and cost $15 each with
breakfast included. For more info,
contact Jay Feniak at jfeniak@hallmarkins.com or Hilary Browning at
Hilary@nickandhilary.com.
Regent Park Community Centre
closing party
Save the date for a great party –
Saturday March 14 from 4 to 10 pm.
The Regent Park Community Centre (203 Sackville Green) will soon be
closing. Local musician
Cabbagetown Steve and Alicia Porter are helping to organize the music and
hosting an open mic event. Steve
says that the Centre played a big role in his own childhood, helping him with
its programs and his mother with its daycare. There’ll be live entertainment, refreshments, children’s
activities, a DJ and an evening dance.
Thanks James
James Wood, a dedicated
Cabbagetowner and member of the Board at the Cabbagetown Residents Association
tackled the stairs in Riverdale Park.
He shovelled away the snow and ice – on over eighty steps. It took him three hours of hard labour
to finish the job and they’re now safe to climb.
Thanks Kent
Photo: Victoria Hadden
Kent Farrell’s Aberdeen Avenue home
was used for a movie shoot recently and, as usual, there was some disruption
for neighbours as a result. To
thank everybody, he’s donated $1000 to the Aberdeen Avenue Residents
Association to use to defray costs at its annual summer bbq – thanks Kent.
A new online bulletin board
Victoria Hadden has pointed out a
new online bulletin board that gives everyone a chance to list an event,
broadcast a lost-and-found or announce a new project. The boards cover specific Toronto neighbourhoods including
Cabbagetown. It’s meant for personal messages, not business advertising, and
it’s the kind of service that will take off if we use it. Click here to see and use it.
Poster artist for the 2015 Forsythia
Festival
Forsythia Festival organizers are
holding a competition to select the artist for its 2015 poster. Send in your work. If you win, you’ll get a $50 gift
certificate from one of the Festival’s sponsors plus the pleasure from seeing
your work plastered all over the neighbourhood. The contest deadline is March 15. Click here to read the contest rules and to see what the
committee wants to include on your poster.
Tour of Homes
Early planning has started for the
2015 Tour. The committee at the
Cabbagetown Preservation Association is looking for suitable homes to
include. If you have a suggestion
or want to volunteer your own home, email cpa@cabbagetownpa.ca.
Cabbagetown Family Day Festival
Congrats to the Festival
organizers. Despite the freezing
temperatures, there were buskers, horses pulling a wagon, ice sculptures,
pancakes and a marching band. People
in the area, especially those inside cozy warm pubs, approved. Some observers offered ideas for next
year’s events including suggestions to hold it on Saturday or Sunday when the
stores are open and to make a bigger effort to include the end of the street
north of Winchester. All in all, the Festival was a good start for a good
project, worthy of a repeat next year.
Cabbagetowners in the deep freeze
Catherine and Irene braved the
weather at Echo Bay, just south of Sault Ste Marie, to strut their Cabbagetown
stuff. At -20 C, even these two
intrepid outdoorspersons had to flash their cabbages quickly before getting
back inside.
SHOPPING
NEWS
The Leslieville Flea
The Flea returns to the Fermenting
Cellar (28 Distillery Lane) in the Distillery District from 10 am to 4 pm on
Sunday February 22. It’s a “curated
market” offering crafts and artisan works including furniture, home décor,
soaps, jewellery, clothing and more.
Check out the market’s website for profiles about their vendors and
their merchandise.
Welcome back, Angela
Angela and James are back now after
spending seven weeks on Agonda Beach in south Goa, India. She spent a good deal
of her time in study and meditation.
As you can see, she’s certainly perfected her Scorpion pose. She’s back now and happy to be sharing
her insights and stories with her students and teachers at Sundara Yoga (488
Parliament, side door.)
Little House in the City
A quick postscript. Last week’s workshop on raising
chickens in the city gave one enthusiast a lot to consider. She went to the event looking for a way
to put a coop in her backyard and came away much better informed and definitely
less enthused.
This week’s workshop is about
recycling old sweaters into dolls.
Mirit Cohen Essel of Bubynoa will show you how to turn your sweater into
a beautiful new doll. The workshop
is open to sewers at all levels.
Please bring a sweater to use for your project. Tuesday, February 24, 6:30 to 9:30 pm,
$50. 555 Parliament.
Urbandog’s second home
Susan and Eric have been operating
Urbandog Fitness & Spa (37 Parliament) near the Distillery for over ten
years. Its good reputation has
spread widely because of the care and the fine facilities that it offers to
dogs and their owners. They’re now
opening a new location – Park9, a canine resort experience. Opening on March 2, Park9 (9 Meteor
Drive) will be Toronto’s first high-end spa featuring cage-free boarding,
daycare and grooming for vacationing dogs, a convenient holiday for these
pooches while their owners jump on a plane at nearby Pearson Airport. For more info about their luxurious
pooch-friendly facilities, visit the website.
RESTAURANT
NEWS
The Wee Folk Club
Mark Ripp and Diane Vezina are
performing on Thursday February 19 from 7:30 pm. The Club meets in the Back Room at the Dominion on Queen
(500 Queen E). Tickets are $10.
Congrats to The Irv
On Saturday February 28, The Irv
(195 Carlton) will celebrate its first anniversary. The party starts at 7 pm with live music, snacks, prizes and
giveaways. There’ll be a grand
prize of a free trip to New York including air fare and two nights’
accommodation.
Merryberry cooking classes
The flu and various other ailments
struck down the crowd who hoped to attend Cyril's cooking class on Tuesday. So he’s rescheduled for Tuesday March 3
at 6 pm. He’ll be showcasing
modernist cuisine techniques, especially sous-vide seafood and some molecular
gastronomy. Don’t miss it –
contact him at Merryberry (559 Parliament) or call (647) 348-0411.
More wine at F’Amelia
Todd and John are continuing their
wine give-aways. Try a bottle of
Michele Chiaro’s Barolo, rated 93 by Robert Parker. Every Wednesday, F’Amelia
offers a 50% discount on any bottle that’s regularly priced at $100 or
more. Wine Wednesdays at F’Amelia
(12 Amelia).
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19 TO SUNDAY MARCH 1
Contact
info
Alice’s
Place, 554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088,
https://www.facebook.com/alicesplacetoronto
Cranberries,
601 Parliament St, (416) 925-6330
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, http://www.theirvpub.ca/
The
Local GEST, 424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, http://www.thelocalgest.com/
Merryberry,
559 Parliament, www.merryberry.ca
Mill
Street Beer Hall, 21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, (416) 681-0338,
http://toronto.millstreetbrewpub.ca/
Murgatroid,
568 Parliament, (416) 323-9381, https://www.facebook.com/MurgatroidTO
Paintbox
Bistro, 555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Stirling
Room, 16 Trinity, Distillery District, www.stirlingroom.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,
https://www.facebook.com/underthetabletoronto
White
Elephant, 366 Queen E. (416) 364-9999, www.whiteelephant366.com
If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices
are listed. Otherwise, the event is free.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19
Dominion
on Queen
7:30
pm, Wee Folk Club – Mark Ripp & Diane Vezina, $10
Flying
Beaver
7:30
pm, 50 shades of ginger – a
fundraiser folk night, $10
The
Local GEST
8
pm, Open mic with Porter
Mill
St Brew Pub
7
pm, Live acoustic music
Under
The Table
9
pm, Karaoke
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20
Flying
Beaver
7
pm, Scott Thompson, “Off with his head” repeat performance, $20/advance,
$25/door
9
pm, Martha Chaves returns, $10/advance, $15/door
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Stirling
Room
Theatrical
Friday with resident DJ Rod Bravo, reserve on the guest list. $20
Under
The Table
9
pm, Karaoke
White
Elephant
6
to 9 pm, Arthur Renwick
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21
Flying
Beaver
7
pm, Matt Rubel, “Serious Business”
$10/advance, $15/door
9
pm, Montreal drag king, Nat King Pole, $10/advance, $15/door
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Stirling
Room
Stirling
Saturday. Reserve on the guest
list. $20
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22
Alice’s
Place
4
pm, Karaoke with Vee
Flying
Beaver
11
am to 3 pm, Psychic brunch
7
pm, NDoula Care Services, “Sharing best practices” $10/advance & $15/door
Local
GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday jazz featuring Heilling Manoeuvre & Allison Young
Mill
Street Beer Hall
1
pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema
MONDAY FEBRUARY 23
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers trivia
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers trivia
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25
Alice’s
Place
9
pm, Karaoke
Flying
Beaver
7:30
pm, “Mesmerized, comedy hypnosis with Brandon Dean”, $15/advance, $20/door
The
Local GEST
7:30
pm, Trivia night
Paintbox
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26
The
Local GEST
8:30
pm, Open Mic with Porter
Mill
St Brew Pub
7
pm, Live acoustic music
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27
Flying
Beaver
7
pm, Leisa Way, “Rhinestone Cowgirl”, $15/advance, $20/door
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Stirling
Room
Theatrical
Friday with resident DJ Rod Bravo, reserve on the guest list. $20
White
Elephant
7
pm, Sean Pinchin
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28
Flying
Beaver
9
pm, Rita Carrey Duo, “Carrey On”, $15/advance, $20/door
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Stirling
Room
Resident
DJ Rod Bravo, reserve on the guest list.
The
Irv
7
pm, One year anniversary party
White
Elephant
9:30
pm, Toastr Party
SUNDAY MARCH 1
Alice’s
Place
9
pm, Karaoke with Vee
Flying
Beaver
7
pm, Amy J Lester, “Open Ham Session”, no cover, PWYW
Local
GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday jazz featuring Samantha Clayton & Steven Cole
Mill
Street Beer Hall
1
pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema
