December 8

This week’s image:  poinsettias ready for the Christmas show.  Photo: Allan Gardens

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW


LOCAL NEWS

Serious dog attacks
At least three family dogs have been victims of very serious attacks in the Winchester and Sumach area.  In each case, two medium sized dogs, 40 to 50 pounds each, were involved.  The most aggressive one is smaller with dark fur on its back, brown fur along its body and lighter fur underneath and along its legs.  The other dog is black, a “herder”, keeping the victim near the aggressor.
Jay reports that his dog was attacked on Saturday December 3 after dark in Riverdale Park.  She suffered three deep gashes that required immediate surgery and several days in the vet clinic.  Shortly after, a second dog was attacked on Winchester in front of its home.  Apparently, a third dog was hit on Sunday morning.  The attackers did not go near people or try to attack them. 
These dogs are not wearing collars.  Their owner was nowhere in sight.  
Jay and the others have contacted the Police and Animal Services.  If anyone else has additional info, please call Animal Services at 311.  It’s important to locate the owner and deal with these animals.  

Progress at Meridian
Meridian Credit Union will be opening its Cabbagetown branch (488 Parliament) on Monday December 19.  Its signage and facade are progressing nicely now.  Steven Ahn is the new branch manager. Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union and it’ll give both local residents and businesses needed financial support. 

Cabbagetown South Christmas party
Congrats for another successful evening.  Cabbagetown South neighbours got together at Stout Irish Pub for lots of friendly talk, nibblies and drinks.  It’s always a very good occasion.  
The Association tackles some very tough issues and pursues them thoroughly.

Support two Syrian families
Stephen Watt has organized a celebration to raise funds in support of two Syrian families currently trapped in Jordan.  Two brothers are being sponsored by Community Matters Toronto and will be settled into St James Town.  The other is a family with a young daughter.  
The evening will feature the best Syrian music and food from the Syrian Newcomers Kitchen, Braisery Middle Eastern Food, Shawarma Grill and Ghazale Restaurant. 6 to 10 pm, Friday December 9, East College Lobby, Innis Town Hall, U of T (2 Sussex).  Click on each family’s link (above) to read about their status.  $50 - for tickets and donations, click here.  

Lookin’ good
Photo:  Linda Eggerer
These three lovely pals were waiting impatiently outside Dollarama on Tuesday when Linda saw them.  She couldn’t resist taking her snapshot.

CHRISTMAS NEWS 

Santa at Pet Valu
Always a fun event with a nifty souvenir.  Santa will pose for a photo with your pet.  10 am to 2 pm, Saturday December 10.  $10.  Pet Valu (240 Carlton) 

Christmas at F’Amelia
Santa will be visiting F’Amelia (12 Amelia) during brunch from 11 am to 2 pm on Sunday December 18.  It sounds like a charming plan - your kids can take a picture with him and decorate cookies while you enjoy your brunch nearby.  While you’re there, be sure to enter the contest to win a free brunch for four
The restaurant is also putting together a food drive throughout December.  It’ll benefit the Daily Bread Food Bank.  You can leave your donations at the door. 

Farm for the holidays
Christmas celebrations come to Riverdale Farm (Winchester east of Sumach) on Sunday December 18 from 10 am to 3 pm.  There’ll be craft activities, snacks and a visit by Santa.  Your donations of new, unused toiletries will assist a local shelter.  

Carolling for cans
Once again, residents in the Winchester and Metcalfe area will be singing outside local homes and collecting donations for the food bank at St Luke’s Church.  Helen Coltrinari reports that the team collected over 700 pounds of food and $700 in cash donations last year.  Watch for the carollers on the evening of Sunday December 11 along Carlton, Metcalfe. Winchester and Sumach. 

Corktown Chamber Orchestra
The Christmas concert featuring seasonal favourites, sing-a-longs and special guests.  The Orchestra’s first concert was a sell-out so it’s advisable that interested guests get there early for this one. Proceeds from ticket sales are going to Little Trinity to thank the church for its ongoing support.  Thursday December 15.  Little Trinity Church (425 King E), $10. 

The Mill Street Carolling Challenge
Once again, Mill Street is sponsoring a mass choir for the Distillery’s Christmas Market.  Be part of the crowd and help to create a world-record sing-along.  Mill Street will distribute song sheets and reusable LED candles and holders.  Thursday December 15 at 6 pm in the Distillery.  

Bill Morneau’s Christmas party
Our local MP (and Canada’s Minister of Finance) Bill Morneau is hosting his annual Christmas party on Thursday December 15 from 6 to 8 pm in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Entertainment by local performers and complimentary refreshments.  

A Very Soulpepper Christmas
On stage at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tuesday December 20.  Guests of all ages are invited to a family concert celebrating the sounds of the season from around the globe. Featuring Mike Ross leading an all-star line-up of Toronto’s best musicians.  A Soulpepper concert (50 Tank House Lane).  

Christmas lights contest
The Cabbagetown Residents Association wants your photos of the festive decorations in the neighbourhood. Your images will go into the contest and the winner will get a trophy, bragging rights and a free Association membership.  The deadline for submissions is December 26.  From December 18, there’ll be a public survey and the poll results after December 26 will decide the winner.  Go to the CRA website and read all the details.  

Carolling at The Local GEST
The Christmas sing-a-long at The Local GEST (424 Parliament) is a big event on our Christmas calendars and a major tourist attraction.  Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin inspire and encourage the throngs to add their voices to the heavenly sounds.  Save the date - Sunday December 18, 3:30 pm. Bring along a donation for the food bank at the Yonge Street Mission.

Allan Gardens
The annual Christmas flower show has started and continues daily to January 8.  The show includes over 4,000 poinsettias from 30 different varieties.  Enjoy the Conservatory by candlelight from 5 to 7 pm on Saturday December 10 and Sunday December 11 - and again on the next weekend.  Free. Open daily including the major holidays from 10 am to 5 pm. Sherbourne and Carlton

Distillery Christmas Market
One of the season’s biggest Christmas events runs in the Distillery to Thursday December 22. 
Regular events include daily carolling, tours and photos at Santa’s House, a ferris wheel and a gingerbread house for kids, pet photos with Santa, St Nicholas riding on a white horse and lots more. 
Over 350 performers will appear onstage and throughout the Market.  Themed entertainment is presented each day - traditional Tuesday, world Wednesday, classical Thursday, Jazz Friday, pop Saturday and ensemble Sunday.
The Market is open daily except Mondays.  Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 9 pm,  Fridays from noon to 10 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 9 pm. There’s an entrance fee on Saturday and Sunday - $6.  Weekdays free. 
The daily program is online here.   

Christmas trees are back
Christmas trees are back at the corner of Spruce and Parliament beside No Frills.  These folks have been selling their trees here for 64 years - lots of happy customers and excited kids.  Prices start at $25.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 

Victoria’s Christmas cards
Victoria Hadden creates bold and colourful designs for her cards.  She has five new designs for this year’s collection.  Individual cards with a unique postage stamp, $7.  Boxed sets of five cards are $20. Go to her website to see them in detail.  They’re now available exclusively at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament).   

Advent Promo at KENDALL & Co
Count down to Christmas with Kendall’s daily special promo’s! Find out about them by following Kendall & Co on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Each promo will be announced each morning and will continue while quantities last. Don’t miss out. 
Cabbagetown’s One-Stop-Holiday-Shop with cards, cookies, ornaments, gifts, tableware, barware and festive décor. Now open every day - Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.  514 Parliament between the LCBO and St. Jamestown Steak & Chops.

The BIA’s Gift & Celebration Guide
The BIA has published its annual Guide and it’s got gifts, gift certificates and special savings from almost 20 local merchants.  Grinning Face Gelato, Merryberry, 420 Smokehouse, Epicure Shop, Stout Irish Pub, Daniel et Daniel, London Calling and the Scullery all have delicious food gift ideas.  Kendall, Fair Trade Jewellery, Hair Spa, Spruce Home Decor, Sourced & Salvaged, Mi Casa and Labour of Love have fragrance diffusers, soy candles, loaner rings, cat cushions and scores of beautiful ornaments.  The BIA is selling Cabbagetown merchandise from its office (237 Carlton).  To find out more, go to the BIA’s blog page.  

Order your turkey
Mark at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) is taking orders for your Christmas turkeys.  He also has a selection of Christmas cakes, chocolate truffles, plum pudding and cookies - a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.  

Fair Trade Jewellery
The goldsmith elves at Fair Trade Jewellery (523 Parliament) would like to remind you to get your custom orders by early December to avoid disappointment.  Happily, they’ve made new things for Christmas including a new crop of Cabbagetown pendants ($65) and matching earrings ($75) made in their workshop from dual certified Fairtrade & Fairmined silver.

IN THE MEDIA

Who Killed Spalding Gray
Carly Maga has written a very positive review in The Toronto Star of Who Killed Spalding Gray at the Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley). Click here to read it.  

ON STAGE
Scroll down for the full Theatre & Dance Calendar

Wintersong
29th anniversary edition.  Breathtaking tapestry of seasonal dance.  This year, there’s a premiere by Ryan Lee. “Against the Dark” returns along with “To Repel the Demons”.  Friday December 9 at 8 pm and Saturday December 10 at 2 pm. Harbourfront Centre, Fleck Dance Theatre (235 Queens Quay W).  Buy tickets online here.   

Munsch All Over
George Brown College’s 30th annual children’s show celebrates the world of Robert Munsch, Canada’s best-loved children’s author.  On stage to December 10.  Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House Lane). For more info and tickets, click here.  

Impulse 2016
Ensemble works that highlight performances by students from each year in the program.  To December 10.  School of Toronto Dance Theatre (80 Winchester).  For tickets and more info, click here. 

Comfort
Red Snow Collective presents the world premiere of Comfort - a love story about two youths in Nanjing, China during World War II who find joy and friendship in their shared passion for opera, which later becomes precious in their survival together at a comfort house in Shanghai.  Aki Theatre, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  8 pm daily with 2 pm matinees on Saturday. To December 10.  $15 to $28. 

Rose
In this whimsical new musical presentation based on Gertrude Stein’s children’s book The World Is Round, nine-year-old Rose has some big questions, and not a lot of answers. With the help of her best friend Willie, and her dog Love, Rose takes a magical journey to discover her place in the world. December 16 (8 pm), 17 (2 pm) and 22 (2 pm).  A Soulpepper concert (50 Tank House Lane).  

Soulpepper Cabarets
Saturdays at 8:30 pm in the Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery).
Saturday December 10,  Wendy Lands - What the world needs now. Tickets and program info are online here, $20 and $25.  

RESTAURANT NEWS

The Irv
Save the date - The Irv (195 Carlton) is hosting its annual Guest Appreciation Night on Thursday December 15.  There’ll be free munchies, beer sampling, prizes and giveaways and live music.  Watch for an appearance by Santa.

F’Amelia’s brunch
Every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm.  Choices include French brioche with glazed plums, blueberry pancakes with whipped lemon ricotta and eggs benedict over fried gnocchi.  There’s a kids’ menu available as well.  Drop in and see why Toronto Life has listed F’Amelia (12 Amelia) as one of the top three Italian restaurants in Toronto.

Mill Street toy drive
Drop off a new unwrapped toy at the Mill Street retail store (21 Tank House Lane) in the Distillery.  You’ll get a little thank-you gift in return.

420 Smokehouse
Check out Virginia’s smoked spices at the 420 Smokehouse (420 Parliament) - salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder and cocao are all now available.

THEATRE & DANCE CALENDARS 

CANADIAN CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE
509 Parliament Street

Wintersong  - December 9 (8 pm) and December 10 (2 pm)
Online tickets and info here.  

CANADIAN STAGE
Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street

Who Killed Spalding Gray - on stage to December 11
Online tickets and info here.

COLEMAN LEMIEUX & COMPAGNIE
The Citadel
304 Parliament Street

Bright Nights Series
Damage Done - on stage to December 11    
Online tickets and info here.  

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.

Rose, A Soulpepper concert - December 16, 17 and 22
Online tickets and info here. 

A Very Soulpepper Christmas - December 20
Online tickets and info here.

A Christmas Carol - on stage to December 24
Online tickets and info here

It’s a Wonderful Life - December 9 to December 24 (St Lawrence Centre)
Online tickets and info here

Hocus Pocus - December 10 to December 31
Online tickets and info here

NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS   
Aki Studio Theatre, Daniels Spectrum,  585 Dundas St E

Comfort - on stage to December 10
Online tickets and info here 

SCHOOL OF TORONTO DANCE THEATRE
80 Winchester Street

Impulse - December 8 to December 10
Photo:  Cylla von Tiedermann
Online tickets and info here 

YOUNG CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery

Munsch All Over - on stage to December 10
Online tickets and info here 

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 8 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 18
  • 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 8

The Irv
7:30 pm, live music with Geoff Willingham
The Local GEST
8:30 pm, Cabbage Head comedy

FRIDAY DECEMBER 9

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
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 DECEMBER 10

Fuse
8 to 10:30 pm, live bands.  
11 pm, Fuse Lounge Saturdays, the best of the 80s and 90s - jazz, blues, soul and R&B.
Soulpepper
8:30 pm, Wendy Lands, “What the world needs now”, $20 and $25.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Corktown Kitchen
11 am, Live jazz and brunch
FUSE
11 am, Jazz brunch
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz featuring the Brendan Davis Trio

MONDAY DECEMBER 12

Fuse 
Free Karaoke
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Local GEST
7:30 pm, Wednesday Night Trivia
Paintbox Bistro
7:30 pm, Corktown Ukulele Jam

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

The Irv
7:30 pm, live music with Geoff Willingham
Local GEST
8 pm, open mic with Porter

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
Dominion
8 pm, DJ Bookshelf
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 DECEMBER 17

Fuse
8 to 10:30 pm, live bands.  
11 pm, Fuse Lounge Saturdays, the best of the 80s and 90s - jazz, blues, soul and R&B.
Mill Street Beer Hall
5 pm, Saturday Nights with DJ Humble Mike

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Corktown Kitchen
11 am, Live jazz and brunch 
FUSE
11 am, Jazz brunch
Local GEST
3:30 pm, Annual Christmas Carolling

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