July 28

This week’s image:  a summer afternoon on the roof patio at the House on Parliament.

LOCAL NEWS 

Marg Taggart
Marg died peacefully last Tuesday night at the Salvation Army’s Meighen Manor where she had recently been living. She was a constant and welcome sight on Parliament Street.  She was born in the apartment at her family’s store and she lived there for eighty years. Nettleship Hardware is one of Cabbagetown’s oldest establishments - it was founded by her father in 1920. Marg and her husband continued the business.  Her son Don now operates it.  Marg leaves her three daughters, Cathy, Terry and Chrissy, her sons, Sam and Donny, and their families. Our sympathies are with them.  She was a wonderful person and we’ll miss her.

Air quality in Cabbagetown
The Toronto Environmental Alliance is charting air quality conditions throughout Cabbagetown as part of its city-wide mapping project, INHALE.  Volunteers are needed to carry a small piece of equipment for several days whenever they walk or cycle through the neighbourhood. Their current maps don’t show any data about Cabbagetown.  For more info and for a volunteer registration link, click here.  

Save the date - music and a movie in Riverdale Park
The Cabbagetown BIA is sponsoring a music and movie night in Riverdale Park (Winchester and Sumach) on Wednesday August 10. There’ll be a live jazz performance at 7:30 pm and the movie - The Princess Bride - will start up at 8:30 pm. The rain date is August 17. Free.

Summer camp for kids
Green Thumbs is offering a summer camp for junior gardeners.  The registration deadline has been extended to Sunday July 31.  Two sessions are planned for kids ages 7 to 10 - from August 15 to 19 and from August 22 to 26.  Kids will enjoy a hands-on experiences focused on outdoor education,nutrition and healthy living.  They’ll go home with plants, recipes and food.  The sessions are from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm daily with extended care to 5 pm available as well.  CSI Centre, Daniels Spectrum (3rd Floor, 585 Dundas E) For more info and for registration details, click here.  

Kombit - the Cooperative
Green Thumbs is screening this film about the empowerment of farmers in Haiti as part of its Urban Roots Youth Program.  Green Thumb and Urban Roots members - free admission. Others - pay what you can.  Thursday July 28, 4:30 pm, CSI Centre, Daniels Spectrum (3rd Floor, 585 Dundas E)

Under the Stars
The weekly outdoor movie series at the Big Park (620 Dundas E) in Regent Park happens at 9 pm each Wednesday through the summer.  
Next week’s movie is The Jungle Book (August 3) followed by Panther Panchali (August 10).  
Popcorn and refreshments available.  If it rains, the movies will be shown in the Artscape Lounge, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E). Free - everyone welcome.

Turn It Out
Every Wednesday just before the outdoor movies start, there’ll be a free DJ class conducted by DJ L’Oquenz along with a free hip-hop dance class with Stephanie Caldeira.  5:30 to 8:30 pm, Wednesdays through the summer, Regent Park - the Big Park (620 Dundas E).

Meet Grapes
She works at Spruce on Parliament (455 Parliament) as the Chief Shop Dog.  She’s now 9 years old and still full of amazing energy - when she isn’t at the store, she can be found in Riverdale Park chasing (and destroying) her soccer ball and she has big plans to check out the splash pad at Wellesley Park.

IN THE MEDIA

Suicide Squad in the Distillery
Photo:  CBC News
Will Smith and Margot Robbie, stars in the new film Suicide Squad, were present at a celebratory promotion in the Fermenting Cellar (28 Distillery Lane) in the Distillery on Tuesday.  The movie was shot in Toronto last year.  
The Toronto Star features a video and a story online here.  
The CBC’s story is here.  

OUTDOOR MARKETS

Taste of Regent Park
Regent Park’s outdoor market is underway again every Wednesday from 5 to 8:30 pm through July and August.  Each week, there’s a market theme with cooking classes, vendors and activities to match it. The kids’ section has games and activities and the popular blender bike where kids can blend their own smoothies.  The Big Park/Regent Park (620 Dundas E).

Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market
Riverdale Park (Sumach and Winchester), Tuesday afternoons, 3 to 7 pm.  Great seasonal stuff - all fresh from the fields. Each week, a winery sells its best vintages and there’s music and kids activities.

ON STAGE

Music City Summer Series
Every Saturday afternoon, musicians will perform from the Trinity Square stage in the Distillery.   
On Saturday July 30,  Lakes of Canada, a five-piece progressive folk/rock group, at 2 pm and folk/blues band Crooked House Road at 4 pm.
On Saturday August 6, Gillian Nicola performs folk, rock and alt-country at 2 pm and at 4 pm, it’s KASHKA (Kat Burns) sings FolkPopTronica.

SHOPPING NEWS

St Jamestown Steak & Chops
St Jamestown Steak & Chops will close next week from Monday August 1 to 8, reopening on Tuesday August 9. (516 Parliament)

The Abnormal Beauty Company
An exciting new store is coming to Carlton Street - the Abnormal Beauty Company will move into the empty space beside Pet Valu in August.  It promises to be a great addition to this attractive part of our shopping area.  It’s the second Toronto location for DECIEM, a beauty brand company with over 50 products in 15 markets. Check it out online here for lots of info.  

Distillery Sunday Market
Every Sunday until September.  Artisans will be selling their wares including food products and snacks outdoors at outdoor booths throughout the Distillery.  Noon to 5 pm.   

RESTAURANT NEWS 

Merryberry cooking classes - fresh from the market
Every week, Cyril shops at the Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market.  Then on Wednesday, he holds a cooking class to highlight his purchases.  It’s a great way to build your meals around fresh, beautiful Ontario produce.
The ingredients will, of course, change as produce is available at the Market.  
This week’s class combined more exotic ingredients. The group made a bruschetta from mouse melon, feta and watermelon followed by a kohirabi and coconut milk soup and finished with an apricot and frangipane tart as dessert. Wow. The soup was, according to Cyril, one of the best he’s ever made and will be on the restaurant’s menu before long.   
This happens every week.  Smart people have started to book ahead to make sure that there’s space for themselves and their friends.
To register, visit the restaurant or call him at (647) 348-0411. $45.  Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm, Merryberry (559 Parliament). 

Peartree’s Taste of Summer
Peartree (507 Parliament)is offering 40% off on dinners for two.  You’ll get two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts - all for just $59.99.  The menu includes all of Peartree’s favourite items - black Angus steak, maple roasted chicken breast, stuff Atlantic salmon and sweet potato agnolotti.  There’s green salad, caesar salad and soup for starters and chocolate mousse cake, chocolate brownie cheesecake, carrot cake and red velvet cake for dessert.  Enjoy all of this in Peartree’s delightful back patio. 

Perfect weather for F’Amelia’s patio
Photo: Maryn, Mike and little Alexa, snapd
Drop by for dinner or a nice bottle of wine on the patio - find out why Open Table has listed it as one of the Top 100 patios in Canada. 12 Amelia.

Dinner and a show
Mill Street Beer Hall (21 Tank House Lane, Distillery) has a prix fixe dinner at $29.99 available every day.  Show your ticket for a show at Soulpepper and you’ll earn a 15% discount.  

NOW MAGAZINE POLL

The Reader’s Choice poll is now open for your vote.  Here's the link.

Congrats to our local nominees. 

There are six different categories and lots of specific subcategories within each one.  
A winner gets a nice boost and becomes very visible for a whole year to customers right across the city - so please support our local restaurants and stores.

There are a few guidelines:
  1. Our selection narrows down the listings to highlight businesses in our neighbourhood. 
  2. When you cast your first vote, you’ll be asked for your email address and a password.
  3. You can vote for one nominee in each subcategory.
  4. There are a few cases where two choices from our neighbourhood are nominated - take your pick.
  5. If someone is repeated in several subcategories, you can repeat your vote each time.
Thanks to Keith Lawrance at the Cabbagetown Residents Association - he did most of the work to refine this info.

Cityscape Category:
Best MP – Bill Morneau
Best MPP – Glen Murray
Best Neighbourhood Festival – Cabbagetown Festival
Best Park – Allan Gardens or Riverdale Park
Best Pool – Regent Park Aquatic Centre
Best Public Space – Allan Gardens
Best Social Justice Group – EGALE
Best Youth Organization – Art Heart in Regent Park

Shopping & Services
Best Barber Shop/Men’s Salon – Hastings Barber Shop
Best Bicycle Store – Cycle Solutions
Best Camera Store - Vistek
Best Condo Developer - Daniels or Streetcar 
Best Design Firm (Architecture, Interior or Product) – Kendall & Co
Best Jewellery Store – Fair Trade Jewellery Co
Best Pet Store – Pet Valu

Food & Drink
Best Bakery – Roselle
Best BBQ Restaurant – 420 Smokehouse
Best Bartender – Colin Henderson (Stout Irish Pub)
Best Beer Selection – Stout Irish Pub
Best Butcher – St. James Town Steak & Chops
Best Caterer – Daniel et Daniel
Best Chocolate - Soma
Best Dessert - Roselle
Best French Restaurant - Cluny Bistro
Best Gastro-Pub – House on Parliament
Best Ice Cream/Gelato - Soma
Best Japanese Restaurant – Kingyo Izakaya
Best Local Microbrew – Mill Street Brew Pub
Best Mexican Restaurant - El Catrin
Best New Restaurant – Kanpai Snack Bar
Best Pub – House on Parliament or Stout Irish Pub
Best Thai - Sukhothai

Film & Stage
Best Large Theatre Company - Canadian Stage or Soulpepper


CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY JULY 28 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 7
  • 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 JULY 28

Dominion
8 pm, Enzo Boldrini Duo
The Irv
7 pm, live music with Geoff Willingham
Local GEST
10 pm, Cabbage Head comedy with Ethan O’Reilly

FRIDAY JULY 29

Dominion
8 pm, DJ Frankensztein
Fuse
5 to 7 pm, Fuse Fridays with Wade O Brown Trio.  Live bands from 8 to 10:30 pm.
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SATURDAY JULY 30

Distillery - Trinity Stage
2 pm, Lakes of Canada
4 pm, Crooked House Road 
Dominion
8 pm, The Derek Lathrop Duo
Fuse
8 to 10:30 pm, live bands.  11 pm, Fuse Lounge Saturdays, the best of the 80s and 90s.
Mill Street Beer Hall
9 pm, Saturday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SUNDAY JULY 31

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Fuse
11 am, Jazz brunch 
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with the Brendan Davis Duo

MONDAY AUGUST 1

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY AUGUST 2

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Merryberry
5:30 pm, Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market - cooking class.  $45
Paintbox Bistro
7:30 pm, Corktown Ukulele Jam

THURSDAY AUGUST 4

Dominion
8 pm, Katey Gatta
The Irv
6:30 pm, live music with Geoff Willingham
Local GEST
8:30 pm, live music with Jeff Barnes and Noah Zaccharin

FRIDAY AUGUST 5

Dominion
8 pm, DJ Dash
Fuse
5 to 7 pm, Fuse Fridays with Wade O Brown Trio.  Live bands from 8 to 10:30 pm.
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SATURDAY AUGUST 6

Distillery - Trinity Stage
2 pm, Gillian Nicola
4 pm, KASHKA
Dominion
8 pm, Price Brothers Trio
Fuse
8 to 10:30 pm, live bands.  11 pm, Fuse Lounge Saturdays, the best of the 80s and 90s.
Mill Street Beer Hall
9 pm, Saturday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SUNDAY AUGUST 7

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
FUSE
11 am, Jazz brunch
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Terry Logan Jazz Concepts

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
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 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
UNDER THE TABLE

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