This
week’s image: early winter evening
at Carlton & Parliament
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
Bill Morneau welcomes refugees
Bill Morneau welcomes refugees
Bill
Morneau, our Member of Parliament, joined students from Spruce Court School to
welcome two Syrian refugee families in a celebration at Central Neighbourhood
House (349 Ontario). CNH has
had a successful fundraising campaign and now is waiting for the arrival of the
first of their three families.
Sherbourne
and Gerrard development
A
public consultation will be held about a proposal to build a 13-storey rental
building at 307 Sherbourne with 57 one bedroom, 32 two bedroom and 5 three
bedroom apartments. The location
used to be a gas station which was demolished several years ago. The Cabbagetown South Residents
Association notes that the building’s size is a problem and urges some ground
floor commercial to help redevelop the streetscape. The meeting will be at the
Parliament St Library (269 Gerrard E) on Wednesday January 20, 7 to 9 pm.
Reminders
Gentle
Tai Chi. Michael White teaches a
24-move tai chi at a gentle pace aimed at improving balance, flexibility and
relaxation for adults, Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30 am, Toronto Kiwanis Boys
& Girls Club (101 Spruce), $30 month (4 or 5 sessions). To register, email michael.white@sympatico.ca
or call (416) 926-9553.
Jennifer
Snowdon’s Yoga. Mondays - teen yoga from
4:30 to 5:30 pm and beginner’s yoga from 7:30 to 8:30 pm Wednesdays – Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra
from 7:30 to 9 pm. Thursdays – kids’ yoga from 4 to 5 pm.Saturdays – Hatha Yoga
from 9:30 to 10:45 am and Yin Yoga from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm. Special Workshop – Sunday January
17, 2 to 4 pm, “Conquer Your Fear, 2016”. All classes and the workshop are held
at 58 Rose Avenue. For more info on each session, click here.
Brenda
Brown McNee’s step classes. Sundays at 11 am,
Wednesdays at 9:15 am.
In
the gym at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster, behind the Parliament St
Beer Store). Drop-in
sessions.
Congrats
CCDT
Photo: Dance Current
The
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) has an array of solar
panels on its roof. For the past
four years, the panels have been faithfully generating both power and income
for the dance theatre. Last year,
they contributed $14,500 which CCDT used for dance scholarships for thirty
students. Michael de Connick Smith
takes care of them and he’s very happy to report that they have no moving parts
and they don’t need any ongoing maintenance. Michael offers tours and talks about the panels and the
theatre – interested groups can contact him at (416) 924-5657.
1906 festive season
Photo: courtesy of Carol Moore-Eade
The Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum has been documenting and celebrating the history of our area for twelve years. To celebrate, the Museum has culled historical tidbits from its collections to share with a wider audience.
The Edwardians knew how to celebrate the festive season in style. In this photo, the Lamb Family wears funny hats and raises a glass or two in the Lamb House (156 Winchester). The year was 1906 and the tipple much tippled.
For regular updates, go to the Museum’s Facebook page.
Regent
Park over the years
The
Globe & Mail has published an online story about Regent Park from 1947 to
the 1990s. The photos reveal how
desperate the living conditions in the old Cabbagetown South were and how
hopeful the new homes were in Regent Park. To see more, click here.
Registrations
are now open for the winter programs (February to June) and the March break
camps. The Regent Park School of
Music (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E) is a non-profit community school whose
goal is to help kids succeed through music. With over 70 instructors and a variety of instruments and
options, the curriculum ranges from classical piano and violin to turntablism
and electronic music. To find out
more, go to the School’s website.
Opossums
in Cabbagetown
Louise
Koepfler spotted an opossum (or possum) on December 21 in a tree in her laneway
near Spruce and Sumach and she took its picture. Although she hasn’t seen him since then, others in her
neighbourhood have. Various
reports on Google suggest that these little creatures (about the size of a
large house cat) are harmless, effective scavengers. They’re a rare sighting in
Toronto. They’re moving north as
our winters become warmer. Louise
has a keen eye for Cabbagetown’s wild life and she’s accepted a role as our
wildlife correspondent.
Congrats
Corktown Ukes
The
Corktown Ukulele Jam has just turned seven years old. Today, it boasts an active membership of 1,913 people. The Jam meets every Wednesday night at
the Paintbox Bistro (555 Dundas E) from 8 to 11 pm. Find out more and see what’s
happening each week on the Jam’s Facebook page.
Attention
beer drinkers
Ontario’s
craft beers now offer an outstanding alternative to the mainline stuff that’s
dominated our pubs and beer stores for such a long time. Cabbagetown’s Brian Olenuk is a partner
in MacLean’s Ales – a craft brewer based Hanover. You’ll find its products at the Beer Store and on tap at
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton).
Brian gave me an in depth (so to speak!) sampling of three of MacLean’s
finest and I can heartily agree that this is good beer – very yummy. Congrats Brian and MacLean’s.
Struttin’
our Tees in France
On
Christmas Day, Jo Hoeflok, Kevin White, Ruth Preston and Sandy MacDonald showed
off our local Tee shirts to the folks in La Parran, Privat in southern
France. Thanks, Jo, for the great
picture – this looks like a good destination for people who like heritage
homes.
ON STAGE
Stepping
Out
The
Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) presents Richard Harris’ story of eight
strangers, a dance teacher and a vegetarian pianist – all engaged in a tap
dance class. Friday January 22 to
Saturday February 6. On Sunday
January 24, there will be a pre-show panel discussion. On Saturday January 30, the audience is
invited to join an 80’s Dress-up Night followed by an Air Guitar contest. For program details and tickets, click
here.
Hedda
Gabler
The
Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley) is staging Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler until
Sunday February 7. NOW Magazine’s Jon Kaplan has reviewed the way that Cara
Ricketts and Jennifer Tarver have created a new look at this classic
drama.
For tickets and more info, click
here.
Soulpepper’s
new program
Soulpepper
(50 Tank House Ln, Distillery) is launching three new plays in the next few
weeks. Twelve Angry Men starts up
on Tuesday January 19. The Anger
in Ernest & Ernestine begins on Monday January 25. Cowboy vs Samurai is on
stage from Tuesday January 26.
Program info and tickets for each performance are available online
here.
Stompin’
Tom by Whiskey Jack
Duncan
Fremlin and his friends in Whiskey Jack are again celebrating Stompin’ Tom’s
birthday with a special concert for his 80th. Guests include Adrienne Clarkson in her
cowboy hat singing the Marten Hartwell Story and the great Maritime virtuoso J
P Cormier. Tuesday February 9,
8:30 pm, Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas W).
Tickets sell quickly – reserve yours here.
SHOPPING NEWS
Tasso
Baking
Café
Olya has changed its name to Tasso Baking (540 Parliament) . When Olyana and Mike switched their
focus from a coffee shop to a bakery, they decided to underline their new
approach with a new name. Their
focus is on high quality and fresh food so everything they sell is baked
daily. They’re open from Thursday
to Sunday. They open at 8 am and
close when everything is sold.
They know that some people can’t arrive during these hours and so they
now have an online ordering system – click here for details. They’re also exploring wholesale baking opportunities – interested cafes should
contact them at mike@tassobaking.com or call (416) 833-4248.
Save
big in grand style
Kendall
& Co (514 Parliament) has great deals on sale now. Kevin says they have to make room for
new arrivals. Sofas, furniture,
lighting, rugs, pillows and home accessories are all up to 50% off. Shop now
for the best selection. Open
weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm.
The
Leslieville Flea is back
The
Flea has moved into its Distillery location for the winter. It’ll be there on the third Sunday of
the next four months – January 17, February 21, March 20 and April 17. 10 am to 4 pm. The Flea’s vendors offer curated
antique, handmade and up-cycled goods. Check out the website to see who’s
coming and what’s being offered.
Fermenting Cellar, 28 Distillery Lane.
The
Distillery Sunday Market
The
Sunday Market runs from June 7 into the autumn. The Distillery is calling for applications from vendors who
wish to participate and who have artisanal products that are local, fresh and
unique and that come from within 100 miles of Trinity Street. Click here to see the Market’s conditions
and to find an application form.
RESTAURANT NEWS
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
open on Thursday January 14. 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.
Psychic
brunch is back
The
ever-popular Psychic Brunch returns to Cranberries (601 Parliament) with
Toronto’s best psychics using a wide variety of special psychic modalities
including tarot cards, astrology, mediumship, clairvoyance, psychometry,
palmistry, face reading and numerology.
Who can resist? Sunday
January 17, 11 am to 3 pm.
$40. Your fee includes a
20-minute individual reading plus an additional 5-minute reading from a
different psychic, together with a $5 voucher for any menu item from
Cranberries. Net proceeds benefit the Rainbow Association of Canadian Artists.
Ethiopian
night – Sunday January 24
The
Local GEST (424 Parliament) is combining a special Ethiopian menu with its
regular Sunday afternoon jazz session featuring the Ethiopjazz Project. The
music with Jay Danley fuses Ethiojazz with the sounds of Latin and modern jazz. The menu includes Mahaberaui (vegan and
meat combo), Doro Wotl (chicken stew), Tibs Alecnawot (vegetable stew) and
Miserwot (spicy lentil stew), all served on enjara (traditional brown
bread).
Cooking
with Cyril
Cyril
new cooking classes are lined up for the next few weeks. Tuesdays, starting at 6 pm. $45. If any classes have a strong interest, Cyril will hold an
extra Monday class.
January
19, Tacos, Part One, Tex-Mex style
January
26, Fish
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
Congrat’s
Little Shmiddy’s, Cacao 70 and
Corktown Kitchen
We
have lots of brunch choices in our neighbourhood but we can’t seem to get
enough of them. Three new
restaurants have been recommended by blogTO as top new brunch spots – in
Cabbagetown, Little Shmiddy’s (584 Parliament), in the Distillery, Cacao 70 (28
Gristmill Ln) and in Corktown, the Corktown Kitchen (354 King E).
Impact
Kitchen
Photo:
Jesse Milns, blogTO
Corktown’s
new Impact Kitchen (573 King E) has been getting lots of attention for its
spiffy room and its healthy menu.
Michele Henry reviewed it enthusiastically in the Toronto Star last
week. Click here to read her
report.
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY JANUARY 14 TO SUNDAY JANUARY 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
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,
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,
If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices
are listed. Otherwise, the event is free.
THURSDAY JANUARY 14
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
Dan
Kosub Duo
The
Irv
7pm,
Geoff Willingham
The
Local GEST
8:30
pm, Open mic with Porter
Mill
Street Brew Pub
7
pm, Tap That Cask with acoustic music
FRIDAY JANUARY 15
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
Vicars
of Vinyl
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 16
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
9
pm, The Lonely Hearts
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
SUNDAY JANUARY 17
Alice’s
Place
9
pm, Karaoke with Vee
The
Local GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with the Steve Koven Trio
MONDAY JANUARY 18
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY JANUARY 19
Merryberry
6
pm, Cooking class – Tex-Mex style tacos.
$45
Stout
Irish Pub
7:30
pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20
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 JANUARY 21
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
Strome-Danckert
Duo
The
Irv
7pm,
Geoff Willingham
Local
GEST
8:30
pm, Open Mic with Porter
Mill
Street Brew Pub
7
pm, Tap That Cask with acoustic music
FRIDAY JANUARY 22
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
Drunk
on Sunday
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 JANUARY 23
Dominion
Pub & Kitchen
Scully
& the Crossbones
Mill
Street Beer Hall
8
pm, Vinyl Nights with DJ Humble Mike of the Record Collective
SUNDAY JANUARY 24
Alice’s
Place
4
pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local
GEST
4:30
pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Jay Danley and the Ethiopjazz Project
