December 29

This week’s image:  Wellesley Cottages in the snow

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW


LOCAL NEWS

Holiday lights contest
The winner in the 2nd annual holiday lights contest is the big Christmas tree on Wellesley, just east of Sackville.  It’s made from lacy white camouflage material and its lights rotate through several colours each night.  
473 people voted for more than twenty entries in the poll.  Congrats to Steve and Tania who won the contest and earned their Christmas bragging rights. Congrats to the Cabbagetown Residents Association for a fun event. A full list of the entries and their photos is available on the CRA website.    

COBA’s open dance classes
Dance every Tuesday in the Open Dance Classes at COBA.  Five classes in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E, Suite 130) beginning on Tuesday January 10, $75.  Pre-register by Tuesday January 3 at info@cobainc.com or call (416) 658-3111.  

Free cardio dance workout
Just what you need after all those heavy holiday dinners.  Dancing Mami is hosting a free cardio workout at noon on Saturday January 7 in 517 Parliament, Upper Level.  Wear your athletic clothing and footwear and bring a water bottle and towel.  Beginners welcome - bring your friends.

Allan Gardens
The annual Christmas flower show continues daily to January 8 with 4,000 poinsettias from 30 different varieties.  Free. Open daily including the major holidays from 10 am to 5 pm. Sherbourne and Carlton 

A hawk’s dinner
Photo:  Gale Moore
Gale Moore snapped this picture of a goshawk in her backyard near Sackville and Carlton. It was enjoying a nice year-end pigeon dinner.  A nearby squirrel seemed undisturbed until the hawk spread its wings - the squirrel then got out of the way. (The photo has blurred because we need to enlarge the image to show the bird.)  
On related notes, both red tail hawks and Cooper’s hawks have been regularly spotted recently soaring over St James Town.  

Lookin’ good
Selfie:  Eric Morse
Cabbagetown photographer, commentator and bon vivant Eric Morse has sent us this portrait of a Christmas present that he's received.  He plans to donate his new toque to “Cabbagetown maidens” - so step forward anyone who qualifies.

CABBAGETOWN CLASSIFIEDS
Check out this new section.  These classifieds are working - stuff is selling, being rented and getting attention.  Send your announcements to cabbagetownreview@gmail.com

Parking space available
For rent at Sackville and Carlton. Available now.  (416) 967-7196.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Cranberries
601 Parliament (416) 925-6330
Three course roast beef dinner with soup or salad and a choice of desserts.  $20.

Dominion Pub & Kitchen
500 Queen E, (416) 366-5555
No hassle New Year’s Eve party with bubbly, bites and party favours at midnight.  DJ Wizdome.  

FUSE
366 Queen E, (647) 347-3873
Black Tie. 7 pm dinner and 10 pm dance, live entertainment and champagne at midnight.  Dinner and dance package at $75, dinner at $40 and dance at $40.  

House on Parliament
454 Parliament, reservations please at (416) 925-4074
Enjoy a prosecco cocktail.  Your New Year’s Eve meal includes soup or salad to start followed by foie gras, seared tuna carpaccio or shrimp cocktail. Entree choices include PEI tenderloin, pan seared scallops, rack of lamb or vegetarian ravioli. Finish with a selection of desserts. Mystic Michael will give tarot readings.  4-course meal, $85 and 3-course vegetarian meal, $60.  
  
The Irv
195 Carlton, reservations at info@theirvpub.ca
New Year’s Eve menu includes prime striploin at $36, baked halibut at $29 and gnocchi at $24 - all of these are served with mixed greens or tomato bisque soup.

The Local GEST
424 Parliament, reservations please at (416) 961-9425
Enjoy dinner from chef Javier’s New Years’s specials - two seatings, 7 pm and 9 pm.  A glass of bubbly at midnight and party favours.  

Mill Street Beer Hall
21 Tank House Ln, (416) 681-0338, ext 3
DJ Humble Mike will spin his vinyl through the evening.  Four-course, beer-paired dinner.  Bubbly toast at midnight. Tickets are $69.99.

Mill Street Brew Pub 
21 Tank House Ln, (416) 681-0338, ext 2
8 pm, enjoy a beer paired dinner menu and a glass of bubbly at midnight. Live Music with The Clearing. Reservations needed.

Peartree
507 Parliament, (416) 962-8190
Three-course, prix fixe dinner for two.  Entrees include striploin Black Angus steak with lobster tail, lemon thyme halibut, chicken breast supreme alfredo, vegetable agnotti  and  Peartree seafood classic.  Soup and various appetizer choices to begin and a selection of desserts to finish your dinner.  Dinner for two, $70.  

Stout Irish Pub
8 pm, party starts with Hoppy Hour prices to midnight.

Stirling Room
16 Trinity, Distillery, (416) 364-3900.
Minuit, New Year’s Eve, featuring an open bar, catering by Treeline, live music and special guest DJs, champagne at midnight.  $150/door, $125/advance.  

IN THE MEDIA

Good news about short-term rentals
Photo: Trevor Dunn, CBC
Over the past year, several homes on Bleecker Street have been rented on short-term rental sites and used as party homes. They’ve caused considerable trouble for local neighbours and the homes’ owners have been indifferent to their impact.  The City of Toronto has taken steps to curtail these abuses.
Tess Kalinowski’s story in the Toronto Star and Trevor Dunn’s report on CBC News each outline the issues and problems caused by these rentals.   

Christmas decorations
Photo: Carlos Osorio, Toronto Star
Kathy Flaxman’s article in the Toronto Star celebrates homes that have a special flair with their seasonal decorations.  She highlights the touches used by Margaret Grottenthaler and Doug Harrison.  Read the story here.  

RESTAURANT NEWS

Welcome Shalom
This new Ethiopian restaurant on Parliament just north of Amelia has attracted some attention.  A recent Facebook post on Cabbagetown Moms & Dads generated lots of enthusiastic comments and some positive early feedback about its good food.  Cabbagetown food writer and publisher Gail Gordon Oliver reports on her Facebook page that she tried its takeout and found its spicing and flavours to be the best she’s ever had in Ethiopian cuisine.  
Sounds good - congrats and welcome, Shalom.  587 Parliament, (416) 964-7271.

Congrats Souk Tabule
Located in the new Canary District, Souk Tabule (494 Front E) is listed as NOW Magazine’s Number 1 restaurant in 2016.  Natalia Manzocco’s review says “when it comes to the all-important flavour-to-dollars-spent ratio, Diana Sideris and Rony Goraichy’s take-away in Corktown easily takes the crown.”  See her review online here.  

THEATRE CALENDAR 

SOULPEPPER
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
All performances are in the Young Centre (Distillery - 50 Tank House Lane) except those specifically noted for the St Lawrence Centre.

Alligator Pie - on stage to December 31
Online tickets and info here.  

It’s a Wonderful Life - on stage to December 31 (St Lawrence Centre)
Online tickets and info here

Hocus Pocus - on stage to December 31
Online tickets and info here

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 29 TO SUNDAY JANUARY 8
  • For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.  
  • If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices are listed.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 29

Dominion
8 pm, Niko Love Duo
The Irv
7:30, live acoustic music
Local GEST
8 pm, open mic with Porter

FRIDAY DECEMBER 30

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
Dominion
8 pm, DJ Frankensztein
Fuse
10 pm, Ladies night with DJ Christopher Michaels - ladies free, guys $10
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

NEW YEAR’S EVE
SATURDAY DECEMBER 31

Cranberries
Three course roast beef dinner with soup or salad and a choice of desserts.  $20.
Dominion
9 pm, No hassle party - no cover.  Live entertainment with DJ Wizdome, party favours, bar snacks and bubbly.
Fuse
Black Tie NYE, 7 pm dinner & 10 pm dance, live entertainment. $75 (package), $40 (dinner) & $40 (dance).
House on Parliament
Mystic Michael’s tarot readings and a prosecco cocktail.  Special four-course dinner for $85 or vegetarian three-course dinner, $60.  
The Irv
Special three-course menu with prime striploin, baked halibut or gnocchi. Various prices. 
The Local GEST
Dinner with a special menu, party favours and bubbly at midnight.
Mill Street Beer Hall
6 pm, New Year’s Eve Disco with DJ Humble Mike, a bubbly toast and a four-course beer paired dinner, $69.99
Mill Street Brewpub
8 pm - Hassle free New Year’ Eve party. Live music with The Clearing
Peartree
Dinner for two - three courses, $70.
Stout Irish Pub
8 pm, Hoppy Hour prices through to midnight.

SUNDAY JANUARY 1

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Peartree
Holiday special menu - three-course dinner for two, $70

MONDAY JANUARY 2

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY JANUARY 3

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 4

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Local GEST
7:30 pm, Wednesday Night Trivia

THURSDAY JANUARY 5

The Irv
7:30, live acoustic music
The Local GEST
8:30 pm, live music with Jeff Barnes & Noah Zacharin

FRIDAY JANUARY 6

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
Fuse
10 pm, Ladies night with DJ Christopher Michaels, ladies free, others $10
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SATURDAY JANUARY 7

Dominion
8 pm, Reid Henry
Mill Street Beer Hall
5 pm, Saturday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SUNDAY JANUARY 8

Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz

CONTACT INFO

ALICE'S PLACE
554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088, https://www.facebook.com/alicesplacetoronto
CORKTOWN KITCHEN
354 King St E, (46) 901-1188,  https://www.facebook.com/CorktownKitchen 
CRANBERRIES
DOMINION PUB & KITCHEN
500 Queen St E, (416) 366-5555, https://www.facebook.com/DominionTO/
EL CATRIN
18 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 203-2121, https://www.facebook.com/elcatrin.ca
FUSE
366 Queen St E, http://fusedining.com 
HOUSE ON PARLIAMENT
IMPACT KITCHEN
THE IRV
95 Carlton Street, (647) 350-4787, https://www.facebook.com/theirvpub/
THE LOCAL GEST
424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, http://www.thelocalgest.com/
MERRYBERRY CAFE
MILL STREET BEER HALL
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, (416) 681-0338, http://millstreetbrewery.com/toronto-beer-hall/
MILL STREET BREW PUB
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, http://millstreetbrewery.com/toronto-brew-pub/
MURGATROID
568 Parliament, (416) 323-9381, https://www.facebook.com/MurgatroidTO
ODIN
514 King E, (647) 350-6346, https://www.facebook.com/odinhus
PAINTBOX BISTRO
555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, https://www.facebook.com/PaintboxBistro/
SOULPEPPER
Young Centre, 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 866-8666,
STOUT IRISH PUB
UNDER THE TABLE

568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533, https://www.facebook.com/underthetabletoronto