This week’s image: Parliament Street - a year ago. Those were the good old days!
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
Living the dream
Mary Spence Thomas owns a home in southern rural France that looks like a gem. It’s located in Castelnau de Montmiral, near Toulouse. Several Cabbagetowners have already been there - including a honeymooning couple - and they love it. It’s available for rent. Check out her website for lots of pictures and contact info.
Bill Morneau’s new office
Bill Morneau, our Toronto Centre federal Member of Parliament (and our very own Minister of Finance) is opening his local constituency office next week. It’ll be set up at 430 Parliament Street and his new phone number will be (416) 972-9749. You can reach him by email Bill.Morneau@parl.gc.ca and see his work on his Facebook page.
Artscape Summer Spectrum Series
Artscape in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) invites organizations and individuals to submit proposals for free outdoor arts and cultural programs to be staged in the summer of 2016. Successful applicants will receive up to $10,000 to run their programs, get some staff and equipment from Artscape, take part in workshops on event management, reporting and marketing and receive additional support as part of Artscape's Summer Series marketing. The application deadline is February 19. A detailed description of the invitation is available here.
Victoria’s cards
Victoria Hadden has six beautiful cards that she designed and printed for Valentine’s Day. You can buy them at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament).
Fit Mama Moves - free class
Elena is starting her Fit Mama Moves fitness classes again on Wednesday February 10 running to Wednesday March 16. She’s offering a bonus free class on Wednesday February 3. All classes are Wednesday mornings from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, in the gym at St Luke United Church (Carlton and Sherbourne). February 3 - free. Regular classes - package of six, $92. Register with Elena at fountainstudio@gmail.com.
Festival Tee shirt contest
The Cabbagetown BIA is holding a contest to pick the design that’ll be used for its 40th anniversary Festival Tee shirts. There are a few rules to follow and the deadline is 4 pm on Tuesday February 9. You’ll win $250 cash plus prizes from the contest sponsors. Click here to see the details.
Winter in 1890
Photo: courtesy Mike Filey
Thanks to the Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum for this glimpse of our past. On a snowy winter’s day, Carlton and Sherbourne doesn’t look all that different from the 1890s. The Toronto Railway Company’s horse-drawn street-sleigh has stopped to change its team of horses while its human drivers shiver in the cold. At that time, horses were more expensive and better cared for than the easily replaceable drivers.
IN THE MEDIA
Muslim Welfare Centre meals in Regent Park
Every Sunday, the Muslim Welfare Centre operates a meal program at the CRC (40 Oak). The MWC organizes the event and provides the volunteers who serve the dinners and clear the tables. The room seats 110 people and they serve up to 400 meals per day. The project started on Thanksgiving, 2014 and by now, estimates are that over 18,000 meals have been served. Justin Skinner has written a good article about the program in Inside Toronto - click here.
Toronto Community Housing
Senator Art Eggleton has been leading a task force about the future of Toronto Community Housing since January 2015. His group released its report this week. It suggests deep changes to the corporation to give it financial strength and greater sensitivity. TCHC’s future affects our neighbourhood deeply. The Toronto Star has a story about the task force report - click here. The City of Toronto has published the full report online.
Police office charged
Photo: CBC News
Const Tash Baiati fired fifteen bullets into the engine of a car during an arrest in September in the Distillery. He has subsequently been charged under the Police Services Act. The exact nature of those charges will be made public when he appears for his first hearing in early March. No one was injured by his actions. You can read the CBC’s online report about the incident here.
DANCE & THEATRE
Mondays with Molly
Molly Johnson hosts five cabaret evenings at Soulpepper (Young Centre, 50 Tank House Ln, Distillery) through February - February 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, all at 8:30 pm. She’s joined by Robi Botos, Mike Downes and David DiRenzo and there’ll be special guest stars each week - on February 8, it’s Measha Brueggergosman along with Aaron Davis and Mike Eckert. Tickets ($25 general and $20 student) are available online here.
Soulpepper
Three plays are on stage now - Twelve Angry Men, The Anger in Ernest & Ernestine and Cowboy versus Samurai. Find out about programs and schedules and order your tickets online here. Young Centre, 50 Tank House Ln, Distillery.
Canadian Stage
Hedda Gabler continues at the Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) until February 7. For more details and for tickets, click here.
Alumnae Theatre
Stepping Out runs to February 6 at the Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley). On Saturday January 30, there’s an 1980s Audience Dress-Up Night and on Sunday January 31, a post-show talk-back. Info and tickets are available online.
Akshongay
Nova Bhattacharya and Louis Faberge-Cote perform this compelling, intimate duet that offers a profound experience of love, loss, separation and connection. It’s part of the Bright Nights series. Buy a ticket to this performance or any other in the series and get a 20% promotion code toward the ticket price to Alvin Alley American Dance Theatre (Sony Centre, March 4 and 5). The Citadel, 304 Parliament.
CCDT auditions
The Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) will hold its annual auditions in late February and early March. Dancers ages 8 to 13 will audition on February 28 and ages 14 to 19 on March 6. Pre-registration for the audition is encouraged. There are benefits to a successful enrolment in the CCDT company and several conditions that each dancer must also accept. All of this information is listed online here.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Dominion Pub & Kitchen
Thursday January 28, 6 to 9 pm - the date for the official launch of the new Dominion (500 Queen E). It’s been open since November and customers have had time to size up the pub and its service. The general buzz from Corktown is highly favourable - it’s become a local go-to place. The launch event is expected to draw a packed house. To reserve a place at the party, email dominion@fabrestaurants.ca
Cooking with Cyril
Cyril’s cooking classes are filling up nicely. Two more are scheduled for the next few weeks on Tuesdays, starting at 6 pm. $45. If any classes have a strong interest, Cyril will hold an extra Monday class.
February 2, Tacos, Part Two, Fusion style
February 9, Morocco
To sign up, drop in to Merryberry (559 Parliament), or call (647) 348-0411 or email cyril@merryberry.ca
Congrats to two local coffee shops
Sumach Espresso (118 Sumach at Shuter) and Odin (514 King E) have each earned a spot on blogTO’s list of Toronto’s ten best coffee shops - read the online reviews here. They’re part of the trend toward renewal and variety in Corktown’s new retail scene.
Dinner and a show
Going to Soulpepper? Stop at the Mill Street Beer Hall (21 Tank House Ln, Distillery) for dinner before the show. Present your ticket and receive a 15% discount on your pix-fixe dinner. Offer available daily from 5 to 9 pm.
Peartree’s special offer
For a limited time - use the promotion code 5OFFPEARTREE when you order online from peartreerestaurant.ca. You’ll save 5% off on all pick-up or delivery orders over $30. 507 Parliament.
Testing your interest - euchre at The Local GEST
Tiffany is planning a Monday euchre night at the GEST (424 Parliament). She’d like your feedback so she can plan for it properly. Contact her at the pub, or at (416) 961-9425, or email thelocalgest@gmail.com. Tell her that you’re interested and she’ll keep you informed.
Winterlicious is coming
The city’s big mid-winter restaurant celebration starts up again on January 29. More than 200 restaurants are involved. It’s a chance for you to try out a lunch or dinner at one of your favourites at a reasonable price. Meals are offered at one of three prices – lunches at $18, $23 and $28 and dinners at $25, $35 and $45.
Reservations are now open. Visit the main website and you’ll see the list of restaurants. Click on a name to find the menu, prices and contact info.
Six of our restaurants are participating this year – click on the names listed here for an online link. Cabbagetown’s F’Amelia (12 Amelia) plus Mill Street Brew Pub (21 Tank House Ln), Mill Street Beer Hall (21 Tank House Ln), Archeo (31 Trinity), Cluny (35 Tank House Ln), and Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill (17 Tank House Ln) – all in the Distillery.
SUPERBOWL SUNDAY
Here are the early listings for Super Bowl Sunday. More to come next week.
Dominion Pub & Kitchen
There’ll be complimentary bar snacks, games and prizes. The chef is making a special Super Bowl burger. 500 Queen E
The Local GEST
The game will be shown on every big screen TV in the pub plus a giant projection screen. Special menus for food and drinks. There’ll be prizes for the people who correctly guess the final score. Sunday afternoon jazz is cancelled for this week - resumes February 14. 424 Parliament.
Mill Street Beerhall
Half price wings, cold Mill Street beers and ten big TV screens. 21 Tank House Ln, Distillery
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY JANUARY 28 TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7
Contact info
Alice’s Place
554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088, https://www.facebook.com/alicesplacetoronto
Cranberries
601 Parliament St, (416) 925-6330, https://www.facebook.com/Stout-Irish-Pub-178330555526950/
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, www.elcatrin.ca/home
House on Parliament
454 Parliament St, (416) 925-4074, www.facebook.com/pages/House-on-Parliament
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
559 Parliament, https://www.facebook.com/MerryBerryCafe/
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 W, (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
221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676, https://www.facebook.com/Stout-Irish-Pub-178330555526950/
Under the Table
568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533,
If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices are listed. Otherwise, the event is free.
THURSDAY JANUARY 28
Dominion Pub & Kitchen
6 pm, Grand opening party with Same Same But Different and sampling, snacks and giveaways
The Local GEST
8:30 pm, Open mic with Porter
Mill Street Brew Pub
7 pm, Tap That Cask with acoustic music
FRIDAY JANUARY 29
Dominion Pub & Kitchen
The Royal Pains
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Mill Street Brew Pub
6:30 pm, Beer school with Dan North, $20
Under The Table
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY JANUARY 30
Dominion Pub & Kitchen
9 pm, The Better Half
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
SUNDAY JANUARY 31
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke with Vee
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Beverley Taft & Nathan Hiltz
MONDAY FEBRUARY 1
Soulpepper
8:30 pm, Mondays with Molly, $25 general/$20 student.
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2
Merryberry
6 pm, Cooking class – Tacos part 2 $45
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Local GEST
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia with Porter
Paintbox Bistro
7:30 pm, Corktown Ukulele Jam
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4
Local GEST
8:30 pm, Jeff Barnes & Noah Zachary
Mill Street Brew Pub
7 pm, Tap That Cask with acoustic music
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
Mill Street Brew Pub
6:30 pm, Beer school with Dan North, $20
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Super Bowl - Sunday afternoon jazz will return next week