May 21


This week’s image:  Carlton Street fire, photo by Espie Currie, City News

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW

OPEN HOUSES
A beautiful condo on Homewood and a remarkable home at 6 Wellesley Cottages on Saturday and Sunday.  For details, click here.

LOCAL NEWS

Another fire
Photo:  City News
On Wednesday morning, two homes on Carlton Street were damaged by a upper level fire.  222 Carlton is owned by Toronto Community Housing and contains eleven apartments. 224 belongs to Free the Children and is used for office space.  The fire is believed to have started in the attic at 222 and was contained to these two places. The neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a precaution.  12 trucks and 45 firemen battled the blaze and the street was closed from Parliament to Sherbourne.  CP24 has a couple of short videos and a story about the incident – click here.  

Thanks to Dave Archer
Photo: City News
Dave is a Toronto fireman who was off-duty at the time of the Carlton Street fire.  He was nearby when he noticed smoke coming from 222 Carlton and saw a man dangling from a third floor window.  He ran into the house and pulled the man to safety.  Paramedics treated him on the scene for smoke inhalation and minor burns. Otherwise, the house was empty at the time and no one was injured.

Nighisti Semret
The jury trial of Adonay Zekarias has started on the charge of murdering Ms Semret in a laneway off Ontario Street in October 2012.  At the time, the incident shocked our community deeply.  David Hughes came to her defense, frightened off her attacker and tried to give her first aid. People in nearby homes heard her screams and called the police.  Mr Hughes has testified about his experience – the Toronto Star has a detailed story about his testimony here. 

Congrats for the award
James Davie (second right with Jeremy) and Mark Hendricks own the stately Second Empire home at 377 Sackville.  Over the past couple of years, they’ve been renovating it with very careful attention to all of its historic details. Local architect Monica Kuhn supervised the restoration and the work was done by Weenen Contracting.  James and Mark have won the Peggy Kurtin Award from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association in honour of their renovation.  They received the award at the CPA’s annual meeting on Tuesday night and agreed at that time that their home would be added to the 2015 Tour of Homes so that the neighbourhood can see its amazing interior.

CPA Annual Meeting
The CPA is central to much of the positive activity that builds and supports our community.  The Directors deserve our recognition and thanks for their ongoing contributions.
Last Tuesday, the Association held its 2015 AGM.  The guest speaker, Harold Madi, is Toronto’s Director of Urban Design.  He spoke about the growth happening along the Don River and its importance for the future shape of the city.
There’s an impressive list of projects being handled every year by the CPA.
·      A 2015 Tour of Homes is now scheduled for September 20, the week after the Festival. 
·      Cabbagetown People remains the CPA’s biggest project with a revitalized website,  the familiar blue oval plaques scattered around the neighbourhood and its educational resources. 
·      Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tour is an ever-popular Spring event and the Hallowe’en Ghost Tour attracts a good crowd. 
·      The Association also conducts a series of walking tours with other groups and on its own. The next one focuses on Cabbagetown’s medical heritage and happens on July 15. 
·      Its book - Adversity, Resilience, Prosperity - was published in 2014.  
·      The Streetscape in Bloom project is a friendly annual competition that selects several outstanding front gardens and awards a winner for his or her creativity over the entire growing season.
·      The Association’s quarterly Newsletter has grown into a very useful way to inform local residents about community events.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Cabbagetown South Yard Sale
On Saturday May 23 from 9 am to 3 pm. The whole neighbourhood (Aberdeen to Shuter, Sherbourne to Parliament) turns into a giant yard sale.  There’ll be signs posted throughout the neighbourhood to direct eager customers to happy vendors. Extra booths will be set up at Central Neighbourhood House (349 Ontario).  Weather forecasts predict a glorious Spring day.  It’s a free event.

Clothing drive for Oasis Addiction Recovery Society
Daniel Bloch and Liora Tal-Bloch are organizing their second annual clothing drive.  They’re looking for gently used clothes, DVDs and toys.  Watch for a red bag being delivered to your mailbox and use it to collect your donation.  On Saturday May 23, place your red bag outside your front door after 10 am.  If you need a bag or have any questions, please call (416) 859-8649 or email info@teambloch.com Congrats to Daniel and Liora for their generous initiative.

Congrats to Ernescliffe
Photo: Ontario Archives
The apartment building at Wellesley and Sherbourne is 100 years old.  A celebration will happen at 1 pm, Saturday May 23 in the parking lot at 467 Sherbourne.  The building is now a familiar landmark, the Ernescliffe Co-operative, and the members have arranged “celebratory activities.”  Heritage Toronto will present a commemorative plaque. 

51 Division open house
The officers and the members of the Community Police Liaison Committee are hosting an open house at 51 Division (51 Parliament) from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday May 23. There’ll be a barbeque, entertainment by the Toronto Police Coppertoines, a demonstration by the mounted Police Service with their horses, tours of the station and an award ceremony. 

Doors Open Toronto
Photo: Doors Open
Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24.  There are 155 buildings across Toronto in the 2015 Doors Open program.  Several of them are local sites. There’s a handy city-wide online map with each location available for additional information – click here.  
George Brown Waterfront Campus, 51 Dockside Drive, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
The Pure Spirits Still House, 3 Tank House Lane, Distillery, open on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
AGATHOM CO Architects, 3 Gilead Place, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Regent Park Aquatic Centre, 640 Dundas St E, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Native Women’s Resource Centre, 191 Gerrard St E, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.

Get your tickets
The annual Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tour is scheduled for Sunday June 7 from 10 am to 3 pm.  The garden tour is always a local Spring favourite.  Tickets ($15) are available now from six local sources:  Epicure Shop (473 Parliament), Fairway Garden Centre (520 Parliament), Jay’s Garden Centre (360 Gerrard E), Kendall & Co (514 Parliament), Mi Casa (238 Carlton) and Spruce Home Décor (455 Parliament).  Several other stores outside Cabbagetown also have tickets.  For program information and online ticket sales, click here. 

Streetscapes in Bloom
Every year, judges from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association receive nominations for the annual best-garden award.  Over the summer, they watch as the nominees’ gardens grow and change.  In the Fall, a winner is selected and given a watercolour painting of the garden, an art glass medallion by Kitras Glass and an iron garden crook.  You can read about the award and the winning criteria here. Any Cabbagetown resident can nominate a garden.  Send your selection by May 29 to helenc.hmc@sympatico.ca

Regent Park sewing circle and bazaar
You’re invited to join a sewing circle and to take part in the bazaar.  There will be four sewing classes plus a weekly bazaar with jewelry, traditional clothes, bags, food and a spa.  The event is happening outside the Daniels Spectrum on Regent Park Boulevard south of Dundas (the rain location is indoors in the Artscape Lounge.)  Friday June 5, Friday June 12, Friday June 26 and Friday July 10. The sewing classes are $10.  The bazaar fee is $5 each or $20 total.  To register, call Sureya at (647) 349-2244.

Graffiti eradification
Photo:  51 Division, Toronto Police Service
Police officers David Hinchcliffe, Julie Moreau and Al McCullough plus a team of volunteers from  Monsignor Fraser School are the Graffiti Eradification Program at 51 Division.  They’ve recently removed a long stretch of graffiti from the wall on Broadcast Lane behind Homelife/Realty One office (501 Parliament).  The wall has been painted white and the crew will return to paint a mural over it.  The Homelife/Realty One staff have been very impressed by the group and their help with the graffiti problems.  If you have a graffiti issue, call the Community Response Unit at 51 Division and someone there will check it out.  (416) 808-5100.

ON STAGE

Circus North at The Distillery
Circus North is coming and it promises to be an amazing event full of free and ticketed events.  It starts on Thursday May 21 at 7 pm in Trinity Square (The Distillery) with Cirque-It, a wearable-tech fashion circus. Tickets are $30. On Friday, Canadian and Finnish circus artists team up at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) at 7 pm for Focus on Finland Circus.  Tickets $15 to $45. On Saturday May 23 at 9 pm in Trinity Square, Twilight Masque is a party celebration of masquerade including a masquerade parade and fire show. Tickets are $20.  Free events include buskers, body painting, models and photographers. A long list of ticketed events includes Corporeal Mime ($500), success as an artist ($25), two rigging events ($100) and a cabaret for relief to Nepal ($25).
For details (the program is a long and fascinating list), prices and locations, click here.  

Soulpepper’s Cabaret Series
The cabarets happen every Saturday night at 8:30 pm and they showcase established artists, new talents and innovative groupings.  On Saturday May 23, ‘Look What They’ve Done to My Song” with Denzal Sinclaire.  Tickets are $25 general and $20 students – click here.  Soulpepper at the Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery)

newchoir at Koerner Hall
We last heard from newchoir just after its successful debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall.  Next on its list – Koerner Hall (273 Bloor W) at 8 pm, Saturday May 30. The concert is The Art Of Rock and Canadian indie music icon Sarah Slean will appear along with the choir.  Tickets are $40 and they’re almost sold-out. For more program details and for your tickets, click here

CCDT’s Space Interrupted
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) presents Space Interrupted as part of Harbourfront NextSteps 2015.  It includes a Canadian premiere by Colin Connor, recent works by Ofilio Sinbadinho, Alexander Whitley and Deborah Lundmark.  8 pm, Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre (207 Queen’s Quay W).  Tickets and more information online here.  

Mitchell Cohen’s Journey
In his day job, Mitch Cohen builds buildings, revitalizes Regent Park and plays a big part in creating Toronto’s future with his leadership role at the Daniels Corporation.  He’s also a composer and musician. In fact, he’s written a musical about the transformation of Regent Park - The Journey, A Living History of the Regent Park Revitalization.  It documents the community’s history through the lives of its residents and its dazzling cast includes local residents and peformers along with Jackie Richardson, Thompson Egbo-Egbo and Jeremiah Sparks. He wrote its first song on the day when the demolition crews started to knock down the first building.   8 pm, June 20 at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Tickets are $25.  Click here to read more and to buy your tickets.  

SHOPPING NEWS

Rug sales and new styles
Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) are offering selected rugs at 15% off until May 25.  They’re available in wool or outdoors, for your home and cottage.  New rug styles have also just arrived.  Check them all out online or at the store, 10 am to 6 pm weekdays and 11 am to 5 pm Saturdays.  

Music and yoga summer camps
Trunk to Tail is offering two programs for kids in July.  Kids will learn about yoga, music, art, natural exploration and more.  A full day camp for kids 5 to 10 runs from 9 am to 3 pm from July 6 to 10 ($300).  The half-day program for kids 4 to 9 runs from July 13 to 17, 9 am to noon ($150). Info and registration at www.trunktotail.org  The camps happen at Lore (555 Parliament).

Workshops at Lore
Lore (555 Parliament) – formerly Little House in the City – has two workshops happening in the next week.  On Saturday May 23 from 1:30 to 4 pm, Dan Pryce from Spadfe & Feather will introduce Raising Backyard Quail with lots of “how to” topics plus legalities and benefits.  $20.  On Monday May 25 from 7 to 10 pm, Lisa Olafson will offer a fun-filled evening of ukulele.  Learn the basics and leave playing.  Students should bring a ukulele or advice Lore in advance so an instrument can be arranged for the class.  $40.

Pipler
Our newest store, Pipler (453 Parliament), has enjoyed a good introductory write-up in Toronto Life.  Its inventory emphasizes high style, sustainability and affordable prices.  Read the story here.  

PhD Talks
Jared Postance from Paths to Vitality (439 Parliament) is promoting a series called PhD Talks.  These are four lectures sponsored by the Society for Osteopathic Wellness and they’re open to the public.  On Saturday June 5, Dr Noah Fine will discuss Innate/Adaptive Immunity.  On September 12, Dr Subra Khandwala’s lecture is Maternal-Fetal Immune Interactions.  Dr Philippos Peidis will talk about Cancer Biology on October 10 and Dr Robert Johns will handle Pesticides/GMOs on November 14.   Each seminar is $50 plus HST.  For locations and other details and to register, contact admin@osteos.ca or drop in to see Jared at Paths to Vitality.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Congrats to Little Shmiddy’s
Anders Whist has written a good review of Little Shmiddy’s (584 Parliament) in blogTO.  These positive comments echo the informal reactions coming in from local rssidents who’ve visited and enjoyed a meal there.  Read it here.  

Songs of Journey
Paintbox Bistro (535 Dundas E) hosts an evening for the Regent Park School of Music. Two graduates are performing - Cecilia Nguyen Tran (piano) and Stacy Darko (voice).  Thursday May 21 from 6 pm.  Your suggested donations are $100 with dinner and $20 without.

From Toronto to Nepal
Paintbox Bistro (535 Dundas E) is supporting Globalmedic and NRN Canada for immediate relief to victims of the earthquake in Nepal.    Sunday May 24 at 3 pm.  Tickets are $15.  Live entertainment.  Silent auction and raffles.  Find out more here. 

Dixonlicious
Dixon Hall is sponsoring a fun food event on Monday May 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the Daniels Spectrum  (585 Dundas E).  Chefs and restaurants from our neighbourhood will be serving fine foods and wines – the Westin Harbour Castle, Cranberries, Daniel et Daniel, Merryberry, George Brown College and lots more.  It’s a fundraiser that will support the food services provided by Dixon Hall including Meals on Wheels, Summer Camp, Shelter Programs, Out of the Cold, Youth centre, Alzheimer Day Program, HIV/AIDS Programs and more.  Watch the short video on GlobalTV here. Tickets are $125 and can be ordered here. 

Fix-ups at Under the Table
Kim and Betty will close Under The Table (568 Parliament) from Friday May 29 to Monday June 1.  Renovations are planned – details to follow.


CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY MAY 21 TO SUNDAY MAY 24

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
Odin, 514 King W, (647) 350-6346, https://www.facebook.com/odinhus
Paintbox Bistro, 555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Soulpepper, Young Centre, 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 866-8666,  http://soulpepper.ca/performances/music_at_soulpepper.aspx
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 MAY 21

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

FRIDAY MAY 22

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, Matthew Kane

SATURDAY MAY 23

Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Soulpepper Cabaret
8:30 pm, Look What They’ve Done to My Song with Denzal Sinclaire, $20 and $25.
Stirling Room
Resident DJ Rod Bravo, reserve on the guest list

SUNDAY MAY 24

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Melissa Lauren (vocals), Dave Restivo (piano) and Tyler Emond (bass)
Mill Street Beer Hall
1 pm, Jazz brunch with Tyler Yarema