This
week’s image: Forsythia Festival
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
REAL ESTATE NEWS
There
are open houses in a home on Aberdeen and a townhouse on Earl . Click here to see the details.
The
Spring real estate market is in full swing now and there are sales and open
houses through the area. Two
noteworthy homes are on the market.
Their histories and character make each one worth watching. If you have
a chance, check them out.
#6
Wellesley Cottages
This
cottage was the first restoration done in the Cottages row. In the early 1980s, a developer had
wanted to alter them drastically or tear them down. Their facades were stucco and the rear walls, as one owner
notes, were largely made from early 20th century copies of the
Toronto Star. There were
dirt lanes and a dirt parking area in the front. They were protected by Part IV heritage designation in
September 1983.
The
current owner bought #6 in 1982.
It had 400 square feet in four little rooms. His renovation expanded it into a 2800 square foot home with
parking for four cars, a small front yard and a deep backyard onto the St James
cemetery, all on a 30’ wide lot. It’s still the largest of the Cottages. The
original dirt front area has been transformed into a paved brick courtyard.
It’s the eastern home in the row.
It’ll
come on the market this weekend.
For listing details, contact Larry McGill of Right At Home, (416)
391-3232.
397
Carlton Street
This
is a big, beautiful Victorian Italianate heritage home on Carlton facing
Riverdale Park. Built in 1883, its
inner rooms still retain much their original charm with 10’ ceilings, high
crown moulding, a marble fireplace in the living room, two staircases and three
large bedrooms and a den upstairs.
There’s
a 421 square foot coach house, a separate one bedroom lower apartment and
driveway parking for two cars.
It’s a detached house with a 50’ by 90’ lot. The back verandahs overlook a private rear garden.
Its
latest owner was the writer, director and artist Patricia Watson who lived here
for 45 years, including time with her then-husband film maker Allan King in the
1970s. It’s currently being shown with her furniture and paintings. It’s now an estate sale “as-is,
where-is”.
Susanne
Hudson at Chestnut Park is the listing agent. (416) 925-9191.
It’s on the market at $2.7 million.
TWO BIG EVENTS
The
Forsythia Festival
After
months of hard work, the organizers have prepared a great program for Sunday’s
Forsythia Festival. It starts, as
usual, in Riverdale Park (Sumach and Winchester) at 10 am. The neighbourhood parade launches off
at 10:30 am and takes the crowd through Don Vale up to Wellesley Park and the
day’s events get underway.
There’ll be a Beer Garden with great barbeque from St Jamestown Steak
& Chops (516 Parliament) and ice cold Steam Whistles. You can buy tickets
for the fabulous raffles – two draws
will be made each half hour from noon to 3 pm. A fire truck will visit from 1 to 2 pm at the end of
Wellesley and kids are invited to climb aboard and meet the firemen. All day long, there are free kids activities
– an arts and crafts table, a beanbag toss, a bouncy castle, bubbles, fishing,
dangling donuts, face painting, parachute games, a police car, a Scouts rope
bridge and more. From 11 am to 3
pm, a DJ from Jet Entertainment will provide onsite music, there’ll be a
Taekwondo demo and a gentle tai chi performance. Plus, most important, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to
meet your friends and have a good gossip.
For
maps, a program guide and a list of donors and prizes, click here.
Congrats
Lenny Long and Erica Benson
Erica
has been named the Forsythia Festival Queen and Lenny is the King. Both were nominated because of their
continued efforts to improve our community. This is well-deserved recognition –
congrats and have fun on Sunday.
Jane’s
Walk program – Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3
There
are, of course, walks in all of Toronto’s corners. Here’s a sampling of the walks, times and starting points in
our area:
·
Building roads together, Regent Park (10 am Friday, Daniels Spectrum,
585 Dundas E)
·
Everybody walk St James Town (11 am Friday, Wellesley Community Corner,
200 Wellesley St E)
·
St James Town & the Filipino community, (10 am Saturday, Glen Road
exit, Sherbourne subway station)
·
School gardens (10 am Saturday, Sherbourne subway station)
·
Poor people’s history of downtown Toronto (10 am Saturday, 51 Division,
51 Parliament St)
·
Queer & Fabulous (11 am and 1 pm Saturday, Wellesley subway station)
·
Regent Park, an insider’s perspective (11 am Saturday, Tim Horton’s
Parliament & Dundas)
·
Riots to responsibility, the Irish in Toronto (11 am Saturday, St
Paul’s, Queen & Power)
·
Distillery District photo tour (1 pm Saturday, Pikto Gallery, 22
Gristmill Lane, Distillery)
·
Revitalization or displacement: mixed neighbourhoods (2 pm Saturday, All
Saints Church, Dundas at Sherbourne)
·
Three Centuries of Corktown (10 am Sunday, Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, 105
Trinity)
·
Radical History of Allan Gardens (10 am Sunday, corner of Carlton &
Sherbourne)
·
Queer & Fabulous (1 pm Sunday, Wellesley subway station)
See
the full city-wide list of walks, dates and times plus detailed info about each
of them here.
LOCAL NEWS
Free
dirt
Pam
McConnell will arrange for a load of compost to be dropped off at Riverdale
Park on Sunday May 3. Please note
that this is a new location – in previous years, the dirt was dropped on
Hillcrest near Wellesley Park.
Cabbagetown
South meeting
The
next regular Association meeting – 7 to 9 pm, Wednesday May 6, Retsina
Restaurant (209 Gerrard E). Among
the topics for discussion will be the proposal by St Michael’s Hospital and the
Sherbourne Health Centre to open a residential withdrawal program. For more info, click here.
Corktown
Residents & Business Association
7
to 9 pm May 5, Little Trinity Annex, second floor, 403 King E. The Association’s May meeting will
include a presentation on the local impact of the Pan Am, ParaPan Games,
details about the Live Art Festival in Underpass Park on June 20, and updates
on local community and development issues.
CRC
Open House
Visit
the CRC (40 Oak Street) on Thursday May 7 from 4 to 6 pm for its annual open
house. Find out about the programs
offered there – community meals, food skills, advocacy, gardening, housing and
housing support, clothing, community enterprises and drop-in activities. At 6 pm, be part of the CRC’s annual
community meeting to see what was done last year and learn about future
plans. Meet special guest Joy
Connelly, social housing consultant and blogger. Light refreshments.
See the website at www.tcrc.ca
Spinning
workshops
Riverdale
Farm (Winchester east of Sumach) will conduct two workshops on Saturday May 9. At 9:30 am, the first topic is “How to use a drop spindle”. From 1:30 pm, the second one is about “How
to use a spinning wheel.” Each
workshop is limited to ten participants and fees for each range from $21 to
$57. Call (416) 338-4836 to
register.
Cabbagetown
Cycling Club
Sunday’s
ride meets and rolls out from Jet Fuel (519 Parliament) at 7:30 am – 65K to the Zoo. If you
aren’t yet registered with the Club, you must bring your completed waiver. Find out more and join the Club online
here.
New
arena on Cherry Street
Ports
Toronto has announced plans to build a new community arena on federal property
at the foot of Cherry Street, the home of the terminal for the defunct ferry project
to Rochester. The 75,000 square foot building will house two indoor rinks,
locker rooms, viewing areas and other amenities. Its still at the conceptual stage – developer must still be
selected to create a business plan, manage construction and manage the
facility’s operations. There are
also several steps to complete in order to get the City’s approval.
Sports
centre for Jarvis and Dundas
Maple
Leaf Sports Enterprise is planning a 42,000 square foot sports centre to be built on
derelict TCHC property near Dundas and Jarvis. It will have multi-sport courts, classrooms, office
space and a cafeteria. Justin
Skinner has written about the proposal in Inside Toronto – click here to read
it.
Lynn’s
tee in California
Lynn
Walker regularly visits California for bike rides and training. This year, she was in Santa Monica
mountains and covered over 20,000 feet of climbing during the week. Of course, she took her Cabbagetown
tee. Congrats Lynn.
ONSTAGE
Laili
Biali at Little Trinity
Laila
Biali is an award-winning jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter. She’ll be releasing her album, Laila
Biali and The Radiance Project, at a concert in Little Trinity (425 King E) on Saturday May
2 at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 and $25
and they’re available online.
Soulpepper’s
Cabaret Series
Intimate
musical performances featuring both established artists and fresh, exciting
talents. Star Crossed Lovers
focuses on popular music’s fascination with Romeo and Juliet themes. On Saturday May 2 at 8:30 pm. Soulpepper’s regulars perform music
from Sondheim to Radiohead. Tikets are $20 and $25, available online here.
Momentum
15
An
ambitious main-stage production featuring dancers from all three years of the
Professional Training Program, School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Choreography by Christopher House,
Sasha Ivanochko, Sharon Moore, Julia Sasso, Ofilio Sinbadinho and Heidi
Strauss. 8 pm, Thursday April 30
to Saturday May 2 and Thursday May 7 to Saturday May 9, Winchester Street Theatre
(80 Winchester). Tickets are 15
and $20. Tickets are more info –
click here.
Gathering
Momentum
This
is the annual fundraiser for the School of Toronto Dance. The program includes featured works
from Momentum 2015 plus an award ceremony. 7 pm – wine, dessert and a silent auction. 7:30 pm, performances. Winchester Street Theatre (80
Winchester) Tickets are $30, click here.
Written
by Drew Hayden Taylor. While
panhandling outside a local coffee shop, Johnny, a Cree woman, is shocked to
recognize a face from her childhood spent in a residential school. She’s desperate to hear him acknowledge
the terrible abuse inflicted on her and other children at the school. Native Earth Performing Arts with
Firehall Arts Centre. Saturday May
2 to Sunday May 17. Aki Studio
Theatre, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).
Looking
for Elvis & the Man in Black – May 5 to May 9
Two
works. Looking For Elvis,
choreographed by Laurence Lemieux, explores the life of a young Elvis
Presley. The Man in Black,
choreographed by James Kudelka, is a celebration of American working-class grit
and the man whose voice embodied it.
May 5, 6, 8 and 9 at 8 pm, $20.
The Rockabillie Rumble Fundraiser, May 7 at 7 pm, $100. The Citadel (304 Parliament). Tickets
and more info available online.
Trudeau
comes back to Soulpepper
Two
of Michael Hollingshed’s plays about Pierre Trudeau and Canadian politics
return in late April to Soulpepper. Trudeau and Levesque - onstage from April
25. Trudeau and the FLQ - from May 12.
Soulpepper’s Spring season continues with Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce
from May 1, Vern Thiessen’s adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage
from May 2 and Anton Piatigorsky’s The Dybbuk Or Between Two Worlds in
mid-May. For details, schedules
and tickets, click here.
Corktown
Ukulele Jam
Throughout
May, the Jam will continue on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm at the Paintbox
Bistro (535 Dundas)
Jeff
Barnes and Noah Zacharin
Jeff
and Noah make their regular monthly visit next Thursday May 7, 8 to midnight,
The Local GEST (424 Parliament). Open
Mic with Porter is Thursday April 30 and Thursday May 14, 9 pm to 1 am.
SHOPPING NEWS
Mama
knows best
Kendall
& Co (514 Parliament) has a wonderful assortment of gifts for Mother’s
Day. Good from local artists,
vases for a lovely bouquet and charming home accessories. And how about this apron that says “Mama
knows best”. Visit the store and
see the new arrivals – 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday and 11 am to 5 pm,
Saturday.
Workshops
at Little House in the City
Two
workshops are scheduled for the coming week. On Saturday May 2 from 10:30 am to noon, join historian
Harold Troper for a guided walking tour through Old Cabbagetown. $12. On Monday May 4 from 7 to 9 pm, Dan Pryce from Spade &
Feather will hold a workshop on growing your own backyard hops. $20. For details and registration, click here. 555 Parliament
RESTAURANT & PUB NEWS
Welcome
back
The
Butter Chicken Factory (556 Parliament) has reopened. Stricken by a fire in its ventilation system, it needed
extensive repairs for its kitchen equipment as well as a thorough cleaning in
the dining room. There’s now a new
tin ceiling in the front room and the whole place has a comfortable, fresh
feeling. Drop in for a lunch
special and, of course, there’s takeout and home delivery. Open from 11 am to 3 pm and from 5 to
10 pm.
Little
Shmiddy’s Hot Meat House
This
attractive little room opened a few weeks ago at 584 Parliament just south of
Wellesley. It’s immediately
obvious that the exterior has been very nicely improved with new colours, a
thorough paint job and an attractive bench. Inside, it’s a surprise – well finished in dark and relaxing
colours and finishes. The menu
changes regularly. Last weekend,
both the burger and the schnitzel sandwich were big hits at reasonable prices.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Click here for the website and here for
Facebook.
Kanpai
Snack Bar
Here’s
another amazing small room.
Located at the northwest corner of Carlton and Parliament (252 Carlton),
its façade and interior have been really well designed. There’s an open kitchen, longer tables
for groups plus a row of seats along the bars facing the kitchen and the
service counter. The roll-up
garage door windows have fortunately been saved along Parliament Street from
the old Ginger site. The menu highlights “Taiwanese street food delights, handcrafted
Canadian cocktails and a hip-ass vibe”. It’s been busy since it launched and
appears to be on the road to success. Open 11:30 am to 1 am.
Kanpai’s
Collaborative Dinner
Kanpai
(252 Carlton) is one of six Toronto restaurants teaming up with international
experts to create a Collaborative Dinner Series under the auspices of Terroir
Hospitality Industry Symposium.
Kanpai’s dinner happens on Wednesday May 13 at 7 pm. It’ll be a six course tasting menu
together with Samuel Adams beer and samples of artisan cocktails. $50. For lots more information about the series and Kanpei’s
event, plus tickets, click here.
Dinner and a show
Mill
Street (21 Tank House Lane) has a dinner and theatre special offer at The Brew
Pub and The Beer Hall. If you’re
seeing a play at Soulpepper, show your ticket to enjoy a 15% discount on your
dinner or dessert.
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY APRIL 30 TO SUNDAY MAY 10
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
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.
Please note:
Two of our regular Clubs are currently closed. The Flying Beaver is being renovated
after a fire in late February. The
Dominion on Queen has been closed since the summer of 2014 for renovations.
THURSDAY APRIL 30
The
Irv
7pm,
Geoff Willingham
The
Local GEST
8
pm, Open Mic with Porter
Mill
St Brew Pub
7
pm, Tap That Cask with Jeff Eager
Under
The Table
9
pm, Karaoke
White
Elephant
Open
mic
FRIDAY MAY 1
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
7
to 10 pm, Ryan Carter
SATURDAY MAY 2
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 MAY 3
FORSYTHIA FESTIVAL, WELLESLEY PARK, 10 am to 3 pm
Alice’s
Place
4
pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local
GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Zim Zum
Mill
Street Beer Hall
1
pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema
MONDAY MAY 4
Murgatroid
6
pm, Games night
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers trivia
TUESDAY MAY 5
El
Catrin
6
pm, Cinco de Mayo, DJ, tequila sampling and Mexican eats.
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers trivia
WEDNESDAY MAY 6
Alice’s
Place
9
pm, Karaoke
The
Local GEST
7:30
pm, Trivia night with Jill
Paintbox
Bistro
7:30
pm, Corktown Ukelele Jam
THURSDAY MAY 7
The
Irv
7pm,
Geoff Willingham
The
Local GEST
8
pm, Jeff Barnes & Noah Zacharin
Mill
St Brew Pub
7
pm, Tap That Cask with live acoustic music
White
Elephant
8
pm, Open mic night
FRIDAY MAY 8
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
6
to 9 pm, Arthur Renwick
SATURDAY MAY 9
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
White
Elephant
9:30
pm to 2 am, Toastr Party
SUNDAY MAY 10
Alice’s
Place
9
pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local
GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with the Chris Wallace Mill Street Beer Hall
1
pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema