December 24

This week’s image:  Jogging your memory:  Christmas 2013 at Metcalfe & Carlton  

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW

LOCAL EVENTS

Christmas roses on Christmas Eve

Hellebores bloom in the winter and early spring.  Barbara Brown’s plants are now in full bloom (it’s no wonder that she won the 2014 Streetscapes award for her garden!).  There are, as well, hundreds of bees visiting the plants, a result of their flowers and the extraordinary warm weather.  If you walk along the north side of Amelia, you’ll see them in her garden at 62 Amelia. Thanks to both Ron Hume and Ann Ames for telling me about them.

Cabbagetown Christmas trees
For 63 years, the McDermotts have supplied our neighbourhood with their Christmas trees from a temporary lot next to No Frills at Spruce nd Parliament.  The sales guy is Peter Vettorel.  Edward Brown has written a great story about their venture in Torontoist – many thanks to the Cabbagetown Residents Association for spotting it.  Click here to read it.

Contest - Cabbagetown holiday lights

The Cabbagetown Residents are holding a contest to reward the household with the most popular Christmas lights display.  It continues to January 10.  To nominate a home, post a photo on the CRA’s Twitter or Facebook or email them – click here for all these details.

Allan Gardens show




Photo:  Toronto Muses – not another Toronto gardening blog.
The flower show in the Conservatory (Carlton between Sherbourne and Jarvis) is now open.  There will be extended hours next weekend, December 26 and 27 – open to 7 pm.  Normal hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily to  Sunday January 10.

A very Soulpepper Christmas
Soulpepper’s Christmas concert featuring guests like Jackie Richardson, soprano Patricia O’Callaghan, Mike Ross, Albert Schultz and the Heavyweights Brass Band.  December 26, 7 pm. Soulpepper in the Young Centre (Tank House Ln, Distillery). For all the details, click here. 

Santa had a busy week
He was at The Irv (195 Carlton).
And he and the Missus dropped by Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton).

CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas at Cranberries
The annual Christmas Day dinner at Cranberries (601 Parliament) is one of the season’s most pleasant events.  The meal is delicious.  The price is modest. The crowds fill the restaurant.  Two seatings – at 5 and 7:30 pm.  Soup or salad, a traditional turkey entrée with mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade stuffing, fresh veggies, a dinner roll – and of course, cranberries.  Apple pie and ice cream for dessert.  $28.

The bar at the HOP is open
Pop by the House on Parliament from noon to 4 pm while your turkey is in the oven.  Enjoy a drink – the bar is open.  The kitchen staff is taking the day off so the menu is a limited selection of cold snacks.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Cluny
Special a la carte dishes and wine and champagne.  35 Tank House Ln, Distillery, (416) 203-2632.

Cranberries
The New Year’s Eve dinner menu is another of Cranberries’ fine offerings.  It’s a la carte with individually priced courses.  Appetizers include tomato and shrimp bisque and a mixed green salad. For your main course, there’s chicken roulade, seafood pasta or horseradish crusted rib steak and for dessert, dark chocolate Grand Marnier mousse.  601 Parliament. 

Dominion Pub & Kitchen
Rockyard will be playing at the Dominion Pub & Kitchen on New Year’s Eve from 10:30 pm. Party favours, special menu, bubbly at midnight. No cover. (416) 366-5555. 500 Queen E.

El Catrin Destileria
Mexican eats, spicy beats.  The party starts at 10 pm.  Food stations and DJ dancing.  Early bird tickets at $32.50, general tickets at $43 and tickets at the door, $53.60.  (416) 203-2121. 18 Tank House Ln, Distillery.

F’Amelia
On New Year’s Eve, ring in the New Year with F’Amelia’s Table D’Hote.  It’s a three-course dinner with amazing choices and you can add on a Salumi board at the start and a cheese board to finish.  $59.  Check out the details here.  (416) 323-0666.  12 Amelia. 

House on Parliament
Four-course dinner featuring beef tenderloin, duck confit, pork loin or scallops and prawns along with soup or salad, second course with escargots, shrimp cocktail or ravioli and a selection ofm desserts.  $80.  From 6 pm. Call for reservations, (416) 925-4074.  454 Parliament.

The Irv
The Irv offers a three-course dinner complete with a glass of Prosecco for $39.99.  The menu includes mushroom soup or salad, butternut squash ravioli, New York strip or oven-baked halibut for your entrée and two-chocolate mousse for dessert.  From 6 pm.  (647) 350-4787. 195 Carlton.

Local GEST
Food, fun and frivolity.  Your three-course menu is $45 and it includes a glass of bubbly. DJ Mike Reid starts at 10 pm.  424 Parliament.  (416) 961-9425

Mill Street Brew Pub
A no-hassle New Year’s Eve with a beer paired dinner, dancing, party favours and sparkling wine at midnight.  Entertainment by The Clearing.  (416) 681-0338.  21 Tank House Ln, Distillery.

Mill Street Beer Hall
“Swinging at The Beer Hall”  is a roaring ‘20s themed dinner and dance.  The four-course dinner includes beer pairings, wild mushroom soup or beet salad for starters, braised short ribs, curried halibut or orecchiette pasta for your main course and cherry and bosc pear cobbler or a black-and-white for dessert.  Tickets are $69.99.  (416) 681-0338.  21 Tank House Ln, Distillery.

Peartree
On New Year’s Eve, enjoy Peartree’s three-course dinner.  Start with shrimp, mussels, soup or salad, select steak and lobster, grilled halibut, chicken breast, seafood classic or vegetarian agnolotti, and your choice of dessert.  $70 for two.  507 Parliament.  (416) 962-8190. 
 
Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill
Seafood platter for two and two glasses of prosecco, $140.  (416) 361-5859.  17 Tank House Ln, Distillery

Stout Irish Pub
Ring in the New Year with your friends and family at Stout (221 Carlton).  A $10 ticket buys your champagne, hors d’oeuvres and party favours.  8 pm to 2 am.  (647) 344-7676.

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24 TO SUNDAY JANUARY 3
 
Contact info
Alice’s Place, 554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088, https://www.facebook.com/alicesplacetoronto
Cranberries, 601 Parliament St, (416) 925-6330
Dominion Pub & Kitchen, 500 Queen St E, (416) 366-5555
El Catrin, 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 203-2121,  www.elcatrin.ca/home
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
Under the Table, 568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533,
https://www.facebook.com/underthetabletoronto

If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices are listed. Otherwise, the event is free.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24

Most clubs and restaurants are closed.  Call your favourite to confirm holiday hours.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 25

Christmas – Cranberries and House on Parliament are open.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 26

Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Faith Amour

MONDAY DECEMBER 28
 
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29
 
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Local GEST
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia with Porter
Paintbox Bistro
7:30 pm, Corktown Ukelele Jam

THURSDAY DECEMBER 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES

Dominion Pub & Kitchen
10:30 pm, Rockyard – New Year’s Eve Party
El Catrin Destileria
10 pm, Dinner, DJs, dancing, tickets from $32.60 (early bird).
The Local GEST
6 pm, New Year’s Eve three-course dinner, DJ Mike Reid, $45
Mill St Beer Hall
Swinging at the Beer Hall on New Year’s Eve, dinner and dancing with a live DJ,  $69.99
Mill St Brew Pub
6 pm, No Hassle New Year’s Eve party with The Clearing, dancing and a beer paired menu, bubbly at midnight. 
Stout Irish Pub
8 pm, New Year’s Eve party with bubbly, hors d’oeuvres and prizes.  $10.

FRIDAY JANUARY 1

Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke

SATURDAY JANUARY 2

Dominion Pub & Kitchen
9 pm, DJ DXB
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective

SUNDAY JANUARY 3

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke with Vee
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Boom For Rent