April 9


This week’s image:  the lizard survived another winter.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW

OPEN HOUSES

This week’s Open House listings include homes on Salisbury, Wellesley Avenue and Wellesley Street and a condo on Richmond.  There’s also an open house for a rental. Click here to read about them.

LOCAL NEWS

Cabbagetown Cycling Club
The Club’s first ride will take place on Sunday April 19.  Meet at Jet Fuel (519 Parliament) for a 7:30 am departure.  Bring food and water supplies.  The ride will have two components – a longer 65K event and shorter 40k ride.  Ride leaders will control the pace to ensure that everybody is included. 
The Club requires a waiver from you before the ride starts.  There are also openings for new members.  Finally, the Wedneday morning women’s ride and the Thursday morning ride are both proving to be popular. 
You can find out about all of these things from Wil Mills at cabbagetowncycling@gmail.com

Brenda’s class schedules
Brenda has listed her schedule for Step and Zumba classes for late April and early May at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster).
Step classes happen every Wednesday morning through to May 6 at 9:15 am.  On Sundays, Zumba class is at 11 am.  On Sunday April 12, a Step class will be added at 10 am.  There will not be a class on Sunday May 10 – it’s Mother’s Day.  A new schedule will be issued for later in May.

Community clean-ups
Local residents groups have organized Spring cleaning campaigns to rid the area of the litter and debris that’s gathered over the Winter.  The Aberdeen Ave Residents Group has registered for the City’s annual clean-up day on Saturday April 18.  Residents are asked to rake up litter into bags and leave the bags at the garbage bins in Winchester Square Park.  Bags can be picked up at 8 Aberdeen at 10 am. The work should be finished by 2 pm. 
In Cabbagetown South, the efforts will be focused on individual cleanups.  On April 18 and 19, residents are asked to sweep up nearby curbs and lanes and to locate barren spots where a few flowers or plants will add a nice perk. 

Gardening news and reminders
The gardeners who work on the Winchester Square garden boxes (Ontario Street between Aberdeen and Carlton) will be preparing the boxes and planting seeds on Saturday April 25 or Sunday April 26 if it rains. The May planting will happen on Saturday May 16.
Cabbagetown South Residents Association has a supply of plants and shrubs for local guerrilla gardeners.  Pick a plot in a lane or along a boulevard and turn it into a small garden.  For extra information, contact the Association at admin@cabbagetownsouth.ca
Riverdale Farm (Winchester and Sumach) is looking for volunteers to prepare flower beds, plant, seed, weed and water them and do routine garden maintenance.  Every Wednesday from May 13 to October 21.  Meet at The Drive Shed (inside the Winchester Gates).

Make a donation
When you’ve drained them dry and you’re hauling them back to The Beer Store (Gerrard and Ontario) for a refund, take your bottles to the donation window.  The refunds will support community groups like Central Neighbourhood House and the meal programs in our local schools.

Fuel The School
Save the date – Thursday April 30, 8 pm, Jet Fuel (519 Parliament).  This is a fundraiser on behalf of the Cabbagetown Co-op Nursery School (2 Lancaster).  There’ll be live and silent auctions with amazing stuff that’s being donated by local businesses. Tickets are $25. Refreshments. 

Allan Gardens Spring show
The big Easter show continues until April 26.   Hydrangeas, Easter lilies and Spring bulbs are highlights.  There’s a jade vine and it’s in bloom – a gardener has counted over 86 blooms so far.  Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.  Free.  Conservatory, Sherbourne and Carlton.

Blueprint for the future
The Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce) is hosting a fundraiser to support summer camp visits for 100 children.  Each child receives experiential trips, leadership opportunities and fun learning activities.  Tuesday, April 21, 6 to 9 pm, Berkeley Church (315 Queen E).  Your ticket includes either hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail reception ($85) or the full package with dinner ($135).  For an extra $60, you can directly support one child for one day at camp.   Silent auction and door prizes.  To buy your tickets and to see more details, click here.  

Donors to the Forsythia Festival
The businesses and individuals who sponsor the Festival are vital to its success.  They’ve been amazing this year.  Before the event happens, these donors will be listed here in recognition of their generosity. 
This week, the twelve silver level sponsors are listed – those whose gifts are between $200 and $499.
·      18 Blocks, 18blocks.com
·      Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, ccdt.org, 509 Parliament St
·      Fair Trade Jewellery, ftjco.com, 523 Parliament St
·      Hey Lucy, heylucy.ca, 229 Carlton Street
·      HomeLife Realty One homeliferealtyone.com, 503 Parliament St
·      House on Parliament, houseonparliament.com, 454 Parliament St
·      M-Squared Contracting, m2contracting.com, 47 Scarlett Road
·      Menagerie Pet Shop, menageriepetshop.com, 549 Parliament St
·      Peartree Restaurant, peartreerestaurant.ca, 507 Parliament St
·      Queen Beez, Your urban garden squad, queenbeez.com
·      Sage Realty, Nick & Hilary, nickandhilary.com, 538 Parliament Street
·      Steve Kwan, Royal Lepage, royallepage.ca, 187 King St E

Our flag flies in Reykjavik
Maia and Susan visited Iceland last week.  Despite the grey and rainy weather, they were charmed.  Of course, they took along a flag for a souvenir photo.  Here they are in front of Reykjavik’s landmark Hallgrimskirkya.  Lookin’ good!  If you’re travelling anywhere – Etobicoke or Ethiopia – take along your Tee shirts or your flag and grab a pic.  I’ll publish it when you get home.

SHOPPING NEWS

Little House in the City
This week’s workshop schedule includes jewellery design and creation with Lara Bazant ($55) on Saturday April 11, 1 to 4 pm.  On Monday April 13 from 7 to 9 pm, make your own naturally fermented soda, ginger beer and kombucha with Rebecca Hutton ($50).   Learn how to raise your own backyard quail with Dan Pryce on Saturday April 18 from 1 to 3:30 pm ($20).  Details are available online, click here. 555 Parliament.

Kendall’s East Coasters
A local artisan collaborated with Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) to create these fantastic coasters.  They’re made from recycled ceramic tiles with heat-resistant cork bases.  This first batch displays Cabbagetown and Toronto street scenes.  Click here to see the full set.  Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. 

Schedule changes at Sundara Yoga
Angela has added afternoon classes on weekends at Sundara Yoga (488 Parliament, side door).  There’s Kundalini Flow on Saturdays from 3 to 4:45 pm with Emmanuelle and Aroma Restorative on Sundays from 4:15 to 5:30 pm with Sarah.   

ONSTAGE

Corktown Chamber Orchestra
The Orchestra’s next concert is Outliers.  The program includes Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with Carl Nanders on violin, Baker’s Concerto for harp and orchestra with Andrew Chan on harp, Mahler’s adagietto and Beethoven’s Eight.  Little Trinity Church (425 King E), 8 pm on Thursday April 9, $10.

Duncan Fremlin & Whiskey Jack
Sunday April 12, 4 pm, Cadillac Lounge (1206 Queen W).  John Hoffman, Whiskey Jack’s co-founder, will join the group and play with Randy Morrison on the fiddle. 

I am Marguerite
Shirley Barrie’s play draws on events from Canadian history to tell the story of a woman exiled in 1542 to an island offshore of Newfoundland for pursuing love over duty.  It opens at Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) on Saturday April 10 to April 25.  More info, tickets and a short video, click here.  

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.  Soulpeper’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.  

Burpee/Chin: Two new works
Toronto Dance Theatre (80 Winchester) presents a new double bill by two of Toronto’s finest choreographers, Susie Burpee and Peter Chin, with ten extraordinary dancers.  Thursday April 9 to Saturday April 11 at 8 pm, Sunday April 12 at 2 pm and Wednesday April 15 to Saturday April 18 at 8 pm.  Tickets are $20 and $26.  For tickets, call (416) 967-1365 or go online.  

Spotlight South Africa
Spotlight South Africa is onstage now at Canadian Stage to April 25. The festival highlights the vitality of South African performance.  Nongogo (April 8 to 12), Ubu & the Truth Commission (April 15 to 19) and Chandelier (April 22 to 25) are all staged in the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs (26 Berkeley).  The Meal (April 8 to 12) and Hatched (April 15 to 19) are dance performances in the Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.  Dominion, a third dance piece, will happen in the Bluma Appel Theatre downtown (27 Front St E).  For detailed notes and tickets sales, click here.   

RESTAURANTS & PUBS

Little Schmiddy’s Hot Meat House
Another new restaurant has just appeared at 584 Parliament, south of Wellesley.  The menu uses locally sourced, antibiotic-free and hormone-free meats.  Open from 10 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.  There’s a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LittleShmiddys and a website.  http://www.littleshmiddyshotmeathouse.com/ More info will come soon.

Café Olya is open again
After making some minor renovations over the past week, Olyana and Mike have reopened with a new emphasis.  The espresso’s gone and the seating’s gone.  Instead, they’re offering more baking and strong brewed coffee.  Thursday’s menu, for example, featured an apple blueberry galette, buttermilk scones and sweet and savory brioche.  540 Parliament.

Smoked beef ribs
The 420 Smoke House (420 Smokehouse) has added these ribs after several customer requests and they’re selling well. They’ve also got a couple of new craft beers – Sidelaunch and Cruiser available now.

Sweet & savory crepes
Cyril’s next cooking class at Merryberry (559 Parliament) will feature the cooking techniques and recipes for these French classics.  There’s one on Tuesday April 14, 6 pm – but it’s full.  So Cyril has plans for another one and already has a few folks on his waiting list.  Please call and reserve your spot – (647) 348-0411 or drop in to the restaurant and tell him in person. 

Peartree’s April special
Peartree (507 Parliament) has a three-course prix fix dinner special lined up for April.  Starter choices include an organic green salad, a Caesar salad or homemade soup.  For your main course, there’s a prime rib steak with a red wine sauce, veggies and rice or potatoes at $26.99 or blackened tuna with mango salsa, veggies and rice or potatoes for $24.99 or Cajun creole chicken breast with sweet pepper, red onions and a creole sauce, veggies and brown or white rice at $22.99. To finish off, your dessert selections are chocolate truffle cake, carrot cake, lemon coconut layer cake or strawberry rhubarb pie. 

Thai & tunes
The White Elephant (366 Queen E) is hosting Conor Gains on Friday April 10 from 7 to 10 pm.  Next week on Friday April 17, D’Arcy Good performs from 7 to 10 pm.  The White Elephant’s menu presents Thai street food with dishes that are rarely seen in Toronto.

Sunday jazz returns
The Local GEST (424 Parliament) has scheduled Joanne Morra with Eric St Laurent (guitar) and Rechel Melas (bass) for Sunday April 12 at 4:30 pm.  Next week, it’s Henry Heillig with Eric St Laurent and Charlie Cooley.

Open mic at Paintbox
Hummingbird is Paintbox’s Open Mic monthly night. Save the dates - it starts up on Tuesday April 21 with sign-ups at 6 pm and shows at 7 pm.  People of all ages are welcome.  555 Dundas E.

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. 

Mill Street entertainment
Mill Street Brewery operates two pubs in The Distillery.  On Friday and Saturday in The Beer Hall (21 Tank House Lane), DJ Humble Mike spins his vinyl all night and On Sunday, there’s a jazz brunch to 3 pm.  Every Thursday night in the Brew Pub (21 Tank House Lane), the Cask & Cheese night includes live acoustic music to 10 pm.  On April 9, Don Campbell is appearing and on April 16, the Brew Pub Staff are jamming. 

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY APRIL 9 TO SUNDAY APRIL 19

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.

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 9

The Irv
7pm, Geoff Willingham
The Local GEST
8:30 pm, Open Mic with Porter
Mill St Brew Pub
7 pm, Tap That Cask with live acoustic music with Don Campbell
White Elephant
8 pm, Open mic night

FRIDAY APRIL 10

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 to 10 pm, Conor Gains

SATURDAY APRIL 11

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

SUNDAY APRIL 12

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz with Joanna Morra, Eric St Laurent & Rechel Melas
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema

MONDAY APRIL 13

Murgatroid
6 pm, Games night
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers trivia

TUESDAY APRIL 14

Merryberry
6 pm, Cooking class – sweet and savory crepes
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers trivia

WEDNESDAY APRIL 15

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 APRIL 16

The Irv
7pm, Geoff Willingham
The Local GEST
8 pm, Open Mic with Porter
Mill St Brew Pub
7 pm, Tap That Cask with the Brew Pub Staff Jam
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke
White Elephant
Open mic

FRIDAY APRIL 17

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 pm, D’Arcy Good

SATURDAY APRIL 18

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 APRIL 19

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday jazz with Henry Heillig, Eric St Laurent & Charlie Cooley
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema